HOT TRUB@BEER BASICS.COM

Vol. 03 No. 09 --- 20 March 2002

 

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.

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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LATEST NEWS:

 

SPRING BREAK IS IN THE NEWS:

College Drinking Worries Parents, Again

Teen Drinking Statistics Were Inflated

 

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ASK THE PRESS/CHEFS:

 

This week I am asking subscribers for their favorite Stout and food pairing except for dishes/pairings associated with St. Patrick's Day.

Can you?

 

Cheers!

Peter LaFrance

Journalist/Author/Publisher

www.beerbasics.com 

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SPECIAL REPORT:

Next Week: The State of New York City Brewpubs

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NEW PRODUCTS:

Next Week: Uncle Otto’s Wheat

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PROMOTIONS – EVENTS – DINNERS:

(All are invited to send events to be included: date, event name, brief description, contact name & phone/web address.)

 

 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

 

 

 

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LATEST NEWS:
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Parents Worry About College Drinking, Again…

(What’s Wrong With This Picture)

 

Last year, in an Associated Press story filed by Lindsey Tanner on August 29, 2001, it was announced that the American Medical Association had just released a survey that concluded that 95 percent of the parents surveyed said that “excessive drinking is a serious threat to their children,” and 85 percent responding claimed “easy access to alcohol in college communities contributes to the problem.”

 

This week the American Medical Association again reports:

 

Parents Outraged By Spring Break Promotions

 

(I’m shocked, shocked to find there is gambling here… Close this place until further notice! – Prefect of Police Renault to Rick Blaine – Casablanca)

 

CHICAGO, March 7 -- A poll released today by the American Medical Association's “A Matter of Degree” program shows that 91 percent of parents say it's time to stop spring break marketing and promotional practices that promote dangerous drinking.

 

“The majority of parents (56 percent) are completely unaware that tour companies market spring break destinations directly to college students, emphasizing heavy drinking and sex. These promotions arrive by email, campus advertisements and direct mail.”

 

The AMA is telling me they have found parents of American teenagers who are “…completely unaware that tour companies market spring break destinations directly to college students, emphasizing heavy drinking and sex.” Why do I find this so hard to believe?

 

“The study of 500 U.S. residents 21 years of age and older was conducted in late February by Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates of Washington, DC. Margin of error is +/- 4.2% at the 95th confidence interval level.”

 

I like the “95th confidence interval level” bit of jargon… but a 500 sample is a most unsound foundation for such a lofty thesis.

 

“Eighty-eight percent of parents said they think that spring break is primarily a problem of underage drinking, because many college students are younger than the legal drinking age of 21, and 61 percent believe that underage students are more likely to drink than 21-year-olds. In addition to U.S. spring break destinations, American tour companies, in partnership with alcohol producers, promote destinations outside the country where the drinking age is 18 -- a key attraction.”

 

Here I am in full agreement. Young people are sadly unaware of the essentials of beverage alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are treated as forbidden fruit not to be tasted until the mystical twenty-first anniversary of one’s birth. The result is an unnatural fascination with what should be no more remarkable than a plate of stir-fried vegetables, broiled fish or rognon de veau.

 

Additional Survey Findings  

 

Parents support measures to reduce high-risk drinking: 

* 85 percent would limit admission to bars and nightclubs to adults 21 and older; 

* 99 percent say bar owners should be required to train their staffs better to recognize underage or intoxicated persons; 

* 92 percent think that bar owners should be doing more to enforce the 21- year-old drinking age; and 

* 70 percent of parents say they are unwilling to pay for their children's spring break.

 

Nowhere above do I see any comment on parental responsibility to remove the “mystique” in which the prohibitionists have wrapped beer, wine and spirits.

 

 

The AMA survey released Wednesday was conducted by pollsters Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates and included 342 parents of college or college-bound high school students, a random sample considered nationally representative.

 

On the Net: http://stopcollegebingeing.com

 

After reviewing the above site, presented by the American Medical Association, I again found not one mention of parent’s responsibility to educate their children. All conclusions involved legislation.

 

 

While we are digging out from under the above deluge of statistics –

 

HOT TRUB@ BEERBASICS FOLLOW UP:

 

Teen Drinking Stats Were Inflated

 

As reported in Modern Brewery Age March 11, 2002, page 1 and 3:

 

“A report issued two weeks ago by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University claimed that young people between the ages of 12 and 20 account for 25 percent of all alcoholic beverages consumed in the United States.

 

“Joseph Califano Jr., the organization’s president and a former U.S. secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, had called the report, “’a clarion call for national mobilization to curb underage drinking”.’

 

“But the government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the agency that conducted the 1998 survey cited by the group, issued a statement saying underage drinking accounts for 11.4 percent of U.S. alcohol consumption.

 

“Both the government and CASA percentages were based on a 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse in which 25,500 people, including 9,759 between the ages of 12 and 20, were questioned in their homes.

 

“While the 12-20 age group represented 38 percent of those surveyed, they account for only 13 percent of the total U.S. population, according to 2000 Census Bureau figures. The government says it weighed its survey results to account for the discrepancy between its survey and the total population.”

 

Don’t Confuse Me With The Facts –

 

Califano, in an interview last week, defended his group’s decision not to make the adjustment.

 

“The household survey is taken by going into a home and asking parents if you can talk to their children. If parents are in the living room and you (the surveyor and the teen) are in the kitchen, the odds of getting a really solid answer are slim. So there’s a tremendous understatement in reporting,” Califano said.

 

There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.

Benjamin Disraeli (1804- 1881)

 

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Mandatory St Patrick’s Day Piece

 

A recent survey by Mintel Ireland has reported finding that 35 percent of their 2,000 person sampling of people in the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, stated that “going to the pub at least once a week was a priority” and only 22 percent said regular church worship was important.

 

The study also mentioned that, “People questioned in British-ruled Northern Ireland were more abstemious, with only 20 percent listing pubs as a priority -- although the number of regular church-goers was not much higher at 23 percent… Older people living in rural areas were more likely to attend church than young city-dwellers.”

 

The conclusion was made that; "Traditional values of a successful marriage, children, financial security and regular attendance at Sunday worship have all taken a back seat in many households."

 

As I have never been to rural Eire, I cannot comment on the state of social communion available there. However, either rural or urban, I will bet there are more pubs than churches. And as the pub now meets the social needs of a populous without churchyard or market place to gather in, I find the study without surprise.

 

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ASK THE BREWERS:

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This week I am asking subscribers for their favorite Stout and food pairing except for dishes/pairings associated with St. Patrick's Day.

 

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From: William Brand (Oakland Tribune) whatsontap@sbcglobal.net

 

You may not believe it, but my favorite pairing is a glass of Guinness,

poured over a rich creamy, double scoop of vanilla ice cream. A Guinness

sundae. Salud.

 

William Brand

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From: CHalleron@vnubuspubs.com

 

Peter--

 

I would recommend a well-poured Guinness accompanied by another well-poured

Guinness.  There's a meal in itself.  I look forward to meeting for a pint

in the near future.  As I mentioned, Paddy Reilly's has the best pint of

the dark in NYC, as far as I know.

 

See you soon,

 

Christopher M. Halleron

Senior Associate Editor

Beverage World Magazine

770 Broadway

New York, New York 10003

tel: (646) 654-7713

fax: (646) 654-7727

http://www.beverageworld.com

 

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From: Alaskan Brewing Co. akbrew@alaska.com

 

Alaskan Stout paired with food?  Ah, the possibilities.  Some of my

favorites:

 

Coffman Cove Oysters from here in Southeast Alaska just melt in your mouth --

and rich homemade and hand dipped chocolate truffles.

 

I asked our brew crew in the break room and they came up with gingerbread,

ice cream floats, key lime pie made with our Stout or substitute our Stout

in our Alaskan Smoked Porter cheesecake recipe, brie and grapes and oatmeal

creme brulee.

 

On the non-dessert side some of the dishes our crew has made and enjoyed are

beef roast, grilled Stout marinated steaks and scallops, curry, salmon

fettuccine, beef & broccoli stir fry and pork roast with apples.

 

Hmmm...I think it's time for lunch!

 

Kristi Monroe

Alaskan Brewing Co.

info@alaskanbeer.com

 

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From: Russell, Don russeld@phillynews.com

 

Peter --

Nothing goes better with stout than those ginger spice wafers you get in

October.

Of course, that's hardly a meal. So, a nice Stoudt's Fat Dog after a

porterhouse steak and before a dish of vanilla ice cream is the perfect

transition.

And then maybe spice wafers.

--Don Russell

 

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From: Victor Torrini  VTorrini@DONGHIA.com

 

My favorite pairing is a fish and chips platter with Guinness stout. Of

course that may be a seasonal preference as it has been my choice every

Friday during this season of Lent.

 

Vic Torrini

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From: Daniel Bradford  dbradford@brewersadvocate.org

The pairing began with Anchor Porter and Anchor Blue, which I did for obvious reasons.  The rest is culinary history!
Cheers,


Daniel Bradford, President
Brewers' Association of America
501 Washington St. Su. H, Durham, NC 27701
tel. - 919.530.8140   fax. - 919-530-8160
web - www.brewersadvocate.org

 

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NEW PRODUCTS:

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American Distiller will promote distilling and discussion concerning Whisky, Malt Whisky, Blended Scotch Whisky, Bourbon, Rye Whisky, Vodka, Gin, Grappa, Eau de Vie, Schnapps, Calvados, Apple Brandy, Apple Jack, Liqueur, Cognac, Armagnac, Rum, Tequila, Cordials, Perfumes, Tinctures, Distillation, Pot Stills, Column Stills, Coffey Stills, and Aroma Therapy. American Distiller is the journal of the American Distilling Institute.

 

It is published bi-weekly as an electronic newsletter in PDF file format, and emailed to all ADI members and A-D subscribers. A printed and mailed version of the newsletter is available for an additional fee. The ADI is the collective voice of the new generation of progressive beverage, medical and aromatic distillers, and is dedicated to the mission of disseminating professional information on the distilling process. The ADI has filed for a designation as a 501(c) Non Profit Corporation. Please visit our Web site at www.americandistiller.com .

 

Chairman

Bill Owens

Board of Directors

Stephen McCarthy

Clear Creek Distillery

Lance Winter

St. George Distillery

Lewis Harsanyi

Euroholding, Inc.

 

The American Distilling Institute

Box 510, Hayward, CA94541, USA

510-538-9500 • 510-538-7644 fax

 

To join: (800) 646-2701

distiller@aol.com

 

www.americandistiller.com

Bill Owens, President

Karen Dolan, Vice-President

Steve Costello, Secretary/Treasurer

Alan Moen, Editor

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Introducing Sam Adams Utopias MMII

 

Koch is making history again with his new, brawnier brew – Sam  Adams Utopias MMII(TM). at  24% alcohol by volume or 48 proof.

 

To create Utopias MMII, the brewers at Sam Adams used traditional brewing ingredients including all four types of Noble hops, which add a slightly earthy, herbal taste. The spiciness of the hops really comes alive. In fact, Utopias MMII has even been described by some as almost "fiery" – a  fitting description for the strongest beer in history.

 

Utopias MMII has been aging in scotch, cognac and port barrels since February 2001. As a result of this unique maturing process, the beer takes on a rare complexity. While aging, a flavorful malty essence that resembles the deep, rich grape taste of a port developed in the brew. When served at room temperature (about 70 degrees Fahrenheit) in two-ounce servings, Sam Adams Utopias MMII is an ideal after-dinner drink.

 

Sam Adams Utopias MMII will be packaged in a unique, collectible copper-finished brew kettle reminiscent of the larger kettles used by brew masters for hundreds of years. This strong brew will became available in limited markets this last February and will retail at approximately $100 per bottle.

 

Note: A Photo is available at URL:

http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.031402/bb11

 

 

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Stone Brewing releases 2002 Old Guardian Barley Wine

 

San Marcos, CA --- Stone Brewing's yearly edition of its Old Guardian Barley Wine, has just been released. A stunning representation of all that is big and bold in beer, Old Guardian's malt

character weighs in with a huge 9.91% alc.vol.

 

"The 2002 Old Guardian starts out with a beautiful, big malty sweetness" says CEO Greg Koch, "which then transforms half way through to a stunningly profound hop flavor and bitterness. The experience is a dance party for the palate!"

 

Stone estimates that the brew can be aged for several years at least. Koch suggests that a bottle be opened from the collection every six months or so to get a full appreciation for the changes in maturity the beer – and the drinker – will experience. The 2002 Old Guardian can also be

enjoyed right away in order to experience the brashness of its youth.

 

Old Guardian is available in 22oz bottles. A list of regions and retailers can be found at

http://www.stonebrew.com/tasting/special/OG2002/index.html. Draft will also be available at a handful of select pubs in limited areas.

 

Stone Brewing is located at 155 Mata Way in San Marcos, CA. For more info, go to http://www.stonebrew.com or call the brewery at (760) 471-4999.

 

CONTACT:

Greg Koch, CEO

Stone Brewing Co.

greg@stonebrew.com

(760) 471-4999 x102

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EVENTS:

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Lake Tahoe Spring Spectacular

17-24 March

 

This year, Corporate Ski Challenge and Wayne Wong Lake Tahoe Classic, held annually at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, located in North Lake Tahoe, is expected to draw larger crowds, due in part, to the expansion of the event into a weeklong celebration, now called the Lake Tahoe Spring Spectacular set for Sunday, March 17 through Sunday, March 24.

 

New this year is the Hospitality Games Competition, wine and beer tasting, and auction with items, such as airline tickets, hotel stays, ski equipment and more.

 

Event sponsors include the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, Lincoln Navigator, Budweiser and many more. Funds generated from the auction, 100 percent, will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

 

Contact: Lake Tahoe Central Reservations, 1-800/824-6348 or visit www.mytahoevacation.com 

 

PRESS CONTACT: 

Pettit Gilwee, 530-583-2138

pettit@gilweepr.com 

 

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Potrero Brewing Company Final Pour

 

Potrero Brewing Company, 535 Florida Street, SF CA, is closing on Sunday, March 31st.

 

The PBC "Final Pour".........

Watch the NCAA Semi-Finals and Toast to the good 'ol days at the 'Potrero Brewing Company'

 We will be having a fare-well Party, Sunday afternoon, Rain or Shine, from 12:00 pm - 'till 8pm.

 

Please stop by on Sunday March 31st for a 'Last Draft' Scottish Wake.....$2.00 Pints - $5.00 Call.

 

The Brewery was an ambitious undertaking........but we made some early mistakes and were never able to turn it around........but...........we believe that we made a great space out of a drafty, concrete hulk of a building and in it, we made the best beers anywhere!

 

While we don't know what will become of the building after we leave, if it continues to be an independent brewery, we ask that you support it........ 

 

In the interim...drink your local, independent SF breweries Ales and Lagers at....

http://www.21st-amendment.com/21A.html

or here..

http://www.magnoliapub.com/

or here..

http://www.beachchalet.com/

or...

http://www.thirstybear.com/

or...even here...

http://www.sfbrewing.com/

 

Or....drink some of these fine locally Brewed San Francisco Ales at your 'Local'...

 

Speakeasy Ales and Lagers...

http://www.goodbeer.com/

Anchor Steam Ales....

http://www.anchorbrewing.com/main.htm

 

Thank You Again....we always loved 'ya....! And we thank you.


Quite Sincerely......

Steve MacMillan & James Renfrew:

CEO and Master Brewer

Potrero Brewing Company, San Francisco

 

P.S.S:  to the

Potrero Brewer's Bay Area Roller Hockey League

2001 Winter Season Champions!

Congratulations!!!!!!

 

-Peace

 

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Classic City Brew Fest, Athens, GA

 The Southeast's largest indoor beer festival, the 7th annual Classic City Brew Fest, will attract 3,000 beer aficionados from several states who will enjoy open sampling of over 160 of the
world's greatest beers on Saturday, April 6, 2002 from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Held in the exhibit hall of Athens' downtown Classic Center, the Brew Fest will allow attendees to experience over 30,000 square feet of beer.  The event is presented by Brewtopia Events, Center Stage Catering, and Pabst Brewing Company.

Admission is $17.75 plus tax in advance and $20 plus tax at the door. Tickets may be purchased online at www.ClassicCityBrew.com or by calling 706-254-BREW.

ABOUT BREWTOPIA EVENTS  

Brewtopia Events is an Athens, Georgia company that runs the Classic City Brew Fest and operates the beer information website www.ClassicCityBrew.com . It is owned and operated by Owen Ogletree, who is a certified beer judge, beer author, and award-winning home brewer.

CONTACT:  Owen Ogletree, Director of the Classic City Brew Fest, 706-254-2739, or fax, 801-365-7896, or brew@negia.net 

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Big Brew 2002 Builds Homebrewing Enthusiasm Worldwide

 

Boulder, CO • March 19, 2002—The American Homebrewers Association® (AHA)

will hold its fifth annual Big Brew Celebration on May 4, 2002, in celebration of National Homebrew Day.

 

Wyeast Laboratories, Inc. of Mt. Hood, Oregon has signed on again as the official sponsor.

 

During the Big Brew event, home brewers across the world will gather at local sites for a day of brewing in celebration of the hobby. Participants will brew the same recipes and share a simultaneous toast at noon (CST).

 

Home brewers will find the recipes and can register their sites on the official web site www.beertown.org .

 

Last year, 2,056 registered participants gathered at 183 brewing sites worldwide, making 5,110 gallons of homebrew.

 

Big Brew festivities are designed to celebrate and publicize the homebrewing hobby.  Congress officially recognized May 7 as National Homebrew Day in 1988.  Today an estimated one million people homebrew in the United States.

 

For more information visit www.beertown.org .

 

CONTACT:

Cindy Jones

Association of Brewers

P.O. Box 1679

Boulder, Colorado USA 80306-1679

cindy@aob.org

www.beertown.org

 

888-822-6273 (U.S.& Canada only)

303-447-0816 ext. 144

Fax 303-447-2825

 

 

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2000 

 

MARCH

 

17-24 -  Lake Tahoe Spring Spectacular (See above) www.mytahoevacation.com 

 

22 –23 - Beer Advertising and Collectibles Show, Augusta, GA.; Contact: www.bccaatlantic.org .

 

23 - Northeast Wisconsin Beer Festival, Appleton, WI, 800-261-2337; Contact: www.homebrewmarket.com

 

23 –24 - 9th Annual Great Arizona Beer Festival, Phoenix, AZ. Call: 602-231-0500;

Contact: www.azbeer.com

 

29 – 30 - 12th Annual Easter Seals Micorbrew Springfest, Eugene, OR;

Contact: jsprague@oregonseals.org

 

30 – Seventh Annual York County Micro-Brew Fest, York, PA. Call: 717-600-8933;

Contact: www.ggpromotions.com

 

30 - Split Thy Brooklyn Skull (barleywine tasting), Brooklyn, NY. Call: 215-765-8765;

Contact: www.beerphiladelphia.com/events

 

APRIL

 

06 – 6th Classic City Brew Fest, Athens, GA. Call: 706-254-BREW;

Contact: http://www.classiccitybrew.com/

www.classiccitybrew.com

 

10 – 13 -- National Craft Brewers Conference, Cleveland, OH, 303-447-0816;

Contact: http://www.beertown.org/

 

12 – 13 -- 6th Annual Okanagan Fest-Of-Ale, Penticton, British Columbia, 250-492-4355;

Contact: http://www.fest-of-ale.bc.ca/

 

13 - Reggae on the Mountain Microbrew Tasting Festival, Bear Valley, CA, 209-753-2301;

Contact: http://www.bearvalley.com/

 

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

 

27 – 28 -- Tap New York: 4th Annual Hudson Valley Beer & Food Festival at Hunter Mountain, Hunter, NY

518-263-4223; Contact: http://www.tapnewyork.com/

 

MAY

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

 

 

JUNE

1 - Knoxville Brewers' Jam - Old City Courtyard - Knoxville, TN. Contact: www.BrewersJam.com

 

JULY

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

 

 

SEPTEMBER

7 – 8 -- Tavern Days Celebration, Croton-on-Hudson, NY, 800-656-1212;

Contact: http://www.belgianexperts.com/

 

26 - Beer 2001, Brussels, Belgium, 32 (0) 2 474 85 38;

Contact: http://www.beerexportexhibition.com/

 

21 - October 6 --2002 Oktoberfest Munich, Munich, - Germany

 

26 - Beer 2001, Brussels, Belgium, 32 (0) 2 474 85 38;

Contact: http://www.beerexportexhibition.com/

 

 

 

 

OCTOBER

3 – 5 -- Great American Beer Festival, Denver, CO, 303-447-0816;

Contact: http://www.beertown.org/

 

18 – 20 -- MBAA Annual Convention, Austin, TX, 414-774-8558;

Contact: http://www.mbaa.com/

 

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;

Contact: gregg@yankeebrew.com

 

Festivals of America: Maury Ryan, 401-272-0980;

Contact: ryan@lovecraft.com

 

 

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