The national non-profit Beer Kulture has partnered with Washington, D.C.-based ANXO Cider and the American Cider Association (ACA) to offer scholarships to Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, Native North American, Pacific Islander, and other BIPOC people in the cider industry.
Three scholarships will be awarded, granting each winner: the ACA’s Certified Cider Professional (CCP) Level 1 bundle, including a study guide and the exam fee; two CCP sensory webinars; the registration fee for the Certified Pommelier exam; registration, travel, and lodging for two to the ACA’s annual cider conference, CiderCon.
The packages will be funded through sales of a collaborative cider, Kulture. The 7.3% ABV dry cider is a 50/25/25 blend of Albemarle Pippin, Dabinett and Harrison apples, developed by ANXO and Beer Kulture.
“Kulture contains an exceptional blend of apples,” Sam Fitz, ANXO co-founder, president and director of production, said in a press release “All the apples were sourced from Virginia and Pennsylvania within 100 miles of our facility in D.C. They were each then fermented naturally in wood prior to the blending.”
This is not Beer Kulture’s first partnership with the ACA. Last year, the two organizations collaborated to offer a free virtual registration to CiderCon 2021, as well as the CCP Level 1 exam and workshops, for all Beer Kulture scholarship and internship winners.
“We’re excited to expand into the cider industry with the work we’re doing,” Beer Kulture president and CEO Latiesha Cook said in the release. “The broader alcohol space is large and offers so many opportunities to people of color as consumers, potential industry employees, and future owners that it makes sense for us to start looking at partnerships beyond beer. By bringing more people of color into these industries at every level, it creates new possibilities, not just as workers, but as founders, so they can own a piece of the space and drive the industry forward too.”
“Last year’s partnership with Beer Kulture went so well that we wanted to continue the relationship with them this year,” ACA executive director Michelle McGrath added. “Much like the beer industry, cider has historically struggled to diversify, especially beyond gender. Partnering with Beer Kulture is an opportunity for us to proactively reach people of new backgrounds and welcome them into our industry.”
Kulture will launch with a release party on February 2 during CiderCon 2022 in Richmond, Virginia. Those interested in the scholarship can apply here.
DoorDash Partners with Hy-Vee Grocery and Meijer Beer, Wine and Spirits
The e-commerce food and beverage delivery platform DoorDash has partnered with Hy-Vee Grocery and Meijer Beer, Wine and Spirits, expanding its alcohol beverage offerings.
Consumers within Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska can order delivery of Hy-Vee grocery items, as well as alcohol, through DoorDash’s website and mobile app. Consumers in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio can do the same from Meijer stores.
Prior to checkout on the DoorDash platform, consumers will be required to upload their ID to verify they are of legal drinking age, according to a press release. To further confirm their age, they will have to meet their delivery person face-to-face when items are delivered.
“We’re excited to grow our relationships with our grocery partners to expand alcohol selection to customers nationwide,” Caitlin Macnamara, DoorDash director of alcohol strategy and operations, said in the release. “Whether you’re stocking up for a holiday gathering or running low on game-day beverages, consumers can now get their preferred wine, spirits, beer, and more delivered directly to their door.”
DoorDash recorded 100% growth in beverage alcohol on its platform in January-June 2021 compared to January-June 2020, according to a recent DoorDash Grocery Online Ordering Trends Report. The company noted in its release that alcohol purchases on the platform “may increase merchant subtotals by up to 30%.”
Neshaminy Creek to Celebrates 10 Years with New Branding
Croydon, Pennsylvania-based Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company unveiled a first look at new labeling and packaging Tuesday, which will launch in early 2022.
The rebrand, in collaboration with Springfield, Missouri-based Fried Design Co., comes as the brewery celebrates its 10th anniversary. The redesigns are meant to “show how the brewery has evolved over that time,” with designs that “draw inspiration from the past,” while others are completely fresh concepts,” according to a press release.
“It’s very exciting to finally let the cat out of the bag with the rebrand since we’ve been working on it with Fried for nearly a year,” Kyle Park, Neshaminy director of sales and marketing, said in a press release. “The brewery has changed and grown a lot over the past 10 years, and this is just the next step in that evolution. We’ve always been known for our focus on label art so we spent a lot of time making sure we maintained that standard, didn’t alienate everyone that’s come to expect that, but also committed to some big changes that still felt authentic.”
Teasers of the rebrand will roll out throughout this month as a part of “the 12 Days of Creek-mas.” New packaging includes Neshaminy Creek’s year-round Keystone Series, which will now feature “a bold keystone design with spot illustrations that string together each brand’s unique story,” as well its quarterly the Shape of Haze Series, featuring “a new take on the wizard that has become synonymous with that line of beers.”
“The Neshaminy Creek project was one for the ages for us,” Josh Sullivan, Founder of Fried Design Co, said in the release. “They really let us dive deep on dialing in who the brand is, how it sounds, and how it looks. We wanted to take advantage of the brand equity that [Neshaminy] already had, but elevate it and make it a bit closer to home to who the brand is after being in business for 10 years.”
Lawson’s Finest Partners with Vermont Public Radio for Latest ‘Good Brew for a Cause’
Waitsfield, Vermont-based Lawson’s Finest Liquids has partnered with Vermont Public Radio (VPR) to release Brave Little State pale ale, the latest beer in Lawson’s “Good Brew for a Cause” series.
Made with ingredients from the Green Mountain state, a portion of the proceeds from the collaboration will go to VPR in support of “independent journalism in the state of Vermont,” according to a press release.
The 5% ABV beer is a hazy, juicy pale ale and will be available in cans and on draft at Lawson’s Waitsfield taproom, and distributed to retailers year-round exclusively in Vermont. The Brave Little State name is inspired by VPR’s national award-winning narrative journalism podcast of the same name.
“Brave Little State Pale Ale is a Vermont-grown beer that represents the values of both Lawson’s Finest Liquids and Vermont Public Radio,” Lawson’s founder and CEO Sean Lawson said in the release. “We’re glad to introduce a year-round brew made with local ingredients that embodies the incredible spirit and essence of the Green Mountain State and VPR. It’s thanks to community-driven efforts like this collaboration that innovative programming like Brave Little State and independent journalism continue to thrive.”
Suffolk Punch to Add Taproom and Beer Garden at SouthPark Mall
Suffolk Punch Brewing will open a new taproom and beer garden next year as part of a partial renovation of SouthPark Mall in the brewery’s home city of Charlotte, North Carolina.
The new location will serve as anchor to the multimillion dollar plaza renovation, which includes a new greenspace and family-friendly entertainment area, the Charlotte Observer reported.
The brewery will have a 6,500 sq. ft., 400-seat taphouse, restaurant and coffee bar, as well as a year-round 4,500 sq. ft. outdoor pavilion with two free-standing bars. The location will offer more than 20 craft beers, as well as cocktails, house seltzers and wine.
Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2022, and finish by late summer.
Suffolk Punch opened in 2017 with a taphouse in the South End neighborhood of Charlotte. In 2020, the brewery produced 1,389 barrels, according to the Brewers Association.
Beer Industry Support for Tornado-Ravaged Communities Continues
Support from the beer industry continues to pour into communities affected by extreme storms in the middle of the country last week.
Gambrinus-owned Spoetzl Brewery, maker of Shiner Bock, donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross to aid relief efforts.
“We are saddened to see the destruction and loss of life in the affected areas – particularly in Kentucky, but also in Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee,” Shiner brewmaster Jimmy Mauric said in a press release. “All of us in the Shiner family are thinking of and praying for all those affected.”
Molson Coors Beverage Company donated 100,000 cans of drinking water to residents of hard-hit southwestern Kentucky.
“Millions of Kentuckians are facing unfathomable conditions and we want to provide support during this challenging time,” Michael Nordman, Senior Manager of Community Affairs for Molson Coors, said in a press release. “We hope our water donation can bring an element of relief to those who are suffering through this.”
The cans were sent from Molson Coors’ Eklton, Virginia-based Shenandoah brewery to Owensboro, Kentucky-based Clark Distributing Company. Paschall Truck Lines contributed complimentary transportation services, and Graphic Packaging International donated the cans’ 12-pack cartons.
Molson Coors has been donating cans of water to communities struck by natural disasters since 2017 through a partnership with Ball Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of aluminum cans.