NEWS
Thanks to our new partnership with Blue Ridge Beverage Company, Inc., we’re excited to expand our VA distribution footprint to Central and Southwest Virginia! On August 17, we’ll begin introducing our new Virginia friends to our lineup of year-round beers, current seasonals, and even a few draft-only releases.
Keep up with our launch events and upcoming beer announcements by following @GLBCinDCandVA on Twitter, and visiting our Area Events page. Get even closer to the action by tagging your posts with #MoreGLBCinVA.
Visit our Find our Beer page or contact Blue Ridge Beverage to find out where you can pick up your favorite Great Lakes beer.
About Blue Ridge Beverage Company, Inc.
Blue Ridge Beverage Company, Inc. was founded in 1938 and has been owned and operated by the Archer family since 1959. Blue Ridge Beverage is one of the largest, full-service wholesale beverage distributors in Virginia. Headquartered in Salem, Virginia, the company distributes beer, wine, cider and non-alcoholic beverages throughout a 49-county, 17-city region with facilities located in Salem, Waynesboro, Lynchburg, South Boston and Abingdon, VA. Blue Ridge Beverage and its 435 employees service more than 4,000 retail customers including supermarkets, convenience stores and restaurants. The company’s objective is to provide beverage suppliers with the most efficient and sophisticated full-service sales and distribution system in central and southwest Virginia. Blue Ridge Beverage is proud to represent many of the finest beverage suppliers from the United States and around the world.
We’re excited to announce that our brewpub will be featured in the August 7 episode of Michael Symon’s new Food Network series, Burgers, Brew & ‘Que! To celebrate, we’re hosting a live public watch party in our Beer Cellar, and we want you to join us!
About the Episode:
Bring on the Bratwurst
Mario Batali shows Michael his favorite late-night indulgence at New York City’s most classic burger joint, while in Nashville, Michael learns all about what make Dry Rubs the classic Tennessee take on smoked meat. And then, he visits his favorite hometown haunt where they pair Cleveland classics like bratwurst and pierogi with refreshing house-made brews.
About the Party:
The episode will premiere on Friday, August 7 at 10:30 p.m. ET. We’ll have complimentary themed appetizers like bratwurst and pierogi for our guests, starting around 10 p.m. At 10:30 we’ll turn the volume up and raise a toast to our beloved hometown chef! Arrive any time to join in the fun. The party is free and open to the public.
Great Lakes Brewing Company Partners with Bertman Original Ballpark Mustard
Cleveland-Based Brands to Launch Dortmunder Gold Lager Infused Mustard
Cleveland, Ohio July 22, 2015 – Great Lakes® Brewing Company (GLBC) proudly announces a collaboration with Bertman Original® Ballpark Mustard (BBM). The two iconic Cleveland-based brands are set to launch their new beer-infused Bertman Original Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold Lager Beer Mustard beginning early August, 2015.
An all-natural product, Bertman Original Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold Lager Beer Mustard is a collaborative recipe developed by Bertman’s product development chef, and tested among food retailers, food service professionals, shoppers, targeted focus groups, and by staff at GLBC’s Ohio City brewpub.
Made with GLBC’s well-balanced and award-winning flagship Dortmunder Gold Lager, the new beer mustard has a tangy kick, and is perfect for cooking, dipping, or as a spread on any sandwich.
GLBC brewpub chefs frequently incorporate beer into their housemade dressings, sauces, and soups, but partnering with BBM provides a unique opportunity to produce an inventive beer-infused product on a larger scale. “As experts in the mustard industry, we’ve joined forces with Great Lakes to provide consumers a taste of the best flavors Cleveland has to offer,” said Melissa Adell, BBM Media Manager.
Bertman Original Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold Lager Beer Mustard is packaged in 9 oz. bottles, which will be available at Northeast Ohio retailers, in metropolitan markets throughout the state, and in the GLBC brewpub beginning on August 10.
Have you ever traveled out of town and ordered a beer from your favorite hometown brewery, only to find that it doesn’t taste the same as it does back home? You might be surprised to learn that quality control extends far beyond the bottling line. We’ve always aimed to offer fresh and consistent beer to our customers in each of our markets, making our quality control team a key part of our daily operations, from lab testing to draught quality.
With fresh, consistent, quality beer in mind, GLBC hired Bridget Gauntner as a Field Quality Specialist several years ago, and recently Bridget joined the prestigious Brewer’s Association Draught Quality Subcommittee. We caught up with her to learn more about the new role, how it relates to her position at GLBC, and the importance of field quality.
How did you get started in the craft beer industry?
I have always been interested in trying everything new, so naturally I fell in love with craft beer. My first craft beer was a Great Lakes Burning River at a college bar near my University. I was studying biology and I had a great professor who always found a way to incorporate beer into many of our lessons. After graduation, GLBC posted a QA lab position, and here I am five years later.
When and how did you build an interest in draught quality?
There was a time that I didn’t think I liked IPAs. Then I had a fresh, clean IPA and fell in love. It made me realize that people often aren’t given a fair chance to enjoy a particular beer because its freshness has been compromised. About three years ago we started our field quality program, and I seized the opportunity to improve our customers’ experiences.
Why is draught quality so important to craft beer?
The commitment to maintaining quality beer doesn’t end once the beer leaves the brewery, and involves distributors and retailers as well. We work to ensure the beer tastes as the brewer intended. When kegged beer is being served properly, it’s the best way to enjoy a beer outside of the brewery. To steal a line from the Draught Quality Manual, “Even the Mona Lisa would look terrible in a museum with lousy lighting.”
What will you do in your new position on the Brewer’s Association Draught Quality Subcommittee?
I will help maintain draughtquality.org which provides information on maintaining and cleaning draught systems and much more. I’m also working with the rest of the committee on the newest edition of the Draught Quality Manual and will participate in draught quality workshops.
What do you hope to accomplish by becoming involved in the Brewer’s Association?
I want to further field quality research and build upon the information that has been written. I also enjoy educating others on field quality standards while proudly representing GLBC. I also think the strongest aspect of the Draught Quality Subcommittee is the fact that there are members from so many diverse breweries. Although we are all competitors, we’ve united to build quality standards. The more awareness that exists, the better the beer for all.
Life Outside the Lab
Bridget’s job calls for a lot of time on the road and, well, inside. However, one of her favorite pastimes away from the draught lines is spending time in nature. She makes a point of exploring parks in new cities and can be caught enjoying the sounds of Ohio’s many birds, identifying some just by their call. All that time outside keeps her senses keen, and she’s always happy to test them out with a pint fresh from the tap!
Learn More
To learn more about draught quality and the Brewer’s Association, follow the links below. And remember that a little light reading is best done with a pint of the finest, freshest draft beer in your hand.