Deep Garnet Ale Features El Dorado Red Hops  

                      
Ft. Collins, CO, JULY 23, 2012 – New Belgium Brewing’s (www.newbelgium.com) new fall seasonal, Red Hoptober, is now available, offering a taste of autumn with cooler temperatures just around the corner.
 
Red Hoptober is a dark garnet ale with a bright head and three varieties of hops. El Dorado hops from Central Washington are bold and present with a distinct, piney flavor as well as citrus notes. The caramel malt and roasted barley provide a sturdy backbone. Centennial and Cascade hops bring more hints of citrus, and a subtle roasty tone follows through each sip.
 
“Fall seasonals are a terrific transition from hot weather’s lighter beers into the warm embrace of winter beers,” says New Belgium Brewer Grady Hull.  “Red Hoptober is perfect for a cool day fishing or a relaxing night around the campfire.”
 
Red Hoptober is 6% ABV, 45 IBUs and is available in most New Belgium markets now through October. 
 
To find New Belgium beers in your area, you can use the New Belgium Libation Location tool: http://www.newbelgium.com/beer.aspx. You can also follow New Belgium on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/newbelgium.
 
About New Belgium Brewing Company 
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces nine year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sunshine Wheat, Ranger IPA, Belgo IPA, Shift Pale Lager, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases.  In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship.  For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

New Brewing Facility to Open in Dexter; Tony Grant Hired as CFO / COO

(ANN ARBOR, Mich) – Big changes are underway at Northern United Brewing Company (NUBC) – the maker of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, North Peak and Grizzly Peak beers, Civilized Spirits and Bonafide Wines, and operator of Jolly Pumpkin Cafes in Ann Arbor and Traverse City as well as Old Mission Table Restaurant in Traverse City.

NEW BREWERY OPERATIONS

Yet this year, Northern United Brewing Company will open a new 70,000-square-foot brewing facility in Dexter, where Ron Jeffries will oversee all brewing operations for both the Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak beer brands. The new site allows for expansion of up to 150,000-square feet in the future.

“I've always said I’ll brew as much sour beer as folks want to drink.  Whoever would have guessed it would be more than we can possibly brew at our existing facility,” says Ron Jeffries. “I’m very excited to be making the 1.5 mile move to our new plant.  More sour beer can only be a good thing!  And did I mention IPAs?  Taking over the brewing of the North Peak line with those fantastic hoppy beers – are you kidding me, it’s a(nother) dream come true!”

The move means that NUBC’s 5600-square-foot facility on the Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City will be dedicated to the production of Civilized Spirits and North Peak’s Nomad Hard Cider, under the auspices of Mike Hall.

“We’re excited for the North Peak and Jolly Pumpkin brands to have a new home to continue to meet our growing demand.  This will allow us to focus on our micro distillery, and expand our production of Civilized Spirits,” says Mike.  “We will continue to create the highest quality craft spirits, and we are also looking forward to knocking out some exclusive experimental brews at the JP pub.”

NEW MANAGEMENT STAFF

NUBC has also announced the hiring of Tony Grant as the company’s chief financial and chief operating officer, effective July 1. His primary focus is working with the executive team to develop the near and long-term strategies for the company. 

“The shift taking place in our industry is amazing and the brands of Northern United Brewing Company are on the forefront of what makes craft creations so special,” Tony says. “This is a dream job with an incredible group of talented people as the dream team and I feel very lucky to be a part of it.  The future is full of opportunity!”

Tony has more than 10 years of Fortune 500 experience in strategic finance, operations and executive management in retail, commercial and industrial real estate and manufacturing operations. Most recently, he served as director of corporate development with Owens Corning where he focused on all aspects of global acquisition and divestiture activity and various strategic projects for the company. 

Prior to Owens Corning, he served as an executive officer and vice president of strategic planning, real estate and international franchise operations for Borders Group – where he also managed various asset dispositions and worked very closely with major shareholders and the company’s board of directors.  Tony was also the architect of and managed Borders very successful airport bookstore expansion across the U.S. earlier in his career with the company. 

Tony received both his MBA and electrical engineering degrees from Michigan State University, where he also played varsity football under Nick Saban and Bobby Williams.

“We are extremely excited to add a person of Tony’s caliber to our executive management team,” according to Jon Carlson and Greg Lobdell, who along with Ron Jeffries and Mike Hall are managing partners of NUBC. “His experience along with his tremendous work ethic and ability to lead will allow NUBC to continue on the path of growth that we have been experiencing and allow the company to reach its full potential.”

NUBC’s philosophy focuses on a dedication to conservation, inspiration and locally sustainable practices. Find NUBC products at stores, restaurants, and bars all throughout Michigan, including: North Peak Brewing Company, Mission Table and Jolly Pumpkin Brewery, all in Traverse City; Jolly Pumpkin and Grizzly Peak, in Ann Arbor.

(Portland, OR) - I just got a newsletter from Cascade about new bottles available.  Here's the news...

"Want a taste of summer? The blenders have announced they will release Strawberry 2011 in bottles today at 5PM! These will only be available  at the Cascade Brewing Barrel House, 939 SE Belmont Street, and at the Raccoon Lodge & Brew Pub, 7424 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy. Because the production run was so limited, there will be no online sales for this beer. Cost is $20 for a 750 ml bottle, limit 4 bottles per person. This is the first ever bottling of Strawberry, and these will go fast!  

Cascade Strawberry is a NW style sour ale that features a blend of wheat ales that were aged in oak barrels for up to 12 months before aging on strawberries for an additional three months."

(LANSING, Mich – July 12, 2012) – Michigan’s small brewers are mobilizing support for recommendations released by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Friday, June 29 for updating the state’s liquor regulatory rules and regulations.  These recommendations are the latest in a series of reports issued by the Office of Regulatory Reinvention (ORR). 

The Liquor Control Advisory Rules Committee that developed the recommendations was comprised of individuals representing all segments of business, government, and society that are impacted by liquor laws including representatives of law enforcement, economic development, public health and safety, large and small suppliers, distributors, and retailers.

Brewpub owner Matt Greff, who serves on the Government Affairs Committee of the Michigan Brewers’ Guild (MBG) was tapped to represent the interests of Michigan’s craft brewers.  According to Greff, the recommendations regarding Michigan breweries can pretty much be categorized into three key areas of interest to Michigan’s small breweries:

• Regulatory parity with Michigan wineries
• Franchise Law Exemption for very small breweries
• Creation of a single brewery license

Regulatory Parity With Michigan Wineries

In a statement delivered during the ORR’s Friday press conference, Greff explained that “LCC rules and laws relating to Michigan’s small wineries provided a fantastic blueprint for our recommendations [regarding small breweries].”  These provisions are already in place for small wineries and have proven effective in promoting the growth of the industry and increasing consumer choice while at the same time preserving a free and independent distribution tier and protecting the public health and safety. 

Over the years inconsistencies have developed in the liquor code when changes made in one part of the rules or code regarding one license type were not carried over to other places in the rules or code for similar license-types.  The proposed changes would clean up the discrepancies in the code making it fair, consistent, and predictable.

The two major parity changes are as follows:

• Direct Sales to Special Licensees - The current code allows the holder of a special license (like a non-profit fundraiser) to purchase directly from small wineries, micro-distillers, wholesalers, and retailers who hold a carry-out license.  Microbrewers are currently the only suppliers from whom they are not permitted to purchase directly. 
• Direct Sales to Retailers – The current code permits Michigan wineries to sell their products directly to retailers but does not provide small breweries with the same opportunity.  Self-distribution encourages economic development by allowing new small breweries to be more financially viable while they build volume.  It also allows them to build equity in their brand before entering into contract negotiations with wholesalers.  The top 9 brewing states in the US (measured by the number of breweries per capita) permit small brewer self-distribution.  

Craft beer lovers in Michigan may be surprised to know that one of the state’s fastest-growing brands almost didn’t make it to market.

“When we started Short's it was hard to find a distributor willing to carry our brand,” says Scott Newman-Bale, Partner/CFO at Short’s Brewing Company. “Since we were a small relatively unknown brewery, most local distributors were not interested in what we had to say or offer. In the end we took the unusual step in signing with a state-wide distributor. However, if we had been able to self-distribute like Michigan wineries, we may have entered the market at a higher profit margin, simultaneously building our brand equity and our company to such a place that initial contract negotiations could have been quite different.”

Franchise Law Exemption For Very Small Breweries

Franchise laws were enacted to protect distributors from the undue influence and bargaining power of their largest suppliers.  They essentially give the distributor ownership of the supplier’s brand as soon as a distribution contract is signed.  This locks the supplier into a lifetime contract and gives the distributor the ability to sell or transfer the brand to another distributor without the supplier’s consent.  While there are technically remedies in place, they are out of the financial reach of very small suppliers who cannot afford to purchase the rights to their own brand back from the supplier or fight for them in court. 

The MBG agrees with the Brewers Association (the national trade group established to promote and protect small and independent American brewers) that “applying those laws to relations between small brewers and wholesalers is unfair and against free market principles.”  Where franchise laws exist, the BA believes that any brewer contributing less than 20% of a wholesaler's volume should be exempted from those laws and be free to establish a mutually beneficial contract with that wholesaler. 

The ORR recommendations regarding the franchise law were much more modest than the BA recommendations, setting the limit for exemption from the Franchise Law to a mere 3% of the distributor’s book of business.  This would give small start-up brewers the ability to establish enforceable contracts with distributors that both parties agree are fair and equitable.  And it would give them the ability to discontinue or re-negotiate the terms of their contracts as their business grows, their needs evolve, and they create greater brand equity. 

"Many wholesalers believe the current franchise laws give them the ability to determine a small suppliers home,” says Brett VanderKamp, President at New Holland Brewing Company. “Once a brewery signs a contract with a wholesaler, that wholesaler owns their brand's distribution rights for the given territory and is free to sell or trade those rights to other wholesalers.  The supplier/brewer is supposed to have an opportunity to approve or reject the transfer, however those actions are often met with opposition and legal threats.   

“We once had a situation where a wholesaler we had chosen to do business with was negotiating the sale of our brand to a wholesaler that we didn’t think would do a good job representing us in the market.  We offered to match the sale-price, intending to redirect the sale to a wholesaler of our choosing.  Not only was the offer refused, but we were threatened and eventually pushed to a different wholesaler, against our will.  Franchise laws were put in place to provide stability for small distributors who invested in brands and risked being cancelled by large suppliers.  Present day, it is allowing large wholesalers to unfairly control small suppliers." 

Creation of a Single Brewers License

Michigan’s current licensing structure for small brewers divides them into brewpubs and microbreweries.  Brewpubs are permitted to purchase and serve beer, wine, and spirits through the state’s distribution system but are prohibited from distributing their own beer.  Microbreweries are permitted to distribute their beer but are prohibited from purchasing and serving beer, wine, and spirits through the state’s distribution system. 

This licensing distinction is unnecessarily complicated and restrictive.  Many other states have a single small brewer license which allows the licensee to produce and distribute their own beer as well as to purchase alcohol through the normal distribution channels in the state. 

Arcadia Brewing Company Founder and CEO Tim Suprise explains how this unnecessary restriction made it much more difficult for Arcadia to get into the black after opening their Battle Creek location in 1996. 

“We established Arcadia Brewing Company as a microbrewery and restaurant and very quickly realized that our inability to offer a full bar put us at a major competitive disadvantage with other area restaurants. Any entrepreneur will tell you that the key to success is the ability to revisit and update your business model in response to market forces.  By unnecessarily and artificially limiting the types of goods and services small breweries can offer, the state is imposing barriers to economic success at a time when it should be doing everything it can to support business and job growth. We were one of the lucky small breweries who survived our start-up years, but having a more level playing field with other local restaurants, and with small brewers from neighboring states certainly would've accelerated our growth throughout economically depressed periods."

The Battle Ahead

“Even though these recommendations are fair, have been proven effective in other states and other sectors of the Michigan market, and will have a very positive impact on economic development and job creation in the state, we know that this is going to be an uphill battle” Greff asserts.  “The wholesalers are going to fight any changes that improve the position of small breweries – and let’s face it, they have a lot more money than we do. 

“Privately they will admit that they would rather have the breweries sell directly to small non-profit events because they are a hassle for them and they don’t make any money, but as an organization, they have been unwilling to support even that simple change.

“But even though we don’t have the support of the wholesalers, we do have the support of Michigan’s wineries, small brewers, and tens of thousands of Michigan craft beer lovers in the state.  And for the first time, we also have the support of the administration.  So we are crossing our fingers that we will also be able to gain the support of a business-oriented legislature.”

The role of the Michigan Brewers Guild Government Affairs Committee (GAC) is to monitor and assure a healthy brewing industry within the state by developing and articulating to the industry a consensus from within our membership as it relates to regulatory, legislative and governmental affairs. By working together to protect its mutual interests in the governmental and legislative arena, it strengthens relationships with each other in other arenas. For more information on legislation related to brewing and the Michigan beer industry, please contactgac@michiganbrewersguild.org.

(BATTLE CREEK, Mich) – Arcadia Brewing Company has announced the construction of a new facility on Kalamazoo's downtown riverfront – a $5.4 million investment in developing a mixed-use facility that is to include a Packaging microbrewery, Company office space, riverfront pub/eatery, and a riverfront beer garden 

"Arcadia's expansion into Kalamazoo is an important and exciting milestone, not only for our company, but for the greater Kalamazoo and Battle Creek communities,” says Arcadia President and Founder, Tim Suprise. “ Arcadia is reinvesting in our Battle Creek operation and locating a new production and pub facility in downtown Kalamazoo will that will bring dozens of quality jobs and vitality to a strategically-important section of the city (River's Edge), while reclaiming a part of the Kalamazoo River."

In other words, Arcadia isn't relocating; Arcadia is expanding. 

“Recognizing our Company’s role within the Battle Creek community and maintaining loyalty to our existing patrons is just as important as the expansion itself,” Suprise says. “We are continually grateful to our distributor and retail partners as well as the many customers who have made Arcadia Brewing Company a success in Battle Creek, and we are optimistically looking forward to developing an equally important role and worthy presence downtown and the greater Kalamazoo community.”   

Limited physical space in the Battle Creek location and a strong demand within the Michigan and Illinois markets forced the Company to reduce its distribution footprint almost 3 years ago, and meeting the demand for Arcadia Ales has been a challenge in the existing facility.

“This project began in August of 2011; I’m grateful for the world-class team that has come together over the past 11 months and effectively transitioned this opportunity into a thoughtfully considered mixed use development that included both City and State support” says Suprise. “We are proud that Southwest Michigan is our home. We're excited to draw more craft beer enthusiasts to this region of our great state, and, thankful that we can continue to grow and develop as one of Michigan's thriving and important craft breweries.”

A Charter member of the Michigan Brewers Guild, Arcadia Brewing Company was established in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1996 as a microbrewery and restaurant specializing in hand-crafted, British-inspired ales and wood-fired cuisine.  Arcadia Ales are distributed throughout Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, Kansas, and Pennsylvania, with plans to expand distribution into 6 additional markets (States) in 2013.