Food & Food Equipment News

Something Dark this Way Comes.

Rogue Ales & Spirits, the country’s only brewery-distillery-cooperage, announces the release of 2017 Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout. Brewed with ingredients grown at Rogue Farms and ocean aged in Dead Guy Whiskey-soaked handmade Oregon Oak barrels coopered at Rogue’s Rolling Thunder Barrel Works, Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout is the culmination of a long journey from bark to bottle. In 2015 Rogue acquired vintage, WW II era, coopering equipment and subsequently established Rolling Thunder Barrel Works to take on the ancient art form of barrel making. Using Oregon Oak, Rogue’s cooper Nate Lindquist assembles, raises, toasts, chars, hoops, cauterizes, sands and brands one barrel a day, all by hand.

“At first it was a creative challenge,” said General Manager Dharma Tamm, “to see how we could incorporate our brewery, distillery, cooperage and farm into one beer. However, our brewers, distillers, coopers, farmers – and even graphic designers turned it into a quest to create a world class beer that exemplifies the Rogue spirit of challenging the norm and pushing creative boundaries.”

Black with a creamy head, Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout features deep sherry notes accentuated by hints of coconut, cherries, dark fruit and vanilla held up against a dark roasted malt backbone with earthy hops. At 14 percent alcohol, this year’s Rolling Thunder is bigger and bolder than the inaugural 2016 release. Limited quantities of Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout will be available on draft and in 1-liter swing-top bottles at Rogue public houses starting July 21, then at select retailers nationwide on August 1. For more information visit Rogue.com.

Chimay Introduces Chimay Grande Reserve Barrel Aged Rhum Edition

For the first time, Chimay has utilized its original Christmas brew, Chimay Grande Réserve, with triple fermentation and maturation in wooden barrels to create their latest addition to the Chimay Trappist family --- Chimay Grande Réserve Barrel Aged Rhum Edition. The flavor profile of this brew not only embodies its original characteristics of Grande Réserve with a fresh yeast fragrance, slight notes of caramel and vanilla, but also builds the profile to include an incomparable rounded, oak flavor.

The unique triple fermentation process starts during the brewing process, then in the wood cask, and lastly in the bottle. For this specific batch, rhum-aged barrels were used to create the third round of Chimay Grande Réserve Barrel Aged Rhum Edition. This edition from February 2017 boasts an excellent blend of characters of Chimay Grande Réserve and Rum. Unfiltered and unpasteurized, this Belgian strong ale is an exceptional ale with 10.5 percent alcohol by volume.

Chimay Grande Réserve Barrel Aged is available in the 75 cl (25.4 fl. oz.) bottle format only and is ideally served at cellar temperature (50 to 54°F). It is currently available in the United States (depending on geographic location), and is a rotating item which means it will not be available year-round.

HEINEKEN Acquires Remaining Stake in Lagunitas Brewing Company

Heineken N.V. has acquired all the remaining shares in Lagunitas Brewing Company. To maintain the Lagunitas culture and free spirit, the company will continue to operate as an independent entity within HEINEKEN and will report within the HEINEKEN Americas Region.

Tony Magee, the Founder of Lagunitas, will remain active as Executive Chairman of the company and will be supported by his current management team. In addition, Magee will take a leading advisory role to HEINEKEN and its executive team on the global and local craft strategy.

HEINEKEN has enjoyed a successful partnership with Lagunitas since 2015, when it acquired a 50 percent stake in the company. Since then Lagunitas has continued to outperform the U.S. beer market, where craft beer now represents about 11 percent of total volume. Lagunitas is the market leader in the IPA segment, the fastest growing sub-segment within craft, and sold over 1 million hectolitres in 2016. HEINEKEN has helped to expand Lagunitas' international presence, including entry into new markets such as France, Mexico, Italy and Spain, and extended the brand's availability in markets including the UK, Canada, Netherlands, Sweden and Japan. Following this transaction HEINEKEN will accelerate the export of Lagunitas to many more markets around the world.

The impact of this acquisition, similar to the proposed acquisitions in Brazil and in the UK, is excluded from the 2017 FY margin guidance. In the current year the impact of acquiring Lagunitas is expected to be slightly margin dilutive.

Commenting on the transaction, Jean-François van Boxmeer, Chairman of the Executive Board & CEO of HEINEKEN said: "Our partnership with Lagunitas has been a great success and today's announcement marks the next stage of an exciting journey. We look forward to accelerating the roll-out of the Lagunitas brand to many more markets, and sharing Lagunitas craft beer with many more consumers around the world."

Tony Magee, founder and Executive Chairman of Lagunitas, added: "During the 19 months of our partnership we have come to trust and truly believe in each other. Through that we have found ourselves aligned on how to bring the vibe of U.S. craft-brewing to beer lovers everywhere. Only by fully committing to this relationship can we both respond to the historic opportunity that awaits us in all 24 time zones."

The transaction has been completed with immediate effect. Financial terms are not disclosed.

Sasquatch Brewing Company Expands to Northwest Portland

After five years in its tiny, hand-made brewery and pub, Sasquatch Brewing Company is undertaking a major expansion, adding a new brewing facility in a 4,000-square foot warehouse in industrial Northwest Portland. The new brewery will include a 15-barrel system, two 90-barrel cider fermenters, and a tasting room open to the public seven days a week. Three brand new beers – a Kolsch, Amber and a Grapefruit IPA – and a new Hopped Cider will be released at Sasquatch's Grand Opening event. The event is set for April 21 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 2531 NW 30^th Avenue, Portland. The festivities are free and open to the public and will include complimentary barbecue and live music from Portland bluegrass band Out West.

"The brewery has been a labor of love from day one," said Sasquatch Brewery founder Tom Sims. "We have appreciated and thrived on the support of the local community, and are excited that we've come to a point where we've simply outgrown our space. We are looking forward to having room to spread our wings and begin some new programs out of the new location."

The new brewery will feature 22 taps with a wide variety of beers and ciders, local kegged wine, a barrel program for aging beers and large, private event space. The original location in Hillsdale will remain open, focusing on developing small experimental batches.

uKeg Pressurized Growlers Preserve the Craft Beer Experience

Widmer Brothers Brewing wants guests visiting its Portland pub to get the full craft beer experience. That's become even easier with the uKeg, a pressurized growler made by GrowlerWerks. Widmer Brothers' servers now use uKegs to get fresh samples of beer into guests' hands as they are seated. Before the uKeg, servers gave samples from plastic pitchers.

"Having a container that's pressurized is gonna keep the quality of the beer much better," brewery co-Founder Rob Widmer said. In addition to keeping beer fresh and carbonated, the vacuum-insulated, stainless-steel growler also keeps beer cold and ready to pour.

Quality is important to Widmer brothers Kurt and Rob. Their attention to it has gathered them many fans since the brewery's founding in 1984. Pub Manager Shane Johnson said using the uKegs to serve samples in the pub has been a game changer. He's pleased with how easy they are to use and says the uKegs turn heads. Customers love them.

Widmer's use of uKegs shows the strength of GrowlerWerks' technology and how good of an investment the growler is for those who own one. Over five months, the brewery filled each of its two uKegs 350 times, serving more than 700 gallons or 5,600 pints.

Craft brewers such as Widmer Brothers inspired GrowlerWerks' team of engineers to create a way for beer lovers to enjoy fresh, cold, carbonated draft beer wherever they wanted to go. Now, outdoor lovers and people who like to bring the party home can get a growler of Widmer's small-batch beer, or any favorite craft beer, and drink it to the last drop without its quality suffering and the way a brewer intended it.

That's good for the beer industry, Rob Widmer says. Glass growlers flatten beer lovers' spirits and misrepresent brewers. He's excited about his brewery's relationship with GrowlerWerks, a container-design team that gets it. "We're all about quality, always have been," he said.

Leinenkugel's Celebrates 150th Anniversary By Brewing Collaboration Beer With Hofbräu München

The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company is creating a limited-edition Leinenkugel's Anniversary Lager with Munich-based Hofbräu München to celebrate its 150th anniversary this year. The collaboration brew is one part of a year-long celebration that includes new packaging, a slate of summer programs and a party in Chippewa Falls for the Wisconsin-based brewery.

Set to arrive on draft at select bars in April and available in six-packs in June, Leinenkugel's Anniversary Lager incorporates American hops and some German malt. Further, the Mӓrzen-style lager is brewed in the spirit of Reinheitsgebot, the German Beer Purity Law dating back to the 1500s that regulated what was allowed to go into beer, to commemorate Leinenkugel's brewing heritage while looking toward its future. Leinenkugel's Anniversary Lager will be brewed in Chippewa Falls, with a limited amount of draft being brewed in Germany.

"As we discussed how to celebrate this incredible milestone for our brewery, we wanted to ensure whatever we did was truly genuine and in the spirit of what we've been doing for a century and a half," said Dick Leinenkugel, President of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company. "Partnering with Hofbräu München was a natural fit because of the similarities between our two breweries - German brewing history, innovation and a commitment to providing fans with the best beer possible."

Drinkers able to get ahold of the collaboration brew will notice a subtle, toasty sweetness upfront as a result of the malt character with tropical notes from added Mosaic hops. Leinenkugel's Anniversary Lager comes in at 5.4 percent ABV and 25 IBUs.

"Leinenkugel's envisioned a beer that honored its storied history, so that is exactly what we've helped create with the Leinenkugel's Anniversary Lager," said Dr. Michael Möller, Director of Hofbräu München. "The beer has more than 550 years of combined experience behind it, is brewed in the spirit of Reinheitsgebot and has equal influence from their innovative flavors and our tried-and-trued traditions. We like to think of this as a 'cheers' that crosses the Atlantic."

Before the collaboration brew is officially available nationwide, Leinenkugel's will introduce new packaging for its entire portfolio for the first time in 10 years. The new look highlights Leinenkugel's proud family name and brings the signature outdoorsy feel and an eye-catching color to the forefront. The new packaging will be seen as the brewery's flagship Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy hits shelves in March and will ramp up as more beers arrive throughout the year.

Along with several initiatives currently being planned across the country, the celebration will culminate with an official anniversary party at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds in Chippewa Falls the weekend of August 11. Leinenkugel's fans of legal drinking age are invited to join the family as they toast their milestone moment.

"The celebration will begin with our biggest collaboration brew in history and a complete packaging refresh across our entire portfolio, but we have a lot more on the way and recognize a proper cheers with our fans is the only way to cap it off," said Leinenkugel. "For those unable to make it to the official celebration in August, thank you for your continued support of our family's beers."

Fresh Look for Dead Guy Ale

Rogue Ales & Spirits reveals a fresh new look for its Dead Guy Ale and introduces 12-ounce cans for the first time. The updated design features a bigger and bolder Dead Guy, who has come down off his barrel, with a black, white and silver color scheme. 

Dead Guy Ale labels spanning 26 years

"There were a number of iterations, but the idea came out pretty quickly," said Rogue's Creative Director Hagen Moore. “We wanted to make the Dead Guy larger than life, and have him stand out in a simple and unique way." 

Originally brewed and bottled in 1990 as a Dia de los Muertos beer for a Portland Tex-Mex restaurant, Dead Guy Ale quickly became a favorite among craft beer drinkers. For the last 26 years, the Dead Guy Ale label featured a beer-clutching skeleton with crossed arms and a beehive hat sitting on a barrel. Although there have been small tweaks to the label over the years, this new look marks the first major redesign for Dead Guy Ale's packaging. From its inauspicious beginnings to becoming one of the most recognized bottles in craft beer, the Dead Guy Ale label has always been designed in-house. See the early sketch of the Dead Guy to the right.

Unlawful Assembly Brewery to Locate in Plano's Legacy Hall

The massive European-style food hall now rising in Plano, Texas', booming Legacy West development just announced a new addition: Unlawful Assembly Brewing Co.

Unlawful Assembly will feature a wide array of distinctive beers designed to pair with the diverse flavors showcased in Legacy Hall. By combining the highest-quality ingredients sourced from every corner of the globe with a desire to push the boundaries of craft brewing, Unlawful Assembly will become an agent of change for food, beverage and entertainment in the Plano/Frisco area.

"Like the name suggests, Unlawful Assembly won't be afraid to break a few brewing rules, so we think it's going to turn heads in North Texas as well as within the craft beer industry," said Tim Timbs, Senior Vice President of B.S. (Brewery Stuff). "This cutting-edge brewery will brew, distribute and promote the highest quality, tastiest and most creative craft beers found anywhere. We are also very excited about the location. Having the brewery built on the top floor of Legacy Hall, in the most exciting development in North Texas, is a dream come true!"

The Unlawful Assembly team is also designing an eye-catching taproom within the brewery that will be an ideal destination for enjoying the sights and sounds of a working brewery while hanging out with friends.

The community-centric brewery will feature six to eight premium beer styles year-round, along with a constantly rotating tap selection of highly creative, collaborative and seasonal beers. From the seasonal brews to session-able lagers to small-batch, barrel-aged experiments, every beer produced by Unlawful Assembly will be bold in flavor.

"Guests of Unlawful Assembly will be invited to discover entirely new beers to enjoy with the unique array of food stalls scattered throughout Legacy Hall," said Brewmaster Tom Janik. "We're bringing a rebellious spirit to this venture, so we won't hesitate to use nontraditional ingredients in our beers, and we'll be constantly pushing the envelope to explore unique flavor combinations. And because we'll be rotating our taps on a regular basis, there will always be something new for our guests to discover."

Tours and tastings will be offered at Unlawful Assembly, and the brewery's taproom will be available for private events and parties.

Unlawful Assembly will open concurrently with Legacy Hall this fall.

Legacy Hall will span three stories, with roughly 55,000 square feet dedicated to the food hall. More than 20 innovative vendors will serve up an eclectic array of fast-casual, artisanal foods in food stalls on the first floor. The terrace on the second floor will overlook a large live music stage and beer garden, with Unlawful Assembly comprising the third floor.

Legacy Hall is the first of several projects envisioned for The Food Hall Company, founded by Randy DeWitt and Jack Gibbons, creators of such trend-setting concepts as Velvet Taco, Whiskey Cake, Ida Claire, Mexican Sugar and Sixty Vines.

For more information on Legacy Hall, which is located at 7800 Windrose Ave. in Plano, or to explore opportunities for partnering with The Food Hall Company in other markets, visit foodhallco.com.

BrewDog Announces Crowdfunded Expansion Plan

Irreverent Scottish craft brewer BrewDog, which will launch its American facility in Ohio in 2017, announced today that it plans to open a BrewDog BrewPub in any American city where at least 500 people invest in its Equity For Punks USA crowdfunding offering. By launching one of its world-famous bars in each city that provides such investor support for the craft beer brewery, BrewDog's nationwide U.S. expansion will create local jobs and continue its mission to promote other local craft breweries across the United States.

BrewDog's bar division has been a huge success worldwide, with popular locations ranging from Tokyo to Sao Paulo, London to Barcelona and Hong Kong to Rome. Every BrewDog bar, including the first U.S. location at the soon-to-open 110,000 square foot brewery in Columbus, Ohio, are places where beer and food lovers can indulge in everything that is great about craft beer. With knowledgeable staff that are passionately evangelical about the world of craft beer, "Beer Schools" to educate customers about beery nuances, and great food paired perfectly to the wide selection of beers they offer, BrewDog bars are craft beer cathedrals for locals and tourists alike, acting as outposts for the brewery's overarching mission across the planet.

James Watt, CEO of BrewDog USA Inc. says, "Our BrewDog bars are beer meccas, hop temples and cathedrals of malt. We strive to spread the word about awesome craft beer in our bars, embracing the local beer scene and providing a platform for the world's best beers to be enjoyed in an inimitable setting."

Every investor in BrewDog USA Inc. (with a minimum investment of only $95) receives equity shares in the company, owns part of the Columbus brewery and the U.S. distribution of BrewDog beer, and receives the numerous perks of being an Equity Punk including a 20 percent lifetime discount in the BrewDog USA online shop, a 5 percent discount in any BrewDog bar worldwide, and in invite to BrewDog's notorious U.S. AGM (annual general meeting) where beer and bands collide in a day-long shareholder meeting like no other. In addition, for each city where 500 people invest in BrewDog USA Inc., when BrewDog opens its local BrewPub, investors from the area have the opportunity to notch up the following perqs:

• $10 in BrewDog "Beer Bucks" for the first 500 investors in each eligible city,
• The first 100 investors in each city will have their name permanently emblazoned on the "Wall of Punks" in their local BrewDog bar, and
• The first 500 investors in each city will gain access to exclusive previews of new offers and launches at their local bar before anyone else.

Watt is particularly excited about being able to brew small batches of unique craft beer in each U.S. BrewDog pub: "With on-site brewing in each U.S. BrewPub, we can take our bar concept to another level as we brew the beer on site as well as serve brews from like-minded breweries – the beer we offer will be as fresh as possible every single time. We're already experimenting with some awesome recipes before we've even set our sights on specific cities, and this is your chance to help shape those decisions for yourself."

Founded in 2007 by two humans and one dog with a passion for craft beer, BrewDog has grown into an international sensation by turning traditional business finance on its head with its Equity For Punks crowdfunding initiatives in the U.K., Europe and now the U.S. BrewDog has recruited an army of 50,000 Equity Punks who have invested in its craft beer revolution, and have helped BrewDog to secure distribution into more than 60 countries, and grow a business that now employs more than 600 people worldwide. To help finance its U.S. expansion, in August 2016, BrewDog started its Equity For Punks USA crowdfunding offering, which received an overwhelming $1 million in the first three days of launch. Equity for Punks USA will be open until February 2017, and prospective investors can visit EquityForPunksUSA.com to find out more and buy shares in BrewDog's U.S. enterprise.

More information on BrewDog can be found at https://www.brewdog.com/lowdown/press-hub/paradise-city-brewdog-brewpubs.

Sin City Brewing Company Opens Fourth Las Vegas Location on the Strip

Expanding its local craft influence on The Strip, Sin City Brewing Co. will open its newest bar at Grand Bazaar Shops on October 28. The local brewery’s fourth location will feature its five signature craft beers, a rotating seasonal brew, and the brewery’s first outdoor seating delivering an al fresco drinking experience in the heart of Las Vegas Boulevard.

The design is inspired by the open-air market at Grand Bazaar Shops with a convenient walk-up bar for guests-on-the-go. Those looking to linger over their lager can enjoy indoor-and-outdoor seating at the new bar making it an ideal destination to catch the game or just people-watch along the main walkway.

“There’s nothing better than drinking a beer outside with your friends on a sunny day,” said Rich Johnson, Sin City’s Master Brewer. “It’s always been a dream of mine to open an outdoor drinking destination on The Strip and we’re looking forward to sharing our craft beer at Grand Bazaar Shops.”

Johnson’s brews utilize only four ingredients in accordance with the 1516 German Beer Purity Law. Trained by German brewmasters and a frequent traveler to Germany in his younger years, Johnson admires the rich brewing traditions and incredible beers from the country. He carries on the customs of Reinheitsgebot through a time of wide-spread beer reinvention as he believes beautiful beers are eternal and traditions deserve to be honored. This ideology lead to the creation of five signature brews available year-round in addition to intriguing seasonal brews released four times a year.

• Amber: The copper hue of this Octoberfest-style lager is equally as beautiful as it is tasty, with well-balanced and satisfyingly smooth flavors.
• Light: A perfect option for the craft beginner, this refreshing beer gives an extra kick of flavor while still achieving easy drinkability.
• IPA: Craft beer connoisseurs will be delighted by this full-bodied brew, featuring a distinct hoppy taste that continues to evolve on the palate as it is being consumed.
• Weisse: Sin City’s wheat beer emanates refreshing hints of citrus and banana zest with a spicy clove aroma for a beer to tingle all the senses.
• Stout: The darker side of Sin City is this traditional Irish Session Stout that showcases a thick creamy head, dry finish and a stimulating roasted-coffee essence.
• Seasonal: Sin City brews a selection of four seasonal beers that rotate throughout the year including a Pilsner, Winter Brock, Steam Beer, Double IPA and its current resident, Sin City Oktoberfest.

Sin City Brewing Co. at Grand Bazaar Shops will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.