It is an intresting time for beer this summer. Miller and Coors have combined to form Miller-Coors in the United States and announced the headquarters will be in Chicago. The Miller brewery here in Milwaukee will be growing to be able to brew for all the increased volume.
InBev and Budweiser came to an agreement to have InBev take over and rename the company. That is expected to happen by the end of the year so the largest American brewery will become Belgian owned.
Craft Beers continue to grow despite the state of the economy. The Brewers association stating that thru June, sales were growing at 11% nationwide.
Schlitz has been reborn here in the greater Milwaukee area with the re-introduction of the original 60's "Gusto" receipe. The demand continues to be high throughout the marketplace as customers are intrested in trying and sampling this new beer.
What does this all mean?
It is a great time to enjoy beer with the changing landscape of beer. Breweries are ranging in global in scale to new brew pubs and breweries entering the area. Breweries are continuing to innovate with new products and packaging. Great beer is continually being produced, new beer receipes are continuing to pop up from Beer and Ice cream to soups to marinades.
By suggestion is to keep your eyes peeled for some of the intresting summer seasonals to try as summer is in full swing and to get ready for the number of great Octoberfest and fall beer styles that will be coming out very shortly. Some of my personal favorites this August are
Leinenkugel Summer Shandy, Bells Oberon, Schlitz, Blue Moon Honey Moon Summer Ale, Pacifico, Ale Asylum Porter and Capital Brewery's new Rustic Ale.
Drop me a line to give me your favorites this month and I will compile the August favorites.
Cheers
