District St. Paul - Minneapolis
May/June 2010 - News

Star Tribune (April 2010) – Microbrew Economics. Sales of craft beer rose 9.6% for 2009. During the same time domestic premium beer sales dropped by 6.1% and premium light fell 2%. Brewing industry experts say the recession has hit the mainstram beer drinker harder than the craft-brew drinker. Even though craft beer costs more than standard brews, the craft-beer drinker is generally more affluent. Perhaps the most important and a key to craft brewers’ success is the evolution of the American beer drinker. Consumers are moving away from mainstream beer into the craft beer market. They are more educated about beer than in the past. Many craft brew drinkers would rather buy nonmalted beverages than to switch from the craft beers to mainstream beers. Bak in 1986 when Summit Brewing was first founded, craft beer was foreign to most people. Mark carved the niche for St. Paul. Summit Brewing has grown to the nations 19th largest craft brewer. Extra Pale Ale (Summit’s flagship brew) still accounts for 65% of its annual sales. 89% of Summit’s sales are generated in Minnesota. In 2008 Summit’s volume only grew 2% due to the recession, but in 2009 it grew 8%, a sign of rebound. Like Summit, New Ulm based August Schell Brewing co say a rebound in sales in 2009 after a significant decline in 2008. Surly Brewing Co in Brooklyn Center has continued to grow at a furious pace. This is not the case for the big brewers. Last year the nation’s top-selling beer, Bud Light had a 2.5% decline in shipments, the first decline ever. Coors Light only saw a 0.7% increase. Boston Beer Co., the nation’s largest craft brewer and one of the nation’s nine largest beer suppliers, shipments were up 11.8% in 2009.

Daily Camera (April 2010) - Earlier this month, 642 breweries from 44 countries and 47 U.S. states vied for awards with 3,330 beers entered in 90 beer style categories, the result of which was the world's largest-ever commercial beer competition. This year's World Beer Cup even eclipsed the record of the Brewers Association's own Great American Beer Festival (GABF). The World Beer Cup is a bi-annual, international beer competition put on by the Boulder-based Brewers Association. Almost a dozen Colorado breweries won awards, including Boulder's Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery, which won a silver medal for its Addiction Coffee Stout. Adding to the local excitement, the Louisville-based Rock Bottom Brewery brought home a whopping 12 medals at this year's World Beer Cup. Only 268 beers -- or about 8 percent -- of the 3,330 beers entered into the competition took home a prize. This further illuminates the achievement of Rock Bottom Brewery in winning five gold, two silver and five bronze medals, which is a significant increase over the company's four medals from 2008.

Beer Advocate (March 2010) Summit Brewing Company Releases Unchained Series India Style Rye Ale

ST. PAUL, MN (March 2010) - Summit Brewing Company announces its third beer in the limited release Unchained Series - India Style Rye Ale. Developed by brewer Mike Lundell, India Style Rye Ale is a medium bodied beer that infuses spicy rye malts and Citra hops - two ingredients never used by the brewery before. The Unchained Series gives Summit brewers the freedom to exercise their palatable instincts to create the ultimate craft beer, and pass mugs around in the process.

Our brewing crew really knows what makes a great-tasting craft beer," said Mark Stutrud, Brewmaster and Founder of Summit Brewing Company. "Mike's India Style Rye Ale is a perfect addition to the Unchained Series and really speaks to Summit's joy in knocking out bold, yet balanced flavor profiles."

India Style Rye Ale uses specialty rye malts such as Crystal Rye, Chocolate Rye and Flaked Rye, along with 2-row Harrington. The brew contains Summit hops for bittering and Citra hops for aroma. It's also dry hopped with Citra. And American Ale yeast gives the beer a nice, clean flavor.

The India Style Rye Ale will be available in bottles and on draught for a limited time starting the week of March 1. The next beer in the Unchained Series will be available in the summer.

Digital images of the Unchained Series are available on request. For more information about the brewery and Unchained kick-off events, please visit www.summitbrewing.com

Summit Brewing Company
Summit Brewing Company was founded in St. Paul, MN in 1986, and has stayed close to its roots, serving the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region. It is currently available in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Colorado, Texas, and Florida. Summit now produces eleven varieties of premium craft beer, including six year-round, four seasonal beers, and the limited release Unchained Series. Since its inception, the brewery has been a consistent pioneer in the craft beer movement.