Take a few minutes to read/listen to this MPR story by Curtis Gilbert (“Small breweries ready to tap into market – or fall flat“). The central question being posed is whether or not the Twin Cities market can/will support the plethora of new breweries popping up all over the state/region or will the market saturate quickly. Hell, living in Portland, a city about 2/3 the size of the Twin Cities and with probably triple (just a rough guess off the top of my head) the number of breweries/brewpubs, my wife and I continue to see new places popping up all the time and, as Curtis points out in his story, the city does not appear to have reached saturation yet. So, the issue in MN isn’t really one of population size, I don’t think, but rather population/cultural acceptance of craft beer. These are exciting times we’re living in, folks. Anywhooo, check out his story and have a lively debate about it over a pint.
Author: Mag
What’s-a-happening, hop stuff? Brau Bros. Update
Hot off the Brau Bros. presses…well, recently received via electronic transmission via both private and public infrastructure…is the following update from the Bros. If you’re not on their mailing list, get on it!
Hey Everyone,
Thanks to our friends at Cherry Bean Coffee Co. in Parker, SD for collaborating with us on this Foreign Extra Stout, set to release early February. It’s a bit bigger, coming in at 7.5%ABV, with two distinct Cherry Bean roasts used throughout the brewing process to build a unique and memorable stout. Look for it both in sixers and on draft wherever cool, local beer is served.
This week we will commission the newest members of the Brau Family. Fermenter #9 and Fermenter #10 are waiting patiently to be filled with beer. By Friday they will each be filled with thirty barrels of beer, and will be well on their way to earning their keep. These new vessels will give us the ability to run the brew house four days/week, with multiple kettle fills each day. Now to get the new bottling line running…
In order to keep things flowing smoothly, we are looking to hire another brewer. This person’s responsibilities will lay primarily on the cold side as cellerman. It’s entry level. However, we can offer low pay, long hours, and hard work. Please send resumes to dustin@braubeer.com.
Coming soon: the first barrel aged beers from Brau Bros! Details to follow shortly…
Take care, and thanks for supporting the brewery!
Dustin
Declining Beers
My homemade beer-story search algorithm (i.e. my randomly clicking around the innerwebs) came up with this story on msnbc.com on beers that are seeing major declines in sales over the last 5 to 10 years. The source of the data was 247wallst.com, but I couldn’t find a link to any data on the site after an extensive 15 seconds of searching. Kind of interesting in a depressing sort of way. Enjoy it for what it’s worth.
BRAUsing Local Events
Heh heh, we crack ourselves up. Anywho…dateline, Lucan, home of the Brau Bros.
Hey Everyone,
Just thought I’d take a chance to let everyone know what’s going on at the brewery, and keep everyone up to date. I apologize for not touching base in over a month; it’s been extremely busy at the brewery and we’ve made some big changes.
First, we’ve added some much-needed help. Chance Mitchell has joined us in the brew house. Chance was crazy enough to move to Lucan about a month ago and he has been very helpful in increasing our production. Also, Alex Rank has joined our team as a market rep. Alex is based out of the twin cities, and will help provide a point person for that area. You’ll see Alex out and about at festivals, tastings, and samplings. If you see him, make sure to stop and say hi.
Things have been very busy lately. We have additional fermenters en route from the west coast, scheduled for late July delivery. We recently commissioned a new keg cleaner and filler, and are working on upgrading the bottling line. The building is bursting at the seams, and we are looking for options to expanding our square footage.
On Thursday, July 21st I’ll be speaking at a Brau Bros Beer Dinner at Jackpot Junction near Redwood Falls. I’ve seen the menu, and it looks fantastic. They’ve hosted beer dinners in the past, and they’re fantastic. Seating is limited, and I know there are only a few seats left. For info email me (removed link – check out their webpage) or call Jackpot 1.800.win.cash. It’ll be a blast.
We were hoping to get a late summer seasonal out, however limited capacity in the brew house means we’ll make big plans for Hundred Yard Dash Fresh Hop Ale this fall. The hops are looking terrific, especially considering the late spring and recent storms. It looks like we’re on track for another great hop harvest.
Dustin
What the Schell’s Goin’ On Around Here?
Heyo, gotta Strib story about Schell’s being one of the nation’s top 10 breweries in the 2011 U.S. Open Beer Championship…yet again. It’s kind of an interesting competition. Read up on it. You know you’re not gonna get any work done this afternoon anyway. Amirite?