European Beer News (Issue 20)

by Carolyn Smagalski 

The Mercury Rises

Over seventy performers entertained music fans from London to Philadelphia during the simulcasted Live Aid concert in 1985, including British rock legend, Queen. According to Wikipedia, “Queen's performance on that day [at Wembley Stadium] has since been voted by more than 60 artists, journalists and music industry executives as the greatest live performance in the history of rock music.”

Lead singer Freddie Mercury opened with Bohemian Rhapsody, the unconventional, six-minute single most responsible for Queen’s worldwide success. Forty years since its release in 1975, the ballad/opera/hard rock classic has earned its rightful coronation with the creation of Queen Bohemian Lager, a traditional, hoppy pilsner of 4.7% ABV.

Michael Voldrich, 2014 Czech Brewmaster of the Year, fittingly brews the celebratory beer at the Protivín Brewery in the Kingdom of Bohemia. The brewery, owned by the Lobkowicz Group since 2008, dates back to the mid-sixteenth century, with origins to the Schwarzenberg Dynasty. Voldrich created Queen Bohemian Pils using Moravian barley, soft water, and Saaz hops with decoction mashing and a double fermentation process. It is GMO free and has earned PGI status, registered with Protective Geographical Indication certification.

The beer label bears the original Queen crest designed by Mercury, complete with the members’ zodiac signs and eyes of the Queen. It is further enhanced with Bohemian patterns and color, which accentuate the artistry under which it is brewed. Distribution plans include an initial rollout in the UK this year, followed by release on the international stage.

BrewDog Comes West

With a solid push from their crowdfunding campaign, Equity for Punks, BrewDog of Scotland began installment of a £25 million brewhouse in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, with plans for a February 2016 opening. Capacity is expected to increase to five times current levels in the UK.

By August 2016, Martin Dickie and James Watt will mark their territory in Canal Winchester, establishing a North American Headquarters near Columbus, Ohio. The $30.4 million expansion includes a brewery, restaurant, tap room, and visitors’ center. BrewDog’s new growth will initially add 115 jobs to the region, along with a boost to the manufacturing and tourism sectors. Hiring begins in 2016.