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Saint Arnold to host GABF weddings

Posted in Just for fun on   

Weddings aren’t exactly new to the Great American Beer Festival. In one of the better known ones, Dave Keene of the Toronado Pub and Jennifer Smith got married in 2010.

However, Saint Arnold Brewing in Texas wants to take it to a new level, constructing a chapel at its booth at this year’s GABF and inviting couples to use it. A Saint Arnold employee who has officiated weddings in the past will preside over the nuptials dressed as Saint Arnold of Metz, the patron saint of brewers.

“One of my favorite toasts is, ‘May your heart always be full and your glass never empty,’ and I expect to hear that toast a lot at the GABF weddings,” said Saint Arnold director of marketing and events, Lennie Ambrose. “Saint Arnold is closely associated with the legend of the miraculous mug that never ran dry, so I expect he will be right at home at GABF.”

Saint Arnold will also perform civil ceremonies and vow renewals.

“This will be a lot of fun and we expect there will be no shortage of people taking advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share the love with thousands of fellow craft beer enthusiasts,” said Ambrose. “While it is a relatively simple process to get married in Colorado, a Colorado marriage license is required, so this will require a little planning for those wishing to wed. Fortunately, the Denver Office of the Clerk and Recorder, which provides marriage licenses, is conveniently located within four blocks of the chapel we’re planning to build at GABF.”

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Alchemy & Science acquires Coney Island brands

Posted in Breweries, News on   

Alchemy & Science announced that it has acquired all rights to the Coney Island beer brands.

Jeremy Cowan, who founded He’brew Beer in 1996, launched the Coney Island brand in 2007. Alan Newman, president of Alchemy & Science, said that as part of the transaction, Cowan will join Alchemy & Science in an advisory capacity. He’brew Beer is not part of the deal and Cowan will continue to operate his own, new, brewery in upstate New York.

“Jeremy is very excited to join us and be an important part of the future of Coney Island brands,” Newman said for a press release. “We are thrilled to collaborate with him to build on his hard work. He is a talented brewer with a flair for eye-catching branding. And personally, I am thrilled to re-visit my youth spent in Coney Island.”

Alchemy & Science – located in Burlington, Vt. – describes itself as a craft beer incubator.

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Founder’s daughter resurrecting New Albion brand

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Renee DeLuca, daughter of craft brewing icon Jack McAuliffe, plans to resurrect his legendary New Albion Brewing brand.

DeLuca has a deal with Mendocino Brewing Co., located down the road from where New Albion started in Sonoma, Calif., to make New Albion beers. The will begin with the flagship pale ale. She expects to begin selling the beer before the end of the year.

McAuliffe constructed much of his brewery — the first purpose-built “microbrewery” — himself, opening it in 1976 and operating it until 1982. Mendocino bought, and still owns, some of that original equipment.

Earlier this year, Boston Beer Co. produced a one-time run of New Albion Pale Ale, with the profits all going to McAuliffe, who lives in Arkansas. “We … are happy that its legacy will be kept alive with the help of Jack McAuliffe’s daughter,” Boston Beer founder Jim Koch wrote in an email to the Santa Rosa Press Democract. “To see a new generation of craft drinkers enjoy New Albion Ale today pays great tribute to brewing pioneers, like Jack McAuliffe, who sparked the American craft brewing revolution.”

In “Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer” author Maureen Ogle put the importance of McAuliffe and New Albion Brewing in perspective. “I think what really matters about Jack,” Ogle told the Press Democrat, “is that he showed people, really ordinary people … that it was possible to build a brewery.”

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Arcade games and beer taps, oh my!

Posted in Just for fun on   

Kegerator Pro 60The press release from Dream Arcades says “no quarters needed,” but that’s only after you pony up $5,000 for the Kegerator Pro 60. Nonetheless, we couldn’t resist posting a picture of this arcade machine with a 60 inch HD screen, three taps and a built in fridge.

The unit comes loaded with over 140 classic arcade games, including Ms. Pac Man, Centipede, Galaga, Street Fighter, and, well, to many to list. There are also other add-ons, but really, we’re interested in the taps and the games. Maybe a suggestion about what beers to pair with what games would be nice, but we can figure that out.

More infomation is available at DreamArcades.com.

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Denver Rare Beer lineup; you may want to look

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This is not intended to be mean, but the brewery and beer list just showed up for Denver Rare Beer Tasting V. Unfortunately, the fundraiser for the Pints for Prostates campaign Oct. 11, is sold out.

At total of 41 brewers are scheduled to take part in the event, which will be held at the McNichols Civic Center Building.

The confirmed brewery list and beers expected to be poured include:

Alaskan Brewing, Juneau, Alaska, 2002 Smoked Porter
AleSmith Brewing, San Diego, Calif., Barrel-Aged Wee Heavy
Avery Brewing, Boulder, Colo., TBD
Big Sky Brewing, Missoula, Mont., 2012 Ivan The Terrible Imperial Stout
Boston Beer, Boston, Mass., TBD
Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, Mo., Tripel Julep
Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, N.Y., Black Ops LBV 2007 & Cuvee Crochet Rouge Riesling
The Bruery, Placentia, Calif., Confession
Cigar City Brewing, Tampa, Fla., ll0k + OT Batch #6
Crooked Stave Artisan Beer, Denver, Colo., WælzBlood
Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Ore., Black Butte XXII
Devils Backbone Brewing, Lexington, Va., Wood-Aged Dark Abbey
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Del., 2011 120 Minute IPA
Drake’s Brewing, San Leandro, Calif., Reunion Barleywine
Elevation Beer, Poncha Springs, Colo., Boom! Brandy Barrel Quadruple
Fort Collins Brewery, Fort Collins, Colo., Roasted Pumpkin Seed Ale
Firestone Walker Brewing, Paso Robles, Calif., Bravo & Lil’ Mikkel
AC Golden Brewing, Golden, Colo., Blueberry Colorambic
Goose Island Brewing, Chicago, Ill., Napa County Stout
Great Divide Brewing, Denver, Colo., Barrel-Aged Cuvee Syrah #1
Great Lakes Brewing, Cleveland, Ohio, Jabberwocky
Hardywood Park Brewery, Richmond, Va., TBD
Laughing Dog Brewing, Sand Point, Idaho, 14 Dogs of the Apocalypse
The Lost Abbey, San Marcos, Calif., 2008 The Lost Abbey’s Angel’s Share
Melvin Brewing/Thai Me Up Restaurant, Jackson, Wy., Kirk McHale & Melvin IPA Rum Barrel-Aged
New Belgium Brewery, Fort Collins, Colo., New Belgium/Avery Sour Collaboration #1 & #2
NoDa Brewing, Charlotte, N.C., Rum Barrel-Aged Imperial Coco Loco & Hot Pistol
Odell Brewing, Fort Collins, Colo., Foot Print
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Charlotte, N.C., Barrel-Aged Baltic Porter
Perennial Artisan Ales, St. Louis, Mo., Barrel Quad
Prairie Artisan Ales, Krebs, Ok., Bomb De Balcones
River North Brewing, Denver, Colo., J. Marie Barreled and Bretted
Rogue Ales, Newport, Ore., Class of ’88 Barley Wine
Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, Calif., Barrel-Aged Narwhal
Smuttynose Brewing, Portsmouth, N.H., Apple Brandy Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
Stone Brewing, Escondido, Calif., 2007 Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Russian Stout & 2004 Old Guardian Barley Wine
Sun King Brewing, Indianapolis, Ind., TBD
Surly Brewing, Minneapolis, Minn., Misanthrope
Terrapin Beer, Athens, Ga., Barrel-Aged Moo-Hoo Chocolate Stout
Weyerbacher Brewing, Easton, Pa., Millennium Falco
Wicked Weed Brewing, Asheville, N.C., Black Angel Cherry Sour

“Thanks to the generosity of the brewers who donate these great beers, we have featured some amazing brews during the first four Denver Rare Beer Tastings. The list this year is impressive by anyone’s standards,” said Rick Lyke, founder of Pints for Prostates. This year the 650 tickets available sold out more than 10 weeks before the event.

All net proceeds from Denver Rare Beer Tasting go towards the awareness mission of Pints for Prostates and help to fund the education and support programs of the Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network.

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Need GABF tickets? Trying winning a pair

Posted in Just for fun on   

Didn’t manage to manage to buy tickets to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver in the minutes before they sold out?

Well, you could try winning a pair.

Denver’s Ultimate Beer-Cation Giveaway prize includes a trip to Denver as well as tickets to on session. Entries are being accepted at Facebook.com/VISITDENVER through Sept. 2.

The randomly selected winner will receive:

* Round-trip airfare for two to Denver on Frontier Airlines (October 11-13).

* Two nights at The Ritz-Carlton, Denver (October 11-13).

* Two tickets to the Great American Beer Festival (October 12).

* Two ‘Hops N’ Honey’ pedicures at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Denver (October 12).

* Dinner for two at Ale House at Amato’s (October 11).

* Two Denver Beer Trail guides.

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West Yorkshire porter champion at GBBF

Posted in Beers, Breweries, News on   

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, announced that Elland 1872 Porter has been crowned the “Best Beer” in Britain at the Great British Beer Festival in London. And for the second year in a row the Champion Winter Beer winner also won Champion Beer of Britain at the GBBF.

Competition chair Colin Valentine said: “It was a really tough decision but Elland 1872 Porter is a fantastic beer and a well deserved winner.”

Elland head brewer Michael Wynnyczuk said: “I’m utterly shocked. It’s a great beer but after we won the Winter Ales competition you wonder about it in the summer GBBF competition, as people may prefer different styles of beer in warmer weather. But we know it’s a great beer and we’re really proud to be crowned Champion Beer of Britain.”

Overall winners
Gold – Elland – 1872 Porter (West Yorkshire)
Silver – Buntingford – Twitchell (Hertfordshire)
Bronze – Fyne Ales – Jarl (Argyll)

Mild category
Gold – Great Orme – Welsh Black (Conwy)
Silver – Cotswold Spring – Old Sodbury Mild (Gloucestershire)
Bronze – Fernandes – Malt Shovel Mild (West Yorkshire)

Bitters category
Gold – Buntingford – Twitchell (Hertfordshire)
Silver – Moor – Revival (Somerset)
Bronze – Surrey Hills – Ranmore Ale (Surrey) and Butcombe Bitter (Somerset)

Best Bitters
Gold – Mordue – Workie Ticket (North Shields)
Silver – Surrey Hills – Shere Drop (Surrey)
Bronze – Purple Moose – Glaslyn (Gwynedd) and Woodfordes – Nelsons Revenge (Norfolk)

Golden Ales
Gold – Fyne Ales – Jarl (Argyll)
Silver – Buntingford – Polar Star (Hertfordshire)
Bronze – St Austell – Proper Job (Cornwall)

Strong Bitters
Gold – Beeston – On the huh (Norfolk)
Silver –Marble – Dobber (Greater Manchester)
Bronze – Castle Rock – Screech Owl (Nottingham)

Speciality Beers
Gold – Growler Brewery, Nethergate – Umbel Magna (Suffolk)
Silver – Saltaire – Triple Chocolate (West Yorkshire)
Bronze – Conwy – Honey Fayre (Conwy)

Champion Winter Beer of Britain
Elland – 1872 Porter (West Yorkshire)
Bartram’s – Comrade Bill Bartram’s EAIS Stout (Suffolk)
Kelburn – Dark Moor (Old Ale/Strong Mild) (Glasgow)
Hog’s Back – A over T (Barley Wine/Strong Old Ale) (Surrey)

Champion Bottled Beer of Britain
Gold – Molson Coor’s – Worthington White Shield (Burton on Trent)
Silver – St Austell – Proper Job (Cornwall)
Bronze – Harvey’s – Imperial Extra Double Stout (East Sussex)

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Beer writing contest launched

Posted in News on   

The North American Guild of Beer Writers has announced it will conduct an annual competition for writers, bloggers, broadcasters and authors.

The NAGBW aims to broaden the conversation about beer and brewing, raise the standards of writing, provide leadership and continuing education for practitioners of our profession while also encouraging and supporting more participation throughout all media channels.

The NAGBW’s awards will honor the best beer and brewing industry coverage in seven categories. The deadline to enter is Aug. 26, and the fee for each entry is $15 for guild members and $30 for non-members. Participants may submit their entries online.

For more information about the guild and membership visit the website (www.nagbw.org).

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Post office would like to deliver beer

Posted in Beers, News on   

Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe says the U.S. postal service would like to get into the business of shipping beer.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Donahoe said Thursday delivery of alcoholic beverages is on his wish list as the agency considers ways to raise revenue and save money after losing $16 billion last year.

Donahoe said delivering alcohol has the potential to raise as much as $50 million a year. Donahoe said his agency has looked at the possibility of using special boxes that would hold two, four or six bottles and ship for a flat-rate anywhere in the country.

“There’s a lot of money to be made in shipping beer, wine and spirits,” Donahoe said. “We’d like to be in that business.”

Mailing alcoholic beverages is currently restricted by law, but the Senate passed a postal reform bill last year that included a provision allowing the agency to deliver alcohol. The bill required that such shipments would have to comply with any state laws from where the shipment was originated and delivered. The measure also said the recipient had to be at least 21 years old and would need to provide a valid government-issued photo identification upon delivery.

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GABF and craft beer growing pains

Posted in Beer culture, Breweries, News on   

The increasing popularity of craft beer hasn’t made life any easier for organizers of the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.

Tickets to the 2013 Great American Beer Festival sold out in 20 minutes Wednesday. The Brewers Association handled the sale in two parts — Tuesday offering tickets only to members of the Brewers Association and American Homebrewers Association. That allotment lasted 90 minutes, with tickets for the Saturday afternoon members only session going first. In 2012, public tickets sold out in 45 minutes, while in 2011 tickets were available for a week.

Hundreds of tickets were available on StubHub within minutes after they went on sale through Ticketmaster, at much higher prices of course.

Not surprisingly, a post on the GABF Facebook page was followed by scores of comments from disappointed, and angry, beer fans.

Hi Everyone. We’re reading your comments, and we hear your frustration about scalpers and the secondary market. We share those concerns and wish there was a feasible fix. Unfortunately, there’s no perfect way to successfully avoid a secondary market for hot tickets—whether for popular concerts, sporting events or festivals like the GABF.

There are measures in place to decrease access for scalpers, including ticket limits we set for GABF ticket purchases (enforced by Ticketmaster), and Ticketmaster’s anti-bot and other security measures. Does this prevent scalper access? No, but it does decrease it. We will continue to evaluate options and solutions going forward.

Earlier in July hundreds of breweries that tried to sign up to serve their beer at the festival and have it judged in the related competition were frustrated when space disappeared in less than two hours. That led to changes for both this year’s festival and 2014. GABF director Nancy Johnson outlined those changes in a messages to Brewers Association members:

Here is a snapshot of where we stand for 2013 and an overview of how we plan to handle registration for GABF 2014.

Actions taken this year to address the issue include:

2013 Competition: Our 2013 annual plan called for a 7% increase in competition beers being judged. After registration closed and in recognition of the higher-than-ever demand, we moved quickly to find a way to increase the number of beers (and judges) in the 2013 competition by 200. As a result, 4,875 beers will be judged in 2013, which represents 12% more beers being judged in the competition than in 2012, and five percent more than originally planned for in 2013.

2013 Festival Hall Booth Space: Once capacity for the competition filled, eligible breweries on the wait list were offered a festival booth space. As of July 30, 616 breweries will pour 3,087 beers in the hall. That’s 11% more beers than in 2012, and note that this number does not include guild or special event beers.

2014 GABF Brewery Registration Process
The Brewers Association takes very seriously the “race to enter” registration issue that has resulted from a rapidly growing number of breweries along with increasing interest in the competition and festival. Since registration closed this year, we have been working to address this issue by devising a plan for 2014 that aims to eliminate the “race to enter” problem for future GABFs.

Based on this work, the BA plans to introduce a different entry method next year. This “all comers” style brewery registration process will achieve a few important goals:

*Eliminate the race to enter before all slots fill up

*Increase the number of breweries that can enter the competition

*Increase the number of beer entries

The 2014 GABF brewery will remain open for set number of days, and all interested breweries may enter the competition. The number of beer entries allowed per brewery will be based on doing the math of the number of breweries that registered during the sign-up period and the pre-determined capacity of beers that we can successfully judge that year.

Here is an example to illustrate:

*Total number of beers that can be judged = 5,000

*The registration period lasts (is open) for two weeks; no clambering to enter during one short time window

*Total number of eligible breweries that apply = 1,000

*5,000 beers / 1000 breweries = 5 entries per brewery

*Thus in this scenario, the competition would accept the first 5 entries from every brewery that entered

*Let’s say 2,500 breweries entered instead of 1,000: in that case, every brewery could enter 2 beers in the competition. The math would work like that for whatever number of breweries entered (Max. capacity of beers that can be judged – divided by – number of breweries entering the competition)

*Festival booth space would be handled separately

As you can imagine, many important details remain to be worked out, but we believe this 2014 GABF brewery registration plan represents a solid start toward an increasingly fair and accommodating competition for the future.

The festival will accommodate 49,000 attendees during four sessions (the Saturday afternoon one is smaller), which includes volunteers, brewer representatives and the press.