Riverbend Malt House Selected As Business North Carolina Small Business Of The Year

ASHEVILLE, NC, December 3, 2024— Riverbend Malt House was named one of the four top small businesses of the year in the 2024 Small Business of the Year Awards, sponsored by Business North Carolina Magazine.

2024 marks the 29th year of Business North Carolina honoring the contributions small businesses make to the state’s economy. Applicants must be based in the Tar Heel State and have been in business for more than five years, have less than 100 employees, and be independently owned and operated. Among 49 nominees, four winners were selected on the basis of demonstrated accomplishments in the preceding 12 months and success in overcoming business obstacles, supplemented with professional references.

“We are proud to receive this recognition of the great work of our employees,” says Riverbend Malt House Co-Founder and CEO Brian Simpson. “As the first craft malthouse in the Southeast and one of the largest in the country, we feel we have a particular industry responsibility to demonstrate that craft malt can help customers differentiate their beers and spirits through the use of high quality malt sourced from local, family owned farms and produced in an environmentally conscious manner. We call this ‘Malt with a Mission’.” 

Earlier in the year, Riverbend Malt House made the Inc. 5000 fastest growing private companies list for the third consecutive year. The malt house was also awarded a malt quality award in the prestigious Craft Maltsters Guild’s 2024 Malt Cup competition. “Great employees making great malt from great grain is our not-so-secret formula,” Simpson adds.

Also among the 2024 Small Business of the Year winners is Weldon Mills Distillery, one of Riverbend’s longstanding customers. The malt house extends congratulations and gratitude to them for their investment in local malt. Riverbend, Weldon Mills, and the two other winners RiverWild Construction and North Carolina Trailer Sales will be honored at the 2024 Small Business of the Year Awards Ceremony later this month. 

Media inquiring about Riverbend’s accolades can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT RIVERBEND MALT HOUSE

Riverbend Malt House is on a quest to connect Southeastern family owned farms and fermenters. Co-Founders Brent Manning and Brian Simpson launched Riverbend, the first craft malthouse east of the Mississippi River, in Asheville, North Carolina in 2010. Buoyed by a 70,000 foot production facility and state of the art equipment, Riverbend Malt House helps breweries and distilleries large, small, and in-between stand out with flavor, locality, and community in an increasingly competitive landscape— all the while challenging the status quo of corporate, big-agriculture malt. Learn more at riverbendmalt.com.

That Was Rad: #Riverbend10

That Was Rad is a series that tells the stories of projects and campaigns that we’ve crafted for our RadCraft partners. This installment was inspired when Laura Lodge asked me (Emily Hutto) about the most complex project we’ve done to-date when I was the Featured Contributor for the November 2023 Resource Group Session.

My answer is Riverbend 10. 

Riverbend Malt House is the first craft maltster in the Southeast that’s among a short list of those to credit for the Craft Maltsters Guild and the craft malt movement’s momentum in general. They came to us a few years back looking for communications support celebrating their 10 year harvest with a video storytelling campaign.

“Their story is massive,” I told the resource group. “And somewhat abstract to the general consumer. There was an education element; And there was a long- format and long-term storytelling element that we were just jumping in on, them having been in business for more than a decade already. We had to learn their brand on the fly, and integrate what they had already done with what we were doing, and have a lot of conversations to collaborate.” 

Then I point out the budget. Video production is extremely expensive in relation to the typical craft malt house and beer or spirits brand marketing budget, but it’s also so important for a small brand because it efficiently tells that story in such an engaging, visual format.

Fonta Flora Brewery

So how do you craft a video campaign for a well established but abstract brand on a budget? 

“Tell me you shot it on your cell phone,” said Laura. 

Yep. I loaded up my dog in my trusty Subaru camper named Dolores and drove to North Carolina to ask brewers and homebrew supply shop owners why they chose to invest in local malt. 

I had help from the talented Kevin Green, who accompanied me to interview some of Riverbend's earliest adopters and most enthusiastic supporters: Asheville Brewers Supply, DSSOLVR, Fonta Flora Brewery, and Fullsteam Brewery. Thank them for going down memory lane with us. 

Fonta Flora Brewery

More thanks are in order to the creatives Shelby Martin and Julia Weiman, who edited these interviews into the ebullient short film that became a focal point for the #Riverbend10 campaign. The breweries in the film and twelve others crafted 10 Year Harvest beers to celebrate. Each beer in this stylistically diverse lineup was made with the Riverbend specialty 10 Year Anniversary Malt: Sunset Wheat. A couple homebrew supply shops even offered it in limited stock. 

We debuted Riverbend 10 on YouTube as a finale to this campaign in April of 2022. The Riverbend team has looped the film on an iPad as part of their expo setup at several conferences since. 

Watch Riverbend 10 here. 

We’re very proud of all of its 11 minutes and 4 seconds; and glad to have spent the countless hours, engaged in the compelling conversations, and tackled the troubleshooting that took place behind the scenes.

French Broad Chocolate Company

There was one other complexity I didn’t mention to this resource group— when Dolores broke down and I had to stay in Asheville another week while three different mechanics failed to get her moving again. Stuck in Asheville is far from the worst place to be, and thanks to the Riverbend team I spent it in rad places with lovely people. The most memorable of those days was one touring the French Broad Chocolate Factory then drinking lagers while I read a book on the patio at Zillicoah Beer Co.  

Storytelling is at the heart of our work at RadCraft. I am honored that the Riverbend team selected us to help them tell theirs. Cheers to that, and cheers to them!

Lone Tree Brewing Celebrates 13 Years With A Bus Loop Between Tasting Rooms

COLORADO– Lone Tree Brewing, the first brewery in Lone Tree, will celebrate 13 years in business on Saturday, December 7 at both of its locations in Lone Tree and Parker, Colorado. A free shuttle service will be available to transport guests between the breweries, and each location will tap special beers for the occasion. 

After opening its second location earlier in 2024, Lone Tree’s tasting room teams wanted to plan an anniversary party that gave guests the opportunity to celebrate at both taprooms. Enter a brewery bus loop and a bonus beer. This service will run from noon to 8pm, and riders can enjoy a surprise beer available exclusively on the bus. Both locations open at 11am when they’ll tap a Maple Doughnut Hazelnut Praline Imperial Stout and Barrel-Aged Barleywine. There will be custom etched insulated mugs available for purchase at both locations while supplies last.  

At Lone Tree Brewing’s main location in Lone Tree, special tapings will include a Mocha Stout Firkin (noon), and a Mango Habanero IPA Firkin (2pm). The One and Only Jon Hamm will play live from 1 to 4pm, Mobile Screen Printing by White Rhino Printing begins at 1pm, and Silent Disco will close the night down from 5 to 9pm. 

In the Lone Tree Parker tasting room, a Mexican Chocolate Stout Firkin will tap at 1pm and a Toasted Coconut Black IPA Firkin will tap at 3pm. Lindsey Giffey will play live from 1 to 4pm, and Music Bingo will begin at 7pm. 

“Come for the beer, stay for the vibes,” says Lone Tree Brewing’s Assistant Tasting Room Manager Candace Peterson. “And then, get on the bus!” 

Find more information about Lone Tree Brewing Company’s 13th anniversary celebration on Facebook, and contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about the brewery. 

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING COMPANY

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery to open in Lone Tree, Colorado in Denver’s South Metro area in 2011, and has remained a local staple for more than a decade. Now deeply rooted in this community, the brewing company is growing friends at its two tasting rooms– the original location near Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree, and the recently opened Lone Tree Brewing Parker in the heart of Parker, Colorado. Find Lone Tree’s stylistically diverse lineup of canned beers in cans and on draft in Colorado and Kansas to enjoy with your buds. Visit the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Lone Tree Brewing Premieres Centennial Hat Trick IPA

COLORADO– Lone Tree Brewing is excited to release a brand new IPA crafted with nouveau Yakima Chief Hops products. The new beer, Centennial Hat Trick IPA, taps at both Lone Tree locations Friday and hits shelves across Colorado next week. 

Centennial Hat Trick IPA, named for its three Centennial hop ingredient additions, is a West Coast-style IPA brewed with American-grown Centennial hops, Centennial Cryo Hops®, and Centennial HyperBoost™ for a multi-layered flavor profile of citrus, pine, and tropical notes. The fact that it’s brewed in the Centennial State is an added bonus for its namesake. 

Yakima Chief Hops Cryo Hops® pellets are the concentrated lupulin of whole-leaf hops containing resins and aromatic oils, and HyperBoost™ is a concentrated hop oil extract intended to amplify hop aromatics and increase yield. Both of these products are made from single-hop varieties to deliver variety-specific aroma boosts to the finished beer. 

In nearly thirteen years in business now, Lone Tree has always experimented with different hop varieties and combinations, hopping techniques, terpenes, and other innovative hop products. “By using Centennial in all three forms (traditional T-90 hop pellets, concentrated Cryo Hops® pellets and now the concentrated HyperBoost™ oil extract), the resulting beer can hold a very saturated and layered hop profile with all aroma and flavor components shining through at the same time,” says Jerry Siote, Director of Brewhouse Operations. “Not only does it help the grower community continue to develop these products with our partners at Yakima Chief Hops; it also helps brewers accomplish a bold IPA with more yield to go around.” 

Centennial Hat Trick IPA debuts on draft and in canned 6-packs at both of Lone Tree’s locations on Friday, November 22. Hop lovers can find it in select establishments and retailers across Colorado through the winter season. 

For more information about this Lone Tree Brewing Company experimental IPA, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING COMPANY

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery to open in Lone Tree, Colorado in Denver’s South Metro area in 2011, and has remained a local staple for more than a decade. Now deeply rooted in this community, the brewing company is growing friends at its two tasting rooms– the original location near Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree, and the recently opened Lone Tree Brewing Parker in the heart of Parker, Colorado. Find Lone Tree’s stylistically diverse lineup of canned beers in cans and on draft in Colorado and Kansas to enjoy with your buds. Visit the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Bootstrap Brewing Wreak Havoc® Earned Even More Decoration at Prestigious Beer Awards Programs in 2024

Photo courtesy Brewers Association

LONGMONT, CO—  Bootstrap Brewing Company’s Wreak Havoc® Imperial Red Ale needs a bigger trophy case. Already one of Bootstrap’s most decorated beers, Wreak Havoc was honored with even more awards at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival® (GABF) and the 2024 Japan International Beer Cup.

Wreak Havoc is a smooth, massively hopped Imperial Red Ale that weighs in at 8.5% ABV. Seven different hop additions and the perfect mix of malts give this beer its unique flavor and aroma. 

Wreak Havoc took home the gold medal in the Strong Red Ale category that had 56 entries at the 44th annual GABF competition. Wreak Havoc’s GABF medal count is now three, having won silver in 2015 and bronze in 2016 in the Imperial Red Ale category. 

This famed beer also won a silver medal at the Japan International Beer Cup, which featured 1,423 entries from 370 breweries across 20 countries, judged by 90 international beer experts. 

“It’s always an honor when our brewing team receives well-deserved recognition for their recipes and brewing prowess,” says Bootstrap Brewing Co-Founder Leslie Kaczeus. “Especially when it’s for one of our time-honored flagships. We’ve been brewing this fan favorite since 2013, and we plan to keep wreaking havoc with it!” 

Wreak Havoc is available in canned 6-packs across Bootstrap’s international distribution footprint. Enjoy it on draft and purchase cans to-go at Bootstrap Brewing in Longmont year-round. 

Contact Leslie Kaczeus at leslie@bootstrapbrewing.com to learn more about Bootstrap’s award-winning beers. 

ABOUT BOOTSTRAP BREWING COMPANY

Home to best-selling and award-winning craft beers such as Insane Rush, Lush Puppy, Boat Snack, Medal AF, Stick’s Pale Ale, Chillax, Wreak Havoc, and Pickle Me Up, Bootstrap Brewing is an independent, adventurous brewery in Colorado dedicated to producing a wide range of highly drinkable ales and lagers. More information can be found on our website at http://www.bootstrapbrewing.com.

Fenceline Cider Winter Seasonal Bourbon Barrel Aged Cider Now Available

MANCOS, CO— The 2024 batch of Fenceline Cider Bourbon Barrel Aged Cider is here, and winter is coming.

Fresh boozy bourbon barrels still dripping with whiskey come to Fenceline from Honey House in Durango and Peach Street Distillers in Palisade. They are filled with high quality blended cider and aged for a year. Vanilla, butterscotch, toasted oak, and warm fruit layer together creating this rich and intricate cider. The 2024 bourbon barrel aged cider is the perfect drink to warm your soul in the cold months to come. 

Find this cold month seasonal on tap and in 12 oz. 4-packs to-go at the cidery in Mancos, as well as across Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. 

Media interested in sampling Fenceline Bourbon Barrel Aged Cider can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT FENCELINE CIDER 

Preserving the legacy of the American West, by upcycling wild and historic apples into distinct handcrafted cider. 

Rooted along the upper tributaries of the Colorado River, Fenceline was founded with a curiosity and admiration for wild and historic apples. Surrounded by thousands of abandoned orchards that continue to grow in Montezuma County’s rich soil and arid climate, we are committed to upcycling the region’s heritage apples and wild, one-of-a-kind varietals into extraordinary craft cider.

Reviving the region’s cider traditions, our cider is crafted with cold, slow fermentation — producing a drier libation, with complex flavors, and less sugar. 

What began by crafting a barrel of hard cider for a friend’s union from a handful of heirloom apple trees, has blossomed into the place for people, from near and far, to come together in the Mancos Valley, at our little spot on the river. Visit us online at fenceline.co.

Living The Dream Brewing Kicks Off Colorado Pet Pantry Drive at Gingerbread Powder Run Release

HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO— Living The Dream Brewing’s winter seasonal Gingerbread Powder Run is here, signaling the coming of the holidays at the brewery. 

This giving season, Living The Dream will collect pet food and supply donations for Colorado Pet Pantry starting on November 16 when the brewery will celebrate the release of the 2024 batch of Gingerbread Powder Run. Guests are encouraged to bring unopened, unused, and unexpired dry adult dog and cat food, canned dog and cat food, cat litter, cat and dog treats, toys, leashes, and collars through November 29. They can taste Gingerbread Powder Run on tap or bring home canned 6-packs, but only while supplies last.  

Gingerbread Powder Run is a variant of Living The Dream’s award-winning flagship Cream Ale, crafted with ginger and other spices from Colorado local Savory Spice Shop to strike a balance between spicy and sweet. Find it in canned 6-packs across Colorado through Colorado Craft Distributors. 

“We like to tie in our Gingerbread release with some kind of community giving,” says Living The Dream Founder Jason Bell. “Dogs especially are such a big part of our community at Living The Dream, and this year we are excited to support Colorado Pet Pantry’s mission to keep animals out of shelters.” 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com for more information about Living The Dream Brewing. 

ABOUT LIVING THE DREAM BREWING

Living the Dream Brewing is a craft brewery established in 2014 in Littleton, our home base for adventure in Colorado. Built on a foundation of brewing beer using only the finest ingredients, Living the Dream celebrates the people, places, and activities of the Centennial State. Live the life you've imagined, and join us at livingthedreambrewing.com. 

Hop Zombie Creeps Up On Lone Tree Brewing On October 26

LONE TREE, CO– For twelve years now, the legendary, award-winning Lone Tree Brewing Hop Zombie Imperial Red IPA will creep around the brewery for one day only: Saturday, October 26.

Hop Zombie is a big, bold IPA with a devilishly delicious blend of hops. At 9% ABV and a formidable 90 IBUs, it’s an unforgettable brew that generates a line out the door before the brewery even opens. Individual 12oz. cans, 6-packs, and cases of this limited edition IPA will be available for purchase— and expected to sell out by midday. 

The cult-followed Hop Zombie is the most anticipated beer release of the year at Lone Tree Brewing. Winning the silver medal at the 2017 Great American Beer Festival® only boosted its lore. 

Lone Tree gives this notorious zombie a fresh look each year for limited edition merchandise. This year, the Zombie was inspired by the 80’s. It’s fun and playful with vibrant colors— walkman, boombox, and windbreaker included. “I wanted to see our zombie friend enjoying himself, knowing next year for his 13th anniversary it will get pretty dark again,” says Lone Tree Brewing Assistant Tasting Room Manager Matt Glocke. “It’s always a party in the tasting room on Hop Zombie day, and this year our undead friend will be deejaying!” 

The first ten people in line will receive a free limited edition of the 2024 80’s inspired Hop Zombie glass. Guests who show up in the flesh can also purchase speciality glassware and t-shirts while supplies last. 

Media interested in learning more about Hop Zombie Imperial Red IPA can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING COMPANY

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery to open in Lone Tree, Colorado in Denver’s South Metro area in 2011, and has remained a local staple for more than a decade. Now deeply rooted in this community, the brewing company is growing friends at its two tasting rooms– the original location near Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree, and the recently opened Lone Tree Brewing Parker in the heart of Parker, Colorado. Find Lone Tree’s stylistically diverse lineup of canned beers in cans and on draft in Colorado and Kansas to enjoy with your buds. Visit the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Maine's First Malthouse Expands To Become World’s Largest Traditional Floor Malting Facility Outside Of Europe

Photo courtesy Ben Moore (@activebeergeek)

LISBON FALLS, ME— Last week, Blue Ox Malthouse celebrated the grand opening of its expanded facility, now the largest of its kind in the world outside of Europe. 

At 20,000 square feet with quadrupled floor malting capacity, Blue Ox Malthouse is an entirely floor malting-dedicated company that produces malted grains for the Northeast’s brewing, distilling, and baking industries since its start in 2013. This expansion significantly bolsters the region’s grain economy— creating jobs, investing into family farms across Maine and the Northeast, and adding value to products made with Blue Ox malt. It also augments Blue Ox’s ability to create more malt made with a diversity of grains (such as barley, wheat, rye, triticale, and oats), as well as organic, smoked, custom, and soon roasted products, for craft breweries and distilleries across the region and beyond. 

Commissioner Amanda Beal of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry was among the speakers at the event. She commended the expansion in her remarks, stating, “This development creates an opportunity for the growth of our grain sector, offering farmers access to new markets while also benefiting from working with grains as rotational and cover crops to enhance soil health. Additionally, this expansion provides high-quality ingredients for businesses to create value-added products, expanding opportunities for growth on many levels."

Town of Lisbon Council Chair Harry Moore Jr. also gave remarks, noting, “Projects like this one, which not only enhance traditional processes with modern equipment but also focus on sustainability and support for local farmers, are key to the development of communities throughout Maine.” 

“This expansion matters because alcohol is an agricultural product, and alcoholic production can play a  huge role in robust, resilient, vibrant local food systems,” added Blue Ox Malthouse Founder Joel Alex. “In order to realize this potential, we need value-added processes that build the infrastructure that connects this alcoholic production to high quality, local ingredients and farms. Food systems matter because people matter; and we all have such a personal, economic, and cultural connection to food. Food that is better for us is also almost always better for our community and the environment.”

Of more than 100 craft maltsters on the continent, Blue Ox is among a small fraction of them entirely dedicated to time-honored floor malting techniques— and now the largest of these committed producers. Floor malting is gentler on the grain, with less automation and more interaction with the process that beyond offering the market a more consistent, quality, and flavorful product, also builds good jobs in the state of Maine. 

Brewers, distillers, and bakers can browse the Blue Ox malt portfolio at blueoxmalthouse.com. Contact collab@blueoxmalthouse.com to place an order or discuss custom projects.

Media inquiring about Blue Ox Malthouse can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT BLUE OX MALTHOUSE

Launched in April 2013 by community organizer and homebrewer-turned-maltster Joel Alex, Blue Ox Malthouse is Maine's first malting operation that was founded with the mission of creating more robust, resilient, and equitable regional food systems. Blue Ox Malthouse seeks to push possibilities in craft beer and spirits by supporting shorter supply chains and thoughtful farming practices. Reinvigorating centuries-old floor malting techniques and tradition, Blue Ox is committed to these community-focused methods while constantly innovating to serve as a model for sustainable rural economic development. Learn more at blueoxmalthouse.com.

Living The Dream Brewing Oktoberfest Cans Have Arrived

COLORADO— Living The Dream Brewing is excited to release its popular Oktoberfest in cans for the first time. It’s now available while supplies last at both Living The Dream locations and at retailers across Colorado.

Living The Dream Oktoberfest is a beautiful orange-copper color with a toasted, malty aroma; a touch of malt sweetness and light caramel on the palate— with a dry and refreshing finish. 

“We feel like we’re truly living the dream when we can enjoy such artfully crafted German-style lagers with friends,” says Living The Dream Brewing Founder Jason Bell. “Our skilled brewing team, friendly staff, and amazing customers— plus their dogs!— create a biergarten-esque experience that so many of us resonate with from travels overseas.” 

Oktoberfest will be on tap and available in 6-packs at Living The Dream while supplies last. Canned 6-packs hit shelves across Colorado via Colorado Craft Distributors last week. Find a Living The Dream retailer near you on the brewery’s website Beer Finder. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Living The Dream Brewing. 

ABOUT LIVING THE DREAM BREWING

Living the Dream Brewing is a craft brewery established in 2014 in Littleton, our home base for adventure in Colorado. Built on a foundation of brewing beer using only the finest ingredients, Living the Dream celebrates the people, places, and activities of the Centennial State. Live the life you've imagined, and join us at livingthedreambrewing.com.

Lone Tree Brewing To Release 2024 Batch Of Vanilla Caramel Amber

COLORADO— Among the crop of Lone Tree Brewing beers made for the fall season is one of the South Metro Denver brewing company’s most talked about offerings: Vanilla Caramel Amber. This autumnal seasonal will tap at both of Lone Tree Brewing’s locations on September 27, and hit shelves and taps across Colorado the first week of October. 

Vanilla Caramel Amber is one of the brewery’s most requested beers among accounts in Colorado; it’s pack full of seasonal flavors but still super drinkable. The vanilla comes from beans and the caramel comes from caramel malt in this recipe. There’s no added sugar— only a generous addition of hops that balance its rich malt and toffee flavors.

Vanilla Caramel Amber will tap at both Lone Tree Brewing tasting rooms on Friday, September 27. Find it rotating on the taps and in canned 6-packs to-go through fall and winter. Also this season in Lone Tree and Parker, try Lone Tree Brewing Oktoberfest while supplies last; and Pumpkin Ale and Barrel Aged Apple Cinnamon Strong Blonde Ale.

Vanilla Caramel Amber is available on tap at select locations and in cans across Colorado beginning in October. Find Lone Tree beer near you on the brewery’s website beer finder.  

Media inquiring about Lone Tree Brewing Company can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING CO. 

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery to open in Lone Tree, Colorado in Denver’s South Metro area in 2011, and has remained a local staple for more than a decade. Now deeply rooted in this community, the brewing company is growing friends at its two tasting rooms– the original location near Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree, and the recently opened Lone Tree Brewing Parker in the heart of Parker, Colorado. Find Lone Tree’s stylistically diverse lineup of canned beers in cans and on draft in Colorado and Kansas to enjoy with your buds. Visit the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Third Annual Krispy King Lager Competition at Barrels & Bottles Brewery To Kick Off 2024 Great American Beer Festival

GOLDEN, CO— What’s soon-to-be the most sought-after lager competition returns for the third year at Barrels & Bottles Brewery just before the 2024 Great American Beer Festival® (GABF). The Krispy King Lager Competition is going down on Wednesday, October 9th. 

What began as a pre-GABF gathering of some of Barrels & Bottles craft brewery buddies has become a highly anticipated celebration of world-class lagers that are light bodied, pale colored, and ridiculously enjoyably crispy. In years past, the average ABV for beers on tap has been 4.8%. Barrels & Bottles Head Brewer Chris Munda calls it “a never ending search for excellence through crisp, delicious, palatable brew whilst celebrating togetherness.” 

This year, 35 breweries are coming from coast to coast to compete in this esteemed competition judged by expert professional brewers. The list of breweries include several Colorado locals Cannonball Creek Brewing, Call To Arms Brewing, and Wibby Brewing; as well as Russian River Brewery, Live Oak Brewing, Green Bench Brewing, and pFriem Family Brewers— just to name a few. Find the complete list at krispykinglager.com. 

The 2024 Krispy King Lager Competition is slated for Wednesday, October 9 from 3 to 7pm at Barrels & Bottles Brewery in Golden, Colorado at 1055 Orchard Street. The first, second, and third place competition winners will be announced at 6pm so guests have plenty of time to taste them before the event ends. To further boost FOMO, Trinity Cigar Mobile Lounge will be on site, Boss Battle Arcade Bus will offer free arcade games, Kneadful Rings will serve lager donuts, and TATtered-N-Torn will have a make your own trucker hat setup. Not to mention live music by Andy Eppler from 3 to 5pm, and A-Mac of Kash’d Out from 5 to 8pm. The Barrels & Bottles kitchen on site will be open with food specials, and there will also be wine and cocktails on tap.

Two small buses will be looping from the Denver Convention center to Barrels & Bottles during this event. Guests are also encouraged to travel safely via RTD Train Rail Station, Uber or Lyft, or designated drivers. 

The Krispy King Lager Competition is open to the public and free to attend. 

Media inquiring about this regal beer competition can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT BARRELS & BOTTLES BREWERY

Barrels & Bottles Brewery was formed in Abby and Zach George’s mind many years before they opened their first location in 2013. They met overseas and both found a passion for great people, food and drinks. Nowadays you can find them at their Camp George West location, either pouring you a beer, serving you food and or enjoying a pint with friends and neighbors. Learn more at barrelsbottles.com.

Fenceline Cider 2024 Community Pick Is Open

MANCOS, CO— Fenceline Cider’s Community Pick is back for the second year. Neighbors of the cidery in and around Southwest Colorado are invited to contribute their 2024 apple harvests to become Fenceline cider.

The Community Pick initiative was designed by Fenceline Cider to revive the region’s cider traditions while actively engaging local residents. Nestled amid numerous abandoned orchards thriving in Montezuma County's rich soil and arid climate, the Mancos cidery remains steadfast in their commitment to upcycle the region's heritage apples and unique varietals into remarkable craft cider. They assist those with trees on their properties in transforming their orchards into profitable ventures, all while reducing the waste of unused fruit. 

In 2023, Fenceline Cider had a record-breaking harvest season, yielding a total of 127,331 pounds of fruit. This total included 41,138 pounds harvested  from more than 75 different orchards located in Montezuma and La Plata counties through Community Pick.

For those with apple trees on their properties with the ability to harvest them, Fenceline pays 30 cents per pound of fruit. Apples contributed should comply with Fenceline’s guidelines and quality standards: Fruit must be properly ripe (ie. brown or black seeds), clean, and absent of leaves, rot, and large bird pecks. A minimum of three bushels must be dropped off in order to be paid; however Fenceline will accept any amount as donation. In exchange for three or more bushels of apples that meet these criteria, Fenceline will offer cider, a bar tab, or cash payment. 

Recommended drop off hours are Monday through Friday from 2 to 5pm at the Fenceline taproom in downtown Mancos. Please schedule ahead for large drop offs or alternative dropoff times by calling 970.533.4005. 

“The Fenceline team is only so big, only has so many sets of hands, and can pick only a portion of the area’s fruit in any given year,” says Fenceline Founder Sam Perry. “This is why we need community help to bring in the harvest. ‘Many hands make light work.’” 

Media interested in covering Fenceline’s Community Pick can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT FENCELINE CIDER 

Preserving the legacy of the American West, by upcycling wild and historic apples into distinct handcrafted cider. 

Rooted along the upper tributaries of the Colorado River, Fenceline was founded with a curiosity and admiration for wild and historic apples. Surrounded by thousands of abandoned orchards that continue to grow in Montezuma County’s rich soil and arid climate, we are committed to upcycling the region’s heritage apples and wild, one-of-a-kind varietals into extraordinary craft cider.

Reviving the region’s cider traditions, our cider is crafted with cold, slow fermentation — producing a drier libation, with complex flavors, and less sugar. 

What began by crafting a barrel of hard cider for a friend’s union from a handful of heirloom apple trees, has blossomed into the place for people, from near and far, to come together in the Mancos Valley, at our little spot on the river. Visit us online at fenceline.co. 

Lone Tree Brewing Company To Host Fourth Annual Charity Car & Bike Show For The Douglas County Bridge Transition Program

LONE TREE, COLORADO— Lone Tree Brewing Company will host the fourth annual Charity Car & Bike Show benefiting The Douglas County Bridge Transition Program on Saturday, September 7. Lone Tree has raised more than $20,000 for this nonprofit organization since the start of their partnership in 2021, and hopes for another successful year of donations at this popular event. 

Lone Tree Brewing Company is neighbors with The Bridge Program at its original location in Lone Tree, Colorado. In 2021, The Bridge Program moved its annual car show to take place in front of the brewery, with a silent auction inside.

“With the help and insight of friends who had hosted car shows in the past, the first event turned out better than anyone could have imagined,” says Lone Tree’s Director of Tasting Rooms Mike Webster. To-date, Lone Tree and The Bridge Program have hosted three car shows with auctions that in total have raised more than $20,000 in support of students and families transitioning from school into the adult world. 

The 2024 Charity Car & Bike Show at Lone Tree Brewing in Lone Tree on Park Meadows Drive will take place on Saturday, September 7 from 9am to 2pm. There’s free registration for those who want to show off cars and bikes and more than 40 auction items available. Donations to The Bridge Program are encouraged. Learn more here. 

“Our partnership with The Bridge Program extends beyond this car show and keeps growing year over year,” adds Webster. “We also create work opportunities in the brewhouse for students from the Bridge Program, and last year I was even invited to speak at the Bridge Program graduation party. We’re very proud to collaborate with this great organization.” 

For more information about Lone Tree Brewing Company’s partnership with The Bridge Program, or any other of its philanthropic efforts, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING CO. 

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery to open in Lone Tree, Colorado in Denver’s South Metro area in 2011, and has remained a local staple for more than a decade. Now deeply rooted in this community, the brewing company is growing friends at its two tasting rooms– the original location near Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree, and the recently opened Lone Tree Brewing Parker in the heart of Parker, Colorado. Find Lone Tree’s stylistically diverse lineup of canned beers in cans and on draft in Colorado and Kansas to enjoy with your buds. Visit the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Riverbend Malt House Named On Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies Three Years Running

ASHEVILLE, NC— Riverbend Malt House was declared number 3551 on Inc. Magazine’s list of the 5000 fastest growing private companies in America today. 2024 is the third year running that Riverbend has made the Inc. 5000 list. 

Inc. 5000 is one of the most prestigious ranking programs, representing top tier independent small businesses across the United States. Inc. 5000 status is conferred based upon a company’s cumulative revenue growth over the preceding three years. Riverbend’s 2024 ranking on this list is up from 2023 when they were named #3992 on the list of fastest growing companies.

For Riverbend Malt House, revenue growth over the past three years was 135 percent. Since its start and particularly over the past few years, this development is a testament to the value add of locally sourced and malted grains for craft breweries and distilleries of all shapes and sizes. 

A full list of winners including Riverbend Malt House can be found on the inc.com website.

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Riverbend Malt House.

ABOUT RIVERBEND MALT HOUSE

Riverbend Malt House is on a quest to connect Southeastern family owned farms and fermenters. Co-Founders Brent Manning and Brian Simpson launched Riverbend, the first craft malthouse east of the Mississippi River, in Asheville, North Carolina in 2010. Buoyed by a 70,000 foot production facility and state of the art equipment, Riverbend Malt House helps breweries and distilleries large, small, and in-between stand out with flavor, locality, and community in an increasingly competitive landscape— all the while challenging the status quo of corporate, big-agriculture malt. Learn more at riverbendmalt.com.

Living The Dream Brewing Seasonal Tangerine Powder Run Cream Ale Returns

COLORADO— The 2024 batch of Living The Dream Brewing Tangerine Powder Run Cream Ale is now on tap and available in canned 6-packs across the Centennial State.

Tangerine is among Living The Dream’s seasonal variants of the award-winning Powder Run Cream Ale. The base beer is a light bodied, creamy beer with notes of vanilla and a fluffy finishing mouthfeel. Like all of the brewery’s fruited beers, real tangerine is added to create subtle sweetness and citrusy flavors. Think drinkable orange creamsicle. 

“As enjoyable as Powder Run has proven to be on its own, we have also found it to be a fantastic canvas where we can create limited edition variants further adding to the beer drinking experience,” says Living The Dream Founder Jason Bell. “The refreshing addition of real tangerine really adds something special to the Powder Run line-up for the summer season.”

Tangerine Powder Run is freshly canned and available in Crowlers to-go at both Living The Dream locations in Highlands Ranch and Sterling Ranch. Try one on tap while supplies last. Find it in limited canned six-packs across Colorado via Colorado Craft Distributors. In most cases, where there is Tangerine there is also flagship Powder Run available for side-by-side comparison. If not, ask your favorite merchant to stock it. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Living The Dream Brewing. 

ABOUT LIVING THE DREAM BREWING

Living the Dream Brewing is a craft brewery established in 2014 in Littleton, our home base for adventure in Colorado. Built on a foundation of brewing beer using only the finest ingredients, Living the Dream celebrates the people, places, and activities of the Centennial State. Live the life you've imagined, and join us at livingthedreambrewing.com.

Ska Brewing Launches Swing Easy Peach Hard Tea: Less Talk Of Teabags, More Talk Of Taste

DURANGO, CO– In a world full of bad jokes about teabags and tea parties, Ska Brewing is here to change the conversation with something far more interesting: flavor! 

Introducing Swing Easy Peach Hard Tea— the newest addition to Ska’s beyond-beer back pocket, and the latest excuse to sip, savor, and maybe even skip the dad jokes.

Coming in at a sessionable 5% ABV, Swing Easy Peach Hard Tea is lightly carbonated, offering a tantalizing taste of sun-ripened peaches perfectly blended with just a hint of tea. Whether you're kicking back on the porch or raising a can at your own version of a "tea party," this hard tea promises to keep things refreshingly peachy.

"At Ska Brewing, we focus less on bad puns and more on bringing you flavors that knock your socks off—if you're even wearing socks," said Jeff Mason, Ska Brewing’s Sometimes Pun-Avoider. "Swing Easy Peach Hard Tea is our latest effort to ensure that every sip is as satisfying as it is refreshing, without needing a punchline."

Ska Brewing, already a household name (at least the cool ones) thanks to legendary brews like Modus Hoperandi and Mexican Logger, is continuing to explore new territory with Swing Easy. This hard tea is the latest in Ska's gluten-free beyond-beer lineup (which also includes Skagua bubbly water and multiple hard seltzer flavors) , proving that when it comes to crafting beverages, they’re always brewing up something good.

And if you're wondering where to find this new treat, Swing Easy Peach Hard Tea is available wherever Ska’s award-winning beers can be found. So, skip the teabags, avoid the awkward tea party jokes, and just enjoy the summertime flavor.

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Founded in the spirit of punk rock and a little bit of ska, Ska Brewing has been challenging the status quo and brewing beers that refuse to conform since 1995. From the iconic Mexican Logger to the rebellious Modus Hoperandi IPA, Ska Brewing is dedicated to crafting unforgettable beers and beverages that are as unique as the people who drink them. For more information, samples, or just to chat about how great peaches are, contact Ska Brewing at info@skabrewing.com or visit our website at www.skabrewing.com.

Media Contact: Kristen Muraro, Kristen@skabrewing.com

Bootstrap Brewing Bags Four Medals at the 2024 USA Beer Ratings Competition

LONGMONT, CO— At the USA Beer Ratings event, which took place in San Francisco this July, Boat Snack Hazy IPA and Medal AF Mosaic IPA won Gold medals and Insane Rush IPA and Lush Puppy Juicy IPA won Silver medals in the competition.

To receive this distinction, Bootstrap Brewing needed to score highly in three different categories - Quality, Value, and Packaging. All beers were evaluated by a high-profile panel of judges, all of them with commercial buying experience, ensuring that all beers scoring highly in the competition are those with broad commercial appeal.

In contrast to other international beer competitions, which focus on evaluating just a single variable or factor, the USA Beer Ratings uses a three-factor scoring system that takes into account the overall quality of the beer, its relative value compared to other beers in terms of pricing, and the overall branding and presentation of the beer. The goal of the USA Beer Ratings competition is to award and celebrate beers that beer drinkers actually want to drink.

According to Sid Patel, CEO and Founder of event organizer Beverage Trade Network, “this three-factor rating system is central to our mission of finding and awarding the very best beers in the world. We wanted to take a different approach to judge beers that really take into account the factors that consumers and beer drinkers use whenever they are deciding which beer to purchase in a store or order from a menu.”

The judging panel consisted of beer industry experts with extensive commercial buying experience. These judges assessed beers on the basis of three primary factors - Quality, Value, and Packaging. Quality refers to the taste and aroma profile of the beer, Value refers to the relative affordability of a beer vis-a-vis its peers, and Packaging refers to the overall branding and presentation of a beer.

“We were extremely pleased that our beer scored so highly in the USA Beer Ratings competition,” said Steve Kaczeus, Owner/Brewer at Bootstrap Brewing. “It’s further evidence that we are creating the type of beer that consumers want to drink. We take a lot of pride in crafting consumer-friendly, approachable beers that look as good as they taste.”

To win a USA Beer Ratings award, you will need to score highly in all three areas of the judging criteria. You might have an outstanding quality beer, but if the price and packaging are not right, you will not be recognized by the USA Beer Ratings.

Scoring System

USA Beer Ratings’ score is decided on the following judging formula:

Q (Quality Score) + Value Score (V) + Package Score (P) = USA Beer Ratings Score.

A separate weighted score is given for each of the three parts of the judging process. The scores are then calculated to give a final score out of 100 from which individual prizes are awarded.

Quality Score: Marked out of 100

Value Score: Marked out of 100

Package Score: Marked out of 100

Gold: To receive a Gold medal you need to score 90 or over.

Silver: Need to score between 80-89.

Bronze: Need to score between 70-79.

ABOUT BOOTSTRAP BREWING COMPANY

Home to best-selling and award-winning craft beers such as Insane Rush, Lush Puppy, Boat Snack, Medal AF, Stick’s Pale Ale, Chillax, Wreak Havoc, and Pickle Me Up, Bootstrap Brewing is an independent, adventurous brewery in Colorado dedicated to producing a wide range of highly drinkable ales and lagers. More information can be found on our website at bootstrapbrewing.com.

ABOUT USA BEER RATINGS

The 7th Annual USA Beer Ratings competition took place in San Francisco this July. USA Beer Ratings competition represents the perfect opportunity to get in front of influential judges, tastemakers and commercial buyers. An award from the USA Beer Ratings competition is a prestigious mark of approval that is highly valued by consumers when they are making the choice of which beer to buy. The organizer of the event is Beverage Trade Network (BTN), which also hosts industry events around the world and owns media assets and platforms to connect the drinks industry globally.

Craft Maltsters Guild Announces Inaugural Craft Malt Month, Slated For September 2024

NATIONAL— The Craft Maltsters Guild is excited to announce the expansion of the annual Craft Malt Week into Craft Malt Month in September of 2024. This is an excellent opportunity for the entire craft malt supply chain to showcase its talents and celebrate the craftsmanship of malt production. 

During previous Malt Weeks, members have invited customers to events, tours, and classes centered on craft malt. Now, they have an entire month to execute these educational activities; not to mention serve collaboration beers, cocktails, and spirits made across the continent in support of the Craft Maltsters Guild. Look for these events and collaborations to begin populating the calendar at craftmaltmonth.com, and check back often for updates.

Media interested in covering Craft Malt Month and learning more about the Craft Malt Revolution are encouraged to join a virtual Craft Malt Month press conference on Thursday, August 22 at 1pm Mountain Time. Meet the Craft Maltsters Guild’s new Executive Director Steve Kurowski and leading malting experts who will share story ideas at this event. Join here. 

All are encouraged to join the conversation by using the #CraftMaltMonth hashtag and tagging the Guild @craftmalting on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin, and X throughout September.

For more information about Craft Malt Month, visit craftmaltmonth.com. Media inquiring about Craft Malt Month and the Craft Maltsters Guild can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT THE CRAFT MALTSTERS GUILD

Formed in 2013 by eight craft malthouses, the Craft Maltsters Guild’s mission is to promote and sustain the tradition of craft malting in North America, provide services and resources to the Association’s members, and uphold the highest quality and safety standards for Craft Maltsters. Learn more about the Craft Maltsters Guild at www.craftmalting.com.

It’s Oktoberfest Season at Lone Tree Brewing Company

COLORADO— The 2024 batch of Lone Tree Brewing Oktoberfest is now canned and available at retailers across Colorado. Lone Tree is thrilled to bring a slice of the German Oktoberfest tradition to its communities in Lone Tree and Parker, Colorado where celebrations that feature this lager will take place on September 14 and 21. 

Lone Tree’s Oktoberfest recipe was inspired by Head Brewer Dennis O’Harrow’s time spent in Europe. It’s crafted with traditional European malts and German Hallertau Mittelfruh hops to emulate this classic beer style. This amber-hued beauty weighs in at 5.5% ABV, with rich, toasty and bready flavors, minimal bitterness, and a dry finish. 

Oktoberfest is available on tap and in canned 12oz. 6-packs at the brewery in Lone Tree, and at select locations in Colorado, and Kansas too. This seasonal lager will be the featured beer at Oktoberfest celebrations going down at each of Lone Tree’s locations in September— in Lone Tree on Saturday, September 14 and in Parker on Saturday, September 21. Guests can also enjoy live music, food trucks, and a beer puppeteer to boot. 

Festival-goers can also find Lone Tree Oktoberfest at Keystone Bluegrass & Beer Festival, Castle Rock Oktoberfest, Parker Brew Fest and Brew Fest Under the Stars this season.

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Lone Tree Brewing Co. and their favorite beer-drinking season. 

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING CO. 

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery to open in Lone Tree, Colorado in Denver’s South Metro area in 2011, and has remained a local staple for more than a decade. Now deeply rooted in this community, the brewing company is growing friends at its two tasting rooms– the original location near Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree, and the recently opened Lone Tree Brewing Parker in the heart of Parker, Colorado. Find Lone Tree’s stylistically diverse lineup of canned beers in cans and on draft in Colorado and Kansas to enjoy with your buds. Visit the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.