American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
The Commons Brewery to Celebrate! (Portland, OR) – Our friends at The Commons Brewery will be recognizing their one year anniversary by celebrating two nights: Thursday, December 6th and Friday December, 7th from 5:00-9:00pm at the brewery. What started in Mike Wright’s garage has turned into one of Portland’s most unique breweries – They specialize in crafting small batch approachable and balanced European-inspired beers and their new space is awesome so you don’t want to miss the celebration.
Flying Dog Supporting Washington Redskins Tight End Chris Cooley (Frederick, MD ) – After zero hours of negotiation, hearty handshakes, and minimal amounts of rabble, Flying Dog Brewery has agreed to supply Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley with a case of beer after each game remaining in the 2012 season. The agreement stemmed from Cooley’s recent negotiations with the team in late October. Cooley asked that receiving a case of beer after each game be written into his contract, but the team ultimately denied his wish. Flying Dog Brewery then stepped in and offered their support and an agreement was quickly negotiated. “It was heartbreaking to hear that this stellar athlete was denied the opportunity to have a beer at the end of each hard-fought game,” Flying Dog VP of Marketing Ben Savage said. “We heard Cooley’s cry for help and we were happy to step in.” For the remaining six games of the regular season, Flying Dog will provide Cooley with a case worth of Shock and Awe variety packs, which includes Raging Bitch Belgian-Style IPA, UnderDog Atlantic Lager, Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout, and Snake Dog IPA.
Smallest Brewery in Alaska Steps It Up (Sitka, AK) – A much buzzed about brewery in Sitka Alaska has made the leap to bottling and distribution of their products. Beer from Baranof Island Brewing Company is now available throughout Southeast Alaska and is being distributed by Specialty Imports. Success came quickly for the small island brewer reports the Juneau Empire. “Baranof Island Brewing opened in 2010 as the smallest nano-brewery in Alaska, brewing on a half-barrel system (15.5 gallons), and quickly had to go bigger, brewing 55 gallons at a time.” In January of 2011, they installed a 10-barrel system, enabling 310 gallon batches to be brewed at one time in an effort to keep up with demand.
Shapes of Things to Come? (Paris, France) Desperate for increased governmental revenues, France is considering hiking taxes on beer sales big-time! Oui, it’s true. Although, the government is backing away from its original proposal of a 160% increase, according to EurActive.com, they are actively considering a still massive 120% increase. And that, as always, will be passed on to the consumer, potentially adding an estimated 30 to 40 cents to the cost of the humble French beer.
New Releases You Want to Look Out For
Dogfish Head Brewery – IT’S BACK! Sam Calagione and crew are taking things Olde School and we’re psyched about it! Olde School is their seasonal barleywine. It comes out in the fall and it’s serious, clocking in at a “go straight to jail” 15% ABV! If ever there was an ale made to cellar- this is it.
Flying Dog Brewery – December’s around the corner and Flying Dog’s has just released their winter seasonal. K-9 is that winter ale. It’s an ever evolving recipe and this year’s release is a 7.4 % ABV warmer that pours dark and is available in bottles and on draft.
