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In this issue:
* Imports Dominate List of Top Brands
* SABMiller, Foster's in Talks
* Rolling Rock on the Block
* Corona Dumps Importer
* A-B Adds Third Import to Fold
* Boston Beer Eyes More Expansion
* Web Watch
- Beer Myths
- Radical Beer Open
- Beer Sommelier?
* The Local Brewery Really is Local
* Hot and Cold Running Beer
* Czech Brewery Adds Beer Spa
* Toads for Beer
* Canadians Ban Ad Showing Beer Drinking
* Apprentice Drinking Pig Begins Training
* Quote of the Month
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IMPORTS DOMINATE LIST OF TOP BRANDS
Anheuser-Busch's Budweiser Select was the most successful new beer brand
launched in 2005, according to a company that tracks vital sales information,
but imported beers dominate the top of the list of most successful brands for
2005. Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), which compiles data on sale of
packaged products through large retail outlets, ranked Corona Extra as No. 1
on its list of Top Beer Brand Performers. Three beers from Grupo Modelo in
Mexico made the top five - Corona Extra, No. 2 Modelo Especial and No. 4
Corona Light. Newcastle Brown was third, and New Belgium's Fat Tire Ale the
No. 5 ranked brand. It would surprise many specialty beer drinkers that Blue
Moon from Coors was ranked eighth, with sales of about 200,000 barrels in
2005.
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002872.php
SABMILLER, FOSTER'S IN TALKS
SABMiller has begun talks to buy up rival Foster's portfolio of breweries in
emerging markets of China, Vietnam, and India. Australia-based Foster's
indicated hat it is looking to sell its overseas brewery assets, with the
intent of outsourcing production while retaining ownership of its brands.
SABMiller already brews Foster's beer under license in the United States. The
addition of capacity via a Foster's acquisition could therefore further
improve the company's production scales in countries with substantial
potential like China and India.
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002877.php
ROLLING ROCK ON THE BLOCK
Global brewing giant InBev is looking to sell Rolling Rock after failing to
revive the iconic brand over the last decade. Reports indicate that new
Brazilian CEO Carlos Brito wants to focus InBev on being a strong player in
the U.S. import beer sector. InBev will concentrate its U.S. sales and
marketing resources on imported brands such as Bass, Brahma and Labatt Blue,
as well as Stella Artois and Beck's. "The company has started examining
opportunities both inside and outside InBev to determine how to optimize the
full potential of Rolling Rock and the Latrobe Brewing Company. No final
decision has been made at this time," an InBev spokesperson said.
http://www.realbeer.com/blog/?p=116
CORONA DUMPS IMPORTER
The Mexican brewing company that produces Corona has won an arbitration case
that means it will replace the Gambrinus Company as its importer in the
Eastern United States in 2007. After receiving the news, Grupo Modelo CEO
Carlos Fernandez said: "The arbitral award, in our favor, will allow us to
seek the best available options with the aim of enhancing the value of our
export business and create more value for our shareholders. Gambrinus has
imported the Modelo beers for nearly 20 years. According to the San Antonio
Express-News, Gambrinus went to the Paris-based International Chamber of
Commerce early last year to arbitrate the dispute after it was notified its
longtime import contract wouldn't be renewed.
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002867.php
A-B ADDS THIRD IMPORT TO FOLD
Anheuser-Busch will become the U.S. importer of Tiger Beer from Singapore,
the two brewers jointly announced. The St. Louis Post-Disptach points out
that although Tiger Beer isn't well known in the United States,
Anheuser-Busch may be eying the brand's performance in the United Kingdom as
an indicator of its potential. Sold there for more than 30 years, the brand
has become the most popular Asian imported beer brand in the U.K. and
Ireland. Tiger Beer is the third new import that A-B is importing, joining
Harbin from China and Dutch-brewed Grolsch.
A-B ADDS THIRD IMPORT TO FOLD
Boston Beer Co., which just recently completed expansion of its brewery in
Cincinnati, has begun looking for a site on which to build a new brewery.
Spokeswoman Michelle Sullivan said the company, which makes Samuel Adams
beers, might expand one of its two breweries in Boston and Cincinnati. "We
just started these meetings two weeks ago," Sullivan said. "We're very early
in the discussions." Boston Beer is meeting with representatives of several
towns to discuss potential brewery sites.
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002889.php
*******************WEB WATCH*******************
BEER MYTHS
Myth No. 1: The best beer is sold in green or clear bottles rather than
"plain brown" ones. Setting the record straight on that one and four more.
http://www.realbeer.com/blog/?p=114
LOOKING FOR RADICAL BREWERS
In a world in which nine out of 10 beers sold are international lagers, even
traditional style beers seem radical to many. Any American brewery is
eligible to send its beer to the Radical Beer Open - held during American
Craft Beer Week - and see how it stands up against the most innovative beers
in the country.
http://www.radicalbeer.com
BEER SOMMELIER?
Can you really have a beer sommelier? Dictionary.com defines sommelier as "A
restaurant employee who orders and maintains the wines sold in the restaurant
and usually has extensive knowledge about wine and food pairings." That would
make wine sommelier redundant and beer sommelier meaningless. Maybe so, but a
New York restaurant claims it has the first in the city.
http://appellationbeer.com/blog/2006/03/22/a-beer-sommelier
***************ADVERTISEMENTS*****************
CRAFT BREWERS APPRENTICE PROGRAM FROM ABG
American Brewers Guild offers distance education for working or would-be
brewers who can't get away! Brewers currently working in breweries are able
to study for an industry-respected brewing qualification, and those looking
to switch careers can study and train while keeping their day jobs. For more
information or to find out when the next class begins.
http://www.abgbrew.com
GORDON BIERSCH BREWERY RESTAURANT
Fresh, handcrafted beer and premium, made from scratch, food... all served up
in a friendly and fun atmosphere - that's what the Gordon Biersch experience
is all about. The Gordon Biersch heritage of superior beer, great food and
good times are now served up fresh daily in locations stretching coast to
coast and across the Pacific to Honolulu.
http://www.gordonbiersch.com
LIQUID SOLUTIONS
Oregon's premier bottle shop. Over 450 beers and 25 meads available online.
We are dedicated to providing the best taste experience possible. How do we
do it? We buy in small quantities to keep it fresh; then store it cold and
dark to maintain stability. The result, great beer in the best possible
condition for you.
http://www.liquidsolutions.ws
NEW BELGIUM: DIVE INTO SPRING WITH SKINNY DIP
If you enjoy New Belgium Brewing's year-round beers (Fat Tire Amber Ale,
1554, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Trippel and Abbey Belgian style ale) watch
for our seasonal release and small-batch beer projects. This spring, we
proudly announce our latest seasonal release, Skinny Dip, brewed with cascade
hops and a hint a kaffir lime leaf.
http://www.newbelgium.com
2006 INTERNATIONAL MEAD FESTIVAL RESULTS ARE IN!
Six countries, thirty meaderies, and ninety-eight different meads were
represented at the 2006 International Mead Festival. Jadewiga, Queen of
Meads, from Apis Meadery in Lubin, Poland, won the silver medal in the
dessert category. Jadwiga is a Poltorak mead imported by Stawski Imports.
Care for a taste of perfection?
http://www.polishmeads.com
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THE LOCAL BREWERY REALLY IS LOCAL
In the time it takes the average American to commute to work, he or she could
visit the nearest brewery. A recent analysis of population density and
brewery locations in the United States reveals that the majority of all
Americans now live within 10 miles of a brewery. And given that the average
American spends 25 minutes commuting to work every day, that's plenty of time
to drop in at the neighborhood brewery. During American Craft Beer Week May
15-21 breweries all over America will welcome consumers with tours,
educational tastings and special promotions. By visiting breweries and
participating in the Great American Beer Tour, consumers can receive prizes
and compete for a trip for two to the 25th Great American Beer Festival held
in Denver Sept. 28-30.
http://www.AmericanCraftBeerWeek.org
http://www.GreatAmericanBeerTour.org.
HOT AND COLD RUNNING BEER
A woman in Norway was startled when she drew water to wash dishes and beer
came out of the taps. Given that beer in Norway is quite expensive, costing
about $7.50 for comparable to a 12-ounce bottle in bars, she might have felt
immediately rich - except when she tasted the beer it was a bit odd and not
at all carbonated. "I turned on the tap to clean some knives and forks and
beer came out," Haldis Gundersen of Kristiansund said. "We thought we were in
heaven."
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002868.php
CZECH BREWERY ADDS BEER SPA
A Czech family brewery has opened a spa in its cellar, offering baths, beer
massages and beer cosmetics. The converted cellars at the Chodovar Family
brewery in Chodova Plana include seven huge baths inspired by Victorian
design where guests can swim in beer while sipping a pint at a bath side bar.
"Beer can treat a range of conditions, particularly skin conditions," said
owner Jiri Plevka, "and the health center should appeal to men who are put
off by 'posh' traditional spas."
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002887.php
TOADS FOR BEER
Animal activists in Australia have set up a toad-for-beer exchange in order
to promote humanitarian disposal of toads. RSPCA Australia, Coopers Brewery
in the Cavenagh Hotel in Darwin teamed with three Darwin organizations after
a local film aired depicting cane toad hunters in a simulated orgy of
killing. Here's how it works: Anyone over the age of 18 who captures a cane
toad and delivers it alive to the Darwin RSPCA qualifies for a glass of
Coopers beer at the Cavenagh Hotel. Sean Gould of Coopers said the limit for
beer vouchers was six per day, although hunters could turn in more toads.
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002876.php
CANADIANS BAN AD SHOWING BEER DRINKING
Canada has banned a commercial for Australian tourism because in it a
character invites would-be visitors by saying "We've poured you a beer." The
same advertisement was first banned, though later the restriction was lifted,
in England because it also uses the phrase "bloody hell." "Buying a mate a
beer is about as Australian as you can get. But the Canadian regulator has
banned the shot because implied unbranded alcohol consumption is
unacceptable," Australian Tourism Minister Fran Bailey said in a statement.
Under Canada's restrictions, ads cannot feature anyone drinking alcohol. Full
glasses are fine, but a half-empty glass indicates drinking.
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002878.php
APPRENTICE DRINKING PIG BEGINS TRAINING
A pub in Tasmania known for its beer-drinking pig has begun train a
successor. With Priscilla, who can knock back a beer in seven seconds,
growing old Priscilla Babe stands ready to take her place at the Pub in the
Paddock in Pyengana. Pub owner Anne Free said training a pig to drink beer is
not easy. "Most pigs will drink beer, but you do have to train them to drink
out of a bottle," she said. "It did take her a while to get the taste, she
sort of played with the bottle and still does play with the bottle, she's not
the expert (that) Priscilla is."
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002888.php
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"Beers that actually capture the essence of what has been lost in everyday
wine are largely made by the micro-size brewers.... The best part about all
of these beers is that they are bargains when compared to the vapid
entry-level wine we are being peddled."
- Todd M. Wernstrom, writing in "Wine News"
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