This edition of Six Things You Need to Know covers various craft beer topics in the Austin area.
“Where’s My Guinness?” Local Retailers Suffer at the Hands of a Distributor
An unexpectedly chaotic start to Reyes Beverage Group’s entry into Texas has turned into a public relations headache for the nation’s largest beer wholesaler. Delayed deliveries and out-of-stock shelves have caused ripple effects—including lost revenue—for breweries, bars, and stores.
Local Brewery Rebrands
In late March, Willard’s Brewery rebranded to Big Country Organic Brewing Co. Bill Gillies, Founder and CEO of Big Country explains, “We love craft beer just as much as we love the craft seltzer we introduced in 2021. We have an outstanding and very capable brew team, we have a certified organic production facility, and we have a dedication to making world class organic beverages for adults. There are a lot of great craft beers in the market, but there aren’t enough of them meeting the high standards to qualify as organic. We want to change that.”
Big Country seltzers were previously being brewed at Willard’s and Dan Wheeler remains as the head brewer.
Black is Beautiful Beer Documentary
The Black is Beautiful collaborative brewing project has reached another milestone with a new documentary by Marco Ortega. Watch the Black is Beautiful Short Film Documentary trailer here and keep up with the film on social media for screening dates.
Pink Boots Collaboration Beers Available Now
The Austin Chapter of Pink Boots Society has been out and about brewing collaboration beers with participating breweries using the Pink Boots Blend by Yakima Chief Hops. It will be another record year for Austin collaborations, so get out there and pick up the latest releases while you can! Stay tuned to CraftBeerAustin.comas we cover other upcoming beers from local breweries.
Meridian Hive Releases Blueberry Lemonade
From their press release: Meridian Hive is zesting things up with their new Blueberry Lemonade just in time for the spring/summer season. Marketed as a “blend of tart lemon and blissful blueberry.”, this sparkling beverage tastes like
“summer in a glass.”
Idle Beer Hall & Brewery (San Antonio)
Idle Beer Hall and Brewery joins forces with a make ready market. Per the press release: The River North neighborhood in San Antonio is set to become even more vibrant and exciting with the development of a new brewery, Idle Beer Hall & Brewery, slated to open next door to the food hall, Make Ready Market, this Summer. Nestled between Broadway and the San Antonio River on the same block as The Soto office building at 711 Broadway, the block in its entirety will serve as a dynamic center for the urban neighborhood. Utilizing two historic buildings surrounded by expansive courtyards, the Make Ready Block will be a natural gathering spot for residents, office workers, cyclists, and passersby to meet–day and night.
