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.
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 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 →
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. Continue Reading →
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.
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 Continue Reading →
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)
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.
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>
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.”
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:
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.
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
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.
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