Spreadable Beer Is Here!!

  Ever wish you could spread beer on a cracker? Or have a beer sandwich with your beer? Now you can. ‘Birra Spalmabile,’ or spreadable beer, is finally available worldwide thanks to online retailer Firebox. According to the product description—translated by The Daily Meal—the beer butter is a “product with an intense, full-bodied and high creaminess…goes well with appetizers and cheeses, great on crostini, original idea to decorate or fill sweet pastry, fluffy cake and ice cream.”
This magnificent spread contains 40% beer, possesses a sticky yet smooth texture and an irresistible hoppy scent. Just crack it open and take your first baby steps towards a glorious utopian diet that consists solely of beer.

Product description for Birra Spalmabile
The spreadable beer, which comes in light and dark brews, “spreads like ganache,” is “predominantly sweet to taste,” and contains no alcohol—so you don’t need to worry if the kids mistake it for a sweeter sandwich spread. “The pale one couples best with seasoned cheeses,” recommends brewer Emanuela Laurenzi. “The other one, which is darker, we couple it with very fresh cheese. We’ve also made cakes with it, and used it instead of marmalade to make a tart.” Maybe “beer and cheese” parties are the next big thing.
We created a cream made of beer by balancing every ingredient we used and also by knowing the reactions by mixing these ingredients.
Francesca Napoleone  spreadable

Founders Plans Expansion

 Michigan-based Founders Brewing is planning to invest around $35 million in a new expansion project, according to local news reports. The project, which is set to break ground in October, is expected to double the size of the brewer’s current facility, with the addition around 60,000 square feet, and will bring Founders’ total annual capacity to 900,000 barrels. This year, Founders is projecting a total production of roughly 270,000 barrels, led by its core All Day IPA, Centennial IPA, Dirty Bastard, Pale Ale and Porter labels. The upcoming expansion comes on the heels of last year’s $26 million project, which included an expansion of Founders’ brewhouse, cellar and company taproom.

Arbor Brewing Makes National Top-10 List

 The craft beer news service Beer Info has placed three brands brewed by Ypsilanti-based Arbor Brewing Company Microbrewery at the top of their category in its annual list of the “Top 10 Ales and Lagers in the USA."
 The top 10 lists are compiled based on the results of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and RateBeer.com.
 The three beers named best in the US are Arbor Brewing Company’s Jackhammer in the Old Ale category, Bliss in the German Hefeweizen category, and Sodibo in the Barrel Aged Beer category.
 ABC founder and brewmaster Matt Greff called the announcement “an amazing honor."
 “With the sheer number of craft beers in the market it would be incredible to be recognized for making the best beer in the US in one style category, but taking top honors in three of the 62 styles is kind of mind-blowing," Matt Greff said.
 The complete list of Top 10 Ales and Lagers can be found at www.beerinfo.com.
 “The timing of the announcement couldn’t be better” according to ABC co-owner and marketing director Rene Greff “because the Jackhammer Old Ale just got a packaging makeover and is scheduled for release in mid-October.” The Bliss beer is nearing the end of its season but is still available in some stores. Sodibo will be back in stores in the spring. ...more

More Craft Beer In Mid-Michigan

 Jim Crank, owner of Cranker’s Brewery in Mt. Pleasant, was feeling optimistic on a recent Friday afternoon after returning from Lansing with a Micro Brew license to make and sell craft beer at the restaurant.
“We’ve sold one beer,” Crank said on that first day. “I think we’re going to sell a lot more beer.”
 Crank, who also owns Cranker’s Breweries with functional microbreweries in Big Rapids and Grand Rapids, had been trying to acquire the needed microbrewery manufacturing license for the restaurant, located on 1207 E. Pickard Road, since January.
 Crank attributes the delay to a conflict with regulation by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission preventing alcohol made at Crank’s brewing facilities in Big Rapids to be distributed to the restaurant in Mt. Pleasant. He said he hopes to have the law interpreted differently in the next couple weeks.
 “We’re talking to the liquor control commission and we have people working with the legislature to make sure the statute is interpreted correctly.” Crank said. “The exact purpose of this is to promote our brand of beer at Cranker’s restaurants.” ...more