Real Beer Page Mail, The Free Monthly Beer News Digest for the Online
Beer Enthusiast.
* Coors Buys Carling, No. 2 Spot in England
* Freddy Heineken Dies
* Global Beer Consumption Up 2.6%
* Japan Agrees to Hold Off on Happoshu Tax Hike
* Asahi Passes Kirin for Top Spot in Japan
* Danish Owners Put British Regional Brewery on Block
* New Program Lets Consumers Receive Packages in Pubs
* Bottle of Scotch Sells for $21,000
* Web Watch
- What He's Learned About Beer
- Prague Abbey's Brewpub Offers Classic Lagers
- Your Beer of the Year?
* Real Beer Picks
- Brian's Belly
- Hacker Pschorr
- Paulaner
- Schaefer Kegs North American
- Quickie Email Survey
- Brewed Fresh for You
* Miller Brewing Reaches for the SKYY
* Grant's Historic Brewpub Sold
* A-B Tests Low Carb Beer
* Beerdrinker of the Year finalists
* Beer Belly Blocker?
* Beer Guzzling Raccoons
* Prison Beer Run
* Stone Brewing Launches 11-Year Vertical Program
* Editorial: The Year in Beer
***********************************************
COORS BUYS CARLING, NO. 2 SPOT IN ENGLAND
Colorado's Coors Brewing Co. has won the bidding war against Dutch
brewer Heineken for Belgian Interbrew's U.K.-based Carling Brewers.
Coors, the No. 3 brewery in the U.S., acquired Carling for $1.7 billion
from Interbrew. The acquisition surprised analysts who viewed Heineken
as the favorite in the bidding war. Coors' purchase includes four
breweries in England, the U.K.'s top selling beer Carling, together
with Caffrey's, Stones and Worthington brands. The deal gives Coors a
19% share of the U.K. market, second to Scottish and Newcastle. Peter
Coors, chairman of Coors, said the deal presents the brewery giant with
an opportunity to grow market share, profits and cash flow in the U.K.
Rob Klugman, senior vice president of corporate development for Coors,
said the brewery has no plans to market Carling brews more aggressively
in the U.S. Coors is simply trying to get a bigger piece of the British
market. Klugman added that Carling's export business is "relatively
minor."
FREDDY HEINEKEN DIES
The Dutchman credited with turning beer in green bottles into premium
brand, Alfred Henry "Freddy" Heineken, has died. He was 78. Heineken's
family will retain his controlling stake in the world's third largest
brewery. "With the death of Freddy Heineken a unique man left us," said
Heineken chief executive Karel Vuursteen in a written statement.
Heineken started his career at the company in June 1942 as an 18-year-
old. In 1946 he became a sales manager at the company's U.S.
distributor. During his two year-stay in the United States he became
intrigued by marketing and advertising and returned to the company's
headquarters in Europe to build the beer as a premium brand. He
designed the famous green bottle and the logo with the red star and the
graceful black banner bearing the brand name. And it worked.
Michael Jackson comments:
beerhunter.com
Roger Protz comments:
protzonbeer.com
GLOBAL BEER CONSUMPTION UP 2.6%
BEERWeek reports that global beer consumption last year rose 2.6% from
the previous year to 136.1 million kiloliters, the 15th straight year-
on-year increase. The United States ranked No. 1 in consumption
followed by China, Germany, Brazil and Japan, according to Kirin
Brewery Co. The U.S. drank 23.2 million kiloliters, the Chinese
followed closely at 22.0 million kiloliters. The Czech Republic was No.
1 in per capita consumption at 158 liters followed by Ireland at 149
liters. The U.S. was 12th at 82 liters.
JAPAN AGREES TO HOLD OFF ON HAPPOSHU TAX HIKE
Japan's dominant Liberal Democratic Party has agreed not to raise taxes
on cigarettes and low malt happoshu brew in 2002, reversing its earlier
stance. "There was much opposition," said LDP official Sohei Miyashita.
"There were long discussions, with some saying it was unfair to raise
taxes on low malts, and other saying it was wrong to raise taxes on
particular items just for revenue. We decided to postpone." The
decision reverses the panel's earlier statement that low malt beers are
so similar to regular beer that tax rates should also be similar. The
big five Japanese brewers said raising taxes on happoshu would remove
the price savings to customers and kill off the reason for brewing the
low malt product.
ASAHI PASSES KIRIN FOR TOP SPOT IN JAPAN
Asahi Breweries has passed Kirin Brewery in sales, knocking Kirin out
of Japan's top spot for the first time in 28 years. "It is
unfortunate," Kirin President Koichiro Aramaki told a news conference.
"As a group, we have grown in many areas, but in the end our ranking
has fallen." Asahi vaulted to the top spot less than a year after
introducing its "Honnama" happoshu brand last February -- long after
Japan's other brewers began selling the inexpensive low-malt brews.
DANISH OWNERS PUT BRITISH REGIONAL BREWERY ON BLOCK
Robert Cain, a large regional brewery based in Liverpool, England,
faces closure following an announcement by its Danish owners that it
will put the site up for sale as a result of poor financial results.
Bryggerigruppen (Brewery Group) is the second biggest beer-making
company in Denmark after Carlsberg. It has blamed fierce competition in
the British market for its decision to close Cains. The Campaign for
Real ale (CAMRA) is looking at possible ways to save Cains. It would be
essential to buy the Cains name from the Danes and then to look for a
smaller, alternative site on Merseyside. CAMRA will ask the European
Union whether funds might be available to help set up a new brewery.
protzonbeer.com
NEW PROGRAM LETS CONSUMERS RECEIVE PACKAGES IN PUBS
Great Britain's Prince Charles has suggested one way to save England's
endangered village pubs, banks and post offices -- put them all
together -- and in the pub. That's much what Pub Collect has set out to
do by signing up 18,000 pubs for a program that allows customers to
have deliveries sent to the pub, so that they can be collected at a
more convenient time after work. Pub Collect's Richard Burrows said:
"The pub is the obvious collection point for home deliveries. 95
percent of the population live within walking distance of at least one
pub, the pub is open evenings and weekends." He added that, "Twenty-
three percent of home deliveries fail, leading to repeat visits and
added costs. The consumer will benefit from a more convenient service
at no extra cost, and less vans on the road means a healthier
environment."
BOTTLE OF SCOTCH SELLS FOR $21,000
A single bottle of The Macallan 60 Year-Old scotch whiskey sold at
auction at McTear's Auction House in Glasgow, Scotland, brought a
record price of $21,000. The single malt whiskey was originally casked
in 1926 and 40 bottles were filled in 1986.
********************WEB WATCH*******************
WHAT HE'S LEARNED ABOUT BEER
Stephen Beaumont writes, "Inspired by the 'What I've Learned' features
in the January issue of Esquire Magazine, I've decided to forgo the
traditional 'Year in Beer' review this month and instead present a
story modelled after these thoughtful Esquire features." The first
entry: "Contrary to what some people think, there really is such a
thing as bad beer. I've sampled a bunch of them."
worldofbeer.com
PRAGUE ABBEY'S BREWPUB OFFERS CLASSIC LAGERS
The Czechs now have an abbey brewery, their first for more than half a
century. The former brewhouse building at the abbey of Strahov, close
to Prague Castle, has been brought back to life. Michael Jackson is on
the scene.
beerhunter.com
YOUR BEER OF THE YEAR?
What was your favorite or the most interesting beer you drank in 2001?
Real Beer readers cast their votes for the likes of Dogfish Head Midas
Touch, North Coast Old Stock Ale and plenty of others.
realbeer.com
*****************REAL BEER PICKS***************
BRIAN'S BELLY: EAT, DRINK & BE HEAVY
Brian's Belly is a beer and recipe website for the man who likes to
sit, drink and eat. They serve cold beer, hot recipes and great food --
all with a biting attitude. As one might expect form a cornucopia of
meaty, cheesy goodness, they have comprehensive articles that will
teach you a thing or two, witty brew reviews for when you're not sure
what to drink next, and an extensive guide for hard to find beer
products.
briansbelly.com
HACKER-PSCHORR
The Hacker-Pschorr brewery was established in Munich in 1417. Carrying
on the centuries old traditions of the art of brewing is the single
most important feature that allows Hacker-Pschorr to be acclaimed as
"World Class" beer. Styles of Hacker-Pschorr available are: Weisse,
Weisse Dark, Weisse Kristall, Munich, and Original Oktoberfest.
hackerpschorr.com
PAULANER
Brewed in Munich, Germany, since 1634, Paulaner is the originator of
many styles of specialty beer currently gaining in popularity. Strictly
adhering to the Reinheitsgebot Purity Law of 1516, Paulaner contains no
preservatives or additives. Paulaner styles include: Hefe-Weizen,
Munich Lager, Premium Pils, Salvator, Oktoberfest and ThomasBrau N/A.
paulaner.com
SCHAEFER KEGS NORTH AMERICA
We offer a complete line of stainless steel, polyurethane & poly
propylene kegs from 5 liter to 1/2 bbl (58.6 liters). Keggy, the
complete dispensing system with co2 tank, regulator and keg all built
in. We also offer backpacks, keg coolers, keg closures & keg tracking
technology.
schaeferkegs.com
**********QUICKIE EMAIL SURVEY*****************
Thanks to all who have been replying to our Quickie Surveys. We draw
one winner each month for a prize, which this month is a Real Beer
brass bottle opener. Mike McCormick was the winner in November.
LAST MONTH'S QUESTION:
How do you feel about organically produced beer? It turns out that 41%
of those who answered have never tried organic beer. Only 5% answered
they drink organic beer exclusively and but 25% buy it even
occasionally.
THIS MONTH'S QUESTION
How many different beers (three bottles of Sierra Nevada count as one,
for instance) are there in your house right now?
vote.none@realbeer.com
vote.onetothree@realbeer.com
vote.fourtoseven@realbeer.com
vote.sevenormore@realbeer.com
***********BREWED FRESH FOR YOU***************
BREW PREMIUM QUALITY BEERS AT HOME!
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Brew everything from Pale Ale to Honey Brown to Porter to Altbier with
Mr. Beer - America's No. 1 Selling Home Microbrewery. Complete kits
start at just $29.99. Visit the secure store today at
store.yahoo.com
C&H CLUBS OFFERS GOURMET MONTHLY CLUBS
Microbrewed Beer, International Wine, Gourmet Chocolate, International
Cheese, Premium Cigar and Fresh Cut Flower of the Month Clubs! You can
mix and match the clubs in any combination.
monthlyclubs.com
NEW BELGIUM BREWING CO.
We're happy to announce the return of Biere De Mars, a bottle-
conditioned ale spiced with lemon verbena and orange peel. Brewed with
barley, whole oats and wheat malt, the beer is inoculated with a wild
Brettanomyces yeast creating a pleasantly sour finish. Available
through April.
newbelgium.com
***********************************************
MILLER BREWING REACHES FOR THE SKYY
Miller Brewing Co. has confirmed it will introduce a malt beverage by
early March, joining the growing market for alternative alcohol drinks
targeted at 20-something consumers. Miller said it would partner with
Skyy Spirits of San Francisco to launch SKYY Blue, a malt beverage with
citrus flavor and SKYY vodka. It's the Milwaukee-based brewer's first
national entry into the "malternative" market, which includes Smirnoff
Ice, Mike's Hard Lemonade and Zima. Miller will begin brewing SKYY Blue
in February and the product is expected to be available at national
retail outlets by early March, said Miller spokesman Scott Bussen.
The debut will be Miller's biggest product launch in five years since
the failed Miller Beer. Bussen said the company has committed $40
million in total marketing support for the new brand for 2002. SKYY
Blue will be brewed with malt grains and fits the guidelines for a malt
beverage even though it includes vodka, Bussen said. The Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms allows malt beverages to include a
secondary alcohol as flavoring as long as the beverage does not exceed
6% alcohol by volume.
GRANT'S HISTORIC BREWPUB SOLD
Atlanta-based Black Bear Brewing has purchased the historic Yakima
Brewing and Malting, Co., of Yakima, Wash., from Stimson Lane Vineyards
& Estates in Woodinville, Wash. Included in the deal was Grant's
Brewpub, the first modern brewpub to open in the United States. Yakima
Brewing was founded in 1982 by Bert Grant in the heart of the nation's
premier hops-growing region. Grant died last year at the age of 73.
"Yakima Brewing is going to be the cornerstone of our plans to assemble
a network of breweries across the United States," said Paul Brown,
president of Black Bear. Black Bear plans to continue producing Yakima
Brewing's line of Bert Grant's specialty beers.
A-B TESTS LOW CARB BEER
Anheuser-Busch has begun testing a new low-carbohydrate beer. Michelob
Ultra, with 2.9 grams of carbs compared to 3.2 in a can of Miller
Light, is being marketed in Tucson, Ariz.; Denver; and Fort Myers, Fla.
"That is a hoot," said nutritionist Stephanie Smith when she heard of
the beer. "But beer is not that high in carbohydrates anyway. It's
mostly alcohol and water." In fact, beer contains no fat. Newspaper and
billboard advertisements promote the launch. "We pride ourselves on
watching consumer trends," said Anheuser-Busch senior brand manager
Anne Suppinger. She said extensive research shows a surprising number
of beer drinkers watch their carbs. Both Michelob Ultra and Miller Lite
contain 96 ounces in a 12-ounce serving. Smith, a spokeswoman for the
Colorado Dietetic Association, said adults consume between 250 and 300
grams of carbohydrates a day, making Ultra's 0.3-gram edge over Miller
minuscule.
BEERDRINKER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Tom Ciccateri, whose New Mexico Virtual Brewpub is part of the Real
Beer Network, is one of three finalists for Wynkoop Brewing Co.'s
Beerdrinker of the Year. Ciccateri was also one of three finalists last
year, when Cornelia Corey of North Carolina became the first woman to
win the award. This is the fifth year for the competition. Other
finalists for the 2002 competition on Feb. 2 in Denver, are John
Marioni of Bothell, Wash., and Gary Steinel of White Plains, N.Y.
realbeer.com
BEER BELLY BLOCKER?
Boston scientists have found information that could lead to a way to
reduce the tendency of fat cells to cluster around the abdomen and form
a beer belly. Researchers at Beth Israel Deconess Medical Center
identified a specific enzyme that triggers such activity, and mice that
have excessive amounts of the enzyme develop beer bellies. If drug
companies can create medication to turn off the enzyme then it would
help men reduce their paunch. The benefits go beyond making mean look
better. The kind of fat that sticks around the abdomen, creating a beer
belly, is the kind most associated with a higher risk of diabetes, high
blood pressure, heart disease and certain forms of cancer, researchers
say.
BEER GUZZLING RACCOONS
Homeowners in Fort Myers, Fla., say that raccoons are breaking into
their homes, eating their bread and drinking their beer. At least four
residents have complained to Fort Myers animal control officers about
the break-ins. One woman says they ate two loaves of bread and spilled
beer on her floor when they broke into her home. Marianne Kinzer said:
"I'd like to teach them to do laundry." Residents think the raccoons
used to live on a 56-acre former farm where builders have started
construction work. "Ever since then these animals have nowhere to go,
of course, and they're coming into our homes," Kinzer added.
PRISON BEER RUN
A Vermont man apparently left a prison work camp, bought beer and
cigarettes and then returned to jail. Authorities says that Mark Delude
of South Barre crawled under the fence that surrounds the St. Johnsbury
work camp, walked a mile and a half to the nearest convenience store,
bought a 24-pack of beer and a carton of cigarettes and then returned.
Vermont State Police Lt. George Hacking, a 21-year veteran, said it was
the first case of its kind he'd ever investigated. "I don't remember
trying to catch people trying to break back in," Hacking said. "But
nothing surprises me."
STONE BREWING LAUNCHES 11-YEAR VERTICAL PROGRAM
Stone Brewing Co. will release the first of eleven Stone Vertical Epic
Ales On Feb. 2. Each of the eleven Vertical Epic ales will be released
one year, one month and one day apart. In other words, next year's
edition will be released March 3, 2003, followed by April 4, 2004, all
the way to Dec. 12, 2012. Each will be brewed in a style from the
previous year, and will be bottle-conditioned so that they may mature
while cellared. The beers will be fashioned to be enjoyed together in a
vertical tasting "that promises to provide the beer connoisseur with
the flavor equivalent of a Mozart Symphony with multiple movements."
The first edition is limited to a scant 300 cases of 22-ounce bottles.
************************************************
EDITORIAL: THE YEAR IN BEER
Nobody makes lists of the most important stories of the year, whether
the subject is golf or the financial markets, without mentioning the
events of September 11, the aftermath and the effects. Same with beer.
Even when the accountants close the books on 2001, it may not yet be
clear how the effects of terrorism changed brewery balance sheets, as
opposed to other factors -- most notably a slowing economy. There's no
doubt, though, how "big" it was. For one thing, many members of the
beer industry were gathered in Las Vegas for a convention, and some
even went out and bought new cars so they could get home.
Make no mistake, we'll monitor the long-term effects, but in the short
term we know that industry members gave us reason to feel good even at
a time when we felt horrible. That made it our top story of the year.
Across the nation, breweries, brewpubs, brewers themselves,
wholesalers, distributors, retailers, beer drinkers and others stepped
up to help the victims of the terrorist attacks.
Most notably the Pennsylvania Brewers Guild "Unity Night" spread across
the country. On Oct. 11, breweries and brewpubs across the country
donated proceeds from sales to charity -- in most cases, the United
Way's September 11 Fund. There were plenty of other benefits as well.
The other top stories? We're biased, of course, but at Real Beer the
biggest one was that we added two beer-of-the-month clubs along with
Michael Jackson's Real Beer Tour, the Great Beers of Belgium and the
American Brewpub Club. Quite honestly, no other store can deliver the
variety and quality of these beers to your door in guaranteed fresh
condition.
For those who don't think that one is one of the top beer stories of
the year (don't worry, that is typed while smiling), here briefly are
nine more of significance (in no particular order):
- It's crowded at the top. To begin the year, British authorities
blocked Interbrew's acquisition of Bass Breweries. Eventually the deal
went through, with the provision that Interbrew would sell Carling --
which it did, to U.S. brewer Coors. Later in the year, Interbrew
acquired Beck's, the top-selling German export. While Interbrew was the
most active, all the world's other large brewers took stakes in smaller
breweries around the world, dealt with lawsuits, fought taxes, raised
prices and did all the other things big brewers do. (We could do a list
of 10, or 20, of the top business stories, but that really wouldn't be
much fun.)
- Czechvar comes to the United States. After quietly testing the market
in California late in 2000, Czech brewery Budejovicky Budvar made it
official that it is selling beer in the United States. The beer called
Budweiser Budvar in much of the rest of the world is known as Czechvar
here because Anheuser-Busch owns the U.S. trademark.
- Good news in the South, and bad. Florida ended a law that limited
beer and other malt beverage containers to 8, 12, 16 or 32 ounces, thus
broadening the number of beers available. The old law kept many imports
and American microbrewed beers out of the state because they are sold
in containers, often metric, of other sizes. In Georgia, the efforts to
raise the alcohol limit on what is called "beer" above 6% alcohol by
volume failed again, thus keeping out many imports and U.S. craft
beers.
- Ireland cancels St. Patrick's Day celebrations. The Irish Republic
took the drastic action because of concern about the spread of foot-
and-mouth disease. Usually, more than a million Irish pause in their
penitence during Lent in favor of four days (March 16-19) of merriment
and take to the streets of Dublin to honor St. Patrick with a festival
of music, street theater, and parades and plenty of stout.
- Pabst Brewing quits brewing. Pabst Brewing closed its last two
breweries, those in San Antonio and Lehigh Valley (Pennsylvania)
breweries; and later sold the Lehigh plant to Guinness North America.
Although Pabst is the nation's fourth largest "brewer," all its beer is
contract brewed by Miller Brewing.
- Brewing giants leave us. All deaths are losses -- Bristol Brewing Co.
head brewer Ralph "Chandler" Bruning Jr. in a racing accident in June
pops immediately to mind. However, the industry will particularly miss
this Big Three: Roger Briess of Briess Malting, F.X. Matt of Matt
Brewing and Bert Grant of Yakima Brewing & Malting.
- On the health front. There were studies that showed drinking beer was
good for your brain, your heart, your eyes, your stomach, your mental
well being, etc. There was another that noted women are better off
sticking to beer rather than wine or spirits, though it was not related
to the report from a British student who claimed her breasts went up
three cup sizes after she started drinking pints of beer instead of
wine. The 21-year-old Manchester University student said she went from
a 34B bust to 36DD within weeks, but did not put on weight.
- Alcohol and kids. A study by the University of Michigan's Institute
for Social Research concludes that alcohol use among American
adolescents continues to decline. In Belgium, some schoolchildren in
the Limburg province of Belgium have given the choice of low alcohol
beer for their lunch. The beer, 2-2.5% brews known in Belgium as
tafelbier or "table beer," was first made available to students last
spring in a pilot project instigated by the local beer appreciation
group, De Limburgse Biervrienden. More than 80% of the children who
took part in the scheme preferred the beer to soda pop.
- Here come the malternatives. Guinness North America bought Pabst's
Pennsylvania brewery (above) in order to expand production of Smirnoff
Ice malt beverage. In the 11 months after being launched in the United
States at the beginning of 2001 year, Smirnoff Ice captured 1.8% of the
200 million barrel annual beer market. It's the leading drink in a
category called "malternatives" -- alternatives to malt drinks such as
beer. Not surprisingly, Miller Brewing began 2002 by announcing the
launch of SKYY Blue, a malt beverage with citrus flavor and SKYY vodka.
- It doesn't take a tragedy. This wasn't a story that got much
attention, and it was published before Sept. 11. Since 1977, Bob
Wawrzeniak's donations of tips at Bob's Bar in Glassport, Pa., to the
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Free Care Fund have added up to more
than $100,000. "This is all due to the people that walk in that door,"
Wawrzeniak said, referring to the 15 or 20 regular customers who
contribute most of the money. "There's no hype. They know what I do and
they help."
Stories like that are the ones we hope to find more of in 2002.
************************************************
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