"Samuel Adams" news and stories

Although venerable French Champagne maker Veuve Clicquot may not be quaking in its boots, the Boston Beer Company (maker of Samuel Adams beers) has collaborated with German brewery Weihenstephan to create Infinium, an ale they hope will compete with the traditional bubbly market. It's packaged in what looks like a sparkling-wine bottle, but is a beer still a beer, despite the pretty trappings? Visit YumSugar to get the full story.

Yesterday, we were surprised by a special delivery of pumpkin bread made with Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale. Tickled as we were by the sweet, spicy and moist treat, we told all our Facebook friends how delicious it was. You all seemed keen to try it, so we asked the folks at Sam Adams if they wouldn't mind sharing the recipe. Luckily for you (and our hungry stomachs), they obliged. Happy baking!

Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale Bread
Created by Carlene O'Garro, Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream beneficiary

Bread Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 cup Harvest Pumpkin Ale purée (directions below)
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
Powdered sugar (for dusting)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Combine the sugar and oil in a mixing bowl using an electric mixer with paddle attachment on medium speed. Slowly add the egg.
2. Stop the mixer and add the Harvest Pumpkin Ale purée (directions below).
3. Turn mixer to low-medium speed and leave it running for 4 to 5 minutes. In a separate bowl, combine all the dry ingredients.
4. Stop the mixer and add the dry ingredients. Mix for 1 minutes at low speed or until all the ingredients are mixed together.
5. Pour the mixture into a greased 9x5" loaf pan, leaving room at top of pan for bread to rise.
6. Bake for 60 minutes. Check bread by sticking the center with a knife (when the knife comes out clean, remove from the oven). If needed, back for another 5 to 8 minutes or until knife comes out clean.
7. Once the bread has fully cooled, finish with a light dusting of powdered sugar.

Pumpkin Purée Ingredients:
1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 bottle Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Directions:
Combine all the ingredients and stir slowly. Set aside until ready to use.

Nowadays, liquor store shelves sag beneath with double IPAs and imperial stouts -- flavorful, potent brews with ABVs that often hit 10 percent and above. But these beers are as innocuous as apple juice when compared with Samuel Adams' Utopias, which clock in at a liquor-like 27 percent ABV, giving the brew an "extreme" label. Thirteen states have banned its sale.

"This is the Starship Enterprise of beers," says Jim Koch, founder of Sam Adams. "We're taking beer where beer has never gone before."

For my entire life, when it came to American breweries, three names came to mind: Anheuser-Busch, Miller and Coors. Well, in 2002, Miller was purchased by South African Breweries to form SABMiller. In 2005, Coors merged with Canada's Molson to form Molson Coors. And now, the multi-continent conglomerate InBev is buying Anheuser-Busch. It's enough to make your head-spin: You shouldn't need an M.B.A. to get tipsy.

The question becomes, with all of these international buyouts, what true blue American breweries are left?

A lot of companies have been quick to fly the American flag, but fittingly, the new #1 American owned brewery takes their brand name from an American patriot. Boston Beer Company, makers of Sam Adams, is now not only America's largest "craft brewer", it's also the country's largest domestically owned brewery. If that doesn't further blur the line between the modern craft brewery and their macro counterparts, I don't know what does.

So who are in line to be the new "Big 3"? Breaking it down strictly by 2007's beer sales volume here you go: 1) Boston Beer (makers of Sam Adams), 2) Yuengling, and 3) Sierra Nevada.

Surprised? I was. See the entire list (compiled by the not-for-profit Brewers Association) here.

[Photo Credit: yuengling.com / sierranevada.com / samueladams.com]