HOT TRUB
May 3, 2001
Edited by: Peter LaFrance (peter.lafrance@beerbasics.com)
Presented by: American Brewer
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Vol. 2 No. 18
This news letter will post items of special interest to brewers, members of the
brewing and distilling community, and members of the media that cover the
beverage alcohol business.
Should you wish to contribute in any way to this venture please contact Peter
LaFrance at peter.lafrance@beerbasics.com
If you wish
to be dropped from this list please respond to this posting to peter.lafrance@beerbasics.com and include the word
remove in the Subject: line.
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This morning, according to a report from Monica Dobie at JustDrinks.com, Sleeman Breweries of Canada has signed a five-year deal with South African Breweries (SAB) to allow Sleeman to sell, market and distribute Pilsner Urquell brand in Canada.
According to the report, “John Sleeman, chairman of Sleeman Breweries commented on the deal: "We're really excited about the deal because it means continued growth for the company and that's what our shareholders want. And it's fun taking away market share from big companies like Molson and Labatt," Sleeman said.”
The same source quoted, “Mark Luce, managing director for Pilsner Urquell International said: "We are excited about the relationship with Sleeman and their ability to improve representation and distribution for Pilsner Urquell throughout Canada."”
In a recent report from Hans Greimel, Associated Press reporter in Frankfort, Germany, The German courts are still having trouble saying “bud.”
According to the report, “``It's very difficult, Bud, Bit, Bit or Bud,'' said Wolfgang Krueger, spokesman for the Federal Court of Justice, which ruled on St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch's request to market its Budweiser beer under two new brand names in Germany.”
The reason, according to the report, “The German court ruled against ``American Bud,'' saying that it would definitely cause confusion with Bitburger, which uses the slogan, ``Bitte ein Bit,'' or ``A Bit, please.''”
Greimel reports that, “The name ``Anheuser-Busch Bud'' would not confuse German beer drinkers, the court said, and it referred final judgment on that name back to a lower court. ``We are optimistic that the Hamburg court will eventually clear the way for 'Anheuser-Busch Bud,''' said Stephen J. Burrows, chief executive of Anheuser-Busch International. ``We continue to believe both names in the case would not lead to confusion with 'Bit.''' “
Reuters reporter Carmel Crimmins, filed a recent story from Detmold, Germany on Friedrike Strate, the 36-year-old brewer at her family brewery in that city.
The family has been brewing in Detmold, a city in the heart of the Teutoburger Forest, for nearly 150 years. Friederike and her sister Simone are the fifth generation to take up what is still a predominantly male profession. "When we first took over after our father's death I think people were interested to see how much we knew. But they take us seriously now because we've proved successful," said Simone.
For the last seven years, under the watchful eye of their mother, they have run the brewery and sales of their flagship Detmold pils, a light sweet beer, and the amber-colored Detmold Landbeer, have grown eight time compared to a five percent drop in turnover industry-wide.
Friederike Strate, the elder of two sisters, is Germany's first female beer meister. According to the report, “At the age of 15, when most of her peers were struggling to get served alcohol in the local Kneipe (pub), Friederike had already started to learn the brewer's trade. Four years later she was Germany's youngest beer master, taking half the time of her 64 male classmates to qualify.”
The story goes on to report that, “The Strate women don't just live from beer, they live with it. Home is in the brewery, a grandiose red-brick building complete with a tower and two gigantic copper vats of boiling malt in the main hallway.”
Yesterday, Associated Press reporter Mike Schneider, filed that, “Opening statements began Wednesday in the trial pitting the Maris family against St. Louis-based Anheuser Busch. The Marises are accusing the company of defaming the family by making up bad evaluations about their distributorship, and breach of contract for wrongfully taking away their business in 1997. They are seeking $1.3 billion in damages.”
The trial in Alachua County is expected to last two months. The family previously lost a related lawsuit in federal court.
(Wanna pick that jury after the recent hype over the HBO/Billy
Crystal movie?)
FULL SAIL AMBER ALE WINS GOLD MEDAL AT WORLD BEER CHAMPIONSHIPS 2001
Full Sail Brewing Company was awarded a Gold Medal for its Amber Ale in the World Beer Championships.
Full Sail Amber is malty-sweet beer with an amber hue, full body and spicy floral hop finish. It is brewed using 2 Row Pale, Crystal and Chocolate Malts and it is hopped with Mt. Hood and Cascade hops. ABV 6.0% ABW 4.8%.
The World Beer Championships are conducted by the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI). The BTI is an independent full-time, professional review service located in Chicago, Illinois.
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