A second Brews News for the week but some much has been going on it deserves discussing.

Stone Brewing Sold

Stone Brewing is back in the headlines with it being sold to Firestone Walker – Duvel. It’s been a rough last decade for the brand, from kicking off the Berlin opening as an Ugly American to the money pit in Richmond. The sale to Sapporo, in effect turning their back on the Indy Arrogant Bastard vibe, could have been the final nail in the coffin for the brand. But now I am not so sure.

The deal includes the California taprooms and the brand that are changing hands, the production facilities in Escondido and Richmond aren’t part of the deal. Sapporo will keep brewing in Richmond for the US market and rebrand the taproom there. As for Escondido it’s going on the market for sale, who would buy it? I haven’t a clue. But what does Firestone Walker – Duvel gain out of this play, it’s not the first brand acquisition with Trumer Pils being announced recently. It’s all about balance in capacity you don’t want to be constrained as Ken Grossman discusses in Beyond the Pale by too little or capacity that sits unused as Brewers Association recently discussed. In picking up these brands it means they can run closer to full capacity. They could have picked up contract brewing potentially, but it seems Duvel has more of a mind set to protect and nurture its acquisitions like Ommegang and Boulevard. 

Which means this is likely the best case scenario for the brand. What does it mean for North Carolina, little for now, both Firestone Walker – Duvel and Stone Brewing are sold through Tryon Distribution so no change there, the beer will just come from Kansas City instead of Richmond so there may be a slight uptick from travel costs. I hope they bring back Ruination and Arrogant Bastard. I have intentionally been avoiding their beer since Sapporo shut down Anchor Brewing but with this deal I am willing to give them another chance.

Future of Hops

Second in the news from Michigan, Hop Head farms is closing. Hop Head was the largest hop operation in the US outside of the Pacific Northwest. Roughly 40% of hops in the world are produced in the US and of them somewhere between 98-99% are grown in the Pacific Northwest. Specialized farm equipment is often in that production.

Photos are hop operation in Washington state.

With Hop Heads auction the future of that capacity outside of the Pacific Northwest is in question, but it’s worth keeping watch. The reason I bring it up is North Carolina agriculture and its future. Malt companies like Riverbend, Carolina and Epiphany have proven that barley is part of the future with NC agriculture. Hops is a more challenging prospect. First hops generally do best around the 48 latitude, hence the concentration in the Pacific Northwest. Second, our climate doesn’t get cold enough in the Winter for the plant to reach proper dormancy. Because of that in the Carolinas per acre are at best a quarter of the yields in the Pacific Northwest. I have believed for some time that any successful hop farm in NC would need a specialized variety for the weather here, likely a hybrid of the Neo-mexicanius that grows in New Mexico. Developing new hop varieties takes on average 15 years from breeding to hitting the market. I don’t see anyone making that kind of investment in time nor money in this current market.

World Beer Cup Winners

Last night was great for the Carolinas with a combined 12 13 awards.

Fruit Beer – Silver: Lime Drop, Wicked Weed Brewing, Asheville, NC

Fruit Wheat Beer – Gold: Raspberry Rush, Armored Cow Brewing Co., Charlotte, NC

Dessert or Pastry Beer – Bronze: 10W-40 Coconut Candy Bar, Hi-Wire Brewing Co., Asheville, NC

Kellerbier or Zwickelbier – Bronze: Pleasing Tony Italian Pilsner, Little Brother Brewing, Greensboro, NC

American-Style Pilsener – Silver: Pea Island Park Pilsner, Swells’a Brewing, Kill Devil Hills, NC

German-Style Altbier – Bronze: ALTeration, Mountain Layers Brewing Co., Bryson City, NC

Old Ale, Strong Ale or Aged Beer – Gold: Forest Hills, Olde Hickory Brewery, Hickory, NC

American-Style Imperial Stout – Bronze: Imperial Stout, Olde Hickory Brewery, Hickory, NC

Export Stout – Gold: Irish Extra Stout, Diatribe Brewing Co., Asheville, NC

Berliner-Style Weisse – Gold: Sunny Monkey, Victory Brewing Company Brewers at 4001 Yancey, Charlotte, NC

German-Style Schwarzbier – Gold: Fables Overturned, Wild Yarrow Brewing, Greenville, SC

Belgian-Style Blonde Ale – Gold: Feral Garden Gnome, Liability Brewing Co., Greenville, SC

Belgian-Style Quadrupel – Gold: Quad Bless Your Heart, The Southern Growl Beer Co., Greer, SC

Check out all the winners here.