Hoppy Times July/August 2004 "Online" Edition

Hoppy Times January/February 2004 Edition - Volume 11 Issue 1

Hoppy Brewing Company
home of
Great Food · Awesome Beer · Cool People!!!

Topics In This Illustrious "Online" Issue Are:
----------------------------------------------
HOPPY YEAR IN REVIEW!!!
HOPPY NEW BEER...
HOPPY RECENT EVENTS!!!
HOPPY UPCOMING EVENTS...
HOPPY STAFF!!!

-----------------------
HOPPY YEAR IN REVIEW!!!

SACRAMENTO, CA - According to statistics from the Institute for Brewing Studies based in Boulder, Colorado, there were 1,326 Regional Specialty Breweries, Microbreweries, and Brewpubs operating in the United States as of November 24th, 2003, with the industry showing about a three percent growth. However, Hoppy exceeded the industry average with a solid eight percent growth, which was down slightly from 2002's nine percent growth.

In the brewing area, we "finally" acquired our own bottling machine, and got it up and running, which will lead to less time being spent on bottling... We also improved little things to make various pieces of equipment more energy efficient. A Hoppy Root Beer was produced and released, but a number of stability issues arose from this product. Also, a line of Hoppy House Wines were added to the menu to provide greater brand visibility.

In the marketing area, Ms. Lauren Beltran did another wonderful job coordinating, and even attending a few, beer festivals, charitable events, promotions, and everything else when it comes to people/organizations who want donations for some specific cause, or even just want FREE beer from a local brewery... However, she left the company in December and is replaced by Jessica Karkowski - Hoppy's Hostess Manager, who is currently studying marketing at Sacramento State University. Feel free to call her at 916.451.4677, or send her email at jessica@hoppy.com if you have a festival or an event that she needs to know about. In the coming year, look for Hoppy to continue supporting various local community philanthropic functions.

On the restaurant side of the house, we have seen the business continue to grow from serving a daily average of 356 people in 2002 to that of 381 this past year - an increase of 7.3%. We have continued to tweak functions of the bartenders, bussers, servers, and the kitchen staff with policy and procedure manuals, and almost zero turn-over; so that we continue to try and provide the very best customer service possible as personnel change. We have routinely made changes in the food and beer menu's to keep things fresh and exciting, all while continuing to provide our customers with interesting quality menu items. We added an anti-slip coating to the bathroom floors, new tables cloths and umbrella's for the outside tables, lighting on the mural above the bar, bar mats and sampler trays, baby changing stations in the bathrooms and even got the parking lot re-striped.

So what else is on tap for Hoppy in 2004 you might be asking yourself??? Look for Hoppy to:
* install a new neon sign on the front of the building to
help attract even more customers.
* continue working very hard on making the brewpub operate
as efficiently as possible.
* continue working on putting the structure in place so
that maybe a second location could be open before the
end of the year.
* hopefully install a new Point of Sale system.
* install new carpeting and continue to do more painting
to keep things fresh.
* reupholster some of the seat backing in the restaurant.
* move the grain silo outside and install another walk in
refrigerator for beer additional storage.
* continue working on procuring the proper funding that will
get the TIN-Room in operating condition for actual retail
sales. Should that happen...
* a full liquor license will be acquired, which will help
satisfy the requests from some of our customers, and
allow us to add additional late night entertainment to
what we are currently providing.
* continue systematizing all of the departments and
providing better training and guidance for new managers.
* continue to improve our customer service, which by the way,
providing the very best customer service possible is the
biggest objective for Hoppy.

------------------
HOPPY NEW BEER...

SACRAMENTO, CA - With the new year blowing in like a cold fright train out of control coming down from the Sierra summit, the Hoppy Brewers have brewed up an "Old Kinderhook Ale" that comes in at a body warming 7.3% alcohol by volume. Now here is an interesting piece of trivia. Kinderhook is the town in upstate New York where Martin van Buren was born - our nations 8th President. The first person to email Hoppy, or tell one of the serving staff of the cultural significance of Old Kinderhook will receive a Lunch/Dinner Entree on Hoppy. So stop in and give this tasty brew a try. In addition, the Old Sandbag Barley Wine is on tap at 11.1% alcohol by volume, which really warms up the old britches... ;)

----------------------
HOPPY RECENT EVENTS...

Our Lucky Dinner Winner for the month of January was Ms. Donna Earnest, from the California Legislature. Congratulations Ms. Earnest!!! We look forward to serving you and your friends a complementary dinner for up to four friends and/or family on any weekend!!!

Looking for a place to watch a KINGS game when it is not on regular TV??? Hoppy Brewing continues to show all of the Sacramento KINGS games (if they are not blacked out by the NBA) via the NBA League Pass. In addition to just the KINGS games, we will once again have the option to watch any NBA game this season - like watching the Lakers lose... Also, just like last year, we will be suspending reservations during KINGS games in the main dining area. Therefore, if you have a group of people and want a great seat for the game in front of BIG screen, then make sure that all of your group arrives early...

Our brewpub is open daily at 11:00am serving some of the best valued Lunches, Dinners, and Daily Specials in the area. In addition, during football season, we are open at 9:00am for Breakfast on Sundays. Therefore, if you have not seen our menu lately, feel free to check it out online at http://www.hoppy.com/sacramento/menu.htm, or just stop in and see us. We are always looking forward to sharing our day with our valued customers. However, as some of you already know, Lunch can get quite busy from time-to-time during the week; so if you are on a tight schedule, please try to avoid the noon hour for sharing if possible - especially if you have a large party.

Also, in addition to our normal daily Hoppy Hour from 3:00-6:00pm and our LATE-NIGHT Hoppy Hour from 10:00pm-Close, featuring $3.00 pints and $10.00 pitchers, we have a number of other incentives here at our brewpub for you to enjoy:

* On Sundays we feature the BEST deal in town, where we
include a bottle of Hoppy brew to go with every Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner entree purchased.
* On Sundays & Tuesdays we feature $0.99 children's meals
with an adult meal purchase.
* On Mondays we feature $1.50 half pints all day until we
close, plus a FREE root beer float for the half pint kids.
* On Tuesdays we feature $2.50 pints all day until we close.
* On Wednesdays we have half price appetizers from
9:00-10:00pm, and a South Park special where most of our
half pint beers on tap are only $1.50 starting at 10:00pm
with South Park.
* On Saturdays we feature $9.00 pitchers all day until we
close.
* On Sundays during football season, from 9:00am - 1:00pm, we
feature a "cooked-to-order" Breakfast (from Sep - Jan).
* Whenever the temperature hits a 100 degrees, the bartender
picks a Hoppy brew to be a $1.50 for as long as the heat
remains in triple digits outdoors...

Also, our logo gear (i.e., polo shirts, t-shirts, pint glasses, ball caps, and etc.) can make for a GREAT gift anytime of the year. However, if you are not sure about our merchandise as a gift, we also have gift certificates available in most any denomination of your choice for use here at our brewpub to give as a present as well...

Lastly, we usually have some space available for your company parties, or for that special birthday gathering in our brewpub; so if you have an interest in having your party here at Hoppy's, just call 916.451.4677 and speak with Mr. Kenny Turner to plan your next party or event as soon as possible...

------------------------
HOPPY UPCOMING EVENTS...

With Martin Luther King Day right around the corner on the 19th, do not forget that Hoppy has the $1.50 half pint holiday beer special all day for you to enjoy, and the kids eat FREE too; plus the KINGS play the LA Clippers at 12:30pm for a holiday special.

The SUPER BOWL of the NFL, or really the GRAND POOHBAH of all organized sporting events, is set for February 01st at 3:00pm PST in Houston, TX. Therefore, if you have not marked your calendars, or made up your mind as to where to watch this major sporting event, make sure to mark your calendar with a big fat HOPPY on it!!! We will be having $2.50 pints & $9.00 pitchers, half price appetizers, and other exciting stuff all day, so make sure to come early and stay late for all of the fun. Also, if you are planning on having a party at your house, remember to put your keg order in early so that we can have it ready for you.

With Valentine's Day fast approaching on Saturday, February 14th, make sure to book your reservation early so that you can have the greatest likelihood of getting your first choice of time/location to celebrate that special day with someone special. The menu feature for that evening has yet to be decided, but if it is anything like it has been the last couple of years, you will not be disappointed. In addition, and not to be forgotten, but for the "unattached" on this day, we will be serving a very tasty special as well...

On the order of something different, here is a nice twist to help celebrate Mardi Gras, which is Tuesday, February 24th. Just bring in your favorite set of beads, and if they meet with the Bartender/Server's satisfaction, we will exchange them for a pint of Hoppy. Only one set of beads per person will be accepted for this special offer...

In addition, if you would like a complete listing of what we currently have on our calendar, please click on the following web address. http://www.hoppy.com/future.htm

--------------
HOPPY STAFF...

If you are interested in sending one of us a note, just visit the following page and click on a name that has interest to you. We promise to write back in a timely manner... :)http://www.hoppy.com/feedback.htm

------------------------
Remember...the craft brew industry is very competitive, and we can always use your help when you are out there in the bars, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. How can you help us you may be asking yourselves??? Well...ask your local retailer(s) for our products (to the point of bugging them if necessary), so that you are able to buy the products that you "really" want - not just what is on the store shelf, or on-tap, at the moment...

You, the consumer, have more power than you may know. Speak up, speak clearly, and your earnest taste buds may reap those proactive rewards. If you do this, then we are sure it will not be long before you will be able to enjoy our Liquid Sunshine™ Blonde, Hoppy Face™ Amber, Stony Face™ Red, and Total Eclipse™ Black Ales outside of attending a local festival, or even visiting us here in Sacramento...