"Craft" Beer

My last post, the article published by The Chicago Tribune about Goose Island closing their brewpub and the general happenings surrounding Half Acre Beer Co , got me thinking. The Brewers Association, and subsequently the Chicago Tribune, knocked Goose Island for not being a “Craft,” beer company because more than 25% of their company is owned by a “Non-Craft,” beer company, referring to Widmer Brothers / Anhueser-Busch. To me, this is crazy.

Dictionary.com defines the word craft as an art, trade, or occupation requiring special skill, esp. manual skill. I think I personally think about craft along the same lines. What I don’t get is why anyone would base a classification of craft based on who owns how much of something. I would think the classification would directly relate to how they go about making what it is they make. Thinking about it based on ownership would allow a company that was 100% independently owned and operated to defrost some sort of beer popsicle into a bottle, put a cap on it and they’d be a “craft,” beer company just the same as if they were going to great lengths to foster thoughtful practices mindful of actual craftsmenship.

We chose to begin our company with the help of another brewing company in Black River Falls, WI. We develop our own recipes then brew them with the help of their staff. This was much less expensive and a way for us to build some awareness, productions numbers and know-how before plunging face first into building a brewery. To most people, they couldn’t care less. They’re excited that we offer more beer to Chicago and that we’re out there giving it a shot and making things work in the way that makes sense to us. However, there is a small group of folks that this bothers. To them, we’re not as true to the ‘craft’ and our process is somehow tainted. We’re up-front about our process and why we chose this route. Our beer is brewed in small batches, by hand with the best ingredients mother nature has to offer, but because our staff is also employed by another brewing co, we’re offending an unwritten rule.

All in all, regardless of who is defining whom as what, people have to make decisions that respect the best interests of the people and products involved. I’m sure John Hall isn’t losing any sleep over other people’s definition of Goose Island’s process, but how can it not be a thorn in his side when his company has been making beer by hand for 20 years.

Me on the other hand, obviously I’m a little prickly, and more than once I’ve refrained from laying into someone with an explanation on how hard it is to get something like this off the ground. But then I remember that we have a fun company that has positive intentions for the brewing community, respect the integrity of the brewing process and appreciate the people nice enough to buy our beer.

Brewery tours available soon....

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Landlord Strangles Goose

After 20 years of expanding the minds of Chicago beer drinkers, The Goose Island Brewpub will close its doors at the end of this year. It’s a shame because that brewpub helped to make a name for craft beer in Chicago. The beer brewed at that location opened the eyes of many folks to the fact that better beer was worth their time and money. It helped to show people that beer comes in many shades and can offer a wide array of experiences. Somebody had to pave the way and Goose Island had a large hand in all that. Not to mention that they house the classroom for The Siebel Institute, one of America’s leading educational institutions for the brewing industry. But, Siebel will find another home – it might even spur a new direction in how they go about their process, and The Hall Family can build or lease a new space – it might be the location of their dreams that alleviates any issues they’ve dealt with at that location for the last twenty years.

This must be a real bummer for Will, the brewer that makes all the beer at that location. I imagine he really likes his job and the wide array of beers he’s able to make as a result. It’s also tough for groups like the Chicago Beer Society that have met there for some time. You won’t find too many establishment owners that welcome groups of people who bring their own beer and take up space where paying customers might sit. That’s pretty great. It’s also tough for the many people who frequent that pub looking for a good beer that might not make the trip to Wrigleyville or the next location. The next entity that leases that space will likely be much less interesting and add little to the cultural fabric of Chicago.

The Chicago Tribune article that published the story talks about all this and also dives into their relationship with Widmer Brothers Brewing Co / Anhueser-Busch. With the help of the Brewers Association that debate their “craft beer-maker,” status. It’s kind of amusing, but that topic will be addressed in the next post.

Good Luck to the Goose, but at this point they don’t need it.

Building Our Brewery

We've been perusing the brewing forums of the world in search of a brewhouse that might be a good fit for our needs.  The industry is pretty robust these days so used systems don't become available often and when they do there are hungry start-ups like ours circling to get their hands on it.  

One such system became available the other day and we were mildly quick to make contact.  This is a good brewhouse that's seem some action.  It would be coming from a brewing co that has a great reputation and makes good beer.  I won't get any more specific than that should the ghouls of brewing who also want this system be reading these words, but it's good stock coming from good brewers.  

By the time we reacted we weren't the only ones.  These days a lot of purchases are made sight unseen, which to me is crazy, but I guess that's the way it can go.  Either way, our interest was tempered by this other "interested party."  We decided to keep full steam ahead and do what we could to feel out the opportunity.  Matt, my coworker who is heading up this part of the project, was going to fly out to this unnamed western state(remember the ghouls) to see it, but was going to be attending the Siebel Institute this week for a class on starting a brewery.  This class was expensive and stands to be very helpful to us.  

Well, after booking plane flights and hiring consultants and doing our due diligence we're set to investigate it to the fullest.  What's amusing is that when Matt attended the first day of the course today, he happened to be sitting next to a guy who was looking at buying a brewhouse in an unnamed western state coming from a respectable brewing co.  Small world -- the ghouls might be right next to you.  I had to laugh at that one.  The guy said that he isn't quite ready to make the purchase and we're now the lead horse.  We'll see what comes of this.

If nothing else, Matt will get to spend some time in a beautiful unnamed western state.

Gabriel

Half Acre Beer Co

www.halfacrebeer.com

Half Acre Hike Trial

On Saturday, with some great company, I did a dry run of the Half Acre Hike.  We began at the Monroe Harbor and hoofed all the way up the lake to 7000 North, hung a left and landed at the Heartland Cafe -- more than 70 blocks.  The whole walk took three and half hours.  It's a good walk, a walk most could do.  However, this case of beer will be a cumbersome addition creating a whole different challenge.  

At times during the walk I'd imagine myself with the case, the weight, and think that I might be in for not only a painful experience, but an impossible one.  Three and a half hours is a long time to hold pretty much anything, or do anything for that matter.  I'm really not sure, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.  

The worst thing that could happen would be the need to pass it off to someone walking with me, and that's not that bad.  The case will get there, and for right now, I think I'm going to be the one to get all the way there.

I just hope the weather is as nice as this past Saturday.  What a treat at the tail end of a pretty morbid winter season.

Gabriel

Half Acre Beer Co

www.halfacrebeer.com

Ale Gore

We’re working on putting out our next beer, specifically, an Ale. Saying that isn’t being that specific at all, and when beginning the process of conceptualizing the ale, we felt like there were many directions we could take this beer. Brewers have a good selection of tools to make beer unique and varied; hop variety, barley variety, yeast, quantities used, and length of process during certain stages of the brewing process, etc.

Our first year of business happened to coincide with a great hop shortage (as in you can’t find them) and an increase in all of our raw material costs. I’m not talking about a little spike that nips at margin, but 300-500% increase in hop costs and a heavy increase in the cost of malted barley. All this means that we have access to a much smaller array of hops that we can find and afford. No complaints, this is business and flexibility is necessary no matter what you do.

You might ask, “Where are all the hops?” The answer is complex and involves hop farmers cashing out to real estate developers, a large fire in a hop storage facility, and weather damage around the world. All these things will correct themselves; more farmers will plant hops because of the agronomic value, hopefully another fire won’t ravage so much of future yields, but this weather damage is unsettling.

Being a new business owner I find myself speaking with other business owners about what they do. I find that pretty much everyone is experiencing some sort of raw material or fundamental increase that’s chapping his or her ass. The fact that global climate is wacky isn’t a new idea. Al Gore’s been on the topic for a long time and his current foray into motion pictures helped to gain the issue some broad exposure.

I’m not Al Gore, not a meteorologist, scientist of any kind and have no education that would make me an authority on weather / global phenomenon, but I think things are a getting increasingly strange. I hear startling facts all the time. I come from a very small town along the Delaware River, and there is a 100-year flood plain. So people can assume that their home might get filled with water every 100 years. They’ve been flooded three times in the last 4 years. You hear all the time about places that used to have lakes and now they don’t. Places that used to snow don’t snow anymore. Snow comes where it didn’t. Hurricanes, Tsunami’s……

I feel like we’re on the verge of experiencing weather phenomenon that hasn’t happened yet. Earthquakes that shoot inner earth muck through the cracks they create. Raining sand. Waves of molten lava rushing our shores. I don’t know, but natures imagination is much more fantastic and destructive than mine.

I don’t know what the upcoming years have in store for hop farming or weather, but I hope to find some Centennial Hops that are affordable. I also hope that fire doesn’t blow through the air, etc. Either way, we brewed for the Ale today and hope that this batch comes out delicious. Hopefully, you’ll get the chance to try it out in the world sometime soon.

Gabriel
Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

www.halfacrebeer.com

Building A Brewery

As a company we’ve been fortunate enough to make a first beer that people enjoy, land in some good bars and have some loyal fans. As a result, we’re planning to build a brewery here in Chicago that will enable us to bring everything under one roof and take a huge step in the right direction.

In concept, it sounds like just a handful of steps; gathering up some cash, getting a space, buying some brewing equipment, getting a few licenses and you’re off brewing. The reality is also something like that, too, but underneath those main steps wait countless little struggles eating away at your sanity. Anyone who finds themselves brewing on a shiny, commercial brewhouse underwent these struggles, or works for someone who did. It’s certainly a right of passage – as I assume all businesses come bearing.

There’s another brewer in town who’s been taking these steps. Josh Deth is opening Revolution Brewing Co in Logan Square, a brewpub, which I’m sure, comes with twice the headache. Josh has been at it for some time and I know has made some quality headway. He even bought a 15BBL brewhouse that will wait to be installed until some of the paperwork goes through for the space he’s purchasing. I’m excited to have the presence of another brewpub in town, and more specifically, a brewpub in Logan Square that will likely be a nice place to spend time and drink quality beer.

We also have a packaging brewery start-up by the name of Metropolitan Brewing. This is a husband and wife duo that are taking the plunge and making a go of it. I know they’ve been generating interest from investors for a while and are now looking for a space to call home.

I guess this means there is somewhat of brewing resurgence in town, or at least more planned activity than the city has seen in a long time. Chicago could use more local brewers to offer its inhabitants diversity within their local selection. The Midwest is an underdeveloped craft beer market with too many people sucking down imports and Miller Light. People should drink what they enjoy, but a large brewing presence might catch the attention of folks stuck in a robotic shopping mode continually reaching for the 6-pack of Heineken.

As for the Half Acre Brewery, we’re looking for spaces right now and will build as quickly and best as possible. Hopefully you’ll come to see it, play some ping pong and drink some beer.

Gabriel
Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

www.halfacrebeer.com

Half Acre Hike

The Heartland Cafe in Rogers Park recently agreed to carry our beer.  Their establishment is located at 7000 N. Glenwood, and it will be the northern most place to sell our beer.  So, in an effort to raise some funds for a good charity and do something interesting, I'll be hand delivering their first case from 0 and the lake.  That means that I'll be walking 70 blocks or over 9 miles with a case of beer weighing over 30lbs.  The biggest question is:  Can I do this?  The answer:  I really don't know.  The good thing:  It's for charity, for fun, and there will be a bunch of folks walking with me to take that damn case of beer should I go down due to a vital failure of some kind.  I might blow a vertebrae.  

In order to prepare myself, I've been walking my dog with a case of beer.  I imagine people in the neighborhood think I'm some sort of crazy person who's always moving boxes.  Our cases are just plain, cardboard boxes without any fancy coloring or design that would highlight the fact that it's beer -- not that that would make it more sensible from an onlookers perspective, but at least people might think I was a dedicated beer drinker who goes out at 8am to grab the day's case of beer.  Either way, I'm out with the beer shifting positions every block or so in order to not max out each muscle group.

The other day I was out there waiting on a corner for the light to change with my leash-less dog sitting obediently beside me.  I hear some youngsters in a car saying "hey, that dog doesn't have a leash on him," and debating back and forth whether he did or not(I couldn't see them because the case of beer on my shoulder was blocking my view).  Once the light turned green I felt something hit my back, and then I heard the unmistakable sound of change hitting the ground.  The next instant the car was ahead of me and in view with a kid about 16 years old sitting in the back giving me the finger.  

My first reaction was, "you little sonofabitch," but then I kind of got a kick out of it. It was the most senseless act of mischief, but maybe something I would have done at 16, who knows?  I was on the circle in Logan Square, so I was hoping that they would loop back around so I could do something of equal immaturity in return, but they opted to exit the circle and terrorize other parts of town.  

It might be that area because a couple of days later (case of beer in hand) someone tried to sell me a puppy.  I think the case prompts people to take notice, then they include me in whatever they have going on.  This could lead to trouble -- or maybe great things.

Either way, I'll be out there with my case of beer.  And on April 26th I'll be walking it 70+ blocks to see if I can do it, and raise some cash for hungry kids living in Chicago.  Please come and walk with me, and thanks to all the generous people who have supported my walk, First Slice and the kids they help.  

If you'd like to sponsor the walk, walk with us or come to the subsequent party at the Heartland Cafe(starts about 8pm), then you can check out the events section of www.halfacrebeer.com or call us at 312 492 8494 and we'll chat about it.

Gabriel

Half Acre Beer Co

Chicago, IL