Beer News

The Top Breweries Of 2011

Brewers Association–the not-for-profit trade group that tabulates production statistics for U.S. breweries–today released its annual lists of the top 50 craft and overall brewing companies in the U.S., based on 2011 beer sales volume. Of the top 50 overall brewing Continue Reading →

Jolly Pumpkin: Maxed Out

Good news from Ron Jefferies, founder of Jolly Pumpkin (Dexter, MI.)   He’s maxed out.  Jefferies has gone from selling 160 barrels in 2004, to selling shy of 2,000 barrels (62,000 gallons.) He was quoted at  AnnArbor.com as saying:

“I have Continue Reading →

Green Flash/Founder’s Collab “Linchpin” Arrives In May

UPDATE: Linchpin will be distributed through Green Flash’s wholesale network.  (Meaning, none for Michigan.)

Press Release: (San Diego, CA) – Green Flash Brewing Co. announces that they have partnered with like-minded Michigan brewer, Founders Brewing Co. to produce a first-time, limited release called Linchpin White IPA.

The Continue Reading →

Heineken USA Recalls Include Georgia Products

Heineken NV has issued a partial recall for a few Mexican beers.  The affected bottles are less than 1%, but the company is issuing a partial recall.

The affected products include:

Carta Blanca 12-ounce brown bottles in 6-packs and 12-packs
Dos Equis Ambar Continue Reading →

Posted in Anderson Valley Brewing Company, Beer News

The Top Breweries Of 2011

Brewers Association–the not-for-profit trade group that tabulates production statistics for U.S. breweries–today released its annual lists of the top 50 craft and overall brewing companies in the U.S., based on 2011 beer sales volume. Of the top 50 overall brewing companies, 36 are small and independent¹ craft brewing companies¹,².

“In the last 15 years, craft brewing has gone from one percent of the overall beer market to almost six percent in 2011,” said Paul Gatza, director of the Brewers Association. “We attribute a large part of that growth to the many talented brewers who are providing beer lovers with more beer style and flavor choices than ever before.”

Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies 
(Based on 2011 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 The Gambrinus Company San Antonio TX
5 Deschutes Brewery Bend OR
6 Matt Brewing Co. Utica NY
7 Bell’s Brewery, Inc. Galesburg MI
8 Harpoon Brewery Boston MA
9 Lagunitas Brewing Co. Petaluma CA
10 Boulevard Brewing Co. Kansas City MO
11 Stone Brewing Company Escondido CA
12 Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Milton DE
13 Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn NY
14 Alaskan Brewing & Bottling Co. Juneau AK
15 Long Trail Brewing Co. Burlington VT
16 Shipyard Brewing Co. Portland ME
17 Abita Brewing Co. Abita Springs LA
18 Great Lakes Brewing Co. Cleveland OH
19 New Glarus Brewing Co. New Glarus WI
20 Full Sail Brewing Co. Hood River OR
21 Summit Brewing Co. St. Paul MN
22 Anchor Brewing Co. San Francisco CA
23 Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Paso Robles CA
24 Sweetwater Brewing Co. Atlanta GA
25 Rogue Ales Newport OR
26 Flying Dog Brewery Frederick MD
27 Victory Brewing Co. Downingtown PA
28 CraftWorks Breweries & Restaurants Chattanooga/Louisville TN/CO
29 Oskar Blues Brewery Longmont CO
30 Odell Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
31 Stevens Point Brewery Co. Stevens Point WI
32 Ninkasi Brewing Co. Eugene OR
33 BJ’s Chicago Pizza & Brewery, Inc. Huntington Beach CA
34 Blue Point Brewing Co. Patchogue NY
35 Bear Republic Brewing Co. Cloverdale CA
36 Lost Coast Brewery Cafe Eureka CA
37 Big Sky Brewing Co. Missoula MT
38 North Coast Brewing Co. Inc. Fort Bragg CA
39 Saint Louis Brewery, Inc./Schlafly Bottleworks St. Louis MO
40 Gordon Biersch Brewing Co. San Jose CA
41 Breckenridge Brewery Denver CO
42 Founders Brewing Co. Grand Rapids MI
43 Saint Arnold Brewing Co. Houston TX
44 Karl Strauss Brewing Co. San Diego CA
45 Real Ale Brewing Co. Blanco TX
46 Mac and Jack’s Brewery Inc. Redmond WA
47 Smuttynose Brewing Co. Portsmouth NH
48 Utah Brewers Cooperative Salt Lake City UT
49 Left Hand Brewing Co. Longmont CO
t.50 Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Boonville CA
t.50 Four Peaks Brewing Co. Tempe AZ

 

Top 50 Brewing Companies
(Based on 2011 beer sales volume)

 

Rank Brewing Company City State
1 Anheuser-Busch Inc. (a) St. Louis MO
2 MillerCoors (b) Chicago IL
3 Pabst Brewing Co. (c) Woodbridge IL
4 D. G. Yuengling and Son Inc. Pottsville PA
5 Boston Beer Co. Boston MA
6 North American Breweries (d) Rochester NY
7 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Chico CA
8 New Belgium Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
9 Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc. (e) Portland OR
10 The Gambrinus Company (f) San Antonio TX
11 Deschutes Brewery Bend OR
12 Matt Brewing Co. (g) Utica NY
13 Bell’s Brewery, Inc. Galesburg MI
14 Minhas Craft Brewery (h) Monroe WI
15 Harpoon Brewery Boston MA
16 Lagunitas Brewing Co. Petaluma CA
17 Boulevard Brewing Co. Kansas City MO
18 Stone Brewing Co. Escondido CA
19 Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Milton DE
20 Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn NY
21 Alaskan Brewing and Bottling Co. Juneau AK
22 Long Trail Brewing Co. Burlington VT
23 August Schell Brewing Co. (i) New Ulm MN
24 Shipyard Brewing Co. Portland ME
25 Abita Brewing Co. Abita Springs LA
26 World Brews/Winery Exchange (j) Novato CA
27 Great Lakes Brewing Co. Cleveland OH
28 New Glarus Brewing Co. New Glarus WI
29 Full Sail Brewing Co. Hood River OR
30 Pittsburgh Brewing Co. Pittsburgh PA
31 Summit Brewing Co. St. Paul MN
32 Anchor Brewing Co. San Francisco CA
33 Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Paso Robles CA
34 Cold Spring Brewing Co. (k) Cold Spring MN
35 Sweetwater Brewing Co. Atlanta GA
36 Rogue Ales Brewery Newport OR
37 Mendocino Brewing Co. (l) Ukiah CA
38 Flying Dog Brewery Frederick MD
39 Victory Brewing Co. Downingtown PA
40 CraftWorks Breweries & Restaurants (m) Chattanooga/Louisivlle TN/CO
41 Oskar Blues Brewery & Tasty Weasel Tap Room Longmont CO
42 Odell Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
43 Stevens Point Brewery Co. (n) Stevens Point WI
44 Ninkasi Brewing Co. Eugene OR
45 BJ’s Chicago Pizza & Brewery Huntington Beach CA
46 Blue Point Brewing Co. Patchogue NY
47 Bear Republic Brewing Co. Cloverdale CA
48 Goose Island Brewing Co. (o) Chicago IL
49 Lost Coast Brewery and Cafe Eureka CA
50 Narragansett Brewing Co. Providence RI

 

*Top 50 U.S. Overall Brewing Companies notes: (a) includes Bass, Beck’s, Busch, Goose Island, Landshark, Michelob, Rolling Rock, Shock Top and Wild Blue brands. Does not include partially owned Coastal, Kona, Red Hook and Widmer Brothers brands; (b) includes A.C. Golden, Batch 19, Blue Moon, Colorado Native, Herman Joseph, Keystone, Killian’s and Leinenkugel’s brands; (c) includes Schlitz and 28 other brand families; (d) includes Dundee, Genesee, Labatt Lime, Magic Hat and Pyramid brands; (e) includes Kona, Red Hook and Widmer Brothers brands; (f) includes BridgePort, Shiner and Trumer brands; (g) includes Flying Bison brands; (h) includes Mountain Crest and 10 other brand families; (i) includes Grain Belt brand; (j) private label brands; (k) includes Gluek and 17 other brand families; (l) includes Butte Creek, Kingfisher and Olde Saratoga brands; (m) includes A1A, Big River, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurants, Rock Bottom Restaurants, Ragtime and Seven Bridges brewpubs; (n) includes James Page and Whole Hog brands; (o) sold to Anheuser-Busch in 2011.

The Association’s full 2011 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 22, 2012.

For additional statistics, see the craft brewing statistics, and 2011 craft brewersales numbers.

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.

²Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for the Top 50 rankings.

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

Hebrew Funky Jewbelation Kickoff At The Porter

Tomorrow at 6pm, The Porter Beer Bar will tap the first Atlanta kegs of Shmaltz Brewing’s  Funky Jewbelation (5 barrel aged blend of 5 beers.)

In addition to Funky, there will be a few extra beers on tap (Click for more info): Human Blockhead, Lenny’s RIPA, and Genesis.

The Porter Beer Bar – 4/18/12, 6 pm 
1156 Euclid Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30307

beer

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Brewery Expansions, Jolly-Pumpkin

Jolly Pumpkin: Maxed Out

Good news from Ron Jefferies, founder of Jolly Pumpkin (Dexter, MI.)   He’s maxed out.  Jefferies has gone from selling 160 barrels in 2004, to selling shy of 2,000 barrels (62,000 gallons.) He was quoted at  AnnArbor.com as saying:

“I have more orders than I can fill right now,” Jeffries explained. “The demand is there, but we don’t have any more space.”

Sounds like an expansion is in the brewery’s future.  Recently, the brewery announced a collaboration with Maui Brewing – Sobrehumano Palena ‘ole.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Goose Island Brewing

Goose Island Brewing’s Bourbon County To Be Year Round

This little nugget appeared in the Chicagoist today:

The calculated risk of innovation has been a hallmark of Goose Island throughout its tenure as Chicago’s largest brewery, and was the driving force behind the development of the brewery’s coveted Bourbon County Stout. The recent lease of a new barrel warehouse on AB’s dime has allowed Goose Island to double the size of its barrel program and will soon lead to Bourbon County Stout being made available available year-round.

Big news BCS Lovers.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

Beer Doesn’t Cause Beer Belly, Just Overall Fatness

This is science at work.  You’ve heard the term “beer belly” enough times to make you think twice when it comes to that last pint.  Good (ish) news, beer might not be directly associated with that gut.  A recent German study finds that beer doesn’t seem to be “site specific” when it comes to weight gain.

Madlen Schütze at the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke and other like minded colleagues formed a beer/science alliance to do a once and for all gut-check.  The group studied over 20,000 beer drinking men and women- their consumption, changes in waists, chests, legs, butts, etc.  Their conclusion?  Beer leads to overall fatness, not just a “gut.”   The belly expands proportional to the overall gain in bodyweight.   I guess overall fat it is. [Guardian]

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Founders Brewing, Green Flash Brewing

Green Flash/Founder’s Collab “Linchpin” Arrives In May

UPDATE: Linchpin will be distributed through Green Flash’s wholesale network.  (Meaning, none for Michigan.)

Press Release: (San Diego, CA) – Green Flash Brewing Co. announces that they have partnered with like-minded Michigan brewer, Founders Brewing Co. to produce a first-time, limited release called Linchpin White IPA.

The Brewmasters from each celebrated craft brewery–Chuck Silva (Green Flash) and Jeremy Kosmicki (Founders) assembled privately last month in San Diego to develop the beer, and it will debut during the Craft Brewers Conference in San Diego and move on to limited release beginning May 2012. These well matched breweries have been individually brewing up several of the world’s top flavor-forward ales and have now come together to collaborate on an uncommon and emerging beer style.

“Founders makes world-class beer,” says Green Flash Brewing Co.’s Co-founder and President, Mike Hinkley. “It’s not available in San Diego, so I always look to taste some when I am on the road. Our Sales Chief, Jim Kenny presented the idea and I was immediately all for it. Then Chuck and Jeremy settled on White IPA. I can’t wait to tap these kegs and share this innovative new release with the national community of craft beer fans.” Each brewery is known to push boundaries in creating risky, new, flavor-forward styles that appeal to the true beer aficionado.

Because Founders is not currently available in San Diego, the collaboration will allow the local beer lover a chance to experience the flavors and influence of this Midwestern gem through the Green Flash partnership. Green Flash will release Linchpin White IPA on draft during May’s Craft Brewers Conference with events to take place as follows:

Tuesday, May 1 
Tapping of First Keg  — Green Flash Tasting Room & Beer Garden 3pm — 9pm
Friday, May 4 
Hamilton’s & Regal Beagle Release Parties Begin at 5pm

  • Each bar will feature Linchpin White IPA
  • Other draft selections from Green Flash and Founders will also be on tap for the evening
  • Representatives from Founders and Green Flash will be in attendance

Beer Details: Linchpin White IPA 

“There’s a lot going on in this beer with two yeast strains, copious amounts of wheat malt, and a big focus on ‘C’ hops to deliver a citrus explosion,” explains Green Flash Brewmaster, Chuck Silva. “In fact we lined up more than a dozen hop varieties in the brewery to select three hops with the biggest citrus character to dry hop the beer.

“This golden beer pours with beautiful, frothy white beer foam that lasts due to bottle conditioning. Gently rousing the yeast that settles in the bottle will result in a fuller texture and a more cloudy white appearance. The citrus aromas that jump from the glass are largely tangerine up front with other types of citrus notes that mingle with the Belgian yeast esters. Hop flavors of bitter orange zest dominate the brew and linger to the finish with a nice play of American and Belgian yeast combo.”

A beer with so many components can be held together with a “Linchpin”. The official “Linchpin” of this beer is the skillful collaboration between the two breweries to create a unique hop-forward brew. Linchpins are symbolic: two simple shapes that combine to strengthen a bond amongst many different pieces.

Linchpin White IPA will be released during the May 2012 Craft Brewers Conference in San Diego and will then be available in limited supply via bottle-conditioned 22oz bottles and by the keg for special release events nationally in May and June 2012.

About Founders Brewing Company 

Co-Founders Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers opened Founders Brewing Co. in 1997 and are adamant about their mission: “We don’t brew beer for the masses. Instead, our beers are crafted for a chosen few, a small cadre of renegades and rebels who enjoy a beer that pushes the limits of what is commonly accepted as taste. In short, we make beer for people like us.” This philosophy has helped them gain recognition as the second best brewery in the world by RateBeer.com, for two years in a row.

About Green Flash Brewing Co. 

Green Flash Brewing Co. is located in San Diego, California, and was founded in 2002 by Mike and Lisa Hinkley.  Brewmaster, Chuck Silva, leads brewing operations. Green Flash is an award-winning brewer of fine, hand-crafted ales, and specializes in brewing assertive and distinctive beers, such as the nationally acclaimed West Coast I.P.A.: an award-winning beer whose wide acceptance has helped define a category.  Green Flash brews ten styles of beer regularly, on draught and in bottles as well as a growing lineup of seasonal and special offerings, including several barrel-aged beers, throughout the year.  Please visit the Green Flash website www.greenflashbrew.com for more information

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

Heineken USA Recalls Include Georgia Products

Heineken NV has issued a partial recall for a few Mexican beers.  The affected bottles are less than 1%, but the company is issuing a partial recall.

The affected products include:

  • Carta Blanca 12-ounce brown bottles in 6-packs and 12-packs
  • Dos Equis Ambar 12-ounce brown bottles in 6-packs and 12-packs
  • “Best of Mexico” 12-pack variety package (which contains the impacted Dos Equis Ambar brown bottle and Indio 12-ounce bottles; this pack is sold only in Texas)
  • “Beers of Mexico” 12-pack and 24-pack variety packages (which contains the impacted Dos Equis Ambar brown bottle)
The label codes
by Reid Ramsay