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Hey it’s Wednesday and that means it’s Rumor Mill Time…It appears that Big Box Stores will be going Big Beer! We’ll be bringing you what we know so far. Plus we’ve got some updates from our friends at Bell’s and some good, good news from Left Hand Brewing. We’ve also got a special new Rumor Mill release that you’ll want to chase down. So fasten your seat belts…THIS WEEK’S RUMOR MILL IS ON!
Breweries Grow in Maryland (Annapolis, MD) – “The Brewers Association of Maryland has more than 30 licensed breweries from the state in its membership, as well as another 18 that are in the process of opening a brewery,” according to the Carroll County Times, who go on to report that “ten years ago, there were only 18 breweries in the state.”
Bell’s Building Booms (Kalamazoo, MI) – Seems business is booming at Bells Brewery and so are all their new construction projects. MLive.com is reporting that the brewery currently “has three construction projects in progress at the Comstock production facility — the addition of a fermentation cellar, canning hall, and a refrigeration plant expansion.” There’s also talk of building out at their Eccentric Café location.
Beer Up and Down in the “Show-Me” State (St. Louis, MO) – According to the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, beer sales are panting both ways in the state. Data compiled from the last fiscal year indicates that overall beer sales were lagging. “Overall beer sales fell 1.3% to 134.08 million gallons through June 30,” reports the ST Louis Dispatch, “down from 135.86 million gallons in 2012.” But good news continues for several craft brewers such as Schlafly Beer, who continue to show strength in the “Show-Me” state.
Left Hand Brewing Dodges a Bullet (Longmont, CO) – At least that’s what we’re hearing from our friends at the Left Hand Brewing Company, who suffered some flooding, but feel that things could have been a whole lot worse. Situated on the banks of the surging St. Vrain River, the brewery appeared extremely vulnerable to the region’s floodwaters. But café society is now reporting “that while water flooded the loading docks and the hop garden and the basement of an administrative building, it spared the taproom.”
The Big Will Get Bigger (Nationwide) – That’s what some predict could happen at several of our nation’s regional Wal-Mart’s if they continue to sell many of their beers (including craft) almost at cost. Bloomberg is reporting that the chain’s “push into beer is part of a plan to double alcohol sales by 2016 and seize a larger slice of a U.S. beer market worth about $45 billion.”
A Rumor Mill Release You Want to Look Out For
Full Sail Brewing Company is releasing their 26th anniversary beer and it’s a tribute to the region’s nearby hop growers. Full Sail “26” Cascade Pilsner is a Northwestern take on the European classic and it’s available now on draft and in 22 oz. bottles.
