Welcome to RBPMail 12.01, January 2006
Real Beer Page Mail, The Free Monthly Beer News Digest for the Online Beer
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In this issue:
* InBev Shakes up Leadership
* Light Beer Inventor Dies
* A-B, Goose Island Deal Ahead?
* Costco Confusion: What Will Court Ruling Change?
* Pierre Celis May Brew Again in Texas
* Young's Denies Outsourcing Plans
* Web Watch
- Predictions for 2006
- In Defense of Hops
* Poor Richard's Ale on Tap Tuesday
* Gary Glass to Lead Homebrewers
* Tomato Beer
* American Brewers Get 'Extreme' in Belgium
* Sam Adams Drinkers Pick Brown Ale
* Girls and Beers Calendar
* Warmest Beer in Town
* Historic Berghoff Restaurant to Close
* Quote of the Month
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INBEV SHAKES UP LEADERSHIP
International conglomerate InBev, the world's largest brewery by volume,
began 2006 with new upper management. Brazilian Carlos Brito, 45, will
replace John Brock as chief executive, and German Peter Harf will become
chairman. InBev was formed last year by the merger of Belgium's Interbrew
with South America's largest brewer, AmBev. "There is going to be a change,"
said outgoing chairman Pierre Jean Everaert. "Brito is young and aggressive
and he knows how to develop markets." The board expects Brito to focus on
making the company's three flagship brands - Beck's, Stella Artois and Brahma
- global products. The company faces particular challenges in Western Europe
and the United States, where an aging population is drinking more wine and
less beer.
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002804.php
INVENTOR OF LIGHT BEER DIES
Microbrewing pioneer Joseph L. Owades, the biochemist credited with inventing
light beer, died at age 86. Owades created the recipes for several leading
specialty brands, including Samuel Adams Boston Lager. After receiving a
doctorate in biochemistry from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute in 1950, Owades
took a job in fermentation science and began developing yeast for use in food
and beverages, eventually developing a process to remove starch from beer,
making it lower in carbohydrates and calories. After stints working for
several beer companies, and running a consulting firm helping both Miller and
Budweiser develop beer, he moved to the San Francisco Bay area in 1982. He is
credited with creating the formulas for Samuel Adams, New Amsterdam Beer,
Pete's Wicked Ale and Foggy Bottom Beer, among others.
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002799.php
A-B, GOOSE ISLAND TALKING ABOUT DEAL
The Chicago Tribune reports that Goose Island Beer Co. and brewing giant
Anheuser-Busch are "in talks." Goose Island president and founder John Hall
confirmed as much, but said discussions have been limited to "distribution
issues." He declined to comment further on the nature of the talks. Adding
products from one or more small brewers would answer demands from A-B
wholesalers to add new products. A-B reportedly is talking with other
microbreweries about distribution deals or taking a stake in the companies,
including Old Dominion in Virginia.
http://www.realbeer.com/blog/?p=40
COSTCO CONFUSION: WHAT WILL COURT RULING CHANGE?
A federal judge's ruling in Washington appears likely to change the way beer
and wine is sold in that state and also has national implications. However,
it's not clear what the result will be for either producers or consumers. So far, the attention has focused on the effects on wineries. The judge ruled
that Washington's system for distributing beer and wine violates the
Constitution and the Sherman Act. Costco Wholesale Corp. won a battle against
the Washington State Liquor Control Board, when U.S. District Judge Marsha
Pechman ruled Washington's three-tier system for distributing beer and wine
breaks federal antitrust law. In a separate ruling on Costco's case, Pechman
agreed with the Issaquah-based discount retailer's claim that the state law
that allows in-state beer and wine producers to ship directly to retailers
but prohibits out-of-state producers from doing so, violates the U.S.
Constitution's Commerce Clause.
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002802.php
PIERRE CELIS MAY BREW AGAIN IN TEXAS
Pierre Celis, one of the world's best known brewers, may soon return from
Belgium to resume brewing in Texas. Celis, who revived the lost "white" beer
style in his native Belgium and later introduced the beer to American
drinkers, sold his Celis Brewery to Miller Brewing in 1999 and returned to
Belgium. The San Antonio Express reports Celis is working on a deal that
would put bring him back from Belgium to work with an Austin-area brewery.
Reporter Travis Poling indicates it could be months before an official
announcement is made. Because of confidentiality clauses, neither the
Austin-area brewery nor members of the Celis family will reveal the name of
the brewery involved in the new deal. Christine Celis, Pierre Celis' daughter
and the former president of the Celis Brewery, said a deal could be reached
that would have the brewer back to making beers in Texas in the next few
months.
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002812.php
YOUNG'S DENIES IT MIGHT CONTRACT BREW
London Brewery Young's - one of England's best known family brewers - has
rebutted suggestions that it is poised to farm out its brewing operations to
focus solely on running pubs. The company responded after the Times in London
reported Young's was considering outsourcing production of its beers to a
rival. Analysts suggested Shepherd Neame in Kent, Charles Wells in Bedford
and Hall & Woodhouse in Dorset as possible partners. The closest
geographically would be Fuller, Smith & Turner, a fierce London rival.
Young's announced two years ago that it was discussing the development
potential of the 5.5-acre Ram Brewery site with Wadsworth Borough Council as
part of a wider redevelopment of the town center. It appears that real estate
could now be worth £100 million.
*******************WEB WATCH*******************
PREDICTIONS: HOP BACKLASH; MORE WOOD-AGED BEERS
Stephen Beaumont offers "perilous predictions" for 2006, including the
possibility of "repetitive bitterness disorder" and an appreciation of less
hoppy beers, as well more wood-aged beers from brewers around the world.
http://www.worldofbeer.com/features
IN DEFENSE OF HOPS
Beaumont isn't the writer one who points out more isn't always better when it
comes to hops. It's hard to argue with that logic, but let's not overlook
what an obsession with hops has meant for the American beer renaissance.
http://www.appellationbeer.com
***************ADVERTISEMENTS*****************
TORONADO: ALMOST BARLEY WINE TIME
It's been a long year but the wait is almost most over and oh so worthwhile.
Starting on Feb. 18 and running a full week to the 25th, the annual Toronado
Barley Wine Festival is an event worth crossing oceans to attend, and year
after year those who truly love beer do.
http://www.toronado.com
TRIPLE ROCK BREWERY & ALEHOUSE
Besides the main attraction of over 10 house-brewed beers, Triple Rock has
earned a reputation for its tasty sandwiches and huge burgers, as well as the
famous nachos and hearty soups. The house specialty is an ever-changing
variety of hearty chili recipes. Don't miss "The Avalanche," The Rock's
famous chili-cheese burger. Triple Rock, known as "America's Oldest Original
Brewpub" is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year.
http://www.triplerock.com
GOLDEN PHEASANT
With access to the best hops, grains, and the softest water in the world,
Slovakia is an obvious location for great lager beers. Golden Pheasant's
robust, full flavored beer is true to that regional tradition. Imported by
Stawski Distributing Company
http://www.stawskidistributing.com/slovak.html#GoldenPheasant
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POOR RICHARD'S ALE ON TAP TUESDAY
Poor Richard's Ale, the beer brewed to commemorate Benjamin Franklin's
300th
birthday, will be served at nearly 100 breweries in 35 states across the
country. Poor Richard's Ale emulates the beers of Franklin's day by
including
molasses and corn, two distinctly American ingredients. The recipe was
chosen
by brewers and historians in October and then distributed so that each
brewer
could make a batch in time for January. Many will roll out the beer
Tuesday,
Jan. 17, the 300th anniversary of Franklin's birth. To find a location go to:
http://www.poorrichardsale.com
GARY GLASS TO LEAD HOMEBREWERS
The Brewers Association has promoted of Gary Glass from project
coordinator
to the position of American Homebrewers Association (AHA) Director.
Paul
Gatza, who led both the Brewers Association's professional and amateur
AHA
divisions for four years, will focus solely on the operations of the
professional division of the Brewers Association. In the last six years Glass
built the National Homebrew Competition into the world's largest beer
competition, grew participation in the AHA's National Homebrew Day and
Teach
a Friend to Homebrew Day, and coordinated membership programs that
helped to
grow the AHA membership roster to more than 9,000 members. Filling out
Glass'
department will be Kate Porter, promoted to AHA Membership
Coordinator.
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002808.php
TOMATO BEER
A Japanese brewery and determined pub owner teamed up to produce a
tomato-based low-malt beer. Tomato Bibere combines the sweet flavor of a
tomato with the bitter taste of hops. One tomato is used in the production of
each 330ml bottle of reddish beer. Isamu Waki, who runs a pub in Tokyo,
has
been asking other brewers to produce a tomato beer for years. Hirofumi
Koda,
president of Echigo Beer Co., was the first brewery operator to take him up
on the idea. Waki pinned his last hope on Echigo Beer, which has produced
beer from rice, pears and even green tea. "I was overwhelmed by Waki's
enthusiasm for the project, so I decided to go for it," said Koda, who
himself does not care for tomatoes.
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002785.php
AMERICAN BREWERS GET 'EXTREME' IN BELGIUM
Look out, Belgium. You're about to be a chapter in Sam Calagione's next
book.
Calagione, founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, will be joined in March
by
four more of America's most innovative brewers for a whirlwind tour of
Belgium. Tomme Arthur of Port Brewing, Vinnie Cilurzo of Russian River
Brewing, Adam Avery of Avery Brewing and Rob Todd of Allagash
Brewing will
join Calagione in presenting their beers to the Belgians as well as sampling
the best of Belgium. Calagione plans to use details from the trip in a new
book, "Extreme Brewing," due out in the fall. "In writing this book I wanted
to make sure I conveyed the idea that extreme brewing didn't start with Dogfish Head or even the American craft brewing renaissance, but that it
has
been a part of the Belgian brewing tradition for centuries," Calagione said.
http://www.realbeer.com/blog/?p=50
SAM ADAMS DRINKERS PICK BROWN ALE
Beer drinkers have spoken and Boston Beer Co. will brew a brown ale.
Samuel
Adams Brown Ale joins the Samuel Adams Brewmaster's Collection this
month,
and in February will be available in six-packs. And all because consumers
voted for it over Samuel Adams Bohemian Pilsner. Brown Ale received
6,649
votes in the Beer Lover's Choice program and Bohemian Pilsner 5,109. Sam
Adams offered drinkers samples at more than 400 tasting events during
September and October, then they cast their votes.
http://www.realbeer.com/blog/?p=46
GIRLS AND BEERS CALENDAR
New York City's Heartland Brewery published a 1940s era pin-up calendar,
featuring its servers and beers. The girls are posed in 12 vignettes to
represent beers such as Matrimony Ale, Farmer Jon's Oatmeal Stout and
Not
Tonight Honey Porter. Fifty percent of all proceeds from the calendar to the
Heartland Brewery Foundation, with funds earmarked for the New York
chapters
of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and National Multiple Sclerosis
Society
and Billy Joel's Charity Begins at Home.
http://www.realbeer.com/blog/?p=39
WARMEST BEER IN TOWN
A Missouri state senator has begun a campaign against selling cold beer.
Sen.
Bill Alter introduced a bill that would keep grocery and convenience stores
from selling beer colder than 60 degrees. He said his goal is to cut down on
drunken driving. "The only reason why beer would need to be cold is so that
it can be consumed right away," Alter said. He said the idea came from a
fifth-grade student in Jefferson County who was participating in a program
to
teach elementary students about state government. He sought their
suggestions
for new laws and chose the cold beer ban from a list of the top three ideas.
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002811.php
HISTORIC BERGHOFF RESTAURANT TO CLOSE
A Chicago dining institution, the Berghoff Restaurant, will close in
February
after more than 100 years serving beer and German food in downtown
Chicago.
The place was the first in Chicago to legally serve alcohol after the repeal
of Prohibition in 1933; it holds city Liquor License No. 1. It fought long
and hard to keep the place - which has a classic standup bar - for men only,
not allowing women customers until the 1970s. Berghoff-branded beer and
root
beer will continue to be sold at the 48,000-square-foot location. The bar
reportedly will reopen in the second quarter.
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"Move over, Pabst Blue Ribbon. You're no longer the hipster beer. That
honor
now goes to St. Pauli Girl beer."
- The Philadelphia Weekly
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