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By Scottie, February 16, 2010 10:41 pm

BrewDog's James and Martin with a couple bottles of Sink the Bismark

James Watt and Martin Dickie, those innovative and competitive Scots from BrewDog Brewery, have created the world’s strongest beer….again; but when is a beer no longer a beer? At 41% ABV, many question whether BrewDog’s latest high alcohol concoction should even be considered a beer at all.

Last year, BrewDog unveiled the Tactical Nuclear Penguin, a 32% ABV (alcohol by volume) brew that broke the record for the world’s strongest beer ever brewed by humans…or penguins for that matter. Recently, Kleinbrauerei Schorschbräu, from Germany, one upped the Scots with their ridiculously strong Schorschbock, a behemoth of an Eisbock with 40% ABV.

Not to be outdone, Martin and James have waged war on the Germans and their new weapon is Sink the Bismark. Sink the Bismarck is a quadruple IPA that is frozen four times to drive the alcohol content to an astounding 41% ABV (not that the previous record holder’s ABVs weren’t astounding).

So what is this new ABV champion all about? Here is how BrewDog describes their new beer:

This is IPA amplified, the most evocative style of the craft beer resistance with the volume cranked off the scale. Kettle-hopped, dry-hopped then freeze-hopped for a deep fruit, resinous and spicy aroma. A full-out attack on your taste-buds ensues as the incredibly smooth liquid delivers a crescendo of malt, sweet honey, hop oils and a torpedo of hop bitterness which seems to last forever.

How much alcohol is too much? Have the Scottish punks (they are the self-proclaimed punks of the beer industry) gone too far? Well, this isn’t the first time that BrewDog has created a controversial beer. Their Tokyo (an 18.2% ABV Imperial Stout) was removed from some UK retailers because the messaging on the label was said to promote binge drinking. One can only imagine what the “watchdogs” think of BrewDog’s latest super brew.

Not many people are going to be able to afford to binge drink the Bismark though, since this rare beer will set you back a cool £40 for a 330ml bottle. BrewDog also provides an explanation of their sometimes misunderstood approach to brewing.

We want to do all we can to promote a new and responsible approach to beers in this country. We want the public to learn to understand, appreciate and respect beer. At BrewDog, we want to highlight a different approach to beer, one which focuses on quality ingredients and craftsmanship and not marketing budgets, volume sales and binge consumption. Many fall down the monolithic corporate brewers rabbit hole, we are on a mission to open as many people’s eyes as we can.

So when is a beer no longer a beer? I say if a beer is brewed with the four traditional ingredients – barley, hops, water, and yeast – then it should be considered a beer, regardless of the ABV. These Scots are always pushing the envelope of what is possible. They create beers (whether it be 6% ABV or 41% ABV) that they want to brew and they certainly don’t give a damn what anyone thinks, which I find refreshing.

Congrats to BrewDog for once-again redeeming the crown as being the brewer of the world’s strongest beer! Now all I have to do is get my hands on one of these comatose-inducing concoctions.

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By Scottie, February 1, 2010 9:25 am

Beer Wars

Beer Wars is a documentary that provides a behind-the-scenes examination of the ultra competitive beer industry. Director Anat Baron, former General Manager of Mike’s Hard Lemonade, reveals the obstacles small breweries must overcome to make their mark in an industry dominated by an evil empire of mega breweries.

The documentary reviews a brief history of the beer industry in America over the past century. Highlights include Prohibition, the rise of TV advertising, the decline of the local brewery, and the emergence of the three mega breweries – Anheuser-Busch, Miller Brewing, and Coors Brewing Company (movie filmed before recent mergers). This is the real story of beer in America – how it went from good to bad, and how demand for good beer is changing the market once again. If you like cold hard facts and random statistics, this movie is for you.

Anat Baron features the stories of micro and craft breweries. One of the craft breweries highlighted is Dogfish Head, a personal favorite. Sam Calagione (Dogfish Head founder) discusses his passion for beer as well as the unruly competitive tactics of the three mega breweries. He has created a niche market for beer drinkers that appreciate not just good beer, but great beer. Dogfish Head stands out from the competition by creating quality beer made from the highest quality ingredients. They also focus on taking an innovative approach to old world recipes. “If it’s already on the market, we aren’t interested in making it,” says Sam Calagione.

Dogfish Head and every other brewery featured in this documentary tell the same story – an unfair marketplace for small breweries in North America. It’s truly David vs. Goliath. These mega brewers have an unlimited amount of resources in terms of marketing and advertising budgets, but they also seem to control much more, i.e. politicians in their pockets?

What’s to come for the privately-owned craft breweries and micro breweries in America? Only time will tell, but there has definitely been an emergence of new breweries entering the marketplace since this documentary was created. Could the rise of social media sites like Twitter and Facebook be the ultimate tool of promotion for smaller breweries? Maybe Beer Bloggers and Beer Evangelists will continue to gain the attention of beer drinkers in America? Let’s hope.

Beginning today, Beer Wars is available to rent On Demand through Digital Cable and Satellite providers Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox, Cablevision, Charter, Insight, Bresnan, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Dish Network and DirecTV. It is also available for download on iTunes, Amazon Video On Demand, Xbox 360 and PS3.

Beer Wars definitely opened my eyes to the challenges that micro and craft brewers face when taking on the mega breweries. Here’s an idea, count how many beer commercials will be featured in the Super Bowl next weekend? The cost of one commercial airing during the Super Bowl outweighs the typical marketing budget of a micro brewery for an entire year. This is a movie that all beer drinkers need to watch.

Beer Wars website: http://beerwarsmovie.com/

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By Scottie, December 17, 2009 12:00 pm

BrewDog

BrewDog Brewery, created by those innovative punks from Scotland, is giving all EU residents (which is a complete drag for us Yanks) the opportunity to own a stake in their company. BrewDog is the fastest growing and largest independent brewery in the UK. They have formalized all the legal paperwork to build a state of the art brewery that will be powered by windmills and powermass generators, making it completely self-sufficient.

Needless to say, this two year old brewery is positioning itself to become a leader in the growing international craft beer scene. They have already collaborated with the likes of Stone, Cambridge Brewing, and the Danish brewers at Mikkeller.

So why should you (once again, only if you are an EU resident) invest in BrewDog?

Some benefits to being a shareholder:

• Full Dividend Entitlement, equal to that of existing shareholders
• 20% Lifetime online shop discount
• Owning your very own part of BrewDog
• Owning part of our awesome new energy self sufficient brewery
• Owning part of our new BrewPub in Aberdeen and subsequent BrewPubs
• Sell and trade your shares on www.equityforpunks.com or at a potential later listing
• Having your say in how the company is run and vote on key decisions online

Here is what BrewDog says officialy on their site:

“We are looking for 10,000 BrewDog loving individuals to purchase shares in our company. This is your chance to buy into the BrewDog dream and share in our vision.

We believe the best way to further the growth of BrewDog is to ask you, the people who enjoy our beers, to be involved in BrewDog’s future.

By investing in BrewDog when we are just two years old, you will not only be involved in our future successes and long term growth but also have a great time owning a share in a fast-moving, fun-loving and dynamic young business.

BrewDog is redefining the UK beer scene, your share will buy you a piece of the Company.

BrewDog is about breaking rules, taking risks, upsetting trends and unsettling institutions but first and foremost, great tasting beer.”

Equity for Punks from BrewDog on Vimeo.

BrewDog is an exciting example of where the international craft beer scene is headed. They have quickly become one of my favorite breweries and I am looking forward to watching these innovative Scots continue to push the envelope of what is possible. A perfect example is their 32% ABV Tactical Nuclear Penguin beer. The strongest beer ever brewed by humans or penguins.

Brewery website: http://www.brewdog.com/