8. PROFILES IN BREWING by Bobby Bush, author of "Beer & Loafing" Gary Greenshields - Greenshields Brewery & Pub / Raleigh NC Gary Greenshields is one of the South's true brewing pioneers. He labored for years in the mega-beer and soft drink industries, only to grow weary of the corporate world. Frustrated and jobless, he and wife Martha decided to take matters into their own hands. By March 1988, the cherubic entrepreneur had a business plan and backing from several banks. Eight months later, Gary signed the lease on a historic 1914 farmers market building in downtown Raleigh. Eight more trying months, with renovation and legal work behind them, the Greenshields Brewing Company brew kettle was fired for the very first time, establishing, in July 1989, only the state's second brewpub. That places Greenshields among the first 50 post-Prohibition craft brewers in America. The original Greenshields brewhouse was of English design. It was replaced in 1994 with a fully computerized 20 barrel German-designed brewhouse, eight 40 barrel fermenters and six 27 barrel serving tanks. Today Greenshields annual production hovers around 1,500 barrels. That output had much more significance back in 1992, when Gary was instrumental in convincing the state legislature, which meets just a few blocks away from his city-wise brewpub, to amend state brewpub law. At his urging, North Carolina brewpubs are now allowed to produce up to 10,000 barrels annually, five times what the statute initially provided. Born and reared in Ponca City, Oklahoma, by tea-totaling parents, Gary's favorite beer is Bohemian-style Greenshields Pilsner. It's also the brewpub bar's biggest seller. Greenshields Amber is the busy brewpub's oldest and #1 selling bottled beer. Other beers in the regular line-up include Greenshields Nut Brown Ale (Gary's Newcastle killer), Greenshields India Pale Ale and Greenshields Stout, a smooth beer that pushes the North Carolina 6% alcohol limit. Seasonal beers include a traditional Bavarian-style Hefeweizen, served with a slice of lemon. Greenshields Root Beer, made with cane sugar, satisfies the sweet tooth and makes a delicious Root Beer Float. Drawing on years of experience marketing Anheuser-Busch products, Gary recognizes the position, actually a specialized niche, for brewpubs. Instead of winless head-to-head competition, he takes pride in providing a better product than the big boys. His goal is to provide "high quality" beer that results in "high premium" pleasure for discriminating beer lovers. Success can be seen in his knowing smile. 214 E. Martin Street, Raleigh NC 27601 (919) 829-0214 Read more by nationally recognized beer writer Bobby Bush at: http://www.realbeer.com/library/authors/bush-b/ ====================================================================== Thanks to: Bob Gordon, Gary Fritze, Ryan Kurlfink, Brandy Thompson and Gordon Ryerson |
7. CALENDAR (see the Beer South calendar for additional festival details) June 22-24 5th Old Dominion Beer Fest - Ashburn VA July 21 4th Foam Fest - Little Rock AR 27-29 7th International Beer & Food Festival - Jacksonville FL 27-29 Oregon Beer Festival - Portland OR August 24 -26 The Great Southern Beer Festival - Memphis TN 8/25 8th Southern Brewer's Festival - Chattanooga TN September 15 5th Great Smokies Brewgrass Festival - Asheville NC 27-29 20th Great American Beer Festival - Denver CO October 6 2nd Capitol City Oktoberfest - Arlington VA 6-9 60th Brewers Association of America conference - Chicago IL |
6. RESOURCES One of our favorite resources, Pubcrawler, has come back to life. During the past few months, the site was often unreachable, and when it did come up, users quickly noted that much of the information had not been updated in quite some time. We are happy to report that Pittsburgh PA-based Areaindex.com bought the assets in January and is in the process of making it all better. Several existing features are being upgraded and other new features are being added, such as a new message forum and mail-to-a-friend links. Also, the site is now WAP (handheld-devices) compatible. Begun in 1995, Pubcrawler quickly became a popular tool for planning beer treks based on it's reader-contributed update on USA brewpubs and micros. |
2. OPENINGS SC / Fountain Inn - Mad Monk's Microbrewery (has reportedly begun brewing) 3. CHANGES AR / Little Rock - Chits Brewpub has changed it's name to Castaway Island Grill & Brewery. Omar Castrellon remains as head brewer. NC / Greensboro - Spring Garden Brewing has changed its name to Red Oak Brewpub. (Additional information above.) 4. CLOSINGS AR / Fort Smith - Weidman's Brewpub. This is fairly late breaking, but several reports have come in that they recently closed. |
Greetings, Editor's note: Due to Beer South's involvement as a sponsor in our local annual beer fest and a fairly slow news month, there was no May issue. 1. NEWS The Southend Steakhouse & Brewery company, with locations in Charlotte, Lake Norman and Raleigh NC, Jacksonville FL and Charleston SC, has been sold to the Charlotte-based Carolina Restaurant Group. No store closings are expected but assistant brewers at each location have been let go. Plans for an Atlanta site have been suspended and there's no word yet on possible expansion plans. Bluegrass Brewing Company of Louisville KY has completed the purchase of the brewery assets of Pipkin Brewing Company, which is also located in the city. Under the deal, Pipkin will continue to exist as an independent company with all brewing contracted to Bluegrass. Bluegrass made the acquisition in order to meet demand for it's growing distribution of keg and bottle lines, which had been taxed by the limitations of it's brewpub capacity. Bluegrass expects to open a tap room at their new facility soon. Rock Creek Brewing, based in Richmond VA with a brewery in Raleigh NC, has sold its brands to the newly formed Chesapeake Bay Brewing of Maryland. There's some possibility the Rock Creek name and brand may be continued by a southern brewing operation, but until that's confirmed, we have removed Rock Creek from our listings. Controlling interest in Johnson Beer Company of Charlotte NC was sold to its sales manger Louis Schleuger in late April. More details on future plans as they develop. Spring Garden Brewing in Greensboro NC, recently changed it's name to Red Oak Brewpub. Owners made the switch because they were more often called Red Oak Brewery by their customers due to the popularity of the signature Red Oak Ale brand. Additionally, the owners have announced plans to construct a new brewery nearby in the next 1-2 years and the recent purchase of the brewing assets of a non-defunct 40-barrel brewer was a step in this direction. Big Buck Brewery and Steakhouse, which has announced plans to enter the Nashville TN market in the Opry Mills shopping complex, and is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol BBUC, has just received notice it is in non-compliance with the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement. The Gaylord MI-based four unit company has until August 20 to regain compliance or face de-listing from NASDAQ. Should this occur, trading in BBUC, if any, would be conducted in the over-the-counter market in the so-called "pink sheets'' or on the OTC Bulletin Board. In that same vein, to follow up our earlier item on Avado Brands (AVDOC,) owner of the Hops Brewery & Restaurant chain, the company continues to look for ways to meet the aforementioned $1.00 minimum bid requirement. On May 2 at the annual stockholders meeting company officials reiterated their goals of reducing debt and increasing profitability in order to increase shareholder value. Shareholders authorized a one-for-four reverse stock split, which could be implemented to meet the NASDAQ listing requirements. On June 8 the company entered into an agreement to sell its 34 McCormick & Schmick's seafood dinner houses in an effort to reduce debt. July is national American Beer Month. Celebrate often and wisely. http://www.americanbeermonth.com |
The material presented on this site is based on information believed to be correct, but is subject to change at anytime. If you have an update, correction, suggestion or any other contribution, please send it to us at: beersouth@mindspring.com. We welcome your input. (c) 1999 - 2002 by Beer South. All Rights Reserved. |
The material presented on this site is based on information believed to be correct, but is subject to change at anytime. If you have an update, correction, suggestion or any other contribution, please send it to us at: beersouth@mindspring.com. We welcome your input. (c) 1999 - 2002 by Beer South. All Rights Reserved. |
June 2001 Newsletter |
Greetings, Editor's note: Due to Beer South's involvement as a sponsor in our local annual beer fest and a fairly slow news month, there was no May issue. 1. NEWS The Southend Steakhouse & Brewery company, with locations in Charlotte, Lake Norman and Raleigh NC, Jacksonville FL and Charleston SC, has been sold to the Charlotte-based Carolina Restaurant Group. No store closings are expected but assistant brewers at each location have been let go. Plans for an Atlanta site have been suspended and there's no word yet on possible expansion plans. Bluegrass Brewing Company of Louisville KY has completed the purchase of the brewery assets of Pipkin Brewing Company, which is also located in the city. Under the deal, Pipkin will continue to exist as an independent company with all brewing contracted to Bluegrass. Bluegrass made the acquisition in order to meet demand for it's growing distribution of keg and bottle lines, which had been taxed by the limitations of it's brewpub capacity. Bluegrass expects to open a tap room at their new facility soon. Rock Creek Brewing, based in Richmond VA with a brewery in Raleigh NC, has sold its brands to the newly formed Chesapeake Bay Brewing of Maryland. There's some possibility the Rock Creek name and brand may be continued by a southern brewing operation, but until that's confirmed, we have removed Rock Creek from our listings. Controlling interest in Johnson Beer Company of Charlotte NC was sold to its sales manger Louis Schleuger in late April. More details on future plans as they develop. Spring Garden Brewing in Greensboro NC, recently changed it's name to Red Oak Brewpub. Owners made the switch because they were more often called Red Oak Brewery by their customers due to the popularity of the signature Red Oak Ale brand. Additionally, the owners have announced plans to construct a new brewery nearby in the next 1-2 years and the recent purchase of the brewing assets of a non-defunct 40-barrel brewer was a step in this direction. Big Buck Brewery and Steakhouse, which has announced plans to enter the Nashville TN market in the Opry Mills shopping complex, and is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol BBUC, has just received notice it is in non-compliance with the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement. The Gaylord MI-based four unit company has until August 20 to regain compliance or face de-listing from NASDAQ. Should this occur, trading in BBUC, if any, would be conducted in the over-the-counter market in the so-called "pink sheets'' or on the OTC Bulletin Board. In that same vein, to follow up our earlier item on Avado Brands (AVDOC,) owner of the Hops Brewery & Restaurant chain, the company continues to look for ways to meet the aforementioned $1.00 minimum bid requirement. On May 2 at the annual stockholders meeting company officials reiterated their goals of reducing debt and increasing profitability in order to increase shareholder value. Shareholders authorized a one-for-four reverse stock split, which could be implemented to meet the NASDAQ listing requirements. On June 8 the company entered into an agreement to sell its 34 McCormick & Schmick's seafood dinner houses in an effort to reduce debt. July is national American Beer Month. Celebrate often and wisely. http://www.americanbeermonth.com |
2. OPENINGS SC / Fountain Inn - Mad Monk's Microbrewery (has reportedly begun brewing) 3. CHANGES AR / Little Rock - Chits Brewpub has changed it's name to Castaway Island Grill & Brewery. Omar Castrellon remains as head brewer. NC / Greensboro - Spring Garden Brewing has changed its name to Red Oak Brewpub. (Additional information above.) 4. CLOSINGS AR / Fort Smith - Weidman's Brewpub. This is fairly late breaking, but several reports have come in that they recently closed. |
5. PERSONNEL AK / Little Rock - Vino's - Bill Riffle to head brewer. NC / Charlotte - Rock Bottom Brewery - David Gonzalez to head brewer. TN / Chattanooga - Big River Grille and Brewing Works - David Sharpe to head brewer from head brewer at Rock Bottom in Charlotte NC TN / Knoxville - Hops - Billy Phelps, brewer for Knoxville and Chattanooga locations, has left the organization. |
6. RESOURCES One of our favorite resources, Pubcrawler, has come back to life. During the past few months, the site was often unreachable, and when it did come up, users quickly noted that much of the information had not been updated in quite some time. We are happy to report that Pittsburgh PA-based Areaindex.com bought the assets in January and is in the process of making it all better. Several existing features are being upgraded and other new features are being added, such as a new message forum and mail-to-a-friend links. Also, the site is now WAP (handheld-devices) compatible. Begun in 1995, Pubcrawler quickly became a popular tool for planning beer treks based on it's reader-contributed update on USA brewpubs and micros. |
7. CALENDAR (see the Beer South calendar for additional festival details) June 22-24 5th Old Dominion Beer Fest - Ashburn VA July 21 4th Foam Fest - Little Rock AR 27-29 7th International Beer & Food Festival - Jacksonville FL 27-29 Oregon Beer Festival - Portland OR August 24 -26 The Great Southern Beer Festival - Memphis TN 8/25 8th Southern Brewer's Festival - Chattanooga TN September 15 5th Great Smokies Brewgrass Festival - Asheville NC 27-29 20th Great American Beer Festival - Denver CO October 6 2nd Capitol City Oktoberfest - Arlington VA 6-9 60th Brewers Association of America conference - Chicago IL |
8. PROFILES IN BREWING by Bobby Bush, author of "Beer & Loafing" Gary Greenshields - Greenshields Brewery & Pub / Raleigh NC Gary Greenshields is one of the South's true brewing pioneers. He labored for years in the mega-beer and soft drink industries, only to grow weary of the corporate world. Frustrated and jobless, he and wife Martha decided to take matters into their own hands. By March 1988, the cherubic entrepreneur had a business plan and backing from several banks. Eight months later, Gary signed the lease on a historic 1914 farmers market building in downtown Raleigh. Eight more trying months, with renovation and legal work behind them, the Greenshields Brewing Company brew kettle was fired for the very first time, establishing, in July 1989, only the state's second brewpub. That places Greenshields among the first 50 post-Prohibition craft brewers in America. The original Greenshields brewhouse was of English design. It was replaced in 1994 with a fully computerized 20 barrel German-designed brewhouse, eight 40 barrel fermenters and six 27 barrel serving tanks. Today Greenshields annual production hovers around 1,500 barrels. That output had much more significance back in 1992, when Gary was instrumental in convincing the state legislature, which meets just a few blocks away from his city-wise brewpub, to amend state brewpub law. At his urging, North Carolina brewpubs are now allowed to produce up to 10,000 barrels annually, five times what the statute initially provided. Born and reared in Ponca City, Oklahoma, by tea-totaling parents, Gary's favorite beer is Bohemian-style Greenshields Pilsner. It's also the brewpub bar's biggest seller. Greenshields Amber is the busy brewpub's oldest and #1 selling bottled beer. Other beers in the regular line-up include Greenshields Nut Brown Ale (Gary's Newcastle killer), Greenshields India Pale Ale and Greenshields Stout, a smooth beer that pushes the North Carolina 6% alcohol limit. Seasonal beers include a traditional Bavarian-style Hefeweizen, served with a slice of lemon. Greenshields Root Beer, made with cane sugar, satisfies the sweet tooth and makes a delicious Root Beer Float. Drawing on years of experience marketing Anheuser-Busch products, Gary recognizes the position, actually a specialized niche, for brewpubs. Instead of winless head-to-head competition, he takes pride in providing a better product than the big boys. His goal is to provide "high quality" beer that results in "high premium" pleasure for discriminating beer lovers. Success can be seen in his knowing smile. 214 E. Martin Street, Raleigh NC 27601 (919) 829-0214 Read more by nationally recognized beer writer Bobby Bush at: http://www.realbeer.com/library/authors/bush-b/ ====================================================================== Thanks to: Bob Gordon, Gary Fritze, Ryan Kurlfink, Brandy Thompson and Gordon Ryerson |
