Brewers and cider makers are being given until February 10 to enter the International Brewing & Cider Awards following an extension to the deadline from competition organisers, Brewing Technology Services (BTS).

Ruth Evans, director of BTS, said, "We're delighted with the number of entries received so far, which have come in from brewers and cider makers of all sizes, from all over the world. It has been particularly pleasing to see entries from companies who haven't taken part in the competition before, which reflects the excellent reputation of our Awards among the global brewing and cider making communities.

"We're extending the deadline to help those producers and brand owners who have requested a bit more time to submit their entry. The final cut off on 10 February gives us a month to receive beers and ciders into the National Brewery Centre in Burton and prepare for the judging there in March."

The last competition in 2015 attracted around 1,000 entries in total, from 50 different countries, and the final tally this year is expected to exceed that.

A bastion for innovation within the artisanal beverage and food industries, the San Francisco Bay Area welcomes its latest trailblazing entrepreneurial venture, Admiral Maltings. California's first modern floor-malting facility. Admiral Maltings harkens back to pre-Prohibition days when malt houses sourced local barley for regional breweries. Beginning in April 2017, Admiral Maltings will produce premium malt at their new facility on Alameda Point for select craft breweries and distilleries with 100% sustainably grown barley procured from California family farms.

Malt is the backbone and soul of craft beer. Today, most malt is mass-produced by a few very large manufacturers. Only a handful of malting companies around the world still practice the art of floor-malting, wherein small batches of grain are steeped in water, allowed to germinate in a thin layer, gently turned, then dried and cured in a shallow loaded kiln. Floor-malted grain is revered by craft brewers and distillers for its flavor, aroma and character. Admiral Maltings will combine traditional methods with modern quality control technology to produce consistently distinctive malt.

Heavy Seas Beer announced the first release in its 2017 Partner Ships series of collaboration beers – an English style “Olde Ale”  (8.5% ABV) brewed with Union Craft Brewing of Baltimore, releasing in February. This series features beers produced in collaboration with other regionally and nationally recognized brewers in the spirit of friendship, creativity, and adventure. For 2017, Heavy Seas is partnering with Union Craft Brewing, Cigar City Brewing, and MadTree Brewing. The Partner Ships series is brewed at Heavy Seas Beer in Baltimore and celebrates the pioneering spirit of American craft beer today.

“‘Olde Ale’ is an interesting beer style featuring flavors of nuts, cocoa, molasses, and dried fruits float over a chewy, luscious body of English malt goodness,” said Christopher Leonard, Heavy Seas’ Brewmaster. “Inspired by the rich, warming brews of a bygone era, and with the addition of local Domino Brown Sugar, this example of neighborly camaraderie will yield a true, comfort ale that should kindle its own Baltimore nostalgia.”

“We’ve been having a ball with the Partner Ships collaborations,” said Heavy Seas Founder, Hugh Sisson.  “We are particularly happy to be partnering with Union, part of the “new wave” of Baltimore craft beer, and damn good guys to boot.”
Here are the product specs:

Gearing up for their 7th year “Getting you from Pint A to Pint B” in Europe, Portland-based Beercycling is proud to announce an expansion into the US. The new "Oregon Beerway" tour will kick off in May 2017, featuring 5-days and 4-nights cycling between Portland and Hood River. Riders will visit one or two breweries a day, stay at comfortable hotels adjacent to the breweries, and have the assistance of a support vehicle as they cycle along the historic Columbia River Gorge on some of the most scenic bike trails in the state. The tour is open to cyclists of all skill levels, with rides averaging around 24 miles a day. Registration includes bike rentals, hotel accommodation, daily breakfast, lunch, snacks, brewery tours, vehicle support during the tour, passenger shuttle from the end point back to Portland, and best of all lots of beer samples. The three 2017 tour departures will be led by Beercycling founder Evan Cohan.

2017 Dates: May 26th to 30th (Memorial Day), June 8th to 12th, and September 1st to 5th (Labor Day)

More details on the Oregon Beerway, including itinerary, pricing, and registration can be found on the tour page here: www.beercycling.com/oregonbeerway

For the love of IPAs, the revolutionary Stone Enjoy By IPA series continues to flourish with the newest addition: Stone Enjoy By 02.14.17 Chocolate & Coffee IPA. Available at bars, restaurants and retailers beginning this week, the newest variant is rich, decadent and a devastatingly fresh Valentine’s Day pleasure.
 
“The Brewing Team tested several fruit and chocolate variations before finding just the right flavors to complement the hops of our Stone Enjoy By IPA,” said Jeremy Moynier, senior innovation program manager. “The chocolate and coffee combination we finally hit on was inspired by what we had done recently with Stone Mocha IPA, but here it took on new life with the Stone Enjoy By series. This recipe was brewed specifically to add another layer to go with the complexity of the hops and the result is a very special hop-lovers dream alongside a cup of coffee and a bite of chocolate.”
 

Bozeman Craft Beer Week is set for its first year running May 6th thru May 13th, 2017 in Bozeman, Montanna. It is presented by Fermentana. The eight-day beer bash will offer a variety of beer-centric events at local breweries, restaurants, and more across Bozeman and Belgrade.

According to the beer week website, "The beer week is a grassroots collaboration organized by two avid Bozeman homebrewers. The goal:  spotlight our vibrant craft beer community and all its facets. This 8-day, multi-venue beer bash will include a variety of exciting craft beer-centric events. Events will happen throughout the community at local breweries, restaurants, and more. We hope you'll join us in celebrating the best our area's craft beer scene has to offer."

Learn more here

Cape May Brewing Company recently announce their latest creation, Demisemiseptcentennial Ale. Brewed as the official craft beer of Villanova University’s 175th anniversary, this exclusive brew is set for release in six-packs and on draft starting Wednesday, January 25th from their Tasting Room at 1288 Hornet Road in the Cape May Airport.

Cape May Brewing Company co-owners and Villanova alumni Ryan Krill and Chris Henke met as freshman in the fall of 2001. Quickly becoming friends, the two stayed close throughout their University experience and remained buddies in the years after.

“As we approached the University’s 175th anniversary, we wanted to plan a year-long celebration that was fun and engaging for all Villanovans,” says Villanova’s Director of Presidential Initiatives and Events, Christine Quisenberry. “Lots of activities are scheduled on campus, and we wanted to be sure to find ways to include our alumni throughout the region and around the world in this celebration, too. That’s where Ryan and Chris come in.”

The values and principles instilled by Villanova to the brewery’s co-founders have become guiding forces throughout the development and growth of Cape May Brewing Company. The brewery’s commitment to community, their dedication to sustainability, and their devotion to quality all have their roots in Villanova’s most fundamental principles of Veritas Unitas Caritas: truth, unity, and charity.

New Belgium Brewing’s new spring seasonal Whizbang, is a hoppy blonde ale bursting with Mosaic hops riding atop a malty backbone. The result is a full-flavored taste explosion. The beer, which is available now through March in 12 oz. bottles and on draft, is a sessionable spring alternative. The light and refreshing ale has a soft malt base, with vibrant notes of mango, lemon, blueberry, and pine thanks to Mosaic, UK Admiral, and Centennial dry-hopping.
 
“Whizbang offers a blast of hops, thus the name, yet it’s still crisp and quaffable,” said Bryan Simpson, media relations director for New Belgium. “It’s hoppy complexity and balanced drinkability makes it a great go-to beer for the late winter and early spring season.”
 
Whizbang
Style: American Blonde Ale
Malt Varieties: Pale, Caramel 80, and Munich
Hop Varieties: Nugget, Simcoe, UK Admiral, Mosaic, and Centennial
Color: Bright Golden
Alcohol 5.7% ABV
IBUs: 45
 
To find Whizbang near you, use the New Belgium Libation Location tool: or download New Belgium’s Beer Mode app.