2000+ Strong The number of breweries in this country peaked in the late 1800s, when there were more than 4,000. It was a time when beer didn't travel well, and every community had its own brewery -- or several. By the early 1980s, there were only 50 or so companies operating 80 breweries.Then came the microbrewery revolution. It was just announced that the ranks of craft breweries making beer has just eclipsed the 2,000 mark. Last year alone, 250 new breweries opened across the USA! When the economy tanked a few years ago craft beer remained one of the few bright spots, contributing $8.7 billion to our nation's economy last year, and employing nearly 104,000 people. For many years, craft beer has accounted for about 5 percent of all beer sold, leading Georgia artist Chad Baker to create a funny poster satirizing the Occupy Movement that read: "Craft Beer Drinkers, We Are the 5%." |
And the winner is........ Winners of the World Beer Cup -- unofficially dubbed the "Olympics of beer competition" -- were recently announced at the conclusion the 2012 Craft Brewers Conference, which hosted the event. The biannual competition, now in its ninth year, featured submissions from 799 breweries across 54 countries and 45 U.S. states. In all, 3,921 beers in 95 style categories were considered. Five breweries and brewmasters were named champions in various size categories. Sixty-seven percent of the 211 judges were from outside of the U.S., spanning 26 countries abroad. Taste tests were blind to eliminate the possibility of bias. Small Brewing Company Category: Brauerei Michael Plank, Michael Plank; Mid-Size Brewing Company Category: Firestone Walker Brewing Company; Large Brewing Company Category: AB InBev; Small Brewpub Category: Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant There were 95 individual categories for types of beer just about guaranteeing a gold medal for even those hobgoblins of craft beer lovers - the macro lagers. Need proof, check this result: Category 43: American-Style Lager or Light Lager, 39 Entries Gold: Coors Light, Coors Brewing Co., Golden, CO Silver: Michelob Ultra, Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, MO Bronze: Michelob Light, Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, MO Category 44: American-Style Premium Lager or Specialty Lager, 37 Entries Gold: Steel Reserve, Miller Brewing Co., Golden, CO Silver: Evans Original, Cervecería Mexicana, Corona, CA Bronze: Icehouse, Miller Brewing Co., Golden, CO |
| Feature News from beernexus.com |
Edited by Jim Attacap
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| BEERNEXUS the crossroads of the beer world |
Avoid at All Costs
CHold on for an array of summer beers that
sound like things to avoid at all costs. First
there's Carling Zest, a limited edition lager
for the U.K. and Ireland. It offers light citrus
flavor and 2.8% ABV. Also watch out for Worthington’s,
Spring Shield – a light golden, citrusy brew with a hint of
wheat malt. That will be followed by Summer Shield,
Autumn Shield and Winter Shield. That should about
cover every season.
Tapping U.S. consumers as part of its innovation
strategy, Blue Moon Brewing announced a new brew,
Caramel Apple Spiced Ale. Blue Moon fans helped
guide the brewing process, voicing their opinions on
beer styles, ingredients, packaging designs and names
via social media which explains a lot.
U.S. consumers will also be subjected to additional
brews this fall and winter like Lemon Berry Shandy and
Snowdrift Vanilla Porter from Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing
Company. Of slightly more interest, MillerCoors is
rolling out its pre-Prohibition style lager, Batch 19, to
national audiences. The company also recently
acquired Crispin Cider Company, giving it a role in one
of the industry’s fastest-growing categories.
Maybe next year they'll simple try to make good tasting
beer - it would be an amazing innovation for them.