Industry News (Issue 26)

AB-InBev Buys Belgian Brewer Bosteels, Sets Sights on Others

That's right, Brouwerij Bosteels, the seventh generation brewery famed for producing Tripel Karmeliet, Pauwel Kwak and DeuS, will sell to AB-InBev for an estimated 200 million euros, or $225 million.

Bosteels, which was founded in 1791, will continue to run its brewery as part of ABI's High End. 

But wait, there's more!

The megabrewer has also purchased SpikedSeltzer creator Boathouse Beverage, which creates flavored alcoholic seltzer beverages in flavors such as Valencia Orange, Cape Cod Cranberry and Indian River Grapefruit, at 6% ABV.

While financial details of the acquisition have not emerged, ABI is reportedly in full ownership of the company.

Last but not least, ABI is in the running to purpose Vietnam's largest brewer, Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corp, or Sabeco at a price of at least $1.8 billion. Also in the running are Heineken, Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. and Kirin Group Holdings Co., along with four other regional companies.

Sabeco seems to only be interested in the cash:

“Sabeco doesn’t care if the buyer is an international or domestic company,” said CEO Le Hong Xanh. “All we care about is who will pay the most. The government wants to sell its stakes as soon as possible.”

American Homebrewers Association Debuts Brew Guru App
The American Homebrewers Association today released Brew Guru, a beer app that "does beer better," according to a release from the AHA.

The mobile app delivers homebrewing knowledge, nearby deals and local information on breweries, bars and homebrew supply shops. The release outlines Brew Guru's menu, which features the following options:

    ●      Locator: Thirsty? Hungry? In need of supplies? Use the handy locator to find nearby breweries, pubs and brewing supplies, as well as money-saving AHA Member Deals participants.

    ●      Dashboard: Get a glimpse of the freshest content from the AHA and the closest deals from participating breweries, pubs and homebrew supply shops.

    ●      Collections: Improve your brew IQ with handpicked recipes and resources from Zymurgy magazine and the AHA on themes ranging from Belgian ales to bottling to brewing in a bag.

    ●      My Account: See how many Member Deals you've redeemed and Collections you've completed; view your digital membership card; renew your membership; manage your Brew Guru settings.

Brew Guru is available now as a free download on the App Store and Google Play. AHA membership is not required to use the app.

Three Taverns Celebrates Release of First Cans
Atlanta-based Three Taverns is celebrating the canned release of its flagship Belgo-American IPA, A Night on Ponce, and the newly minted Rapturous, a tart and refreshing lacto-fermented sour ale matured on raspberry. The brewery will host a release party Friday, August 19. Tickets will include the option of a six-pack of Ponce, Rapturous or a combination pack of both. Also included in the $20 ticket is a Three Taverns pint glass, and live performance from Nashville recording artist Marc Scibilia. For all the details, see the release below:

Ponce & Rapturous Can Release Party

Join us Friday 8/19 at the brewery for our Ponce and Rapturous Can Release Party. This will be a special night of tours and tastings that includes a canned 6 pack to go. Your to go 6pack includes the option of Ponce, Rapturous or a combination 6 pack of both. Also included in the $20 ticket is a Three Taverns pint glass, and live performance from Nashville recording artist Marc Scibilia. 

"Buffalo-born and East Nashville-based Scibilia may be up-and-coming, but not completely un-known. In 2015, he turned heads and set Twitter abuzz for his ethereal rendition of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land," as part of the Jeep Chrysler commercial that aired during the Super Bowl and became the most Shazamed moment of Super Bowl XLIX outside of the halftime show. The success of the ad lead to coverage from Rolling Stone, Billboard, Forbes and USA Today and helped launch a busy year of touring with over 100 shows performed across North America and Europe." marcscibilia.com

We're privileged to have Marc perform with his band at the brewery during our special night of celebration. Learn more about Marc and his debut album, Out of Style, produced by critically acclaimed artist and Georgia native, Butch Walker, at marcscibilia.com.

Pallookaville's Corndog Wagon will be on site offering their standard truck menu of six corn dog varieties with three different batter options, homemade sides and more. (Food not included in $20 entry fee)

$20 at the door. Doors open at 6pm. Show at 8:30pm.

Ballast Point Executive Team Steps Down
In the past week, the majority of Ballast Point's executive team, including Yusuff Cherney, who was co-founder, COO and head brewer, Jim Buechler (President and CEO), and Julie Buechler (General Counsel) have stepped down to be replaced by Constellation Brands executives. Constellation president Marty Birkel will assume Jim Buechler's positions.

Editor's Note: Since the publication of this article, Ballast Point Founder Jack White and COO Earl Kight have also departed.

While the news may not be shocking to many, it marks another step away from the original ownership of a long-beloved craft brewer and another foot closer to the new "big-craft" paradigm of successful independent brewers stepping into larger ponds with bigger fish.

Yusuff Cherney, who helped found the company almost a quarter-century ago, made the following statement:

“Starting as a Clerk at Home Brew Mart 24 years ago I never imagined where this voyage would take me. From gold medals to travels around the world my life has been one that I could have only dreamt for in my younger years. This voyage seems brief in retrospect but an eternity to others just beginning. The ship would never have sailed its course without assembling a world class team that furthered the vision that is Ballast Point. I have never seen a more dedicated, enthusiastic and genuinely happy group of people who live for the craft beer industry. This team brought Ballst Point to where it is and will continue to sail onwards with a very capable captain at the helm. As it goes I must raise the davit and deploy the dingy to begin my voyage on a new course. As I sail away I have due course and hope to embark on my new adventure with a short journey…and yes I hope to catch a few fish before the real work begins. Since I can’t reach out to everyone that has been part of my life personally I just want to let you all know that my passion was fueled by your belief in what we do and without the dedication and love that all of you have showed it could have never been possible. Always dedicated to the craft. Much love.”

Ballast Point has been a West Coast pioneer for decades, and has helped usher in the era of $15 six-packs worth buying, along with the fruited varietal trends and the expansion into spirits. We'll keep you posted on what the company's future holds. 

Good People Brewing Announces Sour Beer Program
Good People Brewing in Birmingham, Alabama has announced plans to open The Funk Farm, a dedicated sour beer program within the brewery.

Unlike the brewery's year-round canned offerings, The Funk Farm will focus on small-batch, mixed-fermentation sour beers in 750-ml bottles that will only be available at the brewery. The first Funk Farm beer is a sour blonde ale brewed with raspberries and blackberries aged in red wine barrels that will release on September 24.

Here is the full release from Good People:

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – Good People Brewing Co., the oldest and largest craft brewery in the state of Alabama, announces their sour beer program, The Funk Farm.

Funk Farm is Good People’s program for brewing mixed-fermentation sour ales. Unlike the year-round offerings, beers in the Funk Farm series are fermented with non-traditional microbes and wild yeast to produce a variety of complex flavors. The brewery will offer some of the beers on a regular basis while some smaller varieties will be limited in quantity.

“We’ve been interested in sour beers and developing new beers for a couple years now. The Funk Farm series showcases the creativity and innovation of our brewers.  Through experimentation, we want to explore the art of aged, mixed-fermentation sour beers,” says Jason Malone, Co-Founder and Brewmaster at Good People Brewing.

A Sour Blonde Ale with raspberries and blackberries will be the first beer released from the new series. This beer was aged in French oak red wine barrels for 8 months, which resulted in a beer that is light, refreshing, and tart to balance the berry flavors.

The Funk Farm offerings will be available in 750 mL bottles only at the brewery. These bottles will be available for sale at the Good People taproom starting on Saturday, September 24, 2016.

For up-to-date information about Good People’s Funk Farm release and more, “like” Good People Brewing Co. on Facebook or follow on Twitter or Instagram at @GPBrewing.