FEATURE NEWS

Flying Fish Brewing Co., a New Jersey-based craft brewery will continue its legacy following its acquisition by Guilford Hall Brewery. This strategic move marks a revitalizing new chapter in Flying Fish’s journey in the craft beer industry. The company promises to provide more exceptional beer, along with its known and loved offerings, perfect for every occasion. Brewing and distribution will continue for Flying Fish Brewing Co. in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, with operations soon expanding to Maryland, and eventually to New York and Virginia and most states along the East Coast.. The company will maintain its brand identity, recipes, and all other branded aspects of it's business for its customers and distributors. This acquisition will provide an important opportunity to maintain the inventory and quality of beer under the Flying Fish brand.

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Brett Cotten and Edward “TJ” Mitchell are developing a new leather alternative made from beer for bags, purses, and car seats. Both vegetarians with backgrounds in biotech and supramolecular chemistry, they saw the potential of wasted brewer’s grain and launched their startup, Arda Biomaterials in London.. Almost every brewing establishment is overflowing with spent grain—the malted barley waste left over from brewing beer. It’s notoriously difficult to get rid of. Usually brewers end up burning it, sending it to landfill, or donating it to farmers, who use it for animal feed.  Now it has a new use.Depending on the grain, the material results in a different color. A dark stout like Guinness produces a black leather, while India pale ales and lagers come in varying shades of brown. Business has been so good the company has been forced to double its staff.  The grain is supplied by over 100 breweries in the London area.

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A pair of New England craft breweries have shared the results of their philanthropic efforts. Portland, Maine’s Allagash Brewing and Waitsfield, Vermont’s Lawson’s Finest Liquids each received B Corporation Certification, meaning their businesses are “meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials,” according to B Corp. It is the first time the breweries have won this prestigious award.

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Following a year of flat spirit sales, wholesale inventories are at an all time high and retailers are pulling back on new products. In a new report, industry analysts said they don’t expect destocking to remain an issue into 2025, but what happens then with spirit growth trends? One possible risk to spirits: ready-to-drink canned cocktails (RTDs). While RTDs are helping to bring more consumers into spirits over the medium-term (recruiting from beer or wine), the report argues that they might harm spirits’ growth overtime.

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New Belgium Brewing has partnered with India craft brewer Bira 91 on a limited-release beer that will be available only at the taprooms of New Belgium in Fort Collins and Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru in India. The beer will only be brewed once and will only be sold in the taprooms while stocks last The limited-release beer “brings together the vibrant flavors of Indian street food and the legendary craft brewing heritage of Colorado,” officials with the two companies said in a joint news release. It combines the “puckering sour fruit” flavor of tamarind, which is used in Indian chutneys and curries, with the classic Dubbel, a Belgian-style ale brewed by New Belgium. Ingredients in the copper amber-colored beer are specialty malts, tamarind, Saaz hops and Belgian yeast. The alcohol content is 7%.

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Consumer sentiment toward Anheuser-Busch InBev’s (A-B) Bud Light continues to decline more than a year after the initial boycott of the brand, according to a HundredX survey, shared by Goldman Sachs in its latest Beverage Bytes report.  HundredX, a “mission-based data insights company,” analyzed consumer opinions of top beer brands from March 2023 to March 2024. The firm measured customer loyalty by how likely a respondent was to recommend a brand, which determined the brand’s Net Promoter Score (NPS). Scores range from -100 to +100, with higher scores indicating more positivity.  Bud Light’s NPS sharply declined in April 2023, following a conservative-led boycott of the brand after a social media ad by influencer Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender woman. The brand’s NPS declined from around +30 in March, to lower than -40 in July.  Bud Light’s NPS started improving over the summer, consistently recording month-over-month (MoM) growth. However, in March sentiment began to “erode” again, and Bud Light began April with an NPS of -35.7, The decline is in spite of some improvements at retail, according to a Goldman survey, which found that A-B was “doing a better job than many expected.”

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Tree House Brewing Company, one of the most acclaimed breweries in America and producers of VinePair’s No. 1 most important IPA in the world (the aforementioned Julius),is opening a golf course in suburban Massachusetts. From humble beginnings, Today, a total of 32 Tree House beers rank on the Top 250 list.  This meteoric success would see the need for rapid expansion. And yet, unlike other top hazy IPA producers of this era, Tree House never relinquished full control — never distributing cans to retail, rarely allowing kegs to go to bars, and even keeping the brewery off the grid for a while. By 2017, Tree House had opened a 130,000-square-foot, $18.5 million brewery in nearby Charlton, producing 150,000 barrels of beer per year.  They launched a coffee business, began to offer pizzas, set up hiking trails and half-marathons, even started distilling spirits, everything from bourbon and rye to rum and vodka to apple eau de vie, pickle gin, and Key lime aperitivo. In 2019, Tree House opened a cidery on a 100-acre farm in Woodstock, Conn., where it would also sell fresh fruit and vegetables to the community. In 2020, it opened another brewery in the seaside town of Sandwich in Cape Cod, now selling canned RTDs and cold brew. Now in April 2024 its golf course is open.  In just months it has fully transformed the Tewksbury location, building new additions like a speakeasy; revitalizing the clubhouse basement to allow for a whopping 78 tap lines (though it has its own brewery system, it will mostly serve and sell beer brewed in Charlton); and fixing the course that is  described as a “beaten down track,” renaming each hole after the brewery’s beloved beers like Haze and Green. 

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Philadelphia-based Evil Genius Beer Company is launching the fluffiest and tastiest version ever of their Lucky Charms inspired IPA Magically Delicious.  This 7.0% ABV Lucky Charms Inspired IPA was brewed with heaps of malted and flaked oats for a pillowy soft, fluffy mouthfeel. Then dosed with countless boxes of the oat-based cereal, including the marshmallows, and vanilla to satisfy your sweet tooth. The brew is balanced out by a big dry-hop of Mosaic to add just the right amount of aroma and bitterness.  And, 21st Amendment Brewery, one of the San Francisco’s oldest independent craft breweries, is introducing a new core beer: Amendment Lager (4.4% ABV). it's their first light lager in 24 years!

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FEATURE NEWS

People have long been trying to “game” their drinking patterns in order to ease the ache in the morning. But while many swear that these sayings hold up, the evidence doesn't. Recently scientists recruited 90 students between the ages of 19 and 40 from a university in Germany and split them into three groups. On day one, the first group drank a 5% ABV ( by the Carlsberg) until their alcohol concentration reached 0.05 percent, then they drank an 11 % white wine until their alcohol concentration reached 0.11 percent. The second group did the same, but in the opposite order. And people in the third group drank either only beer or only wine as a control. As the participants drank, they were given standardized meals and water. The next morning, the participants rated the intensities of their hangover symptoms  A week or more later, the researchers repeated the entire process over, but switched the order of alcohol drinking between the groups When the researchers compared the participants’ hangover scores across the study days and groups, they found that drinking order did not uniformly affect their hangover symptoms,

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There is a  growing ubiquity of kegged cocktails, which are hitting draft lines everywhere from sports stadiums to corner bars.  Draft cocktails are seizing an opportunity this year as kegged beer sales have declined. U.S. on-tap beer volumes fell about 5 percent year over year in 2023,  In 2018, draft beer made up about 11 percent of overall beer volumes sold in the U.S.,last year, it was 9 percent. And bar owners have been happy to swap out slower-moving beers on draft lines for cocktails. Where there were fewer than 1,500 draft lines in the U.S. dedicated to non-beer products before the pandemic, there are now as of April  2024 roughly 10,000,  Americans are drinking more servings of spirits today than in decades past, at the expense of beer and wine. To meet that demand, venues are turning to kegged cocktails as an efficient way to deliver consistent drinks, fast. They’re aided by new technology- the launch of premade kegged cocktails — some with alcohol, some with just mixers to which bartenders add spirits of their choosing.

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Production at four breweries owned by Belgian beer firm Duvel recently ground to a halt after a cyber-attack.

The company says it fell victim to the suspected ransomware attack after closing hours. Initially, five of its production facilities were shut down. Duvel said it was currently unable to give further details "as the investigation into the cause of the cyber-attack is ongoing." "The built-in command systems and alarms in the IT-system worked well, so our IT department was immediately informed of the attack," the company said in a statement. "The servers were immediately shut down, which also shut down production at the four Belgian production sites and the production site in Kansas City." Currently, all are back running.  The company did not divulge if they paid the ransom.

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Boston Beer has announced a major change at the top of the company after reporting a loss of $18.1 million over three months leading up to the end of 2023.  So far in 2024 sales have been at the same level. David A. Burwick, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boston Beer Company, will depart effective as of April 1, 2024.  Boston Beer Company’s net revenue of $393.7 million decreased 12 percent compared to the prior year. Burwick has led Boston Beer as CEO since April 2018. He will remain in an advisory role through 2026. The new CEO is Michael Spillane, who has been a member of the company’s board of directors since 2016. 

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Carlsberg's unit in Kazakhstan has filed an appeal with a Russian court after the Danish brewer was banned from selling the Baltika beer brand of its former Russian partner in some international markets, court documents showed. Moscow took control of Carlsberg's stake in Baltika, Russia's largest brewer, in July 2023 and placed it under "temporary management", prompting Carlsberg Group CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen to say its business had been stolen.  Baltika signed agreements transferring trademark rights to Carlsberg entities abroad, without the involvement of the newly-appointed company president Taimuraz Bolloev. Only a month ago, a court in St Petersburg revoked intellectual property rights for Carlsberg to use Baltika brands in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Mongolia and Turkmenistan. Carlsberg declined to comment on the court filings when contacted by Beer Nexus.. "We are continuing to take all possible actions, including legal, to protect our employees, assets and operations in response to the presidential decree from 2023," the company said in a press release.

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Few beers compare to the behemoths that Denver's River North Brewery showcased at its 12th anniversary party recently. They' re ABV was at 22.1%, 23.5% and 24.1% — and the latter two are most likely the highest-alcohol beers ever made in Colorado and most other states..  Alcohol by volume (ABV) refers to the amount of ethanol for every 100 milliliters of liquid. Liquor tends to have a much higher ABV (usually around 40%) than beer (usually around 5%), which is why taking a sip of beer is much easier than taking a sip of straight vodka. Although the alcohol of one 49% shot is equal to one 5% 12 ounce beer, 5 beers at 5% ABV is the same as 5 shots (1.5 oz) of 40% booze.  so do the math and figure out the equivalents for River North's big ones.

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Domestic tax paid shipments increased +1.8% in January 2024 versus January 2023, marking the first year-over-year (YoY) increase since February 2023, according to the Beer Institute (BI), citing estimates from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). An estimated 11.4 million barrels were shipped in March, an increase of 204,322 barrels versus March 2023, when domestic tax paid shipments declined -3.5% YoY. However, “it’s too soon to say if March’s increase in shipments marks a turnaround for the beer industry,” BI chief economist Andrew Heritage wrote in the trade group’s just released monthly report.

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Philadelphia-based Evil Genius Beer Company is launching the fluffiest and tastiest version ever of their Lucky Charms inspired IPA Magically Delicious.  This 7.0% ABV Lucky Charms Inspired IPA was brewed with heaps of malted and flaked oats for a pillowy soft, fluffy mouthfeel. Then dosed with countless boxes of the oat-based cereal, including the marshmallows, and vanilla to satisfy your sweet tooth. The brew is balanced out by a big dry-hop of Mosaic to add just the right amount of aroma and bitterness.  And, 21st Amendment Brewery, one of the San Francisco’s oldest independent craft breweries, is introducing a new core beer: Amendment Lager (4.4% ABV). it's their first light lager in 24 years!

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FEATURE NEWS

German beer sales dropped 4.5% last year, resuming a long-term downward trend, just released official figures showed.German-based breweries and distributors sold about 8.4 billion liters (2.2 billion gallons) of beer last year, the Federal Statistical Office said. That figure doesn’t include non-alcoholic beer and beer imported from outside the European Union.  Exports were down 5.9% overall. There was a relatively modest 2.6% drop in sales to other countries in the 27-nation EU, which bought 784 million liters (207 million gallons) of German beer, while sales to other countries were down 9.6% at 646.7 million liters (170.8 million gallons). German brewers have been struggling with a long-term downward trend fueled by health concerns and other factors. The statistics office said last year’s sales were 11.3% lower than in 2013 and 25.3% lower than in 1993. So far in 2024 the slide is continuing.

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The Genesee Brewery (NY) has just announced a shift to eco-friendly, sustainable ring carriers on all six packs of 12 oz. and 16 oz. cans of Genesee beer. These carriers are now made using 50 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic and break down when exposed to UV light.  Established in 1878, the Genesee Brewery, New York state's oldest brewery, makes the classic Genesee Value line of beers, Genesee Specialty and Seagram's Escapes.

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The Yuengling Brewing Company announced a 2024 partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) – a nonprofit organization that empowers Texans to keep our communities clean and beautiful. To celebrate the second year of working together, Yuengling is donating $1 per Yuengling Traditional Lager case sold, up to $50,000, to KTB. D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc., the oldest brewery in America, is family-owned and operated since 1829.

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Homebrew Con, the American Homebrewers Association’s (AHA) annual gathering of homebrewers, is on hiatus.

The AHA is “taking a break” to “reimagine the event” in a way that will “honor traditions, keep expenses affordable and come back to the roots of the AHA,” according to a post on the Brewers Association’s (BA) website.  In place of Homebrew Con, the AHA and BA plan to include homebrewers in festivities at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), being held October 10-12, 2024 in Denver, Colorado 

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The 'woke-free' beer company that was launched as an alternative to Bud Light after its disastrous promotion of transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney is now releasing a calendar "aimed at defeating wokeism" in women's sports that features prominent conservative women. Conservative Dad's Ultra Right Beer has teamed up with women's sports advocate Riley Gaines on its "Real Women of America" 2024 Calendar, which the company says is the first calendar created to "specifically showcase the most beautiful conservative women in America."  A spokesperson for the company said that 10% of its sales will be donated to the Riley Gaines Center to protect women's sports from "extreme leftist ideology seeking to destroy women's athletics.

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The spirits industry held its market share edge over beer and wine for the second straight year in 2023, even as it showed little growth, according to new data just released. U.S. spirits revenue grew only a modest 0.2% last year to $37.7 billion, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S.′ annual economic report. Although the industry gained little total revenue, it outpaced beer and wine sales by 0.4% and 26.1%, respectively.

Vodka remained the top-selling spirit in 2023, while the second-highest selling category, tequila and mezcal, gained even more of a lead on American whiskey. Tequila and mezcal, blended whiskey and American whiskey are among the fastest-growing spirits categories by revenue. Premixed cocktails were the fastest-growing spirits category last year, rising 26.7% to $2.8 billion in revenu

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North Coast Brewing Co. (NCBC) released its first-ever 19.2-ounce beer cans. When a 12 or 16 ounce isn’t enough, consumers have another choice. Scrimshaw and Old Rasputin now are available in 19.2-ounce cans. NCBC also will continue to offer these beers on draft and in bottles. “Our brew team continues the tradition of making quality craft beer the way our founder and original brewmaster Mark Ruedrich intended,” said Jennifer Owen, CEO and chief financial officer of NCBC, in a statement. “With the addition of our 19.2 cans, our devoted and new fans alike will be able to hit the trails with a convenient size they can share with a friend or enjoy all by themselves. 

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The brand and intellectual property of South Jersey's first microbrewery were acquired by an industry member this week at a bankruptcy auction, according to court documents reviewed by Patch. Flying Fish Brewing Company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late December. After failing to re-organize and stay under current ownership, the Somerdale brewery put its assets up for auction. Guilford Hall Brewery, based in Baltimore, will continue to sell Flying Fish beers to distributors throughout the East Coast. However, Flying Fish will no longer operate out of its Somerdale location. "The facility wasn't a part of the purchase unfortunately and as this happened quite fast, we are figuring out options for future stages of operations," said Jared Fischer, Guilford Hall Brewery's general manager. Last week on social media, Flying Fish expressed hope that someone would purchase the business at the auction and keep the brand alive. Flying Fish not only operates a brewery but also sells its beer to different distributors.  

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FEATURE NEWS

The Campaign for Real Ale has announced the Great British Beer Festival will not be running in 2024 due to building work at London Olympia.  Stating that the festival will be “taking a year off” in 2024, the campaign group said it would be returning in 2025 “with a bang”. CAMRA said that London Olympia “could not offer us the dates we needed”. and as a result of the on-going building works at the venue, the group said it was unable to host the event to “the high standards customers and members have come to expect”.

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The hard seltzer company White Claw has sparked a social media frenzy after releasing a new 0% alcohol variety pack with a hefty price tag. The drinks come in four flavors — black cherry cranberry, mango passionfruit, peach orange blossom and lime yuzu — and are designed to replicate the taste of the original White Claw Hard Seltzers.

Each 12-ounce can has 15 calories and includes electrolytes for added hydration.  Many accounts questioned the purpose of the new non-alcoholic beverage, with some saying it was just rebranded sparkling water. One (of many) user took issue with the tagline of “a new wave in drinking,” sarcastically calling it a “clever reinvention” of seltzer water. A White Claw spokesperson said “Legal drinking age Gen-Z and millennials … want more flexible drinking options, with or without alcohol, so we saw an opportunity to disrupt the non-alcoholic space in the same way we disrupted the hard seltzer category years ago — with drinks that have a fundamentally different look, taste and feel.”

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Mark Zuckerberg’s new ranch in Hawaii that raises “world-class” cattle on beer and macadamia nuts is facing backlash for fueling climate change.  if giving a cow a pint of beer to drink seems odd, it’s actually not. Farmers have long fed their cattle the alcoholic beverage, as well as the mushy spent grain leftover from the brewing process for years, according to Illinois State University. Beer is used to stimulate appetite, especially in wagyu, to create a better end product. It is said to be Japanese tradition to feed wagyu beer in hot weather. PETA, condemned the Meta owner, writing on X: “Mark Zuckerberg says he’s now ‘started raising cattle; at his property in Hawaii, feeding them beer, and then killing them. Mark, the Dark Ages called and it wants you back. #goVegan.”

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A new study indicates royal Sumerians may have drunk beer from richly decorated straws made of precious metals. 

The study recounts how modern archaeologists took a second look at an 1897 find — decorated, gold-and-silver tubes once thought to be scepters but are now presumed to be beer straws. The breakthrough came when researchers found the supposed scepter’s inner filter curiously contained barley starch residue, The clue suggested something containing barley, such as beer, may have passed through these metal tubes. But it’s not all fun and beer; the straws may have also been key in local funeral rituals. The researchers suggest that “straws demonstrated one’s wealth and elite status. Aside from jewelry, the tubes were the objects placed closest to the deceased in the tomb. .

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Uber has decided to shut down Drizly just three years after acquiring the alcohol e-commerce delivery platform for $1.1 billion. .  Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, Uber's SVP of delivery, said the company has decided to close Drizly in order to focus on its “core UberEats strategy of helping consumers get almost anything — from food to beer to alcohol — on a single app.” Drizly operated independently under the Uber family for three years, but there have been hints of integration into Uber’s core platform. Late last year Drizly made company-wide layoffs, affecting approximately 100 roles. The layoffs followed a cybersecurity issue causing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to propose an order against Drizly and its CEO, James Cory Rellas, which determined Rellas and the company “failed to use appropriate information security practices to protect consumers’ personal information,” resulting in a data breach that affected 2.5 million users. Uber acquired Drizly in early 2021 for $1.1 billion in cash and stock.. Drizly’s online marketplace is current in 26 states.  It was founded in Boston in 2012 and launched its service in 2013. 

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A new beer is temporarily removing the water to reduce the carbon footprint from shipping.  How it works: If removing water from beer sounds like a bad idea — consider the fact that soda companies do this all the time when they ship syrup, which is later combined with water and carbonation in soda fountains. BrewVo, designed by Sustainable Beverage Technologies (SBT), a Colorado-based startup, creates a beer with significantly less water than usual to reduce the weight and emissions from hauling heavy kegs and cases of beer.  It can be shipped, refrigerated, and stored more efficiently, and reconstituted when it is time to enjoy. SBT uses a process called “nested fermentation,” reports Scientific American, to make the concentrated beer. It is first fermented in the usual way. Then, the team removes the alcohol and sends it through a second fermentation. They repeat this several times, resulting in a highly concentrated beer, which is 1/6th the weight and volume of typical beer. 

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According to Motley Fool, In 2024, the beverage scene is fizzing with excitement and potential. At the forefront: Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP), and Boston Beer (NYSE: SAM). These drink kings have mastered the art of staying fresh. This year, they look less like everyday investment opportunities and more like "golden tickets for your portfolio".  (Beer Nexus does not endorse any tpe of investment advice.)

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Tilray is a large player in North America’s cannabis industry. The company made huge advances in the craft beer industry recently. It is currently the fifth-largest craft brewer in the nation. Last August, the company bought eight beer brands from Anheuser-Busch - $85 million for a collection of breweries that included Redhook Brewery, Widmer Brothers Brewery, 10 Barrel Brewing, Blue Point Brewing, Breckenridge Brewery, and others. Reportedly, it was an all-cash deal.  Tilray has just announced it is still shopping for more craft breweries as it looks to further expand its presence in the industry. The company has a whopping $260 million in cash and other resources with which to do it.

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Constellation Brands reported its fourth quarter financials that fell short of expectations as persistently high inflation slowed down the demand for its high-priced spirits. Like its peer, Molson Coors Beverage Company, Constellation Brands turned to price hikes in an effort to navigate rising production costs. Constellation Brands posted a fourth quarter 2023 comparable profit of $3.19, topping LSEG’s estimate of $3, on sales of $2.47.  When it comes to premium wines and spirits, organic net sales tanked 7%, with the Corona beer maker now expecting an annual drop of 7% to 9%. Unlike the premium segment, its beer brands have benefited from customers choosing smaller pack sizes, as well as from the backlash its rival Anheuser-Busch InBev faced and lost consumers because of its controversial social media campaign. As a result, the beer business that holds Corona Premier and Modelo Especial under its umbrella, grew 4%. Its beer rival Boston Beer reported flat YoY revenues of $601.6 million.

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FEATURE NEWS

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is entering the growing non-alcoholic (NA) beer space with their new Trail Pass series, which hits shelves this month with two initial beers: Golden and IPA. The iconic brewery known for standard alcoholic brands like Pale Ale, Celebration Ale, and Hazy Little Thing debuted their new NA offerings at Denver’s Great American Beer Festival in September, and expects the beers to hit shelves across their full distribution footprint by the beginning of January.

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EU beer sales edged higher in 2023 but remain below pre-pandemic levels, data suggests.Beer sales in the bloc rose to 313.3m hl up from 300.6m hl in 2022 and 297.5m hl in 2020, according to research by trade body The Brewers of Europe. Despite the positive trend, consumption has not caught up with pre-pandemic levels – in 2019 there were 322.8m hl of beer sold in the EU. Germany is the largest beer producer in the EU with 87.8m hl brewed in 2023

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After a brief dalliance in the RTD coffee business earlier this year, lrapper, weed advocate and rising CPG player Snoop Dogg is back with another new beverage venture, this time teaming with Texas-based Hill Beverage Co. to use iconic rap label Death Row Records as a way to enter the rapidly expanding world of cannabis beverages.

The beverage called Do It Fluid comes in four flavors: Blood Orange, Blue Razz, Cherry Limeade and Peaches ‘n Honies. There are two cannabis options for each: a 12 oz can with 25 mg CBD or an 8 oz can with 5 mg CBD + 3 mg Delta-9 THC. Snoop Dogg says that there’s no other cannabis beverage on the market like Do It Fluid. Not only can you get the high without smoking, but it also claims to be healthier than other hemp-infused beverages. “Most infused drinks in the market don’t use real fruit juices,” he says. “We also focused on flavor first and created drinks that taste amazing — not something I’ve experienced with other infused beverages. ”Do It Fluid is infused with cannabinoids developed by Northern California infusion technology company, Vertosa. 

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According to a just released study the two most important things to keep in mind when pouring beer from either a can or bottle is knowing what style of beer it is, and how it was carbonated.  With force carbonated beer (i.e. 95% of beer that you will buy in the liquor store) ... you typically want to pour the beer a bit more aggressively than you would think, directly into the bottom of the glass or with the glass at a slight angle.  The goal here is to allow a good amount of the CO2 to 'break out' of solution (get foamy) while you are pouring." The thought behind this more aggressive pour is that you really don't want all of those bubbles staying in the beer because they'll end up in your stomach and you'll end up burping it all out. Less CO2 means you still get the aroma ... but it saves you from filling your whole stomach with beer foam.  The same idea goes for draft beers, regardless of whether the beer is dark or light.

What about the other 5% of beers? For them you want to look for the words "naturally carbonated" or "bottle/can conditioned" on the container itself. This means that the brewery added yeast and a little bit of sugar directly to the bottle or can right before sealing it. The yeast ferments the sugar to create carbonation directly inside the bottle. It's not a particularly common method, but you will find it with some Belgian and sour style beers. This process leaves a layer of sediment at the bottom of the bottle or can. When you pour it you want to pour gently and ideally all at once (not tilting the bottle down, then upright, then down again as this will mix up the yeast. 

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Lawson’s Finest Liquidshas  commemorated their “Giving Tuesday” by donating $76,000 to 52 nonprofit organizations through its impactful Sip of Support program. Last year's (2023) contributions, with amounts reaching up to $5,000, span a diverse array of causes across Vermont, including sustainable recreation, mental health support, BIPOC community development, individuals with disabilities, senior services and more.

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Beer and spirits distributor Diageo seeks to divest the rest of its beer portfolio aside from its flagship brand Guinness.

The London-based distilling and brewing conglomerate could face a difficult buyer's market, with spirits' revenue share eclipsing beer for the first time this year.  Among the beer brands Diageo could look to sell are Smithwick's, Kilkenny and Harp Lager, based in Ireland, and Tusker in Kenya, among others.  Aside from Guinness, the beer brands are a margin drag on the rest of the business, sources say. Diageo has been weighing the potential offload of its beer portfolio for the past decade, one source says Diageo did increase its stake in East African Breweries earlier this year to 65% from 50%. Through that entity, which makes Guinness for the region, it controls not only Tusker but also makes Senator Keg, among others. Diageo has been paring its beer portfolio Last year, it sold Meta Abo Brewery as well as Guinness Cameroon to Castel Group for £389 million.In 2015, the company sold off stakes in two brewers, including Jamaican beer Red Stripe, to Heineken for $780 million. Buyers may be hard to come by, given beer businesses, including craft, have fallen out of favor, sources say.

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For underage drinkers, it's not always about the cheapest alcohol they can get their hands on. Many of them are brand conscious, researchers say, and they're not drinking the same stuff as their parents.Young drinkers do go for sweet malt beverages that mask the taste of alcohol with fruit flavors.  In a new survey,  17 % said they'd had a Smirnoff malt beverage, which comes in flavors like grape and frozen strawberry lemonade. But it's not only about cheap and sweet. Teenagers do favor budget beers like Keystone Light, and 28 % of teen drinkers said they'd had a Bud Light in the past month. But they also drink pricey hard liquor like Jack Daniels whiskey and Grey Goose vodka. For adults showed only 6 percent of adults say they drink Smirnoff's malt beverages. And while 11 percent of underage drinkers said they had had Jack Daniels, just 6 percent of adults say the same. "It dispels the myth that youth are drinking what they see adults drinking," says Dr. Michael Siegel, a professor of community health at Boston University 

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A just released survey of top beer makers and industry pros say we should expect to see more closures of small breweries in 2024, along with consolidation to keep brands on the cusp of closure alive.  And we'll see more brewery alliances and consolidations as well as "breweries looking for ways to better differentiate themselves from a crowded market. Also, they say, look for the emergence of even more easier drinking lagers and even cold IPAs.  Both have gained steam for years and continues to as consumers shun high prices.

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FEATURE NEWS

Boston Beer Company has just released its malty monster: Samuel Adams Utopias, which weighs in at 28 % alcohol by volume. Even though Utopias is not as strong as most spirits – for instance, Jack Daniels Whiskey has an alcohol by volume of 40% – many state laws outlaw beers that go above a certain ABV.  States that can't sell Samuel Adams Utopias include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia.  Utopias is a blend of various batches of the brewery’s earlier extreme beers, which have been aged in multiple types of barrels. Overall, Utopias carries a 5-year age statement. The 2023 Utopias were aged in charred American bourbon barrels, imported peated Scotch whisky barrels, port and cognac barrels from Portugal and France, respectively, and barrels that previously held Pineau des Charentes, a rare aperitif wine from western France.

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Previously known as YQH-1320 EXP, the new hop variety has now earned a name. It’s a big deal in a hop’s history, moving from number to name. Yakima Quality Hops’ new proprietary variety is called Elani (pronounced ee-LAH-nee). Elani is a strong hop. High yields and outstanding heat tolerance make Elani suitable for diverse growing regions, which is increasingly important as recent weather patterns continue to challenge the hop industry. Elani exhibits aromas of mango, blueberry, citrus, and cantaloupe. The hidden undertones of dank resin, papaya, and juicy fruit.

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Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA is the top-performing IPA among the nation's craft brands in grocery and convenience stores, according to new data. In second place? Yet another Voodoo Ranger — Juice Force Hazy Imperial IPA.  Launched in 2017 by New Belgium, the Voodoo Ranger lineup originally only included two beers: the Voodoo Ranger IPA and the Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA. Since then, the brand has rapidly expanded the line, adding brews like the Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA, Voodoo Ranger Juice Force, Voodoo Ranger Fruit Force, and more. As Voodoo Ranger’s senior brand manager Dave Knospe said much of the success of the Voodoo Ranger line comes from leaning into marketing within subcultures like the gaming community, and allowing consumers to vote on upcoming product releases to foster a sense of community surrounding the beer. In convenience stores, the Imperial IPA is closing in on segment leader Blue Moon Belgian White Ale in both dollar sales and dollar share. The wheat beer has experienced a 2.1 percent decline year over year, with their dollar share declining by 0.41 percent. Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA, meanwhile, has increased its c-stores sales by over 14 percent year to date and currently accounts for nearly 6 percent of all craft sales.

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Guinness was a little slow to jump on the non-alc trend, but released this distinctive product in 2020, quickly bumping up production as the demand soared. It’s sold as a four-pack of larger-than-your-average beer cans. In other words, it pours perfectly in a pint glass. The size isn’t the only way it stands apart from the growing number of NA beers on the shelves. It’s got a widget inside, a small ball that helps the product pour more like a real draught. Because what would a Guinness be without that creamy head on top? As the official spiel goes, the beer is made using the same ingredients as the original: barley, hops, yeast and water. After the fermentation process, the alcohol is removed using cold filtration in order to preserve the deep, rich flavors. Some describe the final taste as having hints of chocolate and coffee. For those who’ve turned their snouts up at stout, it’s not as heavy as its appearance suggests. It comes off as pleasantly bitter and ever-so-slightly sweet, all balanced with that velvety mouthfeel.

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A legal battle is bubbling up at Tree House Brewing.  Eric Granger, a 2 percent shareholder in the Charlton MA-based company, has sued two majority shareholders, alleging that the pair paid themselves in excess and concealed millions in real estate investments — all while cheating him out of the profits. The lawsuit was filed in Hampden Superior Court on November 25. It’s a troubling moment for Tree House, beloved by New England beer lovers since its inception as a craft brewery in 2011. The company now operates five locations in Massachusetts and Connecticut, including a golf course in Tewksbury and an oceanfront brewery on Cape Cod. Another location is slated to open in Saratoga Springs, New York next year.  The lawsuit says that Tree House attracts 1 million customers annually, and that its success has garnered a combined annual economic impact of $143 million in Massachusetts alone, citing a study by the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute. But Granger alleges the bulk of the benefits have wrongfully funneled to Nathan P. Lanier and Damien L. Goudreau, the majority shareholders.  From 2017, Granger alleges, salaries and bonuses for officers exceeded $4 million, and Lanier and Goudreau repeatedly purchased “ultra-luxury” vehicles — including two Teslas, a Range Rover, a Mercedes, and an Audi — for personal use. Granger, by contrast, says he was deprived of “any dividend distributions.”

Granger is now the only minority shareholder at Tree House, after the other two remaining accepted corporate buyouts earlier this year. Lanier and Goudreau both own 49 percent of the brewery.  Granger has requested a jury trial. A pre-trial hearing has not yet been scheduled, and Tree House has not yet filed any legal responses. 

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After 10 years in business, Portland, Oregon-based Ecliptic Brewing has agreed to be acquired by Great Frontier Holdings – the craft beverage platform formed by the merger of Ninkasi Brewing and Wings & Arrow earlier this year.

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Ipswich Ale Brewery, one of the oldest craft breweries in Massachusetts, will transfer most of its production as part of an expanded partnership with Newburyport, Massachusetts-based RiverWalk Brewing, both breweries announced last week. 

This year’s Thanksgiving Eve (November 22) was a bit lackluster for beer, with Drinksgiving/Blackout Wednesday draft volume down -2.5% year-over-year (YoY), according to BeerBoard, an on-premise market research firm. 

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A group of former Anchor Brewing Company union workers has raised more than half of what it asked for in an effort to potentially buy the beermaker’s assets, which are up for auction. Anchor SF Cooperative, an incorporated group of unionized Anchor employees looking to save the shuttered brewery, have raised more than $168,000 toward a $250,000 goal through a Wefunder campaign as of Wednesday afternoon. Up for sale is the company's real estate in Potrero Hill, brewing equipment and intellectual property — including recipes and trademarks for products such as steam beer — that can be purchased individually or as a bundle.  No information was available on interested parties or the timeline for the auction, but the company said that about two dozen individuals expressed an interest in buying Anchor's assets. The Anchor SF Cooperative announced last week it was launching an effort to secure Anchor Brewing's assets. To that end, the group established a Wefunder campaign seeking donations to help the group enter competitive bids for the assets on sale.

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Young Lion Brewing Co. has sold its brewing facility and taproom on Canandaigua Lake to Other Half Brewing Co.Subject to regulatory approvals, the parties expect the transaction to close in January 2024, according to Jennifer Newman, CEO of the Canandaigua company. Young Lion, which is located in the Pinnacle North development on Lakeshore Drive, has retained ownership of the brand and is exploring creative solutions for its exciting future, Newman said.  This marks the establishment of Other Half Brewing's eighth taproom location and second in the Finger Lakes region — the other is in East Bloomfield. The Brooklyn-based craft beer maker opened in 2019 at the former Nedloh’s site on state Routes 5 and 20 

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Some hops and barley growers in the U.S. have just reported that they’ve already seen their crops impacted by extreme heat, drought and unpredictable growing seasons. Researchers are working with growers to help counter the effects of more volatile weather systems with improved hop varieties that can withstand drought and by adding winter barley to the mix. Researchers have known for a while that beer production will be affected by climate change, said Mirek Trnka, a professor at the Global Change Research Institute. He and his team recently authored a study modeling the effect of climate change on hops, just out in that projected that yields in Europe will decrease between four to 18% by 2050.

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FEATURE NEWS

A new research paper, published in the Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists, found that a beer’s foam makes it doubly aromatic, thereby making it more delicious. The study authors explained that the bubbles in the beer hold flavor compounds and when a bubble bursts, the flavor is released into the air — right into the drinker’s nose.   The foam also acts as a “lid” for carbon dioxide, which escapes and takes the flavor with it. “The foam prevents beer from losing its flavor due to changes in its composition caused by exposure to air,” the study said. 

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The bad news keeps piling up for the makers of everything from soft drinks to chocolate and booze. The latest blow took the form of comments from Walmart Inc., which said this week it’s already seeing an impact on shopping demand from people taking Ozempic, Wegovy and other appetite-suppressing medications. That’s sent shares of food and beverage and beer companies sliding. Ozempic Ozempic, known generically as semaglutide, was approved in 2017 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is a weekly injection that helps lower blood sugar by helping the pancreas make more insulin but many physicians prescribe it to be used for weight loss.  Ozempic works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone. As those hormone levels rise, the molecules go to your brain, telling it you're full. It also slows digestion by increasing the time it takes for food to leave the body. This is similar to the effect of bariatric surgery. Wegovy is aweight-loss medication made by the same company as Ozempic, Wegovy is a weekly injection approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for long-term weight management. It's the first drug approved for this purpose since 2014. 

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TDamage to Bud Light appears "quasi-permanent" and longtime consumers could be "lost forever" after the brand failed to rebound from ongoing backlash as initially expected in recent weeks, according to a prominent trade publication. "The Bud Light situation has actually gotten worse," Beer Business Daily publisher Harry Schuhmacher said.   "You see Bud Light still just stubbornly down around 30% in volume compared to last year, which is where it’s been since May or June," Schuhmacher continued. "That tells me that this is quasi-permanent, meaning those consumers are just lost forever." "Bud Light’s latest week trends — down 26.9% in dollars and down 30.3% in volume — are nearly identical to its four-week trends," Beer Business Daily recently reported.

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Morton Salt, Inc. and Alter Brewing are introducing Pure Joy, a limited-edition beer named in honor of Morton Salt’s founder, Joy Morton.  Alter Brewing’s Head Brewer, Matt McCowan, shared, “I think the best way to showcase Morton Salt is to create a hazy IPA/Gose blend featuring a sweet and citrusy aroma, a smooth, flavorful, and juicy flavor profile, and a noticeable punch of salt that blends well with an overall sweet, smooth backbone. We think our customers, old and new, will truly enjoy our Morton-inspired Beer!”  There is no low salt/ salt free version planned.

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Whole Foods principal buyer for beer Mary Guiver said that the growth of non-alcoholic (NA) beer continues, but cautioned suppliers that the natural grocery chain is near its space limits at the Beer Institute’s annual meeting in Denver. NA beer has “absolutely destroyed” in Whole Foods stores, and the retailer, which caters to consumers seeking healthy lifestyles, has “committed to non-alcohol being really well-represented” on its shelves, Guiver said.

He added: “It was triple-digit comping the last few years. This year – today – it is well above 50% over last year, and it just hasn’t slowed down. It’s our No. 3 category behind craft and import.”

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A long-handled copper tool. A painting of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of brewers. A yellow metal sign that reads “Steam Beer on Tap.”  These are the kinds of artifacts that tell the story of Anchor Brewing Company, the 127-year-old San Francisco institution that many consider to be the nation’s first producer of craft beer, ones that historians have selected after surveying a voluminous amount of material.  “It’s so challenging to make those kinds of decisions,” said Theresa McCulla, the curator of the American Brewing History Initiative at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, which wukk have a display on Anchor.  Curators at the Smithsonian select objects not only for their exhibition potential but also for their utility for future researchers. Thus, along with the pipettes and signs, tap handles and tiles, McCulla also collected scores of business records—items that can be useful long into the future, because the Smithsonian pledges to preserve whatever it collects in perpetuity.  Perhaps most heart-wrenching is a paper calendar McCulla noticed near the fermentation tanks during her visit. Circled in pencil was July 31—the last day the brewery would be in operation before its liquidation.  

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Fred Latsko, the visionary behind bringing the iconic Guinness Open Gate Brewery to Chicago's vibrant Fulton Market neighborhood, has announced that the property is now available for sale. Latsko  has decided to pass on the torch, making this a unique opportunity for a new owner to take the reins of one of three Guinness Open Gate Breweries in the world. Located in the heart of Fulton Market, the Guinness Open Gate Tap House Grand opening schedule for September 26, 2023, will instantly become an integral part of the neighborhood's rich history and a big tourist destination.  For more information about this unique real estate opportunity, please contact Fred Latsko at 312-403-1000 or via email at Flatsko@latsko.com. Additional details can be found on the Latsko Interests website at www.Latsko.com. 

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Still #1.  In just released data, once again, the nation that dirnks the most beer per capita is the Czech Republic — the birthplace of pilsner and the original Budweiser lager (born in Plzeň and České Budějovice, respectively). Ever since the nation split from Slovakia 30 years ago, the Czech Republic has proudly topped the charts — head and shoulders above its European neighbours. According to tjust released research, the average Czech puts away 184 .

 litres of beer a year — the equivalent of 324 pints.  The vast majority of Czech brewers still excel in the undervalued art of lager brewing. Brewed with patience and age-old techniques such as open fermenting and languid cold-conditioning, the best Czech lagers are approachable yet never dull.

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Molson Coors has announced plans to buy back billions of dollars of their own stock. $2 billion is a considerable chunk, even for the country’s second-largest brewery: The firm earned $1.1 billion in pre-tax net income on $10.7 billion in sales in 2022. So the fact that the company is embarking on such a sizable repurchasing program over the next half-decade is a clear statement — to investors, business partners, and competitors alike — that its core business is in good shape. 

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FEATURE NEWS

In its second year back after COVID, the Great American Beer Festival certainly felt a bit different on all fronts. Attendance to the fest felt significantly down compared to previous years and the competition portion saw a slight dip in entries as well, Regardless several breweries showed out in a big way at this year’s competition. Here is the complete list of winners of the prestigious medals: https://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/the-competition/2023-winners/

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A scientific team from Pacific Tech is collaborating with researchers in Barbados, who developed a successful formula for biofuel as a gasoline replacement using beer wastewater, seaweed and sheep manure. The researchers are getting their beer wastewater from Stone Brewing. Charlie Arnold head of Wastewater Operations at the brewery said they will produce about 370,000 barrels of beer this year which in turn will produce ample wastewater to increase experimentation.  If all is successful you will be able to say you have a car that runs on beer just like you do!

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TDamage to Bud Light appears "quasi-permanent" and longtime consumers could be "lost forever" after the brand failed to rebound from ongoing backlash as initially expected in recent weeks, according to a prominent trade publication. "The Bud Light situation has actually gotten worse," Beer Business Daily publisher Harry Schuhmacher said.   "You see Bud Light still just stubbornly down around 30% in volume compared to last year, which is where it’s been since May or June," Schuhmacher continued. "That tells me that this is quasi-permanent, meaning those consumers are just lost forever." "Bud Light’s latest week trends — down 26.9% in dollars and down 30.3% in volume — are nearly identical to its four-week trends," Beer Business Daily recently reported.

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Czech scientists, together with a small experimental brewer, have recreated the country’s first ‘Celtic Beer’ using laboratory analysis of pollen from an early Celtic burial site in Moravia. The oldest known beer residue and brewing facilities date to 5,500 years ago in the Middle East, but archaeological clues to beer’s history are rare. Scientists from Palack University in Olomouc and Charles University in Prague conducted excavations at the well-known Early Iron Age site of Býčí Skála.  Celts consisted of Iron Age tribes, loosely tied by language and culture, that inhabited much of Western Europe from about the 11th to the first century B.C.  The name ‘Celts’ is a modern name that is used to describe many tribes of people who lived during the Iron Age. The Brno Botanical Institute’s pollen analysis revealed traces of millet and various herbs in the samples, which are ingredients commonly used by Celts to make beer.

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Ever wondered if beer is better out of a bottle or can? A just released new study finds that amber ale is fresher when drunk out of a bottle whereas the flavor of an India Pale Ale does not change when it’s consumed out of a can. Bottles and cans of amber ale and IPA were chilled for a month and left at room temperature for another five months to imitate typical storage conditions. Every two weeks, the researchers looked at metabolites in newly opened containers. As time passed, the concentration of metabolites  —including amino acids and esters — in amber ale differed greatly depending on whether it was packaged in a bottle or can. 

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Kelsey Grammer, who played Dr. Frasier Crane on the series, and who went on to star in his own spinoff, “Frasier,” for 11 seasons on NBC from 1993 to 2004,, is personally pouring beer at various bars in his brewery's distribution area to promote a new brew from his very successful Faith American Brewery.  It's “Calico Moonlight,” a double IPA. “Calico Moonlight continues our salute to the strength and courage of the Calico Men. Men on the brink, freedom-minded men, who swore allegiance to a just cause as they rode into this singular, distinct page of American History,” said Grammer on his Faith American Brewing website. Grammer founded the brewery in 2015 in Margaretville, NY.

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For more than three decades, Molson Coors was locked out of running ads at the Super Bowl due to an exclusivity deal that its competitor Anheuser-Busch had cut with Fox who now program the game. But in 2022 Anheuser-Busch decided to not renew that contract. For the first time in over 30 years, Molson Coors, home to uber-popular beer brands like Miller Lite and Coors Light, returned to Super Bowl advertising in 2023.  Last year, Coors Light and Miller Lite headlined Molson Coors’ first Super Bowl ad in more than three decades and surprised everyone when it ended with a nod to Blue Moon Brewing Company. “The High-Stakes Beer Ad” was the top-rated beer ad from Ad Age and Adweek, which also ranked it the No. 3 Super Bowl commercial of the entire game. But at a time of unprecedented momentum for Coors Light, now the fastest-growing beer in the US according to Circana data, Molson Coors will be putting the spotlight on the nation’s leading light beer at Super Bowl LVIII. "Our decision to feature Coors Light in next year’s big game comes after several years of improving results and at a time of game-changing momentum for Molson Coors, “Sofia Colucci, Molson Coors’ chief marketing officer said.

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New research, published in the Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists, measured the scent of the beer using ultrasonic waves to identify that the aroma components were 1.3 to 1.9 times higher in the beer with a frothier head compared to the flat beer. The study, conducted by researchers from Kyushu Sangyo University in Fukuoka, Japan as well as by the Japanese brewing company Asahi, additionally highlighted how bubbles in the beer hold flavor compounds which means that when a bubble bursts these flavors are released into the air near the drinker’s nose. According to the study: “The foam acts as an efficient gas exchange surface funneling aromas toward the drinker’s olfactory sensors, and it provides a drinker’s first tantalising entrée as to the quality of the beer’s flavour, freshness, refreshingness, and wholesomeness.”

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FEATURE NEWS

The craft brewing industry has always inspired its community to help others in times of need. There are hundreds of examples of craft breweries who have raised funds to support local causes. Garret Marrero, CEO and co-founder of Craft ‘Ohana (Maui Brewing/Modern Times) in Kihei, Hawaii and chair of the Brewers Association board of directors, has created the Kokua project to support the ongoing needs of the people affected by the tragic fires that took place last week on the island of Maui.  The Kokua project will be a single beer recipe, brewed by any brewery willing to participate, to support the people of Maui, with 100% of proceeds going to relief efforts.

“As we continue to stay focused on the immediate relief efforts on the ground here on Maui, we would like to take a brief moment to say mahalo to everyone in the beer community who has reached out to check on us and offer support to the people of Maui who are in need,” said Marrero.

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The Brewers Association (BA) mid-year look at the numbers shows that BA defined craft breweries are down 2% through the first half of 2023, the first decline of the industry since the BA began tracking numbers, with the exception of the pandemic year 2020. Packaged sales were down 3% versus same time last year but have improved significantly since the first quarter results which were down 9%. “Optimism is on the horizon as the midyear survey shows hope for better trends in the future,” reflected Bart Watson, chief economist at the Brewers Association. “Collectively, craft still needs new ideas and new strategies to move beyond our current normal, which is a slow-growth environment. Craft demand isn’t going anywhere, and there is plenty of opportunity for growth within new channels, occasions, and customers.”  The number of breweries in the US continues to rise with the number of active craft breweries increasing from 9,119 in June 2022 to 9,336 as of June 2023. The total number of BA defined craft breweries stands at 9,456.

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To ring in its 95th anniversary, the Detroit Zoo now has a limited-edition, exclusive beer, but more than that, the special brew is part of the attraction's expanding relationship with a local brewer that includes a new pub and the release — and re-release — of other alcoholic drinks. It's all in time for the Labor Day weekend holiday. Aptly named Celebrating 95 Years IPA, the pint-sized beverage was made by Michigan-based Griffin Claw Brewing Co., which recently became the zoo’s official craft brewery, and it can be found at the zoo’s new pub — more of an outdoor beer stand, really — across from the rhino exhibit. If you can't make it to the zoo take heart.  If it's a success zoo officials are considering contract brewing it for multi-state distribution.

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Tilray Brands, the pharmaceutical, cannabis and consumer packaged goods company that just purchased eight craft brands from Anheuser-Busch, paid an astonishingly low $85 million for approximately 8 million cases combined. That’s about $150 per barrel, a far, far distance from the height of the craft beer industry when brands sold as high as $1,000 per barrel only 6-8 years ago. The Tilray deal marks another sign that the large global brewers have lost interest in craft beer as they chase consumer preferences that are now trending into non-craft and non-beer categories.

It has been a long and sturdy climb for craft beer over the last 40+ years. Some in the industry have been surprised by the staying power of the segment. But with the diversity of choices for consumers which now includes non-traditional beer products such as seltzers, FMB’s, canned cocktails and wine, cannabis and others, it has become more and more difficult for craft beer, and beer overall, to eke out growth. Beer had another tough month in August, with shipments from domestic breweries down 6.4% compared to last year. Shipments are now down 5.9% for the year.

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Anheuser-Busch said it would be laying off about 350 employees following five straight months of double-digit declines in sales of Bud Light due to the consumer boycott. The layoffs are said to be at all tiers of the company, including some corporate positions. AB has about 18,000 employees nationwide and the layoffs will impact less than 2% of those. It is still a dramatic measure for the worlds largest brewer to make, and the implications are long term. It will be a long and difficult road to regain lost sales, and the Bud Light brand may never fully recover. Although it is still a power brand, Bud Light recently lost its number one selling beer status to Modelo in the US.

Bud Light sales iare down nearly 28% year on year, according to Nielsen IQ data. Shares in AB InBev have declined 11%The drop in sales has had a ripple effect. The Ardagh Group, a glass producer that contracts with AB announced that they will close its Bottle plants in North Carolina and Louisiana in July, with roughly 645 employees losing their jobs.

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An Australian-themed brewery is taking over the south Baltimore space where Checkerspot Brewing Co. launched its business five years ago. M8 Beer, pronounced "mate" and led by an Australia native, will move into the building at 175 Ostend St. on Sept. 1 when Checkerspot moves to its new space down the road. The new brewery, offering beer and food with an Australian twist, hopes to open by the first Baltimore Ravens home game of the season on Sept. 10, said manager and co-founder Jeff Osborne. The brewery's offerings will include beers brewed with Australian and New Zealand hops, a Pacific-style ale and pilsners, which are popular in the country. Apart from its list of beers, the brewery plans to offer Australian-inspired food such as a Texas barbecue platter that includes kangaroo sausage.

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Leinenkugel's brewery workers  have now been on strike for nearly two months, demanding higher wages and what they call a fair contract. Brewery workers and members of Teamsters Union Local 662 went on strike in July. One month later, they are still picketing outside Leinenkugel's brewery everyday. "We're looking for just a fair contract, an increase in wage to get us up to the cost of living, which we haven't got for a number of years now," said John Lane, a Leinenkugel's employee for 33 years.  The Teamsters union met with Leinenkugel's parent company, Molson Coors, in late-August, but no deal has been reached.

Molson Coors' Chief Communications Officer Adam Collins sent News 18, saying in full, "Our offer from the start has been competitive and exceeded local-market rates for similar unionized roles. We remain engaged in discussions and are hopeful for a resolution.”  As the strike continues, some area bars are seeing less customers buying Leinenkugel's beer.

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FEATURE NEWS

Diageo is set to increase Guinness 0.0 production by almost 300% following a €25 million (US$27.2m) investment into its St. James’s Gate site.  The Dublin-based site which includes six new processing vessels capable of producing half a million hectolitres (90 million pints), has been boosted to meet rising demand for alcohol-free beer.

Diageo Ireland managing director Barry O’Sullivan said: “Guinness 0.0 is now the number one selling non-alcoholic beer in a four-pack format in both Ireland and Great Britain. This expansion in production capacity at St James’s Gate is a testament to the quality of Guinness 0.0 and the growth of the non-alcoholic category, as consumers look for more choice on different occasions. We expect the growth of Guinness 0.0 to be another export success story for Ireland.”

Low and no-alcohol options currently make up just over four in 10 alcoholic drinks launches, according to research agency Innova Market Insight. Currently, St. James’s Gate is the only location where Guinness 0.0 is produced for all exports to the UK, Europe, the US, Canada, the Middle East and South Korea.

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on sale now! GABF, hosted by the Brewers Association, the trade organization representing small and independent craft brewers, will return to the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, on September 21-23. This event always sells out quicky so get tickets ASAP. The Great American Beer Festival®Opens in new window (GABF®) tickets are available for anyone of legal drinking age (21+) at https://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/

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Speculation that Costco is preparing to empty its shelves of Bud Light stirred after what some shoppers call a “star of death” appeared on cases of the beleaguered beer following its ill-fated tie-up with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Social media users shopping at Costco posted images showing an asterisk — which customers have branded a “star of death” or “death star” — had appeared on the price display above shelves stacked with cases of Bud Light. The asterisk is thought to be an ominous sign that Costco either doesn’t intend on restocking the shelf with the item in question. “Is it just me…Or am I the only one who noticed that Costco has applied their infamous “Star of Death” on Bud Light being sold!” one Twitter user wrote.“For those of you who don’t know… when Costco puts an * buy any item. It means it’s about to be discontinued.”

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The recent announcement of the shutting down of Anchor Brewing in San Francisco - considered a pioneer of the craft beer movement - crushed many patrons. But now there might be a chance to save the 127-year-old institution: Its unionized workers have launched a bid to buy the brewery and run it as a co-op.  The decision to close the brewery, announced July 12, came after the company failed to find a buyer amid declining sales and broader economic head winds. It gave employees a two-month notice and promised separation packages. Anchor is owned by Japanese beer giant Sapporo Holdings Ltd., which bought the company in 2017. The workers' bid is among nearly two dozen expressing an interest in acquiring the company,

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No worries about spectators getting a beer at the stadium when Australia hosts the 2032 Olympics. alcohol prohibition for ordinary fans at the 2024 Paris Olympics. That’s the law for stadiums in Olympic co-host,France, where Paris officials will not ask for exemptions for their dozens of venues. The rule, however, does not apply to sections where VIPs and high-end hospitality clients can expect a full range of Champagne, wine, liquor and beer.  Availability of beer with alcohol has been a regular issue at major sports events. The rugby World Cup in France later this year will have an exemption and a tournament sponsor’s beer will be sold.  When France hosted the 2016 European Championship, a sponsor for the month-long soccer tournament sold a low-alcohol beer at stadiums. Brazil changed its law, under pressure from FIFA, before the 2014 World Cup so that stadiums could sell Budweiser and a local beer affiliated to that brand.

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A new report, which surveyed 1,600 people within Florida, Texas, California and New York, over the last two weeks found  that 80% of consumers have visited a bar or restaurant three or more times in the last three months. But it’s the kind of drinks that they are ordering that caught are attention. According to the Drinks Business website, “beer remains the most popular alcoholic drink for these occasions, with 46% opting for it, followed by cocktails, with 31% choosing those. The interesting phenomenon is the growing number of consumers who are interested in combining the two.”  Over the last three month, two fifths of beer cocktail consumers have gravitated towards the Beer Margarita. This popular beer cocktail expands upon the traditional Tequila, Cointreau and lime juice mix with the introduction of of lager or an IPA, resulting in a more sessionable option with a pronounced fruit forward directive.

The CGI survey also revealed that the four fifths for those polled are expecting to try the Beer Margarita, (also known as a ‘Berengaria’ or ‘Beerita’), in the future.

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Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream, the revolutionary philanthropic program aimed at providing mentorship and access to capital to food and beverage entrepreneurs nationwide, today announces the winner of its 12th Brewing & Business Experienceship. Chicago's Funkytown Brewery is welcomed to the coveted class of emerging craft brewers to receive support and unique experiences on behalf of Samuel Adams.

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FEATURE NEWS

New evidence has been presented that suggests ‘beer brewing leftovers’ were used to prime paintings by Danish Golden Age artists in the 19th century.  According to a new article in th journal Science Advances, painters used grain and yeast leftover from brewing to prime their canvases during a particularly popular era for beer in the country from the early 1800s to 1850. Although today artists would use an acrylic polymer called gesso to prime their canvases – the process to help paint pigments stick to fabric – in the past a variety of different substances and techniques were used. The research has shown that master painters were creating their masterpieces awash in the boozy business of beermaking.

In the study, researchers looked the chemical composition of 10 renown paintings.  Working with very small paint swatches about the diameter of a pencil tip the scientists used mass spectrometry to identify the proteins present in the samples and found “ample quantities of proteins” which were from common beermaking grains, such as barley, buckwheat, wheat, and rye. As a result, the scientists speculate the brewers sold their byproducts to institutions such as the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, where artists would then re-purpose the substances as a binder. As a result of the findings, the researchers hope it could assist conservationists decide how best to display and preserve painting in the future, as well as to assist in discoveries of potential forgeries.

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The most remote pub in the UK, as verified by the Guinness Book of Records, is offering free beer to anyone willing to take a 15 mile hike to get to it this summer. The Old Forge pub, which is located on the shores of Loch Nevis in the village of Inverie, is owned by Knoydart Brewery who are running the competition in partnership with sports retailer Wiggle. The brewery is offering a free Trail Ale to anyone willing to hike the 15 or so miles from the nearest road to the pub. Indeed, for those without a car, the trip is even more treacherous, taking around 28 miles from the nearest village, Glenfinnan, and including a night in a bothy. For those who fancy visiting the pub and don’t mind about not getting the  free beer, there is a speedboat ferry which takes 10 minutes.

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Dallas Cowboys legend Troy Aikman  who owns Eight Elite Light Lager, has just released a video trying to steer the conversation about Bud Light over to "what really matters." In part Aikman says:” Lately there's been a lot of talk about beer companies and not nearly enough conversation about what really matters - the beer itself. Some brands are taking shortcuts to gain consumers. We're committed to producing a first-class product. No hidden agenda.  Aikman’s beer is only found in Texas, according to its website. A percentage of its revenue also goes to charity organizations.

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The second largest beer tax increase in 30 years has been made by the New Zealand government in a move which is set to shake up the industry.  The alcohol excise rate wil increase by 6.65% after already suffering a 6.92 % hike in 2022. The decision, will mean that the increase will cost New Zealanders an extra NZ$86m per year, including NZ$28.9m for beer drinkers. Brewers Association of New Zealand executive director Dylan Firth said: “The beer excise increase could not come at a worse time for brewers and consumers. With Kiwis facing a cost-of-living crisis, more tax is the last thing anyone needs.” That means is that when you next buy a 12 pack of beer, 50% of the price will be made up of tax through excise and goods and services tax. Critics say that the system which links annual excise increases to the Consumer Price Index is flawed, especially at times of high inflation. For example, when inflation averages 2-3%, businesses can build or absorb the cost into pricing. But the large increases we have seen in the past two years, totaling more than 13%, mean the cost jump for businesses, and ultimately consumers, prevents further investment, innovation and growth.

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After discovering their beers were being legally resold at inflated prices in other countries, the Monks/brothers of Belgium’s Saint-Sixtus Abbey have made moves to remind people that Trappist beer is not brewed for the benefit of profiteers. Until now, the sale of Trappist beer from Saint-Sixtus Abbey has been strictly regulated and has previously only truly been available to private individuals able to collect their orders at the abbey door or a nearby visitor centre. Back in 2021, the abbey initially trialled a pilot home delivery project, taking orders of a maximum of one crate of beer to customers with an address in Belgium, but it was not enough to quell demand and profiteering rackets have pushed the abbey to adapt its rules for a trial period of a year to try to stamp out illegal sales.

To tackle the issue, the abbey has just revealed plans for its three beers — Trappist Westvleteren Blond, Trappist Westvleteren VIII, and Trappist Westvleteren XII — to be sold in independent Dutch liquor stores for a year in a bid to stop businesses buying crates from the abbey and reselling them over the border at inflated prices.  During the year-long trial period, the abbey’s Trappist beer will also be distributed in the Netherlands via an importer in Hulst.

The brewery at Saint-Sixtus Abbey, situated in the Belgian province of West Flanders, dates back to 1839 when it received a brewer’s license signed by Belgium’s King Leopold I.

The abbey brewery belongs to the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance and has 20 monks and nine lay workers who work just 42 brewing days per year and annually to produce approximately 7,500 hectolitres of its highly-sought-after unfiltered and unpasteurised Trappist beer.

The beers must be strictly made by monks using the infusion brew method using only the natural ingredients of water, barley malt, hops, and yeast. Additonally, to qualify for the Trappist mark, all beers must be created within the abbey environs with the process supervised by monks or nuns, and any profits going back to the religious community or charitable works. Only five of Belgium’s beers bear the ‘Authentic Trappist Product’ logo: Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, and Westvleteren with the Trappist Westvleteren XII beers often considered to be the rarest.

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FEATURE NEWS

Stone Brewing in Escondido, California has brought back a fan favorite with the just happening re-release of Stone Downunderstruck IPA. First brewed in 2015 as Stone 19th Anniversary Thunderstruck IPA, this beer captured the hearts of beer lovers with its massive flavors and all-Australian hop bill.  Australian all-star cast of hops, including Ella, Vic Secret, and Galaxy, to create a hop-heavy, high-alcohol beer that was an all-around memorable sensory experience. Stone Downunderstruck IPA features tropical fruit flavors, including papaya, mango, and pineapple, supported by pleasant malt and lingering bitterness.

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Just released tatistics from the first quarter of 2023 show that Mexico ships out more than twice as much beer as any other country and single-handedly accounts for 30 percent of the world’s entire export-beer market, That puts Mexico far above the Netherlands (14 percent), Belgium (13 percent) and even Oktoberfest progenitor Germany (9 percent).

Germany (9 percent).  The United States is the world’s largest beer importer, accounting for almost 2 out of every 5 cross-border beer dollars. About 80 percent of that money goes to Mexico. That’s up from a paltry 17 percent in the early 1990s. For Mexico, the United States has become the only market that matters. In the most recent 12-month span, 97 percent of Mexican beer exports flowed north across the border.

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Six years after Funky Buddha was acquired by Constellation Brands, the brewery’s original owners are taking back their baby as of June 1, 2023. rothers Ryan and KC Sentz announced their reacquisition in a press release. The news comes as Funky Buddha is preparing to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its move from Boca Raton to Oakland Park.CA. The brothers say they want to “focus on beverage innovation, new consumer experiences, and additional product lines,” all while continuing to serve their flagship beers, including Floridian and Hop Gun.

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The combined brewing company of Sapporo and Stone Brewing has just announced a restructuring of its distributor management team, causing a 1% workforce reduction. Nearing the one-year anniversary of the Japanese drinks giant acquiring Stone Brewing for a total of $165m, the joint company has been implementing an integration system since the deal was struck. Sapporo and Stone Brewing’s chief revenue officer, Tom McReavy, stated that there were overlaps between Sapporo and Stone Brewing’s distributor management teams. He added that no members of the company’s national chain were affected. Sapporo Holdings, which bought San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Co. in 2017, said Stone Brewing generated net sales of $230.1m in 2021 and made an operating loss of $9.6m. More recently, the company reported that Stone Brewing and Sapporo’s combined sales in the 13 weeks up until 23 May 2023 have risen 6% compared to the overall category of beer which stood flat, according to NielsenIQ.  Sapporo Holdings, which bought San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Co. in 2017, said Stone Brewing generated net sales of $230.1m in 2022 and made an operating loss of $9.6m. More recently, the company reported that Stone Brewing and Sapporo’s combined sales in the 13 weeks up until 23 May 2023 have risen 6% compared to the overall category of beer which stood flat,.

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Zane Lamprey from the iconic Three Sheets TV show is now on tour.  Tickets for his  THIRSTY TOUR! are on sale! Tickets are selling fast, so get your tickets while you can! Having done back-to-back tours in the past two years, Zane has been working on a new, and more fun, style of show. This is one you really want to be at in person, rather than watching it on TV. Before the show, catch Zane's Amazon Prime TENDER LOOKS stand-up special! It’s free to Amazon Prime members! Watching this special won’t ruin the LIVE stand-up show. The THIRSTY TOUR! 

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Iron Maiden has announced a new Trooper beer to mark the brand’s 10th anniversary. Launched in 2013 as a collaboration between singer Bruce Dickinson and the U.K. brewer Robinsons, the original Trooper has won 18 brewing awards and is now exported to 68 countries around the world. The complete range has a total of 23 awards and over 35 million pints have been sold. Maiden revealed the anniversary edition, Trooper X Imperial Stout, is a 10% ABV drink which arrives in a presentation box.

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The founders of Four Corners Brewing Co. in Dallas are reacquiring their company in early June. Constellation Brands, a Fortune 500 company with a market cap of nearly $43 billion, has owned Four Corners since 2018. This sale will make the Dallas company an independent craft brewery once again. Constellation Brands’ portfolio includes big-name beer brands Modelo, Corona and Pacifico. The company is making a “strategic decision” to focus on those three brands, according to a statement, and will move away from craft and specialty companies including Four Corners in Texas and Funky Buddha Brewery in Florida. The financial terms of Four Corners’ acquisition were not disclosed.

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Yuengling has launched limited-edition red, white and blue cans to support veterans in a timely marketing move that positions the brand to scoop up Bud Light’s ex-customer base. In a statement just released, the Pennsylvania-based brewer announced the release of the patriotic can “with military nonprofit Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) as part of the brewery’s Stars & Stripes program” to honor the nation’s heroes. Each can also boasts a QR code co-branded with Yuengling Lager and Stars & Stripes brand ambassador and American country music star Lee Brice. When scanned, the codes will allow beer drinker’s to watch Brice’s “More Beer” music video.QR code scanners will also gain access to a virtual gift shop and will share more information about Yuengling’s July 9 free summer concert series, ticket giveaway to see Brice’s upcoming tour and ways to donate to Team RWB.

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FEATURE NEWS

Belgian authorities called foul this week when a Customs agent processing imported goods noticed a shipment labeled "The Champagne of Beers." If the slogan sounds familiar, it's probably because Miller High Life has been using the nickname since 1906. Originally "The Champagne of Bottle Beers" — the company dropped "bottle" from the slogan in 1969 — the cheeky tagline references the beer's crisp, clear flavor. For more than a century, the bottled beer has been shipped all over the world without incident, but recently, eagle-eyed Customs agents manning an entry port in Antwerp, Belgium took issue with the word Champagne, initial capital letter and all, on a shipment of beer headed for Germany. The problem? According to French law, the word Champagne can only apply to sparkling wine made under exacting standards in the Champagne region of France. The law, part of France's protected designation of origin legislation, forbids the use of the word Champagne on any product that does not meet strict guidelines (and let's face it, even the best beer in the world will never be Champagne). So the Customs agents did what any self-respecting inspectors would do: they destroyed the entire shipment — more than 2,300 cans — but not before reaching out to French authorities for direction.

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A monastic brewery in East Germany says it's created the first powdered beer. Just add water, and it'll froth up, complete with a foamy head and full flavor. The result promises massive savings on transport, because it can be shipped at 10% of the weight. Klosterbrauerei Neuzelle worked together with "technology partners" and used funding from BMWi to create its first powdered product, a dextrin-rich zero-alcohol beer which has been brewed using conventional methods, then "processed and prepared into a water-soluble beer powder/granulate."t's testing this powder on the market in small quantities until mid-2023, but the plan is to start making alcoholic beers soon, and scale things up. And the team believes there's a chance to ditch traditional brewing techniques as well, compressing the process to minimize the use of raw materials, labor and energy. Managing director Stefan Fritsche. "It's not just about bringing a new product onto the market, but about disrupting the beer business model.  The brewery will start targeting these powders first at far-flung markets like Asia and Africa, where transport costs are the highest, and presumably beer snobbery is less of an issue than at home.

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A new product has just been release designed for use in bars. Beer Ripples is a Wi-Fi-connected touchscreen-equipped countertop device that uses malt-based ink to print text or images on the foam in a glass of beer. Using an accompanying iOS/Android app, operators can choose from an online library of hundreds of messages and images, or they can upload custom images – such as photos supplied by customers.  The machine works with glasses up to 7 inches tall (18 cm), raising them up to its print head and then taking 11 seconds to print any message or image on the beer foam.  It's available now in the US and Canada, priced at US$3,000. An annual subscription fee of $1,500 is also required, which provides enough ink for up to 6,000 prints a year. A global roll-out is expected to take place soon.

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Unless you’re slurping it straight out of the brewer’s conditioning tank, there’s a good chance your beer is at least a few weeks old. Unfortunately, we live in a world where beer needs to be packaged, transported, stored, sold and bought before it can be consumed. Throughout that whole process, beer is constantly undergoing certain chemical reactions – and things like light and heat speed these up. The end result is a stale beer, with a more papery flavor and less fizz than a fresh one. In past research, scientists have found that these flavors are associated with an increase in compounds called aldehydes. These are produced during fermentation, and their levels only increase with age.  A new way to counter it has just been announced.  It's a molecule called NADH, which ican boost enzyme activity to break down aldehydes. Researchers shave made a genetically engineering yeast to produce more NADH.

As a result, the edited yeast was found to have between 26.3 and 47.3 percent less acetaldehyde – a type of aldehyde – than the control beer brewed using regular yeast. Levels of other aldehydes were also reduced, while there was an increase in sulfur dioxide, an antioxidant that’s known to help slow staleness. The team says that this genetically-engineered yeast could improve the shelf life of beer, and make sure it stays tastier for longer.

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To make the craft beer industry more sustainable, breweries are enlisting the help of their fans.Telluride Brewing and other Colorado beer makers are asking consumers to "peel the label" before recycling their empty cans. The message is printed prominently on the label as part of an effort to boost sustainability and limit waste. Craft beer can labels are often stickers or plastic wrap that can contaminate infinitely recyclable aluminum or lead recyclers to throw cans into the landfill. Colorado is famous for its role in making canned beer popular, thanks to Oskar Blues. But most craft brewers don't get their labels painted on the side because it requires bulk orders that are too costly.  Instead, smaller brewers have turned to ordering blank aluminum cans and labeling machines that allow a variety of stickers or shrink-wrapped plastic to match their ever-changing beer production.

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Tapping a beer can is a time-honored way to stop it fizzing over when you open it, but does it work? Sadly not, according to new research.  Scientists just announced the results of r a randomized trial to find out. There is a theoretical rationale for tapping your brew. Bubbles of carbon dioxide form on the inner surface of a shaken can. When it is opened and depressurised, the bubbles swell and rise to the surface, taking precious beer with them.

Tapping the can, some proponents say, dislodges bubbles from the sides of the can, making them rise to the top where they won’t expel beer when the can is opened. Research proved otherwise.

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If you were looking to try the new drink that mixes Turner's Iced Tea with Iron City Beer, you may have to wait a bit. 

The last of IC'd Tea is out on shelves and there won't be more coming until mid-May.  After a "record-breaking launch," Stock will be temporarily limited to sales in the Pennsylvania market.. PIf you see it, grab it before it's gone.  said brewery representatives.

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FEATURE NEWS

Beer ads try to be funny, but a regulatory group has determined that Molson Coors went too far with a recent ad that compares rivals' light beer to water. The National Advertising Division, which is part of the Better Business Bureau, sided with Anheuser-Busch, which challenged an ad for Miller Lite that uses the phrase "light beer shouldn't taste like water, it should taste like beer." The agency said that Molson Coors should "discontinue" the ad because it is "not puffery or a mere opinion."  Is that an example of the pot calling the kettle black? NAD said the ad should be discontinued because Molson Coors "did not submit evidence supporting the claim that any other light beers 'taste like water.'" NAD's decisions aren't legally binding, however, most advertisers comply with their decision. If an advertiser doesn't comply, the ads are referred to the Federal Trade Commission for further scrutiny.

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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider learned the Heimlich maneuver when he was in the sixth grade. A few decades later, that lesson helped him save a life. Schneider was recently out to lunch with his wife at Clear Sky Draught Haus, which is a restaurant located near the Blue Jays' spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida, when a woman at another table began choking on shrimp and couldn't breathe. After realizing that no one at the woman's table knew what to do, the 43-year-old skipper rushed over to perform the Heimlich maneuver on her. Schneider was able to dislodge the shrimp and save the woman's life. While Schneider wasn't looking for any praise, the restaurant did reward him for his heroics with a free beer, his drink of choice.  The woman just said thanks.

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Athletic Brewing’s non-alcoholic (NA) beers may soon be on tap at a bar or restaurant near you. The Connecticut-based NA brewery posted a photo on Twitter of co-founders John Walker and Bill Shufelt “headed down to NYC to deliver our first kegs.” Athletic’s flagship Run Wild IPA will be the first draft offering, a company spokesperson said. The initial round of keg distribution will be in the areas surrounding Athletic’s two breweries, including San Diego, New York and “parts of Connecticut.”

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The world’s largest manufacturer of aluminum cans is considering closing another production facility. Ball Corporation announced that it has notified employees and union representatives of the potential closure of its plant in Wallkill, New York, as part of its collective bargaining agreement. If Ball does close the Wallkill facility, it would be the third in less than a year. In August, Ball said it would permanently close production facilities in Phoenix, Arizona, in Q4 2022 and St. Paul, Minnesota, in Q1 2023, while delaying construction of a new plant in North Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wallkill facility opened in 1972, and the facility produces several “unique can sizes where Ball is the sole supplier.”  Ball’s overall net earnings were $719 million on sales of $15.35 billion, a decline from $878 million on sales of $13.81 over the last 18 months..

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Kernza is a potentially revolutionary grain — a self-sustaining, climate change-fighting wheat that can boost soil and water health and keep carbon locked in the ground. But it's also a pain to grow. It can be hard to process and even harder to convince farmers to plant it. While it's found its way into artisan breads and other niche foods, Kernza could really use a high-demand consumer product to ignite the mainstream market and get farmers energized to grow it.

Something like beer.  So far few breweries have used it mainly due to limited supply and price. The Kernze Production Association has just announced a new publicity campaign to educated brewers about the grain.

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More than half of the thousands of people Bud Light Seltzer recently surveyed incorrectly believe that the alcoholic seltzer contains beer, which is a self-admitted problem for the three-year-old brand because it's a "barrier to people that considering trying us," Steve Wolf, vice president of marketing for Bud Light Extensions, To that end, Bud Light Seltzer is rolling out a new, year-long ad campaign with the slogan "100% Hard Seltzer, 0% Beer." The debut TV spot shows a Bud Light Seltzer delivery truck rolling through a brown-colored desert with colorful bubbles floating through the back. Wolf said the bubbles are an "incredibly powerful way to show the variety of flavors and lightness our product brings." Customers won't see any changes to the Bud Light Seltzer name, packaging or logo. But they will notice a new limited-time offering called "Sangria Splash," which is the brand's first time using real fruit juice in the malt-based seltzer. It's following a broader industry trend of people craving "full flavored" beverages as canned, spirit-based cocktails with punchier taste profiles grow in popularity at the expense of seltzer.

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The big beer news around the West Coast is that the acclaimed Russian River Brewing has returned to the Seattle market, selling its critically acclaimed hoppy brews including the popular Pliny the Younger, a triple IPA that drew lines around the block and even caused traffic jams around Seattle 10 years ago when this Santa Rosa, California, brand last expanded distribution..  Having reported that it will still be near impossible to find it anywhere close.

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Just released sales data shows that White Claw remains the top-selling seltzer brand, Truly is in second and Bud Light Seltzer is in third place, according to IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm. Sales of Bud Light Seltzer have fallen about 24% last year, t which is worse than the seltzer category on average, which fell nearly 15%.

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Yakima Chief Hops , a 100% grower owned global hop supplier, and New Zealand Hops Ltd, the only Grower Cooperative in New Zealand have entered into a global partnership. This is a defining moment in the hop industry as two organizations who share similar values as being grower-led change the game by joining the most important aroma hop markets in the world to bring tremendous tasting and aromatic hops to brewers around the globe. Always pursuing their mission to connect brewers and growers, YCH is excited to have brewers worldwide share that same connection with not just the growers of the Pacific Northwest, but those from New Zealand as well.

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FEATURE NEWS

New figures show that spirits surpassed beer for US market-share supremacy, based on supplier revenues, a spirit industry group announced. The rise to the top for spirit-makers was fueled in part by the resurgent cocktail culture — including the growing popularity of ready-to-drink concoctions — as well as strong growth in the tequila and American whiskey segments, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States said. In 2022, spirits gained market share for the 13th straight year in the fiercely competitive US beverage alcohol market, as its supplier sales reached 42.1%, the council said. After years of steady growth, it marked the first time that spirit supplier revenues have surpassed beer — but just barely, the spirit industry group said. Beer holds a 41.9% market More than 60% of the spirit sector’s total US revenue last year came from sales of high-end and super-premium spirits, mostly led by tequila and American whiskey, said Christine LoCascio, the group’s chief of public policy and strategy. 

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California craft breweries Bear Republic Brewing and Drake’s Brewing will merge, according to reports.

In the transaction, which is expected to be announced on Thursday, Drake’s will acquire Bear Republic’s formulas, recipes and intellectual property, according to SiliconValley.com. Production of Bear Republic’s portfolio will shift to Drake’s San Leandro, California-based brewery in the next few months. Bear Republic’s brewery is not included in the deal. Bear Republic, formerly a top 50 craft brewery by volume, has recorded double-digit declines since 2017, according to the Brewers Association (BA). With the merger, Drake’s plans to introduce Bear Republic’s offerings to new markets, first with a focus on flagship Racer 5 IPA, which accounts for 92% of Bear Republic’s volume, and Racer 7 IPA.

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Oyster stouts date back to the 19th Century, and, today, some New York breweries making them are partnering with an environmental organization aiming to restore the oyster habitat in polluted New York Harbor. Brooklyn-based Talea and the Billion Oyster Project, which has introduced 100 million oysters to 18 restoration sites in New York Harbor, collaborated on She Sells Seashells, Talea’s first beer brewed with oyster shells.  TALEA is donating $2,000 — about 10% of expected proceeds from the beer — to the project, LeAnn Darland, Talea’s co-founder, says. Some say that oyster shells were added to stouts because of the soluble calcium they contribute; others say the shells acted as a clarifying agent when others weren’t available. What we know is that the slight brininess and minerality you get from adding oyster shells in the wort perfectly complement the restrained, roasty character of a stout.  Oyster stouts don’t have their own style classification and are classified as sweet stouts by the Beer Judge Certification Program,

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The XFL is back. After the league was shut down during 2020, at the height of the pandemic, the XFL returned to the field this week under new ownership. The new iteration of the league is owned by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson who purchased the league from Vince McMahon for just $15M. While the league might be back, its greatest tradition is not. The DC Defenders’ beer snake.  XGL’s D.C. Defenders fans went on the offensive after security got defensive and grabbed their beer snake during their first XFL 2023 home game with the Seattle Sea Dragons. What did the fans do? Why, they threw lemons on the field to protest the abhorrent act.Following the lemons, the chants for “beer snake” rang throughout Audi Field, and #FreeTheSnake began to trend on social media.

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there are actually two types of Fireball nips — one that contains whiskey and one that doesn’t.“Fireball Cinnamon Whisky” is the same product you would find in a larger Fireball bottle and does contain whiskey. But Fireball also makes a product called “Fireball Cinnamon” (sans the word whiskey at the end), which is a malt beverage meant to mimic the flavor of the original product.  The two products look virtually identical, except for the slight change in name and a fine print description of the product at the bottom of the front label. While Fireball Cinnamon Whisky says “whisky with natural cinnamon flavor” on the bottom, Fireball Cinnamon says “malt beverage with natural whisky & other flavors and caramel color.”  A new class action lawsuit out of a federal court in Illinois alleges that the way Fireball Cinnamon is marketed is misleading and leads customers to believe they are buying whiskey when they aren’t. In particular, the lawsuit cites the similar label designs and the easily misinterpreted fine print at the bottom of the Fireball Cinnamon label. The federal lawsuit seeks over $5 million in damages on behalf of over 100 plaintiffs, but anyone who lives in Illinois, North Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Alaska, Iowa, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas, Arizona, South Carolina, or Utah and bought Fireball Cinnamon can join it. 

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According to a new survey of 50 professional craft brewers these were the most underrated beer styles by their customers: British bitter; Brown ale; Rauchbier; American pale ale;  Extra special bitter (ES);  Table beer;  Amber ale Helles lager; India pale lager (IPL)

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Bill Gates has bought 3.76% stake in Dutch drinks giant Heineken Holding NV), although the billionaire founder of Microsoft has previously said he was "not a big beer drinker." The filing by the Netherlands' Financial Markets Authority (AFM) said the shares were purchased on Feb. 17. Heineken Holding owns a controlling stake in brewer Heineken NV

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Ohio's Platform Beer Co. has shut down, several sources confirmed. Anheuser-Busch took over the Cleveland-based brewery in 2019.  Several people in the brewing industry said that all of Platform’s employees were laid off, though the exact number was not confirmed. 

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Anheuser-Busch, today announced its $6 million investment in its Portsmouth, NH brewery. The funding will go toward building a state-of-the-art can line at the facility, which produces the company’s beer, cider and hard tea offerings. The revamped can line will enable the facility to brew and package a forecasted 29% more beer in 2023. In 2024, production is expected to increase to produce 56% more beer.  

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A bioengineer in Ecuador is especially excited about his brewing renaissance, believing he's been able to reproduce Latin America's oldest beer. Working with a splinter of wood from a 400-year-old oak barrel, the Catholic University of Ecuador's Javier Carvajal recovered a yeast strain he says was used by Jodoco Ricke, a Franciscan friar from Flanders, who first brewed beer in Quito in 1566 after introducing wheat and barley to the area from Europe.  No word as when and if the beer will be produced.

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FEATURE NEWS

Craft nonalcoholic IPAs. Kentucky 74 spiritless bourbon. Monday Zero Alcohol Gin. Luminara alcohol-removed chardonnay. Zero-proof margaritas....and more of the same are coming in 2023. It doesn't seem that long ago when O'Doul's, a stodgy nonalcoholic beer, was basically the only buzz-free game in town. But now, if you like the taste of alcoholic drinks but don't like the effects of alcohol, you're living in a golden age. The business of nonalcoholic beer, wine and spirits is booming. In the last year, more than 70 new items have been launched in this space with over 80 more planned for this year, The market grew more than 20% last year — and more than 120% over the last three years to almost $400 million in annual sales. Compared to the roughly $200 billion market for stuff that can get you drunk, that's, of course, peanuts: nonalcoholic alternatives are only about 0.47% of the alcohol market. 

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The price of beer purchased to drink at home had risen about 7.7% as of Jan 1, 2023, compared to the same period last year., according to the Labor Department’s consumer price index. That's higher than whiskey (1.7%), wine (3%), and other spirits (1.7%).  But during the month of December 2022 alone, beer prices rose 1.3%, higher than the price of overall groceries (0.5%). Egg prices – up 2.3% – still outpaced beer, however.

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Heineken 0.0, has snagged a 30-second slot during the first half of the Super Bowl on February 12..  It will be the first national ad for a non-alcoholic beer in the history of the game.  Heineken teamed up with Marvel to promote the February release of “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” by coupling heroism and productivity with sobriety.

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The original Genesee Cream Ale has debuted a new look that harkens to the height of its popularity when the beer was a favorite across not only New York but throughout the U.S."Genesee Cream Ale recipe remains the same and has become the style standard," said Jaime Polisoto, brand director for Genesee. "But now the packaging better connects to Genesee's heritage and with a fresh, clean look." First brewed in 1960, Genesee Cream Ale represents one of the only true styles of beer created in the U.S. When it came onto the scene in the 60s the new style piqued curiosity among beer drinkers, quickly rising in popularity and becoming Genesee's flagship beer.Genny is adding 30-packs of 12-ounce Cream Ale in cans, and phasing out the the 24-packGenesee is the original creator of the Cream Ale. The beer is fermented cold like a traditional lager but with an ale yeast;

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El Segundo Brewing Company, found the perfect person to bring onto their team - Professional Wrestling Hall of Famer 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin. Since 2015 the two have partnered to make Steve Austin's Broken Skull IPA and introduced Broken Skull Lager in 2022. In a just released report, their success has helped propel El Segundo to the fourth largest independent brewer in CA.   The financial arrangement is simple - the brewery and Austin split the expense on everything from production costs, to packaging, to sales, and whatever is leftover in profits is equally split. El Segundo brewed 18,000 barrels last year, almost half of which is Broken Skull, and have distribution in 35 states.

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For the first time in its 150-year history, Siebel Institute of Technology (considered by many to be the best brewing school in the world) has just released a specially formulated “open source beer recipe” for professional and homebrewers to recreate. The Classic American Style Pilsner featured in this recipe dates to before Prohibition, and its roots are entwined within the roots of the school itself. Dr. J.E. Siebel was a pioneer in the evolution of the style, which uses malted barley, corn, and both domestic and imported hop varieties to create a smooth and easy-drinking lager beer. The recipe was selected after taste testing by almost 300 participants in blind tasting panels conducted at breweries in Chicago and at Siebel itself. The official name of the beer is JE Siebel 1-Fifty Classic American Pilsner, named for the legendary German immigrant who established this historic brewing institute in Chicago in 1872.

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Recent discovers have confirmed that our first recorded evidence for beer drinking comes from a pictogram from Mesopotamia, dated 4000 BCE. It also provides evidence for ancient beer drinking techniques, which differed from ours. Instead of just drinking it from a cup, the two figures imbibe beer from a large pottery jar through reed straws. The ancient beer had grains, chaff, and other debris floating on its surface, so a straw was necessary to avoid swallowing them.

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2022 marked a historic year for New Belgium and a transition year for its new partner brewery, Bell’s.  The former shipped over 1.2 million barrels during the year, marking its biggest shipment year ever, up 15% over 2021; while the latter saw an 8% decline in its shipments to just under 450,000 barrels,

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Dogfish Head announced that it is getting in on the Super Bowl action next month “with one of the year’s smallest ad buys.” Indeed, while the price tag for a 30-second national Super Bowl spot is reportedly running for $7 million this year, Dogfish Head says it’s spending considerably less for its ad.

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Dead Guy IPA builds on the 30-year legacy of Dead Guy Ale by adding a whole new dimension to the Dead. Tropical and citrus hop aromas synchronize flawlessly with a piney and enjoyable bitter bite. This West-Coast IPA has a crisp finish thanks to our proprietary Pacman yeast also used in Dead Guy Ale. Not just any brew can live up to the Dead Guy name so we tweaked this recipe until it was an IPA to die for. Meet the newest member of the Dead Guy Family. IPAs are officially Dead.

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While prices have risen across all alcoholic drinks categories in recent months, beer drinkers are not holding off on buying what they want, but are instead changing their buying habits. The brewing industry has tried to absorb a lot of the rising costs pressures but now is being forced to pass some on as it got to the point where a move had to be made.  Latest sales reports showed moderate gains, increasing 5.2% during the three final months of last year. However, volume of beer sold declined 2.3%, showing that people were not choosing to avoid buying their favorite brews, they simply became more cautious about the amount they were buying.

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FEATURE NEWS

Researchers may be one step closer to uncovering how lagers first came to be. A new discovery in Ireland points to the early production of lagers in Europe. An ancient strain of yeast — named an ancestor to lager-producing strains — was identified in Ireland by undergraduate researchers studying genome sequences on a university campus in Ireland. This particular strain, believed to be a parent to varieties used today, could point to how the first lagers were brewed in Europe. Lager brewing typically utilizes the S. pastorianus strain yeast. The genome sequence of the recently-discovered yeast indicates that it’s the cold-resistant and historic S. eubayanus strain, an assumed parent to the S. pastorianus — likely a result of mating with similar strain S. cerevisiae. It was previously assumed that this yeast was found only in Patagonia, as strains had been found in South America, North America, China, Tibet, and New Zealand.

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The Beer Institute, a national trade organization representing the beer industry, has just revised its Advertising and Marketing Code to address alcohol variants of non-alcohol products. This change will help consumers distinguish between alcohol and non-alcohol versions of beverages with popular brand names.

Effective immediately, the Beer Institute's Advertising and Marketing Code has been updated to include the following:

“Advertising and marketing materials for the alcohol variant of any non-alcohol product, including but not limited to packaging, should be readily distinguishable from the advertising and marketing materials of the non-alcohol product to not confuse consumers about the alcohol nature of the alcohol variant. Advertising and marketing materials, including but not limited to displays, signage, and sampling, should not feature both the non-alcohol product and the alcohol variant.”

"Brewers are committed to responsible self-regulation in advertising and marketing, and that includes ensuring consumers can easily distinguish between alcohol and non-alcohol variants of products," said Brian Crawford, president and CEO of the Beer Institute.

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Brewers Association has canceled Savor in a surprise move that was the talk of the beer industry.  Their statement read: After 14 delicious years, it’s time for SAVOR™: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience to hang up its apron, making 2022 the event’s final year. We’d like to thank all our beer lovers, breweries, sponsors, and partners for making SAVOR the country’s premier craft beer and food pairing event. The ony reason they gave was that "operational costs" made it too expensive to continue.

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A just released study found some U.S. cities may be better than others for beer drinkers. In an analysis of nearly 400 cities, SmartAsset has ranked the 50 best for beer drinkers based on the number of breweries and bars (in total and per capita) as well as the average selection per brewery and the average cost of a pint.

These 10 cities were found to be the best for beer drinkers:

1.   Pittsburgh

2.   Bend, Oregon

3.   Milwaukee

4.   St. Louis

5.   Asheville, North Carolina

6.   Cincinnati

7.   New Orleans

8.   Fort Collins, Colorado

9.   Austin

10.   Missoula, Montana

Though not listed above, Chicago had the most breweries on the list at 103, vastly outranking second-ranked Portland by 21. Asheville, with 26 breweries, has the most per 100,000 residents at 27.6. Portland, Maine, was close behind at 26.3 breweries per 100,000 residents.

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A list of the 10 best-selling beers in the UK this year was comprise of all lagers; eight of them were foreign brands which are brewed under licence in the UK - Carling (originates in Canada), Fosters (Australia), Birra Moretti (Italy), Coors (US), Stella Artois (Belgium), Carlsberg (Denmark), San Miguel (Spain), and Amstel (Netherlands).

Also, 2022 marked the first year that every bottle, can and keg of Budweiser in the UK was been brewed with 100% renewable electricity. To make this possible, Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I built two solar farms and a wind turbine to power its Magor Brewery.

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Wookey Jack Black Rye IPA is has just started rolling out to all Firestone Walker markets in six pack (12-ounce can) and draft formats, adding to the legend of this three-time gold medalist at the Great American Beer Festival. This is the first widespread release of Wookey Jack since the beer was originally retired in late 2016. “The Wookey never dies—it just hibernates,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “We’ve produced periodic small-batch runs over the years, and people keep asking for more. It’s time to release it back into the wild.” The latest edition of Wookey Jack (8.3% ABV) remains faithful to the original recipe, which includes loads of pearled dark malts with rye adding a rustic grain element. The hops are dank, sticky Citra and pungent Amarillo, which are incorporated into a big dry-hop regimen.

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Kern River Brewing Company (KRBC), located in the small mountain town of Kernville in the Southern Sierras (CA), was established in 2005 and quickly became a destination for beer connoisseurs. Awarded the prestigious title of “Brewery Group of the Year” in 2019 at the Great American Beer Festival, KRBC has announced it is now employee-owned.  This move was made possible by the newly created Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”). All eligible employees will be granted shares of company stock each year, at no cost, allowing them to earn ownership over time through their service to the company and accumulate retirement wealth. Kern River Brewing joins a group of elite 100% employee-owned companies across the United States of America, including other reputable craft breweries such as Harpoon Brewery, Deschutes Brewery, Breakside Brewery, Left Hand Brewing, Odell Brewing, Alaska Brewing, and New Glarus Brewing. 

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Japan’s Asahi Shuzo announced plans to open a new $53 million sake plant in New York state. The facility, located in Hyde Park, will begin brewing sake in spring of 2023. Asahi Shuzo, founded in 1948, is a premium sake brewer based in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, Japan. The company will be brewing Dassai Blue at the New York brewery, a Junmai Ginjo sake made using Yamada Nishiki sourced from Japan and the US.

Asahi Shuzo’s brewery will be the first of its kind on the US east coast, but it is not the first in the country. California is home to Japanese company Gekkeikan Sake Co. and small, independently owned craft sake brewer Sequoia Sake based in San Francisco. Although non-beer beverages such as Kombucha, hard seltzer and hard teas have shown big growth in recent years as consumers expand their drinking habits, sake has yet to join the crowd. The 2,000-year-old rice-based beverage may get a boost from Asahi Shuzo’s marketing presence. One to watch for 2023.

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The results of a long-running study of Americans’ attitudes, values and purchasing behavior has just been released.  It shows that a new consumer trend may be emerging: a newfound desire for simplicity and simplified choices. This may not bode well for the craft beer segment in the new year, and some industry analysists are pointing to it as a root cause for the sluggish performance of craft beer coming out of the pandemic. The study dubs it the “paradox of choice” which they say is likey to have a negative impact on craft beer. The Paradox of Choice, according to psychologist Barry Schwartz, happens “when people are confronted with too many choices, their response is often essentially to shut down and make no choice at all.” Craft beer has seemed to happily defy this behavior, but the study shows that this immunity may be fading as new generations enter adulthood and social changes become more influential. 

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FEATURE NEWS

Just Released

Hop Acreage Planted

Total planted acres for 2022 was 59,970, down from 60,872 acres in 2021. Washington State lead in acreage reduction with a decrease of 1,353 acres year over year. Oregon was the only state to add acreage in the Pacific Northwest and planted an additional 705 acres in 2022, bringing the total planted acres to 8,100. Citra acreage in Oregon saw the largest increase for any variety and grew from 1,472 last year to 1,775 this year, according to an earlier USDA report on strung acreage.

Top 5 Hop Varieties by Acreage 2022

1.   Citra®

2.   Mosaic®

3.   Cascade

4.   Simcoe®

5.   Columbus/Tomahawk®/Zeus (CTZ)

These five varieties account for 54 percent of all strung acreage in the U.S. for 2022.

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Beer sales are up, but it hasn’t been enough to counter the explosive rise of the spirits category. Beer is taking up less of the American booze market as beverage companies flood the market with buzzy new drink categories, including ready-to-drink cocktails. Even legacy beer companies have expanded outside of their staple beer products with innovations for spirits drinkers.  Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, has diversified its portfolio to include hard seltzers, canned wine and canned cocktails.  Molson Coors dropped the “Brewing Co” from its name in 2019 to reflect a similar expansion into spirits. Recently Samuel Adams maker Boston Beer debuted Loma Vista Tequila Soda, a ready-to-drink tequila cocktail in both lime and mango flavors. Last year was the 12th consecutive year spirits have taken away market share from beer in the total U.S. alcoholic beverage market, according to a report earlier this year from the Distilled Spirits Council, a national trade organization.

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Budweiser is doing its best to roll with the punches after Qatar's eleventh-hour ban of alcohol from World Cup stadiums. The beer brand announced this week that whichever country wins the World Cup will receive all the beer going unsold due to the ban.  How that will exactly work — Budweiser obviously can't just hand out free beer to random people in most countries — will be announced out at a later date, but it sounds like some sort of large celebration will be held. Budweiser had previously planned to sell the beer in specially designated areas around the perimeters of Qatar's World Cup arenas. The set-up had been a compromise between FIFA (of which Budweiser is a major sponsor) and Qatar, where the sale of alcohol is forbidden outside of restaurants and bars in specially licensed hotels. That compromise fell apart two days before the tournament began. Soccer fans are still allowed to buy non-alcoholic beer at stadiums, but alcoholic beer is only available at FIFA's official fan festival and those hotels where alcohol was already available. The development represented a massive blow to FIFA, which has sold beer at the World Cup for decades. The organization takes beer sales so seriously it once successfully. lobbied for changes in Brazil's alcohol laws so it could sell beer inside the country's stadiums for the 2014 World Cup, but Qatar represented another challenge entirely. 

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Even though Oregon’s famous Willamette Valley is the hop-growing mecca of the world, the Oregon climate actually poses serious challenges for growing hops. The wet and damp spring means fungal diseases like downy mildew, which means fungicides are often needed to keep crops strong. This is why the McKenzie C-148 c.v. is cool. It is the first proprietary hop from West Coast Hop Breeding, a collective of family-owned farms, and it is bred specifically to be organically grown in Oregon and is now, for the first time available for wider distribution. Brewing trials have revealed it to be a highly versatile hop that works well in lighter style beers, like Lagers, Pilsners, and Kölsch and also blends well in hop-forward IPAs and Hazys with Citra, Mosaic and many other favs. Its light, citrusy and stone fruit aroma and flavor characteristics come through in late kettle additions, or dry hop for wonderful piney aromas in pale ales. 

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Schlafly Beer and WellBeing Brewing Co. announce the release of Match Day Light, a 35-calorie, non-alcoholic English Pale Ale, officially launching on Friday, Nov. 18. Match Day Light is a new style release from the two brewing companies, who announced a joint venture this summer. The NA craft beer celebrates St. Louis’ love of soccer through the packaging and ingredients used to brew it, and the style selection is an intentional nod to Schlafly’s flagship beer over the past 30 years.“This new style showcases our rich history at Schlafly as well as St. Louis’ pride for soccer,” says CEO Fran Caradonna. “The English Pale Ale has been intricately linked to the sport for generations. Our b rewing teams captured the authentic taste of our flagship English Pale Ale while also offering a low-calorie, non-alcoholic option, which is no small feat.”

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Some things go together like beer and cheese, but Christmas trees and Miller Lite? Not so sure.  However, some feel they’re the perfect match as Miller Lite’s limited-time offer of their Christmas tree keg stand is sold out though some are available on eBay. Every year, Miller Lite releases special holiday-themed items, but this year, the company went gone all out with this Christmas tree stand that iwould make any holiday party a hit. The Christmas Tree Keg Stand allows you to “tap into the holiday spirit” and drink draft Miller Lite beer right from your Christmas tree.  The tree stand is a fully functioning dispenser and tree stand that holds trees up to five feet tall. The Keg sits in a box that is wrapped like a present and comes complete with a ribbon and Miller Lite logos. The box opens in the front so you can have not only your fill of Christmas lights but of beer as well! For those 21 years and older, the stand can fit a quarter barrel keg and costs originally around $50- Keg and tree not included! They also offer Miller Lite inspired knitwear and their infamous Beermanents.  The ornament is completely functional and of course, comes with space for — you guessed it — beer.

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According to an analysis by Public Sector Consultants, two state laws (Michigan and Nebraska) that were passed to lower taxes on the RTD *Ready To Drink cocktails) segment – that were argued for largely as a measure to lower costs for consumers – have resulted in no such victory for consumers. In fact, RTD price points are far outpacing all other alcohol segments.  The Beer Institute has been banging the drum against these tax cuts for a while arguing that “lowering of the excise tax rate for these products gives an unfair tax advantage to out-of-state companies.” To be fair, Michigan’s RTD price point, according to the study’s last data point of November 2022, is a full dollar lower than the U.S. average. Nebraska’s though is higher by 10 cents and has been consistently higher than the U.S. RTD price point overall. The bigger story for the industry here is that seemingly no matter the state, RTD pricing is out of whack compared to any other alcohol beverage when you drill into unit pricing. The study noted “these increases far outpaced inflation and the rapid overall increase in the consumer price index.”

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For the last decade or so, cans have been the king of craft beer packaging with more folks looking for an easy way to take their beer on the go. In fact, according to the Can Manufacturers Institute, beverage can production across all segments jumped six percent in the United States to more than 100 billion cans last year. But let’s not forget that there was a time when glass bottles in all shapes and sizes dominated the beer market. And just like 2023 might actually be the year of the lager and pale ales since end of the year statistics show it may be making a resurgence. Glass could be poised for a comeback as we soon enter the new year.. The United Nations General Assembly recently approved a resolution declaring 2022/23 the International Year of Glass (IYOG) to recognize the heritage and influence of this type of packaging. Along with the environmental benefits. Glass beer bottles are made of four simple, natural ingredients—silica sand, limestone, soda ash, and recycled glass. It’s 100% recyclable, over and over, and can go from curbside recycling back to the shelves as a new bottle in as little as thirty days.

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Montauk Brewing Co., maker of beers such as Wave Chaser IPA, Montauk Summer Ale and Cold Day IPA, has been acquired by corporate cannabis giant Tilray Brands.  Tilray, a public company headquartered in Ontario and New York City, said that "Montauk Brewing has enormous potential to expand its customer base and grow throughout the U.S. as a true national brand." It already has more than 6,400 retail partnerships, from local taverns and small beverage distributors to behemoth businesses like Target, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and Costco.Tilray reported $153.2 million in annual revenue in August, a decrease of 9 percent from last year that was attributed to labor issues and the volatility of currency exchange, according to the Canadian trade publication MJBizDaily. Citing another one of its successful labels, the Atlanta-based SweetWater Brewing Company, described as "the 10th largest craft brewer in the nation," Tilray Brands said it will use SweetWater's "existing nationwide infrastructure to accelerate Montauk Brewing's distribution network and revenue growth." Tilray also said that it is eyeing the federal legalization of cannabis in the U.S. If that happens, Tilray "plans to take full advantage of its strategic infrastructure, operations, and consumer-loyal brands across beer, spirits, and snack-food categories to parlay into THC-based products and further expand its commercial opportunities."

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Researchers in Belgium have enhanced the taste of modern beer by identifying and genetically modifying a gene that contributes significantly to the flavor of beer and several other alcoholic beverages. The study was recently published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology. For many years, beer was brewed in open, horizontal vats. However, the industry transitioned to using large, closed vessels in the 1970s because they are simpler to fill, empty, and clean, allowing brewing in greater volumes while also incurring lower expenses. However, because of insufficient flavor production, these modern techniques produced lower-quality beer.Johan Thevelein, Ph.D., an emeritus professor of Molecular Cell Biology at Katholieke Universiteit, and his group had previously developed technology for identifying the genes in yeast responsible for commercially important traits. They used this technology to find the gene(s) responsible for flavor in beer by screening a large number of yeast strains to see which performed the best job of retaining flavor under pressure. Thevelein and coworkers then used CRISPR/Cas9, a revolutionary gene editing technology, to engineer this mutation in other brewing strains, which similarly improved their tolerance of carbon dioxide pressure, enabling full flavor. “That demonstrated the scientific relevance of our findings, and their commercial potential,” said Thevelein.“The mutation is the first insight into understanding the mechanism by which high carbon dioxide pressure may compromise beer flavor production,” said Thevelein.   He added much more research is needed before any commercial applications will be possible..

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FEATURE NEWS

Trappist Westvleteren, often recognized as the best beer in the world, was the only Belgian beer in a label-less bottle. For decades, all legally required information about the beer and the producer was mentioned on the bottle caps. That is now changing. From now, bottles of Trappist Westvleteren will carry a label again. The end of an era spanning more than 75 years. Brother Godfried: “Nowadays, there is a general trend in the food industry to inform consumers as fully as possible. Although there is no legal obligation for beer producers to provide the full list of ingredients and nutritional values, we have nevertheless decided to do so and to reintroduce labels. After all, it was impossible to put all that information on the bottle cap.”

The monks opted for a unique label design that is quite close to the familiar look & feel. “The labels represent stylized images of the bottle caps. There are three label versions, one for each of the three Trappist beers from Westvleteren Abbey. The colours of the cockades correspond to the well-known colors of the bottle caps, green for the Blond, blue for the 8 and yellow for the 12.  In addition to the name of the beer and the legally required information, symbols and allergens, the labels also contain the complete list of ingredients in three languages, the energy values, the logo with the coat of arms of the Saint Sixtus Abbey and a QR code that refers to a webpage with the complete nutritional table.

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First appearing in the 1988 movie Child's Play, Chucky — the knife-wielding killer doll of everyone's nightmares — has become a cultural icon over the ensuing 34 years. He's starred in eight feature films and, last year, landed an eponymous television series on Syfy and USA Network. Now, breaking more new ground: Chucky is getting his own beer. Created in an official partnership between the show and the Seattle-based brand Elysian Brewing, Chucky: A Killer Wit Beer is a seasonal fall brew intended to be as "devious" as the doll. The pumpkin beer with a wheat base also includes cranberry juice for a 5.3 percent ABV brew billed as being "light in color with spine-chilling flavors of chamomile and cinnamon — the perfect combination of everything you love about the season." The cans put Chucky's creepy face front and center, and if you're looking for the beer on draft, keep an eye out for tap handle which looks like a giant knife.

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Constellation Brands’ beer business reported double-digit shipment and net sales growth along with nearly 9% depletions growth in the second quarter of its 2023 fiscal year. The company’s beer portfolio — which includes top-selling Mexican import brands Modelo, Corona, Pacifico and Victoria, as well as craft brands Funky Buddha and Four Corners — reported net sales growth of 15%, to more than $2.1 billion (+$865.6 million) for its beer portfolio.

Constellation said it was the No. 1 beer share gainer in market dollars in the quarter. The company added it had four of the top 15 share gaining high-end beer brands. The resilience in the company's beer business has led to its stock price outperforming the S&P 500 by about 12 percentage points year to date, per Yahoo Finance data. While Corona and Modelo enjoy brisk sales, lower-end beers haven't been so lucky as more economically sensitive consumers pullback amid elevated inflation.

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Fans of Bell's Brewery's award-winning Hopslam Ale will get to enjoy it two months early this year. The Comstock, Michigan based brewery announced that Hopslam — a seasonal double IPA brewed with honey that normally releases in January in conjunction with special tappings and release parties — will now release in early November, ahead of the holiday season, starting this year.

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Fat Tire – America’s first certified carbon neutral beer – is calling on the approximately 60 million Americans that drink beer to join the movement to protect the only planet with beer. The campaign represents the start of a long-term Fat Tire effort to encourage civic participation among beer drinkers by increasing awareness of the impact of climate change on beer and asking them to sign the Beer Drinker’s Climate Declaration. People who sign the Beer Drinker’s Climate Declaration can then contact their elected officials directly through Fat Tire’s digital action center to protect beer by supporting strong climate policy at the federal, state, and local levels.

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Anyone doubting the long-term viability of craft non-alcoholic beers rise in the industry has a lot to chew on with the news that Athletic Brewing will open the largest brewery of it’s kind in the world. Industry leader Athletic Brewing was founded only 5 years ago in Conneticut before opening another facility in San Diego, their latest expansion is into a 150,000 sq. ft. facility in Conneticut in addition to the original production space, this one eventually capable of producing more than 6 million cases annually.

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Slender gold and silver tubes crafted during the Bronze Age are the world's oldest drinking straws, a new study finds.

Archaeologists found the 3-foot-long (1 meter) metal tubes in 1897 while excavating a burial mound known as a kurgan from the ancient Maikop (also spelled Maykop) culture in the northwestern Caucasus, which primarily includes modern-day Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of southern Russia. Until now, scientists couldn't decipher the tubes' purpose. A just released new research report suggests that people would have used the tubes, some of which are attached to tiny bull figurines, to drink beer with buddies from a communal vessel.

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Craft brewing pioneer Dogfish Head has brought back one of their classic high-ABV releases, World Wide Stout, with a new variant. This breakfast-themed iteration, Wake Up World Wide Stout, was brewed with regeneratively grown malts from Epiphany Malting, organic maple syrup from New Leaf Tree Syrups, oat milk from Elmhurst and organic coffee beans from Rise Up Coffee Roasters. Clocking in at 15-17% ABV, Wake Up World Wide Stout has just begun to hit shelves nationwide in 4-packs of 12-oz. bottles.

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For the last decade or so, cans have been the king of craft beer packaging with more folks looking for an easy way to take their beer on the go. In fact, according to the Can Manufacturers Institute, beverage can production across all segments jumped six percent in the United States to more than 100 billion cans last year. But let’s not forget that there was a time when glass bottles in all shapes and sizes dominated the beer market. And just like 2023 might actually be the year of the lager and pale ales seem to be making a resurgence, we know that trends are cyclical. Could glass could be poised for a comeback?  Maybe since the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution declaring next year the International Year of Glass (IYOG) to recognize the heritage and influence of this type of packaging. Along with the environmental benefits. Glass beer bottles are made of four simple, natural ingredients—silica sand, limestone, soda ash, and recycled glass. It’s 100% recyclable, over and over, and can go from curbside recycling back to the shelves as a new bottle in as little as thirty days.

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FEATURE NEWS

Gear Patrol recently did a poll of brewers and brewery owners as to the best cheap beers.  Their top four vote getters with a comment from their champion:  Modelo Negra-“A quick burst of caramel, just enough bitterness, and poof — it's gone. Don't overthink it." Garrett Oliver, Brewmaster of The Brooklyn Brewery.   Iron City – “It's an American light corn lager just like many others, but to me, it has a better balance and is less cloying than some macro brands.” Andrew Witchey, Founder of Dancing Gnome Brewery in Pittsburgh.  Miller High Life - Miller High Life is definitely 'The Champagne of Beers.' And it's never the first beer of the night! Ann Reilly, Executive Director, New York City Brewers Guild.  Yuengling - I also truly think it's a cut above the taste of other mass-produced lagers." — David Faris, former host of Electing to Drink.  Narragansett - "'Cheap' doesn’t have to mean watery or mass-produced. This beer makes for a fun, low-cost park or apartment hang." — Sam Casner, Beverage Director at New York City's Tørst 

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The World Beer Awards results are in. Held in person for the first time since the pandemic, the WBA blind tasted and scored more than 3,200 beers from more than 50 countries to identify the best beers in 10 categories. The country winners who emerge as the World’s Best in 92 different styles then go head to head to see who is awarded the coveted title of World’s Best in each of the categories. Here are the grand champions. To see the complete list of winners, go to the World Beer Awards site.

World's Best Dark Beer - Cap D'Ona Grand Cru Brune, France

World's Best Flavoured Beer - Thornbridge Necessary Evil Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout, UK

World's Best IPA - Camba Black Shark, Germany

World's Best Lager - Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock, Germany

World's Best Pale Beer - Vale Brewing Tropic Ale, Australia

World's Best Sour & Wild Beer - Queue De Charrue Vieille Brune, Belgium

World's Best Stout & Porter - Original Beer Company Memorable Moments Bullrock Stout, Republic of Korea

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Miller Lite has signed on as the lead beer sponsor of ESPN’s fantasy football app and its popular “Fantasy Focus” podcast, part of a 20% spend increase this season. Miller Lite, which is part of the Molson Coors beer family, will also is a sponsor of the popular “Fantasy Pros” podcast, which offers news and analysis for fantasy football players. And it’s re-upped its partnership with sports betting platform Draft Kings as well.

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Wilmington, N.C.-based TRU Colors was created of George Taylor, who, upset at the level of gang violence in the city, sought to create a solution hand-in-hand with local gang leaders. And he founded a brewery in 2019 that hired active gang members, giving them economic opportunities and, in turn, leveraging their influence inside gangs to reduce violence. TRU Colors started brewing TRULight is 4.2% ABV a light lager, with only 95 calories and 2.6 carbs.

But TRU Colors was forced to delay distribution of its first beer by several months after one of its employees and another woman were murdered in a gang-related shooting at the home the brewery’s COO George Taylor III.

Three gang-members were eventually arrested and charged for that double homicide and then came COVID, which placed a huge economic burden on the brewery at the worst possible time. And on September 7 George Taylor announced TRU Colors’ imminent closure…

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North London’s Beavertown sold a 49% stake of its business to Heineken back in June 2018. Much like Goose Island selling out to Anheuser-Busch in the US, the £40 million partial sale to Heineken was seen as controversial.

Independent craft brewers were critical of the move, especially in light of its founder Logan Plant’s, (a beloved figure in London’s brewing community), out-spoken position on never selling out. And now the North London’s Beavertown has sold its final 51% stake of its business to Heineken for an undisclosed sum and that Logan Plant would be stepping down as CEO. And like Greg Koch after the recent Stone Brewing sale to Sapporo, Plant will be moving on, although according to Heineken he’ll retain the title of “creative consultant.”

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It’s “Game On” for the second biggest US brewer. They’ve been unable to buy ad space at the Super Bowl for more than three decades due to an Anheuser-Bush exclusivity deal which that company has now exited.

That deal made it impossible for Molson Coors (home to Coors Light and Miller Lite) to advertise their products on world’s biggest football game since 1989. The Super Bowl, which will be played Feb. 12 in Glendale, Ariz. and broadcast nationally on FOX, is one the highest-rated US programs of the year with some 100 million Americans tuning in. It’s also one of the most-anticipated advertising events of the year.

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Bud Light is bringing the harmonious sound of Bud Light being cracked open to life with "Kickoff Beers." Featuring NFL stars Travis Kelce and George Kittle, "Kickoff Beers" remixes an iconic NFL theme song using the sound of Bud Light's being opened. There will be a :15 version of the spot that will broadcast nationally throughout the duration of the NFL season.

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How is Casey's General Stores celebrating its 21st year of its popular breakfast pizza? With beer, of course. 

For a limited time, the gas station and convenience store chain is releasing the Ultimate Beer Cheese Breakfast Pizza. Casey's spreads the whole pie with Casey's Busch Light beer cheese sauce then loads bacon, sausage, ham, scrambled eggs, onions, green peppers, and a topping of blended "gooey" mozzarella and cheddar cheese. 

The pizza will be sold through December for $16.99.

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It's Oktoberfest beer time. if you’re looking for an authentic German drinking experience. follow these rules just released by the Tourist Board of Germany: Toast First This rule is probably the most obvious out of the bunch. While  your beer may look tasty and refreshing, do not even taste it before the toast. In Germany, it is rude to drink before the toast. So, wait until you raise your glass before drinking. And, after the toast, don’t set your glass down before taking a few sips!

Bottoms Up! This one is the most compelling difference between American and German toasting: clinking with the bottom of your glass. Many traditional German beer glasses are much thicker and sturdier at the bottoms than they are around the rim.So, In Germany, it’s custom to clink the bottoms of your glasses, rather than risk ending up with glass shards in your Weißbier.

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FEATURE NEWS

The reason you smell wine is so that you can recognize the aromas when you taste it, and the reason you swirl it is to aerate the wine and open up the bouquet of aromas even more before tasting. If you're not a wine person and you're a beer person, should you also be swirling your beer to enjoy those aromas as well? Recent research has the answer. While beer does have very pleasant floral aromas from hops, it's not the same as wine and therefore should not be treated the same. While swirling your beer will release aromas, it will also kill the carbonation is part of what makes it. beer! Not only that, but swirling will also kill the frothy, foamy head of the beer. The reason it's useful to have a head in your glass is that the head keeps the beer from going flat, while also allowing its aromas to be present with each sip. In other words, the head on your beer is providing the same experience as the swirl of your wine glass. So next time you're going to happy hour or dinner, remember: swirl your wine, sip your beer.

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Pabst Blue Ribbon has partnered with the Grand Traverse Motel in Traverse City, Michigan to launch "Pabst: The Place," a  group of three PBR-themed rooms. The Arcade Room features working video games and "a king size bed that doubles as a pop-a-shot machine"; the Rec Room, which has the kind of wood paneling, shag carpeting, and furry toilet seat cover that will give you flashbacks to those summers at your grandparents' place; and the Dive Bar room, which will make guests feel like they've been locked in overnight at their fave (and cheapest) after-work spot. Guests have to book a two-night stay, and each night costs $184.40 plus taxes and fees. If you can't snag a reservation at the Grand Traverse Motel, then you can still celebrate your love for PBR on your next vacation. The Brewhouse Inn and Suites in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin is actually in the original (but now defunct) Pabst brewery. "The hotel showcases many of the building's original features, such as the massive iconic copper brewing kettles and the stained glass window of King Gambrinus, the patron saint of beer, 

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Last week, many THC-infused cannabis beverage brand leaders received "long awaited recognition" in the mainstream press when the New York Times ran a feature covering the surging popularity of the emerging category in legal markets. But the piece, titled “Weed Drinks Are a Buzzy Alcohol Substitute. But Are They Safe?” didn’t sit right with many in the industry. The article raised concerns that sales of cannabis beverages – up around 65% in the U.S. from 2020 to 2021, per market research firm BSDA – may be outpacing research on the health impacts of THC. According to the Times, which spoke to several researchers, issues like addiction, overconsumption, and even the triggering psychosis have been downplayed by proponents.  The Times ignored complaints saying it will not retract.

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When Maui Brewing’s acquisition of Modern Times Beer closes in late October, the newly formed parent company will be called Craft ‘Ohana – the Hawaiian word for “family,” Maui announced today. “As we combine these two well-respected and innovative breweries, we recognize that it is not our ambition to have two separate entities owned by a common parent company, but rather two brands operating as one company with operations in multiple states,” Maui co-founder and CEO Garrett Marrero said in a press release.

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Global beer price increases are lagging inflation giving them further room to rise, the head of AB InBev, the world’s biggest brewer said. The maker of Budweiser and Corona said beer price increases haven’t kept pace with inflation measures such as the US Consumer Price Index. In the past, the company has raised prices to match inflation.

The US consumer price index rose by 9.1% in July and 8.7% in August from a year earlier, topping forecasts and hitting a fresh four-decade high.  The world’s biggest brewer, which also makes Stella Artois, is balancing consumer demand with its rising input costs, the CEO said.  “We have many levers to pull as to how we accept input costs,” Doukeris said.  AB InBev pushed its prices up by about 8% during the first half and it could have to do more soon.

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A federal judge has rejected Stone Brewing’s request for a permanent injunction blocking Molson Coors from selling through its offending Keystone Light packaging and preventing the brewer from using the packaging in the future. In the order denying Stone’s motion, Judge Roger T. Benitez wrote that “balancing of the factors weighs in favor of” Molson Coors. The judge added that Molson Coors is in the process of “an extensive rebranding and packaging refresh that will remove the infringing products from the marketplace within the next month.” He added that the jury’s $56 million verdict in favor of Stone also “provides adequate compensation at law for past harm suffered.” “The court is skeptical of Stone’s argument (made at the argument on this motion) that denying injunctive relief would result in constant and continuing litigation,” Benitez wrote. “Stone’s argument is premised on the prospect that [Molson Coors] may decide to change back its packaging to that of an infringing nature. There is not so much as a scintilla of evidence that [Molson Coors] will re-infringe the Stone mark in the future.” Also of note, Benitez wrote that there was a lack of evidence that Stone was “irreparably harmed” and “expert testimony for Stone by Dr. Palmatier was based on seriously flawed survey methodology, including the way the Keystone Light can was presented to survey subjects.”

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Harpoon Brewery, maker of fan-favorite Rec. League, has announced it is adding to its League Family with the launch of its first non-alcoholic hazy IPA: Open League. Brewed with juicy tropical hops and recreation-minded ingredients, Open League is a light and refreshing beverage at only 35 calories and less than 0.5% ABV per serving.  It should be available in all of Harpoon markets by early September.

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Looking for a unique vacation trip?  The first sign of autumn isn’t always the changing of the leaves; sometimes it’s the changing of the kegs. The air turns crisp, and pint glasses are raised in celebration that Oktoberfest has arrived. Ales on Rails beer festival is Verde Canyon Railroad’s way of toasting this German tradition, providing a rollicking farewell to summer beginning Tuesday, September 13, and running through Monday, October 31.  Tell them you saw it on BeerNexus!

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Today, the 64 oz. growler, immortalized as a symbol of the early 2000s-2010s craft beer boom, is just a remnant of what many might see as a happier era before the challenges of the pandemic and a stagnating beer market. Latest craft brewery sales reports show their scion, the 32 oz “crowler,” has essentially taken away most of the market. On the most basic level, growlers simply didn’t work well as a storage vessel for beer, if the beer wasn’t going to be consumed promptly. Within a day or two of filling, they would invariably begin to lose significant carbonation and freshness, Likewise, there was no shortage of physical annoyances to growlers—they’re heavy, they’re cumbersome, they’re very easily broken. 

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FEATURE NEWS

Over the last few summers, the irreverent team at PBR has perfected the art of capturing the public’s attention. They haven't done it with expensive advertising campaigns or celebrity endorsements; instead, they have given the people what they want, more beer. From the moment they released their 99-pack in 2019, the idea of going bigger has seemed to become infused into Pabst's summer schedule. Last year they swung for the fences and dropped five d 1776-packs to selected partners that they claimed was the biggest beer package ever. Now they decided to amp things up this year. In a big way. By dropping their latest beast, an 1844-pack, on the general market. Yes, you read that correctly. The chances are good that someone will post pictures of themselves with a package holding over 76 cases of beer. PBR created 250 actual 1844 six packs. Standing four feet tall by three and a half feet wide, the thick corrugated cardboard package arrives at an account empty, and it is up to them to fill it as they see fit. They are dropping it in various locations, from large retail chains to popular PBR bars, to smaller independent liquor stores. 

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Starbase Brewing in southeast Austin Texas has petitioned the government to be the first brewery on Mars. Owner Nate Argroves said "I’ve always been a big space fan, and a big beer fan so why not put them together?".  Everything in his brewery is space themed. The beers are named after various aspects of space travel: A 3D printer in the back of the brewery makes toy rockets around the clock. Posters promoting space tourism adorn the walls, with destinations like Jupiter, Venus and of course Mars. Argroves said there are a few challenges they’ll face if they somehow get to be the first brewery on Mars. Most of the issues surround growing hops and other plants. Argroves said that Martian soil and water are not suitable for farming, so humans will have to turn to different technology. Starbase Brewing is testing out one of the technologies themselves: hydroponics. “We’re growing some peppers that we’re going to throw in a spicy beer,” Argroves said.  NASA has not responded yet.

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The hottest (or is it the coldest) item in trendy bars this summer is "craft ice". It’s  high-quality, extra-dense, extra-clear custom ice cubes, ice balls, and other ice products. As with diamonds, ice is judged by its clarity, density, size, and cut, all of which add to the overall quality and appearance of the cocktail. This is especially important in cities where the tap water is known for being hard. High in minerals and impurities, it can taste salty or bitter and can even exhibit a less-than-pleasant odor. When frozen, hard water becomes cloudy, and the impurities can result in cubes that melt quicker or fall apart.  Ice needs to be pure, dense, and slow-melting, so it won’t pollute the cocktail. Craft ice companies use large-scale machines called Clinebells that form 300-pound blocks of ice from water that is filtered and agitated for three days. This forces the air and impurities to rise to the surface and leaves the remainder of the block shimmering and transparent. You’ll notice that your ice at home or in your refrigerator has a starburst pattern in the middle. That’s because the ice freezes from all directions and pushes everything toward the center. Craft ice is clear because it freezes unidirectionally, from the bottom, and the water circulates the entire time it is freezing. This pushes all of the impurities to the surface and leaves a thin layer at the top that is cut off and discarded.

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NFL players are not allowed to appear in commercials or advertisements drinking beer or directly endorse a beer. In fact, NFL players were only allowed to have their likeness appear in beer ads beginning in 2019. However, Coors Light and Patrick Mahomes have found a way around this detail. A clever new commercial with the star quarterback just dropped and immediately acknowledges that Mahomes cannot endorse the alcoholic product. However, the spot isn’t for Coors Light beer. It is for an actual Coors light. As in a flashlight. But the branding for Coors Light was prominent and aggressive throughout the one-minute ad, accomplishing just what the beer company wanted. The commercial also features some of the signature promo lines that Coors uses in its beer commercials, describing the flashlight as, “high-quality steel so it feels as cold as the Rocky Mountains.” 

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Florida State Athletics and its multimedia rightsholder, LEARFIELD’s Seminole Sports Properties, announced the addition of Oyster City Brewing Company to the Seminoles’ corporate partner family.  The multi-year agreement is in effect now, coinciding with the upcoming 2022-23 college athletics season. It marks the first college sports sponsorship for Oyster City Brewing Company and the first craft beer sponsorship for FS.  Oyster City Brewing Company immediately assumes the “Official Craft Beer of the Florida State Seminoles” designation – receiving significant visibility among FSU fans through in-venue branding, community relations programs, and Athletics’ official social media platforms. 

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On big games and on weekends, the concession lines at Dodger Stadium can be a real pain for Dodgers fans. So, at therecent All-Star Game this year, the team debuted an automated machine streamlining their system for fans who want to go and just get beers and get back as soon as possible. It's a vending machine for adults that has been long overdue. All the selections are only available in aluminum cans, so make sure you get yourself a koozie. The beer choices are from those that the Dodgers also have around the stadium. Fans just need to scan their IDs in, to prove that they are 21 or older, and then they can check out on the electronic pad attached to the vending machine.  More machines are scheduled to be added before the start of post season play.

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Drinks were on Ryan Zimmerman as he celebrated his jersey retirement at Nationals Park.. The 37-year-old retired infielder treated Nationals fans to a beer at The Salt Line—a Navy Yard restaurant, in which Zimmerman is an investor, right across the street from the ballpark—before and after Washington’s game against the Phillies. The generous act from Zimmerman comes on the same day that the Nationals officially retired his No. 11 jersey. It was the first number that the franchise has retired since moving to the nation’s capital in 2005.  Zimmerman was synonymous with the franchise’s relocation to Washington when he became the team’s first draft pick after moving from Montreal. The Nationals selected him as the No. 4 pick in the 2005 draft and he quickly became a fan favorite in the city. He retired as the franchise’s all-time leader, both for the Expos and the Nationals, in numerous statistical categories including hits (1846), home runs (284), RBIs (1061) and games played (1799).  As for the beer he only bought your first one before and after the game.

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For a short time you can trade backpacks for brews as part the Service League of Green Bay's Craft of Giving Brewery Collection Drive. The organization is partnering with local breweries to entice the community to donate school clothing and supplies for its annual Back-to-School Store event.  With about 18% of those under 18 in Green Bay living in poverty, the event provides families with access to free school supplies and a new outfit to alleviate some of the financial burdens of back to school. Through this event, the Service League of Green Bay provides about 3,000 students with school supplies each year.  Three Green Bay-area breweries are participating in the drive: Noble Roots Brewing Company, Stillmank Brewing Company and Zambaldi Beer. When you bring backpacks, shoes, athletic socks or variety packs of underwear for children in kindergarten to fifth grade, you get a free beer. The Back-to-School Store event will be at the Kress Events Center at UW-Green Bay from noon-6 p.m. Aug. 23 and 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 24. There will also be dental and vision health screenings available.  Well done Green Bay breweries!

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Consumers ordering alcohol from DoorDash now must have a government-issued ID scanned by delivery drivers, the e-commerce platform just announced.  Dasher earnings were +30% higher in the last quarter as opposed to last year for deliveries with alcohol compared to deliveries without alcohol. Initial requirements for alcohol delivery on the platform included unspecified “rigorous ID verification prior to checkout,” and “multiple ID check points along the delivery,” according to DoorDash.  It is alleged that the check was sometimes not as "rigorous" as possible.  DoorDash delivery people (Dashers) must be 21 or older, and are required to take a “compliance course” detailing alcohol laws and delivery protocols.  Now, DoorDash will use a two-step age verification process, which requires consumers to upload a photo of a government-issued ID prior to ordering alcohol, and then requires consumers to meet their DoorDash driver prior at the time of delivery, and have the front of their ID scanned by the Dasher through the DoorDash app. The requirement guarantees that consumers are present at the time alcohol is dropped off, and does not allow for no-contact delivery. Dashers are also required to check for “signs of intoxication” before handing off an order. DoorDash consulted with Responsibility.org, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE), and others while creating its new requirements.  Note that "consumers" were not consulted.

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FEATURE NEWS

The price of a pint in London has long been bemoaned but now buyers have been staggered when they ordered a round of drinks as the the average price of a pint has topped £8 ($9.81 USD) for the first time. The average price of a pint has risen by more than 70% since the pandemic first hit. The average price of a pint is now £8.06 – the most expensive it has ever beer according toi a survey of more than 5,550 random bars and pubs. The cheapest was in Lancashire and cost £1.79. The price hikes have supposedly been driven by a combination of factors, including inflation and the war in Ukraine. The country was the world’s fourth largest producer of barley, a key ingredient in beer. Since reopening in 2021 (with Covid restrictions lifted) , they have had higher food and drink supply prices, exacerbated by delays to cross-channel deliveries since Brexit, and a shortage of staff as customers returned.

This led landlords to offer higher wages to attract and retain workers, but further ate into their profit margins.

A pub owner association representative said that that "ingredient costs were up 10%, wage inflation is probably 7% and electricity inflation is 100%, so that blended cost price probably puts the price of a pint of beer up 12% to 13%”.

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In just released sales reports, despite recent growth, non-alcoholic beer still only makes up roughly 0.6% of the overall U.S. beer market. Beverage analysts are skeptical it could reach 5% in the U.S. The recent  pledge from AB InBev to make 20% of its global beer volume low-alcohol or non-alcoholic by 2025 is, according to leadership, “off track” with the amount at just 6% halfway through 2022.While upstart brands such as Athletic and Heineken 0.0 have posted eye-catching sales growth (Athletic alone went from the 65th largest Brewers Association-defined craft brewery in 2020 to the 27th largest in 2021), non-alcoholic beer is not a new category. Legacy players such as O’Douls (down -18% between 2017 and 2021) have declined, suggesting that some percentage of consumers are swapping those brands for newer, fresher faces. Yes, non-alcoholic beer has improved in variety and availability in recent years; however, it’s still decidedly a niche product, and likely to stay that way.

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Cheers! Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is bringing back free beer this summer for guests in honor of the park’s Summer Celebration.Busch Gardens announced the return of free beer on Thursday. Any guests who are 21 and older can receive two complimentary beers every time they visit now through Aug. 7. Guests can get their free 7 oz. beers at Pantopia Drinks & Snacks in the Pantopia section of the park. According to Busch Gardens, the taps will rotate throughout the summer. Big Storm Brewery, Yuengling and Anheuser-Busch are among the breweries that will be featured during that time.The theme park has provided free beer for guests for several years “as a nostalgic nod to Busch Gardens’ history as a brewery.” The promotion typically runs every summer during the park’s summer event.

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Months into what Russia calls a special military operation in Ukraine, foreign alcohol is still available in Moscow pubs, but the once ample reserves are dwindling. Some pubs accumulated large stocks when it all started but, for most there have been no new deliveries ordered and confirmed.  That's because many foreign companies including leading Western brewer in the country Carlsberg , Anheuser-Busch InBev and Heineken, have suspended sales in Russia and shipping trade has plummeted. That has pressured the economy and affected the habits of Russians used to a lavish selection of foreign-made alcohol.

There are problems not only with beer imports but even with imports of hops crippling the domestic brewing industry.

Russian breweries depend heavily on imports of raw materials, such as hops.  Part of the problems comes from complications with sending money to suppliers in Europe and America, as well as the disruption of supply chains, 

Also, the world's biggest foreign container lines - including the top three MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM - have temporarily suspended cargo shipments to and from Russia, while European Union countries sharing borders with Russia and Belarus have barred cargo vehicles registered in those countries from entering.

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It litigation time. Beer giants INBev have sent a warning letter to London-based Forest Road Brewing Company who recently launched their new bottled beer 'Jupiter'.  The “cease and desist” letter threatens legal action unless the Brit brewery changes the name of their beer. Bosses in the East End filed to register the trademark for their 8.7 percent double India pale ale but soon received a legal letter warning them off because drinkers may confuse it with INBev’s 'Jupiler' beer. Lawyers for ABInbev claim drinkers might confuse the names. The letter says: ”JUPILER has no meaning and JUPITER is the name of a planet. Therefore there is no conceptual comparison. “As a result it is likely to give the impression that the mark Jupiter is part of or connected with our client’s Jupiler trademarks, which is likely to take an unfair advantage of its reputation and fame." The menacing letter also asks that the Forest Road team “immediately withdraw their trademark application". It demands they never use or apply to use the name Jupiter or any other name including the word Jupiter.The London brewery’s founder Pete Brown said: ”We just want to make great local beer for local customers - and reinvest in the community

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On July 9, in Washington, D.C. 132 brewery owners, employees, and guild executive directors from across the country will attend an  in-person and virtual meetings with their members of Congress for the "Brewers Association’s 2022 hill climb". The attendees advocated on issues impacting small and independent breweries at the federal level. Topics of the day included the industry’s support for the U.S.P.S Shipping Equity Act, and appropriations requests for the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and hops and barley research. Members of Congress and their staff will be able to learn firsthand about how breweries in their states were impacted by COVID-19 and how programs like the Paycheck Protection Program, Restaurant Revitalization Fund, and the December 2020 passage of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act helped them through the last two years. 

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Geopolitical conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine and upheaval from the Covid-19 pandemic, have caused inflation to skyrocket this year — and now, it’s coming for your favorite German beers. The war in Ukraine has caused a number of the country’s glass factories to cease operations, and the conflict has exacerbated energy costs across Europe, causing glass bottles produced elsewhere to cost upwards of 15 to 20 euro cents each — a record high. While product shortages are nothing new in the post-Covid landscape, the shortage of beer bottles in Germany has nothing to do with the actual number of bottles in circulation. Germany has a unique returnable bottle system in which consumers pay a surcharge of eight euro cents for every bottle purchased, and the money is returned to them when they return the bottle to be recycled. The roughly 1,500 breweries in Germany have about 48 returnable bottles in circulation for every man, woman, and child in the country, amounting to over four billion bottles total. The problem however, is that not enough folks are returning their empties. 

If there’s billions of empty bottles in circulation, where have they all gone? According to the NYT, many consumers tend to hold onto the bottles, stacking them up in free spaces in their homes until they are either out of space or in need of some extra change. This habit deadly for small brewers.

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Carlsberg said its beer sales in Poland fell by 3-4% last month and have continued to drop underlining the troubles facing brewers in a market which has been declining as consumers switch to wine and spirits. The Danish brewer’s chief executive Cees’t Hart said the trend has been exacerbated this year by an additional excise tax, inflation and the refugee crisis precipitated by Russia’s invasion of Poland’s neighbor Ukraine. Almost 3 million Ukrainian refugees have entered Poland with the population of Warsaw alone growing by around 15% since Moscow began what it calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine

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Software duo joins forces to help fast-growing Australian and US craft brewing industry make more beer, in less time, with less waste Australian manufacturing performance software company, OFS, and US ‘grain-to-glass’ brewery data management company, The 5th Ingredient, have signed a first-of-its-kind craft brewing partnership to help the companies expand in each other’s home markets to help the craft beer industry become more data driven. OFS’s software, which uses sensors to draw real-time data from the packing line to identify and reduce inefficiencies and waste, has become the de facto standard for filling and packing-line efficiency monitoring in Australia. It is already used by around half of Australia’s craft breweries. The 5th Ingredient, fof San Diego, has had similar success in the US with its proprietary Beer30 brewery software, which assesses data from the moment raw ingredients are purchased to when the can, bottle or keg is sold.

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FEATURE NEWS

the monks of Spencer, Massachusetts’ Spencer Brewery announced that the only Trappist brewery in the U.S. would cease operations.  “After more than a year of consultation and reflection, the monks of St. Joseph’s Abbey have come to the sad conclusion that brewing is not a viable industry for us and that it is time to close the Spencer Brewery,” said the brewery. The monks are a community of Catholic Cistercians who, like similar abbeys in Belgium, sought to bring the monastic beer brewing tradition to the U.S. as a means of supporting the operations of the abbey, Trappist breweries produce only as much beer as they need to sell to cover the abbey’s operation, living expenses and improvements. After years of preparation, they opened the 36,000 square foot Spencer Brewery on the monastery grounds back in 2014, to much fanfare as the only certified Trappist brewery operating in the United States.

Perhaps unexpectedly, it was never the beer that seemed to be an issue for Spencer—it was received pretty warmly by the craft beer community, and seemed to perform well in tastings against the Belgian classics. Rather, the brewery seemed to struggle more with marketing itself in an ultra-competitive U.S. market, especially when saddled with a notably high price point. With a price point similar to the most famous Belgium  beers, but without their rich history or credentials, the Spencer brand was trapped in the middle between more affordable American alternatives, and beers with 200 years of history behind them. 

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Northern California’s Anderson Valley Brewing which announced that while Big Beer CEOs are talking about inflation and raising beer prices, it will not be following this industry trend." For our part, we are holding our pricing where it is,” said AVBC President Kevin McGee. He also backed that up with some transparency on their costs and some initiatives they’ve undertaken to make this possible in the first place  

Constellation’s Beer CFO recently said that due to inflation they’re raising prices and are going to “take as much pricing as we think the consumer can absorb.” Heineken’s CFO said that because of inflation they are going to raise prices by “courageous” amounts. Many of the largest beer conglomerates in the world just booked record-breaking profit and profit margins.  AVBC believes large and publicly traded beer companies are using the perception of inflation – not the actual economic impact of inflation – as an excuse to raise prices, something they’ve been “courageously” public about. Rather than engage in the “cynical grab-for-cash that some of the publicly traded breweries are leaping towards in an effort to balloon shareholder value,” AVBC thinks it’s a better time to keep their beers at a fair price"   BeerNexus salutes them and will be buying their beer for all it's corporate events.

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A Charlotte-based brewery’s lawsuit claiming copyright infringement on the phrase “Keep it Juicy” has been dismissed, due to a settlement. Sycamore Brewing has claimed for months that California-based Stone Brewing violated its trademark on boxes and cans sold by Stone. Originally a judge ruled Stone had to stop selling those cans of its beer and cover up labels on drinks already in stores.  As a result of the settlement “Sycamore got what it came for -- it has protected its trademark rights". said a Stone attorney.. Also, Stone is “immediately enjoined nationwide from using the KEEP IT JUICY name and mark, or confusingly similar variations thereof.” Stone can sell off it’s remaining available supply of Hazy IPA but agreed not to use the slogan again.

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Anheuser-Busch is uniting its sports team partners – including Major League Baseball and the National Football League – to launch the National Recycling League: a new, multi-sports league coalition aiming to reduce waste on game day. The National Recycling League will leverage the scale and reach of the brewer's professional sports team and league partnerships to elevate how the beverage industry encourages recycling. The League aims to create meaningful connections between Anheuser-Busch's brands i its league and team partners, and sports fans nationwide to raise awareness of the need for recycling and drive key recycling behaviors among consumers wherever they cheer on their favorite team – whether it's in-stadium, at home, or at a neighborhood bar. More than ten teams – including The St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, and Washington Nationals – have signed on as members of the League. Each team is adopting and implementing a range of actions including offering infinitely recyclable aluminum cups to fans instead of single-use plastic, in-seat recycling decals, and in-stadium signage sharing a call-to-action with consumers – 'Recycle Like a Champion.' Similar to the beer hawker, new Recycling Hawkers will be deployed in stadiums to collect used cups, cans and bottles.

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We all expect to pay a bit extra for a beer or a sandwich at the airport. But when a glass of Samuel Adams Ale costs nearly $30, things really have gotten out of control. That’s why New York officials have announced a crackdown on food and drink prices at the region’s airports, where vendors can’t charge more than “street prices” – what you’d pay locally outside the airport – plus 10%. “Nobody should have to fork over such an exorbitant amount for a beer,” said Kevin O’Toole, chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the airports. The new measures, he said, “make it crystal clear that all prices at concessions will be routinely monitored to ensure they are aligned with the regional marketplace”. The 10% figure itself isn’t new, but officials have clarified the rules and stepped up monitoring after some egregious violations emerged – all thanks to a single tweet by a young Brooklynite.

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Dozens of Chicago-area craft breweries are teaming up to help eliminate the plastic waste issue caused by millions of beer can carriers. The Chicagoland Can Carrier Reuse and Recycling Co-op has the potential to prevent millions of the rigid plastic carriers from a wasteful single-use destiny. Surprisingly, the plastic carriers holding many beers often end up in landfill – even when they’re tossed in the recycling bin!  As a result, participating breweries are encouraging consumers to bring them back to be reused or properly recycled. “People think they’re doing the right thing when they drop them in their single-stream recycling bins, but because recycling centers have difficulty processing them, they might be doing more harm than good,” says Alex Parker, founder of Craft for Climate,

Despite being marketed as “100% recyclable” by manufacturers, most plastic can carriers end up in the waste stream after just one use. It’s an unfortunate reality because pitching them into curbside recycling bins is actually part of the problem.  Like almost all plastic packaging, snap-on can carriers (sometimes called holders, handles or toppers) are incompatible with sorting equipment. As a result, they get rejected and sent to landfill, which has negative impacts on the environment.

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The brewer of Samuel Adams is extending its reach beyond the alcohol market. Boston Beer Company said it is releasing a new line of cannabis-infused ice teas. Brewed in Canada, “TeaPot” will hit the market in selected Canadian provinces in July.  The inaugural release will be “Good Day Iced Tea,” brewed from lemon black tea and infused with Pedro’s Sweet Sativa, a cannabis strain grown in Ontario. Each 12-ounce can will hold five milligrams of THC, the main active ingredient in marijuana.  “TeaPot purposefully pairs the right tea with the right pot for the right occasion,” said Paul Weaver, the company’s head of cannabis. “Each can is precisely dosed for social gatherings with friends and family. We think TeaPot is the best-tasting cannabis beverage on the market, and we can’t wait for people to try it — we think they’ll agree.” 

The teas will first hit the market in Canada, where their cannabis contents are legal, though the Boston Beer Company said it is eyeing an expansion into the United States once weed becomes legal at the federal level. The company said it believes it is the first major, publicly-traded alcohol /beverage company to launch a marijuana brand.

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Dogfish Head Craft Brewery jhas joined with Atlas Obscura’s food and drink vertical, Gastro Obscura, to launch a l first-of-its-kind craft beer experiment: Fermentation Engastration. Unlike anything drinkers have ever tasted, the beer (10% ABV) draws inspiration from a collection of fermented beverages – a rose-scented sake, a honey and date mead, a bittersweet hard cider, a fruity Muscat wine and a rustic farmhouse ale. It's brewed with a boatload of culinary ingredients, including barley, spelt, muscat grape juice concentrate, flaked rice, apple juice concentrate, honey rice syrup, date syrup, yeast, hops and rose petals The result? One eccentric beverage.

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, D.G Yuengling., "America's Oldest Brewery®, announced the return of its limited-edition cans in partnership with military veteran nonprofit Team Red, White & Blue  as part of the brewery's Stars & Stripes program—Yuengling's year-round campaign supporting our nation's heroes. The special cans are emblazoned with a unique desert camouflage print and Team RWB logo,. Starting June 1, the cans will be available across the brewery's 23-state footprint in 12pk/12oz and 24pk/12oz cans and single-serve 24oz cans until the end of the summer, available for purchase at fans' favorite stores, restaurants and bars. New to this year's limited-edition design, each can will feature a QR code co-branded with American country music star and Lee Brice. When scanned, the QR code will immerse consumers in a digital Stars & Stripes experience where they can watch Lee Brice's "More Beer" music video; learn about Yuengling's Stars & Stripes Free Summer Concert Celebration on July 9; shop in the brewery's virtual gift shop;

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FEATURE NEWS

The Boston Beer Company, Inc. SAM reported a loss per share of 16 cents in first-quarter 2022, significantly narrower than a loss per share of $5.26 in first-quarter 2021. However, the loss per share significantly lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of earnings of $2.05. The dismal results were mainly due to the decrease in revenues due to lower shipment volumes and depletions, as well as gross margin contraction. Net revenues declined 21.1% year over year to $430.1 million. Excluding excise taxes, the top line fell 21.4% year over year to $457.3 million. 

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A jury in Las Vegas has awarded $8 million to a middle school special education teacher who sued after being permanently injured when he was served cleaning solvents instead of tap beer at a casino bar. Lon Enwright, 38, used to also work as a wine steward at Las Vegas Strip restaurants but lost his sense of taste due to the December 2018 injury at a Barley’s Casino & Brewing Co Enwright, a Ph.D., continues to teach and coach basketball, but has stomach and esophageal ulcers and is at increased of risk of cancer, Lagomarsino said. The attorney characterized the jury award as compensation for “the loss of enjoyment of life.” Enwright's negligence lawsuit said he was sickened and experienced convulsions after he asked for a sample of Honey Blonde ale on tap and was served caustic chemicals commonly used to clean beer taps and lines.His lawyers said bar employees knew the beer lines were out of service for cleaning.

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How many times have you reached for a beer in the fridge, only to be disappointed by the dawning realization that the bottle or can contains no Vitamin D? If so,  then such disappointment is a daily occurrence that occasionally has you bolting awake at night, drenched in cold sweat. But never fear—AB InBev has your back, with a new, non-alcoholic version of Corona that is choosing to make the crux of its marketing the fact that it’s infused with Vitamin D of all things. Titled Corona Sunbrew 0.0%, the product will somehow attempt to get away with using the exact same 0.0 marketing as category leader Heineken 0.0. Additionally, each bottle will contain “30% of the daily value of vitamin D per 330 mL serving. InBev launched this product in Canada first. Later in 2022, Sunbrew 0.0% will then expand into the U.K., followed by “key markets across the rest of Europe, South America and Asia.” Curiously, there’s no specific mention of a U.S. release, but we have to assume it will be coming sooner rather than later.

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Coors Light said it would stop using plastic six-pack rings in the packaging of its North American brands, replacing them with cardboard wrap carriers by the end of 2025 and eliminating 1.7 million pounds of plastic waste every year.

The initiative, which the company said would be supported by an $85 million investment, is the latest by a major brand to replace the six-ring plastic loops that have become a symbol of harm to the environment. Plastic rings have been known to entangle sea animals, sometimes staying stuck on them as they grow, and are more often ingested by animals. While cutting up the plastic rings became a popular way to prevent the creatures from getting ensnared, it also posed issues for companies trying to recycle since they were harder to sort out. 

Coors Light said it would pivot to using material that is 100 percent sustainable, meaning it is plastic-free, fully recyclable and reusable. Other brands are also making changes. Last year, Corona introduced packaging made of surplus barley straw and recycled wood fibers. In January, Grupo Modelo announced a $4 million investment to replace hard-to-recycle plastic packaging with fiber-based materials, 

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New York announced it will allow to-go drinks from restaurants for the next three years. A provision in the state budget bill settles a booze battle between bars, restaurants and liquor stores. Back during the height of the pandemic, dining establishments and local bars and taverns were allowed to serve drinks to-go as customers stayed away from indoor dining. However, last June the provision was lifted as businesses began returning to normal dining practices.

Now, according to the budget bill, any alcohol sold to-go must be accompanied by "a substantial" food order. It also does not permit restaurants or bars to sell full-size bottles of wine or liquor. And in Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a package of bills that will allow restaurants and bars to sell cocktails and alcoholic beverages to-go, 

According to the governor's office, the bills were aimed to provide relief for restaurants and bars. They will be able to sell drinks to-go and deliver them until the end of 2025.

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he Chicago White Sox are bringing back something familiar to the ballpark. The team is dumping Goose Island Beer Co. and Revolution Brewing as sponsors the team announced.  Such a change is unprec a reunion with Miller Lite and the rest of the beers in the Molson Coors portfolio. Over the last couple of years, the Sox haven’t relied on a single official beer. Instead, the team has divided the sponsorship opportunities between multiple brands including Goose Island, Revolution, and Modelo. With those deals up for renewal this year, Molson Coors pounced. One source says the offer to be the team’s sole sponsor was so lucrative that Goose Island and the other breweries weren’t given a chance to counter.  With that, Molson Coors’s brands are now “the official domestic beer, official craft beer and an official hard seltzer partner of the White Sox.”

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If you think the seltzer fad is over, think again. .AB InBev's Anheuser-Busch has announced plans to invest $50 million in its St. Louis campus, which will include the addition of a new dedicated seltzer building.The company said it will upgrade one of its can lines and provide the new seltzer building with systems and equipment for making popular products such as Bud Light Seltzer and Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer. The brewery also is being outfitted with equipment that "allows for the streamlined addition of flavors to the seltzer liquid.

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The battle over beer has just busted into the U.S District Court in North Carolina. Charlotte's Sycamore Brewing recently sued California-based Stone Brewing over what Sycamore claims is its slogan: "Keep It Juicy.".  The lawsuit says Sycamore Brewing distributes alcohol in seven other states and one of the most popular beers is Juiciness IPA.In 2020, the company started marketing the IPA with the slogan "Keep It Juicy" displayed on retail packaging boxes. According to the lawsuit, Sycamore owns the name. A trademark for "Keep It Juicy" was officially registered by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Aug. 24, 2021.  In March 2022 Stone Brewing switched up the packing on its beer to include the slogan. Sycamore sought out an injunction, requesting the slogan "Keep It Juicy" be scrubbed from Stone's online content. The injunction also demanded the product be removed from shelves and distributors go out to all stores and display corrective signs about the product

Stone argued there are 27 other beers in the country with the word “juicy” in its name. He argued "juicy" is too broad of a trademark to hold. He maintained the word describes the taste of several beers and not just the Sycamore beer, Judge Frank Whitney contended that "juicy" and "Keep It Juicy" are entirely different. Whitney ruled that Stone Brewery is allowed to sell the rest of the current Stone "juicy" beer already out in the market with the branding “Keep It Juicy” on the box. However, Whitney said Stone Brewery must cover up the labels on boxes with white labels to ensure there will not be any sort of “consumer confusion." A trial is now set for the late summer or early fall, most likely before September.

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Stainless steel kegs’ reusability and 30+ year lifespan make them the ideal circular choice for bars and restaurants. This fact makes steel kegs a vital part of the beverage industry and is the catalyst for the formation of the new Steel Keg Association. The Steel Keg Association’s education programs will also highlight that steel kegs deliver bulk liquids driving superior economic benefits for bars and restaurants. Additionally, marketing programs will showcase how consumers and brewers appreciate the uniquely “fresh” draft beer experience. The Steel Keg Association’s efforts will be focused on the U.S. beer market initially

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American Airlines reportedly has resumed alcohol sales on domestic and some international flights. American was among several companies that stopped selling alcohol during the pandemic. The announcement follows similar decisions by United and Southwest which both recently resumed alcohol sales. Gin, rum, vodka, whiskey and wine will be $9. Beer will cost $8.

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A just released report says that over the past four years, tariffs on aluminum have cost the U.S. beverage industry upward of $1.4 billion, in turn hiking up the prices of consumer goods.  “This new research shows the tariffs on aluminum continue to push up prices on American consumers and businesses,” said Jim McGreevy, CEO of the Beer Institute. “The fastest way to alleviate these high prices on American businesses and families is to repeal the tariffs.”Since Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act went into effect, rolling mills and smelters have been accounting for the tariffs in aluminum prices; in response, producers who buy from them have been forced to raise the price of their products.  Of the tariffs paid over the past four years, only eight percent went to the U.S. Treasury.  U.S. rolling mills, U.S. smelters, and Canadian smelters received 92 percent of that amount by charging “end-users” like U.S. brewers a price that accounted for the tariff, even if the metal was not meant to be tariffed based on its content or origin, the report stated.   

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FEATURE NEWS 

A San Diego jury Friday awarded Stone Brewing $56 million in a trademark case against Molson Coors. According to Reuters, the jury said Molson Coors caused consumer confusion with ads for the Keystone brand. Reuters also reported that Molson Coors didn't infringe purposefully. 

Back in 2018, the Stone, theSan Diego craft brewery announced it was suing Keystone's parent company over trademark infringement. The lawsuit came after a 2017 rebranding of Keystone Light, involving a package design that emphasizes “Stone” and references to the beers as solely "Stones" in marketing campaigns (such as this "Leave no Stone unturned" billboard). Stone Brewing claimed it has suffered financial damage due to customer confusion as a result of Keystone Light's rebranding. And it's an attempt, Stone Brewing says in the suit, "to capture the Stone mark and associated goodwill ... (and) to mislead consumers: about the source of MillerCoors’s 'Keystone,'  Stone is an independent craft brewery while Molson Coors is the fifth biggest beer company in the world.

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Coors Light is launching just what the world needs: beer-flavored lollipops.  Coors Light says they were inspired by research showing that sucking on lollipops and other hard candies can have a calming effect. Thus, these beer-flavored suckers are formulated to taste specifically similar to Coors Light and even has a foam-inspired layer on the top,  They are officially called "Chillollipops but do not contain alcohol.  

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St. Patrick’s Day was officially welcomed back in 2022. Light Lagers and Lagers saw a healthy bump on the day when compared to 2021. Light Lagers were +116%, while Lagers were +74%.  IPAs rocketed back and were +169%. Bud Light, Michelob Ultra and Coors Light were the Top 3 brands poured nationally on the day this year. After a shocking decline in 2021, Stouts were back in a big way. Typically checking in at #11 on the list of Top Styles, Stouts climbed all the way to #6 for the Holiday and saw +137% volume growth nationally. Guinness, the top-poured stout, and normally sitting just outside the Top 10 brands, moved up to the #8 brand for the day. Overall sales of draft beer by volume more than doubled (+118.5%) on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) 2022 as compared to i2021,. 

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Patagonia Provisions and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery have partnered to launch Kernza® Pils, a crisp and refreshing German-style pilsner beer made with Kernza, a remarkable perennial grain that draws down carbon from the atmosphere and sequesters it in the ground. Hitting shelves and taps starting early April coast to coast, Kernza Pils is one of the most widely distributed Kernza-based beers on the market and marks a significant shift towards a more climate-friendly brewing industry.  The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas, made a breakthrough in regenerative agriculture with the development of a perennial grain called Kernza. Whereas most grains are planted and harvested annually, Kernza stays in the ground year after year, developing roots up to 12 feet long.

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Lawson’s Finest Liquids is welcoming spring with a first-time distribution of its most sought-after specialty beer — Double Sunshine with Ruby Red Grapefruit. The double IPA bursting with fresh ruby red grapefruit flavor and aroma. Dried grapefruit zest is used in the kettle, grapefruit purée is added during fermentation and the beer is finished with grapefruit peel added to the tank. It will be available for a limited time at retailers across Lawson’s Finest Liquids nine-state distribution area (VT, CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA and RI) beginning in early April, 2022.  

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A group of regional craft beer and spirits experts have formed a Bucks County, PA-based co-operative: The Mutual Respect Brewers Co-Op  The co-op will bring together Broken Goblet Brewing, Trauger Brewing, and Lucky Cat Beer Company organizations and a yet-to-be-named distillery. The brands will remain separate, but they will be under the Mutual Respect Brewers Co-Op umbrella. The facility will be able to brew more than 3,000 barrels in annual production when the expansion is finished before the end of 2022. The co-op plans to convert to a to an Employee Share Option Plan, known as an ESOP, within the next year or two.

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Anheuser-Busch's at their St. Louis brewery just hosted a party for holders of Budweiser and Bud Light-themed non-fungible tokens, which are essentially digital images and artwork that can be traded on the internet. Guests at NFT Beerfest had free beer, tours of the historic Soulard complex, Clydesdale sightings and performances by musicians Fresco Trey and Millie Go Lightly.  The event will mark the first in-person experience A-B has offered to entice investors in its internet-based collectibles, a genre that caught fire last year when digital artwork started selling at auction for tens of millions of dollars and other brands rushed to cash in. 

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Good news for homebrewers and fermentation hobbyists worldwide - the American Homebrewers Association® (AHA) is back.  It will be held from June 23-25 in Pittsburgh for the 44th annual Homebrew Con.  They invite all who are interested in learning to homebrew or gain a better understanding of beer, mead, and cider to register. The three-day conference features all-star experts and cutting-edge educational sessions, awesome events like a welcome toast and kickoff reception, members’ gathering, meetups, Club Night, Homebrew Expo and Social Club, and a daily headline speaker. The conference concludes with the National Homebrew Competition (NHC) awards ceremony and the results of the Homebrew Club of the Year and Homebrew Shop of the Year. 

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File under buyer beware.  Kirin, marketed as a “Japanese style pilsner,” is brewed in the Los Angeles area and hasn't been made with any Japanese ingredients or hasn't been brewed anywhere near Japan since Anheuser-Busch purchased the company in 1996. Beck’s, though founded in Germany, is now produced in 15 different markets including the U.S. so if you’re buying it here it was likely made here.  Foster’s “Australian for beer” is brewed in Texas. MillerCoors’ Killian’s Irish Red, w has been brewed in Colorado since the 1980s. And Red Stripe, which was previously a signature of Jamaican culture, has been brewed in U.S. since 2012 after Diageo-Guinness purchased the brand and relocated production.

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After tremendous success with Little Man Salted Oreo Stout, WeldWerks Brewing Co. and Little Man Ice Cream Company are again teaming up to create an ice cream stout./  Inspired by Little Man’s Marsh Madness ice cream, the trio’s stout version involves ample amounts of cereal marshmallows and Little Man Marsh Madness ice cream, as well as the combination of pastry stout bases from Odell and WeldWerks. The 9.2% ABV stout is has alcohol is noticeable

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FEATURE NEWS 

Beer Prices Rise But Less Than Expected

The Consumer Price Index, which measures the average change paid by consumers for goods and services, surged a faster-than-expected 7.5% in February compared with 12 months earlier. It's the sharpest year-over-year increase since February 1982. The Beer Institute, a national trade association for the American brewing industry, said that "beer prices have remained low even during a historic period of inflation." The group said the trend of low beer prices continued last year and trailed the overall CPI 1.8% to 4.7% on average in 2021. According to the latest CPI report, the prices of beer, ale and other malt beverages consumed at home increased 1.8% in the past year.

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Czech Republic Still #1

U.S. News and World Report analyzed the most recent data lists and have declared the Czech Republic as drinking the most beer per person in the world.  They average around 37.6 gallons (converts to 241 standard 20-ounce beers per person).  This is the 23 consecutive the nation has held the title. Pilsner was first produced in Bohemia—now the Czech Republic—in 1842, so their people have an undeniably strong connection to beer. Germany, and Austria tie for third place, but an unexpected country takes the second place title: the Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands off the coast of East Africa. Their high spot in the rankings might have to do with the fact that around 200,000 tourists pour into the country every year to visit their white sand beaches. Namibia, Poland, Ireland, Lithuania, Belize, and Romania make up the rest of the top ten list.

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Insurance Beats Beer

A just released report from the Advertising Institute shows that the beer commercials that once flooded sports programs were almost nonexistent last year and into this year. In 2021, roughly 15,560 beer commercials aired on television, compared to a staggering 104,270 insurance ads. Across the broadcast networks, insurance ads jumped from 71,000 minutes of commercial airings in 2016 to 109,297 minutes to the first month of 2022 — a 52.3 percent increase. Meanwhile, ad minutes for beer brands (including hard seltzer) have remained at around 7,000 airing minutes per year since 2016.  The tone of beer commercials has also dramatically shifted. In the ’80s and ’90s, they were were dominated by talking frogs, Spuds MacKenzie, animated beer and the “Wazzup” guys. But, in recent years, the spots have become increasingly somber.  This is at least partly due to the pandemic.

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Dry Jan. Scores Big

According to newly released surveys from CGA, a food and drink research firm, the Dry January movement in 2022 was a big success as 35% of legal-aged US adults skipped alcohol for the entire month. That's an increase from the previous high of 21% who completed Dry January in 2019. (editors note - people often like on surveys)

Participants credited their commitment to a growing selection of non-alcoholic offerings and mocktails that made it "easier to forego alcohol while not making social sacrifices," Those options were some of the most popular choices with about 30% of consumers drinking non-alcoholic beer (up from 5% in 2020) and 23% choosing mocktails (up from 7% in 2019.)  About 75% of those surveyed said they would continue drinking alcohol-free beer in upcoming months.

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Ups and Downs

Domestic tax paid estimates from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau shared by the Beer Institute (BI) reveal a slow start to 2022. U.S. brewers shipped 12.3 million barrels of product in January 2022, a 6.2% decline (-815,000 barrels) compared to January 2021’s 13.1 million barrels, according to the estimates shared by the BI. On the other hand, Molson Coors’ net sales increased +6.5% for the full 2021 fiscal year and +14.2% in the fourth quarter, the company just reported. They posted net sales of $10.279 billion for the year. Worldwide, shipments (sales to wholesalers) declined -0.5% and brand volume ( declined -1.7% over the course of the year. 

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Backlash Against Brewery Owner

A New York City brewery owner sparked outrage online after comparing COVID-19 vaccine mandates to the draconian policies of Nazi Germany and the segregation-era South. However, he thinks the reaction was overblow “Everyone should have a basic human right what they decide to put in their own body,” said Josh Stylman, 48, CEO of the popular Threes Brewing. He was speaking out against the citywide coronavirus jab policies, which include requiring restaurant and bar patrons to present proof that they’ve been fully vaccinated prior to entry. The controversy began brewing on Feb. 14 after the beer boss tweeted that “vaccine mandates are a crime against humanity” and “if you are not speaking out against them, you are a conspirator.” In a follow-up tweet, Stylman compared the policies to “early sentiments expressed in the Jim Crow South, Nazi Germany, Stalinism, Maoism, and other dark things. Threes Brewing employees released a joint statement denouncing their boss’s comments. “We do not stand by our CEO Joshua Stylman’s comparisons of the mandate to historic atrocities based on religion or race,” wrote the workers in the message posted to Twitter. “We think the comparisons are inappropriate and inaccurate.”

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Retirement

Leinenkugel Brewing Co.’s president Dick Leinenkugel will retire from the brewery at the end of 2022. Leinenkugel, 64, became president in 2014 when his older brother, Jake, retired from that position. His nephew, Tony Bugher, will become the new president of the company on Jan. 1, 2023. The brewery's is owned by Molson Coors which said that both Leinenkugel and Bugher will take part in this year's Leinenkugel 155th Anniversary Appreciation Tour, visiting key markets. Leinenkugel was founded in 1867 and operates breweries in Chippewa Falls and Milwaukee. Recently Leinenkugel was in the news when they announced that they will no longer use an image of a Native American woman long associated with the brewery.  Leinenkugel has distribution outlets in all 50 states[ 

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Treasury Dept. Takes On Beer

The U.S. Treasury Department has flagged concerns about consolidation in the $250 billion annual U.S. alcohol market and outlined reforms it said could boost competition and save consumers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. New merger and acquisition scrutiny, different tax rates and lifting regulatory burdens to new entrants in the wine, beer and spirits market would make the market fairer for new brewers and cheaper for consumers, Treasury said in a 63-page paper.  a web of complicated state and federal regulations, some dating back to the end of Prohibition in 1933, coupled with "exclusionary behavior" by massive producers, distributors and retailers means small entrants can struggle to compete and flourish, U.S. officials said. "We're determined to protect what has been a successful, vibrant industry with a lot of small businesses entering it," while tackling issues that "lead to excessive prices for consumers," said one senior U.S. official. The two largest brewers selling beer in the United States - Anheuser Busch InBev (ABI.BR) and Molson Coors (TAP.N) - account for 65% of U.S. beer revenues. The Beer Institute, which represents those two companies and other brewers, said it was disappointed by what it called a "mischaracterization" of the beer industry and said beer prices had remained low despite rising inflation and a drop in demand. But the American Craft Spirits Association welcomed the report's focus on the concerns of small independent distilleries, and said it should spark "a fresh look at antiquated alcohol laws that are working against small businesses and curtailing access to our products."

The report cited studies that showed so-called "post and hold" laws, which restrict price competition, mean beer consumers alone pay $487 million more a year than they should, could drive up the cost of a bottle of wine by up to 18% and a bottle of spirits by over 30%.

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FEATURE NEWS 

Dinosaur Beer  

First, the beer was named for the fossil. Now, it's come full circle, as a species of the fossil found in Nevada has just been named for the maker of the beer. The first giant creature to inhabit the earth, the ichthyosaur, dominated the earth's oceans in the Triassic period. Nearly 2.5 million years later, the Great Basin Brewing Company in Sparks, Nevada debuted the Ichthyosaur IPA in honor of the extinct creature.  A German team searching in Nevada for more fossils learned of the beer, which led them to Great Basin Brewing and the Youngs. Recently that team found another ichthyosaur in Nevada, and the Youngs helped the process of excavating and removing it through monetary donations, along with food and beer, and then by transporting the skull of the 55-foot fossil to Los Angeles in a Great Basin beer truck. Now, the museum honored the Youngs by naming the fossil after them—the "Young" part of the scientific name -  ichthyosaur is now known as Cymbospondylus youngorum

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This Bud Is A Zero

Another big name – recently retired NBA star Dwyane Wade – helped the big beer brand create Budweiser Zero, a 50-calorie beer with no alcohol, which is now rolling out nationwide. Bud Zero is just the newest entry in a buzz-free beverage category that was energized 18 months ago by the arrival of another big beer name, Heineken 0.0.Sales of nonalcoholic beers have risen 40% this year in dollars and are up 30% in volume, but nonalcohol beer makes up only about 0.4% of the total $116 billion beer market, according to the Brewers Association. 

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Fit Folks Drink More

Highly fit women and men are more likely to consume alcohol than relatively unfit individuals, according to a new study published in the journal, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.  A group of researchers in Texas found that higher fitness levels are associated with greater alcohol consumption among a large group of adult patients compared to those who are less fit, according to the published report.   “This apparent contradiction between engaging in a healthy behavior such as physical activity, on the one hand, and partaking in an unhealthy behavior (drinking in excess), on the other, could potentially be explained by a psychological phenomenon called the licensing effect,” the authors stated. The authors explained that the licensing effect occurs when a person allows themselves to indulge in a questionable behavior after doing something virtuous. 

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Three Best Beer Cities

Pittsburgh has 28 breweries, an average of nearly 30 bars per 100,000 residents and an average pint will run you just $4, all factors SmartAssset cited in its new survey that named the it as the number one beer city in the USA. Following Pittsburgh were Bend, Oregon, at No. 2, and Milwaukee at No. 3.

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Controversial Seltzer

Coke’s Topo Chico could become a top-three hard seltzer brand, joining White Claw and Truly at the top. The drink is starting out 2022 with a 2% share of the roughly $4.3 billion U.S. hard seltzer market, despite only being available in roughly a third of states. A nationwide launch is slated for January.  PepsiCo wasn’t far behind its archrival Coke.  It teamed up with Sam Adams brewer Boston Beer to announce Hard Mtn Dew. The flavored malt beverage will contain 5% alcohol by volume and sell on the soda’s brand equity — without the high caffeine content.   Even before its launch, the drink is controversial. The National Beer Wholesalers Association has raised alarms against the launch, slated for late February. Pepsi has given a license to Boston Beer to produce the drink and created a new company, Blue Cloud, to distribute it. One important concern is that soda branding for an alcoholic beverage could result in underage drinking — accidentally or on purpose. Boston Beer said the design of Hard Mtn Dew cans will feature “adult-oriented graphics” and emphasize that the drink contains alcohol as part of its efforts to separate the alcoholic beverage from the soda.

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Another Surprise Closing / Sale

Saint Archer Brewing was once a solid gold San Diego craft beer brand on the rise, the company was so hot that they sold out to Molson Coors in 2015 just 2 years after they opened. It is now a cautionary tale for how corporate beer can churn and burn through small to them brewery acquisitions. This week Molson Coors Beverage Company announced they were ceasing all production of Saint Archer, and pulling their brands from the market, although they retain rights to the brand and could bring it back at any moment. Adding an intriguing twist to the proceedings, 4 year-old Kings & Convicts Brewing has snapped up Saint Archer’s facility and will relocate it to into their production brewery in San Diego. Kings & Convicts made a splash in December 2019 when they acquired what was previously San Diego’s Ballast Point. In both the Saint Archer deal and the Ballast Point Brewing instance, Kings & Convicts have swooped in to purchase prestigious brand assets that are now available at bottom barrel prices.

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Monster Energy Drinks Go Alcoholic

Energy drinks maker Monster Beverage Corp is entering the alcoholic drinks market through a $330 million deal for craft beer and hard seltzer producer CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective LLC. The all-cash deal, just announced, extends the trend of soft-drink companies branching out to the alcohol space as traditional boundaries between the categories rapidly blur. Monster said the deal would add craft beer brands Cigar City, Oskar Blues, Deep Ellum, Perrin Brewing, Squatters and Wasatch to its portfolio but would exclude CANarchy's restaurants. 

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Asahi Beer Reformulated

Japan's Asahi Group Holdings just announced it was making the first "full renewal" of its flagship Super Dry beer brand since its debut in 1987, modifying the taste and look of the brew. The brewing method will be tweaked to give Super Dry a more distinctive, "faint-hop" aroma, the company said. The trademark silver logo and can will also get a makeover, with the changes to go into effect from mid-February. The changes are a response to increasing competition in Japan's shrinking domestic market, the company said.Asahi Group is Japan's biggest beer maker with a near 40% share of the market.

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Peru's Hallucinogenic Beer

Lacing the beer served at their feasts with hallucinogens may have helped an ancient Peruvian people known as the Wari forge political alliances and expand their empire, according to a new paper published in the journal Antiquity. Recent excavations at a remote Wari outpost called Quilcapampa unearthed seeds from the vilca tree that can be used to produce a potent hallucinogenic drug. The authors think the Wari held one big final blowout before the site was abandoned.

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FEATURE NEWS 

Robot Beer

One of the world’s oldest industries now has a high-tech twist, with a new South Australian craft beer designed entirely by artificial intelligence.  University of Adelaide computer scientists created a neural network that was able to learn how to make beer by studying a vast trove of brewing records. The result is a unique AI-designed IPA which will be available for sale from early in 2022.  The scientists built a large dataset from more than 260,000 existing craft beer recipes before creating a neural network that learned how to make beer by studying the data. But if creating AI that can make its own beer isn’t complex enough, creating AI that can actually make good beer is significantly more challenging. To do that they developed a mathematical formula using statistics from the original recipes.  The  neural network used over 60 data points, or ‘features’, that included not just the required ingredients and quantities, but also specific process information such as how to handle the hops, the yeast fermentation temperature, and boil times; as well as predictive indicators for bitterness (IBU), colour (SRM) and alcohol content (ABV). 

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Can Woes Continue

Nobody can get enough aluminum cans right now, from macrobrewers and Monster Energy, to America’s craft brewers. Between the ongoing, mostly can-dependent hard seltzer surge, panicked pandemic pantry stocking, and shut-down induced channel-shifting to off-premise retail, can suppliers straight-up can’t make the containers fast enough. But what does that mean for craft brewers in the here and now? It depends on the size of the brewer, and whether they’ve got contracts in place. For smaller breweries without storage space or preexisting agreements with suppliers, sourcing cans is more of a scramble, one that involves third-party brokers, alternative labels, and higher costs. Ball Corporation, the continent’s largest can maker, began alerting customers that it would be increasing its order minimums by 500 percent.  That means small brewers will have to buy from brokers at even higher prices.

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Breweries Now Face A Cardboard Shortage

Brewers face cardboard shortage – brewers are currently dealing with a broad, multifaceted cardboard conundrum. As e-commerce orders soared during the pandemic, demand for packaging spiked accordingly, while collections for recycling systems has declined leaving some without enough reusable paper stock to keep running.  Less recycling means less box material. What happens when a craft brewer runs out of something as basic as cardboard? Things fall apart, as when the brewer runs out of  case trays which means he wouldn’t be able to fill orders on a normal timeline. resulting in a cascade of issues.  

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Trademark Battle

A trademark tiff between America’s oldest beer maker and America's best-selling beer brand appears is continuing.

Last week, D.G. Yuengling & Son, the nearly 200-year-old Pennsylvania-based brewer, demanded that its much larger rival, Anheuser-Busch, stop using a tagline for its forthcoming Bud Light Next zero-carb beer, noting it closely resembled one already trademarked by Yuengling.  Yuengling says that  its own low-carb brew — Flight, introduced in February 2020 — is marketed as the “next generation of light beer." Yuengling registered that phrase with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office more than a year ago. AB's tagline is “Get ready for the next generation of beer,” 

. “We know imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but this is going a bit too far,” Yuengling tweeted at Bud Light.

And then Yuengling got serious, sending the St. Louis-based beer giant a cease-and-desist letter. Anheuser-Busch did not issue a formal response to Yuengling, but  Bud Light has "temporarily" scrubbed its social media accounts of the disputed posts and replaced them with ones that teased, “Get ready for what’s next.”  Yuengling and Anheuser-Busch have tangled before. Two years ago, the beer behemoth launched an ad campaign designating Seltzer, Pennsylvania— a real-life hamlet just a few miles from Yuengling's historic brewery in Pottsville — as the “unofficial spokes-town” of Bud Light Seltzer. Yuengling clapped back in a tweet: “Get off my lawn."

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Free Same Sex Wedding Beer

To mark the 12th anniversary of the District of Columbia’s legal recognition of same-sex marriages, and D.C.’s City-State Brewing Co. will hold a day of free wedding ceremonies at its taproom to recognize the date. City-State is also releasing “Equal Marriage” dark wheat beer to mark the occasion. The brewery’s general manager, Gene Barnett, will officiate the weddings as a “civil celebrant,” a title D.C. grants with an application and a fee. The same-sex weddings will b  conducted in 15-minute intervals between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Couples will also get pints of Equal Marriage beer, which City-State said is 5.5% alcohol by volume beer with notes of chocolate, coffee, clove and bananas. Same sex weddings have been legal in DC since 2009

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The Shrinking Beer Glass

For as long as most anyone can remember, all draft beer at the New York State Fair came in one size: 14 ounces (in a specially marked cup with the Fair logo. Those days are gone. This years fair will see a smaller size -12-ounces, but for the same price as the larger one was.. It’s one of the many changes for 2022 as the State Fair returns after being cancelled the last 2 yeas by Covid-19. It may seem trivial to some, but will certainly be noticed by the Fair’s avid beer drinkers. It started with the decision by the Fair to end its long policy of buying the logo cups, and then requiring vendors to buy and use only those cups at their stands. This year, the vendors were on their own to find and buy cups, as long as they held the standard 14 ounces.  The problem: There’s a national plastic cup shortage. The 14-ounce size is particularly hard to find. So fair officials decided to allow vendors to use whichever size they could find. The vendor must pick one size for the run of the fair.  Most vendors said they were going with 12 ounces.  Boo.

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Untappd Top Five  Breweries for 2021

          Just released ranking by check in’s:

1. Tree House Brewing Company

2.  Other Half Brewing Co.

3.  Founders Brewing Co.

4. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

6.   New Belgium Brewing Co.

7.  Stone Brewing Co.

8.. Goose Island Beer Co.  

9.  Anheuser-Busch

10.  Equilibrium Brewery

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Most Beer In The World

Just released statistics show that with a population of 328.2m, the US has about 2.7 breweries per 100,000 people. To put that into context, trade organisation Beer Canada estimates that Canada has 1,210 breweries for a population of 37.6m – 3.2 breweries for every 100,000, or one extra brewery for every 200,000 citizens relative to the US.  In Europe, the numbers grow even more impressive, with the UK boasting 4.5 breweries per 100,000, according to research by the national accountancy group UHY Hacker Young, and even wine-loving France claiming 3.27 breweries per 100,000, according to Brewers of Europe.

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FEATURE NEWS 

Corona Drinkers Beware

Corona drinkers beware  that lime in your bottle can cause Phytophotodermatitis, also known as lime burn.  It is a skin condition that occurs when you mix citrus juices with sunshine. It looks like a sunburn at first and itches like one too, but it's actually a chemical burn that can range from mild to second-degree. Thanks to the phototoxic substances in limes and the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight, the longer you handle limes or stay in the sun, the more severe your burns will be.  Phytophotodermatitis is intensified by heat, sweating, and wet skin, which means a day in the sand puts you at greater risk for a severe burn. Protect yourself by applying sunscreen before sun exposure, washing your hands after dealing with limes, or ditching the lime-topped beer altogether.

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Cans To Bottles

Odell and Left Hand breweries are now asking can drinkers to dig their bottle openers out from the backs of their kitchen drawers. Both are dusting off their bottling machines this winter as a nationwide can manufacturing capacity shortage — known as the "candemic" — has caused craft breweries to scramble in search of aluminum. The shortage is a result of shutdowns and social-distancing rules, which have forced breweries to forsake draft lines in taprooms and restaurants in favor of selling their liquid assets to go or on store shelves. 

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World Cup Drinking Rules

While Qatar is promising a warm welcome to those coming for the World Cup next year, there will be guidelines and demands on fans travelling there. fans will be prohibited from drinking in the street.  you will be able to get a drink at reasonable prices in the fan zones, but when you are in any of the public squares do NOT crack open a beer, take off your top or unfurl the Saint George’s Cross flag. Be careful about taking photos, too, because there is an expectation of privacy in the Gulf. And do not be surprised if a policeman gets on your case if you go in for a kiss with someone in the street. Stay away from public displays of affection. Qatar 2022 spokesperson Fatma Al Nuaimi said: “The World Cup will be an opportunity for people to explore our culture, our city, our ways and traditions.

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Rings To Wraps

Rogue Ales & Spirits launched an expanded commitment to sustainability with new recyclable packaging. Within the next 12 months, Rogue is switching all product packaging from plastic rings to 100 percent recyclable wrap packs in an effort to reduce waste and use less plastic.  Made of 100 percent recyclable materials, Rogue’s new wrap packs will reduce over 100,000 lbs of plastic waste to landfills annually. In addition to reducing plastic waste, the wrap pack substrate is responsibly sourced through sustainable forestry practices.

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PBA  and PBR 

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) announced a multi-year partnership that makes Pabst Blue Ribbon, America’s lager, the Official Beer Partner of the PBA. Throughout the PBA Tour season on FOX Sports, Pabst Blue Ribbon will be integrated into all telecasts with a “PBR Beer Frame” in the fifth frame, plus a new “PBR 6-Pack Alert” that will feature a $1000 bonus prize. If the sixth strike is not achieved, $500 will be added to the “PBR 6-Pack Alert Jackpot” and grow each match. More than 70 hours of national television and 1,000 hours of live streaming coverage of the 64th season of the Guaranteed Rate PBA Tour begins on FOX Sports, Saturday, Jan. 22, with the PBA Players Championship.

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False Advertising?

Billed as a Fresh Hop IPA these days, Sierra Nevada’s  Celebration actually uses kilned-hops not fresh undried hops. Though the brewery promises that they travel to the Pacific Northwest hop growing region to select the most premium lots of Cascade and Centennial to be featured at their peak of citrus, pine and floral notes. In our book a fresh hop beer can only be made from undried hops.

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In Grandfather's Footsteps

When William K "Billy" Busch discontinued production of his award-winning Kräftig and Kräftig Light beers in 2019, he said “Don’t count us out. This business is in my blood. We’re already considering new avenues. Stay tuned.” Two years and one pandemic later, the great-grandson of Adolphus Busch, co-founder of Anheuser-Busch, is back in the beer business.  the project has a name: Busch Family Brewing & Distilling. And the beer is called Adolphus.  For the past  two years Busch and his brewmaster, Joshua Hearst , an A-B alum, have been tinkering with experimental brews and perfecting the recipe for a true German pilsner beer at their research pilot brewery. “The Germans get the credit for making the best pilsner beers,” he says, “so I thought to make a pilsner and naming it after my great-grandfather would be the greatest way to honor what he created at Anheuser-Busch."

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New Beer Game App

A new online game lets you experience the supply chain crunch for yourself. The Beergame App simulates the steps of selling beer - from brewer to drinker. It was invented by an MIT systems scientist. Each player has a different role along the supply chain, whether it's retailer, wholesaler, distributor or brewer. In every round you choose how much beer you're going to order. But then you're in the middle of the supply chain, you are receiving bigger and bigger orders, so you do the same to your own supplier. But he doesn't respond usually quickly enough. The supplier usually does not respond quickly enough. And pretty soon you've got a backlog of beer orders. So you panic and order more beer. And this is part of a pattern that happens almost every time that people play The Beergame. It's the further away from the big customer you are, the more volatile your orders would likely be. Economists call it the bullwhip effect.

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The Younger Is Back

Barring any unforeseen business restrictions due to COVID-19, or any other presently unknown limiting factors, this year’s release of the legendary Pliny the Younger release will resume IN PERSON  at Russian River Brewery's Santa Rosa and Windsor brewpubs in 2022!."The entire RRBC team missed seeing our many repeat and first-time visitors from around the world this past year after cancelling the in-person release due to COVID. We are so excited to go back to our pre-COVID program, releasing Pliny the Younger on the first FRIDAY in February, rain or shine!" Russian River management said.  People travel from all over the US and many foreign nations for this release. 

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Tree House Compromises

Tree House Brewing Co. can look forward to welcoming guests to its Cape Cod taproom after settling a dispute with a group of neighbors who tried to stymie the brewer’s plans. The four families who live in Sandwich near Tree House’s 98 Town Neck Road taproom had mainly raised concerns about the level of traffic that would descend on their sleepy beachside street. Through their attorney, they initially sought to have the town revoke Tree House’s building permit.

The two sides just announced an agreement, that includes limits to Tree House’s hours and parking restrictions, as well as banning outdoor music and limiting the number of beers people can buy at the taproom to three during the summer.  Some consumers said they are planning a "Three of anything isn’t worth a trip" protest march.

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Anti- Tom Brady Beer

While an early-season game between the Patriots and Buccaneers got top ratings on Sunday Night Football, the team at Narragansett Beer was preparing a special release ale for Monday after the game. "Round 1,” a beer designed to memorialize the rivalry between Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, is here. The result of the game – Brady and the Bucs defeated Belichick and the Pats 19-17 - is featured on the can design with:  GOAT over Hoodie 1-0.

So how did they “turn around” the beer so quickly? The design team actually prepared two labels for the release, one with the Goat on top, and another with Belichick’s hoodie on top.  Another brewery also weighed in on the topic with  Smug Brewing’s “Traitorade” Owners of the Brewery in Pawtucket, said the beer was crafted to express how fans felt about their longtime hero, Brady, leaving.  They said it was“Sour and salty and e formulated it to taste like Gatorade".

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Goose Island Cocktails?

Goose Island is launching a series of three bourbon-based cocktails. Of course, focusing exclusively on bourbon aligns with the perception many drinkers have of the Anheuser-Busch InBev-owned brewery. It's a brewery that has at least in part made its name on the iconic Bourbon County Stout. The cocktails that "Goose Island Barrel House" on the label will arrive in November, packaged in a four-pack of 12-ounce cans. The Chicago-based brewery is kicking off its cocktail line with a Whiskey Sour, an Old Fashioned Highball, and a Blackberry Smash, all of which clock in with a hefty 9% ABV. The mix in each can includes a three-year-old bourbon distilled by MGP, which produces bourbon under a variety of labels. Each four-pack will cost you about $16.  It's cheaper than their beer.

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Brewdog App Unsafe

The Brewdog mobile app used the same hard-coded API Bearer Token to log in every single customer on their mobiles. This would allow anyone to access and use other people's accounts, including 200,000 "Equity for Punks" shareholders, as well as to snoop on other lower-grade personal information. Even when the flaw was identified, Brewdog didn't do well, taking four attempts to try to fix the issues – on one occasion breaking the app itself. The firm still hasn't formally told shareholders about the issue.  No surprise there since it's Brewdog.

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Nutty Cooler

It’s hard to believe that in this day and age, horrendous styrofoam coolers are still used. They’re bulky, fragile, and about as environmentally unfriendly as a consumer product can get. Enter Nutshell Coolers, a new product made from upcycled coconut husks, Nutshell Coolers are biodegradable and collapsible, so they’re not only good for the environment but easily portable without sacrificing impressive insulation properties. It will be on the market in Nov.

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Real Alamo Beer?

MIDLAND, Texas ' oldest brewery, Eccentric Brewing Company, has announced its release of “The Lone Star Estate”. The beer made entirely of Texas-grown ingredients. Rumor has it that specks of dust from the grounds of the Alamo were used.  The brewery did not comment when asked if it was true. As a native Texan, Eccentric brewmaster Aaron Pachlhofer says he has long desired to create an “all Texas” beer that does not rely upon ingredients sourced from other parts of the U.S. He wanted a beer that “expresses the independent spirit of native Texans and the Alamo”. 

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Frozen Fresh Hops Innovation

Normally, fresh hop beer is produced with hops that are still fresh off the bine. Whether you draw that line at 24 or 36 hours, fresh hop beer involves the use of hops that have been picked but not processed. Not dried. Not pelletized. Still wet. Fresh.  Since the vast majority of the USA’s hop crop comes from the Yakima Valley, brewers in the Pacific Northwest enjoy an advantage when it comes to this kind of beer. For breweries in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho driving to the hop fields to load a van or box truck with freshly picked hops is something of a ritual. Now YCH Co. has created something totally new - Frozen Fresh Hops will give more craft breweries the opportunity to brew fresh hop beers. Frozen Fresh Hops are raw, un-kilned, flash-frozen whole cone hops produced in a state-of-the-art BRC-certified food processing facility. Unlike traditional freezing, flash freezing retains the delicate nuances of un-kilned hops by protecting lupulin gland integrity, preserving fresh hops from both a physical and aromatic perspective. “The result is a product that delivers the magic of fresh hop season with better storability and logistical flexibility,

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Sam Adams Makes Illegal Beer

Boston Beer Co. is set to release its Sam Adams Utopias beer on Oct. 11. This is not the first time the company has released this particular beer, but the flavor changes every other year when it's released biennially. According to the announcement, this year's Utopias beer was "finished on 2,000 pounds of cherries, including Michigan and Balaton cherries" in order to create a sweet yet tart flavor. Sam Adams Utopias is 28 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), which is a higher ABV strength than many states actually allow for beer, according to data from the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA).

Certain state laws limiting the alcohol content of beer have been held over since the end of the Prohibition era, when officials were concerned about what the return of legal alcohol would bring forth.  On the Sam Adams website, the brewing company says, "If you live in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia, don't even look. Utopias is illegal in those states because of its high alcohol content." Sam Adams Utopias will also cost you about $240 dollars a bottle.

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Tax Receipts Prove It

If you feel like you’ve been drinking more alcohol during the past year’s COVID-19 pandemic, the state of Wisconsin, like most others, has the tax receipts to prove it. Alcohol taxes collected in Wisconsin jumped nearly 17% in the fiscal year that ended August 30, according to state tax revenue data  That’s the largest jump since 1972, when the drinking age was lowered to 18 for a little more than a decade. Alcohol taxes in Wisconsin are based on the volume of beverage sold, with beer taxed at about 6.5 cents per gallon and hard liquor taxed at $3.25 per gallon. Wine is taxed at 25 cents per gallon if the alcohol content is 14% or less by volume and 45 cents per gallon for wines with a higher alcohol content. Hard cider is taxed at 6 cents per gallon if the alcohol content is less than 7%, and if higher it is taxed the same as wine.  Wisconsin has the nation’s 48th-lowest beer tax rate, according to the Tax Foundation, a national tax policy think tank. The state ranks 43rd-lowest for wine tax rates and 41st-lowest for liquor.

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Guinness Opens Pub In Chicago

Guinness is a staple of Irish culture, and equally beloved around the world. Soon, the centuries-old beer brand will open a fancy new pub and brewery in Chicago’s famed Fulton Market neighborhood. The 15,000 square foot establishment takes over a former railroad depot, according to the Chicago Tribune. Irish pub food and beer brewed on-site will be served to guests, along with the classic Irish stout imported from Dublin. “This isn’t trying to be a local neighborhood pub,” Jay Sethi, chief marketing officer at Diageo told The Chicago Tribune. “We recognize that we’re big, international beer. What we’re trying to do is create a special environment that has a little bit of a feel of Guinness and what you might expect from an Irish establishment, but at the same time also has some great local food and beer.” Chicago is not the first U.S. city that Guinness set up shop in. Back in 2018, the Diageo-owned brand opened a brewery and taproom in Maryland, close to Baltimore. There, Guinness makes a variety of styles including India Pale Ale, blonde ale, and milk stout.

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Beer Industry Key To The Economy

According to statistics just released the U.S. beer industry supports more than two million good-paying, local jobs and contributes more than $330 billion to our economy. Brewers and beer distributors directly employ nearly 210,000 Americans, and each job in the brewing industry generates another 30 jobs in other industries, including farming, transportation and hospitality. The impact of the beer industry is equivalent to 1.6 percent of the United States’ gross domestic product. The beer industry supports more than 70,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector from producing cans and bottles to kegs and packaging equipment.  Salute them by buying a beer now - everyone wins!

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New Discovery of Old Beer

Archaeologists in southeastern China just announced they have found evidence of ancient beer consumption tucked away in some of the ceramic vessels at the site. Because the excavation also turned up two human skeletons, the research team believes the beer was ritually consumed, perhaps to honor the dead. The burial site, called Qiaotou, is a platform mound about three-quarters the size of a football field. Besides the human remains, the archaeologists discovered several different pits filled with pottery. And within those pots the researchers found ancient crud—starches, fossilized plant residue, and fungal remains—that indicated some of those vessels held alcohol.  In all, there were four bowls, nine jars, and seven long-necked hu pots within the site. Hu pots are slender and flared at the top, looking a bit like a goldfish stood on its head—are known from later historical periods for containing alcohol.  The archaeologists analyzed the microfossil residues from the interior surfaces of the hu pots to determine they had been used for drinking; the 9,000-year-old brew the pots once held was a rice beer crafted using a mold starter.

Beer making is generally a two-step process. First, enzymes break down starches into sugars, a process called saccharification. Then, yeasts change those sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide, which is fermentation. The presence of both the botanical and microbial materials necessary for the two processes is how the researchers determined the purpose of the vessels. This particular beverage looks to have been made of fermented rice, a grain called Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi), and unidentified tubers .

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Investors Sue Boston Beer 

Bernstein Liebhard, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion no later than November 15, 2021 in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of The Boston Beer Company, Inc. from April 22, 2021 through September 8, 2021 (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York alleges violations of the Securities Act of 1934. According to the complaint, Boston Beer issued materially false and/or misleading statements and failed to disclose adverse facts pertaining to the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Boston Beer specifically failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Boston Beer's hard seltzer sales were decelerating; (2) that, as a result, Boston Beer was reasonably likely to incur inventory write-offs; (3) that the Company was reasonably likely to incur shortfall fees payable to third party brewers; (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Boston Beer's financial results would be adversely impacted; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

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Pretzel Beer

Even if the Munich celebrations are muted this year, the innovative Oktoberfest beer, SnyderBier, needs to be the beverage for that hearty Prost moment. This newest offering from Snyder’s of Hanover and Captain Lawrence Brewing Company blends two icons of any Oktoberfest celebration into a single can. Just remember to say, Zum Wohl before taking a sip.  The Pretzel Märzen is a more traditional Oktoberfest style beer. More malt forward, the addition of the pretzel flavor adds to the bready notes of the beer. The 4-pack of the SnyderBier is sold online and retails for $14.99, while supplies last.

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The Five Most Popular International Beers 

5 most popular international beers as of Sept. 2021

1.        Snow is the best-selling brand of beer in the world, yet many people will probably never have heard of it. This brand is sold mostly in China,

2.       Bud Light - Bud Light is the top-selling beer in the US, and is produced by Belgian-Brazilian company AB InBev.

3.       Skol - Skol's current biggest market is Brazil, but as its name suggests, the inspirations for the brew were apparently Scandinavian. The beer is recognized as a Brazilian brand but was, first made in Scotland

4.       Budweiser - Another popular beer in the US, Budweiser is made by Belgian-Brazilian company AB InBev, which was founded in the 1850s. Budwiser is currently the most-valued beer brand worldwide and, according to Statista, was valued at $14.65 billion dollars in 2020.

5.     Tsingtao - is produced in Qingdao, China, and can trace its history to the brief German occupation of the northern Chinese citythis brew currently holds about 15 percent of the Chinese beer market. In Qingdao, locals will often drink the beer from plastic bags with straws, while having a stroll along the beach.

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Bourbon County Stout Returns

Goose Island Beer has announced the 2021 Bourbon County Brand Stout lineup with new flavors like cola and a strawberry ice cream bar. Goose Island will release its beer locally on Black Friday Bourbon County is credited as the first beer aged in bourbon barrels, which allows the beer to pick up flavors from the vessel’s previous tenant. These are boozy beers (this year’s lineup ranges from 14 to 16 percent alcohol by volume)

Bourbon County Stout: This is the original base and will feature “flavors of chocolate and vanilla, oak, whiskey, and molasses, followed by caramel, berry fruit, and almond.” The beer comes from blended from a mix of Heaven Hill, Wild Turkey, and Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels.

Bourbon County Cherry Wood Stout: For the first time, Goose Island took the base Bourbon County Stout and used toasted honeycomb-shaped cherry wood chips. Goose says this will impart a noticeable difference from the base by adding “red fruit, ripe cherry, and light toffee.”

Bourbon County Reserve 150 Stout: The beer’s aged in Old Forester 150th Anniversary Barrels. Expect “notes of chocolate, vanilla, and coconut,” plus “molasses, almond, berry, and oak.” This will be a coveted bottle.

Bourbon County Double Barrel Toasted Barrel Stout: Double-barreled Bourbon County stout was originally bottled last year. This year’s edition is aged a year in Elijah Craig’s small batch bourbon barrels and another year in Elijah Craig toasted bourbon barrels. Expect “toasted marshmallow” and a “fruit and oak finish.”

Bourbon County Reserve Blanton’s Stout: This Reserve is aged 18 months in Blanton’s Original single Barrel bourbon vessels. These barrels are from a high-end bourbon, and expect “rich dark chocolate and oak notes,” and finished with “clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon.”

Bourbon County Classic Cola Stout: Perhaps a spiritual sibling to last year’s Kentucky Fog (made with tea), Goose Island turns to another beverage. Goose described it as a “whisky cola” with “lime, orange juice and zest, plus coriander, cassia bark, nutmeg, brown sugar, and vanilla.”

Bourbon County Fourteen Stout: This is a throwback to a beloved variant from seven years ago. Goose has revived its recipe from the 2014 edition of its Chicago-only Proprietor’s Bourbon County Stout. Once agin expect cassia bark, cocoa nibs, panela unrefined cane sugar, and coconut water.

Proprietor’s Bourbon County Stout: Only available in the Chicago market, Proprietor’s is one of the most sought after variants. This year’s is inspired by a strawberry ice cream bar. Expect to be reminded of short cake “layered with vanilla and topped off with the slight fruitiness of strawberries.”

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Toronto's First Brewery Celebrates 30 years

These days you can't walk down the street in Toronto without passing by a handful of craft breweries during your stroll, however that wasn't always the case. Back in 1991 when Granite Brewery first opened in Toronto, they were one of the only craft beer spots in town and now decades later, they're celebrating 30 years of calling Canada's largest city home.The family run brewery had its first location open in Halifax in 1986, before a Toronto location was opened up five years later exposing the city to Granite's English-style fermentation ales which at the time was completely new to Canada.  While many breweries experiment with sours and tropical flavours, Granite's open fermentation style is better suited for ales, stouts, and more traditional British style beers. nThat isn't to say the brand doesn't experiment on its own however, as Granite recently acquired their first closed fermentor which allowed them to create a brand new New England IPA.

While restrictions prevent the throwing of a massive party to celebrate the 30th anniversary, the Granite team will be releasing their 30th anniversary ale as of this coming Monday as well as specials on all their house favourites.Many things have changed in this city over the past 30 years but Granite has been one staple that has stuck around thanks to their passion and quality beers.  Happy anniversary from BeerNexus!

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If You Can't Beat Them Join Them

One of the top breweries in the nation, Toppling Goliath has announced they will soon be distribution a new line of seltzers.  According to a spokesman, these seltzers are "bringing refreshment to new heights with vibrant fruit flavors and a crisp finish. No matter the location, the destination is always fun with Pseudo Seltzer." Twelve-pack mix pack featuring Pineapple, Mango, Strawberry, and Watermelon will be available before the end of September..

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Say it Ain't So - Mayonnaise Beer

Duke’s Mayonnaise has partnered with Champion Brewing Company to produce the perfect lager to pair with the south’s favorite sandwich – a mouthwatering, Duke’s-slathered BLT. The Vienna-style lager, aptly named Family Recipe (5.1% ABV, 27 IBU), will be available starting this month at Champion’s breweries, restaurants, and distributed via retailers across Virginia and North Carolina. 

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Say It Ain't So - Pat II - Pop Tart Beer

Gnarly Barley Brewing Co. in Hammond, Louisiana has announced the release of a new breakfast sour, which is brewed with strawberry Pop-Tarts.  According to the brewery "t all starts with a classic Berliner Weisse, with a lightly tart backbone and tongue tickling effervescence. This time we went nuts and loaded it up with freshly baked strawberry pop-tarts from Molly’s Rise and Shine in New Orleans. It’s pretty much everything you loved about childhood mixed with everything you love about adulthood."  Don't blame us we just report this stuff.

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Can Can Awards

The Can Can Awards is the premier beer competition focused solely on canned craft beers. In the competition, over 450 beers were entered from across the globe, including entries from both big breweries and small breweries alike. The Can Can Awards competition was sanctioned by the BJCP. Judges were not allowed to judge beers in which they had an affiliation and judged all beers in blind taste tests. Complete list of winners at https://cancanawards.com/2021-medalists/.

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Rescue Brew Beer Dog and Cat

The Second Annual Rescue Brew Beer Spokesdog and Spokescat is underway! Owners of rescued dogs and cats are being asked to submit photos of their pets and a message of why their pet deserves to win the title.  Nominations are open starting July 15 until August 15. A $10 entry donation with each nomination supports the lifesaving programs of Charleston Animal Society.  Entries from anywhere in the world will be accepted,

The public will choose the three finalist dogs and three finalist cats through voting and three local celebrity judges will choose one winning dog and one winning cat to appear on the labels of the 2021 Rescue Brew Beer,” says Joe Elmore, Charleston Animal Society President and CEO. The six finalist dogs and cats will each receive a $100 gift certificate for pet supplies at the pet supply store at the Charleston Animal Society and a “Mega Pupcake” from Cupcake DownSouth. The winner will b announced Oct, 16, 2021.  CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/RescueBrew.

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State Beer

Utah officially has its state beer. Less than one year after Budweiser announced its up to now unsuccessful campaign to become the official state beer of Utah, official Utah Budweiser bottles are being released, making Utah the first state in the US to have its own, specially designed Budweiser bottle.  Contact Budweiser if you want to be next.

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Help Wanted Beer

They’re barley making it. An upstate NY brewery is so desperate in its search for workers amid New York’s attempted pandemic recovery that it has created a new beer called “Help Wanted” — with a job posting on the can. Company President Brendan Murnane, said that since he opened the business in 2017 with his father, John they previously had little problem hiring extra workers to help out with the busier summer season. But this year, not a single applicant inquired between May, June, and July about any of the company’s seven open full- and part- time positions. The Help Wanted beer is sold for $7 on tap at the brewery and as a four-pack for $16 in-house. The four-packs are also peddled by beverage distributors across the state.

Other businesses across the state have also complained it’s been tough to attract workers as the Empire State kicks into recovery mode while continuing to lift restrictions. The New York City subway system had to cancel trains last month thanks to a shortage of staffers as the Big Apple’s underground transit artery resumed 24/7 service. Some food suppliers have even resorted to hiring out-of-state truckers to deliver local goods and are paying to put them up in hotels,  And shockingly Yankee Stadium had to "import" concession workers from Connecticut. 

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Hard Seltzer Becomes Booze

Maker’s Mark distiller Beam Suntory and Sam Adams brewer Boston Beer are joining forces through a new partnership that will bring the iconic brands into new categories. Initial plans for the long-term partnership include branching Boston Beer’s Truly hard seltzer into the spirits category and using Beam Suntory’s Sauza brand for ready-to-drink beverages. Those new products will launch in mid-2022. It’s the latest move from alcohol giants to diversify and adapt to consumers’ changing tastes. In recent years, a “fourth category” of alcoholic drinks has emerged, blurring the line between wine, beer and spirits. Last year, U.S. consumers drank more beverages from the ready-to-drink segment than spirits, according to industry tracker IWSR. One beverage driving the trend is ready-to-drink canned cocktails. Between 2019 and 2020, the premixed cocktail category grew by 50% in the United States.

Beam Suntory and Boston Beer plan to lean on each other for their expertise in the new segments and take advantage of their distribution networks. Because of alcohol regulations that differ across states, beer can have a different path to market than spirits, which tend to be more regulated because of its higher alcohol content.

Bourbon County Sneak Peak

Beer fans look forward to the annual leak of beer labels which provides drinkers a sneak peek at brews that may be released later this year (including potential entries from Goose Island Beer’s hotly anticipated Bourbon County line).The list is furnished by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, as beer makers are required to get federal approval on alcohol labels, and has become a go-to resource for anxious aficionados trying to suss out forthcoming offerings. Breweries know this and sometimes misdirect fans by putting out fictitious labels.

The new round of labels lists a Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout with strawberry, and coconut. While Goose distributes other Bourbon County beers across the country, Prop is exclusively sold in the Chicago area. Drinkers should keep in mind, however, that Goose Island in particular has a history of misdirection while pushing out labels for fictional beers. Other noteworthy possibilities include key lime pie ale collaboration among Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits and Pipeworks Brewing.

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Heineken Rules In India

Heineken, a Dutch company, the second largest beer company in the world, increased its stake in United Breweries (UBL) to 61.5%. They had 45 % stake prior to the new  transaction. Heineken’s stake in UBL, which has a 50 per cent of the India’s beer market, will now be over 72 %.

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Russian Drinkers Go Non-Alcohol

AB InBev Efes, a Russia-based unit of the world’s largest brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev, expects double-digit growth in its non-alcoholic local beer sales in the next few years, after COVID-19 accelerated a shift towards healthier lifestyles.

While many beer lovers across the globe shifted to at-home consumption during the pandemic, non-alcoholic beer sales in Russia – the world’s sixth-largest beer market – grew 13% year-on-year, while the overall beer market rose 4%, according to AB InBev Efes.  The company’s own sales of non-alcoholic beer in Russia jumped by 20% last year, Dmitry Shpakov, chief executive officer of AB InBev Efes, told BeerNexus

Despite the recent surge, the share of non-alcoholic beer on the Russian market accounts for just over 2%, much lower than 11% in Italy or 8% in Germany,  Mirroring a wider boom in Russia’s e-commerce market, AB InBev Efes’ online sales of non-alcoholic beer, which include lagers, fruit beers and blanches, rose 400% in the first quarter compared with a year earlier. Sales of premium beer were also up last year, but AB InBev Efes saw its fastest growth in the imported beer segment, with sales up around 31%, a trend that is expected to continue.

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Goose Poop Beer

After forty years of craft brewing, including an especially wild past decade, so many breweries have tried using so many crazy ingredients that barely anything is shocking. Whale vomit, bonsai tree trimmings, pepper spray, fried chicken: We've covered it all. But that's not to say a new beer announcement can't still catch your eye-or make them pop out of their sockets-like a new beer out of Finland made with the help of some goose poop.

Wasted Potential Imperial Stout is produced by Ant Brew but was inspired by the microbrewery's home city, Lahti. After being named the European Green Capital 2021 the Finnish city about an hour north of Helsinki wanted to celebrate with a beer that really hammered home their "wasteless circular economy" credentials, leading to the collaboration.

"The poop is used in a food-safe way to smoke malt to create a unique stout beer," the announcement explains. ) "The goose droppings are gathered from local parks, where geese are causing a messy problem. Now, the local parks get cleaner and the special edition summer beverages are perfect for a picnic in the park-a true two birds with one stone type of solution. This series of beers is our way to create important discussions about food waste, utilization of waste, urban farming, and local and wild food among beer enthusiasts," Ant Brew's Kari Puttonen stated. "Working with the Lahti Green Capital has been great. We are constantly developing ways to utilize new ingredients in brewing, and are not afraid to think outside of the box."   

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Emojis Injustice

This may not be about beer but even we at BeerNexus were shocked, shocked to learn that n the world of emojis, only one wine glass symbol exists -- and as Emojipedia demonstrates, every major platform colors it some shade of red.  So, a few years ago, a movement emerged to get a specific white wine emoji. Major sponsors -- like wine giant Kendall-Jackson -- got involved, pages of documentation were prepared and submitted to the Unicode Technical Committee (UTC), and in the end, the UTC offered up an overwhelming U+1F937 (that's the shrug emoji).

But apparently some out there still think the UTC can be convinced… and not just to add a white wine emoji. In an announcement just released, the Italian wine consortium Consorzio di Tutela del Chiaretto e del Bardolino wants to go even further: They're asking for a pink rosé emoji.

We guess that any true wine lover probably thinks that both a white wine emoji and a rosé wine emoji deserve a spot on the Unicode table. And the Chiaretto Consortium does offer something the white wine emoji people didn't try: a unique new symbol that isn't just a different colored wine glass. Their pink wine emoji "represents two glasses of pink wine in the act of toasting, crowned by a small pink heart." A bit over-the-top if you ask us.

If you want to join the throngs (726 people) who have signed the pink wine emoji petition, head over to Change.org. Tell them a bottle of wine sent you.  BeerNexus doesn't want to get involved.

AFTER 25 YEARS STONE SAYS NO TO HOPPY BEERS

Amid declining sales for most of its flagship IPAs and following a spate of public controversies and lawsuits, San Diego’s Stone Brewing hopes to introduce a new, “more welcoming” version of the brewery with a portfolio built around a “Baja-inspired lager,” Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager. It’s a sharp departure from the overtly aggressive attitude—and boldly flavored IPAs—that defined the brewery for 25 years, and made it an icon among hops-loving drinkers.

Maria Stipp, Stone’s new CEO—and formerly CEO of Lagunitas Brewing Company—said that Buenaveza is part of the goal of “resetting the tone and manner of the brand,” calling the Lager the brewery’s “number-one priority.”

Stone IPA has been in decline for three years in chain retail stores tracked by market research company IRI. In IRI’s most recent 52-week sales period Stone IPA dollar sales declined -14% while craft beer as a category was +11.6%.

The change from focusing on West Coast IPA to Lager is part of what Stipp envisions as an inviting, less “off-putting” brand image. The new attitude is meant to support sales of more approachable beer styles like Buenaveza, its spinoff Buenavida Hard Seltzers, Dayfall Belgian White, and Features & Benefits low-calorie IPA.

While COVID forced most U.S. drinkers to buy beer off-premise at grocery or big-box stores—giving a boost to many national and regional breweries—Stone struggled. It had the retail placements and infrastructure to succeed in chain retail, but didn’t capitalize on the opportunity the way its peer breweries did. Over the past year, Stone’s California cohort generally outpaced it. Stone’s total chain retail sales grew just shy of 5% in the 52-week period ending April 18. In the same period, Firestone Walker Brewing Company grew 23%; Russian River Brewing grew 42%; and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. grew 15%. Nationally, those brands—as well as small, local breweries—threaten the dominance Stone has long had in the IPA space and beyond.

This is the uphill battle for Stone: How to introduce a new and dramatically different image to a customer base that may have already moved on. The extent of the turnaround Stipp is proposing is huge. 

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GET ASSOCIATES DEGREE IN BREWING

You can now earn for one of the first times in the country, a 2-year associate’s degree in brewing operations from BridgeValley Community & Technical College in Va., coupled with a brand-new, 2,000-hour hands-on brewing apprenticeship program only available to students in the brewing program. It requires six-to-12 hours each semester, and roughly a year’s worth of full-time, paid work.The US Department of Labor has awarded a grant funding for part of the salary.  Roughly half of the program’s participants are women.

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NEW BEER FROM NARRAGANSETT

Narragansett Beer has announced the release of three new beers. Prima Doppia is the brewery’s first foray into the hazy, full-bodied, double IPA segment ,  Musik Express IPA is a balanced, fruity IPA and  Pink Boots Pale Ale is a collaboration beer with the Pink Boots Society. “After 130 years, we could not be more excited to begin brewing and to get a first taste of what is just the start of new beers out of the brewery!” says Mark Hellendrung, President of Narragansett Beer.

Narragansett Beer…Brewed since 1890. Today, ‘Gansett is produced in Providence, R.I., and Rochester, N.Y. and is the 32nd largest craft brewer in America and the fastest growing in the Northeast. Narragansett is available for purchase throughout New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and 29 other states.

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BEER SALES SOAR IN CHINA

Budweiser Brewing Co APAC will step up promotion of premium beer brands including Hoegaarden and Corona and expand non-beer offerings, betting a rising middle class will boost demand for higher-end products, its chief executive just announced.   The Hong Kong-listed Asia arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI.BR) reported a 63.7% rise in first-quarter revenue, with total volume up 64.6%, driven by strong consumption over the Lunar New Year holiday and a low base for comparison due to the COVID-19 outbreak last year.

Budweiser APAC (1876.HK) shares surged more than 8% after posting its results. Revenue doubled in China from the same period last year and grew by double digits compared to last year. . Revenue generated from premium brands increased by high double digits year on year. China's growing middle class and the proliferation and needs of different drinking occasions was driving the company to broaden its product portfolio according to a spokesperson.

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LONG LINES FOR FREE BEER

Like many parts of the country, upstate New York had gotten kind of stuck in a rut with vaccinations. Appointments at many area clinics were lagging.  Until, people heard the magic words - free beer. You give people a beer, they tend to show up.  Jeff Ware. owner of  Resurgence, Brewery in Buffalo, NY decided to do that but only if a person got a Covid 19 vaccine shot at the brewery itself. .He set up a vaccination station next to his towering metal fermentation tanks. The line of people stretched around the entire brewery and continued for the entire weekend of the promotion.   

From Zero to $2000

Residents of Morristown, N.J. have rallied to support a server at a local restaurant and brewery after she was denied a tip last week. Like many restaurants during the pandemic, Glenbrook Brewery – which opened only five weeks ago – has instituted a 90-minute time limit for dine-in customers. However, one customer apparently didn’t like that policy and decided not to leave a tip on his $86.37 beer bill (Glenbrook does not serve food) on a recent Friday night.

In a note he left on his receipt, the patron wrote: "I’m sorry the server gets screwed on this. Don’t kick paying customers out after 90 minutes."

Heath Traver, Glenbrook’s co-owner and head brewer, told BeerNexus the policy is in place as a way to keep the restaurant’s wait time down while following state coronavirus guidelines. Currently, New Jersey requires that indoor dining be limited to 50% capacity, with parties of eight or less and tables all six feet apart.  "We can't fit 50% in just because of those limitations, We’re very limited in our seating capacity and that – with a pretty high demand to see us – is causing lines and we’re just trying to deal with it the best we can in the most fair way we can."

However, on Friday, there was a line. One of Glenbrook’s servers, who only gave her first name as Beth, said  that as one of her tables was getting close to the 90-minute mark, she let them know they would have to leave soon. The taproom manager, Conor Boucher, even asked the customer if the beer and service were satisfactory and the customer said yes. He just didn’t like the time limit.

Word of the customer’s rude note got around and a picture was posted on Facebook the next day by another bar owner nearby.  Since then, the story has gone viral. In fact, the Morristown Stimulus Plan –a Facebook group founded last year as a way to support local businesses and restaurants – raised about $2000 for Beth to make up for missing out on her tip, Beth, who also works as a registered nurse, is working at Glenbrook to help pay for her doctoral program. She said she plans to keep 20% as a tip and use the rest to buy food for her fellow hospital employees.

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Wish You Lived There - Best Towns & Cities For Beer

Top Ten small towns for craft beer according to USA Today.com

1.   Avondale Estates, Georgia

2.   Maple Shade, New Jersey

3.   Portsmouth, New Hampshire

4.   Berlin, Maryland

5.   Derby, Connecticut

6.   Hammonton, New Jersey

7.   Traverse City, Michigan

8.   Boone, North Carolina

9.   Hood River, Oregon

10.   Taos, New Mexico

To Ten "Best Beer Cities." By USAToday

10. Charlotte, N.C.

9.   Milwaukee, Wis.

8.   Fort Collins

7.   Atlanta, Ga.

6.   Denver

5.   Indianapolis, Ind.

4.   Philadelphia, Pa.

3.   Asheville, N.C.

2.   St. Louis, Mo.

1.   Grand Rapids, Mich.

Winner of two past Best Beer Scene titles, Grand Rapids, Michigan's second-largest city, sports the state's strongest beer scene, thanks largely to the presence of the world-renowned Founders Brewing Co.," the USA Today announcement said. The city's official 'Beer City Ale Trail' lists more than 80 breweries in the surrounding area, and the local calendar is constantly filled with beer festivals, events and promotions. Throw in exceptional beer stores and it's easy to see why Grand Rapids proudly stakes its claim as 'Beer City USA.

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New Charity Beer From Odell

Odell Brewing has just announced the latest addition to their year-round lineup, Kindling, a refreshing Golden Ale with aromas of crisp malts and subtle citrus. Kindling will serve as the spokes-beer for the brewery’s charitable program and community outreach.  "We’ve given Kindling a job to do, to share the Odell tradition of making a lasting positive impact in the communities where we do business,” explains Karla Baise of Odell Brewing’s Community Outreach. “This beer will tell the stories of the great work that our charitable partners do.  Every six pack, keg, and pint sold at each taproom and across our 20 state distribution adds to the annual contribution.”

Along with the release of  Kindling, Odell Brewing is launching a six week campaign that highlights their charitable partners and showcases the work they do in the community in order to raise awareness around their impact and needs.

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Bald Eagles Love Yuengling Beer

Yuengling is always touting that it’s America’s oldest still operating brewery, and it consistently embraces that claim with mass respect for the United States via philanthropy and marketing. What’s more American than bald eagles? D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. is a partner of the American Eagle Foundation (AEF), a leading nonprofit organization focused on the care and protection of the U.S. national symbol. There’s even an eagle nest cam you can enjoy right here with some Yuengling branding. Remember, Yuengling started as Eagle Brewery. Equally very American, Yuengling has always been a strong supporter of the U.S. military and its vet. There are big donations like $50,000 to TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) as part of its Lagers For Heroes program and to further aid the military community during the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s the partnership with country music star Lee Brice, who serves as a brand ambassador for Yuengling’s Stars & Stripes program, which is dedicated to supporting our nation’s military through Team Red, White & Blue (a non-profit that enriches the lives of America’s veterans through health and wellness). 

Now, Yuengling is rolling out limited-edition desert camouflage cans again in partnership with military veteran nonprofit Team Red White & Blue (Team RWB) as part of its Stars & Stripes program. The new cans, emblazoned with a unique camo print and Team RWB logo, are part of a continued effort to pay tribute to the men and women who served America.

Starting this month, these special Yuengling Lager camo cans will be available for a limited time across Yuengling’s 22-state footprint in 12-oz 12-pack, 12-oz 24-pack as well as 24-oz cans. The camo cans will include a Snapchat code that will allow users to engage with the brewery’s iconic Yuengling Eagle, which sounds interesting, and invites consumers to donate to Team RWB, a nonprofit forging America’s leading health and wellness community for veterans. 

Your Brewery Manager Is A Bi**H

A customer recently cussed out one of the employees of a brewery over the mask policy, and then followed it up with a thoughtful email that read - Ya"ll suck. Your manager is bitch and your beer tastes like hot old orange juice".  And with that, Beale's Beer in Virginia has just announced a new beer called "Your Manager Is Bitch" directly mocking said customer.  "I know, the name is lacking an "A" but that's because the brilliant customer forgot about a type-o.  And although the customer's email claimed their beer tasted like hot, old OJ, Beale's new "Your Manager Is Bitch" actually tastes like pecan pie, with "notes of caramelized sugar and warm, toasted pecans".  It's quite good by all accounts. They even included the hateful email on the can just to dig the customer even further in the ground. "I know this might be the ultimate petty move, but I gotta say, I'm all about it. In fact, I absolutely love it" said the offended manager who is only identified as "B.C." despite her picture being on the can.

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Oat Milk Beer

It seems Americans can't get enough oat milk of late. Sales of the plant-based milk have surged by more than 300% in the past few months. So, what's next? An oat-milk beer, of course. Dogfish Head, the Delaware-based brewer that's now owned by the maker of Sam Adams beer and is a major name in the world of craft beer, has just introduced Hazy-O!, a product that's indeed made with oat milk. Dogfish founder Sam Calagione says he was noting how popular the plant milk was becoming and thought it might be the perfect ingredient for a hazy IPA, a style of IPA that's less bitter. He says he was particularly inspired by his conversations with baristas, who praised oat milk for its "silky-smooth attributes."  The process of making the beer is not so simple, however. Dogfish's recipe doesn't just call for oat milk to be used in the brewing, but also different types of oats themselves, from rolled to malted. But in any case, the beer fits into the Dogfish lineup. Now you really can put beer on your Cheerios though Calagione suggests pairing Hazy-O! with spicy foods, particularly hot wings or curry.  

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Virginia Beer Named Champion

Champion Brewery has a nice ring to it, and that's just what Beer52 a United Kingdom based craft beer cultivation and subscription organization that serves thousands of international brews annually throughout the UK has named The Virginia Beer Company. There is no secret that Williamsburg's Virginia Beer Co. loves sharing beers cheers abroad. Since opening in 2016, the brewery has been working closely with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and the Brewers Association's EDP to bring the flavors of Williamsburg to Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. "We were of course humbled, flattered, and thrilled to learn that the thousands of subscribers to Beer52 had voted VBC as their favorite US brewery of the USA "reflected VBC Brewmaster Jonathan Newman. Despite the many variabilities that 2020-21 has brought, the Virginia Beer Co. more than quadrupled its international exports in 2020 

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No Food, Just Beer

William Shakespeare said that" a quart of ale is a meal for a king." A brewery owner in Cincinnati, Ohio is catching that spirit for Lent. Del Hall will be drinking a lot of beer over  six weeks, because he will be on a liquid diet of beer, coffee, tea and water. "I'll be having three to five beers per day. It's not like I'm drinking constantly. If you are, you know, eating your standard diet, it gets boring. You don't eat the same thing every day. So I'm definitely not gonna drink the same thing every day," said Hall. This is the third Lenten season Hall has been on a beer diet for Lent. He says each year he loses 40-50 pounds, getting all of his calories from beer. Not only does he lose weight each year, he also lowers his cholesterol and blood pressure. "How does your body adjust to it? Are you drunk all the time? No, the human body is an amazing thing. We are used to going through as hunter-gatherers, feast and famine, right? The problem is, we never go through the famine any more," explained Hall. Hall is co-owner of 16 Lots Brewery in Mason, OH. He knows firsthand how the pandemic has affected bars, restaurants and breweries. This Lent, he's going to raise money for those local businesses through Sergeant Del's virtual tip jar. When Lent is over, Hall will take all of the money he has raised, and share it evenly with the bars and restaurants that ask to be part of the fundraiser. And don't worry, he says safety is important and he always has a designated driver. "Last year I became Uber platinum through this ordeal, I used Uber so much." The Lent season will last April third.

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Plant Hops Now

The process of growing hops is pretty simple, according to Ryan Roesler. "Homebrewers can start by planting the hops around springtime usually, allowing them to grow up a trellis, clothing line, deck, or fence. The hops can then grow upwards, anywhere from 12 to 14 ft. The hops need to dry for two to three days after harvest." he said. Early in the process, the young hops are actually edible. They can also be made into decorations. "In the springtime when the hops chutes first come out of the group, they'll look very similar to an asparagus," said Roesler. "They're purple, and you can clip those off and steam them or saute them and they're very good." BeerNexus says get busy and plant your hops now!

Made In The USA

Long known as a product of Belgium, premium beer brand Stella Artois will soon lose its “import” status and be manufactured in the United States, as parent company Anheuser-Busch rolls out a major $1  billion, two-year domestic investment across its  portfolio that’s aimed at stimulating the American economy. Stella’s bottling will first shift to St. Louis this summer Four existing Anheuser-Busch breweries are slated for long-term upgrades to handle the increase in volume, with facilities in Los Angeles, Newark and Jacksonville, Fla., joining the company’s St. Louis flagship.  Stella Artois is the world’s fourth-largest imported beer and  ranks as the most significant such brand under St. Louis- based AB’s corporate umbrella, which is more well- known for domestic beers such as Budweiser, Bud Light and Michelob Ultra. It joins several well-known alleged “imports,” like AB’'s German brand Beck’s and Australian favorite Foster’s by MillerCoors, both of which have been produced in the U.S. for years, Marketers opti to put the magnifying glass on those beers’ taste or heritage instead of their origin. 

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Goodbye Olympia Beer

Say it ain't so, beer lovers: Olympia Beer, a mainstay of bar taps and college parties for decades, is pausing production.  Pabst Brewing Co. made the announcement in an Instagram post. The owner of the iconic local brand said the decision came after a decline in the beer's sales.  Olympia Beer was founded more than 120 years ago in Tumwater, Wash. Widely known throughout the 1960s and 70s, the beer slipped out of popularity and was first sold to Pabst in the 1980s. Beer  production moved out of Olympia in 2003. Pabst left some room for a resurgence, however. The company said it's only "pausing".

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No Hangover Drink

In the U.K., researchers are hard at work on a synthetic alcohol alternative that they say is a drink designed to light up the same parts of the brain that make drinking alcohol fun, relaxing and sociable—in theory without causing hangovers, loss of control or health issues. 

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Heineken Cuts 8,000 Jobs

Heineken NV, the world's second largest beer manufacturer is cutting 8,000 jobs and trying to "move beyond beer" after the pandemic hammered sales. The brewer of Moretti and Amstel said in an earnings statement that it will slash almost 10% of its global workforce and seek savings of €2 billion ($2.4 billion) over two years as part of an overhaul designed to improve efficiency.  The restructuring will cost about €420 million ($509 million) and reduce head office staff costs by 20%. Regional offices and local operations will also be impacted. Heineken (HEINY) reported a net loss of €204 million ($247.6 million) in 2020, compared with a profit of €2.2 billion ($2.7 billion) the previous year. Revenue tumbled 16.7% to €23.8 billion ($28.9 billion) amid closures of restaurants and bars in key markets, as well as other restrictions on social gatherings and alcohol sales. Heineken estimates that at the end of Feburaru 2021 less than 30% of bars and restaurants were operating in Europe, which is its biggest market.

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Stale Beer By Now

American and Egyptian archaeologists have unearthed what could be the oldest known beer factory at one of the most prominent archaeological sites of ancient Egypt, The place is west of the Nile River, about 450 kilometers (280 miles) south of Cairo. The factory apparently dates back to the region of King Narmer, who is widely known for his unification of ancient Egypt at the beginning of the First Dynastic Period (3150 B.C.- 2613 B.C.). Archaeologists found eight huge units — each is 20 meters (about 65 feet) long and 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) wide. Each  nit includes some 40 pottery basins in two rows, which had been used to heat up a mixture of grains and water to produce beer 

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Anchor - Bad Decision?

For those who haven’t heard, here’s the outrage roiling the beer world: San Francisco’s storied Anchor Brewing Co. has changed its logo. Yes, as part of its 125th anniversary celebration, the brewery — now owned by Sapporo — has decided to ditch the classy label and invigorate the brand with bold colors and typography that can be seen for a mile through fog.  Hopefully someone will strip the research budget of this campaign, Many observers speculate that the decision by Sapporo Brewing, which purchased the company in 2017, is meant to increase sales by appealing to a new, younger

generation of drinkers.If that’s the case, we think a new product could do the trick. How about a fruity, low-calorie alcoholic beverage? Oh wait, that’s already in the works. Anchor’s new brew, Little Weekend, “a light golden ale brimming with mango f lavor,” will make its debut in March as part of the anniversary festivities. So we’re good. Now bring back the classic label. 

Big Tip On Beer Bill

It's nice when people show a little more love and kindness: A customer at a Cleveland restaurant recently left a $3,000 tip on a beer tab of $7.02.  The anonymous tipper did so to help the staff during the pandemic. According to the owner of the eatery, Nighttown, Brendan Ring. The man told him that he wished him well and told him to share the tip with the four

employees who were working. Ring said “I ran after him and he said no mistake we will see you when you reopen!” The restaurant is voluntarily closing for a few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a similar vein, a Toronto bar owner's  venue might stay afloat because her beer customers came to rescue by buying almost her entire beer stock and allowing her to survive closing due to COVID-19. Owner Abra Shiner asked her community for help via Facebook, "I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to pay rent she said People to come buy the beer we had in our stock room ... and it worked. The post went viral.  We sold 90 cases in two days" 

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Happy Anniversary

Heavy Seas Beer proudly announces the release of 25, a double barrel aged strong ale brewed in celebration of their 25th anniversary. First aged in bourbon barrels and then finished in rye, 25 comes in at a whopping 15.5% ABV. 25 will be available in stores in 16oz four-pack cans starting in early January 2021  Heavy Seas Beer was founded by Hugh Sisson in 1995, and has grown to become one of the most respected and award-winning craft breweries all along the east coast.  

Budweiser Courtside Thrones

The Atlanta Hawks have been named Anheuser- Busch InBev’s “NBA Partner of the Year, ”The Hawks transformed two courtside seats into fur- covered Budweiser thrones, giving the seat holders buckets of Bud beers emblazoned with the likeness the Bud and Hawks logos for all 34 regular season home games. The seats, which can’t be purchased,

will be  awarded to random fans or rappers, musicians, athletes and influencers, 

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Counterfeit

If Spain's La Guardia Civil and the country's Tax Agency appear to be celebrating this week, it might not have anything to do with the holidays. According to Food Safety News, the two agencies recently busted a multi-national criminal network that had been producing and distributing counterfeit whisky. After the dust settled and the paperwork was completed, 14 people between the ages of 37 and 52 had been arrested. The bogus bottles were estimated to be worth more than €800,000 ($970,000) and the damage to the legitimate whiskey brand—which has yet to be identified—could've been as much as €4 million ($4.8 million).  Note please they were afraid to counterfeit craft beer. They just couldn’t make it taste as good.

Beer Goes National

Hop Valley Brewing and its flagship Bubble Stash IPA are poised for a North American distribution and marketing expansion next year, the brewery’s corporate parent Molson Coors said..According to Molson Coors’ beer blog Beer & Beyond, Hop Valley’s significant growth – 21% in 2020 – has positioned it to compete nationally. The brewery has surged even during the pandemic on the strength of its chain distribution, which accounts for 80% of its sales. Bubble Stash, part of the hop-forward brewery’s Stash series collection of IPAs, this year has seen 40% growth in the Pacific Northwest region, which includes Oregon, Washington and Idaho. The brewery’s beers are also distributed in California and Vermont.

Hop Valley, founded in 2009, was purchased in 2016 by megabrewery MillerCoors, which is now Molson Coors, and is part of the corporation’s Tenth & Blake division.

Hero Saves Beer

A woman in Australia is being dubbed a "hero" after wading out into rough surf to rescue two kegs that were carried out to sea amid a recent bout of extreme weather off the coast of Queensland— even while another employee described the chaotic scene as "so dangerous." Footage of the woman’s actions was first broadcast on Australia’s 7 News, where she could be seen trying to retrieve the kegs while waves crashed in front of the Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Club in Currumbin, on the Gold Coast. The footage is also on youtube.com.

The woman eventually grabs hold of both kegs, the footage shows. "It’s just so dangerous," said an employee of the surf club. He also noted that "a lot of rubbish, a lot of fences" were also swept up in the surf. The club’s entire parking lot, too, was seen covered by the rushing tides. The woman’s actions, meanwhile, were also applauded on Twitter, where beer fans quickly dubbed her "wife material" and expressed admiration for her dedication. One outlet even praised her bywriting, "Not all heroes wear capes — sometimes they carry beer kegs."