Founders Brewing Coming to Texas

UPDATE TO THIS POST: Here's where you can get delicious Founders Brewing products on tap when they launch in Texas next week: http://foundersbrewing.com/latest-news/2013/founders-texas-launch-locations/?av-submitted=true

I get press releases all the time announcing the introduction of this or that brewery into the Texas market, and I usually ignore them, because I just don't think yet another out-of-state brewery squeezing onto our store shelves is that big a deal, even if they make decent beer.

But I'm making an exception for this one. I think Michigan's Founders Brewing makes excellent beer. Heretofore, I've only been able to taste their magnificent work when I travel to Kansas City to visit my in-laws. I've mostly had their heavier beers during my Christmas visits, and I especially loved the Porter and the Breakfast Stout. Seriously, the crappiest beer I've ever had by them was great. I'm really looking forward to this.

FOUNDERS BREWING CO. EXPANDS DISTRIBUTION INTO TEXAS 

Founders’ Beers Will Be Available in the Lone Star State in April 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Mar. 5, 2012 - Founders Brewing Co. has partnered with Ben E. Keith Beverage Distributors to offer their unique beers across the Lone Star State beginning April 2013. Founders Brewing Co., established in 1997, has evolved into one of the highest recognized breweries in the United States. Texans will now have the opportunity to enjoy their products without having to leave the state. 

“Texas is an up-and-coming market, and we’re impressed with what we’re seeing there,” said Co-Founder & CEO Mike Stevens. “We’ve been getting more and more inquiries from Founders fans in Texas over the past couple of years. The Ben E. Keith team is dedicated to the craft beer market and is helping introduce complex brands like ours to eager consumers who are hungry for them. Besides, we’ve always wanted to get Founders beer to Willie Nelson’s home state. Now the time is right.”

"We are delighted to partner with Founders,” said Specialty Division Manager at Ben E. Keith Kevin Nettleton, “and are eager to distribute their esteemed beers in Texas."

Founders plans to include all of its year-round and seasonal ales as draft product in the first shipment for an April 8 release. Bottled beers will be released in May, and specialty releases will be available following the release schedule from there.

For a list of all the states in which Founders is available, as well as information on their new 2013 lineup and release calendar, visit www.foundersbrewing.com. 

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About Founders Brewing Co.

Established in 1997 by two craft beer enthusiasts with day jobs and a dream, Founders Brewing Co. has made a distinctive mark on the craft beer community by brewing complex, in-your-face ales, with huge aromatics and tons of flavor. Founders is one of the fastest-growing craft breweries in the nation, currently ranking among the top 50 largest craft breweries in the U.S. The brewery has received numerous awards from the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival, and its beers are often rated among the best in the world by RateBeer and BeerAdvocate users. Located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, Founders is a proud member of the Michigan Brewers Guild and the Brewers Association. For more information, visit www.foundersbrewing.com. 

About Ben E. Keith Beverages

Ben E. Keith Company, established in 1906, began selling Anheuser-Busch products in 1933. Today, Ben E. Keith Company’s Beverage division is the third largest independent beer wholesaler in the country. The company also distributes import beers, craft beers, wine products and nonalcoholic beverages. With fourteen Sales & Distribution Centers in Texas including Abilene, Austin, Brownwood, Commerce, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ft. Worth, Houston, Kerrville, Llano, Palestine, San Antonio, and Waco, the company operates throughout the state of Texas. For more information, please visit www.BenEKeith.com/beverage.

Texas Craft Brewing Legislation Being Discussed RIGHT NOW

As I post this, the Texas craft brewing legislation is being discussed right now in the Senate Business & Commerce Committee. (8am, March 5). If you want to watch, go to http://www.senate.state.tx.us/bin/live.php and click on the Business and Commerce channel.

Beer Bills at the Texas Legislature

Hey, remember me? I used to write a beer blog.

And I used to be a reporter for The Austin Chronicle. And 2011 really kicked butt, because I kind of became the go-to guy in Texas for reporting on beer-related legislation, because I was the only beer writer in the state who just happened to also be a Capitol reporter and could live-blog directly from committee meetings in Austin. My blog traffic went nuts every time I broke news on the bills.

That was fun, but I can't be that guy anymore, because now I'm working inside the legislature, rather than reporting on it. And because my boss, state Senator Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, is one of the coauthors of this year's beer legislation.

So I'll just step aside and offer you, without commentary, links to the reporting of others. Here's what happened yesterday: After months of discussions between various stakeholders, bills were filed that would benefit craft brewers in Texas. Here's a sampling of the reporting:

Houston Chronicle

Dallas Observer

KXAN-TV

Brewed and Never Battered (Freetail Brewing)

Austin Chronicle

If you'd like to keep track of these bills yourself (and read the text, and get other details), go to these links and set up e-mail alerts that will notify you whenever the bills advance through the legislative process:

Senate Bill 515

SB 516

SB 517

SB 518

PRESS RELEASE: Austin Beer Guide Winter 2012 Release Party

AUSTIN, TX DECEMBER 20, 2012 - Austin Beer Guide are more than appropriately excited to announce the release of their eighth issue, Winter 2012, AKA the "Business as Usual" issue. 

This bout the boys venture to Colorado to "cover" the Great American Beer Festival and live to tell about it, pick the brain of Real Ale head brewer Erik Ogershok, explore the relatively new winter beer style  "the Beer Jacket", share a pint and conversation with former Uncle Billy's on the Lake brewer Spencer Tielkemeier, and spill the beans on the Best of 2012 Readers' and Editors' picks. 

Yup, business as usual.

And speaking of business, an issue this grand deserves a party of equal grandness. Come join the Austin Beer Guide at Draught House on Thursday, December 20 at 6pm for their Winter Release/Best of 2012 Readers’ Poll Awards/Too Many Beers/Apocalypse Eve/Die Hard/Holiday Party!

The short list: 

• First look at the Winter 2012 Austin Beer Guide 
• Awarding the Best of 2012 Readers’ and Editors’ picks 
• 17 + rare, one-off, hard to get, blah blah blah beers from Austin and beyond 
• Free Foreign & Domestic Bake Sale Fruit Cakes 
• Family Christmas photo booth 
• Draught House’s own DJ JBL 
• Special Seedling truck “End of the World” menu 
• Buy the beer keep the ABG glass 
• ABG Stocking stuffers for the first 100 guests 
• Best Santa/John McClane costume contest 

Go here for more details and see the attached flyer. 

Cheers! 

PRESS RELEASE: Ranger Creek Releases First Beer Aged in Their Own Bourbon Barrels as Small Batch Series No. 4

SAN ANTONIO, TX, December 18, 2012 – As a combined brewery/distillery, Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling can make products that no one else can.  They have just released their most exciting beer to date – the first one to be aged in their own bourbon barrels - and they intend to brag about it pretty loudly.  The beer is the 4^th release in the brewery’s Small Batch series – a line of seasonal, single batch brews designed to be unique, interesting, and often experimental. 

  

Small Batch Series No. 4 is an Imperial Mesquite Smoked Porter aged in Ranger Creek Bourbon Barrels.  The brewery took one of their year-round releases, their Mesquite Smoked Porter, and brewed it to 10% ABV.  It was then aged for 10 months in their own Texas bourbon barrels,

Rob Landerman, head brewer at Ranger Creek, describes Small Batch Series No. 4 as “carrying a sumptuous nose of sweet oak, mesquite smoke, dark chocolate, toasted marshmallow and vanilla, along with flavors of dark bittersweet cocoa laced with sea salt, smoke, vanilla, and caramel.  Its  a warming winter release that is heavenly to sip now, but it will also age and mellow nicely for up to 10 years if stored carefully.”

Beer aged in bourbon barrels is nothing new to the craft industry.  However, Ranger Creek is the first brewery to use their own bourbon barrels instead of purchasing used barrels from a bourbon distillery.  The barrels were first used by the brewstillery to age their Ranger Creek .36 Texas Bourbon, then kept in-house to age their beer.  Small Batch Series No. 4 allows Ranger Creek to focus on their goal of showcasing the relationship between beer and whiskey.  

Small Batch Series No. 4 is available now at fine Texas craft beer retailers in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Dallas/Ft. Worth.  The Small Batch series has received critical acclaim since its release in April.  Small Batch Series No. 2 was recognized by DRAFT Magazine as a top 25 beer of 2012.

What's Brewing in San Antonio

Today's San Antonio Express-News has a good round-up of what's happening and what's about to happen in that city's brewery scene. Give it a read: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Small-breweries-being-crafted-to-quench-beer-4058202.php

Tour de Fat Austin, 2012: October 20

Ft. Collins, CO, September 28, 2012 – Hold on tight, Austin, we’re headed back to finish up another fantastic season in your backyard! New Belgium Brewing’s cycling circus, Tour de Fat, is returning to town for one day on Saturday, October 20 at the West End of Fiesta Garden. Tour de Fat rookies and veterans alike are encouraged to grab a bike and join us for a whimsical day of entertainment and two-wheeled revelry, all while raising money for Austin Cycling Association and Austin Ridge Riders.

For those who haven’t experienced Tour de Fat, it is a thrilling rite of passage that includes an unparalleled costumed bicycle parade, New Belgium beer, eccentric entertainment, local food, unusual bike contests and much more.

The free event, which raises money for local nonprofits through beer and merchandise purchases, has exceeded the $2 million mark for total funds raised since its inception 13 years ago. Last year’s Austin Tour de Fat festival raised nearly $13,400 and had about 2,000 attendees.

The pinnacle of Tour de Fat is the ceremonious car-for-bike swap. In each of the 15 cities, one person will become the center of the show as he or she gets up on stage, hands over their car keys, and pledges to live one year car-free. Tour de Fat is now seeking volunteers in the Austin area to accept the swapper challenge. Each car-for-bike swapper will choose a local bike shop to help turn a $2,250 budget into an ultimate car-replacement commuter bike. Vehicles for Charity will auction the car, with proceeds benefitting local cycling organizations.

To submit a swapper application, go to the New Belgium Tour de Fat Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/TourDeFat), click on events and your city of choice, and upload a video. Applicants may also submit letters about why New Belgium should select them by emailing: trademycarforabike@newbelgium.com.

“As if riding in the most colorful bike parade known to mankind isn’t enough, our entertainment this year will make your heads pop off like dandelions,” said Matt Kowal, Tour De Fat Impresario. “So put together a snazzy costume, hop on your bike and enjoy a day in the park. You won’t be disappointed!”
 

Date:                                               

Saturday, October 20

Parade Registration:                       
9:00 a.m.

Ride Times:                                   
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Entertainment:                        11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Location:                                    
West End of Fiesta Garden

Benefitting:                                    Austin Cycling Association – https://www.austincycling.org

Austin Ridge Riders – http://www.austinridgeriders.com
 

Sustainability Support By:

Ecology Action of Texas – http://www.ecology-action.org

Performances By:

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe – http://karldenson.us

Sean Hayes – http://www.seanhayesmusic.com

Yo-Yo People – http://www.yoyoshow.com

Sssnakenstein – http://www.snakenstein.com 

Price:

Admission – Free

Parade – Suggested donation of $5 or more

Beer – $5 for a 16 oz. pour
In celebration of Austin Craft Beer week, special tappings will also be available for $5 for a 12 oz. pour at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., to highlight New Belgium’s Lips of Faith series. 

A few tidbits about Tour de Fat:

• Start sewing, collecting and dreaming up something to wear as Tour de Fat encourages embracing your inner costume-loving self. Come dressed up to help put on the most colorful, respectful and creative bike parade ever witnessed.

• Tour de Fat seeks to leave as small an environmental imprint as possible and composts and recycles waste. Bring only what you need and watch for proper receptacles. We’ll do the rest! 

• All performers grab your attention from alternatively empowered stages decked out in recycled materials; trucks and transport use biofuel sourced from recycled waste oils; and all vendors operate off the grid.
  
• This is a pro-bike celebration, not an anti-car rally. Non-cyclists are more than welcome to join the festivities.

In 2011, Tour de Fat traveled to 13 cities, attracting a total of 69,550 festival attendees and 41,150 parade cyclists.  It also raised $401,563 and boasted an impressive 90 percent diversion of waste from landfills. 

See https://www.facebook.com/TourDeFat for the Tour de Fat credo, schedules, videos and to submit your entry to swap your gas guzzler for a fancy new bike. 

About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces nine year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Belgo IPA, Sunshine Wheat, Shift Pale Lager, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases.  In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship.  For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.