'Rogue' offers pleasant taste with 'Black Lager'(March 25) - If you didn't notice, Chatoe Rogue is simply the name of a new series of "Gro-your-own" or homegrown beers from Rogue Ales. By homegrown, I mean that the brewers at Rogue actually grew the hops (referred to as Independent and Revolution hops) and malts (known as Risk malt) themselves in their very own barley farm and hop yard.
 
Michigan's breweries hopping(March 25) - Last year was a big one for the U.S. craft brewing industry. According to the Brewers Association, more breweries were in operation in 2009 than before Prohibition, when the manufacturing of alcoholic drinks was at a high. Michigan has a good share of that market, too. In 2008, our state's brewing industry generated nearly $5 billion. The same year, we ranked 15th in the country in the number of breweries per capita.  
 

Despite snowstorm damage, Rahr & Sons Brewing isn't losing its cool(March 24) - The damage at Rahr & Sons Brewing Co., Fort Worth's microbrewery, has turned out somewhat worse than initially thought. The bottling line was broken beyond repair, and a huge tank full of Rahr Blonde, a German-style Helles lager, was lost when the roof collapsed during the Feb. 12 snowstorm. The good news is that the cooling system has been repaired, which will keep the remaining tanks of beer safe, founding partner Fritz Rahr said.
 
Schell's announces Grain Belt Nordeast brew(March 24) - August Schell Brewing Co. will release a new year-round flavor of Grain Belt beer that’s named for the historic Minneapolis neighborhood where Grain Belt was founded. Grain Belt Nordeast will debut April 7 at 8 a.m. at Surdyk’s Liquor Store in Northeast Minneapolis.  
 
Flying Fish Brewing embraces the Garden State(March 24) - Arguably the state's most popular craft brewery, Flying Fish about a year ago launched its Exit Series, a limited-edition rollout of craft beers, each brewed in honor of one of the New Jersey Turnpike's 18 exits. The series apparently is proceeding at a relaxed pace and in no particular order, as Exit 4 (American Trippel, this week's review), Exit 1 (Bayshore Oyster Stout) and Exit 11 (Hoppy American Wheat) were followed by Exit 16 E/W (Wild Rice Double IPA), which debuted last week.  
 
Hidden Treasures: Boulevard Brewery tour(March 24) - Should Kansas City ever fall victim to a natural disaster, one of the safest places you could be is in one of the tank rooms at the Boulevard Brewing Company. And it is not because Mother Nature has an affinity for Pale Ale. It's because the tank rooms were built for strength (there is a lot of valuable beer pulsing through there), enough to withstand an earthquake and a tornado at the same time. This is just one of the fun facts you learn on the tour of the Boulevard Brewery. 
       
Tallgrass Brewing Company - Emerging Business of the Year(March 23) - The idea for Tallgrass Brewing Co. was born in early 2006 when Jeff’s wife Tricia asked him what he would do with his life if he could do anything. Without hesitation, he explained how he would do what he loved and open his own microbrewery.
 
Dogfish Head proves small business success(March 22) - Sam Calagione, president and founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales, opened the smallest commercial brewery in the U.S., and is now purposely slowing down the growth of his company. "We are trying to bring our story back inside the bottle," Calagione said. Complete Story
 
American Craft Beer Fest - Tickets are on-sale now!(March 22) - Join BeerAdvocate & Harpoon Brewery for the 3rd annual American Craft Beer Fest featuring over 325 craft beers from over 80 American brewers. Held at the Seaport World Trader Center Boston, ACBF is the largest celebration of American craft beer on the east coast. June 18-19.

Gordon Biersch Debuts Maibock(March 21) - Gordon Biersch Brewing released the first brew of the seasonal "Maibock" beer. Literally translated from German, Maibock means "the beer of May," and is one of Gordon Biersch's four seasonal brews. The beer achieves a richy, malty flavor from dark-roasted caramel malt, and was originally brewed in Einbeck, Germany during the 14th century.
 
Michelob Brewing Unveils Ginger Wheat as Part of New Wheat Sampler Pack(March 19) - Building from last year’s success, Michelob Brewing Co. returns with a sampler pack featuring four refreshing wheat beers for the spring and summer seasons. Michelob Ginger Wheat is the newest beer in the brewer’s growing collection of styles and is available exclusively in the seasonal sampler pack.
 
Support your local Brewery - United States HB 4278 - For small brewers brewing less than 6 million barrels annually, this legislation would cut the small brewer tax rate in half, to $3.50/barrel on the first 60,000 barrels, and reduce the upper tax rate from $18/barrel to $16/barrel on beer production above 60,000 barrels up to 2 million barrels.
 
Anderson Valley Brewing Company sold after 22 years(March18) - The North Bay Business Journal broke the news today that the Anderson Valley Brewing Company, now in its 23rd year, was sold to HMB Holdings, LLC. A year ago I interviewed AVBC founder Ken Allen regarding family-owned breweries and he revealed he was already in discussions to unload his brewery.
        
Harbor Brewing Company, Inc. Hires Design-Build Firm for Proposed New Brewery(March 18) - Harbor Brewing announced that it has executed an agreement with Bread Loaf) for the design and construction of its proposed new brewery. The agreement calls for the Vermont-based firm to assist the Company throughout each phase of the process including planning, design, preconstruction and construction.