Craft Beer Collective

Foothills Bottle Labels

Not long after the above picture from @footsales made it’s way online we find the first bottle label approvals for Peoples Porter, Torch Pilsner (22 oz bomber) as well as acquired brands Cottonwood Endo IPA & Carolina Blonde (both 12oz bottles) (with Foothill’s logo added to the artwork).

Foothill’s purchased the Cottonwood & Carolina brands (as well as equipment) from Mooresville based Carolina Beer & Beverage earlier this year and ushered in a new production facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that will be responsible for each brand.

© 2011 Craft Beer Collective / Away Team Media

Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

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Video: Foothill’s new production facility

Here is a look at Foothill’s new production facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Foothills Brewmaster/Co-owner Jamie Bartholomaus discusses the new location, acquiring equipment and brands from Carolina Beer & Beverage including the Cottonwood brands.

Plus the same producer posted this 10 minute documentary style video of the Asheville beer scene.

© 2011 Craft Beer Collective / Away Team Media

Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

Contact us at dave (at) away (dash) team (dot) com

Foothills, Big Boss news

After a big weekend for the Jolly Skull Beer Fest in Greenville, NC and the Sexual Chocolate bottle release event at Foothills brewpub in Winston-Salem comes more news from Foothills purchasing the Carolina Beer and Beverage brands plus Big Boss Brewing to introduce two new bottles this year.

Here are the links in case you missed them:

FOOTHILLS buys Carolina Blonde & Cottonwood brands
According to a release from Foothills Brewing, the acquisition includes Carolina Beer & Beverage‘s equipment, trademarks and brands. Among the dozen beer brands acquired by Foothills Brewing are the popular Carolina Blonde and Cottonwood Ales lines.

More at Greensboro News and Record

“We consider this strategic decision as very positive for the future of both our companies,” said Jamie Bartholomaus, president and brewmaster of Foothills Brewing, in a statement. “Carolina Beer wanted production of its beloved brands to be in North Carolina, and we are glad to accommodate. For those of us who enjoy a cold Carolina Blonde or Cottonwood Ale, rest assured that production will remain uninterrupted and the brewing integrity of Carolina Beer brands will be completely preserved as we transition ownership to Foothills.”

From Triangle Biz Journals

While this blog entry states that production of Carolina Brands will be moved to Winston-Salem the Carolina and Cottonwood brands are currently being contact brewed in Pennsylvania according to bottle label.

BIG BOSS to Bottle Blanco Diablo Wit & High Roller IPA
Brewmaster Brad Wynn said that the expansion should be complete in the next few months. The company already sells three of its varieties (Hell’s Belle, Angry Angel and Bad Penny) in bottles in local stores. Fans will find two additional beers in bottles this year — the Blanco Diablo wit ale and High Roller IPA. The Blanco Diablo six packs should be hitting store shelves in a few weeks, followed later by the High Roller.

From
News & Observer

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Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

Contact us at dave (at) away (dash) team (dot) com

NC Breweries at #GABF

Each year breweries from around the nation descend upon Denver for the Great American Beer Festival. The GABF is the biggest of the big beer festivals with four sessions over three days starting this Thursday going through Saturday. Twelve North Carolina Breweries will be represented there. If you are going here is the festival map and a breakdown of North Carolina Brewery booths:

Festival Grounds Map

Aviator Brewing Company F5 (Fuquay Varina)
Big Boss Brewing Co. F6 (Raleigh)
Carolina Beer Company F12 (Mooresville)
Carolina Brewery F13 (Chapel Hill)
Foothills Brewing J7 (Winston-Salem)
Highland Brewing Company J8 (Asheville)
LoneRider Brewing Company J11 (Raleigh)
Mother Earth Brewing J15 (Kinston)
Olde Hickory Brewery J17 (Hickory)
Pisgah Brewing Company J18 (Asheville)
The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery, Inc. J3 (Farmville)
The Mash House Brewery and Chophouse J12 (Fayetteville)

From the GABF website: 2,200 different beers, in 1-ounce tasting portions, from an estimated 462 U.S. breweries to the event’s 49,000-plus attendees.

http://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/

© 2011 Craft Beer Collective / Away Team Media

Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

Contact us at dave (at) away (dash) team (dot) com

Carolina Beer & Bevearge team up with Dallas firm

News for Cottonwood and Carolina brands: Press release reveals that Dallas, Texas based SunTx Capital Partners to become a majority interest partner with Carolina Beer & Beverage of Mooresville North Carolina

Dallas, Texas, August 10, 2010 — SunTx Capital Partners (“SunTx”) announced today it has acquired a majority interest in Carolina Beer & Beverage (“CBB”), a leading independent contract beverage manufacturer, based in Mooresville, N.C. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1997 by J. Michael Smith and John Stritch, CBB got its start when the duo acquired the rights and formula to the Carolina Blonde and Cottonwood Ales beer brands. Today, CBB has a reputation as a world-class co-packing producer for numerous national and international beverage brands. With an emphasis on co-packing specialty-sized cans, specialty plastic bottles and glass bottles, the company’s customers are many of the “who’s who” in the beverage world, including makers of well known malt beverages, distilled spirits, and energy drinks. Together, these represent the highest-growth segment of the functional beverage category, among other ready-to-drink beverages produced at the Mooresville Facility.

Mike Smith will continue to serve as CEO of the Company. In addition to Mr. Smith, the Company’s senior management team has more than 170 years of experience in the beverage industry, and a proven track record of managing growth while maintaining high quality standards.

“We are very excited about this partnership with SunTx Capital, which has a long track record of growing businesses, while building value and creating attractive opportunities for employees,” said Mr. Smith. “With SunTx as our strategic partner, we feel that we can take advantage of the numerous opportunities to grow. We believe that our existing customer and supplier relationships, efficient manufacturing capabilities and experienced management team will enable us to continue our superior historical performance and margin growth.”

Ned Fleming, Managing Partner of SunTx Capital, said, “We are very excited about the future of CBB and look forward to working with Mike Smith and his experienced management team. The functional beverage industry is the highest-growth segment of the beverage industry and we believe CBB is well positioned, through its attractive portfolio of strong customer relationships and continued focus on operational excellence, to capture increased market share and recognize substantial upside.”

About Carolina Beer & Beverage:
Carolina Beer & Beverage was founded in 1997 by CEO, J. Michael Smith and President John Stritch. The company is the creator and maker of a dozen, high-quality, draft beers sold and distributed in five mid-Atlantic states under the Carolina Blonde and Cottonwood Ales brands. The company has a reputation as a world-class co-packing producer for numerous national and international beverage brands, with an emphasis on co-packing specialty-sized cans, specialty plastic bottles and glass bottles. The company’s state-of-the-art facility in Mooresville, N.C. has a current capacity of 35 plus million cases annually, including the latest in high-speed can filling, batching, tunnel pasteurization and laboratory technologies.

About SunTx Capital Partners:
SunTx Capital Partners is a private equity investment partnership that works closely with management teams to buy and build middle market companies. Founded in 2000, and headquartered in Dallas, SunTx has approximately $600 million of assets under management. The capital committed by SunTx comes from the principals of SunTx as well as from institutional investors, including leading university endowments and corporate and public pension funds.

location of press release (PDF)

© 2011 Craft Beer Collective / Away Team Media

Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

Contact us at dave (at) away (dash) team (dot) com

Carolina Beer & Beverage receive grant

Carolina Beer & Beverage receive grant to increase energy drink production:

Brewery receives incentives to expand Mazeppa Road plant

Carolina Beer & Beverage LLC, the Mooresville-based brewer of Carolina Blonde beer and other beverages, received an incentive grant from the Iredell County commissioners last week to add a manufacturing line at its Mazeppa Road plant for the energy drink industry.

The project will add 19 jobs immediately and up to 40 eventually, chief executive officer Michael Smith told the commissioners.

The board voted 4-1 to award a grant ranging from $51,385 to $58,395 over five years, based on the company’s planned $4.4million to $5million investment. Keadle voted no.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/

© 2011 Craft Beer Collective / Away Team Media

Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

Contact us at dave (at) away (dash) team (dot) com

Home Brew competition

Press Release: Charlotte, NC — Homebrewers from throughout the Carolinas and across the US have an opportunity to showcase their original beers at the 20th annual US Open Homebrew Competition, on May 15th, 2010. The competition will be judged at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery in Charlotte.

The US Open competition will be open to 28 nationally recognized beer, mead and cider categories. Prizes consist of ribbons for each category, with the winners of each flight then narrowed to three Best of Show awards. Also to be awarded is the highly coveted Gambrinus Cup; the winning recipe of this prestigious competition will be brewed on a commercial scale by Carolina Beer & Beverage and offered to the public as a premium beer at the 2010 Carolina Renaissance Festival, Saturdays & Sundays, October 9th – November 21st. This year’s Gambrinus Cup will be chosen from the top entries in the following beer styles: Extra Special/Best Bitter (8C) and English IPA (14A).

Arguably a more diversely flavored beverage than wine, beer is a complex collection of a wide range of ingredients. Amateur brewers must carefully calculate the ratio of various malts, hops and yeast along with precision timing for boiling, cooling, fermenting, and storage. Slight variation and any one of the many ingredients and steps in the brewing process can seriously change the beer’s flavor and affect the category in which the beer may be entered. Judges in the US Open have undergone rigorous Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) training, enabling them to successfully identify top-quality beer by smell, appearance and flavor.

The US Open Homebrew Competition will be hosted by the Carolina BrewMasters, a non-profit club whose members are dedicated to the time-honored craft of beer brewing, and is sponsored by Carolina Beer & Beverage and The Carolina Renaissance Festival. Amateur homebrewers who are interested in entering the competition can learn more online at www.carolinabrewmasters.com.

More information about Carolina Beer & Beverage can be found online at www.carolinablonde.com. More information about the Carolina Renaissance Festival can be found online at www.royalfaires.com/carolina.

© 2011 Craft Beer Collective / Away Team Media

Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

Contact us at dave (at) away (dash) team (dot) com