Star Tribune: PedalPub Makes Its American Debut
If you like biking and drinking, then Al Boyce and Eric Olson have just the thing for you: PedalPub. These two Minnesota beer lovers flew to Amsterdam and brought back a portable bar powered by the foot power of the patrons. Now, the two are the lone PedalPub distributors in North America.
Read the full story.
WSJ: Beer Pong Is Big Business
A column in today’s Wall Street Journal features the stories of several young entrepreneurs who are seeking to cash in on the beer pong craze that’s sweeping college campuses.
Adam Wasserman, 25, left his job with a mortgage company and sank a big chunk of his savings into a Los Angeles warehouse where he builds portable beer-pong tables that start at $99 apiece. Many of his customers are recent graduates. “When you move into a new place, you need the basics: a TV, fridge and a beer-pong table,” he says.
Star Tribune: Minnesota Homebrewing Taking Off
While this site focuses on the buying habits of beer drinkers in the Twin Cities, we applaud those adventurous enough to try to brew and drink their own beer. We’ve both tried homebrewing, and we poured more down the drain than we did down our throats.
As it turns out, we’re home to one of the hottest and most successful homebrewing markets in the country. Check out this recent article in the Star Tribune.
Homebrewing is bubbling over in Minnesota. Two of the biggest homebrew supply stores in the country are based in the Twin Cities, and so are several national award-winning homebrewers.
Surdyk’s (Minneapolis) Weekly (8/23-29) Beer Specials
I’m a couple of days late on the new Surdyk’s specials. Still, you have time to stock up before Labor Day:
- Colonial Pub Pints, Old Johnnie Ale 16 oz 4pk: $3.99
- Miller Lite 24pk: $15.99
- Miller Genuine Draft 24pk: $15.99
- Coors Original & Light 24p: $14.29
- Stella Artois 12pk: $12.49
- Blue Moon 12pk: $10.99
Get Your Buzz On At The State Fair
If the crowds at the State Fair seem a little more tolerable this year, that’s likely because the beer you’re enjoying there this year is full-strength, rather than the 3/2 beer of the past. As we posted in June, State Fair vendors made the switch from 3/2 to regular in response to customer complaints about paying full price for weak beer.
Read more about this story at WCCO.com.
Miller’s Blog & Brew Magazine: Craft Beer Madness
The current post on Miller Brewing’s “Brew Blog” is promoting an article published in Miller’s Brew Magazine about the growing craft beer segment of the beer market. If you can get by the incestuous nature of the post and magazine, the story they tell is an interesting one.
While still relatively small, craft’s playing an increasingly important part in the beer business. And a wide range of people in the business – from brewers to retailers to distributors – expect it to become more important.
Craft’s now roughly 4 percent of the business. Some predict it will hit 10 percent in the not-too-distant future.
The full article from the magazine provides a well-rounded look at the craft industry, as well is outlining the craft beer strategy of the big 3 beer makes in the US.
“Wheat” crafts — which include Coors Brewing company’s Blue Moon Belgian White Ale as well as Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company’s Sunset Wheat, Honey Weiss and Berry Weiss — grew 22.9 percent.
Star Tribune: Shorewood To Sell Liquor Stores
Facing tough competition from MGM and others, the city of Shorewood has decided to sell off its two city-owned liquor stores.
Shorewood’s operations don’t always make a profit. Because of a one-time adjustment to employee benefits, the stores lost almost $16,000 in 2006. Although the business is showing a profit of $20,033 thus far this year, in March the council reviewed a study which noted the strong competition in the area and the potential for it to hurt Shorewood’s sales.
It’s an interesting philosophic and economic move considering how much profit other cities make from their municipal-owned liquor operations.
Eden Prairie made almost $1.1 million from its three locations in 2005 — the third highest municipal profit in the state, according to the Office of the State Auditor.
Wayzata made $218,624 in 2005 from its store and bar. That same year Mound lost money — almost $118,800 — because it built a new store.
While the city loses the income, consumers should benefit from the increased competition. As we posted over a month ago, a Legislative Audit report reveals that municipal liquor stores tend to charge prices that are about 3 to 8 percent higher than privately owned liquor stores.
Denny Green Coors Ads
“They are what we thought they were!”
You may have noticed a couple of new Coors beer ads featuring former Cardinals’ and Vikings’ head coach Denny Green. So far, Coors hasn’t featured the infamous meltdown Green had following the Cardinals loss to the Bears last season, but there’s plenty of speculation that such an ad is in the works.
Thankfully, there’s no shortage of spoof ads at YouTube.com. Here are a few samples (Warning: Strong Language):
Debate Over Lower Drinking Age Heats Up
MSNBC.com reported this week on the growing movement to lower the drinking age to 18. Proponents of a lower drinking age argue that the current age limit doesn’t discourage teenage drinking; rather, it forces it under ground where it’s less controlled and results in binge drinking. Opponents of lower the age limit say that the problem of binge drinking only reinforces the need to keep the current drinking limit at 21.
What’s your take?
Anoka: Better Values Liquor Labor Day Specials
Prices are good on these specials at Anoka’s Better Values Liquor Stores until September 4.
- Miller Lite 24pk cans: $14.88
- Miller Genuine Draft and Draft Light 24pk cans: $14.88
- Budweiser Regular, Light, and Ice 24pk cans: $14.99
- Coor’s Original and Light 24pk cans: $14.99
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