Beer Lovers Across the U.S. Celebrate AHA Big Brew on May 6

                                                                                                             

WHAT:            In honor of National Homebrew Day (which falls every year on May 7), the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) celebrates AHA Big Brew on the first Saturday in May. This year, throughout the day on May 6, hundreds of bars, breweries, shops and homebrew clubs nationwide will host their local communities to brew on-site for a national, same-day homebrewing session. This year’s official Big Brew recipes— Rushmore American IPA, Battre L’oie Saison and Klang Freudenfest Oktoberfest Lager—celebrate the upcoming release of the fourth edition of How to Brew by John Palmer, which is one of the all-time best and most beloved homebrewing guides. At noon CDT, all homebrewers and beer lovers are encouraged to raise their glass in a simultaneous toast to the hobby, which is enjoyed by of thousands all over the world. 

 
WHEN:           All day long! Saturday, May 6

                        The simultaneous toast occurs at 12:00 p.m. CDT

WHERE:         Everywhere! From homebrewers’ homes and backyards, to the shops that provide the ingredients and supplies, to local breweries and craft beer bars worldwide. View aninteractive map of AHA Big Brew event locations across the country. Register your local AHA Big Brew event and join the conversation on Twitter with #BigBrew17. 

WHO:              Everyone! As long as they’re 21 and over, of course.

WHY:                   There over 1.2 million homebrewers in the United States. With one in every 200 adults in the U.S. now crafting their own beer, homebrewing has become one of the country’s fastest growing hobbies. AHA Big Brew is a toast to the nation’s homebrewers and their shared love and appreciation for homebrewed beer, mead and cider. In 2016, over 12,000 people celebrated the event at 483 registered sites. Additionally, 2,363 batches created 17,804 gallons of homebrew enjoyed worldwide. Last year, 48 U.S. states and 12 countries participated. In 1988, May 7 was announced before Congress as National Homebrew Day, and so the AHA created AHA Big Brew, held each year on the first Saturday in May, to celebrate National Homebrew Day across the U.S. and globe.

About the American Homebrewers Association:

The American Homebrewers Association has worked on behalf of the homebrewing community since 1978 and celebrates a membership of more than 46,000 homebrewers. The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) organizes events including Homebrew Con and the National Homebrew Competition. The AHA also publishesZymurgy magazine and offers the Brew Guru™mobile app. The AHA is part of the Brewers Association, whose Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers and anyone interested in making their own homemade beer are invited to learn more atHomebrewersAssociation.org. Follow the AHA onTwitter, and join us on Facebook and Instagram.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.

Stone Brewing Closes Epic First Quarter

Courtesy of Stone Brewing Co

ESCONDIDO, CA (May 2, 2017) – Stone Brewing, is off to a hot start in 2017, reporting 18% growth versus the prior year.  Stone Brewing’s performance is far outpacing both the year-to-date, IRI-stated grocery craft category growth of 4.4% and the category’s 52-week growth rate of 6.4%.

Stone Brewing’s explosive growth is fueled by its core beers both familiar and new.  First, the familiar stalwart Stone IPA, launched 20 years ago and refreshed just over a year ago, is up 8.2% demonstrating continued opportunity to convert more hop heads to its iconic West Coast style.  Relative newcomer, Stone Delicious IPA, launched nationally in 2015, is up a whopping 142% over the same period.  Stone buttressed these core beer advancements with two new year-round beers: Stone Ripper and Stone Tangerine Express IPA.

Launched in southern California in December and nationally in January, Stone Ripper is one of the top five new six-packs in US Food according to IRI.  And launched in late January, Stone Tangerine Express IPA depletions year-to-date make it both the fifth largest draft IPA brand and the hottest new 22oz.

Rounding out its quarter one performance is Stone’s seasonal mixed pack offering.  The Stone All IPA Mixed Pack, including four different IPAs: Stone Pataskala Red X IPA, Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0, Stone Delicious IPA and featuring an in-pack exclusive, first-ever Stone Hop Revolver IPA is up 14.7%.

“2017 is off  to a great start for Stone Brewing both on premise and off premise and it‘s showing us that craft beer fans nationwide appreciate our genre-defining styles of IPAs and our new complementary San Diego style Pale Ale – in Stone Ripper,” said Dominic Engels, Stone Brewing CEO. “In a category that seems to be talking more and more about slowdown, we are pleased to be talking about continued double-digit growth.”

From local to global distribution

Stone Brewing Distribution is expected to expand availability to all states, in addition to District of Columbia and Puerto Rico by May.  On the international front, they are in 35 countries, including more than 20 in Europe, plus Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Costa Rica and more. Stone Brewing – Berlin in its first full year is on pace to brew and sell over 20,000 Hectoliters.

“It’s been really amazing to see the traction on a global basis with fans and retailers thus far,” added Engels.  “We’re excited as we look toward the horizon with even more expansion and distribution plans across the European market and beyond.”

Celebrating success

Stone Brewing was recently recognized by RateBeer with awards in six categories, including being named “Best Brewery in California”.  On August 18-19, they will celebrate the Stone 21st Anniversary Celebration & Invitational Beer Festival, in San Marcos, CA.

about stone brewing

About Stone Brewing

Founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996, the groundbreaking San Diego-based Stone Brewing is the 9th largest craft brewer in the United States. Recognized as an industry leader, Stone has been listed on the Inc. 500 | 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list 12 times, has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice, and was named the “Top Rated Brewer in California” by RateBeer Best in January 2017. The multifaceted company is the first American craft brewer to independently build, own and operate their own brewery in Europe (Berlin, Germany), and also opened a production brewery in Richmond, Virginia in 2016. Known for its bold, flavorful and largely hop-centric beers, Stone has earned a reputation for brewing outstanding, unique beers while maintaining an unwavering commitment to sustainability, business ethics, philanthropy and the art of brewing…and pledging never, ever, to sell out to the man.  For more information on Stone Brewing,  please visit stonebrewing.com or the company’s social media sites: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and The Stone Blog.

New Belgium Brewing and Colorado State University to Partner on “Old Aggie” Superior Lager

Courtesy of New Belgium Brewing Co and Colorado State University

Ft. Collins, Colo. – May 2, 2017 – New Belgium Brewing and Colorado State University are teaming up for a one-of-a-kind collaborative beer, Old Aggie Superior Lager. Packaging for the crisp golden lager prominently features Colorado State’s ram mascot, with a green and orange vintage color scheme that evokes the school’s rich agricultural history and tradition. The beer will be a year-round offering available for distribution only in Colorado.

“We were excited to work with the CSU team to create a light-bodied, all-malt lager with hints of citrus and lemon,” said New Belgium Brewer and CSU alum Cody Reif. “Old Aggie is a refreshing and sessionable lager that is the perfect game day companion for CSU alumni and fans.”

The University will receive a portion of the proceeds from sales of Old Aggie Superior Lager, which will be divided equally between CSU’s Fermentation Science and Technology Program, CSU Athletics, and alcohol awareness and education efforts for CSU students.

“We’re excited to partner with New Belgium Brewing, and to further the relationship between two Fort Collins-based organizations doing great things here in our community and around the nation,” said Tom Milligan, vice president for external relations. “We especially appreciate the support for our athletics programs and our fermentation science program, and are truly thankful that New Belgium is joining us in a real commitment to promoting alcohol awareness and education on our campus.”

This beer will celebrate many years of partnership between the two Fort Collins, CO institutions. New Belgium brewers hold adjunct positions and teach courses in CSU’s Fermentation Science and Technology program, and more than 100 CSU alumni are currently working at New Belgium. In 2015 New Belgium and brewery co-founder Kim Jordan gifted $1 million for renovations to the Fermentation Sciences lab on campus and in 2016, New Belgium contributed $4 million toward construction of Colorado State’s new stadium. The Porch, a New Belgium branded tap room housed within the stadium, is set to open later this summer.

“As one of many Colorado State University alumni here at New Belgium, it’s tremendously fulfilling to see this project come to liquid fruition,” said New Belgium Brewing Co-founder and Executive Chair of the Board of Directors, Kim Jordan. “CSU has invested heavily in its Fermentation Sciences program and its athletics program and those things benefit our entire community. We’re delighted to offer Old Aggie Lager to celebrate our long-running partnership.”

Old Aggie Superior Lager will be released in 12-oz cans, 24-oz cans and draft in Fort Collins July 1^st, 2017 only in Fort Collins and across the Front Range as of August 15, 2017.

Courtesy of New Belgium Brewing Co

About New Belgium Brewing

New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Belgian Style Ale and a host of award-winning beers, is recognized as one of Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work and one of the Wall Street Journal’s Best Small Businesses. The 100% employee-owned brewery is a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business as designated by the League of American Bicyclists, and one of World Blu’s most democratic U.S. businesses, as well as a Certified B Corp. In addition to Fat Tire, New Belgium brews fourteen year-round beers; Citradelic Tangerine IPA, Citradelic Lime Ale, Voodoo Ranger IPA, Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA, Voodoo Ranger 8 Hop Pale Ale, Dayblazer Easygoing Ale, Tartastic Lemon Ginger Ale, Sunshine Wheat, 1554 Black Ale, Bohemian Pilsner, Abbey Belgian Ale, Trippel and a gluten-reduced line, Glutiny Pale Ale and Glutiny Golden Ale. Learn more at www.newbelgium.com. 

Courtesy of Colorado State University

About Colorado State University

Colorado State University, one of the nation’s top-performing public research institutions, was established in 1870 and remains inspired by its land-grant heritage and world-class faculty, staff and students. With annual research expenditures of more than $300 million, with a student body of more than 33,000 students built on multiple, consecutive years of record enrollment, including more Colorado high school graduates than any other university, and with outreach and engagement programs in every county in Colorado, we serve our state as we seek, together, to make a global difference. Alumni and friends gave nearly $200 million in gifts to CSU in 2016, shattering the record for any single campus in the state. In 2015, the Smithsonian Institution featured Fort Collins and CSU as a hub for energy innovation in an exhibit at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. CSU also in 2016 became the proud academic partner of Semester at Sea. Learn more at http://www.colostate.edu/.

How to Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Great Beer Every Time Revised and Updated

Courtesy of Brewers Publications

Brewers Publications Presents

How to Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Great Beer Every Time

Boulder, CO • May 2, 2017 – Fully revised and updated, the latest release from Brewers Publications, How to Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Great Beer Every Time by John Palmer, is the definitive guide to making quality beers at home. A perennial best seller since the release of the 3rd edition in 2006, How to Brew is a must-have to update every new and seasoned brewer’s library.

 

From ingredients and methods to recipes and equipment for brewing beer at home, How to Brew is loaded with valuable information on brewing techniques and recipe formulation. The completely revised and updated edition includes additional emphasis on Palmer’s top five brewing priorities: sanitation, fermentation temperature control, proper yeast management, the boil, and recipe development, as well as five new chapters covering malting and brewing strong beers, fruit beers, sour beers, and adjusting water for style.

 

“Owning How to Brew is like having a brewmaster as your best friend. In the 30-plus years since the American craft beer revolution got its start, countless brewing books have appeared. None, however, has achieved the status of How to Brew, which is thorough, comprehensive, and beautifully organized,” said Jim Koch, founder & brewer of Samuel Adams. “And now, this new expanded and enhanced edition improves on the original. It’s a considerable feat to create a book that is invaluable both to first-time brewers and professional brewmasters, but John has done it with a book that is essential for everyone who is serious about brewing.”

 

John Palmer is also co-author of Brewing Classic Styles and Water: A Comprehensive Guide for Brewers. He was born and raised in Midland, Michigan, and graduated from Michigan Tech University. After 20 plus years in aerospace and medical devices, he now serves as publications director for the Master Brewers Association of the Americas.

 

Brewers Publications supports the mission of the Brewers Association by publishing books of enduring value for amateur and professional brewers as well as titles that promote understanding and appreciation of American craft beer. With over 50 titles to choose from, it’s the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers, homebrewers and beer enthusiasts.

 

How to Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Great Beer Every Time

ISBN: 978-1938469350

Member Pre-Sale Price: $14.97

Member Pre-Sale: April 24 – May 7, 2017

Cover Price: $24.95

 

Courtesy of Brewers Association

About the Brewers Association

The Brewers Association is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The Brewers Association (BA) represents more than 70 percent of the brewing industry, and its members make more than 99 percent of the beer brewed in the U.S. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup^SM, Great American Beer Festival^®, Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America^®, SAVOR℠: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Homebrew Con, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week^®. The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine and its Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

 

Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association and the free Brew Guru™ mobile app. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

 

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.

 

Henry’s Tavern Expands to South Lake Union and Bellevue

Henry’s Tavern Expands to South Lake Union and Bellevue

 

Two new locations offer custom menus boasting abundant beers on tap and urban tavern fare featuring ‘food for all moods’ and amenities designed to cater to distinctive neighborhoods

Seattle – May 1, 2017 – Henry’s Tavern, an upscale tavern-inspired bar and restaurant, today announced it will open two dining destinations in South Lake Union and Bellevue in late summer. Henry’s Tavern, owned and operated by Restaurants Unlimited, Inc., first opened in Seattle in 2013 with its SoDo location that quickly developed as a local favorite for an upscale tavern experience or as a game day destination.

Henry’s Tavern in South Lake Union will be located in the base of an Amazon occupied office tower at Fairview Avenue N. & Republican St. This spot will operate as a compressed footprint with 50 beers on tap and an amazing menu ranging from artisan sandwiches and signature burgers to wok-inspired dishes. Patrons can also look forward to pub games, grab-and-go lunch, and innovative beer technologies such as Digital Pour and custom crowlers. The grab-and-go lunch options and intimate space balance the needs of the bustling tech workforce in South Lake Union and neighborhood residents seeking to linger.

On the Eastside, Henry’s Tavern is arriving as part of the new Lincoln Square expansion, which will boast a custom frost drink rail to keep pints cold and a second-floor outdoor patio with unparalleled views of downtown Bellevue and the urban streetscape. While preserving fan favorites such as 100 taps, the signature Mac and Cheese Burger and hand-seasoned Gorgonzola waffle fries, the Bellevue menu will star health-conscious food items such as protein bowls and wellness-inspired salads.

“Seattle’s South Lake Union and Bellevue’s downtown areas are fast growing and vibrant communities,” said Jim Eschweiler, President and CEO of Restaurants Unlimited, Inc. “We thoughtfully reflected on how to adapt Henry’s Tavern for each locality such as the South Lake Union patio and Bellevue’s menu. For both destinations, the local beer and cider selection, scratch kitchen gastropub menu and elevated tavern atmosphere will make fantastic additions to the neighborhoods.”

With an extensive selection of local, regional and international beers, and hard ciders on tap and in bottles, Henry’s Tavern offers beer aficionados exciting options. From pilsners, blondes, white ales and wheats to brown ales, lagers, stouts and porters, the frequently rotating taps showcase varied beer styles from seasonal releases and European specialties to fruit ales. Henry’s Tavern encompasses food for all moods with generously sized specialty dishes. The varied, yet distinct menu offers guests choices such as all-natural, hand-pressed beef burgers; artisanal sandwiches; locally-made sausages; house-made thin crust pizzas; wok-inspired dishes; street tacos and staples like salads and tavern grilled steaks.

About Henry’s Tavern

Opening its doors in the original Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Complex in 2004, Henry’s Tavern started as a Pearl District neighborhood tavern in Portland, Ore., and quickly became an institution for the city. Henry’s Tavern now operates five restaurants in the western United States with each location featuring an extensive selection of more than 100 local, regional and international beer and hard cider offerings, and a robust menu of generously portioned tavern fare. For more information on Henry’s Tavern, or to view the full menu and beer selection, please visit www.henrystavern.com.

About Restaurants Unlimited, Inc.

Since opening its first restaurant in 1968, Restaurants Unlimited, Inc. (RUI) has brought its talent for bringing the finest food to some of the best possible locations across the nation. RUI operates 20 different restaurant brands in 44 locations throughout the U.S. Unique concepts include Portland City Grill, Palisade, Cutters Crabhouse, and Skates on the Bay. Multi-unit brands include Kincaid’s, Palomino Restaurant & Bar, Portland Seafood Company and Stanford’s. The restaurants are located in 10 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. RUI is headquartered in Seattle and owned by private equity firm Sun Capital Partners. Additional details are available at www.r-u-i.com.

Cascade Brewing releases Kriek 2016

Courtesy of Cascade Brewing Co

PORTLAND, Ore – On May 2, Cascade Brewing will release its Kriek 2016 project in bottle and draft at its two pubs – Cascade Brewing Barrel House and Raccoon Lodge – and through its distribution channels.

Kriek is a blend of sour red ales aged in oak wine barrels for up to 17 months with Bing and sour pie cherries. The beer features complex flavors of cherries, roast malts, oak and spice, and comes in at 7.4 percent ABV.

“As one of our earliest and most recognized beers, Kriek has been a staple in our portfolio of Northwest sour ales,” explained Tim Larrance, vice president of sales and marketing. “Kriek continues to be a flagship project that represents the soul of our craft.”

Not only will this be the first offering of Kriek in the new label format, it also signifies the return of the beer rated the “Top Sour Beer in America” by the New York Times last fall. Soon after that article came out, Cascade sold out of all the remaining Kriek 2015 in stock, as well as any 2014 that remained.

Courtesy of Cascade Brewing Co

 

Kriek 2016 is a tier one offering; Cascade’s three tiers are based on the ingredients used in the beer, the time the beer is aged in the barrel, and the type of barrel used – all of which establish the pricing tier of the project.

The bottle features Cascade’s new graphics, in which each beer within its tier has its own color to delineate between brands.

Courtesy of Cascade Brewing Co

About Cascade Brewing

Cascade Brewing has been a pioneer in the sour beer renaissance since 2006 and the proud innovator of the Northwest Sour Ale. Its distinctive sour beer blends feature fruit forward, barrel-aged ales with an emphasis on project year-to-year variation. These beers offer a complex array of flavors derived from the acid, the fruit and the residual flavors present in the barrels in which they age. The resulting beers offer a complex array of flavors and aromas derived from with each project year release capturing the unique subtleties of that year’s growing season. Cascade’s sour ales are brewed and blended in Portland, Oregon.

Overview

Websites: CascadeBrewing.com

Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @CascadeBrewing

Hashtag: #CascadeSours #CascadeKriek

IT’S BADASS…NO-LI! HOMETOWN BREWING COLLABORATION INSPIRED BY SPOKANE CRAFT BEER WEEK

Left to right: Kendra Wiiest, Ryan Brookhart, Charlene Honcik
Courtesy of No-Li Br ewhouse

SPOKANE, WASH. — Badass Brewing & No-Li Brewhouse collaborate to create one total ½ barrel of It’s Badass…No-Li Cascadian Stout. 

A collaboration inspired by Spokane Craft Week, Charlene Honcik and Kendra Wiiest of Badass Backyard Brewing teamed up with Ryan Brookhart of No-Li Brewhouse.  Together, they built a recipe over pints of beer and brewed up It’s Badass...No-Li Cascadian Stout!  

  

It’s Badass…No-Li Cascadian Stout combines dark chocolate malt with notes of fresh roasted coffee, and tropical fruity characters from zeus, mosaic and equinox hops; 6.5% alc. & 70 IBU’s.  

One 1/6 barrel will be featured at the Inland NW Craft Brewers Collaboration event at No-Li Brewhouse on Thursday, May 18^th, 4 – 7 p.m. 

A second 1/6 barrel will featured at Badass Backyard Brewing during Spokane Craft Beer Week.

A third and final 1/6 barrel will be featured at No-Li Brewhouse on Saturday, May 20^th.  

That’s it…only three total 1/6 barrels of It’s Badass…No-Li Cascadian Stout.  

"Having the smallest brewery in town collaborate with the most recognized brewery in town was very exciting for us. It's been educational and very fun, No-Li,!" says Charlene Honcik, owner and brewer master of Badass Backyard Brewing.”

"Collaborating with other Spokane brewers is a great learning process. This opportunity is badass," says Ryan Brookhart, No-Li Brewhouse Production and Head Brewer. 

Badass Backyard Brewing & No-Li Brewhouse are both brewing in Spokane