Super stoked to announce that Bison Organic Beer, my lovely employer, has teamed up with Logsdon Farmhouse Ales to release what can only be referred to as an awesome collaboration beer. But, a calling it a mere collaboration doesn’t really give the beer justice. It is also the first-ever organic beer collaboration. This means that, not only is the concept cool, but the beer is good for the planet too. Mother Earth Approved!

Well, enough jibber jabber! Just read the press release for yourself

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BERKELEY, Calif. (Nov, 27, 2012) – Further proving that organic beer can be just as, if not more, innovative, dynamic and exciting as its conventional counterpart, the award-winning brewmasters of Logsdon Farmhouse Ales and Bison Organic Beer have teamed up to create one of the most unique collaboration beers yet – Cocoa Bretta.

The first-ever 100% organic collaboration beer, Cocoa Bretta is a hybrid blend of Bison’s award-winning Chocolate Stout and Logsdon’s award-winning Seizoen Bretta. This stout-based collaboration beer was brewed with organic Peruvian cocoa, a blend of six organic malts, organic roasted barley and organic oats. It was fermented using multiple yeast strains, and then finished with Logsdon’s proprietary strains of Brettanoymces and keg conditioned with pear juice.

“Cocoa Bretta was our first collaboration beer,” states David Logsdon, Director and Head Brewer at Logsdon Farmhouse Ales. “It is hard to predict how a first attempt might turn out, but in my opinion we have created a unique and very flavorful version of Bison’s award-winning beer.”

Pitch-black with a garnet hue and thick, creamy beige head, Cocoa Bretta exudes a complex aroma profile, boasting notes of chocolate, roasted grains, toffee, caramel and fruit. Dark malt and cocoa flavors combine for a rich, yet medium-bodied and well-rounded beer. Chewy malts linger as cocoa glides across the palate, leaving behind a crisp, fruity and oh-so-mouthwatering finish.

“David is a genius with yeast,” notes Dan Del Grande, Owner and Brewmaster at Bison Organic Beer. “Logsdon’s proprietary yeast strains brought a new level of complexity to my Chocolate Stout recipe that I never imagined possible. It was an honor to partner with the Logsdon team on this truly unique, 100% organic collaboration beer.”

Cocoa Bretta will make its grand debut this week, Nov. 28th-Dec.2nd, in Portland, OR at the Holiday Ale Festival. On Friday, Nov. 30th, Bridgetown Beerhouse will host a Meet the Brewer event with Dan Del Grande and David Logsdon, where guests will have the rare opportunity to taste the Cocoa Bretta collaboration beer side-by-side with Bison’s Chocolate Stout and Logsdon’s Seizoen Bretta. Event details can be found here.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Ashley V Routson | Director of Awesomeness | Ashley@bisonbrew.com

ABOUT BISON® ORGANIC BEER: More than a beer, a movement.
Founded in 1989, Bison is dedicated to brewing balanced, drinkable and 100% organic beers with an interesting twist. Bison strives to lead by example, educating that one need not sacrifice the pleasures of everyday living to be green. Follow Bison on Twitter @bisonbrew and become a fan on Facebook: http://facebook.com/bison

For more information about Bison Organic Beer, check out http://bisonbrew.com

ABOUT LOGSDON FARMHOUSE ALES
Our traditional farmhouse brewery is located in Hood River County on a small farm where we also grow some of the hops we use in our beer. Truly handcrafted in every sense of the term. we prefer to use locally grown organic hops, not pulverized hop pellets. Our nursery of “sharbeekse kreik “(cherry) trees brought over from the small Bam’s orchard located in East Flanders are growing nicely. Follow Logsdon on Twitter @farmhouseales

For more information about Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, visit http://www.farmhousebeer.com

If you are among the herd attending this year, make certain to pit stop at Bison Brewing — the 100% certified organic brewery headquartered in Berkeley, CA. We will be featuring our Organic Honey Basil Ale and our Organic Chocolate Stout this year. And if you want to meet up with me at the fest and grab a beer, don’t hesitate to send me a tweet @TheBeerWench on the day of!

It is also important to note that the NAOBF is sustainable in a number of ways: festival attendees sample beer from reusable and compostable cornstarch glasses made from domestically grown corn by a zero-waste, solar-powered company. Onsite composting and recycling stations are provided for festival waste and are supervised by recycling czars. Food vendors are required to use compostable cutlery and plates and employ sustainable practices. Electricity needs are met with a combination of biodiesel and solar generators. Volunteers wear organic cotton and hemp t-shirts, and all event signage is reusable.

Event hours are Noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission into the event is free. The purchase of a $6 reusable, compostable cornstarch glass is required for tasting beer, as are tokens, which sell for $1 apiece.

Why an organic beer festival? Studies show that the world’s population currently consumes 30% more natural resources than the Earth’s ecosystems can replenish. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, commercial agriculture is accountable for 70% of the pollution in our country’s rivers and streams. Genetically modified ingredients can be found in nearly every grocery store. The NAOBF believes that education and exposure leads to awareness, and awareness can translate to passion. If everyone becomes passionate about sustainability, as a whole we can make the planet a cleaner and healthier place for all of us to habitat. If the conversation starts with an organic beer, that’s even better!

On April 21st, Beer Revolution, Downtown Oakland’s most popular craft beer bar and bottle shop, invites you to celebrate organic beer and the brewers that make them! In honor of Earth Day, organic brewers from up and down the West Coast will be hosting their own “Organic Beer Revolution” at Beer Revolution, taking over its 40+ taps with a rebellious array of organic craft beer.

Technically speaking, non-organic beer is a modern-day phenomenon. All beer was organic before World War II, when the development and use of synthetic chemicals and pesticides began. Nowadays, organic brewers are an anomaly. But don’t let being an anomaly conuse your perception of organic craft beer. Same equipment, same process, same brewing talent required – the only thing that differentiates organic craft beer from its conventional counterparts is the earth-friendly agricultural practices used by organic farmers.

“Some people hold the misconception that organic craft beer is inferior to its conventional counterparts — which couldn’t be farther than the truth. Organic craft beer is just as delicious and innovative, if not more, as regular craft beer. My fellow organic brewers and I intend on proving this fact at the Organic Beer Revolution.” – Dan Del Grande, Bison Brewing.

The Organic Beer Revolution will start at noon on Saturday, April 21st, and last until every last drop of organic beer is consumed –or until last call– whichever comes first. The organic beer tap takeover will showcase a spectrum of beer styles from local Bay Area breweries, including Bison Brewing, Lucky Hand, Thirsty Bear, Mateveza, Santa Cruz Mountains Brewing and Uncommon Brewers — as well as a handful of organic beers from Northern California and Oregon breweries, including; Hopworks Urban Brewery, Butte Creek Brewing, Eel River Brewing, Commons Brewery and Fort George Brewery.

Several of the brewmasters will also be in the house, ready to answer any questions, so come toast the men and women that continuously put quality of ingredients and the health of the planet before the bottom line. Mother Earth thanks you!

The Organic Beer Revolution
• Place: Beer Revolution
• Location: 464 3rd St (Broadway & 3rd) Oakland, CA
• Date: April 21st
• Time: Noon-close
• Cost: per pint

The organic beer-themed tasting takes place on Twitter from 8-9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Apr. 10. The tasting, featuring four organic beers from some of the world’s most respected and innovative brewers, includes:

• 8 p.m. ET: Dupont — Avril (led by @belgianexpert): The brewer’s favorite beer. Light in alcohol, full in flavor. 3.5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).
• 8:15 p.m. ET: Samuel Smith — Strawberry Ale (led by @merchantduvin): Smooth malt and aromatic strawberry flavors merge together in an elegant fashion with fresh, ripe strawberries. 5.1 percent ABV.
• 8:30 p.m. ET: Bison Brewing — Honey Basil Ale (led by @bisonbrew): Creatively infused with fresh, organic whole leaf basil and organic clover honey. Crisp and herbaceous with a hint of sweetness. 6 percent ABV.
• 8:45 p.m. ET: Hopworks – Rise Up Red (led by @HopworksBeer): Mahogany smooth with mild caramel sweetness, balanced by local Cascade and Centennial hops for a crisp finish. 5.8 percent ABV.
• 9 p.m. ET: After party (free for all!)

Every fifteen minutes, the focus will shift to a different featured beer as brew masters take questions from Twitter fans and share stories about the beers and the breweries. To follow the conversation, use the hashtag #WFMBeer. At least one, if not all, of the beers listed above should be available at most Whole Foods Market stores that sell beer.

Participation is limited to those 21 years or older (duh!).

Twitter Beer Tasting FAQs

What is a Twitter beer tasting?

A Twitter beer tasting is a virtual event where people simultaneously taste beers together, and share their tasting notes in 140 character or less messages on Twitter.

What do I need to do to participate?

At the bare minimum, all you need to participate is a Twitter account and a beer in hand! For each #WFMBeer Twitter tasting, a particular theme is selected by Whole Foods and The Beer Wench. Participation in the Twitter tasting is enhanced when you follow the theme.

How do I follow the conversation?

All people participating in the Twitter beer tasting are encouraged to use the hashtag #WFMBeer in all of their tweets. If you have Tweetdeck or Hootsuite, we recommend that you create and dedicate an entire column to the hashtag, so you can follow the conversation as it happens!

What if I can’t find any of the beers on the “official” list?

You can still participate! Just find a beer or two that fits into the theme and join in. The theme this time around is organic beer — if you can’t find one of the delicious organic beers listed above, just look for the USDA organic logo on the beer shelf in a Whole Foods Market near you!

What if I have questions about the beers that I’m tasting?

You are in luck! Representatives from each of the breweries selected will be on Twitter during the entire event to lead the tasting and answer your questions. All of the representatives are listed next to the beers in the schedule above.

Is it okay to join the conversation late?

Of course! Better late than never!!!

Have more questions? Send me a tweet @TheBeerWench, or leave a message in the comment section below!!!

Are you curious about the men and women “hiding” behind Twitter avatar of the world’s most beloved craft breweries? Well, you are not alone. The Wench has gone behind the scenes to reveal and introduce you to the individuals who possess the ever coveted social media positions in the craft beer industry.

Behind the Twitter Avatar: @bisonbrew

Daniel Del Grande

Brewery: Bison Brewing
Location: Berkeley, CA

What is your “official” position with Bison Brewing?

Owner and Brewermaster

What is your favorite beer from Bison Brewing?

Organic Honey Basil…coming soon year round.

What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Organic Chocolate Stout and Gorgonzola Cheese on a cracker!

If you were a style of beer, what would you be and why?

American Pale Ale. Refreshing and not too over the top.

And last but not least, what does craft beer mean to you?

Its a lifestyle. Craft beer drinkers are a diverse community of discerning people who make a conscious choice for continuous variety and high quality over mass marketing.

Well, what can I say? Dan is not only my boss, but my good friend and mentor. He truly embodies the spirit of craft beer, all the whole trying to make the world a better and more sustainable place. Cheers!

BISON BREWING RELEASES “SAISON DE WENCH”

Some people get birthday cakes, others get birthday beers.

– For Immediate Release —

July, 13 2011 –Berkeley, CA – Bison Brewing is excited to announce the newest release in its draft only “Beer of the Month” series, Saison de Wench.

Brewed in honor of her birthday, Saison de Wench is the first recipe that Bison Brewing’s Ashley Routson (also known as The Beer Wench) had a hand in developing, from start to finish. Starting with Dan Del Grande’s gold-medal winning Farmhouse Ale recipe as a base, the Saison de Wench recipe was inspired by spring flowers, rainbows and unicorns – But more importantly, using botanicals in the brewing process.

Brewed with a classic blend of specialty malts and wheat, Saison de Wench is an unfiltered, slight hazy, medium-bodied ale with a notably floral aroma and herbaceous flavor from the addition of herbs, flowers and spices.

Rose, the flower of June, served as the main focus of the recipe, with over 10 pounds of dried organic roses used in several stages of the brewing process. Floral aromatics were enhanced with the addition of hibiscus, which also gave the beer its pinkish hue and slightly tart flavor. To further increase tartness with a zesty lemon flavor, lemongrass was incorporated into the recipe. Last but not least, in order to enhance the spicy phenols from the yeast, Saison de Wench was spiced with pink peppercorns, a spice made from dried berries that yield pepper-like characteristics.

“ Whimsical notes of rose petals, hibiscus and peppery spice dominate the aroma. Balanced by a soft malt sweetness and moderate hop bitterness, Saison de Wench is refreshingly tart with a dry, spicy finish. Although delicious on its own, Saison de Wench pairs beautifully with delicate seafood dishes, ceviche, sushi, shellfish, fresh cheese, charcuterie, summer salads and chilled soups.” – Ashley Routson, Director of Awesomeness at Bison Brewing.

As with all of Bison Brewing’s “Beer of the Month” release, Saison de Wench is extremely limited and only available on draft. It is recommended that orders be placed as soon as possible. For all press inqueries and orders, please contact Ashley@bisonbrew.com.

Cheers,

The Bison Brewing Team

“Sierra Club’s Green Life blog has a list of green beers for St. Paddy’s day. Check out the comments, too, where readers share their local favorites and remind us that local brews might have a smaller carbon footprint.

Cleveland’s Great Lakes Brewing Company is the closest brewery mentioned in the article. Do we have any breweries in Columbus making strong attempts to be more sustainable? Maybe The Columbus Beer Wench can help us out!

What’s your favorite local brew?”

Always up for a challenge, I decided to take it upon myself to do some research.

And with St. Patrick’s Day less than 12 hours away — I think it only appropriate to write a blog on “Green Beer.”

In my research, I came across several United States Breweries who are actively committed to being environmental conscientious and use sustainable practices.

The most impressive is the New Belgium Brewing Co., located in Fort Collins, CO.

The following list highlights the beliefs of the New Belgium Brewing Co.:

We believe, to be environmental stewards, we need to:

1. Lovingly care for the planet that sustains us.
2. Steward natural resources by closing the loops between waste and input.
3. Minimize the environmental impact of shipping our beer.
4. Reduce our dependence on coal-fired electricity.
5. Protect our precious Rocky Mountain water resources.
6. Focus our efforts on conservation and efficiency.
7. Support innovative technology.
8. Model joyful environmentalism through our commitment to relationships, continuous improvement, and the camaraderie and cheer of beer

The following list highlights the actual sustainable practices of the New Belgium Brewing Co.:

1. Increased efficiencies in the brewing process
2. Utilized green design throughout our building. (Lighting. HVAC. Materials.)
3. Implemented a process for treating our wastewater
4. On-site energy production
5. Wind-powered electricity since 1999
6. Employ a High Involvement Culture
7. Sustainable Eventing
8. Actionable Advocacy

a. We’re members of 1% For the Planet, which means that, through donations and fund-raisers, 1% of our revenue goes to environmental non-profits.
b. Team Wonderbike, our bicycle commuter advocacy program, has more than 10,000 members who have pledged to offset more than eight million car miles by riding their bikes more over the next twelve months.
c. Public speaking/education: Because we make and sell beer, people are interested in our story. We’ve been very successful while being values-driven and we we strive to be a business role model.
d. To encourage sustainable transportation, every employee gets a custom cruiser bike after one-year of employment.

• Constant benchmarking

• Partnering to support innovative technology

The following is a list of additional breweries around the U.S. who are also committed to sustainable practices:

• Brooklyn Brewery – In 2003, Brooklyn Brewery became the first NYC company to switch to 100% wind-generated electricity. It also pays farmers in New Jersey to swing by and pick up the “spent grain” — the remaining husks that are left over after brewing. The farmers then feed the nutritious grains to their livestock, making good use of Brooklyn Brewery’s waste.
• Odell’s Brewing Co. – Odell’s is actively helping reduce greenhouse gas through solid waste (paper, glass, plastic, etc.) recycling; staggering production to avoid using energy during peak demand times; investing in and using renewable energy sources; using skylights for natural light; promoting the “Bike to Work Day” Business Challenge and the “Drive Less” Challenge. They use wind power for 100% of their electrical needs, reducing the demand for conventional, fossil-fuel-burning energy and reducing emissions of CO2, particulate matter and other pollutants. Odell’s also fuels all their diesel trucks with biodiesel, a renewable fuel made from American-grown vegetable oilseed crops.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.: Sierra Nevada uses a combination of fuel cells and solar panels. They have made great strides around recycling, heat recovery, carbon-dioxide recovery, water conservation, and energy efficiency. In an effort to quantify and begin reductions, Sierra Nevada joined the California Climate Action Registry. The Registry is a voluntary reporting program that allows us a way to report and certify our GHG emissions
• Wolavers and Butte Creek offer organic pale ales, IPAs, porters, stouts, etc.

The closest eco-friendly brewing company to Columbus, OH is the Great Lakes Brewing Co. in Cleveland, OH.

Great Lakes Brewing Company is an environmentally and socially conscious brewer of award-winning, all natural beer. The care that goes into the beer resonates from a commitment to the community and environment, otherwise known as the “Triple Bottom Line” – to engage in economic, social and environmental practices that achieve a sustainable, yet profitable, business. These include:

• Reducing, reusing and recycling
• Changing natural resource use from “Take, Make, Waste” to “Take,
  Make, Remake”
• Implementing efficient energy practices
• Investing in the community through non-profit organizations
• Supporting sustainable urban renewal projects

The three waves in the company logo not only reflect this Triple Bottom Line philosophy, they represent a concerted effort to the respectful use of beer’s most valuable ingredient – water. Since beer is over 90% water, GLBC understands that quality water translates into a great beer drinking experience, so only the freshest water from the Great Lakes region is used.

Just because the beer itself may not be “green” does not mean that it cannot be consumed “green.” What do I mean by this? Purchasing a beer brewed locally, from the actual location, reduces its carbon footprint. Purchasing the beer from draft or recycling the bottle after consumption also reduces the carbon footprint. What exactly do I mean by carbon footprint?

A Carbon Footprint is made up of the sum of two parts, the direct / primary footprint and the indirect / secondary footprint.

1. The primary footprint is a measure of our direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels including domestic energy consumption and transportation (e.g. car and plane).

2. The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use – those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown.

The Wench’s tips to reducing your beer’s carbon footprint:

• Bike or walk to a local brewery.
• Purchase a beer made on-site.
• Drink a draft. Recycle the bottle after consumption.
• Serve as an environmental steward by encouraging your local breweries to partake in more sustainable practices!

Why not make this St. Patrick’s Day a little more green by drinking green! I challenge you to drink beers from any of the breweries listed above as well as drinking from our local breweries in Columbus, OH. (Oh, and Green Buckeye — the answer to your question: Barley’s Brewing Co. is my favorite local brewery!)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day. CHEERS!