Plans were announced today to develop a new craft brewery, located in the historic Bates Mill complex in downtown Lewiston, Maine, which will begin shipping beer in September of this year. Baxter Brewing Co will be the first craft brewery in northern New England to combine high quality, hand-crafted beer with the unparalleled convenience and environmentally-friendly technology of aluminum cans.
“The state of Maine is aching for full-flavored, American-style ales and the environmentally-friendly, beer-friendly and highly portable can,” says Baxter’s founder and president, Luke Livingston. “We are here to combine the two and reward the thirsty residents of Maine with the beer they want in the packaging they need.”
The Baxter brewery will feature a 30 barrel brewhouse manufactured by Newlands Systems Inc of Abbotsford, B.C., Canada and a state-of-the-art canning line – capable of filling thirty cans a minute – from Cask Brewing Systems of Calgary, Alberta, CA. The facility, which promises to be like no other in the state, will be open daily for brewery tours, tastings and special events, as well as a fully-stocked retail shop featuring both beer and Baxter schwag.
“We want our brewery itself to be a fun and vibrant place that people not only want to visit, but want to keep coming back to,” adds Livingston. “The brewery itself will truly be a destination, like no other production brewery in the state.”
Baxter Brewing Co is the brainchild of Luke Livingston who moved to Auburn, Maine at the age of seven and now resides in Portland. He is a graduate of Edward Little High School (Auburn, ME) and has a BA in communications and film from Clark University (Worcester, MA). He is the author of BlogAboutBeer.com and a co-founder of the Maine Beer Writers Guild. Joining him is veteran Head Brewer Michael LaCharite.
LaCharite is a world-class Brewmaster and Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) certified judge who brings with him more than 15 years of brewing experience. Before coming to Baxter, LaCharite was a founding partner and brewer for Casco Bay Brewing Co. (Portland, ME) in 1994.
A groundbreaking ceremony commemorating the adaptive re-use of one of Lewiston-Auburn’s most iconic venues and demonstrating innovative construction design is expected within the next couple of weeks.
•Last Updated on ••Monday•, 19 •April• 2010 22:03••
HMB Holdings LLC to buy Anderson Valley Brewing Co
••Wednesday•, 17 •March• 2010 09:02•
Reported on by North Bay Business Journal:
BOONVILLE — Anderson Valley Brewing Co. (link), maker of craft beers Boont Amber Ale and Hop Ottin’ IPA, today announced it reached a definitive purchase agreement with HMB Holdings LLC, new company led by a former beer marketing company executive.
The deal, the terms of which weren’t disclosed, is set to close in April 2010, pending regulatory approval.
HMB plans to retain the current brewing and production facilities while expanding the sales and marketing capabilities, according to today’s announcement.
Anderson Valley Brewing founder Ken Allen started the company in 1987 and became one of the pioneers in craft beer. The Brewers Association trade group almost a year ago recognized his impact on the growth of that niche of the industry, including leading the formation of a predecessor to that group.
“I have enjoyed immensely growing the Anderson Valley Brewery from a start-up operating a modest brew pub in Boonville into a world class regional craft brewery,” he said in a statement. “The people and friends I
have made in the industry will last a lifetime. I want to thank the many customers and brewery fans who have become key parts of the Anderson Valley Brewery family.”
He said he “searched long and hard” for a buyer who would respect the brands.
HMB owner Trey White has 15 years of experience in the alcoholic beverage industry and started the venture “to bringing hand-crafted, small batch produced beer to as many American consumers as possible.” Previously, he was executive vice president at Connecticut-based craft and imported beer marketer United States Beverage. While there he worked with American craft beers including Goose Island, Rogue, Ipswich and SLO as well as imports such as Grolsch from Holland.
“Ken Allen is a true leader within the American craft beer industry,” Mr. White said. “The beers created by Anderson Valley are amongst the premier craft beers available in the world. Ken’s high-quality craftsmanship combined with his respect for the environment is a legacy we will respect and uphold. HMB is thrilled with the opportunity to grow consumer awareness and expand the distribution of the Anderson Valley family of world class award winning craft beers.”
US Craft Beer Sales Up in 2009
Press Release today from the Brewers Association
Boulder, CO (March 8, 2010) - The Brewers Association, the trade association that tabulates production statistics for US breweries, today released 2009 data on the U.S. craft brewing industry. In a year when other brewers saw a slowdown in sales, small and independent craft brewers saw sales dollars increase 10.3 percent and volume increase 7.2 percent over 2008, representing a growth of 613,992 barrels equal to roughly 8.5 million cases.
Overall, U.S. beer sales were down approximately 5 million barrels (31 gallons per U.S. barrel) in 2009.
"Beer lovers continue to find great value and enjoyment in fuller flavored craft beers," said Paul Gatza, director of the Brewers Association. "Americans have an increasing appreciation of craft beers, and the growing number of brewers behind them. They're eager to try the latest seasonal release and to sample a variety of beers from different breweries."
In 2009, craft brewers represented 4.3 percent of volume and 6.9 percent of retail dollars for the total U.S. beer category. With the total U.S. beer industry representing an estimated retail dollar value of $101 billion, the Brewers Association estimates the actual dollar sales figure from craft brewers in 2009 was $7 billion, up from $6.3 billion in 2008.
The total number of U.S. craft brewers grew from 1,485 to 1,542 in 2009, and they produced 9,115,635 barrels, up from 8,501,713 barrels in 2008. Overall U.S. beer sales fell from approximately 210.4 million barrels to 205.8 million barrels.
The 2009 growth and popularity of beer from small and independent breweries did not go unnoticed by industry observers. The National Restaurant Association Chef Survey (see results), for example, cited "locally-produced wine and beer" among its top five overall trends to watch for in 2010. In the alcohol and cocktails category, the organization ranked "locally-produced wine and beer" as its top trend, while "food-beer pairings" came in at number five on the list. For More Information
Find more statistics on the craft brewing industry in the updated 2009 Craft Beer Industry Statistics on the Brewers Association website. A more extensive analysis will be released on April 8, 2010 during the Craft Brewers Conference in Chicago. The Association's full 2009 industry analysis, which shows regional trends and sales by individual brewery, will be published in the May/June 2010 issue of The New Brewer. The Brewers Association also publishes a list of 2009 US Craft Brewing Companies on its website.
The definition of a craft brewer as stated by the Brewers Association: An American craft brewer is small, independent, and traditional. Small: Annual production of beer less than 2 million barrels. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition. Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer. Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewers brands) or has at least 50% of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.
Based in Boulder, Colorado, USA, the Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade and education association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their craft beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. Visit BrewersAssociation.org, to learn more. The association's activities include events and publishing: CraftBeer.com, World Beer Cup®; Great American Beer Festival℠; Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America®; National Homebrewers Conference; National Homebrew Competition; SAVOR: An American Craft Beer and Food Experience; American Craft Beer Week; Zymurgy magazine; The New Brewer magazine; and books on beer and brewing. The Brewers Association has an additional membership division of 19,000+ homebrewers: American Homebrewers Association.
Consumers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com.
OSU Received $1 Million Gift for Hops Breeding and Chemistry Research
Corvallis, Ore. - Oregon State University announced the creation of a new aroma hop breeding program within the OSU Department of Crop and Soil Science. The new breeding program was made possible by an $807,000 gift pledge from Indie Hops, an Oregon-based hop merchant, through the Agricultural Research Foundation, a corporate affiliate of Oregon State University. Shaun Townsend, a U.S. Department of Agriculture hop breeding specialist and courtesy professor at OSU, will lead the new program.
This gift comes in addition to $200,000 from Indie Hops to Thomas Shellhammer, holder of the Nor’Wester Professorship in Fermentation Science in OSU’s Department Food Sciences and Technology, to foster research in new techniques for developing aroma hops and to study aroma hop chemistry. The breeding program will work closely with Shellhammer's lab to study hop essential oil composition and how individual oil components impart the characteristic flavor and aroma to beer.
In total, Indie Hops has committed $1,007,000 through the Agricultural Research Foundation to strengthen existing hop research at OSU, specifically addressing the needs of both the craft beer industry and Oregon aroma hop growers. If initial work suggests that there is a good possibility for development of varieties that are desirable to the craft brewing industry, Indie Hops has reserved the right to enter into a research contract with OSU for additional work, according to Roger Worthington, owner of Indie Hops.
"As the craft beer movement continues to gather speed, the time is right to begin a hop breeding program that is focused on serving the craft brewer's need for new hops that push the flavor and aroma envelope, " Worthington said. "Indie Hops believes that Oregon State has the skill, experience and passion to bring home new hop varieties that will take craft beer to new and loftier heights."
Holding Hop Court Shaun Townsend, PH.D, mesmerizes hop disciples with tales of hop glory at OSU hopyards in Corvallis.
Oregon is one of the premier aroma hop growing regions in the United States and home to a vibrant craft brewing industry.
"When you consider the hop research programs and expertise already in place at OSU and USDA-Agricultural Research Service, and that we are neighbors with both the aroma hop growers and craft beer industry, the potential we have to solve problems affecting this industry is outstanding," Townsend said.
OSU and USDA already collaborate on hop research programs to address disease and insect problems, hop chemistry and its relation to beer quality, and the genetic basis for quality traits. In facilities near the OSU campus, USDA researchers maintain the nation’s largest collection of hops plants and genetic material.
“Oregon State University has a long and strong history of hops related research,” Shellhammer said. “An unrestricted gift of this size will allow OSU to help strengthen the U.S. hops industry as we investigate what factors lead to better aroma hop, the type of hops which are a cornerstone of the American craft brewing movement.”
"We are excited that there is now a world-class hops research and breeding program focused on the vibrant craft brewing market, and it's at a public university in the heart of the USA's premium aroma hops region,” said Indie Hops CEO Jim Solberg. “OSU will be able to build on their considerable base of knowledge and share new findings with researchers from many disciplines."
•Last Updated on ••Wednesday•, 17 •February• 2010 15:57••
As BrewDog and some of the other eccentric craft breweries out there are continually flexing their muscles to own the "World's Strongest Beer" prize, One must ask is this just marketing fluff? Here at Explicit Brewing, we have yet to make a decision having not tried the "Sink the Bismarck", "Tactical Nuclear Penguin", or the "Schorschbock". But we can tell you that, this ride is surely not going to end and if it doesn't, BrewDog and the like will have to start branding themselves as distilleries.
Here are some more details on the story reported on by the BBC.
A controversial Scottish brewery has said it has reclaimed the title of the world's strongest beer from German rivals - with Sink the Bismarck at 41%.
BrewDog, of Fraserburgh, made headlines last year when it unveiled a 32% beer called Tactical Nuclear Penguin.
However, Schorschbrau released the 40% strength Schorschbock.
BrewDog said its newly released 41%, Sink the Bismarck, would cost £40 for a 330ml bottle and would only be sold online at http://www.brewdog.com/.
Alcohol Focus Scotland had previously expressed concerns about BrewDog's approach.
Alcohol Focus Scotland chief executive Jack Law said: "Over the past few months BrewDog have continued to produce stronger and stronger beers.
"By commenting on this irresponsible brewing practice we only serve to add to their marketing and therefore we have no further comment to make."
But BrewDog's managing director James Watt said the company was doing all it could to promote a new and responsible approach to beer drinking.
He added: "Beer has a terrible reputation in Britain, it's ignorant to assume that a beer can't be enjoyed responsibly like a nice dram or a glass of fine wine. A beer like Sink the Bismarck should be enjoyed in spirit-sized measures."
BrewDog was previously branded irresponsible for an 18.2% beer called Tokyo, which it then followed with a low alcohol beer called Nanny State, then Tactical Nuclear Penguin.
•Last Updated on ••Tuesday•, 16 •February• 2010 12:41••
Industry News
