For all of the beer-lovers among us, a frosty brew is often associated with many of our favorite memories. While there are so many styles, and iterations of those styles, the classic lager is a foundational, well-known, and well-loved beer. Lager is one of the most...
Every tippler has faced the dilemma of not having a suitable company while sipping on their favorite spirit, cider, beer, or wine. And every craft alcohol maker has struggled with how to get in front of more enthusiasts who would love their products if they just knew...
!When it comes to California wine, the state has a wide selection of well-cultivated grapes. There is no doubt that one of the beautiful parts of the California wine industry is that there are world famous examples in this one state of just as many grapes as the...
Is it just us, or does it feel like this year is just flying by? The pandemic crisis seems to make time move in mysterious ways, and somehow Father’s Day is just around the corner! We wanted to get creative with fun gift ideas for Dad this year, and thought — why not...
If you are a casual wine drinker you may have noticed wines on restaurant menus or wines on the shelves at your local store that have the letters “GSM” on them. Though most producers will list the grape varietals on the bottle, they may not always be particularly...
One of the biggest complaints I hear from craft alcohol makers when it comes to marketing their brand is how much time it takes in this crazy social media marketing world we all live in today. The days of spending weeks on one single campaign and letting it ride are...
As we continue on in our marketing foundations series it’s time to turn our attention to developing your brand voice. Once you have you’ve uncovered and solidified your differentiating brand story, it’s important to take it to the brand voice level...
Choosing a wine glass can be an overwhelming endeavor. After all, there are so many different wine glass shapes, and the variety can be downright confusing. You might be wondering, “why is a specific glass shape even important? Does it actually matter?” Luckily,...
Pinot Noir has experienced a surge in popularity during the last 10-15 years among wine drinkers in the United States. Volume of production has gone up, as well as the price of this varietal. Speaking as a wine drinker in the U.S., I am delighted that a surge in...
As small business owners and craft alcohol makers I’m willing to bet that many of you are on Instagram. And if you’re not, I’m willing to bet that you’re considering it. Smart move. As we talked about in the last issue, social media is a great tool to grow your...
With another week of quarantine under our belts, we wanted to share with you our favorite way we’re filling the many idle hours and fostering connection these days. Undoubtedly the most exciting development in our world since the California stay-at-home order started...
Creative. Diligent. Intentional. Three words that encapsulate the ethos of Spirit Works Distillery, in Sebastopol, CA. Three words that founders Ashby & Timo Marshall say really set them apart and help them succeed. Three other words I would add to the list?...
We have a pét-nat cider tasting coming up! Be sure to SIGN UP FOR OUR VIRTUAL TASTINGS to learn more and have a chance to talk with the makers! Paying homage If you are included in the massive collection of people who like bubbles in their alcoholic beverages, it’s...
If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably found yourself wondering lately: how can I help? It’s no secret that loads of small businesses are struggling right now, and it’s hard to watch these folks who’ve worked so hard to get where they are face the thought of...
Here at The Crafty Cask, we’re finding it pretty hard to wrap our heads around how different life has become in the span of a few short weeks. No one is without impact from this coronavirus crisis, but our beloved craft alcohol community is especially hurting. In a...
One of the most critical components of a marketing plan is your brand story. As we said recently in our article, Nail 4 Marketing Basics To Supercharge Your Brand’s Success, when it comes to small business marketing one thing is almost universally true. We tend...
We’ve been traveling to Ireland for 15 years, and each time we go, we see more and more brands of Irish whiskey and gin. We are excited by the selection, the stories, and the craft behind them. More of that selection is coming stateside too, so this St. Patrick’s Day,...
When it comes to small business marketing one thing is almost universally true. We tend to skip over the marketing basics and rush right to the tactics before we have built a solid foundation. Then, we’re disappointed with results, start putting marketing on the...
A friend of ours went to her local bar and ordered a cider. She started talking to the bartender, who suggested she add some cocktail bitters to it. She thought the idea interesting and agreed. Then, she tasted her drink. “Gamechanger,” she said. That is the power of...
Marketing that delivers true business value is the only kind of marketing I ever want you to do. But how do you know if it’s valuable and will help you drive your business goals? You have to have a marketing planning process and stick to it. This practice —...
One of the biggest challenges as a consumer in the world of alcohol is answering the questions: What is Craft? And, is this particular product really craft beer? Or craft wine or craft spirits or craft cider or craft whatever the heck else you’re drinking? If...
Why am I jumping around and singing hip hop? We get to talk about a delightful beer that leaves you with a hoppy kick with every sip. India Pale Ales are a polarizing beer at the outset… it often seems like people either love them or hate them. Today we’re...
When it comes to marketing there is a lot of confusion and misperceptions out there…especially for those of us who remember the days before the internet like it was yesterday. Destroying those old tapes playing in our minds and realizing that what marketing...
The Crafty Cask Channel: Hopped Whiskey Hot Chocolate with Charbay Whiskey This time of year, when there’s a distinct chill in the air, warm beverages definitely have major appeal. While a boozy Hot Toddy or some Hot Buttered Rum may not be everyone’s cup...
Calling all craft cider makers! We’re gearing up for the annual CiderCon® at the end of January and we’re especially excited for it this year because it’s right in our backyard in Oakland, CA. Haven’t registered for CiderCon yet? Grab your ticket and join us! It’s THE...
Drink craft, drink local & drink the world are all critical components of our daily mantra here at The Crafty Cask. So we thought it was about time we talked a little about why that is. You see, we’re on a mission to improve the drinks, experiences, and...
Midway through January, we are starting to think violent thoughts at the idea of another vodka, soda and lime. This is a perfectly lovely drink, of course, but it has turned into an effervescent highway of boredom, paved by the good intentions of low-alcohol,...
We are so honored, humbled, and thrilled to share that Suzanne, as the founder of The Crafty Cask, has been included on the inaugural OBO 100 Innovators’ list for 2020! This means so incredibly much to us because OBO and their definition of innovation is centered...
We have a special Bay Area only post here to let all of our tippling friends locally know about some exciting Bay Area events happening here next week! Not only is next week CiderCon with cider makers from all over the country descending on the Bay Area, it’s...
Admittedly, today there are more spicy Bloody Mary recipes and easy Bloody Mary recipes and best Bloody Mary recipes and Bloody Mary ingredients than a normal tippler can keep up with. For us here at The Crafty Cask, we’re often purists and know how to make a...
With the holidays in full swing, some of you may have a few ‘accidental’ heavy evenings under the belt (we won’t judge) or maybe you are searching for a low alcohol drink that you can enjoy without wilting in the corner halfway through your night of party...
We envy the party hosts who open up a bag of chips and a case of beer, and sit down on the couch to hang out with their guests. Isn’t that what holiday get-togethers are all about? They are the opportunity to spend time with people. We envy them because the Achilles...
It’s the holiday giving season and we’re rounding up our favorite craft distillery bottles and gifts for the craft spirits enthusiast on your list! Ready for the best part? They’re almost all available to order online! Ok, ok…the best part is...
As a small business owner you’re wearing a million hats, trying to learn every aspect of creating and running a successful business, and it often feels like you’re doing it all yourself. Trust me, as a small business owner myself, I get it. Learn finance!...
We’re welcoming a new twist on the classic hot toddy ‘Tis the season for the perfect Pumpkin Apple Toddy. While seasonal treats are on the rise none of them can warm you up quite like a fall inspired hot toddy. Some people may choose to take advantage of...
This post contains affiliate links I swear it was just summer yesterday, wasn’t it? Yet all of a sudden it’s time to figure out what I’m getting everyone (and asking for, let’s be honest!) for the holidays this year. I mean Thanksgiving is next...
Love craft spirits? Frustrated by how damn hard it is to get your hands on them unless they’re made in your hometown? We have a great solution for you through our friends at Shots Box. Let us introduce you and tell you a little about why this membership club is...
The Crafty Cask Channel: Featuring Live Oak Brewing Company The foresight and risk it takes to start a brewery entirely focused on classic Eastern European beers way back in the early 90s in the heart of Texas is impressive. Honestly, it’s what supporting craft...
I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit of a nut job when it comes to Thanksgiving. I’m talking planning and cooking the perfect menu for days, joyfully! In the past Thanksgiving has been all about beer (both for my amaze-balls turkey brine* and the football) and...
Those of you who have been following our ongoing cider series know that I fell hard for this wonderful fermented apple drink back in San Sebastían, Spain in 2001. It’s been a roller-coaster romance of deliciousness since that very first sip of Basque cider. I...
Geography Time! Cider is like a wine: the terroir, temperature, and the apples themselves create a unique, regional profile. This makes the many ciders of the world unique because you aren’t simply drinking fermented apple juice, but you’re drinking a local tradition...
All right Crafty Cask scientists, in today’s lesson we’re talking vodka. Since we spent our college days spiking our juice or having gummy bear-infused shots, vodka tends to get a bad rap. Even our founder used to say (proudly, I’ll add) that “she...
You’ve made it! We’re finishing up our journey into the Japanese tradition of sake making with this third piece in our series. In our first piece we talked about the four critical components of premium sake…rice, water, koji and yeast. Then we dove...
In our previous romp with Sake, we explored what sake is. Now let’s move on to the how. While sake’s ingredients are simple and pure the process tends to be a bit more, shall we say, involved. If you are drinking sake, you are drinking something that has...
Like many Americans, we have to admit we’ve taken part in the cheap thrill of “sake bombing.” For a lot of people it’s the first, and sometimes only, introduction they have to sake. You know, yelling the only Japanese word one may know, while...
Today we’re having a little extra fun and trying to answered all the off the wall questions a beer fan could have. One of which being, how many bottles in a case of beer? So, between an evening at the pub, a serious beer pong tournament or those all important...
Photo Credits: Silver Tree Beer & Spirits Interested in getting your own feature on The Crafty Cask? Click here. Brothers are often grouped in stereotypes steeped in competitive behavior. Add booze? You may have a brawl on your hands. Luckily this is not the case...
One of our missions at The Crafty Cask is to help educate and inform…but in a casual, fun way. Meaning no highly technical speak, but instead like we’re talking to a friend. Since many of our “How It’s Made” articles have the spirit...
When the topic at hand has a storied history including fossilized grape vines 60 million years old, mentions in the original Old Testament and a wine jar found in modern-day Iran dating back to 6,000 B.C. it’s understandably a little tricky to truly pin down the...
We all know it. When it comes to alcohol the word ‘craft’ is often misused, misunderstood and misrepresented. The world of distilling might honestly be the most confusing of all. Why? Well, because there are a lot of different ways to get that liquid in...
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