Archive for March, 2010

Hey Every one,

This Friday morning I will be recording an episode at Flying Dog in Fredrick MD. If any one has anything specific that they would like to ask why not call into our number:(703)375-9355. Leave a voice mail question and I’ll ask it during the podcast.

It seems that ever day I troll for beer news stories, I find out about another small east coast brewery. Beer News had a post the other day about another that I did not know about. Four Friends is based in Charlotte, NC. There must be something in the water in the Carolin’s to inspire so much love for barley. Check out their webpage. It looks like their keeping it simple, and keeping it local. Always good to see. I’ll have to add the to the growing queue of people to have on the show.

This past Saturday was Michael Jackson’s Birthday. I had honestly forgot till I read Mr. Cizauskas post on Saturday morning.

When I first became interested in beer, I was able to get a copy of the beer hunter series. I remember what it was like to watch this gentleman express his passion for beer. It really had an effect on me. I still hope that the series will be released in a DVD format, maybe with some unseen footage. But I urge you to visit the Beer Hunter’s web page, where you will find some of the most eloquent beer writing you are likely to find.

Cheer’s Mr. Jackson, wherever your feet may have carried you.

This week were recording at Lost Dog Café.

If you would like to learn more about Harpoon Brewing, Check out their webpage. Or you can follow them on Twitter.

Have a good Week.

Business week had an interesting article about Berkshire Hathaways purchase of Empire Distributors.  If you don’t know who Warren Buffett is, you should google him. Go ahead i’ll wait.

Impressed. You should be. At the writing of this post his holding company Berkshire Hathaway is trading for 122,090 a share. Yes that is dollars, and no it is not a typo. Mr. Buffett  is an American investor who is known for being right about the companies he purchases. Let’s be clear, were not talking about day trading, or E*trade. This is longterm investment. Whats more is he mentions that Berkshire Hathaway will be looking to buy more high end distributors.

What does that mean for the rest of us. A big fish like Mr. Buffett will often have those that watch his every move and try to emulate it. I would not be surprised if you begin to see slow and steady rise of stock prices associated with beer and wine. There are several stocks associated with craft beer, not the least of which is Massachusetts based Boston Beer co. Why not take some of that extra cash you have and invest it in something you believe in. Don’t have enough on your own. Why not go in with a couple of friends. What else are you going to do with it. Lets be honest, no ones NCAA bracket turned out like we thought.

Most of you have probably already read the article on Beernews.org about Coors brewing a recipe called Batch 19. It’s Coors attempt at another craft style beer. I am no beer expert, and still have only a basic grasp of the distribution system. So I can not weight in on the idea that distributors are using beers like this to gain more tap handles or what not. But since I am currently getting my degree in Business, I will give my two cents. It all comes down to market share. Everyone always talks about how craft brewers are fighting for every bit of the 5% or so market share that they have. What people don’t mention is that the big brewers are fighting for that same 5%, and they are losing. That 5% is made up of people who like a specific type of craft style beer. AB, and Miller/Coors know this, and they are trying to create that type of beer. In the end if by some quirk of nature Coors and the rest create a great beer, will the craft beer movement crumble. Not by a long shot. Those 5% are made up by people who know what they like and who vote with their dollar. I say if the big brewers make a great beer, that would be.. well, great. One more good beer on the shelves. But by no means does that mean the Big two will get all of my money. 9 times out ten I will still be getting a mixed six of east coast brewers. I know that I am looking at this from a consumer point of view, and that craft brewers themselves would like as little competition on the shelves as possible, but I really think that they shouldn’t worry about what the big guys are doing. At most they will lose some of those fringe craft beer drinkers who are only drinking small brewery beer because it is trendy. At best the big guys  may accidentally convert some of they drinkers who are on the fence. Only time will tell. Besides everyone should home brew any ways.

I’d like to thank Chris For taking the time to come on the show.

Wolf Hills Brewing

Their updating their web page right now, so try it in a few weeks.

Here’s their twitter and facebook page for you to check out.

http://twitter.com/wolfhills

http://www.facebook.com/people/Wolf-Hills-Brewing/1673133315

Have a good week.

No beer review this week guys. Between fruitless job hunting, midterms, and half a dozen other personnel emergencies that seem to have appeared in the last two weeks I have not been able to post near as much content as I would have liked. But those are all just excuses. The truth is that life sometimes gets in the way of living. However there will be a new episode tomorrow morning bright and early. So cheer up. While I will not be writing a review this week I will be taking some quiet time and sitting down with Boston beer’s Noble Pilsner. I just started drinking this one recently and I have to say it’s pretty good. I not much of a hop head, but in the last six months I have been drifting more and more to the dark side. This one is like when you stick your foot in a bath tub that is to hot. At first you pull your toe back because it feels like a Vienna sausage that was left in the microwave. But then you ease your foot in and slowly the heat becomes soothing. It’s like this with the hop content of this beer. After the fourth or fifth sip your over looking the intense hope taste, and becoming at ease with the floral nature.

Look at that.

I guess I did have time for a beer review.

I was recently telling a guest that the reason I love beer so much is the fact that beer is an experience.  It’s not a thing, or an object. Beer is a representation of hundreds of years of blood sweat and tears. Every beer is a memory in a glass, and no matter how much life kicks you when your down, no matter how bad things get, no one can take away an experience. No one. I think I will pour myself a beer and go look into my sons room and watch him sleep. I think that will probably be a good way to remind myself what is important.

I love beer.

You’ve probably heard me rant about beer laws and what they mean in the show. This is something I feel very passionate about. I think craft beer drinkers should understand not only what goes into the beer they drink and the process by which it is made, but also the forces at work in the industry that affect that glass of bliss in their hands. To this end the Brewers Association is trying to get people active. Realbeer.com has a good post about H.R. 4278. Long story short, this is a chance for small brewers, which make up 90% of the craft brewing scene, to have a brake on taxes and would in turn stimulate the economy as a whole. I suggest you follow the link above and become more educated. If small brewers fall by the way side as they did 70 years ago, we will have no one to blame this time, but ourselves.

Beernews.org drew my attention to a blog post by World Class Beverages which brought up a point that a lot of people are discussing on the net. Are there to many brewers in the United States? This is an idea. The blog post points out that it is difficult for start up breweries to get the kind of exposure they may need on shelves due to the “clutter” of other craft beers. I think we should look at things historically. At one point there were over 4,000 breweries in the United States(1893). Shortly after that we saw a step decline to around 1,500 just before the 18th amendment was passed. With consolidation after prohibition, at one point, there were just over 80 breweries(1980). Now after an incredible growth in the number of breweries we are back to 1500. I think this is due to equilibrium. I believe that the United States can support this number of breweries and industry will survive due to annual attrition and opening of new breweries. Is there a chance that we could surpass this mark. Maybe, but it would require two things. An increase in market share for craft brewers, and a focus on local or state wide only distribution as seen by breweries like New Glarus. It is important to point out that when America had 4,000 breweries times were very different. Regulation was non existent, and there were no larger than average breweries providing millions of barrels a year. What does the future hold. I don’t think any one knows for certain, but it will be interesting to see.