Beer News

Norway’s Largest Craft Brewery Sold

Hansa Borg Bryggerier has officially acquired a majority share in Nøgne Ø. The deal is said to expand the brewery’s current and future export markets.

Founder and head brewer Kjetil Jikiun will continue to be the head brewer. For those familiar with Continue Reading →

The Oddest Flask You’ll See Today

I’ve seen a whole array of flasks. Engraved, gold, silver, leather wrapped, & more. Some of the more unique ones include flip-flops with a hidden flask, even a fake pregnant belly.

Just when I thought I’ve seen about every way to Continue Reading →

Praire Artisanal Ales Tours Start In December

Prairie Artisan Ales will have its Grand Opening on Saturday, December 21, 2013 from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Tours will be available each hour, on the hour.  The brewery will be pouring Prairie Weisse and Potlatch. 

In Tulsa, Oklahoma? Find Praire here…

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Amsterdam Puts Alcoholics to Work

Brilliant? Maybe. Amsterdam is always thinking outside of the box. Recently, the city put alcoholics to work cleaning the streets.

Before the program was implemented, alcoholics would hang out in parks, starting fights, littering, yelling at park goers. Something had to Continue Reading →

Terrapin To Retire Big Hoppy Monster

Sad news for the lovers of Terrapin Beer Company’s Big Hoppy Monster. The brewery will retire it after this year.

Big Hoppy Monster, and Oak Big Hoppy Monster have both been successful for Terrapin. However, as the brewery grows, and the Continue Reading →

Posted in Beer News, Brewery Expansions, Don't Miss This

Norway’s Largest Craft Brewery Sold

Hansa Borg Bryggerier has officially acquired a majority share in Nøgne Ø. The deal is said to expand the brewery’s current and future export markets.

Founder and head brewer Kjetil Jikiun will continue to be the head brewer. For those familiar with the brewery, the shareholder breakdown looks like this.

  • Hansa Borg Bryggerier 54.44%
  • Tore Nybø 15.63%
  • Anne Cecilie Nybø 10.13%
  • AHT Invest 9.91%
  • Kjetil Jikiun 9.91%

Nøgne Ø has the bragging rights of being Norway’s largest and oldest craft brewery. In addition to strong sales in Norway, Nøgne Ø’s lineup is exported to 31 countries including the United States. Nogne-O has done collaborations with various craft breweries, including Brewdog, Mikkeller, and Terrapin Beer Co. 

 

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

The Oddest Flask You’ll See Today

I’ve seen a whole array of flasks. Engraved, gold, silver, leather wrapped, & more. Some of the more unique ones include flip-flops with a hidden flask, even a fake pregnant belly.

Just when I thought I’ve seen about every way to hide beer or booze, this happens. It can be yours for $10. [Amazon]

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Prairie Artisanal Ales

Praire Artisanal Ales Tours Start In December

Prairie Artisan Ales will have its Grand Opening on Saturday, December 21, 2013 from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Tours will be available each hour, on the hour.  The brewery will be pouring Prairie Weisse and Potlatch. 

In Tulsa, Oklahoma? Find Praire here…


View Larger Map

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Don't Miss This

Amsterdam Puts Alcoholics to Work

Brilliant? Maybe. Amsterdam is always thinking outside of the box. Recently, the city put alcoholics to work cleaning the streets.

Before the program was implemented, alcoholics would hang out in parks, starting fights, littering, yelling at park goers. Something had to change if they weren’t. Each person receives 13 Euros, some tobacco, and five cans of beer. Basically two beers in the morning, two beers with a warm lunch, and a beer after their shifts are over.

Turns out, it’s working. The individuals actually drink less because their are distracted by the work they are doing. A few say they like the satisfaction of the work well done, and too tired to get completely plowed at the end of the work day.

Challenge. Find a law that prevents this from working in the United States.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Don't Miss This

California Man Goes For Brewer World Record

An Auburn, California brewer is going for a Guinness World Record. Alfred Lee hopes to gain the title for ” Most beers on tap by a single person.”  How many does he currently have? 110.

That’s right. 110 beers. On tap. All brewed by one man. Doesn’t seem plausible does it? I’ve reached out to a few local professional brewers that don’t buy it. Atlanta’s Red Brick Brewery has a staff of brewers, and packaging coordinators just to manage 3-5 beer offerings. How is one man brewing 110?

Apparently, the methodology is a secret. A secret that will be divulged when the record is set. All the beers are poured through a patent-pending device called Tapzilla (seen above.)

Full discloure. Lee mentions on his website that not all his beers are all-grain (no liquid malt extracts.) His massive lineup is a combination of all-grain, partial mash, and extract brewing. [SacBee]

Thoughts on this? Drop a comment.

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Don't Miss This, Terrapin Beer Company

Terrapin To Retire Big Hoppy Monster

Sad news for the lovers of Terrapin Beer Company’s Big Hoppy Monster. The brewery will retire it after this year.

Big Hoppy Monster, and Oak Big Hoppy Monster have both been successful for Terrapin. However, as the brewery grows, and the desire to experiment with new beers arises, someone needs some time off.

Big Hoppy just hit shelves in October. This is your last chance this oaked imperial red ale. It cellars nicely if you want to stock up.

Above – the last of this Monster sits in the warehouse in Athens, Georgia.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Headlines, Innis & Gunn, Videos

Beer Street Journal Video: The Story of Innis & Gunn

Beer Street Journal (ok, it’s just me), got a rare opportunity to spend some time with the Founder and Master Brewer of Innis & Gunn, based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

If you live on the east coast of the United States, chances are you’ve seen one of the iconic bottles with the Innis & Gunn branding on it. For me, my first taste of Innis & Gunn Original opened up the world of barrel aged beer for me. I’ve never forgotten it.

I’ve always wanted to know more about this beer, and a few days with Dougal gave me a new perspective on the brewery and its origins. I think I love their beer even more now I spent time getting to know where it all came from.

There are two videos I did with Mr. Sharp. This first one gives you the background how the brewery got its start, and how Innis & Gunn Original is made. The second (coming soon) gives you the rundown on the current seasonals, and a sneak peek of a couple of things to come.

by Reid Ramsay