Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers
05/01/2009
Hopworks Urban Brewery
2944 SE Powell Blvd
Portland
503-232-4677
Noon-9pm
$5

IPA Summit
04/30/10
Roscoes
8105 SE Stark St
inPDX
503-255-0049
IPA’s from Amnesia Brewing Co., Terminal Gravity, Cascade Brewing, Deschutes Brewery, 14 in total served in a 5 oz tasting glass.

Brewers from six continents earned awards from an elite international panel of judges this week in the 2010 Brewers Association World Beer Cup – the world’s largest-ever commercial beer competition. The eighth bi-annual competition announced awards to brewers from 19 countries ranging from Australia and Italy to Iceland and Japan.

This year, 642 breweries from 44 countries and 47 U.S. states vied for awards with 3,330 beers entered in 90 beer style categories. The 2010 World Beer Cup eclipsed the record of the Brewers Association’s own Great American Beer Festival (GABF) to become the largest commercial competition ever. There were 3,308 entries judged in the 2009 GABF, compared to the 2010 World Beer Cup’s 3,330 entries judged. More info here

This year Oregon’s brewers picked up 13+ medals at the 2010 World Beer Cup in Chicago.

21    Smoked Beer Gold  Caldera Rauch Ur Bock    Caldera Brewing Co.
60    Brown Porter  Silver   Caldera Pilot Rock Porter  Caldera Brewing Co.
2     American-Style Wheat Beer  Gold  Shredders Wheat   Barley Brown’s Brew Pub
55    Special Bitter or Best Bitter    Gold    Bachelor Bitter   Deschutes Brewery
67    Strong Ale   Gold    Outback X  Bend Brewing Co.
37    American-Style Dark Lager    Gold  Session Black Full Sail Brewing Co.
21    Smoked Beer Silver Smoke Ale Rogue Ales
57    Scottish-Style Ale  Silver MacPelican’s Scottish Style Ale  Pelican Pub & Brewery
54    Ordinary Bitter  Gold   Drop Top  Widmer Brothers Brewing Co.
56    Extra Special Bitter   Silver  Organic Velvet ESB  Hopworks Urban Brewery
70     Altbier  Bronze ALT  Widmer Brothers Brewing Co.
71    German-Style Sour Ale    Bronze    Gose  Upright Brewing Co.
13    Out of Category-Trad Brewed Silver Hot Rocks Lager  Port Brewing Co.-collaboration beer with Tonya Cornett of Bend Brewing Co.

Contact: Lisa Donoughe (or) Stephanie Selk
Watershed Communications
Lisa@watershedcom.com or Stephanie@watershedcom.com
(503) 827-6564

Oregon Craft Beer Production Tops One Million Barrels
2009 proves to be a year of firsts for Oregon’s brewing industry

PORTLAND, Ore. (April 7, 2010) – Oregon breweries reached a landmark in 2009, producing more than one million barrels, or roughly 260 million pints of beer. According to figures released today by the Oregon Brewers Guild, Oregon’s breweries crafted 1,050,000 barrels of beer, which represents an increase in production of 15.2 percent over 2008.

“The brewing industry is a major contributor to Oregon’s economy and a big supporter of our communities,” said Brian Butenschoen, Executive Director of the Oregon Brewers Guild. “In the last year alone our 74 brewing companies donated product and money equal to more than $1.25 million to local non-profits.”

Last year was a year filled with milestones for the industry – the first time craft beer production topped one million barrels, the first time Oregon’s brewers took home a record 24 medals at the Great American Beer Festival, the first time Oregon became home to more than 100 breweries and the successful launch of the first Zwickelmania brewery open house event. Oregon continues to take a leadership role in the national craft brewing scene as well, ranking within the top five for number of breweries, breweries per capita, total craft beer production and total craft beer consumption.

Oregon beer produced and consumed in state grew 7.8 percent by volume in 2009 to 358,000 barrels, outpacing the national craft beer growth rate of 7.2 percent by volume. Oregon’s breweries made 12.4 percent of the 2.894 million barrels of all beer – both bottled and draft – consumed in the state during 2009. For draft beer, that percentage is even higher, with Oregon breweries producing an estimated 38 percent of all draft beer consumed in the state.

Portland, Oregon currently has 32 breweries within its city limits, more than any other city in the world. The state of Oregon has 74 brewing companies operating 102 brewing facilities. Oregon’s brewing companies employed more than 4,700 people in 2009, with more than 400 people working in beer production. Retail sales of Oregon made beer sold in the state totaled approximately $230 million in 2009.

The Oregon Brewers Guild is Oregon’s non-profit trade association for the state’s independent breweries. The Guild, which receives no state funding, comprises 65 brewing companies, 32 associate or supplier members and more than 2,725 enthusiast members or S.N.O.B.s (Supporters of Native Oregon Beer). For more information, see www.oregonbeer.org.

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Brewers Association Event Takes Place April 7-10 in Chicago
Boulder, CO • April 2, 2010

Congressman Richard Neal (D-Massachusetts) will take the stage with previously confirmed speaker Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) to deliver the keynote address at the Brewers Association’s (BA) Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) in Chicago, Ill. on April 8, 2010.

More than 3,400 of the world’s leading brewers, brewery owners and brewing supply professionals are expected at this year’s CBC. Congressman Neal introduced H.R. 4278 in December 2009, to create a graduated beer excise tax rate for America’s small brewers. Congressman Neal introduced the legislation along with fellow House Ways & Means Committee member Congressman Kevin Brady. The bill would help create jobs for America’s 1,500+ small breweries, which employ nearly 100,000 people in communities throughout the country. Rep. Peter DeFazio is one of the co-sponsors of the bill.

Congressman DeFazio
As a long-time homebrewer and craft beer enthusiast, Congressman DeFazio brings real beer and brewing credentials to the annual gathering of brewers. As a legislator, he also understands the importance of ensuring that the voice of small brewers is heard on Capitol Hill.

This awareness lead Congressman DeFazio to co-found and co-chair the House Small Brewers Caucus in Washington, D.C. Bringing together 67 U.S. Representatives, the Caucus serves to educate Congress about the unique issues and challenges faced by America’s small brewery businesses.

Congressman DeFazio has also championed the cause of small brewers through his early and influential support of H.R. 4278, the graduated excise tax reduction legislation now under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“American small brewers are true craftsmen, producing some of the finest beers in the world. As a homebrewer myself, I have a deep appreciation for the quality of their work. But, perhaps more important than their fine beers, is their place in local communities. These small business men and women create jobs and economic activity, and are an integral part of local community culture. I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak to this growing group of innovative business leaders,” Congressman DeFazio said.

“Congressmen Neal and DeFazio are true advocates for small brewers, and we’re extremely fortunate to have each of them join us in Chicago,” said Charlie Papazian, president of the Brewers Association. “They truly understand the unique issues of our industry, and introducing them to the 3,400+ brewers attending CBC will be a real pleasure.”

Congressman Neal
“I am pleased to be a champion of our nation’s small brewers. As small business owners, they exhibit the important American values of hard work and ingenuity on a daily basis. These entrepreneurs have followed their passion in life to start their own companies despite the many obstacles small brewers face when competing against huge multinational companies. Since many of these success stories come from the New England region, it is one of my priorities to help foster and preserve America’s craft brewing community. I look forward to continuing my work on this issue in a bipartisan manner in the United States Congress,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal, Chairman, Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures.

About the Craft Brewers Conference
The Craft Brewers Conference is known for attracting renowned brewing industry professionals and supporters, such as Congressmen Neal and DeFazio, as keynote speakers. The CBC is the nation’s largest annual gathering of the professional brewing industry. This year’s event takes place April 7-10 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers.

Conference presentations cover more than 30 topics ranging from brewery management and marketing to technical brewing. A complete list of speakers and selected seminar topics is available at CraftBrewersConference.com.

Also at CBC this year is the BA’s World Beer Cup, a biannual international beer competition. Awards for this competition will be presented on Saturday evening, April 10 at the World Beer Cup gala awards ceremony and dinner.

An additional component of the Craft Brewers Conference is BrewExpo America, the nation’s largest trade show for the craft brewing industry, featuring nearly 190 of the top vendors in the industry. Attendees will also enjoy numerous social opportunities to sample the diversity of beers available in the Chicago area.

The Craft Brewers Conference is open to brewing industry professionals only. Learn more about the event at CraftBrewersConference.com.