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Swap-a-Rama 2010

Swap a Rama at the Knights of Columbus Park

Cans Everywhere

The Start of a Can Dump.

Don R. With a Blatz Checking Out Potential Cans

Jed Not Happy With the Photographer

Patty and Mike Making Decisions

Food Crew hard at Work...Good Food!

Mr. Kevin and Mike Doing I Dont Know What

Raffle Prizes. So Much Booze and No Beer?

What You Looking at Willis?

Frank Finds some Great Prizes

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Swap a Rama at the Knights of Columbus Park

 

7-Eleven Selling Beer?

BERKELEY, Calif. - Quick, what's the third-largest beer retailer in the U.S.? Chances are you didn't know it's 7-Eleven. Now, the convenience chain is getting a step closer to the suds it sells, rolling out a store-brand beer billed as a premium brew at a budget price.

The launch, happening this month at stores nationwide, aims to take advantage of the current economic downturn — a long, cold one for beer sales.

"We're really working back from the customers' needs," said Dan Skinner, 7-Eleven category manager for alcoholic beverages. "They're looking for exceptional quality at a value price."



Game Day beer follows the introduction of the Yosemite Road private-label wines in 7-Elevens last year. The idea of the home of Slim Jims and Slurpees turning sommelier had some scoffing. But Skinner said the launch has gone well, with the wines holding the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the chain's wine sales.

Whether people are ready for 7-Eleven suds remains to be seen.

Al Everett, a web developer in the Washington, D.C., area who blogs about beer at hop-talk.com, is a craft beer enthusiast who wasn't sure what to make of Game Day.

"If I was tailgating before a game, I'd certainly consider it," he said. "It's probably not something that I would have regularly." Still, he was curious. "I'll certainly keep an eye out for it."

Game Day comes in two varieties. Game Day Light is 3.9 percent alcohol by volume and 110 calories per 12 ounces. Game Day Ice is 5.5 percent alcohol and 155 calories. The price is between $6.99 and $8.99 for a 12-pack, depending on local taxes and distribution costs, and 24-ounce singles are available for between $1.49 and $1.89.

The beer is being made by the 150-year-old City Brewery in La Crosse, Wis., one of the country's largest contract brewers.

The move comes as beer sales have softened — it turns out beer may be recession resistant, but it is not recession proof.

What happened is that customers have been buying more below-premium and budget beers. Premium beers still dominate, with volume at 1.5 billion cases in 2009, or about half of all beer sold domestically, according to data cited by 7-Eleven from The Nielsen Company and other sources, but sales were down compared to 2008.

Or, as TV's lager-loving Homer Simpson might put it, "D'oh!"

The plan at 7-Eleven is to capitalize on market conditions.

"We can give premium beers a run for their money," said Skinner, adding that Game Day performed well in taste tests, including among suppliers of premium beers.

This is 7-Eleven's second attempt at beer. In 2003, they introduced Santiago, meant to compete with imports like Corona, but ultimately unable to gain much of a foothold.

This time around, chain officials expect their focus on high value in a down economy will work.

Beverage analyst Benj Steinman was intrigued by 7-Eleven's plans, but not convinced they'll work.

"My attitude to it basically is — show me," he said. "Private label hasn't worked in beer so far." Steinman, editor of New York-based Beverage Business Insights, notes that Game Day "is a new wrinkle and 7-Eleven is very serious about its effort." But he says store-brand beers have to overcome brand loyalty as well as the fact there already are a number of different price points for beer.

"I'm not ruling it out. I just say, 'Show me'," he said.

Something Old Comes Back as Something New

The Gateway Chapters recent newsletter focused on the Falstaff mini keg that seemingly put them out of business. Miller Brewing Company or SAB or Molson Coors Company, whoever is brewing Miller Lite these days has brought back the mini keg. Along with the Miller Lite mini keg they are distributing Coors in the same style kegs.

FYI-the beer in the Miller Lite mini keg was just fine....

Check Out Two Sweet Beers Recently Found

The Genesee Cream was as awesome as I remember in College. In VT we drank Genesee by the quart bottle. At 60 cents a bottle you couldn't beat it. The only downfall was the 10cent deposit on each bottle and bringing them all back to the village store on bicycle.

The Dixie was more enjoyable than the pre drink sniff. I thought from its aroma that I wouldn't enjoy it but I was proved wrong. 2 really good beers that I picked up in Chicago. As for Chicago, I have a line on a liquor store that is trying to get Good Old Potosi as a regular product. Ill keep everyone informed.

Old Springfield, IL Picture circa 1870

DON'T FORGET SWAP A RAMA Next Weekend

Disaster in Potosi

 The Brew Crews recent trip to Potosi, WI to fill display cases with breweriana from Central IL appeared to go off without a hitch. Two display cases shined with various items from personal collections of Reisch Brew Crew members. All appeared well when the crew departed. However a phone call from Museum Director Tom Rejmaniak brought sad news today. A piece of pre-prohibition breweriana was found to be destroyed. Unknown how or when but a glass sign from Ruff-Riedel Brewery in Quincy was found shattered in the display case. Many collectors had commented that this particular piece was the only one they had ever seen. Its a sad sad day for this collector but with insurance money coming watch out for a new priceless find.

BREW CREW BECOMES NABA CHAPTER

Well, it's official. The Reisch Brew Crew has been accepted as a chapter in the National Association of Breweriana Advertising or NABA. It's up to us individually to join the club. Springfield has nailed down the annual NABA Convention for 2012. We once again have the opportunity to play host chapter for a national convention. Nice job to Greg Lenaghan , Dave Lawless, Jeff Degeal  and Kent Newton for taking on this task.