Anheuser-Busch buys American Eagle Distributing

Anheuser-Busch buys American Eagle Distributing

Anheuser-Busch InBev, the second-largest beer distributor in the U.S., is expanding its Colorado footprint.

The brewery announced Tuesday its purchase of Loveland-based American Eagle Distributing Co., as well as portions of another Colorado beer distributor, Standard Sales Company.

“Many factors made this transaction align with our strategy, after learning of American Eagle’s interest in selling and Standard Sales’ interest in exchanging operations,” Bob Tallett, vice president of business and wholesaler development for A-B, stated in a press release.

Standard Sales exchanged its Littleton, Pueblo and Colorado Springs distributorships for Anheuser Busch’s Kentucky territories. Earlier this year, Kentucky liquor law changed, leaving Anheuser-Busch and any out-of-state brewery unable to own a distributorship there.

“After a significant evaluation of options, we agreed to exchange territory with Standard Sales as the best path forward for our employees and operations in Kentucky,” Tallett said.

“We are pleased that Standard Sales expressed interest in a mutually-beneficial agreement and we look forward to having our employees in Kentucky meet with them soon.”

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It is unclear how business will be affected for former A-B Kentucky employees as well as for employees previously of Standard Sales and American Eagle in Colorado.

Also unclear is how the acquisitions will affect the Colorado craft beer industry.

Following the completed transactions, which will take place in September and October, Anheuser-Busch distributing will cover a large swath of the eastern half of the state, stretching from Wyoming to New Mexico.

Previously Anheuser-Busch Denver controlled distribution of a relatively small territory surrounding the state’s capital city.

DDA: Old Town Square will be done by Oct. 18

Russell Fruits is vice president of Loveland’s Grimm Brothers Brewhouse. Grimm Brothers is currently distributed in Northern Colorado by American Eagle, along with other craft brands such as Great Divide, Epic, Breckenridge and Odell.

Fruits said that “it’s too early to tell” what will happen to craft brewers like him under an A-B-owned distribution.

He was awaiting a meeting Thursday to discuss specifics, but said, “just based on how other A-B owned distributors are run and managed, it probably means quite a few changes.”

Anheuser-Busch buys American Eagle Distributing

Julie Sexton- The Coloradoan


Brewsday Tuesday: New Orleans’ growing beer scene

Brewsday Tuesday: New Orleans’ growing beer scene

The New Orleans beer scene is growing and busy with new breweries and bars and upcoming annual events.

NOLA on Tap will be Saturday, Sept. 26, at the New Orleans City Park Festival Grounds. Sponsored by the LA-SPCA, the family- and pet-friendly event is free and beer tickets are available for purchase. Colin Lake, Cardinal Sons and the Honey Island Swamp Band are scheduled to perform. General admission is at 1 p.m. and VIP early admission is at noon. The event runs until 8 p.m.

The Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s Boudin, Bourbon & Beer fundraiser is Nov. 13 at Champions Square. Tickets are available now and cost $85 through Sept. 1. In addition to its flagships and seasonal beer selections, co-sponsor Abita Brewing Company will provide unique and rare beers from its cellars, such as Bourbon Street Maple Pecan brown ale.

The World of Beer Julia Street location (324 Julia St.) is expected to open in late August. Also on track to open in late August or early September is the new Tchoupitoulas Beer Garden (840 Tchoupitoulas St., Ste. 103), which will feature a large outdoor space and a variety of German, American and local craft beers on tap.

Second Line Brewing (433 N. Bernadotte St., 504-248-8979) received its final permits on July 27, making it the 16th brewery in Louisiana. Owner Mark Logan and his brewing team brewed their first batch, an IPA, on July 29, and it will be released in several weeks. Logan is working to open a tap room on the premises.

Chappapeela Farm Brewery (57542 Hillcrest School Road, Amite, 225-281-9474) is nearing completion. Its small batch beer will be sold in 750 milliliter bottles. Brewery founder Tom Conklin says the beer will be available almost exclusively in fine dining restaurants. The brewery’s two flagship beers will be a porter and a barrel-aged saison, both brewed with Brettanomyces yeasts.

New Orleans Growing beer scene

 Nora McGunnigle on Tue, Aug 4, 2015  Gambit.com


3 Breweries on Tap for NELA

3 Breweries on Tap for NELA

Within a year, northeastern Louisiana is slated to be home to not one but three breweries.

Ouachita Brewing Co., Cotton Port Brewing and Flying Tiger Brewery each plan a different approach to business, and each are in different stages of readiness to open. All are still in the permitting process with The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control and not yet open.

“Anything can affect that,” Heath Lord, founder of Ouachita Brewing Co., said. “It’s kind of like the IRS. They’re involved, and it is what it is, and you leave it alone. You really want to make sure that you support the ATC and the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) as much as you can because their jobs are hard enough. We want to make sure that we can appreciate the work that they put into this to keep industry standards protected.”

So far, seven men in northeastern Louisiana have decided to leverage a passion for homebrewing into a business, and they bring a range of experience to the task.

“Who doesn’t want to turn a hobby that they’re passionate about into their full-time job and be able to do something they love every day?” said James E. Simpson, one of three partners in Flying Tiger Brewery. “It’s about brewing beer, but there’s a creative aspect to it. Mixing and matching recipes. Finding the right hops or the right style of beer for the right malt. There’s a creative outlet for me through it. But it’s also a passion. Why not quit your job and decide to brew beer for a living? Who wouldn’t want to do that?

“There’s a culture that surrounds us, too, of great people. I’ve learned this in the past year with visiting other breweries and getting to know the people in the industry. These people stand united, and it’s about uplifting each other. While sales are going to be competitive, the people in this industry reach out and want to help each other because they want to see every brewery be successful.”

Ouachita Brewing Co.

Lord already has been issued a permit from The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control and is no longer considered a homebrewer. He is a malt beverage manufacturer, and he plans to start production in the third quarter.

“Our system will be here in a couple of weeks, so we will be manufacturing as soon as we receive our final permits and labeling approvals,” he said.

Lord said he plans to launch the business with one or two varieties of beer, including his Louisiamber, the flagship amber ale.

“That has gone over very, very well,” Lord said. “It has won two awards. We’re going to continue with that.”

Initially, he said, the beers will be available only at local restaurants that serve tap beer, not canned or bottled in retail stores. He plans to offer four or five beers in an on-site taproom. “I’ve got several recipes that have won awards, and we will probably start off with those,” he said.

He encourages people to go to the Ouachita Brewing Co. Facebook page and offer recommendations about what beers they’d like to try.

“That kind of survey is really important for us because each beer we put out, we want to make sure that we meet a demand,” he said.

Lord said a major focus is quality control. He tests the brews at three stages — after the primary fermentation, after the secondary fermentation and after it’s gone into the keg.

“I taste everything that goes out, and if it just tastes off, it just doesn’t go out,” he said. “If something come off not matching the profiles I have set for these beers, then it’s not going to hit the market.”

Overall, Lord said, the goal of his business is to encourage economic growth and tourism for the area.

“We want to be able to create good stable jobs in the area,” he said. “We want to be able to give back to the community and grow the culture in a positive way. It’s not about the beer.

“It’s about the love and adoration that we have for our community and what we can do for future generations coming forward. It’s the passion for that and the passion for the people — so many great people in Monroe. Northeast Louisiana has every bit of culture to offer the rest of the state. It’s just undermarketed and undercapitalized, so we want to be able to do that. Beer is just the vessel we’re going to use to deliver that culture.”

Cotton Port Brewing

Troy Duguay Sr., Troy Duguay Jr. and Will Cook plan to open an event-driven venue in northeastern Louisiana. The three are homebrewers for now, but Troy Duguay Sr. said their business is in the “final stages of opening” and is scheduled to open in the fall, pending ATC approval.

Troy Duguay Sr. said he’s been a homebrewer since 1989, and his partners started more recently.

He said Cotton Port plans to make old-fashioned session beers, those with low-alcohol content, and noted a desire to stay away from “funky” craft brews.

The partners pick the brews’ names based on historical references and landmarks of northeastern Louisiana, Troy Duguay Sr. said, explaining the cotton port is what made Monroe the city it is.

Cotton Port offered four options at Brewfest, held June 6 at the Downtown RiverWalk — Cotton Top Kolch, Broken Levee IPA, Prohibition Cream Ale and Blackwater Dry Stout. He said the cream ale and lighter beers were ” a hit.”

Flying Tiger Brewery

Simpson, Robert Brewer and David Johnson have been working to launch Flying Tiger Brewery for about a year, and Simpson said they went public at Brewfest. Brewer said Flying Tiger is “still in the becoming stage” and is not yet a commercial brewery. All beer produced is still homebrew.

Simpson said he’s been a homebrewer for a little more than two years. He credits working in the restaurant and bar business for his love of beer and developed palate. He introduced Brewer to homebrewing about a year ago.

“I think like most people, outside of Abita, we didn’t have a lot of exposure to local craft beer in this area until very, very recently,” Brewer said. “I think that has helped me grow an appreciation for what goes on when making beer and craft beer. This was all new to me, and I’ve come to enjoy this process. … gaining an appreciation for the craft of tinkering it and the art of making beer. It’s every bit as much an art as it is a science.”

Simpson said as a homebrewer, he had made eight or 10 styles of beer, and the owners plan to open the company with four or five flagships, one of which will be a rotating seasonal.

“This summer, we’ve been playing with peach wheat beer, he said. “I went and picked Ruston peaches myself for the beer.

“Once we get operational as a business, we want to source as many local ingredients as possible. We want to use Ruston peaches. We want to use local sweet potatoes. We want to get as local of sugarcane as possible.”

The name of the business itself celebrates the Flying Tigers, the 1st American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force in 1941–42 led by Monroe Gen. Claire Lee Chennault. Simpson said they talked to Nell Calloway, Chennault’s granddaughter and received her permission before using the name.

“I think it’s important for people to know that we’re not just brewing beer and we’re not just opening a business,” Simpson said. “We’re trying to add to the renovation of downtown Monroe, and we’re trying to create a destination. When I go out of town, I go to breweries. When I am traveling somewhere, I look to see if they have a brewery. … We’re trying to create that here.”

Brewer and Simpson said they’re shooting for a spring opening, depending on ATC approval.

Online

Ouachita Brewing Co.

https://www.facebook.com/ouachitabrewingcompany?fref=ts

Cotton Port Brewing

https://www.facebook.com/cottonportbrewing?fref=ts

Flying Tiger Brewery

https://www.facebook.com/flyingtigerbrewery?fref=ts

http://www.flying-tiger-brewery.com/

Bonnie Bolden – The News Star.com


New Brewery Opens in Central Louisiana

New Brewery Opens in Central Louisiana

Sitting at what is commonly referred to as a “crossroads,” Avoyelles Parish is a place in Louisiana that exemplifies both the north and south sides of the state. The parish celebrates its combination of southern Louisiana’s Cajun culture and northern Louisiana’s religious influence. Recently, restaurateur Jonathan Knoll brought Avoyelles Parish into a group containing a select few — the Louisiana Craft Brewers Guild.

Knoll’s operation, Broken Wheel Brewery, is a small brewing system he placed in the back of his seafood restaurant, Fresh Catch Bistreaux, in Marksville, Louisiana. After months of education and preparation, Knoll and his brewmaster Chris Pahl officially announced their products to the people of Louisiana in March.

Knoll learned the craft of brewing through a mixture of self-education and help from plumbing-savvy friend Gary Guillory of Big Dog Brewing. Currently, Broken Wheel operates on a small scale, brewing only three days per week, allowing Knoll to manage his restaurant.

“We’ve been reading so many books,” Knoll said. “Watching hours of YouTube videos and homebrew stuff.”

Broken Wheel brews four different varieties, each with a name that echoes the parish’s culture, history and geography — a pale ale named “Pachafa,” a “Spring Bayou Blonde Ale,” a “Muddy Waters” brown ale and “Grand Chien,” a milk stout.

Since opening Fresh Catch Bistreaux seven years ago, Knoll said he has noticed an increase in local interest to drink more imported, non-domestic beers over the typical domestics of rural areas. Knoll began working with the basics of homebrewing, unaware of the science and conventions of the process. Upon meeting Guillory, he improved his education to make Broken Wheel a reality.

Knoll said domestic beers such as Budweiser and Miller are prevalent in areas like Avoyelles Parish. However, if the brewery continues to thrive, he hopes to see success as a brewery in central Louisiana, and an unprecedented presence in the region. Despite support from the surrounding community, Knoll said the introduction of craft beer is an uphill battle.

“I think there is a market for it,” Knoll said. “I think I’ve got a little niche here. I’m trying to do something nobody else is doing. Everybody’s supporting it. The customers that have been complimenting me on it have really been flattering. It’s almost too good to be true.”

Like any self-made business owner, Knoll is looking to the future of Broken Wheel. He hopes to expand the operation into a larger facility, allowing him to meet any foreseeable demand that may come.

Because of its size, Broken Wheel is only able to produce enough beer to fill a few kegs from each batch. Knoll is now working on distribution permits, meaning all beer is sold within Fresh Catch Bistreaux and the surrounding area at public events. With these permits, Knoll said he would be able to meet an interest in his beer already established by local restaurants and surrounding stores.

Along with wider supply, Knoll is working to refine his brewing process, as well as keep resource costs as low as he can. One way he’s reducing cost is by growing his own hops.

Though Broken Wheel’s beers are now made with manufactured hops pellets, Knoll has begun growing his own, with 10 plants developing in his restaurant’s gazebo affectionately named “Der Hopfengarten,” or “The Hop

Garden.”

“It’s been a really cool and fun little journey figuring out all this stuff out,” Knoll said. “We’ve taught ourselves this far. I’m

willing to keep on going.”

For Knoll, Broken Wheel’s presence is what will help Avoyelles Parish’s regional image, adding another layer to the area’s persona of cultural significance. Broken Wheel’s place in the Louisiana Craft Brewers Guild also puts the parish in a more public eye.

“Avoyelles Parish is a very unique place,” Knoll said. “The community that we have here is really strong, especially here in Marksville. We’ve come a long way just being a part of the [Avoyelles] Arts Council and the things we’ve done. People are rallying around that, and that’s what gives it the momentum that it has right now.”

GERALD DUCOTE- LSUreveille.com


Louisiana Beer Festivals to Look Forward to in 2015

Louisiana Beer Festivals to Look Forward to in 2015

Last week, WYES cancelled its long-running International Beer Tasting and its Private Beer Sampling companion event, citing rising costs and logistical concerns. When the tasting was initiated 32 years ago, there weren’t many other beer-focused events in the area, and the state didn’t have the variety of beers now offered by several recently opened Louisiana breweries. The WYES events will be missed, but here are some major beer festivals on the 2015 calendar.

On Feb. 21. Lake Charles hosts the inaugural Louisiana Winter Beer Fest (www.lawinterbeerfest.com), featuring more than 50 breweries, including local favorites, national craft brands and visiting brewers such as Abbey Beverage Company and Sierra Blanca Brewing. The event is 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Calcasieu Marine National Bank. Tickets are $40, and a portion of proceeds benefit the Community Foundation of SWLA.

The 11th annual Zapp’s International Beer Fest (www.zappsbeerfest.com) will be held at the Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on March 21. The festival benefits Friends of the Rural Life Museum. Tickets are $35.

On Sept. 26, the LA/SPCA (www.la-spca.org) and The Bulldog (www.draftfreak.com) present the sixth annual New Orleans On Tap in New Orleans City Park. The festival features craft beer, a homebrew competition, live music, food vendors and a VIP tent.

On Nov. 14, Houma’s third annual Bayou Beer Fest (www.bayoubeerfest.com) will serve craft beer and local homebrews at Southdown Plantation. Proceeds benefit local veterans’ assistance nonprofits. Last year, the festival raised $10,000 for the Terrebonne Veterans Shelter and Louisiana Military Family Assistance Fund, organizers said. The 2013 event drew 800 people, and in 2014 there were more than 2,000 attendees.

NORA McGUNNIGLE- BestofNewOrleans.com


Costco executive presents plans for New Orleans store on South Carrollton Avenue

Costco executive presents plans for New Orleans store on South Carrollton Avenue

Costco‘s vice president of real estate, Jack Frank, met with a mostly warm reception Wednesday night when he and his team unveiled plans for a store his company proposes to build at the former Carrollton Shopping Center.

About 50 people gathered at the Qatar Pharmacy Pavilion at Xavier University to hear Frank’s presentation and study graphics displayed outside the meeting room. A second round of presentations will take place Thursday evening in the same venue from 5 to 7 p.m.

Read the full article.