HOT TRUB@BEER BASICS.COM

Vol. 03 No. 18 --- 1 July 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.

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Publisher: Peter LaFrance

Editor: Deven Black

From Behind The Bar: Chris Halleron

On The Loose: Kurt Epps

On The Beat: Alan Wax

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LATEST NEWS:

MINNESOTA BREWING CLOSES DOWN
CORRECTION: 2002 NABA AWARDS

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PROMOTIONS – EVENTS – DINNERS:

Gorge Games & Full Sail 4th Annual Street Party

Music City Brewer's Festival

Great International Beer Festival & Great International Beer Competition

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CHECK THESE OUT: Links to interesting sites.

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FROM THE PUBLISHER:

 

This is the first of the bi-weekly issues of HotTrub@BeerBasics.

 

I hope to wrap up all of your responses to the “Ask The Press” questions

in the next issue.

 

We will also be following the Summer beer and food trends as well as

Introducing you to some chefs and brewers who are doing some

interesting things.

 

The “fire Brewed in Colorado” story will be covered

in greater depth than originally planned.

 

In short, all of us wish all of you a relaxing, healthy, happy and safe summer.

 

 

As always, I invite your comments and suggestions.

Cheers!

Peter LaFrance

Publisher

 

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LATEST NEWS:

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MINNESOTA BREWING CLOSES DOWN

JUNE 25, 2002 – Minnesota Brewing Co. ended its’ nearly 150 year history as it shut down what was the former Jacob Schmidt brewery on West 7th St. in St. Paul last week. It was the last old-line brewery in the Twin Cities.

 

At 3 p.m. last Monday they shut down all the lines for good and called the last 120 workers into a meeting to announce the closing.

 

The shutdown came four years and nine months after a similarly sudden shutdown hit the equally historic Stroh Brewery on St. Paul's East Side.


Piecemeal liquidation of the old Schmidt plant is likely. Lisa Nasseff, a spokeswoman for Minnesota Brewing, said "I don't think anyone would be horribly optimistic at this point" that someone would reopen it,


"There were some real long faces in that meeting," said Tom Swanda, a 36-year plant veteran who commiserated briefly in the employee parking lot with co-workers.

 

Ruth Suttles, a 22-year veteran of the bottling line, was operating the pasteurizer when production was halted. "All the cans are still in there, everything just stopped," she said.

 Suttles said workers don't know whether Minnesota Brewing and its parent, MBC Holdings Inc., will honor labor agreements that call for severance and vacation pay. She said there was no 60-day plant-closing notification, as required by federal law, because of the bankruptcy status.

In recent years, the brewery operated with as many as 160 full-time workers during peak summer months according to reports in the Minneapolis Star Tribune The remaining ethanol plant, which was built in 1999 with the help of state ethanol subsidies, employs 14 people. It was designed to save the brewery by sharing brewery overhead expenses.

Mark Stutrud, founder of St. Paul-based Summit Brewing Co., said he would be interested in acquiring the Grain Belt label. New Ulm-based August Schell Brewing Co. also has expressed some interest.

 

 

CORRECTION: 2002 NABA AWARDS

 

June 10, 2002 - The North American Brewers Association announced the medal winners of the 2002 North American Beer Awards during the Mountain Brewers Beer Fest in Idaho Falls, Idaho on June 8, 2002.

 

Competition Director Hillary Jones explained the evaluation of beer took place over a three-day period.

 

“Our judging panels are made up of brewers, beer writers and certified judges” said Jones, “They scrutinized hundreds of beers, evaluating flavor, balance, appearance, carbonation, and adherence to classic beer style descriptions. Using that criteria they produced the list of award winners.”

 

More than 500 entries, representing breweries from Florida to Alaska, Canada and Mexico, were judged. When the results were decoded and tabulated, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were awarded. The results are posted at: www.beerbasics.com/NABA2002.htm

 

 

 

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EVENTS:

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Gorge Games & Full Sail 4th Annual Street Party

 

Saturday, July 13, 2002

For more information, contact Aaron Bray 541-386-7354. 

 

Operated by Octagon Marketing, the Gorge Games is a preeminent weeklong

outdoor sport and lifestyle festival July 13th - July 21st that takes place

throughout the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. Competitors vie for the gold in nine

disciplines: 24-Hour Mountain Bike Racing, 49er Sailing, Adventure Racing,

Climbing, Kayaking, Kiteboarding, Outrigger Canoeing, Trail Running and

Windsurfing. For more information visit www.gorgegames.com .

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Music City Brewer's Festival

 

Saturday, July 27, 2002

Hilton Park Downtown Nashville

12 noon - 8 pm

 

Contact: Candace Price Special Events Director

Clear Channel Radio

55 Music Square West

Nashville, TN 37203

ph- (615) 664-2484

fx- (615) 664-2497

candace.price@clearchannel.com

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GREAT INTERNATIONAL BEER FESTIVAL & GREAT INTERNATIONAL BEER COMPETITION

 

The Great International Beer Festival and the Great International Beer Competition return to Providence, Rhode Island on November 8 and 9. This year marks the ninth year for the festival and the sixth year for the competition, both held at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

 

Previously named the Great Northeast International Beer Festival and the Great Northeast International Beer Competition, the two events are greatly expanded in scope this year, bringing in more beers from around the country and around the world. This expansion necessitated the dropping of the word Northeast from the events' names.

 

The Great International Beer Festival, held on Saturday, November 9, expects to attract approximately 5,000 people during the afternoon and evening sessions. Over 300 beers will be offered from at least 60 breweries.

 

The Great International Beer Competition, taking place on Friday, November 8, expects to draw several hundred professionally brewed domestic and imported beers and ciders. The beers and ciders will be judged in blind tasting panels by professional brewers. Gold, silver and bronze awards will be awarded in style categories.

 

Information about the Great International Beer Festival and the Great International Beer Competition is available from Festivals of America: www.click2beers.com, 401-274-3234. Brewing News.com is the media sponsor for both events.

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JULY


6 – Colorado  Brewers Rendevous, Salida, CO, www.coloradobeer.org

6 – Belgium  Comes To Cooperstown IV, Cooperstown, NY, 800-656-1212,
www.belgianexperts.com

12-14 – Portland International Beer Festival, Portland, OR, www.portlandbeerfest.com

15 – Garden State Craft Brewers Guild Festival, Trenton, NJ, www.njbeer.org

19 – Alaska Craft Beer Festival, Fairbanks, AK, 907-452-1105,
www.fairbankschamber.org/gdays.html

19-20 – Vermont Brewers Festival, Burlington, VT, 802-244-6828,
www.vermontbrewers.com

20-21 – 5th  Annual Great Eldorado BBQ, Brews and Blues Festival, Reno, NV,
800-648-5966, www.eldoradoreno.com

26-28 – Oregon Brewers Festival, Portland, OR, 503-778-5917, www.oregonbrewfest.com ,

26-28 – Cotswold Beer Festival, Winchcombe, England, www.visitcotswoldsandsevernvale.gov.uk/events
 
27 – Music City Brewer's Festival, Nashville, TN, 615-664-2484, candace.price@clearchannel.com

27 – Michigan Brewers Festival, Ypsilanpi, MI, 616-382-2338 x12,
www.michiganbrewersguild.org

27 – State College MicroBrewers & Importers Exposition, State College, PA,
814-353-8426, www.scbrewexpo.com

27-28 – Harpoon New England Barbecue Championships, Windsor, VT, 888-HARPOON x31,
www.harpoonbrewery.com

27 – McMenamin’s 6th Annual Festival of IPA's, Seattle, WA, 206-632-6505,
www.mcmenamins.com

28 – Red Hot Blues & Chili Cookoff & Micro Competition, East Hartford, CT, 860-290-5440, kpreston@marchofdimes.com  

AUGUST

 

3 – 11th Annual Great Eastern Invitational Microbrewery Festival, Adamstown, PA,
717-484-4385, www.stoudtsbeer.com

3 – Phillips  Avenue Music and Beer Festival, Souix Falls, SD, www.downtownsiouxfalls.com

3 – 7th Annual Summer Beer Festival, Ketchican, AK, 800-663-4431 www.ketchikancharr.com/beer.html

4 – Den Bonten Os, Baarle Hertog, Belgium, www.bierclub-brouwershuis.nl

6-10 – Great  British Beer Festival, London, England, www.gbbf.org

10 – 16th Annual Great Taste of the Midwest, Madison, WI, www.mhtg.org

10-11 – 6th Annual River Run Bluegrass and Beer Festival, Keystone, CO,
877-625-1556, www.keystonesnow.com

11 – Beer Cans & Breweriana Show, Blue Ash OH, 859-371-4415,
http://home.fuse.net/mries/qcc.htm

16-17 – 9th annual Brews, Brats, & Bands Festival, Stevens Point, WI,
www.pointbeer.com

17 – Valhalla Rhythm & Brews, Stateline, CA, 888-632-5859,
www.valhalla-tallac.com/brews.htm

23-25 – Seattle International Beer Festival, Seattle, WA, www.portlandbeerfest.com

SEPTEMBER


6-7 – Emerald Coast Beer Festival, Pensacola Beach, FL, 850-438-0610,
http://emeraldcoastfest.tripod.com

7-8 – Tavern Days Celebration, Croton-on-Hudson, NY, 800-656-1212,
www.belgianexperts.com

12-15 – Mt. Angel 36th Oktoberfest, Mt. Angel, OR, 503-845-6882, www.oktoberfest.org

13 – Friday  the Firkenteenth, Philadelphia, PA, 215-624-2969

13-14 – Altamont Schuetzenfest, Altamont, IL, 618-483-5532, altschuetzenfest@yahoo.com

13-15 – Poperinge Hops Festival, Poperinge, Belgium, www.poperinge.be

13-15 – Telluride Blues and Brews Festival, Telluride, CO, 888-278-1746,
www.tellurideblues.com

13-15 – Weekend of Beer - Confederation of Belgian Brewers, Brussels, Belgium,
www.beerparadise.be

19-22 – 15th Annual Addison Oktoberfest, Addison, TX, 800-ADDISON,
www.addisontexas.net

20 – Oktoberfest, Modesto, CA, 209-571-6480, www.modchamber.org

20-22 – Fremont Oktoberfest, Seattle, WA, 206-706-9869, www.freemontoktoberfest.org

21 – World Beer Festival, Durham, NC, 800-977-BEER, www.allaboutbeer.com

21 – 16th Annual Great Tucson Beer Festival, 520-296-2400,
www.sunsounds.rio.maricopa.edu/Tucson/index.html

21 – McMenamin’s 5th Annual Barley Cup, Salem, OR, 503-363-7286,
www.mcmenamins.com

21- 6 – Oktoberfest  Munich, Munich - Germany, www.oktoberfest.de

21- 6 – Stuttgart Beer Festival, Stuttgart, Germany,
www.stuttgart-tourist.de/english/festivals/highlights.html

26 – Beer 2001(trade show), Brussels, Belgium, 32 (0) 2 474 85 38,
www.beerexportexhibition.com 

OCTOBER

 

3-5 – Great American Beer Festival, Denver, CO, 303-447-0816, www.beertown.org

3-5 – 4th Twickenham Beer Festival, Twickenham, England,
www.jobin.freeserve.co.uk/camra4.htm

4 – Brewfest at the Beach, New London, CT, 860-447-0425, www.jayhayes.com/rotary

4-6 – Harpoon  Oktoberfest, Boston, MA, 888-HARPOON, x31, www.harpoonbrewery.com

4-6 – Pilsner Fest 160, Plzen, Czech Republic, www.pilsner-ququel.com

5-6 – Greater Saint Louis Beer Festival, St. Louis, MO, 314-576-2727 (*call first,
may be canceled), www.mhcc.com

11-19 – Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, Kitchener and Waterloo, Ontario, Canada,
888-294-HANS, www.oktoberfest.ca

12 – Waffles and Puppets at Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY, 607-547-8184,
www.belgianexperts.com

12 – Acadia's Oktoberfest and Food Festival, Southwest Harbor, ME, 800-423-9264,
www.acadiachamber.com/oktoberfest.html

12-13 – Harpoon fest in Vermont, 888-HARPOON x31, www.harpoonbrewery.com

17-20 – Tulsa Oktoberfest, Tulsa, OK, 918-744-9700, www.tulsaoktoberfest.org

18-20 – MBAA Annual Convention, Austin, TX, 414-774-8558, www.mbaa.com

19 – Shiner's BOCKTOBERFEST, Shiner, TX, 713-867-3135, www.shiner.com

19 – 11th Great Eastern Invitational Microbrewery Festival, Adamstown, PA,
717-484-4385, www.stoudtsbeer.com

25 – 9th Annual Charleston International Beer Festival, Mt Pleasant, SC,
843-689-3440, www.bearfootsports.com

25-27 – 25th PINT-Bokbierfestival, Amsterdam, www.pint.nl

26-27 – Washington  Cask Beer Festival, Seattle, WA, www.washingtonbrewersguild.org

NOVEMBER

 

1-3 – 25th PINT Bokbierfestival, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, www.bbf.htm

2 – 4th Annual AHA Teach A Friend to Homebrew Day, Anywhere You Happen To Be,
888-822-6273, www.beertown.org/AHA/

2 – Maine  Brewer's Festival, Portland, ME, 207-771-7571, www.mainebrew.com

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


22-23 – 10th The Great Canadian Beer Festival, Victoria, British Columbia,
250-383-2332, www.gcbf.com 

DECEMBER

 

6-7 – Harpoon Christmas Party, Boston, MA, 617-574-9551 ext 3,
www.harpoonbrewery.com

14-15 – 7th Annual Kerstbierfestival (Christmas Beer Festival), Essen, Belgium,
http://home2.pi.be/gmarch/eng/kerst_eng.htm 

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CHECK THESE OUT:

 

THE FOOD REFERENCE NEWSLETTER

Food History, Trivia, Quotes, Humor, Poetry, Recipes

James T. Ehler, Editor

james@foodreference.com

http://www.foodreference.com

 

HELLEN’S BRITISH COOKING SITE

“I hope my site reflects the rich tradition of British cooking in its broadest sense.”

http://www.hwatson.force9.co.uk/index.htm