(Fort Worth, TX) — North Texas’ award-winning brewery, Rahr & Sons, is topping off a banner seventh year with national accolades and an addition to its Fort Worth headquarters.

The new 10,000-square-foot building will primarily be used as an event space, available for rentals and also serving as the setting for the brewery’s increasingly popular Wednesday and Saturday tours. Slated to open September 17, the structure can accommodate up to 600 people, making it an ideal venue for weddings, corporate events, and other private parties.

The brewery expands following a year of notable growth in the face of adversity. Last winter, record-breaking snowfall caused the brewery’s roof to collapse, temporarily leaving Rahr without a headquarters and suspending operations. With the support of the local community, Rahr rebuilt and went on to experience banner growth in 2010 – doubling its barrelage and adding eight new Texas cities to its distribution list, including Galveston, Corpus Christi and Austin.

Along with larger distribution came bigger awards. Zymurgy, the American Homebrewers Association magazine, named Rahr the 2010 “Brewery of the Year” and fan-favorite Ugly Pug ranked top of its class at the 2011 U.S. Beer Tasting Championships. Fort Worth’s “little brewery that could” recently garnered national acclaim when its lagers were featured in The Wall Street Journal and GQ.

Rahr has come a long way since 2004, when owner Fritz Rahr decided to follow in his forefathers’ footsteps and pursue his passion for craft brewing. Initial production was small, but word of Rahr’s fine German-style craft beers spread, and a strong local following developed. Over the past seven years, Rahr has increased its brewing capacity tenfold, and its award-winning beers are now available in 15 Texas cities. In November, barrelage is expected to surpass the 20,000 mark with the addition of three new 100-barrel tanks.

“There’s no way we’d have made it this far without our talented brewmasters,” said owner Fritz Rahr. “The blend of science and artistry these guys bring to their craft is inspiring.”

Two of Rahr’s dedicated brewers – Austin Jones and Jason Lyon ­– studied biology in college before trading their beakers for barrels and steins. Jones, who has been home-brewing for six years, joined the Rahr Posse full-time in 2009. Louisiana native Lyons grew up touring breweries and distilleries and serves as Rahr’s resident handyman as well as a beer craftsman. The team added yet another talented brewer this spring when Craig Mycoskie came aboard. After discovering his passion for the American craft beer scene, Mycoskie attended Siebel’s World Brewing Academy in Chicago and Munich.

Rahr’s leadership credits the brewers as being as essential to Rahr as the beers themselves. “It’s always exciting to see what they’ll concoct next,” said Rahr. “We’re looking forward to many more years of innovative Texas brewing.”

About Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.
With a brewing history dating back to 1847 Wisconsin, Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. made its mark on Fort Worth in 2004, thanks to the hard work of Fritz Rahr and a large group of volunteers. Since then, Rahr has increased its brewing capacity tenfold to become Fort Worth’s local, award-winning brewery. For more information, visit www.rahrbrewing.com.

(Press Release)

(Houston, TX) – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today announced it will delay the release of its newest beer, Santo. The scheduled release date was September 1, 2011. Below is a statement from Brock Wagner, Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer:

We regret to announce that we are delaying the release of our newest beer, Santo. After brewing a 10 gallon test brew several months ago that we were enthusiastic about, we scaled up the recipe and recently brewed our standard 3,700 gallon batch. In fact, we have three such batches in the fermenters right now. After filtering a batch this week and getting it ready for packaging we tasted it. It was good, but it was missing that spark that separates a good beer from a great beer. So we are dumping the over 11,000 gallons of beer we have in the tanks.

We are brewing another batch tomorrow with a series of recipe tweaks. We will taste this in two to three weeks. If we are excited about the results, we will release it then (or more likely, about three weeks later so we can brew some additional batches). If we again do not believe it is a world class beer, we’ll continue tweaking. We apologize for this issue. We would rather experience the embarrassment of delaying the release than release something that isn’t the best beer we can brew.

The company has not set a new release date for Santo, but the earliest a full release could occur would be sometime in October 2011.

About Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold Brewing’s ten brews are made and sold by the company’s staff of 35 dedicated employees. The brewery 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 five year-round and five seasonal beers as well as root beer, log on to www.saintarnold.com.

(Papillion, NE) – Nebraska Brewing Company today announces the bottling of the first barrel-aged Craft Beer in its newly formed Inception Series.

Aptly named due to the experimental nature of these beers, Inception Series beers are expected to be one-off, very small batch bottlings bottled in 22 oz. bombers. These beers will be sold at a lower price point than Nebraska Brewing Company’s Reserve Series beers. Inception Series beers are expected to be sold only in the brewpub in Papillion, NE due to the very limited supply.

It is likely that some of these beers may graduate into The Reserve Series line at some later date should they be deemed worthy of the stature of this line. At this time, all beers currently targeted for the Inception Series are aging in barrels with some going through an extended maturation and souring process.

Paul Kavulak, President of Nebraska Brewing Company stated: “Quite some time ago, we finished experimentation on a very small batch of Missouri Oak Aged Rye IPA. At the time, we felt the beer was a good beer, but weren’t sure we could include it in the Reserve Series Line and we had no other bottle format for sales back then. It wound up in a bomber, without a label and was consumed inside the brewpub only. It was later awarded a medal at the Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers. It became clear these beers needed a formal production process.” Adding further, “We’ve since laid down a number of barrel aged experiments and when they emerge, they will now find themselves in the Inception Series as their first appearance for Nebraska Brewing Company.”

The first beer in this series, Toasted Barn, is a Smoked Porter aged in Stranahan’s Whiskey barrels. When originally brewed, Toasted Barn had a robust smoky character through the addition of 35% Smoked Briess Malt. It seemed a fitting combination at the time to send this beer through extended aging within the Whiskey barrel program used for other beers such as Black Betty RIS, and Fathead Barleywine. The resultant beer is one with a mellowed smokiness, vanilla aromatics, and oak tannins which elevate the finish into a very remarkable beer. Bottling has recently been completed and its anticipated release date is August 26, 2011 at Nebraska Brewing Company in Papillion.

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 a locally owned and locally operated brewpub in Papillion, Nebraska. Small, independent, and pushing the envelope.

(Lincoln, NE) – On August 1st, Empyrean Brewing Co. began packaging their second-ever seasonal beer, an Oktoberfest named Aries Märzen.

Empyrean’s Oktoberfest was brewed in March, to follow the tradition of the Bavarian Märzen beers of Germany. Named Aries, for the spring sign under which it is brewed, Empyrean cellared this lager in cold tanks all summer long for enjoyment in the fall. The extended stay produces an exceptionally clean flavor with a smooth mouth feel. With its pronounced malty “Vienna bread” sweetness and herbal Nobel hop finish, there’s an Oktoberfest in every sip. That’s something worth waiting for.

Malts: Vienna and Caramunich
Hops: Perle and Tettnanger
Yeast: Lager
Original Gravity: 13.7
IBUs: 28
Alcohol: 5.3% abv
Availability: Limited Seasonal, August–October, 6-packs and draught

New batch of beer labels…part one.

Sierra Nevada Bad Luck Blonde (ale brewed with coriander)
Perennial Saison de Lis
Perennial Strawberry Rhubarb Tart
Bayhawk Claim Jumper Seasonal Ale
El Rey Mexican Style Ale
Snake River Vienna Style Lager
Last Cast Black IPA
Manzanita Lazy Saison
Manzanita Chaotic Double IPA
Frankenmuth Hefeweizen
Frankenmuth Dunkel

(San Antonio, TX) – A bunch of news from yesterday’s Ranger Creek Brewing newsletter…

We’ve created a new line of beers that we’re calling RE: SESSION. The name is a fun play on the stressful economic realities we’re living through in addition to a response to the session beer movement going on with craft beer. The beers in the RE: SESSION line are meant to be interesting and easy drinking so you can enjoy a few in one sitting. The first two beers are on the market now in limited quantities at select bars, so give them a try and let us know what you think!

RE: SESSION IPA
The RE: SESSION IPA has a floral, fruity hop nose with a pale malt backbone that lightens the color and allows the hops to shine through. The taste is citrusy, tropical, earthy, and slightly herbal. It’s a very hop forward beer with an aggressive hop pallet that is not for the faint of heart. At 5.5% abv and 55 IBU, it’s stronger than traditional session beers but lower in alcohol than traditional American IPAs.

RE: SESSION WHEAT
The RE: SESSION Wheat is an effervescent offering with strong tropical notes and a sweet, bready body. The traditional German yeast provides some light clove phenols and cloudy appearance. Dry hopped with Citra hops and lemon verbena, it has prominent notes of lemon and pineapple that make it a sweet, light summer offering at 5.1% abv.

We’ve partnered with the Tap Exchange in San Antonio to do the first side-by-side tapping of both RE: SESSION beers, along with a Ranger Creek pint glass, for the Tap Exchange’s glass night on Tuesday, August 2nd at 6:00 pm. Beers will be $6, and you’ll get to keep the glass! It will be one of the only chances for craft beer drinkers to try both RE: SESSION beers side-by-side.

For those of you that missed the Cab and Port barrel versions of La Bestia and the MSP, do not fret! More badass barrel aged beer is out in very limited quantities. We released a Sour Peach Lager, which has Texas peach notes from the peaches that Rob put in the barrel mingling alongside tart, sour flavors. We also put out a Brett Porter, which is a crazy interesting, soured up version of our Mesquite Smoked Porter. Both beers are hard to find and tappings happen in the blink of an eye, so keep your eyes peeled.

(Houston, TX) – Saint Arnold Brewing Company, the oldest craft brewery in Texas, this week reported record first half production of more than 17,000 barrels of beer. The Houston brewery is due to expand production in the second half of 2011 with the addition of four 240-barrel fermenters to keep pace with increasing demand throughout Texas and Louisiana.

Overall, shipments from the brewery were up 22 percent with the brewhouse limited by fermentation capacity for much of the period. Sales of Saint Arnold brand beers were up 50 percent from the same period in 2010 at the distributor level as distributor inventories were depleted severely. Shipments related to the brewery’s brands that are sold primarily at BJ’s restaurants decreased as the brewery shifted more of its capacity to its Saint Arnold brands. By market, sales of Saint Arnold in San Antonio surged 102 percent over the same period in 2010, followed by Dallas/Fort Worth, up 66 percent. Houston was up 51 percent, while Austin was up 44 percent.

“We are seeing a long-term shift in people’s perceptions of what beer is and what beer can be,” said Brock Wagner, Founder/Brewer of Saint Arnold Brewing. “People in their 20s and 30s now expect a wide spectrum of flavor and diversity from their beers and they get it from Saint Arnold and other craft beers.”

Year Production % Increase
2011 (1st Half) 17,018 barrels 22 percent
2010 31,445 barrels 22 percent
2009 25,710 barrels 13 percent
2008 22,749 barrels 28 percent
2007 17,811 barrels 30 percent

The big surprise of the first half was the enthusiasm for Saint Arnold Weedwacker, which was introduced as a year-round beer during the second quarter. Early sales of Weedwacker have rivaled Saint Arnold’s top-seller Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Beer.

The first half of 2011 has also been notable for Saint Arnold’s efforts to promote community. The recent Feast of Saint Arnold Week raised $15,000 for Texas Children’s Hospital IBD Clinic, the brewery’s team in the BP MS 150 raised more than $262,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the brewery donated $10,000 from the sale of Saint Arnold Elissa IPA to support the preservation of the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA.

About Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold Brewing’s ten brews are made and sold by the company’s staff of 32 dedicated employees. The brewery 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 five year-round and five seasonal beers as well as root beer, log on to www.saintarnold.com.

(San Antonio, TX) – Having previously announced expansion into the Houston market, Freetail Brewing Co. will announce the indefinite suspension of plans for a second location — citing concerns over access to capital.

“As I moved forward with the Freetail Houston project, I began to run into an increasing level of resistance in capital markets. A brewpub is a good project for downtown Houston, but the deal is simply not there for me at this time,” explained Freetail Founder & CEO, Scott Metzger. “When we announced the project on May 17, we also stated there were financial considerations to be addressed. Those considerations are ultimately what put this project on hold indefinitely, and no other reason. To move forward with the project at this time would be irresponsible and an injustice to my company and the City of Houston.

“For now my focus will be to continue growing our successful original location, which has internal expansion needs of its own, and moving forward in the battle for fair reform of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, as it relates to the activities of our state’s brewpubs and breweries,” added Metzger.

Freetail Brewing Co. is founded on the pursuit of creating exciting, innovative and unique world class beer and beer-centric cuisine. We embrace the laid back and fun-loving Texas culture and set out to create products that mirror the lifestyle of our diverse and rapidly growing community. We believe in promoting an increased appreciation of craft beer and its responsible enjoyment. We believe in going above and beyond customer expectations not only through our products, but also through exceptional customer service. We believe in providing a dining and leisure experience unmatched in the local community. And in case you didn’t get it the first time… we believe in having fun.

(Newport Beach, CA) – In response to an overwhelming demand from its distributor and retail partners, Coast Brands Group, LLC has announced the creation of its Craft Beer Division. Coast Brands, known for its one-of-a-kind Distributor Network and retail authorization services, has already signed two brands to its Craft Beer Portfolio: Crazy Mountain Brewery, located in Vail, Colorado and Hardtail Brewery, the World’s first “Biker” Craft Beer.

Bob Groux, Founder & CEO of Coast Brands explains, “Craft Beers, like many of our non-alcoholic brands, face challenges with distribution and chain authorizations. Beer distributors represent the vast majority of our network so it was a natural fit for us to get into the beer business. The distributors we work with have been asking us to bring them high quality crafts; now the time is right, and Crazy Mountain and Hardtail are both excellent brews.”

Located in the heart of the beautiful Vail Valley, Crazy Mountain Brewing Company was founded by Kevin Selvy and Marisa Aguilar who combined their passion for craft beer to create Vail Valley’s first production brewery. Crazy Mountain’s year round craft beer styles include its flagship Amber Ale, Lava Lake Wit, Mountain Livin’ Pale Ale, Old Soul Strong Belgian Golden Ale, Hookiebobb IPA and Cara de Luna Black Ale. Available in draft and smartly packaged in 12 oz cans, each style of hand crafted beer offers the brewmaster’s unique take on the traditional styles. “Coast Brands is the perfect partner for us,” Kevin Selvy states. “The vast distribution and retail market knowledge that Coast provides gives our brand instant leverage with the largest and most reputable beer distributors in the Nation.”

Hardtail Brewery, based in Johnston, Colorado, has already established a large presence in Colorado and is now ready to expand to other states. Hence, their Coast Brands partnership was formed. Available in draft and 12 oz bottles, Hardtail Lager is an Amber American Lager that is fermented cold and lagered for 30 day thus providing the active Hardtail consumer a crisp full body drinkable beer, not too heavy, not too light, just right. “We are extremely excited for the expansion opportunities that Coast Brands brings to the table” says Jacob Unrein. “We are ready to enter additional markets”.

The initial focus for both craft beer brands will be California, Texas and Florida with the subsequent goal to distribute nationwide. Groux’s advice to his new craft beer clients is to expand strategically and slowly. “One of the issues that many breweries face is capacity. We want to ensure that our brands can handle the demand/volume in the target states before expanding further.” Hardtail and Crazy Mountain have both been very well received by major distributors in the Coast Brands Network in all three markets and shipments into California and Texas should begin next month.

About Coast Brands Group, LLC
Coast Brands Group, LLC, located in Newport Beach, California, is the leading brand representation provider for companies looking to establish or expand sales and distribution to key markets in the United States. Its DSD Network is approaching 100 distributors that together reach over 100,000 retail accounts in the West, Southeast, Midwest and Southwest. Coast Brands is unique in that it represents brands to DSD distributors as well as retailers. Its impressive list of brands/clients include New Leaf Teas & Lemonades, HER, Kronik Energy, Celsius and OhYeah!, ACTIVATE and, most recently, craft beer brands Crazy Mountain and Hardtail. For information please visit: www.coastbrands.com

Today’s beer label update

Saint Arnold Pumpkinator: As reported by Barley Vine this past fall, this is the remake of Divine Reserve #9. The beer is an Imperial Pumpkin Stout. Capitol City Brewing has had a beer called Pumpkinator for a while now though they didn’t bother to file a trademark application for it, something Saint Arnold recently did.

Otter Creek Twentieth Anniversary Ale

Blue Moon Valencia Amber Ale

East Coast Beach Haus Winter Rental Black Lager

Cricket Hill Colonel Blides Cask Ale (just a label re-design)

Part II of today’s beer notes update…

Saint Arnold Brewing: Craft Austin has more info on the 9/1 release of Santo. “It is a dark kolsch style beer. It will be available (all at the same time) in 1/2 barrels, 1/6 barrels, and 12 oz bottles (4/6 cases). It will come in at around 4.90% ABV.”

AB InBev: According to Reuters, “Anheuser-Busch InBev SA’s (ABI.BR) U.S. unit said on Tuesday that it plans to raise prices by 3 percent to 5 percent across its beer portfolio in October as it seeks to offset higher commodity costs. The maker of Budweiser and Bud Light said the increases — which will vary by brand, package and market — will go through on October 3.”

Still on the AB InBev front, get ready for another new product. Per Beernet, “Following A-B chief Dave Peacock’s announcement in May that A-B will reduce the alcohol content in all Tilt products to not exceed 8% abv, A-B announced to distributors the rollout of Tilt Long Island Iced Tea, with sales to retailers starting on September 5. Tilt LIIT will have 8% abv, coming in a 23.5 ounce can and priced in line with other Tilt flavors…”

MillerCoors: Per the Chicago Tribune, “MillerCoors, the Chicago-based joint venture between Molson Coors and SABMiller, is discontinuing MGD 64 Lemonade. The product, launched this spring, was expected to build on the company’s success in low-calorie beer and pique the interest of female drinkers.”

Capital Brewery: A power struggle for the reigns of this Wisconsin brewery? As reported by Madison.com last Monday, “Carl Nolen, who had served as president of the Middleton-based brewer since 2004, has been replaced by Scott Wiener, the largest shareholder of the publicly owned venture. Wiener declined to offer details on the move but says Capital will continue with its expansion plans.”

Then on Thursday… “Carl Nolen, who was asked to leave the company July 6, said Thursday he is leading a group of investors who want to buy the brewery, currently owned by more than 1,400 stockholders. The proposed purchase, along with a new infusion of money into the 25-year-old business, is designed to double or even triple the brewery’s annual production of 25,000 barrels of beer and increase the size of the Middleton brewery.”

Bonus I: Is the larger beer category bouncing back? Beernet reports, “Dan Wandel of Symphony IRI Group got BBD some early numbers for this important beer drinking holiday, and he is pleased to report that the beer category posted a 1.5% increase in case sales, and a whopping +3.7% increase in dollar sales in combined off-premise channels…”

Bonus II: Here is the lowdown on what’s happening in the Chicago beer scene these days via the Chicago Tribune (once again, they’re on top of beery reporting).

Bonus III: Remember the keg thiefs who broke into Avondale Brewing down in ‘Bama? Now someone has stolen Good People Brewing’s blue pickup truck. What the hey is going on down there?

A dozen new beer labels just in…

Sebago Grand Crue: Our 2011 Grand Cru is a unique blend of Bourbon Barrel Aged Full Throttle Double IPA, Barleywine and fresh Frye’s Leap IPA. This beer is complex with both a malty backbone and the assertive hoppiness of Frye’s Leap. 8.8% ABV. 22 oz. bottles.

Schlafly Schwarzbier: Upcoming Brewer’s Choice Selection, speculation that it could be late summer/early fall release. Is a Germnan-style dark lager beer brewed with Munich and Dark Chocolate malts and Mittlefruh and Tettnang Noble hops.

Mother’s Mr. Pumpkin

Loe’s IPA

Part II of today’s group of new beer labels…featuring Deschutes, Rahr and a handful of others.

Deschutes The Stoic Belgian-styled Quad: The newest beer in Deschutes Brewery’s coveted Reserve Series, The Stoic’s journey from Belgian-style Tripel to American Quad is a remarkable one. A simple German Pilsner malt bill and a low-key profile of Hallartau, Czech Saaz, and Northern Brewer hops equip you for the more distinctive aromas and flavors that lay ahead. Ingredients like Belgian candy sugar, beet and date sugars, and pomegranate molasses impart a clean, tangy sweetness. Pinot Noir and rye whiskey barrel-aging suggest notes of spice, citrus, pepper, vanilla, and toasted caramel like offerings to the gods. Unraveling the intricacies of The Stoic is evidence of a life bravely done.

August 15th / wax-dipped 22 oz. bottles and draft / 10% ABV / Available in most of Deschutes’ markets

Rahr Visionary Brew Traditional German-style Bock: The Fort Worth Weekly’s Visionary Awards are a celebration of Tarrant County artists working in a diverse set of disciplines – visual arts, film, drama, performance art, literature, fashion and multimedia. At Rahr and Sons, we believe in passion and innovation, and we applaud those who are working to make Fort Worth a more beautiful place. We’re certainly doing our best to make it a tastier place.

This German-style bock has a robust malt character and a dark amber hue. Hop bitterness is assertive – just enough to balance the malt flavor. Enjoy one in celebration of Fort Worth’s true visiionaries. 22 oz. bottles

Other new labels…

Tin Roof Perfect Tin Amber Ale – 12 oz. cans

Tin Roof Voodoo Bengal Pale Ale – 12 oz. cans

Baying Hound Aleworks Long Snout Stout

Timmermans Oude Kriek (Imported by Belukus)

Abbaye Cistercienne Paix-Dieu by Brassier Caulier (Imported by Holiday Beverage)

Bon Secours Ambree (Imported by Holiday Beverage)

Bon Secours Blonde

Bon Secours Noel

New batch of beer labels coming right up…

Schlafly Citrus Witbier: Label copy…”To celebrate 20 years of Schlafly Beer, our brewers past and present offer you this anniversary series of four beers.

Schafly 20, Volume 3: Citrus Wit is designed and brewed by our third generation of Schlafly brewers (1998-2008), who were instrumental in our transition from local brewpub to regional brewery. With the third generation comes experience from brewers who joined us from around the country and world; Citrus Wit is a collaboration of this shared experience.

This traditional Belgian-style white beer is flavored with citrus fruit and coriander to refresh a parched palette.”

Kuhnhenn Dark Heathen Triple Bock Lager: New label for this one. On a perhaps related note, “Join us on Tuesday, June 21st to celebrate the first official day of summer and the longest day of the year. We’ll have the 7 wheat beers of summer on tap (all small batches so they won’t last long). In addition, there will be a limited bottle release. The release will include one time releases as well as new beers that have never been bottled before.

Other new label approvals…

Free State Octoberfest
Big Muddy Big Muddy Monster
Jail House Conjugal Visit Red Ale
Cortland Flight Level 410 Old-style Ale
Barrel Trolley Amber Ale
Wild Onion Hop Slayer Double IPA

(Fort Worth, TX) – Rahr and Sons Brewing has label approval for another 22 oz. release. Meet The Regulator Doppelbock.

LABEL COPY

The Regulators were a deputized posse, persistent and strong. They were formed to counter what was believed to have been a corrupt sheriff. The Regulators were resilient, relentless individuals who rode hard across the plains. It is in this vision that we created our doppelbock, a brawnier version of the traditional bock, that was first brewed in Munich by the Paulaner monks. Our doppelbock has a large, creamy, persistent head with intense malty flavors and aromas with little hops presence.

TO THEE SERIES

“A Toast in Celebration” is our salute and tribute to family, friendship, honor, loyalty and love – everything that is good in life and which has meaning. Our To Thee Series is a limited edition release that is only available for short periods of time. These are very special ales celebrating over 160 years of Rahr Brewing history and traditions. We celebrate this history and raise our glass to you.

Rahr has a few other beers to be released over the coming months as well: La Grange, Gravel Road and Angry Goat.

(Lincoln, NE) – In its 21st year of operation, Empyrean Brewing Co. today announced the newest beer to join their bottled lineup – Super Nova Summer Fest. Empyrean Brewing describes the beer as: Easy drinking, with flavorful hints of sweet corn, bread and caramel, finishing with a blast of crisp, hop citrus that balances the sweet.

Brewery Manager Jim Engelbart says, “People who drink beer for flavor are constantly looking for new beers to try. Seasonals and limited production beers allow us to experiment with different ingredients and beer styles, so we may continue to delight the taste buds of craft beer fans everywhere.”

Previously available only on draught at select locations, Super Nova Summer Fest will be the first seasonal beer join the Empyrean bottled lineup. Packaged in 6-packs, Engelbart says it will be stocked in select stores late next week, starting in Lincoln (at Hy-Vee, Russ’s Market, Super Saver, The Still, N-Street Liquor and Moran’s) and Omaha (at Hy-Vee and Beertopia).

Super Nova Summer Fest is the recipe of Head Brewer Rich Chapin, who has been with the company since its inception in 1990. “Brewed with corn grown in the Midwest, its flavors are meant to be enjoyed with the summer lifestyle–like backyard BBQs, baseball games, and lazy afternoons by the pool,” explains Chapin.

Empyrean brands are available in Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa. Packaging more than 5,500 barrels of beer last year, Empyrean Brewing Co. offers eight to ten varieties at any one time. Six of these are bottled on site and distributed year round, while seasonal selections are available on draught and (as of now) bottled in 6-packs.

For more information about Empyrean Brewing Co. visit www.EmpyreanBrewingCo.com.

(Papillion, NE) – Nebraska Brewing Company is pleased to announce the release of the first full production bottling of its Reserve Series Apricot au Poivre Saison.

Barrel Aged Apricot au Poivre Saison is an artful interpretation of a Belgian-style Saison created with Apricot puree and lightly spiced with Black Pepper. Six months of additional aging in third use French Oak Chardonnay barrels imparts a deliciously unique character not found in other Craft Ales. The delicate flavors and aromas of oak, apricot, chardonnay, and pepper intertwined in the barrel to achieve a flavor profile that is simultaneously complex and delightful.

This Reserve Series Beer was originally conceived as a seasonal beer and later introduced into a third use barrel in anticipation of added character that would enhance and not overpower. The end result is Nebraska Brewing Company’s 5th entry into an elevated realm of Craft Beers that require great skill, patience, and a little luck. Previously, this Craft Beer had been bottled and released primarily within the Brewpub with a few cases being distributed in select locations.

Paul Kavulak, President of Nebraska Brewing Company stated: “Our Reserve Series line of barrel aged beers provide our enthusiasts with some of what we consider to be our best. Since their inception, each brand within the series has been able to achieve and maintain a level of superior quality, diverse tastes, and fantastic complexity.”

Kim Kavulak, Vice President & General Manager of Nebraska Brewing Company adds: “The release of our Reserve Series Beers has come to be a highly anticipated event. With this being the first ever full batch release of BA Apricot au Poivre Saison, we believe consumers will be extremely satisfied.”

Nebraska Brewing Company has set the release date for Barrel Aged Apricot au Poivre Saison to be Friday, June 10th. A complete list of Nebraska Brewing Company brands can be found on our website, www.nebraskabrewingco.com.

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 a locally owned and locally operated brewpub in Papillion, Nebraska. Small, independent, and pushing the envelope.

(St. Louis, MO) – 4 Hands Brewing Company, a craft brewery, is slated to begin operations in St. Louis in the fall of 2011.

Kevin J. Lemp, Co-Owner and President, will oversee the day-to-day operations as well as manage the sales and marketing efforts. Kevin has spent his career managing the E&J Gallo Winery portfolio in St. Louis and Illinois. Kevin will team with Head Brewer Will Johnston, who has spent the majority of his professional brewing career at Goose Island in Chicago, Ill. Will is a graduate of the World Brewing Academy in Munich, Germany, and the Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago, Ill.

4 Hands Brewing Company will offer the craft-beer enthusiast a thoughtful portfolio inspired by the American craft-beer movement as well as traditional Belgian and French farmhouse ales. 4 Hands Brewing Company plans on packaging their year-round Core beers in 6-pack, 12 oz. bottles. They will offer their Seasonal Collection in 22oz. bottles and a Barrel Aged program in 750ml bottles. The Core Collection includes a single-hop Pale Ale, a Rye IPA and an Oatmeal Chocolate Brown. The Seasonal Collection will rotate throughout the year, focusing on local and seasonal ingredients. 4 Hands Barrel Aged Program will produce a truly unique line of beers. The use of wine-and-spirits barrels as well as an array of fruits, herbs and spices with wild yeast strains will enhance conventional beer flavors to produce one-of-a-kind beers.

The brewery will feature a 1500-sq. ft. tasting room with an atmosphere reminiscent of their basic organic roots through the use of recycled barn wood, stained concrete and exposed brick. The tasting room will allow patrons to experience the entire brewing process through floor-to-ceiling windows. The tasting room will offer the 4 Hands Portfolio as well as a rotation of guest beers on draft. Wine by the glass or bottle will also be available. The menu will focus on local cured meats and cheeses to be paired perfectly with the 4 Hands Portfolio.

The brewery and tasting room will be located at 1220 South 8th Street, four blocks south of Busch Stadium.

(Frederick, MD) – …at least for the time being.

Update I: A sixth state?

Update II: Beer Advocate reports that Flying Dog has notified an additional seven states that they are halting distribution there. The total is now at thirteen.

Here’s the new list:

Alaska
Washington
Oregon
Idaho
Montana
New Mexico
Arizona
Nebraska
Iowa
Missouri
Kansas
Louisiana
Arkansas

Original Article:

Flying Dog Brewery General Partner and CEO, Jim Caruso, confirmed today that the company is halting distribution in five states: Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas and Louisiana. Caruso said that they will re-consider those markets this coming fall.

In a letter to distribution partners, Caruso writes:

As local demand for Flying Dog beers continues to soar, we are concentrating our distribution in our home markets and Flying Dog beers will not be available in your territory for some unknown period of time.

I cannot thank you enough for your support over the years and all of us at Flying Dog wish you continued success in your local market.

Flying Dog is among the fastest growing regional breweries in the country. Having grown 40% to nearly 70,000 barrels produced in 2010, due in large part to the launch of its controversial Raging Bitch, the brewery is struggling to meet high demand in some of its markets.

Flying Dog isn’t alone in having to re-evaluate its distribution. Dogfish Head, Avery Brewing, Great Divide and others have contracted the number of markets that they serve in recent months. With distribution in 45 states and 20 countries prior to this contraction, the move seemed inevitable.

That said, there are states farther west than these five that are still being served so it isn’t all about meeting the demand of local markets.

Glazer’s Distributing handles the company’s portfolio in some (if not all?) of the markets listed here.

With Missouri being the new hotbed of activity for regional (and micro) craft breweries, the pendulum is due to swing the other way and knock out a few breweries. The “Show Me State” is becoming an increasingly competitive battleground in which to compete with new 2011 entrants like Deschutes, Stone, Firestone Walker and Green Flash. One retailer noted that Flying Dog has been one of their slowest movers.

Some new beer labels out of the Midwest…

Thirsty Dog 75th Anniversary West Point Pale Ale: Label copy…”A true classic English Style Pale Ale. The copper colored, toasty malt flavors are true to form, and the Kent Goldings Hops bring out an earthy, herbal and floral flavor and aroma that balances it to perfection.” This beer is in honor of West Point Market (not the academy).

Urban Chestnut Calypso IPA: I’ve never seen so many keg approvals from one brewery. Do they actually have this many beers coming out in the next several months or are these all way in advance? They also got approval for Hopswitch Pilsner, Hopfen IPA and Schlossturn Alt.

Other new labels:

New Belgium Lips of Faith Clutch Sour Brown Ale (only keg approval at the moment)
Summit Honeymoon Saison (more info via MNBeer)
Marshall Arrowhead Pale Ale
Charleville Half Wit Wheat Belgian-style Wheat

(St. Louis, MO) – Perennial Artisan Ales is a small-batch microbrewery located at 8125 Michigan Avenue in the South Carondelet neighborhood of St. Louis City, opening by late July/early August 2011. The 9,200-square-foot brewery includes a dedicated, temperature-controlled fermentation and barrel-aging cellar.

Perennial will also feature a 3,200-square-foot tasting room, as well as a beer garden, where we plan on hosting festivals, beer dinners and weekend barbecues. The tasting room will serve Perennial beers on draft (also available in to-go growlers), along with an eclectic selection of reasonably priced wines by the glass, salumi from Salume Beddu and a variety of Midwest cheeses from creameries such as Baetje Farms and Marcoot Jersey Creamery. Perennial’s tasting room décor will be an interesting blend of modern and vintage, utilizing sustainable and secondhand materials as much as possible.

Perennial’s Brewmaster and Co-Founder is Phil Wymore, formerly of Goose Island and Half Acre Beer Company in Chicago. Phil began making beer as assistant brewer at Grindstone Brewing Co. in Columbia, Mo., where he studied Anthropology at University of Missouri. Phil was hired as a brewer for Goose Island in 2006 and was eventually promoted to Cellar Manager where he oversaw the barrel-aging program and all fermentation processes. Also while at Goose Island, Phil formulated a barrel-fermented Imperial Red, which earned medals at both the Great American Beer Festival and Festival of Barrel Aged Beers. Phil left Goose Island in 2009 to become the Head Brewer at Half Acre Beer Company. While in Chicago, Phil studied brewing at the world-renown Siebel Institute. Phil returned to Missouri with his family in 2010 to help build Perennial, where he will focus on producing premium craft beer, utilizing organic malts, exotic yeast strains and locally sourced fruits as much as possible. Perennial also will feature an extensive Wild Fermented and Spirits Barrel Aged Beer program.

Perennial will offer two year-round, flagship beers (available only in the St. Louis market):

Hommel Bier (available in draft and 750ml bottle format)
Hommel Bier is a dry-hopped Belgian ale that defies tradition by combining North American malts, Pacific Northwest hops and a Belgian yeast strain. The result is a beer that combines earthy and spicy tones from the yeast with a slight orange note contributed by the hops.

Southside Blonde (available in draft only, offered only to South City bars and restaurants)
Southside Blonde is a refreshing Golden Ale, brewed with a Belgian yeast strain that contributes an interesting fruitiness. It is a well-balanced, approachable beer brewed with pride on the Southside!

In addition to our flagship beers, Perennial will offer a variety of rotating beers that fall into one of our three distinct categories (intended for distribution both in and outside of the St. Louis market):

Farmhouse (available in 750ml bottle format only)
Farmhouse selections will be variations on Belgian Style Saisons, French Biere de Gardes and other sessionable styles that would quench one’s thirst after a hard day’s work.

In Season (available in 750ml bottle format only)
In Season selections will include fruit beers, such as Strawberry Rhubarb Tart, brewed with locally sourced, seasonal fruits. Also included in this category will be any holiday classics, such as Christmas Ale, as well as Perennial’s take on a pumpkin beer, our Kabocha Squash Autumn Ale.

The Cellar (available in 750ml bottle format only)
Included in this category will be any high-alcohol styles (Barley Wine, Wheat Wine, Imperial Stout, etc.), barrel-aged beers, wild fermented and/or sour beers. These beers are meant to improve with age and will be perfect to share on a special occasion!

Phil’s wife, Perennial Co-Founder Emily Wymore, will manage the Sales and Marketing for the brewery. Perennial Artisan Ales will initially be distributed in St. Louis City and St. Louis County.

A ton of notes from various breweries to run through today. Here’s Part I of III:

O’Fallon Brewery: Evan Benn of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports, “Wheach, 5-Day IPA and other O’Fallon Brewery beers will soon be back in bars and on store shelves now that a former Anheuser-Busch InBev executive has bought the craft brewery. Jim Gorczyca, a 20-year A-B marketing veteran, purchased O’Fallon Brewery for an undisclosed amount in a deal that closed Friday. Gorczyca left his post as A-B’s director of trade marketing last week; today, he’ll step into his new role as leader of O’Fallon Brewery.”

New Glarus Brewing: The Wisconsin State Journal reports that Brewery President, Deb Carey, was “named first runner-up in the 2011 National Small Business Person of the Year contest sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration. She was named Wisconsin Small Business Person of the Year in March.” Here is the write-up on WhiteHouse.gov.

Hoppin’ Frog Brewery: Will release Barrel-Aged Boris ROYALE on Thursday and Friday of this week.

Bell’s Brewery: Construction photos recently posted on Facebook.

Short’s Brewing: Announced the upcoming release of Nicie Spicie.

Flossmoor Station: A big update on upcoming projects including Le Chein Blanc and the “summer of sours.”

Karbach Brewing: The Houston Chronicle has a piece on this new Texas brewery. Ownership has ties that extend back to the beer industry spanning multiple decades and former Flying Dog Brewmaster, Eric Warner, is also on board.

(512) Brewing: Is releasing its Alt on draft…in addition, “gearing up for our third anniversary beer, (512) THREE (still a secret creation- but a new style), and in anticipation, we’re planning to re-release (512) ONE and (512) TWO in sequence first.”

Joseph James Brewing: Will start canning its beers according to Craft Cans.

Bonus I: The Michigan Liquor Control Commission likens the word, “bitch,” to the n-word according to legal documents in the Flying Dog Raging Bitch case.

Bonus II: Imbibe Magazine has a feature on Gose this month.

San Antonio based brewpub to expand to Houston with flagship downtown location

(San Antonio, TX) – After months of professional evaluation and fan speculation, Freetail Brewing Co. is happy to announce it has chosen downtown Houston as the site of its second location.

On November 2, 2010, Freetail Founder & CEO Scott Metzger announced the company’s search for a second location. After extensive research and analysis, bolstered by a robust social media campaign by thirty Houstonians, Metzger ultimately decided on approximately 20,000 square feet in a historic building in downtown Houston. Out of respect to the developer, the exact location cannot be named at this time.

“When I started this company I would never have envisioned a Houston location,” said Metzger. “But through the diligent efforts of The Downtown District and the city’s vocal craft beer fans, I’ve begun to fall in love with the city and I am looking forward to many beers there.”

The new location, described as a “flagship” design, spans three floors and includes a company store for customers to buy packaged product, growlers and merchandise in addition to ample restaurant and bar space. Unlike Freetail’s original location, which is primarily one big room with a patio overlooking the Texas hill country, Freetail Houston will feature traditional restaurant seating, private dining space, and a “game room” with pool tables, shuffleboard, darts and numerous televisions.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker hailed the announcement as part of her effort to grow downtown’s appeal. “The development of downtown Houston is important to my administration,” said Parker. “We recognize that building a critical mass of retail is needed for existing and future downtown residents, as well as building an attractive visitor and tourist market. Freetail Brewing Co. will be a welcome addition to the existing mix of eclectic and one-of-a-kind restaurants and watering holes already there.”

The Mayor’s sentiments were echoed by Bob Eury, Executive Director of the Downtown District. “As part of our retail efforts, we specifically targeted Freetail Brewing Co. as a great fit for downtown,” said Eury. “They will create positive synergy with other downtown retailers and when you add a brewpub to our list of newcomers, we are really starting to move the needle in regards to making downtown a thriving, livable community.”

It wasn’t without hesitation that Freetail decided to open a second location 200-miles from their homebase, but Metzger said Houston’s beer culture played a huge role. “A lot of folks talk about the trail of failed brewpubs that litters Houston’s past, but I don’t think a brewpub is something that can’t thrive here. I look at the amazing following that St. Arnold has built over its incredible lifespan and see what’s possible.” The Freetail CEO also added that a grass roots social media campaign played a huge part in the decision. “Organizations like Girls Pint Out, the Foam Rangers, the Bay Area Mashtronauts and Houston beer enthusiasts share a lot of the credit for this decision. They took to Twitter and Facebook and made an effort to show how much they wanted Freetail, and I heard that message loud and clear.”

St. Arnold’s Brock Wagner shared Metzger’s sentiments that Houston is ready for a brewpub. “Houston has a thriving beer scene but oddly no brewpubs. I have told many people that if I could, I would love to open a brewpub here. People will quickly embrace a brewpub downtown and one already known to brew great beers. The success of such a place will dispel the view that there is a brewpub curse in Houston,” said Wagner.

Metzger, who was part of the failed legislative effort to allow brewpubs to sell their products to distributors, added that the facility will be designed with the size and flexibility to eventually accommodate sales to wholesalers. “HB 660 may not have passed the legislature in 2011, but we will be back and reason shall eventually prevail.”

Metzger also noted that while an executed Letter of Intent was in place, some fundraising work remains to be completed before Freetail Houston is a done deal. “We have a significant portion of the financing completed, but need to wrap up the rest within 90 days for this project to move forward. I’m confident that will not be an issue.”

The $4.2 million facility is projected to open in Spring 2012 and create 100 new jobs.

(Houston, TX) – Saint Arnold Brewing is making a change to its year-round lineup.

Per the newsletter….

The weather is warming and not only is the grass growing faster (assuming you water it once in a while) but the weeds are really taking off. The cure for this: Weedwacker! Here is the history of this beer:

Several years ago we had some extra Lawnmower wort that wouldn’t fit into a fermenter, and we had some Bavarian Hefeweizen yeast on hand, so we combined them in one of our small yeast brink tanks just for fun. We didn’t release it, but we did drink a lot of it ourselves. That led us to the Moveable Yeast concept and Weedwacker was the first release in this series. The response to Weedwacker was overwhelming and we had many requests that we make it year-round. And so we are obliging.

To remind you, Weedwacker is exactly the same beer as Fancy Lawnmower Beer except we ferment it with Bavarian Hefeweizen yeast instead of Kölsch yeast. It is light and refreshing but has a spicy clove note and some banana esters that come from the different yeast. While it is a close relation to Lawnmower, it tastes completely different. This will also be our first regular release that is unfiltered.

Weedwacker will be released next week on draft. Package will not be available until June. You will hopefully be seeing Weedwacker pop up in a lot of your favorite pubs and restaurants starting next week, especially since we are having a Summer Pils shortage (we sold more Summer Pils in the first two weeks of its release this year than we did over the first two months of its release last year – we won’t be caught up on Summer Pils production until late May since it takes 6 weeks to make this beer).

When the packaged Weedwacker becomes available in June, it will be replacing Texas Wheat. Yes, we know that this is a favorite of many of you, but it is by far our slowest selling beer and we hope that you will find Weedwacker to be a much more exciting replacement. The last batch of Texas Wheat is being packaged late this week so it should be available through May.

(Kansas City, MO) – Boulevard Brewing said today that it failed to tell consumers that a batch of its Smokestack Series Imperial Stout showed a form of bacteria presence of a wild yeast known as Brettanomyces before it was released.

…I’m not sure how an Imperial Stout shows traits of Brettanomyces without some kind of infection though it isn’t clearly spelled out in the brewery’s letter below. In any case, the brewery is offering a refund though this is not technically a recall because the wild yeast is not harmful. Here is the letter/instructions in full:

————————————

The 2011 Limited Release of Smokestack Series Imperial Stout has recently been the subject of some consumer comments and forum postings. We’d like to take this opportunity to explain what happened, and to offer monetary relief to any dissatisfied consumers.

Prior to the March release our tasting panel sampled several bottles of the new barrel aged beer. Some turned out as expected, while others displayed the unique characteristics of wild Brettanomyces yeast. We immediately posted tasting notes to our blog, announcing the deviation and noting the differences in flavor profiles. Because our tasting panel very much enjoyed both versions, we decided to proceed with the release as usual.

It is Batch #2 of the 2011 Imperial Stout that exhibits the Brettanomyces trait. In retrospect, we should have called attention to this Brett character on the label. Because we didn’t, and because some consumers got a beer that was different from the one they had a legitimate right to expect, we’re offering a refund to anybody who feels shortchanged, and who can reasonably demonstrate that they did in fact buy a bottle of Batch #2 of our 2011 Imperial Stout.

Batch information is located on the back label of the bottle, in the upper right-hand corner (click here to view image—batch number is indicated by the number “2” at the end of the top line.). To receive a full refund, please send us the name of the store where you purchased the beer, the purchase price, your name and mailing address, and one of the following:

• The actual front and back labels removed from a bottle of 2011 Imperial Stout, Batch #2
• A scan or photo of the front and back labels from a bottle of 2011 Imperial Stout, Batch #2

You can e-mail this information to refund@boulevard.com or mail it to “Imperial Stout Refund, Boulevard Brewing Company, 2501 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64108.” You should expect a check within 2-4 weeks of your submission.

We apologize for any confusion or dissatisfaction. Thanks to everyone who shared comments or concerns. We sincerely appreciate your support, and we pledge to learn from our mistakes. If you have any additional questions about this release, or any other Boulevard offering, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Your Friends at Boulevard Brewing Company

(Fort Worth, TX) – Rahr and Sons Brewery got two more labels approved this week.

The brewery continues to add new beers to its lineup with the latest being Angry Goat Weizen Doppelbock and La Grange Farmhouse Ale. Someone at the brewery that goes by “Wedge” reports that the release schedule will go “something like:”

Pecker Wrecker – Late May
La Grange -July-ish
Gravel Road – August
Angry Goat – Sept-ish

GCG Marketing is helping out on the labels.

Bend, Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery and Kansas City, Missouri’s Boulevard Brewing Company collaborate on a White I.P.A.

(Bend, OR) – Deschutes Brewery and Boulevard Brewing Company today announced that they will release two versions of a new collaboration beer later this summer. The style, which is described by brewmasters Steven Pauwels of Boulevard and Larry Sidor of Deschutes as a White I.P.A., combines Boulevard’s expertise in making Belgian-style witbiers with Deschutes’ mastery in brewing hop-forward ales. The ale will be made at both breweries and released simultaneously throughout each of their distribution territories.

“To say we’re excited about working with Deschutes on this project would be an understatement,” said Pauwels. “We have a lot of respect for Larry and his team, and we look forward to sharing our knowledge with them through the collaborative process.”

Pauwels and Sidor began exploring the idea of brewing together after crossing paths several times at craft beer events around the country. The brewers discovered they had much in common in their brewing philosophies, both pushing the envelope whenever possible, yet remaining dedicated to the time-honored traditions that keep them consistent and grounded.

“It will be interesting to see how similar the brews turn out despite being brewed more than 1,600 miles apart,” said Sidor. “That’s part of the fun of working together with a brewery like Boulevard. We both use the latest technologies but also stay true to traditional brewing ingredients and methods.”

Despite both beers being characterized as White I.P.A.s, there will be differences in packaging and in how they will ultimately taste. Brewed at their Bend, Oregon facility, Deschutes’ version will be the second beer in their new Conflux collaboration series and will be distributed throughout their 18-state region in kegs and 22-ounce bottles. Their first collaboration, brewed with Hair of the Dog Brewing Company, is still aging in wood barrels.

Boulevard’s version, christened Collaboration No. 2, will be distributed throughout their 20-state region as part of the Smokestack Series seasonal lineup in kegs and 750ml bottles. The brewery’s first collaboration, a partnership with distinguished Belgian brewer Jean-Marie Rock, was released in January of 2010.

About Deschutes Brewery
Located on the banks of the Deschutes River in beautiful Bend, Oregon, Deschutes Brewery is in the business of daring people to expect more from their beer. That’s why we started off back in 1988, selling Black Butte Porter at a time when others were sure a dark beer would never catch on. Our brewers love to buck convention, especially if it makes someone nervous. For us, however, the highest praise is a raised glass and a toast of “Bravely Done!” For more information about Deschutes Brewery and its courageously crafted beers, please visit www.DeschutesBrewery.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/Deschutes.Brewery or on Twitter at Twitter.com/DeschutesBeer.

About Boulevard Brewing Company
Boulevard Brewing Company has grown to be the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest, dedicated to the craft of producing fresh, flavorful beers using traditional ingredients and the best of both old and new brewing techniques. Boulevard’s portfolio of year-round and seasonal beers is available in fourteen states, primarily in the Midwest, with selected offerings distributed in an additional six states. For more information about Boulevard visit www.boulevard.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/Boulevard or on Twitter at twitter.com/Boulevard_Beer.

(Kansas City, MO) – Some Deschutes Brewery news that is of particular interest to those in Missouri…

Boulevard Brewing and Deschutes Brewery are known to have been collaborating on a beer recipe. Earlier this week, KC Beer Blog got hold of a sales sheet with information regarding their project:

Boulevard Brewing Company and Deschutes Brewery are jointly crafting a beer described as a “White I.P.A.,” slated for release in Summer 2011. Combining Boulevard’s expertise at making Belgian-style witbiers with Deschutes’ skill at brewing hop-forward ales, the beer puts a new spin on the idea of collaborative brewing. Working from a single recipe, brewmasters Steven Pauwels of Boulevard and Larry Sidor of Deschutes are producing two separate beers, more than 1,600 miles apart.

Despite the beers’ shared recipe, each of the two versions will develop a distinct, unique identity, to be reflected in their naming and packaging. Boulevard’s half of the equation, christened Collaboration No. 2, will be distributed throughout their 20-state region in kegs and 750ml bottles, as part of the Smokestack Series seasonal lineup. Brewed at their Bend, Oregon facility, Deschutes’ effort will be the second beer in their new Conflux collaboration series, and will be distributed throughout their 18-state region in kegs and 22-ounce bottles.

Deschutes Digital Marketing Manager, Jason Randles, clarified that the Conflux beer with Boulevard will actually be the first release in their new collaboration series. The first collaboration beer they brewed was with Hair of the Dog but that will be released sometime in the future as the second beer.

Randles also said that Deschutes will launch in Kansas City and the western half of the state in June. In July, Deschutes will launch in St. Louis and the eastern half of the state. Contracts with distributors have not yet been signed so Randles declined to comment any further.

Deschutes is aiming to release the first Conflux beer in July.

(Krebs, OK) – Choc Beer Company is pleased to announce they will collaborate with the Fellowship of Oklahoma Ale Makers (FOAM) to brew Wild Brew, a limited release beer designed to raise awareness of the annual Wild Brew beer festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Wild Brew beer will be available in 22-ounce bottles beginning June 6 throughout Oklahoma and Western Arkansas.

“The inaugural 2010 Wild Brew beer was a great success, and we wanted to find a brewing partner to continue the excitement for 2011. I thought that FOAM would be a natural fit for this kind of collaborative effort,” explained Michael Lalli, Head Brewer of Choc Beer Company. Like many professional craft brewers, Michael began his brewing career as a homebrewer.

Tulsa-based FOAM is one of the oldest and largest homebrew clubs in the country. “We are very excited that Choc has chosen FOAM for this project. Although we are amateur homebrewers, our members include many national and regional brewing competition winners, former professional brewers, and certified beer judges. FOAM members will bring a great deal of brewing knowledge, skill, and passion to this project,” said Jeff Pursley, FOAM President.

The brewers from Choc and FOAM will collaborate on recipe formulation, and will brew the Wild Brew beer together at the Choc brewery in Krebs, Oklahoma. The beer will again be a Belgian-style India Pale Ale, though the recipe will be new for 2011. This will combine the strength of Choc Beer Company and their award winning Belgian-style Signature ales, with the creative and experimental nature of the FOAM homebrewers.

Wild Brew festival is an annual beer festival held in Tulsa, Oklahoma to benefit the Sutton Avian Research Center. Wild Brew festival 2011 is scheduled for Saturday, July 30th at the Tulsa Fairgrounds Exchange Center. Tickets for the event must be purchased in advance.

Choc Beer Company is a fourth generation, family owned, award winning brewery located in Krebs, Oklahoma. Choc has produced fine beers for four generations. Choc currently produces many year round beers augmented by seasonal releases.

(St. Louis, MO) – Griesedieck Brothers Brewery is proud to announce the release of its most recent brew, Unfiltered Bavarian-Style Wheat Ale. This family owned brewer has put its own twist on the popular Wheat Ale category, while pointing to its German roots with a Bavarian-style weissbier.

Griesedieck Bros. Unfiltered Bavarian-Style Wheat is brewed with five different malts and Perle hops. A traditional Bavarian-style weissbier, Griesedieck Bros. Wheat has a slight fruitiness with a blended flavor of banana, cloves, and bubblegum, and a light golden color. It is 4.8% Alcohol by Volume with only 12 IBUs.

Distributed in Missouri and Illinois at leading package stores, bars and restaurants, Unfiltered Bavarian-style Wheat will be available in 12 ounce six-pack bottles at a suggested retail price of $7.49. It joins Griesedieck Bros. Premium Golden Pilsener in the lineup.

GRIESEDIECK BROTHERS BREWERY BACKGROUND:

The Griesedieck name has seen quite a lot of action throughout brewing history, and one brand that the family produced which comes to the forefront is Griesedieck Brothers beer. The Original Griesedieck Brothers was created in December 1911. From 1911 until Prohibition, the Griesedieck Brothers consistently updated and expanded their brewery. Although the brewery closed down during Prohibition, the Griesedieck Brothers were able to grow their sales to become the best selling beer in the St. Louis beer market.

After Prohibition, Griesedieck Brothers continued to grow during the 1930s and 1940s. Griesedieck Brothers saw its high point in the early 1950s, with booming sales and 20 hour production days. The Griesedieck plant was one of the most modern and efficient breweries in the country, producing over 1 million barrels per year. Distribution had expanded beyond the St. Louis region to cover more than a dozen Midwest states.

Due to industry pressures, the brewery decided to sell out to the Falstaff Brewing Corporation in 1957. By 1960, Falstaff had consolidated local production into the modern G/B brewery, and discontinued the Griesedieck Brothers brand.

Griesedieck Brothers Brewery was revived in 1992 by eighth generation brewer Raymond A. Griesedieck, with product reintroduced in 2002. Griesedieck Bros. Beer is currently brewed under license at Sand Creek Brewery in Black River Falls, WI.

For more information, visit us at www.gb-beer.com, and remember, G/B means Great Beer!

Ignore 22 oz. size on label, will still be in 6-packs

(Houston, TX) – New info for those down in the Lone Star State and fans of Saint Arnold Brewing…

Per a newsletter just sent:

Divine Reserve No. 11, a double IPA, is being released on Tuesday, March 29. If you are a hophead, this is your beer. We used over 1,000 lbs of a combination of Simcoe, Centennial and Columbus hops to brew this beer. The final result is a wonderfully hoppy, 9% ABV, 76 IBU (as lab tested) double IPA. We put the “as lab tested” note on there as paper calculations give much higher IBU results, but the bittering compounds in hops tend to start reaching their solubility limits around this level.

Here are the tasting notes: The color is deep amber with a light, creamy head. The nose starts off with a touch of citrus but then turns decidedly into peaches. The taste starts off with creamy malt resulting from the pale 2 row and caramel malts and Saint Arnold yeast. The hop bitter starts low then builds to a crescendo, but always maintains a balance even in its big finish. The hop flavor continues to be peaches, an interesting manifestation of the Columbus, Simcoe and Centennial hops. This is the first Divine Reserve that we have filtered. This decision was made to make the hop flavors brighter, plus it would have been a bottling nightmare with all the hop bits in it. This beer is best enjoyed at 45° or even a little warmer. Though the recipe and style indicate this beer to be enjoyed fresh, we expect this beer to develop interestingly over the years.

We increased how much of this Divine Reserve we produced so hopefully not as many people will be frustrated in their quest. Although the release date is March 29, not all accounts will receive DR11 on that Tuesday. Some accounts will have delivery dates later in the week.

Note: the brewery is suggesting the use of a #DR11 hashtag when messaging about the beer on Twitter.

Ignore 22 oz., will still be in 6-packs

(Houston, TX) – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today revealed plans for its upcoming release of Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11. Brewed in mid-February, Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11, is a Double IPA (India Pale Ale). The beer is slated for release around April 1, 2011 – no fooling.

The Saint Arnold Divine Reserve series was introduced more than five years ago and generates considerable excitement among craft beer fans for delivering high-quality, full-flavored beer in limited quantities. In response to frustrations voiced by some who have been unable to locate previous releases of Divine Reserve before supplies ran out, Saint Arnold significantly increased production of Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11.

“We had intended to boost production of Divine Reserve No. 10 to make it easier to find, but we ran into some challenges in the brewing process and ended up with fewer than 2,000 cases and three dozen kegs,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “We intend to come close to doubling production of Divine Reserve No. 11 so that people with jobs don’t have to take a day off to be able to score a six pack. Still, we thought previous production increases would help out with availability.”

This will be the second time the Saint Arnold Divine Reserve series offered a Double IPA, but this is the first Double IPA created by the Saint Arnold brew crew (the recipe for Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 3, also a Double IPA, was based on a winning entry from the Big Bash Brew Bash). Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11 uses Simcoe, Columbus and Centennial hops from the Pacific Northwest, resulting in a very citrusy, hoppy beer. More information on the Saint Arnold Divine Reserve series is available at http://saintarnold.com/beers/divine.html.

Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11 is priced at approximately $16 per six pack and will be available at stores, restaurants and bars in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Even with the larger quantities produced, Saint Arnold is requesting that retailers limit sales to two six packs per customer and is asking customers to limit their purchase to a six pack or two.

About Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold Brewing’s ten brews are made and sold by the company’s staff of 29 dedicated employees. The brewery 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 five year-round and five seasonal beers as well as root beer, log on to www.saintarnold.com.

SOURCE: Saint Arnold Brewing

(Austin, TX) – Jester King Craft Brewery is pleased to announce the upcoming release of Drink’in the Sunbelt, the first of two planned collaborations between the Austin-based brewery and the world renowned Danish “gypsy brewer”, Mikkeller.

“Drink’in” is very hoppy, flavorful session ale brewed with equal portions of malted barley and malted wheat, and heavily dry-hopped with citrusy, American Amarillo hops. The name and inspiration come from “Drink’in the Sun”, a beer that Mikkeller has previously brewed in Europe, using a recipe remarkably similar to one that Jester King had already used for numerous test batches, that were intended to serve as the basis for a future seasonal release.

The second collaboration between the two breweries, a special Texas edition of Mikkeller’s Beer Geek Brunch, with the addition of smoked malt and chipotle peppers, will be taking place later this spring.

Drink’in the Sunbelt will be available for sampling at Jester King Brewery on Wednesday, March 16, from 4-9pm, during what had originally been planned as a paid concert, but has now been made a FREE EVENT. Danish bands Lars and the Hands of Light and Thee Attacks and producer, Crunchy Frog will be on hand to celebrate, along with and Austin’s own The Invincible Czars and Melogrand. Space is limited, so RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE IN ADVANCE, which can be done by emailing events AT jesterkingbrewery dot com.

(Krebs, OK) – Choc Beer Company released Spring India Pale Ale (IPA), February 14th. Spring IPA is the latest seasonal offering from Choc’s popular line of limited edition brews. It follows the brewery’s successful Winter Baltic Porter. Spring IPA is available in six packs and on draft. The brew will be available across Choc’s distribution network in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, and the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

Spring IPA marks the first time the brewery has released an American IPA. Zach Prichard of Choc explained, “We have talked about brewing this style for years but for one reason or another the project never materialized. The Seasonal Series provided a great opportunity to finally put this beer into production.”
Brewmaster Michael Lalli worked to put his own touch on this distinctively American style, “I wanted to create a beer that really showed off the American hops. We used just enough specialty malts to create a strong platform for the hops but not too much to overshadow them.”

IPA is a style that was born in 18th century England. Brewers added copious amounts of hops to help prevent spoilage on the long trade routes to India. Hops act as natural preservative in beer. The style is now widely brewed in America. American versions tend to employ American hop varieties and typically have a stronger hop presence than their English counterparts.

Choc began production of four, annual seasonal brews last May. In addition to Spring IPA Choc brews Summer Belgian Blonde, Choctoberfest, and Winter Baltic Porter. Choc is a family owned brewery located in Krebs, Oklahoma that has produced fine brews for four generations. Choc currently produces nine years round. Choc beers are distributed throughout Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, Florida, and Minnesota.

Moveable Yeast series offers alternate version of Saint Arnold Brown with saison yeast

(Houston, TX) – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today announced plans to release the third brew of its “Movable Yeast” series: Saint Arnold Farmer Brown’s Ale.

It is an alternate version of Saint Arnold Brown Ale made with Saison Yeast. A limited supply of 60 barrels (approximately 20,000 12-ounce servings) of Saint Arnold Farmer Brown’s Ale is being released today and will be available on tap at the brewery (for weekday tours only) and at select bars and restaurants throughout Texas.

The concept behind the Movable Yeast series is to focus on the flavor contribution of yeast. This release was created by brewing a regular batch of Saint Arnold Brown Ale, which was originally released in 1995, and splitting the wort (unfermented beer) into two 60 barrel fermenters. One fermenter was pitched with the usual Saint Arnold yeast to make Saint Arnold Brown Ale and the second fermenter was pitched with saison yeast to create Saint Arnold Farmer Brown’s Ale.

“I encourage craft beer lovers to try Farmer Brown’s Ale side-by-side with Saint Arnold Brown Ale to get the full impact of the saison yeast,” said Saint Arnold founder/brewer Brock Wagner. “Saint Arnold Farmer Brown’s Ale has pleasantly spicy and earthy notes, nice fruitiness, a dry finish but with a nice malt flavor to stand up to all of the yeast notes. We were so pleased with how it turned out that we moved it up from its planned release this spring.”

The previous brews in the Moveable Yeast series have been greeted with rave reviews and strong demand. Both Saint Arnold Weedwacker and Saint Arnold Altared Amber showcased the significant role yeast plays in influencing the aroma and flavor of craft beer. Supplies tend to last just a few weeks.

Saint Arnold Farmer Brown’s Ale will be available at Saint Arnold’s downtown Houston brewery for weekday tours starting today at 3 p.m. Saint Arnold Farmer Brown’s Ale will start showing up on draft in select bars and restaurants throughout Texas this week, although some accounts may choose to hold off on tapping their kegs.

(Springfield, MO) – Meet Mother’s Brewing Company.

Here are the first two approvals to come in for Mother’s Brewing, slated to open this spring if all goes well.

Mother’s Lil’ Helper label copy: “You’re in for one helluva burly bite. Lil’ Helper is aggressively hopped in both the wort kettle and aging vessel for a sharp, clean bitterness and fragrant citrus hop flavors. We’ve instilled a mellow malt character as the backbone to balance the elevated alcohol and hops levels that IPA lovers crave.” 7% ABV, 70 IBU. There may be no connection but The Rolling Stones made a song called, “Mother’s Little Helper,” which was incidentally the inspiration for the name of a beer from the Oskar Blues Brewery called Mama’s Li’l Yella Pils.

Mother’s Tow Head label copy: “Marrying the best elements of traditional German golden ales and classic Midwestern wheats, this American Blonde lives up to Mother’s expectations. Towhead is refreshingly light-bodied with flavor that won’t quit. It starts slightly sweet with hints of fruit and finishes clean and crisp with the faintest hop kiss that’ll leave you reaching for another.” 5.2% ABV, 21 IBUs.

Both will be released in 6-packs. As for timing, the latest update on Facebook shows that the brewery has yet to be installed.

The branding might give the company a slight leg up in marketing to women, a demographic that still lags behind men in terms of number of beer drinkers. It wouldn’t hurt to put beer on shelves by Mother’s Day either. That said, the brewery is focused on quality and job creation, according to a recent interview, not marketing to a particular demographic.

(Fort Worth, TX) – Fitting for this winter’s hellacious snow storms, Rahr and Sons Brewing experienced the worst of it last winter.

You might recall the snow that took out Rahr’s roof last February, putting the brewery out of commission for several months. Now a year later, Rahr plans on releasing a beer in 22 oz. bottles called Snowmageddon to commemorate the event.

February 11, 2010 – cold dark and snowing. Not any ordinary snow – but instead a heavy, mean, ugly snow that spilled over the brewery. Leaving the brewery that late evening – who would have known there would be no brewery that next morning.

Snowmageddon is a tribute to those who stood by and supported the rebuild of Rahr and Sons Brewery. Hard work, dedication, love and passion for brewing is what makes this late winter selection so special. Snowmageddon is a limited release available annually in late February to celebrate the rebirth of a brewery.

In addition, the brewery has a new label coming for Rahr Summertime Wheat.

(St. Louis, MO) – Schlafly continues on its 20th anniversary year.

Here is the info from the brewery’s Facebook page from Thursday:

Schlafly Facebook Exclusive: No.20 Volume: Hop Toddy – Receives Label Approval, To Be Released in Early March.

Description #2 – “We don’t really know what this beer is going to taste like. But we look forward to trying it when it is ready. We hope you do as well.”

Look for Hop Toddy on shelves later this winter in 750s.

(Kansas City, MO) – Boulevard Brewing adds the latest to its Smokestack Series lineup.

Boulevard reported last month that Boulevard Chocolate Ale had been bottled and it’s now been nearly 45 days so this one is likely hitting shelves soon.

Label copy: “One of the brightest of Kansas City’s culinary stars, Christopher Elbow has earned a worldwide reputation for his handcrafted chocolate masterpieces. His sweets are distinguished by their use of unusual, sometimes surprising ingredients, and that adventurous spirit has left its print on this special ale. The aroma is given over to earthy, fruity cocoa, with just a hint of hops. Smooth layers of dark chocolate intertwine with threads of caramel, vanilla, and nutty malt as the flavor warms and rounds to a bittersweet finish.”

Here’s more info from The Wine and Cheese Place:

“In developing this beer, Elbow and Boulevard brewmaster Steven Pauwels sought to harmonize the interplay of chocolate and malt, with each supporting and enhancing, but not overwhelming, the other. Just the right chocolate was essential. Elbow recommend a rare variety from the Dominican Republic, prized for its robust flavor and aroma, and a personal favorite. more than a mere flavoring, the chocolate — in the form of nibs, or crushed, roasted beans — was incorporated into the brewing process itself.”

(Austin, TX) – Jester King Craft Brewery is very pleased to announce the debut of Boxer’s Revenge Farmhouse Provision Ale this Saturday, January 29th, at the brewery’s Grand Opening Celebration.

Boxer’s Revenge is the first of three authentic farmhouse ales brewed as part of Jester King’s year-round lineup. The others are Das Wunderkind!, a farmhouse “table beer”, and Cocksure, a hoppy, amber farmhouse ale inspired by the French tradition of bière de garde. Das Wunderkind! and Cocksure will be available in the coming months.

All three of Jester King’s year-round farmhouse ales are aged in oak wine barrels with wild yeast after undergoing an initial fermentation with French farmhouse yeast. After aging, the individual barrels are blended to taste.

Boxer’s Revenge is inspired by the hearty “stock ales” or “provision ales” produced by some of iconic farmhouse breweries located along the Franco-Belgian border and named in honor of the stalwart workhorse in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. It combines delicate notes of tropical fruit, citrus and spice from the primary French farmhouse yeast with tart, rustic, earthy notes from the Brettanomyces. A final dry-hopping with fresh Cascade and Centennial hops adds yet another layer of depth and complexity.

Following Jester King’s Grand Opening Celebration, Boxer’s Revenge will be available on draught at a small number of accounts throughout Texas. In the months that follow, it will be released as a regular, year-round offering in both kegs and 750mL, amber, champagne-style bottles. Please see the attached information sheet about Boxer’s Revenge.

Jester King Craft brewery is an authentic farmhouse brewery in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, on the outskirts of Austin. For more information, please visit www.jesterkingbrewery.com.