New 12 Tap Tower at 13 Virtues Brewing

courtesy of 13 Virtues Brewing Co

13 Virtues Brewing adds new 12-tap tower
Brings total number of beers available to 23

Portland, OR – April 24, 2015 – Today 13 Virtues Brewing officially opens its new 12-tap tower in its Sellwood/Moreland location, bringing the total number of its own beers available at all times to 23.

Upon expanding the brewhouse in the Spring of 2013, 13 Virtues held hours for a separate tasting room overlooking the brewhouse since December of 2013. Many customers’ favorite beers, such as Patience Whiskey Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, were not always available. Demand for the vast variety of styles brewed by David Vohden has increased since his 2014 GABF® Silver medal win for Woozy Weizenbock, necessitating the additional taps up front.

In addition to a guest cider tap, the 23 beers 13 Virtues will be pouring initially include: Sellwood Lager; Milwaukie’s Better Pilsner; You Down With OPP? Orange Peel Pale; 45^th Parallel IPA; Rip City Red; Cold Spice Habañero Rye; ’77 Stout; Oberlinerweisse; Wit or Witout; Saisonnalisa; Mr. Bigglesworth Belgian Pale Ale; Blue-Eyed Belgian Blonde IPA; Maggie Maibock; Limberjack IPL; Double Paradiddle Imperial IPA; 21^st Anniversary Double Red Ale; Rainy Day CDA; Oscar the Rauch; Schwarzberry; Baltic Porter; Woozy Weizenbock; MAX Stout Imperial Stout; and 2014 Whiskey Barrel-Aged MAX Stout.

Steve Moore opened Philadelphia’s Steaks & Hoagies in 1987, and in 1994 became the 14^th licensed brewery in the state of Oregon. In September of 2014 the Sellwood/Moreland location was rebranded as 13 Virtues Brewing Company.

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Brass Monkey, a New Summer Seasonal from No-Li Brewhouse

THAT FUNKY MONKEY, INDEED.

No-Li Puts a Craft Beer Twist on a Classic Drink for a New Summer Seasonal

 

Courtsey of No-Li Brewhouse

 

 

Spokane, WA (4/24/2015) Grab your sunglasses and prepare to bask…because No-Li’s new Expo Series seasonal is summer in a 22oz bottle!  Hello, Brass Monkey. Many know a Brass Monkey to be a good ol’ fashioned 40 of malt liquor mixed with orange juice.  What’s not to like, right?  Well No-Li Brewers Damon Scott and Carey Fristoe have taken this idea to a whole new level to bring the world a craft beer Brass Monkey – a strong ale brewed with orange peel for an explosion of citrus flavor.

“Malt liquor and orange juice gives you some sweet notes, a little tanginess and a creamy mouthfeel.  We wanted to exaggerate and highlight all of those qualities in craft beer form,” says Fristoe, as he explains the reason behind the diverse malt bill and use of sweet and bitter orange peel.

Damon Scott adds, “Seven pounds of orange peel is used in each batch – six pounds of sweet and a pound of bitter.  We wanted to go big this year.”

That you did, gentlemen.  That you did.

Veteran beer writer, Rick Bonino, sampled a freshly tapped keg at the No-Li Brewhouse pub and described Brass Monkey as having some “juicy sweetness in the middle, then [finishing] dry with some orange pith and hop bitterness. Only slightly boozy, it’s deceptively drinkable for its ABV.”

Now available in 22oz bottles and on draft, Brass Monkey is sure to be the bold, balanced, refreshing citrus summer brew you’ve been waiting to enjoy under the hot summer sun. 
Cheers!

About No-Li Brewhouse
Born & Raised in Washington’s Inland Empire, No-Li Brewhouse is an internationally award-winning brewery, crafting Spokane-Style beers with No Boundaries: innovative beers brewed with locally sourced ingredients. No-Li has won fourteen international awards, including a gold medal from the 2012 Great American Beer Festival.  For more information about the beers, brewery and the pub, visit:
www.nolibrewhouse.com.
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11th Annual North America Organic Brewers Festival

Courtesy of North American Brewers Festival

 

North American Organic Brewers Festival

announces new dates and adds import bottle garden

Eco-conscience beer festival will serve up more than 50 organic beers, ciders & meads

PORTLAND, ORE – April 23, 2015 – The world’s only organic brewers festival, the North American Organic Brewers Festival will celebrate its 11th years with a new date: the event has moved away from its traditional June weekend to August 13 through 16 at Overlook Park in North Portland. Event hours are Noon to 9pm Thursday through Saturday and Noon to 5pm Sunday.

“Another beer promoter chose to move his Portland beer festival to our June date,” explained event founder Craig Nicholls. “Since we share the same pool of volunteers, and in many cases attendees, we opted for another date to benefit both events. The good news is August gives us a much better chance of drier summer weather!”

The NAOBF encourages brewers and beer lovers to “Drink Organic, Save the Planet, One Beer at a Time.” Designed to raise awareness about organic beer and sustainable living, the festival serves up 50 organic beers and ciders from more than 30 different breweries. Some of the breweries are certified organic, but most brew a one-off organic batch just for the event. Styles run the gamut from Ambers to Belgians to Wild Ales, with a bit of everything in-between. (A complete list of participating breweries in included at the bottom of this release.) The event also offers live local music, organic food and sustainability-oriented vendors and non-profits in a beautiful park setting.

This year’s event will also feature an exceedingly rare opportunity to sample draft beer from Pinkus, the world’s first certified organic brewery. Along with Pinkus Ur-Pils and Münster Alt on draft, the festival is introducing the Merchant du Vin Organic Bottle Garden, featuring 11 bottled beers and cider from Pinkus in Germany and Samuel Smith’s from Yorkshire, England.

“When Samuel Smith’s opened in 1758 and Pinkus in 1816, chemical fertilizers and pesticides didn’t exist – all beer was organic,” stated Tom Bowers, district manager at Merchant du Vin. “Viewing the beer world from this historic perspective, these brewers chose to become the trailblazers of organic brewing for the modern era. By including Samuel Smith’s and Pinkus in this year’s festival, NAOBF has expanded the opportunity for festival goers to not only experience amazing beers from the world’s original organic brewers, but to taste history.”

Admission into the NAOBF is free. The purchase of a $7 reusable, compostable cornstarch cup is required for tasting beer, as are tokens, which sell for $1 apiece. A full cup of beer costs four tokens and a taste costs one token; select beers and ciders may cost double tokens. Patrons receive an extra token with a validated Tri-Met ticket or a ticket from the Hopworks Bike Corral (one discount per person).

The NAOBF is a family friendly event, and minors are welcome with parents. A kids area offers art activities, face painting and a root beer garden with complimentary Crater Lake Root Beer for minors (and designated drivers).

The NAOBF is known as the most earth-friendly beer festival on the planet. Festival attendees sample beer from reusable and compostable cornstarch cups made from domestically grown corn by a zero-waste, solar-powered company. Electricity needs are met with biodiesel generators. Volunteers receive organic cotton t-shirts (returning volunteers can wear past T shirts and get extra tokens instead). Food vendors are required to employ sustainable practices, and onsite composting and recycling stations are provided for festival waste and are supervised by recycling czars.

The NAOBF encourages responsible drinking and urges patrons to take advantage of the MAX Light Rail; the Yellow Line Overlook Park Station is adjacent to the festival. Attendees can also take advantage of the Hopworks Bike Corral, where volunteers watch over bikes for free (donations are appreciated and support the BC to Baja Bicycle Odyssey).

Why brew organic? Today's agriculture relies heavily on chemicals and often causes erosion and depletion of soil nutrients through loss of biomass. Organic farming is a growing industry that reduces erosion, pollution, and water shortages by using natural methods to fertilize crops and to fight pests and disease. A well-established organic farm can often produce higher yields than a conventional farm. Organic farming is typically more labor intensive and provides more agricultural jobs per acre than conventional farming. Workers on organic farms are also safe from the health hazards of working with pesticides and herbicides. Using organic ingredients to make beer produces a beer with the highest possible purity and also supports the small but growing industry of organic farming.

For more information about the NAOBF, visit naobf.org. 

2015 Participating Breweries
13 Virtues Brewing Co.
Agrarian Ales
Alameda Brewing Company
Beau's All Natural Brewing Co
Bison Organic Beer
Coin Toss Brewing
Eel River Brewing
Falling Sky Brewing
Finnriver Farm & Cidery
Fish Brewing Company
Fort George Brewery
FOTM Brewing Co
Gilgamesh Brewing
Hopworks Urban Brewery
Kells Brew Pub
Lakefront Brewery, Inc
Lompoc Brewing
Loowit Brewing Company
McMenamins Concordia
McMenamins Crystal
McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse
McMenamins Edgefield
Natian Brewery
Nectar Creek Mead
Ordnance
Pinkus
PINTS Urban Brewery
Reverend Nat's Hard Cider
Riverbend Brewing
Samuel Smith’s
Thirsty Bear Brewing Co.
Two Kilts Brewing Co.
Uinta Brewing Company
Vagabond Brewing
Viking Braggot Company
Widmer Brothers Brewing

Old Town Brewing and Maletis Beverage Partner to Expand Brewery Operation

Courtesy of Old Town Brewing Co

Award Winning Portland Brewery Signs with Oregon Distributor and Plans for Growth

Portland, Ore. – (April 22, 2015) Old Town Brewing ® (OTB®), a locally owned and operated Portland brewery, announced today its partnership with Oregon distributor, Maletis Beverage. Joining the well-known distributors roster will bring OTB’s award winning beers to bars, restaurants and retail locations throughout the Portland market starting in May. In anticipation of increased demand, the brewery is expanding its operations to include five additional 15 BBL fermenters and three 21 BBL brite tanks, more than doubling the brewery’s production ability.

“Joining forces with a respected distributor like Maletis Beverage is an incredible opportunity for us to share Old Town® beers across the region, and we couldn’t be more thrilled,” said Adam Milne, owner of Old Town Brewing. “This is a real turning point for our brewery, and we’re excited to see what the future will bring.” 

Owner Adam Milne, Old Town Brewing Co

While self-distributing, OTB focused its efforts on perfecting sessionable, craft beer that reflects the unique city of Portland and its people. This labor of love brought the brewery an unprecedented four national and international awards since they began brewing in late 2011 - two from the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) ® and two from the World Beer Cup®.

“Maletis is excited to add Old Town Brewing to our craft beer offerings,” said Rob Maletis, owner of Maletis Beverage. “OTB has a unique history within the Portland beer market and the team is well known and respected in the local and national craft beer community. We’re looking forward to supporting the brewery’s continued growth across the Pacific Northwest.”

Courtesy of Old Town Brewing Co

When owner Adam Milne decided to transform what was Old Town’s second location into a brewery in 2011, his vision was to create a different beer drinking experience for Portland’s enthusiastic craft beer community, one that encompassed the city’s unconventional flare and cultured history. OTB’s use of locally sourced ingredients and flavors and delivery of craft beer by bike perfectly captures the spirit of Portland.

"Old town is a reflection of its surroundings,” Milne added. "We live in a community fueled by the energy of the most creative and adventurous people, and we try to capture that energy into every beer we brew."

About Old Town Brewing Co.

Old Town Brewing (OTB) opened in northeast Portland, Ore., in 2011 with an emphasis on crafting its beer to reflect the spirit, values, history and personality of Portland and the Northwest. OTB is the first brewery in the country to deliver beer and pizza by bike straight to consumers, rain or shine. Reclaimed materials were extensively incorporated into the design of the LEED Gold brewery, evoking an atmosphere of Northwest authenticity and sustainability.

Owner Adam Milne opened OTB to complement his Old Town Pizza® location in Portland’s historic Old Town neighborhood. A devoted Old Town Pizza customer since celebrating his ninth birthday at the restaurant, Milne purchased Old Town Pizza from the original owners, the Accuardi family, in 2003. For more information visit www.otbrewing.com and www.oldtownpizza.com. 

Courtesy of Old Town Brewing Co

OId Town Brewing Awards to date:

• GABF 2014, Silver, Sun Dazed, German-Style Kölsch category
• GABF 2013, Gold, Cents and Sensibility, Fresh Hop category
• World Beer Cup 2014, Sun Dazed, German-Style Kölsch category
• World Beer Cup 2014, Bronze, Paulie’s Not Irish Red, Irish Style Red Ale category

About Maletis Beverage

Maletis Beverage is a fourth generation family owned and operated beverage distributorship servicing the greater Portland and Southwest Washington area. The company was recently honored with the Craft Beer Distributor Recognition Award by the Brewers Association, which recognizes beer distributors that go above and beyond to market, promote and sell craft beer. Founded in 1935, Maletis Beverage is proudly celebrating its 80th anniversary.

Stone Brewing Co. Releases Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0

Courtesy of Stone Brewing Co

ESCONDIDO, CA (April 20, 2015) – In June 2002, Stone Brewing Co. introduced the world's first full-time brewed and bottled West Coast double IPA, Stone Ruination IPA. Massively hopped and aggressively bitter, it helped spark the ever-growing desire among legions of craft beer fans for over-the-top hop flavors and aromas. Fast-forward 13 years, new brewing techniques and hops exist to spark inspiration. Stone Co-founders Greg Koch and Steve Wagner decided it was time to utilize this new inspiration and reimagine Stone Ruination IPA. Beginning today, Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0 will start arriving in 12-ounce six-packs, 22-ounce bottles and on draft at retail outlets, bars and restaurants in markets where Stone beers are sold.

Courtesy of Stone Brewing Co

Hop growers are always developing new and experimental varietals, and Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele incorporated some of the brewing team’s favorites while revamping this venerable recipe. Additionally, Steele and company implemented contemporary techniques such as “hop-bursting,” where large late hop additions focus on extracting hop aromas and flavors rather than creating additional bitterness. Hop bursting has proven successful with a number of Stone Brewing's IPA varieties, so it was a no-brainer that this method would be employed along with others (we can’t share everything) for Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0.  

“In this case, the exit of one beer and the entrance of a new one is simply a rebirth,” explains Stone CEO and co-founder Greg Koch. “Developing this recipe was a great challenge for Mitch and the brewing team, but it gave us the opportunity to look at some of the knowledge we’ve acquired from the past 13 years and incorporate it into a beer that originally helped spur a hop revolution. Of course, we made sure to maintain the two most important traits of Stone Ruination IPA. It’s massively hoppy and massively bitter!”

Courtesy of Stone Brewing Co

Thanks to a recipe calling for purely pale malt grain, the beer showcases a vibrant hops bill comprising six different varietals. As with the original Stone Ruination IPA, Centennial hops remain the star in both the brewing and dry-hop stages. Magnum and Nugget hops provide a hefty dose of standout bitterness. Citra, Simcoe and Azacca hops, all relative newbies (not to mention some of the most highly sought-after hops on the market), were added to the new recipe to provide the bountiful tropical fruit and resinous pine aromas. Combined, the rich tapestry of hops results in a taste profile rife with citrus, melon and tropical fruit flavors. 

To fully enjoy the copious amounts of hops coaxed, squeezed and packed into this double IPA, it should be consumed by the “enjoy by” date printed on the bottle neck. Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0 is proof that such a masterful “Liquid Poem to the Glory of the Hop” should not be limited to only a single stanza.

Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0 Quick Facts:
Name: Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0
URL: Stonebrewing.com/Ruin
Stats: 8.5% ABV, 100+ IBUs
Availability: 12-ounce bottles in six-packs, 22-ounce bottles and draft, beginning April 20
Hops Bill: Centennial, Citra, Magnum, Nugget, Simcoe, Azacca
National Distribution: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA and Puerto Rico
International Distribution (coming soon): Australia; Alberta and British Columbia, Canada; Japan; Singapore; Sweden; and United Kingdom

About Stone Brewing Co.
Founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996, San Diego-based Stone Brewing Co. is the 9th largest craft brewer in the United States. Stone has been listed on the Inc. 500 | 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list 10 times, and has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice. The multi-faceted company will be the first American craft brewer to own and operate its own brewery in Europe, and is also building a production brewery and destination restaurant in Richmond, Virginia. Brewing at both locations is anticipated to begin late 2015. Known for its bold, flavorful and largely hop-centric beers, Stone has earned a reputation for brewing outstanding, unique beers while maintaining an unwavering commitment to sustainability, business ethics, philanthropy and the art of brewing. For more information on Stone Brewing Co., please visit stonebrewing.com or the company’s social media sites: Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and The Stone Blog.

4th Annual Oregon Garden Brewers Tasting Dinner

Oregon Garden Brewer’s Tasting Dinner offers 

the ideal way to kick off its Brewfest weekend

SILVERTON, Ore. — The Oregon Garden will kick off this year’s Oregon Garden Brewfest, presented by Venti’s Café, with the 4th annual Brewer’s Tasting Dinner. The popular event will take place on June 18, the eve of the festival, at 7pm at the Oregon Garden Resort. There are a limited number of tickets available to the public at $50; tickets and more information are available at www.oregongarden.org.

The Brewer’s Tasting Dinner serves six courses, each featuring a small-plate paired with a unique beer from one of six selected breweries. This year’s featured breweries include Buoy Beer Co, Crux Fermentation Project, Ex Novo Brewing Co, Ecliptic Brewing, Vagabond Brewing and Wild Ride Brew.

Representatives from each of the breweries give a presentation about their beer during the dinner, which is attended by brewers participating in the festival, industry insiders and beer aficionados.

A special overnight package is available at The Oregon Garden Resort, a Moonstone Hotel Property located just steps away from the festival, that includes tickets to the Brewer’s Tasting Dinner and a three-day ticket to the Brewfest, starting at $239. Packages can be booked at www.oregongardenresort.com

or by calling 503-874-2500.

Located in the historic town of Silverton, just an hour’s drive from the Portland metropolitan area, the Oregon Garden Brewfest will take place Father’s Day weekend, June 19 through 21 and will feature 70 breweries pouring 140 beers, ciders and meads from throughout Oregon and across the country. There’s also live music on two stages and a variety of food vendors. The festival is held indoors, but attendees are welcome to explore the 80-acre botanical garden with beer in hand.

The Oregon Garden Brewfest is for ages 21 and over on Friday and Saturday; minors are welcome all hours on Sunday. Admission ranges from $15 to $50; all admission packages include a souvenir tasting glass and a number of tasting tickets. Parking at The Oregon Garden is $5 per car; free shuttles are available from various locations in Silverton.

The Oregon Garden Brewfest is presented by Venti’s Café and sponsored by The Gallon House, The Oregon Lottery, Beer Connoisseur Magazine, The Beer Growler, Pepsi and The Oregonian/Oregon Live. For more information about the event, visit www.oregongarden.org/events/brewfest.

Brewers in Beervana

Courtesy of the Brewers Association

Brewers in Beervana

Over 11,500 Brewing Professionals and Exhibitors Gathered in Portland

at Craft Brewers Conference from April 14-17

Press Release

Boulder, CO • April 17, 2015—The Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade group representing America’s small and independent craft brewers—has concluded the 32^th edition of the Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America^® (CBC) in Portland, Oregon.

As the largest industry gathering, CBC brought together more than 11,500 brewing industry professionals and some 600 exhibitors in one of the biggest beer cities for discussion and dialogue surrounding America’s craft beer culture. Themes included unity, quality and safety.

Highlights from the 2015 conference include:

2015 Achievement Awards

Three members of the brewing community were recognized and awarded for their dedication and service during the opening session.

·Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Brewing: Steve Dressler, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

·Brewers Association Recognition Award:Dave & Diane Alexander, Brickskeller,Washington, D.C.

·F.X. Matt Defense of the Industry Award: Brook Bristow, South Carolina Brewers Guild

Other notable takeaways from this year’s CBC include:

.Simon Sinek Keynote: In his address to CBC attendees, Sinek focused on themes from his most recent publication, Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t, which addresses how to create conditions where people can be creative and feel safe enough to take chances.

·Introduction of Beer Server Training for Brewpubs: Developed by the BA’s brewpub server training manual subcommittee and collaborative author Laura Lodge, this manual focuses on best practices for developing a knowledgeable staff including hiring, training and retaining great people.

·CBC Symposium Ales: The BA collaborated with the Oregon Brewers Guild on this year's commemorative beer. With Oregon home to so many craft breweries, the guild opted to brew six different commemorative beers representing the coast, central Oregon, the Willamette Valley, and Portland proper (with three from the latter). Each beer was a collaboration among breweries from the given area, while a variety of industry suppliers provided the ingredients and packaging. 

·Craft Brewers Reach Record Volume Share of Marketplace: CBC also saw the BA release a full, extensive analysis of 2014 data on U.S. craft brewing growth. For the first time ever, craft brewers reached double-digit (11 percent) volume share of the marketplace. The state of the industry presentation is available in the CBC Media Kit. The full 2014 industry analysis will be published in the May/June 2015 issue of The New Brewer.

The 2016 CBC will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from May 3-6, in conjunction with the 2016 World Beer Cup^®.

About the Brewers Association

The Brewers Association is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The Brewers Association (BA) represents more than 70 percent of the brewing industry, and its members make more than 99 percent of the beer brewed in the U.S. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup^®, Great American Beer Festival^®, Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America^®, SAVOR℠: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, AHA National Homebrewers Conference, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week^®. The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine and its Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association. Follow us on Twitter.

Oregon State receives $1 million gift for research brewery

Revised Press Release:

CORVALLIS, Ore. (April 17, 2015 ) – Oregon State University’s fermentation science program has received a $1 million gift from Carlos Alvarez, the chairman and chief executive officer of The Gambrinus Company, a San Antonio-based beer company that owns BridgePort Brewing Company in Portland, Oregon; the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas; and the Trumer Brewery in Berkeley, California.

Faculty and students (left) from Oregon State University's Food Science and Technology Department celebrate a $1 million gift from Carlos Alvarez (center), the chairman and CEO of The Gambrinus Co., with brewmasters (right) from BridgePort, Trumer and Spoetzl breweries. Photo by Jordan McDonnell.

The gift from Alvarez will fund the purchase of a new research brewery to be housed in Oregon State’s Wiegand Hall Pilot Plant Facility, where fermentation science students participate in each step of the brewing and packaging process.

“We are incredibly grateful and excited about building on this great relationship with BridgePort and Gambrinus,” said Tom Shellhammer, OSU’s Nor’Wester Professor of Fermentation Science. “At Oregon State we are very proud to offer students a ‘grain-to-glass’ education that covers every aspect of the beer-making process. Furthermore, we carry out cutting-edge, globally-relevant brewing science research.

“This state-of-the-art facility will allow us to provide an experiential education that is truly world-class, while also enhancing research that benefits industry,” Shellhammer added.

Oregon State’s collaborative relationship with BridgePort spans more than 15 years. Most recently, Shellhammer, OSU fermentation science students, and BridgePort brewmaster and OSU alumnus Jeff Edgerton collaborated on a session brown ale that won a gold medal at the European Beer Star competition in Germany.

Alvarez is a graduate of the Monterrey Institute of Technology in Monterrey, Mexico, with a degree in biochemical engineering. After working as export manager for Grupo Modelo and taking Corona to the U.S., Alvarez founded The Gambrinus Company in 1986 and became U.S. importer for Corona and other Modelo brands for the next 20 years.

In 1989, he acquired and revitalized the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas, now the fourth largest craft brewery in the U.S. with Shiner Bock as its leading brand. Alvarez subsequently acquired BridgePort Brewing Company in 1995 and founded the Trumer Brewery in Berkeley, California, in 2004.

An ardent supporter of education, Alvarez has contributed to educational institutions across the U.S. with a particular focus on scholarship funding. Among other volunteer leadership roles, he served several years on the board of trustees for Davidson College in North Carolina.

“I am very pleased to support Oregon State’s fermentation science program and its outstanding students, who represent so much promise as future craft brewers,” Alvarez said. “I am particularly excited to be able to fund this project and give back to the industry that built my business.”

Oregon State is one of only two universities in the nation offering undergraduate and graduate level degrees in fermentation science that lead to a career in the brewing industry. Housed within the Department of Food Science and Technology, one of the oldest and top-ranked food science programs in the U.S., the program attracts students from across the country and around the world who hope to enter the craft brewing market. Three out of four students in the department are fermentation science majors.

When construction is finished, the new research brewery funded by Alvarez’s gift will be named in his honor.

3rd Annual, Second Consecutive Eastern Washington Brewfest In Central Washington

Iron Horse Brewery Announces 3rd Annual, Second Consecutive Eastern Washington Brewfest in Central Washington on May 15th from 5 p.m.-10 p.m.

Giving a Chest Bump to Washington Craft Breweries in the 509.

Press Release:

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (April 14, ,2015) - Iron Horse Brewery is announcing, almost the same exact thing as last year except different, which is that they plan to host the Eastern Washington Brewfest in Central Washington which most Westsiders refer to as Eastern Washington on Friday, May 15th from 5:00pm to 10pm.  That’s 5.15.15 5:00pm to (5:00pm + 5 hours) The brewfest will take place in and around Iron Horse’s downtown location, [the pub] with tastings offered from 10.5 different breweries located within the 509 area code.

“Eastern Washington has mostly small craft brewers and finding their products in your home market can be hard at times. Unless you live in Ellensburg on May 15th, because then you will be able to find those rare beers, and in case you were wondering, it’s not just a coincidence, they will be found at our E WA Brewfest,” said Greg Parker, general manager of Iron Horse Brewery.  

The Brewfest, Itself.

This brewfest is targeted towards craft beer enthusiasts as well as those who believe that being lame is never an option.  The 4-5 o’clock hour will host area restaurant and bar reps allowing for participating craft breweries to showcase their product.  “Our goal is to help connect Eastern Washington craft brewers with local bars and restaurants so that, hopefully, there is even more craft beer flowing from the taps.  Kind of like Tinder, but without the awkwardness and rejection”, said Jared Vallejo, director of marketing for Iron Horse Brewery. ‘I have been to a lot of festivals, and I can tell you this is my favorite one,“ said Ross Chalstrom, Interloper of Press Release Quotes.

The event opens to the public at 5:00pm.  Advanced tickets can be purchased at [The Pub] 412 N Main Street, Iron Horse Coffee, 1617 Vantage Hwy starting Friday, the 17th or online now at : http://www.easternwashingtonbrewfest.com  for  $15 and include 6 tastings and a keepsake glass.  After May 1st, single ticket prices are $20.00. Additional tastings can be purchased onsite. There will be food available for purchase from Tacos Chalitos, Earthquake Empanada, and Pizza Colin. Or you can bring a bag of Funyuns in.

About Iron Horse Brewery

Iron Horse Brewery, centrally located in Ellensburg, Wash., has been producing hand crafted ales since 2007.  Iron Horse is owned by father-son team Greg and Gary Parker.   With 34 employees and a recent expansion, enabling IHB to double its brewing capacity, they  plan to produced over 19,000  barrels of beer in 2015. To learn more about the brewery or to simply take a break from SnapChat,  go to www.ironhorsebrewery.com;  you’ll probably be sorry you did.

 

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Stone Spotlight Series Winner:Imperial Mutt Brown Ale

Courtesy of Stone Brewing Co

Press Release
ESCONDIDO, CA (April 13, 2015) – To “spotlight” its brewing team’s creativity in 2014, Stone Brewing Co. introduced the Stone Spotlight Series, an annual internal competition celebrating what craft beer is all about: Ingenuity. Exploration. Fun. Ten teams of two vied for the chance to have their beer recipe brewed, packaged and distributed on a national scale. Starting today, Stone is proud to release the champion entry from this year’s competition—Stone Spotlight: Imperial Mutt Brown Ale. Fans may purchase the limited-release beer in 22-ounce bottles and on draft at retailers in select markets where Stone beer is sold.

Courtesy of Stone Brewing Co

Stone Brewing Supervisor Drew Neldon and Brewer Steve Via joined forces to develop the award-winning beer. When brainstorming recipe ideas, Neldon wanted to brew an altbier, while Via was interested in exploring brown ales. (Before crafting this beer, Via felt he’d never had a brown ale that synced with his palate.) Rather than focus on a single beer category, the duo decided to combine the best qualities of both styles by using four different malts to make a unique mongrel, hence the name: Imperial Mutt Brown Ale.

“With such talented and inventive brewers on our team, each installment of the Stone Spotlight Series has had very stiff competition,” explains Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele. “During the judging session earlier this year, we were most impressed by the English notes coming from Drew and Steve’s beer. After brewing their recipe on our 120-barrel systems, the character of the English ale yeast really shines, along with the interesting blend of malts used.”

The beer’s grain bill is made up of Victory, chocolate wheat, Vienna and Honey malts. Fruity and bread-like aromatics are joined by subtle coffee notes. Mild roast and coffee traits carry over to the flavor, followed by hints of toffee and molasses. Magnum and East Kent Golding hops offer a restrained, balancing bitterness to a strong malt backbone. When all these qualities combine, the result is a full-bodied, malt-driven beer that’s smooth and easy to drink.

Stone Spotlight: Imperial Mutt Brown Ale is ready to be enjoyed fresh or may be aged for months or several years at proper cellaring conditions (55°F or lower). Although Drew and Steve’s Imperial Mutt Brown Ale will be available in limited quantities, fans can look forward to a new winning beer every year from the Stone Spotlight Series that showcases Team Stone’s brewing talent.

Courtesy of Stone Brewing Co

Stone Spotlight: Imperial Mutt Brown Ale Quick Facts:
Name: Stone Spotlight: Imperial Mutt Brown Ale
URL: Stonebrewing.com/spotlight/muttbrown
Stats: 9% ABV, 45 IBUs
Availability: Limited 22-ounce bottles and draft, beginning April 13
Hops bill: Magnum and East Kent Golding
National Distribution: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA and Puerto Rico
International Distribution: Alberta and British Columbia, Canada; Japan; Singapore; and United Kingdom

About Stone Brewing Co.
Founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996, San Diego-based Stone Brewing Co. is the 9th largest craft brewer in the United States. Stone has been listed on the Inc. 500 | 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list 10 times, and has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice. The multi-faceted company will be the first American craft brewer to own and operate its own brewery in Europe, and is also building a production brewery and destination restaurant in Richmond, Virginia. Brewing at both locations is anticipated to begin late 2015. Known for its bold, flavorful and largely hop-centric beers, Stone has earned a reputation for brewing outstanding, unique beers while maintaining an unwavering commitment to sustainability, business ethics, philanthropy and the art of brewing. For more information on Stone Brewing Co., please visit stonebrewing.com or the company’s social media sites: Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and The Stone Blog.