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We blame the industry for this… It used to be that when we wrapped up our Weekend Picks on Friday, we could coast through the weekend. There was little need to check in for updates – things were pretty much done. But clearly all that’s changed. So here’s some of what’s happened in the world of craft beer while you were enjoying your long Memorial Day weekend.
Drinking Buddies Movie Generating Buzz (Los Angeles, CA) – Is America ready for a hip romantic comedy involving coworkers at a brewery? We know we are… especially with stars like Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, and Ron Livingston. Drinking Buddies generated considerable buzz when it debuted at this year’s SXSW and was immediately picked up by Magnolia Pictures who are looking at an August release.
Mystery Brewing Wins Big on TV Reality Show (Hillsborough, NC) – The Mystery Brewing Company won $50,000 on an Apprentice/Shark Tank-style new reality show called Crowd Rules that recently aired on CNBC, according to our friends at Beerpulse. The episode featured Mystery Brewing, Sky Fitness (a small town gym) and Dirty Girl Disposal (a female-owned and operated waste removal company).
Big Plans at Devils Backbone (Lexington, VA) – After winning big at several top brewing competitions in 2012, Devils Backbone Brewing Company is embarking on a $3.25M expansion project to increase production capacities at both the Basecamp Brewpub in Nelson County, VA and the Outpost in Lexington, VA.At the Outpost Brewery , they will be breaking ground on a new 13,000 square foot building that will serve as a packaging hall, warehouse, and administrative space. The brewery is also adding new fermentation and filtration equipment, which will nearly double the annual capacity of the brewery to 40,000 barrels per year. Their Basecamp Brewpub will see an increase in fermentation and cooler space that will allow them greater small-batch specialty brew production. The Basecamp kitchen will also be getting reworked.
Get a Hangover with Hanson (Tulsa, OK) – Well, you don’t have to but now you can if you want. The song MMMBop made the brothers a household name back in 1997, and now they’ve got a beer that they’re hoping will do the same. MmmHops is being brewed for them by Oklahoma-based Mustang Brewing and it’s featured in Hangover III (the band also brought it with them to serve at the movie’s Hollywood Premier).
Maine’s Breweries Double Down Again (Bangor, ME) – According to Maine’s DPS, Maine’s breweries have increased their output by 20% for the third year in a row. The Bangor Daily News is reporting that over “a three-year period, from the end of 2009 through 2012, beer production by Maine breweries has increased from 4.1 million gallons to 7.9 million, or by more than 90 percent.”
Duff Beer to be served at Simpsons Theme Park (Orlando, FL) – Well, they’d better! A massive new expansion to Universal Studios theme park will reportedly be anchored by The Simpsons Ride. TouringPlans.com is reporting that “it will be the only place in the world where guests can walk the streets of Springfield” and that it will include “places and foods pulled right from the show.” And they will definitely be serving Duff Beer, brewed exclusively for Universal Orlando.
