Hunterdon Brewing visits Terrapin

Check it out. Our awesome NJ distributor came by for a visit of the brewery last month. Check out the story and pics here:

http://www.hunterdonbrewing.com/terrapin-brewery-trip-athens-georgia/

No one was arrested so it was a pretty laid back trip by NJ standards. Still, everyone had a great time.

Have you been to visit Terrapin and Athens, GA yet? If not, please put it on your to-do list. We love to show guests around the brewery, listen to some great live music and of course, sample our wares. The next move is yours!

Cheers,

John

Wanna’ fill a growler at a brewery in GA?

The Georgia Craft Brewer’s Guild just announced HB 314 has been introduced into the Georgia General Assembly. The intent of this bill is to allow an extremely limited exception to the three tier system by allowing Georgia craft breweries to sell no more than 288 ounces of beer per person per day for off-premise consumption. This is affectionately becoming known as the “fill the growler” bill.

Before getting into why passage of this bill is important for all citizens of Georgia, one thing needs to be made perfectly clear. Terrapin, and the other breweries in GA, are all supporters of the current three-tier system of alcohol distribution. There is no doubt that without our distributors as our business partners, Terrapin would be nowhere as successful as we are today. We are in no way trying to change or disrupt the current three-tier system in Georgia. In fact, if this HB314 were to pass, 99% of all beer sold in GA would continue to go through the beer distribution network.

However, the current restriction on brewery sales for off-premise consumption is putting Georgia at a huge disadvantage. To the best of my knowledge states that currently allow some form of off-premise sales at breweries include: Alaska, Arizona Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Washington DC.

Do these states know something that we do not? Apparently so. What they understand is this issue, first and foremost, is one of jobs and tax revenues.

In the last two years it was announced that Sierra Nevada (CA), New Belgium (CO) and Oskar Blues (CO) are all building second breweries in or around Asheville, NC. These three breweries alone are estimated to spend almost $300 million on construction and add 269 jobs to the local economy. Just imagine the increased state income tax, sales and use tax, property tax, etc. that Asheville and North Carolina will be collecting from these operations. Millions and millions of dollars just up the road from Georgia. Could those hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars have been brought to Georgia instead?

Two of these three companies at least looked at Georgia when deciding on a new location. If HB 314 had been passed at the time, would it have caused them to locate here? Maybe, maybe not. But there is no doubt that Georgia’s refusal to join the rest of the country in allowing off-premise retail sales at breweries was definitely part of their reasoning for locating elsewhere.

Do you want to see Georgia breweries have events like Dark Lord Day at Three Floyds or Hunahpa Day at Cigar City, where special release beers are available at the brewery? If so, then please call and email your local GA State House Representative and tell them you are in favor of HB 314, the “fill this growler” bill. You can find info on who to contact here.

This last step is vital. In fact, it is so important I am going to make sure no one missed this link.

http://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/HouseMembersList.aspx

An anonynous  member of the House Regulated Industries Committee (the group that must move HB314 from committee so it can be voted on) has stated that they have heard from several opponents to this bill but have yet to hear from a single supporter. The time is now to make your voice heard. This can only happen if you get involved.

http://www.house.ga.gov/COMMITTEES/en-US/committee.aspx?Committee=116&Session=23

**LESS THAN A WEEK IS LEFT BEFORE HB314 IS DEAD FOR THIS SESSION. PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW!**

Thank you for your support.

Who am I?

Anytime I strike up a conversation with someone new, they always get around to asking me, “What is your favorite beer?” Sometimes they want to know my favorite Terrapin brew. Other times they are asking what other beers I drink besides Terrapin.

Typically, my stock answer to this question is, “I love the Terrapin Hopzilla Double IPA.” Or instead, I’ll talk about the last craft brew I had, whether it was one of the larger ones  like Lagunitas, Sierra Nevada, or Bell’s, or one of the many new ones opening that I’m experiencing for the first time.

Lately though, I’ve realized these people are asking much  more than what beer I like. They are trying to understand me as a person. They are actually asking who I am.

Sound silly? Think about this. Beer is a social beverage. To me it is exactly like music. Beer can speak to me in a way that other beverages can’t. If I tell you I have a soft spot in my heart for the Alaskan Amber, it’s because I remember the first time I ordered it. I was sitting with my new bride in 1993 in a Red Robin in Seattle on Puget Sound watching sea lions play in the water. I will always be partial to a Victory Prima Pils because it reminds me of my business partner Spike, and his love for great lagers.

I don’t remember my first orange juice, milk, or soda. But I do remember my first beer. 4^th grade. And no, I didn’t really like it. I recall my first Mickey’s at 17 when we did Mickey’s night at my fraternity house in college. I remember the first Guiness that I had the honor of chugging as pledge class president. (And yes, it was really, really warm. Afterwards I was held upside down over a trashcan. But that’s another story for another day.)

I could go on and on. The point is that beer is a social beverage. People relate to a beer because of an experience they have with that particular brew. Maybe it was a time you spent with someone special or your best friends. Maybe it is what you were drinking at the big game. Whatever it is, you never forget it.

That is why I am in the beer business. Not just because I love beer, which I really do. It’s also because of the people I meet and the good times Terrapin has a hand in providing for everyone. So to everyone I’ve chatted with over a beer in the past, and to all those with whom I will have the pleasure of sharing a beer someday in the future – THANK YOU! You are the reason I do what I do.

What is your most fond memory that includes beer? I’d love to hear about it.

Beer and Music

I had to laugh when I read the comment from Rod Herstich on my previous blog – Craft vs Crafty. He wrote, “Why can’t we all just get along?” Ironically, the day before his comment, I had started writing a new blog and it began like this - With my last blog on Craft vs Crafty, I felt like the Rodney King of brewers. “Can’t we all just get along?!?” (Way to read my mind, Rod!)

Seriously, I am a huge supporter of the Brewer’s Association (BA). They, along with their predecessor, the Association of Brewers (AOB), have always worked hard to educate the public about craft beer. With BA events like the Great American Beer Festival, the World Beer Cup, the Craft Brewers Conference, and SAVOR, and the many opportunities the BA provides their members to attend events put on by other organizations such as the NBWA or the Nightclub and Bar Tradeshow, the BA has played a pivotal role in the growth of craft beer.

So to Charlie, Bob, Paul, Julia and everyone else at the Brewer’s Association, I say, “Great job! Terrapin, and many other breweries would not be where we are today, without your help. Thank you.”

Like “The Hobbit”, I’ll finish the rest of this blog after the holidays. But in the meantime I’m thrilled to share this link:

Lazy Susan – Steal My Joy

Lazy Susan was a band that I absolutely loved when I lived in Seattle back in 1993. I used to sell  life insurance, mutual funds, 401k’s and other boring adult things, with the brother of Tim DiJulio, who played guitar with Lazy Susan. I thought the female lead singer had a great voice (and was smokin’ hot), so I saw them whenever I could. After not hearing this for 20 years, the music still rocks.

What is the relevance of Lazy Susan to craft beer? Nothing really, except this was the music I was listening to in 1993 in Seattle when I first learned about craft beer through pioneers such as Widmer and Redhook. Ironic, huh?

What band or song reminds you of your first craft beer experience? Post a reply with a link so we can all check it out.

Cheers, John

Craft vs. Crafty?

If you’ve been paying any attention to the world of “craft” beer the last few days, you’ve seen the Brewer’s Association’s latest message regarding “real” craft beer vs. “faux” craft beer. According to the BA, a “true” craft brewer produces less than 6 million barrels per year, uses “traditional” ingredients, and is less than 25% owned by a non craft brewer (i.e. anyone that produces more than 6 million barrels or whose flagship uses “non-traditional” ingredients).

Theoretically, these three criteria are all OK. Especially when one considers them as what they really are. They are an attempt by a trade organization, the Brewer’s Association, to define their clientele. Taken in that light, no big deal. The BA is trying to organize the chaotic beer world in a way that allows them to draw a line and say, “These are the companies that are part of our organization. These are the breweries who we, as a trade organization, represent.”

So far, so good. This rough division has been the status-quo (with some occasional, random grumbling) for the past few years. Everyone knew where they fit into the BA definition and they dealt with it as a minor annoyance.

But now the BA is trying to reserve the term “craft beer” to only their members. The BA is  saying, ”We have defined our constituents; we know exactly who we represent. By the way Mr. Consumer, here is a list of breweries that we have decided can not be members of the BA. These non members are “faux” craft brewers. Don’t support them; they are not “true” craft brewers.” In my opinion, this was a huge mistake.

Full disclosure times two: 1) I sit on the Public Relations Committee of the BA. I occasionally talk to some of the people who were involved in defining craft beer to exclude all the breweries on the above chart, and 2) Tenth & Blake/ MillerCoors has a minority stake (below 25%) in Terrapin. I also occasionally talk to some of the people who will argue they are very much craft despite getting their paycheck from a large brewer.

The inner workings of the beer world are very confusing to outsiders. And truthfully, to many insiders as well. And it’s only going to get more confusing. ABI and MillerCoors WILL purchase/partner with more small breweries. Larger regional breweries such as Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, Deschutes, etc, WILL purchase/partner with more small breweries. Several large private equity firms WILL purchase/partner with more small breweries. This trend is just getting started and the list of “faux” craft breweries will continue to grow.

(My hope is the list will eventually become meaningless and the conversation will instead focus on the quality of the beer. Because truthfully, some of the people on the above list make great beers, and some, not so much.)

How can it be anything other than confusing with these examples?

ABI now owns Goose Island. Yes, they have shifted their flagship to the large ABI breweries. But many of their specialty beers are still made at the same Goose Island brewery by the same brewers who worked there when it was craft. Now it’s not craft.  Does this make sense to you?

Here is an article that discusses AC Golden Brewing.  I personally have been to AC Golden and tasted their crazy, barrel-aged beers. I’ve seen their brewhouse which is 1/4 or less of the size of most regional breweries such as Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, Sweetwater, etc. I’ve seen their bottling line which is smaller than the lines being used by Left Hand, Flying Dog, Stone, etc. But they are not craft. Does this make sense to you?

Here is a response to the BA press release from August Schell Brewing.  ”As a 152-year-old brewery, and the second oldest family-owned brewery in America,” the BA has stated that they are not “traditional” and therefore not craft. Does this make sense to you?

Blue Moon was originally brewed in Sandlot Brewery at Coors Field. They are known throughout the industry for being more experimental, and definitely smaller, than most small breweries in the US. But they are not craft. Does this make sense to you? (Here is a response to the BA from Tenth & Blake.)

Sam Adams for many years was contract brewed at Miller Brewing.  Many contract craft breweries are being made now at City Brewing, Lion or even August Schell. They are craft even though they are being produced on the same equipment and by the same brewers that are not craft? Does this make sense to you?

So, how do you keep it straight?  That decision is ultimately up to each of you. You have to decide – is it about the beer? Do you purchase and support the beers that you enjoy, or do you potentially ignore great beers from the “non craft” brewers and support potentially mediocre beers just because they are made by the local “craft” brewer?

Me? I’m doing both.

Sunshine Challenge

Hey there; guest poster here!

A few weeks ago, John and Spike spent a few days in sunny Florida as the Special Guest Brewers of Honor for the 22nd annual Sunshine Challenge 2012. Sunshine Challenge is a two-day homebrew festival and competition organized by the Central Florida Home Brewers. As the Guest Brewers of Honor, John and Spike not only got to enjoy the festival but got to lead a seminar for the homebrewers in attendance. As part of their talk, they reminisced on their days as homebrewers before running a production brewery was even an idea.

And look how far they’ve come! Now John and Spike are at the helm here at Terrapin Beer Co., recognized as a regional craft brewery, and they’re working hard to produce enough of our beers to supply a nine-state distribution network (Note: 18K BBLs aren’t enough! Que our current production expansion project). Yes, the batches they work with now are measured in barrels and not gallons, but they remember their days of stock pots and gas burners. They got their start in homebrewing, just as many other commercial brewers found their life’s passion. And while they’ve loved the ride, I’m sure that, every now and then, they long for those days past of the carefree homebrew day and the pleasure of making beer for no other reason but to enjoy with friends.

Terrapin gets tons of requests for our beer recipes, scaled down to homebrew volumes. John wanted to provide recipes to the attendees of Sunshine Challenge. But wait a minute… if everyone started making exact clones of our beers, who would need us anymore?!? So, we compromised and provided a full list of ingredients, along with some key values, for those interested in trying their hand at brewing a Terrapin creation. And for those not at Sunshine Challenge, we’ve uploaded what John and Spike handed out in Word document form. Click this Brew Like Spike! link to download! 

Guidance counselors everywhere encourage people to make their career out of something they love. John and Spike are some of the lucky ones that have been able to do just that. But no matter how much Terrapin grows, how big we get or how far we go, John and Spike will always know where they came from and where they got started. Cheers to all who continue the homebrewing tradition!

Giving Thanks

At this time of year, I can’t help but to look inward and reflect. I am most thankful for my family and friends, whose support has allowed me to be involved in an industry I love for the past 17+ years. Yes, that industry is the craft beer industry, and yes it really has been 17+ years. (Talk about getting old!)

I am thankful for all the people involved in Terrapin Beer Company, both here today and those from the past. Yes, we have really great employees. But this also applies to our suppliers, distributors, retailers, and customers; so many amazing people I have met at one time or another. If it were not for each and every one of you, Terrapin would not be where we are today.

I am thankful for everyone else involved in the craft beer industry. A rising tide really does lift all boats. Other local breweries are not our competition. There are now over 2,100 breweries in the US and we only account for 6-7% of the beer being sold. We are working together to promote better beer. And it is working! To those of you who have plans to open a brewery in Athens or elsewhere in Georgia: GO FOR IT! I am here to help if you need it; don’t be afraid to call and ask for advice.

Last, but by no means least, I am thankful for the people of Athens who have stood by Spike and I as we have built this crazy dream of ours into something starting to resemble a real business. There have been some crazy twists along the way, and I’m sure there will be more in the future. Even now, after all these years, we are still learning as we go. Athens, we could not have done it without you. Thank you for everything.

Cheers,
John