Growlers Arrive In Atlanta

Suck it Athens, Georgia.  Atlanta finally gets growlers.  Today Hop City becomes the first place to sell growlers, and the people love it.  It looked like an iPhone launch for beer geeks.

If you don’t know about growlers, its like this. Continue Reading →

Sierra’s Cans

Announced recently is Sierra Nevada Brewing’s intention to start canning some of their beers.  Looks like CraftCans has gotten the low down on what’s coming first with SN’s communications coordinator, Bill  Manly.  Pale Ale will be first – in 12oz/12pks, Continue Reading →

Lagunitas: “You Built It, Now Brew In It”

Lagunitas Brewing (Petaluma, CA) is adding a wheaty offering soon – “Bavarian Styled Doppel Weizen.”  Obviously German influenced, this beer is acollaboration with the Freistaat Bayern Brothers, founders of ROLEC.  ROLEC is a German based company that built the Lagunitas Continue Reading →

Sam Adams Lightship Back From Hiatus

Lightship was eventually abandoned for Sam Adams Light.  It was the second beer Jim Koch ever made.  The vision for Lightship was to change peoples expectations of light beer.  The recipe itself is over 20 years old now.

Lightship as seen Continue Reading →

The Top 50

The Brewer’s Association has released the top brewing companies by sales volume for 2010.  There are 2 categories. Top 50 in the “craft” side of the business, and top 50 overall. <Brewers Association>

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)

Posted in Beer News

Growlers Arrive In Atlanta

Suck it Athens, Georgia.  Atlanta finally gets growlers.  Today Hop City becomes the first place to sell growlers, and the people love it.  It looked like an iPhone launch for beer geeks.

If you don’t know about growlers, its like this.  $5 gets you a glass jug in which you pour draft beer into.  It’s then capped, and you open it within a few days & drink it.  Fresh from the tap to your house.  Rinse it. Take the growler back & get it filled again..

Growlers are quite popular in other parts of the U.S. but those pesky antiquated state laws get in the way.  Now you can.  Hop City sells the  growlers for $5 dollars plus the price of the beer. There are 16 taps to choose from, rotating constantly.  Today’s first 16 included Wild Heaven’s Ode To Mercy & Invocation, Jailhouse Breakout Stout, Terrapin Moo Hoo & Rye Squared, Sweetwater Happy Ending 2010 & IPA, Red Brick 16th Anniversary, Stillwater, New Belgium 10-10-10 & Oh La La, Duvel Green, Lost Abbey Red Barn, Victory Braumeister Stout, Brooklyn Lager,  & Southern Tier 2X IPA.

Red Brick blew first and was replaced by French Broad Anvil Porter.  5pm found a line out the door.  Everyone was patient, especially as the new system gets polished up.  Yours truly was the first in Atlanta history to get a growler.  I’m drunkenly proud.  The tap handles will constantly change as another beer runs out, so check the list everyday.

Sunday sales and growlers in the same week.  Told ya Santa Claus was an alcoholic.

Posted in Coming Soon, Cool Stuff, Sierra Nevada

Sierra’s Cans

Announced recently is Sierra Nevada Brewing’s intention to start canning some of their beers.  Looks like CraftCans has gotten the low down on what’s coming first with SN’s communications coordinator, Bill  Manly.  Pale Ale will be first – in 12oz/12pks, followed by Torpedo in 16oz/4pks.

Furthermore, most markets will enjoy the opportunity to have the can vs. bottle choice.  Sierra mentioned the full marketing strategy isn’t in place.  Small beer (Micro beer, craft beer) is falling in love with cans, and it’s big with Sierra Nevada, Oskar Blues, Bell’s & 21st Amendment leading the charge.  As mentioned in the post, cans can go where bottles can’t.  First cans roll off the line late 2011. <CraftCans>

Pic Credit: CraftCans.com

Posted in Coming Soon, Lagunitas

Lagunitas: “You Built It, Now Brew In It”

Lagunitas Brewing (Petaluma, CA) is adding a wheaty offering soon – “Bavarian Styled Doppel Weizen.”  Obviously German influenced, this beer is acollaboration with the Freistaat Bayern Brothers, founders of ROLEC.  ROLEC is a German based company that built the Lagunitas brewhouse, in addition equipment at Victory Brewing, Brooklyn, Magic Hat, Firestone Walker, Stone, North Coast & more.

Label:
In far-away 2006, in a beer hall in Philly, at the end of a long road, we shared our first beer with a Friestat Bayern Brewer enharmonically named Wolfgang. At stake, over a Prima Pils, was whether or not Lagunitas would purchase from him a new 80bbl brewhouse. It was a lot of money. Playing Silenus to my Brewery’s chariot, together- with the benefit of the Pils- we forded the emotional-economic crevasse and commissioned the brewhouse. Unforseeable at the time would be the need for even more brewing capacity today in extra-local 2011. So, for the sixth time in our short history, we lurch down that increasingly familiar road towards a new 250 barrel brewhouse. The actual installation, beginning in November, will bear a stong resemblance to a heart transplant, on an awake patient, performed on the backside of a galloping horse, or at very least in tow behind Dionysus’ trustworthy Silenus. Some is good, more is better. The good new is; it’s still us! Call Us. 707-769-4495.”

Style: [Verifying]
Availability: 22oz bombers. Draft.
Arrival: Tentative – June, 2011
8.5% ABV

Posted in Meet the Brewer

Meet Hildegard Van Ostaden Brewmaster of Urthel

If you’re in Atlanta, you’re in for a treat.  Hildegard Van Ostaden, Brewmaster from De Leyerth Brouwerijen Urthel in on American soil.  Urthel is based in Ruiselede, Belgium.

Brick Store Pub is hosting a meet & greet with Hildegard from 5-8 pm.  Tap List:

Hop-It: Belgian IPA, 9.5% ABV
Samaranth: Quad, 11% ABV
Saisonniere: Saison, 6% ABV

A rare opportunity indeed. Come grab a beer with myself & @AleSharpton.

Brick Store Pub – 4/14/11, 5-8pm
125 East Court Square
Decatur, GA 30030
@BrickStorePub

Posted in Boston Beer Company, Cool Stuff, Sam Adams

Sam Adams Lightship Back From Hiatus

Lightship was eventually abandoned for Sam Adams Light.  It was the second beer Jim Koch ever made.  The vision for Lightship was to change peoples expectations of light beer.  The recipe itself is over 20 years old now.

Lightship as seen bottles and draft before it’s retirement sometime in the 1990’s, although RateBeer.com has some ratings from 2006.  In 2011, Lightship will be making draft appearances once again.

4% ABV

Posted in Coming Soon, New Holland Brewing

New Holland Goes Dark & Hoppy. With proper head protection of course.

2011 is the year of variations of New Holland Brewing’s Mad Hatter IPA. Earlier it was mentioned that Rye Hatter will be back by June for a second year.  Expect another rendition of the Hatter series with Black Hatter.  As the same suggests, it’s a Black IPA.

Label:
I.P.A. brewed with black malts which add dark, roasted flavors.  Dry-hopped Centennial finish.

Style: American Black Ale (Black IPA)
Availability: 22oz bombers. Draft.
Arrival: TBD

Posted in Beer News

The Top 50

The Brewer’s Association has released the top brewing companies by sales volume for 2010.  There are 2 categories. Top 50 in the “craft” side of the business, and top 50 overall. <Brewers Association>

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)

Rank Brewing Company City State
1 Boston Beer Co. Boston MA
2 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Chico CA
3 New Belgium Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
4 Spoetzl Brewery* Shiner TX
5 Deschutes Brewery Bend OR
6 Independent Brewers United  (IBU)* Burlington VT
7 Matt Brewing Co. Utica NY
8 Bell’s Brewery, Inc. Galesburg MI
9 Harpoon Brewery Boston MA
10 Boulevard Brewing Co. Kansas City MO
11 Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Milton DE
12 Alaskan Brewing and Bottling Co. Juneau AK
13 Long Trail Brewing Co. Bridgewater Corners VT
14 Stone Brewing Co. Escondido CA
15 Abita Brewing Co. Abita Springs LA
16 Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn NY
17 Lagunitas Brewing Co. Petaluma CA
18 Full Sail Brewing Co. Hood River OR
19 Shipyard Brewing Co. Portland ME
20 Summit Brewing Co. St. Paul MN
21 New Glarus Brewing Co. New Glarus WI
22 Great Lakes Brewing Co. Cleveland OH
23 Anchor Brewing Co. San Francisco CA
24 Kona Brewery LLC* Kailua-Kona HI
25 Rogue Ales Newport OR
26 Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Paso Robles CA
27 Sweetwater Brewing Co. Atlanta GA
28 Flying Dog Brewery Frederick MD
29 Victory Brewing Co. Downingtown PA
30 Gordon Biersch Brewing Co. San Jose CA
31 BJ’s Chicago Pizza & Brewery, Inc. Huntington Beach CA
32 Stevens Point Brewery Co. Stevens Point WI
33 Odell Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
34 BridgePort Brewing Co.* Portland OR
35 Rock Bottom Brewery Restaurants Louisville CO
36 Oskar Blues Brewery Longmont CO
37 Blue Point Brewing Co. Patchogue NY
38 Lost Coast Brewery and Cafe Eureka CA
39 Big Sky Brewing Co. Missoula MT
40 North Coast Brewing Co. Inc. Fort Bragg CA
41 Mac and Jack’s Brewery Redmond WA
42 The Saint Louis Brewery, Inc. Maplewood MO
43 Bear Republic Brewing Co. Cloverdale CA
44 Karl Strauss Brewing Co. San Diego CA
45 Breckenridge Brewery Denver CO
46 Utah Brewers Cooperative Salt Lake City UT
47 Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurants Chattanooga TN
48 Saint Arnold Brewing Co. Houston TX
49 Real Ale Brewing Co. Blanco TX
50 Ninkasi Brewing Co. Eugene OR

*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)

 

Rank Brewing Company City State
1 Anheuser-Busch Inc. St. Louis MO
2 MillerCoors Brewing Co. Chicago IL
3 Pabst Woodbridge IL
4 D. G. Yuengling and Son Inc. Pottsville PA
5 Boston Beer Co. Boston MA
6 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Chico CA
7 New Belgium Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
8 North American Breweries* Rochester NY
9 Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc.* Portland OR
10 Spoetzl Brewery* Shiner TX
11 Deschutes Brewery Bend OR
12 Independent Brewers United  (IBU)* Burlington VT
13 Matt Brewing Co. Utica NY
14 Minhas Craft Brewery Monroe WI
15 Bell’s Brewery, Inc. Galesburg MI
16 Harpoon Brewery Boston MA
17 Boulevard Brewing Co. Kansas City MO
18 Goose Island Beer Co. Chicago IL
19 Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Milton DE
20 Alaskan Brewing and Bottling Co. Juneau AK
21 Long Trail Brewing Co. Bridgewater Corners VT
22 August Schell Brewing Co. New Ulm MN
23 Stone Brewing Co. Escondido CA
24 Abita Brewing Co. Abita Springs LA
25 Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn NY
26 Lagunitas Brewing Co. Petaluma CA
27 Full Sail Brewing Co. Hood River OR
28 Shipyard Brewing Co. Portland ME
29 Summit Brewing Co. St Paul MN
30 New Glarus Brewing Co. New Glarus WI
31 Great Lakes Brewing Co. Cleveland OH
32 Anchor Brewing Co. San Francisco CA
33 Iron City Brewing Co. Pittsburgh PA
34 Kona Brewery LLC* Kailua-Kona HI
35 Rogue Ales Newport OR
36 Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Paso Robles CA
37 Winery Exchange Inc. / World Brews Novato CA
38 Sweetwater Brewing Co. Atlanta GA
39 Mendocino Brewing Co. Ukiah CA
40 Flying Dog Brewery Frederick MD
41 Victory Brewing Co. Downingtown PA
42 Gordon Biersch Brewing Co. San Jose CA
43 BJ’s Chicago Pizza & Brewery, Inc. Huntington Beach CA
44 Stevens Point Brewery Co. Stevens Point WI
45 Odell Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
46 BridgePort Brewing Co.* Portland OR
47 Cold Spring Brewing Co. Cold Spring MN
48 Rock Bottom Brewery Louisville CO
49 Oskar Blues Brewery Longmont CO
50 Straub Brewery Saint Marys PA

 

*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 brewersales 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.

Contact

Julia Herz, Craft Beer Program Director, [email protected], 303.447.0816 x113

Barbara Fusco, Sales & Marketing Director, [email protected], 303.447.0816 x152