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RBPMail 6.12, December 2000
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 Often, links you will see are out of date, and businesses referred to may also be long gone.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:
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http://www.beerweek.com
INTERBREW SHARES RISE; RUMORS OF MERGER WITH
SAB
Shares in the world's No. 2 brewer, Belgium's Interbrew, rose
6.7% Friday in their first day of public trading. The price was
driven higher on speculation of a merger with South African Breweries.
The shares were offered at $33 Euro, at the low end of the pre-IPO
range of $30-$38. The company said that 6.2% of the offering were
placed with retail investors, adding that institutional demand
had been strong. A company spokesperson said: "Sentiment in Britain
appears to have changed after initial concerns over competition
issues." Institutional investors had previously warned that regulatory
concerns and a high price for the shares would make them more
cautious when making their orders, and many remained on the sidelines
Friday waiting to see where the public took shares prices. Meanwhile,
spokesmen for both SAB and Interbrew wouldn't comment on the merger
rumors that popped up Friday. But Graham MacKay, chief executive
of the South African brewer, told analysts Thursday his company
is keen to find a merger or acquisition opportunity in coming
months, in part to offset its ailing domestic beer business.
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MORE RUMORS: SCOTTISH & NEWCASTLE LOOKING AT
BECKS
Rumors of continued consolidation in the brewing industry didn't
stop with Interbrew. The London Sunday Telegraph reported that
Scottish & Newcastle is talking to Becks, the family-owned German
brewer, about a European distribution deal that could lead to
a full takeover of Becks. S&N already distributes Becks bottles
in the UK and has a large European distribution network after
buying French beer Kronenbourg. There were also reports that Danish
brewer Carlsberg wants to buy Carling Black Label for £750 million.
Interbrew acquired Carling when it bought the brewing operations
from Bass and Whitbread earlier this year. Speculation is that
British regulators will require Interbrew to some of its beer
assets in order to win approval for those acquisitions. Holland's
Heineken and South African Breweries are expected to join in bidding
on Carling if it goes on the market.
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MOLSON BUYS BAVARIA FROM AMBEV
Canada's Molson Inc. is entering the South American beer market
by buying Bavaria from brewing giant AmBev. Molson will pay $213
for the Bavaria brand and five breweries. Brazilian antitrust
officials ordered the sale of Bavaria as a condition for the formation
of AmBev in March by Companhia Cervejaria Brahma and rival Companhia
Antarctica Paulista. Bavaria has a 3.3% share of Brazil's huge
market, the largest in Latin America. AmBev, the world's fourth-largest
brewery, has 70% share of the Brazilian market. Currently ranked
fourth, Brazil is expected to soon surpass Germany and become
the world's third-largest beer market with an annual growth rate
of 4.5%.
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AMBEV TAKES OVER URUGUAY'S CYMPAY
Consolidating its position as South America's biggest brewer,
Brazil's AmBev is buying Uruguayan brewer Cympay for $45 million.
AmBev signed a letter of intent to buy just over 95% of Cympay
from Oetker Gruppe of Germany. Cympay's brands Nortena and Prinz
have a 24% share of Uruguay's beer market. The acquisition was
AmBev's second since it was formed last March through a merger
of Companhia Cervejaria Brahma and Companhia Antartica Paulista.
In September, together with food giant Danone, AmBev bought Compania
Salus, also in Uruguay. With Salus' brand Patricia, Nortena and
Prinz, AmBev now controls 48% of the Uruguayan beer market.
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NORTH KOREA ACQUIRES BRITISH BREWERY
The Ushers brewery, well know for traditional ales in Britain's
West country, has been sold to North Korea and will be moved to
that country to produce lagers. North Korean workers are helping
to dismantle the 175-year-old Ushers brewery in Trowbridge, Wiltshire,
and will rebuild it on the outskirts of Pyongyang, the North Korean
capital, when it is shipped there early next year. The £1.5 million
deal was struck after the North Koreans responded to an advertisement
offering the brewery for sale. Peter Ward, the director of Thomas
Hardy Brewing and Packaging, the owner's of Ushers, said: "When
they first approached us I thought they were South Koreans and
I was a bit shocked when I discovered they were from the Communist
North." Thomas Hardy Brewing bought the Ushers plant after the
brewery closed earlier this year. Ushers began brewing in 1824
was best known for regional ales such as Best Bitter, Founders
Ale and Mann's Brown Ale. The Ushers brands is now brewed under
contract in Dorchester.
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MILLER TO SELL CELIS -- COULD IT BE BACK TO
CELIS?
Miller Brewing Co. plans to sell the Celis Brewery and trademark
and close the Austin, Texas, brewery by the end of the year. Pierre
Celis, visiting Austin on Friday, said that his family might be
interested in repurchasing the rights and recipes to their specialty
beer. But they would need a partner. "If there is another brewer,
I would be ready. I think that is the best solution," Celis told
the Austin-American Statesman. "At my age (he is 75), it is difficult
to start alone the brewery. If I have a partner to help, I would
able again make the quality beer." The Celis Brewery has 10 employees
and sold 15,000 barrels in 1999, a tiny fraction of Miller's overall
sales of 44.1 million barrels. Miller bought a majority stake
in the Celis Brewery in 1995, then in April purchased the Celis
family's minority interest in the business. That sale occurred
when the Celis family exercised an option that required Miller
to buy their share.
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-001419.php
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MOOSEHEAD BUYS STAKE IN MCAUSLAN
Moosehead Breweries Ltd. has acquired a 45% share of McAuslan
Brewing Inc., allowing the Montreal company to build itself a
new Montreal-area brewery designed for lager and double its production
capacity. The new brewhouse, which will cost between $5 million
and $7 million and begin production next year, first brewing Moosehead
Lager. That will allow Moosehead to break into the Quebec market
for the first time. The brewery is not permitted to import lager
brewed in New Brunswick because of a complex set of restrictions
on interprovincial trade.
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****WEB WATCH****
GIFT GUIDE
Looking for the perfect beer present? We continue to add to our
list of suggestions at Real Beer. You'll even find an entire section
for homebrewers, including a Q&A with homebrew store owners. The
section is sponsored by:
- Midwest Homebrewing Supplies (http://www.midwestsupplies.com)
- BrewSource.com (http://www.brewsource.com)
- Beer at Home (http://www.beerathome.com)
- Beerheads.com (http://www.beerheads.com)
http://www.realbeer.com/spotlight/giftguide2000
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COME TALK ABOUT YOUR HOLIDAY FAVORITES
It can get a little loud in the Real Beer discussion area, because
plenty of readers are checking in with opinions about their favorite
holiday and winter beers. Read what they are writing and offer your
own opinions.
http://www.realbeer.com/forums/phorum/list.php?f=19
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WANT MORE BEER INFORMATION IN YOUR
EMAIL BOX?
If Real Beer Page Mail doesn't solve your monthly fix for beer
news, several other newsletters are available from the Real Beer
Network. Here are some of your choices:
- Sparging Online from New Zealand (monthly)
http://www.realbeer.co.nz
- Beer Break (weekly - a short and concise newsletter about beer
appreciation and beer tasting)
http://www.realbeer.com/library/beerbreak
- BeerSite (bi-weekly - new beer websites)
http://www.beersite.com
- breWorldMail from Europe's leading beer web site (monthly) http://www.breworld.com
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NEW ZEALAND'S ULTIMATE TOP 10 BEERS
New Zealand's leading journalists chose their favorite beers for
Real Beer-Australia & New Zealand. Their top three choices: First
Place - Australis Benediction (Auckland, NZ); Second Place - Emerson's
Organic Pilsener (Dunedin, NZ); and Third Place - five beers tied,
including two from Belgium, two from New Zealand and one from Germany.
Find out what those beers were and the rest of the top 10 at:
http://www.realbeer.co.nz/spotlight/top10/top10.php
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*****************REAL BEER PICKS***************
ALTERNATIVE BEVERAGE
Alternative Beverage has been offering personalized service for
those making home beverages since 1973. As well as a vast array
of specialized ingredients and equipment and expert service, the
store has a wide range of carefully crafted recipes packaged under
the name Brewmaster's SELECT.
http://www.ebrew.com
THE BEVERAGE PEOPLE
Wine, beer, mead, cider, soda and vinegar -- they've got ingredients
and solid advice for all of those. Hobbyists of all levels of experience
will feel comfortable. Witness their approach to beer: "Whether
you approach homebrewing simply as something that's fun to make
(and drink), or as an art form, a striving for the ultimate in perfection,
we will show you the road to success."
http://www.thebeveragepeople.com
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QUICKIE EMAIL SURVEY
Thanks to all who have been replying to our Quickie Surveys. We
draw one winner each month for a prize, which this month is a
Real Beer T-shirt. Last month's winner was Larry Goodwin.
LAST MONTH'S QUESTION:
We asked readers how often they visit realbeer.com. A whopping
84% of you who answered visit once a month or more often, while
a solid 36% stop by weekly or more frequently.
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*********** Brewed Fresh For You! **************
The Real Beer Page announces a diverse group of brew websites
to check out:
BALTIMORE BREWING
Baltimore Brewing Company, brewers of DeGroen's beers, melds
tradition and innovation, with consistently tasteful results.
Their unique culinary approach blends the best of German, American
and regional Maryland cuisines. Hearty and satisfying dishes go
superbly with DeGroen's fresh beers.
http://www.degroens.com
BEERHEADS.COM
Beerheads.com has shirts, pints, hats and BRAND NEW GIFT BOXED
POSTCARD SETS, all featuring the ale-inspired wit and wisdom of
Ben Franklin, Churchill, Poe and others. Check out the full lineup
of famous folks and see their surprising and humorous quotes about
beer.
http://www.beerheads.com
LARRY'S BREWING SUPPLY
Larry's Brewing Supply does all it can to make sure that shopping
in its virtual store is like shopping in its physical store. That
way you know which items are seasonal, which ones might make good
gifts, and you can check on items where freshness is a particular
concern. The web site was just redone to make shopping for homebrewing
supplies and other needs even easier.
http://www.larrysbrewing.com
HORSE BRASS PUB
The Horse Brass website is lovingly maintained as another
room in one of America's most famous pubs, known for both its
American microbrewed beer and classic offerings from around the
world. The Horse Brass will be celebrating its 25th Jubilee Anniversary
in October of 2001, still dedicated to the mission of being "a
bit of England, where good companionship is the order of the day."
http://www.horsebrass.com
MONK'S CAFE
Since Tom & Fergie opened Monk's Cafe, it has become the Beer
Mecca of Philadelphia. Monk's is a casual, affordable, neighborhood
bistro offering a selection of Belgian ales that is unsurpassed
in North America. Don't forget their award winning Belgian inspired
food, often prepared with Belgian ales.
http://www.monkscafe.com
NEW BELGIUM BREWING CO.
Conceived on a mountain bike trip through Belgium and founded
in 1991, New Belgium is dedicated to environmental stewardship,
employee nurturing, social responsibility, fostering beer culture
and the passionate production of the excellent beer. Visit the
first wind- powered brewery in America!
http://www.newbelgium.com
S.S. STEINER
In 1997 Fromm, Mayer-Bass became an affiliate company of S.
S. Steiner, Inc., a hop company established in 1845. Effective
September 2000, the craftbrewing portion of Fromm, Mayer-Bass
was merged into S. S. Steiner. They plan to continue to offer
excellent service, competitive pricing and superior hop products
in convenient packaging.
http://www.fmbhops.com
Also visit:
http://www.charleswells.co.uk
http://www.brewing-diverseylever.com
http://www.morland.co.uk
http://www.oldspeckledhen.co.uk
http://www.breworganic.com
http://www.oldtimesignery.com
http://www.austinhomebrew.com
http://www.cask.com
http://www.flavoractiv.com
http://www.fermtech.on.ca
http://www.midwestsupplies.com
http://www.mixologys.com
http://www.myownlabels.com
http://www.4rapid1.com/rbpbrapids.php
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UK REVOKES LIMIT ON BREWERS' PUBS
Great Britain has revoked the key element of its 1989 beer orders
legislation that limited the number of pubs that a brewer can
own or have supply deals. Industry Secretary Stephen Byers announced
the decision to revoke some of the provisions due to the changes
in the UK beer market. "The beer orders were radical and necessary
in their time but, more than ten years on, the market has changed
and some of them have now served their purpose," Byers said. The
orders limited brewers to owning, or having beer supply ties with,
2,000 pubs plus half the highest number of pubs over 2,000 held
by the brewer since July 10, 1989. The rules led to the sell-off
of thousands of pubs by the big brewers. The only group for which
the pub limits have any real effect is Scottish and Newcastle,
which owns 2,678 largely managed pubs, just below its beer orders
limit of 2,739. Byers agreed to keep some of the beer orders provisions,
such as that on guest beers, which allows tenanted pubs owned
by a brewer the choice of serving one beer not from the owning
brewery.
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BREWERS, BEER SELLERS, EVEN POLITICIANS PROTEST
AUSTRALIAN BEER TAXES
Australian brewers, hotel and club owners and the country's opposition
parties have joined to present a petition to the government against
taxes on beer. Opposition Labor Deputy Leader Simon Crean and
Australian Democrats Deputy Leader Natasha Stott Despoja said
their parties will join forces in the Senate, where the government
lacks a majority, to block increases in beer taxes. As a result
of the government's midyear tax changes, which included introduction
of a 10% goods and services tax, the price of packaged beer increased
1.9%. The price of tap or draft beer rose between 7% and 9% because
the GST will be applied to the service component of that purchase,
according to the government.
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ROCK MUSIC GROUP SUES BOSTON BEER OVER NAME
The rock music group the BoDeans has sued Boston Beer Co., claiming
the brewer is trying to capitalize on the group's fame by marketing
malt beverages under the names of BoDean's Twisted Tea and BoDean's
Twisted Lemon Tea. "We do not believe BoDean's Twisted Tea is
causing confusion with anyone else's business or product," said
Michelle Sullivan, spokeswoman for Boston Beer. BoDean's Twisted
Tea is a malt-based, flavored beverage designed as an alternative
to beer. Sales have been brisk since BoDean's Twisted Tea was
launched in March. Boston Beer is better known for making Samuel
Adams beer. The suit seeks unspecified monetary damages and an
order prohibiting Boston Beer from using the BoDean's name without
permission or doing anything likely to lead the public to believe
the band and the beverage are connected. The BoDeans, based in
Milwaukee, have been around since the mid 1980s.
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LOCAL INVESTORS SAVE WISCONSIN BREWERY
Local investors have banded to buy the former G. Heileman Brewery
in LaCrosse, Wis., and save it from being closed. CBC Acquisition
LLC, a Wisconsin corporation, purchased the financially troubled
brewery from New York investors Jim Strupp and John Mazzuto, who
bought it last November and reopened it as City Brewing Co. "We
are extremely fortunate to have ownership of the brewery passing
into the hands of persons who are willing to invest in its success,"
said Randy Smith, currently the president of City Brewing and
one of the investors in CBC Acquisition. Six of the investors,
including Smith, have ties to the former G. Heileman Brewing Co.,
maker of Old Style beer and once one of the major brewers in the
United States.
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AND WISCONSIN BREWERY PRESERVES MILWAUKEE LANDMARK
Milwaukee's Lakefront Brewery now has two Bernie Brewer chalets
on display at its brewery. Lakefront owner and Brewers fanatic
Russ Klisch bought the final version of Bernie's County Stadium
chalet for $18,000 in October, at the first auction of stadium
surplus stuff. Klisch then tried to buy the original stadium chalet,
slide and mug at an auction of stadium gear Nov. 11. Klisch was
outbid by Sun Country Airlines chief executive officer Bill LaMacchia
Jr. But when LaMacchia learned how much Kilsch wanted for the
original chalet, he decided to let Klisch keep the landmark on
display at the microbrewery. Lakefront plans to hold a grand opening
for the two chalets at the brewery, 1872 N. Commerce St., on Dec.
20. That will be the first time visitors will be able to slide
down from the chalet porch into the giant beer mug. Klisch will
charge $1 for children and $2 for adults to ride on the slide,
and the money will be donated to Milwaukee's Child Abuse Prevention
fund.
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JACKSON TO SPEAK AT SPIRIT OF BELGIUM 2001
Michael Jackson will deliver the keynote address Jan. 14 at the
Spirit of Belgium 2001 conference hosted by The Brewers United
for Real Potables (BURP). The two-day event Jan. 13-14 in Arlington,
Va., will feature a Belgian-style beer tasting and lectures on
various topics such as Belgian beer styles and the brewing process.
A Belgian-style beer competition for amateur brewers will also
be held. Tickets for the entire event are $120 each, with daily
tickets $75. Tickets can be purchased by sending a check made
out to BURP to SoB, C/O Kepler, 10715 Jones Street Fairfax, VA
22030-5129.
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BRAKSPEAR TOPS ORGANIC BEER CONTEST
Henley on Thames Brewer Brakspear walked off with first and second
prizes at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) Organic Beer
Competition 2000. Judging was held at the Crown pub in Victoria
Park, London, one of the capital's two fully organic pubs. Twenty-two
of the UK's growing range of organically certified beers were
presented to a panel of expert judges. The top three beers were:
First Place - Brakspear's Organic bottled; Second Place - Brakspear's
Ted and Bens cask; and Third Place - St Peter's Bitter cask. "With
beers entered from firms as large as Fullers and Greene King and
as small as Pitfield, it demonstrates just how fast this new niche
market is expanding and the interest it is generating in the trade,"
said SIBA general secretary and competition organizer Peter Haydon.
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EDITORIAL: BEER AS A SPECIAL KIND OF
PRESENT
During much of the year, we use this space to address beer
issues good and bad. During the holidays we've tried to emphasize
the former, urging readers to take advantage of the family gatherings
to progress the cause of good beer. This year we'd like to alter
the approach just a bit, focusing even more on our shared mission:
Join us in sharing a passion for beer, educating others and broadening
the category by giving a special beer related gift.
It's a simple proposition that has intrinsic rewards for you.
After all, the best gifts are the ones that make both the recipient
beam when they open the present and that -- as they say in the
commercials -- keep on giving. You know what we are talking about.
A friend might be grateful when they unwrap a CD with artists
singing lullabies to their children, and it's that much better
two years later when those parents tell you their kids now sing
those songs along with them.
Beer can be that kind of present. You may already think about
beer like you would a gourmet item from Harry and David, Wine.com
or a variety of other specialty stores on- and offline, and this
is the season when you can teach those on your gift list to do
the same. Some examples:
Give the gift of beer
- Beer-of-the-Month clubs actually do keep on giving for as long
as you choose. We are understandably biased toward the Michael
Jackson Real Beer Tour (http://www.realbeertour.com),
and not only because it is part of Real Beer. We sample the beers
every month at in-house tastings, and find our palates and minds
learn something new each time from the beer, from Jackson's notes
that come with each shipment and from our own discussions. You
can buy personal and gift memberships on the Real Beer Tour website
at:
http://www.realbeertour.com
Give the gift of beer pairings
- If you choose to give a special beer, or two or three, don't
stop there. Think about including a special glass intended to
showcase the style of beer you choose. Or extend the gourmet message
by adding cheese, chocolate or some other delectable. Perhaps
a box of chocolates to go along with a barley wine, or a particularly
decadent dark, semi- sweet chunk of chocolate with an imperial
stout. Cheese pairings can be moderately exotic, like tracking
down a Trappist cheese to go with Trappist beer, but they can
feature American beers and European cheeses or vice versa. Match
Limburger cheese and bock beer, Gouda and an amber ale, or Stilton
and stout. Consider putting together a sampler pack of beers and
cheeses and try the various combinations.
Give the gift of brewing
- Brewing beer is, at its simplest, much like cooking. It requires
a few special utensils, but can all be done in the kitchen. You
can purchase a starter kit for a friend interested in beer or,
if you are already a homebrewer, invite several non-brewing friends
over for a beermaking party.
Give a gift of beer culture
- Any of Michael Jackson's books makes a great present, but the
latest - - the "Great Beer Guide" (http://www.beerhunter.com/publications.php)
- - epitomizes the gourmet approach. You'll find 500 classic beers,
with vital information about each and tasting notes. Jackson doesn't
stop there. The "User's Guide" with tips in tasting, serving beer
with food, moments for beer, etc. is by itself worth the price
of the book.
- For a true beer treasure, the recently published "Premium Beer
Drinker's Guide" (http://worldofbeer.com/features/feature-200009.php)
by Stephen Beaumont focuses exclusively on the biggest, strongest,
most expensive and most interesting beers in the world. It closely
examines the boldest styles and points to the most delicious examples
of each.
- And, if like us, you think a barstool is a good place to continue
your beer education then "The Beer Lover's Guide to the USA" (http://www.beertravelers.com/lists/book.php)
will point you to 2,000 brewpubs and bars where you can find flavorful
beer and meaningful conversation about that beer. This guide is
written by our own editor, Stan Hieronymus, and wife, Daria Labinsky.
If you order now, you can get a personally signed copy for the
holidays.
At Real Beer, we've been writing about great beer for more than
six years. We're all about changing access for consumers like
us to great beer through information. In 2000, we took a bold
step to advance our cause. The Real Beer Tour puts the beers Michael
Jackson writes so articulately and enthusiastically about into
drinkers' hands legally. You can, too. Give a gift of beer this
holiday season. Cheers!
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