Archive for the ‘Coming Soon’ Category

Sprecher Brewery from Wisconsin coming tomorrow
Yup, a classic from the original brewing city, Milwaukee, is hitting the shelves tomorrow. Welcome, Sprecher Brewing! We’re making our list and checking it twice today, including some of the Brewmasters Premium Reserve Series. Can I get a woot?

Tweet for beer at Bele Chere
The Mountain XPress is offering beer for tweets this weekend to help them cover Bele Chere. Basic rules are: Have five or more posts with the #belechere tag and/or upload pictures or videos and if they use either, show up at 3pm on Sunday at Asheville Brewing on Coxe and they will buy you a beer.

Foothills got label approval for more bottles
Beernews.org reports that Foothills Brewery got label approval for Hoppyum IPA, Torch Pilsner and Peoples Porter. While the post makes this seem imminent, beer spies tell us that bottles are at least a few months down the line. Look for them on our shelves later this year. *cross fingers*

The End of History
In the on-going-school-boys-on-the-playground-pissing-contest that is for “the world’s strongest beer,” Brewdog’s forthcoming The End of The World was leaked to the masses yesterday. The End of The World is the latest (possibly dumbest) incarnation by Scotland’s Brewdog. There are only 12 bottles being made at the cost of $800-$1,100 per bottle …with the actual bottle stuffed into road kill converted to a bottle vessel by a taxidermist. Wait, what? Yup, not joking. You can’t make this crap up. The best news, in my humble opinion, is that Brewdog states this is the last in their high ABV experiments, and thank god, already. We like the brewery, we love their marketing, but we’re 100% over the hype. Hopefully, they’ll return to brewing beer now instead of scouring the Scottish Highlands for dead squirrels.

Everyone’s an entrepreneur
A homeless man broke into a Northern California bar and reopened it, posing as the new owner. A+ for ingenuity, but ultimately, still a failing grade.

And how cool is this?

Via Beernews.org:

EXPERIENCING THE WORLD ONE PINT AT A TIME
DISCOVERY CHANNEL RAISES A GLASS FOR BREWED, NEW SERIES ON THE WORLD OF BEER ANNOUNCED FOR FALL 2010

(Silver Spring, MD) – Beer is the drink of the masses. If you look into a glass of beer you can see the past, present and future of mankind. Cicero lauded it, Genghis Khan fought for it and now Discovery Channel celebrates it with a world premiere series, BREWED, exploring the culture, history and variety of beer.

Meet Sam Calagione: maverick entrepreneur, family man and owner of Dogfish Head Brewery in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. As an ambassador to the world of craft beer, Sam travels the world to experience what every culture brings to its own special brew.

In BREWED, Sam shows viewers the other side of the bottle, sharing the stories of beer sub-cultures as well as exploring life inside The Dogfish Head Brewery. BREWED goes behind the scenes at Dogfish Head as Sam’s merry band of creative brewmasters concoct new taste varieties.

“BREWED taps more than just kegs and barrels, it unlocks a fascinating history of beer making, showcasing the ingenuity and passion behind our love affair with those alluring suds and how it played a role in building civilizations,” said Clark Bunting, President and General Manager of Discovery Channel.

Running a successful business also requires inspiration, so BREWED hits the road for the ultimate beer tasting road trip. Along with archeologist and beer expert Pat McGovern, Sam sets out to recreate “ancient ales” that have been discovered at sites around the world from Egypt to Peru. He travels to Rome to research old world Italian beers as inspiration for a new site in New York with Mario Batali. A visit to New Zealand introduces the idea of making the “first tomato based beer.” And back home, Sam is tasked to come up with a commemorative beer called “Bitches Brew” to celebrate the 40th anniversary release of Miles Davis’ famous recording.

“Beer has always been my passion. It is so much more than what you see in the glass. I’m excited to share the diligence, daring and creativity that we pour into our work,” said Calagione.

BREWED is produced for Discovery Channel by Zero Point Zero Productions. Chris Collins and Lydia Tenaglia are executive producers. Tim Pastore is executive producer for Discovery Channel.

About Zero Point Zero

Zero Point Zero is a television and film production company founded in 2003 by Executive Producers Chris Collins and Lydia Tenaglia. Since its inception the company has produced over 300 hours of nationally and internationally airing television programs, including the critically acclaimed and award winning series: Anthony Bourdain No Reservations and Diary of a Foodie. In 2009 Zero Point Zero received five EMMY nominations, including a primetime nomination for Best Non-fiction Series for Anthony Bourdain No Reservations series and a win for Best Cinematography. Other recent productions include the 2009 EMMY-winning Diary of a Foodie and 2010 EMMY nominated, Adventure’s with Ruth for PBS; the 2010 series, Brewed, for Discovery and Frontierman for History Channel. This year the company will produce a landmark 100th episode of No Reservations, which features celebrity chef and New York Times best-selling author Anthony Bourdain’s travels and explorations of food and culture around the world. Specializing in distinct storytelling with a handcrafted look and feel Zero Point Zero has produced television shows in over 100 countries around the world.

About Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.1 million U.S. homes, can be seen in over 180 countries, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com.

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISAD, DISBD, DISCK) is the world’s number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

The small brewery excise tax story hits ABC
In good news for the craft beer sector, ABC covers the proposed bills in Congress regarding the excise taxes and small brewery status that I blogged about last week. How will you help small brewers? (Bonus video of Rob Tod from Allagash and Sam Calagione from Dogfish Head, of course!) Local rumblings whisper that Rep. Heath Shuler will not respond nor co-sponsor H.R. 4278 because he is a teetotaler, but let me stress: This is NOT an issue about alcohol, it’s about economics and jobs. Write him!

Abita is brewing S.O.S. (Save Our Shore), a benefit beer for the Gulf
Abita Brewing—yet again—is brewing on behalf of the Louisana Coast with S.O.S. (Save Our Shores), a benefit beer for the oil spill disaster. ‘”We just thought that hit home more than anything. Cause what it is, is a distress call. And we’re in distress,” said David Blossman of Abita.’ Seventy-five cents of each bear sold and 100 percent of merchandise sales go directly to charity, which will then be managed by the Northshore Foundation. The beer will available in mid-July.

Beer sales down overall; craft beer sales up
NPR covers the same story year after year, but nonetheless, good news for craft brewers.

Sierra Nevada gets TTB approval for the third in the Pioneer Series
Label approval for the third beer in Sierra Nevada’s anniversary series, Jack & Ken’s Ale, has been approved. (Jack McAuliffe is the brewer at New Albion Brewery.) We are absolutely stoked about this beer, an American-style barleywine brewed with 100% Cascade hops. Also available mid-July.

La Trappe > Koningshoeven > La Trappe
In the ongoing naming battle of the only Trappist brewery outside of Belgium, Beernews.org reports that after Isidor, Koningshoeven is once again going to be La Trappe in the U.S. and Canada. Getting your Trappist designation back also let’s you return to your beer brand! Win.

Things not to do, part #3867
Imbecile.

Reunion Beer Kicks Off 2010 Fundraising Campaign With Release of Belgian-Style Scotch Ale

REUNION: A Beer for Hope, now in its fourth year, today announced the release of its 2010 special brew, a Belgian? Style Scotch Ale. Bison Brewing in California returns for its fourth consecutive year as a brewing and fundraising partner, and Terrapin Beer Company in Georgia returns for its second year. The beer will be released this month in both 22 ounce bottles and draft in 14 states (California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama New Jersey and Pennsylvania). A number of kick?off events are scheduled in late June and will be posted at the REUNION site (www.reunionbeer.com) and the REUNION Facebook group page (www.causes.com/causes/90009/).

REUNION Beer is the inspiration and collaboration of Alan Shapiro, president of SBS Imports, Pete Slosberg, creator of Pete’s Wicked Ale™, and Virginia MacLean, long time friend and colleague, as a way to raise awareness of and donations for The Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research. All met during the early days of Pete’s Brewing Company. Virginia passed away from complications from Multiple Myeloma in June 2007, four months after the initial release of Reunion.

“Virginia emphasized the importance of continuing our support of IMBCR,” noted REUNION Co. Founder Alan Shapiro. “She believed wholeheartedly in the work of The Institute and understood the value of bringing hope to others. Every dollar raised helps us honor Virginia’s memory.”

To date REUNION has raised in excess of $130,000 for The Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research (www.imbcr.org) via profits from beer sales, retailer fundraising events, and private donations. “Every dollar we raise goes directly to IMBCR to fund research,” added Co?Founder Pete Slosberg. “We hope beer lovers everywhere will consider making a small donation via the REUNION site, Facebook cause page or directly at IMBCR’s site.”

2010 REUNION Beer
This year’s beer was developed in concert by brewmasters Spike Buckowski of Terrapin, Dan Del Grande of Bison, and REUNION co?founder Pete Slosberg. It is a Belgian-Style Scotch Ale – a nod to Virginia’s heritage. It is brewed to an original gravity of 1078 using 5 different malts and hopped with East Kent Goldings to 35 IBU’s. It is fermented with a high gravity Trappist yeast and is 7.0% alcohol by volume. Each brewery has created a unique interpretation of the REUNION label.

The beer is deep amber in color with an off white full head. It has a complex malt palate with subtle spice notes enhanced by the finesse of the Trappist yeast. The beer finishes with balancing and pleasing hop notes.

About IMBCR
The Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research is dedicated to independent research seeking to develop effective therapies to improve the quality of life and longevity of patients with myeloma and bone cancer. Myeloma and bone cancer are two of the fastest growing diseases in the world, afflicting more than one million people in the U.S. alone.