Archives for January 2021

Lagunitas Taproom’s Extended Hibernation and Three More Closures(January 15) – Douglas Park: Lagunitas Brewing probably won’t reopen its Chicago taproom this year due to the pandemic, according to the Tribune. The company plans to wait until 2022 — and for scientific evidence that most Americans have received the COVID-19 vaccine — to welcome drinkers back inside.  Complete Story

Breakside Brewery plans Beaverton, Lake Oswego and 82nd Ave. Taprooms(January 14) – 2020 saw Breakside introduce some of their core classics like the flagship IPA, Wanderlust IPA and What Rough Beast in 12oz bottles for the first time. That changing form of beer delivery mechanism shifted even further with the loss of draft sales in Oregon bars and restaurants, as nearly all production pivoted to 16oz cans to meet consumer demand. Complete Story

Portland Brewing Will Close in February After 34 Years of Business(January 11) – One of the breweries from the groundbreaking class of the mid-’80s that helped put Portland on the map as a beer mecca is shutting its doors for good. Portland Brewing announced Friday on its Facebook page that it would cease operations on Feb. 5. Twenty-seven employees will lose their jobs and receive paid severance. Complete Story

Hill Farmstead Brewery to shut down production for the winter(January 9) – Hill Farmstead Brewery, regularly named to best-beer-in-the-world lists, is going on hiatus from mid-January until early spring, the Greensboro brewer announced last week on social media. Complete Story
              
RIP 21 Oregon Breweries and Taprooms that Closed in 2020(January 5) – Every year we undertake the grim but important task of remembering the breweries, taprooms and bottle shops that closed up shop. 2020 will go down as one of the worst years in history, and while it’s been horrible for all involved the projected craft beer bloodbath has not been as bad as we all feared. So while we look back at some of the most important closures of the year, we can atleast have some optimism for the future. Complete Story

Triptych Brewery in Savoy, IL in Savoy names beer after dog rescued from freezing lake(January 2) SAVOY, Illinois — A local brewery launched a new beer in honor of the Champaign County Humane Society’s top dog. In 2019, an abused puppy named Dory was found trapped in a cage in a freezing cold Kaufman Lake in Champaign. Now, she has a brew named after her. Triptych Brewery in Savoy came out with the new beer in honor of Dory, who raised over $10,000 for the Humane Society. Complete Story

Alewife Brewery Opens in Sunnyside, Looks to Overcome Latest COVID-19 Challenges(December 30) – Alewife, the popular Queens brewpub, finally opened in Sunnyside earlier this month and is looking to overcome the latest round of COVID-19 restrictions. The brewing company, known for its specialty IPAs and craft beers, was expected to open in April but faced construction delays and difficulty getting permits due to the pandemic. Complete Story

15 beers from Michigan breweries win medals at U.S. Open Beer Championship(December 28) – A slew of Michigan breweries took home medals at the U.S. Open Beer Championships. The annual competition is considered one of the top three beer competitions in the U.S. and attracts breweries from across the country, as well as abroad. Complete Story

The best Colorado beers and breweries in 2020 and what to watch in 2021(December 27) – If you ever needed a good beer, 2020 was the year. And Colorado breweries didn’t disappoint. The three-hour Denver Prohibition, shuttered taprooms and bars statewide, an aluminum can shortage, permanent closures and other pandemic hardships certainly didn’t make it easy. Complete Story

The 12 Ohio Beers of Christmas(December 24) – Ohio craft breweries have proven adept at many styles of beer, as evidenced by the 14 medals won across 13 categories at this year’s Great American Beer Festival. However, Ohio can lay some claim to popularizing one specific style that takes over the state – and the country – every year: the winter warmer/Christmas ale. Complete Story

10 Christmas Beers to Put a Little Cheer in Your Life(December 24) – Everybody loves a good IPA except Santa Claus. “Look, I live in the North Pole. It’s cold up here all the time. I’ve had my fair share of IPAs over the years, and I just can’t get into them,” says Claus. “I need something with depth. I need something with flavors beyond dank, juicy hops. I need something that’s going to warm my bones.” Complete Story

Oyster City strikes gold twice at U.S. Open Beer Championships(December 23) – As we sat down to write this week’s Around The Brew Bend column — which is coming up on almost 3 years of covering all corners of the craft beer scene in North Florida and South Georgia — it occurred to us that in the nearly 100 articles we’ve written during that span, we’ve had never had the pleasure of writing about one of our breweries winning a gold medal in the U.S. Open Beer Championships. Complete Story

Hershey’s Demands Payment From Wauconda’s Side Lot Brewing Over Beer Offerings With Milk Duds, Jolly Ranchers(December 22) – A real David and Goliath situation has unfolded in the northwest suburbs – all do to with beer. A small brewery is being pitted against candy behemoth The Hershey Company, as the latter tries to protect its product. Complete Story 

A Hudson Valley Brewery Branches Out to Distilling(December 21) – Arrowood Farms, in Accord, N.Y., caught my eye in 2016 because it was a brewery growing its own hops. The Hudson Valley farm has now grown to include a restaurant, the Apiary, and a distillery, which, like the brewery, is sustainable, using yeast developed from its own honey cultures, locally grown grain and water from a spring on the property. Complete Story

Zooming in on Vienna Lager, Then & Now(December 16) – Andreas Krenmair is an Austrian-born homebrewer and amateur beer historian who lives in Berlin. In 2018, he self-published Historic German and Austrian Beers for the Home Brewer, which dug deeper into German-language sources and brewing logs than most other English-language texts had done before. This year, he follows up with a book that digs deeper on a style more associated with his native country: Vienna Lager. Complete Story

Thompson Island Brewing Co. wins Gold Medal at U.S. Open Beer Championship(December 15) – Thompson Island Brewing Company in Rehoboth Beach won a gold medal for Thompson Island IPA at the U.S. Open Brewing Beer Championship. Glazed & Confused earned a bronze in the chocolate-cocoa beer category. Complete Story

Yee-Haw Brewing to buy Elkmont Exchange(December 14) – The owner of Elmont Exchange Brewery and Eating House, Nick DeVore, said that Yee-Haw Brewing is buying the property and that they are set to close the sale on Dec. 31. He said that the sale would have happened in April, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed it. Elkmont Exchange is located in downtown Knoxville off of North Broadway and featured 24 taps of craft beer available for customers. Complete Story

After ‘false start’ with Barry Sanders, Michigan brewery re-releases ‘Same Old Lager’(December 13) – Eastern Market Brewing Co. announced the re-release Friday of their new beer, “Same Old Lager,” in cans after an apparent fumble last month with Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders. Complete Story

Tree House Brewing is also adding a new location in western Massachusetts(Novmeber 9) – Tree House Brewing, which recently announced its summertime expansion onto Cape Cod, has more good news on tap: The brewery also unveiled plans to open a location in Deerfield in 2021. Complete Story

Plymouth’s Luce Line Brewing Co. brings beer to the bike trail(November 5) – Residents of Plymouth waiting for the city’s first public brewery and taproom won’t have to wait much longer. The business partners behind Luce Line Brewing Co. expect to open on Novemeber 18th. Complete Story

Pegasus City Brewery’s Historic Art Deco Taproom Opens Downtown Dallas(November 4) – Pegasus City Brewery’s downtown location quietly opened last weekend with service exclusively for residents of the Dallas Power and Light Building, in which it takes up much of the ground floor. This weekend, the taproom opens to the general public. Complete Story

Beer Calendar: Spooky Brews and Other Fall Beer Releases (October 21)- Some weeks are slow when it comes to beer releases, either because breweries are gearing up for the next big week, festival or event — or recovering from the last one. Complete Story

Jonesing for craft beer; a family owned watering hole opens along 84th Street (October 21)- Heights Draft Room is a family-owned bar that specializes in craft beer. It opened in July and is the first commercial venture to open in La Vista’s new City Centre project along 84th Street. Complete Story

Cyril Vidergar: A new decade of craft beer (October 21)- This month marks the beginning of another 10 years of this column. In the last decade, craft beer experienced substantial expansion, its customers and methods grew in sophistication, and new commercial challenges emerged, as chronicled monthly here. Complete Story

Brewery Finance and Craft Beer Professionals launch Tap the Vote effort in Colorado (October 20)- To make it easy for Colorado breweries to inspire their customers to register and vote in the November 3 elections, Brewery Finance and Craft Beer Professionals have launched Tap the Vote. Complete Story

WRU launches its own Craft Beer (October 20)- The new WRU Gold and WRU IPA are available this week from a range of retail outlets for supporters to sample in time for Wales’ much anticipated return to international rugby, against France on Saturday 24th October. Complete Story

Random Row Brewing Co. wins bronze at Great American Beer Festival (October 20)- Random Row’s Mosiac Pale Ale was awarded a bronze medal at the 2020 Great American Beer Festival. The Mosiac Pale Ale placed third out of 137 total entries in the “juicy hazy pale ale category.” Complete Story

This Craft-Beer Founder Gave Herself 6 Months to Succeed. Five Years Later, She’s Flourishing. (October 19)- Sufferfest sounds like the name of a hardcore-punk festival, but it’s actually a common euphemism for extreme fitness challenges, which is exactly why Caitlin Landesberg chose it for her upstart beer brand. Complete Story

2 Norfolk breweries take home gold at the Oscars of craft beer (October 19)- A stout and a pilsner brewed in Norfolk were voted two of the best beers in the country this weekend at what’s widely considered the Academy Awards of the craft beer world. Complete Story

State’s tribute to craft beer drinkers almost here (October 19)- Kentucky’s annual fall dream for beer drinkers is almost here. Crafting Kentucky Proud beers with Kentucky agricultural products is the focus of this year’s Kentucky Proud Beer Series, Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Ryan Quarles has announced. Complete Story

Cobra Lounge Hosts ‘Chicago Craft’ Pop-Up To Help Breweries, Artisans Get Through The Pandemic (October 16)- In a push to help local bands, artisans and breweries whose earnings have been severely restricted because of the pandemic shutdowns, Cobra Lounge just launched “Chicago Craft,” a pop-up shop inside the bar to sells drinks, merchandise and crafts. Complete Story

As virtual GABF arrives, craft beer industry faces difficult moment confronting racism and pandemic (October 16)- The Brewers Association and Colorado breweries are taking action to address racism and a lack of diversity in their ranks. But critics want more done. Complete Story

Opinion/The Next Draft: Sage wisdom from the ‘OGs’ of craft beer (October 16)- Dan Kenary, Jim Koch and Ned LaFortune have long regaled young brewers with stories about how, many decades ago, they lugged their own kegs to bars around Boston and Worcester. You see them now — mostly Koch, on your TV — and would never think they ever had to work that hard to sell beer. Complete Story

People told a craft beer fan he’d never find a following in South County. Fourth Street Tap House proved them wrong. (October 15)- When you think of where to go to sit down and enjoy a craft beer, Gonzales might not be the first place that pops into your mind. Until Fourth Street Tap House opened two years ago, there was no place in the area with a tap beer selection. Complete Story

After more than a year of anticipation, TEN20 Craft Brewery opens in Butchertown (October 15)- More than a year after restoration began at the old Dryden Provisions Co. building in Butchertown, Louisville’s newest microbrewery is set to open Thursday…. Complete Story

Five Takeaways from the Fall Craft Beer Professionals Virtual Conference (October 15)- I couldn’t be more thankful for the overpouring positivity and support from the Craft Beer Professionals Virtual Conference. If you are unfamiliar with our community, we are a network of 10K+ dedicated to the growth and betterment of craft beer across the United States. Complete Story

Maine company helps craft brewers stand out through beer can art (October 14)- With the explosion of craft beer, a Maine company is helping brewers separate themselves through art. Hugh McCormick has designed more than 60 beer cans for beermakers across the country. Complete Story

Beer Calendar: Get Into GABF With Watch Parties, Tappings and Book Talks (October 14)- Home brewers, start you engines! Great Divide Brewing and Vibe Concepts are hosting a home-brewing contest that will give the winner a chance to brew a batch of beer at the new Great Divide Brewery and Roadhouse, at 215 Wilcox Street in Castle Rock. Complete Story

Southwest Riverside County celebrates craft beer with promotions in October (October 14)- Southwest Riverside County is trading boos for brews with a barrel full of craft beer events and promotions in October. Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Visit Temecula Valley has dubbed October “Craft Brew Month,” Complete Story

Tucson Mall gaming store incorporates fantasy-themed craft beer bar (October 13)- You can work up a mighty thirst leading a war band through the Underdark on a campaign to stop demons hellbent on destroying the world. Mark Kadow, owner of Tucson Games and Gadgets, a tabletop board game store at the Tucson Mall, knows this. Complete Story

‘Drink Local’ month aimed at helping Nebraska brewers (October 13)- Like other businesses that rely heavily on serving people in person, Nebraska’s craft brewers and cideries have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Complete Story

All tests negative, The Barrel House to reopen Tuesday (October 13)- The Barrel House craft beer destination in downtown Dayton — which had closed temporarily late last week after a family member had come down with a fever after incidental contact with someone who had COVID-19 —Complete Story

Marketing Idea of the Week: This local coffee, snack, beer bundle via Sufferfest Beer (October 12)- Equator Coffees, GU Energy’s Boon and Sufferfest Beer Co. put together a cool limited edition bundle highlighting new products from all three California Bay Area brands. From the start of the day beverage needs and snacks on the trail, Complete Story

Ales West Craft Beer Festival attendees enjoy seasonal brews (October 12)- The second annual Ales West Craft Beer Festival was a hit on Saturday. The event in Downtown included over 20 brewers and microbreweries. Attendees were able to stop by different tents and try new and classic brews Complete Story

Craft Beer Week Returns To Murrieta (October 12)- Murrieta’s Craft Beer Week is back with a lineup of local breweries and a golf tournament sure to please any outdoorsy beer fan. In a news release, Explore Murrieta said the weeklong event will run through Sunday and offer specials and collaborations from 8bit Brewing Company Complete Story

Reimagining a beer festival (October 2)- As you are aware by now, COVID-19 has impacted everything. Craft breweries have had to reorganize and regroup their entire business models. At the start of the summer, the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild canceled Beer Under Glass (BUG), the annual premier craft beer festival in Chicago. Complete Story

Rebel Mettle is Cincinnati’s newest, most unexpected craft brewery (October 2)- I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect when I made my first visit to Rebel Mettle Brewery, the newest craft brewery in downtown Cincinnati. All I knew going in was from the things I’d seen on the brewery’s website and a few comments from some folks on Facebook. Complete Story

Craft Brewing Revival in the QC (October 2)- There’s a great revival happening in the already busy Quad-Cities craft brewing scene. Even in the midst of the Covid pandemic, several small, passionate craft breweries have opened this year. Complete Story

Lakeview Liquor Stores Offering Mixed 6-Packs Instead Of Annual Craft Beer Stroll (October 1)- The Lincoln Avenue Beer Stroll was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but local liquor stores are selling mixed six-packs of craft beer as an alternative. Complete Story

Craft breweries gather steam south of the river (October 1)- When Brad Cooper opened Steam Bell Beer Works in June 2016, Chesterfield’s craft beer scene was basically nonexistent; with the exception of Extra Billy’s, which operates a brewpub at its Alverser Drive location Complete Story

Craft beer lovers eye downtown spot (October 1)- For more than a decade, Giovanni Albanese and Robert Anderson have been taking bold risks with their home-brewed beers. By their estimates, the two have brewed more than 350 different beers, with the goal of trying new twists on flavors no other brewers have attempted. Complete Story

Craft beer tasting with alumni brewers (September 30)- “It’s five o’clock somewhere,” declared University of Wisconsin professor Robin Shepard as he kicked off a virtual worldwide “happy hour” on the first Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) enrichment live-stream. Complete Story

Virginia Craft Brewers Fest goes virtual (September 30)- The Virginia Craft Brewers Fest is going virtual this year. If you are a craft beer enthusiast, you will have seven days this October to join a virtual tasting series and interact with brewers and owners from all across Virginia. Complete Story

SeaWorld extends Craft Beer Festival until Nov. 1. (September 30)- SeaWorld’s annual Craft Beer Festival is serving up more than 100 craft brews and other cocktails and wine, as well as food items. See a full list here. The event has been modified to allow for social distancing and limited capacity, SeaWorld said. Complete Story

Reed City Brewery to host inaugural Octoberfest (September 29)- There will be live music from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and games and prizes throughout the night, along with German food and German beer. “We will be introducing some German beer releases, and will have German food on the menu,” owner Courtney Murphy said. “There will be seating indoors an outdoors.” Complete Story

South Florida Starbucks now serving wine, craft beer and small plates (September 29)- Belly up to the barista and order wine, craft beer and small plates at six Starbucks stores in South Florida starting Wednesday. The Seattle-based coffee giant is introducing “Starbucks Evenings,” which debuts in 70 stores,. Complete Story

Burning Man, Craft Beer and Sustainability: Taos Mesa Brewing (September 29)- It is Wednesday night in January and the Taproom in Taos Ski Valley is packed. No more than 15 feet wide, skiers stream in and out, sharing a beer after a day on the mountain or filling their growlers before heading home. Complete Story

Orland Park writer’s ‘guidebook’ revisits the birth of the craft brew movement as it was in 1995 in the Midwest (September 28)- Today, thousands of breweries populate the Midwestern states. Many people do not even need to leave their hometowns to sample from the taps of a craft brewer. But in the early 1990s, the beer industry was an entirely different story. Complete Story

Craft beer isn’t the only attraction at new brewery on former prison site (September 28)- The oak barrel beer fermentation says it all about the new $2.7 million Drowned Lands Brewery in the former Mid-Orange Correctional Facility administration building. Complete Story

The Week Ahead: Virtual craft beer tasting, Fermentation Fest, “If These Trees Could Talk” and more (September 28)- Get ready for a virtual craft beer tasting at 7 p.m. Thursday featuring four brewers who are UW-Madison graduates presenting and talking about their beers. Since you can’t be there in person, pick up the beers (Capital Brewery’s Oktoberfest, Hop Haus’ Hashtag Hazy,  Complete Story