Non-alcoholic Budweiser Prohibition Brew

  Want all of that great Bud flavor with out the alcohol?? Well a non-alcoholic version of Budweiser dubbed 'Prohibition Brew' is launching in Canada this week to appeal to drinkers who want their hops without a buzz, STLToday.com reported on May 24.
 Labatt Brewing, which is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, has brewed and distributed Budweiser in Canada since 1980, and Bud has grown to become Canada's top selling beer.
 The non-alcoholic Budweiser may expand to other markets, including the U.S.
 "Budweiser Prohibition Brew is only available in Canada for now, but we're excited by the prospect that it could eventually be offered in the U.S., the birthplace of Budweiser, sometime in the future," Ricardo Marques, vice president of Budweiser U.S, said.
 So will it be named AmerWEAKa for the summer?

2016 Siciliano's Homebrew Competition BOTL

 Congratulations to all B.O.T.L. members and their fine scores!
Zach Dreyer-----------Scottish Light  38 Silver
Paul Erdmans -------- Belgian Strong Dark Silver
Brian Machiele ------ Dark Mild 38 Silver
Tyler Morse-----------Spiced Imp. Stout 36 Bronze
Kevin Schumacher - Schwarzbier 39 Silver
Travis Vugteveen ---Dark Mild 40 Gold

Patriotism Won't Help Budweiser Win

forbes.com- I want you to stop thinking about politics, just for a second. I want to talk about beer.
 Specifically, I want to talk about Budweiser and the fact that, ahead of November’s election, cans of this iconic American brew will be rebranded as “America” to capitalize, one would suspect, on the presidential campaign. But as I said, I want you to stop thinking about politics.
 That’s because, as a branding professional, not a political expert, I’m going to give you my opinion of why this rebranding move won’t help Anheuser-Busch capture market share beyond those who already drink this iconic American brand.
The fact is big, iconic beer brands have steadily been losing market share for the past several years as younger drinkers – read, millennials – opt for artisanal, craft beers. That’s because, another fact, millennials – the fastest growing market in the country – look for authenticity, flavor, and the story behind the beers they drink. Craft beers are generally brewed by small, independent, and local companies in small batches. This small-batch brewing makes for better flavor and quality.
 And, the stories behind these craft beer brewers nicely aligns with the millennial’s craving for things that are new and different, things they feel they’ve discovered and can then share with friends on social media. Millennials gravitate toward the unique experiences, yes, but also toward the authentic experiences. They want to know who’s behind the brands they buy, a company’s values. This transparency helps them form relationships.
This latest move by Anheuser-Busch, while transparent, is in my opinion, misguided. Instead of using the can to better tell its authenticity story, Budweiser is ...more

Craft Beer Wins A Match With The Big Boys

St.LouisPostDispatch-  Missouri craft brewers scored a victory Tuesday in their fight over a proposal that would allow beermakers to lease coolers to stores.
 Negotiators in the Missouri House and Senate removed language from legislation that the Missouri Small Brewers Guild said would give big brewers, including Anheuser-Busch, an unfair advantage in dictating what beers could be stocked in coolers if they’re leasing them to retailers.
 The smaller brewing companies said that would limit access to their beer.
 Negotiators working on Senate Bill 994 said they removed the cooler language because it could endanger other provisions of the measure.
 “I think leaving that in kills the bill,” said Rep. Justin Alferman, R-Hermann, who is sponsoring language contained in the same legislation on behalf of winemakers in his district.
 The move angered Rep. Robert Cornejo, R-St. Peters, who has been pushing for the beer cooler proposal.
 “It’s getting extremely frustrating, This has been four years in the making. This is a priority for me,” Cornejo said.
 Cornejo said he would aggressively pursue the cooler proposal next year. The main Senate sponsor is Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, who is running for state treasurer.
 Missouri’s three-tiered alcohol distribution system put in place following the repeal of Prohibition in 1933 requires brewers to contract with distributors, who then sell to retailers.
 Allowing beermakers to provide refrigeration to retailers weakens that three-tiered system, said the guild’s president, Jeff Schrag, owner of Mother’s Brewing Co., a craft brewery in Springfield, Mo.
 “Beer manufacturers haven’t been able to provide refrigeration to retailers since Prohibition,” Schrag told the Post-Dispatch, adding many smaller brewers wouldn’t have the resources to provide coolers to retailers. “If they can control refrigeration, they can dictate what goes into it. Craft beer would not have the same access.”  ... MORE

You Don't Have To Sell Out

 LAtimes True Craft is a $100-million attempt to rescue craft breweries from cost-cutting investors and Big Beer, say Stone Brewing co-founders Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, who announced the venture last week.
 The new organization will buy small stakes — no more than 25% — of interested craft breweries. That will allow breweries to expand or fund other improvements without compromising their independence by borrowing from banks, dealing with venture capitalists or selling to multinational conglomerates.
 "This gives craft brewers another option to selling out to Big Beer," Koch said Friday in Monterey, Calif., at the E.G. Conference, an annual gathering that focuses on innovation and creativity. "This gives them the financing and flexibility they need to flourish while keeping their soul and control."
 Stone, based in Escondido, and its unnamed partners are funding True Craft with an initial $100 million, Koch said, and "a lot more in discussion."
 The details, though, are sketchy. How much is Stone contributing? Who are its partners? Where will True Craft be headquartered? Who will lead it? What financial data will breweries have to share to be considered?  ...MORE