While space continues to fill fast on my autumn beer cruise on the Rhine, I’ve decided to “un-sticky” may last story on it, primarily because I’m tired of seeing it every time I log on to the site. So if the notion of a luxury beer cruise in October − at decidedly non-luxury prices! − strikes your fancy, please follow this link (or this one) for more info. Otherwise, please enjoy the blog.
March 3, 2010
Beer Cruise News
March 20, 2010
World of Beer Welcomes The Wench
That title says it all, folks. I’m thrilled to welcome to World of Beer our first official assistant/contributor/social media expert/provider of keen insight, none other than The Beer Wench herself, Ashley Routson!
Beginning with next month’s Great Lakes Craft Brewers and Water Conservation Workshop and Craft Brewers Conference, Ashley will be providing contributor posts to add to your beery elucidation here at WoB, and as we go forward with the redesign of the original site — yes, Jack, it really is going to happen! — she’ll also be helping my ancient and out-of-touch self understand all these networking sites and tweetings and widgets and other assorted InterWeb stuff.
So welcome aboard, Wench. Now get to work!
March 18, 2010
Photo Cleanup
One the the byproducts of having a large memory card in your camera is a tendency to leave the photos on said card for a longer period of time than typical. Like months. Which is why I am only now clearing off pics from my trip to California in January. So here is one you may or may not need to see:
Yes, that is a giant floating Tomme Arthur head, photographed at the Lost Abbey/Port Brewing brewery. You’re welcome.
March 15, 2010
Is the Economy Really to Blame, MillerCoors?
One of the web info services I subscribe to is just-drinks.com, a British-based site that covers drinks industry news primarily from a trade perspective. It’s a terrific operation and one occasionally gifted with razor-sharp insight. Like when editor Olly Wehring made the following observation this morning:
The continuing slide in beer sales in the US will not stop until more people are back in work – that has been the message since the turn of the year from industry leaders Anheuser-Busch InBev and MillerCoors.
“Until the economy shows some money in the pocket of our key beer drinkers, we’ve got a challenge,” said MillerCoors CEO Leo Kiely in the group’s full-year results conference call (http://www.just-drinks.com/article.aspx?id=99789) last month.
And yet, small-time craft brewers continue to report figures that are apparently untouched by the general market malaise. According to figures announced last week, sales of craft beer in the country rose by 7% in volume and 10% in value in 2009 (http://www.just-drinks.com/article.aspx?id=100081). That compares pretty favourably to 2% volume sales falls for A-B InBev and MillerCoors over the same period.
Granted, craft beers are working off a much smaller base and only constitute 4% of US beer market volume. But, looking at the disparity between the sales figures for 2009, is it really only the economy that is holding back the heavyweights?
(Note: You need be a registered member to follow the first link and a full member for the second.)
Indeed, it is worth asking why sales in one segment are falling while in another, albeit small segment, things are positively booming. Could it be, oh, I don’t know, maybe…taste!?!?
March 11, 2010
Good News From De Dolle
Thanks to a translation of the news from the De Dolle website, courtesy of Glenn Castelein of Picobrouwerij Alvinne, I can now report that the fire at De Dolle wasn’t nearly as bad as it appeared in the news clip linked below. Here’s the gist of it all:
A hot water tank caught fire.
Part of the structure has burned out; there is also damage to the new roof. The bottling and brewing are intact as well as the tank room.
It will delay bottling of Oerbier and Arabier. De Dolle Bos Keun and Oerbier Reserva are, however, available for sale.
The “oerbar” has smoke damage so the bar has been moved to the former brewhouse. Tours will continue (miraculously?!).
Spread the word.
P.S.: The “seriously injured” is already at home and will come back Monday.
Consider the word spread, Kris.
March 10, 2010
De Dolle Shocker
There has been an explosion and fire at the much-respected De Dolle Brouwers in Belgium. Apparently a fuel tank blew up, injuring one employee but to what extent is unknown. From the look of this video, however, the damage appears extensive.
Our thoughts are with Dolle owner Kris Herteleer, his family, his employees and especially the injured worker and his or her family. More details will be posted here as they become available.




March 9, 2010
While I’ve Been Working…
Lots of stuff on the go these days: the normal workload of articles and columns, ‘natch, plus a pretty cool Toronto project that will be revealed here in due course. But while I sit at my desk typing furiously, much has been happening Stateside in the world of beer, such as…
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