New beer choice for Oklahoma, plus a contest
Got a couple of beer news items to pass your way today.
-Gordon Biersch Brewing Company announced recently that its beer will now be available in Oklahoma. This is the 17th state the San Francisco-area brewery will enter. Don’t know much about Gordon Biersch? Here’s a blurb they sent my way:
Gordon Biersch Brewing Company brews all of its beers in accordance with the German Purity Law of 1516, which states that you must use only the finest ingredients: Hallertauer hops, tw0-row malted barley, and a special yeast strain imported directly from Germany. All of the beers are naturally carbonated.
Gordon Biersch Brewing Company has more than doubled its production since 1998, increasing its capacity to 109,000 barrels annually, marking Gordon Biersch Brewing Company the largest brewery in the San Francisco Bay area.
Gordon Biersch makes these beers: Hefeweizen, Marzen, Blonde Bock, Czech-Style Pilsner, Maibock, SommerBrau, WinterBock and FestBier. More information can be had a www.gordonbiersch.com/brewery.
-Blue Moon is giving beer fans a chance to help conceive its next seasonal beer. Here’s a press release they sent out this morning:
DENVER — One year from today, a blue moon will shine in the sky and a new beer from Blue Moon Brewing Company will be on shelves. But the latest creation won’t come solely from the minds of Blue Moon brewmasters Keith Villa and John Legnard. Through the Craft the Next Blue Moon program, consumers will help guide the brewing process, resulting in a new, limited-edition beer on Aug. 31, 2012, the date of the next blue moon.
Throughout the next twelve months, people aged 21 or older can visit Facebook.com/BlueMoon to voice their opinion on beer styles, ingredients, packaging designs and names. Based on the suggestions, Blue Moon will craft three unique beers. Fans will then have the chance to sample the contenders and vote on their favorite at tasting events across the country. Blue Moon will announce the winning beer in March 2012, and will brew the final product in time to propose a toast to the blue moon on Aug. 31, 2012.
“We love hearing from our fans and we value their input,” said Blue Moon brewmaster Keith Villa. “So I can’t think of a better way to celebrate a blue moon than with a new beer inspired by Blue Moon drinkers. I like to think of this as the world’s largest collaboration brew!”
A blue moon is defined as the second full moon in a calendar month. Because two full moons occurring within one calendar month is rare, the term “blue moon” is often used to describe uncommon events.
Blue Moon Belgian White was inspired by the Belgian beers Villa enjoyed while earning his Ph.D. in Brewing from Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium. The beer got its name in 1995 at an informal tasting in Denver when someone exclaimed, “Something this good only comes around once in a blue moon!” and thus, Blue Moon Belgian White Ale and Blue Moon Brewing Company were born.
In the coming months, legal-drinking age consumers can learn more about Crafting the Next Blue Moon and join other fans in the brewing process by visiting www.Facebook.com/BlueMoon. The final consumer-inspired brew will be available in Blue Moon Fall Brewmaster Sampler Packs beginning Aug. 31, 2012.
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[...] Francisco-based brewing company Gordon Biersch will now offer its products in the great state of Oklahoma. This company offers several different [...]