Happi Goes Big in Lone Star State with Bayou City Hemp Company

The cannabis-infused seltzer will be the first national brand to distribute in Texas

BIRMINGHAM, Mich., May 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas, get ready to get Happi. Just in time for the hot summer months, Happi is launching its refreshing, cannabis-infused seltzers in the Lone Star state in partnership with Bayou City Hemp Company and 8th Wonder Brewery, who will formulate, manufacture and package Happi locally. Distributed by Flood Independent Distributors, Happi will be the first national brand to launch in Texas. Texans can find a Happi for any occasion in bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and other retail locations throughout the state by early summer. Happi is bringing its best selling flavors to Texas, including Glow and Nightcap, the first cannabis-infused functional beverages made with minor cannabinoids, along with reishi and lion's mane mushroom. Glow helps you find clarity and focus, and is available in a bright, crisp blood orange ginger flavor. Nightcap helps soothe you into more restful slumber, and is available in a subtly sweet and spicy Turkish apple tea flavor. Stay tuned for new additions to the Happi lineup in Texas! Happi Glow 30 calories, 5mg THC, 5mg CBD, 3mg CBG, 2mg CBNCarbonated Water, Organic Orange Juice, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Blood Orange Juice, Natural Flavors, Hemp Extract, Organic Lion's Mane Mushroom Extract, Vitamin C, Potassium Sorbate Happi Nightcap 30 calories, 5mg THC, 5mg CBNCarbonated Water, Organic Apple Juice, Organic Orange Juice, Organic Honey, Natural Flavors, Hemp Extract, Vitamin C, Organic Reishi Mushroom Extract, Potassium Sorbate Lime Wild Mint 25 calories, 5mg THCCarbonated Water, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Lime Juice, Organic Pomegranate Juice, Natural Flavors, Hemp Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Vitamin C Founded in 2021, Happi got its start on dispensary shelves in Michigan and quickly expanded to additional states. In 2023, the brand launched its first hemp-derived direct-to-consumer sales online with shipping to 32 states, making it that much easier to find your Happi place. "They say everything is bigger in Texas, and this launch is no different. It's a huge milestone for Happi to become the first national cannabis beverage brand in Texas," said Lisa Hurwitz, President and Co-Founder of Happi. "Collaborating with the team at 8th Wonder and Bayou City to locally produce Happi has really made us feel at home here." "Happi is the perfect addition to our portfolio, including their functional beverages, which are a first for Texas. We think Texans are really going to love these infused seltzers and their light buzz," said Joel Canada, VP of Sales, Bayou City Hemp Company. "We're really looking forward to introducing cannabis-infused options like Happi to Texas." Look for Happi on shelves in Texas by early summer. To get Happi delivered to your door today, visit https://happihourdrink.com/.  ABOUT BAYOU CITY HEMP COMPANY Launched in 2019, Bayou City Hemp Company is Texas' leading vertically integrated cannabis company with a world-class facility and team that is scaled to ensure the highest standards, services, and goods are met from seed-to-shelf. The company has produced award-winning consumer packaged goods for its customers from gummy edibles and nano-shots to vape pens, additives, and seltzers. With a science based approach, Bayou City's nano-emulsion technology is the core of their products' innovation. The organization's nano molecules are 1000x smaller than traditional cannabis distillate, which results in better taste, efficacy, and faster onset/bioavailability. Bayou City is focused on being the trusted source in creating and providing the highest quality and most reliable cannabis-derived products in the world, while maintaining a commitment to innovation, quality, and collaboration with its partners. As leaders and stewards of the cannabis industry in Texas, Bayou City strives to normalize and legitimize the industry through education and awareness. For more information, visit www.bayoucityhemp.com. ABOUT HAPPI Happi is an all-natural, cannabis-infused seltzer that changed the cannabis beverage game when it debuted in 2021. There's a Happi for any occasion with multiple flavors made with organic fruit and a range of dosages from 2.5-10mg, depending on the state. Happi is currently available in select states and online. Find your Happi at happihourdrink.com.

Ohio Breweries Win at 2023 World Beer Cup

Ohio Breweries Win Big on Global Stage

Seven breweries combine for 10 medals at 2023 World Beer Cup competition.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Ohio craft breweries earned top accolades for their beers at the 2023 World Beer Cup awards ceremony, held on Wednesday, May 10. Ohio bolstered its reputation as a world-class beer destination by winning a total of 10 awards in this year's contest. Ohio's best showing at World Beer Cup was in 2022, when 13 breweries combined for a total of 15 awards.

Fat Head's Brewery reasserted their beer competition dominance with a total of four awards at World Beer Cup. This was brewery's best showing in this event and increases their World Beer Cup medal count to 13. The brewery has earned at least one World Beer Cup award in each competition dating back to 2012.

Fat Head's was one of only three breweries in the competition to earn four awards, joining Oregon's 10 Barrel Brewing and Green Cheek Beer Company of Orange, California. Head Hunter, the Fat Head's flagship IPA, won the gold award in the American-style India Pale Ale category, besting the field of 412 entries in one of the hottest contested styles in the competition.

Two Ohio breweries returned to the World Beer Cup stage with awards in the 2023 contest, including a gold medal for Wolf's Ridge Brewing's Daybreak in the Coffee Beer category. The Columbus-based brewery took home the silver award in last year's competition. Hoppin' Frog Brewery's Smashing Honey Blonde took the silver award in the Honey Beer category with Smashing Honey Blonde. Hoppin' Frog has now brought back a total of three World Beer Cup honors to their brewery in Akron.

Four Cincinnati area breweries are taking home World Beer Cup awards for the first time this year. Rhinegeist's Cheetah earned gold in the American-style Cream Ale category. Voss from Mason, Ohio's Sonder Brewing took top honors in the German-style Koelsch category. Streetside Brewery's Black Cats took home the silver award in the English-style Brown Ale category. Sharonville, Ohio's Third Eye Brewing Company earned a bronze award for Higher Purpose in the Sweet Stout or Cream Stout category, the same beer that won a gold medal in the 2021 Great American Beer Festival competition.

"Ohio's independent breweries are making phenomenal, world-class beer, but they’re also pillars of the communities they serve," said Mary MacDonald, executive director of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. "They are welcoming gathering places. They help to revitalize neighborhoods and towns. They create thousands of jobs, bring in tourism dollars and generously give to local charitable causes."

World Beer Cup organizers reported that more than 10,200 beer entries were received from 2,375 breweries across 51 countries. The number of entries and competitors from around the globe make this event one of the world's most prestigious beer awards. The World Beer Cup competition is now held annually in conjunction with the Brewers Association's Craft Brewers Conference & Brew Expo America.


2023 World Beer Cup award-winning Ohio craft beers:

Fat Head's Brewery (Middleburg Heights):
AlpenGlow – Gold award, South German-Style Weizenbock
Bone Head – Gold award, Strong Red Ale
Head Hunter – Gold award, American-Style India Pale Ale
Hop Stalker – Bronze award, Experimental Beer

Rhinegeist (Cincinnnati):
Cheetah – Gold award, American-Style Cream Ale

Sonder Brewing (Mason):
Voss  – Gold award, German-Style Koelsch

Wolf's Ridge Brewing (Columbus):
Daybreak – Gold award, Coffee Beer

Hoppin' Frog Brewery (Akron):
Smashing Honey Blonde – Silver award, Honey Beer

Streetside Brewery (Cincinnati):
Black Cats – Silver award, English-Style Brown Ale

Third Eye Brewing (Sharonville):
Higher Purpose – Bronze award, Sweet Stout or Cream Stout



Founded in 2007, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association is a nonprofit guild that exists to promote, preserve and unify Ohio’s craft brewing industry. We aspire to be recognized as the industry leader at both state and national levels for preserving the art of making high-quality, unique craft beer; to serve as the unified voice for craft brewers across the state; to advocate on behalf of the Ohio craft beer industry; to contribute to systemic, local community development by driving economic and job growth, while creating experiences that bring people together; to promote safe, responsible enjoyment of Ohio craft beer; and to serve as a beacon for local production and manufacturing through craft beer, resulting in diverse choices for consumers.

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Pilsner Urquell: The Original Beer Experience opens in Central Prague

PRAGUE, April 27, 2023 /CNW/ -- Located on Prague's Wenceslas Square, the venue delivers a visitor experience of a kind not seen before in the Czech Republic. Visitors discover the nation's famous beer culture and learn all about its most beloved brand, Pilsner Urquell, in an innovative sensory tour full of technologies to entertain. Pilsner Urquell, the world's first golden Pilsner lager, was first created in the city of Plzeň in 1842. The Pilsner beer style now accounts for 70% of beer drunk worldwide, but Pilsner Urquell remains in a class of its own and is brewed exclusively in Plzeň, Czechia. The new brand home brings this amazing story to visitors to Prague, now established among Europe's top tourist destinations. "The Experience will make a big contribution to entertainment in Prague," said Nick Penny, General Manager at The Original Experience Company. "It's a dream come true to bring to life this dynamic, educational and fun visitor attraction paying homage to a true Czech icon." The Original Tour takes guests on a multimedia journey through the story behind the original Pilsner and how it is brewed, including a 360° interactive game zone and Pilsner Urquell beer tasting in the Beer Hall. State-of-the-art audio guides provide an entertaining narrative in the main languages used by tourists in Prague including Czech, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Mandarin. Other tour options include the Tapster Academy, where visitors learn the art of pouring the perfect Pilsner the Czech way. There is also a stylish street taproom operating independently of the visitor tours. Entry for the Original Tour starts at CZK 490 (approx. €21), while entry for the Tapster Academy starts at CZK 659 (€27.90). Designed by experience design and production company BRC Imagination Arts, the brand home is managed by The Original Experience Company, an official license holder from the brewery Plzeňský Prazdroj a.s. "The first batch of Pilsner Urquell was brewed on 5 October 1842. Now, 180 years later, we are bringing the full story of Pilsner lager to Prague through the Pilsner Urquell Experience," says Rudolf Šlehofer, Craft and Heritage Director at Plzeňský Prazdroj. Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9GFXegLOUw Pilsner Urquell: The Original Beer Experience, a new brand home for Pilsner Urquell, just opened in the heart of Prague. This immersive Experience tells the story of the world's first Pilsner beer, celebrating Pilsner Urquell's central place in Czech history and culture.

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Dacha Beer Garden™ Targets East Coast for Franchise Launch

DC's Most Beloved Beer Gardens Offer Franchise Owners a Model for Success

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dacha Beer Garden, one of DC's most popular destinations for locals and tourists alike with two iconic locations, announced it is speaking with investors and potential franchisees about territories for the brand's expansion on the East Coast. Co-owners Dmitri Chekaldin and Ilya Alter said the timing is ideal for high-net-worth investors seeking a successful franchise model, unlimited support, and potentially high profit margins. "Location is everything, so we will be working to help franchisees secure prime spaces in high traffic areas," said Alter. "We are initially targeting areas along the East Coast, including Virginia, Delaware, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. We are also interested in underserved regions in booming coastal cities such as St. Augustine, for example. In addition, although we are targeting the East Coast, we aren't ruling out other desirable locations across the country." Consistently voted as among the top 5 Best Beer Gardens in the U.S. by USA Today, Dacha is renowned for its Bavarian-style beer gardens with an extensive world-class selection of beers, ciders, wines, spirits, and traditional Bavarian-inspired food. The brand's successful locations in DC's Shaw neighborhood and Navy Yard regularly host crowds who gather for lively events, fundraisers for social causes, special occasions, and an atmosphere that keeps regulars returning for more. All year long, Dacha dials up the fun with everything from doggy birthday parties to events featuring local vendors and fundraisers for charities and causes. Alter said he and his team will be working with franchisees to help them recreate a unique Dacha experience in their own neighborhoods. He mentioned Dacha's two gigantic murals at each of its current locations as an example. "At our Shaw location, we have an eye-catching mural of Elizabeth Taylor, while our Navy Yard Location features a mural of Jackie Onassis," Alter said. "Both gigantic murals are striking works of art outside the restaurants that have made our locations unforgettable landmarks. We will be working with new franchise owners to ensure their locations are also big, bold, and extraordinary." Since owners Chekaldin and Alter opened their first Dacha Beer location in DC's Shaw neighborhood in 2013, they have experienced remarkable success in just 10 years. Capitalizing on year-over-year growth and profit margins, they opened a second sprawling location in 2019 at Navy Yard, directly across from Nats Park, home of the Washington Nationals major league baseball team. During the pandemic when many restaurants and bars were struggling, Dacha's unwavering sales prompted them to acknowledge franchising with their proven playbook would be the perfect way to scale the business. "We talked about supporting franchisees and entrepreneurs who would recognize the opportunity to build a prosperous business that would be able to thrive even during unstable economic times," said Chekaldin. "By the time we opened the second location at Navy Yard, we knew we had an exceptional concept and track record, so we made the decision to franchise and offer our expertise and support to investors." To learn more about Dacha Beer Garden and franchising opportunities, visit www. Dachabeergardenfranchise.com ABOUT DACHA BEER GARDEN As a fixture in DC neighborhoods since 2013, Dacha combines the charm of a classic German beer garden with a modern American bar. With locations in DC's Shaw neighborhood and Navy Yard, the locations feature a lively atmosphere for families, friends, and pets alike with a delicious Bavarian-inspired menu, amazing cocktails, and an unrivaled world-class beer program and Beer Club. Dacha Beer Garden is committed to giving back to the communities it serves and to social causes to make a difference. For more information, visit www.dachabeergarden.com

How Does a Small Handcrafted Beer Become a Big Batch Brewers Series Beer?

ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Genesee brewing team is bringing another premium beer to the market with the release of its Helles lager, which will be on shelves later this week. The Genesee Brewers Series, which launched last year with Imperial Stout, features premium beers that showcase the craftsmanship of Genesee's brewing team. Brewmaster for the Genesee Brew House, Dean Jones and Brewmaster for Genesee Brewing Company, Matt James teamed up, knowing that a Helles lager would be perfect for spring.

In the pilot brewery, Dean Jones brews award-winning craft beer on a small scale. Dean, a German beer traditionalist, created the Genesee Brew House Helles lager that won the Governor's Cup Award, recognized as the best beer in New York, at the NYS Craft Beer Competition in March. On the heels of its success, Dean worked with Genesee's bigger brewery to make a great beer in its image. "There are very few ingredients in this Helles and every subtle change in the brewing process affects the final product. There's a lot at play here, bigger batches of beer require major adjustments in ingredients and processing, especially when taking a beer from the pilot brewery and scaling it up to the main brewery" said Dean Jones, Brewmaster for the Genesee Brew House. "I'm thrilled with the way the Genesee Brew House Helles came out. I can't wait to try the Brewers Series Helles lager!" Beers selected for the Brewers Series represent styles that the brewers enjoy drinking and aren't often made in the large brewery. The Helles, like all Brewers Series beers, is brewed with high-end ingredients. When it was time to scale up the Genesee Brew House Helles for Genesee's larger brewery, Matt James played an integral role. "Brew scaling starts with scaling by volume, but that doesn't give you the whole picture, it's simply a starting point," said Matt James, Brewmaster for Genesee Brewing Company. "From that starting point, we account for the brew size, percentage of fermentable ingredients, hops, even boiling time. It's a labor of love, but we know Genesee fans are really going to enjoy this Helles lager." The Genesee Brewers Series Helles lager will hit shelves next week. Always drink responsibly.

Whetstone Beer Co. launches "Pints for Parks" May 6 supporting VT State Parks

BRATTLEBORO, Vt., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "Brewing up adventure," isn't just a motto for Whetstone Beer Co., it's a way of life. Partners David Hiler, Tim and Amy Brady were brought together by their love of beer and adventure. Their years exploring the beauty of Vermont state parks has led them to launch Pints for Parks, a partnership benefiting Vermont State Parks.

Pints for Parks is a collaboration between Whetstone Beer Co. and Vermont State Parks where twice each year Whetstone will create a unique, limited-edition beer celebrating a different state park. Like all Whetstone Beer cans, this special release incorporates a collectible sticker in the label. Proceeds from Pints for Parks beer sales will support Vermont Parks Forever, Vermont State Parks' supporting foundation.  Pints for Parks launches with the limited-edition "Jamaica State Park Kolsch," inspired by the park's iconic Hamilton Falls. The event coincides with the Whitewater Release on May 6, 12 - 4 pm at Jamaica State Park. "We are excited about the Pints for Parks program and the opportunity to partner with Whetstone Beer Co. This program is a terrific way to celebrate Vermont's amazing state park system and encourage folks to get outside," said Nate McKeen, Director of Vermont State Parks. "Whetstone is a terrific company to work with who understands the value of outdoor recreation and connecting people to parks." "Jamaica State Park is the perfect place to showcase a Kolsch," said Whetstone partner Tim Brady.  "This spring style beer is warm-fermented – a nod to the tropical island which shares the park's name, and is cold conditioned like the West River, fed by the park's Hamilton Falls. This Kolsch is well-balanced and subtle, perfect for a warm day after whitewater rafting or exploring your favorite state park."  "We are grateful for this creative partnership that will showcase Vermont's beautiful state parks and raise awareness of Vermont Parks Forever (VPF), the foundation for Vermont's state parks," said Sarah Alberghini Winters, Executive Director, Vermont Parks Forever. "The support from Whetstone Beer Co. will bolster VPF's efforts to expand nature education in the parks and provide more free entry through the Park Access Fund. Thanks, Whetstone!"  Follow the Pints for Parks project at whetstonebeer.com/parks.