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Posted in Headlines

There are over 5,301 breweries operating in America

The Brewers Association, the non-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, has released a bit more 2016 data. Here’s how last year looked.

Another record breaking number of breweries are operating in the United States – 5,301 in total. That’s a 17% increase over 2015. Of that total, 5,234 breweries are considered “craft” by the Brewers Association.

2016 saw 826 brewery openings, 97 closings. Still strong growth industry wide. When Beer Street Journal went online nearly 9 years ago, there were just over 1,000 breweries in America. The number of breweries, beers, and beer consumers has grown steadily ever since.

Brewing means jobs. At the end of 2016, the craft segment alone provided 128,768 hard working folks with gainful, sudsy employment. That’s 5.7% higher than 2015.

This is where things get a little sticky. How the Brewers Association interprets the data. The  Brewers Association interprets overall volume and jobs dependent on their definition of a small and independent craft brewery. Each year some output volume and craft sales numbers will not be included in the final data, like when a brewery buyout occurs and their status changes. For example, if a brewery is purchased by AB-InBev, their volume data will drop out of the craft segment total. Full breakdown by Bart Watson from the BA, HERE.

Overall, the numbers are pretty feel good. Craft retail dollars broke $23 billion in 2016, a 10% increase. That’a 21.9% dollar share of America’s $107.9 billion dollar beer industry.

America remains thirsty. We’ll drink to that.

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Holland Brewing, Headlines, New Releases

New Holland Dragon’s Milk Reserve Mexican Spice Cake debuts in special series

New Holland Dragon’s Milk Reserve Mexican Spice Cake join the special “Reserve” series of beers starting in April.

This series is centered around the brewery’s Dragon’s Milk, a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout. You might see the subtitle “Unlimited Release,” as it’s year-round.

The Dragon’s Milk Reserve Series is known for different spins on the brewery’s barrel-aged imperial stout, like Rum Barrel Coconut, Vanilla Chai Spice, and a high alcohol by volume Triple Mashed. Soon, look for New Holland Dragon’s Milk Reserve Mexican Spice Cake will join the coveted lineup.

The “Mexican Cake” flavor has become a popular one in beer, combining flavors of cinnamon, chilis and vanilla. New Holland aged this beer for 3 months  in bourbon barrels, with toasted chiles, cocoa nibs, vanilla beans and cinnamon. A real popular beer every time It has been offered.

“The chocolate character in Dragon’s Milk is enhanced by the soft chili heat and mellowed out by the flavors of vanilla and cinnamon. It’s simply delicious and continues to show how well Dragon’s Milk can play with new flavors..” – Joel Petersen, VP of Beer Marketing

New Holland Dragon’s Milk Reserve Mexican Spice Cake is available in 12 ounce bottles and draft for a limited time, starting April 1st.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Vanilla Beans, Cinnamon, Chilis, Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: 4/1/17

11% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines

No, Stone Brewing doesn’t brew with reclaimed water. (Yet.)

No good deed (or idea) goes unpunished.

If you haven’t figured it out, that beautiful glass of beer you constantly long for is mostly water. As you can imagine, clean water is a vital part of the brewing process. That’s why so many breweries partner with water conservation efforts. Stone Brewing is just as conscious of the need for clean water, prompting them to brew a Stone Full Circle Pale Ale, using purified reclaimed water.

The beer was brewed for a private event promoting Pure Water San Diego, on tap for a few hours. Maybe the future isn’t now just yet. Not all of Stone Brewing’s fans warmed to the thought of reclaimed, purified water being the backbone of their beer’s makeup.

Let’s set the record straight. First, this one off batch of beer is the only beer in the brewery’s lineup that used reclaimed water. It is no longer available. None of the beer you’ve had from Stone uses reclaimed water, nor will they in the foreseeable future. Despite the upside using reclaimed water has on the environment, especially a drought stricken Southern California, the city of San Diego isn’t ready yet.

What Stone Brewing learned. 

The reclaimed water was actually cleaner than normal tap water. On a molecular level, the reclaimed water is better water than what flows out of your shower head. The downside? Mentality. It seems drinkers need a little more time to adjust to the idea reused sewer water. There is still an “icky” factor for some.

The safe and proven technology is intended to replace up to a third of San Diego’s water with recycled water by 2035. This puts San Diego solidly in the middle of the pack. Using this technology is nothing new. It’s used by regions all over the US, and all over the world. Don’t worry, journalists using creative-yet-largely-inaccurate headlines and made-up facts in news reports also places them solidly in the middle of the pack as well. LOL (again). Sad (the standard of our national discourse…but that’s another story!).

In the meantime, Stone Brewing’s water used in the brewing process is the same as it’s always been. The city of San Diego hopes to replace up to one-third of the city’s drinking water with reclaimed water technology by 2035, or sooner – if Stone has anything to say about it.

That give’s the brewery’s fans a little more time to adjust to the idea of reclaimed water – in all it’s sustainable glory.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Stone Brewing Co., Headlines, New Releases

The next can for Stone: Ghost Hammer IPA

Stone Ghost Hammer IPA release is set for June 2017.

Hoppy mad scientists might be a better way to describe Stone Brewing. Their India pale ale arsenal is vast. Once the brewery settles on a hop combination for one beer, another combination is planned. In June, Stone Ghost Hammer IPA will rise.

Stone’s overnight crew is responsible for this one. While half the world slept, the brewers came up with this new IPA, brewed with coriander, grains of paradise, and blended with citrus. The hop bill is heavy on Belma, Centennial, and Magnum hops.

A brewhouse can never sleep, for brewing beer never slumbers. And what never sleeps must always be tended, and that charge falls to the shoulders of the Overnight Crew. Part brewer, part scientist, these mad fermentationists brave the never silent nights, often alone, to tend to what will become Stone beers. The nights are dark. The cellars are cavernous. Spooky things can happen. Sometimes scary things happen. Once, something terrifyingly good happened. Our mad fermentationists had an idea. Brewed with coriander, grains of paradise, blended with citrus and liberally hopped with Belma, Centennial and Magnum hops. A frighteningly flavorful creation indeed.

Stone Ghost Hammer IPA is slated to release in 12-ounce cans and draft in June 2017.

Style: IPA
Hops: Belma, Centennial, Magnum

Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: June, 2017

6.7% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines, Terrapin Beer Company

Terrapin ATL Brew Lab & a look at the Atlanta Braves new Suntrust Park

The city of Atlanta has a big baseball season ahead of them. In April, fans will pour into their brand new $652 million dollar Suntrust Field. The new home of the Braves is quite fancy.

Beer is as much of a national pastime is baseball, and a fixture in every park in America. Every ballpark has beer, but not every ballpark has a brewery. Athens based Terrapin Beer Co. has officially built their first Atlanta brewery as part of Suntrust Park.

Since expanding into a 100 barrel brew house a few years ago, Terrapin has been lacking pilot system. Most of their recipe development has come from home brewed test batches and even a PICO Brew home system. From there the recipes are upscaled and tweaked on the fly. A brewery that likes to get weird like the Terrapin Tribe, a pilot system has always needed to be in the cards. When the opportunity came to build it in a Major League Baseball field, the brewery couldn’t say no.

The Terrapin ATL Brew Lab boasts a copper jacketed 5 barrel brew house that will be supplying the thirsty park goers directly. Styles will fluctuate as the season dictates. Just as Terrapin has become ubiquitous with Georgia beer, the brewery has partnered with Atlanta famous Fox Brothers BBQ. The ATL Brew Lab will be open to the public year-round.

While many Atlanta Braves fans have been torn about moving on from Turner Field, they won’t be disappointed on opening day or this high-tech new home of the Braves, Suntrust Park. Especially with fresh beer brewed just feet from home plate.

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Realm Brewing, Headlines

Mitch Steele’s new brewpub in Atlanta has a name

Mitch Steele, one of the most well known members of Escondido, California based Stone Brewing, departed the company in June. Many thought Steele would start a new project on the west coast. In an interesting twist, his next stop will be Atlanta, Georgia.

Steele, along with partners Carey Falone, and Bob Powers, have signed a lease for a property on Atlanta’s Beltine. The Poncey- Highland based brewpub, recently dubbed New Realm Brewing, will feature house brewed beer, artisanal food, and a fun atmosphere. The new location will feature a rooftop bar, beer garden, and home brewing classes.

“I had an amazing time at Stone and I am very thankful for my experiences there. Now, I am looking forward to the opportunity to become part of the growing craft beer movement in Atlanta and the Southeast.” – Mitch Steele

Breaking ground on the 20,000 square foot space soon, New Realm Brewing is expected to be operational in 2017. Located at 820 Ralph McGill Avenue, in Atlanta.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines

The results are in. Meet the U.S. Top 50 breweries in sales in 2016

The Brewer’s Association, the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, have released their “Top 50” list for 2016.

The list breaks down into two categories. The first – the Top 50 for small/independent breweries in sales volume. The second Top 50 includes all American brewers, including MillerCoors and AB-InBev.

In the small/craft segment, D.G. Yuengling & Son still holds the #1 spot, followed by Boston Beer (Sam Adams), Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, and Gambrinus. As for the small/independent definition, per the Brewer’s Association: 

  • Small: Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less (approximately 3 percent of U.S. annual sales). Beer production is attributed to the rules of alternating proprietorships.
  • Independent: Less than 25 percent of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member that is not itself a craft brewer.
  • Traditional: A brewer that has a majority of its total beverage alcohol volume in beers whose flavor derives from traditional or innovative brewing ingredients and their fermentation. Flavored malt beverages (FMBs) are not considered beers.

The Top 50 overall reveals no surprise. Anheuser-Busch holds the commanding lead in the #1 spot, followed by MillerCoors and hipster friend Pabst.

“Embracing their experience and ability to thrive and overcome challenges, the top producing craft brewers will continue to inspire, innovate and influence the future of beer.” Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association

Below, a list of the Top 50 (Click here for full size). Any surprises?

 

by Reid Ramsay