Hop City Brewery Enters U.S. Market Launching "Barking Squirrel Lager" in Select US Cities
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MyBeer Buzz
(Brampton, Ontario, CANADA) – Hop City Brewing Co. an award-winning craft brewery, is the brainchild of brewmasters Kevin Gray and John Gagliardi, two longtime brewers who created Hop City’s first recipe, Barking Squirrel Lager, in 2009. They were thirsty for a tasty brew that was flavourful and complex, yet sessionable at the same time. After making its mark in its hometown, the guys feel that now is the time to hop across the border and share the brew with beer lovers across the US.
Introducing the head Squirrels: Kevin and John
Kevin and John craft beer that’s as dynamic as they are. They’re as comfortable coming up with new recipes as they are sweeping the brewery floor, ensuring their zeal comes through in each Barking Squirrel pour.
Things you didn’t know about Kevin:
Applied for a job at a brewery after completing his biology degree because his mother deliberately asked him not to.
Loves the satisfaction of creating a delicious end product, seeing its transformation from start to finish.
Hates the title brewmaster Fun
Facts about John
Started as a home brewer at the young age of 19, non-coincidentally, the same age he was legally allowed to drink
Grows Hallertau hops in his backyard, which he still uses in his home brews today
“We didn’t start brewing beer to win awards,” says Kevin, “but the fact that Barking Squirrel is being recognized worldwide as a quality beer is pretty cool. We never imagined that one day our beer would be available across North America.”
Adds John, “We have to thank Hop City drinkers for our success. We’re so lucky to have the job that we do, coming to work every day and doing something we love.”
What makes the squirrel bark
5% ABV, 24 IBU amber lager with a distinct rich burnt orange color
Noble hop aroma and bitterness from a blend of Hallertau Mittelfrueh and Saaz hops
Perfectly balanced by a caramel malt sweetness from Canadian Pale 2 Row, Crystal and Munich malts Accolades
… in a nutshell
2011: Two Grand Gold medals at the Monde Selection in Brussels, Belgium
2011: Best Standard Lager that same year at the 2011 World Beer Awards
Going nuts for it
Craft brewing is booming in North America:
According to the Brewers Association, “growth of the craft brewing industry in 2011 was 13% by volume and 15% by retail dollars.”
In an August 2012 report by BMO Nesbitt Burns, “Craft beers and specialty imports are gaining a greater share of the (North American) market from traditional breweries, catering to specific niche tastes and consumers’ growing desire for discovery.”
According to The Canadian Brewery Industry – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) “Canadian-brewed products have an excellent reputation that should help to strengthen their presence in global markets. The demand for new products, especially those produced by micro-breweries, seems to be increasing in the U.S. (and in global markets).”
Hop To It
Watch for Barking Squirrel Lager as it rolls out throughout the fall of 2012 available both on tap along with 16 oz cans & 12 oz bottles in select bars and retail locations in Arizona, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Minnesota.
An Acorn Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree
About Hop City
Hop City Brewing Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canada’s Moosehead Breweries Limited. Independently operated as a craft brewer, Hop City’s focus is to create and sell world-class quality beer while having as much fun doing so. Today, Hop City brews four beers: Barking Squirrel Lager, Lawn Chair ‘Classic’ Weisse, Happy Hour Pale Ale, and Mr. Huff Persuasion Pilsner. For more information on Hop City Brewing Company visit
http://www.hopcity.com or at http://www.facebook.com/HopCityBrewingCo
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