Canada’s Top Breweries Continue to Struggle
Molson Inc. has fired the top marketer on its flagship Canadian brand, the
latest sign both of the countries megabrewers continue to struggle to turn
around their most profitable brands.
» Beverage Industry NewsBeverage Industry News
CAMRA rallies behind Budvar
England’s Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has launched a campaign to keep Budweiser Budvar from falling into the hands of a global brewing company. Visitors to this week’s Great British Beer Festival in London will be asked to sign a petition to be sent to the Czech government.
Read more...A-B Wins Right to Budweiser Name in Japan
Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. said it has won exclusive rights to the Budweiser trademark in Japan. The company had begun court proceedings against Budejovicky Budvar and some of its importers and distributors who were distributing beer using the Budweiser name. A-B said it believed the packaging and labeling on Budvar’s products infringed on its trademarks and created unfair competition.
Read more...Challenge Cup Tips a Quarter Million Pints of American Beer
The three day long Challenge Cup, held across America on July 23-25th as part of American Beer Month, generated about 250,000 pints of American beer being consumed. The premise of the event, sponsored by Realbeer.com, is to honor participating on-premise accounts that sell the most American beer. This year’s Cup included separate national competition for large brewpubs, small brewpubs, large taprooms, and small bars. Although the final numbers aren’t quite in, about 250 establishments competed in this years Cup. Participating restaurants, pubs and brewpubs received custom coasters and posters to promote the event. In addition to the national competition, there were also special challenges set up. Among the winners of the side challenges, O’Brien’s Pub in San Diego defeated Boscos Nashville to win the first Firkin Challenge, Turtle Muntain in Rio Rancho won the second New Mexico IPA Challenge and the Brews Cafe in Granville, Ohio, won the title of “Most Arrogant Bar in America” by selling more Arrogant Bastard Ale than any other.
Read more...Humulus lupulus diet?
Researchers for the Kirin Brewery have discovered that a bittering element in hops curbs the development of fat inside the body.
Read more...No beer for bikers
Tour de Fat, New Belgium Brewing Co.’s “Ballyhoo of Bikes and Beer” that has raised money for scores of cycling non-profits during the last four years, hit a bump in the road July 19 in Santa Cruz, Calif. After city officials first approved the event, Police Chief Steve Belcher rejected alcohol sales, citing the dangers of drinking and cycling.
Read more...Oregon beer tax boost seems less likely
Opponents of raising the tax of beer in Oregon scored a victory Wednesday when the House Revenue Committee split a proposal to boost the beer tax off from a larger tax bill.
Read more...Brewing Class of ’88 honored
Members of microbrewing’s Class of ’88 celebrated together July 15 in Washington, D.C., throwing the party in the United States Senate.
Read more...Funny Cide, the beer
People soon will be able to own Funny Cide – in a bottle. The light beer is set to go on sale this week. The brew was developed by Sackets Harbor Brewing Co. and its Spa City partner, the Olde Saratoga Brewing Co. Sackets Harbor began selling a beer named for the Kentucky Derby-Preakness winner because the horse is owned by local residents.
Read more...OneTimeOnePlace
Heavyweight Brewing Co. of New Jersey plans a unique series of special releases known as OneTimeOnePlace (OTOP). These will be draft-only, one-off brews. OTOP beers will be produced in seven-barrel batches (217 gallons) and released, in draft, exclusively to one bar/pub in each market. Heavyweight plans about one release per month.
Read more...No water = No beer
The Pittsburgh-Post Gazette reports that the local water utility wants a court order removed that keeps it from turning off the water for Pittsburgh Brewing. Without water, the brewery will not be able to make beer.
Read more...Bosteels “Deus” Previewed in the Pacific Northwest
Specialty beer importer MBI (Manneken-Brussels Inc.) has held a Seattle preview of “Deus,” a specialty beer it is bringing in from Belgium. The strong pale-golden ale is brewed by Brouwerij Bosteels of Buggenhout, Belgium, a brewery which has been in the same family for six generations since its founding in 1791. The brewery is already known for two Belgian specialty beers: Pauwels Kwak, a strong brown ale served in a custom “coachmen’s glass,” and Triple Karmeliet, a strong golden Belgian triple-style of ale. Deus is brewed and fermented to a strength of 11.5% alcohol by volume, then bottled in champagne-like bottles and sent to France’s champagne country for aging according to the “Methode Champenoise,” involving refermentation in the bottle, 12 months maturation time, and traditional “remuage” turning by hand during the aging process. The final process in the beer’s production includes the “degorgement,” in which the bottle’s neck is frozen and the plug of yeast is removed by bottle pressure, followed by a “dosage” to induce and preserve natural carbonation in the bottle, after which the bottle is corked and dressed. The specialty import will be available in limited quantities in select markets later this summer.
Read more...Big Dog’s Brewing Company Breaks Ground
Big Dog’s Hospitality Group has announced that the construction of Las Vegas’ newest microbrewery has begun. Big Dog’s Brewing Company will be housed in a new 3,383 square foot addition being constructed at the company’s Draft House Barn and Casino facility, located at 4543 N. Rancho Road. The new facility will house a 15-barrel microbrewery system. Brewmaster Dave Otto, formerly of the Holy Cow Brewery on the Las Vegas Strip, will brew a wide range of beers, including light beers, ales, porters, and stouts. The brewery will carry 12 beers on tap at all times. Big Dog’s Brew will also be served at Big Dog’s Bar & Grill, 1511 N. Nellis at Owens, and Big Dog’s Caf
Read more...Pyramid Opens Alehouse in Sacramento
Pyramid opened its doors to “the house that beer built,” the new Pyramid Alehouse in Sacramento. Located in downtown Sacramento, the newest Pyramid Alehouse addition is home to over 15 beers on draft, including year round, seasonal, and alehouse exclusive styles. The grand opening will be celebrated with an official ribbon cutting ceremony on July 16th at 11 am, hosted by the Mayor of Sacramento. The new Pyramid Alehouse is located just a few blocks from the Capitol in downtown Sacramento.
Read more...Top Stories of the Year (So Far)
It’s mid-year, and much has happened in the specialty beer segment over the course of six months. Below is a review of the top stories that appeared on the pages of BEERWeek since the first of the year.
Read more...Miller Battles A-B at Wrigley Field
Miller Brewing Co. has realized a long-held dream of establishing a major advertising beachhead at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, upping its competitive stance against archrival Anheuser-Busch. Miller’s media buying arm, Chicago-based Starcom Worldwide, has helped the brewery to secure a prominent and flashy rooftop billboard atop a house overlooking right field. The billboard is highly visible both to fans in the stadium and to television cameras when they pan in that direction. The high-profile placement of the Miller board mirrors that of a static roof sign Budweiser has had for more than a decade, atop another building overlooking left field. The new billboard represents a coup of sorts for Miller, whose products cannot be sold inside Wrigley, which allows only Anheuser-Busch brands and Old Style to be sold in the stadium. They may not be available in the park itself, but Miller products, especially Miller Lite, reportedly are big sellers at bars ringing the ballpark, many of which display banners showing the same message visible on Miller’s rooftop billboard. Illinois, along with Wisconsin, are considered Miller’s prime marketing turf.
Read more...Budvar to sell?
First came the news that the Czech government may be willing to sell the brewer Budejovicky Budvar, after which the country’s press reported that big global players Scottish & Newcastle, Heineken, Interbrew, and Anheuser-Busch were all interested in the purchase. In another wave of privatization, reports have claimed that Budejovicky Budvar will be transformed into a joint-stock company in 2004. The company’s book value is calculated at 3.5 billion Czech crowns ($128 million), and the value of its trademark at around 10 billion crowns.
Read more...Full Sail Launches New Package Design
Full Sail Brewing Company of Hood River, Oregon, announced the release its new product packaging featuring local sports action and scenic photography showcasing the Columbia River Gorge. Full Sail’s new look will be available in stores this month. “We first introduced this concept with our seasonal line-up,” said Irene Firmat, Full Sail’s Founder and CEO. “Due to the great response we received from our customers, we decided to apply it to our year-round brands: Full Sail Ale, Pale, and Rip Curl. We think this provides a great venue to celebrate our location and the talents of our local artists.” The new look was developed by 2Jones Illustration and Design of Hood River, Oregon, and features the photography of five local
photographers: Jay Carroll, Stephen Datnoff, Peter Marbach, Darryl Lloyd, and Fascination Photography.
AOB Releases New Book on Mead Making
The Association of Brewers’ Brewers Publications division has announced the release of its newest book, The Complete Meadmaker. Authored by master meadmaker and amateur orchardist Ken Schramm of Troy, Mich., the book provides a modern update on home production techniques for the world’s oldest adult beverage.
Read more...In-Flight Magazine Ad to Feature “Ten Great Taphouses”
This summer, travelers who fly on Southwest Airlines and open its Spirit magazine will find a list of 10 great American taphouses.
The advertisement appears in the June, July and August in-flight magazine, and will reach more than 3 million readers each month. The project was organized by Realbeer.com and paid for by participating taphouses. Similar to the “Ten Great Steakhouses” ad seen in many in-flight magazines, this ad will feature unique taphouses across the US which offer an array of quality beers on draft. The ad was placed to coincide with American Beer Month in July when these establishments and many more, will be participating in the second Realbeer.com Challenge Cup, where bars and brewpubs across the country compete to see which can sell the most American beer July 22-24.
Each of the taphouses listed is special in its own way. The ad includes chains such as the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, the renowned San Francisco taphouse Toronado and The TapWerks Ale House and Cafe in Oklahoma City which, despite being in a state that most beer drinkers associate with “3.2” beer, offers more than 100 draft choices in one pub and 85 in the other.