Off Tap.: October/ November

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

WHAT’S BREWING P.2

Craft Revolution

P.4

Slim Pickens

P.5

Beer Caramel Apples

P.7

Halloween Brew-HA-HA

P.8

Dragon’s Milk Stout

abcfws.com

MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS

& THE FUTURE OF THE

CRAFT REVOLUTION MEGHAN GUARINO

Independent craft brewers have something

brewers... Now is the time for craft brewers

breweries have an additional benefit: the ability

big breweries don’t: an extremely passionate

to help beer lovers easily see who is craft.”

to continue truly operating independently.

following, high demand for their beer and an

The need for the independent craft brewer seal

So why are these mergers and acquisitions

official seal provided by the Brewers Association.

comes at a time when some of the most iconic

important to watch? The landscape of the

Announced in June of this year, the independent

craft breweries are dropping “craft” from their

craft industry is changing significantly and

craft brewer seal designates any product it

title as the ink dries an acquisition agreement

very quickly. A craft brewery entering the beer

adorns as truly craft under the guidelines

with a larger corporation. Breckenridge, owned

scene for the first time alone will have a harder

put forth by the association. A brewery is

by Anheuser-Busch InBev since December

time competing against big corporations for

considered “craft” if it:

2015, is one example; Florida’s beloved Funky

shelf space and draft lines, limiting the number

• Produces 6 million barrels of beer or less,

Buddha—bought by Constellation in August

of truly independent craft breweries available

2017—is another. Lagunitas, Wicked Weed,

for beer lovers to explore.

Elysium, Terrapin, Goose Island and even

Jim Koch writes in an April 7, 2017, op-ed

• Does not have more than 25% ownership by an alcohol industry entity that is not itself a craft brewer, and • Brews beers through traditional or innovative techniques and ingredients. Unless you’ve been living under a rock far away from craft beer news, you know why the issuance of this seal is such a big deal.

Anchor Brewing (a pioneer in the craft industry!) have all lost eligibility for the independent craft brewery seal. The list doesn’t end there, and if I were a betting [wo]man, I would put down a lot of money that the list will continue to grow for years to come.

for craft brewers if the trend continues: “Of course, the obvious rejoinder is, “Who cares?” Goose Island still makes beer that consumers are buying, even if it is owned by AB InBev. But that misses the larger point. The growth and the excitement in the beer business is in

In the announcement of the seal, the Brewers

craft, and its potential is threatened by a beer

Association writes, “Small and independent

landscape that is heavily tilted toward gigantic

craft brewers continue to turn the beer

conglomerates and against the independent,

industry upside down so that they can live

Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY.

for the New York Times of the bleak future

the American dream while still putting

innovative entrants.

community above corporation, people ahead

It matters because independent American

of profit and beer before the bottom line.”

breweries create beers for their local regions.

The message is loud and clear.

They invest in their communities. They employ local workers. And they pay taxes — local,

In an environment of relentless change, craft

state and federal. American craft brewing is

brewers lead the charge. They are celebrated when they resist pressure by big breweries. They are the David to big beer’s Goliath. But when one of their own joins the other side— when a craft brewer is bought by big beer— heads hang low and disappointment reigns. In an article on the importance of craft beer independence by Paul Gatza for the Brewers Association, Gatza explains, “Beer lovers know that there have been a number of deals made where large brewers have purchased small brewers, but they might not know for certain which companies are independent craft

American manufacturing that doesn’t outsource I would also bet that there will be an increase in an alternative: Mergers between craft breweries that would allow for similar financial and distribution benefits while maintaining the craft name and mentality. Mergers like these include Southern Tier and Victory Brewing’s recent alliance as Artisanal Brewing Ventures, and, to some extent, the Oskar Blue’s and Cigar City union. Merged and acquired breweries both benefit from wider distribution channels, more money for better hops and other ingredients, and combined marketing efforts. Merged

these well-paying American jobs.”

Page 3

Meghan Guarino Editor Allie Smallwood Contributing Editor

Our certified beer experts on Twitter: We have approximately 30 beer consultants on Twitter. To find the one nearest you, tweet us @abcbeercountry or email us at offtap@abcfws.com to be pointed in the right direction.

|

Not all products are available in all stores. If the product you’re looking for isn’t available, ask us to order it for you!

Follow us on Twitter @abcbeercountry Email us at offtap@abcfws.com

It matters because while craft brewers have led change in this industry, big beer has found a way to control it. With more acquisitions come less independence and with less independence comes less innovation, less localization and less passion for brewing incredible beer. There may be space for big beer on the shelves, but if the industry continues down this path, there won’t be space for anything else.

October/November 2017

abcfws.com

MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS

& THE FUTURE OF THE

CRAFT REVOLUTION MEGHAN GUARINO

Independent craft brewers have something

brewers... Now is the time for craft brewers

breweries have an additional benefit: the ability

big breweries don’t: an extremely passionate

to help beer lovers easily see who is craft.”

to continue truly operating independently.

following, high demand for their beer and an

The need for the independent craft brewer seal

So why are these mergers and acquisitions

official seal provided by the Brewers Association.

comes at a time when some of the most iconic

important to watch? The landscape of the

Announced in June of this year, the independent

craft breweries are dropping “craft” from their

craft industry is changing significantly and

craft brewer seal designates any product it

title as the ink dries an acquisition agreement

very quickly. A craft brewery entering the beer

adorns as truly craft under the guidelines

with a larger corporation. Breckenridge, owned

scene for the first time alone will have a harder

put forth by the association. A brewery is

by Anheuser-Busch InBev since December

time competing against big corporations for

considered “craft” if it:

2015, is one example; Florida’s beloved Funky

shelf space and draft lines, limiting the number

• Produces 6 million barrels of beer or less,

Buddha—bought by Constellation in August

of truly independent craft breweries available

2017—is another. Lagunitas, Wicked Weed,

for beer lovers to explore.

Elysium, Terrapin, Goose Island and even

Jim Koch writes in an April 7, 2017, op-ed

• Does not have more than 25% ownership by an alcohol industry entity that is not itself a craft brewer, and • Brews beers through traditional or innovative techniques and ingredients. Unless you’ve been living under a rock far away from craft beer news, you know why the issuance of this seal is such a big deal.

Anchor Brewing (a pioneer in the craft industry!) have all lost eligibility for the independent craft brewery seal. The list doesn’t end there, and if I were a betting [wo]man, I would put down a lot of money that the list will continue to grow for years to come.

for craft brewers if the trend continues: “Of course, the obvious rejoinder is, “Who cares?” Goose Island still makes beer that consumers are buying, even if it is owned by AB InBev. But that misses the larger point. The growth and the excitement in the beer business is in

In the announcement of the seal, the Brewers

craft, and its potential is threatened by a beer

Association writes, “Small and independent

landscape that is heavily tilted toward gigantic

craft brewers continue to turn the beer

conglomerates and against the independent,

industry upside down so that they can live

Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY.

for the New York Times of the bleak future

the American dream while still putting

innovative entrants.

community above corporation, people ahead

It matters because independent American

of profit and beer before the bottom line.”

breweries create beers for their local regions.

The message is loud and clear.

They invest in their communities. They employ local workers. And they pay taxes — local,

In an environment of relentless change, craft

state and federal. American craft brewing is

brewers lead the charge. They are celebrated when they resist pressure by big breweries. They are the David to big beer’s Goliath. But when one of their own joins the other side— when a craft brewer is bought by big beer— heads hang low and disappointment reigns. In an article on the importance of craft beer independence by Paul Gatza for the Brewers Association, Gatza explains, “Beer lovers know that there have been a number of deals made where large brewers have purchased small brewers, but they might not know for certain which companies are independent craft

American manufacturing that doesn’t outsource I would also bet that there will be an increase in an alternative: Mergers between craft breweries that would allow for similar financial and distribution benefits while maintaining the craft name and mentality. Mergers like these include Southern Tier and Victory Brewing’s recent alliance as Artisanal Brewing Ventures, and, to some extent, the Oskar Blue’s and Cigar City union. Merged and acquired breweries both benefit from wider distribution channels, more money for better hops and other ingredients, and combined marketing efforts. Merged

these well-paying American jobs.”

Page 3

Meghan Guarino Editor Allie Smallwood Contributing Editor

Our certified beer experts on Twitter: We have approximately 30 beer consultants on Twitter. To find the one nearest you, tweet us @abcbeercountry or email us at offtap@abcfws.com to be pointed in the right direction.

|

Not all products are available in all stores. If the product you’re looking for isn’t available, ask us to order it for you!

Follow us on Twitter @abcbeercountry Email us at offtap@abcfws.com

It matters because while craft brewers have led change in this industry, big beer has found a way to control it. With more acquisitions come less independence and with less independence comes less innovation, less localization and less passion for brewing incredible beer. There may be space for big beer on the shelves, but if the industry continues down this path, there won’t be space for anything else.

October/November 2017

The Abundance of Slim Pickens

AL L I E SM A L LWO O D

Todd Strauss was running a little bit late for our lunch to taste through

and during recovery, his brothers knew they had to do something. They

Since we don’t get much of the foliage or

his portfolio of ciders. As he cracked opened the first can of Ananas Pine-

brought him a guitar and he hasn’t put it down since.

crisp weather here in Florida, we have to usher

apple Cider, he poured me a little extra because of his tardiness (which I

Nick’s story, splashed across the screen of the newest banana cider, goes

in the fall season in other ways. And nothing

pardoned with the raise and tip of my glass), and I was so very grateful.

a little something like this: At age 13, he knew he wanted to be on stage,

Why? The stuff is gooooooood. Like, real good. It’s not the syrupy, sweet,

performing and playing. His obsessions started with Elvis, then moved

can-only-drink-one-because-your-stomach-starts-doing-backflips cider

on to Eddie V, going next to Stevie Ray and of course Prince. Music was

that you’re used to. I wasn’t expecting it to pair so well with my lunch and

always the place he went, whether it was the jam room or the party band.

I definitely wasn’t expecting it to be so refreshing. It’s dry. You want an-

After years of playing name brand guitars, he decided it was time to build

other after the first one. It tastes like freshly squeezed pineapple juice with

his own. He started Stevens Custom Guitars in the months after that

a kick of texturizing carbonation, streams of tropical fruit and a satisfying-

decision. Nick has said, “If you can buy it

ly sweet touch that rounds it out.

somewhere else, I don’t want to build it.

An experience with just the first sample of pineapple cider led me to ask

So as you enjoy this beverage remember

Todd a little bit about his vision to produce a drier cider. “The name Slim

that it was made with the same passion

Pickens actually comes from a poem that Joey [Redner, founder of Cigar

and love I’ve put into the instrument I build.

City Brewing and good friend of Todd Strauss] wrotewhen we were, like,

Check your mic and sing out loud with

12,” Todd said. “He wrote ‘slim are the pickens,’ and he was actually

love in your heart.”

talking about grass and how all the blades look the same but not one

As deep as they are philosophically,

actually is. So I interpreted that as people, hence why you see people’s

they get a little deeper when it comes

faces on all our cans.” The human story is a central part to this delicious

to flavor. They use a single-strength

brew. Deep stuff for a cider brand, huh?

juice, which means that there are no

When you pick up a can of their pineapple cider, you see a cute brunette

added ingredients or chemicals.

holding a pineapple and making a kissy face. Todd explained that when

There is no added blueberry or

he lived in Sweden for six months, there was a coffee shop in Helsingborg

passionfruit flavor... it’s the actual

that a woman named Anne owned. She loved pineapples. Her love for

juice from the actual fruit. There are

pineapples spurred the first cider flavor when it was still in conception.

exactly three ingredients in each

Was it coincidence that the first person Todd chose to feature on his cans

cider, and they’re all-natural for

loved the same fruit flavor he’d decided on? “Yes, I’d already decided to

maximum flavor.

make a pineapple and Anne also happened to love them.

It’s that experience combined with

It was meant to be.

Todd’s humanitarian outlook on life

the candy thermometer and turns syrupy, remove

”Then you have Mike, with his story splashed on the can of their Yo! Blue-

that brings a refreshing element to

from heat. Add whipping cream, salt and

berry Cider. He was miraculously spared in an awful motorcycle accident

the craft beer game.

vanilla. Keep stirring as you do this so nothing

says fall quite like caramel apples. This year, take it up a notch with beer-infused caramel apples. The rich, creaminess from the caramel, the slight nuttiness from the beer and the tart crunch of the apple combine for a sweet, bona fide autumnal treat that is super simple to make. Whether you’re hosting a killer Halloween party (see pages 6-7!) or you just want to slide in an adult addition for when the kids do it, these beer caramel apples are fantastic. Craft beer veterans: This is a great place in incorporate pumpkin beer when you want to celebrate the season without pouring a glass of the stuff. There’s no denying the flavors work together! The basic recipe is this:

1 12-oz Pumpkin or Other Fall Seasonal Beer

2 tbsp Unsalted Butter

1 ½ cups Dark Brown Sugar

1 cup Whipping Cream

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1/8 tsp Salt

Pour the beer into a pan and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add butter

curdles. Put the pan back on the stove. Turn down the heat to medium and cook for another few minutes until the caramel turns thick and creamy. Spear each apple with a wooden dowel or popsicle stick. Dunk apple into the caramel until well coated. Sprinkle with nuts, chocolate flecks or other garnishes and set on wax paper to cool and slightly harden.

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Don’t stir it! When it reaches 225 degrees on

Page 5

and brown sugar. Cook for about 12 minutes.

October/November 2017

A L LIE SMALLW OOD

B eer Caramel A pples