There was an interesting question asked yesterday on RateBeer.com concerning the status of the Arizona Craft Beer scene. Here were my thoughts on that:
The closest thing we have to a brewer putting a big beer in a bottle is Sonoran with their 100 Batch Series. The 200 will be out shortly and carries substantially more flavor than the 100, as well as a substantially lower price. Still expensive, but for a 19.37% ABV beer that has experienced 5 different fermentations, not too bad. Sonoran is also looking at out of state distribution. Papago is now working with Van Steenberge to produce Oude Zuipers, which is now available in bottles (as of this morning). Of course, Prescott (and soon Four Peaks)are canning their beers to add the the growing canned beer movement, which in AZ includes 5 products from Oskar Blues, 3 (the third as of this morning) from SKA, 2 from Big Sky, one from New Belgium, and possibly some others that I have forgotten. We have a fairly solid craft beer scene. We have always been several years behind California and Colorado, but we have been making progress at a good rate. Five years ago, most bar owners, even multi-taps, couldn’t spell IPA, now its one of the faster growing craft categories in the state, right behind seasonals and wheat beers. We have had a couple of new breweries open up in the last few years, we have had several existing breweries begin distribution, including Sun Up and San Tan. What we are missing is a defining entity, be it a brewery, a brewpub, an event, a beer style, or an area of the city. There is talk of a Phoenix Beer Week, which would be great. Imagine a week bookended by the Strong Beer Fest and the Great Arizona Beer Fest, with dinners and tastings every night, including major brewers...and enough interested people to attend them all. We, who already have this passion for craft beer, must continue to spread the word and induct others into our little cult of malt and hops so that we can obtain a critical mass of craft beer drinkers that will push the category over the last few hills. That’s when the fun begins.
So what else do we need? Really the most important thing becomes building a consumer mind set that demands great beer, and won't settle for less. At the Craft Brewers Conference, Greg Koch from Stone talked about "Being Remarkable", as he presented it he was talking about the craft brewers assembled there. But the more I think about it, the more that needs to apply to consumers as well. There's always a time and place for lighter beers, American Premium Lagers and the like, but when you want craft or specialty imports, then I have a message for you. Consumers, Be Remarkable, don't accept mediocrity, don't accept okay, make sure that you are asking for the best beer available, whether it be craft or import. We believe that most of the time those beers will be from our portfolio and that will make us happy. We will make the same committment back to you...we will Be Remarkable and do our best to provide you with the best product you can possibly get in Arizona.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Craft Brewers Conference - Day 3-5
Okay, so we've gotten Days 1 and 2 out of the way. Things may get a little hazy from here on out, but let's give it a shot why don't we?
We got a late start and enjoyed a couple of seminars before rolling into the main hall for lunch and the expo. More Black Folie and then an opportunity to drink beer from our newest supplier, The Bruery...great beers...sitting next to those beers I noticed Brookly Local 1 and 2...who could resist? We spent some time with some suppliers, both current and potential, and then ended the event in a conversation with Adam Avery, Jim Koch, and some others. Jim Koch is a fascinating man and seems well versed in more than just beer. We stayed for some time, because as Adam Avery said, you don't get an opportunity to have a conversation with Jim Koch every day.
Next up was a small reception featuring an incredible Bohemian style Pils brewed by a small brewery whose name escapes me. I enjoyed this beer with writer and all around beer historian, Horst Dornbusch and Wolfgang Burkart, managing director of Verlag W. Sachon, the publisher for nine different beer magazines in Europe and Asia. Horst explained how this Pils was based on the oldest know recipe using a special malt; and how it was likely the most authentic version of the original Bohemian Pils you would find. As always, Horst is fascinating and our conversation took us back to the 15th century and right up to modern times. Herr Burkart has promised to come visit our main warehouse when he is in the area and perhaps do a story on it for the European magazines.
A long cab ride to Deep Ellum where Shelton Brothers had some amazing beers from their portfolio on tap including a cask version of Dieu du Ciel's Vaisseau de Songes (Ship of Dreams) IPA, also the Rigor Mortis ABT from the same brewery. We also enjoyed Cantillon Vigneronne and a few others. The best part of this was that many of the brewers were in attendance. We had time for a great conversation with Jean van Roy of Cantillon, there on his first ever visit to the U.S. The whole time we were there, we were teased by a Russian River Pliny the Elder handle, however, it was not to be tapped without Vinnie in attendance, and we were long gone by the time he arrived.
Later that night we went back to Harpoon where they had 60 cask conditioned beers from across New England available. We didn't know where to start, and it ended far too soon. Back at the hotel bar, we ran into some folks from several breweries and enjoyed a nightcap with Larry Bell.
Friday was a real slow day, several meetings and a quick tour of Quincy Market including lunch at The Black Rose. There was a real nice closing reception and we ended up back at Harpoon for a New England Craft Brewers night featuring kegs from 10 or so local breweries. We spent most of the evening upstairs in the tasting room trying some wonderful treats that Harpoon had put on special for the evening. We bumped into Rick and Sean from Coronado, enjoyed a late dinner and a couple of final beers with them and called it a night.
A great conference from several standpoints, but the most exceptional was the incredible hospitality shown by Harpoon. For the entire week they erected a huge tent in their parking lot and offered up the space for attendees to enjoy local beers in the evening. The fact that they shared each and every opportunity to pour beer with all their New England brethren says a lot about what kind of industry this is, and what kind of brewery Harpoon is.
We got a late start and enjoyed a couple of seminars before rolling into the main hall for lunch and the expo. More Black Folie and then an opportunity to drink beer from our newest supplier, The Bruery...great beers...sitting next to those beers I noticed Brookly Local 1 and 2...who could resist? We spent some time with some suppliers, both current and potential, and then ended the event in a conversation with Adam Avery, Jim Koch, and some others. Jim Koch is a fascinating man and seems well versed in more than just beer. We stayed for some time, because as Adam Avery said, you don't get an opportunity to have a conversation with Jim Koch every day.
Next up was a small reception featuring an incredible Bohemian style Pils brewed by a small brewery whose name escapes me. I enjoyed this beer with writer and all around beer historian, Horst Dornbusch and Wolfgang Burkart, managing director of Verlag W. Sachon, the publisher for nine different beer magazines in Europe and Asia. Horst explained how this Pils was based on the oldest know recipe using a special malt; and how it was likely the most authentic version of the original Bohemian Pils you would find. As always, Horst is fascinating and our conversation took us back to the 15th century and right up to modern times. Herr Burkart has promised to come visit our main warehouse when he is in the area and perhaps do a story on it for the European magazines.
A long cab ride to Deep Ellum where Shelton Brothers had some amazing beers from their portfolio on tap including a cask version of Dieu du Ciel's Vaisseau de Songes (Ship of Dreams) IPA, also the Rigor Mortis ABT from the same brewery. We also enjoyed Cantillon Vigneronne and a few others. The best part of this was that many of the brewers were in attendance. We had time for a great conversation with Jean van Roy of Cantillon, there on his first ever visit to the U.S. The whole time we were there, we were teased by a Russian River Pliny the Elder handle, however, it was not to be tapped without Vinnie in attendance, and we were long gone by the time he arrived.
Later that night we went back to Harpoon where they had 60 cask conditioned beers from across New England available. We didn't know where to start, and it ended far too soon. Back at the hotel bar, we ran into some folks from several breweries and enjoyed a nightcap with Larry Bell.
Friday was a real slow day, several meetings and a quick tour of Quincy Market including lunch at The Black Rose. There was a real nice closing reception and we ended up back at Harpoon for a New England Craft Brewers night featuring kegs from 10 or so local breweries. We spent most of the evening upstairs in the tasting room trying some wonderful treats that Harpoon had put on special for the evening. We bumped into Rick and Sean from Coronado, enjoyed a late dinner and a couple of final beers with them and called it a night.
A great conference from several standpoints, but the most exceptional was the incredible hospitality shown by Harpoon. For the entire week they erected a huge tent in their parking lot and offered up the space for attendees to enjoy local beers in the evening. The fact that they shared each and every opportunity to pour beer with all their New England brethren says a lot about what kind of industry this is, and what kind of brewery Harpoon is.
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