Pioneer Press Reports On Bard’s Tale Beer
The Pioneer Press takes an interesting look at Bard’s Tale Beer, a locally-run, gluten-free, craft beer.
Bard’s Tale is one of a small but growing number of gluten-free beers made from sorghum. The brand’s reappearance comes as the company is moving its headquarters to the Twin Cities from Missouri and relying on two Minnesota executives to position Bard’s Tale as an acquisition target.
I was surprised to learn that gluten-free beer is a small, but growing, niche market. Redbridge is Anheuser-Busch’s gluten-free offering.
Surdyk’s Weekly Beer Specials
An interesting mix of beer specials from Surdyk’s through October 24:
Great Divide 6pk Bottles (selected types) - 7.19
- Denver Pale Ale
- Ridgeline Amber
- St. Bridget’s Porter
- Wild Raspberry
Abita Variety 12pks 12.49
Leinenkugel RED or Creamy Dark 12pks - 9.99
Miller HIGHLIFE or Highlife Light 24pk can - 11.88
Stella Artois 12pkNR - 12.49
Anheuser-Busch Exec Comments On Bud.tv
As reported last month, Anheuser-Busch surprised many by announcing plans to continue to fund their video site, Bud.tv. Now, A-B executive vice president for global development Bob Lachky is openly criticizing the plan behind the site.
From Miller’s BrewBlog:
Lachky offered a variety of criticisms of Bud.tv, which has failed to achieve the traffic A-B had hoped, according to coverage of the Association of National Advertisers conference by Advertising Age.
He described it as a “flawed idea” but a “brilliant concept.”
Lachky ticked off three main problems. He said Bud.TV, in which A-B has invested tens of millions, had no end goal defined in the beginning.
The registration mechanism turned off viewers as well.
Another problem, from his point of view: the lack of branded content.
“The other thing that is totally flawed — and I don’t understand this — as you can tell I was doing something else at the time … I don’t understand why you’d have Bud.tv and then not have anything branded on it at all and just have this bizarre content that wasn’t branded,” Lachky said in a video clip posted by Ad Age.
You can see a video of the Lachky’s presentation here.
October Beer Specials At Oakdale’s Cork & Barrel
Craft Beer of the Month
Capital Brewing - All Styles
6 pack bottles - $6.49
Case - $24.99
Import Beers of the Month
Paulaner - Hefe-Weizen, Oktoberfest
Hacker Pschorr -Oktoberfest, Weiss
12 pack bottles - $10.99
Star Trib’s Review Of The Autumn Brew Review
Check out the Start Tribune’s nice write up of the Autumn Brew Review.
It’s 3:29 p.m., and the beer drinkers are getting restless — even a little surly.
“Not yet!” yells Omar Ansari, founder of Surly Brewing Co., holding up a large digital clock to prove his point to the droves lined up behind his beer stand. As the digits reach the 50-second mark, a 10-9-8 countdown erupts loud enough to rival Kennedy Space Center ground control.
There’s an alternate version of the same column at the Star Tribune’s vita.mn.
The enthusiasm for beer was palpable two weekends ago at the seventh annual Autumn Brew Review. Held on the riverfront grounds of the old Grain Belt Brewery in northeast Minneapolis, this year’s Brew Review sold out days in advance, with around 2,000 attendees taking in samples of more than 150 beers made by 40 microbrewers from throughout the country (mostly the Upper Midwest). Here are the highlights for one beer nut:
Too Much Surly And A Video Camera
We doubt that this Surly commercial will ever hit the air waves, but it’s worth checking out.
Thanks to MNSpeak.com for the post about the “campiest
Weekly Beer Specials At Surdyk’s
Find these deals at Surdyk’s through October 17.
| SURDYK’S | ||
| Beer | Qty | Price |
| Paulaner Pilsner | 6 Pack Bottles | $6.88 |
| Coors Original and Light | 24 Pack Cans | $14.29 |
| Grain Belt Premium and Premium Light | 24 Pack Cans | $14.29 |
| Pilsner Urquell | 12 Pack Bottles | $11.49 |
| Peroni | 12 Pack Bottles | $11.49 |
Zipp’s Liquors Beers Of Belgium Tasting
Courtesy of Zipp’s e-mail update:
Beers of Belgium Tasting
Thursday, October 18th
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Zipp’s Backroom
$10 per personZipp’s Liquors and the Koningshoeven brewery are proud to announce the United State’s release of the Koningshoeven Bock Trappist Ale As part of our Belgian Beer Tasting on October 18th. This beer has previously been available only in select European markets and Australia.
From the Artisanal Imports Web site:
Koningshoeven Bock Trappist Ale Koningshoeven is the only Trappist brewery to produce a Bock beer. This style if of particular historical interest to the monks of Koningshoeven as it had been produced at the monastery around WWII but subsequently discontinued in favor of the more traditional Dubbel and Tripel ales.
Koningshoven Bock is a beautiful example of the Dutch expression of that style. Very deep red in the glass with a cream-colored foam, it is a delight for the eye. Richly roasted and deeply flavored malts round out the palate, highlighted and contrasted by the surprising depth of hop flavor and bitterness, all melding into a long and luxurious finish.
7% ABV Bottle Conditioned Available in 11.2oz; 750ml
Join Zipp’s as we introduce this beer to the United States. We will also be tasting other Belgian beers such as Abbey Doubles, Tripels, and Quads, Lambics, Gueuzes, strong ales, golden ales and much more.
Get tickets to this tasting here.
If you’re more into Belgian waffles than you are Belgian beer, then head to St. Paul on October 21:
Thompson Park Activity Center will have its annual “Dad’s Belgian Waffle Feed” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 21. The event will include a bake sale and craft sale. Cost is $6.50 for adults, and $4 for children ages 6-12. Children younger than 5 get in free. Tickets are available at Thompson Park Activity Center, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul. For information, to reserve a craft table or to donate to the bake sale, call 651-450-8291.
Surly News: Cask Furious, Coffee Bender, And Darkness
From Surly’s October e-mail update:
Your October Surly news,
A few things are going on this month. We’ll hit them chronologically,
because it’s easier than doing it alphabetically.October 10th – All this week at Buster’s on 28th, Furious is only $3 a pint. On Wednesday at 7:00, Buster’s will tap a Firkin of Furious. That’s right, tea-bagged Furious at Buster’s tomorrow night.
October 11-13 – GABF. Omar and Becca are hanging out at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. We are bringing 50 gallons of beer. There will be over 40,000 thirsty beer drinkers. Lets see… that’s 0.16 ounces of Surly per attendee. I’m looking forward to seeing how that works
October 15th – Coffee Bender at The Triple Rock. Sarah Lawson (surly employee #3) will be playing with her band, God Came From Space. In addition, Six Six Crush and Carbellion will be playing. Best news – No Cover! Music starts @ 9:00.
October 30th – Darkness release at the Blue Nile. Around 7:00, Al and the gang will tap this year’s Darkness. Look for Darkness at other Surly bars starting Halloween eve. Growlers of Darkness will be sold at some point this fall/winter. We will let folks know about the plans.
October 31st – Coffee Bender at Joe’s Garage. A double feature on the roof of locally made Halloween movies & Costume Contest. $5 cover goes to Make-A-Wish Foundation.
November 3rd – Brewery tour – tour times @ 12:30 and 1:30.
That is the news for now!
See you drinking,
Omar
Miller And Coors To Merge U.S. Operations
The big get bigger, but the newly formed MillerCoors will still be number 2 to behemoth Anheuser-Busch, which owns more than 40% of the U.S. beer market.
View a story on the merger at TheStreet.com.
From the press release:
- Combination of complementary assets will create a stronger, more competitive U.S. brewer with an enhanced brand portfolio
- Greater scale and resources will allow additional investment in brands, product innovation and sales execution
- Consumers and retailers will benefit from greater choice and access to brands
- Distributors will benefit from a superior core brand portfolio, simplified systems, lower operating costs and improved chain account programs
- $500 million of annual cost synergies will enhance financial performance
- SABMiller and Molson Coors with 50%/50% voting interest and 58%/42% economic interest
(London and Denver) — SABMiller plc (SAB.L) and Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE: TAP; TSX) today announced that they have signed a letter of intent to combine the U.S. and Puerto Rico operations of their respective subsidiaries, Miller and Coors, in a joint venture to create a stronger, brand-led U.S. brewer with the scale, resources and distribution platform to compete more effectively in the increasingly competitive U.S. marketplace.
The new company, which will be called MillerCoors, will have annual pro forma combined beer sales of 69 million U.S. barrels (81 million hectoliters) and net revenues of approximately $6.6 billion. Pro forma combined EBITDA will be approximately $842 million1. SABMiller and Molson Coors expect the transaction to generate approximately $500 million in annual cost synergies to be delivered in full by the third full financial year of combined operations. The transaction is expected to be earnings accretive to both companies in the second full financial year of combined operations. Closing of the transaction is subject to reaching final agreement, obtaining clearance from U.S. competition authorities, certain other regulatory clearances and third-party consents, as required.
SABMiller and Molson Coors will each have a 50% voting interest in the joint venture and have five representatives each on its Board of Directors. Based on the economic value of the contributed assets, SABMiller will have a 58% economic interest in the joint venture and Molson Coors will have a 42% economic interest.
Pete Coors, Vice Chairman of Molson Coors, will serve as Chairman of MillerCoors. Graham Mackay, SABMiller CEO, will serve as Vice Chairman of MillerCoors. Leo Kiely, current CEO of Molson Coors, will be the CEO of the joint venture, and Tom Long, current CEO of Miller, will be appointed President and Chief Commercial Officer.
For more, check out the full press release.
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