Archives for August 2020

Oxford, Ohio (August, 2020) – – This year, the U.S. Open Beer Championship will award medals in 132 categories. More categories than any beer judging in the world. But, we decided to add one more. After drinking a few of the Black Is Beautiful Imperial Stouts, the board of directors of the U.S. Open decided to add a new category, the Black Is Beautiful Imperial Stout category.

The U.S. Open will donate 100% of this category entry fees to a local foundation that supports police brutality reform and legal defenses for those who have been wronged or to a local organizations that support equality and inclusion. The foundation will be determined by the Gold Medal Winner.

Black Is Beautiful Imperial Stout Recipe
The base recipe  for Black is Beautiful Imperial Stout  was created by Weathered Souls Brewing Company. It was designed to be a moderately high abv. stout to showcase the different shades of black. If you added your own twist or ideas to the beer, please enter them in the comment section when you register your beer. Recipe Link

Call for Entries
More than 7,000 beers, representing more than 130 different styles, were judged during the 2019 U.S. Open event, which is the only brewery competition to include licensed breweries and winners of the American Homebrewers Association competition. Last year, breweries spanning the globe from Russia to Rhode Island sent their beers. Winning entries can be seen on the U.S. Open Beer Championships website, at www.USOpenBeer.com.

Registration, Deadlines and Fees
The last day to register is October 21, 2020
Beers will need to arrive between October 21 through October 30.
Each brewery may enter a maximum of eight beers.
The entry fee will be $75 (with two entries at no charge).
A brewery must submit a minimum of five beers to be considered one of the Top Ten Breweries and Grand National Champion.

Brewers can submit questions at dow_scoggins@hotmail.com and follow the competition on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

U.S. Open Links
2020 U.S. Open Beer Championship Webpage
2020 U.S. Open Categories
2020 U.S. Open Registration
2020 U.S. Open Shipping
2019 U.S. Open Medal Winners

LOS ANGELES– It is not news that the hard seltzer category is on fire, nor that many major beverage brands are adding their logo to a version of the same liquid that made the category explode two years ago. Conversely, Tolago is “building from within our communities’ culture,” explains Tolago Hard Seltzer CEO, Nicholas Greeninger. “We took a page out of the hard kombucha playbook when creating the product by using the highest quality, real ingredients,” he says. “To us, every 50-year-old corporate beverage logo on a hard seltzer can is lazy and a bit opportunistic. Until now, not one hard seltzer brand had listened to consumers or pushed the category in the right direction.”

Tolago is based on all-natural ingredients, including ethically sourced fresh fruit juices, purées, and natural botanicals from Southern California, as well as fair-trade certified 100% organic agave nectar from Mexico. Clean of chemical taste, gluten-free, and 5% ABV, the flavors include Ginger Pear, Guava Mango, Cherry Rose, and Agave Lime. Available only in fully-recyclable printed standard cans from Ball, the seltzers are premium priced and come in 6-, 12-, and 24-can cartons, with SRPs of $12.99, $24.99, and $49.99 respectively, or $1.99 per single.

The talent collective behind the brand includes fine artist and Creative Director Matt McCormick, who created the logo and package design. Brand Director Stevie Dreher is known for discovering and nurturing some of America’s top electronic musicians. Others within the 28-member owners’ collective include photographer Sandy Kim; skateboarder Louie Lopez; singer Omar Apollo; surfer Mitch Coleborn; and 2x Winter Olympian snowboarder ElenaHight. Each member of the group is using his or her talent, outlook, and network to facilitate unique collaborations and opportunities that will be executed across the three tiers.

Greeninger, the former branding and marketing power behind Saint Archer Brewing Company, which was acquired by MillerCoors, is the bridge from lifestyle to beverage. Other beverage sales and distribution experts include Doug Gudmundson (36 years in beer, most recently with Karl Strauss Brewing Company); Jason Schwenck (13 years with Red Bull America, and 12 years building numerous successful startup beverage companies); and Matthew Mitchell (25 years in wine & spirits, most recently with Jackson Family Wine Company). Tolago’s board of directors includes Circe Wallace (EVP, Wasserman), Henny Yegezu (Founder/CEO, EQT Recordings), and Robert Reynolds (Managing Partner, Seven Seas VC), all bringing their networks and specialized knowledge to the Tolago business.

In California, Tolago Hard Seltzer will be distributed by Young’s Market and reach retail shelves in September, just in time for the start of California’s true summer. Initial retail response has been positive – with particular enthusiasm for the better-for-you brand proposition, industry veterans, and high-profile advocates – and pre-orders from chain and independent accounts are underway. Tolago will also be sold via Amazon.com, Drizly, Postmates, Uber Eats, and Cloud Kitchens.

The brand’s robust marketing campaign includes in-store retail programming, point of sale materials, digital and out-of-home advertising, as well as an annual commitment to 1% for the Planet. Bryan Boeck, Senior Vice President of Young’s Market, enthuses: “We can’t wait to launch Tolago. The hard seltzer category is on fire, and we want only the best for our book of business. We don’t see many wine and spirits distributors going into the category, which excites us.” The Tolago executive team is in talks with other select distributors nationwide.

“Tolago is the only drink I keep at my house AND the studio. It’s a secret weapon for a pool day or late night recording. I never get caught without a case!” says co-owner and music producer Kenny Beats. Greeninger concludes: “When others settled, we simply would not. Taking real ingredients to create a better-tasting, better-for-you hard seltzer captures the spirit of the collective behind this business.”

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Three Birds Hard Seltzer, the new drink of choice this summer, takes the low calorie / low carb aspect we love about hard seltzers and brings it to the next level. Three Birds Hard Seltzer, which launched 4th of July weekend, is bright and lean, gluten free, and contains absolutely no added sugar (the 2g carbs come from the natural juices added for flavor), making Three Birds a lighter addition to the seltzer market and more refreshing than comparable products.

Made by combining natural juices and just the right amount of fizz, Three Birds Hard Seltzer guarantees to have a flavor to please everyone in your “flock” (with options including raspberry, lime, mango, and cucumber) and is always smooth and clean.

Three Birds Hard Seltzer is priced at $12.99 per 12-pack and is sold exclusively at all 200+ Total Wine & More stores located across 24 states. If there isn’t a store close by, customers may order online directly and have cases delivered to their doorstep.

The Flavors

Raspberry – Farmer’s market fresh, this seltzer is straight from the garden. Juicy raspberry and bright citric undertones leave your palate clean and refreshed. One might say it’s berry-refreshing.

Mango – Relax and soak up the sun, this mango seltzer brings the vacation to you. With bursting bubbles and notes of ripe mango, this sparkling seltzer gives you the tropics without the sweet. Lean and clean, just the way we like it.

Lime – Fresh to zest, this lime seltzer hits all the right citrusy notes. Between aromatic lime peel and tangy lime juice, the effervescent lime refresher is bright and bubbly, just like you.

Cucumber – Crushable and cool, with hydrating notes of cucumber that leave you feeling fresh and relaxed. The perfect hint of basil rounds out the cucumber and brings in an elegant herbal balance. Cool is the new cucumber.

The 5% ABV in all flavors come from wine that has been removed of all impurities, color and flavor.

About Three Birds
Spread your wings and fly above the rest. Whether you’re with friends at your nest or out soaring with the best, Three Birds Hard Seltzer has a flavor for your flock. With natural juices and just the right amount of fizz, you and your peeps are bound to have a flight you’ll never forget.

About LeVecke Wine, Beer & Spirits
With nearly 70 years of experience, LeVecke Wine, Beer & Spirits is one of the largest spirits producers in the world. Now in its third and fourth generations of family leadership, the company continues to put people and values first. LeVecke actively seeks suppliers and customers that share the company’s values. It is the brand’s loyal employees and corporate family culture that make LeVecke unique. The people behind LeVecke are the reason that once a customer is earned, they stay a customer for life. LeVecke’s commitment to its team and diversity starts with corporate values and business practices. This commitment is extended to suppliers and is considered a requirement of doing business with LeVecke Wine, Beer & Spirits.

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RICHMOND, Va. — In July 2020 Iain Gordon and Vanessa Gleiser announced that they will be opening the first seltzery in Richmond, Virginia. The seltzer business will open its doors in August 2021 and will feature handcrafted hard seltzers in a variety of flavors.

The couple decided to open the seltzery because they wanted to add a new mix of products into Richmond’s craft beverage scene and also felt there was a lack of their favorite beverage in the city. They hope to get their storefront in the next few months and begin design and renovations to create the perfect new hot spot for Richmonders and tourists.

Iain and Vanessa are currently fine-tuning the seltzer recipe in their apartment kitchen and recently bottled their first batch of the malt beverage. The duo is most excited about their Blackberry Sour seltzer, which they were able to taste test this past week and are looking forward to the day they can share it with the rest of RVA.

Richmond Seltzer Co. plans to create several more flavors including watermelon, mango, and peach hibiscus. The owners will be crafting the seltzers with natural, locally sourced ingredients to produce the best quality beverages for Richmond’s community. The couple is currently collaborating on a never before done seltzer concept with AR’s Hot Southern Honey to make a sweet and spicy seltzer. Iain and Vanessa will also be using simple syrups from local Richmond businesses such as Crescent Simples to ensure top-notch flavor.

Additionally, the owners plan to do quarterly contests on their social media platforms to see who can come up with the craziest yet most delicious flavor combination. The winner will have their seltzer created by Richmond Seltzer Co.Anyone interested in learning more about the new seltzery can visit website or follow the business on Instagram and Facebook for more updates.

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