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Beverages

Southern Glazer’s Debuts the Served Up Book Club

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, has launched a new online book club at www.southernglazers.com/serveduppodcast. The Served Up podcast features interviews with the hospitality industry’s most respected and celebrated leaders.

Just in time for the busy holiday shopping season, book worms in the beverage industry can check out the Served Up Book Club for recommendations on some of the latest books to buy and read exclusive interviews with the authors who are sharing their knowledge, experiences and stories.

Authors featured include:

  • Derek Brown, author of Mindful Mixology: A Comprehensive Guide to No- and Low-Alcohol Cocktails
  • Camper English, author of Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits and Cocktails
  • Kim Haasarud, author of the “101” Cocktail Book Series
  • Adrian Miller, author of Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue
  • Natalie Maclean, author ofWine Witch On Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation and Drinking Too Much
  • Shannon Mustipher, author of Tiki: Modern Tropical Cocktails
  • Jessica Pettit, author of Good Enough Now
  • Julie Reiner, author of The Craft Cocktail Party: Delicious for Every Occasion

Served Upwith hosts Bridget Albert and Julie Milroy, is available on Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music and is a source for beverage professionals to hear conversations on topics such as advocacy, entrepreneurship, and belonging with food and beverage industry and social justice thought leaders representing the diverse hospitality community.

Albert is the senior director, external communications for Southern Glazer’s, a published author of Market-Fresh Mixology and award-winning mixologist with more than 25 years of hospitality industry experience. Milroy is a vice president, supplier development & marketing for Southern Glazer’s with more than 17 years of experience in the beverage alcohol industry including roles in Sales, Human Resources, Marketing, and Commercial Strategy.

To pitch a guest for the show, to submit your book for the Book Club, or to schedule the Served Up team for on-site beverage industry event coverage, contact servedup@sgws.com. For more information about the podcast visit www.southernglazers.com/serveduppodcast.

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Veterans Blend Beer Benefits HunterSeven Foundation

Veterans Blend beerTennessee Brew Works and Yakima Chief Hops, a 100 percent grower-owned global supplier of premium quality hops located in the Pacific Northeast, are partnering to honor our nation’s veterans by creating a 2022 Veterans Blend beer, Hopped & Devoted hazy pale ale. The beer is available in draft and 16oz can 4-packs.

Hopped & Devoted hazy pale ale, ABV 5.2%, IBU 20, is a very easy drinker, with emphasis on fruity and citrus notes. It features the 2022 Veterans Blend from Yakima Chief Hops, which showcases five different Pacific Northwest-grown hop varieties, selected by a team of military veteran brewers across the country. Tennessee Brew Works head brewer and U.S. Army Veteran, Matt Simpson, was honored as a member of this committee.

The Veterans Blend is an annual blend, dedicated to providing a charitable donation to a new veteran-support organization each year. The fifth annual blend is comprised of HBC 586, Ekuanot, Idaho 7, Chinook and Triumph brand hops, providing a well-balanced mix of tropical, citrus, woody and sweet aromas.

Yakima Chief Hops is donating a portion of proceeds from all the Veterans Blend hop purchases, by Tennessee Brew Works and other supporting breweries across the country, to the HunterSeven Foundation, an organization that specializes in medical research and education specifically on the post 9/11 veteran cohort.

“It’s an honor to be able to connect veteran brewers with worthy support causes like HunterSeven–all the more special to do so surrounding something we all love and enjoy, beautiful hoppy beer!” said Spencer Tielkemeier, director of aales- North America, Yakima Chief Hops. “Yakima Chief Hops is proud to work with world-class brewers like Tennessee Brew Works on this year’s Veterans Blend.”

Tennessee Brew Works Head Brewer and U.S. Army veteran Matt Simpson, said, “It’s our honor to support veterans through organizations such as HunterSeven Foundation. We have a great appreciation for creating this limited beer alongside one of the premier hop suppliers, Yakima Chief, and so many other military veteran brewers across the United States.”

Hopped & Devoted was released at Tennessee Brew Works’ Taproom, 809 Ewing Ave Nashville. Veterans receive a discount with valid veteran’s ID at the Tennessee Brew Works Taproom.

Tennessee Brew Works will be on-hand for a special Hopped & Devoted release at theClass Six, 96 Michigan Ave, Fort Campbell, Ky., 3-6pm on Veteran’s Day, Friday, Nov 11.

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Franzia Decks the Box in Holiday Ugly Sweater Style

Franzia has dressed up its classic Chardonnay box with a colorful holiday ugly sweater design, available for a limited time only. The classic knit holiday sweater graphics are accompanied by a printed-on-the-box bow and gift tag, so gift givers can easily fill in the tag and place the box right under the tree or directly into the hands of eager friends, or, as Franzia call them, “franz.” No wrapping required!

The limited-edition holiday box is available for purchase in retail stores nationwide while supplies last for a suggested retail price of $17.99. This is the second seasonal packaging design for Franzia, following the limited-edition Patriotic box design, which debuted in May 2022.

More than just a limited-edition box, the festive design on the holiday box can also be found on a matching Franzia holiday ugly sweater complete with battery-powered holiday lights. The coordinating set makes party guests the life –and light– of the party. The matching Franzia sweater is available for purchase at shop.franzia.com for $45.

In addition to the Franzia holiday ugly sweater with lights and corresponding holiday box design, Franzia has also released its largest merchandise item ever created for their collections: an inflatable lawn decoration shaped like a real box of Franzia. Available in two varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sunset Blush, the fully inflated yard decoration stands five feet tall with internal lights to illuminate the design. The Franzia inflatable lawn decoration is available for purchase at shop.franzia.com for $50.

“At Franzia, we are always looking to provide new ways for our fans to show off their enthusiasm for the brand. This holiday season, we are taking things to the next level by not only designing a limited-edition holiday Chardonnay box that’s wrapped and ready for gift giving, but also creating a matching holiday ugly sweater with blinking holiday lights. You and your box of Franzia become the star of any holiday party,” said Katie Hoefs, marketing manager. “Additionally, your neighbors will be jealous of your outdoor holiday decorations with our oversized Franzia lawn inflatable, which shows off holiday spirit in a BIG way!”

The Franzia holiday merchandise collection also includes a festive holiday onesie, more Franzia sweaters, Franzia socks and more. For additional information about the limited edition Franzia holiday box, the matching holiday sweater, inflatable lawn decoration and other holiday gift ideas, visit the Franzia website.

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