Beer News

Pabst Eyeing Craft Brands, Cider?

Pabst owner C. Dean Metropoulos mentioned at the Beer Industry Summit today that he is and will be looking for more beer acquisitions in the future.  As the craft beer sector grows, the market is prime for such new purchases.

Metropoulous purchased Pabst Continue Reading →

Boobs, Knife Fight, And No Beer

Two Florida women were arrested last Wednesday evening after attempting to show their boobs for free beer.  Apparently Alicia Martin and Kathryn Rayannic had already drank through the cash she had with her.

‘They were offering to show their boobs for Continue Reading →

A Solemn Oath To Great Beer In Chicago

One of the newest breweries to join the booming Chicago craft beer scene will be opening in Naperville, IL in April.  Solemn Oath Brewery was started by former Rock Bottom brewmaster Tim Marshall and his counterpart John Barley.  Marshall had never even Continue Reading →

Posted in Beer News, Pabst Blue Ribbon

Pabst Eyeing Craft Brands, Cider?

Pabst owner C. Dean Metropoulos mentioned at the Beer Industry Summit today that he is and will be looking for more beer acquisitions in the future.  As the craft beer sector grows, the market is prime for such new purchases.

Metropoulous purchased Pabst in 2010 with his sons for $250 million dollars.  While Mr. Metro didn’t so much as hint to what brands, he did say that ciders were a potential.  It’s no secret that the cider category is on the move.  SABMiller’s Tenth & Blake just acquired Crispin Ciders, Michelob plans Ultra Cider, and Sam Adams is in the process of launching a new Angry Orchards line.

What brand would you see selling to Pabst? [Bloomberg]

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

13 Year Old Dies After Four Loko Incident

A 13 year old boy from Maryland died in an unfortunate accident after consuming a Four Loko beverage.  He had consumed a can of the caffeine/alcohol drink while hanging out with two friends.  Michael Thomas Truluck was picked up by his mother’s fiancee Saturday evening feeling sick.  He opened the car door to throw up and was immediately hit by a Ford Explorer.  He died later that evening at the hospital.

His mother said “I think he felt so sick that he was not thinking about anything”.  He had already vomited twice that day after consuming the drink.

The original form of Four Loko is banned in most states for being a health hazard.  In its original form it is the equivalent of four beers and a cup of Starbuck’s coffee all in one.  It is not clear where the teens got the beverages.

[Four Loko Accident]

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

Manhattan Beer Gets $24 Million Tax Cut To Ignore New Jersey

Manhattan Beer Distributors has resided in the Bronx since 1979 but was considering relocating to New Jersey because for financial reasons.  Thanks to a $24 million tax break from the Industrial Development Agency, they will be able to remain in the Bronx forever.  They will develop and renovate four areas of land in Hunts Point and add 25+ jobs to the area.  The new headquarters will be completed next year.  Manhattan Beer will pay its new full-time workers an average $29,400 a year plus benefits.  The question remains, how much for MTV to ignore the Jersey Shore?  [NYDailyNews]

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Elysian Brewing

Elysian’s Second Rapture Brew Hits Today

Elysian Rapture Elysian welcomes the end of the world with the release of Rapture Heather Ale today.  In preparation for the end of the world according to the Mayan calendar, Elysian is releasing a series of 12 beers that are released on the 21st of each month during 2012.  The second of these 12 Beers of the Apocalypse will be Rapture Heather Ale.

Rapture will be available both in bottle and draft.  This 7.65% ABV ale has 1 lb. of heather tips per barrel.  The brew’s malts used are pale, Munich, and Patagonia Especial and the hops are Magnum and Northwest Glacier.

[Rapture Heather Ale]

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

Beijing’s Craft Breweries Double (There’s 2)

Beijing an emerging craft beer market? Looks that way.  Beijing has doubled their western style (i.e. North American style)  craft brewery count recently to 2.   Slow Boat Brewing just opened in the city, with beers a lot like Sierra Nevada.  They blew 4 kegs (all 4 they had) within 45 minutes of opening.  All of Slow Boat Brewing’s beers are brewed with foreign ingredients.  Boat currently produces around 100 kegs a month, and will soon quadruple that number.

Great Leap Brewing is a Beijing brewpub that opened in 2010.  They sell about 300 kegs a month, and use local ingredients.   Since opening, Great Leap has gone from being open 3 days a week, to 7 days to keep up with demand.

Combine the early success of these to breweries, with U.S. microbrew imports to China breaking records since 2010 ($546,000) – you’ll probably see a huge growth in the craft section in China in the coming years.   In 2010, Chinese drinkers consumed 31 liters per capita, or 40.89 billion liters, according to Credit Suisse. [Blogs.WSJ]

 

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

Boobs, Knife Fight, And No Beer

Two Florida women were arrested last Wednesday evening after attempting to show their boobs for free beer.  Apparently Alicia Martin and Kathryn Rayannic had already drank through the cash she had with her.

‘They were offering to show their boobs for drinks,’ said waiter Shaun Bassett. ‘We had five guys that were like, Please, leave us alone. They actually went up to tables who had their wives there.”

When no one took them up on their offer, things got ugly.  Two bar employees tried to escort them out when Ms. Martin attacked the female employee.  The male employee was able to pull her off, confiscated her keys and called 911.  Finding this unacceptable, Ms. Martin then pulled a knife and demanded her keys be returned to her.  She then charged the man and threatened to stab him.  When he backed off, she went after the female employee again.

Long story short, Martin is charged with Aggravated Assault and Battery.  Somebody should have bought this classy lady a beer.   [NBC33]

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

A Solemn Oath To Great Beer In Chicago

One of the newest breweries to join the booming Chicago craft beer scene will be opening in Naperville, IL in April.  Solemn Oath Brewery was started by former Rock Bottom brewmaster Tim Marshall and his counterpart John Barley.  Marshall had never even had craft beer prior to working at Rock Bottom.  Some of the brewers at the brewpub took him under their wing and taught him their ways.  Barley (how appropriate right?) so far only has experience in the realm of drinking craft beer, but he is learning.

The name Solemn Oath Brewery comes from a Robert Burns poem bearing John’s name:

There was three kings into the east,
Three kings both great and high,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.

Instead of interpreting this as grain or bread, the brewers interpret it as beer.

Solemn Oath intends to bring 20 to 25 brews to market in their first year.  The beers will stretch the spectrum from ales to lagers, some Belgians, and lots of barrel aging.  These will not be exclusive hard to find brews, but the everyday lineup.

Marshall and Barley will open a production plant, not a brewpub.  Their intention is to support the local restaurant/bar scene in Naperville and the surrounding areas rather than compete with it.  However, there will be a tasting room.

[Solemn Oath Brewing]

by Reid Ramsay