HOT TRUB:

A newsletter of special interest to brewers,

members of the brewing community, chefs, restaurateurs,

and members of the media that cover the beverage alcohol business.

(TRUB - found at the bottom of the fermenter after fermentation - a little bit of everything.)

 

Vol. 2 No. 22 --- May 31, 2001



Edited by: Peter LaFrance (
peter.lafrance@beerbasics.com) author/journalist, covering the beverage alcohol industry since 1985,

Author of:

Beer Basics (ISBN 0-471-11936-9) and Cooking & Eating with Beer (ISBN 0-471-31879-5).


If you wish to be dropped from this list please respond to this posting to
peter.lafrance@beerbasics.com
 include the word remove in the Subject: line.
===============================================
 

 

What's New With Hot Trub?

After a very supportive relationship with Bill Owens and the folks at American Brewer and Distiller, HOT TRUB has taken on a slightly different editorial point of view.

 

HOT TRUB will present news that has importance to not only professional brewers and brewery owners, but also to food service professionals, and the journalists that cover these professions. HOT TRUB will offer the second level of information left out of the press release.

 

Should you feel I am straying from this mark please let me know.

Have something you would like to share with readers of HOT TRUB?

Send it to peter.lafrance@beerbasics.com
.

 

 

Craft Beer Sales Top 4% Growth in 2000

 Craft beer growth sales were the best in three years in 2000, increasing 4.2% compared to 1.9% growth in 1999. The Institute for Brewing Studies statistics indicates total barrels sold were up 235,000 for the year, to 5.9 million barrels. Craft beer's share of the total U.S. beer market remains at 3%.

 The renewed 2001-style growth, after the all-out boom of the last few years seem based more on solid business than a fad driven market.

 The combined volume of beer sold by microbreweries and regional specialty breweries increased by 210,000 barrels, bringing their total volume to just under 3.8 million barrels.

 Among reporting regional specialty brewers, sales increased by an average of 8.7% per company. Among reporting microbreweries in business for more than two calendar years, sales increased an average 6.9% per company.

 In all, 21 of the top 50 domestic specialty-brewing companies grew by double digits in 2000. The contract-brewing-company segment of the industry also bounced back in 2000 due to a rebound from segment leader Boston Beer Co. The brewer of Samuel Adams beers grew 6% in 2000 with a net gain of 70,000 barrels.

 Top 10 Fastest-Growing Craft Brewers in 2000

Company

2000

% change

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

498,986

    +14

New Belgium Brewing Co.

165,000

    +12

Deschutes Brewery

95,000

    +10

Alaskan Brewing Co.

81,300

    +16

Harpoon Brewery

63,100

    +18

Gordon Biersch Brewing Co.

60,237

    +13

  (packaging brewery only)

 

 

Boulevard Brewing Co.

46,060

    +17

Brooklyn Brewery

35,100

    +10

BridgePort Brewing Co.

30,720

    +17

Hops (74 brewpubs)

27,387

    +18

Gordon Biersch (25 brewpubs)

26,502

    +17

Chart based on statistics from the Institute for Brewing Studies from data provided by brewers.

 

 

 

 

Irish Government Study Shows Irish students drink beer.

 Yesterday the Reuters News Service reported that in Dublin, Ireland,  Higher Education Authority chairman Don Thornhill told a conference that data collected on some campuses indicated students were spending a significant proportion of their time and money on alcohol, newspapers reported on Tuesday.

 

World Health Organization figures showed that Irish consumption of beer, the preferred drink of young men, was 38 gallons per year, almost twice the European Union average.

 

Colm Jordan, a representative of the Union of Students of Ireland, warned against "scapegoating" students and said per capita consumption of alcohol was higher at the bar in the Irish parliament than in student pubs.

 

Old Dominion Brews Georgetown a birthday beer!

Restaurants and bars in Georgetown (D.C.) can now serve Georgetown Anniversary Ale, brewed by Old Dominion Brewing Company in celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the exclusive section of the city.

 

Georgetown Anniversary Ale malts include American Two-Row Pale, Caramel and Black malts with Perle, Williamette, Mount Hood and English Kent Goldings hops.  The beer owes its aromatic bouquet to the Kent Goldings hops.

 

Though intended as a limited edition brew, some folks are hoping that the label catches on and that it will build a niche. "It honors something very important, Georgetown and its 250 years of history, and ... it's a terrific beer!"  Jerry Bailey, president of Old Dominion Brewing Company, says.  "And with all that going for it, it has a chance." 


(Reports from the front would be appreciated...)

 

And You Thought The Brewing Business Was Tough?

(Those who have fallen in battle...)

A list of publications dedicated to beer/brewing that have ceased publication. Gone but not forgotten and I thank all of those mentioned for contributing to an industry that has yet to see its best days.

Brewpub Magazine

Barley Corn

Southern Draft

Brew

Beer, the magazine

Brewing Techniques

Beer Connoisseur,

Drink Magazine,

Spirits and Cocktails,

Breweriana Magazine

 

 

PROMOTIONS - EVENTS - DINNERS

 

 

THE BLOOMSDAY STOUT CHALLENGE

That's right, I think it's about time two things happened around here:
1)  Beer Geeks start acknowledging literature that isn't printed on the neck of a bottle
2)  We all sit down and once and for all decide which draft stout really tastes the best.

The first of those two tasks will be achieved simply by holding this event on Bloomsday, aka, June 16, the day upon which James
Joyce's Ulysses takes place.  Gossamer-thin references to this mighty tome and its Dublin of 1906 will be made throughout the
course of the afternoon, thereby lending a pseudo-intellectual air to the prosaic proceedings.

The second task will be achieved by holding a blind tasting of 6 draft stouts, a vote for their favorite cast by each Geek and
Geekette in attendance counting toward the eventual crowning of one stout as The Best.

Featured stouts:
Murphy's (Cork, Irelad)
Beamish (Cork, Ireland)
O'Hara's (Carlow, Ireland)
Guinness (Dublin, Ireland)
Stoudt's (Adamstown, PA)
Yards (Philadelphia)

The tasting will be completely blind, thereby stripping each beer of any preconceived notion its brewery may have created for itself
through marketing, advertising or the financing of Irish theme pubs.  All stouts will be dispensed by mixed gas.  The beer will be
reasonably priced so that guests may taste all 6 for under $10. 
Plenty of door prizes will be dispensed.  Inexpensive Irish food-style items will also be available.  May the best stout win.

Bloomsday Stout Challenge
Saturday June 16, 2001
No cover, 2pm
McGillin's Olde Ale House
1310 Drury St. in Philadelphia
215-735-5562
http://www.beerphiladelphia.com/events/stout_01.htm

 

 

 

June 2, 2001 - Idaho Falls, Idaho

7th Annual Mountain Brewers' Beer Fest

Location: Sandy Downs
Hours: Noon to 6 pm
Organization: North American Brewers Association
Contact Name: Gregg Smith
Contact Phone: (208) 524-0970

 

July 13 - 15, 2001 - Windsor, Vermont

Harpoon Brewery's Barbecue Championships

Location: Harpoon Brewery
The new England region barbecue championships will be held at the Harpoon Brewery in Windsor, Vt. All weekend event with bands, beer by Harpoon, and homemade barbecue from many different individuals. right on the Connecticut River in scenic Vermont. Lots of fun.

Hours: 11am-5pm
Contact Name: Rose Wilson
Contact Phone: 802-674-5491 ext.227

 

June 14 - 23, 2001 - Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Mondial de la Biere

Location: Jacques-Cartier Pier in the Old Port of Montreal
Hours: From noon to 11p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and from 5p.m. to 11p.m.
Admission: The Day Pass at $10 includes 5 sampling coupons and is valid for one day. The Tasters Pass at $20 includes 10 sampling coupons, 1 taster mug and is equally valid for one day. The Festival pass at $30 includes 20 sampling coupons and 1 taster mug. This pass is valid for 10 days.
Contact Name: Lucie Beaudry
Contact Phone: (514) 722-9640
Contact Email: marois@microtec.net

 

 

 

 

 

HELLO OUT THERE?

 

Now I mean it this time kids!!

 

Last week many of you responded to my request to confirm that you still want to receive this newsletter.

I thank all who responded. Now, as for the rest of you...

 

To remain on the list for HOT TRUB please respond to this newsletter.

 

If I could get a head-count of:

___ beverage professionals,

___ food service professionals,

___ journalists,

___ folks-who-just-follow-their- favorite-beer-on-the-web...

___ don't really know why I'm here...

 

it would help me focus on following stories that will keep you as a subscriber.

 

... and I thank you for your help.

 

Cheers!

 

Peter LaFrance

 

PS: If you have a story to tell --- I am all ears.

-30-