This Week's Brew News - September 14, 2007 -- Beer Info

Brewing up a new business - Floodstage Aleworks(Sept. 13) - Colorado - John Thorngren may be a jack-of-all-trades, but he has two definite fields of expertise: brewing beer and riding a river. The Brighton native is hoping to combine both of these passions in his new business, a venture slated to open in October called Floodstage Aleworks. Complete Story

Kona Brewing Co. Percolates Pipeline Porter Made w/ 100% Kona Coffee(Sept. 13) - Hawaii - Kona Brewing Company, Hawaii's largest brewery, once again has percolated its popular limited release brew Pipeline Porter, set to drop from taps and barrel onto shelves this September. The dark, roasty porter is made with 100% Hawaiian Kona coffee grown at a family-owned coffee farm 15 minutes from the brewery in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii's Big Island. Complete Story

Beer of the Week

"Schell Oktoberfest"

Louisiana Born and Brewed - Dixie & Abita(Sept. 12) - Louisana - Two years after Hurricane Katrina, the century-old Dixie Brewing Co. in New Orleans remains shuttered, a victim of the flooding and of looters who carted off any equipment they could sell for scrap metal. Owners Joe and Kendra Bruno have announced their intention to rebuild, but no reopening date has been set. Complete Story

Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing goes organic(Sept. 12) - California - It isn't easy being green. Ask Chad Brill and Emily Thomas, founders of Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing. The husband and wife team not only converted their love of home-brewed beer into a thriving business on a bare-bones budget, they chose to make their brewery totally organic. Complete Story

Sip of the Week - Magic Hat's Night of the Living Dead 12-Pack(Sept. 11) - Vermont - In Vermont, where Magic Hat released its Night of the Living Dead 12-pack earlier this month, temperatures are more accommodating for the best brew of the sampler -- Jinx, a Scotch Ale seasonal. Jinx offers a slightly smoky aroma -- a preview of its roasted malt flavor that blends nicely with the sweetness of dark caramel and raisins. It's a complex but accessible beer, without the syrupy texture and intense smokiness of some Scotch Ales. Website

Lakefront Pumpkin Lager means it's autumn in Milwaukee(Sept. 11) - Wisconsin - If you spend any amount of time in Milwaukee, chances are you'll imbibe in a Lakefront Brewery beer, whether it's from a Pale Ale quarter barrel at a party or to wash down a piece of fried perch with a Riverwest Stein. Complete Story

Oakville brewery wants you to vote with your throat(Sept. 11) - Canada - An Oakville brewery is having some fun with the provincial election campaign and hoping to get a sales boost at the same time. Trafalgar Brewery on Speers Road, near Fourth Line, is running the Vote With Your Throat beer poll and hoping customers will play along. Complete Story

August Schell taps local talent(Sept. 10) - Minnesota - August Schell Brewing Company hasn't survived and thrived for 147 years by being flashy, or throwing money around. You won't find them using bikinied beach babes or big-bucks sports tie-ins to sell beer. Complete Story

Breweries are popping up all over the nation(Sept. 10) - California - Perhaps never in the nation’s brewing history have so many beers in so many permutations been made. Whether a beer has more flavor or is less filling is just the start of deliberations as people belly up to the bar. Complete Story

New Belgium Brewing's World Famous Cycling Circus "Tour de Fat" Spins into Ft. Collins(Sept. 10) - Colorado - New Belgium's annual Tour de Fat, a ballyhoo of bikes and beer, with environmental sustainability at the very heart of it all, is returning to the Mothership in Ft. Collins, Colorado. The cycling circus spins into town on September 22, 2007. The tour will hit 12 cities this summer, while traveling on B100 biodiesel fuel. Complete Story

Sierra Nevada to be served by solar (Sept. 8) - California - By the end of September the Sierra Nevada Brewery will be almost entirely self-sufficient. Currently the brewery is in the process of "going green," focusing on sustainability. Complete Story

Georgia breweries dry up(Sept. 8) - Georgia - Colorado boasts 44 independent breweries. Georgia, with twice the population, has only three, down from eight a decade ago. New rules governing brewery tours could reduce that number to zero, says Fred Bensch, owner of Sweetwater Brewing in Atlanta, by driving away thirsty crowds and eliminating the brewers' best marketing tool. Complete Story

September Beer Festivals

Mt. Angel Oktoberfest - Mt. Angel, OR - September 13-16
Traditional Biergarten, Weingarten and Alpinegarten; continuous live music on four stages; free Kindergarten with rides and shows; Friday and Saturday night street dancing; more than 60 Alpine food chalets serving ethnic foods; arts and crafts show; "Cruz-n Car" show; RV and tent camping.

Chippewa Falls Oktoberfest - Chippewa Falls, WI - September 14-16
Last year's event featured keg tapping and other traditional Oktoberfest events, games and contests, musical acts and other entertainment. More details about this year's event will be posted on the Oktoberfest website.

New York Brewfest - New York, NY - September 14
More than 300 beers from New York State's 58 breweries, as well as regional and national breweries; festival is sanctioned by the New York State Brewers Association and endorsed by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets; live music by four bands; event benefits the Brewers Association.

Oktoberfest on the River - Minneapolis, MN - September 14-15
Riverside venue; German and Bavarian beers and wines served in the Biergarten; authentic German foods; live music and dancing; free admission.

Brass City Brewfest - Waterbury, CT - September 15
More than 200 different beers, the widest selection of any festival in Connecticut.

Telluride Blues & Brews - Telluride, CO - September 14-16
Outdoor music venue with mountain peaks for a backdrop; beer from 50 breweries during Saturday's Grand Tasting; nationally-renown blues artists (this year's performers to be announced); food and crafts market.

Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest - Big Bear Lake, CA - September 15-October 27
America's highest elevation biergarten;Oktoberfest entertainers; log-sawing and stein-holding contests; the Chicken Dance; performances by authentic dance groups; arts and craft exhibitors; children's activities.

Brew Ha Ha - Davenport, IA - September 15
Hundreds of beers and cheeses; live entertainment; festival site is on the banks of he Mississippi River.

California Brewers Festival - Sacramento, CA - September 15
Microbrewed beers from from all over the United States; professional beer competition, featuring awards in 13 categories; food and live music.

Capital City Invitational Beer Festival - Harrisburg, PA - September 15
Tenth annual event; beer from more than 20 regional breweries; three tasting sessions; a variety of vendors on hand; live entertainment and German-style buffet at all sessions.

Great Lakes Beer Fest - Racine, WI - September 15
Lakeshore venue; more than 250 craft beers from over 100 breweries; complimentary pint to first 1,000 paid admissions; live music on two stages Schooner; homebrew championship; VIP packages available.

Higgins' Festival of Ale - Worcester, MA - September 15
Dozens of beers from many of New England breweries. More details will be posted on the museum's website.

Hops in the City - St. Louis, MO - September 15
More 40 styles of Schlafly beer; barbecue food and local live music; local vendors, offering product samples and demonstrations.

Madison County Hop Fest - Oneida, NY - September 15
Beer from more than 20 craft brewers, and food and beer pairings, with dishes from local restaurants; presentations on hop culture; and music by Quigsy and the Bird, and beer sampling provided by over 20 of the finest craft brewers. Beer dinner the night before the festival at the Ye Olde Landmark Tavern; guided bus tour of Madison County hop gardens, with stops at restaurants for food and beer.

Steel City Big Pour - Pittsburgh, PA - September 15
"Three Hours of Beer, Live Art, and Music"; beer from 20 breweries; live music; food; kegerator art; and "a not so silent auction".