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RBPMail 4.10, October 1995
Real Beer Page Mail (RBPMail) began as a modest update to craft-brew events on the WWW. It evolved into a news digest and sometimes editorial forum. We present its contents here much as they were emailed to subscribers. Often, links you will see are out of date, and businesses referred to may also be long gone.
In this issue:
If you like what you read here and want more every week, subscribe
to BEERWeek. Much of the content within is digested from BEERWeek, the
paid subscription supported industry email newsletter. Get your free
sample today at
http://www.beerweek.com
OKTOBERFEST CROWDS GREAT -- LESS FILLING
The mayor of Munich reported that the final day of this year's 16-day
Oktoberfest celebration set an attendance record of 650,000. The event
drew 6.5 million visitors overall, 100,000 more than last year, but four
percent less beer was consumed than in 1997. Nonetheless, that amounted
to 5 million liters of beer. Record overall attendance is 7.1 million,
set in 1985. (BEERWeek, 10/5)
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GERMAN BREWERIES FEELING PINCHED
Analysts are predicting that half of Germany's 1,269 breweries may close
in the next 20 years. "In the old days, especially in Bavaria, after
church guys would go and drink a few beers," says beer industry
consultant Andrew Hampp at Roland Berger & Partner in Munich. "Now
they're more likely to spend time with the family and go hiking or
mountain-biking." So far, 42 breweries have shut down in the last five
years and beer consumption is going down (0.7 percent in the first half
of 1998).
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JOCKEYING FOR POSITION CONTINUES IN CHINA'S BEER MARKET
In the wake of the pullout of Foster's Brewing Group from China's beer
market, the Philippines' San Miguel Corp. announced it plans to sell
part of its brewing operation in China. San Miguel is holding
exploratory talks with several brewers re setting up an alliance in
China. San Miguel is reportedly talking with Anheuser-Busch Cos., U.S.;
Carlsberg A/S, Denmark; Heineken NV, Netherlands; and South African
Breweries Ltd. Despite cutthroat competition that has caused others to
rethink their strategies, Lion Nathan Ltd. of New Zealand opened a $170
million brewery in the eastern city of Suzhou. (BEERWeek, 9/21)
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INTERBREW TAKES STAKE IN FARAWAY BREWERIES
* Belgium-based Interbrew NV, the fourth-largest brewery in the world,
has finalized an agreement to invest about $269 million in South Korea's
beer market. Interbrew agreed to buy a 50% stake in a joint venture with
South Korea's second-largest brewer, Oriental Brewery Co., a unit of the
Doosan Group. (BEERWeek, 8/30)
* Interbrew has also purchased a majority stake in western Siberia's
Rosar Brewery, located in Omsk. This is the first investment by
Interbrew in Russia, and, according to a company statement, is intended
to reinforce the company's presence in other areas in Eastern Europe.
Rosar was founded in 1980, is Russia's fourth-largest brewery and the
largest brewery in Siberia. (BEERWeek, 9/21)
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BEER INDUSTRY BOOSTS BULGARIAN ECONOMY
The brewing industry in Bulgaria is growing seven times faster than the
rest of the nation's business sector. Of Bulgaria's 13 breweries, 12 are
fully privatized, making brewing the only industry in Bulgaria to be so.
The industry has attracted $30 million in foreign investment. Beer
production is expected to grow 30% this year. In contrast, the country's
overall economy is expected to grow about 4%. (BEERWeek, 9/28)
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PLANS SCUTTLED TO HALVE ENGLISH DRINK-DRIVE ALCOHOL LIMIT
Plans for tough European Union drink-drive laws that would have almost
halved the legal alcohol limit for British drivers have been shelved by
Neil Kinnock, Europe's transport commissioner. He accepted that pushing
for a new Euro-law would conflict with efforts by English Prime Minister
Tony Blair and other EU leaders to curb interference from Brussels in
areas that can be left to national governments. Kinnock had planned to
set a legal alcohol limit for all drivers in Europe of 50 milligrams per
100 millilitres of blood. The current limit in Britain is 80 mg - the
equivalent of about two pints of beer or two and a half glasses of wine.
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CAMRA BATTLES TO KEEP MORRELLS ALIVE
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is stepping up the campaign to save
Morrells Brewery from closure following the announcement that the
business is to be sold to a new company. Mike Benner, head of campaigns,
said, "This new company appears to have no plans to keep the brewery
open, but is promising substantial investment in the pubs and the
retention of some Morrells beer brands. Morrells beers brewed away from
the St. Thomas Street Brewery (in Oxford) are likely to change beyond
recognition. We will be calling for the new owners to see sense and keep
this viable brewery alive."
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SRI LANKA GOVERNMENT TRIES BAN ON ALCOHOL ADVERTISING
Sri Lanka's government has decided to ban alcohol advertising in order
to cut back on consumption. Sri Lanka's largest brewery, Lion Brewery
Ceylon Ltd., objects to the ban on the grounds that it would only help
the country's illicit liquor trade, which is fairly large. According to
Lion deputy chair Hari Selvanathan, only 36% of the local market is held
by the legitimate alcohol industry; of that, only 6% is held by beer
producers. The advertising ban could cause the illicit liquor market to
increase to 80% of the total market, according to Selvanathan. The
government is also considering introducing a policy to increase the
prices of liquor and beer. (BEERWeek, 9/21)
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POLISH BREWERS GET AROUND ADVERTISING BAN
Advertising alcoholic beverages is illegal in Poland, but breweries
still mounted a successful advertising campaign that helped boost beers
sales 10% in 1998. Huh? They've done this by creating nonalcoholic
brands that have the same bottle type, and - except for the small print
- the same name and label as their regular beers. They'll spend about
$100 million advertising these brands this year for about $20 million in
sales. "They are making a mockery of the law," said Krystyna
Zazdrosinska, an attorney with the Consumer Federation, which sued the
beer industry this summer for violating the law and wants the
advertising stopped. "Everyone knows what they are doing."
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HOW WELL DO BANS WORK? ASK THE KUWAITIS
Although alcohol has been banned in Kuwait since the 1960s, estimates
are that $40 million was spent on it in the Moslem country between 1992
and 1997. (BEERWeek, 9/14)
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'FAKE' BEER MARKET GROWS IN JAPAN
Sales of low malt or "fake" beers are growing rapidly in Japan. Sales of
"fake" beers are fueled by the fact they are lower priced than regular
beer because of a tax loophole for low malt beverages. Kirin Brewery,
Sapporo and Suntory Brewery all produce low malt beers, but Asahi does
not. Anheuser-Busch Cos. entered the low-malt market with a beer called
Buddy in June. According to one securities analyst in Japan, for every
1% switch to low malt brews, the government loses 7.7 billion yen in tax
revenue. (BEERWeek, 9/7)
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HEINEKEN PAINTS ROSY FINANCIAL PICTURE
Losing its position as the top-selling import in the United States
hasn't hurt the pocketbook of Dutch brewer Heineken. The company said
that it expected net profit growth over 1998 to match the 28 percent
increase in the first half. In the first six months, Heineken reported
net profit rose to 418 million guilders ($218 million) from 326 million
guilders a year earlier. Beer sales were 9 percent higher in volume
terms, despite problems in Asia, where sales were affected "by the
adverse economic situation in a number of countries."
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You guessed it, all the stores in BREWMall sell beer and brewing-related
items. Shopping need never cut into your beer-drinking time again. This
mall is divided not only into traditional stores - such as the glassware
shop or the clothing store - but it's also like having a personal
shopper greet you at the door. Know exactly what you want? Just use the
search button. Looking for something in a particular price range? All
those items are together. Put everything you like into a shopping cart
and we'll rush you through the checkout lane in just minutes.
http://www.brewmall.com
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IF IT'S TUESDAY, MICHAEL MUST BE WHERE?
Want to have Michael Jackson autograph your copy of his new book,
"Ultimate Beer," or just see what he looks like in person? You can track
where he's headed soon as well as find comments about places he's been
the last few days. On the rare occasions that he's home, he'll still be
filing regular updates for Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter.
http://www.beerhunter.com
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When Charles Finkel founded Merchant du Vin in 1978, his idea was that
fine beer could be sold much in the same way as fine wine. He decided
the secret is to educate the consumer and arouse curiosity as to the
differences among classic beer styles. This web site perfectly reflects
that philosophy, whether you decide to play student at Ale University,
do everything but actually taste the beer at Pike Brewery or Pike Pub,
or find out about the breweries Merchant du Vin represents.
http://www.merchantduvin.com
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Don't go near this site unless you live close to San Francisco or have
some frequent-flier miles that are about to expire. Otherwise you're
likely to find yourself in Haight-Ashbury, Toronado pint glass in hand
while you toast owner David Keene with Anderson Valley Belks E.S.B. or
Lindemans Framboise.
http://www.toronado.com
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J.T. WHITNEY'S PUB & BREWERY
Award-winning beers are just one of the reasons that J.T. Whitney's
earned a reputation as a beer hot spot in beer-hip Madison, Wis. The pub
offers a complete menu from simple salads and pub favorites to house
specialty raspberry barbecue ribs, live music, a mug club and plenty of
other reasons to keep coming back. No free beer, but the jukebox is free
every day until 8 p.m. and they're giving away recipes at the web site.
http://www.jtwhitneys.com
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Quite simply everything you could want to know about beer, brewing and
breweries in New Zealand is located here. Also, the complete results of
the 1998 Australian International Beer Awards.
http://www.brewing.co.nz
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Another journalist once referred to Daria Labinsky and Stan Hieronymus
as "a couple with maybe the best job in the world." They brew beer,
drink beer and write about beer together, compiling lists for just about
every beer interest: brewpubs, British pubs, German bierhalls, multi-
taps and good old neighborhood bars.
http://www.beertravelers.com
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MAINE BREWERS' FESTIVAL
The fifth Maine Brewers' Festival highlights the diversity of beer
produced in a state with one of the highest number of breweries per
capita in the country and is called: "A World of Beer - Made Right
Here!" At a time when many festivals are run by promotional companies,
at the Maine festival owners and brewmasters still pour beer and meet
beer enthusiasts face to face.
http://www.mainebrew.com
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- The Real Beer Page announces a diverse group of brew websites
to check out:
- http://www.belgianstyle.com/mmguide
- http://www.independencebrew.com
- http://www.hopheadcollection.com
- http://www.portlandbrew.com/merchandise.php
- http://www.4rapid1.com
- http://www.specialtyproductsltd.com
- http://www.triplerock.com
- http://www.fmbhops.com
- http://www.jvnw.com
- http://www.labattblue.com
- http://www.magnoliapub.com
- http://www.mcs.net/~rdan/RAF.php
- http://www.traditionalbrewing.com
- http://www.uppercanada.com
- http://www.acecider.com
- http://www.elysianbrewing.com
- http://www.grainmillers.com/brewing.htm
- http://www.growlers.net
- http://www.homebrewadventures.com
- http://www.ncoast-brewing.com
- http://www.nwextract.com
- http://www.phoenixcigar.com
- http://www.siebel-institute.com
- http://www.sonomamountainbrewery.com
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Thanks to all who have been replying to our Quickie Surveys. We draw one
winner each month for the prize of "Michael Jackson's The Great Beers of
Belgium" distributed by Vanberg & DeWulf
(http://www.BelgianExperts.com),
importers of fine Belgian beers and now
brewers of Belgian-style beer in their Cooperstown, N.Y.-based Brewery
Ommegang. Last month's winner was Roger A. Ksenich, who wrote his top
reason for a beer becoming his favorite was flavor, and that it "is
definitely what brings me back to a beer a second time, a third time and
more ..."
LAST MONTH'S QUESTION:
Last month we asked you for the top reason a beer becomes your
favorite/regular beer. An overwhelming number, 85%, of you answered
"flavor" or "quality," and less than 1% total said it was based on the
first beer you had or "fun ads."
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A-B LOSES ON MISSOURI LABEL LAW IN FEDERAL COURT
Beer will continue flowing into Missouri from microbreweries and
contract breweries after a federal court ruling in Kansas City. The
decision by U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple struck down a state law
that would have required beer labels to contain the name and address of
the owner of the brewery where the beer was made. According to the
plaintiffs, the law would have forced smaller breweries to print
special, expensive labels for beers sold in the state. They contended
that would have chased many small brewers out of the Missouri market and
hurt the profits of others. In his ruling, Whipple chastised legislators
and Anheuser-Busch. "A-B's aggressive support of this legislation
certainly belies any claim that it would not benefit from the passage of
this statute," Whipple wrote. "The court believes that the purpose (of
the law) was to discriminate against the out-of-state competitors of A-B
..."
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GABF SETS NEW ATTENDANCE RECORDS
Based on the huge turnout at this year's Great American Beer Festival,
consumer interest in specialty beer continues to soar. The attendance at
the final session of the three-day festival Oct.1-3 in Denver, Colo.,
was more than 8,000 paid. The total count in the hall, including
volunteers, brewers, media and exhibitors was thought to be about
11,000, according to festival director Sharon Mowry. The Professional
Panel Blind Tasting, held just prior to the GABF, announced its annual
awards at the "Members Only" session Saturday afternoon.
Real Beer offers congratulations to all the winners and special kudos to
our customers. Check out the winners at:
http://www.beertown.org
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SOME SKUNKS APPARENTLY COME WITH A PEDIGREE
Skunked is a term for beer whose taste has been ruined, either because
it's too old or because it's been exposed to too much heat or light, and
two years ago Anheuser-Busch began a massive advertising campaign to
emphasize its battle against skunked beer. Now A-B is distributing its
Catalina Blonde beer in clear bottles and telling retailers that a
skunky aroma is OK. One distributor informed retailers that it learned
from A-B that brewmaster Scott Menen said the skunked flavor was
anticipated. Corona and Heineken, which also come in clear or green
bottles that leave them susceptible to skunking, characteristically have
a skunky aroma that consumers identify with those brands. A-B apparently
wants drinkers to associate Catalina with those beers.
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MILLER STICKS WITH CONTROVERSIAL AD CAMPAIGN
Miller Brewing Company hasn't given up on its current ad campaigns
despite slow and flat sales. The campaigns, the quirky "Dick" campaign
(for Lite) and the gritty black-and-white ad campaign (for Miller
Genuine Draft), have met with mixed response. Some wholesalers say the
advertising is not moving sales, and that sales are flat. Miller
counters that its ad plan is "living up to expectations." For the 52
weeks ending July 12, Miller case sales climbed 2.6%, Anheuser-Busch,
4.5% and Coors, 3.1%. (BEERWeek, 9/7)
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FREE-TRADE GROUP ENTERS FLORIDA BOTTLE LAW FRAY
Miami's Association of Binational Chambers of Commerce has entered the
battle over Florida's archaic beer container law. The 1965 law requires
beer be sold in only 8-, 12-, 16- or 32-ounce containers, which
effectively shuts out beer bottled in metric proportions as well as 22-
ounce "bombers" used by some microbreweries. "The law is an obstacle to
the fair distribution of our products," said Nathan Herzog of Kedem
Royal Wine Co., which tried to establish Florida distribution for the
Israeli beer Maccabee, but found the 11.2-ounce containers were illegal
in Florida.
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ANHEUSER-BUSCH BOOSTS SHARE IN GRUPO MODELO TO 50.2%
Anheuser-Busch Cos. has increased its share in Grupo Modelo SA, Mexico's
largest brewer, from 37% to 50.2%. A-B was able to take advantage of the
falling Mexican peso, only paying $556 million instead of as much as
$900 million as had been predicted by value analysts. Anheuser-Busch now
has indirect access to Mexico's market, the seventh-largest beer market
in the world. Grupo Modelo makes Corona, the number one-selling import
in the U.S. (BEERWeek, 9/14)
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LEHIGH COLLEGE DENIED LICENSE FOR ON-CAMPUS PUB
Sending what is called a get-tough signal against excessive collegiate
drinking, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board denied a liquor license
to Lehigh University to establish an on-campus pub. The decision
prompted a debate on the best way to deal with campus alcohol problems.
Lehigh officials argued that the proposed pub in the student union would
have created a "healthier, safer and more controlled" drinking
environment on campus. But LCB chairman John E. Jones said that
approving the application would have conflicted with the board's goal
"to change the culture and environment in campus universities that leads
to binge drinking and underage drinking." In contrast, the student union
at the University of Wisconsin in Madison offers more than 20 beers on
tap in a dining area known as Der Rathskeller.
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BECOME A HOPHEAD, LIVE LONGER
Preliminary research at Oregon State University has found that some
chemicals in hops may have anti-cancer properties. The chemicals are
called flavenoids, said Donald R. Buhler, a toxicologist at OSU's
Agricultural Experiment Station. "We have not studied the beneficial
effects of drinking beer," Buhler said. "We are looking at some
chemicals from hops. We have not studied hops directly, but these are
the chemicals in hops, these same chemicals are in beer." He stops short
of saying only beer drinkers will reap any benefits. "I'm not sure we'd
even want to say it if it was true. It varies a lot according to the
type of beer, how much hopping they do to the beer." Don't expect your
doctor to start prescribing pints of your favorite India Pale Ale.
"Obviously, there is a downside to drinking beer," he said. "I would
guess that if anything comes of this, that the drugs or chemicals would
be made available in some sort of pill form."
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IS IT TEQUILA? IS IT A BEER? ONLY YOUR BEERTENDER KNOWS FOR SURE
Anheuser-Busch has released a malt beverage made by combining lager beer
with blue agave nectar and a flavor combining lime and imported tequila.
The beer's name, Tequiza, is derived from "cerveza," the Spanish word
for beer, with "tequila." Tequiza was first tested in a few markets in
late 1997 and has been available in an expanding number since. It is
being priced at Mexican import and specialty beer prices. (BEERWeek,
10/5)
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COORS FOOTBALL PROMOTION: PIGSKIN BOTTLES & CANS
Coors Brewing Co. continues to offer limited-edition packaging for
collectors as well as consumers. The "Pigskin" releases include cans and
bottles featuring a design intended to give the look of a football's
pebble-grained leather and distinctive lacing. (BEERWeek, 9/7)
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WYNKOOP LOOKS FOR 1999 BEERDRINKER OF THE YEAR
Wynkoop Brewing Co. has set a Nov. 17 deadline for its 1999 Beerdrinker
of the Year competition. Entrants must include their personal philosophy
of beer drinking, height, weight and T-shirt size. Bobby Bush Jr., from
Hickory, N.C., won the 1998 contest. Entries -- with resumes not longer
than 4 pages -- must be submitted to Beerdrinker of the Year
Competition, c/o Wynkoop Brewing, 1634 18th St., Denver, CO 80202.
(BEERWeek, 9/7)
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BOSTON PUB CELEBRATES 10 BUD-FREE YEARS
Doyle's Cafe in Boston (actually Jamaica Plain) recently celebrated 10
years of not serving any Anheuser-Busch products. According to a story
in "Yankee Brew News," the Burke brothers, who run Doyle's, say the Bud
ban was a result of a dispute with a delivery man. The Burkes had just
paid to get their parking lot resurfaced when they discovered that beer
delivery men were digging new holes in the pavement by dropping kegs
from the rear of their trucks. Billy Burke asked all the delivery men to
start using a rubber bumper when making deliveries. All complied but the
A-B drivers. One time, an exchange got so heated that Billy Burke says
he swore that no A-B product would ever again be sold by Doyle's.
"The war has gotten worse over the years," Billy Burke said. "Bud guys
were fond of saying, when you're out of Schlitz you're out of beer, but
when you're out of Bud you're out of business."
http://www.yankeebrew.com
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MICHAEL JACKSON OFFERS TWO CALENDARS FOR MALT ENTHUSIASTS
Two calendars have been published featuring Michael Jackson's
encyclopedic knowledge of American craft brewers and single malts.
"Michael Jackson's Beer Lovers Calendar 1999: American Microbreweries
and Great Beers to Know in 1999" features full-color photos of 12 craft
breweries throughout the U.S., along with a brief passage on each
brewery. "Michael Jackson's Single Malts Calendar 1999" is based on
Jackson's research into single-malt Scotches. Twelve Scotch-related
scenes are shown, with a brief commentary on each page. (BEERWeek, 9/28)
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NEW ON THE BOOKSHELVES
* "Ultimate Beer," by Michael Jackson. Written for the novice as well as
the connoisseur, "Ultimate Beer" is a complete guide to every aspect of
beer. Just as wine can be consumed at any time, so can any beer, but
like the grape, the grain has its favored moods and moments, including
the right beer for every occasion.
* "The Great Beers of Belgium Third Edition," by Michael Jackson. A big-
seller in other countries, the book gets its first full-fledged rollout
in the United States. For details, see
http://realbeer.com/rbp/authors/epps/mjbelgium.php.
* "Beer in America: The Early Years -- 1587-1840," by Gregg Smith. "Beer
in America" covers the history of brewing and beer in the United States,
and the role both have played in the formative years of the American
colonies and of the United States.
* "Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers: The Secrets of Ancient
Fermentation," by Stephen Harrod Buhner. This book describes the sacred
nature of ancient fermentation practices, and how the medicinal,
spiritual, sacred and ceremonial properties of nearly 200 plants came
into play when they were used in fermented beverages.
* "Pennsylvania Breweries," by Lew Bryson. This is a travel guide,
presenting full information on each brewery, along with area beer bars,
local attractions and lodging suggestions.
* "The Good Bottled Beer Guide," by Jeff Evans. The Campaign For Real
Ale (CAMRA) publishes the first edition of its guide to bottle-
conditioned beer in Great Britain. This is a sister publication to the
best-selling "Good Beer Guide," which focuses on draught real ales and
pubs.
* "Kolsch," by Eric Warner. Part of a series on Classic Beer Styles from
Brewers Publications, the book is about a style of beer originally
brewed in Cologne, or Köln, Germany.
* "Brown Ale: History, Brewing Techniques, Recipes," by Ray Daniels and
Jim Parker. Another in the Classic Beer Styles series, this book covers
the art of brewing brown ale, reviews the history of the style, tells
how to serve it and
what to serve with it.
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GUEST EDITORIAL: FROM DARIA LABINSKY, SOUTHERN DRAFT BREW NEWS
As I get older and more cynical about how statistics can be manipulated,
I hold less and less faith in polls and surveys. And nothing's less
reliable than a call-in or fax-in survey. So, I groaned when I saw a fax
poll in the March/April issue of "The New Brewer: The Magazine for
Micro- and Pub Brewers." It purports to track beer styles in brewpubs
around the country, showing which style of beer sells best, which style
showed the most growth in 1997, which seasonal had the best sales; and
which styles are showing the greatest decline.
I understand that the poll is not meant to be scientific. My main
complaint is the way the Institute for Brewing Studies grouped states
together for the survey. Specifically, Arizona and New Mexico are lumped
in with the Mountain West.
True, both have mountains. But when the educated person thinks of these
states, the word "southwest" usually comes to mind. It's hard to believe
that the beer people are drinking in Tucson has much in common with
what's being quaffed in Missoula.
According to the survey, in the Mountain West, amber ale is the best
seller; the beer showing the most growth is brown ale; the best-selling
seasonal is Oktoberfest/Märzen (true nationally, despite the fact that
relatively few brewpubs make lagers); and the styles showing the
greatest decline are stout, hefeweizen, fruit beers, golden/blonde ale,
American wheat and amber ale. That's correct: amber ale is both the best
seller and one of those in decline.
It doesn't take a skeptic to wonder about the inclusion of hefeweizen,
golden ale and American wheat beer in the "decline" category. Having
visited many of the Arizona and New Mexico brewpubs, I just don't
believe it. This is light beer country. In late fall and winter, brown
ale, stout, dopplebock and the like may sell OK, but most of the year,
what many drinkers here want is something along the lines of golden ale
or hefeweizen.
It would have made more sense to include Arizona and New Mexico with
their neighbors California and Texas, which are grouped with the Pacific
states and South, respectively. In those regions, the best seller by far
is golden/blonde ale - 31 percent of respondents in the Pacific and 38
percent in the South chose golden ale.
So why should I care about this poll? Partly because it's my nature as a
journalist to demand accuracy. And partly because I'm afraid that some
brewery's marketing person will see the result, tell a brewer, "Stop
making ____," and bam, one of my favorite beers will be offline.
Luckily, microbrewers are generally an independent bunch. While they
know what it takes to make customers happy, they're not afraid to trust
their instincts instead of some stinkin' poll.
Bob Beckley, the owner/brewer at Three Rivers Eatery and Brewery in
Farmington, N.M., sees a mixture of locals and tourists at his
restaurant. What are the two most popular beers? Golden Honey Wheat Ale
and Roustabout Stout.
Go figure.
Daria Labinsky is editor of Southern Draft Brew News, lives in New
Mexico and writes for several other beer publications. She was first
runner-up for 1998 Beer Writer of the Year. You can read more from her
at http://www.beertravelers.com.
The views presented here are not necessarily those of Real Beer, Inc.,
and are presented here to provide perspective from within the industry.
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