Meeting of the Malts IV – April 2, 2015
On April 2, 2015, the Brewers of Pennsylvania (“The BOP”), the official brewers guild of Pennsylvania, will hold its fourth annual “Meeting of the Malts” at Allentown Brew Works. See my full article on Philly Beer Scene Online Exclusives to learn more!
Purchase tickets on the BOP website here. I hope to see you there!
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2015 – all rights reserved
Since the end of Prohibition, Pennsylvania distributors have not been permitted to sell anything less than a case of 24 12-ounce bottles or a “single container” holding at least 128 ounces (i.e., a keg…or remember party balls?). Lawyers and regulators have read that language to mean that anything less than a case of bottles had to be purchased somewhere other than a distributor – like a bar, deli, or recently, grocery stores.
However, with little fanfare, on March 6, lawyers for the PLCB released what could be considered a historic Advisory Opinion that announced the PLCB will now interpret a “single container” to include a 12 pack of 12-ounce bottles – as long as the 12 pack is one individual package. For large brewers, this argument makes lot of sense because the total amount in 12 bottles is 144 oz – still over the 128 oz requirement.
This interpretation was brought to the PLCB’s attention by Pittsburgh lawyer Charles Caputo, who filed the request for the interpretation on behalf of Rivertowne Brewing last year, but the PLCB did not address it until Caputo forced the issue with the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court in December. In a press release, the PLCB characterized the decision as a “clarification of existing law.”
While Pennsylvania consumers are rejoicing in the news that they will now be able to buy a $20 “half case” as compared to a $40 “full case,” the Brewers of Pennsylvania (www.brewersofpa.org), thinks the PLCB decision will harm small Pennsylvania brewers. In a formal response the BOP explained, “We as the small beer Brewers of Pennsylvania employ an estimated 10,000 employees earning $296 million in wages and generating $1.1 billion in direct economic benefits to communities throughout the state…Today we can provide 6 packs and even 12 packs for sale at distributors but nearly all of our members do not have manufacturing and packaging capability to offer 18 packs. Foreign-owned, mega-brewers have such predatory, ‘loss leader’ packages in states all around us and today’s PLCB decision serves up a competitive disadvantage that can be destructive to small businesses, such as our suppliers, across the state.”
The BOP also believes that the PLCB exceeded its “legal authority and obligation to the welfare of citizens of Pennsylvania in today’s ruling…though an advance for all who celebrate the diversity of beer brands and flavors, [the ruling] has failed on some levels and has inexplicably handed a huge advantage to out-of-state, global brewing entities.” Ted Zeller, BOP General Counsel, said the new interpretation opens the door for large manufacturers to sell 18 packs. That, he said, would put family-owned and smaller craft breweries at a disadvantage because the larger companies can offer lower prices for the larger packs, which most smaller operations don’t have the resources to manufacture and market themselves. “We’re not against 12-packs in any shape or form, but we’re against being competitively disadvantaged based on a legal interpretation we’ve relied upon since Prohibition.”
Because this rule change is an interpretation of an agency rule rather than a newly adopted statute, we can probably expect a challenge in the court system and possible reversal. But until then, consumers should be on the look out for 12 packs in their local distributor as soon as brewers with the capacity can change their product packaging.
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2015 – all rights reserved
On Saturday, February 21, 2015, Forest & Main Brewing Company, along with From the Boot Ambler, and the “God on Tap” Community, came together to support the Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard. I was proud to attend this wonderful beer tasting for a good cause – read about it on Philly Beer Scene Online Exclusives! And thanks to Ambler’s own Stacey Salter Moore for providing the photographs for the piece!
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2015 – all rights reserved
Recently I attended a simply decadent “Beer & Chocolate” pairing at Iron Hill Brewery Chestnut Hill on assignment for Philly Beer Scene Magazine. Read my review of it on Philly Beer Scene’s Online Exclusives!
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Coyright 2015 – all rights reserved
On the verge of 2015, I wanted to take a quick look back at the great year that was 2014! I met so many awesome craft brewers and their creations – locally, in the U.S., and around the globe – Wow!
A summary of my 2014 highlights:
Funky Buddha
January – a quick visit to Funky Buddha and Organic Brewing in the warm Florida sun.
March & October – Two new Ommegang / Game of Thrones beers – Fire & Blood Red Ale; Valar Morghulis
April – I visited San Francisco and visited 21st Amendment, Thirsty Bear and the Toronado to sample the best of the City by the Bay.
August – My personal highlight – a trip to the booming craft beer city of St. Louis! Details will be coming soon in a Philly Beer Scene issue…but those of you following me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter know that I had amazing visits with Four Hands Brewing, Perennial Artisan Ales and Urban Chestnut Brewing! And I visited the Clydesdales too…
Four Peaks Brewing Kiltlifter in its natural state
September – Beer in the desert – I was able to find out first hand about a craft beer oasis in Phoenix, Arizona!
For every issue of Philly Beer Scene this year I researched and wrote about the history of these outstanding Belgian breweries: St. Bernardus, DuPont, De Koninck, Het Anker, De Halve Maan, and Van Steenberge. Also, I had the opportunity to interview Jack Maxwell, the host of Travel Channel’s new show, “Booze Traveler.”
Prism Coffee Porter
Local highlights include the Forest & Main monthly Sunday dinners from January to August; The Band of Brewers; the Fifth Annual Lansdale Beer Festival; the Philly Beer Scene Awards in May – with Free Will’s Whit beer that aged nicely for Thanksgiving; a collaboration beer pairing dinner with the brewers at Iron Hill Chestnut Hill during Philly Beer Week; and a fantastic trip to McGillians to start the holiday season !
What a great year! Thanks again to all my brew friends who helped make 2014 so awesome!
So what will 2015 bring for the Brewholder? A few spoilers: San Diego; Portland, Maine; Savannah; New Orleans; more Belgian history; at least one new Ommegang / Game of Thrones beer; and a relocation for The Brewholder HQ…Looks like 2015 is going to be another exciting beer year!
Cheers and Happy New Year!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved
On Monday, November 24 at 10:00 pm, Travel Channel premieres “Booze Traveler.” I had the chance to interview the host, Jack Maxwell, and talk to him about his experiences while filming the show. Check out my article on the interview on Philly Beer Scene!
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved
Thank you to all who have ever put your personal lives and freedoms on hold to serve the United States and its citizens! Happy Veterans Day – this toast is to all of you!
Pizza Boy Hoptart 1.2 – Cheers!
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Yesterday, Ommegang announced the next beer in its HBO / Game of Thrones Series, to be released next Spring for the beginning of the fifth season of the show: Three Eyed Raven.
Three Eyed Raven
Mysterious Three-Eyed Raven inspires next Game of Thrones® beer from Brewery Ommegang and HBO®
(COOPERSTOWN, NY) On the HBO series Game of Thrones, things are often not what they seem. There may be no better example than the three-eyed raven – which in Bran Stark’s dreams and visions is a bird. But as Bran discovers in the season four finale, the raven is actually a mysterious old man whose body is fused with the roots of a weirwood tree beyond the wall. Just like the mythical creature, the next beer in the Game of Thrones series from Brewery Ommegang is not exactly what it appears to be. Three-Eyed Raven Dark Saison Ale is a saison, but it’s also a dark ale. And it will be available spring 2015 when the hit show returns for its fifth season.
Three-Eyed Raven is the fifth beer in the partnership between HBO and Brewery Ommegang. Like its predecessors, the beer is inspired by themes and plot points from the award-winning HBO series. As season four wound down, the storyline of Bran and the three-eyed raven reached a shocking climax that portends dark and momentous events in store for the people of Westeros. A dark take on the classic saison style seemed most appropriate for the latest beer.
“A dark saison is a style that we’ve been intrigued with for a while now and one that’s open to a broader stylistic interpretation,” said Mike McManus, Brewery Ommegang’s Innovation Manager. “When we zeroed in on Bran’s storyline with HBO, we knew this was the perfect opportunity to brew something with many different characteristics and attributes – a beer that’s not truly one thing or another. It is definitely the most unique beer in the series to date, which is very exciting.”
“Going into season five, Game of Thrones is bigger than ever, and we’ve learned very quickly over the past four beer releases that fans of this show are thirsty for Ommegang’s innovative and carefully conceived brews,” said Josh Goodstadt, Vice President of Global Licensing at HBO. “We’re certain those fans will be just as surprised by the complexity of Three-Eyed Raven as they were by Bran’s discovery at the end of season four.”
Three-Eyed Raven is brewed with a carefully crafted mixture of specialty malts, including malted rye, midnight wheat (provides depth of color but not the roasty flavor of a dark beer), and dark candi sugar. It’s hopped with Hallertau Spalt Select, Tettnang, and Bravo hops, which give the beer a spicy, fruity character. A fair amount of late-addition hops are added for character. Three-Eyed Raven is fermented and bottle-conditioned with Ommegang’s signature house yeast.
Saison qualities dominate Three-Eyed Raven with fruity esters, clean floral hops aromas, a light malt character with just a hint of roast and a pleasant yeastiness in the taste, and a crisp finish with lingering herbal hops and dry rye notes. The label art, which features the three-eyed raven, was created using an actual concept design illustration from the series.
Previous beers in the highly successful collaboration include: Valar Morghulis Dubbel Ale (available now), Fire and Blood Red Ale (spring 2014), Take the Black Stout (fall 2013), and Iron Throne Blonde Ale (spring 2013.) The first three beers in the series completely sold out and Valar Morghulis is well on its way, despite being brewed at nearly 4x the volume of Iron Throne.
Three-Eyed Raven will be available nationally this spring (exact launch date still TBC) in time for the season five premiere of Game of Thrones. The 7.2% ABV ale will be available on draft (sixth-barrels) and in corked bottles (25.4 ounces). The recommended retail price is $9.50 per bottle.
Cheers!
The Brewholder
#masterfulness
On October 14, 2014, Duvel is celebrating “#Masterfulness” by hosting a beer and art event at the Crown Victoria Bar in Brooklyn, New York. The celebration will feature woodcut artists “Drive by Press” who will create “super-sized, limited edition art prints” using a steamroller on the street! Those who attend will be able to sample Duvel’s Golden Ale in a free custom glass made for the event, as well as a free Duvel t-shirt printed by traditional woodcut block.
The goblet shaped glass has a “Devil in the – details – ness” logo which Duvel describes as representing their “relentless brewing craftsmanship.” The interior bottom of the glass is etched with the Duvel “D” and creates a continuous release of carbonation to ensure a full, creamy head for the Golden Ale. To experience the glass, the ale, and the steamrolled art, make sure you get to the Crown Victoria Bar by 5:00 pm on October 14!
#devilinthedetailsness
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved
Pumpkin painting at the historic Ambler Theater
On Saturday, October 4, 2014, Ambler, Pennsylvania held its annual Oktoberfest, sponsored by the Ambler Main Street organization. After a scare of rainstorms in the morning, the weather turned out to be perfect for a street festival. Butler Avenue was packed with local artisans, food, carnival games, live music and a Beer Garden sponsored by the Ambler Rotary Club. It was a family-friendly event but still had craft brew options for those looking for it.
Ambler Rotary Club’s Oktoberfest Beer Garden
The Rotary Club Beer Garden served Victory’s Festbier as well as a few other non-oktoberfest options; several restaurants on the street, including The Lucky Well, offered food on the curb and had their doors wide open for beverage service. The open-container prohibition was suspended during the event, so festival attendees could walk and peruse the craft wares for sale – including bottle cap artwork from Zaps Caps.
Zaps Caps bottlecap artwork
Hop Fries!
Among the food options was “Hop Fries” – double fried french fries in the Belgian style sprinkled with an IPA seasoning and served with a smoked garlic cheddar beer cheese. Talk about a great snack while wandering through a street festival! Other offerings included traditional funnel cakes and kettle corn, as well as Korean delicacies and Philly cheesesteaks.
Hop fries and hop drink
The official end of the festival was located at the live music stage at the intersection of Butler and Main. But two chalkboards encouraged fest goers to wander down Main Street for an additional Oktoberfest experience. Bar 31 offered free samples of Sierra Nevada’s Harvest Ale and had a great selection of other seasonal craft beers, including Southern Tier’s Pumking (on special for $4 a pint) and Terrapin’s Pumpkinfest. While the selection was great, Bar 31 still allows smoking in the barroom which is not conducive to fully enjoying the craft brews. Once smoking is prohibited inside the pub, Bar 31 will be poised to be a craft beer destination in Ambler.
Bar 31
Ambler’s local craft brewery, Forest & Main, opened its doors early at 12:00 pm for its Oktoberfest celebration. As with all its events, the front yard was packed with craft beer fans and families enjoying F&M’s house made pretzels and other German fare. Specially made for Oktoberfest was the Nico, a 5.5% ABV inspired by both German Oktoberfests and French Biere de Gardes. It was a perfect compliment to the weather and the companionship in the front yard, and a great ending to the Ambler Oktoberfest!
F&M Oktoberfest 2014
F&M Nico
Prost!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved