American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
(Alaska – Just add Barleywine)
The beer biz never sleeps at American Craft Beer. And here’s some more of what’s been happening in the beer world while you were celebrating the season.
The Great Alaska Beer and Barleywine Festival Back On (Anchorage, AK) – When word spread in December that The Great Alaska Beer and Barleywine Festival, legendary Alaskan beer event that’s been ongoing for 26 years, had poured its last Strong Ale, the state went into shock.
But thanks to Billy Opinsky, an Anchorage bar-owner who originally came up with the concept over a quarter of a century ago, the Brewers Guild of Alaska and Peak 2 Peak Productions, a division of the Anchorage Daily News, the event will be returning in February with a new name and location.
The re-designed and re-branded festival is now called the Alaska Craft Brew and Barleywine Festival. This reaches back to the early days and the first five years Opinsky put on the show by himself, according to the Anchorage Press. And it will take place at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in 2020, a much larger venue for the historic Strong Ale outing.
Words To Drink By (NY, NY) – “I like China. I just sold an apartment for $15 million to someone from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?” President Donald J Trump
Two Rivers Beer Acquires Waco’s First Craft Brewery (Waco, TX) – It’s the latest passing of the beer guard in Texas. On Dec 23 Two Rivers Beer Company announced they have acquired majority ownership in Bare Arms Brewing. Two Rivers Beer is owned by Kevin Yackley, a 35-year craft brewer who moved to Waco, specifically to open a new brewery Texas.
The merger between Bare Arms Brewing, Waco’s oldest craft brewery, and Two Rivers, brings significant new resources to both enterprises, including brewing expertise, new capital, and marketing capabilities.
Two River’s Kevin Yackley will become the CEO of the newly aligned organization, and Keith Collier who founded Bare Arms will remain Head Brewer. Plans for 2020 include refreshing the brand and existing craft beer recipes, and new enhancements to the taproom in the near future.
“Bare Arms helped launch the craft beer movement in Waco, and we’ve seen significant growth,” Collier said. “With Bare Arms’ longevity, Two Rivers’ business experience and marketing capabilities, plus our collaboration on recipes and processes, this alliance will help grow craft in Waco, and Bare Arms will remain at the forefront of that growth.”
