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February is off to a tumultuous start and Rumor Mill is on the case, making sure that you are always plugged in to all the craft beer news that matters. Plus we’ve an all-important update on what we’ve been drinking lately and you absolutely don’t want to miss that.
Indiana Craft Beer Industry Over A Barrel (Indianapolis, IN) – Indiana’s craft brewers and retailers are upset about archaic state laws that put limits on the amount of beer that independent craft brewers can sell in-state (before they’re saddled with burdensome tax increases), and they think that these constraints are holding back the industry’s growth in the Hoosier state. The News and Tribune reports that “Indiana now has more than 100 microbreweries on tap, with more in development” and that Three Floyds is currently sending about 40 percent of its beer to neighboring states as a result.
Scottish Brewer Touts Aphrodisiac Beer (Edinburgh, Scotland) – Scottish brewery Innis & Gunn has created a pricy limited-edition Pale Ale made with special ingredients to coincide with the film release of “Fifty Shades of Grey,” according to MSN. 50 Shades of Green is brewed using 50 different hop strains and “is infused with a bevy of aphrodisiac ingredients including ginseng.” This provocative brew is pricy though, and could sell for as much as $46 per 330 ml bottle in the states. And no, handcuffs will not be included.
Homebrewers To Descend On “Hoppiest Place On Earth” (San Diego, CA) – For the first time since 2011, the American Homebrewers Association National Homebrewers Conference will take place in San Diego and an estimated 4,000 attendees are expected to arrive for three days of homebrewing culture, companionship, and competition. The 37th annual conference is also home to the final round of judging in this year’s National Homebrew Competition, the world’s largest beer competition of its kind. Plus Tomme Arthur of Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey will be this year’s keynote speaker and you don’t want to miss that.
Craft Beer Distribution Dance Continues (USA) – Everyone’s going everywhere and expanding into different markets, and here’s the latest on that. Denver-based Renegade Brewing is now distributing its beers in Kansas and Nebraska. River North Brewery has also set their sights on Kansas and they’ve partnered with Crown Distributors to bring their beers out that way. Starr Hill‘s recent success in Central and Eastern Tennessee has encouraged them to expand their distribution into Knoxville in early February.
What We’ve Been Drinking Lately (Washington, DC) – We’d like to thank all of the breweries who ship us beer from time to time. It’s always great to sample the brews that we write about and it helps to give us a better feel for what’s happening out there. Last night, we tapped something that was given to us while we were visiting London’s Beavertown Brewery recently. Not overly strong or cloyingly smoky, Beavertown Smog Rocket Smoked Porter is a 5.4% ABV British-style Porter that gets it right. Thanks for having us!
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