America's Brewers, Importers and Beer Distributors Celebrate '75 Years of Beer' on April 7, 2008

On April 7th, brewers, beer importers, distributors and beer lovers across America will celebrate 75 years of beer that has been flowing legally since the drought of Prohibition. The date will be marked with specially brewed commemorative beers, brewery tours and events at many of America's 1,400 plus breweries.

Historians note that Prohibition officially ended on December 5, 1933, with the ratification of the 21st Amendment. But earlier that year, newly-elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt took steps to fulfill his campaign promise to end the national ban on alcohol. He spurred Congress to modify the Volstead Act to allow the sale of 3.2 percent beer in advance of Prohibition's ratification. Then, on April 7, 1933, Roosevelt received newly legalized beer at the White House and toasted the beginning of the end for Prohibition. In the twenty-four hours that followed, more than 1.5 million gallons of beer flowed as Americans celebrated. www.75YearsofBeer.org

This Obama's For You By: Eliza Barclay As the Democratic contenders duke it out at home, in Kenya a beer nicknamed in honor of Barack Obama has already emerged as the winner. Known officially as Senator Keg, the draft brew was launched by East African Breweries and Kenyans have dubbed the drink "Obama Beer." demand is surging for "Obama," which at 30 cents a glass, is marketed to low income consumers. By now, "Obama" is so popular the brewer is barely meeting demand.

 

No Boys Allowed; Women Form Beer Drinking Club
 

"I just, I love beer," said Christine Gumpper, a member of a beer club just for women.

These are beer babes with a particular palate for superior suds.

"I've had a few quasi-marriage proposals from across the bar room," said a laughing Suzanne Woods, who started the club called In Pursuit of Ale.

In Pursuit of Ale started a year and a half ago, and since then 300 different women have taken part in the beer club.

Their professions are diverse, from architect to lawyer to stockbroker.
The women meet on Wednesday nights at bars all over the city, tasting what the taps have to offer. "A lot of people don't appreciate that beer can be as varied as wine or other things," said member Jennifer Hinkel. "There are a lot of different tastes. There are many different varieties. Sometimes it gets a bad wrap. I think in America we drink a lot of cheap, light beers that don't have a lot of flavor, and a lot of people don't ever explore all that beer has to offer."

These beer babes want other women to know beer isn't just for boys anymore.

 

 

Philadelphia makes its case as nation's best beer-drinking city

In fact, Philadelphia is the best beer-drinking city in America, argues Don Russell, also known as beer columnist Joe Sixpack. And he's out to prove it as one of the organizers of Philly Beer Week, a 10-day, 150-event extravaganza designed to highlight the city's centuries-old tradition of brewing — and tippling.
"Our Founding Fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence and Constitution in the taverns of Philadelphia," Russell said.

Philadelphia's beer history dates back at least to 1680, when city founder William Penn began work on his brewery. The first American lager is said to have been brewed here in 1840. And U.S. Marine lore holds that the corps was conceived at long-gone Tun Tavern in the Old City neighborhood in 1775.
 

By 1870, there were 69 breweries in Philadelphia, according to Russell, and eventually an entire neighborhood called Brewerytown. But Prohibition shuttered many facilities, and the last city brewery, Schmidt's, closed in 1987.
It wasn't long before the microbrew trend caught on and the region began returning to its roots. Today, there are at least 20 breweries in the Philadelphia area
 

Swedish ski racer Janette Hargin, US ski racer Julia Mancuso and British ski racer Chemmy Alcott, from left to right, enjoy a hot bath after the 9th Verbier High Five, a fun competition organized by a beer producer, on Saturday April 5, 2008 in the ski resort of Verbier.

Bill would make Budweiser Missouri's official beer   
 

A state lawmaker wants to give the "King of Beers" its own kingdom by making Budweiser the official beer of Missouri. Budweiser is a Missouri-based international icon that — if officially recognized — might even persuade more people to visit the state, said Rep. Curt Dougherty.

Dougherty's bill was introduced last week but has not been referred to a House committee. Budweiser has been made by St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch since 1876. It's now produced in 12 regional breweries, though samples are flown daily to St. Louis for taste-testing.

The brand is already the "Official International Beer" sponsor of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and will be the "Official Beer" of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Plus, it's an official sponsor for 26 professional baseball teams and 28 football teams.
 

 

Tradiginal neobilly brit-scot-sham rock. Their story, their music, Interviews. Great Fun!

 

Anheuser-Busch Introduces a Budweiser Ale 

 

 

Anheuser-Busch Cos. built its business on rivers of lager beer. But come October, the St. Louis-based brewer will have a little something extra for folks who like "heavier" brews.

Budweiser American Ale is meant to attract what A-B's marketing department calls "experimenters"—drinkers who bounce around among various beers such as Yuengling, Fat Tire, Hoegaarden and Budweiser.

The new ale's task is to bring its own sales while also drawing drinkers to regular Budweiser, which is on a two-decade slide.

A-B is slamming millions of extra dollars into Budweiser's marketing budget to promote it as the Great American Lager.

Introducing a Bud-branded ale now "makes sense," said Peacock. "It builds on the credentials of Budweiser as a genuine American beer."

Anheuser-Busch doesn't have much of a presence in ales, although it does sell several imported ales—including Grolsch Amber Ale and Leffe Blonde—and its own Shock Top Belgian White.

The push for Budweiser American Ale is expected to be lower-key than, say, the rollout of the new Bud Light Lime. One question, Shepard said, is how nimble A-B will be in selling the new beer without the benefit of a massive advertising campaign.

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., takes a sip of a Yuengling beer after shaking hands in Sharky's Cafe in Latrobe, Pa.,

 

Blue Moon Top Performer Among IRI Beer Brands; Chill Top New Brand

 

 

This is how hot Blue Moon is. It topped all beer brands in IRI’s annual list of top 30 performing beer brands in supers in 2007 (as measured by 11 different criteria; Blue Moon #4 in 06). Blue Moon $$ sales up 55% in supers in 07. Blue Moon gained 0.2 share of $$ to 0.6. It and Heineken Premium Light, which came in as #3 top performing brand with $$ up 39%, were only top 30 brands to gain as much as 0.2 share.

 

Number 2 ranking went to rotating Sam Seasonals. Stella and Newcastle Brown rounded out top 5. Notice any common theme? Yup, each of top 5 a hi-end brand. And not one an established segment leader. IRI notes that 20 of 30 top brands were hi-end, with 13 imports and 7 craft. Unlike 06, each of top 3 premium lights placed in top 10, Coors Light #6, Bud Light #7, Miller Lite #9. AB had 6 brands in top 30, Heineken USA had 5, Boston Beer had 4. For 1st time, no FMB made ranking.

 

 

AMERICAN BEER DRINKING CLUB MEMBERS HAVING FUN!