News

Craft beer industry news.

Rhode Island Fire Lifts Veil on Narragansett’s Newest Venture

Rhode Island Fire Lifts Veil on Narragansett’s Newest Venture

A four-alarm fire that tore through and reduced a massive Rhode Island property to a mess of charred support columns and twisted steel had the unintended result of revealing Narragansett Beer’s plans for a new brewery. The 93,000 sq. ft. property in Providence that was reportedly gutted by the blaze last Tuesday, it turns out, was to be the shared home of Isle Brewers Guild, an upstart contract brewing company, and Narragansett, which has been on the hunt for its own facility for the past decade.

Pittsburgh Brewing Partners with Pirates For Collector Series Cans

With the Pittsburgh Pirates home opener less than 30 days away, fans can do a little pre-season training of their own courtesy of Pittsburgh Brewing Co. (www.pittsburghbrewing.com). For the third consecutive year, PBC has released the first of three Pittsburgh Pirates-themed I.C. Light Collector Series Beer Cans – the gold “Retro” can featuring the team’s popular “Handsome Jolly Roger” used from 1971-1986 (including their 1971 and 1979 World Series). “Retro” Cans are on sale now, available in 30-packs, 24-packs and 12-packs.

Left Hand Releases Great Juju

The days are getting longer and the season for light, summertime beers is upon us! Left Hand Brewing Co.’s Good JujuSpiced Ale has returned this March, along with its new big, bad brother – Great Juju! In addition to their seasonal release of Good Juju, a light ale brewed with ginger, Left Hand has released a 22oz. imperial offering that gives beer drinkers a truly unique and flavorful experience.

Brewery Ommegang Reveals 2015 Belgium Comes to Cooperstown Theme

This August, beer fans can break out their long-forgotten mixed tapes, windbreakers, and “Pulp Fiction” references for their pilgrimage to Cooperstown. That’s because “Belgium Comes to Cooperstown,” Brewery Ommegang’s beer, music, food, and all-things-fun fest is returning August 7 and 8 with a “90s” theme.

Mother Earth to Release Annual Four Seasons Series

Mother Earth Brew Co. announces the 2015 annual release of “Four Seasons of Mother Earth – Spring” this year brewed in collaboration with Automatic Brewing Co.

Sleeping Giant Founder Optimistic About Growth of Contract Brewing

Sleeping Giant Founder Optimistic About Growth of Contract Brewing

The first dedicated contract brewing company west of the Mississippi, Sleeping Giant Brewing Company is the brainchild of Matthew Osterman, a former compliance and operations manager for Boulder-based New Planet Beer. Now the president of Sleeping Giant, which launched in January, Osterman is at the helm of the country’s latest contract brewing outfit hoping to cash in on the growth of craft and the entrepreneurial exuberance of startup beer brands without a home base.

America’s Beer Distributors Toast Craft Beer Growth

The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) – which represents the interests of America’s 3,300 licensed, independent beer distributors – applauds America’s craft brewers for their continued growth and entrepreneurial spirit, which adds energy and excitement to the American beer industry.

Heavy Seas Hires New National Accounts Manager

Heavy Seas Beer is pleased to introduce Claus Hagelman as National Accounts Manager. Claus will be responsible for developing relationships with chain accounts, an area of growing importance in today’s craft beer industry.

Ska to Release Vernal Minthe and Mexican Logger

Today Ska Brewing Company is announcing the release dates for Vernal Minthe Stout and Mexican Logger. Vernal Minthe Stout is the spring seasonal and Mexican Logger will be the feature beer in Ska’s summer collection.

Pfriem Family Brewers Begins Bottling

pFriem Family Brewers announces the first-ever release of pFriem beer in bottles and associated bottle premiere events. The bottle release begins locally in Hood River, OR on Friday, April 3, 2015 at pFriem Family Brewers with Portland and Seattle premieres to follow.

Newcastle Launches Retail Variety Pack

Newcastle’s new variety pack contains equal amounts of two definitive new styles from the brand – Newcastle British Pale Ale and Newcastle British Session IPA – along with perennial favorite Newcastle Brown Ale. Together, the three distinctly Newcastle offerings showcase the quality and depth of the Newcastle-Caledonian partnership and capitalize on the growing demand for variety among today’s adventurous LDA+ consumers.

Heineken Introduces BrewLock Draft Technology

The BrewLock keg is a patented double wall 20L keg made out of 100% recyclable PET plastic. The beer lives in a bladder inside the keg, protected by the PET shell. Traditional kegs rely on an often-expensive blend of CO2 and N2 that can result in inconsistent or compromised quality. With BrewLock, a small, customized air compressor exerts pressure in the area between the shell and the bladder, pushing the beer through the draught lines untouched, which guarantees a perfectly carbonated beer every time.

Fireman’s Brew Announces National Stock Offering

Fireman’s Brew, Inc., a Los Angeles-based craft beer company founded by two firefighters, today announced that it will open a new nation-wide private offering.

Wirtz Beverage Group Names Recipients of Arthur M. Wirtz Leadership Award

Wirtz Beverage Group announced today the winners of the 2015 Arthur M. Wirtz Leadership Award. For the first time in the award’s seven year history, two recipients were invited to accept the company’s highest honor: Lorne Barre, Director of Sales, Spirits for Wirtz Beverage Minnesota and Anthony Simone, Regional Director of Delivery for Wirtz Beverage Illinois, Wirtz Beverage Minnesota.