The Beer Philosopher Blog

Not Your Father's Problem?

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 15:16:00 +0000


Alcopop-ular?

By this time, most everyone has heard about the latest craze – Not Your Father’s Root Beer (NYF’s). Part of its appeal, undoubtedly, is its lack of availability in certain parts of the country including right here in southern Illinois. Inevitably a product that is not easily obtained tends to take on something of an elevated status and become a distraction, at least, and an obsession at worst. In some cases, this is justified. The classic example would be the ales brewed by the Cistercian monks of St. Sixtus at Westvleteren in Belgium. For years these Trappist beers could only be obtained (legally) at the gates of the Abbey and were not sold (again legally) at retail anywhere – ergo instant Holy Grail of beer status.

Lesser examples in our market are obvious – New Glarus, Three Floyds and even Yuengling come to mind. Brands that were once highly sought after are, dare I say, approaching ho hum status now because of their ease of availability. I’m talking to you Dogfish Head, New Belgium and Stone. Part of this is due to the well-documented promiscuity of the craft beer drinker who typically moved from brand to brand and beer to beer constantly in search of the next new thing. This is precisely why most craft brewer’s “flagship” brands have seen a marked decline in sales while seasonal and one-off specialty beers are now driving incremental growth.

What does all of this have to do with the NYF’s? A lot, actually. For one, Not Your Father’s is the latest “new thing,” even though it’s really not. Hard root beer has been around a while (historically, a long while), but up till now hasn’t gained much traction at the consumer level. For reason’s I’ve yet to fully understand, and will elaborate on here, the NYF’s brand has managed to do something no other brand of hard root beer has done so far – capture the hearts and minds of the coveted craft beer consumer. It’s the craft crowd who is driving much of the buzz surrounding this brand and it’s largely the craft crowd who is inexplicably giving NYF’s ratings in the upper 80-point range on beer geek rating sites like beeradvocate.com and ratebeer.com.

But hold your sassafras just a minute.

Could it be that the crafties are being duped? Without going into all of the details myself, and because it’s been done earlier and far better than I could offer, I will link to an interesting piece by fellow beer writer Don Russell who documents the origin and production details of Not Your Father’s right here. I recommend you read it if you’re interested in this brand and you care about the whole “craft credibility” thing. If not, carry on … you’re not part of the problem.

We certainly have a conundrum on our hands. The very same folks who are quick to disparage FMBs (flavored malt beverages) as cheap alcopop, malternative crap - such as Bud Light’s Rita family, Four Loko and Mike’s Hard Lemonade are the same folks who are all in a tizzy to find, drink and rate with extreme prejudice NYF’s as the greatest new “craft beer” product of the year.

I suspect that most of the craft devotees who have jumped on the NYF’s bandwagon are blissfully unaware that NYF’s is not in fact “craft” at all; a key litmus test for many craft intelligentsia … or I thought it was. I mean, c’mon, the stuff is brewed at City Brewing in LaCrosse, Wisconsin – where many of the other much-hated, much maligned alcopop brands are produced. If those other brands aren’t craft and aren’t even considered to be real beer by some, why does NYF’s get a pass?

Hypocrite much?

Maybe I’m being too hard on my craft friends. Maybe they honestly don’t know. Maybe they genuinely think NYF’s is a craft product; a real beer. Tough questions, but the fact is that now we’re faced with a decision, aren’t we? Either continue to feed the NYF’s frenzy despite the facts or stop trashing all other FMBs as crap. Fair is fair, after all.

For the record, I don’t honestly care one way or the other. Anyone who knows me personally knows that I advocate for drinking whatever you want to drink regardless of who makes it, where it’s made or whether it meets some arbitrary criteria to be considered “craft” or “authentic” or safe to drink without running the risk of having your craft beer snob license revoked. For crying out loud, drink what you like, but while you’re at it don’t be hypocritical about it, people.

Maybe it’s time you give that Bud Light Mang-o-Rita another shot though since, you know, you’re into alcopops now and they’re way cool.

Craft Beer Under Attack? Part One of Many ...

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 17:38:00 +0000

Many apologies for the lengthy hiatus on the blog, folks, but life has a tendency to do that from time to time. I will endeavor to post more frequently, assuming I think there's fodder for doing so. Speaking of fodder for doing so, I'm sure most have seen Budweiser's latest commercial which aired during the 3rd quarter of last night's Super Bowl game? If not, click the link below and watch it. This is my response to the debacle that followed and continues to smolder in social media circles today. I have secured my fate as a sellout and a soulless shill now, I'm sure. Here is the comment I posted on Facebook earlier today and the link to the entire conversation as well:

"Okay, this is turning into a real brouhaha, isn't it. There are some intrinsic problems with the commercial, undoubtedly, but on the other hand I think it's hilarious to see the beer snobs being poked at a little bit. After all, douchery needs to be tamped down wherever it is found and it is found far too often in craft beer circles these days. I should know; I'm a recovering douch. After feverishly scouring the douch-laden beer rating sites for affirmation, some observers have brought up the fact that Elysian - having just been purchased by AB InBev - has brewed a "pumpkin peach ale" and using this particular reference in a Budweiser commercial must be, de facto, hypocritical since both brands are owned by Ab InBev. Really? This is a BUDWEISER commercial, not a commercial for AB InBev's entire portfolio people. Take a marketing course and discover what branding is and you'll realize that companies with a large portfolio position brands against each other all the time in order to target the desired demographic and/or customer base ... even brands within the same book. I know your delicate sensibilities are bruised, people, but whether you like it or not this was more about drawing a contrast between what Budweiser is and is happy to be and what craft beer is and is welcome to be. They're not meant to be compared and contrasted within the same category or with the same sensory "fussiness" warranted by the greater complexity and variety found in craft beer. In other words, Budweiser AS A BRAND is okay with beer geeks constantly exclaiming that it is fizzy, yellow, watery whatever ... that's not Bud's demo. Further, the commercial did not state, or even imply, that a "pumpkin peach ale" is bad, per se. The message was intended, in my opinion, to convey that beers like that are fine for the demo they're brewed to appeal to but they're not for everyone. I agree with that. Those who got their panties in a wad because Ab InBev "insulted" craft beer are narrow-minded and myopic. Ab InBev did NOT insult craft beer here; they demonstrated that BUDWEISER isn't craft beer and the brand is more than okay with that. So what? Apples to oranges, folks. Finally, coming back around to the beerdouchery I'm so fed up with ... I think the real takeaway from this is that it proves the snobs can dish it out with Imperial Black Rye Habanero IPA-fuled fervor, but they can't take it. Oh, and if I'm right, comments will ensue below to prove my point."

https://www.facebook.com/beerphilosopher/posts/10153050749924467

Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. Douchbaggers need not apply.

Goose Hunting?

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 18:08:00 +0000

Goose Island Vintage Series 2013

As many of you locals already know, several of the Goose Island Vintage Series beers have already hit the shelves of your favorite retailers this week! Halia, Juliet, Lolita, Matilda, Sofie and more are looking better than ever in their new 765ML bottles. You can find these girls - while they last - at The Neighborhood Co-op Grocery Store, Picks Liquors, Pinch Penny Liquors, Schnucks, Southern Illinois Liquor Mart (Murphysboro), Warehouse Liquor Mart and Westroads Liquors in case you're wondering.

Can good news get better? You betcha.

The much-anticipated 2013 Goose Island Bourbon County Stout hits the market this Friday, 11/29,
at the same fine establishments mentioned above! This year's offering - already largely spoken for on pre-order lists - is in a 4-pack configuration and will absolutely fly off the shelves ... assuming you can find it at all! The early bird gets the Stout and all ...

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout 2013

Happy hunting.

Rare Goose Island Vintage Series Beers Coming Next Week

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 13:38:00 +0000

Southern Illinoisans are in for a treat this holiday season as Chicago-based Goose Island releases several hard-to-find ales from their highly-acclaimed Vintage Series to retailers in our market beginning next week.

These Belgian-inspired beers are packaged in special limited -release 765ml bottles that are perfect for holiday gatherings or as gifts for the discerning beer geek in your life. Why be predictable and bring wine when you can rock one of these beery beauties? Look for the following rarities on local store shelves very soon or ask your retailer about availability.

The red number listed after each beer represents its current ratebeer.com rating. They just don't get much better, folks.

Goose Island Halia Belgian-style Farmhouse Ale (wine barrel-aged w. whole peaches) 96
Goose Island Juliet Belgian-style Wild Ale (wine barrel-aged w. blackberries) 99
Goose Island Lolita Belgian-style Wild Ale (wine barrel-aged w. raspberries) 99
Goose Island Matilda Belgian-style Pale Ale 96
Goose Island Pere Jacques Belgian-style Abbey Ale 97
Goose Island Sofie Belgian-style Farmhouse Ale 98

Again, look for these beers in stores beginning some time next week. Oh, and if you've bothered to read this far, you'll be the first to know you can also expect to see the arrival of the crazy-good, 100 rated, Goose Island Bourbon County Stout coming in the next week or two as well. Cheers!

Scratch Brewing Debuts at Hangar 9

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 20:53:00 +0000

There's already quite a bit of buzz about this, but Scratch Brewing Company in rural Ava will be making their Carbondale debut at the Hangar 9 this Thursday evening beginning at 5:00pm. What everyone has been wondering is ... what beers will Scratch bring to town? Well, allow me to scratch your itch to know.

Sorry, couldn't help it.

This is what co-owner, Marika Josephson, just posted regarding the event:

"We interrupt the middle of your week for an announcement about our first beer pouring in Carbondale! We’ll be at Hangar 9 this Thursday with four beers–one of which we haven’t poured anywhere yet.

Come out at 5:00 PM when we’ll tap the first two beers, our Dry Stout and the Chinook Harvest Ale (which we brewed entirely with our own estate-grown Chinook hops). Once those run out will be rolling on a Saison, which we have yet to pour at our brewery or any beer festivals; and our one-of-a-kind Cedar IPA, loaded up with hand-picked cedar berries from southern Illinois trees for a huge piney aroma that complements the grapefruity and tropical chinook hops."

This is sure to be an exceptionally fun night of exceptionally unique and tasty beers. If for no other reason than the opportunity to get to taste a beer that's not been poured anywhere else, you owe it to yourself to make it out Thursday night. Hope to see many of you there supporting a local brewery to be proud of. Cheers!

Where: Hangar 9 - 511 South Illinois Ave. in Carbondale
When: Thursday, August 22nd @ 5pm till ...?

17ST Smoked Amber Ale Coming in Bottles

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 18:27:00 +0000

17ST Smoked Amber Ale Coming to a Store Near YOU!

Exciting news from Big Muddy Brewing in Murphysboro, IL. to report. Following the success of the new summer seasonal, Blueberry Blonde Ale, and the much -anticipated return of Pumpkin Smasher for the Fall, Big Muddy will release the previously draft-only 17ST Smoked Amber Ale in"bomber" bottles. What's more, this will mark the first time this beer will be available outside of a 17th Street BBQ location, at retailers throughout Big Muddy's distribution footprint!

If you're not already familiar with 17ST Smoked Amber Ale, the beer developed out of a collaboration between the award-winning owner and mastermind behind 17th Street BBQ, Mike Mills, and Big Muddy's owner and brewmaster, Chuck Stuhrenberg. The idea was to create a unique, yet approachable, ale that would pair with 17th St.'s award-winning BBQ and offer a craft beer alternative to the typical domestic draft beers often paired with restaurant fare. The result is a full-flavored, yet balanced amber ale with a decidedly smoky nose and finish and just the slightest hint of sweet apple flavor - a nod to the collaborators home town of Murphysboro!

17ST Smoked Amber Ale has, up till now, been available on draft only and only at the 17th St. BBQ locations. Expect the new 22oz bomber bottles to begin showing up on store shelves in October 2013.

Redhook Beer Gets its Wings

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 15:54:00 +0000

... and vice versa.

On July 15th, Buffalo Wild Wings will unveil a brand new beer brewed by Redhook Ale Brewery in all of its restaurant locations throughout the US called Gamechanger. The beer itself was designed to be a complimentary pairing to B-Dub's famous wings - an American pale ale with enough hop presence to stand the heat, yet a relatively low ABV in order to make a session of it.

Redhook Gamechanger Taphandle

“We’re all about Wings. Beer. Sports.™, and we are always
looking for new offerings to enhance the Guest experience at our restaurants,” said Kathy Benning, Buffalo Wild Wings executive vice president – global marketing, brand and business development. “Our Guests, above all, are sports fans, and they’re looking for that social environment to enjoy the game with their friends. We’re excited to offer them Game Changer, knowing that it was created with them in mind.”

So, keep an eye out for this new beer to drop in just a couple of weeks ... you won't miss the cleverly designed tap handle (above) I'm sure! Cheers!

Ballast Point Coming to Illinois

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:41:00 +0000

Yet another quality craft brewery will be entering the Illinois market in May 2013. Ballast Point Brewing out of San Diego has signed an agreement with Wirtz Beverage to bring their impressive portfolio of craft beers to our local stores and taps.

Ballast Point will join Deschutes, Greenbush and the Vanberg & Dewulf portfolio in a growing array of craft beers offered by the newly-formed craft beer division of Wirtz Beverage.

Scratch Brewing Company Set to Open Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:25:00 +0000

Photo by Marika Josephson

Southern Illinois will soon have a new craft brewery to frequent when Scratch Brewing Company opens its doors to the public for the first time this Saturday, March 2nd, from 12 noon to 10pm. If you haven't heard of Scratch yet, here's a link to an article I wrote about the new brewery for Life & Style Magazine.

Not only are the proprietors of Scratch good friends, they're terrific brewers with an innovative spirit and fresh approach to the craft of craft beer, food and culture. You won't be disappointed and I'm proud to have these guys in the local area. I am certainly looking forward to imbibing in Scratch's farmhouse-inspired brews and I hope you are too.

Here's the current hours of operation for this coming weekend, beginning on Saturday as well as a tentative list of beers Scratch will be pouring this coming weekend:

Saturday: Noon – 10 PM
Sunday: Noon – 8 PM

Beers:

Alt Bier
Black Ale w. Coffee
Dry-Hopped Belgian Golden Ale
English Bitter
Fire-Brewed Biere de Garde
Green Walnut Ale
Sahti
Vollmund Stein Bier

Scratch Brewing Company is located at 264 Thompson Road, Ava, IL 62907

Big Muddy Brewing Logan's Lager Release Party Tonight

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:47:00 +0000

Big Muddy Brewing will launch their newest beer, an amber lager, tonight from 5pm to 8pm at Hangar 9 in Carbondale! Come on out to this great venue and try the new lager inspired by Murphysboro's own General John A. Logan. See you there!

Where: The Hangar 9, 511 S. Illinois Ave., Carbondale
When: 5pm to 8pm

Frosty Brewfest Coming January 26

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:55:00 +0000

Click for a larger image

Just letting local readers know about an upcoming brewfest that promises to be a good one - featuring well over a dozen local and regional breweries on a frosty January day! The lineup will include Big Muddy Brewing, Charleville, Crown Valley, Schlafly and Urban Chestnut to name just a few ...

The best news is that the fest is going to be held indoors at Spokes Pub & Grill in nearby Farmington, Missouri. The date of the event is Saturday, January 26th and details can be obtained by following the link above. Farmington is not a far drive from the Carbondale area, so don't let that stop you from attending. If you should want to make a weekend of it - or at least avoid driving after sampling great beer to your heart's content, discounted room rates will be available to attendees at the adjacent Tradition Inn too!

If you're already saying, "sign me up!" you can order tickets online right here. Both general admission and special VIP ticket options are available. Hope to see some of you there!

Crafty or Crappy? Does it Matter Who Brews your Beer?

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:46:00 +0000

The Brewer's Association just published this Op-Ed piece in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch regarding the tactic the big beer manufacturers have adopted to mimic small batch, craft beer brands. Read the Op-Ed and chime in with your opinion. Does it matter who brews the beer you drink? Food (and drink) for thought.

Craft vs. Crafty: A Statement from the Brewers Association

Boulder, CO • December 13, 2012—The Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American craft brewers, issued the following statement regarding the increase in production and promotion of craft-like beers by large, non-craft breweries:

An American craft brewer is defined as small and independent. Their annual production is 6 million barrels of beer or less and no more than 25 percent of the craft brewery is owned or controlled by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer.

The community of small and independent craft brewers has grown as beer enthusiasts embrace new, diverse beers brewed by their neighbors and friends who are invested in their local communities. Beer drinkers are voting with their palates and dollars to support these entrepreneurs and their small and independent businesses.

In 2011, small and independent craft brewers saw their industry grow 13 percent by volume; in the first half of 2012, volume grew by an additional 12 percent. Meanwhile, the overall beer industry was down 1.3 percent by volume and domestic non-craft was down 5 million barrels in 2011.

Witnessing both the tremendous success and growth of craft brewers and the fact that many beer lovers are turning away from mass-produced light lagers, the large brewers have been seeking entry into the craft beer marketplace. Many started producing their own craft-imitating beers, while some purchased (or are attempting to purchase) large or full stakes in small and independent breweries.

While this is certainly a nod to the innovation and ingenuity of today’s small and independent brewers, it’s important to remember that if a large brewer has a controlling share of a smaller producing brewery, the brewer is, by definition, not craft.

However, many non-standard, non-light “crafty” beers found in the marketplace today are not labeled as products of large breweries. So when someone is drinking a Blue Moon Belgian Wheat Beer, they often believe that it’s from a craft brewer, since there is no clear indication that it’s made by SABMiller. The same goes for Shock Top, a brand that is 100 percent owned by Anheuser-Bush InBev, and several others that are owned by a multinational brewing and beverage company.

The large, multinational brewers appear to be deliberately attempting to blur the lines between their crafty, craft-like beers and true craft beers from today’s small and independent brewers. We call for transparency in brand ownership and for information to be clearly presented in a way that allows beer drinkers to make an informed choice about who brewed the beer they are drinking.

And for those passionate beer lovers out there, we ask that you take the time to familiarize yourself with who is brewing the beer you are drinking. Is it a product of a small and independent brewer? Or is it from a crafty large brewer, seeking to capitalize on the mounting success of small and independent craft brewers?

A full list of U.S. breweries is available on BrewersAssociation.org. The Brewers Association list of domestic non-craft breweries is available for download.

###

Crown Valley at Illinois Liquor Marts, Free Tastings

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:05:00 +0000

JUST ANNOUNCED! Some of you may already see more craft beers on local shelves and in coolers from nearby Ste. Genevieve, Missouri's own Crown Valley Brewing. Crown Valley is expanding in the southern Illinois market and bringing their entire lineup of diverse craft beers to local stores, restaurants and bars. Popular brands like Big Bison Ale have been available sporadically for a while now, in bottles and on draft, but going forward you should find a lot more Crown Valley to like, such as Gunslinger Double IPA (which is brewed with beer-geek preferred hop varieties like Simcoe and Citra), Black Cabin Smoked Ale, Cowboy Coffee Porter (brewed with CV's own house-roasted coffee) and Country Carriage Cider - a craft cider that is a little more dry than sweet which is a welcome change from the cloyingly sweet ciders that are so ubiquitous these days.

In light of all this, Illinois Liquor Marts has teamed up with Crown Valley to provide a couple of FREE tasting opportunities in two of their local stores. Join me, as Crown Valley's Brand Ambassador for this area, on the following dates to sample some great Crown Valley beer!

Wednesday, November 21st from 5 - 7pm at Warehouse Liquor Mart - 829 East Main Street, Carbondale.

Friday, November 23rd from 5 - 7pm at Southern Illinois Liquor Mart - 113 North 12th St., Murphysboro.

So, see you all on Wednesday for a little pre-Thanksgiving celebration! Cheers!

Smuttynose - New Releases Coming

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:56:00 +0000

Like the Bourbon barrel-aged beers, do ya? Here's a label from a new release in Smuttynose's BIG BEER series you should be able to find on retailer's shelves soon. Zinneke is a stout with a twist ... it's fermented with a Belgian yeast strain and then aged in Bourbon oak. Available in 22oz bottles. Tasty.

The brewery is also re-releasing their Big A IPA - an imperial IPA - in six-packs.

Stone Brewing Co. takes over taps at Hangar 9

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:28:00 +0000

The long-awaited arrival of Stone Brewing Company's acclaimed beers to southern Illinois will be marked by a tap takeover at Hangar 9 on Monday, October 29th beginning when the Hangar 9 opens at 3pm.

The Hangar 9 has secured ten ... count 'em, ten ... Stone beers for the event. A couple of these beers will be exclusive pours for the event (marked with a red asterisk below), meaning you won't be able to get them anywhere else. I'm thinking this warrants marking your calendars, folks.

Here are the beers that will be featured for your imbibing pleasure:

Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale w/ Espresso Beans
Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale
Arrogant Bastard Ale
Stone Ruination IPA
Stone IPA
Stone 16th Anniversary IPA w/ Green Tea Leaves
Stone Smoked Porter
Stone Levitation Ale
Stone Suitable for Cage-Aging aged in Bourbon Barrels*
Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA*

Deschutes and Scores

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:36:00 +0000

On the heels of my last post about how we get craft beer here in southern Illinois and why we don't have some of your favorite brands in the market, I have some exciting news for you local Oregon beer lovers! I'm proud to announce that Deschutes Brewery beers, out of Bend, Oregon, will be available in Illinois in early 2013. Deschutes is a terrific craft brewery with some mighty tasty beers. Be excited.

And as a corollary, it appears that another distributor is also entering the mix, although they're not new to the market ... just new to craft beer in the market. Deschutes will be distributed by Wirtz Beverage - who already have a deep and wide distribution foothold in the local market for wine and spirits. Wirtz has handled beer before in other markets, but this will be part of a new venture for them in Illinois.

So, look for this excellent addition to the growing selection of great craft beer brands available locally in mere months! Until then, keep asking for your favorites. You never know who is in the process of entering the market next ... although I can tell you I'll have a couple other announcements along these lines very soon. Check back!

Craft Beer in southern Illinois - a Primer - Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:23:00 +0000

If you're a fan of craft beer and live in the southern Illinois area, you know that the availability of craft beer brands has grown substantially over the last several years. As demand increases nationally, it's inevitable that many of the most popular brands will trickle down into smaller markets like our own over time. While we have seen some brands, such as Dogfish Head and Three Floyds come and then go again - often due to the brewery's own strategic decision to scale back their distribution footprint - we've seen others make huge inroads into the marketplace and become staples for the craft beer drinker locally.

What you may not know is what goes into bringing these popular beer brands to market. I thought it might be fun, and instructive, to begin a periodic discussion of what makes the beer you love appear on the shelf or in the cooler at your favorite retailer. Maybe knowing what goes on to get you that beer will help you appreciate the beer all the more and even bolster your patience if you're waiting for a beloved brand to make its appearance locally. So, let's chat about the famous "three tiers" of beer - production, distribution and retail, and how it all plays out here at home, shall we?

I'd like to start things off by dispelling the myth that every brewery wants their beer everywhere. That may be true of the brewing behemoths of light lager fame, but it's generally not true of craft breweries. Craft breweries are small by definition and design and in order to maintain good quality control and keep up with demand, the necessity to remain "small" and nimble is crucial. Controlled expansion and careful selection of markets is often the difference between a small, independent brewery that survives and thrives and one that closes its doors.

Bigger isn't always better and there's a lot more to the story than a simple "you got it, we want it" business plan. Look at New Glarus Brewing in Wisconsin, for example. Most every beer geek worth his or her hops knows about New Glarus and probably love their beers, if they've ever had them. Guess what? Can't get New Glarus in southern Illinois. Guess what else? Can't get them anywhere outside of Wisconsin (with a scarce few notable exceptions)! Is this because they can't seem to grow fast enough, or can't produce enough beer to supply the obvious demand? Nope, it's because they choose to limit their distribution intentionally. This insures, among other things, that demand will always far exceed supply and there will be a mystique around the beer for years to come. That's not to say that New Glarus will never expand their distribution footprint, but they are nothing if not methodical about it and at the end of the day, they really don't need to expand. They're doing just fine last time I checked.

On another level - likely the one that's the most mysterious to the consumer - the availability of a quality distributor is also paramount. Some big name craft breweries have left our market because the distributor(s) didn't handle their product with the respect it deserved. Think of the distribution channel as the steward, or caretaker, of a brand. A brewery can produce a stellar product that can be reduced to a mediocre one in no time flat if it's mistreated ... and this is true in terms of the actual product quality (lack of refrigerated storage, failure to rotate out old inventory, etc) and the way the brand is presented and serviced by the sales staff. I think it's a safe assumption to make that we would have even more quality craft beer brands in southern Illinois today if we had a stronger, more competitive distribution channel with the facilities and knowledgeable staff to handle the brands in a professional manner.

In southern Illinois, there are (essentially) only three distributors that handle a craft beer portfolio and each is doing what they can to their respective credit. There is a big learning curve in craft beer. This ain't your father's Bud, Miller or Coors we're talkin' about. This is small batch, often unpasteurized beer with a comparatively insanely short shelf life. And that's just the physical product. The sale is an entirely different animal, but we'll talk about that aspect in a future post. Please feel free to comment or ask questions! I guess the one thing I have going for me is that I've worked in all three "tiers" of the craft beer business, so I can honestly say I'm in a position to at least give you an educated opinion if not always the cold, hard fact!

Cheers to better beers!

The Monster is Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:26:00 +0000

Just a friendly reminder that we're merely a week and a half away from the 3rd annual Big Muddy Monster Brewfest taking place at Riverside Park In Murphysboro! The event will be 1pm - 4pm on Saturday, October 20th, 2012. This year promises to be bigger and better than ever with multiple vendors, seminars, live music and, of course, more terrific craft beer than you know what to do with!

Last year, over 25 breweries were represented and served over 100 different beers from all over the midwest! If you were there, you know it was nothing short of epic. If you weren't, why on earth not? Fix it this time 'round by getting your tickets now!

I'll be representing Crown Valley Brewery this year at the fest and I'll have some great craft beers from this Ste. Genevieve, Missouri-based craft brewery that making inroads into the southern Illinois market. Be sure and stop by the booth, say hi and let me pour you a great regional craft beer! If you like Crown Valley beers, please consider asking your local store to carry the brand if you don't see it on the shelves! You'll be helping me help Crown Valley make a splash in southern Illinois and you'll be helping to see another quality craft brewery available locally. A wine/win, huh?

Cheers and see you all on Saturday!

4 Hands on Deck

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:44:00 +0000

Mark your calendars for this Friday, September 14th, at Hangar 9 in Carbondale. Not only can you enjoy the musical stylings of St. Louis-based Widespread Panic cover band, Mom's Kitchen, you can also imbibe in several beers from one of St. Louis' newest craft brewers - 4 Hands Brewing Company.

From what I'm told, all of the 4 Hands "core" beers will be represented - Divided Sky Rye IPA, Reprise Centennial Red, Cast Iron Oatmeal Brown and Single Speed Session Ale - along with a couple of seasonal beers in their unique lineup. The Hangar 9 will have some giveaways and other goodies as well in case you needed more incentive.

Stop by and support a local venue supporting regional bands and beers. A win/win. Things will get rolling around 6pm as far as the beers are concerned. Hope to see you locals there!

Trippin' on Beer

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 15:52:00 +0000

Courtesy of http://bierkultur.wordpress.com/

A local homebrewing enthusiast asked me if I'd make mention of a beer journey that he and his son have recently undertaken that has spanned ten days, and nine states, in search of small breweries along the way. Now that's my kind of road trip, so if you'd like to live vicariously through Paul and his son, you can follow their journey as chronicled in their blog right here. The two of them are almost back in Carbondale now, so I'm sure they'll have many more stories to tell friends and family that didn't make it on the blog. Look them up and welcome them home!

WSIU Home Brewers Episode Airs Tonight

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:48:00 +0000

Homebrewers in Southern Illinois on TV

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:26:00 +0000

Read the press release I've copied below for details on the next episode of WSIU InFocus, where beer brewing right here in southern Illinois takes center stage! The first airing is this Friday, April 13th at 7:30pm in HD!

For Immediate Release

Monday, April 9, 2012

WSIU-TV Program Turns Spotlight on Home Brewing

Carbondale, Ill. -- WSIU InFocus, a weekly local public television series produced by WSIU Public Television, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, will present Home Brewers, a half-hour special on beer-making in southern Illinois this Friday, April 13 from 7:30-8pm on WSIU-TV's primary HD channels, WSIU-TV 8.1 and WUSI-TV 16.1.

Home Brewers will repeat on WSIU's primary HD channels on Sunday, April 15 at 12:30pm and Friday, April 20 at 5pm. It also will repeat on WSIU's WORLD Channels, WSIU-TV 8.2 and WUSI-TV 16.2, on Saturday, April 14 at 4pm, Sunday, April 15 at 9pm, and Monday, April 16 at 8pm. The episode also will be available for viewing online at www.wsiu.org/infocus after this Friday's initial broadcast.

Ryan Tockstein of Benton, Ill., president of the Southern Illinois Brewers (www.sibrewers.com) club and co-owner of Scratch Brewing Company, in Ava, Ill., shows how easy it is to brew beer at home from scratch using a method called "all grain" brewing. WSIU InFocus also visits with several other club members to compare and contrast their operations to those used by Tockstein's.

Home brewing systems can be fairly elaborate, as the WSIU InFocus crew learns when they examine a heat-controlled mash tun (pronounced “tune”) built by Sam Davis of rural Du Quoin, Ill. Davis felt he needed to build this device in order to have complete control over his mash temperature during the process of steeping barley malts into wort (pronounced “wirt,” as in “dirt”). Wort is the starchy essence of barley malts steeped in hot water, to which yeast is then added to cause fermentation.

WSIU InFocus also discovers that brewing can be very simple from Marika Josephson of Carbondale, vice-president of the Southern Illinois Brewers club, co-owner with Tockstein of Scratch Brewing Company, and an SIU graduate student who built her basic brewing system on a college student budget. Josephson uses special ingredients, such as dandelions, to augment the hops she adds to her wort as a bittering and flavoring agent. Both Josephson and Davis make award-winning beers and ales.

WSIU also introduces home brewers Matt McCarroll and his wife, Jen, who are the owners of Windy Hill Hops Farm in rural Murphysboro, Ill., where they grow and sell organic hops for local brewers and offer specialty brewing supplies and ingredients.

As the home brewing trend gains popularity around the country, even non-brewers are jumping on the craft beer bandwagon. Brands never before imported are showing up on store shelves and an explosion of domestic microbreweries and brew pubs is taking place as people develop a thirst to explore hundreds of new styles of beer.

Shawn Connelly of Carbondale, Ill., a local beer expert known as the Beer Philosopher, blogs about this trend on his site at beerphilosopher.blogspot.com. Connelly's expertise about beers and flair for writing about them led to his position as the style writer for the national publication Beer Connoisseur. In order to help develop local appreciation for beer, Connelly conducts regular tastings open to the public at Kindling in Carterville, Ill.

The growing number of home brewers in southern Illinois is one of the reasons why Ryan Tockstein founded the Southern Illinois Brewers beer club. Home brewers are constantly seeking to improve their skills and need feedback about the quality of their handcrafted beers, which many people believe exceeds the quality and originality of commercially-produced beer. Club members sample each other's beers at meetings, prepare for contests, and share the best they have to offer at regional festivals, such as the Big Muddy Monster Brew Fest at Riverside Park in Murphysboro, Ill.

As the excitement for locally-brewed craft beers continues to grow, club members hope to follow in the footsteps of local vintners and open a network of local breweries as an adjunct to the region's successful wine industry. Dubbed the “Beer Path” by Matt McCarroll, this new regional industry hopes to add to the long list of reasons why so many people consider Southern Illinois a great place to visit, live, work, and play.

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About WSIU InFocus

WSIU InFocus is a weekly half-hour program on WSIU Public Television that turns the spotlight on the people, places, events, and issues of our region. Co-hosts George Norwood and Roz Rice introduce a combination of field-produced and in-studio segments covering topics such as the arts and education, family and community, regional history, cultural identity, and news and public affairs. The program airs Fridays at 7:30pm on WSIU-TV 8 and WUSI-TV 16. Viewers are invited to ask questions, share comments, and offer programming suggestions at (618) 453-6156 or infocus@wsiu.org.

About WSIU Public Broadcasting

WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, and an education and community outreach department.

WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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Throwing Stone

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:20:00 +0000

A quick post this morning to report that I have it on very good authority that we might be seeing the long-awaited arrival of Stone Brewing Company to the southern Illinois market by or before fall of 2012.

I'm not at liberty to share more details than that at this point, because much is still pending, but continue to ask for Stone beer at your favorite pub or retailer. The wait will be well worth it.

Good - albeit a bit cryptic - news, huh? Cheers!

Your Beer Cellar is not a Trophy Case!

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:12:00 +0000

I was pleased to stumble across the video I've embedded below featuring the guys from Hop Cast talking to Pete Crowley of Haymarket Pub & Brewery about the virtues - or lack thereof - of cellaring beer in the bottle. This video was created after a rather lengthy tasting session of hard-to-find stouts, but there are some very good insights breaking through the slightly slurred speech. Namely, the fact that most beers aren't meant to be cellared.

I've been beating this drum for some time now. Beer aficionados love to "collect" rare beers and amass an impressive cellar. This, in itself, is perfectly fine but as one of the Hop Cast guys says, "beers are not baseball cards." The vast majority of craft beers you'll find - rare or otherwise - are meant to be enjoyed fresh. Aging a beer for the sake of aging it, seldom improves its character. As Pete mentioned, there is a qualitative difference between aging something and staling it. If we're going to be brutally honest about it, of the 120+ recognized beer styles, only a handful are truly appropriate for cellaring. Unless you're cellaring a bottle-conditioned Belgian ale, old ale, barleywine or the occasional high gravity bock, all you're really doing is staling your beer. Great point, Pete!

Notice a common theme in the beer styles I've listed in the previous paragraph? They're all typically high ABV beers and they're all malt-forward styles. This leads me to the final addendum I'd like to make regarding the practice of cellaring beer. For the love of all that's good, please stop cellaring hoppy beers! Again, brewers brew their beers to be consumed, not admired on a shelf. This is particularly true of hoppy IPAs and the like. Hops don't age well and the characteristics that make hoppy beers so appealing is, at best, dulled with age. At worst, it's morphed into an oxidized, vegetal mess. This is true almost without exception with hoppy beers. So, unless your brewing a Belgian gueuze, time is the enemy of hops. Live it, love it, learn it.

I hope everyone enjoys the video and reconsiders the merits of cellaring beer. Of course it's cool to show your friends what you've got, but are the beers you so admire getting worse with every day on the shelf? It's something to consider.

Hop Cast – Episode 165: A Discussion With Pete Crowley On Cellaring from Hop Cast on Vimeo.

Make Mine a Smutty!

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn Patrick Connelly) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:48:00 +0000

A quick announcement to my readers who don't already follow me on Facebook and elsewhere, yet another excellent craft brewery is making its way to the southern Illinois market ... please welcome Smuttynose Brewing Company! Koerner Distributor - the largest distributor of craft and specialty beer in the region - is handling the Smuttynose portfolio in our market and they have several great Smuttynose beers in inventory now, so you should begin seeing them on better retailers shelves and coolers just about any time now, including the IPA, Shoals Pale Ale, Old Brown Dog, Star Island Single, Robust Porter and Big A IPA.

Also, look for Smuttynose on draught at the Hangar 9 and Kindling Spirits soon too!

It's a good day for good beer!