HOT TRUB/BEER BASICS

HOT TRUB/BEER BASICS.COM

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.

Vol. 2 No. 25 --- June 27, 2001

Edited by: Peter LaFrance peter.lafrance@beerbasics.com

Journalist, covering the beverage alcohol industry since 1985.

Author of:

Beer Basics (ISBN 0-471-11936-9)

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.

(The subscriber list is the sole property of the publisher and will not be sold, given or otherwise distributed.)
===============================================

Greetings,

Welcome to Beer Basics.com ...

LATEST NEWS:

At least three breaking stories affecting the beer industry, with probable repercussions in the food service industry.

WHAT'S BREWING IN THE NATION'S NEWSPAPERS?:

A look at how beverage alcohol is reported on in the newspapers of the United States, and occasionally Canada and abroad.

ASK THE PRESS:

This is a page that reports the answers I receive when I ask members of the media a question that I feel has to be asked. All responses are presented as they are sent in response. (Edited for spelling, sometimes.)

PERFECT PAIRINGS:

This is a page of responses to the question; "What is the perfect pairing of seasonal menu and beer?" Each week I will ask at least 50 chefs, brewers and restaurateurs the preceding question. Answers will be posted as in Ask The Press.

PROMOTIONS - EVENTS - DINNERS - From this issue through one calendar year. (All are invited to send events to be included - date, event name, brief description, contact name & phone/web address.)

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: A list of "beer" publications that have ceased publication.

I invite your comment and criticism.

Cheers!

Peter LaFrance

LATEST BREWERS NEWS:

EU Grants Exclusive Beer Rights

In an Associated Press report from Berlin, Germany, we learn that "Reinheitsgebot" has been recognized by the EU authorities in Brussels. The EU appellation ``Bavarian Beer'' has been awarded to breweries in Germany's southern state. They have the exclusive rights to use the label to designate beers from that area. The designation was awarded after nine years of negotiations.

According to the report, "Under the world's oldest food purity law, dating back to 1516, only hops, malt, yeast and water are allowed to be used to brew beer in Bavaria, giving it a distinctive quality and flavor."

Further reports on just what was involved in getting this "appellation" awarded will make interesting research. Stay tuned...

Bass Gone

Mark Bendeich, Reuters, reported yesterday that Bass Plc, now the world's second-largest hotels group, announced that it was changing its name to Six Continents Plc to reflect its global reach and the sale of its Bass beer business.

Bass Plc, sold its brewing operations last August to the Belgian Interbrew for $3.3 billion. Bass agreed under the deal to change its name by August 2002.

Bass is now firmly focused on hotels and pubs. It owns, operates or franchises more than 3,200 hotels and over 500,000 guest rooms around the world. Its hotel chains include Inter-Continental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn, and it also runs well-known UK pub and bar chains such as All Bar One.

The new Six Continents Plc chief executive Tim Clark said implementation costs of the new name -- such as printing new stationery and making new signs -- would only run into the "low single millions."

What’s Brewing in the Media?

"WON'T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN!"

Moe Sizlack - Owner of Moe's - Co-star of "The Simpson's"

ASK THE PRESS: (Edited for spelling, sometimes. Essential response is unedited.)

This week I asked members of the "beer media" the following question:

"Which segment of the brewing industry will show major growth over the next twelve months?"

From: Bill Metzger - Brewingnews.com

The Craft Brewing segment. As the quality of the beers continues to improve, so will the numbers of people drinking them.
Bill

This week I asked the members of the "consumer media" the following question:

"How has "craft brewing" affected the restaurant industry?"

Kim McCallion - Yankee Food Service

"Craft brewing has created a more sophisticated class of beer drinking restaurant patrons looking to pair their favorite brews with more than just
peanuts and pretzels.While restaurant menus and beer lists have struggled to keep up with the public's increasingly beer-savvy palate, the craft brewing phenomenon also spawned a new dining venue-- the brew pub. What's on the horizon? Perhaps wine will come back in vogue in a wave of anti-beer backlash.

Don Russell - journalist / JoeSixPack - Philadelphia Daily News - PA

Subject: RE: HOT TRUB/BEER BASICS POLL

1. Keeps brewers out of trouble.
2. Forces waiters to pronounce "hefe-weizen" without laughing.
3. Makes "wood-oven pizza" sound like gourmet dining.
4. Finally, there's something other than Budcoorsmiller on the menu.

James Roberts - journalist - Anchorage Press - AK

Craft brewing has redefined the restaurant industry since its renaissance in the mid 1980's. An interesting dichotomy has surfaced as craft beer became a commodity and began to have allure to customers looking for something local and unique, either in their home towns or while traveling.

Some restaurants have gone as far as adding brew pubs for that unique local flavor and others have simply expanded their wares to include a wider beer listing with craft beer as the centerpiece of the offerings.

Craft beer has given restaurants an additional product niche to attract business and demonstrate their commitment to offering quality products and services.

The effect has been entirely positive. On the flip side, in the case of brewpubs, some entities have entered the market for the wrong reason. They see the brewpub attachment as simply a business tool and take no personal interest in the product that their organization produces. This can have interesting effect, depending on the relationship between the brewery and restaurant and the creativity of the brewer.

In Anchorage, Alaska, there is a good example. Cusacks Brewpub was added to the Northern Lights Inn, a popular mid-town hotel with a small pub and restaurant on premises. The ownership takes a distinct hands-off and disinterested approach to what the brewery produces. The short string of brewers that have piloted the kettles in the brewery have used this to their advantage and brew pretty much what they want to beyond the flagship seven-or-so beers that are standard in the establishment. The result is a never-ending flow of diversity and creativity including a fascinating line of Belgian-style ales, double, tripel and quad bocks and some rarely brewed beers that the serious beer aficionado can always watch for. No matter what, craft brewing in the United States has positively shaped the restaurant industry, bringing diversity and choice to customers and an attractive reason for them to visit and bring higher profits to the restaurateur.

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PERFECT PAIRINGS:

Cory Hill - restaurateur - NYC

My favorite combo has to be Summer grilling and Brown Ale. First you start with a Dry hoppy Lager like Jever, and you start the fire.
While you get everything ready and some one serves the appetizers, usually chips and dips, try a refreshing fruit lambic, it's an acceptable substitute
for fruit salad. then throw the steaks (tube or otherwise) on the grill. It is important for this type of grilling that the grill is hot so you get good
grill marks. The bitter sweet char complements the brown ale nicely. You may want to open a bottle or two while you are waiting just to be sure the beer
is fresh.

Cory

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Deven Black - restaurateur - NYC (North Star - R.I.P.)

Peter --

I'm taking "casual" in your question to mean incidental. After all, when I go to a restaurant and drink beer it is often because of the beer
selection that I chose that particular restaurant, and there is nothing casual about it. Most of my "casual" beer drinking is at the homes of
friends, most of whom have eclectic -- if not eccentric -- tastes in music, food, and beer. Recently reaching into a friend's cooler as Los Super
Seven blared on the stereo, I blindly pulled out a bottle of Hoegaarden, which went very well with the wasabi crusted loin of pork we were eating.

All the best,

Deven

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Sam Barbieri - restaurateur - NYC - Waterfront Ale House(s)

Dear Peter

I am asked this question daily. I usually answer it with a question. Am I sitting in front of a fireplace or on a hot sunny beach? The fireplace
warrants a fine chocolate bar and an oatmeal stout. The beach demands a garlicky frank with a crunchy skin, paired with a crisp pilsner with a hint of
grain and a clean finish. Or any time of the year a great burger with an IPA. The rich malty flavor followed by the assertive hop finish leaves the
palate quite satisfied.

Sam

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Thomas Cizauskas - restaurateur - Baltimore, MD - Sisson's Restaurant & Brewery

A bottle of Goudenband (750-ml bottle preferred) and a plate of grapes and cheese, preferably smoked Gouda and British cheddar.

Yours for good fermentables,
Thomas Cizauskas

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SPECIAL REPORT:

BEER PASSION IN BELGIUM

JUNE 22, 23, 24—ANTWERP, BELGIUM: Second Annual Beer Passion Weekend Huge Hit.

Over 3000 beer enthusiasts quaffed beers from 35 breweries in the elegant Oude Handelsbeurs (Old Commercial Exchange), an 1800’s building off the Meir, Antwerp’s most-lively pedestrian shopping street.

Entrance for all three days of this annual Beer Passion event was only 200 Belgian Francs (about $4.40). Each beer cost an additional 50 BEF (about $1.10), a very reasonable fee indeed to taste beers from such legendary breweries as Boon, De Koninck, Palm-Rodenbach, Duvel-Moortgat and Chimay.

“I was surprised there were so many people on Sunday,” said Luc De Wit, Logistic and Merchandising Manager for Beer Passion magazine, “because it was such a sunny day.” (Insider’s note: This year’s March and April were Belgian’s darkest and wettest months since 1834.) “This proves our Beer Passion weekend is something people want to attend.” An added draw was surely Michael Jackson, who tirelessly signed copies of his classic book, Great Beers of Belgium, newly updated for 2001.

Unlike last year’s event, which hosted 12 brewers and “not enough food for the price,” this weekend showcased affordable victuals to soak up the Sezoens. De Wit says, “It’s important to combine beer and gastronomy. That’s is why we offered people foods made with beer. I know no other festival in the whole world that does that.” Five beer tickets (about $5.50) bought a piping hot plate of rabbit with Rodenbach Grand Cru, guinea hen with Pauwel Kwak, salmon with Westmalle Tripel, eel with Wittekerke and other Belgian delicacies.

“We will do this again next year, the same weekend,” says De Wit. Beer Passion also plans to expand the concept. “The weekend before, we will host a festival in Tournai, in the French-speaking part of Belgium. It will be supported by the French-speaking government of Belgium, so we will promote Walloonian beer only. In Antwerp, the festival is open for every brewer.” Whether Flemish beers or Walloonian beers, drinkers can’t lose if they’re Belgian beers.

For future details, access www.beerpassion.com.

--Submitted June 26, 2001, by Priscilla Estes, An American Ex-pat in Antwerp.

PROMOTIONS - EVENTS - DINNERS

* NEW LISTING

THE BLOOMSDAY STOUT CHALLENGE

The public was invited to McGillin's Olde Ale House in Philadelphia, PA to participate in a blind tasting of 6 nitro-stouts, and the
results were -- to put it stoutly -- surprising!

The participating stouts were (in no particular order)
O'Hara's Celtic Stout (Carlow, Ireland)
Guinness Stout (Dublin, Ireland)
Murphy's Irish Stout (Cork, Ireland)
Beamish Stout (Cork, Ireland)
Stoudt's Fat Dog Stout (Adamstown, PA)
Yards Love Stout (Philadelphia, PA)

Jim Anderson, and host, Chris Mullins, tallied the votes.

1) Love Stout (Philadelphia- Yards Brewing Co. )
2) Stoudt's Fat Dog Stout (Lancaster County - Stoudt's Brewing Co.)

3) O'Hara's Celtic Stout (Carlo, Ireland, Carlow Brewing Co. )

Full results at - http://www.beerphiladelphia.com/events/stout01.htm

*Stroh's Collection of Antique German Steins on The Auction Block

Antique German beer steins owned by the Stroh Brewing Co. will be auctioned by the Stein Auction Co. July 8 at the Holiday Inn in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.

Stroh acquired the core of its stein collection in the early 1980s when the company purchased the New York-based family brewing concern owned by the late Rudolph Schaefer Jr., who had assembled Schaefer's company-owned stein collection.

Stroh then acquired steins that had been collected by the Jos. Schlitz Brewery.

Since then, the Stroh collection has also grown through independent purchases.

On sale will be 250 German faience and stoneware steins, including more than 150 vessels made by the potteries of Altenberg, Annaburg, Cologne, Creussen, Westerwald and Waldenburg in the 16th-18th centuries. Of special interest is an 18-inch high late- 19th century carved ivory and silver tankard expected to sell for $8,000-$12,000, and a Creussen Apostle stein with color relief decorations, which carries a pre-sale estimate of $9,600-$14,400.

For information, call the Stein Auction Co. at (874) 991- 5927.

NEW PUBLICATION:

*AD (American Distiller) a digital newsletter from Bill Owens - sign up at ambrew@aol.com

EVENTS:

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

*July 21, 2001 - Boston, MA

1^st Boston BeerSummit

Location: The Castle at Park Plaza (Boston, MA)

Hours: Two tasting sessions will be available, 1:00 - 5:00 PM and 6:00 - 10:00 PM.

Tickets: $25.00 in advance / $30.00 at the door (per session) includes 10 - 4oz. free pours of beer (additional 4oz. pours are $1 each.)

All attendees must be 21 or older with a valid ID.

Visit http://www.beersummit.com to purchase advance tickets and to view a list of ticket vendors.

JULY

5-7--Microbrewery Stampede 2001, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 403-254-9204, ella@microbrewerystampede.com

7--Belgium Comes To Cooperstown III, Cooperstown, NY, 800-656-1212, http://www.belgianexperts.com/

10--A Tribute to American Micros, Philadelphia, PA, 215-545-7005

13-15--Harpoon Brewery's Barbecue Championships, Windsor, VT, 802-674-5491 ext.227

14--Alaska Craft Beer Festival, Fox, AK, www.mosquitonet.com/~stihlerunits/ScottsDen/Beer/Events.Events.html

14-- The Subaru Gorge Games - Full Sail Brewery on Columbia Street - Aaron Bray 541-386-7354

14--Brews 'N Blues, Oshkosh, WI, 920-303-9936

14--Pueblo Micro Brew Fest, - Pueblo, CO, 719-542-1100

15--New Jersey Craft Brewers Festival, Trenton, NJ @ Sovereign Bank Arena http://www.njbeer.org/2001fest.html

18-19 -- American Beer Month at The Brickskeller, Washington, DC, 202-293-1885 brickskeller@aol.com

18 -- Christmas in July - Blind Tiger, NYC (holiday beers)

20-22--Portland International Beerfest, Portland, OR, 503-735-2172, http://www.portlandbeerfest.com/

20-21--The Future of Beer Wholesaling: A Leadership Course, Kiawah Island, SC, 800-300-6417

20-21--Vermont Brewers Festival, Burlington, VT, 802-244-6828, http://www.vermontbrewers.com/

20-22--Portland International Beerfest, Portland, OR, 206-937-1800

21--4th Annual Foam Fest, Little Rock AR, 501-664-7242

21--Boston Beer Summit, Boston, MA, 617-596-2625, http://www.beersummit.com/

21-22--5th Annual Great Eldorado BBQ, Brews and Blues Festival, Reno, NV, 800-648-5966, http://www.eldoradoreno.com/

27-29--Oregon Brewers Festival, Portland, OR, 503-778-5917, http://www.oregonbrewfest.com/

27-29--The Capital City Beer Festival, Ottawa, Canada, 877-427-0235, http://www.totalbeer.net/

27-29--7th International Beer & Food Festival, Jacksonville FL, www.folioweekly.com/arts/happenings1.htm

28--State College MicroBrewers & Importers Exposition, State College, PA, 814-353-8426, http://www.scbrewexpo.com/

28--Michigan Brewers Festival, Ypsilanpi, MI, 248-988-7566, http://www.michiganbeerguide.com/

31-August 4--Great British Beer Festival, London, England, http://www.camra.org.uk/

AUGUST

4--Hopfest 2001, Pleasanton, CA, 925-462-3570, hopfest@aol.com

4--10th Annual Great Eastern Invitational Microbrewery Festival, Adamstown, PA, 717-484-4385, www.stoudtsbeer.com

4--Rolling Rock Town Fair 2.0, Latrobe, PA, www.beer.com

8--8th Chattanooga Brewers Festival, Chattanooga, TN, www.southernbrewersfest.org

8-11--Rocky Mountain Wine, Beer and Food Festival, Winter Park, CO, 800-420-8087, www.winterparkresort.com

10-12--Toronto's Festival of Beer, Toronto, Ontario, 877-427-0235, www.totalbeer.net

11--4th Annual IPA Festival, Hayward, CA, 510-886-8525

11--15th Annual Great Taste of the Midwest, Madison, WI, www.mhtg.org

18--Microfestivus, Roanoke, VA, 540-855-3644, www.squaresociety.org

23-25--Sam Adams Grill & Groove, Boston, MA, 617-368-5000, www.samadams.com

24--Great Southern Beer Festival, Memphis, TN, 901-634-4444, www.memphisbrews.com

25--8th Annual Colorado Springs Microbrewers Exposition, Colorado Springs, CO, 719-442-0088

25--6th Annual Summer Eve in the Park Festival & Beer Tasting, Grandview, WA, 509-786-1310/509-837-5741

25--Ale Fest Dayton, Dayton, OH, 937-298-4545, AleFest@aol.com

SEPTEMBER

8 - 9--Tavern Days Celebration, Croton-on-Hudson, NY, 800-656-1212, www.belgianexperts.com

9-11--NBWA Conf. & Trade Show, Las Vegas, NV, www.nbwa.org

9-11--Pac-Expo, Las Vegas, NV

13-16--Mt. Angel 36th Oktoberfest, Mt. Angel, OR, 503-845-6882

15--Capitol City Beer Festival, Harrisburg, PA, 717-221-1080, www.abcbrew.com

23-24--Fremont Oktoberfest, Seattle, WA, 206-706-9869, www.washingtonbrewfest.com

22--7th Annual California Brewers Festival, Sacramento, CA, 800-754-2261, www.calbrewfest.org

22--WQPT's Brew-Ha-Ha, Moline, IL, 319-355-9494

23--6th Annual California Brewers Festival, Sacramento, CA, 916-368-BREW, http://www.calbrewfest.org/

27-29--Great American Beer Festival, Denver, CO, 303-447-0816, http://www.beertown.org/

OCTOBER

5--Rock, Rhythm & Brews, Newport, OR, 503-241-3800, http://www.rogue.com/

6--World Beer Festival, Durham, NC, 800-977-BEER, http://www.allaboutbeer.com/

6 -- Waffles and Puppets at Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY, 607-547-8184, http://www.belgianexperts.com/

6-8 9th Annual NBC-10 International Oktoberfest, Newport, RI, 401-846-1600, ext. 221, http://www.newportfestivals.com/

6-9 Brewers' Association of America Conference, Chicago, IL, 919-530-8140, http://www.brewersadvocate.org/

7-19 MBAA Brewing & Malting Science Course, Madison, WI, rjacobson@mbaa.com

13 -- 10th Great Eastern Invitational Microbrewery Festival, Adamstown, PA, 717-484-4385, http://www.stoudtsbeer.com/

13-14 Grand Old Portsmouth Fall Brewers Festival, Portsmouth, NH, 603-422-7503

23 -- 4th Annual WhiskyFest, Marriott Marquis, NY Contact 800/610-6258 or visit http://www.maltadvocate.com/

27 ASH Octoberfest, Tempe, AZ, 480-775-2660, http://www.azbrewers.com/

NOVEMBER

4-7 MBAA Annual Convention, Guadalajara, Mexico, 414-774-8558, http://www.mbaa.com/

9-10 --- 8th Annual Great Northeast International Beer Festival & 4th Annual Northeast Beer & Cider Competition, Providence, RI, 407-274-3234, http://www.click2beers.com/

* 17 ---2nd Annual Whiskies of the World Expo, San Francisco, CA, 888-748-2400, http://www.celticmalts.com/

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