In a recent article written by Rob Kasper (titled.. Beer bubbles to top of the poll), he shared data from the 2008 Gallup Poll. The polls results state that 42 percent of the U.S. drinkers surveyed most often consume beer. This compares to the 31 percent who picked wine and 23 percent who preferred spirits.  

He also mentioned that it wasn’t always this way…

Not so long ago, the same poll had beer playing second fiddle to wine. Back in 2005, wine had slightly knocked beer out of first place.

Since then, however, suds have surged in popularity. The shift to beer from wine is especially strong among drinkers between the ages of 30 and 49, Gallup said. Four years ago, adults in this age group were just as likely to drink wine as beer. But now beer is their beverage of choice by a 20-point margin.

The Gallup pollsters did not delve into the reasons why Americans are increasingly fond of beer. But the people I spoke with in the industry had ready answers for the trend. Most cited a thirst for better beer, as seen by the growth in the number of American craft beers.

We’ve seen this change happening. With increasing availability of “better” choices, many consumers are enjoying a craft beer — when in the past, they might have selected a wine.

Out in St. Louis, Jay Cunningham, a spokesman for Anheuser-Busch, said the Gallup Poll reflected what the nation’s largest brewer has been experiencing. “There is a strong demand for beer, especially at the premium end,” he said. Sales of the brewer’s upscale Michelob line are growing, he said.

Part of the appeal of beer, Cunningham said, is its lower alcohol content. Beer is typically 4 percent to 7 percent alcohol by volume, compared with 11 percent to 15 percent for most wines. “It is a less concentrated form of alcohol,” he said, “so for people in the 30-to-49 age group, that means they can take it to a wide number of social occasions.”

The nation’s economic slowdown does not appear to be hurting beer sales. In fact, it might be helping them. America’s craft brewers recently increased their prices by about $1 a six-pack, to compensate for the increased cost of hops and grain. Yet, despite the jump in prices, sales of craft beers rose.

Keep up the good work.  Craft beer comes in all shapes and sizes.  There is a different beer to suit your ever mood.  If you don’t like something today, try it in a few months.  Maybe your ”beer palate” has changed.  Who knows, maybe you’ll go from a stout avoider to a stout fanatic.  The choice is yours.

If you are interested in reading the full story, Click here.

It appears to be a good thing that the Brew Pub is still open, it’s received many favorable responded on pubcrawler.com

Sean
2Beerguys.com

Drink Craft Beer, You’ve Earned It!!!

TableRock Brewing Co. files for bankruptcy, but brewpub isn’t closing
by Patrick Orr

http://www.tablerockbrewpub.com/

TableRock Brewing Co., which runs Boise’s oldest brewpub, filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy July 10, but the filing should not affect TableRock Brewpub & Grill, company owner Mike Fitzgerald said Monday.

The bankruptcy filing is for a bottling plant operation TableRock built and tried to maintain in Meridian in the mid-90s. The brewpub is under a separate business name and is not involved in the bankruptcy filing, Fitzgerald said Monday.

“The pub is not closing. We are brewing beer and continue to brew beer,” Fitzgerald said. “Our catering business is still going. The filing doesn’t affect the brewpub at all.”

According to U.S. District Court records, TableRock Brewpub & Grill has less than $250,000 in total debts, with about $200,000 of that in unpaid federal taxes.

A chapter 7 bankruptcy is a proceeding under federal law in which a person’s assets are turned over to control of a trustee and are usually liquidated and used to pay off outstanding debts.

The bottling plant was active in the mid-90s, but “we built it way too big,” Fitzgerald said, resulting in the closure of the facility in the late 90s.

Fitzgerald said the chapter 7 filing was done this month to separate the brewpub business from the bottling plant business.

TableRock Brewpub & Grill has been open since 1991 and is the oldest of Boise’s four craft brewing operations.
Link to article.

We’ve tasted the following:
- Hoppin to Heaven IPA - 21,
- Mean Manalishi Double IPA - 22,
- Bodacious Black & Tan Blend - 20,
- BORIS The Crusher Imperial Stout - 22,
- Smashin Berry - 17 (Nice aroma, strange taste)

Sean
2Beerguys.com

Drink Craft Beer, You’ve Earned It!!!

Hoppin’ Frog leaps ahead - Microbrewery wins rave reviews, should double output with expansion

By Rick Armon
Published on Sunday, Jul 20, 2008

Brewer Fred Karm likes to say he doesn’t make beer for the masses.

Instead, he brews what he likes. What his family and friends like.

Bold beers bursting with flavor and, in some cases, high in alcohol content.

It just so happens, that’s what plenty of the masses enjoy, too.

So less than two years after opening his small Hoppin’ Frog Brewery across the street from the Akron Airdock, Karm is tripling the size of the facility to 6,000 square feet and preparing to double production. He’s even hiring a full-time assistant brewer.

Hoppin’ Frog — in signature 22-ounce brown bottles with the logo of the green frog holding a beer mug — is now available in six states: Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York. And Karm is hoping to add Wisconsin soon.

Most important to Karm, his beers — which range from $5.99 to $10.99 a bottle — are in the Chicago and Boston markets, and soon will be hitting New York City.

”So far, so good,” he said. ”We can sell everything we can make.”

Hoppin’ Frog and other beer makers are benefiting from the continued growing popularity of craft beer. Last year, the craft segment of the beer industry grew 12 percent by volume and 16 percent in sales, according to the Brewers Association in Boulder, Colo.

Today, there are 1,420 craft breweries operating nationwide, compared with 1,385 just last year. Akron itself has seen the opening of three breweries in the last few years: Hoppin’ Frog, Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. and Ohio Brewing Co.

Trying to stand out in a beer industry that has seen an influx of American microbrews and
imports on the local grocery shelves can be difficult. But discriminating beer fans are noticing Hoppin’ Frog.

BORIS the Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout is ranked 44th on Ratebeer.com’s Top 100 Beers in the World: 2008.

One reviewer called it a ‘’spectacular beer. One of those ones that you would kill to have available locally.”

It also is rated as one of the Top Beers on Planet Earth by BeerAdvocate.com, an online beer community known for being persnickety in its critiques. BORIS is ranked 88th on the list of the top 100 beers.

When Karm started the brewery in September 2006, Hoppin’ Frog had a stable of four beers. That’s grown to seven available year-round and other seasonal brews: Wild Frog Wheat, Smashing Berry Ale, Smashing Berry Dark, Gulden Fraug Belgian Ale, Silk Porter, Hoppin’ to Heaven IPA, Mean Manalishi Double IPA, BORIS the Crusher, and Bodacious Black and Tan.

The brewery expansion will allow Karm, who also is treasurer of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, to increase production from about 400 to 800 cases a month.

He attributed his success to a combination of using distributors to sell his beer and making a product that people want.

”I’ve always been known for making flavorful beers,” said Karm, 44, a decorated brewer who has won numerous honors at brewing competitions. ”I didn’t want to tone my beers down for mass sales.

”I’m making these beers that are not filtered, not skimping on any ingredients. I’m using an approach like a home-brewer, where you make it for your family and for your friends. If I continue on that path, I’ll continue to make great beer. And people don’t mind paying for it.”

About 10 percent of sales are now made right at the brewery, with people stopping by to purchase their beer direct, something Karm didn’t expect.

The facility, at 1680 E. Waterloo Road, is a brewing operation and not a store. But Karm keeps a refrigerated cooler up front for drop-in customers. (There are no regular business hours, although Karm said he’s there most afternoons.)

Scott Vaughn, 43, of North Canton, stopped by last week to pick up some beer.

Asked to explain why he thinks Hoppin’ Frog beers are selling well, he replied: ”Because they are good. They are fresh . . . [Karm is] doing some things others aren’t doing.”

For details about Hoppin’ Frog, including a list of where the beer is available, go to http://www.hoppinfrog.com/ .

Link to article.

Media Contact: Liz Melby

Harpoon Brewery

(617) 574-9551 ext. 523

lmelby@harpoonbrewery.com

The 7th Annual Harpoon Point to Point Ride

Annual cycling event fights hunger in Vermont

Windsor, VT—On Saturday, August 16th, the Harpoon Point to Point returns for its seventh year to support the Vermont Foodbank’s mission to end the growing problem of hunger in Vermont. The Harpoon Point to Point is a bike ride through the beautiful Vermont countryside beginning in Williston and ending at the Harpoon Brewery in Windsor. Vermont Governor Jim Douglas has proclaimed August 16th Ride Against Hunger Day in the state.

The Harpoon Point to Point is split into 3 parts; the 110-Mile Ride from Williston to Windsor, the 50-Mile Ride from Bethel to Windsor, and the 25-mile ride that starts and ends at the Brewery in Windsor. There is a ride suitable for every level of cyclist. A backpack containing enough food for a family of four for a single day will be passed from rider to rider. The backpack symbolizes the Vermont Foodbank’s efforts to end hunger in Vermont.

“Riding 110 miles is certainly daunting,” says Harpoon Brewery’s CEO and co-founder, Rich Doyle, who will be riding the full 110-miles. “But compared to the Vermont Foodbank’s ongoing fight to end hunger in Vermont, it is the least I can do to support their important mission.”

Following the ride there will be a celebration with brewery-fresh Harpoon beer, Harpoon Draft Soda, and food. 100% of the proceeds from beer and soda will be donated to the Vermont Foodbank. All are invited to the Harpoon Brewery for the celebration.

Additionally, in mid-July Harpoon Point to Point Bottle Banks were placed in local businesses along the bike route. The Vermont community is asked to make donations for the Vermont Foodbank by making “deposits” into the Bottle Banks. 100% of the proceeds collected will be donated to the Vermont Foodbank.

The Harpoon Point to Point was created in 2002 to raise funds and awareness for the Vermont Foodbank’s mission to end the growing problem of hunger in Vermont. The Harpoon Point to Point is an event established through a partnership between the Harpoon Brewery, the Point Radio Network, and the Vermont Foodbank.

For more information about the 7th Annual Harpoon Point to Point to benefit the Vermont Foodbank, visit Harpoon’s website at www.harpoonbrewery.com.

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Consider yourselves summoned! We’re looking for volunteer pourers for the Lowell Ribs N Brews Festival, hosted by the City of Lowell and sponsored by Majors Pub. The event will be held the weekend of September 5-7, and specifically we’re looking for volunteers for New England Microbrew Championships on the 5th and 6th. Please email us if you’d like more information or would like to sign up without knowing anything else! Last year’s festival drew over 35,000 people, and we’re adding a ton of new breweries to the already impressive list from last year. This year, we’ve added Dogfish Head, Victory, Tuckermans, Clipper City, Shipyard, and we’re still working on more! This is a great opportunity to meet some craft beer industry people and have a lot of fun while you’re at it.

Maine Brewers’ Guild

Contact:

Tami Kennedy

207-838-0816

tami@maine.rr.com

The Maine Brewers’ Guild Elects New President

PORTLAND, MAINE (August 7, 2008) – The Maine Brewers’ Guild announced it has elected a new president. Fred Forsley, president of Shipyard Brewing Company, takes over the helm from past president Ed Stebbins, vice president / brew master of Gritty McDuff’s.

The Maine Brewers’ Guild is a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting the craft brewed industry in Maine. Since 1986, Maine has been at the forefront of the craft brew movement. The state is home to over 20 breweries which produce more than 100 different brands. The mission of the Guild is to keep Maine in the forefront of the microbrew revolution by offering high quality and creative diversity for the customer.

Forsley is the founder and co-owner of Shipyard Brewing Company, the largest brewery in Maine and a national leader in the craft brew industry. Shipyard grew out of the Kennebunkport Brewing Company and Federal Jack’s Restaurant and Brew Pub which began in 1992.

www.mainebrewersguild.org

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The 6th Annual RIB’N BREWS festival
*** brought to you by the CITY OF LOWELL (and Major’s Pub) ***

September 5th thru the 7th, the City of Lowell is host to both the Massachusetts State Barbeque Championships (Sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and the New England Barbeque Society) and the New England Microbrew Championships.

Last year’s event, being the Fifth Annual, drew an excess of 35,000 attendees.

Dates and Times of Event:
     Friday, September 5th, 6:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M.
     Saturday, September 6th, 12:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M.
     Sunday, September 7th, 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Hours of Microbrew Tasting
     Friday – 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
     Saturday – 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

More information (including brewery list) to follow… 

Saturday, August 16, 2008 from 4-8 p.m.

Come down and sample beer from some of the finest Craft Brewers around including Magic Hat, Sierra Nevada, Sherwood Forest, Hook and Ladder, Woodchuck Cider, Narragansett, Opa Opa, Cape Ann, Wachusett, Harpoon, Long Trail, Red Hook, Berkshire, Sam Adams, Shipyard, Boulder Beer, and more!

Live music by The British Yankees!

Don’t miss out on the food!

Dr. Gonzo’s Uncommon Condiments will be there with his line of all natural condiments.

Tiny Tim’s Cafe and Catering will be putting on a Pig Roast!

Other food vendors to be announced.

Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

http://www.indianranch.com/

200 Gore Road
Webster, MA 01570

• When: Saturday, August 23
• Where: Nashoba Valley Ski Area - WESTFORD, MA
• How much: $30 in Advance, $35 at the Gate
• INCLUDES ADMISSION plus 10 BEVERAGE TICKETS*

FEATURING: Two-time W.C. Handy Award winner RONNIE EARL and the Broadcasters … and a full lineup of 5 other award-winning blues bands!

Mouth-watering BBQ and other great food, Craft & Vendor Booths, games, prizes, dancing, and lots of fun…

And don’t forget the BEER… 30-40 breweries — over 100 different brews to try! …including a table for Real Ale lovers

http://www.bluesnbrews.com/

*** August Beer Dinner ***

A spectacular four-course meal prepared as only Ten Center can.

Specialty microbrews from renowned Portland brewery Gritty McDuff ’s.

A night of exceptional food and drink that will make others pale in comparison.

• Date: Friday, August 15
• Time: 7-10pm
• Cost: $45 + tax & gratuity
• Meal: Four courses each with a matched beer from Gritty’s
• Reservations required

http://www.tencenterstreet.com/

About 10 Center Street

Historic and hip. Cozy and cool. Tasty and Tantalizing.

Ten Center is Newburyport’s acclaimed dining address. Known for being at the center of all things fresh and new, Ten Center offers unique, hard-to-resist dishes. Executive Chef Harley Smith masterfully blends Mediterranean tradition with Japanese flare.

Originally an 18th century bakery, we offer two distinct dining experiences in one location. Anchored by a sleek and roomy bar area the upstairs dining room features 18th century wide-plank wood floors, elevated ceilings and glistening copper tables. Our expert bartenders are ready to shake things up in this fashionable loft. The cozy pub downstairs offers oversized booths for sitting back and enjoying the warmth of two rustic fireplaces—perfect for enjoying an intimate meal or catching up with friends.

Upstairs. Downstairs. Inside and out. In every way we’re a perfect Ten.