Porter Named!

Well the porter has been named, it will be called BackDraft Porter!

A little about labels and such, and why sometimes it takes so long from the idea until the brew is out in the stores.

To begin with, we decide that we want to brew a new beer. Then we come up with a recipe, James, Phil, and I have plenty of home brewing experience, so sometimes a recipe is easy, other times we play a bit more with a prototype. Once we come up with recipe we have to see if there are any "non-traditional" ingredients or processes done. Traditional ingredients include the big 4, non traditional include spices, honey, berries, and other flavorings. Non-traditional processes include aging in barrels among other things that we have yet to find out about. If something non-traditional is done we have to file a Statement Of Process with the Federal Government, which they will either approve or reject. Once the SOP is approved (with labeling requirements) we can then brew the beer and make the label.

Once we create the label (Phil is the creative one) we send it off to be approved by the Federal Government once again. They look at lettering height, what the label says, if any trademarks might be infringed on, and if the name is acceptable. Once the label is approved and produced by the label maker, we can bottle the beer and get it out to our distributors.

Each state has their own labeling laws, so what might be acceptable in one state, may not be acceptable in another state. Also, with the way the government works, what would be acceptable to one reviewer might not to another. It can be a confusing process.

That is about it today

Cheers,

Damase