American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
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 enjoying your weekend.
Green Flash Moving East (Virginia Beach, VA) – Probably the biggest news to break at the end of last week: Green Flash Brewing Company announced that they will be expanding their operations and building a second brewery in Virginia Beach.From a production standpoint, the new brewery will replicate the state-of-the-art production capabilities of the Green Flash San Diego headquarters. The 58,000-sq-ft Virginia Beach facility will employ 40-plus Virginians and utilize $20 million of invested capital. Construction of the new facility is set to begin in 2014.
You Are Who You Hang With (Longmont, CO) – How come we’re not surprised by this? The Denverpost.com is reporting Oskar Blues has signed a contract with Scotland bad boys, BrewDog, to put their canned American craft beers in the ten pubs operated by the UK-based brewery. BrewDog opened its first pub in Aberdeen, Scotland in 2010 and has since then opened others in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Camden, Newcastle, Bristol, Manchester, and Birmingham.
So What You’re Saying Is That You Don’t Trust Us (Salem, OR) – Forget about taking that six-pack of beer through the self-checkout line… at least if Oregon House Bill 2398 becomes law. “The bill would prohibit sales of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and over-the-counter and prescription drugs in the self-checkout lines” according to oregonlive.com. Since most stores “already keep tobacco products and prescription drugs away from self-checkout lines, the bill would mostly affect beer, wine and over-the-counter medications.” Untrustworthy patrons were reportedly unavailable for comment.
You Will Submit to the State! (Mobile AL) – An Alabama county prosecutor has been ‘disciplined’ for homebrewing, according to AL.com. Mobile County prosecutor Keith Blackwood is a self-professed foodie, known for his cigars and his libertarian ideals, and now he’s also becoming known as a criminal. Seems Blackwood brews his own beer on occasion – a perfectly acceptable hobby in 48 states, but a criminal activity in Alabama as things stand now. Prosecutor Blackwood has gone ‘backwoods’ and was unavailable for comment.
Just in Time for St Paddy’s Day! (Dublin, Ireland) – The Irish craft beer market is booming, according to a report obtained by The Irish Times. Sales rose by 42.5% last year and are expected to rise another 35% this year. Domestic sales were up by 55% while exports were up by 26%. Saint Patrick was reportedly unavailable for comment.
New Belgium Gets Deeper into the Woods (Ft Collins, Co) – According to our friends at Hooked on Hops, New Belgium Brewing has recently purchased 32 new wood casks and are well on their way to becoming the industry’s leader with regard to ‘wood programs.’
