THE AMERICAN CRAFT BEER – QUICK HITS

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 off enjoying yourselves

Runaway Train – Big Beer Mega Merger Moves Forward (Leuven, Belgium) – We’ve, of course, been following this story since it was first announced that AB InBev was in talks to purchase SABMiller and we predicted that their quest to control 30% of the global beer market would eventually prove successful. Last Wednesday the beer giants nailed down a number ($107B) so this thing is careening forward to its inevitable end. Does this deal still face hurdles? We’ll sure…but as we’ve expressed many times here at ACB, “money changes everything”.

European Gold Rush! (Cooperstown, NY) – Brewery Ommegang recently received two gold medals at the prestigious European Beer Star Competition. We like what the brewery does and have many friends there – so we’re happy for them. The European Beer Star Competition judged 1,957 beers from 45 countries and awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals for 55 categories. Ommegang’s Abbey Ale took a gold for Belgian-style Dubbel and their Gnomegang won gold in the Belgian-style Tripel category.

Words To Drink By (Los Angeles, CA) – “As soon as somebody says you’re spending too much time on something, you’re on the right track.”

Bob Lefsetz – Music Analyst & Writer

UK Beer Police (United Kingdom) – in a new move to help drinkers with food allergies, The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), Britain’s biggest organizer of beer festivals, is reportedly refusing to stock ales from breweries that don’t provide a complete list of ingredients.

Historic Dorchester Neighborhood To Get A New Contract Brewery (Boston, MA) – Many small to medium sized craft brewers don’t have the need or the budget to open their own facility, so they depend on contract brewing. In the Massachusetts and New England region, the opportunities for contract brewing have been extremely limited.  Currently under development with plans to open in spring of 2016, Dorchester Brewing will offer craft brewers a full range of opportunities including, production, packaging and marketing support in a state-of-the-art facility. The future brewery will also feature tours, a 2,000+ square foot tasting room and a collaborative workspace open to the local startup community.

 

 

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