Oh Hi CBD Seltzer Lands in Southern California

LOS ANGELES, CA— The Oh Hi Beverages CBD seltzer line is now available in Southern California. 

Oh Hi’s line of CBD seltzers, which includes Pomegranate, Grapefruit, Lemon Lime, and Ginger Basil Limeade flavors, are now stocked on shelves at Los Angeles grocers and gas stations. These seltzers contain 15mg of fast-acting flavorless CBD isolate and only up to 25 calories per serving. They are available in canned 12-ounce 4-packs. 

“Like our home state of Colorado, California is a state leading in cannabis educated consumers, with a lot of interest in CBD,” says John Lynch, Oh Hi’s Director of Operations. “We’re very excited to consciously expand our footprint.” 

Oh Hi Beverages CBD seltzers are currently distributed in Southwest Colorado through the Ska Brewing distribution network, and on Colorado’s Front Range through Two Six Craft Distributors. They are also available for purchase online. Oh Hi’s THC line is only available at dispensaries in Colorado via LeafLink. 

For more information about Oh Hi Beverages and its growing distribution footprint, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. Contact sales@ohhibev.com with distribution inquiries.

ABOUT OH HI BEVERAGES

Founded in 2018, Oh Hi Beverages crafts canned THC and CBD seltzers in Durango, Colorado. Oh Hi Beverages is the brainchild of Aaron Miles and Jonny Radding, the co-owners of Durango Organics, and Matt Vincent, one of the co-owners of Ska Brewing and the founder of Ska Fabricating. Collectively Aaron, Jonny, and Matt bring a breadth of business, entrepreneurship, technical, and both cannabis and beverage-specific experience to this new hard seltzer company. Learn more about Oh Hi Beverages at ohhibev.com.

Pilot Brewers to Brew Freshest Fresh Hop Beer on the Front Range

Flying hops from the western slope to raise awareness about aviation

DENVER, CO— On August 25th, five local breweries will depart from Rocky Mountain Metro Airport (BJC) early in the morning on a mission to create the freshest fresh hop beer on the front range. Owners and brewers from FlyteCo Brewing, Bruz Beers, Locavore Beer Works, Long Table Brewhouse, and Uhl’s Brewing Company will fly to Paonia, CO in five small airplanes, pick up freshly harvested hops from High Wire Hops, fly back to Denver, and immediately brew a collaboration beer with the freshest hops possible. The beer will be called ‘Hop Is My Co-Pilot’. Each of the breweries will be brewing additional fresh hop collaboration beers the following day. 

Fresh hop beers are only available once a year – right after the fall hop harvest. Rather than using pelletized hops or hop extract, brewers get excited for the annual chance to use fresh hop flowers in their beer. Using fresh hops creates a unique and delicious aroma and flavor. 

Hop Is My Co-Pilot will be an IPA, brewed with all Colorado-grown ingredients, and will be released on September 14th at each of the five breweries. By teaming up, these five brewers will not only make the freshest beer around but also hope to draw attention and support for the aviation industry – one that has been hit especially hard by the pandemic. As a founding principle, FlyteCo Brewing donates 10% of their profits to the future of aviation, including scholarships and youth engagement programs. 

Local beer lovers will be able to try five unique fresh hop collaboration beers at each of the five participating breweries. A passport will be available at each brewery starting on September 14th. Participants receive stamps for visiting each brewery in Denver, Boulder, and Littleton. Prizes for completing the passport include free and discounted glider rides from Mile High Gliding in Boulder. 

Why Rapids & Grass is a Brewer's Favorite Festival, Even When They Can't Go

Photo by Zach Mahone @ South Main Co.

“The beer is great, the music is fire, and the venue is laid out wonderfully.” 

That’s Ashleigh Carter, the co-founder and head brewer of Bierstadt Lagerhaus. She’s not alone.

You know it’s a good sign when you see a brewer at a beer festival. And in this case, the Rapids & Grass festival in Buena Vista is packed full of them— especially in anticipation of the festival’s rafting component. 

Rapids & Grass is so much more than just a beer fest; it’s an opportunity to get to the mountains, enjoy the river, and get social. Although the festival has decided to skip this year, keeping public health and safety in mind, it still goes down as one of our favorite festivals -- and here’s why the brewers agree. 

“The Rapids & Grass beer festival is unlike any other beer festival I have attended. I have traveled all over the country and poured at a few different beer festivals in Europe and none of them are as laid back and chill as Rapids & Grass,” shares Skip Schwartz, wood cellar and innovation lead at WeldWerks Brewing, “Attendees have access to some of the best beer Colorado has to offer at their fingertips with a relaxed, no lines or waiting. Last year was my first time attending and I know why I will be going back in the future.  Never have I worked a festival with my shoes off and my pants rolled up and it fit into the atmosphere of the festival. Not to mention a water gun fight broke out mid-festival with a few other brewers, which was a lot of fun!” 

Jordan Wheeler, senior packaging operator at WeldWerks Brewing adds, “Ummm everything Skip said. It’s definitely a festival I want to attend every year. It will never get old pouring beautiful beer with such a beautiful backdrop.”

There’s no arguing that the festival’s venue is one that is hard to rival. It also makes for a perfect location for brewers to also kick back, relax, and hang out with each other. 

“Obviously Buena Vista is beautiful,” shares Carter, “and really the beer is just a small part of the fest.”

“What makes it unique is how many brewers actually participate,” Carter continues, “We all get to hang out and camp together the night before and night of the festival, so there is that added social aspect that makes it fun to participate.”

It’s not just the brewers who enjoy it, either. 

“It’s an honor to get to pour our whiskey amongst some of the best beers around, and it’s inspiring to see what these brewers continually offer up such bad ass expressions of their craft,” says Lenny Eckstein, founder & head distiller at Deerhammer in downtown Buena Vista, “It’s always been Deerhammer’s approach to bring innovation and creativity to whiskey. A huge part of this is fueled for us by those on the beer side of the fence.”

Not to mention, the festival draws huge crowds to the Arkansas Valley, boosting tourism and the area’s economic viability. 

“There’s this ongoing effort to bring visitation to BV throughout the year,” shares Eckstien, “The thing about Rapids and Grass is that the crowd that comes up here, who’ve maybe blazed through BV or heard of our hot springs or killer mountain bike trails, or whatever, when they come here for Rapids & Grass they are getting full exposure to the full spectrum of awesomeness that BV has to offer. Deerhammer is PACKED during Rapids and Grass. It’s a great crowd who comes here looking to enjoy this place.”

To our friends Sarah, Shane, and their great Rapids & Grass partners, we love you and we miss you. Thank you for bringing world-class beer and music to Buena Vista. 

— Words by Karen Mills

Lone Tree Brewing Debuts Golden Berry Belgian-Style Ale

LONE TREE, CO— It’s a fruit-packed summer at Lone Tree Brewing Company, where visitors can now find cans of Golden Berry Ale, the latest in Lone Tree’s rotating small-batch can series. Six-packs of Golden Berry Ale are also available across Colorado and Kansas in select craft establishments.

"This beer was inspired by a trip to Belgium,” says Dennis O’Harrow, Lone Tree’s Head Brewer. “It’s very fruit-forward with a unique almost banana-like character that comes from the esters in the yeast strain we use.” 

Golden Berry Ale is a higher octane, Belgian-Style Ale that’s surprisingly quaffable for its 8% ABV. Belgian Golden Strong Ale at its base with both raspberry and blackberry juice and puree, this new selection from Lone Tree has arrived right in time for the heat of the summer. Find it in cans at Lone Tree Brewing Company and across Colorado and Kansas for a limited time.

For more information about the Lone Tree Brewing Company Golden Berry Ale, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING COMPANY

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery in Lone Tree, Colorado that opened near Park Meadows Mall in 2011. The neighborhood-focused, family-friendly brewery and tasting room regularly hosts community events that gather around a stylistically diverse lineup of flagship, seasonal, and limited release beers. Lone Tree’s cans are sold across the state of Colorado, and in select locations in Kansas. Its draft beer is poured at many bars and restaurants across its distribution footprint as well. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Bonfire Block Party Presents the Funky Times All-Star Band at the Eagle County Fairgrounds

EAGLE, CO— When Bonfire Brewing made the difficult decision to cancel the annual Block Party, they promised to bring some form of live music to the Vail Valley this summer. They’ve delivered with back-to-back performances from the Funky Times All-Star Band, a talent-packed group of musicians led by previous Block Party headliner Robert Randolph, on July 17 and 18 at the Eagle County Fairgrounds.

Popular local bands The Runaway Grooms and The Evolution will kick off Friday and Saturday night’s festivities, respectively, followed by Marcus King, Robert Randolph, J.J. Johnson, Nigel Hall, and Duane Betts all sharing the stage.

Tickets for these shows are on sale now and can be purchased on Eventbrite. Only 500 tickets are available for each evening, and are selling rapidly. Ticket holders will then be divided into groups of 125 people, with social distancing inside those groups. Masks are required to enter the venue, and when not in your designated seating area. Ample sanitation stations will be placed throughout the venue, along with two food trucks, and multiple bars. 

“We’ve worked for months to pull something involving live outdoor music together, and we’re excited to set a strong example with a professional event that we hope shows that live music can return safely,” says Bonfire Brewing Co-Owner Amanda Jessen. “We all feel the need for something like this, and while it’s not the traditional Block Party with 5,000 people in the streets of Eagle, it’s a start, and it gets some of the struggling folks in this industry back to work.”

Find more information about the shows at bonfireblockparty.com, and contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries. 

ABOUT BONFIRE BREWING

Craft enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers gather around Bonfire Brewing in Eagle, Colorado, where the beers are driven by quality, curiosity, and community. Founded in 2010, Bonfire continues on their path of sustainable growth with cans of their year-round beers available in liquor stores and restaurants across Colorado. Gather ‘round Bonfire online at bonfirebrewing.com. 

And now for something completely different: A Can Release from Bierstadt Lagerhaus

July 3, 2020 Denver, CO - Bierstadt Lagerhaus, known for its silly adherence to traditional and outdated brewing techniques, a pathetic number of choices at the taproom and a stunted imagination with regard to beer styles has made something.......else. On July 12th we are releasing BFL. BFL is a 12% Lager; not a “we calculated and wished for this to be 12%, but an honest-to-science, measured at a lab 12%. Speaking of these unnecessary outdated techniques: We did a reiterated mash using an exploded version of our Märzen recipe and double decocted it. Twice. We floated it and fermented it at 9 C. It was krausened to help it further attenuate. In a bold nod to tradition, no sugars, enzymes or malt extracts were used and it’s unfiltered. Please for the sake of anything that is still good in this world, don’t Google any of that if you don’t already understand the lingo. It is our job to prattle on about the methods we used, and your job to get it down your neck. Let’s keep these divisions clear.

As far as the character of this beer, think barleywine strength albeit without a faceload of esters. Think of it as a Lager wine, only please don’t. That is a stupid term and we refuse to be responsible for its usage.

Paul Vismara designed the label and it is perfect for the beer and these times. A giant comet is depicted hurling through space, we can only guess at its destination-earth. Of course it’s earth, after the imminent locust invasion this summer and a shit show of an election this fall, the only way 2020 can end is with a extinction level comet this winter.

For the 12th, please, as you lineup the night before, keep social distancing guidelines in mind. No saving spaces in the line, no proxies and limit one can per ID. The preceding two sentences are bullshit. We make beer, you buy beer. That is as complex as we want this relationship to be.

Simply put we have about 900 16oz cans to sell, 4 per transaction, $12 per can, pre-sale starts on the 8th online (www.bierstadtlager.com), pick up the 12th . Wear a mask and don’t be a jerk. Yuan Wonton will be in the house. Come get some.

ABOUT BIERSTADT LAGERHAUS

At Bierstadt we craft lagers the traditional way, and nothing more. Discover what we believe at bierstadtlager.com.

10 Ways You Can Create an Appealing Brand on Social Media

Social media has always been an important aspect of branding and marketing a brewery. In the current situation of COVID-19, it has become a crucial way to stay engaged and relevant with your customers. You could go all willy-nilly and shoot posts off from the hip (that does have a time and place), but if you want to build and maintain a strong brand on social media, these design tips will create a solid foundation.

#1 - Reference and Utilize Brand Standards

Brand Standards is a guideline created for your visual branding. A Brand Standards guide often contains your official brand colors, how to properly use your logo, what fonts to use, and how to format your text. 

#2 - Use Brand Fonts and Consistent Typography

If you have Brand Standards, you may already have a roadmap for using type. If not, here’s some tips to stay consistent, which will result in a stronger brand. 

• I try to avoid using the font from your logo on marketing applications. This can have the effect of diluting the importance of your logo.

• Use fonts that are very decorative sparingly - otherwise your design will look cluttered and busy.

• Keep visual interest in your fonts by varying weights of bold, regular, thin and alternating between all uppercase and standard upper/lowercase.

• Having breathing room around your text is important. Have space between text and the edges of your image, so it is not cramped. Keep ample space between lines of text on your image for the same reason.

• Create hierarchy and rhythm. Make sure the important text is large and eye catching. Supporting details can be smaller, as they backup the headline messaging.

To learn more about using brand fonts, read: Beer Brand Messaging Through Type Hierarchy 

#3 - Use Brand Colors

Using consistent brand colors will help your audience quickly recognize that a post or image is yours. If the post is overall about your brewery, I would suggest sticking with the brand colors you have set from your Brand Standards, or the colors from your logo/website. Once exception here would be for posts promoting individual beers, which can take on their own identity.

#4 Dissected Images

You don’t need to have just a photo, or just a design-based image in a social post. Why not have both! Split a post image into sections by dividing it up with a solid color block complimented with a photo. The solid color block makes a great area to lay text over while the photo element helps create visual interest. You can even get tricky and overlay a transparent color block over an image.

#5 Use Filters

The hashtag #NoFilter partly grew out of everyone going crazy with filters in Instagram. However, photo filters are still relevant and can be a way for you to set your profile and posts apart from others. 

HERE’S THE TRICK - Stay consistent!

Consistency is what builds a brand and helps people remember your brand. If you find a filter that you really like and fits your brand, create a “recipe” for how to reproduce that filter. Make sure that anyone posting on social has the recipe to create the same filter. There are numerous photo filter apps in the app stores so you don’t have to just rely on Instagram’s filters.

#6 - Create a Narrative using Carousels

This one can be a bit tricky, but the end result is really cool!! The idea here is to have Instagram images that are in a carousel “stitched” together so when the user swipes across your post images, they are connected. It creates a seamless visual and interesting experience for the customer. Once you have that down, you can create a timeline of sorts by telling a story on each image that bleeds into the next carousel image. You can create this by making one very wide image that fits the dimensions of Instagram’s image size. You can then layout your story and supporting visual elements along the wide image, and then crop and generate individual images that stitch together perfectly for the multi-image carousel post!

#7 - Create “Campaigns” using Label Art

You’ve invested time and money creating kick ass labels, use that artwork in more places to promote your beer! The most common use case for creating individual beer brands through your label art is on tap handles. Many folks take the label artwork and create a tap handle label that matches. You can take this a bit further and create social images, posters, merchandise, etc., that carry the brand visuals of your label.  You can implement the main label color on a post, pull out the stylized beer name and use that as an element, or use a background design or pattern. The more places you are creating a consistent look for that beer, the better recognition you will build.

#8 - Color Backdrops for Photos

You likely have seen the styled beer photos that Hop Culture creates on Instagram. This style of photography has been used in other industries, but Hop Culture really helped to bring this into the world of beer. You can set up a small photo studio on a flat surface and create a color background that matches or compliments your label art. Hit up the craft store and purchase some colored butcher paper rolls or posterboard to create a full color background.

#9 - Photo Lighting

You don’t need professional photography lights to create awesome photos. Interior lights can actually be fairly dim to a camera, so one killer trick is to set up a photoshoot next to a bright window. This flood of natural daylight will create a nice and large light source for photos. If you are set up by one window, you only have one light source, so a good trick to balance out light in your images is to place a large white foam core board on the opposite side to reflect light back onto your photo subjects. This can really help balance out the lighting!

#10 - Make a Scene!

Adding elements around your beer product shots can make a huge difference in visual interest. Having some ingredients surrounding your can or glass can really paint the picture of experience and the taste of that beer. Chocolate, coffee, hops, grains, fruit, or any other ingredient used in the beer can help create an enticing scene. If your label has some sort of thematic name and artwork, try to find some real-life objects you can place in the background that reflect the art and make it more interesting.

— Advice by Ryan Wheaton of Craft Brew Creative and the Craft Label Co.

Ska Brewing To Take Your Tastebuds On Vacation with Tropical Hazy IPA

DURANGO, CO— You might not be able to go on a tropical vacation with your buds right now, but your tastebuds can still escape to tropical fruit paradise with a 6-pack of Ska Brewing’s new release, Tropical Hazy IPA. 

With a plush mouthfeel, this Hazy IPA explodes with tropical hop flavors and a soft malt body. Its low actual bitterness allows bright, fruity characteristics to shine. Brewed with papaya and pineapple and weighing in at a crushable but substantial 6% ABV, Tropical Hazy IPA is like a virtual vacation in your mouth. 

This new hazy offering from Ska Brewing comes the summer after the brewery’s first hazy IPA can debut. The Hazy IPA sparked the brewery brand refresh last year, and Ska has been experimenting in the hazy department since. 

Tropical Hazy IPA arrives across Ska’s national distribution footprint just in time for summer, and it will be available year-round in canned 6-packs going forward. It is also currently available on tap at the brewery’s World Headquarters in Durango. 

For more information about Ska’s Tropical Hazy IPA or delve into the hazy IPA subcategory, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award- winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, and Rue B. Soho. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Lone Tree Brewing Company Releases 25th Anniversary Lager for the City of Lone Tree

LONE TREE, CO— In celebration of the city of Lone Tree's 25th anniversary, Lone Tree Brewing Company brings back a tried-and-true classic recipe for a special one-time release as the city’s official anniversary lager. Mountain Mama German Style Helles Lager tapped at the brewing company this week to celebrate the silver anniversary of Lone Tree, Colorado.

Since its inception as a city in 1995, Lone Tree has evolved quickly to become one of the states fastest-growing cities. Lone Tree Brewing Company came along in 2011 as the city’s first brewery. “The South Denver Metro area  needed a brewery, and we’ve been proud to call this community home,” says Lone Tree Founder John Winter. “Our community has embraced this tasting room as their third place, for their gatherings and causes. They’ve made us a staple in their fridges at home. We don’t take that lightly— it’s an incredible honor.”

“In Colorado, your city’s reputation is closely tied to the quality of your brewery," says Lone Tree Mayor Jackie Millet. "We are thrilled the award winning Lone Tree Brewing Company chose to grow their business in our city! Thanks for helping us celebrate and commemorate the City’s incorporation with the creation of the Anniversary Lager!”

The anniversary lager, a German Style Helles recipe, will be available on draft and in canned 6-packs at the brewery on Park Meadows Drive. Cans will also be available at local accounts like Lukas Liquors, Highlands Wine Seller, and Safeway on Yosemite and Lincoln while supplies last.

For more information about Lone Tree’s 25th anniversary lager made by Lone Tree Brewing Company, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING COMPANY

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery in Lone Tree, Colorado that opened near Park Meadows Mall in 2011. The neighborhood-focused, family-friendly brewery and tasting room regularly hosts community events that gather around a stylistically diverse lineup of flagship, seasonal, and limited release beers. Lone Tree’s cans are sold across the state of Colorado, and in select locations in Kansas. Its draft beer is poured at many bars and restaurants across its distribution footprint as well. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Craft Industry COVID-19 Update - June 9, 2020

Photo by Rachel Cross

Each week we’re pleased to Zoom chat with craft communicators across the country through our #radcraftindustryrelief efforts. Last week, we talked about shifting beer sales strategies with Peter August of Karl Strauss Brewing Company and Mike Singer of Other Half Brewing Co.

Karl Strauss distributes through multiple companies, including their in-house distribution arm Karl Strauss Distributors for craft brands in Southern California. August leads Northern area sales, and offers the unique perspective of a time-honored (31 year-old!) brand making meaningful impact outside of home turf. August prioritized meaningful engagement with chain stores in the marketplace for larger brands that can accommodate the demand. “Who are the 20 percent of stores doing 80 percent of your volume?” he asked, demonstrating the value of consistent, high-volume accounts.

“More chains is a really good way to reach new audiences,” Singer adds. “Bigger placements get the product out there in front of a lot of people very quickly… or you could rent a truck and throw beer at people as you drive down the road…”

He’s kidding on that last part.

Other Half Brewing self-distributes, and before COVID sold mostly draft beer. The vessel may have shifted but Singer’s approach has not. “I’m still out in the streets and meeting with buyers personally; I’ve been masking,” he explains. “Part of my training is to always have samples to make sure our beer is getting in the right hands of people who understand the product. I use samples as part of the engagement and conversation. It would be really cool to send samples before a Zoom meeting with accounts,” he suggests to craft breweries.

We should note this RadCraft Industry Relief Zoom chat was Singer’s first. He’s oldschool— built his market for the last 14 years on personal relationships. When Coronavirus hit, he was on the phone personally calling everyone.

August was doing a lot of the same, though for transparency was furloughed from Karl Strauss until just recently. Now that he’s back to work he knows one of the biggest challenges will be selling more beer with less people. Getting distributors engaged in beer is valuable, he says. “That can be difficult when they’ve got a large book of brands, so give incentives.”

August also stresses the significance of hosting accounts and distributor reps at your brewery location, albeit difficult at this current time with so many of them operating at reduced hours and socially distanced capacities. If you can, he says, giving them that opportunity is key. 

Engage with distributors and all audiences for that matter, Singer echoes, by telling a story about your brand. “People rally around a great products,” he says. “A story always sells, especially if your audience cares about it as much as you care about it.”

Join us on the #radcraftindustryrelief zoom!

Thursdays, 3:00PM Mountain Time

Join this meeting here; Meeting Password: 223518

BYOB and tag #radcraftindustryrelief on social

Ska Fabricating #SexyCans Photo Contest Returns For Summer

DURANGO, CO—  The third round of the Ska Fabricating #SexyCans photo contest returns on June 1. This contest celebrates the thriving online craft beverage community and the rise of canned beverage artistry around the world. Ska Fab will reward this contest’s winner with a donation in their name at Plastic Oceans, a nonprofit organization raising awareness about plastic pollution.

The #SexyCans contest is every drinker’s opportunity to turn a picture of their favorite beverage can into an awesome prize! Beginning June 1, submit your favorite craft can photos to this contest by posting them to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #sexycans and tagging @skafabricating. Post as many entries as you like - the more, the merrier! Every participant will receive a package of winter Ska Fab schwag.

All entries are due by August 1, 2020 with the Ska Fabricating staff-chosen winner will be announced. All entrants must be at least 21 years old. Ska Fab will make a donation to Plastic Oceans in the names of the first, second, and third place winners. This organization was Ska Fab’s nonprofit partner for their 2020 Craft After Dark event that was cancelled in April.

The 2020 summer #sexycans contest winners will also receive swag packs from Ska Fabricating and their sister companies Ska Brewing and Oh Hi Beverages. 

For more information about #sexycans or Ska Fabricating, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT SKA FABRICATING

Founded by Ska Brewing Co-Owner Matt Vincent, Ska Fabricating automates packaging lines for craft businesses, specializing in depalletizers, palletizers, conveyance systems, rinsing, drying, fill detection and date coding products. With more than 800 customers worldwide, Ska Fab has the products and experience to help you increase your production while saving expenses. Learn more at skafabricating.com.

Craft Industry COVID-19 Update - June 2, 2020

Small businesses across the globe continue to take hits amid Coronavirus shutdowns and policy changes. From South Africa to Istanbul, North Carolina to Latin America, and beyond— here are 19 Coronavirus relief efforts that support the hospitality industry.

1. Three weeks after deciding to convert their beer tanks into giant soup-making tanks, Drifter Brewing Company has fed more than 75,000 people across ten different communities in Cape Town through Operation Soup-A-Heroes.

2. Laws Whiskey House released a single barrel selection to support Colorado Restaurant Response. This unique single barrel bourbon has been aged 5 ½ years and has flavors of wildflower honey, butterscotch and orange peel will also be available for sale at participating Colorado Restaurant Response restaurants in May. Find a list of retailers and more details here.

3. Hospitality Net has been adding special coverage with specific topics pertaining to the impact Coronavirus is having on the hospitality industry. Their page contains a growing list of resources with topics that pertain to the industry, with new ones being added as they become available.

4. The James Beard Foundation is committed to helping independent restaurants survive the crisis, rebuild stronger, and thrive for the long term through their Open for Good campaign.

5. One Fair Wage’s High Road Kitchens Program launched during the COVID-19 crisis. High Road Kitchens are independent restaurants that provide food on a sliding scale to those in need, as well as providing jobs for restaurant workers and act as a subsidy for responsible restaurant owners.

6. The United States Bartenders’ Guild National Charity Foundation provides emergency assistance grants to bartenders and their families.

7. The North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild launched the #NCBeerPledge to promote health and safety as businesses begin to reopen. “The #NCBeer Pledge is our industry’s demonstration of that commitment to you.”

8. Hi-Wire Brewing releases a beer to benefit service industry workers in response to the impact the pandemic has had on the industry. A portion of the proceeds from every 6-pack of Donate to Service Industry Workers by Drinking This Beer sold will be donated to the USBG National Charity Foundation and the North Carolina Restaurant Workers Relief Fund.

9. CORE: Children of Restaurant Employees is providing support to food and beverage service employees with children diagnosed with COVID-19.

10. Daniel Grieves reported on chef initiatives in Latin America in the article Sharing the table with coronavirus on 50 Best Stories. Grieves is writing a book to be called Restaurants at Home, featuring 100 recipes from 100 restaurants in Istanbul. All the money raised from sponsors as well as from book sales will go into a fund for restaurant employees in need in Istanbul.

11. The Restaurant Workers Community Foundation created a restaurant workers’ COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund.

12. After seeing the community enthusiasm for their COVID relief efforts, Athletic Brewing Company has pledged to continue their efforts till they reach $100,000 in donations to The Restaurant Employee Relief Fund.

13. The Independent Restaurant Coalition is lobbying Congress to advocate that the stimulus money and related programs pertain to and are tailored for independent restaurants. 

14. Shiner Beer donated $500,000 to the TX Restaurant Relief Fund, an initiative by the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation. The fund benefits independent restaurants and their workers impacted by COVID-19 by issuing grants.

15. The Brewers Association has teamed up with Bottleshare to create the Believe in Beer fund, which support breweries and state brewers guilds impacted by COVID. “We’re proud to join efforts with the Brewers Association to reciprocate the love and strength that characterize the craft beer community and help the breweries that make it so special,” shares Christopher Glenn, Founder of Bottleshare.

16. Distillers from all around the nation have been responding to the pandemic by pivoting their operations to include the production of hand sanitizer. The Distilled Spirits Council has created a COVID-19 Hand Sanitizer Connection Portal as a resource for distillers looking to produce hand sanitizer, including a map of distillers that are producing hand sanitizer, a list of necessary ingredients and supplies, and distribution methods.

17. Garrison Brothers Distillery, the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas, seeks to raise $2 million for COVID relief efforts with Operation Crush COVID-19. Rather than selling Laguna Madre, a limited-edition, 8-year-old bourbon, as planned this summer, they’ll be making all 2,004 bottles available elusively to donors who support their cause.

18. The Above and Beyond Foundation is dedicated to providing financial relief to help hospitality workers who have been laid off due to the pandemic. Learn more about their efforts here.

19. Pendleton® Whisky, who has close ties to the Western sports community, knows that many athletes within that community are facing challenges due to cancelled events and fewer chances to ride. They’ve donated $100k towards COVID relief efforts for their community.

Advice From The Trail: Odell Brewing on Media Relations

We got a chance to talk media relations shop with Kristin Wood, the Community Manager at Odell Brewing in Fort Collins, Colorado. Here she emphasizes the significance of relationships, specifically bringing online connections to life by hosting at the brewery. We know that’s not always possible, and we encourage breweries to get creative with swag packs, beer shipments, and other digital ways to create connections in other virtual ways that lead to longterm brand recognition.

Odell seems to get an array of media mentions every day. How much of the earned media that you get is organic? How much comes from your PR efforts? 

If you include social media, I would say 70 percent organic mentions and 30 percent are from press releases and beer samples around new product launches.

How do you choose who to ship beer samples to?

We start with a list of people who are in the industry. Then we add to it over time with people who we find organically when they write stories or mentioned us or people or publications who we'd want to pitch to.

Any tips for engaging influencers on social?

Get to know them on a personal level. Communicating via social media as a brewery is great because you can be fun and casual and really build rapport with your influencers. Comment on their posts when they mention you and always re-share their content.

How often do you invite media out to visit your tasting rooms? How often do you host? 

Whenever I see a social media influencer is going to be in Colorado, I always send a personal note inviting them to one of our taprooms. I often make a point to be the hone who hosts them, even if it's after hours because it's so cool to be able to meet this person in real life. 

Who form your team handles PR? Is that their full-time or part time role? How does that work integrate with the rest of your sales and marketing team?

As the Community Manager, I handle PR. It's one of my many hats but it blends well with managing the social channels since the line between traditional media and new media (blogs, vlogs, social media influencers, etc) has become so blurred.

What have you had to learn the hard way about PR? 

I studied PR in college and I feel like nothing I learned is relevant anymore. Social media has completely changed the landscape and rules of the game. Often I feel like I'm just figuring it out as I go.

Oh Hi Beverages Launches Online Shop For CBD Seltzer

DURANGO, CO— Oh Hi Beverages is stoked to launch an online shop for its CBD seltzer line. Mix packs and canned 4-packs are now available for purchase at cbdohhi.com.

Oh Hi’s canned CBD seltzer line sports the same four flavors as the company’s THC seltzers: Pomegranate, Grapefruit, Lemon Lime, and Ginger Basil Limeade. Each contains 15mg of fast-acting flavorless CBD isolate, only 5 mg of pure cane sugar, and 25 calories or less. These seltzers are available for online purchase in 4, 12, and 24-packs.

“We at Oh Hi Beverages are super excited to finally offer our CBD sparkling seltzer for purchase online,” says co-founder Jonny Radding, who is also the co-founder of Durango Organics. “This  will help our customers to conveniently order Oh Hi from the safety of their homes. We hope you enjoy our beverages as much as we do! Stay safe out there, Oh Hi fans.”

In December of 2019, Oh Hi Beverages first canned its CBD seltzer line to be distributed in Southwest Colorado through the Ska Brewing distribution network, and on Colorado’s Front Range through Two Six Craft Distributors. The addition of Oh Hi’s online store will allow customers from across the Lower 48 United States to purchase CBD seltzer for delivery at their doorsteps. 

For more information about Oh Hi Beverages and its THC and CBD seltzers, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT OH HI BEVERAGES

Founded in 2018, Oh Hi Beverages crafts canned THC and CBD seltzers in Durango, Colorado. Oh Hi Beverages is the brainchild of Aaron Miles and Jonny Radding, the co-owners of Durango Organics, and Matt Vincent, one of the co-owners of Ska Brewing and the founder of Ska Fabricating. Collectively Aaron, Jonny, and Matt bring a breadth of business, entrepreneurship, technical, and both cannabis and beverage-specific experience to this new hard seltzer company. Learn more about Oh Hi Beverages at ohhibev.com.

Ska Brewing Low Calorie and Low Carb Aggrolite IPA Arrives For Swimsuit Season

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing’s latest canned offering is a delicious sidekick for athletes and adventurists. The low-calorie, low-carb Aggrolite IPA is now available across Ska’s nationwide distribution footprint. 

Aggrolite IPA is a collaboration with one of Ska’s favorite bands, The Aggrolites, who played at the brewery’s 24th anniversary invitational in 2019. The Aggrolites started as a a compilation of two bands, one reggae and one ska in genre, that came together in Los Angeles in 2002 to create the soul and funk-inspired “dirty reggae music” that they’re known for. 

Aggrolite is light-bodied with slight citrus and pine notes from the use of Cascade, Mandarina Bavaria, and El Dorado hops, and a light golden orange color. This beer contains only 99 calories and 4g of carbohydrates per can, with 4.2% ABV. Aggrolite pairs well with bike rides, boating, and bikinis. 

Show Ska your Aggrolite activities with the #SkaAggrolites hashtag, and tag @skabrewing for a chance to be featured. 

Find Aggrolite at select retailers across its thirteen state distribution footprint, and in cans at Ska’s World Headquarters in Durango, Colorado. Please check the Ska Website, www.skabrewing.com, for adjusted hours and to-go offerings. 

For more details on Ska’s Aggrolite IPA, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award- winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, and Rue B. Soho. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Craft Industry COVID-19 Update - May 26, 2020

photo courtesy of Funkwerks

“In that power of self-control lies the seed of eternal freedom.” Paramahansa Yogananda

As the world enters into a re-opening phase, I find myself bristling at the phrase “new normal” that keeps getting thrown around. I react this way because of the state of flux we all currently exist in. I don’t want to accept ambiguous new rules and haphazardly written legislation. I’m a skeptical journalist— what can I say?

As we all navigate this next phase I can’t stress enough how important it is to pay attention and stay safe, but also to stay skeptical too. Listen to your intuition, do your homework, and triple check your facts from legitimate sources that aren’t censored. It’s difficult to know what’s right and wrong now, especially as government parameters seem to change by the hour. One thing you can always control, though, is yourself.

I can’t seem to find a good set of best practices for managing a pandemic, so I thought I’d share a personal compass I’ve developed over the last two grueling months. I’m not accredited in any way to share this list as any more than a blog post, from a friend.

STAY SELF AWARE

The person who knows your health and exposure status best is you. Tune in.

STAY RESPECTFUL

It’s a dumpster fire out there, and everyone kindles it differently. It’s hard to predict how we’ll react to something so life-changing. Be easy on yourself and others during this time, and always.

STAY CLEAN

Do your part, and that goes far beyond Coronavirus. At RadCraft we often share desks in the office, and our simple rule is leave the desk space as clean or cleaner than you left it. What if we all took that approach to all of the spaces we inhabited?

STAY BUSY

Read. Write. Color. Paint. Run. Lift. Hike. Bird watch. Organize your closet. Take a Q-Tip to your floorboards. Make music. Make love. Make memories. Whatever it may be— stay busy with the activities that fuel your passions. I don’t want to look back on this time as lost time, and I know you don’t either.

STAY CALM

I’m finding that equally important as staying busy right now is giving myself time to relax and decompress. For me, that’s logging miles on trails with my cattle dog and showing up daily on my yoga mat. For you that might be blasting 90s hip hop when you’re stressed (well I guess I do that too), or talking to your plants (fine, you got me). Whatever it may be, your nervous system will appreciate you for it.

Let’s hope this “new normal” is still a long way out. And let’s take care of ourselves and each other while we figure this shit out together.

Hang in there, friends!

— Em Hutto, RadCraft Founder + CEO

Craft Industry COVID-19 Update - May 19, 2020

Andrew Barrack is going live on the RadCraft Industry Relief Zoom chat this week!

I’m excited that I get this opportunity to work with Andrew, not just because he’s a great musician but also because he’s such a critical thinker. Behind-the-scenes, I’ve had the pleasure of picking his brain over a series of calls and Zoom chats in preparation for this presentation.

Andrew is committed to getting it right—sure he’s going to nail his songs, but more importantly he’s got a message for us that gives a voice to an often forgotten part of the community: musicians.

In the craft barley space, musicians often reside in the fringe as entertainers at events or occasional collaborators. They’re often forgotten in the bigger picture too, Andrew reminds me. Live music is a luxury; Venues are an amusement. Pandemic or not, these are easy components of our lives to give up on a budget— wants, not needs.

Musicians and owners of independent venues have needs too, though, and Andrew tells me he’d like to shed light on these artists that we often take for granted in the corner of the beer festival.

NIVA, a new coalition of independent venues, reported to Rolling Stone on earlier this month that 90 percent of its 1,300 member venues report they do not have cash on hand to last more than six months without federal intervention, and just over half of them say they do not have enough to last more than three months. Pretty wild when you consider this is just a sampling of the venues in the United States, and even wilder when you compare these stats to the 30 percent of brewing company that reported to the Brewers Association in April that they would shutter if forced to shut down for more than three months. As breweries are granted permission to re-open slowly, independent venues have no re-opening plan in sight.

“Can you imagine a world where the only venues were big box?” Barrack asked me in one of our conversations. We’re discussing how independent music related to craft beer, but sometimes he’s so passionate that he makes me feel like we’re solving worldwide dilemmas. “I would rather pay a little bit more to see one of my favorite bands in an intimate venue than a huge stadium with a half dome. We’re losing iconic venues to Coronavirus.”

If your brewery or distillery was focused on music before pandemic, Andrew can’t stress enough the importance of staying committed to relationships with bands. “You’ll have to get creative,” he says, “but if you had live music rock the livestream, or find another way to keep moving.”

Listen to Andrew Barrack’s tunes, and get his industry relief insight this Thursday, May 21 at 3pm MTN on the RadCraft Industry Relief Zoom chat.

(Zoom Meeting; Password:  223518)

Check out Andrew Barrack’s new CD In Seasons, available on Spotify, Amazon, YouTube, Apple Music, and Soundcloud. Cheers to indie music and beer!

— Emily Hutto, RadCraft Founder & CEO

Bierstadt Lagerhaus Releases Collaboration with Neighbor Finn's Manor

DENVER, CO— Bierstadt Lagerhaus and their RiNo neighbor Finn’s Manor have teamed up to release a beer sourced from Mexico. With strong roots in tradition, Bierstadt takes the four ingredients, water, yeast, malt, and hops, a strict Reinheitsgebot process, and their resurrected brew kettle from Germany to perfect the classic lagers they are passionate about. Although they are rooted in tradition, it doesn’t stop them from deviating from their three core offerings to create these seasonal “fun” batches of beer to enjoy, such as Cerveza Clara y Mas Fina Especial.

Our Content Editor Karen Mills caught up with Bierstadt Lagerhaus about this unique new beer. Here’s what co-owner Ashleigh Carter had to say.

What inspired this particular recipe?

We got the idea talking to Thomas owner of Finn's Manor (an incredible cocktail and beer bar). They have a great Mezcal selection and actually took their staff to Oaxaca to learn about it. He proposed the idea of a beer for Cinco de Mayo/spring that took actual corn from Mexico and we thought about it and figured we could pull it off as long as we were able to find the corn. Thomas looked around and found this company called Masienda that have loads of different heirloom whole corn from Oaxaca.

How did you decide on Oaxaca corn?

Pretty easily actually. Once we were set on how we could incorporate the corn, we got 6 samples from Masienda to choose from. We all decided unanimously on the Bolita Azul and Bolita Belatove, a blue and purple/red corn with really wonderful floral sweet corn aroma. We actually bought a little mill to grind it all up. We then used a cereal mash for the corn, cooled it down and added the malt, and treated it like one of our regular beers. Single decoction house yeast and fermented at 48F. I think it turned out great. Light, subtle corn aroma and sweetness, and balanced bitterness. Add a lime!

Any additional insights to the beer itself?

We loved this beer so much that we will probably make it every year as our spring seasonal. Not many collaborations or one-offs ever make it into the regular rotation but this was a really special and fun beer.

ABOUT BIERSTADT LAGERHAUS

At Bierstadt we craft lagers the traditional way, and nothing more. Discover what we believe at bierstadtlager.com.

Lone Tree Brewing Brings Back Summer Fan Favorite Pineapple Sour

LONE TREE, CO— Lone Tree Brewing Company brings a tasting room favorite, Pineapple Sour, back for the second year in cans. Pineapple Sour is now available across Colorado and in Kansas.

Pineapple Sour was the first canned release of the Branching Out Series in 2019. It’s a summer crusher perfect for all social-distancing outdoor activities including grilling, picnics, or enjoying a cold beverage in the driveway— six feet away from friends of course.

Pineapple Sour is a refreshingly crisp, kettle soured Blonde Ale with a subtle fruit finish created by more than 300 pounds of pineapple added during fermentation. The pleasant tartness is approachable and yields a low ABV of 4.5%, enough to sip all day. 

Find six-packs of Pineapple Sour cans  for sale to-go at Lone Tree’s tasting room, and at liquor and grocery stores across Colorado and Kansas. Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com for more information or to connect with the brewery.

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING COMPANY

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery in Lone Tree, Colorado that opened near Park Meadows Mall in 2011. The neighborhood-focused, family-friendly brewery and tasting room regularly hosts community events that gather around a stylistically diverse lineup of flagship, seasonal, and limited release beers. Lone Tree’s cans are sold across the state of Colorado, and in select locations in Kansas. Its draft beer is poured at many bars and restaurants across its distribution footprint as well. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Bonfire Brewing Continues Patio Expansion Project

EAGLE, CO— Bonfire Brewing broke even more ground on its continued patio expansion last week to increase seating and entertainment space for customers this summer. Bonfire is working closely with local partners to execute this project during uncertain times. 

The new additions to Bonfire’s award-winning patio include fresh concrete complete with sleeves for removable fence posts, adding an additional 500 square feet of safe, level, and licensed outdoor space for customers to enjoy Bonfire beers. Not to mention this upgrade means there will always be a shady spot for refuge from the Colorado sun, no matter the time of day.

Bonfire has always been deeply ingrained in the Eagle community, and this expansion is no exception. The brewery’s landlord manned a Skid-Steer that he owns to help haul concrete and level dirt, and a local contractor offered Bonfire an exceptional price on concrete so they could execute the project as inexpensively as possible. The Town of Eagle might be on a spending freeze in response to COVID-19, however they waived the permit and review fees, and provided technical support to help facilitate the project.

“One of the primary motivations for launching this project is to open up more outdoor customer areas in anticipation of continued distancing requirements, if and when we are permitted to reopen for on-premise service,” says Bonfire Co-Owner Andy Jessen. “It was always part of the original vision for the patio expansion, and now seemed like the perfect time to go for it.” 

Without bar hours to staff, Bonfire team members have been working on an array of projects to update the tasting room, this patio work included. While starting the demo work, the team uncovered a small piece of Eagle history— a portion of the original Town of Eagle sidewalk in pristine condition. It sits below the grade of the building pad, likely covered up in the 1960’s or 70’s. 

The Bonfire crew also saved the hops in the planter boxes that have been growing on Second Street since the brewery’s first summer of business in 2011, and will replant them in an expanded urban hop farm at the tap room this growing season. They are also rebuilding the planter box for the signature pine tree growing in front of the brewery in downtown Eagle. The Bonfire team also has exciting plans for expanded bike parking, and fun ideas for the first round of furnishings in the new space— stay tuned on their social media channels for updates as the project continues.

For more information about Bonfire Brewing or its destination patio, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT BONFIRE BREWING

Craft enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers gather around Bonfire Brewing in Eagle, Colorado, where the beers are driven by quality, curiosity, and community. Founded in 2010, Bonfire continues on their path of sustainable growth with cans of their year-round beers available in liquor stores and restaurants across Colorado. Gather ‘round Bonfire online at bonfirebrewing.com.