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. 46 --- 28 November 2001

 

Published 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)

visit www.beerbasics.com

 

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.)
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Editor: Claire Zuckerman

 

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Greetings,

 

Welcome to Hot Trub/BeerBasics.com ...

 

LATEST NEWS:

Guinness Turns Pabst Brewery Into Ice Plant

Interbrew Ready To Tap South African Breweries?

Third Founders Food & Firkins Ltd. Opens in Fargo

 

ASKING THE PRESS, THE INDUSTRY & YOU:

 

1) Describe your idea of the perfect holiday fermented malt beverage.

 

2) Continued --  What is your favorite "bar-food"?

 

Respond to: peter.lafrance@beerbasics.com

 

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.)

  

I invite your comments and criticism.

  

Cheers!

Peter LaFrance

Publisher

 

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LATEST NEWS:

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Guinness Turns Pabst Brewery Into Ice Plant

 

Guinness UDV North America announced Monday it has purchased the closed Pabst Brewery near Fogelsville for $29.8 million. It plans to produce Smirnoff Ice malt beverage by February, according to an Associated Press story filed yesterday.

 

Guinness UDV North America will spend $15 million to refit the plant to produce Smirnoff Ice, a ready-to-drink malt beverage launched in United States last year. According to the report, “Gary Galanis, spokesman for Guinness UDV North America, said he didn't know if any of those workers had applied for jobs making Smirnoff Ice. "I'm quite sure that many of them will," he said.”

 

Guinness UDV North America, contracted with Total Logistic Control to retrofit the brewery for early 2002 production of Smirnoff Ice. Total Logistic Control will provide production, bottling and facility management and also provide transportation, warehousing, order fulfillment and supply chain management services.

 Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

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Interbrew Ready To Tap South African Breweries?

 

This morning Reuters reported that, “Shares in South African Breweries soared in Johannesburg on Wednesday on a report that Belgian brewer Interbrew is plotting a bid to create the world's second largest brewer.”

 

According to the report, “The Financial Times said on Wednesday it had seen documents prepared by advisers that indicated an approach could be announced on Dec. 3, with the offer closing on January 7, 2001.

 

"I cannot comment on speculation," SAB's director of communications, Nick Chaloner, told Reuters by telephone from London.

 

“The combination of Interbrew, the maker of Stella Artois, and SAB, which recently purchased Pilsner Urquell, would be hot on the heels of Anheuser-Busch by volume of beer produced,” the report concluded.

 

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Third Founders Food & Firkins Ltd. Opens in Fargo

 

On Monday, Founders Food & Firkins Ltd. opened its Granite City Food & Brewery to nearly 1,000 customers in Fargo, North Dakota (74,000 pop.).

 

According to wire reports, Steve Wagenheim, Founders Food & Firkins' President and CEO was quoted as saying, "I see this as another indication that Granite City Food & Brewery is absolutely right for Middle America. We are beginning to see the effects of multiple locations within the upper Midwest region from a brand-awareness perspective. This awareness will create strong branding of the concept, food and beer products. We look

forward to our continuing growth and the corresponding recognition."

 

Founders Food & Firkins Ltd. operates three Granite City Food & Brewery casual dining restaurants featuring on-premise breweries. Granite City Food & Brewery provides fresh, high quality, made-to-order food and handcrafted beers, all made on site. Its first Granite City location, in St. Cloud, MN, opened in late June 1999. Its second location opened in Sioux Falls, SD, on December 18, 2000, and its third location opened November 20, 2001 in Fargo, ND.

 

CONTACT: 

Founders Food & Firkins Ltd., Minneapolis

Steven J. Wagenheim, 952/525-2070 or 612/751-3331

 

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BEER + THE FEAST (Plus)

(Some holiday thoughts that did not make it into last weeks HTBB...)

  

From: Stephen Beaumont [ beaumont@worldofbeer.com  ]
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2001 6:40 PM
To: Peter LaFrance
Subject: Re: From Peter LaFrance - To the Feast!

 

Peter;

 

Quite honestly, I cannot for the life of me remember what I drank on
Thanksgiving. My wife and I did cook a turkey - which was quite delicious -
and built a four course meal for ourselves around it, but I'm drawing a
complete blank on the beverage front.

 

Ordinarily, I enjoy Champagne with turkey. On the beer front, I'd probably
side with that wine's close cousin and select a firm, dry gueuze.

 

Cheers, and happy holiday to you!

 

S.

 

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From: Matt Stinchfield [ matts@brewingnews.com ]
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2001 12:22 AM
To: Peter LaFrance
Subject: Re: From Peter LaFrance - To the Feast!

 

Hi Peter:

 

Thomas Hardy is getting more bitter with age, after the sellout, then the
other sellout... then again, an '86 would be luscious. Me... I'll have a
homebrewed saison with my dear love, in a desert creek, with the cool water
running shin high, the smell of cottonwoods in the air, and a warm lunchtime
fire over native mesquite. Thanks are due every day.

 

Matt Stinchfield
co-editor Southwest Brewing News
matts@brewingnews.com

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From: speedlaw [ speedlaw@bestweb.net ]
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2001 10:11 AM
To: Peter LaFrance
Subject: Re: HOT TRUB/BEER BASICS.COM - Vol.002 No.044 --- 21 November
2001

 

Hello there.

  

Beer with Turkey

 

Ommegang and Corsendonk Brown Ale.
Reasons- a bit heavier-normal yellow beer won't stand up the the rich food.
The higher alcohol content will cut through the fat.  Low hops won't clash
with the food, unlike a high hopped Pale Ale.

 

Casey

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From: Tom Bedell [ bedell@sover.net ]
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2001 12:25 PM
To: Peter LaFrance
Subject: RE: From Peter LaFrance - To the Feast!

 

Peter--I have a couple of local Wassail ales to try, from McNeill's Brewery
in Brattleboro, Vermont, and Catamount's (Harpoon's) as well.  I've been
contemplating cracking open a 1986 Boon Framboise, wondering what I've been
waiting for all these years, and I have a 1996 New Glarus Belgian Red
Wisconsin Cherry Beer that has been sitting around, too.  There's always
some Chimay cooling, and I have '86 vintage Thomas Hardy Ales as well.
Alas, I may be the only real beer hound in today's group, so I'll have to
choose wisely if I hope to remember what the dessert pies taste like.  Have
a good one!

 

Tom

 

THOMAS D. BEDELL
Member, American Society of Journalists and Authors
Golf Writers Association of America
North American Guild of Beer Writers
237 DEPOT ROAD
WILLIAMSVILLE  VT  05362
(802) 348-7992 Phone & fax
E-mail: bedell@sover.net

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From: Bob Sullivan [ sully@blvdbeer.com ]
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2001 8:45 AM
To: Peter LaFrance
Subject: RE:

 

Boulevard Nutcracker Ale is our interpretation of the classic winter beer:
big, hearty, and warming.  We schedule the brewing of Nutcracker to coincide
with the annual harvest of the Chinook hop, in order to capture its intense
flavor at the peak of frshness.  It is probably my favorite of all of our
beers.  It is one of the reasons I look forward to the holiday season!

 

Cheers!

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ASKING THE PRESS, THE INDUSTRY & YOU:

 

1) What is your favorite "Holiday Beer"?

(Holiday Beer defined in the broadest sense possible.)

 

2) Continued --  What is your favorite "bar-food"?

 

Respond to:  peter.lafrance@beerbasics.com

 

Cheers!

Peter LaFrance

Publisher

 

(Responses posted as received.)

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BEER MEMORIES

 

Share your fondest beer memory with HOT TRUB/BEER BASICS I would be glad to offer you the bandwidth to do so.

 

  

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NEW PRODUCTS:

(All products provided by breweries.

Tasting notes are done by the publisher in beer-clean 2 oz.

straight edged tasting glasses between 0900-1000 in an aroma-neutral environment.)

(NO TASTING NOTES THIS ISSUE.)

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ROGUE GALLERY

 

*SANTA'S PRIVATE
===============

A double-hopped version of the classic Saint Rogue Red.


Hops: Chinook, Amarillo, Centennial, and a mystery hop called "Rudolph."

It is fermented with top-fermenting PacMan Yeast. 

 

According to the folks at Rogue, “The resulting beer is reddish-copper in color with a light, creamy head
and hoppy, sprucy finish. Hops are the only spice used to brew this holiday ale!”

The 22-ounce screened bottle features snowflakes that glisten in the dark. Santa's is available in select retailers across the  country, and via mail order, where permitted, from
www.horsebrass.com/belmont_station

Santa's merchandise, a stemmed tulip glass and wood gift box, are available from Rogue's retail stores in the pubs, or via mail order 541-867-3660 - brewdawg@rogueales.com 


*YELLOW SNOW ALE
===============

Yellow Snow, Rogue's pale ale, is brewed with whole juniper berries.


According to the folks at Rogue, “Juniper has both botanical and medicinal qualities. 100% Pure
Rogue, Issue #14 features an article about Yellow Snow with some unusual facts and information about Juniper. Issue #14 also has holiday gift ideas available via mail order. If you are not on the 100% snail-mailing list and would like to receive a copy of the Rogue Ales newspaper (100% Pure), ask your local Rogue retailer, or email roguedawg@rogueales.com  and include your snail-mail address. 

 

 

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PROMOTIONS - EVENTS - DINNERS

* NEW LISTING

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*American Distilling Institute

 

The American Distilling Institute needs your support to legalize home distilling.

The home distilling bill (H.R. 3249) introduced by Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan

is at the Ways and Means Committee and should receive a hearing!

Letters and e-mail to your congressman will help.  For more information contact

Bill Owens/President
American Distilling Institute

800-646-2701 or e-mail ambrew@aol.com

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* 29 November - Benefit for Faith Services (Franciscan Aids Initiative To Help)

Holiday Tasting at Steven's Institute of Technology,

Hoboken, NJ

 

Over 300 wines, spirits and craft beers; accompanied by cheeses and hors d'oueures. Event sponsors:
Sparrow Liquors, Fresh Ideas, Kings Supermarkets, Brass Rail and La Isla Restaurants, and Rogue Ale.

Easy to get to via the Path, Bus and NY Waterways Ferry. Hours: 7-10 pm. Cost: $45 per person. Call: 201-659-1500 or 201-659-1501. 

 

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* 30 - December 1, 2 -- Winter Beer Festival, Portland, OR - Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland, OR. Hours: Fri 4-10 p.m., Sat 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun Noon to 6 p.m.

The Holiday Ale Festival celebrates the release of the region's craft-brewed seasonal ales. The beers featured at the event are produced by 24 of the region's premier craft brewers and are created specifically to bring warmth and cheer to the holiday season. The heated and tented event takes place in the heart of downtown Portland at Pioneer Courthouse Square during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the season. Tickets: Free to enter

(21 and older. ID required)  A 14-ounce souvenir mug is required for tasting beer and costs $3. Patrons pay $3 for each 14-ounce draft beer, or $1 for a taster. More info:

http://www.campbellproductions.com/ale_fest.htm

 

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* 8 December - Santa Fest at Sugar Moms, Philadelphia, PA.

A Beer Philadelphia annual event with holiday beers on tap

and local artists selling their goods. For details, visit

http://www.beerphiladelphia.com

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 *18-19 January - The 8th Annual Great Alaska Beer and Barleywine Festival

at the William A. Egan Convention Center, downtown Anchorage, Alaska.

A Benefit for the American Diabetes Association. The event is

being coordinated by Aurora Productions. Call: 907-562-9911

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 *The Anthony Spinazzola Foundation Celebrates
Friends of Spinazzola Grand Benefit Dinner and
17th Annual Gala Festival of Food and Wine

WHAT: The Friends of Spinazzola Grand Benefit Dinner
An intimate dinner featuring celebrity chefs from New York City.  Each course is complimented with specifically chosen fine and rare wines.

The 17th Annual Anthony Spinazzola Foundation Gala Festival of Food and Wine
A black tie celebration of food and wine, featuring 120 of Greater Boston’s best restaurants and 90 winemakers from around the world.

DETAILS:
Grand Benefit Dinner
Thursday, January 31, 2002 at 6:30 PM
Four Seasons Hotel, Boston
$500 per person

Gala Festival of Food and Wine
Friday, February 1, 2002 from 7:30 PM to Midnight
At the World Trade Center, Boston
$175 per person ($125 is tax-deductible)

PARTICIPATING CELEBRITY CHEFS:
Kirk Avondoglio – Perona Farms, New York, NY
Daniel Boulud – Restaurant Daniel, Café Boulud, New York, NY
Terrance Brennan – Picholine, New York, NY
David Burke – Park Avenue Café, New York, NY
Michael Ginor – Hudson Valley Foie Gras, Great Neck, NY
Charlie Palmer – Aureole, New York, NY
Alfred Portale – Gotham Bar & Grill, New York, NY
Marcus Samuelsson – Aquavit, New York, NY

TICKETS:    Call: 781/344-4413

MISSION:    The funds raised support the ASF’s mission to "Feed Hungry Bodies and Minds" through grants to hunger relief agencies, programs for the homeless, and culinary apprenticeships and scholarships. The ASF was founded in 1992 in honor of Anthony Spinazzola, the much respected Boston Globe food and wine writer. ASF’s work is distinguished by its flexible approach in addressing community needs, and ASF is proud of its commitment to reinvest funds in the community. For each dollar raised, $.88 goes directly to support ASF programs, keeping administrative and operating costs at only 12%.
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EVENTS:

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NOVEMBER

 

30  -- Harpoon Christmas Party - Mass Bay Brewery, Boston, MA. - Call: 617-574-9551 ext 3 or  www.harpoonbrewery.com 

 

30 - December 02 -- Holiday Ale Festival Portland, OR

 

20 - December 01 --  Bavarian Beer Technology Siebel Institute of Technology, 4055 W.Peterson Avenue Chicago , IL. Call: 773-279-0966

 

30 - December 01 -- Great Canadian Beer Festival, Victoria, BC, Contact: gcbfoffice@pacificcoast.net  

 

30 - December 02 -- Holiday Ale Festival, Portland, OR,

                                Contact: Chris Crabb, 503-228-3119 (info),

                                503-282-1583 (media), crabbsoup@earthlink.net   

                                http://www.holidayale.com  

 

DECEMBER

 

01 -- Humpy's Big Fish Homebrew Competition - Anchorage, AK Contact: Larry Williamson: 907-243-5354 or gambit@alaska.net .

                                                                            Judges contact Jason Ditsworth: 907-563-8102 or jeditsworth@mactec.com .

 

01 -- Harpoon Christmas Party - Mass Bay Brewery, Boston, MA - Call: 617-574-9551 ext 3 or  www.harpoonbrewery.com

 

02 -- Holiday Ale Festival Portland - Oregon - United States

 

01 -- Berkeley, California - 2nd Annual Let it Flow, Let it Snow party - The Berkeley Ale House Call: 510-528-9880

 

04 -- Beer Appreciation Night, Domestic Winter Warmers: 7:30pm, $14, BJ's Restaurant & Brewery, 600 Brea Mall Drive, Brea, 714.990.MALT.

 

05 -- Beer Appreciation Night, Domestic Winter Warmers: 7:30pm, $14, BJ's Restaurant & Brewery, 6424 Canoga Avenue, Woodland Hills, 818.340.1748.

 

10 -- Beer Appreciation Night, Christmas and Winter Holiday Beers: 7:00, $12, Rosen Brewery, 400 South Western Avenue, Los Angeles, 213.388.0061.

 

12 -- Blind Tiger Monster Mash - New York - New York - United States

 

12 -- Beer Appreciation Night, Christmas / Barley Wines: Huntington Beach Beer Company. Call: 714- 960-5343

 

19 -- Beer Appreciation Night: T. H. Brewster's, Sheraton Four Points Hotel - LAX, 9750 Airport Boulevard, Los Angeles, 310-649-7096                                                                                                         pbaxter@fourpointslax.com   (Phil Baxter).

 

 

2002

 

JANUARY

 

31 -- The Friends of Spinazzola Grand Benefit Dinner, Four Seasons Hotel, Boston, MA. Call: 781/344-4413

 

 

FEBRUARY

 

1 -- Gala Festival of Food and Wine, from 7:30 PM to Midnight, World Trade Center, Boston, MA. Call: 781/344-4413

 

16 - 23 -- Toronado Barley Wine Festival 2002, San Francisco, CA

 

28 - March 02 -- Real Ale Festival, Chicago, IL

  

MARCH

 

09 -- 2002 7th Annual Kona Brewers Festival, Kailua-Kona, HI

  

APRIL

 

06 -- 2002 Classic City Brew Fest, Athens, GA

 

19 - 21 -- 2002 Spring Beer & Wine Fest, Portland, OR

  

MAY

 

04 -- Zymurgist Borealis National Homebrew Day Celebration - Fairbanks, AK Coll: Scott Stihler - 907- 474-2138 or stihlerunits@mosquitonet.com

  

JULY

 

26 - 28 -- 2002 Oregon Brewers Festival, Portland, OR

  

SEPTEMBER

 

21 - October 06 --2002 Oktoberfest Munich, Munich - Germany

  

NOVEMBER

 

8 – 9 -- The 6th Annual Great Northeast Beer & Cider Competition/ 9th Annual Great Northeast International Beer Fest, Providence, RI.

     Contact: Competition Director: Gregg Glaser, 203-834-0800, gregg@yankeebrew.com

     Festivals of America: Maury Ryan, 401-272-0980, ryan@lovecraft.com

 

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