Craft beer industry news.
Green Man’s rotating offering, Rambler Dry-Hopped Pale Ale is returning to drive away the snow and summon sunshine and warm breezes. With a combination of British Pale malts and vibrant American hops, this beer has a bright peach-forward aroma and a refreshing, clean body. Dry-hopping with 1lb of hops per barrel provides a hint of peppery spice in the finish.
Michigan’s Bell’s Brewery will expand distribution into Arkansas, its 24th state, today announcing agreements with a pair of wholesalers that jointly make up the “Arkansas Craft Alliance.” Bell’s signed with Arkansas Craft Distributors LLC and O’Connor Distributing — which includes Three Lakes Distributing, Three Rivers Distributing and White River Beverage — for statewide distribution of the brewery’s entire portfolio beginning in April
Sam Calagione, an author who sometimes moonlights as the founder of a well-known craft brewery, has written another book about his experiences as a business owner since launching Dogfish Head Craft Brewery 20 years ago. Set to hit shelves February 22, Off-centered Leadership: The Dogfish Head Guide to Motivation, Collaboration & Smart Growth, describes challenges Calagione faced while building Dogfish Head into the nation’s 13th largest craft beer company.
Even with more than 4,100 U.S. craft breweries to choose from, there’s still a group of drinkers who just want to drink a homebrew. Unfortunately (or fortunately), wider access to those products is virtually nonexistent, which means most of us will probably never try Victoria’s Vanilla Chai Imperial Stout. Enter Noble Brewer, an online retailer that aims to digitally connect amateur brewers to thirsty consumers.
It’s that time of year when beer enthusiasts clamor for one of Stone Brewing’s highly anticipated annual releases. Since debuting in 1998, Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine has attracted fans who are passionate about the robust ale. Devotees and hopheads are in for a treat when they experience 2016 Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Dry-Hopped with Pekko Hops
On February 12, 2016, Odell Brewing will celebrate the return of The Meddler, a barrel aged Oud Bruin Ale. This release will be the first of six cellar series offerings throughout 2016. The Meddler Oud Bruin is a blend of several generations of brown ales that were aged in toasted oak barrels between eight months and two years.
Cincinnati-based Rhinegeist Brewery announces expansion of Cidergeist, the brewery’s craft cider brand, into Boston and across the state of Massachusetts. Rhinegeist Brewery will partner with Massachusetts Beverage Alliance to distribute both Semi Dry and Dry Hopped ciders. Cidergeist can be found on draft and in 12oz six packs in Massachusetts’s bars, restaurants, liquor and grocery stores beginning March 1, 2016.
Koerner Distributor President and Chief Executive Officer, Paul Koerner, announces that his organization will begin distribution of the highly acclaimed and anticipated Half Acre Beer Company in their 52 county territory in Central and Southern Illinois. The brand is led by flagships such as Daisy Cutter Pale Ale, Pony Pilsner, Lead Feather Black Ale, and the current IPA seasonal Gone Away IPA. Half Acre comes to market in 4pk 16oz cans as well as draft.
Beginning March 1st, 2016, pFriem Family Brewers will officially occupy the entirety of the 20,000 sq. ft. Hood River Halyard building. The six year-old waterfront building is LEED silver certified and is owned by the Port of Hood River. pFriem Family Brewers originally occupied suite 101 when they opened their doors in 2012. Until recently, the building was also the home of Pocket Fuel and Real Carbon.
Chicagoland beer distributor Louis Glunz Beer, Inc. and specialty beer importer Merchant du Vin announce today the arrival of two new brews from Belgium-based Lindemans Brewery—SpontanBasil, a lambic fermented with fresh basil in collaboration with Mikkeller, and Oude Kriek Cuvée René, a lambic made with whole cherries. Available in limited quantity in the U.S. for the first time, these special-release 750-mL beers make their brief stint at Chicago-area retailers this week.
On Sunday, February 14th, Weyerbacher Brewing will be releasing their seasonal sensation, Sunday Morning Stout. After making its official debut in March 2015, Sunday Morning Stout has become a highly anticipated release in 2016. Sunday Morning Stout is an American Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels. Aromas of roasted coffee and bourbon awaken your senses while their flavors blend with hints of chocolate, roasted malt, vanilla and caramel.
Want to know why the “long tail” of craft is growing faster than 350 percent, according to research firm IRI Worldwide? Look no further than Cincinnati’s Rhinegeist brewery, which tripled production to more than 31,000 barrels in just its second full year of business. Rhinegeist, which only sells its beer in Ohio and Kentucky, is one of a growing number of well-capitalized and entrepreneurial-minded craft startups outpacing category growth by brewing dozens of different styles and overinvesting in sales personnel.
SweetWater Brewing Co. releases a brand new spring seasonal, Hash Session IPA, hitting shelves beginning February 8. This marks the brewery’s third release using hop hash, and their first session IPA. SweetWater is one of the only breweries in the nation using hop hash, the concentrated resin that’s left after hops are run through the pelletizer.
Bluewater Brewing Company is the newest craft brewery to open its doors in Alabama. The brewery is located in Florence, Alabama and begins distribution this week. Bluewater has partnered with Alabama’s premier craft distributor, AlaBev, to ensure its product is served to prime locations in Florence and north Alabama.
