The latest guest on the BeerWise Podcast is David Nilsen, a beer writer and educator, the author of Pairing Beer and Chocolate, and the creative mind behind the Bean to Barstool website and podcast.
The Great American Beer Festival Awards were held this weekend in Dever, Colorado, and a few Florida craft breweries brought back medals from the festival competition.
Craft brewers around the country are right-sizing their operations, and Florida continues to see the same trend among its breweries. Southwest Florida’s RipTide Brewing Company announced on September 2nd that it would be parting ways with its Naples Taproom and operating solely from its Bonita Springs location. While many times decisions like this are difficult, they are better than the alternative of closing operations altogether.
Palm Bay’s Leader Brewing, Florida’s only brewery dedicated to making non-alcoholic beer, has announced that they will be closing their doors.
Press Release: With the official start of fall just around the corner, Dogfish Head unveils its list of seasonal drinks, beginning with the return of its iconic Punkin Ale! Back for the 30th consecutive year, Punkin Ale* (7.0% ABV) is a full-bodied brown ale brewed with real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon. Bursting with notes of cinnamon spice and smooth pumpkin, this fall favorite is now available from coast to coast, both on draft and in 6pk/12oz cans. Track some down using Dogfish Head’s Fish Finder.
Part of Dogfish Head’s Art Series, a yearly collection of four beers featuring artwork by a singular collaborating artist, this year’s Punkin Ale boasts illustrations by Methane Studios. Known for their hand-crafted, intensely detailed screen prints, Methane Studios is an Atlanta-based operation made up of beer-loving, Ohio native duo, Mark McDevitt and Robert Lee. Putting the “punk” back in “PUNKin,” Methane Studios’ interpretation of Punkin Ale’s label artwork centers on an edgy Jack O’Lantern-type character, complete with a full sleeve of tattoos and a black cat sidekick.
“It’s hard to believe that I first brewed Punkin Ale more than 30 years ago, when it claimed first prize in the recipe contest at southern Delaware’s yearly Punkin Chunkin Extravaganza,” said Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Founder & Brewer. “As our longest commercially distributed brew, it’s always heartwarming to see folks’ excitement for Punkin Ale’s annual return.”
The pumpkin-spiced goodness continues with Dogfish Head’s limited-edition Punkin Liqueur (30% ABV). Available in 375ml bottles, exclusively at Dogfish Head coastal Delaware locations, Punkin Liqueur starts its journey as Punkin Ale, which is then distilled and aged in used rum barrels to impart sweet notes of oak and molasses. The spirit is finished with a flush of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, vanilla, brown sugar and a touch of sage, for a seasonal liqueur perfect for sipping on its own or in your favorite fall cocktail.
For fans of fall, but not pumpkin flavors, there’s no need to fret … Dogfish Head has you covered, too! Just in time for the chillier weather ahead, Dogfish Head excitedly introduces a brand-new variation of its highly sought-after World Wide Stout. Brewed with a ridiculous amount of barley, World Wide Stout is a dark, rich and roasty Imperial Stout. This year’s iteration, Affogato World Wide Stout* (15.0% ABV), takes Dogfish Head’s beloved beer to the next level, with added notes of espresso and sweet vanilla for a liquid version of the well-known Italian treat. Available in select markets, where legal, in 4pk/12oz bottles.
Seeking a bit more variety? If so, Dogfish Head’s 12pk/12oz can Fall Variety Pack is a perfect pick, and it’s complete with an all-new variety pack-exclusive brew, Tasty Traveler Jasmine Rice Lager* (5.0% ABV). Tasty Traveler Jasmine Rice Lager is brewed with jasmine rice, lemongrass, wildflower honey and makrut lime leaf for a light, citrusy and refreshingly crisp beer. In addition to Tasty Traveler Jasmine Rice Lager, Dogfish Head’s Fall Variety Pack, which is now available nationwide, features three (12oz) cans of each of the following beers.
ABOUT DOGFISH HEAD
With quality, creativity and non-conformity at its core, Dogfish Head has been committed to brewing unique beers with high-caliber culinary ingredients outside the Reinheitsgebot since the day it opened nearly 30 years ago. Dedicated to exploring goodness of all kinds, Dogfish Head later expanded its beverage artistry beyond just craft beer to produce award-winning portfolios of full-proof spirits –whiskeys, gins, vodkas, rums and more – and spirits-based, ready-to-drink canned cocktails. A Boston Beer Company brand and proud supporter of the Independent Craft Brewing Seal, Dogfish Head is a Delaware-based entity consisting of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, a production brewery and tasting room; Dogfish Head Distilling Co., a production distillery; Brewings & Eats, a brewpub and live music venue; Chesapeake & Maine, a seafood and cocktail spot; and the Dogfish INN, a beer-themed, canal-front hotel. For more about Dogfish Head, please visit www.dogfish.com or follow the brand on social media.
NEW YORK, Aug. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tilray Brands, Inc. (“Tilray”, “our”, “we” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: TLRY; TSX: TLRY), a global lifestyle consumer packaged goods company elevating lives through moments of connection, today announced that the Company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire four craft breweries from Molson Coors Beverage Company (“Molson Coors”) (NYSE: TAP). The acquisition includes Hop Valley Brewing Company, Terrapin Beer Co., Revolver Brewing, and Atwater Brewery.
Tilray’s beverage business is poised for even greater success with the latest addition of sought-after craft beer brands, known for their unique portfolio of beers. With the pending acquisition of these breweries, Tilray’s portfolio will expand across key beer markets adding 30% new beer buying accounts. The Tilray Beverages portfolio boasts a range of leading craft beer, spirits and non-alcohol beverages including SweetWater Brewing Company, Montauk Brewing Company, Alpine Beer Company, Green Flash Brewing Company, Shock Top, Breckenridge Brewery, Breckenridge Distillery, Blue Point Brewing Company, 10 Barrel Brewing Company, Redhook Brewing Company, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Square Mile Cider Company, HiBall Energy, and Happy Flower CBD sparkling cocktails. This strategic acquisition is expected to position Tilray for continued growth and expansion in the beverage industry.
Irwin D. Simon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tilray Brands, said, “Tilray Brands is proud to be driving the most compelling and unique growth story in the craft beer industry. With the acquisition of these four craft breweries from Molson Coors, we are marking another strategic milestone in Tilray Brands’ growth plan. Our team’s expertise in operational excellence will enable us to unlock the full potential of these brands and businesses. We are confident in our ability to drive revenue, generate cost synergies, and expand national distribution reinforcing our leadership position in craft beer resulting in tremendous growth opportunities for our global beverage business.”
Mr. Simon added, “Tilray Brands plans to continue to invest in the future of these craft breweries, accelerating their growth and capturing a wide range of new market opportunities. Tilray Brands is a beacon for craft brands, and we are committed to driving their growth and success within our portfolio. Our proven track record of integrating acquisitions and driving profitable growth gives us the confidence to deliver incredible value for our shareholders.”
Molson Coors Chief Commercial Officer Michelle St. Jacques added how the transaction supports their long-term strategic ambitions, as well. “Last fall we set a clear portfolio premiumization ambition, and achieving it is going to require tighter focus on the segments we believe have the highest growth potential for our business,” St. Jacques said. “While we love these craft breweries and the people behind them, this move allows us to do exactly that – focus our time, energy and resources behind the initiatives we believe will best help us meaningfully grow our U.S. above premium portfolio in beer and beyond beer.”
Ty Gilmore, President, Tilray Beverages, North America, stated, “We are excited to welcome the employees and distributors behind these craft beer brands which will play a pivotal role in the growth of Tilray Beverages. Through this acquisition, our beer business is expected to grow to 15 million cases annually, cementing Tilray Beverages as the #1 craft brewer in the Pacific Northwest, #1 in Georgia and anchors Tilray’s craft brands in two key beer states, Texas and Michigan. As we move forward, we will leverage our extensive expertise in product innovation and distribution to unlock the full potential of these brands, strengthen their sales and operations, and expand their reach into key markets across the U.S.”
Craft Brands with a Loyal Consumer Base:
Advisors
TD Securities acted as financial advisor, and DLA Piper LLP (US) acted as external legal counsel to Tilray Brands.
About Tilray Brands
Tilray Brands, Inc. (“Tilray”) (Nasdaq: TLRY; TSX: TLRY), is a leading global lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company with operations in Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and Latin America that is leading as a transformative force at the nexus of cannabis, beverage, wellness, and entertainment, elevating lives through moments of connection. Tilray’s mission is to be a leading premium lifestyle company with a house of brands and innovative products that inspire joy, wellness and create memorable experiences. Tilray’s unprecedented platform supports over 40 brands in over 20 countries, including comprehensive cannabis offerings, hemp-based foods, and craft beverages.
As part of a continued effort to keep their content as current as possible, today the Cicerone Certification Program introduced a fresh round of updates to
their syllabi. This comes two years after the last updates, which were prompted by the 2021 BJCP style guideline changes. While no BJCP updates drove these latest changes, the program felt it necessary to add specific topics to keep pace with some of the current trends in the beer industry. “Since taking the program over in March, Dan and I have had constant discussions about ways to ensure that the Cicerone program provides as much value as possible as the beer industry evolves,” said Cicerone program president Jason Pratt. “We feel that these changes are another step toward ensuring that Cicerone continues to be the gold standard when it comes to practical and relevant industry knowledge for beer professionals,” he said.