The American Craft Beer Rumor Mill – February 17, 2016

American Craft Beer|February 17th, 2016|

Yikes it’s February already… and clearly nothing is slowing down anytime soon. But no worries, Rumor Mill is always on the case, keeping you 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.

Victory And Southern Tier Unite! (Downingtown, PA / Lakewood, NY) – The first big craft beer consolidation of 2016, happened yesterday and we predict that you’ll see more of these “strength in numbers” alliances going forward this year. Having just celebrated their 20^th year in the biz, Victory Brewing announced a landmark alliance with Southern Tier under the parent company name of Artisanal Brewing Ventures. Under the umbrella of ABV, Victory and Southern Tier will operate independently, commanding a joint capacity of over 800,000 barrels of potential annual production. Clearly his alliance is defensive in nature and creates one of the largest brewers in the Northeast.

Looking For A Great Head Brewing Gig? (Washington, DC) – Because there is a rare Head Brewer opening at Atlas Brew Works – and you can find out more about it HERE.

Words To Drink By (Portland, OR) – “To truly enjoy great beer, share it with even better company.”

Warren Wills – American Craft Beer Assistant Editor

Massachusetts Distributor’s License Suspended In “Pay-To-Play” Scandal (Everett, MA) Last Friday, the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission suspended the license of state-wide wholesaler, Craft Brewers Guild for 90 days, along with two years of probation. Forbes is reporting that “Craft executives first lied then admitted to paying kickbacks to five corporate bar chains under agreements that ranged from $20 per keg to $2000 per dedicated line per year. To hide the money trail, Craft created fake companies in the bar groups’ names to bill for services like marketing or menu programming then invoiced its supplier breweries for the expense.”

Abita Gets A New Look For Its 30^th Anniversary (New Orleans, LA) – Abita is celebrating their many years in the craft beer biz with new label and packaging artwork that’s inspired by the art, culture, history and vibe of New Orleans. The personality of the city is showcased through the brand’s eccentric new characters and quintessential New Orleans scenes depicted on the packaging. Examples include a Voodoo doctor to personify the mystery and magic of Purple Haze, as well as a brass band leading a festival parade, for Abita Amber’s new look.

What We’ve Been Drinking Lately (Washington, DC) – We’d like to thank all of the American craft breweries who’ve shipped us beer from time to time. It’s always great to sample the brews that we write about and it helps us have a better feel for what’s happening out there. And last night we hit up their latest from Flying Dog’sSingle Hop Imperial IPA Series and it was terrific. Brewed with a hop that’s so new that it doesn’t even have a name yet, Single Hop HBC-291 is an 8% Imperial that impresses.