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Search Results Archives: May 2011

May 28, 2011

New Republic Brewing is Open for Business

by bryancarey — Categories: About Beer, Beer Travel, Breweries — Tags: beer, brewery, college station, craft, texas — No Comments

There is a new brewery in the state of Texas, adding to the growing presence of craft breweries in the Lone Star State.

New Republic Brewing, a small startup craft brewing operation located in College Station, has received its license from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and can now legally produce its malt beverage products. The state of Texas approved New Republic’s application in early May, 2011, making the small brewery the newest in what is shaping up to be a year of consistent craft brewery expansion in the state.

Dean Brundage and John Januskey are the two men behind New Republic Brewing. They bring their knowledge of homebrewing to the company and so far, they have two products in the brewing stages: Bellows American Amber Ale and Skylight German Dunkleweiss. They plan to keg their beer and sell it to local establishments in College Station and nearby Bryan. These cities are close to the Houston metropolitan area so, in due time, it is highly probable that New Republic Brewing will sell its products in the Bayou city.

New Republic Brewing hasn’t opened for tours yet, but it plans to do so this summer. The brewery’s two founders are ambitious and are fully aware of the marketing and PR potential of tours. They plan to begin tours shortly, as soon as everything is ready.

New Republic Brewing is still young, but its aggressive approach and tasty products are bound to make a splash in the College Station area. Craft brewing in Texas is still a little behind where one would expect considering the size and population of the state. But Texas is slowly catching up and New Republic Brewing is certainly a sign of more great things to come.

May 16, 2011

American Craft Beer Week: A Time to Celebrate

by bryancarey — Categories: Beer Media, Breweries, Brewpubs, Microbrews — Tags: beer, celebration, craft, week — 1 Comment

American Craft Beer Week

A celebration of all things malty begins today.

Industries have their ups and downs, but there are some that have been on the upswing for a long time and one of them is the American craft brewing industry. Since its renaissance in the early 1980’s, craft breweries and brewpubs have exploded in number and now total more thn 1,700 nationwide. The growing popularity of craft beer has prompted the creation of a new excuse to celebrate: American Craft Beer Week, a celebration that is now six years old.

What can you expect?:

American Craft Beer Week runs from May 16 through May 22 in 2011 and because it is intended as a celebration of craft beer, hundreds of craft breweries will be hosting special events, offering special promotions, and hosting additional tours. Breweries, however, are not the only places involved. Local beer bars and restuarants are also in on the action, with a good percentage of them promoting different brands of craft beer during this important week.

How Widespread is the Celebration?:

According to official sources, the 2011 American Craft Beer Week is going to be the most successful to date. There is an official celebration in every one of the fifty U.S. states, marking the first time that every part of the country is promoting American Craft Beer Week or celebrating craft beer in some way. American Craft Beer Week even has a special page on Facebook with more than 30,000 thirsty fans.

Where can I go to learn more?:

Check the web page of your local breweries, brewpubs, and beer bars for American Craft Beer Week festivities. Another good resource is the web site craftbeer.com. It contains background information on American Craft Beer Week along with news and links to celebrations. You may also like to visit the Brewers Association, which is the group responsible for creating the concept of American Craft Beer Week in 2005.

American Craft Beer Week is now officially recognized by the U.S. Congress. With an endorsement at such a high level of governance, doesn’t it make sense to follow the law and toast your favorite craft beer? There will be plenty of opportunities this week at breweries and beer bars everywhere, so make sure to set aside time to pay homage to your favorite malt beverage and the individuals who have helped the craft brewing industry become what it is today.

May 5, 2011

Texas Beer Festival coming soon to the Houston area

by bryancarey — Categories: Beer Travel, Festivals — Tags: beer, craft, festival, houston, microbrew — No Comments

Everything is bigger in Texas, or so the saying goes. Texas is not only geographically large, it also has a reputation for size and excess in several areas and Texas natives speak of the state’s “big” legacy with a sense of pride and independence.

There is one area where Texas lags and that happens to be craft beer. The Lone Star state is making steady progress, however, and a sure sign of this is the first annual Texas Beer Festival. Here are the facts:

Who: Craft Brewing Revolutionary Guard, LLC

What: The Texas Beer Festival

Where: Humble Convention Center Area, Humble Texas

When: Saturday, May 7, from 1pm to 10pm

Why: To celebrate the Texas craft beer industry

Since the Texas Beer Festival is a celebration of Texas craft beers, thirsty patrons can expect to see many Texas breweries in attendance. Austin’s Jester King, Independence Brewing, 512 Brewing, Thirsty Planet, and Circle Brewing will be there, as will Texas favorites such as Shiner, Real Ale, Rahr & Sons, and New Republic. The Houston area will be represented by St. Arnold Brewery, No Label Brewing, Southern Star, and Kreuz Creek.

Craft beer enthusiasts like to broaden their horizons and for that reason, festival guests can expect craft beer from breweries outside of Texas as well. Old favorites such as Sierra Nevada, Stone Brewing, Leinenkugel, Kona Brewing, Victory Brewing, Boston Beer, and other U.S. craft brewing operations will peddle their suds. And there will even be some foreign brew to sample and enjoy, including beer from Guinness, Fuller, Newcastle, Harp, Paulaner, Smithwicks, and many more.

Admission to this event is $34, if purchased in advance, or $40 at the door. Admission includes 12 tickets for 2 oz. beer samples. This isn’t much, but never fear: Guests can purchase more tickets for additional samples at the event. Each additional ticket (which is also good for food or other beverages) is only $1.00.

The Humble convention center is located close to Houston’s Bush Airport and there are plenty of hotels and other accomodations in the area. Tickets still remain, but don’t wait until the last minute- logon to the Texas Beer Festival web site and purchase/print your tickets today.