American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
We thought what with the winter holidays things might slow down a bit…but we couldn’t have been more mistaken! So here’s some of what’s been happening while you were stuffing you were power-pounding eggnog.
It used to be that when we wrapped up our Weekend Picks on Friday, we could coast through the weekend. But clearly all that’s changed. So here’s some of what happened at Boulevard, New Holland, Surly and Wynwood Brewing last week.
Goose Island To Extend Global Reach – (Chicago, IL) – Like Empire storm-troopers bent on galactic domination, AB-InBev has begun sharing their plans to brand their most important craft beer property Goose Island globally.
Plans Include large scale brewing of Goose Island beer at AB breweries abroad as well as the opening of branded brewhouses and pubs all around the globe.
We’ve already reported on the two Vintage Ale Houses planned for London. But AB-InBev recently told the Chicago Tribune that they have opened or will be opening physical in such far-flung places as Sao Paulo, Brazil, Seoul South Korea, Shanghai, China, Monterrey, Mexico and the exotic reaches of Toronto, Canada.
Goose Island Exports are reportedly already available in England, Canada, Scandinavia, Mexico, Brazil, Belgium, the Netherlands, South Korea and China with plans to invade France (no problem there) and Italy in 2017
Words To Drink By (Los Angeles, CA) – “The biggest advantage for us, of course, is we are now part of the largest brewing concern on planet Earth. And we have access to these markets.”
Ken Stout – President, Goose Island
Out Of State Breweries Stake Their Claims In San Diego (California) – It takes balls to open an out-of-state brewery in pedigreed craft beer town like San Diego. But that’s what happened in 2016. Denmark’s Mikkeller reportedly partnered with AleSmith in a bid to legitimize their move into the vaunted SoCal market. We’ve less hope for AB InBev-owned 10 Barrel’s plans to open a brewpub in a town already saturated with “hometown heroes.”
Beer With That Trim? (Los Angeles, CA) – In yet another sign that craft beer has entered the mainstream comes reports that craft beer is now being served at bookstores like Barnes & Noble and neighborhood hair-cutters (haven’t they always done that?) in LA.
Goose Island San Paolo Brazil Banner photo credit: Goose Island Beer
