Beer News

Widmer Experiments With IPAs

Widmer Brothers is adding a rotating IPA series this year. The series – called “Rotator IPA Series” will feature experimental IPAs brewed by Widmer’s brewing team.  The first beer in the series is X-114 & headed for shelves soon.  114 is drawn from the strain number of Citra hop used in this inaugural beer.  Expect the second Rotator IPA by summer.

Details of X-144
Style: American IPA
Hop: Citra (114) (Dry & Aroma)
Malt: 2 Row Pale, Caramel 30L, Carapils

Taste Expectations: An aromatic IPA made from Citra hops that balance perfect proportions of big fruit and citrus flavor with hints of peppery spice, caramel malt sweetness and a bitter, but smooth finish.

Availability: 12oz/6pks.  Draft.  Limited Release.

6.2% ABV

Hop City To Sell Growlers

Hop City Craft Beer & Wine in downtown Atlanta has announced that they will be selling growlers starting April 14th, 2011.  These will be the first growlers sold in Atlanta.

Late 2010, the Georgia Department of Revenue “revised” their view on Continue Reading →

Iron City Brewing Purchased

More beer business.  Uni-World Capital, L.P. an equity firm has acquired Iron City Brewing Company.  From the looks of it, it’s an ownership change.  Nothing else.

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 6, 2011) – Uni-World Capital, L.P., a private equity firm, has acquired the brands and assets related to the beer business of the Iron City Brewing Company. The brewery’s headquarters will remain in Pittsburgh and beer production will continue in Latrobe, Penn. The purchase is entirely funded by equity capital from Uni-World and its affiliates. Edwin R. Lozano, 43, will serve as the new president and chief executive officer of Iron City Brewing Co. Tim Hickman, president since 2007, will be retained as a consultant during the transition period

Mother Earth Shows Us Her Cans

Mother Earth Brewing is a 40 barrel brewery in Kinston, North Carolina.  The canning line is being added to the space in the brewery that is currently under renovation.  Completion of the line installation should be completed this spring, cans Continue Reading →

Boston Beer Loan Program

Boston Beer Company’s founder Jim Koch announced on a visit to the Wall Street Journal on Monday, a special loan program targeting upstart breweries.  This new loan program is an extension of Boston Beer’s “Brewing The American Dream” program, founded Continue Reading →

Posted in Beer News, Coming Soon, Widmer Brothers Brewing

Widmer Experiments With IPAs

Widmer Brothers is adding a rotating IPA series this year. The series – called “Rotator IPA Series” will feature experimental IPAs brewed by Widmer’s brewing team.  The first beer in the series is X-114 and headed for shelves soon.  The 114 is drawn from the strain number of citra hop used in this inaugural beer.  Expect the second Rotator IPA by summer.

Details of X-144
Style: American IPA
Hop: Citra (114) (Dry & Aroma)
Malt: 2 Row Pale, Caramel 30L, Carapils

Taste Expectations: An aromatic IPA made from Citra hops that balance perfect proportions of big fruit and citrus flavor with hints of peppery spice, caramel malt sweetness and a bitter, but smooth finish.

Availability: 12oz/6pks.  Draft.  Limited Release.

6.2% ABV

Full Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact:

Jamie Godfrey 503- 546-7892/[email protected]

WIDMER BROTHERS LAUNCHES ROTATOR IPA SERIES: X-114 IPA LEADS OFF; MORE BREWS TO COME

PORTLAND, Ore. — March 28, 2011 — Widmer Brothers Brewing launches its Rotator IPA series with the release of X-114 India Pale Ale. The first beer in the series of IPAs, X-114 was handcrafted by the Widmer Brothers’ brewing team. X-114 IPA is available in limited quantities on draught and in six-packs at select retailers nationwide.

“Our Rotator IPA series was born out of our brewing team’s desire to experiment with and enthusiasm for the IPA style of beer,” said Rob Widmer. “Our brewers are passionate about creating unique interpretations of beer styles and always finding ways to do things a bit differently. X-114 IPA is an aromatic IPA that originated from the experimental hop that we now call Citra. It’s a great, drinkable beer and is the perfect brew to kick off this series.”

About X-114 IPA

X-114 IPA is an aromatic IPA made from Citra hops that balance perfect proportions of big fruit and citrus flavor with hints of peppery spice, caramel malt sweetness and a bitter, but smooth finish.

Ingredients

Malts: 2-Row Pale, Caramel 30L, Carapils Hops: Bittering-Alchemy, Aroma — 114 (Citra) Dry Hopped and Aroma Hopped — 114 (Citra)

Profile

Original Gravity: 14.3 P Apparent Extract: 2.9P IBU: 50 Alcohol by Volume: 6.2 percent Color: 10 SRM

X-114 IPA has a suggested retail price of $8.99.

About the Rotator IPA Series

Widmer Brothers’ Rotator Series will feature an ever-changing offering of different IPA brews. The series was developed to showcase the Widmer Brothers brewers’ penchant for experimentation and to give lots of latitude for innovation within the broad IPA style. X-114 IPA is the first in the series to be released. Rotator Series beers will be available in limited quantities and are only available while supplies last. Widmer Brothers’ brewers will handcraft each IPA sequentially. The second beer of the series is expected to hit shelves sometime during the summer of 2011.About Widmer Brothers Brewing

What started as a dream for two ordinary brothers who just loved beer has now become a reality for two ordinary brothers who still just love beer. Kurt and Rob Widmer helped lead the Pacific Northwest craft beer movement in 1984 when, in their twenties, they dreamed of brewing American interpretations of authentic European-style beers. In 1986, Widmer Brothers Brewing introduced the first American-style Hefeweizen; today, the unfiltered cloudy beer is the company’s signature brew and one of the best selling wheat beers in the country. Based in Portland, Ore., the brewery currently brews a variety of beers including Drifter Pale Ale, Nelson Imperial IPA, Drop Top Amber Ale and Pitch Black IPA. For more information about Widmer Brothers Brewing, visit www.widmerbrothers.com.

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

Hop City To Sell Growlers

Hop City Craft Beer & Wine in downtown Atlanta has announced that they will be selling growlers starting April 14th, 2011.  These will be the first growlers sold in Atlanta.

Late 2010, the Georgia Department of Revenue “revised” their view on the use and sale of growlers.  This opened the door for 2 places in Athens, Georgia- The Beer Growler, and 5 Points Growler.  Stipulations for growler sales include being an “off premise” location, and not selling spirits/liquor.

Hop City will open with 16 rotating tap handles.  Refillable 64 ounce growlers will be $4.99.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Iron City Brewing

Iron City Brewing Purchased

More beer business.  Uni-World Capital, L.P. an equity firm has acquired Iron City Brewing Company.  From the looks of it, it’s an ownership change.  Nothing else.

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 6, 2011) – Uni-World Capital, L.P., a private equity firm, has acquired the brands and assets related to the beer business of the Iron City Brewing Company. The brewery’s headquarters will remain in Pittsburgh and beer production will continue in Latrobe, Penn. The purchase is entirely funded by equity capital from Uni-World and its affiliates. Edwin R. Lozano, 43, will serve as the new president and chief executive officer of Iron City Brewing Co. Tim Hickman, president since 2007, will be retained as a consultant during the transition period.

“Iron City Brewing Company’s rich heritage, diverse product portfolio and strong reputation as a high-quality Pittsburgh beer resonated with our team,” said Christopher P. Fuller, managing partner, Uni-World Capital. “This transaction is about restoring the brewery’s legacy and to drive future growth, and we intend to reinvest future cash flows back into the business. Our new management team, led by Ed Lozano, brings extensive beer and beverage industry experience, and a commitment to keeping the business in Pittsburgh.”

Lozano brings 15 years of extensive sales, marketing and operations experience to the position. Most recently he spent seven years with PepsiCo International as Director of Foodservice. In this role Lozano led a global sales organization spanning 190 countries, which represented more than $3 billion in retail sales. Before joining PepsiCo, Lozano spent six years with the Miller Brewing Co. where he led a sales team in New York City, built brands in the United States and drove growth in international regions from Asia Pacific to Latin America. Lozano was the youngest Director in the International Division and was responsible for dramatic share gains in Asia Pacific and a turnaround in Latin America. Prior to Miller he spent two years with the Coca-Cola Company.

“Iron City Brewing Company’s portfolio of brands are icons in Western Pennsylvania and beyond,” said Lozano. “My priorities are to concentrate on the core brands, Iron City and IC Light; to better support our wholesalers and to aggressively grow the business. Part of that growth means a personal commitment to adding jobs in Pittsburgh. I’m honored to be at the helm of a business that’s a Pittsburgh institution. I firmly believe Iron City has tremendous potential, and I look forward to helping write the next chapter in the brewery’s history.”

About Uni-World Capital, L.P.

Uni-World Capital, L.P. is a private equity firm focused on making leveraged buyout and growth equity investments in lower-middle market companies. We seek to partner with management teams where we can leverage our team’s collective business experience, corporate relationships and strategic and financial expertise in order to help enhance a company’s strategic positioning and drive profitable growth. More information can be found at  http://www.uniworldcapital.com

About Iron City Brewing Company

ICB’s brands are iconic in the Western Pennsylvania region, and its core products, Iron City Beer, IC Light, and Augustiner Amber Lager, enjoy a loyal following around the world, wherever “Pittsburgh Nation” beer drinkers congregate. During the brewery’s 150-year history it has introduced many innovations, including the twist-off cap and the snap top can, and in 1976, Iron City Brewing was the first brewery in the United States to produce a light beer.

For more information about Iron City Brewing, please visit  http://www.ironcitybrewingcompany.com

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Anheuser-Busch, Beer News

“My Bud Light Tags.” AKA. Write less, drink faster.

Bud gimmicks. Or fun for hammered people.  As of yesterday, Budweiser announced the “My Bud Light” program.  The program entails adding a label to the 12 ounce bottles that the drinker can brand with their name, phone number or whatever you’re able to spell with a key or coin.

Quoting Bud:
“This new bottle is one of the many ways we can bring Bud Light’s fun personality to life,” said Mike Sundet, senior director, Bud Light.  “Bud Light drinkers are always looking for fun, quirky ways to express themselves, and the My bud light bottle offers them a canvas to do just that.”

It’s a gimmick for sure.  Perhaps not a bad idea. I’ve always been looking for a way to designate “My Pliny The Elder.” <Anheuser-Busch>

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Coming Soon, Sierra Nevada

Lighter Shade Of Sierra Nevada Exclusive Brew

Lighter Shade Of Pale.  A song, and a draft only release emerging from Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp (#42.)  Lighter Shade of Pale is a “session” style American Pale Ale clocking in at a mere 4.2% abv.  Decisively lower than a lot of beers emerging these days.  Initially, (which is to say for now, who knows what the future brings) this pale ale one one of a few beers debuting at Philly Beer Week in June, 2011.

This pale ale is “triple hops brewed”  the real way, with Spalt, Challenger, & Crystal hops.  Light & pale malts round out this beer.   According to Sierra Nevada’s northeast rep, the first tapping is at Grace Tavern, 6/8/11, 6:30 pm.  <Philly Beer Week>

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Mother Earth Brewing

Mother Earth Shows Us Her Cans

Mother Earth Brewing is a 40 barrel brewery in Kinston, North Carolina.  The canning line is being added to the space in the brewery that is currently under renovation.  Completion of the line installation should be completed this spring, cans by summer, 2011.

First beers to be canned are Second Wind Pale Ale, and Sunny Haze.   The bottles will continue to be available, the cans in addition.

President Trent Mooring explains “cans are lighter to transport, and there’s no fear of breakage, but it really gets down to taste- some beer enthusiasts simply prefer the taste of canned beer, believing cans preserve flavor and carbonation better than bottles.”

<Mother Earth Brewing>

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Boston Beer Company, Sam Adams

Boston Beer Loan Program

Boston Beer Company’s founder Jim Koch announced on a visit to the Wall Street Journal on Monday, a special loan program targeting upstart breweries.  This new loan program is an extension of Boston Beer’s “Brewing The American Dream” program, founded in 2008 to stimulate the food & beverage industry.

Jim Koch has pledged $100,000 to assist small breweries with start up costs.  The assistance goes beyond just loans & cash.  Koch and other employees plan on volunteering time in the form of seminars, webinars and hands on events to guide the fledgling breweries.  Not just on the art of brewing but assistance with tough questions about buisness models, leases, and employee pay structure.

Koch & Boston Beer Company has made many micro loans to start up businesses.  Over 50 to date.  In 2011, the 100k capital will be given to Accion USA, whom will manage and underwrite the loans.  Koch has a great quote in the article – “We all grow together, or not at all.”

The program’s expansion will be announced Tuesday. <Wall Street Journal>

by Reid Ramsay