In this new feature, we’ll look at the news that broke in the world of craft beer during the week. Highlights this week include the economic impact of craft beer and a new option for stranded travelers.
Colorado: Deep impact
A recently released study undertaken by the University of Colorado-Boulder Leeds School of Business at the behest of the Colorado Brewers Guild outlined the astonishing $1.7 billion economic impact the Colorado craft beer industry has had on the state. Colorado is currently home to more than 350 breweries and accounts for 7,776 jobs and industry sales totaling $882 million.
Minneapolis-St. Paul: Cleared for brewing
The Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is one of the busiest hubs in the country, creating an abundance of thirsty travelers. Stone Arch, a new craft beer bar inside the airport, is asking the public to help select five Minnesota breweries they’d like to see brew a collaborative beer for the grand opening. The ballot includes 56 Brewing, Bent Paddle Brewing Co., Dangerous Man Brewing Co., Indeed Brewing Co., Insight Brewing, Lake Monster Brewing, Modist Brewing Co., South Fork Brewing Co., Tin Whiskers Brewing Co. and Voyageur Brewing Co.
Cincinnati: Zicke zacke, Zincinnati
The awesomely named Oktoberfest Zinzinnati announced that it has added a new beer garden for this year’s festivities. The Zininnati Bier Garten will be serving beers from local breweries such as Braxton Brewing Co., MadTree Brewing, Rhinegeist and Rivertown Brewery. Also, patrons will have the opportunity to vote on three new, exclusive beers from Sam Adams. The winning beer will be released for a limited time in the Cincinnati area as “513 Beer.”
Wall Street: Money talks
The Motley Fool reported that shares of the Craft Brew Alliance Inc. (CBA) – owners of Redhook Ale Brewery, Widmer Brothers Brewery and Kona Brewing Co., among others – saw a 69.1% increase last month. The added value is the result of a deal struck between the CBA and Anheuser-Busch (A-B) that will strengthen the former’s portfolio and “provide additional support and committed resources to accelerate CBA’s growth strategy,” according to an A-B press release.
National: Your kitchen as brewery
PicoBrew has introduced a new homebrewing technology that makes brewing almost as simple as making K-Cup coffee. The Pico is the heir apparent to the original Zymatic and allows you to brew five liters of beer in two hours on your kitchen countertop. You will still have to wait for the beer to come to maturity. But, even that process has been expedited. The BrewMarketplace offers recipe kits from the likes of Abita Brewing, Bayou Teche Brewing, Comrade Brewing Co., Elysian and a slew of others. You can currently pre-order a Pico system for $799.