BEER NEWS

Real Beer Page Mail, The Free Monthly Beer News Digest for the Online Beer Enthusiast. For subscription information, see instructions at the end of the newsletter.

********************************************** In this issue:

•     Rock Bottom, Gordon Biersch Chains Merge
•     UK Raises Taxes on Stronger Beers
•     China's Tsingtao Continues Expansion
•     Spanish Brewer Invests in U.S. Importer
•     Colorado Breweries Announce Joint Venture
•     Warsteiner Exits International Market
•     Blog Watch             - Noteworthy posts
•     Longer takes:             - South Carolina Foul Up Threatens Festivals             - Colorado 'Ban' on Low ABV Beers?

********************************************** ROCK BOTTOM, GORDON BIERSCH CHAINS MERGE Centerbridge Capital Partners announced the formation of CraftWorks Restaurants and Breweries, essentially a merger of the Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group and Rock Bottom Restaurants, which itself operates both brewery restaurants and the Old Chicago casual dining chain. The companies will be subsidiaries of CraftWorks and will retain their brands. "The combined business becomes the nation's leading operator and franchisor of brewery and craft beer-focused casual dining restaurants with nearly 200 owned and franchised locations across the United States," a press release stated. UK RAISES TAX ON HIGH ABV BEERS, CUTS IT FOR LOW ABV The British government will raise duty on beer of 7.5% abv and above, while reducing it on low strength beers of 2.8% abv and below. The move prompted a mixed reaction from industry groups. Mike Benner, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said: "News that tax will be increased on beers above 7.5% abv is disappointing. However we are pleased that this widely expected increase will be counterbalanced by a tax cut on low strength beers. Reduced tax on low strength beers is good news for pub goers at a time when 29 pubs are closing every week. This move will incentivize brewers to invest in producing new low strength real ales packed full of flavor." TSINGTAO ACQUIRES STILL ANOTHER BREWERY The Tsingtao Brewery — China's largest — has agreed to buy the Shandong Yinmai Beer Co., the third brewery it has taken over in two years. Wang Fan, vice chairman of Tsingtao Brewery, said the deal would consolidate Tsingtao Beer's dominance in the market in Shandong amid fierce competition. Yinmai will continue to make Yinmai beer. This is different from Tsingtao's takeover of two other local breweries of Yantai Beer and Baotu Spring Beer, whose trademark beers disappeared. SPAIN'S S.A. DAMM INVESTS IN IMPORTER S.A. Damm, one of Spain's largest beverage companies, has taken a minority stake in United States Beverage. US Beverage currently imports and markets Estrella Damm, INEDIT and Daura in the United States for Damm. "Group Damm's goal is to be the leader in each sector in which we compete," said Jorge Villavecchia, CEO, S. A. Damm. "In looking for access to the lucrative US market, we wanted to find the right partner, with a proven track record for building great brands. US Beverage has proven through their performance that they are the ideal partner for us in the US." COLORADO BREWERIES ANNOUNCE JOINT VENTURE The parent companies of two Denver-based breweries, Wynkoop Holdings and Breckenridge Holding Co., announced they will enter into a 50-50 joint venture early next year. Spokespersons emphasized that Wynkoop, which owns the Wynkoop Brewing Co. and six other restaurants, and Breckenridge, which operates Breckenridge Brewery and five brewpubs, will not merge their identities, their brands or their staffs. The new joint venture will have one board of managers overseeing it. The agreement will allow the companies to leverage each other's facilities and expertise as both look to expand certain aspects of their businesses. WARSTEINER EXITS INTERNATIONAL MARKET German brewer Warsteiner has ended its direct involvement in the international market by selling its Argentinean subsidiary Isenbeck – founded in 1994 – to British beer giant SABMiller. The sale marks the end of the privately held company's push to shed its foreign operations, especially in regions subject to political volatility. In 2008 it turned three production facilities in Africa over to the French Castel group. Warsteiner beer will still be available around the world through licensing agreements with other brewers. The global market for beer is largely pinned down by large companies like, SABMiller, InBev, Heineken and Carlsberg. To get the news when it happens visit Realbeer.com/blog and subscribe to the rss feed. Follow us on Twitter at
******************BLOG WATCH****************** Beer-related posts from the blogosphere and Twitter: Brewing in 19th-century India What do craft brewers do that industrial brewers don't? The taste of beer Beer review: 'Dethroning the King' @FullersJohn If I was getting married I would brew a beer for the wedding, I would also barrel age it for the divorce
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1. The specialty beer-tasting event is held in an open field across from Coast's brewery and requires a special-event beer-and-wine permit, according to one of the owners of Coast. It's highly unlikely the House and Senate would both be able to move a bill through in fewer than three months. So instead, Rep. Jim Harrison (R-Richland), who chairs the Judiciary committee, says he hopes to introduce a joint resolution telling the Department of Revenue to ignore the offending parts of the new law. COLORADO LAW BANS LOW ABV BEERS FROM BARS, RESTAURANTS Colorado tavern owners and craft brewers are upset over the enforcement next year of a Colorado law that bans low-alcohol beers from bars and restaurants, The Denver Post reports. The restriction follows a three-year battle between liquor and convenience stores over the right to sell full-strength beer. Once enforced, taps featuring lighter beer from many brands will be shut off (the light versions of Coors, Bud, and Miller contain "just enough alcohol to remain flowing," notes the Post). Technically, bars, restaurants, and liquor stores in Colorado are not now allowed to sell lower-alcohol beers, as their licenses allow them to sell spirits, wine and beers that fall into the "malt liquor" category, which is defined as beer stronger than 4 percent alcohol by volume or

3.2 percent by weight. However, the law to-date has not been enforced. Convenience stores and grocery stores are restricted to selling beer only at or below that threshold, the result of a law aimed at restricting the flow of alcohol within the state. Stymied for years in their efforts to sell stronger beer, convenience store advocates amended a bill in Colorado's legislature last spring that will now require the state to enforce license restrictions. "Either stop selling the product we sell, or let's stop having this false delineation on beer," said Jason Hopfer, a lobbyist for a group of convenience stores. "Let's let beer be beer." SUBCRIBE
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