Brewdog
Diageo Screws Brewdog Out Of Award
Brewdog is pissed at Diageo (The world’s largest producer of spirits like Smirnoff & Johnny Walker, plus Guinness. ) At the recent 2012 BII Scotland Annual Awards (of which Diageo is a major sponsor,) Brewdog was up for ‘Bar Operator Of The Year’ award.
The independent judging panel declared Brewdog the winner, but Diageo put their foot down, keeping Brewdog from receiving the award.
This disappointment was further compounded when one of the judges (seated at our table) told us in disbelief ‘this simply cannot be, the independent judging panel voted for BrewDog as clear winners of the award’.
Events took a further twist when the people who got given the award refused to accept it as it clearly had ‘BrewDog’ engraved on the trophy as winners.
That warranted a phone call to see what was up.
On Tuesday, 2 days after the award, I (James) took a phone call from Kenny Mitchell, Chairman of the BII in Scotland and Chairman of the Award Committee explaining the situation. To directly quote Kenny:
‘We are all ashamed and embarrassed about what happened. The awards have to be an independent process and BrewDog were the clear winner’
‘Diageo (the main sponsor) approached us at the start of the meal and said under no circumstances could the award be given to BrewDog. They said if this happened they would pull their sponsorship from all future BII events and their representatives would not present any of the awards on the evening.’ We were as gobsmacked as you by Diageo’s behaviour. We made the wrong decision under extreme pressure. We were blackmailed and bullied by Diageo. We should have stuck to our guns and gave the award to BrewDog.‘
James Watt has this closing thought on Diageo after this award ceremony:
As for Diageo, once you cut through the glam veneer of pseudo corporate responsibility this incident shows them to be a band of dishonest hammerheads and dumb ass corporate freaks. No soul and no morals, with the integrity of a rabid dog and the style of a wart hog.
Perhaps more tellingly it is an unwitting microcosm for just how the beer industry is changing and just how scared and jealous the gimp-like establishment are of the craft beer revolutionaries.
We would advise them to drink some craft beer. To taste the hops and live the dream. It is hard to be a judas goat when you are drinking a Punk IPA.
Walk tall, kick ass and learn to speak craft beer.
Brewdog Offers “Crap Beer Amnesty”
To celebrate the opening of Brewdog’s newest location – Brewdog Manchester (United Kingdom.) This is the brewery’s 7th location, boasting 14 draft handles, great food, and a beautiful setting. To mark the occasion, the brewery is offering a “Crap Beer Amnesty,” where an individual can bring in mainstream lager in exchange for craft beers.
Brewdog says they will recycle the bottles and cans “after they have been blown up.”
Pic: Brewdog Manchester (via brewdog.com)
Brewdog’s BB2, A Session Pale
Brewdog recently packaged BB2 Pale Ale, a hoppy session beer.
We decided it was time to brew a slightly lower ABV beer with our favourite American hops giving you a thirst quenching draft ale in all our bars, just in time for the Summer! The new 3.8% Pale Ale is brewed with a solid malt base, moderate bitterness and masses of late hops and dry hops, specifically Citra, Simcoe and HBC. All this makes it ideal for drinking by the pint, or even by the keg. At lunchtime.
Style: Pale Ale
Hops: Citra, Simcoe, HBC
Availability: Draft
3.8% ABV
Brewdog Experimental Barrel Aged 7.7 Lager
Brewdog will release a new experiment in May. BB3 Barrel Aged 7.7 Lager is aged in single grain scotch whiskey casks.
It is Lager, but not as we know it. In late 2010 we decided to take 77 Lager and try do something pretty special with it. Because we are geeks and like numbers, we brewed a batch which was 7.7% then put it into single grain scotch whisky casks. The beer has been aged for 18 months in oak now and has been lightly filtered (to remove the charring from the barrels) and is on our Bright Beer Tank ready to be packaged.
Style: Lager (Barrel Aged)
Availability: 12 oz bottles, Draft
Arrival: May, 2012
7.7% ABV
Above: Barrels at the brewery in Scotland
Brewdog’s Dog A Celebrates 5 Years
Brewdog is prepping to commemorate their 5th Anniversary with Dog A in April, 2012. Not entirely new, Dog A was once known as AB:04. It’s an imperial stout, brewed with pure cacao and coffee, finished with naga chili. The name and beer description come from Radiohead’s song Kid A.
I slipped away. I slipped on a little white lie. We’ve got heads on sticks. You’ve got ventriloquists. We’ve got heads on sticks. You’ve got ventriloquists. Standing in the shadows at the end of my bed. Rats and children follow me out of town. Rats and children follow me out of town. Rats and children follow me out of their homes. Watch it.
Style: Imperial Stout (w/ cacao, chili, coffee)
Availability: 11.1 oz bottles. Sales limited to Brewdog bars, & shareholders first.
Arrival: April, 2012
16.1% ABV
Radiohead Kid A
Brewdog Officially Breaks Down On New Digs [Pics]
Thanks to Brewdog’s Equity For Punks program, the brewery has broken ground on their new brewery. The new site is at the 3.6 acre site at Balmacassie purchased by BrewDog last year. Only one of these acres will be developed for now leaving lots of room for future expansion when needed. There will be 25 new jobs created immediately with the new location, but eventually 50+ more will be added over the next five years. Also, the deal for the new brewhouse has been finalized as well. The German company Rolec (who also did work for Stone, Lagunitas, Brooklyn, and more) has been selected.
Pics below come via the brewery as James and Martin try to get a little involved with the heavy lifting.
BrewDog New Brewery Begins Construction This Month
With the help of Equity for Punks BrewDog has selected a winning bid, Mansell, who will begin construction on the new brewery on Monday, February 27th. Mansell has given early July as an estimated completion time for the new building. This means equipment will be installed in August, commissioning in September, and brewing by October or November.
The new brewery is being built at the 3.6 acre site at Balmacassie purchased by BrewDog last year. Only one of these acres will be developed for now leaving lots of room for future expansion when needed. There will be 25 new jobs created immediately with the new location, but eventually 50+ more will be added over the next five years. Also, the deal for the new brewhouse has been finalized as well. The German company Rolec (who also did work for Stone, Lagunitas, Brooklyn, and more) has been selected. The image above shows the layout for the new brewhouse.
Another note, BrewDog Nottingham should be opening around February 25th. BrewDog Leeds has signed their paperwork. BrewDog Newcastle will begin work later this week.
