The craft beer industry is quite possibly the best industry in the world.  From vendors to distributors to brewers to the media–I am constantly blown away by the amount of kindness, generosity and love that is given and shared amongst our amazing community.

Last week, I broke the very sad news to my friends and followers that, for the first time in 5 years, I was unable to attend the Great American Beer Festival. Unfortunately, the brewery I work for was unable to participate this year and I didn’t have the budget to go on my own.

No beer for Wenchie = #sadface

Upon posting my sad news, an angel of beer named Micha Rains appeared. She told me, “the Great American Beer Festival cannot happen without The Wench. We must make this happen!” And then she proceeded to pitch her company, AGA Marvel, on a partnership between our two brands. They offered to buy me a plane ticket and put me up in a hotel room in exchange for helping to work their booth during GABF. A chance to go to GABF and all I had to do was help promote amazing kegerators? My answer was obvious.

My Fairy Beermother Micha

And so, I hopped on the first plane out to Denver, rolled my sleeves up and became a mini-ambassador for AGA Marvel. And let me tell you, I had a blast. And because I’m so grateful for AGA Marvel’s kindness, I want to take this opportunity to tell you about their awesome beer dispensers, which I had the honor of “playing” with all weekend.

If you’ve never seen them before, the AGA Marvel beer dispensers are a glorious sight to be seen. And I’m not just saying this because they were so kind to me, I’m completely honest when I tell you how versatile, efficient, easy-to-use and just plain old pretty these things are. We were showing off the outdoor models, which were wrapped entirely in super shiny stainless steel. I love shiny objects, so I was instantly enamored.

I heart shiny objects

Each 24″ system comes ready to go with all necessary tapping equipment – draft tower, hoses, 5 lb. CO₂ tank and regulator, drip tray, and interior floor shield to protect the inside liner. They all provide the option to store one half, one quarter (plus bottles), or two 1/6 barrel kegs–or can be converted to a full refrigerator with metal shelves that easily store inside when not in use.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. The Marvel beer dispensers come with several custom options.

First, you can opt for the indoor model, which comes in black, stainless steel or wood; or the outdoor model, which is built with corrosion resistant commercial grade stainless steel. Next, you can decide between a single tap tower or a duel tap tower. Then, you can choose between an exterior drip tray or a drip tray that empties into a plastic bottle inside the refrigerator, for easier cleaning.

Double the beer, double the fun!

There is also a portable outdoor version that comes with heavy duty casters and mug rails, pro-style handles and stainless steel toe kicks so you can wheel it around in style. Both versions can either be free-standing or built under existing counter-tops and bars. Cooling temp ranges from 33° – 52° F, so you can keep your beer chilled at the most optimal serving temperatures.

Bottles and kegs, oh my!

When it comes to price, which I’m sure you all are curious about, these systems run upwards from $1,899, depending on the model and variations chosen. Naturally, extra perks like drip trays and wheels cost a bit more. As far as buying concerns, AGA Marvel has a national network of independent dealers, servicers and fitters that sell, install, repair and maintain their products. To locate a dealer, enter your zip or postal code here.

All in all, these systems were easy to setup and use. On the floor, we used an a portable outdoor beer dispenser to pour rootbeer and DRAFT Magazine used two of the portable outdoor systems to pour special beers in their VIP lounge. Everyone who came across the systems were wickedly impressed–as was I. And if you are in the market for a kegerator, the AGA Marvel beer dispensers come highly recommended by none other than yours truly!

Super sleek design.

In closing, I just want to send a super shout-out to my friend Micha and her team at AGA Marvel who gave me the wonderful opportunity to attend the Great American Beer Festival. It was officially the best GABF I’ve been to yet and it would never have been possible without the amazing folks at AGA Marvel! Thanks Art, Micha, Dick and Leah! XOXO!!!

Follow @AGAMARVEL on Twitter

Like AGA MAVERL on Facebook

Follow AGA MARVEL on Pinterest

Well, it is quite apparent that SOME breweries did not attend the Social Media seminar during the 2013 Craft Brewers Conference—where we clearly and quite strongly advised AGAINST using social media to wage a war, legal or not, against another brewery. And if said breweries did attend the seminar, they obviously were not listening. So let me state it again, loud and clear:

Keep your battles offline.

Do not use social media to wage a war against another brewery. I don’t care how pissed off you are at them. I don’t care how many laws you think they broke. I don’t care if they flat out stole your branding, your beer name, or your recipe—DO NOT post about it online.

And why not? Besides getting an ego boost from your adoring fans, nothing good can come from public wars between companies. You are guaranteed to lose existing fans as well as lose any potential fans who are first exposed to your brand in this fashion. And at the end of the day, it’s not fair for you to put your fans and followers in this position. You do not have the right to ask your fans to fight your battles. Hire a lawyer. It’s their freaking job to fight your battles—NOT mine.

Keep the fight between your lawyers—NOT your fans.

The Law of Attraction states that like attracts like. Whatever vibrations we radiate attract more of the same. Negative energy only attracts more negative energy. The more negative energy you put on social media, the more you will get. And trust me, you do not want your brand to be viewed as one that emits and attracts negative energy.

Not to mention, breweries putting out negative energy only makes the craft beer industry look bad as a whole. You might think that the battle is solely between you and the other guy, but it’s not. You just brought the entire craft beer community into the lime light. Your actions reflect negatively upon our entire industry—not just your two brands. You make craft beer look immature and childish. You make it look like we can’t get along with each other. You are destroying the collaborative, harmonious and united image that we have worked so hard to project.

Social media is an extremely powerful tool. And with great power, comes great responsibility. And trust me, I’ve learned this the very, very hard way. Breweries and beer fans, please heed my advice:

Don’t use social media as a weapon.

If you need justice, then by all means go and get it. But do it in a courtroom, NOT on Facebook and Twitter. Besides, I’m pretty sure that the judge making the final ruling over the case won’t be swayed by internet petitions or “how many followers and fans” you got to post on your behalf.

I did NOT ask to be put in the middle of this battle. None of us did. Sure, I might have opinions on what is right and wrong in this situation, but I reserve the right to stay out of the fight. Don’t make me chose sides. And don’t make me fight your battles.

Because I refuse to get involved, I’m intentionally leaving the details of this particular “War of the Roses” out of this post. If you wish to learn more about the brewery vs. brewery conflict I’m referring to, you can read the House of Lancaster arguments here and the House of York arguments here.

And you can guarantee that a case study will be made of this incident, highlighting it as the quintessential example of what not to do on social media, at the 2014 Craft Brewers Conference.

As you may recall, Mississippi finally legalized homebrewing this March—nearly 80 years after the end of Prohibition—leaving Alabama as the only state that had not legalized homebrewing. Well, kids, I have some exciting news!! Last night, May 7th 2913, the Alabama Senate passed a bill legalizing homebrewing—making Alabama the 50^th and final state in America to do so!!!!!

“Homebrewing has been an integral part of the history of America, so it’s thrilling to know that soon all 50 states will support this growing hobby and long-standing tradition,” said Gary Glass, director, American Homebrewers Association. “We appreciate the backing of all of the homebrewers, the dedicated grassroots efforts of Right to Brew and the legislators who have worked so diligently to make homebrewing a reality in Alabama. We are especially grateful to Representative Mac McCutcheon who introduced this bill and has fought long and hard for its passage, along with Senator Bill Holtzclaw.”

A few quick facts from the AHA:

• History in the making: This will be the first time since pre-Prohibition days that all 50 states will legally allow homebrewing.
• Rapid-fire succession: Mississippi was the 49^th state to legalize homebrewing, and the state did so in March, only two months prior to Alabama.
• Alabama might not be last: Alabama has an opportunity to legalize homebrewing before Mississippi, since the Mississippi bill has a 90-day wait period to become effective, while the Alabama bill would go into effect immediately once Governor Robert Bentley signs it.

Additional information can be found in the release below and on the AHA website.

About the American Homebrewers Association

The American Homebrewers Association has worked on behalf of the homebrewing community since 1978 and celebrates a membership of more than 37,000 homebrewers. The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) organizes events including the National Homebrewers Conference and National Homebrew Competition. The AHA also publishes Zymurgy magazine. The AHA is part of the Brewers Association, whose Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers and anyone interested in making their own homemade beer are invited to learn more at HomebrewersAssociation.org. Follow the AHA on Twitter, and join us on Facebook.

Happy New Year (or Rose Bowl Day, as a I like to call it) to all my craft beer friends! In honor of the start of the new year, most people around the world are pledging to lose weight, exercise more, stop smoking, start saving money, try new things, volunteer more, manage time, take a trip and so on and so forth.

YAWN! Who needs boring resolutions this year? Instead of resolving to do something you will stop doing next week,  make a beer resolution! I’ve recruited the help of some of my favorite professionals in the beer industry to help inspire my craft beer loving friends and readers to create their own beer resolutions.

Have a beer resolution? Add it in the comment section below! Cheers!!!

2013 New Year’s Beer Resolutions of the Craft Beer Industry

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Julia Herz

Brewers Association Craft Beer Program Director | Publisher, CraftBeer.com

Twitter: @herzmuses

New Years Resolution(s): In 2013 I plan to continue deeper into my beer studies which will even further expand my craft beer appreciation. 2 big goals:

1) Get better at describing what I taste. I want to share all the juicy details just like a gossip girl wants names and a blow by blow of the entire story! Describing should be less big picture and more specifics. Instead of saying, “This craft beer has lots of caramel, nutty notes and chocolate.” How about, “It busts with butter cream, almonds show through in mid-taste and bitter dark chocolate lingers in the background throughout.” Now that is more specific AND enticing AND what I continue to strive for.

2) Further my ability to describe what is happening during pairing. As a result of my job in preaching pairing via CraftBeer.com and tastings I’ve had to find tools and understandable basics that work for me. If I can identify elements (like the primary colors or sweet/salt/sour/bitter/roast/fruit/etc.) in craft beer and food then I have reference to identify/describe what interactions (sweet calms sweet/acidic calms acidic/ bitter calms sweet) occurred to create new ‘elevated’ elements (like the secondary colors or for example the sugar sweet in that cheese cake was calmed down and lessened by the bold hop bitterness of the IPA so I could then better taste the cream cheese tart of the cake). It’s a lot to digest I know.

For anyone trying to describe pairings, if you’ve never done it before, it’s as hard as trying to describe the primary colors, but being visually impaired or blind. I am fully on this journey. By the way another way to think of food elements or primary colors is like prime numbers in math. They are the most basic and cannot be broken down further. Sweet is a pure element like a prime number. So is salty, sour, bitter, etc.

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Anat Baron

Entreprenuer | Director/Writer/Producer, Beer Wars

Twitter: @beerwars

New Years Resolution: To get over my allergy to alcohol… so I can FINALLY drink craft beer.

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Kirk Coco

President, NOLA Brewing Company

Twitter: @NOLABrewing

New Years Resolution: I resolve to push the envelope and get beyond the basics with our beers, starting a sour beer program and brewing more imperials, doubles and getting lagers onto the market.  Personally, I resolve to vary my drinking to enjoy wine and cocktails as well as beer, to train my palate for varied tastes and to make myself a better brewer.

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Jason Oliver

Brewmaster, Devils Backbone Brewing Company

New Years Resolution: To become a hop master and a master of using hops. To really focus on the finer points and subtleties of using hops above and beyond merely adding more to a brew and have Devils Backbone win both small brewpub & small brewing company of the year at the 2013 GABF.  That’s not too much to ask is it??

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Win Bassett

Social Media & Beer Education, All About Beer Magazine | Executive Director, North Carolina Brewers Guild | Interim Secretary, North American Guild of Beer Writers

Website: http://winbassett.com
Twitter: @winbassett @allaboutbeer

New Years Resolution: Stan Hieronymus’ recent blog post about the “two-ounce culture” (http://appellationbeer.com/heyolllllo-better-copyright-two-ounce-culture/) really resonated with me. For 2013, I plan to do less “tast[ing], rat[ing], mov[ing] on” and more enjoying beer experiences with friends. Cheers to a new year in beer!

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Lucy Saunders

Author / Founder, Great Lakes Water Conservation Conference

• The Best of American Beer and Food: Pairing & Cooking with Craft Beer
• Grilling with Beer: Bastes, BBQ Sauces, Mops, Marinades & More Made with Craft Beer
• Cooking With Beer: Taste-Tempting Recipes and Creative Ideas for Matching Beer & Food

Website: beercook.com
Twitter: @lucybeercook and @GLwater

New Years Resolution: My new year’s beer resolution is to read a new book about beer and brewing every month! Top on my list, For the Love of Hops by Stan Hieronymus. I also plan to be a tourist in my home state of Wisconsin, and take more brewery tours, even the ones I’ve already visited….if it’s been more than a year, it’s worth the repeat to see what’s changed.

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Photo: Grapes & Grains NYC

Ron Jeffries

General Mischief Maker, Jolly Pumpkin Artisinal Ales

New Years Resolution: The only thing I can think of is that, while we are almost finished installing our new 50 bbl brewhouse, what I am most happy about is getting to brew again on our old 10 bbl, slow it down to one brew a day, and come out with some super….uhhhh… “interesting” stuff.

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 Mitch Steele

Brewmaster, Stone Brewing Co. | Author

• IPA: Brewing Techniques, Recipes and the Evolution of India Pale Ale

Twitter: @MitchAtStone

New Years Resolutions: Brew several kick-ass IPAs.

Always look at my glass as half full.

Drink responsibly.

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Garrett W. Marrero

Founder, Maui Brewing Co.

Twitter: @MauiBrewingCo

New Years Resolution: I’d love to spend more time with family and friends enjoying great craft beer from around the world, that and to not lose my mind building the new brewery!

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Dan Del Grande

Chief Hoperations Officer, Bison Organic Beer

Twitter: @bisonbrew

New Years Resolution: I’m inspired (by my friend Natalie) to have a social hour every week day with a different person–a beer after work, a quick lunch or cup of joe mid day.  Too many times I say, “Let’s get together” but we never do.  I’m changing that.

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Angela Arp

Special Events & Social Media Coordinator, Nebraska Brewing Co.

Twitter: @AngelaArp | @NEBrewingCo

News Years Resolution: My 2013 resolution is to spend my energy promoting what I love rather than bashing what I hate.

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Stan Hieronymus

Author/ Journalist

• For The Love of Hops: The Practical Guide to Aroma, Bitterness and the Culture of Hops (Brewing Elements) 
• Brew Like a Monk: Trappist, Abbey, and Strong Belgian Ales and How to Brew Them
• Brewing with Wheat (Brewing Technology)
• The Beer Lover’s Guide to the USA: Brewpubs, Taverns, and Good Beer Bars

Website: www.appellationbeer.com
Twitter: @StanHieronymus

New Years Resolution: Remember the philosophy “Less is more” in all things, including writing, certainly life, and – of course – beer.

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Angelo M. De Ieso II

Founder, Brewpublic.com | Beertender at Beer Revolution

Twitter: @BREWPUBLIC

New Years Resolution: To continue to become a more accepting and well-rounded person; to grow professionally and personally. I want to continue to learn more about beer and to taste more interesting styles. I’d really love to find steady work outside of my blog doing something in the craft beer community. I’d like to embark upon more collaborative projects with my wife. I also want to travel to more breweries in Northern California while I am living here.

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William Sysak – AKA “Dr. Bill”

Craft Beer Ambassador & Certified Cicerone ® at Stone Brewing Co.

Twitter: @BistroBeer @MasterPairings @ExpertDrinking

New Year’s Resolution: To continue spread the word on Craft Beer! To inform & educate the masses about the wonders of a hoppy IPA or a tart Flemish Red. Basically to continue to do what I and many others have done for the past 35 years. You may have seen this before; http://vimeo.com/14803129

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Jared Rouben

Brewmaster of the Goose Island brewpubs

Twitter: @jbrew312

New Years Resolution: To explore more farmer’s markets for better ingredients to use in my beers. And to experience more restaurants that are  focusing on beer and food to challenge my palette.

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Randy Clemens

Freelance food & drink writer / author of The Sriracha Cookbook and co-author of The Craft of Stone Brewing Co.: Liquid Lore, Epic Recipes, and Unabashed Arrogance

Website: http://www.randyclemens.com

Twitter Handle: @RandyClemensEsq

New Years Resolution: I’ve long placed a high priority on purchasing organic food, but I need to place the same emphasis on seeking out organic beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea… you name it. How? Well, besides buying and drinking more of it, I’ll also ask for it… EVERY time.

Even after scanning a menu and seeing no organic beers or wines, I’ll ask the bartender or server or store clerk if they carry any. Why? Because demand creates supply, and I’d love to see organic drinks available in more places.

Sure, there are a good number of reputable establishments carrying them now because they too care about the negative impacts that so-called “conventional” farming has on our health and our environment, but many places simply aren’t aware or haven’t yet been enticed enough to care or worse yet, think their customers don’t care. Well, I care, and I intend to help draw more attention to and create more demand for organic beers and wines. I’m Randy Clemens, and I approve this message.

___________________

Andy Sparhawk

Craft Beer Program Coordinator, Brewers Association

Twitter: @AndySparhawk

New Years Resolution: I look forward to attempting to look at the beer world with a wide lens. Recognizing that there will always be something new to learn about or experience.

___________________

New Years Resolution: Beer? What is thing you call beer? I should probably learn more about this next year!

___________________

Don Chartier

Northern Hemispherical Vice Captain for Supply Vectored Marketing Analysis, Lagunitas Brewing Co.

New Years Resolution: Basically just spending more time with friends and family,try and be a better person to all I encounter and continue on my journey in this wonderful world of craft!

__________________________

Stephen Johnson

Co-Founder, New Brew Thursday

Twitter: @newbrewthursday | @darthweef

New Years Resolution: My new years resolution is to introduce myself to at least 50 craft breweries that I have never tried before.

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Ashley V Routson

Director of Awesomeness, Bison Organic Beer | Founder, DrinkWithTheWench.com

Twitter: @TheBeerWench

New Years Resolution: In 2013, my beer resolutions are to…

1. Taste, taste, taste. There is really no excuse for my failing the tasting portion of the Certified Cicerone Exam other than pure laziness. This year, I am determined to taste more beers in style categories that I am not particularly fond of so that I can have a more well-rounded palate. And I also vow to dedicate more time to off-flavor tasting.

2. Visit more breweries. I live so close to so many awesome breweries, yet almost never venture out to visit them, taste their beers and get to know the people that work at them. This year, I plan on visiting at least one brewery a month as well as attending more industry events. (I really need to get out of the house).

3. Read more books – beer books, that is. I have both Mitch’s IPA book and Stan’s For the Love of Hops – and I’ve barely read 20 pages of each. If I want to get smarter about beer, I really need to read those books!

4. SPEND MORE TIME IN THE NOW, and less time on social media. I used to be the girl who was so busy tweeting, facebooking and instagramming at events, bars, and parties that I would completely miss out on all human interactions. This year, I vow to be in the now when I’m out with people and save the social media posts for later.

__________________________

Happy New Year!

Note: Most of the photos above are either media photos from breweries or Facebook profile pics, unless stated otherwise. If a photo needs credit, do not hesitate to contact me! Cheers!

Before I start this post, it is important to disclose that I work as a freelance writer with the Brewer’s Association (CraftBeer.com) as well as work full-time for a craft brewery (Bison Organic Beer) that is a member of the Brewer’s Association.

A not-for-profit trade association, the Brewers Association purpose is to promote and protect small and independent American brewers, their craft beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. It is an organization made up of brewers, members of the allied trade, beer wholesalers, individuals, other associate members and the Brewers Association staff.

In an effort to hold true to its promise to protect small and independent craft breweries, the Brewers Association released a statement yesterday addressing its concerns about craft-imitating beer brands and the craft-ification of domestic beer. Strong, powerful and blunt – the statement has caused quite a stir in both the craft and non-craft segments of the beer community.

If you have not read the statement, I recommend doing so before reading the rest of my post.

Many have taken it upon themselves to analyze, criticize and even reject the statement made by the Brewers Association. As someone with a vested interest in the Brewers Association, both personally and professionally, I would like to take a minute to discuss my own opinions on the statement.

Although some have interpreted it as one, the statement was not an attack against big beer. In actuality, it was a call to action for what I will refer to as a “Right to Know” movement in craft beer.

Truth be told, I’m no stranger to the “Right to Know” concept. The brewery I work for just spent weeks fighting for the passage of Proposition 37 in California – a bill that would have forced companies to label GMO ingredients. Sadly, big business did what big business does best – it squashed the little guys and the proposition failed.

You may be asking yourself, what’s the big deal? Do consumers really care if they know if they are eating GMOs? If something with GMOs tastes good, consumers will probably still eat it – right? Well, probably. After all, American still eat billions of dollars worth of products riddled with high-fructose corn syrup, MSG, aspartame, nitrates, artificial food coloring and other additives that have been linked to severe medical conditions like cancer, heart disease and death.

FDC Labeling laws force companies to list every single ingredient, the good, the bad, the ugly, on all food and beverage labels. This means the consumer, hypothetically, is being made aware of the foods it consumes. And if this consumer, despite medical studies and health warnings, decides to eat high fructose corn syrup and, therefor, subject his body to the potentially harmful effects of consuming high fructose corn syrup, well that is a choice is his to make.

Same with GMO ingredients. The following countries have banned or restricted the import, distribution, sale, utilization, field trials and commercial planting of GMO’s: European Union, Norway, Austria, Germany United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Luxembourg, Portugal, Egypt, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, and so on and so forth. Americans have the right to know if GMO ingredients are used in foods that they consume.

This brings us back to the statement made by the Brewers Association.

According to the Brewers Association, “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.”

Essentially, the Brewers Association is campaigning for the same thing that the GMO-labeling advocates are pushing for – the Right to Know. Yes, the two arguments couldn’t be more different, but the message is still the same. Consumers have the Right to Know who makes their beer and where they money is going.

Denying the consumer’s right to know and, as a result, the right to choice, directly violates the “Consumer Bill of Rights”.

In his 1962 “Consumer Bill of Rights” speech to Congress of the United States, President John F. Kennedy called upon the Federal Government to take necessary legislative and federal actions to protect the rights of consumers. According to President JFK, these rights include:

(1) The right to safety–to be protected against the marketing of goods which are hazardous to health or life.

(2) The right to be informed–to be protected against fraudulent, deceitful, or grossly misleading information, advertising, labeling, or other practices, and to be given the facts he needs to make an informed choice.

(3) The right to choose–to be assured, wherever possible, access to a variety of products and services at competitive prices; and in those industries in which competition is not workable and Government regulation is substituted, an assurance of satisfactory quality and service at fair prices.

(4) The right to be heard–to be assured that consumer interests will receive full and sympathetic consideration in the formulation of Government policy, and fair and expeditious treatment in its administrative tribunals.

In 1985, the concept of consumer rights was endorsed by the United Nations through the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection, which expanded the aforementioned list to include eight basic rights. One of these rights includes the right to consumer education. Essentially, this means that consumers have the right to acquire knowledge and skills needed to make informed, confident choices about goods and services, while being aware of basic consumer rights and responsibilities and how to act on them.

In an ideal world, the right to be informed, the right to information, the right to choose and the right to education should all be protected with product labels. Labels should serve as educational platforms, providing factual and complete information about the products inside them.

“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.” – Brewers Association statement, Dec. 13 2012.

The issue at hand is not the actual quality of the beers being produced by large brewers. Yes, large brewers have the ability to develop, sell and market innovative, unique, interesting, adjunct-free beers that rival those of smaller, independently owned craft breweries. BUT, the consumer also has the right to know who really makes the beer – aka who gets paid when all is said and done.

Does knowing that AB-Inbev or Miller-Coors is the company behind a beer really make a difference in consumer perception and consumption? Some would argue not. If a beer tastes good, well then, who cares who makes it. Others will argue that consumers deserve the knowledge and skills required to make informed, confident purchasing decisions when it comes to beer.

The most conscientious consumers believe in voting with their wallet. These are the consumers that buy local, organic and craft whenever possible. These consumers refuse to patron establishments owned by big business. They refuse to let their dollar support globalization. They care about what they put into their body. And they care about where products come. But even the craftiest of crafty large corporations can fool even the most discerning of consumers.

I firmly believe that consumers have the Right to Know about the beer they 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? Do you know? Well, now you do. (Click on the image below for a full scale view).

Be the change, spread the message and tell the world that we, as a consumers, deserve the Right to Know.

Earlier this week, Mark Garrison for Marketplace (American Public Media) released an audio report about Nanobrewing – the smallest niche of the craft brewing industry. A few familiar voices from the craft beer industry can be heard on this podcast, discussing the recent explosion of nanobreweries.

“With more demand right now than supply for craft beer, its a great way to fill a niche that many people are looking for on the local beer level.” – Julia Herz, Craft Beer Program Manager for the Brewer’s Association. Listen to the full podcast below.

In addition to this Marketplace audio report, Mark Garrison also reported on nanobrewing for Slate. You can read more in the companion story at Slate. Another great article on Nanobreweries can be found here on CraftBeer.com.

3bbl brewhouse from Premier Stainless/ Photo: BeerandCoding.com

The Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independentAmerican 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.

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The Brewers Association is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their craft beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The Brewers Association (BA) represents more than 70 percent of the brewing industry, and its members make more than 99 percent of the beer brewed in the U.S.

The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America®, SAVOR℠: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience and American Craft Beer Week. The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine and its Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association. Follow us on Twitter.

Tickets sold out in less than three hours for this year’s Great American Beer Festival — the largest ticketed beer event in the U.S.

Lucky enough to score a golden ticket? Here is what to expect at the 2012 GABF.

Nearly 50,000 attendees.

Over the course of 3 days, over 49,000 people are expected to attend the 2012 GABF. If you think that this sounds like a lot of people, you’re right. And make sure to get there early, the line starts to wrap around the building as early as an hour before doors open.

Approximately 580 breweries.

The 2012 GABF will have 110 more breweries pouring their beers in the hall this year, which is a 23 percent increase over 2011. It is also important to note that this growth is in correlation to the overall growth the craft beer segment has experienced this past year.

Farm-to-Table Pavilion

Quite possibly my favorite part of the fest, the Farm to Table Pavilion returns for a fourth year, bringing together chefs and craft brewers from across the country to serve small plates paired with special release beers that aren’t available in the festival hall. Sadly, one must have a ticket to enter the farm-to-table pavilion — a ticket which is only offered to BA and AHA members.

Confirmed farm-to-table breweries include:

• Alaskan Brewing Co
• Avery Brewing Company
• Ballast Point Brewing Company
• Denver Beer Company
• Devils Backbone Brewing Company
• Firestone Walker Brewing Company
• Ghost River Brewing Company
• Jester King Craft Brewery
• Saint Arnold Brewing Company
• Smuttynose Brewing Company
• Sun King Brewing Company

Brewpub Pavilion

New in 2012!!! The pavilion will include approximately 24 breweries representing all regions of the country and will be set up to replicate the brewpub atmosphere that craft beer enthusiasts enjoy, including seating and bite-sized snacks available for purchase.

Fresh Hop Ale Competition Category

New in 2012!!! This year’s GABF competition will feature a brand new “Fresh Hop Ale” category. The addition of this category signifies not only growing interest in this beer style, but also increased appreciation in the role of beer ingredients. This category was not possible in past years due to the timing of the festival and the hop harvest.

Pro-Am Competition

The GABF Pro-Am competition judges beer collaborations between professional craft brewers and homebrewers. Each beer entry is based on an award-winning homebrew recipe from an American Homebrewers Association (AHA) member. The homebrew recipes are scaled up and brewed by professional craft brewers for submission into the competition.

GABF Awards Ceremony

One of the most renowned competitions in the industry and recognized worldwide as a symbol of brewing excellence, the GABF competition honors 84 beer style categories with gold, silver and bronze medals. In 2012, an estimated 4,300 beers will be judged by an expected 185 judges from across the globe.

Silent Disco

Quite possibly the most popular event on the convention floor, the silent disco is sponsored every year by Oskar Blues. It involves a bunch of dancing fools getting down to music that only themselves and their dancing partners can hear through wireless headphones. Only those wearing the headphones can hear the music, so whether you are dancing or watching — it’s guaranteed to be hilarious.

And that’s not all folks! There will be book signings, educational panels and demonstrations from some of the country’s best brewers, merchandise, and so much more! And don’t forget about the after parties …. more info on those to come!

As if IPA Day wasn’t reason enough to celebrate craft beer on August 2nd, the Brewer’s Association recently announced that public admission tickets to the 2012 Great American Beer Festival will go on sale starting August 2nd, until they are sold out.

For those lucky enough to be Brewer’s Association members (aka breweries), American Homebrewers Association members, members of the press or prominent beer bloggers, pre-sale tickets will go on sale starting July 31st. Sales start at 10am (MDT — aka Mountain Time) on each of the days and the ticket pricing for general admission is as follows:

Presented by the Brewers Association, GABF is the premier U.S. beer festival and competition. Each year, GABF represents the largest collection of U.S. beer ever served, bringing together the brewers and beers that make the U.S. the world’s greatest brewing nation. Over the course of three days, more than 49,000 attendees will have the opportunity to meet hundreds brewers and sample a variety of diverse beers from today’s large and small U.S. breweries.

Additionally, the GABF competition awards gold, silver and bronze medals for excellence in 84 beer style categories. The awards are recognized around the world as symbols of brewing excellence and are among the most coveted in the industry.

Beer Blogger Tweetup at GABF 2010

It is my favorite beer festival, by far, and I highly encourage anyone even so much as thinking about going to bite the bullet and attend — it is well worth the time of and the expense!

For more information visit: GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com

True story: I love to Google random word combinations that involve beer. And by doing so, I stumble across some pretty awesome (and some not-so-awesome) things. So I have decided that, from now on, I am going to start posting my awesome discoveries on Drink With The Wench in the category I am calling FTW — aka For The Win.

Today’s awesome internet discovery comes to us via Pop Chart Lab. They recently developed what they are calling the most comprehensive map of breweries in the U.S. The print measures in at over seven square feet, boasting over 1,000 breweries from craft to macro and everything in between. Each poster is signed and numbered by the artists, from an edition of 1000.

My only concern is that the Brewer’s Association released data for 2011, which stated that the U.S. has 1,989 operating breweries and another 855+ craft and nano breweries in planning. So although the map is extremely well-made and comprehensive, it is also important to note that it may not include every single brewery in the country — in fact, many of the larger and more well-known craft breweries have been left off.

Pop Chart has recognized that it did have some errors on its chart and is currently crowd-sourcing updates to the map on its Facebook page. So, if your favorite brewery is missing, make sure to give them the heads up!

I hope that they could put something like this into an easy to read, folding map version for the car — because nothing is more fun than taking beer-themed road trips. I wish I had this map the two times I drove across country, would have saved me a lot of time and energy trying to figure out where to go!

Norcal Pride!!!

Last comment, you can’t really beat $30 — especially for something as detailed and as big as this (even if it isn’t entirely comprehensive and correct). It would make a great gift for anyone who loves craft beer — and would look awesome framed and displayed in bars.

Cheers!