Steve Parr, export development manager for the Brewers Association, looks at what’s in store for craft beer lovers in February…
The Brewers Association returns to Craft Beer Rising (February 21-23) for the third consecutive year, showcasing a line-up of innovative, diverse, high-quality craft beers at the forefront of the American craft brewing movement.
Beers are being flown over from the States to ensure freshness, and include a range of styles, from classic tried and true consumer favourites to rare and experimental beers that seldom make the trip to the UK.
The Brewers Association, through its Export Development Program, will represent 22 small and independent American craft breweries pouring more than 60 different beers in can or bottle format, ranging in style and strength from English mild to barrel-aged stout and Belgian quad.
The gamut of IPAs will be well represented by classic, fruited, brut, juicy and hazy, sour and other iterations, all tasting at the top of their game.
Breweries participating (list is subject to change)
Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City
Cigar City Brewery, Tampa
Coronado Brewing Co, Coronado
DC Brau Brewing Company, Washtington
Epic Brewing Co, Salt Lake City
FiftyFifty Brewing Co, Truckee
Foolproof Brewing Company, Pawtucket
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Richmond
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Dexter
Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, Goochland
New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collins
New Holland Brewing Company, Holland
Odell Brewing Company, Fort Collins,
Oskar Blues Brewery, Lyons
Port City Brewing Company, Alexandria
Reuben’s Brews, Seattle
Saranac Brewery, Utica
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico
Stone Brewing Company, Escondido
Three Weavers Brewing, Inglewood
Upslope Brewing Co, Boulder
Wormtown Brewery, Worcester
The line-up of bottles and cans available demonstrates the consistent, world class product quality of America’s small and independent craft brewers, and offers a style to suit everyone, from the new-to-craft beer drinker through to the connoisseur.
Don’t miss the Brewers Association’s legendary tastings, which feature seven of the most cutting edge, creative and high-quality American craft beers, presented by myself and the respective brewer or brewery owners. These tastings are free to attend, but fill up quickly, so please keep an eye on the schedule for Friday and Saturday evenings.
As export development manager for the Brewers Association, I’ll be partaking in a panel discussion on global beer trends at 2pm on Friday, followed by my UK- based colleague, Lotte Peplow, in a Female Stars of our Bars session, combining a beer tasting and general chat about gender politics, on Friday at 3.45pm. We’ll both be participating in the Get Your Geek On session at 12.30pm on Saturday, where you can learn how to professionally assess a brew, learn about common off flavours and judge beers against brewers and BJCP judges, to see how your sensory skills stack up.
Exports of American craft beer to the UK were up 7.1% in 2017 (the latest figures available) and the UK is the second largest export market for American craft beer (after Canada) with 10.5% of all exports. Global American craft beer exports were up 3.6% in 2017, worth a record $125.4 million. There are now more than 7,100 small and independent craft breweries in the US, with a further 2,000 in planning, and the Brewers Association Independent Craft Brewer Seal has been adopted by more than 4,100 breweries since its launch in June 2017, representing more than 85% of all independent craft beer volume.
About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts.
The BA represents 4,000-plus US breweries. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers.
The BA organises events including the World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival, Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America, SAVOR: An American Craft Beer and Food Experience, Homebrew Con, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week.
The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine, and Brewers Publications is the largest publisher of brewing literature in the US.
Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association and the free Brew Guru mobile app.
