Craft Brew News # 73 - Distilleries Producing Sanitizer and a Virtual Craft Brewers Conference

Craft Brew News
04/10/20
(Courtesy of www.Brewbound.com)

Breweries, Distilleries Partner to Create Hand Sanitizer During COVID-19 Outbreak

Cody Morris is reincarnating out of code draft beer as hand sanitizer.

A professional brewer and the son of distillery owners, he knew that all the beer sitting idle in kegs could be distilled into hand sanitizer, which is needed for essential workers nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic.

His parents own Hardware Distilling in Hoodsport, Washington, and they wanted to make sanitizer, which needs to be at least 60% ethanol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To start the process, Morris runs beer he’s collected through Hardware Distilling’s column still twice.
Morris is donating sanitizer to first responders, filling up consumers’ own containers at the distillery and selling small bottles to the local grocery store at a low cost.

Without using beer as a base, it would take two weeks longer to start making sanitizer from scratch.

Last month, the Brewers Association (BA) canceled the in-person version of its Craft Brewers Conference, which led to the stranding of entries to its biennial World Beer Cup at its warehouse in Colorado.

With the help of Denver-area distilleries Denver Distillery and Ballmer Peak Distillery, the BA converted the beer, which poured into Colorado from 2,700 craft breweries nationwide, into hand sanitizer.

In Milton, Delaware, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, which also distills spirits, used its gin as a base for sanitizer, co-founder Sam Calagione said in a video op-ed today for the New York Times.

The sanitizer created will be donated to hospitals, first responders and police departments.
Brewers Association Announces Virtual Craft Brewers Conference, Releases Schedule

The Brewers Association’s Craft Brewers Conference will go on in 2020 — at a social distance.

The trade group that represents small and independent craft brewers today announced plans to hold the event virtually over the next five weeks, from April 13 through May 15, with many days featuring two live streamed seminars.

The BA said more than 70 industry experts will give 40 free presentations over the next five weeks.
The BA canceled CBC, which was supposed to take place from April 19-22 in San Antonio, Texas, on March 12, citing concerns over the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19. CBC, as well as Brew Expo and the World Beer Cup competition were expected to draw more than 13,000 attendees to San Antonio.

One of the most anticipated presentations of the year, the annual “State of the Craft Brewing Industry” address from BA chief economist Bart Watson will take place at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 15.

Nevada Declares Breweries Non-Essential, Despite Trade Associations Securing National Essential Business Designation

In many states, bars and restaurants were among the first businesses forced to alter their operations to keep people from gathering in large groups. Since then, shutdowns have expanded to other non-essential businesses, such as hair and nail salons, clothing stores and gyms.

The beer industry has been deemed essential under guidelines from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), something the heads of beer trade associations worked to secure.

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak set guidelines on March 12 outlining which businesses were essential and which were not, but breweries, wineries, pubs and bars fell on the non-essential side of the line.

Nevada breweries, however, are permitted to keep brewing and selling beer for distribution. The state’s liquor stores are non-essential and closed, but grocery stores sell beer. Craft breweries