Here’s a fun video that Allagash Brewing created for their 20th anniversary. It features Rob Tod and the history of the brewery, and is a great look back at their two decades making great beer.
Patent No. 1280280A: Art Of Brewing Beer
Today in 1918, US Patent 1280280 A was issued, an invention of Leopold Nathan, for his “Art of Brewing Beer.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
This invention relates to an improved process for preparing beer and has for one of its objects the preparation of a beer which is substantially free from free oxygen or air.
Beer In Ads #1694: Pabst Checkers
Wednesday’s ad is for Pabst Blue Ribbon, from 1952. Part of Pabst’s long-running “What’ll You Have” series with the tagline spelled out on a checkers board. But at the bottom there’s a more interesting tagline. “Satisfy Your Thirst For Better Beer!”
Patent No. 3908871A: Keg Closure And Coupler Assembly
Today in 1975, US Patent 3908871 A was issued, an invention of Antonin Gottwald, for his “Keg Closure and Coupler Assembly.” Here’s the Abstract:
The assembly includes a keg connector body having first and second passages communicating with the interior of the keg and a dispensing line connector body having first and second passages communicating with a dispensing line and a source of compressed gas. Lower and upper separable plates having registering bores are disposed between the two bodies. Relative movement between the plates and the bodies enables closing off of both the interior of the keg and the dispensing line and source of compressed gas, the plates then being separable with the respective closures still in effect.
Asahi Buys Mountain Goat
So larger breweries buying smaller ones is not confined to the U.S., or even the Western Hemisphere. Australia’s Mountain Goat Beer announced on “Monday that Asahi Holdings (Australia) had taken a 100 per cent ownership stake in the company.” Co-founders Dave Bonighton and Cam Hines will be staying on although an Asahi employee, Matt Grix, has been “named as the new Mountain Goat general manager,” but they also added that “Mountain Goat will continue to operate as a stand-alone business.”
I first met Dave Bonighton either judging in Japan or in the U.S. at the World Beer Cup, although we also judged together in Australia last year at the AIBA. Dave’s a great guy and his beers are some of the best I’ve had from Australia.
The Australian magazine Beer & Brewer has the full story.
Mountain Goat co-founder and brewmaster Dave Bonighton.
World Beer Market: Opportunities & Forecasts 2014 – 2020
Allied Market Research, an international research company with seven offices around the world, has started selling their latest report, the World Beer Market – Opportunities and Forecasts, 2014 – 2020. If you want to buy the report it will set you back anywhere from $4,515 to $10,680, for a global user. While here at the Bulletin we’re not sufficiently well-heeled to buy our own copy, there is some information revealed to entice potential buyers on the report’s website.
For example, this chart gives several data points from the report.
And here’s the “Report Overview:”
Beer is a yeast – fermented alcoholic drink prepared from malt, and flavored by adding hops. Popular in Neolithic Europe, its production dates backs to as far as 2050 BC. By, 7th century AD the alcoholic drink was being produced and marketed by several monasteries in Europe. This drink is majorly brewed from ingredients such as yeast, water, hops and malted barley, although many fermentable carbohydrate sources or natural additives may be included. Likewise, fermentable carbohydrates like wheat, rice and maize are added to produce different styles as well as flavors. Beer style categorizes this alcoholic beverage by factors including flavor, production technique, ingredients, color, and origin etc., of which ale and lager are the two commercially popular types. Ales use top fermenting yeast at a room temperature, on the contrary lagers are made with bottom – fermenting yeast below 10 Celsius. The global beer market is expected to generate about $688.4 billion in sales by 2020. Besides this, the aforementioned industry is likely to register a CAGR of 6 percent during the forecast period 2015 to 2020. A significant increase in the consumption volume is believed to fuel the market growth in developing regions.
Worldwide, sales is following an upward trend. Many brands are now experiencing tremendous success due to a sudden rise in the disposable income and changing lifestyle. Exploiting a niche segment, matured markets are also witnessing a dramatic shift in the high calorie beer market and have developed a taste for low –calorie brew. Likewise, continuous popularity of craft brew has paved a path for a new generation of producers. It is phenomenon, that right from their debut to their annual sales the strong and light brews occupy majority of the market share in the beer industry. Alternatives to glass such as PET, makers are using durable yet ductile, affordable and sustainable packaging solutions like cans or draught. Consumption statistics also disclose a rapid growth in the number of female drinkers.
Beer Market Analysis by Type
World’s largest brands have uncorked and positioned their wide portfolio of strong and light brew in the domestic and international market, which now occupies a major chunk of the total business. The market for strong brew is expected to garner about $464 billion in sales by 2020. Besides this, the strong industry is likely to register a CAGR of 6.5 percent during the period 2015 to 2020. Many developed countries have been biased to stronger brew, a liking that has become highly accentuated with the brand image associated with such drinks. In the West, taste and refinement are the prime factors for drinkers. Thus many prefer strong brews due to their high alcoholic content. In close completion are the light brews that have low calorie count and other nutritional contents. Light brew have exploited the desire of the health conscious drinkers to stay healthy.
Beer Industry Market Analysis by Production
Breweries are categorized into macro-breweries and micro-breweries based on the production volume or size. Officially the war between them is on, with craft brew companies increasing their production capability. Macro breweries are offering quality and quantity across greater distances. At the same time microbreweries are benefitting too. Likewise, emergence of breweries in less saturated locales worldwide too is a welcome news. Recent changes in drinking preferences have considerably increased the demand for micro-breweries, which is anticipated to register a CAGR of 9.3 percent during the period of 2015 to 2020. Larger number of discerning consumers are shifting to locally produced drinks, enabling the ale industry to revive. So, with varieties of flavor as well as alcohol content, microbreweries are increasing today because distributors spotted a huge demand and took risk on imports of major microbrew brands.
Industry by Category
Better sales of even the more expensive premium, super premium and draught have shrugged off all doubts about the dip in the consumption volume. Consumers today are increasingly desirous to experiment with locally produced premium and international varieties. Many brewers now recognize that the premium brews industry would stay the most attractive new segment. Some brewers have just hyped their portfolio as premium in many countries because they are international. Producers are putting greater focus on how they should brand these premium labels. Premunization, is significant and an innovation, that aims at targeting the high–spending customers including highly trendy brews for tier -1 mavericks. The premium industry is anticipated to register a CAGR of 6.4 percent during the period of 2015 to 2020, when compared to the super premium and normal brew segment. Besides this, the super-premium brews are observing a rapid growth in the business and would grow three folds. Few major consumer behavior pattern have also given the super-premium sales a push. The grocery outlets today make up a major part of alcohol sales in terms of value. This presents a greater opportunity for the super – premium brews to grow via channel expansion. Moreover, the normal brews occupy a largest division of about 43 percent of the total industry.
Industry by Packaging
The packaging plays a vital role when it comes to influencing the customer buying pattern. Available in bottles, cans or draught these drinks are delivered with care and consideration. In line with the growing sales of brews like ales, new and flavored drinks in bottles are making waves. However with acceleration, canned brew are giving an intense competition to their bottled and draught peers. Likewise, cans are becoming more and more famous and idiosyncrasy in it contributes to the shift in the buying pattern or attitude. There is a rising demand for canned that can be easily stored as well as transported. Further, what makes canned the first choice is the fact that it protect the content from external heat. Alongside this, range of already –established draught brews are continuing to expand in the competitive business environment.
Industry by Geography
Over the 300 years that ale existed in North America, customer demands has constantly pushed the segment forward with rapid and steady growth. Next, introduction to the craft brewing technique created immense opportunity and a greater population responded to it with further support. Similarly, Europe also has an emerging market for hop lovers. Region’s relaxed brewing mandates have stabilized the consumption volume, which fell significantly in the past two years. Emerging economies are also becoming significantly important to the major international brands, as sales in some matured region still lags. Increased sales in Latin America and Asia has empowered producers to economize out complete sales growth. The Asia – Pacific market is expected to garner about $202.4 billion in sales by 2020. Besides this, the market is expected to register a CAGR of 7.3 percent during the period 2015 – 2020.
Beer Industry Competitive Analysis
To acquire a major chunk of the market, brew producers are seen expanding their distribution channels even for their less popular breeds. Merger and acquisition, rumors have hovered over the brew sector for years, with many domestic and international brewers considering tie – up at some point, inescapable. Likewise, multinational producers continue to make huge investments to grow their reach and trump up collaboration with domestic operators, to help consumers keen in exploring the local and international varieties buy them. To tap demand for expensive brews, a product segment where companies have more rivals brands decide to compete directly and launch new products.
And here’s a short “Analyst’s Review:”
The Global Beer Market would witness a steady growth in the coming years. Europe accounts for the highest revenue generating region in the global beer market followed by Asia-Pacific and North America. The growth in the North American and European region would be at a moderate pace in the future due to increasing health consciousness and legal regulations in the region. However, there has been a significant increase in the demand of beer in the developing countries of Asia-Pacific region. International brewing companies like SABMiller, Heineken have introduced especially brewed beer for the Asian market catering to the distinct taste buds of the consumers. The global beer market is primarily driven by the increasing disposable incomes and changing lifestyles. The growing adoption of craft beer and the rising number of restaurants and bars would further accelerate the growth of the beer market.
Conventionally, the male population has been the major consumer segment. However, with evolving cultural changes and modernization, there has been a significant rise in the count of females drinking beer. Women in the age group of 21 to 30 consume more beer than other age groups. Women generally prefer light beer with low alcohol content. Many vendors in the market are focusing on drinks especially made for women to increase their customer base and serve a wider audience. There has also been a rise in the adoption of craft beer as consumers want to explore different beer flavors. Craft beers include traditional brewing methods with exotic ingredients which add distinct flavor to the beer. Craft beer is widely adopted in the European and North American countries while Asian countries are still in the growing phase. Growing health consciousness, heavy taxation, and legal regulation limit the growth of the market. Stiff competition from substitutes including wine and other spirits also restrict its adoption.
You can buy the full report https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/beer-markethere, and if you want to share it with me, I wouldn’t say no.
Patent No. 2428321A: Hop Picking Fingers
Today in 1947, US Patent 2428321 A was issued, an invention of Freddie Morford and Wilfred E. Rivard, for their “Hop Picking Fingers.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
In hop-picking machines, as presently used, there are approximately twenty thousand fingers per machine and it is necessary after each day-of-operation to check each of the fingers, many of which invariably require straightening. During the straightening operation, some of the fingers break, due principally to crystallization, and must be replaced. The maintenance and replacement of the fingers is costly and in addition, each finger bent during operation, decreases the operating efficiency of the machine. After much experimentation, we have found that the device of the present invention corrects these shortcomings with the. result that the original operating efficiency of the fingers, and their appurtenances, is retained throughout the entire hop picking season.
It is therefore within the contemplation of this invention to provide hop picking fingers which are not subject to distortion when normally used, yet are inherently resilient to yield, under load, Within predetermined limits.
It is further within the objects of the invention to employ fingers which will be unaffected by crystallization; to reinforce each finger at its locus of stress; to provide a finger which may be flexed to any degree within maximum demands even under extraordinary working conditions; to provide a finger in which the yieldable reinforced portions are coaxial with the fingers to retard crystallization of the fingers and effect instant return of the fingers to their normal position upon release of load stress; and to provide fingers which may be used with standard hop-picking machines without appreciable increase in cost.
It is also an object of this invention, not only to provide a hop picking finger which includes a pair of springs arranged in a particular manner, but likewise to interengage the fingers preparatory to securing the latter to the finger bar for uniform distribution of stress.
Beer In Ads #1693: Famous Signals Of The Royal Canadian Navy
Tuesday’s ad is for John Labatt Limited, from 1943. Apparently part of a wartime series, as this first one is marked “Famous Signals of the Royal Canadian Navy, No. 1.” Labatt directed a lot of its advertising during World War II toward extolling the virtues of the Canadian army and navy, and in this one they even promote “the Overseas League Tobacco Fund” to ensure soldiers won’t run out of cigarettes.
Patent No. 2906435A: Air Pressure Actuated Beer Dispenser And Coil Cleaner
Today in 1959, US Patent 2906435 A was issued, an invention of Frank Nichols, for his “Air Pressure Actuated Beer Dispenser and Coil Cleaner.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
This invention relates to beer dispensing apparatus in which beer is on tap continuously, and in particular, beer dispensing apparatus where beer is supplied from kegs or other containers to cooling coils and taps by filtered air under pressure continuously and in which the coils are cleaned by a detergent suspended in water and wherein the moisture is removed by air under pressure.
The purpose of this invention is to provide beer dispensing apparatus in which all foreign tastes or flavors due to leakage of oil, gases, and the like into the system are eliminated.
Dogfish Head Sells 15% Stake To Private Equity
I saw Sam only briefly at GABF last week, not long enough to have a conversation. He was finishing a panel talk on pilsners with Matt Brynildson and Vinnie Cilurzo, and I had the stage next, to announce the North Amercian Guild of Beer Writers awards. We shook hands, and hugged, and he was off to the next event. I wish I’d had more time, because he obviously had some news. Dogfish Head announced this morning that LNK Partners, a private equity firm based in New York, has bought a 15% stake in the craft brewery, and will also hold one of the five voting seats on Dogfish Head’s board.
In the Beer Street Journal, Sam told his employees and co-workers the news.
Today, I am excited to announce that Mariah and I added a new asset as external support to Dogfish Head – LNK Partners. You are likely thinking, who or what is that? Well, they are an incredibly smart and experienced group of people who have worked with companies of all sizes and styles like Levi’s, Performance Bicycle, Gatorade and Calvin Klein to help those guys achieve their goals in their respective industries. LNK is making an investment to own 15% percent of our company…
He also said he plans to eventually repurchase the shares from their private equity partner, but the cash infusion was necessary at this time to allow for Dogfish Head to continue on its growth path. They also recently finished a $50 million expansion, which was almost entirely financed with bank debt.
Brewbound has further details on the announcement.
Sam, Emily Sauter (from Two Roads Brewing) and me at Belmont Station during the Oregon Brewers Festival in Portland earlier this year.