2011 Beer Year in Review: Schumer Launches "I Love NY Brew" Campaign

With the end of the year approaching, we decided to look back at some of the noteworthy craft beer stories from New York in 2011.

Earlier this month, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer launched an initiative to promote beer grown in New York State. The campaign titled, “I Love NY Brew” is co-sponsored by the New York State Brewers Association and is designed to get more restaurants, bars, convenience stores and supermarkets to sell more beer brewed in New York State. The senator wrote a personal letter to the National Association of Convenience Stores and Fuel Retailing, as well as the New York State Restaurant Association, urging both to sell more local beers.

After touring several breweries earlier this year, Schumer is looking to the local beer industry to pump some money into the state’s struggling economy.  On his tour, Schumer noted that brewery owners tend to put increased revenue back into their business through either expansion or hiring new employees. 

“According to the Beer Institute, the 60,000 brewing-related (brewing, distribution, and sales) jobs in New York paid $4.6 billion in wages last year and accounted for more than $13.2 billion in economic activity during 2010. New York breweries paid $1.13 billion in federal taxes and $1.14 billion in state and local taxes last year.”

You can find Schumer's letter as well as the accompanying press release here: http://schumer.senate.gov/Newsroom/record.cfm?id=335126

While the "I Love NY Brew Campaign" may not have much of an impact on the craft beer industry in New York, (it has no state funding, making it basically a PR move by Schumer), it brings up an interesting idea.  The craft beer market is one of the fastest rising markets in the country and that is particularly true in New York. According to Schumer, there are 77 microbreweries, regional craft breweries and brewpubs across New York.  This is an increase of 32 from seven years ago, with plans to build another 39 breweries throughout the state.

In addition to an increasing number of breweries, we have seen an increase in the number of beer stores and beer bars popping up all over the state.  The next big trend seems to be grocery and convenience stores stocking their shelves with more local beer.  As Schumer spoke with brewers on his tour, they pointed out that this is the biggest untapped market for them. 

Yesterday, we told you about Sunoco's Craft Beer Exchange Program.  In 2012, it will be interesting to watch the beer shelves and coolers in local grocery and convenience stores to see if more New York produced craft beer starts to appear.  If so, it can only mean good things for our local breweries.

2011 Beer Year in Review: Craft Beer Exchange

With the end of the year approaching, we decided to look back at some of the noteworthy craft beer stories from New York in 2011.

A craft beer drinker has traditionally had two options when seeking out their favorite brews.  The first option is to find a beverage store that carries one's favorite labels.  Over the last few years, this has gotten easier as stores have seen the opportunity to profit off the rise in demand for craft beer, and have started to stock their shelves.  Unfortunatly, I have found that this has brought about several new problems, the biggest one being store owners leaving beer out way past it's maturity date. 

The second option for a craft beer fan has been to head straight for the source and purchase beer from a local brewery.  While this is one of my favorite ways to buy beer, it is not always the most practical.  While buying beer from the brewer is usually the most cost-effective and guarentees you the freshest beer, not everyone in New York lives close enough to a brewery to stop on the way home and stock up.

Brewers believe that the next big market opprtunity lies with grocery stores and conveinence stores.  This Summer, Sunoco hopped onto the crowded craft beer bandwagon by starting its Craft Beer Exchange program at twelve of its APlus convenience stores.  The program offerered customers the ability to created a mixed six pack of 12-ounce bottles for $9.99 as well as a choice of 12 rotating taps to fill up 64-ounce growlers. 

The Philadelphia-based company started the Craft Beer Exchange in the Buffalo area as a test program at twelve of its stores.  The feedback was so good that Sunoco decided to expand the program to fourteen locations in the Rochester and Southern Tier regions.

The list of Sunoco locations that participate in the Craft Beer Exchange.

• 5215 Sheridan Drive, Amherst, NY 14221
• 2977 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Amherst, NY 14228
• 6730 Packard Road, Niagara Falls, NY 14304
• 8000 Main & Transit, Williamsville, NY 14221
• 2546 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Tonawanda, NY 14150
• 402 Delaware at Grove, Tonawanda, NY 14150
• 1311 Sheridan & Military, Kenmore, NY 14217
• 2731 Delaware at Kenmore, Buffalo, NY 14217
• 2180 Bullis Street, Elma, NY 14059
• 5665 Seneca Street, West Seneca, NY 14224
• 1442 Union & Center Street, West Seneca, NY 14224
• 4949 Transit Road, Lancaster, NY 14086
• 1329 Ridge Street, Lackawanna, NY14218
• 13320 Broadway, Alden, NY 14004
• 1140 Lyell Ave, Rochester, NY 14606
• 210 S. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
• 265 Macedon Center Road, Fairport, NY 14450
• 5136 W. Taft Road, Liverpool, NY 13088
• 3550 Mt. Read Blvd, Rochester, NY 14616
• 101 Fayette Street, Manlius, NY 13104
• 1324 Latta Road, Rochester, NY 14612
• 484 S. Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424
• 147 Market Street, Potsdam, NY 13676
• 71 E. Main Street, Canton, NY 13617
• 2792 Wilmington Road, Lake Placid, NY 12946
• 1255 Arsenal Street, Watertown, NY 13601

The taps at the Latta Road Craft Beer Exchange

I was able to visit the Latta Road location in Rochester, NY over the holiday weekend.  The selection of taps was impressive and the selection of 6 packs was even better.  The beers available to creat your own 6 pack was solid. The prices ranged from about $9.99 to $17.99 per growler with  If there was a downside, it was that 4 of the 12 tap lines were out and that service was a litle slow, although that taps being low might have been due to the holiday weekend rush and the service due to the fact that an elderly man had fallen outside and a Sunoco attendant was dealing with the situation.

Sunoco seems to be onto something here.  The tap area was extrememly clean and the selction available was impressive.  With convenience and grocery stores are the next big thing for the craft beer industry and it will be interesting to see if other local chains such as Stewart's start to stock more craft beers.

Greenport Harbor To Expand

GREENPORT HARBOR BREWING IS EXPANDING:

Purchasing Lucas Ford Dealership in Southold

Keeping Tasting Room in Greenport

Greenport, NY. In order to make room for additional production capacity and ultimately the bottling of its beer, Greenport Harbor Brewing Company announced that it is now in contract on the Lucas Ford dealership in the Hamlet of Peconic, Southold Town.

There are, however, no plans to leave Greenport.

"Our heart and soul will always be in Greenport", said Richard Vandenburgh who co-founded the Brewery with his best friend, John Liegey. "We will maintain the tasting room on Carpenter Street and use the production space for an apprenticeship program. We want to give those interested in breaking into the business an opportunity to learn."

The Lucas Ford property not only provides room for increased operations, but land to cultivate and explore local grown crops solidifying the North Fork as a local beer destination. Once completed, it will also hold a tasting room with indoor and outdoor seating.

Greenport Harbor Brewery plans to close on the new property in spring of 2012 and be up-and-running in January of 2013. The new facility, with its 25,000 barrel brew house system, will quadruple production and double its workforce in 24 months.

Greenport Harbor Brewery is currently located on 234 Carpenter Street in Greenport, New York. Its mission is to create great tasting, local craft beer. No frills or fanciness--just great beer. Learn more at www.harborbrewing.com


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Get Real Presents Beer Bar Fest NYC

WHAT: Get Real NY returns this December with its fourth festival – the Beer Bar Fest NYC. The Beer Bar Fest, a premiere craft beer and food event, will bring eight of the city’s best beer bars to one location. Long gone are the days when craft beer bars were known just for their exceptional craft taps. Today, beer bars are launching serous food programs and awakening to the wonders of how well artisanal foods pair with craft beer. Beer Bar Fest NYC Attendees will relish small bites from each bar artfully paired with some of the finest American craft beer available. A cask and oyster festival will also take place on the second floor and educational seminars on beer and food pairing will be given throughout the sessions. 12% Imports, a premier Brooklyn-based craft beer importer, will be serving a carefully curated selection of their finest kegs during the VIP hour.

WHEN: Saturday, December 10, 2011 over two sessions: 1-4 pm and 7-10 pm. VIPs will gain entry at noon and 6 pm, respectively.

WHERE: 404 Space, 404 10th Ave at 33rd Street, New York, NY, 10001

WHY: The National Restaurant Association Chef Survey (results) recently cited “food-beer pairings/beer dinners” as the number four alcohol and cocktails trend to watch for in 2011 (“locally-produced wine and beer” came in at number two). New York City bars are integrating the enjoyment of exceptional craft ales and lagers with artfully crafted food. The Beer Bar Fest is designed to showcase the finest food and craft beer that New York City has to offer.

SAMPLE PAIRINGS: Rattle n Hum will be pairing its first dish - house ground sea scallops, tiger shrimp and cod fish with herbs and hop salt served with garlic mayo and basil on a toasted brioche bun - with the Stillwater Stateside Saison, a Belgian-style ale brewed in Baltimore. The Bronx Ale House will be serving braised short rib chili, which will be paired with the local Bronx Brewery Pale Ale.

QUOTE: Patrick Donagher, founder of Get Real NY, says, “For too long, NYC has been overlooked as one of the nation's top craft beer towns. My aim is to unite the beer bars of NYC to show the world our city is at the forefront of the craft beer and local, artisanal food (re)Evolution”

http://getrealny.com/beerbarfest