Rumor Mill – Ska Brewing Gets Ex Stoner And An Exit At Jester King

American Craft Beer|December 21st, 2016|

Dan Kopman

Yikes, Christmas is almost here…and the craft beer biz seems to be accelerating. But no worries, Rumor Mill is always on the case, keeping you plugged in into 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!

Ska Gets Ex-Stoner (Durango, CO) – Ska Brewing has happily secured the services of Jason Armstrong, the former National Sales Director for Stone Brewing who clearly isn’t done with the beer biz. Armstrong will rep the region based out of Houston, Texas and has promised the brewery’s co-founder and president, Dave Thibodeau that he’ll only be drinking Ska going forward.

Schlafly Brewing Loses A Good Guy (St Louis, MO) – Schlafly Beer co-founder and ACB fav, Dan Kopman will reportedly leave the company he’s been with for 25 years at the end of December. Kopman will continue to serve as an at-large representative for the Brewers Association through next February.

Words To Drink By (Los Angeles, CA) – “if you’re not willing to fail in art, you’re probably never going to deliver anything great.” Bob Lefsetz – Music Industry Writer and Analyst

Garrett Crowell

Changes At Jester King (Austin, TX) – On top of all the significant industry changes that we’ve been reporting on of late, comes word that one of Jester King’s gifted brewing team, Garrett Crowell, is leaving the organization after three years of “spontaneous fermentations” to start a new brewery. We, of course wish Garrett the best…another great guy.

Bummer – Two Windy City Craft Breweries Close (Chicago, IL) – Two Chi-town craft breweries who shared a brewing space together have come to an end due to the loss of their lease. Arcade Brewery is definitely calling it quits according to the Chicago Tribune but Ale Syndicate hopes to brew again in 2017.

What We’ve Been Drinking Lately (Washington, DC) – Stone just sent us a very special collaboration that they did Richmond’s Ardent Craft Ales and Hardywood that celebrates the launch of their own Virginia-based brewery. Stone Give Me Stout or Give Me Death, is a rich 9.5% Imperial Stout that was brewed with Virginia raspberries and blueberries and a commemorative Imperial tribute to their new east coast home.