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Hey it’s Wednesday and it’s Rumor Mill Time…..The Oskar Blues World Domination Tour just keeps rolling and they’ve got their eyes on a brand new prize. We’ll be giving you everything that we know so far, plus we’ve got some fast-breaking craft beer news from the Mississippi State House, as well as from the boys in Durango. Plus we’ve got a hot new spring release that you will definitely want to run down! So fasten your seatbelts everybody….THIS WEEK’S RUMOR MILL IS ON!
Tour de Fat Readies Its Roll (Ft. Collins, CO) – New Belgium Brewing today announced the long-awaited Tour de Fat 2013 schedule. The tour, now in its 14th year, will spin into 12 cities across the nation. This daylong festival in the park celebrates the bicycle, showcases New Belgium beers, and provides eclectic and engaging entertainment for all. The event is free, yet all proceeds from food and beer go to local biking groups. Over its course, Tour de Fat has raised more than $2 million for nonprofit organizations.
Check out ACB’s 2012 Tour de Fat Coverage Here
Craft Beer Supermarket Sales Soar (Chicago, IL) – Supermarkets are becoming an increasingly important part of the craft beer industry. According to market research firm Symphony IRI, craft beer sales at most retail chains (excluding convenience) rose 17.1% in 2012. The top three beers sold in supermarket chains last year were Deschutes Chainbreaker White IPA, Pyramid Outburst Imperial IPA, and New Belgium Shift Pale Lager.
Oskar Blues Eyes Indiana and the World (Longmont, CO) – The Oskar Blues World Domination Tour continues and Indiana is apparently their next target. Our friends at beerpulse are reporting that the company is in talks with Hoosier state distributors and that they hope to get something nailed down for late spring/early summer. Oskar Blues, who just entered the Michigan marketplace two weeks ago, recently signed a deal to have their cans available in all of BrewDog’s UK-based pubs.
Mississippi ‘s Governor Does the Right Thing (Jackson, MS) – In what many might see as a shocking departure from form, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant has just signed into law a bill that could actually benefit the state’s citizens, especially if you’re a homebrewer. Yes, it’s true! With the Governor’s signature, Mississippi has become the 49th state to legalize homebrewing.
Ska-High Sales (Durango, CO) – Seventeen-year-old Colorado-based craft brewer Ska Brewing Co. has announced a 21.2% increase in their production in 2012. Dollar sales increased 20.4% over the same period. Ska’s announcement came on the same day that the Brewers Association released its mind-boggling 2012 numbers. “We’re proud of the industry for reaching 10% dollar share of the overall beer market, and we’re even more proud that we contributed .0719696% of those ourselves,” said Ska President and co-founder Dave Thibodeau.
A New Spring Release You Want to Look Out For
Sweetwater Brewing Company‘s popular spring seasonal Road Trip is hitting the streets. Part of their seasonal Catch and Release lineup, Road Trip is described as a fiery pilsner style ale that’s made with Pilsner and Vienna malts and brewed with Cascade, Sterling and US Golding hops. Available for a limited time only every March through May, “Road Trip” weighs in at a spring-like 5.2% ABV.
