The Hoppy Times

SAN JOSE, CA - After spending the last three years establishing a solid foundation of sales in the greater San Francisco Bay Area for their Hoppy(tm) products, those ever energetic people at the Hoppy Brewing Company are expanding their distribution coverage. Effective the first of September, the Hoppy Crew(tm) will be including the San Diego metropolitan area to their distribution network. "When we started looking to expand, one of our distributors pointed us in the direction of New Wave Distributing", says Hoppy's Director of Sales, Mr. Andy Brinck. "We sent some samples down, and those guys down there got [really] excited about the opportunity to carry our brands. They felt that not only did we have a high-quality product, but that our packaging was [perfect] for their market. Needless to say we're [very] excited about working with them as our brands begin to show up on their local store shelves and tap-handles", continues Mr. Brinck.

"We thought that the San Diego market at first appeared to be a great distance from home, but the more we examined the logistics, the more we felt that the market is [highly] under-represented down there with high-quality micros. We also felt that it would be a perfect opportunity for our brands to gain some premium exposure", adds Mr. Bob Utley, Hoppy's newly acquired Consumer Sales Manager. "In addition to the San Diego market, we're working with New Wave as they expand to expand our brands into all of the southern California market in the near future as well", concludes an excited Mr. Brinck.

Members of the Hoppy Crew(tm) will make their way down to San Diego to help kick-off their introduction to the local market with attendance at San Diego's 14th Annual - Street Scene Microbrewery Festival. The festival runs from September 5th through 7th, with more 85,000 people expected to attend this year to sample 20 of the premier micros from all over the west coast. The festival is located in the historic Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego; it will feature 12 music stages and encompass a [mere] 21 city blocks!!! "This sounds like a pretty good party to me," adds Hoppy's enthusiastic Event Coordinator, Ms. Theresa Cleary.

If you are planning a trip to San Diego that weekend, please stop by the Hoppy booth and show your support. There is nothing like finding friends in a new town to share the experience with... For more information about Street Scene, one can visit their web site at "http://www.street-scene.com", or just give them a call at 619.557.8490.

SAN JOSE, CA - This past Independence Day represented the third year in which Hoppy(tm) has played a significant role in raising funds to help shelter the homeless. The annual San Jose America Festival (which also happens to have the largest fireworks show in northern California), not only brings over 150,000 people downtown to enjoy good music, great food, a variety of crafts, and Hoppy, but also raises money for the Emergency Housing Consortium (EHC).

The EHC is Santa Clara County's largest provider of shelters and services for homeless people. It is also the festival's producer, and sees the event as not only a major fund-raiser for the non-profit agency, but as a tremendous awareness-raiser too. "We've produced the America Festival for three years now, and with every year, we've made more people aware of the work we do to end homelessness...and the tremendous need for that work," said EHC Executive Director Barry Del Buono.

"We really like being part of this festival, especially when it comes to helping the homeless" says an excited Ms. Cleary. "The park is so stretched out, that the only time it gets crowded is right before the fireworks start. In addition, there is an area for the kids to play, paint, and experience the arts; so it makes for a wonderful opportunity for the family to come out and spend the day downtown. I know that we look forward to being part of the festival again next year," concludes Ms. Cleary.

SAN JOSE, CA - Soon you will be seeing not only Hoppy Face(tm) in six-packs in the stores and on tap in restaurants/bars, but also Liquid Sunshine(tm) Blonde Ale and their Total Eclipse(tm) Black Ale as well. Hoppy, who has been growing for three years under their flagship product - Hoppy Face Amber Ale, released two new permanent brands and a seasonal brand last year in 22 ounce bottles. "The 22 ounce bottle is not a high volume package," comments Mr. Andy Brinck, "but it did allow us to get consumer feedback and test the waters so to speak with these brands," concludes Mr. Brinck. "With 78% of our sales coming from the Hoppy Face in six-packs and on tap, and 10% coming from our Liquid Sunshine 22 ounce sales, we've know that we've got an opportunity to easily increase our sales. It's just been a question of putting all of the appropriate financing in place to accommodate that growth," adds Hoppy's Chief Financial Officer, Patrick McKenzie.

"We're very excited about getting these new packages out to the consumers. It's been very frustrating talking to people about our products, having them try them, and want to put them on tap, and not being able to get it to them," adds an anxious Mr. Brinck.

SAN JOSE, CA - Located in a little strip mall on Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen stands a great little family sports bar. Babe's Pizza & Grill, owned by George Castonguay, which is located at 1074 Lincoln Avenue, and has been turning out fine food and welcoming those who have been wondering in for more years than George cares to remember. "We've seen a lot of changes over the years, and it looks as though Willow Glen is starting to move into some of its [pristine] years with some of the new businesses starting to pop up," adds an informed member of the Hoppy Crew.

With more than half of the building vacant, one should not be afraid to enter this homey little establishment. Once inside Babe's, you will find a plethora of sporting memorabilia hanging on the walls, with a menu offering almost as many items as pictures on the wall. The Hoppy Crew has found that at times it is difficult to make a choice between all of the good menu items, as well as staying focused on a conversation without getting lost gazing at some historic picture of Babe Ruth... In any event, sitting inside or out, one is usually within earshot of a TV tuned to a current sporting event.

If you are on the Avenue for lunch, or driving by on your way home in the evening, make sure to stop in for a bite and say hi to George. Also, if you are interested, make sure to have a pint or two of Hoppy while you are there as well. In addition, if you do not feel like leaving your house, Babe's recently started delivering pizzas and other food to people in nearby neighborhoods. So if you decide to make the call, make sure to go outside and wait for that proverbial "Babe Mobile"...

Babe's Pizza & Grill
1074 Lincoln Ave.
San Jose, CA 95125
408.295.7995

June 14th - Hayward Blues and Brews - This event was held in downtown Hayward at B Street (next to the Hayward Bart Station). There was tons of entertainment, especially with Little Jimmy King as the headliner. Other musicians of note were, Zakiya Hooker, Lady Bo, Lady Margaret, Red Archibald, Guitar Mac, and the Bay Area Blues Society. Talk about an all-star line up of music!!! In addition, there were about 30 local microbreweries from around the area representing their distinctive brands. For more details, just check out their web site @ http://www.mediacity.com/~blues.

June 21&22nd - Fourth Annual Summer Brewfest at the San Jose Flea Market. The Hoppy Crew(tm) was out at the Expo Center Pavilion on the San Jose Flea Market for two hot days in June serving up some fine brew for all of those Hoppy Flea Market Shoppers. Chris Baerwaldt, Hoppy's Systems Administrator, managed to sneak out from behind his computer to shake the hands and greet the people as they stopped by to say hi and try a Hoppy Brew(tm). "It's not everyday that I get a chance to greet a bunch of people and share some good brew with them, but I'm sure working towards achieving that goal," says an optimistic Mr. Baerwaldt.

July 11th - Featured Rhino Night at Waves Smokehouse after the game, in which the Rhinos also won. People who brought their ticket stub were allowed to get in free, and not only were they treated to some wonderful Reggae music, they were treated two of the Rhino players doing a stint as guest bartenders as well. In addition, the Rhinestone Cheerleaders were on hand snapping pictures for those fans eager to get caught up in their wave of excitement.

July 19th - Tahoe Fat Tire Micro-Brew Festival, Tahoe City: TFTF Productions held their now 3rd Annual World Mountain Bike Event and Brew Ha-Ha at Squaw Valley. The Hoppy Crew(tm) had a blast visiting the local mountain breweries, sampling some of the high-country sun, and just getting into the whole mountain atmosphere. If you missed it, you should make plans now for next year to get away for the weekend to join the Crew for the Brew Ha-Ha at Squaw Valley. For more information about this event, please call Aaron Martin @ 916.581.1800.

July 27th - Fresh off of a Friday night special, the Hoppy Crew brought on the Sunday Hoppy & Ribs special at Waves after the Rhino game. Always looking for a challenge, this special featured Joel Wyrick (Waves) and Troy Paski (Hoppy) competing at half time to see who could put the most pucks in from center-court. Much bantering persisted during the shooting, with Mr. Wyrick winning 4-3. Therefore, fans were treated to $1.25 Hoppy Face pints, and all the ribs they could eat for $7.50 with their ticket stub after the game. Rumor has it, that Troy's gone out, bought his own stick, and is busy practicing for a re-match...

August 01st - The 8th annual KAZU Brewmaster Classic held in Pacific Grove featured Mr. Bob Utley from the Hoppy Crew doing a solo stint down there this year. Mr. Utley found that not only were there a number of fine breweries there, complimented by some very fine locally produced food, but that some of the breweries were spending their time building fortresses out of their case boxes and etc. to attract the consumer. "It sort of looked like a trade-show convention with the way the booths were being assembled," commented Mr. Utley. "Maybe that's what these festivals are coming to - the traveling Beer-A-Palooza show. In any event, it's still one of the most effective ways to get your products in the consumers hands," finished an intrigued Mr. Utley.

August 09&10th - Small Brewer's Festival, Mtn. View: Billed as the 3rd largest tribute to beer in the country; this festival is one not to be missed; especially since this is where Hoppy got its start!!! Call 1.800.965.BEER for more details.

August 15-17th - International Beer Festival, San Jose: This 2nd Annual beer festival is a three day event in Downtown San Jose's Guadeloupe River Park with live music, food from San Jose's best restaurants, home brewing demonstrations, and much much more. Proceeds from this event support the San Jose Downtown Association. For more information, call Daniel Doherty @ 408.293.4373.

September 06th - HopFest '97, Pleasanton: Come spend an afternoon with the Hoppy Crew, and enjoy some of the local favorites! For more information, contact Dan Mays @ 510.462.3570.

September 20-21st - Annual Beer Festival, Berkeley: In a great park setting, this is a festival not to miss!!! Great food, people, music, and some of the widest varieties of beer known to man. For more information, contact Christine McAllister @ 510.843.7625.

September 20th - Micro Blues & Brews, Fairfield: A day filled with Blues music and micro brews sponsored by the Downtown Improvement District. For more information, contact Gary Howell @ 707.422.0103.

September 27-28th - Taste of Morgan Hill: The Eighth Annual event will be held at 3rd and Monterey in historic downtown Morgan Hill from 10am-6pm each day, and is sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce. The two day event features unique foods, wine, arts and crafts, car and rod show, entertainment, grape stomp, celebrity chefs cooking demonstrations and of course, a micro-brewfest. For more information, contact Lorraine Welk @ 408.779.9444.

September 27-28th - Brew HaHa, San Jose: Stop by for a fun afternoon of great brew and hilarious stand-up comedy. For more information please contact Labadie Productions @ 408.457.1141.

September 28th - SpartaFest @ SJSU, San Jose: Come out and swing with us and the Wally's Swing World big band and taste some of the Bay Area's finest foods, beers and wine. For additional info, call Julie Stone at 408.924.6515.

If you know of an event that you think the Hoppy Crew(tm) should be at, please give Theresa a call at 408.294.6861.28, or e-mail her at theresa@hoppy.com, so that she can make arrangements for us to be there. For more information or directions to these events, call the Hoppy Hot Line @ 408.294.6861.55.