Them Changes

Hey there good people,

Don't get used to this picture, because them changes are about to blow through like a Polar Vortex... OK not exactly, because we are in Florida and there's a high temp of  67 here today. And there are no clouds in the sky. So Special.

The great news is: We received our construction permit from the folks down at the City of Bradenton building & planning, so you can guess what that means --- we're heading to the Florida Brewer's Guild Festival in Tampa this weekend to serve our tasty brew!!! Haha. 

https://floridabrewersguild.ticketbud.com/beerfesttampa2014


But seriously, construction is majorly getting into swing next week -- and we are more than anxious to construct a fine fine beerhall for you all to enjoy some exemplary & frothy beverages of exceptional character and quality. 

So, if you're like us, you may now let out a giant-sized "YEEEEEEEHAAAAAW!" Hopefully we'll see you up(or down) in Tampa this weekend. 

And, as always, thanks for all these years of encouragement!

A little panorama of your soon to be neighborhood brewery

So things are moving along at our little Brewery-In-Planning.  As you can see we are cozy neighbors with the spring home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, McKechnie Field.  Planned opening will be at the end of May if everything goes as planned. Until then, feel free to swing by and check out our progress -- late afternoons are usually best!  800 17th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205.

Festivus

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

December finds Little Giant Breweries' progress deep into all those things that draw a brewer away from the brewhouse, not the least of which is shopping. Which is actually the least thing that has kept me out of the brewhouse since I've done so little present-seeking thus far. Procrastination is key with a mad rush near the end of the month.

Luckily, beer IS being brewed. And even more importantly it is being kegged. Recently racked is a Little Giant Brewery Amber Ale. It's malty, it's a bit hoppy, it's alcoholic and almost Imperial by nature. Once you try it you might comment that it is "West Coast" in style. But, since we are on a West Coast ourselves, let's call it "The Other West Coast" American Amber Ale. We are on the Edge of the Beer Frontier after all. Visit the brewery and try some, who knows-- you might like it.

Also, if anyone has any advice on dealing with small, development-conscious town commissions or Planning & Zoning Boards, please feel free to weigh in. It's an adventure, if you know what I mean. That's where we are at in the ever-expanding development of our little community brewery here in Anna Maria.

Beers about ready to be tapped:
LGB OWC(Other West Coast) Amber Ale
LGB FMB(Festivus Miracle Bock)
Journeyman's Hefe-Weizen

Selah & Cheers,

MW

Craft Brewers Savagely Thrive In Slumping Economy

Interesting growth number for our industry. Keeping up with the economic stats of the industry gives me faith that the US Standard of living is going up and that Craft Brewing is a thriving industry. Although, it is true the sub-premium beer market(Busch, Shlitz, PBR, etc.) is booming while the US economy slumps. I shouldn't complain about this too much since my first sip of beer from my Grandfather Dziadzi's mug was Old Style formerly produced by G. Heileman. Tasty! Stats courtesy of The Brewers' Association.

* Growth of the craft brewing industry in the first half of 2009 was 5% by volume and 9% by dollars.
* Craft brewers sold an estimated 4.2 million barrels of beer in the first half of 2009, up from 4 million barrels in the first half of 2008.
* Overall US beer sales are down 1.3% in the first 6 months of 2009.
* Imported beer sales are down 9.5% in the first 6 months.
* Growth of the craft brewing industry in 2008 was 5.9% by volume and 10.1% by dollars.
* The craft brewing industry produced nearly 8.6 million barrels of craft beer in the US in 2008.
* The craft brewing sales share as of December '08 was 4% by volume and 6.3% by dollars.
* Total US craft brewing industry annual dollar volume is $6.3 billion.
* The US brewery count of 1,525 on July 31, 2009 is the highest total in 100 years. (2008 total includes breweries that closed during the year, and the July 2009 count is higher than at any time in 2008.)

Last updated on 8/17/2009

Lastly, here's a reply from IRI Data Guru Dan Wendel for a more local growth number(from Brewers' Association PowerHour teleconference in August):

8. I'm looking for annual craft sales trends for my home state of Florida. Can you give me some direction?

Answer: Craft Segment Dollar Sales are +8.6% vs. Year Ago. Case Sales are +2.4% vs. YA in Florida State Supermarkets based on YTD IRI Data Ending July 12, 2009.

Yeast Run

How long is too long, oh Lord? How long? When do you decide to stop re-pitching your ale yeast? Maybe, if you are a gambling man(or woman), you pitch it twenty times. If you like to play it safe maybe you propogate a new pitchable amount of our microscopic little helpers after nine or ten brews. I tend to want to keep it fresh and am cutting it off at eight brews. Without a QA/QC lab set up I have only my taste buds and fermentation log to determine how stressed my yeast might be.

So, with this in mind, it's time for me to fill up my VDub Diesel and take a trip to visit Brian & Kelly up at Southern Brewing Supply in Tampa. I'll probably just get a smack pack or two of 1056 and step it up into a pitchable amount from there.

With several special events coming up Little Giant is looking to brew some tasty delights that will make otherwise gentlemanly men slobber and seemingly classy women squirm.

Come down to Anna Maria and visit the BierGaarten, we get lonely in paradise.

Brews ready to drink right NOW:
Belgian Dubbel
Hellish Double IPA
Pine Ave. Pale Ale
BillaBock
Tail-End Hefe Weizen

Soon Come: Melly's Harpy Lager