Station 26 Brewing Co. Announces Craft Beer Scholarship for the Underrepresented

With systemic racism and police brutality at the forefront of the national conversation, many are taking pause to reflect on how we move forward. Inclusivity and diversity have been a part of much of that conversation, and we’re seeing these themes discussed in the craft beer community.

It’s no secret that craft beer lacks diversity. Read More

Pyramid Brewing Talks Brand Refresh, History, and Relocation

For old-school craft beer drinkers, Pyramid Brewing, with its iconic label featuring a double pyramid and evoking the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, is one of the tried and true originals. For many, their Hefeweizen, Wheaten, Apricot Ale or Outburst Imperial IPA was the gateway to quality craft beer. The times have changed, but the quality of Pyramid’s beer hasn’t.

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New Holland’s Dragon’s Milk Brand Thrives Thanks to Creative Variants

Flagship beers are the lifeblood of any successful craft brewery. They provide sales consistency and additional sales points through variant releases that are familiar to the consumers, yet introduce new SKUs throughout the calendar year. New Holland Brewing’s cash-cow remains their Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout line, a decadently strong and barrel-forward beer that continues to generate acclaim for the Michigan-based brewery. Amidst a reimagining of the New Holland brand, the Dragon’s Milk brand continues to quietly hum along, generating positive sales year over year, thanks to the success of the original Stout and the popularity of new, buzzed-about variants. 

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A Beer Release in the New Normal | How Revolution Brewing Released Their Latest Deep Wood Offering

The craft beer industry has diligently adapted taprooms, business processes and safety protocols to better serve patrons and adhere to current safety guidelines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Welcoming patrons back to drink outdoors (and, in some states, indoors) at a brewery’s location is a momentous task that cannot be understated. Being permitted to once again drink beer on-draft during Chicago’s Phase 3 and 4 reopenings has let some of Chicago’s beer drinkers experience a sense of cautious normalcy. One area of the craft beer scene that would typically draw crowds—and headaches—is a much-hyped beer release, like Revolution Brewing’s release of their latest Cafe Deth variant, Supermassive Cafe Deth. What does a beer release look like in the new normal? How do you execute one both safely and effectively? To find out, we asked Illinois’ largest independent brewer about how the release went. 

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Great Divide’s Denver Pale Ale Artist Series #5 Featuring Adam Vicarel

The next iteration of Great Divide‘s Denver Pale Ale will be hitting shelves shortly. Each year, the Denver brewery picks a local artist to create the artwork that will be displayed on the cans. This year’s can will feature the artwork of Denver-based artist, Adam Vicarel. It’s a wonderful opportunity for Great Divide to partner with a local artist who is widely known for his craft.

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Orpheus Brewing’s Diversity Program Teaches Tomorrow’s Craft Beer Leaders

Orpheus Brewing in Atlanta, Georgia, is launching a new paid internship program to improve racial inclusion and equity within the craft beer industry. The Leadership Diversity Program will hire one applicant at a time for six-month periods and train them in all aspects of brewery operations, with the goal of those graduating from the program going on to leadership careers in the craft beer world.

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The Bronx Brewery Rescinds Release of “Defund the Police” Amid Threats

Less than a month since the brutal police murder of Minnesota resident George Floyd, breweries and small businesses continue to band together to fundraise, spark conversation and work toward addressing … Read More

Wiley Roots Brewing Finds Growth in Pandemic Expands Distribution

At the end of 2019, the craft beer industry was celebrating a banner year. While beer sales nationally saw a 2% decline, the craft beer segment grew by 4%, and … Read More

Spice Trade Brewery & Kitchen Raises the Bar on Metro Denver Brewpubs

Since its humble beginnings in 2008, Spice Trade Brewery has been closely intertwined with East Asian cuisine. Not prescribing to the typical brewery origin story, Spice Trade was originally birthed … Read More

Historic Seipp Brewing Returns to Chicago

Chicago is full of history and craft beer. On July 2, the two will once again come together when a beer that hasn’t been made since 1933 will make its return to the Windy City.

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Canadian Brewery Turns 6-Pack Box into Father’s Day Greeting Card

While many dads will likely receive beer from their adult-aged children this weekend in celebration of Father’s Day, one Calgary-based brewery is taking the concept of dad-beers to the next … Read More

Chicago Breweries Reopen for Onsite Consumption

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced on Monday, June 15, that city bars and breweries would be able to serve customers outdoors starting Wednesday, June 17. The announcement came nearly two weeks after restaurants and bars and breweries serving food were able to open for outdoor dining—and drinking. While not all establishments may have existing permits—let alone patios—new applications are being expedited to allow all interested businesses to begin outdoor service.
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Brewers Association Survey: As States Reopen Optimism Grows

The Brewers Association recently published the results from their third COVID-19 impact survey, aimed at gauging the state of the craft brewing industry. While things are far from rosy, as states begin to loosen restrictions, many craft brewers are beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

The previous survey in April found that nearly 60% of breweries surveyed expected to be out of business in three months or less if conditions did not change. Fast forward seven weeks and this most recent survey finds that nearly 82% of breweries in the survey are either very or somewhat confident in their ability to remain open through 2020. Read More

The Alchemist Beer is Coming to Colorado in Limited Distribution

One of the country’s earliest and most prolific pioneers of New England-style Hazy IPAs is finally coming to Colorado. The Alchemist, which first splashed on to the Vermont beer scene … Read More

Jester King Newly Reimagined Outdoor Space is a Hit with Socially-Distanced Drinkers

Austin, Texas’ Jester King Brewery is many things to many people—it’s an esteemed farmhouse brewery, popular community gathering space, a bustling farm with pet goats and more. So, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced breweries across the nation to readjust their business models, the popular brewer was well-positioned to adjust in unique ways gives its business flexibility and available acres of Texas farmland. The result is Jester King Reimagined, a veritable Disney Land of Drinking that promises patrons several unique outdoor spaces to indulge in an array of Jester King’s tasty spontaneously-fermented and mixed culture beers, whilst also adhering to current CDC and social distancing protocols. Since opening May 29, the new outdoor drinking concept has been a hit with drinkers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. 

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Illinois Brewery Faces Backlash After Claiming George Floyd Murder Was a Hoax

While thousands of Chicago residents and many area breweries continue to mourn and speak out against last week’s police murder of Minnesota resident George Floyd, systemic racism, and police brutality, one Chicago brewery has taken a controversial stance.

Manteno, IL’s Steam Hollow Brewing, whose co-owner, Natalie White proclaimed on Facebook, “George Floyd isn’t dead, he is a porn star/actor who knows the officer, who isn’t even a real officer. Wake the f up.” That response comes in stark contrast to Illinois breweries like Half Acre, which posted: “We support our neighbors locally and nationally in the demand for justice and lasting change. Should you choose, you could donate the money you would have spent on beer today to one of the solid organizations helping to create equality for all. Black Lives Matter.”

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Weathered Souls Brewing Launches Collaborative Black is Beautiful Initiative

The senseless murder of George Floyd, a 46 year-year-old black man, suffocated under the bended knee of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on May 25, has ignited political demonstrations, protests, … Read More

Chicago Brewpubs Prepare to Reopen on Wednesday

While many Illinois breweries were able to reopen with outdoor seating on May 29, Chicago-based breweries have had to wait a bit longer. However, this Wednesday, the city’s beer scene will finally begin breathing new life as brewpubs have been granted permission to reopen June 3.

In the city, things will operate under different guidelines than the rest of the state. As of right now, if a brewery location doesn’t serve food, they will not be able to reopen, even with outdoor seating. That will drastically limit which breweries in the city can reopen starting Wednesday.

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Minnesota Breweries Respond to the Murder of George Floyd

In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd by (now former) Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin, the Twin Cities has been the center of peaceful protest and calls for justice and reform. However, Minneapolis and St. Paul, along with other cities around the country, are experiencing civil unrest, as, throughout the week, peaceful protests during the day turned violent and chaotic in the night.

As the Twin Cities community looks to mourn, heal, rebuild and lead change after a horrific tragedy, a specific, but significant part of that community — the area’s craft beer scene — is responding.

In addition to donations from Modist Brewing and Bauhaus Brew Labs, the Minnesota craft beer community is standing in solidarity behind the message for further justice and systemic change as our country mourns, rebuilds, and reforms. The responses have been rapid and unifying to repair the fabric of a torn community. 

We took a look at how breweries across Minnesota, as well as the rest of the country, have spoken out against the brutal slaying of George Floyd, and joined in support of their Twin City communities.

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Complete List of Colorado Breweries Re-Opening Taprooms This Weekend

Earlier this week, Colorado Governor Jared Polis included breweries along with restaurants in his update of businesses that could begin re-opening this week in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. … Read More