Oddbits: Ratebeer hacked, Sam loses money, new beers coming our way
What crap. Ratebeer.com has been hacked again. Ratebeer and Beeradvocate.com are the two primo Websites for the latest info on new beers. Sometimes I make a fuss when Ratebeer does something like proclaim the “best beer in the world.” But hacking is criminal. Here’s what Ratebeer co-founder Joe Tucker says.
- We were hacked yes. Apparently word had spread among the hacking community that we were vulnerable and a horde of hackers had descended on us. I have several security pros on the job and we will be back stronger than ever end of week. Joe.
Hang in there Joe. We’re with you….
Moving onward…the sagging economy has hit Sam Adams, the largest publicly-owned craft beer company. Boston Beer (that’s Sam Adams) posted a $295 million loss for the three months ending Sept. 30, despite a 6 percent increase in beer shipments to 501,000 barrels. Reasons for the loss include provison for income taxes after a brewery audit, the costs of the defective bottle recall that began last month and startup costs of the brewery the company bought in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania. However, Sam, in an SEC filing. warns that increased costs and economic conditions may cause a decrease in revenue for the rest of the year.
There’s another report out that cheap beer sales are booming, we’re talking Keystone Lager and friends. I may drink less in the future or go back to homebrewing, but Keystone? Yech!
My comment: It’s great the Obama won the election, but the economy is tanking and he’s going to have a lot of work cut out for him, to say the least.
New beers coming our way…. Sam Adams Chocolate Bock’s due out soon, this is a hugely, chocolate beaut. A new one from Grand Teton Brewing, Victor , ID.: XX Bitch Creek Double ESB marking the brewery’s 20th anniversary. The way I understand it is that after a lot of persuasion, the Beverages & More chain has agreed to sell the beer. It’s 7.5 percent, comes in a large, 33 ounce bottle. Don’t know what it will cost..
- Also Firestone Walker 12, a blend of barrel-aged beers, marking the brewery’s 12th anniversary: 12 and some of its component beers will no doubt be on tap next Saturday (Nov. 15, 2008) at the Bistro’s 3rd annual Barrel-Aged Beer Festival. Starts at 11 a.m., ends about 7 p.m. Admission: $35 buys 10 two-ounce pours. (Remember, these beers are mostly really strong.
Iron Springs, out in Fairfax in Marin County has begun a 22 oz., bottle-conditioned beer series. First in the series, proprietor Mike Altman says, is Epiphany. I’ve tried this one and loved it. Mike says it’s a hoppy amber, and won bronze at the 2006 World Beer Cup. A bottle, which can be bought at the brewpub, costs $5.99. Mike adds that it’s the first of several bottle conditioned beers. Next: a holiday stout and their 2007 barleywine. They’ll be sold at good beer spots around Marin and elsewhere in coming months, he adds.
Photo: Bitch Creek Double ESB.
Posted on Thursday, November 6th, 2008
Under: Barrel-Aged Beer, Boston Beer Co. (Sam Adams), Craft Beer, Festivals, Firestone Walker, General, Grand Teton Brewing, Iron Springs | 9 Comments »
