Top 5 Craft Beer News Headlines: A Week In Review
The craft beer industry is one of the fastest growing segments of the United States economy today. Understandably, multiple craft beer news articles and blog posts are published weekly, highlighting its growth, challenges, careers, industry leaders, and more.
At Craft Beverage Jobs, we do our best to keep up with craft beer’s current events and that adds up to a lot of hours each week researching, reading and digesting. So we thought we would share our TOP 5 favorite craft beer news headlines from each week with you, right here in our Craft Beer News: A Week In Review.
Craft Beverage Jobs Sponsors Pints and Quarts!
Before we get started on our Top Headlines, we were very happy to sponsor this weeks Pints and Quarts show from the guys at Craft Beer Nation. Their special guest this week was the CEO of New Belgium Brewing, Kim Jordan.
It was a great conversation, covering questions from Twitter and Google Plus. Kim discussed the new brewery coming to Asheville, their latest IPA Session Slow Ride, the New Belgium philosophy for business, the Budweiser Super Bowl commercial and of course, her take on growth of the craft beer market.
There has been one bright shining light in the American beer industry in the last eight years, and that’s been craft beer. – Kim Jordan
OK, back to the headlines…
1. US Barley Shortage Woes
Barley shortage has craft beer makers foaming, by Tony Kiss – USA Today
Barley country, Idaho and Montana, are feeling the effects of heavy rains last fall that left a large percentage of their crops unsuitable for brewing. The potential shortage of top-quality brewing barley has caused uncertainty among brewers concerning cost increases.
The Asheville Brewers Alliance has weighed in on the matter, stating…
The (barley) shortage is very real and something that a majority of smaller breweries will need to be concerned with.
3 types of malt barley from Oyster House Brewing, Asheville, NC
2. Indy’s Winter Fest Marks Craft Beer Trends For 2015
Sours, spice and bacon? 5 craft beer trends from Winterfest, by Amy Haneline – IndyStar
5,000 craft beer lovers attended the 7th Annual Brewers of Indiana Guild Winterfest
last weekend. One of the great things about Winterfest is its focus on specialty and small-batch brews!
This year, 69 Indiana craft brewers provided 500 beers on tap for the tast’n! Here is a look at the top craft beer trends from the festival:
- Sours!
- Damascene Apricot Sour
- Sun King’s Pink Taco
- Outliers Brewing Hopes & Dreams Sour Reserve
- Spice!
- ZwanzigZ Brewing’s Ghost Pepper Imperial Stout
- Greenwood’s Ancho Annie American Amber
- Sun King’s Sunlight Cream Ale
- Flavor Combinations
- Ticket Chocolate
- Beauregard’s Blueberry
- Red Rye Bacon Spiled Ale
- Peanut Butter and Jealous
- What’s In The Barrel?
- Maple Syrup Bourbon barrels
- What’s your Tap Number?
- Broad Ripple pub – 100 taps!
- Bare Hands Brewery – 31 taps!
3. Are Alabama Craft Breweries Turning A Profit?
Thirst for craft beer has never been stronger, but are Alabama breweries turning a profit? by Steve Doyle – AL.com
The production of craft beer in the state of Alabama increased by 47 percent from 
2012 to 2013. The number of craft breweries in the state have doubled since 2012. Bama breweries like Good People, Straight to Ale, Back Forty, Blue Pants and Yellowhammer are keeping local bars and restaurants fully stocked to meet demand. 2015 is poised for continued growth, with new breweries scheduled to open.
Two of the main challenges for Alabama craft beer breweries are high start-up costs and “hostile” state laws restricting breweries from selling direct to consumers. Dan Roberts, executive director of the Alabama Brewers Guild, states that the guild is working on a bill for the 2015 legislative session that will allow direct sales of growlers.
4. Crossroads At Boston’s Harpoon Brewery
Craft Beer Is Booming, but Brewers See Crossroads, by Ian Mount – The New York Times
Last July, Harpoon Brewery co-founder, Rich Doyle “cashed out” when his brewery partners refused to invest in the purchasing of struggling competitors. Doyle’s decision reflects one of the opinions within the industry that when the craft beer bubble bursts, there will be a host of failing breweries picked up for cheap.
His co-founder, Dan Kenary, has a different view of the future of craft beer. He believes that the industry of craft beer will continue to experience growth as a business of independent local operators.
To me, having grown up in this industry, philosophically it just fits really well with craft beer — independent, authentic. – Dan Kenary
Dan Kenary, co-founder of Harpoon Brewery
5. ‘Startup Week’ Celebrates Craft Beer Entrepreneur In Tampa
What’s brewing in Tampa? A new craft beer industry emerges in ‘Cigar City’, by John Cook – GeekWire
Startup Week is a 5 day celebration in Tampa Bay celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship for the local community. Its run and hosted by local businesses who support the passion and drive new businesses bring to the local economy.
Tampa Bay is now home to more than a dozen craft breweries. During Startup Week, brewers come together to discuss the important topics to craft beer such as beer legislation and trends in technology.
One of the craft breweries leading the way in Tampa Bay is Cigar City Brewery, where you indulge in a great tasting Invasion Nitro Pale Ale while purchasing a hand-rolled cigar.
Behind all our beer is the philosophy that quality is achieved by giving first rate ingredients to first rate people in a space where they are free to pursue their passion. We acknowledge that what we do at Cigar City Brewing isn’t for everyone, but we welcome all. – Cigar City Brewing
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