Blog Archives
Brewers Association Unveils Seal to Signify Independent Beers
As mega-multinationals continue to acquire American craft breweries, the Brewers 
Association (BA) has created a seal designating which beers are still produced by independents.
The seal features the silhouette of a beer bottle turned upside down, which, the BA says, “captures the spirit with which craft brewers have upended beer,” and the words “Brewers Association Certified Independent Craft.”
The seal is available for use free of charge by any of the more than 5,300 small and independent American craft brewers that have a valid TTB Brewer’s Notice, meet the BA’s craft brewer definition, and sign a license agreement. It is available to both member and non-member breweries of the BA.
Breweries can find more information about the independent craft brewer seal at BrewersAssociation.org/seal and consumers can learn more at CraftBeer.com/seal.
Bon Beer Voyage scores major award from World Food Travel Association
My friend, Ruth Berman, just sent me this press release about her company Bon Beer Voyage. Major congratulations on winning a FoodTrekking Award from the World Food Travel Association!
Brewers Association releases annual Top 50 Breweries list
The Brewers Association (BA) has just released its annual rankings of the Top 50 Craft Breweries and Top 50 Overall Breweries in the U.S. Of the Top 50 Overall Breweries, 40 meet the BA’s definition of “craft brewer.” Not a ton of surprises this year, other than the fact that Duvel Moortgat USA has shot up to No. 6 on the craft brewers list from No. 15 in 2015. But that’s not really a surprise because the jump is primarily due to the fact that Duvel Moortgat acquired 2015’s No. 13 brewery, Firestone Walker. See the graphics below for the complete lists.
Pizza, burgers & beer!
My latest piece in FSR Magazine details how the rise of great beer paralleled the same revolutions in pizza and burger restaurants. Read it here.
Drink more Fernet Branca (in beer form!)
A few years back, Odell Brewing released Fernet-Aged Porter, a chocolatey, coffee-like brew aged in barrels that once held fernet produced by Denver’s Leopold Bros. Distillery. Now, Chicago’s Forbidden Root restaurant and brewery, known for “botanic beers,” has taken that concept a step further and developed a brew using ingredients based on the flavor profile of the famous digestive. The brewery partnered with the makers iconic amaro Fernet Branca—the first time the latter has ever collaborated with a brewer. The result: Fernectic, an 8.4 percent ABV, a spicy, minty, herbal brew made with ingredients such as rhubarb, wormwood and saffron, pulled right from Fernet Branca’s recipe (which includes a total of 27 botanicals).
Forbidden Root unveils Fernetic at its West Town location on January 19th, offering it on draft and in a limited number of 22-ounce bottles for $14.99.
Craft Beverage Expo moves to PDX
Craft Beverage Expo (CBExpo) will return for its fourth annual conference in Portland, OR Nov. 7-9, 2017 at the DoubleTree by Hilton. It’s the first time the conference will be held outside of Northern California.
Each year, CBExpo attracts professionals from across the craft beer, wine, cider, mead and spirits market for three days of ducation sessions and presentations from hand-chosen experts. CBExpo also offers networking opportunities, bringing together artisan beverage masters from all segments to connect and collaborate.
