Hey it’s Wednesday and that means it’s Rumor Mill Time….This year’s CBC has just been announced and we’ll be bringing you everything we know so far. Plus we’ve some big news coming out of the Sierra Nevada camp and a legislative shocker from the “Land of 10,000 Lakes!” But that’s not all… we’ve also got a special Rumor Mill release you’ll want to chase down to beat the cold.
So fasten your seat belts everybody because….THIS WEEK’S ALMOST-ALL CBC RUMOR MILL IS ON!
The 2014 CBC Set To Touch Down in The Mile High City (Denver, CO) – The largest craft beer industry gathering on the face of the Earth, the Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America, will be taking place in the Mile High City on April 8-11,and if you’re in the industry and not thinking about going – you’re not thinking! This year’s CBC will also serve as home to the World Beer Cup® (WBC), often referred to as “The Olympics of Beer Competition.” Every two years, beer judges (about 70% of whom hail from outside the US) honor the top three beers in 91 categories with gold, silver, and bronze awards.
How Many People Again? (Denver, CO) – This year’s CBC is expecting an amazing 7,000 attendees as well as 400 exhibiting companies and at least 145 presenters. This year’s keynote speaker is bestselling author, food advocate, and activist Michael Pollan and we’re pretty psyched about that!
Sierra Nevada’s Making More Pint-Sized Moves (Chico, CA) – On the non-CBC side of things, Sierra Nevada’s media maverick, Ryan Arnold, just gave us the “heads up” that the brewery will soon be shipping their iconic Pale Ale in pint-sized 4-packs and we’re pretty damn excited for them. Look for Sierra Nevada to begin shipping Pale Ale 4-packs to all 50 states next week.
What is BrewExpo America and Can It Make You Smarter? (Denver, CO) – BrewExpo America is the premier trade show for craft brewers, allowing exhibitors and buyers to meet one another and introducing craft beer professionals to the best products and services that the industry has to offer. It’s been proven that visiting BrewExpo America can actually make you smarter – but you’ve got to pay attention and not just spend your time filling-up your goodie bag with freebies and power-pounding beer with the visiting vendors.
Shocker – Minnesota Legislator Attempts to do the Right Thing (Saint Paul, MN) – In other non-CBC news, Kare11 is reporting that State Representative Jennifer Loon, a leading Republican in the Minnesota House, is introducing a new bill to allow Sunday liquor sales in Minnesota. “Running out of beer on Sunday up in Minnesota has always been a nightmare,” said Tom Bobak, Editor-In-Chief for American Craft Beer. “These people drink to ward off the cold and help kill the pain of another dismal Vikings season,” Bobak added, “so this bill’s passage is imperative.”
A Rumor Mill Release You Want to Look Out For
Odell Brewing is celebrating the third release of its Montage Variety Pack series. Each Variety Pack includes two year-round offerings, the current seasonal release, and a special Roots Release beer inspired by the brewery’s five-barrel pilot system. The Winter-Spring Montage features 90 Shilling, IPA, Runoff Red IPA, and Wolf Picker, a limited-edition American Pale Ale brewed with two experimental hop varieties.