BSG’s Year in Beer 2023

There’s an expression apocryphally but probably inaccurately attributed to an ancient Chinese curse: “may you live in interesting times.” For craft beer, 2023 has certainly been an interesting time. In the face of increasing headwinds for our industry, BSG remains here to support you, celebrate your successes, and enjoy the beer you work so hard to craft. Let’s look back on the last 12 months and get ready for the next round!

 OILY EARLY IN THE YEAR WITH TNS HOP OILS

In January, we introduced TNS Hop Oils, a whole new line of fully-soluble, varietal- and style-specific hop oils for more efficient brewing.

“We wanted to make sure the aroma would come through, so a few days before packaging we added another liter [of hop oil] to boost it up. We tasted it the next day and saw the difference. Based on that – it was so easy. Just throw it in and get results.”

Read more about BlackStack Brewing’s A Word From Our Sponsors, a west coast style IPA brewed with TNS HopBurst® Nectaron®.

SOLID LIKE A HOP

Back in the world of cones and pellets, 2023 was a very busy year for BSG – some highlights include:

• Hosting Dr. Ron Beatson and Dean Palmer (the creator of Nectaron® hops and the first farmer to grow them, respectively) for an illuminating conversation right after the New Zealand harvest in April.
• Seeing our customers pick up on what our friends at Yakima Quality Hops have been putting down – this year Elani™ (the hop formerly known as YQH-1320 EXP) was turning up in more and more beers, including 1320 Fuel, a dry-hopped lager from our friends at Altamont Beer Works.
• Introducing the world to HS Grove™ during CBC – the latest addition to our proprietary Hop Solutions line, HS Grove is a stone fruit powerhouse with excellent biotransformation qualities.

I KNOW I’VE SAID THE SAME ABOUT THEM ALL

Speaking of the Craft Brewers Conference, it was great to see so many friends and colleagues in Nashville! We enjoyed sharing beers, stories, and beers with stories.

For more memories and products you may have missed (or remember), see our recap.

PRIDE IN BREWING

Each June BSG recognizes and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community’s contributions to craft beer. 2023 marked our third consecutive year donating to the Pride in Brewing Scholarship.

To learn more about the Pride in Brewing initiative, apply for the scholarship, or to offer your support, visit https://beerdabbler.com/portfolio-items/prideinbrewing/.

ON-DEMAND LAB SERVICES

New for 2023, you can access the same analytical equipment and expertise that Rahr Malting Co. uses to craft their Malt of Reputation.

Based at Rahr’s Official HQ in sunny Shakopee, MN, the Rahr Technical Center & Brewery provides testing and analytical expertise on barley, malt, beer, and other fermented beverages and ingredients. Outfitted with a pilot brewery, a micromalt lab facility, and more, the RTC’s dedicated team of scientists is available to help brewery customers improve their beer and brewing processes.

KOKUA RELIEF FUND

To help benefit those impacted by the Maui wildfires, BSG made an immediate financial donation on behalf of our staff and our customers. We also partnered with Maui Brewing Company to offer special pricing on malts and hops for use in Kokua Project beers.

TALKING YEAST WITH OLAF

Did you know that Fermentis has a very tricked-out R&D brewery? They do, and their head brewer Olaf Morgenroth paid us a visit this fall to tell us about the operations there, the beers that fire his imagination, and his top tips and tricks for successful fermentations. Read all about it here.

LOOKING AHEAD

As we prepare to turn the page on 2023 and get ready for a beery 2024 – from all of us at BSG, we wish you happy holidays and health and wellness in the new year. Cheers!