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Falconer brewing scholarship applications are open

Posted in Beer culture, Homebrewing on   

Applications are now being accepted for Falconer Foundation Brewing Scholarships.

In co-sponsorship with the Seibel Institute of Technology, the foundation offers two full-tuition brewing education scholarships in 2008.
One scholarship is for the World Brewing Academy Concise Course in Brewing Technology held at the Siebel Institute in Chicago in October/November 2008. The Concise Course in Brewing Technology is a two-week intensive program that covers every topic critical to successful brewery operations. The program is designed for brewers pursuing a wider knowledge of professional brewing standards and techniques in order to advance their brewing careers as well as individuals planning to enter the brewing industry.

The second scholarship allows candidates to apply for one of three two-week modules from the International Diploma in Brewing Technology Program held at Siebel’s Chicago campus in September/October 2008. This specialty brewing scholarship is intended for those brewers who seek an in-depth understanding of a specific brewing discipline. Candidates must designate which module they wish to attend.

Applicants must be from the Pacific Northwest (including Alaska and Hawaii) and Northern California regions (San Francisco Bay/Monterey Bay areas and north). Each scholarship includes a $750 stipend to help offset travel and lodging expenses.

For more details and information on how to apply, visit the Siebel Institute website.

The Glen Hay Falconer Foundation was formed to celebrate the life of Glen Falconer, an innovative and creative local brewer well known throughout the brewing industry. Falconer died in a tragic accident in 2002.

The Foundation’s cornerstone event is the annual Sasquatch Brew Fest.

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Harpoon-Brooklyn Super Bowl bet: Winner buys

Posted in Breweries, Just for fun on   

Harpoon Brewery and Brooklyn Brewery have a little something riding on the outcome of Sunday’s Super Bowl game.

With the New England Patriots would be playing the New York Giants, Harpoon president Dan Kenary dialed up his friend Steve Hindy, president of Brooklyn Brewery, and arranged a wager. The bet: if the Patriots win the Super Bowl, Brooklyn will pour a keg of Harpoon IPA in their tap room and if the Giants win, a keg of Brooklyn Lager will be tapped in Harpoon’s Boston tap room.

“We know that the oddsmakers are giving the Patriots a 12-point advantage, but we have a lot of faith in our Giants and Eli Manning,” Hindy said in a press release. “The Giants closed strong this season while the Pats looked a bit tired in the last few games, so we accepted an even bet with Dan and Harpoon.”

On Monday, the brewery that has won the wager will ship a keg of their flagship beer to the losing brewery for tapping on their draft system.

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A-B earnings up, but disappoint Wall Street

Posted in Breweries, News on   

Anheuser-Busch sales were up in 2007, but fell short of Wall Street’s expectations, in part because of lagging sales of Corona.

The business of beer brewing companies can be confusing.

The good news for A-B was that U.S. beer sales increased 8 percent in the fourth quarter and estimated U.S. beer market share was 48.5 percent in 2007, up from 48.2 percent in 2006.

Grupo Modelo — which makes Corona, is partly owned by Anheuser-Busch and has been a big driver of A-B’s recent profit growth — saw equity income drop 12%.

Edward Jones analyst Jack Russo said the earnings miss was partly due to a higher-than-expected tax rate, in addition to Modelo’s stumble.

“The core business looked to be about the same,” Russo said. “The beer industry had a pretty good year in 2007. But unfortunately, this Modelo piece is big” for Anheuser-Busch, he said. An expected period of weaker contributions from Modelo will be a drag on A-B’s results, he said.

Benj Steinman, publisher of Beer Marketer’s Insights, pointed out that core brands Budweiser and Bud Light continue to lag. Growing overseas sales and revenues from imports that A-B distributes are the only forces driving up sales, he said.

“The consumer preferences are seemingly shifting to craft beers and, to a lesser extent, imports,” Steinman said.