BA Mid-Year Report Tallies U.S. Brewery Count at 5,562 in Operation

The Brewers Association published its mid-year report this morning announcing that there are now over 5,562 breweries in operation across the United States. That number reflects an increase of 906 operational breweries from this time last year, and an increase of 557 breweries since December alone.

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Event Recap | New Belgium’s Le Kriek Noir Bottle Release

At 10:30 p.m. we approach a line that spills out the door of New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins. The red carpet is rolled out, and folks are dressed to the nines wearing elegant cocktail dresses, suspenders, and fedoras to go along with the “film noir” theme of the evening. In a return to the cork and cage format of La Folie’s past, New Belgium’s Unveiled & Uncorked bottle release party was a celebration of the launch of the brewery’s Wood Cellar Reserve, a series of very rare, small batch wild and sour ales—and the star of the night was Le Kriek Noir, the first release from Wood Cellar Reserve. Read More

PA State Representative Mehaffie Becomes Brewer For a Day

On July 17, the Brewers of Pennsylvania hosted Pennsylvania State Representative Tom Mehaffie for their latest Brewer For A Day event at Tröegs Independent Brewing in Hershey, PA. This was the eighth event in a series that is intended to give state legislators a hands-on, insider’s perspective on the brewing process, as well as further educating them on the economic impact of craft brewing in the Commonwealth.
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Sierra Nevada 2017 Oktoberfest with Germany’s Brauhaus Miltenberger

For the third straight year, Sierra Nevada Brewing has collaborated with a German brewery on its fall-seasonal Oktoberfest beer. In 2015, Sierra partnered with 600-year-old Bauhaus Riegele, now into its 27th generation of family-owned, independent brewing, In 2016, Sierra Nevada brewed with the more than 400-year-old, family owned Mahrs Bräu located in Bamberg, Germany. This year, second-generation brewer Brian Grossman, of Sierra Nevada, and fourth-generation Brewmaster Cornelius Faus of Miltenberg, Germany’s Brauhaus Miltenberger, have joined forces.

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The PorchCast | Ep 39 Blue Moon Brewing, Acquisitions & The Underground Music Showcase

In episode 39 of The PorchCast, Tristan, Hunter and Jesse dropped into Blue Moon Brewing’s River North outpost to talk with Pilot Brewer, Ben Knutson about the brewery’s growth over the past year on the heels of their one year anniversary at the RiNo location. Additionally the team was joined by Tobias Kraus and Kyle Hartman of The Underground Music Showcase, to preview this weekend’s music festival taking place in Denver’s Baker district. Tickets to The UMS are still currently available.

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Let’s Start a ‘Revolución’ | An Austin Brewery Made A Beer to Pair with Tacos

Independence Brewing Co. (Austin, TX) and “The Tacos of Texas” authors start a ‘Revolución’ with new Saison made to pair with tacos.

Now, you know that is something we can get behind. Smashing tacos and skulling Saisons is, like, one of our top five favorite things to do during patio porch season.

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BREAKING | Brooklyn Brewery Partners with 21st Amendment and Funkwerks for Joint Sales and Distribution

This post has been updated to include quotes from 21st Amendment and Funkwerks

More breaking news this morning following the heels of Short’s minority share acquisition by Lagunitas announcement. Brooklyn Brewery has announced via it’s blog, a joint partnership agreement with San Leandro, CA’s 21st Amendment Brewery and Funkwerks out of Fort Collins, CO acquiring a minority investment in both companies. The three way partnership was crafted to create a shared platform for national sales and distribution which takes effect January 1, 2018.

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Brewery Rickoli’s “Gluten Removed” Beer Joins Sam Adams Collab Pack

Rick Abitbol loves craft beer. It is a passion that began from when his mother gave him his first brew kit and continues today as owner and head brewer of Brewery Rickoli in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Rick’s love of craft beer nearly won him a medal in the state fair for his first entry and today he continues to make award winning beer that just happens to be gluten removed. With a lineup of full bodied flavorful beers, the common customer would likely overlook the fact that Abitbol treats his beers with an enzyme that breaks down the gluten chain.

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Lagunitas Acquires Minority Stake in Short’s Brewing

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. A large conglomerate beer company is acquiring stakes in a smaller craft brewery. This scenario must feel familiar as acquisitions both large and small are all that seem to dominate headlines nowadays. Today’s news involves Short’s Brewing, the third largest brewery in Michigan (behind Founders and Bell’s) announcing a partnership with Lagunitas U.S. Holdings (LUSH) which involves a 19.99% equity stake in the company. The Short’s acquisition comes just three months after Lagunitas Brewing announced that it had sold the remaining 50% of its shares to Heineken (Lagunitas originally sold the first 50% of its operation to Heineken in 2015).
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Founders, New Belgium, Dogfish & Rogue Announce New Beer and Projects

It’s that time again to check on the nation’s breweries and see what’s going on. Founders, Dogfish, New Belgium and Rogue have made announcements about new beer and brewing projects.

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Dovetail Brewery Celebrates One Year of Business Plus Other News

Dovetail Brewery, one of Chicago’s most unique micro brewers, recently celebrated their one year anniversary in their Ravenswood brew spot on Malt Row. Dovetail has accomplished a lot in one year and have differentiated themselves from competitors due to their unique open fermentation, European-brew style of lagers, pilsners and hefeweizens.

With a year under their belt, the good folks at Dovetail are doing what any ambitious new microbrewery does: expand, whether that is via increased distribution or new brew styles. Here are a few recent summer announcements you might have missed. Read More

Modern Times Founder Jacob McKean Talks ESOP, Big Beer & Growth

Modern Times Beer, one of the country’s top five fastest growing breweries made a splash two weeks ago, when it announced that it would begin reacquiring shares from investors to gift back to their employees. We caught up with Modern Times founder Jacob McKean to discuss his decision to implement an employee ownership program, the growing threat of Big Beer, as well as what’s next on the horizon for the San Diego-based brewery.

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Women in Beer | Fremont Brewing’s Sara Nelson Runs for Seattle City Council

Fremont Brewing’s Sara Nelson is accomplished, to say the least.

Want to talk culture? With a PhD in Anthropology, she’s your gal. Have some questions about policy? After over a decade serving as the Chief of Staff for Richard Conlin, former Seattle City Council member, she’s likely to have some answers. Are you a beer drinker? Well you’re in luck! Nelson is the co-owner of Seattle’s celebrated Fremont Brewing.

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“Fuck Bad Beer” Sierra Nevada’s Brian Grossman is Bat Shit Passionate

“We’re bat shit passionate. I mean, you talk about sustainability, you talk about our beer quality, you talk about our family history. It’s all of that. You can’t just sum it up in passion because that has, you know, 50 shades of gray type of a feel to it. But, if you say ‘We’re bat shit passionate,” it’s like, ‘Okay!’ That’s what it is,” said Brian Grossman of Sierra Nevada Brewing.

The maturation of the craft-beer industry includes a changing of the guard, but for Sierra Nevada that transition will remain in the family. Formed in 1979 by Ken Grossman, his son Brian now serves as co-owner and serves as the GM of the brewery’s Mills River, North Carolina, location. We sat down to talk to Brian and find out what makes Sierra Nevada tick.

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Colorado Brewery Openings for July, August & September 2017

It’s getting hot out herrrrrrre… like ridiculously hot. I just want to pop up a tent right next to an open fridge door like in The Simpsons and just cool off. However, a more refrigerator-motor-friendly option is to grab a beer from one of the 16 Colorado brewery openings occurring in the next three months.

From July to August and through September, breweries all across the state will open up. Many of these breweries you could even check out on your way to or from an awesome camping spot.

Just as the Fresh Prince said, “Summer, summer, summer time. Time to sit back and unwind.” You’ll want to unwind by checking out these new Colorado breweries.

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Modern Times Beer Further Cements Independence with Employee Ownership Program

Over the past four years, Modern Times Beer has exploded on to the craft beer scene in a major way, growing from a production of 2000 barrels in their first year of existence, to over 40,000 barrels this past year. While many breweries who exhibit such a drastic growth pattern have eventually turned to outside funding to help further their endeavors, the San Diego-based brewery has chosen to go the route of employee ownership. Earlier today, Modern Times Beer announced that it has repurchased shares held by its initial investors and that 30% of shares will now be held in an employee stock ownership program (ESOP).

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New Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest will Award “Brewership” and Scholarship

Is brewing beer your dream job? The new Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest is helping homebrewers go pro. This contest will award “brewership” and a scholarship to a renowned brewing institute to help homebrewers pursue brewing professionally.

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Brewing News Roundup | Several New Beers Are On The Way

While we can’t pretend to list every new beer release, here are several tasty tidbits that have come across the PorchDrinking.com desk from around the nation. New beers, new packaging, new collaborations and so much more.

Jump to the beer release(s) from the following breweries:

Avery Brewing | Bear Republic | Bell’s Brewery | Brewery Ommegang | Firestone Walker | Forbidden Root | Fremont Brewing | Green Flash | Great Divide Brewing | Modern Times Beer | Moody Tongue | New Belgium Brewing | Reformation Brewery | Rogue Ales & Spirits | SweetWater Brewing | Terrapin Beer Co. | Hopstix

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Summer Brews to Choose: Seasonal Specialties from Chaffee County

Chaffee County’s microbreweries each offer something much more intrinsic and intangible than just great beer. All four radiate that laid back, sun shining, day off; everyone’s your friend, nowhere-else-I-need-to-be kind of feeling. Yea, that’s the beer buzz talking, but it’s also about the human factor here. It’s about local brewers and entrepreneurs who create craft beers with that “I get paid for doing this?!” grin on their faces. Their work-hard, play-hard attitude permeates these taprooms. This summer they’re letting the sun shine on their creativity. Drink ‘em while it’s hot. No extra charge for the spectacular mountain and river views. Visit their taprooms and also sample their specialties at the Colorado Brewer’s Rendezvous in Salida, July 8.

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14er Brewing Opens for To-Go Sales & Taproom Tastings July 1

Andrew Kaczmarek and Nato Francescato have never been keen on following convention. The two co-founders of 14er Brewing bucked tradition when they launched in the summer of 2016 without a taproom location, focusing solely on contract brewing and canning their beers for liquor store sales for the first year. That gamble proved successful earning the two a gold medal at their very first Great American Beer Festival last October for their Rocky Mountain Saison, a Cilantro Lime Chili Saison, which took home top honors in the Chili Beer category.

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