Beer News

Southern Tier Expanding, Planning New Beers

Southern Tier Brewing will break ground on a new,  110-barrel brewhouse soon.  The expansion will allow the Lakewood, New York brewery to increase overall capacity 3x the current output.

Additions include:  A second conditioning room, 6 –  660-barrel fermenters, and an increased Continue Reading →

Posted in Beer News, Redhook

Redhook Statement Following Worker Fatality

Just a couple of days ago, Redhook suffered a terrible tragedy.  26 year old Ben Harris was killed when a keg exploded, fatally injuring him. He was going to be father soon.  In lieu of flowers, or other memorial items – please contribute to the fund below…

From Redhook:

All,
We are grateful for the outpouring of support that we’ve received from the community after Tuesday’s tragic accident in Portsmouth. Ben Harris had been a member of the Redhook family for more than seven years, first working at the Cataqua Pub and most recently as part of our brewing operations team. His wife, Alysha Miller, is expecting his child and is also part of the Redhook family as a server in our pub. Ben was a wonderful man, a dedicated member of our team and a friend to all who knew him. We are heartbroken by this tragedy and are grieving with the family.

We would like to thank the community and the media for respecting the family’s privacy as well as that of our employees as we mourn together. We would also like to thank our family of employees for their support in this process, as this is an extremely difficult time for all of us and our top priority is taking care of Ben’s family and our team.

There is an assessment underway to reveal exactly what happened Tuesday morning. Although the investigation is still in process, there are several facts that we can confirm:

– The accident was caused by an exploding plastic keg ;
– The keg was not owned or used by Redhook Brewery or any other CBA brewery;
– It is normal protocol for the brewery to receive kegs that aren’t ours from time to time;
– Ben was handling the keg at the time it exploded.

It is extremely important to us that we understand exactly what happened before

we share additional information about this tragedy. There is an evaluation in progress and we can assure you that we will issue further information when the report is complete.

In the meantime, we ask for continued thoughts and prayers for Ben’s family, friends, and everyone touched by this accident.

The family asks that memorial contributions be made to: The Alysha Miller Harris Baby Fund c/o TD Bank, 20 International Drive, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, (603) 430-3812.

“His goal in life was to be a father,” Alysha Miller said in an e-mail to Seacoastonline.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Brewery Expansions

SAB Miller To Spend $2.5 Billion In Africa

Over the next 5 years, SAB Miller plans on spending $2.5 billion in Africa over the next 5 years.  Annual investments will be in the neighborhood of $500 million.  The cash will build breweries and revamp the ones currently in operation.   The last quarter of 2011 saw an 11% increase in sales volume, and the SAB thinks it’s time to jump in with both feet.

Back in 2010, SAB started producing a  lager (Imperial Lager) brewed with cassava, a root vegetable that is plentiful in Africa.  Cassava is used as a partial substitute expensive barley.  The beer hit shelves last year.   Imperial Lager is quite beneficial to the farmers in the region growing Cassava.

Another beer- Chibuku, is based off a popular African home brew made with corn and sorghum.  Chibuku has a nickname – “Shake Shake,” because the you need to shake the beer prior to drinking.  That beer is even cheaper than the lager (mentioned above), which is great for an economic climate where beer is a luxury.  SAB Miller wants to elevate beer to a social beverage like other countries around the world, not a status symbol.

Annual African beer consumption is just over 2 gallons a year.  In the United States, the average is around 18 gallons.

Full Story – Reuters

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

Senate Passes Bill To Allow Beer & Wine Through Mail [UPDATED]

You used to mail letters.  You used to mail checks.  In 2012, you get a lot of bills, and junk mail.  Even Netflix is shipping fewer movies, in the wake of streaming video.  The United States Postal Service has seen a decrease in traditional mail, and it’s affecting salaries and the postal workforce.

In an attempted to stimulate the traditional mail medium, the United States Senate is currently considering a bi-partisan bill that would allow for the shipping of beer and wine through the mail.   A vote is expected in May on whether to move forward with the bill.

One of the bill’s sponsors comes from Dogfish Head’s homestate of Delaware – Senator Tom Carper.

UPDATE 4/26:  Senate passes the bill, headed to the House.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

30 Most Powerful People In Drink Business Include Familiar Beer Names

The Daily Meal (a popular website covering food & drink) recently published an about the most powerful people in drink.  Now that covers all matters of liquids, including wine, coffee & more.  This is a pretty authoritative list on some of the biggest influencers in their industry.  Interesting mentions include the CEO of MADD, & a few historians/writers.  You’ll see some familiar names.  Who would you add? Note: links below link to [TheDailyMeal]

30. Jason and Todd Alström, Founders, BeerAdvocate
29. Zoe Sakoutis and Erica Huss, Founders, BluePrint Cleanse
28. Kathleen Lewis, Executive Director, Court of Master Sommeliers
27. Gregg L. Engles, CEO and Chairman, Dean Foods
26. David Wondrich, Cocktail Historian, Author
25. Debbie Weir, CEO, Mothers Against Drunk Driving
24. Dale DeGroff, Master Mixologist
23. Marvin R. Shanken, CEO, M. Shanken Communications, Inc.
22. Duane Sorenson, Founder, Stumptown Coffee Roasters
21. Dan Bane, CEO and Chairman, Trader Joe’s
20. Charlie Papazian, Founder, The Brewers Association
19. “Mr. Boston,” Author, Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide
18. Jim Koch, Founder and Chairman, The Boston Beer Co.
17. Robert Parker, Jr., Wine Writer and Critic
16. Nigel Travis, CEO, Dunkin’ Brands
15. Joe Gallo, President and CEO, E. & J. Gallo Winery
14. Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO, Kraft Foods, Inc.
13. Tom Long, CEO, MillerCoors
12. Kim Jeffery, President and CEO, Nestlé Waters North America
11. Larry Schwartz, President, Diageo North America
10. Robert Sands, CEO, Constellation Brands
9. Jeremy Stoppelman, CEO, Yelp
8. Harvey Chaplin, CEO, Southern Wine and Spirits
7. Carlos Brito, CEO, Anheuser-Busch InBev
6. Muhtar Kent, CEO and Chairman of the Board, The Coca-Cola Company
5. Mike Duke, President and CEO, Walmart
4. Indra Nooyi, Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo.
3. Michael Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods, USFDA
2. The Head of Your State’s Alcohol Agency
1. Howard Schultz, Chairman, Founder, and CEO, Starbucks

Read more: http://www.thedailymeal.com/americas-30-most-powerful-people-drink#ixzz1t4xmt3Iv

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, DC Brau Brewing Co, Sam Adams

Washington Caps Fans Boycotting Samuel Adams (Ya Gotta Love Hockey)

No Dunkin Donuts, no chowder, and definitely no Samuel Adams beer.  Those who don’t follow the NHL, it’s playoffs.  The Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins go in a critical, and (most likely violent) game 7 this evening to see who’s season ends.

In addition to various hockey superstitions (not washing jerseys, growing beards, etc) a popular Capitals fan blog BrooksLaichYear calls for the boycotting of Boston products.  Ovechkin fans, don’t dare pick up a Boston Lager today.  DC Brau? That’s legal.  (And tasty.) [BrooksLaichYear via WTOP]

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Brewery Expansions, Southern Tier Brewing

Southern Tier Expanding, Planning New Beers

Southern Tier Brewing will break ground on a new,  110-barrel brewhouse soon.  The expansion will allow the Lakewood, New York brewery to increase overall capacity 3x the current output.

Additions include:  A second conditioning room, 6 –  660-barrel fermenters, and an increased cellar.  Southern Tier is aiming total capacity at 150,000 barrels annually (4.6 million gallons.)

Beer additions? In addition to test batches of a 2X Mas, there is a new Belgian style series in the works.

 


by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Redhook

Tragedy: Exploding Keg Kills Redhook Worker

Tragedy struck Redhook Brewery this AM.  A brewery worker was killed when a beer keg exploded.

The worker, who has not yet been identified, was a man in his 20s or early 30s, said Assistant Fire Chief Steve Achilles. According to the assistant fire chief, the employee had been pressurizing kegs with air as part of a cleaning process to remove residual beer from them.

“The keg failed and exploded and he was injured by parts of the keg,” Achilles said.

A few news outlets are reporting that the worker suffered head and chest injuries after the keg failed and ruptured into to pieces.    Both Redhook and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms are investigating.  The worker has yet to be identified.  [SeacoastOnline]

by Reid Ramsay