The beer world is undergoing a revolution. The big American lagers and the expensive European imports are being rapidly replaced by craft beers. Local and regional brewers have sprung up all over the country and their impact is enormous.
Most craft beers tend to be on the "hoppy" side but not all. The taste profiles are many and varied but almost all are fuller and more intense than traditional lagers. Sales of Budweiser, Miller and Coors are declining while the craft sales soar.
For both on sale and off sale establishments the craft beers have brought new profit opportunities. Imports suffer from a thinner profit margin while the craft beers command higher prices than either domestic lagers or imports. This is due to the somewhat trendy nature of the business as evidenced by names like "Arrogant Bastard" and "Buffalo Sweat".
We do not believe that this is a passing trend. Craft beers are particularly popular with younger white collar males who do not flinch at paying $7, $8 or $9 for a beer.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Nordeast
"Nordeast" is a beer in the Grain Belt family brewed by Schells in New Ulm, Minnesota. It is not an Irish beer but a pub serves its local neighborhood, thus the term "local" applies to ones favorite pub.
The beer was named for the Northeast neighborhood of Minneapolis, The spelling and pronunciation is stylized to the way the original settlers of the region spoke. They were mostly from northern and eastern Europe and had a characteristic accent.
Keegan's Pub was the first establishment to pour Nordeast when it was introduced two years ago. The first delivery was to Surdyk's Liquor store across the street from the pub followed by the first keg to be tapped right here. It was an immediate hit and remains our top selling domestic beer to this day.
Nordeast is an American Amber Lager. It has a light maltiness and hop aroma with a mild bitterness and smooth taste. Alcohol by volume is 4.7%.
The beer was named for the Northeast neighborhood of Minneapolis, The spelling and pronunciation is stylized to the way the original settlers of the region spoke. They were mostly from northern and eastern Europe and had a characteristic accent.
Keegan's Pub was the first establishment to pour Nordeast when it was introduced two years ago. The first delivery was to Surdyk's Liquor store across the street from the pub followed by the first keg to be tapped right here. It was an immediate hit and remains our top selling domestic beer to this day.
Nordeast is an American Amber Lager. It has a light maltiness and hop aroma with a mild bitterness and smooth taste. Alcohol by volume is 4.7%.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
St. Patrick's Day
Credit goes to the Americans for the fact that St. Patrick's Day is a big celebration worldwide. It was in New York City in1762 that the first St. Patrick's Day parade ever was held. A group of Irish soldiers serving in the British Army paraded that day.
Prior to that time, the day was a holy day celebrated in Ireland. It is actually the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick in 461. The Irish would typically attend Mass in the morning and commemorate St. Patrick during the afternoon.
Back in the United States, fraternal groups of Irish held individual small parades on March 17. Then in 1848 they all got together for one big parade in New York and the tradition grew from there.
Patrick himself was born of Roman parents in occupied Britain. He was kidnapped and taken as a slave to Ireland. At age 16 he escaped back to Britain where he got a calling to return to Ireland and bring Christianity..
Prior to that time, the day was a holy day celebrated in Ireland. It is actually the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick in 461. The Irish would typically attend Mass in the morning and commemorate St. Patrick during the afternoon.
Back in the United States, fraternal groups of Irish held individual small parades on March 17. Then in 1848 they all got together for one big parade in New York and the tradition grew from there.
Patrick himself was born of Roman parents in occupied Britain. He was kidnapped and taken as a slave to Ireland. At age 16 he escaped back to Britain where he got a calling to return to Ireland and bring Christianity..
Friday, February 10, 2012
Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale
Kilkenny is the fourth member of the Guinness family of beers. It is often described as "Smithwics with less hops and a creamy head". Kilkenny is 4.3% alcohol by volume and contains 129 calories in a 20 oz. pour.
The head comes from the nitrogenated pour, the same as Guinness Stout and it is brewed at the Smithwicks brewery in Kilkenny, Ireland. Not widely distributed in the United States it is available at most Irish Pubs.
The head comes from the nitrogenated pour, the same as Guinness Stout and it is brewed at the Smithwicks brewery in Kilkenny, Ireland. Not widely distributed in the United States it is available at most Irish Pubs.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Smithwick's Irish Ale
We've covered the best known beers from Guinness, Guinness Stout and Harp Lager. The third member of the family is Smithwick's Irish Ale. It is actually a classic Irish Red Ale and is definitely Ireland's favorite ale.
The beer was first brewed by John Smithwick and Richard Cole in 1710 at the medieval Franciscan Abbey in Kilkenny and is still brewed there today. The abbey itself started brewing beer hundreds of years earlier and is Ireland's oldest active brewery.
Smithwick's is deep red color with a hint of roasted coffee in the flavor profile. it weighs in at 4.5% alcohol by volume. It came to the United States about six years ago and quickly became a big seller at Irish pubs.
The beer was first brewed by John Smithwick and Richard Cole in 1710 at the medieval Franciscan Abbey in Kilkenny and is still brewed there today. The abbey itself started brewing beer hundreds of years earlier and is Ireland's oldest active brewery.
Smithwick's is deep red color with a hint of roasted coffee in the flavor profile. it weighs in at 4.5% alcohol by volume. It came to the United States about six years ago and quickly became a big seller at Irish pubs.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
HARP LAGER
Harp Lager is one of the four beers in the Guinness family, the others being Guinness, Smithwicks and Kilkenney. Harp was first brewed in 1960 at the Great Northern Brewery in Dundalk, Ireland. The Harp sold in the United States is brewed at the Labatt's Brewery in Canada.
Harp is described as a classic Irish Pale lager. It is golden in color and measures 5% alcohol by volume. A pint contains 152 calories. It is a mainstay at pubs in the US but not widely available in other establishments.
Harp is described as a classic Irish Pale lager. It is golden in color and measures 5% alcohol by volume. A pint contains 152 calories. It is a mainstay at pubs in the US but not widely available in other establishments.
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