Tue, 10 April 2007
Goodbye Twist at Sierra
New crown technology uses ‘pry-off’ for less air infusion Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has began using new barrier crown technology that helps keep beer fresher by blocking oxygen ingress longer without using oxygen-absorbing compounds. The new pry-off crown offers an increased oxygen barrier due to its density and oxygen barrier properties. “We are always looking for new ways to ensure our beer reaches our drinkers as fresh as possible,� said brewery founder Ken Grossman. “It took a lot for us to give up the convenience of our twist-off cap. But we’ve researched and tested oxygen ingress through crown lining material since 1991 and continued until we found a new material that substantially reduced it.� “We are one of the few brewers in the world who go to the trouble and expense of using nothing but whole cone hops, and hops are one of the first things to lose flavor when oxygen hits the beer,� said Grossman. “If the beer doesn’t reach the consumer in the freshest state possible, all of our time and efforts are wasted.� - From ProBrewer Category: News -- posted at: 2:06 AM Comments[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fri, 6 April 2007 Beer Enthusiasts, It seems more and more states are looking to increase your beer taxes. Now, I'm not a tax expert, but I can't help but think some of these states (like Oregon) are going about this the wrong way. Below is the state-by-state tax info for the US
If you're into this kind of stuff, don't forget to also check out Beer Serves America for your state's beer industry info. If you have concerns or opinions regarding beer taxation, make sure to let your representative know. Category: News -- posted at: 2:18 PM Comments[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mon, 2 April 2007
A-B Continues Faux Craft Brands
Look-alike craft beers sold only in regional markets Anheuser-Busch has introduced a new �specialty� faux craft beer called Skipjack Amber. Brewed at the A-B Williamsburg brewery, the beer will be sold only in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Williamsburg creation is the sixth such regional beer brand in an effort to let its breweries develop new regional products aimed at slowing the market share growth of authentic craft beer. Anheuser-Busch has tried in the past to branch into niche alcohol markets with products such as B-to-the-E, beer enhanced with caffeine and ginseng, specialty drinks and with its recent acquisition of import brands from InBev. A team led by brewmaster Dan Driskill created Skipjack Amber, which is named as an homage to the Chesapeake Bay sailboat. The beer is described as "medium-bodied beer characterized by a rich caramel and roasted nut taste" that is "balanced by a complex blend of citrus, floral and spicy hop aromas." Anheuser-Busch has started selling six new beers over the past year in different parts of the country surrounding a brewery. For example, the Collins, Colo., Anheuser-Busch brewery recently introduced Ascent 54, which will only be available in Colorado. Skipjack Amber will have an eye-catching tap handle featuring a fish wearing sunglasses and holding the beer and a plaque with a picture of a skipjack sailboat. The Williamsburg group designed the tap and the brand, not just the beer. The beer will initially be available on draught in select bars and restaurants in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee. ---- From ProBrewer News Category: News -- posted at: 1:55 AM Comments[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wed, 28 March 2007  May 12, 2007Rick will hopefully be sitting down with Glynn Phillips, owner of Sacramento's Rubicon Brewing Company, to discuss this new beer festival in Northern California. Till then, here's the basic info. The Raley Field Brewfest will feature over 30 of the best breweries from throughout Northern California, and include live music. One ticket is valid for up to 10 tastings. Additional tastings can be purchased on-site. Tickets are just $25, a savings of $5 off the event day price. To order, follow these steps: Click here and Follow the prompts to purchase your event tickets. Category: News -- posted at: 1:15 PM Comments[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fri, 23 March 2007 Results are in and, while I won't get into a lot of detail, PBN is ready to share them with the world. The game was simple - choose what beer you'd rather have a pint of, then repeat the process till you had a beer that was worthy of being called winner. Here you go. THE IMBIBING EIGHT NORTHWEST BRACKET Sierra Nevada Bigfoot vs Anchor Porter SOUTHWEST BRACKETAlaska Smoked Porter vs Stone Imperial Stout NORTHEAST BRACKETSierra Nevada Celebration vs Bear Republic Racer 5 SOUTHWEST BRACKET North Coast Old Rasputin vs Moylan's Hopsickle THE FLAVORFUL FOURWEST Sierra Nevada Bigfoot vs Alaskan Smoked Porter EASTBear Republic Racer 5 vs Hopsickle FINALSSierra Nevada Bigfoot vs Bear Republic Racer 5 WINNERBear Republic Racer 5 You can purchase Racer 5 online and support PBN at the same time, using the Liquid Solutions link below. Bear Republic Racer 5 Category: News -- posted at: 2:43 AM Comments[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sun, 18 February 2007 The results are in! If you didn't make it this year, you need to put it on your calendar for 2008, this is truly an amazing event for beer enthusiasts. The Winners:
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot I wish I could describe the scene for you all, but you just need to be here. 55 Barleywines On Tap under one roof. You can't ask for a better event.Midnight Sun Arctic Devil Mad River John Barleycorn Cucupa Barley Wine Big Sky Brewing Old Bluehair Category: News -- posted at: 2:06 PM Comments[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tue, 5 December 2006 This just in: In just 5 months of sales for 2006, Deschutes Brewery (Bend, Oregon) has the #1 fastest growing beer in America - Inversion IPA. We at PBN have sampled this beer on more than one occasion and find this to be great news for Deschutes and the Beer Industry overall. If you haven't tried this beer yet, find out why so many of your beer enthusiast buddies have made this beer so popular. Category: News -- posted at: 1:48 PM Comments[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tue, 5 December 2006 Last night (January 9) was truly an amazing
gathering of regional beer geeks, headlined by Hildegard and Bas van Ostaden
of the Belgium brewery, Brouwerij de Leyerth (Urthel). It has been said
that Hildegard is the first European brewer to admit to brewing beers
influenced by the great American craft brewed beers, and the four beers she
provided for sampling were all interesting and unique in their own way.
She brought a Bock beer (common in Germany) with a Belgian influence - which
means it finished sweet and had a wonderful caramel and spice flavor (German
bocks typically finish dry and have a different flavor profile, similar to
stone fruits). She also had a Belgian IPA, a big beer in every way with
a wonderful flavor of hops and a sweet bready character. She also brought a Quadrupel, a very high alcohol beer, with a great story - her business partner/husband had asked her to make this beer (for the first time) just before asking for her hand in marriage. Story had it the she agreed to make the beer a lot faster than the nod of acceptance - of course this was told with tongue firmly in cheek. Hildegard also taught those in attendance about the Urthel, a Belgian troll who is credited for making the great beers of the region. She introduced us to their language (Pache is how Belgian's salute their friends when lifting a pint, similar to "cheers" or "prost" or "salud") and their general lifestyles - they are rumored to be a fun loving bunch and you'll find them wherever good beer is made. The Vino's location was outstanding, with a fully catered buffet of fine finger food and an ambience that was inviting, relaxing and enjoyable - it was a great celebration of beer and friendships. The owner of Vino's, Sean Hunter, frequently hosts winery and brewery tastings and has mastered the art of warm welcomes and fond farewells. If you haven't been there, it's a must see for lovers of fine wines, hand crafted beer and artisan cheese. Category: News -- posted at: 1:42 PM Comments[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mon, 4 December 2006 Belgian Beer Night With Urthel Brewmaster Tuesday, January 9th 3-6 PM Vino's Wine and Cheese 973 Pleasant Grove Blvd, Roseville $10 per person includes drinks and appetizers Hildegard (the Brewster) of Brouwerij De Leyerth (Urthel) is currently touring the US breweries and lecturing at stops along the way. On Tuesday she will be in town for a few hours and she is coming to Roseville to share four of her beers and promote the brewery by discussing the beers and brewery itself. Belgian beers are unique, and these will be no exception. Generally made with a bit of candy sugar and heavy malt bills, these beers have a pretty shockingly light body while displaying a lot of caramel flavor with a touch of peppery spiciness from the yeast strains they use. Unlike US beers, the hops are not the showcase here - which means the beers are not citrusy, floral and bitter like we prefer in American craft beers. Belgium is one of the prize beer brewing regions of the world, right up there with the Bavarian region of Germany. This event is for lovers of fine drink and fine food. Vino's is an upscale wine bar that sells only the best in California beer as well. This event will provide the samples and the appetizers (media pays nothing, of course, but there is a 10 dollar cover charge to pay for the food and drink), and Vino's will also have goodies for folks to take home - beer, glassware and maybe even shirts (not really certain what will be there). This weekend she is a keynote speaker for a dinner in San Francisco, tickets to see her then are 80 dollars each (which did include food). At 10 dollars a person, I think area folks will get more than they pay for. It should be a great time. Sacramento (and Northern California) is quickly becoming a top-notch beer region, with two regional brewers taking home Best Brewer honors from the Great American Beer Fest the last two years. For a person of this stature to beer here is a great way for regional enthusiasts to learn more about beer in general, while also supporting a great local business (I am not affiliated with Vino's, I promise). I do hope you can make it, I think you'd be impressed. More info at www.pacificbrewnews.com Category: News -- posted at: 5:19 PM Comments[0] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
