Well it's no surprise to us, but it seems that AB is poised to release it's own wheat beer called "Sun Dog". Coming in at 5% ABV and using at least 25% wheat malt this appears to be a spiced wheat ale competitior to Coors very succesful Blue Moon.

Edit Jan 3rd: Looks like we have an official label now.

 FLYING DOG BREWERY TO CONCENTRATE OPERATIONS AT
STATE-OF-THE-ART BREWERY IN MARYLAND
Colorado Craft Beer Company Enjoys Record Setting Year;
 Will Focus Brewery Operations In Maryland to Improve Production Efficiency

DENVER (December 11, 2007) – Eric Warner, president and CEO of Denver-based Flying Dog Brewery, announced today that the company is concentrating its brewing operations at a state-of-the-art facility in Maryland where Flying Dog has had its beers brewed since 2006. Warner also announced that the company recently raised $3 million in capital to fund continued development of its brands.
 
Flying Dog Brewery, which has been in operation since 2000, will produce its last beer in January 2008. The company will maintain its corporate headquarters at 2401 Blake St. in Lower Downtown Denver, and Flying Dog’s 13 craft beers will continue to be distributed throughout Colorado.
 
Increased costs of raw materials, including hops and malt, combined with the loss of contracts from smaller craft brewers were a significant factor in the decision, according to Warner. “By concentrating the brewing operations in Maryland, we will become a more efficient business, which is very important given the extremely competitive conditions in the craft beer industry,” he said. “This is a smart, proactive business move for our growing company and the most efficient use of our capital.
 
“Aside from the concentration of production, we’re proud to say that our customers won’t notice a difference,” Warner continued.  “We are committed to providing our customers in Colorado and throughout the country with the highest-quality craft beers that they’ve come to know and love.”
 
The Maryland facility, where 70 percent of Flying Dog’s beers are already being brewed, has several state-of-the-art features that allow for higher-quality and more efficient brewing, including a modern bottling line that produces 250 bottles per minute, compared to 140 bottles per minute at the Denver facility, and has lower oxygen pick-up at filling, leading to longer shelf life, and flavor stability. Additionally, the Maryland facility features improved brewhouse equipment and a more spacious warehouse and cooler.
 
“The building our Denver brewery is in is old and needs a minimum of  $1 million in infrastructure improvements to keep up with our increasing production levels and product quality standards,” Warner said. “This year alone, we saw a 20 percent unit growth – our strongest yet. Concentrating our operations at the Maryland facility will allow us to the meet the growing demand by surpassing current production levels.”
 
There will be no layoffs on Flying Dog’s production team as Flying Dog Brewery’s Denver production team will all be offered jobs at the Maryland brewery including relocation packages and a scouting trip in January.
 
“We’re proud of our Denver production team and are thrilled at the opportunity to have them on our team in Maryland,” continued Warner.  “We’re working very hard to ensure this happens.”

ABOUT FLYING DOG BREWERY
For more than 15 years, Flying Dog Brewery has been serving high-quality craft beer. The Flying Dog Brewery’s award-winning “litter of ales” is available in 45 states. Flying Dog’s core value of “purposeful, provocative and irreverence” flows through the veins of the brewery’s founding owners, George Stranahan and Richard McIntyre.  George and Richard were friends with the “Gonzo Journalist,” Hunter S. Thompson, who coined the brand’s tagline “Good People Drink Good Beer” and with the “Gonzo Artist,” Ralph Steadman, who illustrates the brand’s packaging. For more information, log on to www.FlyingDogAles.com.

# # #

We here at DrinkCraftBeer.com want to extend our congratulations to the winners of the Great British Beer Fest's American Cask Ale Competition. We had some notable locals and friends win awards and would like to give credit to all! The results are:

Gold: Opa Opa - King Oak Milk Stout
Silver: Gritty McDuff's - Gritty's IPA
Joint Bronze: Gardner Ale House - Facelift IPA & Three Floyds - Romulus

Above: Dave Richardson, Award Winning Brewmaster at Gardner Ale House

Congratulations to Dave Richardson at Gardner Ale House, who we recently had the pleasure of sitting down with and sampling his beers! Opa Opa is always putting out good stuff as well. While we haven't gotten out there yet, their reputation precedes them. Way to go to probably one of the most heralded US breweries, Three Floyds! We will be speaking with them on our road trip in September. And, Gritty McDuff's, way to go! We will have to make our way up to Maine soon.

Anyway, shoot any of them a congratulatory email if you're so inclined, and tell them DrinkCraftBeer let you know!

Do you remember us telling you about Mayflower Brewing Company? In Plymouth, MA?
http://drinkcraftbeer.com/forum/beer/new_massachusetts_craft_brewery.html

Well, have we got news for you!!! Matthew Steinberg, the storied brewer for Offshore Ale Company, and the creator of such beers as Hop Goddess, Rye Hop, Inkwell Double Stout, Fogcutter Breakfast Porter, Laughing Laird Scotch Ale, Stonewall Double IPA and more is leaving Offshore for Mayflower! As their head brewer! They will take delivery of their 20bbl brew system at the beginning of September 2007, and we should start seeing batches soon after that.

Can you wait? Because we sure can't!!!

This means two things:

1. Get out to offshore before the end of the summer just to say hi to Matt and have some of his last Offshore brews.

2. Get ready for a whole lot of great new stuff from Mayflower brewing! 

More news to come.