This Week's Brew News - July 15, 2007 -- Beer Info

Sam Adams' Jim Koch: A Brewing Passion For Beer(July 14) - Boston - Do you believe in yourself enough to be rich? Jim Koch certainly did. For the first 35 years of his life, the Koch family history and his future career lay dormant in the attic of his parents' house. Complete Story

Steamworks Brewing Co. launches new, interactive web site(July 14) - Colorado - Designed to emulate the rustic, industrial feel of the two physical brewpubs, as well as showcase the quality products and company ethic, the site was developed by Brian McEachron, director of marketing and sales, in conjunction with Kelly Schell from Sugar Free Design, based out of Denver. Complete Story

Beer of the Week

"SummerBright Ale"

Capital Brewery and Anheuser-Busch Spar Over Title of 'No. 1 Beer'(July 13) - Wisconsin - The craft brewer's six-packs, 12-packs and individual bottles say "America's #1 Rated Brewery." Even receptionists welcome callers with that message. But Anheuser-Busch Cos. disagrees. The world's largest brewer is contesting Capital's attempt to trademark the term, saying it shouldn't have the exclusive right to use it. Complete Story

Beer still No. 1 for Iowans(July 13) - AP - "Make no mistake about it, beer is still king in Iowa," said Lynn Walding, administrator of the division. "The vast majority of consumption is beer. But it's now trending the other way, toward spirits and wine." Complete Story

Cayman Islands Brewery Unleashes Caybrew(July 13) - Beverage World - Cayman Islanders, the wait for a new beer brewed exclusively on the island is officially over. Cayman Islands Brewery (CIB) in March unveiled Caybrew, a premium lager packaged in a green bottle with a blue and red label design. The design features the Silver Thatch Palm, the national tree of the Cayman Islands. Complete Story

Limited edition bottle label for Newcastle Brown(July 12) - UK - Newcastle Brown Ale is celebrating its 80th anniversary with a limited edition bottle label.The new design shows a grey artist’s image of Newcastle’s Millennium Bridge over a silhouette of the Tyne Bridge, inside the brand’s Big Blue Star motif. Complete Story

Molson Coors Brewing Company(July 12) - Beverage World - Two years after the highly publicized merger between US brewer Adolph Coors Co. and Canadian brewer Molson, the management problems anticipated by many analysts—most notably a power struggle between two long-standing brewing families—have yet to come to pass. Complete Story

Lion Brewing Company(July 12) - Beverage World - Charles Darwin could have had the Wilkes-Barre, PA-based Lion Brewing Co., Inc. in mind when he spoke of survival of the fittest. It seems an appropriate phrase to describe the more than 100 years of evolution that has characterized this regional player’s success. Complete Story

Good for what ales you(July 12) - Iowa - The first time David Sansbury brewed a five-gallon batch of his own beer, he threw a party for it and invited all his friends. He wanted to share the first taste. After his guests began filtering into his home, he poured the English pale ale ceremoniously into a glass. Complete Story

Wisconsin beermakers spill brew on docks to protest brewery bill(July 11) - Milwaukee - Some Wisconsin brewers held their own version of the Boston Tea Party on Tuesday, spewing beer suds into the Milwaukee River to protest legislation they say hampers start-up breweries. Complete Story

Barley's gives old Highland Brewing digs a new look(July 11) - North Carolina - A few weeks ago, Barley's Taproom on Biltmore Avenue closed for a few days for some major renovations. The pub itself looks the same as it always did, upstairs and down. But in the basement, the old home of the Highland Brewing, it's a different story. Complete Story

Beer Brewing Exhibit Set Up In Former Church(July 11) - North Dakota - An exhibit about the history of beer brewing in North Dakota has been set up in an unlikely place. The exhibit titled "Get the Barrel Rolling" is on display through August 19 in a former Episcopal church at Camp Hancock, the only place available at the historic site. Complete Story

Golden West Brewing Announces Redesign of Butte Creek Organic Ales and Lagers(July 11) - California - Golden West Brewing Company announced today that it has completed the redesign of its core product line of Butte Creek Organic Ales and Lagers. Complete Story

Flying Dog Brewery Giving Consumers Chance to Win Trip to 2007 GABF(July 10) - Colorado - Flying Dog Brewery is giving away a “dream weekend” for Craft Beer Drinkers everywhere – a trip to the 2007 Great American Beer Festival in the brewery’s hometown of Denver, Colorado. Flying Dog’s “Great American Beer Festival Sweepstakes” will be held through the end of August and the Grand Prize Winner will receive airfare to Denver and hotel accommodations for two, two (2) three-day passes to the festival, and invitations to exclusive Flying Dog activities during GABF weekend. Complete Story

U.S. Craft Beer Now Available in China(July 10) - Denver - The Brewers Association’s mixed container export concept took off in China. In February of 2007, the first ever container of U.S. Craft Beer was exported, and since the first shipment the Chinese have liked what they’re drinking. Complete Story

The Pursuit of Frothy’ness(July 9) - New York - A fact for you: the average American lives within ten miles of a craft brewery. That’s right, only ten itsy, bitsy miles separate us from the artistry and craftsmanship of fermentation. Complete Story

Best Commercial Beers in America(July 9) - Denver - Zymurgy, the journal of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA), announced the results of its annual reader survey of the “Best Commercial Beers in America.” The 2007 winner for the “Best Commercial Beer in America” is Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA. Complete Story and Top 50 Beers

New Belgium Brewing's World Famous Cycling Circus "Tour De Fat" Spins Into Seattle(July 9) - Colorado - The annual Tour de Fat, a ballyhoo of bikes and beer, with environmental sustainability at the very heart of it all, is headed to Seattle once again. The cycling circus spins into the Emerald City on August 11, 2007. The tour will hit 12 cities throughout the summer while traveling on B100 biodiesel fuel. Complete Story

Ale toasts a comeback as sales rise(July 8) - UK - ALE is enjoying a surge in popularity after years in decline. The drink saw an 8.4 per cent sales upturn over the past year, according to research by TNS Worldpanel. Complete Story

Cooper ’s Cave Ale to mark city's 100th(July 7) - New York - The appropriate way to toast the advent of a new century in Glens Falls is to lift a jug of cream ale, a drink popular in the area in the early 1900s, said Neil Akins, chairman of the Glens Falls Centennial Committee. Complete Story

Pittsburgh Brewing takeover delayed by licensing issues(July 7) - Pennsylvannia - Joel Walker, the attorney representing Pittsburgh Brewing Acquisition LLC, says the licensing process has taken longer than anticipated. Among other things, the new owners need a license from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, but that agency hasn't received an application to transfer the old license or issue a new one. Complete Story

Where will Olde Towne rise again?(July 6) - Alabama - Founder Don Alan Hankins said the fire that raced through his brewery early Thursday may have damaged the building beyond repair, but there was a bit of good news Friday. All eight brewing tanks survived and will be retrieved as soon as the building walls are shored up. Complete Story

Development plan for old Olympia brewery falls flat(July 6) - Washington - A commercial real estate company has pulled out of a $45 million deal to buy the old Olympia brewery after finding the complex too decrepit and learning that part of the property is in a flood plain, officials say. Complete Story

Beer Festivals

Portland International Beer Festival - Portland, OR - July 13-15
North Park Blocks in the Pearl, Portland, OR
Outdoor venue, with beer garden atmosphere; more than 100 beers, including hard-to-find styles, from 15 countries; food available.

Beer Festival and Classic Car Show - Santa Barbara, CA - July 14
An educational experience in the world of beer and microbreweries, and a display of collector vehicles; live entertainment, food, raffle and awards ceremony.

Brews n' Blues - Oshkosh, WI - July 14
More than 100 beers from around the region; food and live blues music; event benefits the Christine Anne Center for Domestic Abuse

Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival - Flagstaff AZ - July 14
Sampling "under the cool pines," with beer from more than 50 breweries from Arizona and the West Coast; live music on two stages; VIP sampling tickets available.

Featured Beer of the Week

Breckenridge Brewery - SummerBright Ale
The brewmaster's goal: the perfect ale for summertime quaffing, nothing more. Breck Brew's SummerBright is the result. The craftsman's touch combines white wheat, two row pale and munich malt with the pacific northwest's most intriguing hops to create a bright, clean ale ideal for picnicking, evenings on the screen porch and enjoying the whims of the summer breeze.
Malts: Two-row Pale, White Wheat Malt, Carapils Malt, Munich. Hops: Fuggles, Cascade, Willamette. BTU: 15. Alcohol By Volume: 4.5%

Review from Beer Advocate: It's a rather nice looking beer, not much head though.Smell is pleasant with a faint aroma.Taste is very good, possibly a bit of lemon. Not much aftertaste. A nice beer for hot days. Mouthfeel is good. A good bit of carbonation and goes down very smooth