Beer Info

Beer News, Beer Releases and New Breweries

Archives for January 2023

LAWSON’S FINEST LIQUIDS SENDS FAYSTON MAPLE IMPERIAL STOUT INTO DISTRIBUTION

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Lawson's Finest LiquidsWaitsfield, VT – Lawson’s Finest Liquids is debuting a 2022 World Beer Cup Silver Medal winner across the northeast just in time for cold weather and changing seasons. Fayston Maple Imperial Stout Aged in Mad River Distillers Rum Barrels is now available across the brewery’s entire nine-state distribution area of VT, CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, and RI. The distribution marks the first time a barrel-aged, seasonal release from the brewery is available outside the company’s Waitsfield, VT destination Taproom.

Each year, Lawson’s Finest Liquids releases specialty, barrel-aged beers to mark the holiday season. Fayston Maple Imperial Stout Aged in Mad River Distillers Rum Barrels debuted in Fall of 2021 before earning a Silver Medal at the prestigious World Beer Cup in 2022. The 10.5% ABV imperial stout is brewed with loads of roasted and black malts with a hefty dose of Vermont Maple Syrup, before aging in Mad River Distillers “Maple Cask Rum” charred oak barrels from Warren, VT.

“This is a special brew for us here at Lawson’s Finest Liquids,” explains Sean Lawson, CEO and Founding Brewer of Lawson’s Finest Liquids. “The beer has hints of vanilla, oak, caramel and rum from the Mad River Distillers Rum Barrels. It’s great to enjoy right away or to keep aged or cellared as it gets smoother and mellows with time.”

Fayston Maple Imperial Stout Aged in Mad River Distillers Rum Barrels is the final specialty release of 2022 for Lawson’s Finest Liquids. The beer is available in 16.9 oz. bottles at retailers across the Northeast through the end of 2022. The barrel-aged imperial stout follows on the heels of the regional debut of Mad River Maple, also available through the end of the year.

ABOUT LAWSON’S FINEST LIQUIDS:

Lawson’s Finest Liquids crafts and delivers the finest and freshest beer possible to delight our fans and to cultivate healthy, vibrant communities through our Social Impact Program. The brewery is a values-driven business with a commitment to excellence, authenticity, community, sustainability and fun. Founded by Sean and Karen Lawson, the company boasts a growing collection of award-winning beers brewed with passion and precision including the renowned Sunshine family of IPAs. Beginning as a home-based 1bbl nanobrewery in 2008, Lawson’s Finest expanded production capacity in 2011 and 2014, growing to include distribution across nine states in the Northeast.

For more information please visit https://www.lawsonsfinest.com/

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Hi-Wire Brewing Partners With Bevana

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NEWTON, North Carolina – Hi-Wire Brewing, one of North Carolina’s largest and fastest-growing breweries, is partnering with beverage platform Bevana to bring its award-winning craft beers to customers across the country with online ordering. For Hi-Wire, which started shipping directly to consumers in 2020 in response to the pandemic, this partnership offers a new format and an expanded shipping area.

“We have seen a tremendous response across the country for our online beer store, but this success translated to growing pains for our staff who handled the shipping of the actual beer,” said Chris Frosaker, co-owner of Hi-Wire. “With Bevana handling the e-commerce and shipping side, we now have room to effectively market this part of our business and grow it to its full potential.”

Founded in 2013, the brewery’s most popular beers include Hi-Pitch Mosaic IPA, Lo-Pitch Hazy IPA, Mountain Water Citrus Splash Easy-Drinking Ale, and 10W-40 Imperial Stout series. With distribution in nine states and nine taprooms located across the southeast, and new ones opening soon in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Nashville, Tennessee, Hi-Wire continues their expansion and core commitment to connecting people with their community. Hi-Wire’s passion to keep the tradition of craft beer alive by continuing to honor the heritage of brewing is something that aligns well with the mission of Bevana. Through their partnership with the platform, customers will additionally be able to find Hi-Wire products in the Bevana Newton retail taproom, as well as at D9 Brewing Company taprooms in Cornelius, Charlotte, and Hendersonville, N.C.

“Hi-Wire has been one of the truly amazing success stories of craft beer in the last decade,” explains Aaron MJ Gore, Senior Director of Business Development for Bevana. “To make world-class beer that enthusiasts go nuts for, and to bring that experience to their neighborhoods with some of the coolest taproom experiences you’ll find anywhere, that’s an incredibly difficult balance to strike. Through the Bevana online store, now they can expand that reach even further, and we’re excited to be partnering with them to get great beer in the hands of more people.”

Hi-Wire’s beers will be offered through Bevana’s online shop, where all of the platform’s beverage partners may be ordered and shipped directly to customers’ homes or businesses. With the ability to deliver beer to customers in forty-two states, it helps beverage makers and drinkers cut through the noise and the barriers that stand in the way of enjoying the best drinks that the world has to offer, regardless of location.

About Bevana

Bevana is a platform that connects artisan beverage makers with eager customers that they would otherwise be unable to reach. We partner with the best independent beverage makers across the globe to keep the craft in Craft Beverage, and to provide enthusiasts with the world’s best drinks, no matter where they are. Through Bevana, a new world of incredible beverage experiences is just a few short clicks away. Local passion, delivered globally.

Customers in forty-two states can order all of their favorite Bevana beverages online at www.Shop.Bevana.com for delivery directly to their door. For all orders over $65, free shipping is also available using the promo code FINDBEVANA22

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Wild Leap Announces Specialty South Downtown Atlanta-Honored Beer

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LAGRANGE, Georgia – Wild Leap, Georgia-based brewery, distillery and winery, announces the release of a new beer “SouthDown”, a Piña Colada Double IPA that honors the opening of their brand-new Atlanta taproom in Centennial Yards. SouthDown joins Wild Leap’s exceptional line of delicious products and will be exclusively offered at select retailers in Atlanta.

“To celebrate the opening of our new location in Atlanta, we decided to look at some of our favorite recipes and combine some elements to create something new,” said Chris Elliot, Chief Brewing Officer. “We are big fans of both coconut and pineapple in our IPAs, so we decided to create a Piña Colada Double IPA featuring toasted coconut flakes, pineapple, and lime puree.”

SouthDown has refreshing fruity and hazy notes for drinkers. This beer is a Piña Colada-inspired ale featuring coconut and citrus-flavored hops, sitting at an ABV 9.0%, IBU 44. Wild Leap adds toasted coconut to the mash and finishes the beer with tropical flavors from a pineapple and lime puree.

“We started with our full-bodied hazy IPA with tons of flaked oats and used two coconut-forward hops: Sabro Cryo and HBC 472. We also used our hand-picked varieties Citra and Simcoe for some citrus notes,” said Elliot. “The result is a beautiful, hoppy Piña Colada-inspired double IPA that we think people are going to love drinking at our new location!”

Wild Leap’s Atlanta taproom is now open at 125 Ted Turner Drive NW, Atlanta GA, 30303. The newly renovated taproom encompasses close to 16,000 square feet and will offer a wide selection of their famous beverages with their full bar.

About Wild Leap

Established in 2017, Wild Leap provides consumers with exceptional craft beverages that range from beer, spirits and cocktails. Founders Rob Goldstein and Anthony Rodriguez saw a gap in the alcoholic beverage market, so they created drinkable, approachable and high-quality products. Hailing from LaGrange, Georgia, Wild Leap will soon have a multi-level, 15,340 square-foot brewery, distillery and event destination in Atlanta’s Centennial Yards. Wild Leap can be found across the southeast including Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama.

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Stone Brewing Ruination IPA Returns

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ESCONDIDO, California – At long last, ‘the liquid poem to the glory of the hop’ returns. Stone Brewing Ruination IPA is now available as the first in Stone’s 2023 series of Fan Favorite Returns. This is the original recipe with its most ruinous qualities, just as intended when it first wrecked palates in 2002.

For most, Stone Ruination IPA is the quintessential representation of a West Coast Double IPA. The aroma is piney and resinous thanks to a barrage of hops. The first sip is a vibrant blast of citrusy bitterness with a light malt balance.

This particular beer has a notable history that plays an important role in Stone’s reputation today. It’s the BIG brother of Stone IPA, which was Stone’s 1st Anniversary IPA. The team had been steadily bumping up the hop levels of its anniversary releases every year, but after the massively hoppy Stone 5th Anniversary IPA, adding any more hops would have been, well, ruinous. So, the team brought out a year-round release that would pay homage to the indelicate hop glory of Stone’s first 5 years. In 2002, Stone Ruination IPA became the first full time brewed and bottled West Coast style Double IPA on the planet. In effect, it quickly became the most widely available example of the style. At the time it was an attack on the palate, quite literally off the bitterness charts.

“The original Stone Ruination IPA was in our year-round lineup for 13 years,” explained Jeremy Moynier, Stone Brewing Senior Manager of Brewing & Supply Chain. “It’s seen a couple different recipe iterations, but this is the first time since 2015 that we’ve brewed the OG. I love the intense bitterness and the flavor and aroma. That’s a classic trio of hops: Magnum, Chinook, and Centennial. This beer defined the West Coast Double IPA style for me, and now with so many expressions of Double IPAs out there, it’s amazing to revisit such a classic beer.”

Stone Ruination IPA is the first release in Stone’s 2023 Fan Favorite Returns. The series is a lineup of limited release beers that have become signatures of the brewery’s prolific 26-year history. This year’s favorites include:

• Stone Ruination IPA
• Stone Downunderstruck IPA – May 2023 – First released for Stone’s 19th Anniversary in 2015. Originally called Stone Thunderstruck IPA, it’s coming back with an updated name, but the same beer brewed with all Australian hops.
• Stone Imperial Notorious P.O.G. – June 2023 – An amped-up version of Stone’s legendary Berliner Weisse. Inspired by Hawaiian POG juice and brewed with passion fruit, orange and guava.
• Stone Xocoveza – October 2023 – Stone’s epic imperial stout inspired by Mexican hot chocolate. Brewed with chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, nutmeg and pasilla peppers.

Stone Ruination IPA is now available in all its bitter hop glory nationwide in 12oz six-pack cans, 22oz bottles and draft. Visit Shop.StoneBrewing.com for shipping direct to addresses in CA, OH, VA and Washington D.C. or locate the beer by zip code at Find.StoneBrewing.com.

ABOUT STONE BREWING
Founded in 1996, Stone pioneered the West Coast Style IPA, helping to fuel the modern craft beer revolution and inspire generations of hop fanatics. Today Stone operates breweries in Escondido, CA and Richmond, VA plus seven tap room and bistro locations. Stone offers a wide range of craft beers including its most popular Stone IPA, Stone Delicious IPA and Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager. The company’s long list of environmental efforts includes a LEED Silver Certification, world-class water reclamation and creative uses of spent grain. Stone has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice.

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Stable Craft Brewing Announces January 2023 Calendar Of Events and Releases

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Waynesboro, Virginia – Central Virginia’s Stable Craft Brewing at Hermitage Hill is celebrating the new year starting this January with award-winning craft beers, delicious food, tasty ciders, heated igloos, fun events and an awesome atmosphere! Stay warm and happy this winter at Stable Craft Brewing and mark these dates on your calendar. Our team at Stable Craft Brewing will be looking forward to seeing you!

Wednesday, January 4, 2023 AT 4 PM – 9:30 PM – Steal the SNOW BLOWS Glass – Rock into 2023 with our ‘Snow Blows’ glass. Whatever your feelings are about snow (and we all have them) this glass covers it…. *purchase any beverage and take home this wicked cool glass.

Thursday, January 5 at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Thursday Trivia: Drinkin’ Beer & Knowin’ Things–Gather your teams; Trivia returns. Join us for an evening of fun. First Prize takes home a gift of $30; 2nd $20; and third $10.

Friday, January 6, 2023 AT 4 PM – 9:30 PM – Friday Night Love – Wild Strawberry Pie Cider & Live Music with Shane Click We’ve captured the flavor Wild Strawberry and Rhubarb to capture the flavor of Wild Strawberry Pie.

Thursday, January12 at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Thursday Trivia: Drinkin’ Beer & Knowin’ Things–Gather your teams; Trivia returns. Join us for an evening of fun. First Prize takes home a gift of $30; 2nd $20; and third $10.

Friday, January 13 at 4 PM – 10 PM – Friday Night Love: Blueberry Cobbler Cider Release – We’ve infused our Brazen cider with blueberry puree to create a Blueberry Cobbler

Saturday, January 14 at 7 PM – 10 PM – Eighties Prom Night with DJ Adonis • MLK Weekend – Rock out to tunes from the Eighties; as your sport your version of Eighties Prom fashion….We’ll be handing out our version of Senior Superlatives.

Sunday, January 15 at 1 PM – 4 PM — Live Music with Randy Black & Pat Wertman: MLK Weekend – It’s a 3 day weekend, let’s make it last. Spend and afternoon with friends listening to classic rock tunes from Randy & Pat in the taproom

Thursday, January 19 at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Thursday Trivia: Drinkin’ Beer & Knowin’ Things–Gather your teams; Trivia returns. Join us for an evening of fun. First Prize takes home a gift of $30; 2nd $20; and third $10.

Friday, January 20 at 4 PM – 10 PM – Friday Night Love: Peach Pie Cider Release & Live Music with Randy Black – Peach Pie fans, we’re creating the ultimate cider for you.

Thursday, January 26 at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Thursday Trivia: Drinkin’ Beer & Knowin’ Things–Gather your teams; Trivia returns. Join us for an evening of fun. First Prize takes home a gift of $30; 2nd $20; and third $10.

Friday, January 27 at 4 PM – 10 PM – Friday Night Love – Wild Berry Pie Cider: Blackberry, Blueberry, Raspberry puree are infused in our Brazen Cider creating a Wild Berry taste sensation.

Stable Craft’s heated igloos are available by advance reservations only and come with a private server. The igloos seat up to eight guests and have panels that can open up and help adjust airflow inside. Reservations are for one hour and 45 minutes. To book a private igloo experience online, visit:

About Stable Craft Brewing

Stable Craft Brewing, recently named the 2022 Green Brewery of the Year, is the first brewery on the East Coast to launch a zero-food waste initiative for its award-winning brewery, restaurant and wedding and banquet facility. The sustainable brewery also grows its own hops, utilizes the brewing wastewater to water their hops, co-ops with a local farmer to use the spent grain for food for the cattle and has planted 1,100 trees on the farm to help with erosion and air quality. Stable Craft offers a sustainable tour by reservation only for guests to get a first-hand look at all of its sustainable initiatives.

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Warped Wing Brewing Company Launches Their New Look

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DAYTON, Ohio– Warped Wing Brewing Company, headquartered in the heart of downtown Dayton with additional Taproom locations across Southwest Ohio, is excited to announce the launch of their new brand identity, refreshing their design across all products, Taprooms, content, and merchandise. The redesign is in service to the brewery’s ongoing expansion and continued celebration of making timelessly balanced beer, seltzers, and sodas for every consumer and every occasion.

Warped Wing is proud to make beer for all the moments that become timeless experiences and to be the pint you share amongst friends. This is more than just a sentiment championed by their leadership, it’s the blueprint for their brand. From beer-making to culinary offerings, Warped Wing is determined to invest in people and products that create inclusive atmospheres and authentic connection. This commitment served as the foundation of the brand’s new design and messaging.

“We’ve always wanted to honor this area’s rich history of invention because of the spirit it inspires in people and how it connects us,” said Nick Bowman, Co-owner and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Warped Wing. “We wanted to refresh our brand for exactly this reason — to be more reflective of that spirit and really celebrate the classic and simple elements that feel authentic to who we are and that differentiates us from other breweries.” The brand’s new design will be seen across cans and packaging of their full lineup of beers and sodas and the upcoming launch of canned hard seltzers. The design comes with a refreshed Warped Wing icon that honors the original wing design, but with subtle changes to ensure it stands the test of time and remains a signature staple to Warped Wing’s origins. This design intent matches the spirit of the company.

“We’re certainly responding to what people want so that we have products for every consumer, but we challenge ourselves to create new products that you’ll want to come back to time and time again,” said John Haggerty, Co-owner and Brewmaster for Warped Wing. “We’re always working to perfect that balance of curiosity and reliability people love from craft beer.”

Consumers will begin to see the new Warped Wing brand in the Taprooms and on store shelves in January of 2023 and as new and seasonal products are released throughout the year. The first new can launch of the year, Hop Chill Cold IPA, will take place on Thursday, January 5th at all Warped Wing locations. Anyone interested in finding additional Warped Wing products, merchandise, or Taproom information is encouraged to visit www.warpedwing.com. And as always, share a pint, make a friend — and stay warped.

About Warped Wing Brewing Company
Warped Wing Brewing Co. is a Dayton craft brewery inspired by Ohio’s rich history of innovation and invention. We are committed to carrying that spirit forward by brewing new proprietary beer styles along with our original “warped” interpretations.

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Cape May Brewing Company Expanding Pennsylvania Distribution

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CAPE MAY, New Jersey – Cape May Brewing Company is excited to announce that they have formally partnered with additional Pennsylvania distributors to increase their distribution footprint across Pennsylvania to include areas surrounding Scranton, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh.

“We’re so thrilled to open these new markets, because this is where our fans live,” says Cape May Brewing Company CEO Ryan Krill. “Our data revealed a lot of insights about where our fans were coming from when they traveled to see us down here in Cape May, and we’re excited to be able to offer our brews closer to home.”

Cape May Brewing Company has partnered with Wilson-McGinley for Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania distribution, including the following counties: Beaver, Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, Washington, Allegheny, Westmoreland, Greene, and Fayette counties.

They have partnered with LT Verrastro in northeastern Pennsylvania for the following counties: Wayne, Pike, Monroe, Carbon, Luzerne, and Lackawanna counties.

In South Central Pennsylvania, they have partnered with Ace for the following counties: Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Dauphin, Lebanon, Cumberland, York, Adams, Franklin, and Fulton counties.

“Many of our fans enjoy our products while they’re on vacation here in South Jersey, but now the vacation doesn’t have to end,” shares Cape May Brewing Company Marketing Director Alicia Grasso. “We can bring a piece of the shore up to folks who may only get to visit once a year, and bring our products to people who haven’t yet had the chance to experience them.”

Cape May Brewing Company distributes their core flagships as well as a rotating seasonal selection to these locations, including Cape May IPA and Coastal Evacuation.

Cape May IPA is a 6.3% ABV American IPA that is loaded with floral and citrus notes, well-balanced with a zesty finish. It’s a West Coast-style IPA Crafted on the Cape in the East Coast.

Coastal Evacuation is an 8.0% ABV Double IPA that is as big and bold as hurricane season itself, with a Centennial-forward, brazen blend of hops serving up hints of orange citrus and honeydew melon. It’s time to evacuate. Are you prepared?

Cape May Brewing Company’s seasonal offerings include Crushin’ It, an 8.0% ABV Orange India Pale Ale brewed with Citra, Mosaic, and Azacca hops that blend together to accentuate the fresh flavors of orange juice, making this brew dry, approachable, and perfectly balanced.

These new markets represent the most recent territory expansion for Cape May Brewing Company; their products were previously only available in New Jersey, Delaware, and the counties surrounding Philadelphia, PA.

“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with these wholesalers as we expand our distribution footprint,” says Wholesale Market Manager Scott McIntyre. “We are excited for 2023 and beyond!”

About Cape May Brewing Company

CMBC started in 2011, with three guys making one beer in a 1,500 square-foot space. Now, between their administrative, production, and distribution facilities in Cape May and Egg Harbor Township, they have over 74,000 square feet of space and are still #brewingstrong at the Cape May Airport. They have several hundred flagship, seasonal, and small-batch brews under their umbrella, distributed throughout New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Their original space is now dedicated to experimental brewing and their award-winning Tasting Room, with a separate, industrial brewing facility across the street. Bridging the gap between the two is their new seasonal outdoor Brewtanical Garden, which provides guests with an alternative space to enjoy popular CMBC beers, complete with attached restrooms and its own bar and servers.

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Eastern Market Brewing Launches Non-Alcoholic Beer Line

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DETROIT, Michigan – Eastern Market Brewing Co. is launching its non-alcoholic beer line just in time for Dry January. The Detroit-based brewery has been experimenting with draft versions of their NA beer for much of 2022, but this is the first time the near beer is available in cans to take home.

Non-Alcoholic Grapefruit Sour and Non-Alcoholic Tangerine Sour are the first two flavors to hit shelves this week including Busch’s, Total Wine, and independent retailers across Metro Detroit. The four-pack of 12oz cans will also be available at their Eastern Market taproom as well as their sister locations (Ferndale Project in Ferndale, MI, and Lincoln Tap in Royal Oak, MI).

The non-alcoholic beer segment continues to show significant growth across the United States. In 2021, Eastern Market Brewing Co. made the decision to begin testing the NA market and partnered with Minnesota-based ABV Technology to install an Equalizer machine at their production facility. It uses dual-stage vacuum separation to take one input, a beer with alcohol, and turn it into two outputs: a clear hard seltzer at the same ABV as the input product, and also, a near beer with most of the flavor of the input beer but with less than .5% alcohol by volume.

“When we began contemplating the NA market and learned about ABV Technology’s machine, my first reaction was that it sounded too good to be true. We could take any of our beers, run it through the machine, and not only get an NA version of the beer, but also a hard seltzer output,” said Dayne Bartcht, Managing Partner of Eastern Market Brewing Co. “So we loaded up a car with kegs, drove to Minnesota, and sure enough, it worked. It was the best NA beer I’ve tasted.”

As the team experimented with NA beers, it became clear that sours provided the most flavor, so the decision was to start with gose-style sours. Eastern Market Brewing Co. had already mastered this type of beer in an alcoholic form including their popular flagship, Raspberry Gose. The German-style beer is light-bodied, tart, and refreshing, making it approachable to most.

Eastern Market Brewing Co.’s campaign is titled “Get Sh¡t Done,” an ode to the fact that NA beers pack the same flavor customers have grown to love, but without the associated buzz.

“As January approached and we were confident in the quality of the NA beers coming out, it was important the product fit within our family of brands, but also had a unique personality. Internally, our NA sours have become the go-to beer when we’re working late into the evening. That’s when it clicked. This is the beer for people that want to get shit done, but on their terms,” said Pauline Knighton-Prueter, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “People who love beer and expect that level of flavor, but have hobbies, passions, or work that they need to focus on.”

Knighton-Prueter continues, “Detroit is a hard-working city made up of countless movers and shakers that always have to be ‘on.’ Through the campaign, we want to highlight these people. It is exciting to offer a new market-fresh beer that all can enjoy during any occasion.”

About Eastern Market Brewing Company

Eastern Market Brewing Co. is a community-focused craft brewery and taproom in the heart of Eastern Market, an area of Detroit long known for its brewing history. Mixing tradition with experimentation has led to their rapid growth including Elephant Juice, their flagship NEIPA, and an easy-drinking Wunderboi Kolsch. Their family of companies includes Ferndale Project in Ferndale, Lincoln Tap in Royal Oak, Dooped Donuts in Detroit, and ASHE Coffee in Detroit. Their taproom is located at 2515 Riopelle Street, Detroit, MI.

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Brewers Association 2022 Year in Beer

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BOULDER, Colorado — The Brewers Association—the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American craft brewers—recounts a year filled with varied growth, continued supply chain disruptions, and increased competition. Despite these challenges, 2022 also saw a return to in-person events and the nurturing of the next generation of craft beer professionals.

Breweries, bars, and restaurants continued their long and unsteady recovery in 2022, and while total on-premise sales bounced back to their previous trends, draught beer is still recovering. Small and local brewpubs and taprooms proved nimble during continued supply disruptions, faring better than micros and regionals fighting for shelf space in an increasingly competitive distribution climate.

Climate change and persisting supply and ingredient disruptions and shortages continued to plague brewers throughout the year. Although the 2022 barley harvest improved, the severe depletion of stocks in 2021 kept supplies tight and prices high in a dynamic and changing market. 2022 hop acreage declined slightly in the U.S., while the European harvest was the worst in decades. Disruptions in the supply of aluminum cans and CO2 continued to impede recovery.

“Riding through a challenging and competitive year, taprooms and brewpubs found ways to innovate and keep customers coming through the door, while brands with a retail presence continued to compete with other beverage alcohol choices for shelf space,” said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. “2023 will be a reset for many brewers as they return to more conscious and thoughtful innovation to balance customer demand and adapt to supply chain fluctuations.”

Nationally and on the state level, the Brewers Association continued its work to ensure small brewers have equitable access to markets, fair tax rates, and sensible regulations.

In the fight for fair treatment for craft brewers, the Brewers Association submitted comments to the Department of the Treasury on wholesaler consolidation, unfair state franchise laws, and restrictions on direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales.

The Brewers Association joined fights against lowered excise taxes for ready-to-drink canned cocktails (RTDs) in Arizona, New Jersey, Washington, and Vermont and grassroots advocacy in Illinois, New Jersey, California, and Colorado. The BA will continue to support direct-to-consumer shipping, protecting existing allowances in states such as California, and bringing the practice to states currently without.

As the craft beer industry continues to mature, industry veterans have embraced their ability to assist newcomers as these rising professionals build their careers. Through its mentorship program, the Brewers Association has connected more than 100 mentors with entrepreneurs and professionals looking to develop their knowledge and skills, and those seeking to break into the craft brewing industry for the first time. With its fourth cohort now complete, the program has hosted 124 mentees and 102 mentors.

Beer lover interest in returning to in-person beer festivals was on full display in Denver October 6-8 as 40,000 attendees convened after a two-year hiatus for the 40th anniversary Great American Beer Festival.

“The maturing craft industry continues to grow more competitive, facing both internal business pressures and externally the continued growth of new beverage alcohol competitors,” said Watson. “While these challenges are daunting, craft brewers are known for their innovation and flexibility, and will need both as they evolve to meet the next generation of beer lovers with new beers and new occasions.”

Given learnings from 2022, the Brewers Association predicts that in 2023:
• Brewery openings will be the lowest in over a decade
• Distributed craft volume will not grow
• Supply chain will remain rocky, but collectively average prices will come down from 2022 peaks
• Total brewery employment will increase

Check out the complete 2022 Year in Beer report here.

About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 5,600-plus U.S. breweries and more than 37,000 homebrewers. The BA’s independe craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®, SAVOR™: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Homebrew Con™, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week®. The BA publishes The New Brewer® and Zymurgy® magazines, and Brewers Publications® is the leading publisher of brewing literature in the U.S. Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com® and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association® and the free Brew Guru® mobile app. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Urban South Brewery Crafts Three Carnival Time Sour Ales with Dong Phuong King Cakes

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NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – Urban South Brewery, the largest craft brewery in New Orleans and one of the leading breweries in the South, announced a collaboration with Dong Phuong Bakery – the famous king cake maker. The brewery crafted three Carnival Time Sour Ales to celebrate Mardi Gras, all brewed with king cakes.

“We are excited to collaborate with Dong Phuong to create three delicious beers for Mardi Gras that encompass New Orleans’ passion for craft beer and king cake,” stated Jacob Landry, Founder and President of Urban South Brewery. “These specialty sour ales will be the perfect beers to drink and enjoy this Carnival season!”

The specially made Carnival Time Sour Ale with King Cake captures all the indulgence of the renowned Dong Phuong Cinnamon and Cream Cheese King Cake – the perfect refreshment to enjoy along the parade route. The sour ale has a 4.6% ABV and is available in 16 oz cans. It will be available on January 6, 2023 at the taproom, online for pick up at the taproom, and in restaurants and grocery stores across Urban South’s distribution footprint.

There are also two taproom exclusive beers crafted in collaboration with Dong Phuong Bakery: Carnival Time Sour Ale with Strawberry Filled King Cake – sweet strawberry filling in a classic Dong Phuong brioche king cake served in a sour ale; and a crowd-pleasing classic, Carnival Time Sour Ale with Coconut Cream King Cake – just as decadent as it sounds. Both of these taproom-only specialty sour ales have a 4.6% ABV.

About Dong Phuong Bakery

Founded in 1982, Dong Phuong Bakery is a James Beard Award-winning Vietnamese bakery in the heart of New Orleans East offering traditional baked goods, banh mi, and seasonal staples such as mooncakes and king cakes.

About Urban South Brewery

Founded in 2016, award-winning Urban South Brewery has established itself as one of the leading Southern regional craft breweries. From its original New Orleans taproom, to its satellite location in Texas – Urban South – HTX, to its recently acquired Perfect Plain Brewing Co. in Pensacola, Florida, the brewery produces high quality, affordable beers that are easy to drink and a great way to enhance any occasion. Known for its flagship Paradise Park American Lager and Holy Roller IPA, fruited sours and hard seltzers, recent accolades include: 2022 U.S. Open Beer Championship (Gold and Bronze), 2021 Can Can Awards (Gold and Bronze, 2020 U.S. Open Beverage Championship (Silver) and 2020 Great American Beer Festival (Gold). Urban South prides itself on being a strong community partner with a belief that beer is a family affair.

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