Lawmakers prepare to tweak New Jersey’s brewery rules (September 20) – Assembly lawmakers are preparing to reexamine rules set in July that owners say have hamstrung New Jersey’s breweries, an undertaking likely to lead to brewery owners butting heads with bar and restaurant owners already invested in costly liquor licenses. Complete Story.
Malibu’s first brewery opens with a taproom and restaurant by the beach (September 19) – Malibu is now surfing the craft beer wave as a new namesake brewery opens in the seaside city. With more than a dozen beers on tap and a menu influenced by the coast and the founder’s Southwest roots, Malibu Brewing Company officially opened its doors Sept. 6 near the popular Zuma beach. Complete Story.
North Carolina’s largest craft breweries (September 17) – Asheville’s Highland Brewing was the state’s largest craft brewery, producing nearly 45,000 barrels of beer in 2021. Complete Story.
Construction is complete at Washington-based Bellevue Brewery. Check it out! (September 13) – Construction is complete at Bellevue Brewery in Bellevue, Wash. Ware Malcomb provided interior architecture and design services for the project. SmartCap Construction was the general contractor for the project. Complete Story.
Erlanger city council paves way for new brewery, distillery (September 12) – A new brewery and distillery will be coming to the city of Erlanger next year. Fabled Brew Works will be located off Kenton Lands Road between the Kenton County Public Library and Silverlake Family Center. Complete Story.
Colorado’s top craft breweries saw strong rebound in 2021 (September 10) – Colorado’s largest craft breweries rebounded significantly in 2021, a year after the pandemic initially crippled the industry, with average gains near 10%. Complete Story.
Unique brewery in Blaine makes farm-to-table beer (September 7) – A small craft brewery in Blaine is producing farmhouse-style ales made in a 100-year-old barn. Atwood Farm Brewery also incorporates fruit, herbs, and vegetables harvested on the property into beer recipes. Complete Story.
LOCAL FAMILIES FORMING BREWERY IN JAMESTOWN (September 5) – An idea shared among six families has led to the start of a brewery in Jamestown. Christian Cary, one of the founders of the new Drift Prairie Brewing Company, says things started picking up more than a year and a half ago. Complete Story.
Urbana Brewing Co. hopes to spur continued growth in downtown Urbana (September 4) – On Urbana’s Monument Square, it seems storefront after storefront is under construction. As each tarp lifts, the downtown core welcomes a new business whether it’s senior housing, a tapas bar, or come fall, its first craft brewery. Complete Story.
Parma’s Schnitz Ale Brewery opens new patio, eyes product expansion in Northeast Ohio (August 30) – After opening up for business last November, Schnitz Ale Brewery recently unveiled its 1,200-square-foot patio that includes a dozen four-seat tables. Complete Story.
Combustion Brewery expands with Clintonville taproom (August 28) – Combustion Brewery’s Clintonville Taproom opened Aug. 13 at 2971 N. High St., a space formerly occupied by Lineage Brewery before closing after seven years. Lineage announced it was shutting its doors on Facebook in early April. Complete Story.
14 Essential Colorado Breweries to Visit (August 23) – Colorado has a lot to offer travelers who love beer—add a visit to notable Colorado breweries like Cerebral, WeldWerks, and Bierstadt Lagerhaus while there. Complete Story.
25 Photos: Pine Barrens Jam at Blue Point Brewery (August 21) -A day of music, artistry and artisans livened Blue Point Brewery Saturday as hundreds attended the second annual Pine Barrens Jam. The music and arts festival saw a lineup comprised entirely of emerging local musicians perform for nine hours. A series of bands rocked the upstairs brewpub’s main stage while singer-songwriters performed outside on the beer garden stage. Complete Story.
The Next Draft: After brewery tour through Vermont, managing a packed beer fridge of news (August 20) – Every day since the heat wave broke, I notice signs of fall, even amid this devitalizing drought. Some mornings have hovered around the mid-50s. Complete Story.
Bell’s Brewery investing $480,000 into grant donations for responsible water stewardship (August 16) – Carrie Yunker wants the community to know that, despite being part of a bigger company now, Bell’s Brewery intends to continue to show up in a big way for causes it believes in. Complete Story.
‘Brews and moos’: local brewery is nestled on a farm (August 14) – Phil and Carolyn Corzine opened Cypress Grove Brewing in November 2019. The couple caught the brewing bug when Phil invested in 1905 Brewing Company in 2018. However, after the fire, the couple decided to invest more time on their farm and open their own brewery. Complete Story.
Why Beer Drinkers Are Moving Away From Crushable Brews (August 9) – There used to be a time when craft beer was all about the most crushable brews. These are session beers that have an ABV around 4-5%, aren’t too hoppy, and go down nice and easy. But over the last several years, craft breweries have started focusing their efforts on IPAs of all varieties with one thing in common: a higher alcohol content. Complete Story.
Where you can drink some of the rarest beers in the world (August 7) – The Raleigh Beer Garden in North Carolina holds the world record for most beers on tap and can serve you beers you can’t find anywhere else in the country. Complete Story.
Georgia-based brewery and distillery expands distribution to Alabama (August 2) – Fans of Wild Leap brewing and distillery in Birmingham can now purchase the beverages at retailers, bars and restaurants throughout the city. Complete Story.
Georgia-based brewery and distillery expands distribution to Alabama (July 31) – Fans of Wild Leap brewing and distillery in Birmingham can now purchase the beverages at retailers, bars and restaurants throughout the city. Complete Story.
Grab your bike for this West Denver brewery tour (July 30) – Bike four miles, visit four breweries and win a prize. That prize? You guessed it, free beer. Complete Story.
‘Raise a Wing’: Bell’s Brewery partners with Meals on Wheels to help feed seniors (July 26) – Bell’s Brewery has partnered with Meals on Wheels to help provide food to seniors in need. The Comstock-based brewery is holding its “Raise a Wing” event for the third year. This year’s is Friday, on National Chicken Wing Day. Complete Story.
Big Grove Brewery brings a giant taproom and restaurant to Des Moines this week (July 23) – The brewery scene in Des Moines is getting a dazzling newcomer that brings its tried-and-true craft beers to Sherman Hill. Big Grove Brewery & Taproom opens in the former Crescent Chevrolet building at 555 17th St. on Wednesday. Complete Story.
Flying Dog Brewery celebrates 5 years at BWI (July 19) – Teams from Flying Dog Brewery, Roseda Farm, HMS Host and the Flying Dog Taphouse gathered together June 28 to celebrate the five-year anniversary of the Flying Dog Taphouse location at the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Complete Story.
Start/finish your day watching Arlo McKinley perform at Sun King Brewery (July 18) – Arlo McKinley songs generate their own magnetic fields. Cathartic, bleak, the speed of lava, his tunes don’t have the common ingredients you might associate with a hitmaker. Complete Story.
A microbrewery is coming to Corpus Christi. Here’s the scoop. (July 17) – After brewing beer at home for six years, Baltazar Ramirez Jr. plans to use his skills to make a profit off his hobby. Complete Story.
New York-based brewery opening first Columbus-area location with unique taproom and bottle shop (July 12) – Fattey Beer Co. is coming to the Columbus area. The New York-based Brewery plans to open a unique new taproom and bottle shop storefront in Uptown Westerville. Complete Story.
Charlotte brewery makes Top 10 at the U.S. Open Beer Championship (July 11) – The American Homebrew Association has crowned the winners of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, and Charlotte-based Pilot Brewing was named among the Top 10. Complete Story.
Athletic Brewing to open the World’s Largest Non-Alcoholic brewery (July 5) – Anyone doubting the long-term viability of craft non-alcoholic beers rise in the industry has a lot to chew on with the news that Athletic Brewing will open the largest brewery of it’s kind in the world. Complete Story.
Something’s brewing in Newark: Hometown couple opening brewery and tasting room downtown (July 4) – Brian and Maria Bremer did not consider anywhere other than their hometown when it came to opening a brewery. “It’s the perfect place to do it,” said Brian. “There are no breweries in Newark. We thought it would be the perfect fit.” Complete Story.
Brewery creates special beer for a special cause (July 2) – Part science and a whole lot of prayer. While ‘pray for the best batch ever and that all batches will be the best beer in Oregon’ may be listed as the No. 1 instruction on every ale brewing procedure list at Lookingglass Brewery, there is clear evidence that a meticulous scientist works here. Complete Story.
Westbrook Brewery Open in Time for Summer Crowds (June 28) – Last summer, the Westbrook Planning Commission as well as the Zoning Commission have approved an application to convert old medical offices located at 4 Grove Beach Road North into Coastline Brewery. Complete Story.
Mystic Hills Brewery planned for ski country (June 25) – An East Concord couple is planning to open a brewery a few miles from Sprague Brook County Park and Kissing Bridge Ski Resort. Complete Story.
Carib Brewery USA to Feature Top Steelband Group to Celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month This Sunday (June 23) – Carib Brewery USA officially closes its celebration of Caribbean American Heritage Month by partnering with popular, local steel band orchestra, New Generation Branches to host a concert on their patio, at their production facility and newly renovated taproom. Complete Story.
STUNNING NEW BREWERY OPEN IN TIVOLI, NY (June 20) – We first reported about a one-of-a-kind brewery opening soon in Columbia County back in April. According to the Red Hook Daily Catch, Lasting Joy Brewery opened its doors over the weekend just in time for Fathers Day and the village of Tivoli’s 150th-anniversary celebration. Complete Story.
Harpoon parent company agrees to buy Long Trail Brewing (June 17) – Mass. Bay Brewing Company, which owns Harpoon Brewery in Windsor, has agreed to buy Long Trail Brewing Company, producers of ales under the Long Trail, Otter Creek and Shed brands, according to the co-founder and chief executive officer of Mass. Bay Brewing. Complete Story.
New breweries open in Syracuse and Cortland County and other local craft (June 14) – Several expansions, relocations and new breweries have been announced this year. This week brings two new brewery openings, one at Destiny USA in Syracuse and one in Cortland County. Complete Story.
Small beer breweries are pouring new life into the Hill Country (June 7) – Craft breweries across the region are attracting locals and weekend road trippers from all over Texas — and even from across the country. Those visitors are also providing an economic boost to small towns that just a decade ago looked a lot sleepier. Complete Story.
A guide to 21 Des Moines metro breweries and the bike trails closest to them (June 5) – The craft brewery industry in the Des Moines area just keeps growing. Now 21 breweries call the region home. Complete Story.
Mankato Brewery hosts a party, competition, and beer-release (June 3) – Despite the rain, the Mankato Brewery hosted its fourth local barbecue cook-off competition and second Ribfest-beer release party. The event had plenty of charcoal, craft beer, smoked meats, and rock music at every turn. Complete Story.
The Top Brewery in Every State, According to Yelp (May 28) – If you’ve spent any time drinking beer over the past decade or so, you probably already know that we’re in a golden age of brewing. Complete Story.
Other One is the newest kid on the craft brewery block (May 27) – If you want to stay really close to home and enjoy a craft beer, you can check out one of the Capital Region’s newest microbreweries, Other One Brewing Company in Halfmoon. Complete Story.
Just in time for summer, breweries move south of the Indian River Inlet (May 23) – A nice cold beer can be a great way to cap off a hot summer day at the beach. But while the Lewes, Rehoboth and Dewey beach areas all have lots of craft beer breweries to visit, vacationers in Bethany or Fenwick always had to go north of the Indian River Inlet. But not anymore. Complete Story.
The founders of NYC’s first woman-owned brewery on the biggest career lessons they’ve learned (May 21) – In March 2021, one year into the coronavirus pandemic, LeAnn Darland and Tara Hankinson took a leap of faith and opened Talea Beer Co., the first woman owned and operated brewery and taproom in Brooklyn, NY. Now, 30+ employees and 9,000 square feet later, the pair continue their aims to diversify the craft beer industry. Complete Story.
Asheville brewery nearing debut of local taproom, bottle shop (May 19) – Burial Beer Co. is putting the final touches on its Plaza Midwood home. The Asheville brewery says its taproom and expanded bottle shop — called The House of Relics — will open June 4. Complete Story.
Guide: Long Island Breweries (May 16) – Looking to check out a brewery? There are many breweries across the island for beer lovers to visit. Check out the list below for breweries in your area. Complete Story.
Iron Hill Brewery wins Silver at 2022 World Beer Cup (May 13) – Iron Hill Brewery recently won a Silver award at the World Beer Cup, for its Queen of the North in the Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer category. Complete Story.
Flagship Brewery and Minthorne Street celebrate 8 years (May 10) – Flagship Brewery Co. and Minthorne Street celebrated its 8th anniversary with an array of festivities on Saturday in Tompkinsville. Complete Story.
Vandergrift brewery Allusion wins national awards for clever beer-themed marketing (May 8) – Vandergrift’s only in-house brewery snagged two national awards this week for their marketing efforts in the beer industry. Complete Story.
Waterloo-based SingleSpeed Brewing Co. plans a location in Des Moines’ Market District (May 7) – The Waterloo-based brewery is embarking on an adaptive re-use of a former tire shop at 303 Scott Ave., part of Des Moines’ Market District neighborhood on the east bank of the Des Moines River. It’s expected to open in spring 2023. Complete Story.
This South Seattle brewery walk hits 8 taprooms in about 4 miles (May 3) – If you’re looking for a quiet, pretty walk that highlights Seattle’s verdant parks and stunning bodies of water, look elsewhere — this ain’t that. Complete Story.
The Brewery District Farmers Market to launch this summer (April 27) – The farmers market will take place June 10 through Oct. 28 on Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m. It will feature local farmers, plus artists, makers, beer, food trucks, and live entertainment. Best Place, 917 W Juneau Ave., will also host a beer garden from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Complete Story.
We Asked 15 Beer Makers: What’s the Most Underrated Midwest Brewery? (April 26) – It’s the sheer dominance of mass-market lager brands born from 19th-century German immigrants, the dynamic craft brewers principled on innovation and excellence in recent decades, and the proud embrace of both these homegrown stories by local drinkers that makes Midwest beer culture the most interesting in the United States. Complete Story.
Heavens to Murgatroid to reunite for Portsmouth Brewery anniversary shows this weekend (April 24) – Last June, the owners and staff at The Portsmouth Brewery, New Hampshire’s first craft brew pub, began what they hoped would be a year-long celebration of their 30th anniversary with a party. Spirits were high. Gov. Chris Sununu was behind the bar pouring beers. Complete Story.
Brewing Good: Local brewery beer proceeds benefit people living in, fleeing Ukraine (April 17) – At a brewery in Plant City, when you order a certain pint at the bar — you’re doing more than just wetting your whistle. Complete Story.
Hot Springs sake brewery will fulfill longtime dream (April 16) – After 15 years of effort, the dream of opening a sake brewery in Hot Springs will soon be a reality for two Arkansas men. Complete Story.
New brewery opens in Gogebic County (April 15) – The owner was bit by the brewing bug back in 2017 and has converted his wife’s former medical clinic into his brewery. For Five Sons Brewery, the focus is on more traditional German brews. Complete Story.
How to Protect a Trademark or Service Mark for a Brewery or Beer Name (April 14) – With excellent craft beers, breweries have become highly popular in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and throughout the United States and are most often visited during spring, summer, and fall. Complete Story.
Brewers Association Releases Annual Craft Brewing Industry Production Report and Top 50 Producing Craft Brewing Companies for 2021 (April 7) – the trade association representing small and independent American craft brewers—today released annual production figures for the U.S. craft brewing industry. In 2021, small and independent brewers collectively produced 24.8 million barrels of beer and realized 8% growth, increasing craft’s overall beer market share by volume to 13.1%, up from 12.2% the previous year. Complete Story.
Kalamazoo brewery supporting Ukraine with beer event (April 5) – “One of the brewers, Michael Christensen, he was on Facebook and noticed that the Pravda Brewery had opened up their recipes to anyone that wanted to use them,” Homan said. Final Gravity has joined hundreds of breweries making the beer with its special ingredient. “This is a Ukrainian anti-imperial stout brewed with roasted beets,” Homan said. Complete Story.
New brewery ready to open (April 4) – Those who have been patiently waiting for Fairmont Brewing Company to open can mark their calendars. The new business, located at the end of Downtown Plaza, will open for customers at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20. Complete Story.
COVID Can Consumption Caused Chaos for Breweries of All Sizes. Here’s How Three in Oregon Coped. (April 2) – With a pandemic suppressing our ability to share culture in person for the past two years, the beer world has suffered losses beyond revenue. Facing universal adversity, breweries ended up making choices driven by necessity, guided by ethics and community, and shaped by a passion for the culture of beer. Complete Story.
Southernside Brewing and Double Stamp Brewery team up to help Safe Harbor (March 31) – Two Upstate breweries are teaming up to help a local organization that provides support to survivors of domestic violence and their families. Complete Story.
Three Leg Run has new brewery, winery and meadery in Chester up and running(March 31) – With a name inspired by the odd gait of an old dog, the region’s newest brewer has debuted in Chester with more than just beer on the menu. Three Leg Run opened last month at 4418 W. Hundred Road, offering beer, wine and mead made on-site. Complete Story
Four Northeast Ohio breweries team up for brewery crawl(March 30) -Four breweries in four cities are banding together for a 10-day pub crawl. The casual crawl is scheduled for Friday, April 15, through Sunday, April 24, at these breweries: Blue Monkey Brewing, Broadview Brewing, Hoppy Dude Brews and Schnitz Ale Brewery. Complete Story
L.A.’s first combination brewery-and-cidery pops open in Lincoln Heights (March 29) – It’s not your imagination. You are seeing more places selling hard cider. You are also, of course, seeing more microbreweries. Complete Story.
Brewery Safety Issue: March (March 23) – For the March/April 2022 The New Brewer, we present our Brewery Safety issue. This issue explores the importance of establishing a culture of safety at your brewery and tips for how to get started. Complete Story.
How Black Beer Fans Are Creating Their Own Spaces in Detroit’s Brewing Industry (March 22) – It’sIt’s been four years since then-employee Tracy Evans filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against Michigan’s largest craft brewery at the time, Founders Brewing Company, for the racist incidents he allegedly experienced. Complete Story.
From Cockpit To Taproom, Denver Brewery Takes Off (March 21) – Denver’s FlyteCo Brewing is opening a second location this summer that’s quite a departure from a traditional craft brewery. It will be a brewpub at a former 164-foot-tall airport control tower and have six bowling lanes, 18 holes of miniature golf and a wall-mounted 5-foot-tall, 6 ½-foot-wide Scrabble board. Complete Story.
Looking for a tasty way to help people in Ukraine? Stop by this Illinois brewery (March 20) – Brewmasters at Wishful Acres Farm & Brewery, Nate Peterson and his wife, Penny, were captivated by the story of a brewery in Ukraine that stopped making beer so it could make Molotov cocktails to help in the war effort. Complete Story.
This Is Home: Flying Pig Brewery to open in Caldwell (March 19) – A new brewery is coming to the town of Caldwell, and the owners say they are squealing with joy about following their dreams and investing in their hometown. Jensen Croucher and Alex Secrest both grew up in Caldwell and say it’s been a dream of theirs to open their own brewery for many years. Complete story.
What’s brewing in Half Moon Bay (Part 1): Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. (March 15) – lam chowder, seasonal fish, live music and a whole lot of craft beer. Some come to bring their dogs, others come to enjoy a brew and the view, no matter what form, the Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. is a coastside favorite for all. Complete Story.
Cyril Vidergar: Pondering the Pint: LUKI Brewery finds its monkey (March 14) – Drawing on century-old ties to the Ringling Bros. circus, stretching back to Smith’s great-grandmother Freida, LUKI tumbled onto the scene with an array of beers and a brightly adorned space that provided entertainment, wonder and community. And while Smith claims “it was always Monkey Business,” trying to pin down that monkey recently has proved a bit tricky. Complete Story.
Dunedin’s Beach Island Brewery making splash with ever-changing menu, neighborhood atmosphere (March 13) – A small brewery in Dunedin set aside from the main downtown drag of craft beers is making a splash with an ever-changing menu of everything homemade. Beach Island Brewery is located at 2058 Bayshore Blvd, Suite 5, in Dunedin. Jay Gaughan III is the owner and master brewer. Complete Story.
Flossmoor Brewery Makes Special Beer To Support Women In Brewing (March 11) – The Flossmoor Station Restaurant and Brewery will begin selling a new brew in honor of International Women’s Day, a spokeswoman for the company told Patch. Tuesday, March 8, the brewmaster at the Flossmoor-based brewery joined the Pink Boots Society to help brew a batch of hazy, IPA along with 500 other breweries across the country. Continue reading.
Stickman Brews Teaming Up With Ukrainian Brewery To Help ‘Really Dire’ Humanitarian Crisis (March 9) – Businesses and groups in our area are coming together to aid the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. “The situation is really dire there. These people really need anything they can get,” Stickman Brews owner and head brewer Ethan Buckman said. Complete Story.
Charlottesville brewery partnering with Wintergreen Adaptive Sports (March 8) – Through the month of March, you can enjoy a cold beer at Random Row Brewing Co. and support a good cause. The Charlottesville brewery has partnered with Wintergreen Adaptive Sports. A dollar from every pint of “Swoop Bitter” will go directly to the nonprofit. Complete Story.
Brewery Day Trip: Exploring Santa Cruz’s New Bohemian beer trail (March 7) – My Bay Area brewery tour took me to Santa Cruz recently, where the craft brewing scene has really exploded in the last few years. You’d need a weekend or more to take it all in. But there was one particular brewery I’d been dying to check out, having enjoyed everything of theirs I’d tasted at festivals and events. Complete Story.
Brewery raising money for Ukraine with Ukrainian recipe (March 6) – A southwest Michigan brewery is working to raise money for Ukraine one beer at a time. Final Gravity Brewing will be brewing a Ukrainian recipe that has been provided by a brewery in Lviv. The brewery has locations in Kalamazoo and Decatur. The beer will be available on tap and in cans. Complete Story.
30th annual Bockfest kicks off Friday in Over-the-Rhine (March 5) – The goat is back with the return of a Cincinnati tradition. The 30th annual Bockfest kicked off Friday night with a celebration at the Bockfest Hall set up on the Findlay Playground. The three-day event celebrates the coming of spring, the city’s German heritage and the local history of beer brewing. Complete story.
Wiseacre Expands Distribution to Indiana and Missouri (March 5) – Beer drinkers rejoice: the Wiseacre craft beer empire continues to grow. Earlier today, the brewery announced plans to extend its distribution to the states of Indiana and Missouri, making its beer now available in 16 states and the District of Columbia. Complete story.
3 Floyds rolling out new year-round beer to retail shelves (March 5) – 3 Floyds is rolling out a new year-round beer for wide distribution. The Munster-based craft brewery is launching the Speed Castle pilsner across its retail footprint, which now reaches 19 states. Complete story.
Molotov cocktails on the menu: Ukrainian brewery switches from beer to bombs amid Russian invasion (March 1) – Brewery owner Yuri Zastavny told “America’s Newsroom” Monday that he and his staff decided to use their own “chemical skills,” supplies and labor to contribute to the fight instead of standing idly by. Complete Story.
Woodland Farm Brewery to open Tap Room in Hulbert House (February 28) – Boonville’s Hulbert House on Main Street is on the cusp of a rebirth. On Thursday a new tap room was announced: Woodland Farm Brewery Taproom at The Hulbert House. Complete Story.
‘It’s great’ | Long-awaited German brewery finally opens in South End (February 28) – The owners of Gilde (pronounced gill-duh) say it made good business sense to start in the Queen City, but it hasn’t been an easy road. The brewery, which was in the works for over four years, finally opened last week after several delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, they’re banking on their beer’s lineage to bring in the bucks. Complete Story.
Braxton Brewing Co. to unveil new taproom and IPA (February 27) — Braxton Brewing Co., is set to announce the newest craft option to join their lineup of beers on Saturday. The new beer, Switch, is a beer crafted with exceptional technique and without pretension to make IPA’s accessible and enjoyable for the average drinker. Complete story.
Coors Light releases ‘blessed beer’ for a limited time (February 27) – Coors Light is blessing its fans with a beer to fight off the devil. The adult beverage brand shared on social media Wednesday that it is giving away free cans of its new “Coors Almighty Light.” Complete story.
Bronx Brewery Is Taking On Manhattan (February 25) – When the Bronx Brewery debuted a decade ago in the Port Morris area of the Bronx on East 136th Street, some considered it a risky venture because of the Bronx’s tarnished reputation. Complete Story.
Three ‘Sisters’ Bring Taste of Latin America to Northeast Ohio Brewery (February 24) – Willoughby, near the Lake Erie shoreline in the snowbelt of Northeastern Ohio, is a long way from balmy Maracaibo, Venezuela. But thanks to three “sisters” originally from the South American city known as the “The Beloved Land of the Sun,” it’s now home to Ohio’s first Latin-owned brewery. Complete story.
Alton Brewery Celebrates World’s Tallest Man Robert Waldow’s Birthday (February 24) – The Old Bakery Beer Co. in Alton, Illinois is honoring the birthday Tuesday of Robert Wadlow, the world’s tallest man and Alton native. Wadlow was 8’11” and died in 1940 at the age of 22. Complete story.
Major League News for Mad River Brewery (February 22) – A little bit of Humboldt will soon be on tap at Oracle Park in a groundbreaking partnership between San Francisco Giants and Mad River Brewery — one of the first tribally owned breweries in the country. Complete Story.
New brewery with mega-patio and in-house bakery coming to downtown Frisco (February 21) – There’s something brewing in Frisco’s historic downtown district: Called Frisco Brewing Company, it’s a new state-of-the-art brewery that will take over the site of the former Ritchey Gin, where it will serve craft beer, seltzers, and cocktails. Complete Story.
Seattle’s First Black-Owned Brewery Is Opening in the Central District (February 20) – Métier Brewing Company co-founder Rodney Hines has called the historically Black Central District home for more than two decades, but there has never been a Black-owned brewery in the neighborhood. Complete Story.
Coming soon to an old brewery building near you: A new brewery (February 19) – The former Schreiber Brewery building in the heart of one of Buffalo’s East Side neighborhoods is poised to come back to life a century after its heyday – as the home of one of the city’s modern breweries. Complete Story.
Amp House Will Be ‘A One-of-a-Kind Hamilton Brewery,’ Owners Say (February 18) – It is believed a new local craft brewery can be a catalyst for development along Maple Avenue after it opens in 2023, but that’s all pending City Council’s approval next week. Continue reading.
Central Ohio Home to One of Few Black-Owned Breweries in the State (February 18) – Central Ohio is a big fan of beer. In fact, it’s home to over 50 breweries, however only one of those breweries are Black-owned. Crafted Culture is located in Gahanna and since opening last February they have made a major impact within the community. Complete story.
The Best Brewery In Every State (February 18) – Breweries have been handed a mixed bag in this country. After Prohibition, craft beer in the mid-1990s set the stage for the survival of the fittest and another crash, according to First We Feast. Those beers that survived led the way for the current beer renaissance in the states. Continue reading.
Steel Hands Brewing Expanding From Cayce with Hopes for Regional Reach (February 18) – Steel Hands Brewing in Cayce has quickly become a staple in the area’s beer and brewing scene, with upcoming plans to expand into North Carolina and to continue distribution across the state. The taproom and production facility, which opened in late 2018, is well-known in Columbia for its events and hangout space but also distributes across the state and has even expanded its distribution into Augusta, Georgia. Continue reading.
Collision Bend Brewing Co. to Open 25,000-Square-Foot Production Facility, Taproom in Euclid (February 16) – Collision Bend Brewing Co. has plans to expand from its restaurant along the Cuyahoga River on the east bank of the Flats with a brewing facility and taproom in an industrial building in Euclid. The brewery plans to lease 25,000 square feet of warehouse space at 1261 Babbitt Road, next to Amazon’s facility in the eastern suburb. Collision Bend brewer and part owner Luke Purcell said the lease with the building’s owner should be signed soon. Complete story.
Hu-Dey beer cans coming back on Monday (February 16) – Part of Bengal’s history is back, but not long. Hudepohl Beers has announced that Hu-Dey cans will be returned to celebrate Bengals’ participation in the 2022 Super Bowl. Complete story.
Brewery Showcase: Moor’s Brewing Company (February 16) – If you haven’t yet heard of Moor’s Brewing, then you haven’t been paying attention. While the brewery is only about eight months old, Moor’s is seeing early success and momentum through their ever-growing list of distribution partners, a current residency at Haymarket Brewing and many more partnerships and events in the pipeline. Complete story.
Kelp, Skittle, Marshmallow and Other Weird Beer on the Tavour App (February 15) – Listen up, beer geeks. Craft beer got a little weird in 2021. Anyone who spent time perusing the Tavour app last year is probably aware. If you don’t know, Tavour is craft beer sales and delivery service, and these beer scouts dig up some of the most unusual brews in the craft world from the nation’s most talented brewers — like New York’s Evil Twin, Ohio’s Listermann and North Dakota’s Drekker — so their members can taste truly unique suds delivered straight to their homes. Complete story.
Founders Brewing to Release ‘Call Your Mom’ Ale, New Hazelnut KBS (February 15) – A lot of us will be stuffing our faces with treats around Valentine’s Day, but if beer is more up your alley than candy, Founders Brewing Co. has some sweet-tasting new brews on the way. Founders has announced the next beer in their their Crafted In Michigan Collaboration Series, “Call Your Mom”. (Great name, right? I mean, most of us really should… Sorry, Mom! We’ll do better!). Complete story.
Female brewers creating beer to raise money for brewing scholarship for women (February 13) – For millennia, beermaking was the role of women, a common household task. That changed in the 16th century, when beermaking became male territory. That remains the case today. Complete Story.
Center Ice Brewery to shutter Midtown St. Louis taproom (February 12) – The brewery says the taproom bar and table tops were built out of wood from the old St. Louis Arena, later known as the Checkerdome, which the Blues called home from 1967 to 1994. Complete Story.
MobCraft progresses in plan for three new breweries, plus … Sour Fest! (February 12) – The local beer world got a surprise last September when Walker’s Point-based MobCraft Beer announced it would open breweries in three other cities in the next two years. MobCraft hopes to raise $1.07 million for expansion via a crowdfunding campaign to pay for the expansion, and is taking on partners in some of the locations. Complete story.
Ballpark On Tap craft-beer fest scheduled at Mercy Health Stadium (February 12) – After a two-year hiatus, the Ballpark On Tap craft-beer festival at Mercy Health Stadium is set for Saturday, Aug. 6. More than 75 craft beers will be available at the fest, put on by the Lake Erie Crushers. It includes food and live music. The fest is 4 to 10 p.m. Complete story.
BrewDog offering ‘Joey Juice’ beer in honor of Joe Burrow, sales benefit Bengals QB’s charity (February 10) – BrewDog is temporarily rebranding its Elvis Juice as “Joey Juice” in honor of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. The renamed IPA will be available through the Super Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 13, at the brewery’s Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati locations. Complete story.
Hudepohl Resurrects Hu-Dey Commemorative Bengals Beer with a VERY Limited Run (February 10) – There has always been a symbiotic relationship between Cincinnati’s Hudepohl Brewing Company, founded in 1885, and the Cincinnati Bengals, established in 1967. And, yes, part of that is built on the rumor that the team’s “Who Dey” slogan is a derivative of fans shouting for “Hudy” beer at games. Complete story.
Biddeford Brewery Only One in Maine That is 100% Gluten-Free(February 8) – Lucky Pigeon Brewing is a majority women-owned bar that is fairly new to brewery-heavy Maine. They started in 2018, and their tasting room opened to the public in September 2021. All the ingredients they use are 100% gluten-free. That includes draft beer and cans to go! Complete Story
Suds in the sanctuary: breweries populate vacant US churches (February 6) – Bruce Lindsay never expected to own a church. But when his mother died shortly before the pandemic, he wanted to use his inheritance to do something extraordinary. Complete Story.
Black-owned breweries collaborate in six-week residency (February 6) – x Black-owned beer entities are working alongside each other for six weeks through a residency program at Haymarket Brewery & Pub, 737 W. Randolph St. Complete Story.
Happy birthday, Belching Beaver! The San Diego brewery celebrates 10 years with unique label art (February 5) – In October, Belching Beaver Brewery will be celebrating its tenth anniversary and to commemorate, the brewery unveiled new label art for some of its core beers, like the number-one-selling Peanut Butter Milk Stout, Must Be The Honey!, Phantom Bride and Viva La Beaver. Complete Story.
3 Daughters Brewing taps into Clearwater Beach market(February 4) – Fans of 3 Daughters Brewing can soon sip their pints of Beach Blonde Ale while enjoying a sea breeze and panoramic views of one of America’s top-rated beaches. With the pandemic (hopefully) waning, St. Petersburg’s popular 3 Daughters Brewing is expanding into new markets throughout the Tampa Bay region. The company – one of the largest independent breweries in the state – announced Thursday the opening of a new location in Clearwater Beach just in time for Spring Break. Complete Story
Celebrate Pennsylvania lager with Old Thunder Brewing(February 3) – The baby beer fest, Feb. 9 inside and outside of Old Thunder Brewing Co., aims to show some love to little ol’ lager, the beer-flavored beer that your Pap and his mom likely drank. Think … Stroh’s? The kind of beer that craft brew rose up to replace is now being embraced and elevated. Complete Story
Brewing the Nonalcoholic Beer Boom: Why it may Come Later Than You Think (February 2) – America’s drinking culture has shifted in recent years to become more inclusive of those who enjoy a libation without the alcohol. More establishments offer dynamic nonalcoholic or low-ABV cocktails, but what about locally brewed NA beers? For decades, nonalcoholic beer has suffered under the stigma of O’Doul’s, harkening back to a time when American beer was defined by light yellow lagers. Today, more U.S. breweries are either focusing exclusively on alcohol-free beers (namely Connecticut-based Athletic Brewing Co. whose beers are widely available in Columbus), or adding one to their roster. Continue reading.
What Makes a Beer Good? (February 2) – What makes good beer? I posed the question to Brian Schroeder, owner of Erratic Ale in Dexter. “The answer to your question of what makes a good beer comes down to whether you like it or not,” says Brian. “If you like it, it’s good.” His answer surprised me, and I told him so. I anticipated Brian telling me micro and nano brewed beer is better than the large, industrial beers, counting off the reasons why. Continue reading.
Wuckfinter Beer Fest is Back In-Person at the Ray’s Parking Lot (February 2) – Ray’s Wine & Spirits is again teaming with Indiana’s 3 Floyds Brewing for the fourth annual Wuckfinter beer bash in the Wauwatosa store parking lot, 8930 W. North Ave. This year’s event – which returns to in-person after a virtual year – takes place Sunday, Feb. 27 from noon until 6 p.m. Admission is free. The event started off as a middle finger to winter in 2019 – named for a special annual 3 Floyds imperial stout release (there’s a podcast about it here) – and has become a much-anticipated event, with beer tastings, great food, great brews, music and more. Continue reading.
Bloomington Brewing Co. New Owners Hope to Reinvigorate their Local Brand (February 1) – Amanda and Jarrod Franklin recently purchased the Bloomington Brewing Co., a local brewery on Industrial Park Drive, from its previous owners and founders Jeff Mease and Lennie Busch. Amanda Franklin said she and her husband heard from a friend of the previous owners that they planned to sell the brewery. She said it sounded like a long shot, but she and her husband had considered getting into the restaurant business with their friend Zech Algood since college. He is now the head brewer at Bloomington Brewing Co. Continue reading.
National Railroad Museum to feature beer line memorabilia (January 31) – The National Railroad Museum in Ashwaubenon has unveiled an exhibit featuring memorabilia from a freight train that delivered beer supplies. The Milwaukee Beer Line ran north of Milwaukee’s downtown area in 1952. Its three main distributors were Pabst, Blatz and Schlitz. The exhibit is called “The Milwaukee Beer Line: From Grain to Glass.” It features photos of the line taken by Wallace W. Abbey. Continue reading.
Phoenix Brewing Co. in Mansfield Ohio welcomes women brewers Feb. 1 for collaborative event (January 31) – The folks at the Phoenix Brewing Company are thrilled to have a chance to collaborate again. The craft brewery in Mansfield will welcome women from 12 breweries and organizations from across central and northern Ohio on Tuesday, Feb. 1, to brew a collaboration beer. Carmona Macfarlane, the director of social engagement for The Phoenix, said International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day originally originated to celebrate women in the brewing industry and to embrace the spirit of International Women’s Day. Complete story.
Community rallying to save Pour Brothers Brewery (January 30) – The fate of Beaumont’s first craft brewery could rest on the shoulders of its community. Since Pour Brothers Brewery last week announced its plans to close its location on Wall Street in downtown Beaumont, fans have seem to come out of the woodwork. Complete Story.
State breweries try to get ahead of covid setback (January 30) – In 2020 Arkansas craft breweries were coming off a record year of beer production then along came covid-19 with its economic kick in the teeth that cut down the amount of brew the state’s brewers brewed. Complete Story.
Blackrocks Brewery in Michigan expands in an uncommon way(January 28) – Blackrocks pub is located on bustling Third Street in downtown Marquette, in a bright yellow house that has been called cute and charming. It certainly is. It is also, frankly, quite small, and Blackrocks has outgrown the space over the last 11 years. Complete Story
Brewing the Burg: Gulfport Brewery + Eatery stands out in Tampa Bay’s beer scene(January 25) – Open since the summer of 2020, Gulfport Brewery + Eatery has quickly built a cult following and is already a neighborhood favorite for those who call Gulfport home. The laid-back brewpub on Gulf Boulevard is housed inside a converted home, complete with couches, easy chairs and dining room tables to match. Complete Story
15 Pittsburgh restaurant & brewery openings to look forward to this year(January 25) – People in Pittsburgh are squarely in the throes of the winter doldrums. But things do feel different than they did last year at this time — less bleak — and all of this will soon pass and we’ll be back to carefree eating and drinking out like old times. To that end, a slate of 15 new openings to look forward to in 2022. Complete Story
A ‘SHOT OF REDEMPTION’ — MONTCLAIR BREWERY OWNER TAKES PRIZE ON ‘MASTER DISTILLER’ (January 23) – If you tuned into Discovery Channel’s “Moonshiners: Master Distiller” earlier this month, you know that Montclair now has its own “master distiller.” Complete Story.
New Scholarship Initiative Aims to Boost Diversity in Brewing (January 23) – Beer is intended to be for everyone, of drinking age, but it’s not always made by everyone. The craft beer industry has historically been dominated by white men. A 2021 survey by the Brewers Association, which represents thousands of breweries nationwide, found 93.5% of brewery owners are white and 75.6% are men. That lack of diversity is the inspiration behind a new scholarship initiative in Illinois. The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild partnered with the Siebel Institute of Technology, a brewing school in Chicago, to provide free entry-level and intermediate-level brewing courses, valued at $985 and $4,285. The goal is to build a more inclusive industry by giving underrepresented groups access to education and technical training. Complete story.
Bircus Brewing isn’t clowning around, plans to open Cincinnati location (January 22) – A Ludlow-based brewery has plans to expand and open its first location across the river in Cincinnati. Bircus Brewing Company, which serves craft beer and wood-fired pizza, currently has two locations: one in Ludlow, where it was founded, and the other in Covington. And this year, the brewery plans to expand production in Ludlow’s Opportunity Zone and open another location on Main Street in Cincinnati near the Aronoff Center for the Arts, according to a release. An exact opening date for the Cincinnati location has not yet been announced. Complete story.
Hop Talk: 3R Brewery opens new tasting room in Ocean Beach (January 22) – Last Sunday, Rincon Reservation Road Brewery — known as 3R Brewery for short — opened the doors of its new tasting room in Ocean Beach. 3R brewery is owned and operated by The Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, who debuted their first location on the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians Reservation in Valley Center. The OB location is the first outpost not on tribal land. The new San Diego tasting room will “pay homage to the heritage of the Native Americans while engraining itself in the Ocean Beach community,” according to a statement. Complete story.
Michigan’s first gluten free brewery opens (January 22) – Have you felt left out of the Michigan craft beer scene because you had to go gluten-free? Thanks to the efforts of a new West Michigan brewery that is brewing up greatness with alternative grains and creating true gluten-free beers from grain to glass, everyone can enjoy a pint of Michigan-made beer. The best thing about these brews from Brewery Nyx? Even if you’re not gluten-free, you’ll love them. Brewery Nyx might be focused on making great gluten-free beers, but I’ll argue that they’re just flat-out making incredible beers. Complete story.
Country Boy Brewing Sets 10th Anniversary Events Next Month (January 20) – Country Boy Brewing will celebrate its 10th anniversary in February. Started by four native Kentuckians, Jeff Beagle, Daniel “DH” Harrison, Nathan Coppage, and Evan Coppage, their love of high quality, minimally processed beer, brought them together to share their vision with beer lovers of Kentucky. Introduced through mutual friends in 2011, they realized their dream of opening a brewery together in February 2012. Within four years, the group had grown the brewery’s flagship brands, Cougar Bait and Shotgun Wedding to a point too large for the original Lexington brewery. Complete story.
2 years after Ballast Point deal, Kings & Convicts Brewing abandons Wisconsin plans to instead sink its roots in San Diego (January 18) – Kings & Convicts Brewing, the tiny north suburban operation whose founder stunned the beer world in late 2019 by buying the famed Ballast Point brewery, is scrapping a plan to build a new headquarters in southern Wisconsin and heading instead to Ballast Point’s longtime home of San Diego. Though it will maintain its tiny Highwood, Illinois, taproom at least in the short term, Kings & Convicts will center business in what has been Saint Archer Brewing, a brand bought by Molson Coors in 2015 at the height of the trend of large beer companies buying small, upstart craft breweries. Complete story.
Revolution Brewing Set to Distribute in Iowa and Minnesota (January 18) – Chicago’s Revolution Brewing, the largest independent brewery in Illinois, is expanding its distribution footprint in early 2022. The 12-year-old craft brewery will begin by joining the Johnson Brothers of Iowa portfolio for statewide coverage beginning in March. In April, Rev Brew will launch throughout all of Minnesota with Artisan Beer Company. This is the largest statewide expansion for the brewery since 2017, and the first time Revolution has expanded distribution west of the Mississippi River. Complete story.
Strong Brew: Otto’s Pub and Brewery Celebrates 20 Years of Creating Local Beers (January 18) -If you look around Otto’s Pub and Brewery, you’ll get a taste of Pennsylvania’s rich brewing history. Hanging from the ceiling are vintage advertisements from breweries of yesteryear, most of which faded out during Prohibition. On the walls are more artifacts of the Keystone State’s brewing past. Complete Story
Brewers Association’s notes CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective is still a craft brewery by its definitions (January 18) – Do beer nerds still get miffed when they hear about a big craft brewery selling out? It sounds like a philosophical thought experiment. If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? The answer is probably yes to both, but what the heck even defines a craft brewery? To us in the press apparently, a trade organization’s membership definition. Complete Story
Betty White beer on tap at Brioux City Brewery raising money for local animal shelters (January 17) – A local brewery is celebrating the life of Betty White on Monday, January 17th, with the re-release of a popular white stout beer and a fundraiser. Brioux City Brewery held a Betty White Celebration and Fundraiser for Sioux City Animal Shelters on what would have been Betty White’s birthday – Monday, January 17th. Complete Story.
Noble Funk’s Massive Brewery Opens In Old Louisville This Week (January 13) – The former Old Louisville Kroger has completed its transformation into a 27,000-square foot brewery. Noble Funk Brewing Co. is opening on Friday at 922 S. Second St., starting with three new beers and oven-fired pizzas. Complete Story
Sudsy! Ten years of tasty brews at Mankato Brewery (January 9) – The Cross-Czech Pilsner is, indeed, a tasty brew. But where it — the beer and the brewery — really succeeds is in its symbolism and how warmly, even on a bitterly cold day, it has been embraced by the community. Complete Story.
Craft beer lovers rejoice, there are a bevvy of new breweries to try soon in metro Phoenix (January 9) – Metro Phoenix’s craft beer scene continues to grow at an exciting rate. As we enter into the new year, two breweries have joined the mix and four others are getting ready to open their doors. Complete Story.
Troy Aikman Is Hoping To Score With Eight Brewing Co (January 8) – Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman is hoping that the residents of Texas are looking for a low-cal, low-carb beer the next time they visit their favorite watering hole or retail establishment. That is the impetus behind his entry into the beer business with the upcoming launch of a new beer named Eight after his former jersey number with the Dallas Cowboys. Complete Story.
Opinion: Bell’s Brewery sale means opportunity to expand company’s social commitments (January 8) – As you may know, the sale of Bell’s Brewery to join forces with New Belgium Brewing – a company that means as much to Fort Collins, Colo., as Bell’s does to Kalamazoo – officially closed on Dec. 31. Complete Story.
Creston Brewery to welcome Grand Rapids Comedy Club (January 7) – The brewery in Grand Rapids’ Creston neighborhood welcomed its first comedy show inside its upstairs Golden Age room on Dec. 17, according to Biddick. A day later, the Grand Rapids Comedy Club Facebook page went live. Complete Story.
Valley breweries persevere through brutal windstorm (January 7) – Our breweries in Palmer and Wasilla got a (butt) kicking with this week’s windstorm that blew through the area between Sunday and Wednesday, but I’m relieved to report that nary a drop of beer was spilled. Oh, there was damage, but three of the four breweries out there reported in that “it’s okay, we made it through.” Complete Story.
Metro Atlanta breweries looked for ways to grow, change in 2021 (January 6) – While COVID-19 had made operating a brewery a daily downer the previous year, there were times in 2021 when sitting down for a beer and a snack seemed downright pre-pandemic — especially for the fully vaccinated and boosted. Complete Story.
Beards Brewery launches community outreach partnership program (January 6) – Beards Brewery has welcomed in the new year with a new community outreach and partnership program it hopes will create a lasting impact on area organizations. Complete Story.
New era for Bell’s Brewery (January 5) – The West Michigan beer world was shaken in November when news broke that Michigan beer pioneer Larry Bell sold Bell’s Brewery. Bell’s was one of the nation’s largest independent and family-owned breweries, brewing up some of the most beloved beers in the industry, like Two Hearted Ale. Bell regularly called out breweries that sold to large corporations. While his cantankerous attitude helped grow the Michigan beer industry, it also ruffled feathers. Complete story.
Sun King to open Florida taproom in 2022 (first outside Indiana) (January 5) – Indiana-based Sun King Brewery is headed south this winter and opening up a brewery and taproom in Florida – its first outside of Indiana. Sun King Sarasota will take over the location of an existing 5,000-square-foot brewery and tap room located at 1215 Mango Ave. The plan is to open in the summer. Sun King began distributing beer in Florida in 2017 and has found a strong following of fans who include Florida residents, snowbirds and vacationers who enjoy quenching their thirst with Sun King beers. Complete story.
Cleveland-area breweries made news in 2021: Biggest beer stories (and a few favorite sippers) (January 4) – The brewing industry in Northeast Ohio is just that – an industry, and a healthy one. We offer a glimpse at the year’s biggest regional beer stories – along with a few personal favorites we quaffed along the way. What other year-end column will include Ruth Bader Ginsberg, an Irish Breakfast, dimes and an Angry Penguin? Complete story.
Kansas City’s Alma Mader Are Brewing for the Backyard (January 2) – Whether it’s pinpoint pilsners, lush, juicy IPAs, or big, balanced stouts, the upstarts at family-run Alma Mader in Kansas City have something that just about any kind of drinker can love. Complete Story.
South Austin Brewery owner takes big risks, finds big reward (January 1) – In 2009, Greg Plummer decided to take a leap of faith after more than ten years in brewing and leave his California home for Texas. Complete Story.
The 50 Best Beers of 2021, According to Brewers and Beer Geeks (January 1) – It’s a tad strange to think about a best-of list in a not-so-great year, especially when it followed, and oftentimes felt identical to, an unequivocally worst-ever one. Complete Story. Opening in the Bainbridge NoDa development on North Davidson Street, Hippin’ Hops Brewery will be the second Black-owned brewery in the city following Weathered Souls Brewing Co.’s anticipated late spring opening in South End. Complete Story.
Schlafly Beer Announces Opening Date for New Illinois Location (December 15) – Schlafly Beer is adding another location to its brewpub family: With spots in downtown St. Louis St. Louis County and St. Charles, the brewery expands to the Illinois area with its new Highland location. Complete story.
Beer review: 6 of Ohio’s seasonal brews that will guarantee hoppy holidays for brew lovers (December 15) – It might seem that holiday/Christmas beers first start appearing in stores sometime in August, but now that the calendar has moved past Thanksgiving and turned to December, it’s officially time to start cracking them open. Complete story.
Acclaimed you rld’s first craft beer hotel, the nation’s only production brewery housed in a museum, a brewery that sells cask beers in a box, and another that brews with the most fruit in the U.S. Complete story
The Brewers Association named Julia Herz as the new executive director of the American Homebrewers Association (December 5) – Herz has been homebrewing since 1991 and passionately led the promotion and protection of small and independent craft brewers via advocacy, education, national beer holidays, and building awareness and adoption of the Brewers Association’s independent craft brewer seal. Complete Story.