Video of Head Brewer

Press Releases…the last late night batch…

Two Beers Fresh Hop 2011, Heart of Darkness CDA, Pumpkin Spice Ale coming soon

UC Davis, Sudwerk Brewery introduce Aggie Lager

MateVeza Morpho Herbal Ale recently released

Press Releases:

New Belgium Hoptober returns

Sun King Brewing shows off its O-face with Oktoberfest cans, kegs

Chatoe Rogue Good Chit Pilsner debuts on October 1st

Buffalo Bill’s Orange Blossom Cream Ale recalled

Grand Teton Wake Up Call Imperial Coffee Porter just released

Cider Summit Seattle takes place September 10th (Sponsored)

Press Releases:

Boulevard Brewing expanding distribution to Massachusetts next month

Guinness Black Lager to be launched nationally in September

Baxter Brewing expanding distribution to Massachusetts

Sebago Brewing releases The Hoppy Humunculus

Sackets Harbor Brewing commences production

Ithaca Beer Co. breaks ground on brewery

(Bridgewater, VT) – More Vermont Irene news…

(Above: Long Trail Brewery flooding – posted by Longstaff on Beer Advocate)

Last night, I posted that flooding from Irene virtually destroyed The Alchemist Pub and Brewery. Today, we learn that Long Trail Brewery, among the 25 largest craft breweries in the country, has also been affected but to a much lesser extent.

Courtesy of Jeff Baker of The Farmhouse Tap & Grill on Beer Advocate:

“Just got off the phone with my Long Trail rep. and he said that things are bad, but not as bad as they originally thought they could be. They have water in the brewery and their deck is submerged. But he made it very clear that the beers that are fermenting and conditioning in tanks are totally safe from harm and they have auxiliary power so those beers will be fine. They’re currently not brewing new batches as they work to clean up and continually check their water supply to make sure it’s safe for brewing.

He said too what’s worse is that all the roads that lead to them (and from them) are either under water or totally washed out. He also noted that the people who live on Killington are stuck there because the two roads out are destroyed (also the Killington base lodge collapsed). He said they’ve got their work cut out for them, but they’ve got a plan and are working hard to get back on schedule.”

Meanwhile, here is a short update from The Alchemist Pub and Brewery home page:

“Disaster strikes Waterbury. The Alchemist Pub and Brewery was ruined in a once in a generation flood on Sunday night August 28, 2011. While the cannery is fine and on target to open this coming Friday, the Pub will be closed for the foreseeable future. With our endless thanks and gratitude to our loyal and returning friends, customers and fans, we will be back. Stay tuned…”

From Boston.com’s Steve Greenlee:

“I just received an email from co-owner Jen Kimmich: ‘The pub is completely totalled,’ she wrote. ‘Our brewery and all of the beer inside are ruined. It will take a long time to rebuild. My guess is that the building will be gutted and rebuilt. On a good note, our canning line is running today and we are preparing for a Friday opening. Wish us luck!’”

The Flat Street Brew Pub in Brattleboro also appeared to be completely flooded. The brewery posted a video on its Facebook page yesterday afternoon.

If you know of other breweries and beer businesses being affected by flooding, send them in.

(Boulder, CO) – Some notes from yesterday’s Brewers Association conference call discussing the first half of the year in beer…

Recall that craft beer is up 14% YTD. Here is drilldown further into what is happening in craft beer and the larger beer segment, in general.

MACROS:

Supermarkets is where we get some of the more interesting data…

• AB InBev is down -1.6%, MillerCoors is up 0.2% and Boston Beer Co. is up 2.8%. Yuengling, underdeveloper in this channel, is up 12.3%.

• Blue Moon is now in top 15 brands overall, up 16.2% in dollar sales. The majority of the top 15 brands are down in sales.

• Modelo, Stella and Dos Equis are all having stellar years in the import segment. Category leaders, Corona and Heineken, are down.

• Top 15 new beer brands are really weak relative to past years. Shock Top Raspberry Wheat is the top new brand with MGD Light 64 Lemonade, the #2 beer, already being discontinued.

CRAFTS:

Again, all this is pertaining only to supermarkets…

• Top 10 craft breweries: Stone Brewing up 23%, jumps into top 10. Bell’s is up 30.5%. Boston Beer Co. sales pretty stagnant while other crafts are up into single/double digits.

• Top 15 craft brands: Perhaps the key takeaway from the whole session is this: case sales of Blue Moon and Shock Top are growing even faster than their super regional craft counterparts (which include Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, etc.). Even though, news of Bud Light and Miller Lite sales drops dominate the headlines with these large companies, their craft portfolios are doing just as well as those of small brewers.

  Also of note, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is now outselling Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

• Kona’s variety pack is the top new craft beer “brand” by Symphony IRI Group definition. (More on Kona’s epic rise here). Bridgeport Kingpin is the top new craft beer brand by Brewers Association definition.

• Top 10 new craft beer packages: Ninkasi 6-packs are top dog.

• Top 10 craft styles: IPAs and variety packs are up 30-40% in dollar sales from a year ago.

• Across all channels (supermarkets, convenience, food and drug), AB is kicking MillerCoors’ butt in “innovation,” with 4x the sales from new products this year. Ninkasi Brewing is the leader among craft breweries in new product sales, topping the likes of even Sierra Nevada and Boston Beer Co.

• Finally, in Chicago ‘food and drug’ stores, the Goose Island brand family is up 24% in case dollars and up 20% in case volume. The AB InBev acquisition has had virtually zero negative effect on that brewery according to the data.

(Fort Collins, CO) – When branding a beer after a culture with which you are not familiar goes horribly wrong…

When I posted the label and press release for Funkwerks Māori King Imperial Saison on August 8th, I did so without a second thought, being completely unfamiliar with the history of these indigenous people. Apparently, Funkwerks wasn’t familiar with them enough either…

According to Wikipedia, “The arrival of Europeans to New Zealand starting from the 17th century brought enormous change to the Māori way of life. Māori people gradually adopted many aspects of Western society and culture. Initial relations between Māori and Europeans were largely amicable, and with the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 the two cultures coexisted as part of a new British colony. However, rising tensions over disputed land sales led to conflict in the 1860s. Social upheaval, decades of conflict and epidemics of disease took a devastating toll on the Māori population. But by the start of the 20th century the Māori population had begun to recover, and efforts were made to increase their standing in wider New Zealand society. A marked Māori cultural revival gathered pace in the 1960s and is continuing.”

Within the last 24 hours, news has spread across New Zealand media outlets and Māori news websites about the beer’s existence and the Māori’s contention with use of their culture in the beer’s branding.

In short, they are outraged.

Over the past fifteen hours, Funkwerks’ Facebook page has been flooded with criticism. The image that I uploaded to Flickr gives you an idea of how many posts have been made on the FB page during that time. [Note: the original on my computer is 29,000px in height.]

As part of a formal statement to the Māori people, Funkwerks Co-Owner/Brewer, Gordon Schuck, writes, “There is a saying, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The Maori King name was meant as homage to the Maori people and their fight to have their own leaders. I don’t know the entire history of the Maori people but if it’s anything like the Native Americans, I’m sure they’ve gotten the short end of the stick. I’m very sympathetic to native people. My fiancé is part Native American. I never meant this name to be construed as an insult and for that I am deeply sorry.”

The brewery has not yet given an indication that it will change the branding for Māori King.

Press Releases

Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA now available

Redhook Late Harvest returns for fall season

Narragansett Fest returns with expanded distribution into Philly, southern NY

Twisted Pine Brewing expands distribution into new Mexico

Dollar growth up 15% in first six months of 2011; U.S. sees rapid growth in breweries in planning

(Boulder, CO) - The Brewers Association, the trade association representing the majority of U.S. brewing companies, has released strong mid-year numbers for America’s small and independent craft brewers¹. Dollar sales were up 15 percent in the first half of 2011, excluding brewers who left the craft segment in 2010². Volume of craft brewed beer sold grew 14 percent for the first six months in 2011, compared to 9 percent growth in the first half of 2010.

Barrels sold by craft brewers for the first half of the year are an estimated 5.1 million barrels. Despite many challenges, the mid-year numbers show signs of continued growth for craft breweries. The industry currently provides an estimated 100,000 jobs, contributing significantly to the U.S. economy.

“Craft brewers continue to innovate and brew beers of excellent quality,” noted Paul Gatza, director of the Brewers Association. “America’s beer drinkers are rapidly switching to craft because of the variety of flavors they are discovering. And they are connecting with small and independent craft brewers as companies they choose to support.”

The U.S. now boasts 1,790 breweries—an increase of 165 additional breweries since June 2010. The Brewers Association also tracks breweries in planning as an indicator of potential new entrants into the craft category, and lists 725 breweries in planning today compared to 389 a year ago. Additionally, the count of craft brewers was at 1,740 as of June 30, 2011.

“There is a growing interest in establishing new breweries,” Gatza added. “It seems like every day we are hearing about a brewery in planning. Will they all make it? No, but many will if they produce high-quality, interesting craft beers and can get them to market through self-distribution and beer wholesalers and beer retailers.”

¹ The definition of a craft brewer as stated by the Brewers Association: An American craft brewer is small, independent, and traditional. Small: Annual production of beer less than 6 million barrels. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition. Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer. Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewers brands) or has at least 50% of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.

² Three former craft brewing companies left the segment in the second half of 2010 when transitions led them to no longer meet the Brewers Association’s definition of independence.

###

The Brewers Association is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their craft beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The Brewers Association (BA) represents more than 70 percent of the brewing industry, and its members make more than 99 percent of the beer brewed in the U.S. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America®, SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience and American Craft Beer Week. The BA publishes The New Brewermagazine and its Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association. Follow us on Twitter.

Press Releases:

Seventh Sun Brewing Co. to open in Tampa Bay area

Coney Island Barrel-Aged Human Blockhead unites bourbon and bock

Coney Island Brewing opens as world’s smallest brewery

Breakside Brewery to release ten new beers

Empyrean Brewing to debut Aries Märzen

Press Releases:

Massachusetts issues advisory regarding local breweries

Massachusetts imposes new restrictions, likely to reduce local brewery privileges in coming year

Boston Beer Co. reports 7% increase in Q2 depletions

MillerCoors reports higher profit while sales down three percent

Press Releases:

Saint Arnold Brewing up 22% in first half, adding four 240-barrel fermenters

Crooked Stave Pure Guava Petite Sour, Wild Wild Brett Rouge to be released on August 11th

Smuttynose partially outsources 2011 Old Brown Dog production

Karl Strauss Boardwalk Black Rye debuts in early August

Telegraph Brewing, Iron Fist Brewing expanding distribution to Pennsylvania

Freetail Brewing suspends planning of Houston location

Crazy Mountain Brewing, Hardtail Brewery to expand distribution

Press Releases:

Upland Brewing to invest $3 million in expansion

Iron Hill, Flying Fish collaborate on New Jersey flagship beer, Iron Fish

BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse reports 7% sales increase for second quarter

Labatt introduces Bleue 55 as part of 60th anniversary year

Labatt officially launches Blue Lime as 60th anniversary marker

BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. (Nasdaq:BJRI) today reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 that ended on Tuesday, June 28, 2011.

Highlights for the second quarter, compared to the same quarter last year, were as follows:

— Total revenues increased 17% to $152.9 million
— Comparable restaurant sales increased 6.9%
— Net income increased 29% to $8.2 million
— Diluted net income per share increased 22% to $0.28

Results for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 include a pre-tax charge of approximately $1.0 million, or $0.03 per diluted share related to the settlement of certain California employment practices lawsuits that have been outstanding since 2009 and 2010, partially offset by a pre-tax gain of approximately $0.6 million or $0.02 per diluted share, pursuant to the settlement agreement with the Company’s broker-dealer for its former auction rate securities portfolio that was fully liquidated in December 2009. Under the terms of that settlement agreement, the Company is entitled to potential future recoveries of its loss on that portfolio based on the performance of the securities through December 2012. During the second quarter of 2011, certain of those securities were redeemed at par, thus resulting in additional cash recoveries for the Company. Excluding the impact of these two aforementioned items on a non-GAAP basis, net income and net income per diluted share for the second quarter of 2011 was $8.5 million and $0.29, respectively. A reconciliation between GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP financial measures is included in the accompanying financial data.

“Our leadership team was pleased with our strong top-line and bottom-line performance during the second quarter of 2011,” commented Jerry Deitchle, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Our focus on providing a higher quality, more differentiated dining experience with broad consumer approachability continues to resonate with our guests, as evidenced by our strong comparable sales increase of 6.9% for the quarter, which successfully hurdled a solid 5.3% increase for the same quarter last year. During the second quarter, we introduced our highly successful, lower calorie Enlightened Entrees(TM) menu offerings and continued implementing our seating efficiency, expanded beer taps and other initiatives that provide us with opportunities to further improve our sales productivity and operational efficiency. Furthermore, our restaurant operations team continues to achieve increased leverage within the four walls of our restaurants. Compared to the same quarter last year, our estimated four-wall restaurant level operating cash flow margin increased by 90 basis points to 20.9%. One of the most difficult challenges executing any new restaurant development plan is to preserve the concept’s initial favorable unit economics as it expands further away from its home base. At BJ’s, we continue to demonstrate our ability to grow from a small regional California restaurant company into a national restaurant company while preserving and expanding our four-wall restaurant level margins. With only 108 restaurants open today in 13 states, we continue to believe that BJ’s best years are still well ahead of us.”

As of the end of the second quarter 2011, the Company has successfully opened five new restaurants of which three new restaurants opened during the second quarter (Austin, Texas; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Century City, California). “Sales for our new restaurants continue to exceed our initial expectations, and we remain on track to achieve our stated goal to open as many as 12 to 13 new restaurants this year,” said Deitchle. The Company currently expects to open as many as four new restaurants in the third quarter, of which one has already opened in College Station, Texas, and as many as three to four new restaurants in the fourth quarter of this year. Investors are reminded that the actual number and timing of new restaurant openings is subject to a number of factors outside of the Company’s control, including weather conditions and factors under the control of landlords, contractors and regulatory/licensing authorities.

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. will conduct a conference call on its second quarter earnings release today, July 21, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific Time). The Company will provide an Internet simulcast, as well as a replay of the conference call. To listen to the conference call, please visit the “Investors” page of the Company’s website located at http://www.bjsrestaurants.com several minutes prior to the start of the call to register and download any necessary audio software. An archive of the presentation will be available for 30 days following the call.

BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. currently owns and operates 108 casual dining restaurants under the BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery(R), BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse(R) or BJ’s Pizza & Grill(R) brand names. BJ’s restaurants offer an innovative and broad menu featuring award-winning, signature deep-dish pizza complemented with generously portioned salads, appetizers, sandwiches, soups, pastas, entrees and desserts. Quality, flavor, value, moderate prices and sincere service remain distinct attributes of the BJ’s experience. The Company, along with its qualified third-party craft brewers, produces and distributes BJ’s critically acclaimed handcrafted beers throughout the chain. The Company’s restaurants are located in California (53), Texas (23), Arizona (6), Colorado (4), Oregon (2), Nevada (5), Florida (6), Ohio (2), Oklahoma (2), Kentucky (1), Indiana (1), Louisiana (1) and Washington (2). Visit BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. on the Web at http://www.bjsrestaurants.com.

Certain statements in the preceding paragraphs and all other statements that are not purely historical constitute “forward-looking” statements for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Such statements include, but are not limited to, those regarding expected comparable restaurant sales growth in future periods, those regarding the effect of new sales-building initiatives and future guest traffic, as well as those regarding the number of restaurants expected to be opened in future periods and the timing and location of such openings. These “forward-looking” statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results to be materially different from those projected or anticipated. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) the effect of credit and equity market disruptions on our ability to finance our continued expansion on acceptable terms, (ii) our ability to manage an increasing number of new restaurant openings, (iii) construction delays, (iv) labor shortages, (v) minimum wage increases, (vi) food quality and health concerns, (vii) factors that impact California, where 53 of our current 108 restaurants are located, (viii) restaurant and brewery industry competition, (ix) impact of certain brewery business considerations, including without limitation, dependence upon suppliers, third party contractors and related hazards, (x) consumer spending trends in general for casual dining occasions, (xi) potential uninsured losses and liabilities, (xii) fluctuating commodity costs and availability of food in general and certain raw materials related to the brewing of our handcrafted beers and energy, (xiii) trademark and service-mark risks, (xiv) government regulations, (xv) licensing costs, (xvi) beer and liquor regulations, (xvii) loss of key personnel, (xviii) inability to secure acceptable sites, (xix) limitations on insurance coverage, (xx) legal proceedings, (xxi) other general economic and regulatory conditions and requirements, (xxii) the success of our key sales-building and related operational initiatives and (xxiii) numerous other matters discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or alter its “forward-looking” statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Full financials available here

Press Releases:

UPDATE: Sixpoint Brewery launches ‘Spice of Life’ Series

Molson Coors Animée to target women in UK

Paulaner plans to double sales by 2015

Pyramid Breweries: “We Hefe’d Up”

New Belgium Kick, Clutch collabs debut in August

Abita Purple Haze, Amber and Jockamo I.P.A. coming to cans

Press Releases:

Cherry Chocolate Stout collab arrives Monday

Jack’s Abby Brewing begins production at new Massachusetts brewery

Twisted Pine Bough Breaker debuts

Sebago Brewing Company releases Single Batch Series Beer, 2011 Grand Crüe

Press Releases:

Update: Samuel Smith’s Yorkshire Stingo returns August 1st

Green Tea IPA collaboration beer benefits Japanese tsunami relief

Lift Bridge Brewery suspends 6-pack bottle sales

Deschutes Brewery launches new packaging designs

Breckenridge Brewery up 39% YTD through June

Bison Saison de Wench up next in Beer of the Month series

Announcing International #IPADay: A Social Celebration of Craft Beer

Caldera Brewing to be available in NJ this summer

Ever wanted to try the beers of Cigar City Brewing, ranked #4 in the world by RateBeer? Now is your chance to check out the wares of this relatively young brewery firsthand.

Now available for online ordering at Lueken’s Liquors…

What’s in Stock?

Cigar City Brewing: 15 different including Humidor Series Cedar Aged IPA, Or Black Ale and Tocobaga Red Ale

The Bruery: 7 different including Cuir and Coton

Hoppin’ Frog: 7 different including D.O.R.I.S. The Destroyer and B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher

Dogfish Head: 16 different including Robert Johnson’s Hellhound Ale, My Antonia, Namaste and all of the Ancient Ales like Theobroma, etc.

Stillwater Artisanal Ales: Stateside Saison, Autumnal and Cellar Door

Evil Twin Brewing: Yin Imperial Stout and Yang Imperial IPA

Southern Tier Brewing: 14 different including Choklat and Unearthly

North Coast Brewing: 3 including Cellar Reserve 2009 Old Stock Ale

Anchor Christmas Ale 2009 and 2010

…and many more from Yuengling, Stone Brewing, Terrapin Beer Co., Great Divide Brewing, Red Brick Brewing, etc.

Shipping/Discount

Pertinent Info Here

Currently, these are the states they can ship to: AZ, CA, CO, CT, D.C., FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, ME, MI, MN, MO, NE, NV, NC, NM, ND, NY, OH, OR, SC, TN, VA, VT, WA, WV, WY & WI.

Orders over $190.00, Luekens pays 50% of shipping charge
Orders over $150.00, Luekens pays 20% of shipping charge

Other Notes:

Got questions about ordering or a placed order? Ask for Chris at 727-736-6378. You may also email list@luekensliquors.com.

Lueken’s has three locations in Florida if you’re visiting any time this summer; they’re in Dunedin, Oldsmar and Clearwater.

It should go without saying but I don’t take any responsibility with respect to your beer order. That said, supporting stores like Lueken’s helps support Beernews.org as well so I’d encourage you to give these guys a shot.

Press Releases:

Alaskan Brewing squelches rumors of deal negotiations with North American Breweries

New Belgium Brewing announces can line expansion

Oregon breweries pass 1 million barrels in 2010

Healdsburg The H Cubed Anniversary Ale coming this month

Karl Strauss Off the Rails debuts

Sebago Fool’s Gold Ale now available

(Lexington, MA) – Following the recent release of Clown Shoes Lubrication, a discussion has broken out on Beer Advocate around the brewery’s label artwork.

Update: Blog post on this from label artist, Stacey George

Update 2: Made the local news station

After about three hours, we are already at over 325 replies to comments made by Beer Advocate Events Director, Candice Alström. Here is an excerpt:

“Granted I didn’t find this one nearly as bad as Tramp Stamp and Brown Angel. But on Twitter, the first thing people pointed out about it was the “dong.” Of course the title of the beer is gross with that in mind. And with this Clownshoes being the tacky brand that they are, I have no doubt that it is all about the dong.

I don’t get it. I don’t get why they have to go there to sell beer. We don’t need this kind of crap. Of course he can do whatever he wants, and I ask no one to agree with me if they don’t see my point of view here. I just don’t think we need to go there to sell beer. If these beers were any good, he wouldn’t need to go there to try and sell it. They are average at best and these dumb labels do nothing to help/change that.”

Here is an excerpt from Clown Shoes’ Gregg Berman’s response:

“I used to sit behind a desk and answer phones, push buttons, and combat life threatening boredom. Now I get to do this. I want to do this forever if possible. Who wouldn’t? But I am realistic about the life of brands. So I am trying in three ways to keep Clown Shoes alive:

Ok, all that being said, I guess I fall into the V camp too, because today is the first I have heard of a ‘dong’ in the Lubrication label. You may believe it or not, but G rated was the goal, with the direction to the artist being “reflect classic oil cans in the art somehow.” The name is provocative enough, I didn’t feel the need for a racy label.”

Let’s be honest. It has been a slow news holiday weekend hangover-type day so now is as good a time as any to ask…

Do you find these labels distasteful or not?

…And now for a slight change of pace and some content that is a bit more behind the scenes and industry-related…

Bella Vista Beer Distributors has been around in Philadelphia for over 25 years. Brand Manager, Jordan Fetfatzes, answers a dozen questions on how one of the largest beer markets in the country works and what it’s like being the little guy among AB and MillerCoors distributors.

1) Give me the Bella Vista Beverage story in one paragraph. [or in Jordan's case, several...]

Bella Vista to Eastern Pennsylvania means an unabashedly and ferociously independent wholesaler who refuses to accept anything less than unbeatable service with great beer. Bella Vista Beer Distributors is a family run company built from the ground up in 1984 by Mario and Olimpia Fetfatzes that started out as a retail mom and pop operation. Over time, Bella Vista became a craft beer wholesaler due to three major reasons.

a) The current wholesale system was filled with holes regarding brands WE wanted to see in the market.

b) Our favorite and most recognized wholesaler had been bought out (Edward Friedland Co. We miss you!) and created a void in Philadelphia Proper for an Independent, craft-ONLY beer wholesaler.

c) Passion – the love of craft beer has led us down the path as a wholesaler for the world’s best brewers and importers.

Our first brand was Boulder Beer Co, and we have them to thank for us being in this game. It was down to the big Coors House or little ass Bella Vista Beer… four years later, we are Boulder Beer’s #5 wholesaler in the country out of over 30 markets covered by that brewer. We knew nothing about the wholesale aspect but, boy, did we learn fast!

Today Bella Vista is known nationally for having a truly highly regarded portfolio of beer from brewers and suppliers we call friends, share joy and tears with throughout the year. We bust on each other about sports and weather but we also feel their pain when we hear from them firsthand of devastating occurrences we see on TV. To have a familiar voice on the phone echoing what we just saw on the news in their area- fires, landslides, earthquakes- this craft beer business sure makes the world a much smaller place.

Bella Vista is the true David in a Goliath world of beer wholesale! We go out of our way to work with our brewer-friends. For example, we will grab cast iron tubs from North Philly for Sixpoint and get Apple Brandy barrels for the likes of Voodoo and Cigar City. Those are the things that makes Bella Vista who we are. We give a damn!

2) Pennsylvania is known to have some unusual liquor laws. Can you briefly describe how Bella Vista acts as both a wholesaler and a retailer and why that is?

Unusual? At least we don’t have crazy ABV caps or package size bans. However, we do have the case only law on the beer store front, and a maximum volume allowed sold by deli’s, bars, and restaurants.

As a wholesaler, imagine trying to get across to a potential supplier that what the mother carton looks like matters! They look at us like we have three heads sometimes. Then when we say, think of Pennsylvania with a bunch of mini Costcos or Sams Clubs. Then the light bulb goes on. “OH!!–then the puzzled response, “Really? you mean my beer will be sold in the original container it was packaged in? Even a case of 22oz Bombers?” That response never gets old, Then we get the, “Well how do you buy a single? And then we state, bottle shops, which are basically restaurants by definition that must have seating for 30 people and food ready for the same amount. They must then have an addition to their license which is primarily for consumption on premise first and foremost. All in all, it is confusing but it has worked for a long time. As far as we know, it won’t change any time soon. Hey, you out of state brewers eyeing up Pennsylvania, polish up that mother carton!

Another confusing word is “distributor.” In Pennsylvania, that is a catch-all phrase for both wholesaler and retail case stores. The only differentiation is whether or not they are an “ID” (importing distributor), a “D” (distributor) or BOTH! Many of us wholesalers in Pennsylvania are both, some only offering our brands at the retail venue and others offering beer they buy from other ID’s to bolster their overall selection. We are both an ID and a D.

Prior to the craft beer boom, there had always been some sort of movement to at least allow “D” distributors to sell 12-pks which has never come to fruition. Now with craft beer and smaller Pennsylvania brewers, the MBDA is making a push for 6-pack sales in the D’s so they can offer these products at a much more consumer-friendly and economically less-challenging package. We don’t have an opinion on the matter and all we can say to that is, “Whatever the law of PA is, is how we will run our business both as an ID and a D.” We do feel that some changes are needed to be more current with today’s way of life, both on the eating establishment licensee and the “D” level that is fair to both operations and works for the consumer. We all know that never ends up working.

3) Of the 100 or so beer brands in the Bella Vista portfolio, only five are based in Pennsylvania. What challenges come with carrying a largely non-local, niche portfolio filled with small breweries like AleSmith and Cigar City?

Hmmm…seems like you are asking us the hard questions!

Well, first off, we love our locals. We support them in our retail store. In fact, we have a PA-only designated aisle. We carry more local brands than most other local retailers believe it or not. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be all that credible. Our retail floor manager makes an emphasis on weekly samplings of local beers, working closely with brewery reps from the likes of Victory, Stoudts and others to make sure that we show them the love they deserve.

The main reason we dont rep that many locals is simple; we got in the game a little later than most. The bigger locals had established their wholesaler partners a few years prior to us getting in the game but it is never too late to add local credibility to your repertoire, something which we are working on now. We signed with Jeremy Myers of up-and-coming Neshaminy Creek Brewing Co. out of Croyden (35 minutes from Philly!). Lavery out of Erie is an upstart but they make phenomenal beer and, in this crowded market, you better make good beer or you better get out of the way.

We have been approached by a few brewers in Pennsylvania that we’ve had to respectfully turn away due to our more discerning palates here at Bella Vista, and though they may not work for us, we wish them the most success and will help them by carrying their beer in our retail showroom. We also don’t leave them high and dry. We will usually send them a few more contacts for other wholesalers who may be interested in carrying their beer.

Some may call many of our brands niche, but we know other wholesalers would die to have the brands we have, and to be honest, there is a waiting list for lots of the niche beers, and allocations set forth for the brands like AleSmith and Cigar City. There just isn’t enough of this to go around, and we are happy they choose to send their beer to our region. Us being their voice, as an extended family member, is icing on the cake for us. Sometimes, we pinch ourselves when we start spouting off the brands we represent in one of the greatest beer centric regions of the world! Just an an FYI, if you pay attention to those beer rating websites, we distribute Voodoo Brewery, and Matt Allyn’s beers are some of the highest rated in all of Pennsylvania.

As some remember from early May, I worked with France 44, a store that is able to ship beer to approximately 90% of the U.S., on a sponsored post here. The Minnesota-based shop is the only one offering Surly beer for purchase online but they also have a solid selection of Midwest and West Coast beers from other breweries, too.

From the feedback I’ve heard, people have been really satisfied with their orders. The shipping is hard to beat both in terms of price and speed of delivery. Because they are centrally located between the coasts, shipments generally don’t take more than a few days to arrive wherever you are. If you get an order in early enough in the day, they’ll even typically pack it up and ship it out on the same day.

With all of that said, I’ve invited them back for another post…this time, with a new selection of beers.

What breweries/beers does France 44 carry?

Use the website search and/or click some of the suggestions below. Have questions? Call 612-925-3252 & ask for Matt or Carin in the beer department or send an email.

Surly Brewing: NEW…Hell and Bitter Brewer, also in stock…Furious, Bender, Coffee Bender, CynicAle

Epic Brewing: ALL NEW…Brainless on Peaches, Brainless on Cherries and more than a dozen others

Great Lakes Brewing: NEW…Lake Erie Monster Imperial IPA, also in stock…Edmund Fitzgerald, Dortmunder Gold & Eliot Ness

21st Amendment Brewery: NEW…Hop Crisis Imperial IPA, also in stock…Monk’s Blood and Back in Black

Great Divide Brewing: 17th Anniversary Oak-Aged IPA, Espresso Oak Aged Yeti, (original) Yeti and Old Ruffian

New Belgium: Super Cru, La Folie, Grand Cru, Dunkel, Ranger IPA and (of course) Fat Tire

Two Brothers Brewing: Askew Sour Ale, Resistance IPA and Domaine DuPage Biere de Garde

Bell’s Brewery: Two Hearted Ale and Kalamazoo Stout

Some local picks: Olvalde The Auroch’s Horn, Dave’s Brew Farm Matacabras, Rush River Uber Alt

…and just like last time, many others including: Central Waters, Goose Island (Big John still in), Deschutes, Boulevard, Dark Horse, Summit and so on.

Automated System:

The France 44 online shop is relatively advanced in that: 1) You can order beer online with a modern shopping cart system and 2) online stock counts are accurately tied to what’s on the floor at the store.

Shipping Policy:

Very transparent. Fill up your cart and then click on “My Cart” in the upper right corner. Put in your zip code in the Destination Zip Code input field in the lower right part of the order screen and hit enter on the keyboard. It will then calculate your shipping (without having to sign up or enter a credit card).

Shipping increases incrementally with each package you add to the cart (but less each time). There is no need to try to plan out an order of exactly 6 or 12 beers to fit a certain box. For an indication of cost, four 4-packs of Surly ran me about $67 total, shipped to the coast. Considering the expense and time it takes to do beer trades, this is almost a no-brainer if you’re looking to try some Midwest/West Coast beers.

As mentioned above, France 44 ships to all but a handful of states so 90% of readers here are all set. Note: France 44 does not ship internationally.

New Arrivals/In-store Tasting Updates:

Sign up for the France 44 newsletter.

Follow @france44wine

A Quick Word:

I’ve said it before and I will say it again. As with all of the businesses I feature here, supporting them is a great way to support Beernews.org (in this case, while even getting yourself some beer in the process). Chris, Carin and the rest of the crew are big on delivering good great service so give them a try if you haven’t already.

If you find yourself in/around Minneapolis:
View Larger Map

(Hingham, MA) – One of the co-founders of Boston Beer Co. has shut the door on her second beer venture.

Rhonda Kallman became a household name among craft beer drinkers as one of the stars of Beer Wars. Kallman’s struggles to grow her business, New Century Brewing, was one of the primary plotlines of the film and eventually proved to be too much. The FDA’s banning of one of her two products, Moonshot, was the final nail in the coffin.

The Patriot Ledger reports, “Kallman is shutting down New Century Brewing for good this month, and preparing for the next challenge. The decision follows a move last fall by the FDA that essentially banned New Century’s Moonshot beer because it contained caffeine. Kallman, who ran New Century out of her Cohasset home, puts most of the blame for New Century’s demise on the FDA.”

Kallman also had a hard time getting the support of craft beer drinkers. Here are some ratings from the online beer sites…

Beer Advocate:

RateBeer:

Untappd:

Press Releases:

Update: Wisconsin legislators request Governor’s veto on craft beer provision

Golden Road Brewing opens in Los Angeles in September

Victory Otto Ale debuts October 15th

Senate small brewers caucus established

New Belgium celebrates 20th anniversary on June 28th

Sebago Bass Ackwards Berryblue Ale now available

Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. brings back HATUEY®

(Press Release)

(Boston, MA) – It is with sadness that the Board of Directors of The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE-SAM) announces the death of one of its longest serving members, Charles Joseph Koch, Jr. at the family farm in Georgetown, Ohio on June 13, 2011.

The elder Mr. Koch was a guiding light for his oldest son, Jim, in the creation of The Boston Beer Company. He contributed his immense knowledge of brewing, as well as his sound business advice. But his greatest gift lay in an old trunk stored in his attic. That trunk contained family brewing memorabilia and beer recipes dating back to the 1800′s. Indeed, he handed over to his son what he considered the best of the family beer recipes. That beer was first brewed in 1984 and soon appeared in taverns and restaurants in Boston under the name Samuel Adams Boston Lager. The success of Samuel Adams Boston Lager is widely credited as a catalyst for the American Craft Beer Revolution.

Mr. Koch was born in Cincinnati on November 14, 1922. He graduated from Withrow High School and the University of Cincinnati, where he majored in chemical engineering and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He became the fifth generation of eldest Koch sons to become a brewer. His career in brewing began in the beer industry’s pre World War II time of many local small breweries and reached all the way to today’s resurgent craft beer revolution. Mr. Koch apprenticed in some of Cincinnati’s leading breweries of the day, including Wiedemann, Hudepohl, Burger, Bavarian and Schoenling Brewing Company. He also graduated from America’s oldest brewing school, the Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago in 1948 and served as Brewmaster at the Wooden Shoe Brewery in Minster, Ohio. In coming full circle, The Boston Beer Company bought the Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewery in Cincinnati in 1996. At the conclusion of a major renovation to the renamed Samuel Adams Brewery in 2005, one of the brewery’s two, new copper brew kettles was named in honor of Charles Koch.

Mr. Koch reluctantly left the beer business when he saw that the taste for full-flavored beers was on the wane. In 1958, he co-founded Chemicals, Inc., a distribution company of brewing and industrial chemicals in Cincinnati, Ohio and retired in 1987. He served as a member of The Boston Beer Company’s first Board of Advisors and then on the Board of Directors from its initial public offering in 1995 until his death.

In 1945, Charles Koch married Dorothy Kautz; they were married for 63 years. They have four children: Charles James (Jim), William, Lisa Green, and Susan Koch. He leaves 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In addition to his role in the American beer business, Mr. Koch was an avid collector of automobiles, both antique and modern. Every year he was a sponsor and supporter of the Ault Park Concours d’Elegance, one of the premier classic car events in the Midwest.

Funeral services for Charles Joseph Koch are private. Donations in his memory can be made to the Georgetown High School Scholarship Foundation (c/o Eric Toole, 987 Mr. Orab Heights, Georgetown, Ohio 45121) or to the Cincinnati Concours Foundation (346 Stanley Avenue, Suite One West, Cincinnati, Ohio 45277).

SOURCE The Boston Beer Company

Press Releases:

21st Amendment Hop Crisis cans debut this week

Southampton Ales and Lagers signs with Total Beverage Solution, will expand distribution in 2012

Epic Brewing expands distribution to New Jersey

Firestone Walker brings brews to Colorado

Full Sail Jimvar Bohemian Pilsner up next in Brewer’s Share Series

Been wanting to get your family to join the craft beer revolution? Why not kill two birds with one stone and do it as a gift?

With Father’s Day coming up quickly, the Craft Beer Club has an intriguing offer for Beernews.org readers.

Discount:

When ordering a gift of three monthly shipments or more, you will get 50% off the first shipment with the promo code, BeerNews50, a savings of $19. There is also a free gift that comes with each order (a bottle opener, peanuts and/or tasting glasses depending on the number of months that you select). You can also use that code even if you are ordering a membership for yourself (not as a gift). There is no commitment to keep the membership going.

Recently Featured Beers:

With each shipment comes 12 beers: 3 beers x 4 styles.

Santa Fe Pale Ale: Anything but typical, this Santa Fe Pale Ale is full bodied and robust, finishing with a well-balanced combination of subtle, Pilsner-like maltiness and hearty German yeast. Hoppy and undoubtedly bold. The flagship brew at Santa Fe Brewing Company.

Santa Fe Porter: A trademark beer of master brewer Ty Levis, the State Pen Porter has every reason to be one of his favorites: it’s flavorful with loads of coffee notes, mild nuttiness, and dark bitter chocolate. A smooth and unexpected hop presence on the finish keeps you coming back for more.

Choc Beer American Wheat Ale: Choc Beer Co.’s original 1919 craft American Wheat Ale is golden opaque in color with a definite lemon note, a bready/grainy malt background, and slight spicy notes to round it out. Unfiltered, crisp, and a touch of sweetness make this brew a consistent favorite.

Choc Beer Spring Ale: Choc Beer Co. uses a unique mix of honey malt and American grown hops to craft their seasonal Spring IPA. The hops create an assertive yet balanced flavor highlighted by citrus and floral tones. Spring IPA marks the first time this brewery has released an American India Pale Ale.

To get these beers, you must order by June 15th.

Press Releases:

Deschutes brewmaster to leave company after eight years, start his own brewery

DuClaw Brewing launches 12-ounce bottles

Maui Brewing expands distribution to Arizona

Maui Brewing expands distribution to Nevada

Nebraska Barrel Aged Apricot Au Poivre to be released Friday

Empyrean Brewing announces plans to bottle Super Nova

Saugatuck Brewing expands distribution into Southeast Michigan

(Bend, OR) – Deschutes Brewery announced today that Larry Sidor, Brewmaster, is leaving the company at the end of the year to pursue a lifelong dream of starting and running his own brewery. Sidor has been at the brewery for eight years, following 23 years at Olympia Brewing Company, in development and production at a Yakima hop dealer and creating a small winery.

“My years at Deschutes Brewery have been incredible. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed leading and collaborating with the brewing team to hone and create its phenomenal portfolio of beers, but also originating new beer styles and brewing techniques,” said Sidor. “I will always be proud of the work we’ve accomplished together, and be grateful for the support of Gary and the leadership team for taking creative risks. While I transition to the next phase of my career, over the next several months, my heart and head will be with the Deschutes Brewery team and will remain focused on their continued success.”

With Sidor at the head of the brewing department at Deschutes, the company has added many new brands to the portfolio including Hop in the Dark, Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale, Inversion IPA, The Abyss, The Dissident, and several barrel-aged specialty beers. Sidor will continue on at Deschutes Brewery through the end of 2011 while the company integrates a new brewmaster over the next several months.

Gary Fish, Founder and CEO of Deschutes Brewery, said, “While we are sad to see Larry go, we are excited for him being able to realize his life-long goal. His contributions to the brewery are innumerable, and he will be missed by us all. Now, we’re announcing that one of the best jobs in the industry has just become available! We are looking ahead with excitement toward the future.”

Deschutes is the original brewery in Central Oregon, a place which has now become a hot spot for craft brewing. A search is underway for a replacement for Sidor.

Press Releases:

SAVOR Flowers just released at D.C. craft beer event

4 Hands Brewing opens in St. Louis this fall

Full Sail Elevation IPA rolls out this month

Ska Brewing announces winner in 2011 GABF Pro-Am Homebrew Competition

Sebago Trekker Pale Ale now available

Adirondack Brewery introduces new packaging

5/26 UPDATE: Maui Flyin’ HI.P.Hay, Maui Mana Wheat, Upright Pure Wit now in stock

Need a place to order Pacific Northwest beers online? Meet the online store bringing those beers to you, Northwest Liquid Gold.

What are some beers that NWLG carries?

There are currently about 170 different beers in stock. The best way to browse the selection is to click ‘Beer.’ Otherwise, here are some noteworthy selections:

Russian River Brewing: Supplication, Consecration and Temptation

Hair of the Dog: Fred, Adam, and Doggie Claws

Firestone Walker / Nectar Ales: 14 Anniversary Ale and Black Xantus

Upright Brewing: Gose and Four through Seven

Also a bunch of PNW breweries like Laurelwood, Ninkasi, Oakshire, Midnight Sun, Alaskan, Lompoc, Silver City and more…

Shipping Policy:

Northwest Liquid Gold currently ships to 33 states.

Once you’ve added some items to your cart, click ‘View Cart’ and you the system will estimate shipping and tax before you go through with an order. In general, shipping costs can be prohibitive for buying beer online but it becomes less of a factor if you order in bulk. In other words, don’t just order one bottle.

Other Notes:

The site features an online ordering system so no phone call or email is necessary unless you have questions.

The store is also on Facebook and Twitter where you can follow future stock updates.

There is a 5% discount on your cart (excluding shipping) if you order at least 6 bottles of the same size (non-negotiable, it’s a software limitation).

As I’ve said before, supporting a shop like Northwest Liquid Gold is as good a way to support BeerNews as any…and you get yourself some beer at the same time.

Press Releases:

Update: Perennial Artisan Ales to debut this summer

The Lost Abbey Veritas 009 coming this Saturday

Odell Woodcut No. 5 to debut at SAVOR

Twisted Pine Le Petit Saison returns in June

Newport Storm Cyclone Series Quinn debuts Tuesday

Press Releases:

Update: Freetail Brewing announces Houston location

Samuel Adams Utopias 2011 now available at a suggested price of $150 each

Firestone Walker Parabola returns on Saturday

Maui Brewing Co. sales up 79% in Q1

Brooklyn Summer Ale now available in cans

Press Releases:

Coney Island Brewing Company creates George Washington beer

Two Brothers Brewing Company acquires America’s Historic Roundhouse

Odell Hiveranno debuts May 21st

Maui Flyin’ HI.P.HAY debuts this weekend

BridgePort Summer Squeeze debuts May 16th

Press Releases:

Founders Backstage Series debuts this summer with return of Blushing Monk

Coors Light introduces Two-Stage Cold Activation

Green Flash Brewing opens new brewery

Genesee Brewery bringing back old packaging

Boston Beer Co. Q1 2011: Core shipments up 10%

UPDATE: Just to re-iterate what I wrote below, France 44 does not have Surly Abrasive in stock. It’s not being held back. The beer was released earlier this spring and has pretty much sold out everywhere. And New Glarus isn’t distributed to MN. Cheers!

Back in 2008, when the ‘Buy Beer’ page was in full swing here, I made a startling discovery: an online retailer where you could purchase Surly beers online without having to go through eBay. I quickly learned that it was a mistake to give attention to businesses that have $100 purchase minimums and exorbinant shipping costs. The beer community was excited by the prospect of being able to buy beers from Surly and other Midwest breweries online though.

Recently, I found the right store that fits that need: Minnesota’s own France 44.

What breweries/beers does France 44 carry?

Use the website search and/or click some of the suggestions below. ** means you must call (612-925-3252) or email for it as they are unable to list certain limited beers on the website. If you have a beer question, ask for Matt or someone in the beer dept. If you have an ordering question, ask for Carin. Just don’t ask for Surly Abrasive or New Glarus; they don’t have those.

Surly Brewing: Furious, Bender, Coffee Bender, CynicAle

Tyranena Brewing: Doubly Down & Even Dirtier** (could be Down ‘n’ Dirty but I wrote down Doubly in my notes), Shaggin’ in the Wood**

Boulevard Brewing: Imperial Stout (2011 Batch 1), Tank 7 & a bunch of others

Odell Brewing: Myrcenary IPA & India Pale Ale

Dark Horse Brewing: Tres Blueberry Stout, Fore Smoked Stout, Special Reserve Black Bier, Crooked Tree IPA

Goose Island Beer Co.: Big John**, Night Stalker, Pepe Nero

Jolly Pumpkin Ales: Baudelaire IO Saison

Founders Brewing: Red’s Rye PA, Porter & Centennial IPA

Great Lakes Brewing: Edmund Fitzgerald, Dortmunder Gold & Eliot Ness

…and countless others like Central Waters**, Great Divide, New Belgium, Summit, etc. etc.

Automated System:

Though many readers will be interested in some of the allocated beers and will call (612-925-3252) or email anyway, the France 44 system is relatively advanced in that: 1) You can order beer online with a modern shopping cart system and 2) online stock counts are accurately tied to what’s on the floor at the store.

Shipping Policy:

Very transparent. Fill up your cart and then click on “My Cart” in the upper right corner. Put in your zip code in the Destination Zip Code input field in the lower right part of the order screen and hit enter on the keyboard. It will then calculate your shipping (without signing up/in or entering a credit card).

Shipping increases incrementally with each package you add to the cart (but less each time). There is no need to try to plan out an order of exactly 6 or 12 beers to fit a certain box. For an indication of cost, four 4-packs of Surly ran me about $67 total, shipped across the country.

Also of note, France 44 ships to all but five states so 95% of readers here are all set. Pennsylvania is actually a state to which it can ship. However, they do not ship internationally.

A Quick Word:

As with all of the businesses I feature here, supporting them is a great way to support Beernews.org (in this case, while even getting yourself some beer in the process). Chris, Carin and the rest of the crew are big on delivering good service so give them a try.

If you find yourself in/around Minneapolis:

View Larger Map

Press Releases:

New Belgium Super Cru: a tribute to brewery’s 20th year

Dogfish Head, Sony officially launch Hellhound On My Ale beer, website

Tallgrass Brewing launches portfolio in Alabama next week

Wolverine State Premium Lager gets new label

Press Releases:

Newcastle formally introduces seasonal lineup

Conflux Series meets Collaboration Series with Boulevard, Deschutes’ White IPA

Twisted Pine Brewing re-releasing Ghost Face Killah

Pike Dry Wit returns on May 1st

MGD 64 Lemonade: low-calorie beers now come in flavors

Press Releases:

Nineteen states cry foul over Blast by Colt 45

Redhook Ale Brewery named Seattle Sounders’ exclusive craft brewing partner

Stevens Point Brewery expands annual production capacity

Uinta Brewing changes logo

Fort Collins craft breweries collaborate on ACBW beer

Wild Brew 2011: Choc Beer Co. collaborates with Fellowship of Oklahoma Ale Makers

Sebago Hefeweizen returns next week

(Boulder, CO) – The Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade group that tabulates production statistics for U.S. breweries, released its annual lists reporting the top 50 brewing companies in the country, based on 2010 beer sales volume. The two lists are the Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies, comprising small and independent craft brewers,¹ and the Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies. Thirty-six of the top 50 brewing companies are small and independent craft brewing companies.

“At more than 1,700, the number of breweries in the U.S. is higher than any time since the late 1800s,” said Paul Gatza, director of the Brewers Association. “Beer lovers’ appreciation for American craft brewers and their craft beers continue to grow.”

Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies
(Based on 2010 beer sales volume)

*Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies notes: Spoetzl is part of Gambrinus Company; IBU January-August only prior to sale to North American Breweries (NAB); Kona January-September only prior to sale to Craft Brewers Alliance (CBA); BridgePort is part of Gambrinus Company.

Top 50 Brewing Companies
(Based on 2010 beer sales volume)

*Top 50 Brewing Companies notes: NAB includes IBU August-December; CBA includes Kona October-December; Spoetzl is part of Gambrinus Company; and IBU is January-August only (sale to NAB); Kona is January-September only (sale to CBA); BridgePort is part of Gambrinus Company. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for the Top 50 rankings.

The Association’s full 2010 industry analysis, which shows regional trends and sales by individual breweries, will be published in the May/June issue of The New Brewer, available May 18.

For additional statistics, see the craft brewing statistics, and 2010 craft brewer sales numbers press release.

¹The definition of a craft brewer as stated by the Brewers Association: An American craft brewer is small, independent, and traditional. Small: Annual production of beer less than 6 million barrels. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition. Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer. Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewer’s brands) or has at least 50% of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.