Dry Dock Brewing Company Releases 2015 Double Hazelnut Brown Ale

AURORA, CO— Dry Dock Brewing Company will release the Double Hazelnut Brown Ale tomorrow. This full-bodied Double Brown Ale was aged in whiskey barrels for 10 months, imparting notes of vanilla and oak. It has added hazelnut, which creates its earthy, nutty complexity and caramel, toffee-forward aroma. It weighs in at 8 percent ABV with 30 IBUs.

Double Hazelnut Brown Ale will tap at Canoe Room at North Dock at 2801 Tower Road, Aurora, 80011 on Thursday, October 1 at 2pm. It will be available on draft and in bombers at North Dock throughout the weekend. Double Hazelnut Brown Ale will then be available at South Dock and in liquor stores across Colorado in mid-October. Less than 200 cases of this beer will be distributed throughout the state. 

Double Hazelnut Brown Ale first debuted in 2014 as part of the Signature Series, a collection of barrel-aged double and imperial beers. It is the third of six Signature Series beers that Dry Dock will release in  2015.

There is a complete beer description with suggested food pairings below. For more information about the Signature Series beers, or with any other media inquiries, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@drydockbrewing.com.

Double Hazelnut Brown Ale

8% ALC/VOL 30 IBU

This full-bodied Double Brown Ale is aged in whiskey barrels with added hazelnut, which creates its earthy, nutty complexity and caramel, toffee-forward aroma.

food pairing suggestions: Barbecued duck, pepper steak, spicy food, Thai food, aged Gouda cheese, walnut cake, pecan ice cream.

ABOUT DRY DOCK BREWING CO.

Dry Dock Brewing Company was the first brewery in Aurora, Colorado that began as a small speakeasy-style bar next door to its sister business, The Brew Hut, at 15120 E. Hampden Avenue. To-date, it’s one of Colorado’s top producing breweries made possible by its second production and canning facility North Dock, the closest Colorado craft brewery to the airport. Dry Dock will celebrate its 10th anniversary next month.

Follow Dry Dock on Facebook at http://ift.tt/15pt9vr and on Instagram and Twitter @DryDockBrewing.

The post Dry Dock Brewing Company Releases 2015 Double Hazelnut Brown Ale appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1KSKkDL
via IFTTT

Nebraska Brewing Company Declares Gridiron Food Fight

World Class in Every Glass
(Papillion, NE) – Nebraska Brewing Company is marking the Husker football season in a very unique way. Each week at the Nebraska Brewing Company brewpub located in Shadow Lake Towne Center, Chef Adam Graybill will be preparing a special head to head food challenge pitting a Nebraska based dish versus a dish from the opponent team’s state. Guests can then vote for their favorite dish in a real live Food Fight challenge.
Week 1 highlighted the Husker Smoked Reuben Slider vs. the BYU Pastrami Slider, with the Smoked Reuben edging out the Pastrami Slider. Week 2 featured Nebraska grown Kimmel Orchard Apple Turnovers vs. Alabama Peach Cobbler, with the apple turnovers victorious.
Week 3 on Saturday September 19 will bring a very unique challenge to the pub with the Chef preparing an marinated flank steak taco that will challenge the Miami Hurricane Alligator Taco. Each week thereafter will highlight specialty dishes for guests to enjoy while catching the game at the brewpub. The menus will be published weekly on the company’s Facebook page and in the Events calendar on the web page at http://ift.tt/1tr7nQs.
Kim Kavulak, Vice President of Nebraska Brewing Company added: “We are always excited about Husker Football Season. With that, we are continually looking for distinctive ways to involve our guests and create a fun atmosphere to cheer the Huskers on to victory. We thought this would be a fun way to bring all of the elements of football season together.”
Head Chef, Adam Graybill added, “The Food Fight allows me to be creative in ways that day to day operations don’t always allow. I’ll use this challenge to create new distinctive dishes that might find their way to future menus. It’s always exciting to let the guests have their vote in something so creative and fun. We have some of the best guests around, so they can be the judge of these awesome dishes!”
Guests at the Nebraska Brewing Company Tap Room located at 108th & Harrison can also participate by purchasing the Nebraska half of each week’s challenge. Husker Koolaid ,a specialty drink created by the brewpub’s bartenders is also available in both locations.
Nebraska Brewing Company was formed in November of 2007 and has established itself as a Midwest Innovator of quality Craft Beers and artisanal Barrel-­‐Aged Products. Building on a reputation for quality, flavor, and creativity, Nebraska Brewing Company strives to be a stand-­‐out in an ever growing field. Nebraska Brewing Company is proud to be locally owned and locally operated.
Small, independent, and pushing the envelope.
For media interviews or additional information please contact Kim Kavulak
kim@nebraskabrewingco.com.

The post Nebraska Brewing Company Declares Gridiron Food Fight appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1JDPod8
via IFTTT

Nebraska Brewing Company Announces Gold Medal at Great American Beer Festival

World Class in Every Glass®
(Papillion, NE) – Nebraska Brewing Company was awarded the Gold Medal for Reserve Series Mélange a Trois Belgian Golden Strong Ale in the Category of Wood and Barrel Aged Strong Beer at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition held in Denver, Colorado.
Presented by the Brewers Association, GABF is the largest commercial beer competition in the world and a symbol of brewing excellence. In its 29th year, the 2015 competition surpassed all previous participation records, exceeding last year’s record-­‐setting competition in 96 categories covering 145 beer styles, and 6,647 competition entries from 1,552 breweries.
The Wood and Barrel Aged Strong Beer category was the 3rd most competitive of the overall competition with a total of 179 entries.
Nebraska Brewing Company’s Reserve Series line is comprised of beers aged in Chardonnay, Whiskey, Brandy, and Rum barrels. In 2014, Nebraska Brewing Company brought online its new brewery and production facility which provides for the scale needed to service its expansive distribution footprint. The new facility also established a large expansion of the barrel aging program which is now entering the maturation and packaging phases allowing for additional product to be distributed to all markets. All beers in the Nebraska Brewing Company Reserve Series rate 96 to 99 points while the core IPA rates a solid 95. Additionally, Cardinal Pale Ale garnered Gold at the coveted European Beer Star Awards and is currently the #1 ranked Pale Ale in Europe based upon this year’s competition.
Paul Kavulak, President of Nebraska Brewing Company stated: “To say we are beyond thrilled with another GABF Gold Medal is a complete understatement. This is the 3rd Great American Beer Fest medal and the 2nd Gold for our Reserve Series Mélange a Trois and demonstrates a level of quality control and consistency that we completely pride ourselves upon.” Adding further, “We’re from a locale that was previously not known for beers of an elevated stature. We feel grateful that both consumers and judges appreciate the beers as we do. This level of appreciation propels us and embraces our creative spirit.”
Kim Kavulak, Vice President of Nebraska Brewing Company added: “GABF Gold is the standard every brewer strives for when brewing beers for competition. Winning 2 GABF Gold medals for Melange A Trois says that we are making a beer that is amazingly different than many barrel aged beers. Using the barrels for the character imparted by the wine opens these types of beers to a whole different consumer and judges agree that this beer is one of a kind. We are humbled by recognition of the beer and the work of our brewing team.”
The full list and a recap of the GABF Competition can be found here: http://ift.tt/1VoLJMt
Nebraska Brewing Company was formed in November of 2007 and has established itself as a Midwest Innovator of quality Craft Beers and artisanal Barrel-­‐Aged Products. Building on a reputation for quality, flavor, and creativity, Nebraska Brewing Company strives to be a stand-­‐out in an ever growing field. Nebraska Brewing Company is proud to be locally owned and locally operated.
Small, independent, and pushing the envelope.

The post Nebraska Brewing Company Announces Gold Medal at Great American Beer Festival appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1OHhoo7
via IFTTT

Saint Arnold Wins 21st Great American Beer Festival Medal in 21st Year

GABF medals symbolize excellence in brewing and no Texas brewery has more

HOUSTON, September 30, 2015 – Oktoberfest has always been a big deal for Saint Arnold Brewing Co. (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, but this year the celebration of all things German will be more special. For the third year in a row, judges at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) awarded a medal to Saint Arnold Weedwacker in the German-Style Wheat Ale category. This year’s medal was gold. It is Saint Arnold’s 21st GABF medal, a record for any Texas craft brewery.

Saint Arnold Weedwacker was among 15 Texas craft beers recognized with GABF medals. Weedwacker is light and refreshing with a spicy clove note and some banana esters that come from the use of Bavarian hefeweizen yeast. Four separate additions of Hallertauer Hersbrucker hops contribute to Weedwacker’s delicate flavor and aroma.

“It is a great feeling for our entire team when we bring home any medal from the GABF, but a gold medal is especially gratifying,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “Winning medals is harder and harder every year as more breweries open and the number of beers entered increases. We enjoyed celebrating our win with all of the other Texas breweries and there were a lot of us in Denver last week.”

Saint Arnold Weedwacker was originally released in 2010 as part of the brewery’s educational “Movable Yeast” series. It started the same as Saint Arnold Lawnmower, but instead of pitching the wort (unfermented beer) with Saint Arnold’s proprietary yeast, Weedwacker is pitched with Bavarian hefeweizen yeast. Saint Arnold responded to strong positive feedback by making Weedwacker a year-round beer in 2011.

Saint Arnold Weedwacker will be featured at the brewery’s annual Oktoberfest celebration, which runs this Friday and Saturday October 2nd and 3rd from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The sold-out event offers wonderful photo opportunities each night when hundreds of craft beer lovers donning traditional Bavarian clothing (called “Tracht”) such as dirndl dresses, lederhosen and German alpine hats converge on the brewery’s tour hall. In addition to Weedwacker, Saint Arnold Oktoberfest and other Saint Arnold beers, Saint Arnold Chef Ryan Savoie will prepare a special German dinner.

The following photos are available for download:
• Brock Wagner with GABF Gold: http://ift.tt/1Gji8b8
• Saint Arnold Weedwacker bottle: http://ift.tt/1VoLJvR
• 2014 Saint Arnold Oktoberfest party: http://ift.tt/1Gji8ba

On Twitter, follow @saintarnold
On Facebook, like http://ift.tt/1hitVvg
On Instagram, follow @saintarnoldbrewing

About Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold Brewing’s 16 brews are made and sold by the company’s staff of 80 dedicated employees. Ranked 46th on the Brewers Association list of top craft breweries, Saint Arnold was listed by USA Today as one of the “10 great places to see what’s brewing in beer,” and Smart Meetings magazine named it among the “Top 5 breweries to host an event.” Saint Arnold is located at 2000 Lyons Avenue and its brewery tour and tasting is offered every weekday at 3:00 P.M. and Saturdays starting at 11 A.M. For more information on Saint Arnold’s eight year-round and five seasonal beers as well as root beer, log on to www.saintarnold.com.

The post Saint Arnold Wins 21st Great American Beer Festival Medal in 21st Year appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1N2hu9M
via IFTTT

Bitter & Esters Hosts Benefit for Ales for ALS - via AHA

NYC homebrew shop brings homebrewers together in support of a great cause.

Brooklyn-based homebrew supply shop, Bitter & Esters is participating in charity event Ales for ALS, a collaboation between Loftus Ranches, Yakima Chief-Hopunion and homebrewers around the country, to fund the research of ALS through the exploration of a brand new hop variety, HBC 438.

You might remember HBC 438 from the 2015 National Homebrewers Conference or Stan Hieronymus’ recent HomebrewersAssociation.org article on the new hop variety. This hop has been described as having characteristics of stone fruit, tropical fruit, orange, mint and herbs.

Bitter & Esters teamed up with NYC homebrew club the Brewminaries to create various styles of beer using the HBC 438. On October 29, the beers will be available to sample and ticket proceeds will be donated to Ales for ALS.

For more information on the event, including tickets, download the full Bitter & Esters press release.

The post Bitter & Esters Hosts Benefit for Ales for ALS appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

from American Homebrewers Association http://ift.tt/1L4JoQb
via IFTTT

Win Free Beer for Life | Beer Drinker of the Year 2016

Wynkoop Brewing Co. is searching for 2016’s Beer Drinker of the Year. Finalists win a trip to Denver for the National Finals and winner receives free beer for life at the Wynkoop Brewing Co.

The Beer Drinker of the Year is not only someone who truly enjoys, appreciates (and drinks) beer, but knows a great deal about beer, how it’s made, its legend and lore and can demonstrate the range and depth of their beeriness.

Show us why you think you should qualify for Wynkoop’s 2016 Beer Drinker of the Year title with your video submission now on the BDOY website: www.WynkoopBDOY.com

The post Win Free Beer for Life | Beer Drinker of the Year 2016 appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1M2nXvx
via IFTTT

Coachella Valley Brewing Company Celebrates Second Anniversary With Significant Success, Growth, and Multi-State Distribution

Thousand Palms – September 14, 2015 – Locally owned and operated Coachella Valley Brewing Co (CVB) will celebrate its second anniversary of craft beer brewing at its Thousand Palms brewery in October. The first two years of business have brought the company numerous accomplishments, including increased distribution, multiple industry awards, and doubled sales from the previous year.

To celebrate its second anniversary with devoted fans and the community, CVB will hold a beer festival-style party at its brewery with live music and food vendors on Saturday, October 17, 2015 from 2 – 9 p.m.

David Humphrey, CVB Co-founder and CEO, said: “I’m so proud of what the brewery has been able to accomplish in just two short years. We have positioned ourselves for growth without compromising our core values – producing beer that reflects our valley and all that makes it special. The past two years have been an amazing journey and our upcoming celebration is about great beer and the great Coachella community that we live in.”

Since opening its doors in August 2013, CVB has achieved significant success:

• Became the first fully-dedicated ABC license ‘Type 23’ brewery in the region;
• Secured statewide distribution with Young’s Market Company of California and Arizona;
• Earned a 2014 silver medal for Monumentous IPA in CVB’s first competition at the Los Angeles International Commercial Beer Competition; and earned a 2015 gold medal for Monumentous IPA;
• Earned 2015 gold medals for Monument on Fire and Phoenix at the Los Angeles International Commercial Beer Competition;
• Secured more than 100 tap handles in the Coachella Valley;
• Featured in more than 900 out-of-valley accounts;
• Featured on draught in key accounts, including Downtown Disney, LA Live/Staples Center, and locations in downtown Los Angeles and San Jose;
• Featured at the world-renowned Coachella Music and Arts Festival for two years in a row;
• Transitioned three core brands into 6-pack long necks for greater distribution;
• Selected to pour at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado two years in a row; and selected as a presenter at the Great American Beer Festival on the topic of brewery efficiency;
• Started extensive small batch barrel aging and sour program using local ingredients from farmers within the Coachella Valley.
• Voted the “Best Brewery” in the Coachella Valley by CV Weekly;
• Named as a top 12 brewery in the California by the Culturetrip.com
• Awarded most commercial water-friendly business in the Coachella Valley by the Coachella Valley Water District.

Chris Anderson, CVB’s Head Brewer and Chief Operating Officer, said: “We attribute the brewery’s success to quality beer matched with a quality brand. But most importantly, the hardworking team at the brewery is what really makes CVB great.”

Martin Wadley, Vice President, Beer, Young’s Market Company, said: “Young’s Market Company is proud to represent Coachella Valley Brewing Co and congratulates the brewery as they celebrate their second anniversary. Over the past two years, CVB has proven to be a strong and valued addition to Young’s portfolio. CVB is doing a great job competing in California – one of the most competitive beer markets in the country – and CVB is winning by offering consistent, creative and award-winning beers.”

The anniversary celebration will be held at Coachella Valley Brewing Co at 30650 Gunther St., Thousand Palms, from 2 – 9 p.m. Attendees will receive a free souvenir tasting glass, along with 12 beer tastings for the $20 admission price. Coachella Valley Brewing Co promises great fun and most of all great, local craft beer at the event. For more information, visit www.cvbco.com or call the brewery at 760.343.5973.

About Coachella Valley Brewing Co

Since opening its doors on August 30, 2013, Coachella Valley Brewing Co has grown from a small lofty notion into a full-fledged reality. Locally owned and operated in Thousand Palms, California, Coachella Valley Brewing Co is committed to crafting beer that showcases the agriculture and attitudes of the desert. Locally grown, quality ingredients are used to create expertly crafted beers that deliver exceptional taste and a ‘farm to glass’ experience. For more information: 760.343.5973 or www.cvbco.com. CVB is located at 30640 Gunther St., Thousand Palms, CA, 92276.

The post Coachella Valley Brewing Company Celebrates Second Anniversary With Significant Success, Growth, and Multi-State Distribution appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1KSrdtv
via IFTTT

Craft Brewers Acquire 2 of 3 Medals in Mega Brewer-Dominated Light Lager Category at GABF

If there is ever a sure thing at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition it’s that medals in the American Lager category will most likely belong to the global breweries. So it came as a surprise to me at last week’s GABF awards ceremony that the first two breweries named as silver and bronze winners in category 37 did not start with the letters B, M, C or P.

In fact, one would have to go back to 1993 and 1998 to find years when one of three medals were given to a brewing company that was not owned by the “Big Three” or Pabst. To add to this feat, this is the first time that small and independent craft brewers earned the majority of medals in this category.

2015 Great American Beer Festival Category 37 Winners

“Now hold on, Andy,” you are probably thinking, “Why is this significant? As craft beer fans, we’ve rejected all things ‘light’ in favor of robust or imperial. How is this a ‘win’ for craft?”

As the global brewers feel the heat from small and independent craft brewers, they have adopted a “if you can’t beat them, buy them” strategy, picking off craft brewers who have decided to cash out on the craft trend. In doing so, the big brewers hope that they will have new access to the once impenetrable craft strongholds, further blurring the lines between them and true independent craft brewers.

It is this tactic, along with the fact that the vast majority of the world still is only accustomed to light lager, they hope to steal Austin Power’s mojo.

The detractors of craft beer stick to the claim that consistent light lager is extremely difficult to make—especially on a global scale—and it is. But, could these medals signal that American craft brewers have now mastered the one trade secret global brewers are desperately holding on to?

2015 Great American Beer Festival Competition Awards Ceremony

The Appeal of Light Lager

Having a beer that appeals universally offers newcomers an incentive to venture into their local tap room. A light lager allows brewers to introduce and educate first-time patrons with a beer that seems familiar to them. This potential glimpse into the world of American craft beer hopefully inspires them to sample other similar “fizzy, yellow beers” with pride as they support a locally-owned business and their community.

As pundits and Chicken Littles point to a rash of acquisitions as the endgame for craft beer, I see the purchases as opportunities for beer fans to recognize what’s truly great about craft-brewed beer by independent breweries.

On the other side, the growing number of craft breweries (now more than 4,000) encourages differentiation and collaboration as the craft segment welcomes new breweries to the tune of 1.9 a day in the U.S.

Additionally, beer drinkers continue to appreciate well-made lagers and session beers, the future of craft beer is bright and shiny, like Lone Tree Brewing Co.’s silver medal for Lone Tree Mexican Lager, and strong and sturdy like the bronze medal-winning Southern Girl Lager from Sycamore Brewing.

These medals show that small brewers continue to prove they are here to stay, and while it is difficult to brew light lagers, craft brewers aren’t just attempting them, they’re brewing world-class examples.

Read the official press release to learn more about the Great American Beer Festival and see the 2015 winners list.

The post Craft Brewers Acquire 2 of 3 Medals in Mega Brewer-Dominated Light Lager Category at GABF appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1O8r1wa
via IFTTT

Door County Brewing Co. Announces Silurian Stout with Vanilla

Baileys Harbor, WI – Door County Brewing Company is excited to announce the award-winning Silurian Stout with Vanilla will be available October 1. Head Brewer, Danny McMahon’s milk stout recipe took home the St. Paul’s People’s Choice Award at this year’s St. Paul Summer Beer Fest.

“We were very happy to announce Door County Brewing Co. as this year’s People’s Choice Award winner when we tallied the votes,” said Mark Opdahl, co-founder of festival. “It’s so great to add new local and regional breweries each year, and it’s really fun when those breweries are making beers that are consistently delicious.”

Historically, milk stouts are brewed with lactose, a sugar derived from milk. Because lactose is unfermentable by beer yeast, it adds sweetness and body to the finished beer. In addition to brewing with dark and chocolate malts for a hint of chocolate and coffee, Door County Brewing Co. expanded on this tradition by aging the beer with vanilla beans.

Available October-May at an ABV of 5.7%, Silurian Stout with Vanilla is a medium-bodied stout that exhibits notes of chocolate, coffee and vanilla with a very soft and velvety mouthfeel. It has a moderately drying finish with a decent earthy bitterness that balances nicely with the flavors, giving tons of depth to this stout.

Press Images

More About Door County Brewing Co.

 

The post Door County Brewing Co. Announces Silurian Stout with Vanilla appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1O8r3Eb
via IFTTT

GABF Medal Winners Analyzed, 2015 - Via Brewers Association

One of my favorite data sets to analyze every year is the GABF medal winners. Why? If you’re going to spend a huge chunk of your time looking at 1’s and 0’s, it really helps when you can remember that those numbers are representative of the best beers in the world. Before starting, it’s worth […]

Read More

The post GABF Medal Winners Analyzed, 2015 appeared first on Brewers Association.

from Brewers Association http://ift.tt/1KMpo3a
via IFTTT

The Unknown Brewing Co.

In 2011, when owner and head brewer Brad Shell first started scouting Charlotte, N.C. as a location to open The Unknown Brewing Co., the Queen City had four breweries (this was up from one brewery in 2009). Today, Charlotte boasts over a dozen breweries in the metro area, with new brewery openings announced monthly. While it may be easy to get lost in such an expanding environment, there’s nothing “unknown” about Unknown.

Unknown entered the Charlotte market with a rather bold declaration that they aimed to deliver world-class beers from the very start. As their website states, “Our job is to stand out. We are the open road with no destination. We are your first kiss or your last time jumping out of an airplane, or whatever your wildest adventure is. We are The Unknown.”

While those are audacious statements to make, Brad did have the resume to back them up. Prior to opening Unknown, he spent ten years brewing for flagship craft breweries like Terrapin Beer Co., Sweetwater Brewery and Rogue Ales. Yet, he still chose to branch out from such regional and national powerhouses to start his own brewery.

According to Brad, “Working for breweries for me was like drafting a very fast car. It will teach you the best lines and help avoid some of the really bad crashes in the race. But at some point, you have to run your own race. I couldn’t wait to pull out into some clean air and see what the hell was under my hood, figuratively speaking.”

Charlotte was the ideal choice for him because of its central location for distribution. He also said that, “It has a great vibe with people moving here from around the country who have an insatiable appetite for great beer. I’m proud to be one of the many breweries that is putting Charlotte on the map.”

The Beers of the Unknown

Under the shadow of Bank of America Stadium, home to the Carolina Panthers, Unknown pleases customers with three year-round standards, which includes Pre-Game Session Ale to help fire up fans on game day.

Unknown lives up to its claims of pushing the limits of beer with more experimental offerings like Hospitali-Tea brewed with black tea leaves and sweet orange blossom honey and Escorpion en Fuego brewed with agave nectar, serrano peppers, and 99 real scorpions and aged with tequila oak staves.

Besides pleasing game day crowds and brewing rather interesting beers, there are also sour and barrel aging projects in the works as Unknown continues to push boundaries.

Unknown has also helped entertain the craft beer community and Charlotte’s Gold District with unique events. To announce the release of Vehopciraptor double IPA, the brewery staged a flash mob at a local food truck rally to march around as dinosaurs. Unknown has also hosted a pantless run where participants droped their drawers on Charlotte’s light rail and paraded back to the brewery in their skivvies with a funk band. The fun continued with a pantless drinking party at the brewery.

Why the crazy antics and wild beers? “I want people to understand the point of The Unknown is to try different things, to live their lives to the fullest and to experience all that it has to offer. Live without boundaries!!!” Brad says.

Patrons don’t need to walk around pantless or act like a dinosaur to enjoy The Unknown. Most nights customers can be found drinking beer on the patio or playing games in the throwback arcade while sipping an Unknown brew paired with a snack or dinner from a food truck.

---

Bryan Richards is a craft beer, food and travel writer. He’s followed his taste buds across five continents, 20 countries, and 71 cities. When he’s not traversing the globe, he enjoys the craft beer scene in his hometown of Charlotte, N.C., and experimenting in the kitchen with his wife. He’s also the author of The Wandering Gourmand, a culinary and craft beer travel blog.

The post The Unknown Brewing Co. appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1O2vFKA
via IFTTT

Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Clone - via AHA

To brew this Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ clone, use 1 gallon gypsum to treat distilled or RO water. Mash with rice hulls to aid with lautering if desired. Use a single infusion mash at 150°F (66°C), no mash out. Do a 90 minute boil and follow hop schedule.

Primary fermentation at 67°F (19°C). Dry hop five days in primary.

Filter if you have the means, fine with gelatin in secondary if you don’t.

Drink as fresh as possible (~2-3 weeks after packaging) for maximum dry hop character.

The post Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Clone appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

from American Homebrewers Association http://ift.tt/1LPhvw0
via IFTTT

BA EDP Participating in BrauBeviale Nuremberg Germany - Via Brewers Association

The Brewers Association’s Export Development Program is planning to participate in the BrauBeviale in Nuremberg Germany, showcasing the latest developments in beverage technology, beverage production and the beverage industry.  Details of the opportunity are below: Event: BrauBeviale Date and Location: November 10-15, 2015, Nuremberg, Germany http://ift.tt/1iLzLL2 Details: The BA will be displaying an assortment of […]

Read More

The post BA EDP Participating in BrauBeviale Nuremberg Germany appeared first on Brewers Association.

from Brewers Association http://ift.tt/1WyiiVx
via IFTTT

U.S. Brewery Count Surpasses 4,000

The Brewers Association (publishers of CraftBeer.com) recently announced that there are now more than 4,000 active breweries in the association’s database. America is once again approaching the historical high count of 4,131 breweries in 1873.

Brewers Association Chief Economist Bart Watson shares a bit about the current brewery count and the pace of brewery openings in his recent blog post on BrewersAssociation.org:

“Given the strong pace of openings (approximately two openings/day with a net increase of 1.9/day factoring in closings), it is likely that later in 2015, or early in 2016, there will be more active breweries in the United States than at any point in our nation’s history.”

One of the first questions that immediately comes to mind when hearing the number 4,000 breweries is: can America support the rate of growth of the brewing industry? While emphasizing differentiation and quality as key factors to success, Watson continues to state that there is room for new breweries–and of course has numbers to support outlook:

“There are now breweries in more than 2,000 unique cities across all 50 states. At the same time, there are also nearly 1,000 cities with a population of more than 10,000 that don’t have a local brewery yet, and numerous neighborhoods in larger cities without a local brewpub or taproom.”

Read more from Dr. Bart in “U.S. Passes 4,000 Breweries.”

The post U.S. Brewery Count Surpasses 4,000 appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1QK1FSU
via IFTTT

Discover Huntsville!

Known as America’s Space and Rocket City, Huntsville (Alabama), isn’t just the home to NASA’s largest research facility, it’s home to a batch of “out of this world” breweries. Since the passage of the “Gourmet Beer Bill” in 2009, Huntsville has launched an exceptional craft beer scene, that continues to rapidly grow. If you happen to be in Huntsville during October, be sure to check out the Pro Bono Brew Fest on October 23rd for an exceptional line from local breweries as well as the first ever Downtown Huntsville High Gravity Tasting Experience on October 18th which will feature high gravity tastings from over 15 different Alabama breweries!

Get a taste of these space-age suds and you can unlock our brand new “SpaceCrafted” badge. Check-in to one (1) beer from any of these eight Huntsville-based breweries during the month of October and it’s yours!

• Rocket Republic Brewing Company
• Straight to Ale Brewing
• Yellowhammer Brewing
• Blue Pants Brewery
• The Brew Stooges
• Salty Nut Brewery
• Old Black Bear Brewing Company
• Below the Radar Brewhouse

To learn more about Huntsville, head over to http://ift.tt/1PNDBOF or http://ift.tt/1fR0IUr!

from Untappd - Drink Socially http://ift.tt/1Ghiz5E
via IFTTT

Battle of the Bottle Labels 2015 - via AHA

It’s time for the second annual Battle of the Bottle Labels! We’ve teamed up with GrogTag again to find the most creative, homebrew-inspired bottle labels out there.

Submit your custom bottle label design and let the public decide if you are worthy of being the 2015 Battle of the Bottle Labels champion.

In the meantime, check out the 2014 Battle of the Bottle Labels winners.

The Grand Prize

The grand prize winner will receive the following prize package courtesy of our friends at GrogTag:

• 48 oval or square customizable and reusable bottle labels (with necker)
• 2 customizable keg labels
• 50 customizable bottle caps
• 1 custom metal sign

The runner up will receive 48 oval or square customizable and reusable bottle labels and one set of customizable keg labels.

How to Enter

Sponsored by GrogtTag

 

Please read through the Bottle Label Contest Giveaway Rules and Submission Guidelines prior to entering.

1. Bottle label submissions will be accepted from Sept. 29 through Oct. 13, 2015.
2. The AHA will select nine finalists to advance to the final round, along with the three winners from GrogTag’s bottle label competition during the 2015 National Homebrewers Conference.
3. Voting will take place on HomebrewersAssociation.org from Oct. 15 through Oct. 29, 2015.
4. Winners will be selected by popular vote and announced after October 29.

Enter Your Homebrew Bottle Label

2014 Finalists

 

Submission Guidelines

IMPORTANT: Label submissions should be in a format ready to be printed on GrogTag’s reusable beer bottle labels. See GrogTag’s website for complete information on sizing and resolution.

We also recommend checking out GrogTag’s downloadable label templates. Necker designs (the label that goes on the neck) are not required, but encouraged. If including a necker, please showcase both in the style of GrogTag’s template. Please do not submit pictures of labels on beer bottles.

Giveaway Rules

1. Label must be for a homebrew-inspired beer and cannot have been used for a commercial product.
2. There is no cap on how many labels a person can submit, but only one can advance to the final round for public voting.
3. Must be 21 years of age or older. This promotion is void where prohibited by law. No other accommodations will be provided for this giveaway.
4. Finalists will be chosen by the American Homebrewers Association staff. The grand prize winners and runner-up will be determined by popular vote.
5. Winners will be announced after October 29, 2015.
6. The American Homebrewers Association reserves the right to suspend, cancel or modify this contest or disqualify any participant at any time if they determine at their sole discretion that for any reason the contest cannot be run as originally planned or if fraud, noncompliance with contest rules or any other concurrence compromises the fairness or integrity of the contest.
7. The prize cannot be transferred, substituted or redeemed for cash.

The post Battle of the Bottle Labels 2015 appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

from American Homebrewers Association http://ift.tt/1L2Bd6O
via IFTTT

Normal is Nothin’

Break out of your normal beer routine and try something far from it. In fact normal is nothin’ at Abita, a brewery inspired by the rich uniqueness of nearby New Orleans. With a culture all their own, the people of New Orleans revel in the idea of going against the grain - unless that grain is used in one of Abita’s delicious beers - and why not? Mixing things up once in a while can lead to some new favorite brews.

Raise a toast with Abita to breaking the norm and unlock the “Abita: Normal is Nothin’” badge. Check-in to at least two (2) different beers from Abita between October 1st - November 15th and it’s all yours!

Learn more about and find Abita near you over at https://abita.com and be sure to connect on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

from Untappd - Drink Socially http://ift.tt/1FAfQtx
via IFTTT

Tennessee Brew Works presents: BEER DINNER with Chef Jay Mitchell & Friends

Nashville, Tennessee – October 13, 2015 – Join us at Tennessee Brew Works for SIX COURSES of culinary and craft beer fusion; featuring our very own Chef Jay Mitchell. The talented Chefs Nick Seabergh, Kevin Ramquist and Will Uhlhorn join Chef Mitchell.

Enjoy unique dishes expertly paired with our brews; including limited releases.

Speakers include Tennessee Brew Works Founder/President Christian Spears, Head Brewer Dr. Laura Burns and TapRoom General Manager/Certified Cicerone Adam Speyer.

Music provided by The Groove!

“We hope you’ll join us for this special evening as we explore the wonderful and unique pairing possibilities utilizing our craft beer and artisan cuisine!” –Christian Spears

DETAILS

Cocktail hour from 6-7PM | Dinner 7-9PM.

Tickets are limited, $100 per person. For more info contact: caroline@tnbrew.com or 615.873.0714.

TENNESSEE BREW WORKS

“Finely Tuned Craft Beer”

Proud to call the great state of Tennessee home to our brewery and taproom. With fine traditions in many things including both music and spirits, we hope to capture the essence of the land and culture in all of our brews. We strive to do so as efficiently as possible; minimizing waste and raw material utilization in our brewing processes.

809 Ewing Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

Email: info@tnbrew.com

Web: tnbrew.com

Facebook: facebook.com/tnbrew

Instagram: http://ift.tt/1GdXEk6

Twitter: @TNBrewWorks

The post Tennessee Brew Works presents: BEER DINNER with Chef Jay Mitchell & Friends appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1LiqV4v
via IFTTT

HighJump Announces Brewers’ Edge, Bringing Omni-Channel Tools to the Craft Brewing Industry

HighJump, a global provider of commerce-enabled supply chain management solutions, today announced HighJump Brewers’ Edge, a cloud-based suite of solutions with specific features to address the broad set of omni-channel needs from order capture to fulfillment and delivery exhibited by the fast growing craft brewing industry.
“What sets the craft brewing industry apart is the passion its members have for their products and their customers,” said Ross Elliott, co-founder and chief strategy officer of HighJump.  “With Brewers’ Edge, HighJump delivers a set of brewery focused apps that show that same level of passion.  Our goal is to put the right tools in our brewery partners’ hands to help them maximize the utilization of their assets at the same time they continue to aggressively grow their business with no drop off in service or quality.”
HighJump Brewers’ Edge delivers rich cloud-based capabilities centered on key pillars of omni-channel success:
Trading Partner Community – With access to over 10,000 trading partners, HighJump Brewers’ Edge simplifies the connection between you and your major distributors and suppliers through the HighJump global trading network.
Commerce Platform – Based upon the highly successful Nexternal platform, HighJump Brewers’ Edge provides a comprehensive foundation to build your B2B and B2C digital businesses.  Its rich online/mobile store will empower the brewery’s merchandise sales, streamline your customers’ wholesale orders and enable customer engagement across a broad spectrum of channels.
Club Membership – Extending capabilities beyond the traditional online store, HighJump Brewers’ Edge opens up new revenue opportunities through a robust club membership toolset.
Early Releases and Special Events – A growing number of craft brewers are finding that events offer a dynamic new revenue source.  Managing them, however, can prove challenging.  HighJump Brewers’ Edge allows forward thinking breweries to plan and execute early releases and special events in a systematic way that delivers high customer satisfaction.
Tour Booking – Booking brewery tours is another incremental revenue source that has traditionally been managed with pencil and paper.  HighJump Brewers’ Edge was built to ease the pain of managing reservations by automating the process and the customer interaction leading to increased bookings and higher customer satisfaction
Asset Tracking – Let HighJump Brewers’ Edge assist you in tracking key assets like kegs, barrels, store displays and much more.
Master Data Management – HighJump Brewers’ Edge provides robust tools to manage master data for key elements like Product Information, Pricing, Customer Information, Promotions, and much more
Inventory and Warehouse Management – Providing a clear view of inventory across the enterprise, from the store to the distribution center, allows the HighJump Brewers’ Edge client the ability to more effectively meet customer expectations while improving accuracy and operational effectiveness in the warehouse.
Delivery and Shipping – HighJump Brewers’ Edge delivers a breadth of delivery and shipping options including parcel rating and compliance, integration with its over 2,000 carrier TL and LTL network and direct home/store delivery.
Operational Insight – With dashboards and alerts spanning the breadth of the ecosystem, HighJump Brewers’ Edge delivers the right information to the right audience to enable informed decision making.
Business System Integration – HighJump Brewers’ Edge supports prebuilt integrations to leading Craft Brewing specific ERP systems like OrchestratedBeer.
HighJump Brewers’ Edge has begun initial customer deliveries and will be generally available in Q4 2015.
About HighJump
HighJump is a global provider of supply chain management software and trading partner network technology that streamlines the flow of inventory and information from supplier to store shelf. We support more than 15,000 customers in 77 countries, ranging from small businesses to global enterprises. Our functionally rich and highly adaptable solutions efficiently manage customers’ warehousing, manufacturing, transportation, distribution, trading partner integration, delivery routes, retail stores, and eCommerce. For more information, visit http://www.highjump.com.

HighJump and HighJump Software are trademarks of HighJump Software Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

The post HighJump Announces Brewers’ Edge, Bringing Omni-Channel Tools to the Craft Brewing Industry appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1LLpUkb
via IFTTT

Fat Head’s Strikes Gold at 2015 GABF

The Fat Head’s Family came away big winners at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival, bringing home five medals in total, four of which were gold.

Hop Juju Imperial IPA won its second gold medal in just 3 years. That is an unbelievable accomplishment in a category loaded with 208 entries this year, and 149 when they won in 2013.

The Fat Head’s entourage hadn’t even made it off the stage when it was announced they’d also won gold with Bone Head Imperial Red (double red ale category). Bone Head also has a 2014 World Beer Cup silver award to its credit.

Midnight Moonlight Black IPA, one of Head Brewmaster Matt Cole’s newest creations, was awarded the gold medal in the American-Style Black Ale category, proving his absolute mastery of hop-forward styles.

Black Knight Schwarzbier won silver, its second silver in the German-Style Schwarzbier category, the first coming in 2013.

Head Brewer of Fat Head’s Portland, Mike Hunsaker was ecstatic as they announced that the gold medal for Rye Beer went to Blitzkrieg Bock. It was the first medal for Fat Head’s PDX which has been in operation for less than a year.

At the 2015 GABF, 242 breweries took home medals in 92 categories. There were 6,647 competition entries from 1,552 breweries representing all 50 states. Fat Head’s had winning brews accredited to each of its locations – Portland, N. Olmsted and Middleburg Heights. No other brewery took home more than 3 medals. Fat Head’s has won every year since they began brewing in 2009, with 14 total Great American Beer Festival awards to their name. This was their most prolific showing to date.

###

About Fat Head’s

Opened in 1992 as Pittsburgh’s premier craft beer bar and restaurant, Fat Head’s teamed up with head brewmaster Matt Cole in 2009 to create Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon just outside of Cleveland. In response to overwhelming demand, a production facility was opened in 2012. Fat Head’s Brewery distributes 3 core beers and a range of seasonal offerings throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. In their most recent venture, Fat Head’s took up residence in  Portland, OR operating a 300 seat brewpub in the heart of the Pearl District.

 

The post Fat Head’s Strikes Gold at 2015 GABF appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1O57UDg
via IFTTT

SweetWater officially in NYC with events and tap takeovers

SweetWater Brew is officially flowing in NYC as of today, September 28,2015! The Atlanta-based craft beer company has events and tap takeovers at bars and restaurants all over the NYC area, including a “SweetWater Honey Hole” pop up bar at 1 Knickerbocker Ave in Brooklyn, opening daily at 4:20 pm with $4.20 food items, beer specials, and live music. You can find more details on Facebook here.

Stay up to date on the latest on the SweetWater NYC page: http://ift.tt/1jrIuTp

& via Twitter: @SweetWater_NYC

Come out and meet folks from the brewery and maybe score some schwag at these events:

MONDAY 9/28/15
Top Hops – 6:30p
Blind Tiger – 5p – 7p
Mugs’s Ale House – 6p – 9p
Morrisons – 7p – 10p

TUESDAY 9/29/2015
Spring Lounge – 6p
Westville – 4p – 8p
Jacob’s Pickle – 7p -9p
Cannibal – 6p
Eat Gastro Pub – 7p – 10p
Spuyten – 6p – 9p
Double Windsor – 7p – 10p
Oliver’s Gastropub – 6p – 9p
The Wherehouse – 6-8p

WEDNESDAY 9/30/2015
Pony Bar – 4:20p
Landsdowne Road – 6p
Kiabacca – 7p
Taproom 307 – 5p – 7p
Stagshead – 8p
Hoptron Brewtique – 7p – 10p
Hop Shop – 6p -9p
Craftsman Ale House – 6p

THURSDAY 10/1
Tribeca Tap House – 6p
Dive Bar – 7p -9p
Uptown Local – 6p
The Lark – 7p – 10p
Bed-Vyne – 6p – 9p
The Gate – 7p – 10p
Lazy Boy Saloon – 6p
Growler & Gill – TBD
Pony Bar – 6p
Bacchus – TBD

SWEETWATER BREWING COMPANY ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION TO NYC, CONNECTICUT & CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

Southeast’s Largest Craft Brewery Begins Flowing in New Jersey & New York (September), Western Connecticut (November), Philadelphia Area & Central PA (November)

 

ATLANTA (September 9, 2015) – SweetWater Brewing Company continues to drift on up the East Coast with launches this fall in New York City and Connecticut.  In June, the brewery announced distribution into Northern New Jersey with Peerless Beverage Company (September) and the Philadelphia area with Muller Inc (November) – the northeastern market development continues with Manhattan Beer Distributors in New York City (September), Star Distributors and A. Gallo & Co. in Western Connecticut (November), and Wilsbach Distributors in Central Pennsylvania (November).

 

“Our team couldn’t be more stoked to introduce SweetWater to more folks in the northeast,” says Jeff Chassner, Director of New Market Business Development for SweetWater Brewing Co.  “We spent significant time identifying and getting to know the best fit for partners in each market, and are confident that these distributors are going to help us make a big, SweetWater-style splash in each city.”

 

“Welcome to one of the most exciting markets in the U.S., SweetWater,” says Rob Mitchell, Vice President of Craft, Wine and Spirits for Manhattan Beer Distributors.  “The buzz is already building about this great brewery entering the Manhattan market – we’re hearing from retailers and bars that consumers have been asking for SweetWater for a while, and we’re thrilled to be the team to deliver it to them.”

 

“We, at Star Distributors and A. Gallo & Co., are very excited to be partnering with SweetWater Brewing Co. to bring their tasty brews to the residents of Western Connecticut,” says Peter Gallo, Vice President of Star Distributors.  “We have worked together to create some great plans to bring SweetWater’s brands and culture to life in our market and can’t wait to get started!”

 

“Central Pennsylvania has an avid craft fan base, and the culture and commitment to quality that SweetWater embraces at their brewery will definitely resonate within our craft beer community,” says Jess Horn, Craft Brand Manager for Wilsbach Distributors.

 

Ranked among the nation’s Top 20 craft breweries in sales by volume according to the Brewer’s Association, SweetWater is touted as one of the fastest growing craft brands in the country. Locals will spot the brewery’s iconic rainbow trout tap handles and bottle/can packaging flowing throughout their respective areas this fall.  Folks can follow the brewery’s main Facebook page and individual market pages, where complete lists of launch and sampling festivities will be featured in the days and weeks prior to each launch.

 

To learn more about SweetWater Brewing Company and its full lineup of brands, visit http://ift.tt/1iWEt3C.

 

###

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Tucker Berta Sarkisian | Talking Head | tucker@sweetwaterbrew.com | c. 404.337.1062

The post SweetWater officially in NYC with events and tap takeovers appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1LKZq2h
via IFTTT

Dark and Bitter – Brace Your ‘Buds for New Belgium Brewing’s Hop Stout

As the days grow colder and the nights get long, New Belgium Brewing has unleashed one of the burliest beers of their Hop Kitchen series with 100 IBU’s of beautiful black bitterness. Hop Stout entices with a sweet, malty depth before a wicked bite of hops kicks in with the force of an imperial stout grappling with an IPA.

Hop Stout pours a deep, delicious chocolate brown with a creamy head atop. Dark chocolate, roasted coffee and toasted bread notes emerge from the blending of eight different grains and six hop varieties, which accent the richness with a citrusy, woodsy pop. Equinox, Chinook and Willamette are just a few of the hops that arm this unique stout.

“We wanted a wickedly hoppy and deeply malty stout to celebrate the fall season,” said Grady Hull, Assistant Brewmaster of New Belgium Brewing. “Hop Stout draws you into the malty woodwork of a traditional stout and then the hops storm in. It’s a really incredible, complex beer for those seeking a little more adventure with the change of seasons.”

At 8 percent ABV and 100 IBUs, Hop Stout isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s for malt and hop lovers alike. Hop Stout is now available on draft.

To find Hop Stout near you, use the New Belgium Libation Location tool: http://ift.tt/1JMcIYB.

For more information about New Belgium Brewing, visit NewBelgium.com. You can also follow New Belgium on Facebook at http://ift.tt/1J19JxJ and Twitter @NewBelgium.

About New Belgium Brewing Company

New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, is recognized as one of Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work and one of the Wall Street Journal’s Best Small Businesses. The 100% employee-owned brewery is a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business as designated by the League of American Bicyclists, one of World Blu’s Most Freedom-Centered Workplaces, and a Certified B Corp. In addition to Fat Tire, New Belgium brews ten year-round beers; Ranger IPA, Rampant Imperial IPA, Shift Pale Lager, Slow Ride Session IPA, Snapshot Wheat, Sunshine Wheat, 1554 Black Lager, Blue Paddle Pilsner, Abbey Belgian Ale and Trippel. Learn more at NewBelgium.com.

###

The post Dark and Bitter – Brace Your ‘Buds for New Belgium Brewing’s Hop Stout appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1OCQM7C
via IFTTT

Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. Takes Home Gold & Silver at Great American Beer Festival

Buellton, California— Every year Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company enters the Great American Beer Festival competition, known in the industry as the “Super Bowl of Beers.” The anticipation is palpable the week before the festival since it is impossible to guess the results from this blind tasting competition. One year a brewery might bring home a handful of medals and another year none. 2015 was another good year for Buellton, California’s Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company that brought home a Gold medal for Stearns Irish Stout (Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout) and a Silver medal for Lighter than I Look (American-Style Dark Lager). This win brings the total to thirteen GABF medals for Figueroa Mountain with consecutive wins since 2011.

 

“With the number of entries increasing by 20%,” exclaims Fig’s President Jaime Dietenhofer, “taking home a Gold and Silver medal in the toughest year to date was a thrill. Our production team works so hard throughout the year and we are so excited to honor them with these awards.”

 

Vice-President Jim Dietenhofer adds: “Serving our beer to the 60,000 attendees at the festival is always a highlight of our year. We have a blast and to take home medals on top of it is the icing on the cake.”

 

For more information about Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company, their taprooms and beers, please visit www.FigMtnBrew.com or to see a recorded version of the GABF awards ceremony go to http://ift.tt/1LbjV9v.

 

###

 

High Resolution Photos and Interviews Available Upon Request.

Tag: @FigMtnBrew (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest) Hashtags: #GABF #GABF2015

About Us: Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. was founded by father and son team, Jim and Jaime Dietenhofer, in 2010.  With a passion for craft beer, they set out to pay homage to the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley with handcrafted beer and hand-drawn artwork depicting the local landscape on their labels. There are currently five taprooms along the Central Coast of California with one more to open soon in Westlake Village. Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. beer can be found in their taprooms or at select retailers and restaurants throughout California.  Learn more about @FigMtnBrew or where to find their beer at www.figmtnbrew.com.

The post Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. Takes Home Gold & Silver at Great American Beer Festival appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1Jz3xse
via IFTTT

U.S. Passes 4,000 Breweries - Via Brewers Association

Much of the beer world’s attention in the past week was focused on the Great American Beer Festival. However, the week also brought another milestone in the resurgence of local American brewing, with the Brewers Association database passing 4,000 active breweries. Although precise numbers from the 19th century are difficult to confirm, this is almost […]

Read More

The post U.S. Passes 4,000 Breweries appeared first on Brewers Association.

from Brewers Association http://ift.tt/1Wu6inV
via IFTTT

Alamo Beer Co. to host 1st Oktoberfest at new brewery

San Antonio, Texas – Bier steins, lederhosen, polka music and plenty of German fare mark Alamo Beer Company’s 1st Oktoberfest! The brewery, which features a biergarten, beer hall and brews using traditional German techniques inaugurates this new South Texas tradition. 

Oktoberfest at Alamo Beer Company begins Friday, October 9 from noon till midnight, Saturday, October 10 from noon till midnight and concludes on Sunday with a noon start and 6 PM finish. For a full schedule visit alamobeer.com

Entertainment includes The Tubameisters and New Braunfels’ German-Czech inspired group Bohemian Dutchmen. Both groups are scheduled to perform the entire weekend.

Additionally, join the Alamo Brewers, Saturday at 1:30 for polka lessons. Food trucks will be on site and the company’s new beer, ALAMO Oktoberfest, will be available. As always, the brewery is pet and kid friendly.

The weekend includes Bike October Fest on Saturday, October 10 at  the brewery. More information can be found at bikeoctoberfest.org.

The post Alamo Beer Co. to host 1st Oktoberfest at new brewery appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1VjiyKC
via IFTTT

2015 Great American Beer Festival Winners

Boulder, CO • September 26, 2015—The 2015 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition awarded 275 medals to some of the best commercial breweries in the United States, plus three GABF Pro-Am medals to teams of amateur brewers paired with professional brewers.

View the 2015 winners or download a PDF list of the winners.

Presented by the Brewers Association, GABF is the largest commercial beer competition in the world and a symbol of brewing excellence. In its 29th year, the 2015 competition surpassed all previous participation records, exceeding last year’s record-setting competition.

Read the complete press release at BrewersAssociation.org.

The post 2015 Great American Beer Festival Winners appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1G9tbng
via IFTTT

242 Breweries Take Home Medals at 2015 Great American Beer Festival® - via GABF

275 Professional Medals Awarded, 423 First-Time Participants Compete

Boulder, CO • September 26, 2015—The 2015 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition awarded 275 medals to some of the best commercial breweries in the United States, plus three GABF Pro-Am medals to teams of amateur brewers paired with professional brewers.

Read the complete press release.

The post 242 Breweries Take Home Medals at 2015 Great American Beer Festival^® appeared first on Great American Beer Festival.

from Great American Beer Festival http://ift.tt/1G9qEcG
via IFTTT

242 Breweries Take Home Medals - via GABF

The 2015 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition awarded 275 medals to some of the best commercial breweries in the United States, plus three GABF Pro-Am medals to teams of amateur brewers paired with professional brewers.

The post 242 Breweries Take Home Medals appeared first on Great American Beer Festival.

from Great American Beer Festival http://ift.tt/1G9qGkH
via IFTTT

2015 Award Winners - via GABF

Presented by the Brewers Association, GABF is the largest commercial beer competition in the world and a symbol of brewing excellence. In its 29th year, the 2015 competition surpassed all previous participation records, exceeding last year’s record-setting competition.

The post 2015 Award Winners appeared first on Great American Beer Festival.

from Great American Beer Festival http://ift.tt/1KXdJjm
via IFTTT

Flounder Brewing Co. Selected by Sam Adams as 2016 Brewing the American Dream Craft Brewer Experienceship Winner

New Jersey Brewery Flounder Brewing Co. to Receive Mentoring from Sam Adams and Opportunity to Brew a Collaboration Beer Together

 

HILLSBOROUGH ― September 25, 2015 ― Samuel Adams today announced that Hillsborough, New Jersey-based craft brewery Flounder Brewing Company has been selected as the winner of the 2016 “Brewing and Business Experienceship,” a unique mentoring opportunity awarded to one craft brewer annually as part of the Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream program.

Similar to an internship, the Experienceship provides hands-on educational and enrichment opportunities tailored to the winning brewery’s needs. As part of the program, the team at Flounder Brewing Company will receive a trip to the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery for coaching and mentoring from a variety of Samuel Adams experts and brewers involved in ingredients sourcing, sales and distribution, package design, and more. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to brew a collaboration beer with the Sam Adams brewers and receive funding to attend industry events such as The Great American Beer Festival.

Founder Jeremy “Flounder” Lees, along with co-founders, Daniel Lees (his brother) and Billy Jordan (his cousin), were selected from craft brewer applicants that are part of Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream, a micro-lending and coaching program for small business owners working in food, beverage, and craft brewing. The brewers were chosen by a panel from Sam Adams, based on their passion for brewing quality craft beer, current success, and strong growth potential.   

“This is our fifth Brewing and Business Experienceship, and the program continues to provide our fellow craft brewers with valuable support and advice – something I had trouble finding when starting Samuel Adams 31 years ago,” said Samuel Adams founder and brewer Jim Koch. “I first brewed Sam Adams in my kitchen and the Flounder Brewing Company first brewed in their garage, so we understand the challenges of expanding and scaling as an up-and-coming brewery. I look forward to working and collaborating with the Flounder Brewing family as they continue to provide innovative craft beers in New Jersey and beyond.”

In 2005, Flounder along with his brothers and cousin began experimenting with brewing in Flounder’s apartment and then expanded to the garage of their 90 year old Ukrainian grandmother, Babi. Their grandfather, a beekeeper and the original artisan in the family, was the inspiration for the Flounder Brewing Company’s flagship beer, Hill Street Honey Blonde Ale. The brothers and cousin sought out a $6,000 loan from Brewing the American Dream when they decided to purchase a small system and move from a garage to a nano-brewery of their own in Hillsborough, NJ. Flounder Brewing has continued to grow and now has more than ten seasonal and year-round craft beers and will be expanding and hiring their first employees in early 2016.

“We’re really excited to have been chosen for the Brewing and Business Experienceship,” said Jeremy. “Our beers are brewed with the hope that every time you crack one open, you’ll have a good time, take a moment, and enjoy the people around you.  We encourage everyone to experience their beer ™. This program will help us provide that experience to more drinkers and help us expand. We can’t wait to meet with the team at Sam Adams, and really look forward to visiting the Boston brewery.”

Flounder Brewing Co. continues to expand to try to meet the demand!

Since opening their doors just two years ago the Flounder family has been continuing to expand organically with their own hard work and financing going into their business.  The beer has been so well received that often the few hundred tour slots on days that the brewery is open fill up in just a few hours.  Currently Flounder Brewing is operating on a 3 barrel system, (93 gallons of beer crafted per batch) but is currently working on a detailed plan for 2016 to secure the space adjacent to the current brewery and begin hiring its first employees.

About Flounder Brewing Company

The Flounder Brewing Co. first opened its doors in November of 2013 and is currently planning its two year anniversary at a local restaurant account in Hillsborough, NJ.  Started as three brothers and a cousin homebrewing in Jeremy “Flounder” Lees’ apartment and then their Grandmother’s driveway the family decided they wanted to take their passion for brewing craft beer to the public and signed their lease in 2013.  After a lengthy build-out and licensing process the family was proud and excited to finally get their beers out to the public and were, and continue to be overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.

Currently Flounder Brewing offers two year-round flagships, Hill Street Honey Blonde Ale and Saison du Flounder.  Seasonal rotations include Genevieve’s IPA, Floundering Pumpkin, Pumpkin Saison, Murky Brown Ale, Gingerbread Brown, and Espresso Brown (brewed with locally roasted coffee).  Saison du Flounder, Pumpkin Saison, and Espresso Brown have all been recipients of People’s Choice at the Morristown Big Beer Brewfest.

Flounder Brewing opens once a month for tours, tastings, and growler fills.  Visit flounderbrewing.com or http://ift.tt/1VfOKPd for tour announcements.  Their beer can also be found on tap currently at Big Heads Bar & Grill in Hillsborough, NJ and Fox & Hound at the Old Lebanon Hotel in Lebanon, NJ.

Flounder Brewing Co. and Experience Your Beer are trademarks of Flounder Brewing Co., LLC.

Samuel Adams, Sam Adams, Samuel Adams Boston Lager, and Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream are registered trademarks of The Boston Beer Company.

CONTACTS:

Jeremy Lees, President, flounder@flounderbrewing.com

The post Flounder Brewing Co. Selected by Sam Adams as 2016 Brewing the American Dream Craft Brewer Experienceship Winner appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

from CraftBeer.com http://ift.tt/1MQjced
via IFTTT

2015 Great American Beer Festival Competition Winners - via AHA

The winners are in!

Over 6,700 beers were entered into the 2015 Great American Beer Festival^® (GABF) competition from over 1,570 breweries. Two-hundred-forty-two judges from 15 countries evaluated each entry and determined the winners, which were announced during the GABF Awards Ceremony.

The full winners list, including Pro-Am competition winners, can be found over on GreatAmericanBeerFestival.org or you can download a printable copy.

The post 2015 Great American Beer Festival Competition Winners appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

from American Homebrewers Association http://ift.tt/1PGbAst
via IFTTT

242 Breweries Take Home Medals at 2015 Great American Beer Festival® - Via Brewers Association

275 Professional Medals Awarded, 423 First-Time Participants Compete Boulder, CO • September 26, 2015—The 2015 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition awarded 275 medals to some of the best commercial breweries in the United States, plus three GABF Pro-Am medals to teams of amateur brewers paired with professional brewers. View the 2015 winners or download […]

Read More

The post 242 Breweries Take Home Medals at 2015 Great American Beer Festival^® appeared first on Brewers Association.

from Brewers Association http://ift.tt/1MQeKfm
via IFTTT

How to Backsweeten Mead and Cider - via AHA

Backsweetening is a process commonly used in mead and cider making to sweeten the finish of a fermented drink just before packaging. This is a useful technique to have in your arsenal of tricks since it is very common for meads and ciders to ferment out bone-dry, especially if they are intended to be lower in alcohol.  But the process is not as simple as dumping in sugar to taste.

Yeast’s job is to convert sugar into alcohol and CO₂, a sacred process better known as fermentation. Yeast are very efficient and will continue the fermentation process until all fermentable sugars are depleted, the beer passes the yeast’s alcohol tolerance threshold and/or the yeast is halted by the brewer (either intentionally or accidentally). This means, if you were to simply add in sugar to sweeten a mead or cider, it is very likely the yeast will pick up where they left off and ferment those added sugars, reducing the sweeteness and raising the ABV. This is where backsweetening comes in.

Simply put, backsweetening requires two steps: halting fermentation and adding sugar. The following steps from Ken Schramm’s The Compleat Meadmaker can be used to create a sweetened, uncarbonated mead or cider:

How to Backsweeten

1. Add 1/2 teaspoon of potassium sorbate per gallon of mead/cider and and stir to halt fermentation. Potassium sorbate does not kill yeast, but prevents them from converting anymore sugars into carbon dioxide and alcohol.
2. After at least 24 hours, additional sugar (typically honey) can be added to the mead without the risk of fermentation.
3. The desired sweetness will depend on your personal preference. Add the sugar* of your choosing in small increments, thoroughly stirring, and then testing until the desired sweetness is obtained.

*It is common for honey to be used in meads and apple juice concentrates for ciders, but explore the other sugar options available for something different!

Carbonation and Residual Sweetness

Things get a little trickier if you’re wanting a backsweetened and carbonated mead or cider, especially if you bottle.

The simplest method is to use a homebrew kegging system. Keg systems use tanks of CO₂ to force carbonated liquid to a desired level, which does not require the yeast’s services in any way. This is good since ‘step 1’ of the backsweetening process above effectively eliminates the fermentation capabilities of the yeast.

Bottle-conditioning a backsweetened and carbonated mead or cider, on the other hand, is a tricky puzzle to solve. Bottle-conditioning is the process of allowing yeast in a sealed bottle to ferment a small amount of sugar in order to produce CO₂ that will dissolve into solution and create carbonation. This means the yeast cannot be halted (as in ‘step 1’ of the process above), and in most instances the sugars added intended to sweeten the mead or cider will be fermented out completely by the yeast. If this occurs in a sealed bottle, the pressure from fermenting all the added sugar can lead to over-carbonation and bottle bombs.

There is the possibility of heat-pasteurizing sweetened, bottle-conditioned mead and ciders, but the process takes some experimentation to master. It involves fermenting some of mead or cider in a plastic bottle so you can squeeze the bottle and gauge the progression of the carbonation. Once it’s at the target level, heating the bottles in a hot water bath stops the yeast from fermentation. Results may vary at first, but you’ll get the hang of it after a few attempts.

The safest and easiest method for bottling carbonated and sweetened meads and cider is to buy or build a counter-pressure filler to fill bottles with force-carbonated mead or cider from a keg. Since the carbonation is being forcefully added from a CO₂ tank, the yeast do not need to be active. It’s the best of both worlds.

The post How to Backsweeten Mead and Cider appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

from American Homebrewers Association http://ift.tt/1KHFLvK
via IFTTT

Costume Contest Tonight! - via GABF

The craft beer community has no shortage of style and creativity, not to mention healthy amounts of weird and whimsical, and for the 13th year in a row GABF will recognize those breweries and attendees who bring an exceptional degree of flair to the festival floor.

Got Flair? Head to the Karaoke Stage at 7:30 on Friday!

An elite corps of flair scouts will be on the floor issuing nominations during the Thursday and Friday sessions. On Friday at 7:30 pm at the karaoke stage, GABF representatives will present Festival Flair Awards for Best Decorated Booth and Best Attendee Costume. So don’t leave your flair at home!

The Stakes Are High

In addition to a year of bragging rights, brewery winners will get free festival entry to GABF 2016, and the attendee costume winner will get a pair of tickets to GABF 2016 session of their choosing!

What’s ‘Flair’ Anyway?

Flair is hard to define but easy to spot. It encompasses the stylish, the odd, the funny, the unlikely and the original. There’s no magic formula for flair—it’s anything that adds energy to the hall. Let your creative juices flow and we’ll see you in Denver!

The post Costume Contest Tonight! appeared first on Great American Beer Festival.

from Great American Beer Festival http://ift.tt/Y6mTod
via IFTTT