Yikes, September’s almost a memory…and clearly the craft beer biz isn’t slowing down any time soon. But no worries, the Beer Buzz is always on the case, keeping you up on all the beer news and lifestyle that matters. Plus we’ve an all-important update on what we’ve been drinking lately and you don’t want to miss that!
Oklahoma Puts An End To The 3.2 Beer mandate (Oklahoma City, OK) – Almost two years after its residents overwhelmingly voted for its passage, a new beer and wine law is finally going into effect on October 1st which among other things signals the end of mandated 3.2 Beer in Oklahoma and allows for stronger beer to be sold in convenience and grocery stores.
In the US these barely-alcoholic brews came into their own in a failed effort to thwart Prohibition., President Wilson proposed limiting the alcohol content of malt beverages to 2.75% in 1917 to try to appease avid prohibitionists, but obviously that didn’t work.
State liquor laws are the primary reasons that the 3.2 beer has hung in so long. As of 2016 only five states including Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Kansas and Minnesota still mandating these low alcohol remnants. But as of Oct 1st Oklahoma, whose citizens consume 50% of the nation’s 3.2 beer, is putting an end to that era with, Colorado soon to follow in 2019.
Words to Drink By (Washington DC) “The infamous ‘3.2 Beer,’ that low-alcohol relic of a post-prohibition mentality and state laws that prohibit anything but beer with drastically reduced alcohol level to be sold in grocery and convenience stores, is finally going away. And frankly we’re amazed that it’s taken this long.” Tom Bobak / American Craft Beer
Shiner Beer In The Hunt For New Ad Agency (San Antonio, TX) – News emerged last week that San Antonio-based The Gambrinus Co., owner of Shiner and a few other beer brands, and Austin-based McGarrah Jessee advertising company ended their 15 year relationship.
And although we originally reported that it was Shiner who ‘shed’ that relationship, Heather Snow Marketing Director at McGarrah Jessee reached out to American Craft Beer to better explain what actually led to the parting…
“After 15 years of partnership, we found ourselves in a position where we were unable to do the kind of work that meets our creative standards. Recently Shiner has embarked on a new direction for the brand that presents creative challenges in how we approach brand-building. That said, it was important to us as partners to ensure we parted ways with the wind in Shiner’s sails. To that effect, Shiner is on a positive path and we’re hopeful for their future success.”
Gambrinus ranks as the 14th-biggest craft brewer in the country, according to the Brewers Association, and Shiner spent $761,000 on marketing in the US last year, including the brand’s first regional Super Bowl ad.
What We’ve Been Drinking Lately (Fort Collins, CO) – Last night we tapped a 32oz crowler of something uber-fresh from Colorado’s Maxline Brewing another great brewery in an important beer town that deserves any serious beer lover’s attention. One of six Maxline year-rounds and also one of the brewery’s most popular, Peach Mango Pale Tango is a 6.2% ABV American Pale Ale brewed with pale malt, white wheat peach, mango and a medley of Citra, Columbus and Simcoe hops…It was killer!