THE WAKKER WEEKLY – Issue #1770
Issue #1770 – Posted on: 27 – Dec – 2024
Editor’s note: From the Bushwakker management and staff we wish you and yours good health, happiness and a safe 2025. This past year has been a fun one but also a challenging one. The loss of our matriarch at the beginning of the year got us off to an emotional start. Continually rising costs also made things tighter for everyone. The first year of the Dewdney Avenue Revitalization Project resulted in one of the leanest summers in Bushwakker history. To those who navigated the ugly pylons and fencing and signage to come visit us, we offer our sincere gratitude. Some of the new members of city council as well as our new mayor have demonstrated a willingness to discuss options which may soften the economic blow the 2025 Dewdney road construction season will bring. So although we face another challenging year, we know the long term gain will be worth the medium term pain. Dewdney Avenue will be beautiful and a boon to our local tourism sector. An attractive Dewdney Avenue should also pave the wave for development in the railyards. Thank you for 33 years of enthusiastic support and we hope to see you for some complimentary birthday cake, neeps and organ meat as we celebrate our 34th birthday along with Robbie Burns 266th birthday on January 25th! Haggis anyone?
BUSHWAKKER SEASONAL SUDS STATUS. Bushwakker head brewer, Michael Gaetz, reports our seasonally available MISSILETOW CHRISTMAS ALE, 30TH ANNIVERSARY BLACKBERRY MEAD, MORK’S MEAD, POWERHOUSE PORTER, TREPHINATION IMPERIAL IPA and BREW & GOLD DORTMUNTER EXPORT LAGER are currently available. There are also batches of PICKARD’S OATMEAL CREAM STOUT, KAI’S MUNICH HELLES, JUST CHERRY ALE and DOUBLE HONEY RED ALE currently working their way through the brewery.
Our biggest non-event of the entire year is back and filling up fast! We had no idea 19 years ago that so many of you would be so excited about a whole lotta’ nothin’! So much so that we are offering two seatings to our biggest non-event of the entire year. 4:30 – 7:00 and 7:15 – 10:00. Our full menu will be available as well as Chef Mike’s famous Prime Rib & Jumbo Yorkshire Pudding Dinners! Call 306-359-7276 to reserve your table today!
This WEEKEND’S SPECIAL DINING FEATURE for Dec. 27th, 28th & 29th is a BLACK & BLEU NEW YORK. Our Saturday CLASSIC STEAK & A PINT SPECIAL as well as our Monday and Wednesday WINGS & A PINT SPECIAL and Tuesday PIZZA & A PINT SPECIAL are also great value deals.
DECEMBER PREMIUM WINE FEATURES: This month’s wine features are the RAVEN CONSPIRACY wines from British Columbia. The red is the DEEP DARK RED and the white is the SMOOTH BRIGHT WHITE. Both are $8.95 for a glass and $23.95 for a half litre.
The holiday season is here so be sure to pop by The Bushwakker for a goblet or two or three of our famous Blackberry Mead or original Mork’s Mead or even a Missiletow Ale and weave some tall tales with friends.
Dec. 29: DECEMBER SUNDAY OPENING (four of four.) Last Sunday opening! The big day of being cooped up with the family is over! Now come meet up with friends and relax over an award-winning nacho and a goblet of mead and really enjoy the holiday season! Open from noon to 9:00 PM.
Dec. 30: Monday Night Jazz & Blues. JUSS SAYIN’. A New Year’s Eve – eve performance. Great jazz and blues featuring vocalist and guitar player, Jan Seitz. 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Dec. 31: NOTHING FOR NEW YEAR’S 19. Two seatings available at 4:30 – 7:00 and 7:15 – 10:00. Call 306-359-7276 to reserve your table today!
Jan. 1: CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY. “Hoppy” New Year! All the best to you and yours in 2025! Thank you for your decades of enthusiastic support as we head into our 34th year!
Jan. 3: FIRST FIRKIN FRIDAY. Kick off your new year with this longstanding Bushwakker monthly tradition! A piper from The Regina Police Services Pipes & Drums leads a keg (the firkin) of special ale throughout the pub in a procession. A guest volunteer tapper is selected to wield the handmade wooden maul affectionately named, The Mighty Firkin Wakker, and attempts to tap the keg in one mighty blow! This month’s New Year firkin offering will be a ROBUST ROBERTSON SUPER STRONG! The suds-soaking spectacular takes place at 5:30 PM.
The 2024 Year in Beer
Boulder, Colo. — As 2024 comes to a close, the Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American craft brewers—recaps a year of decelerated growth and continued honing of offerings.
In the BA’s midyear survey, craft saw a slightly more significant estimated decline in production (-2%) compared to the full year 2023 data (-1%). There were no significant year-over-year (YOY) variations in sales volume share by channel, and one distributed channel did not overtake another, suggesting a balance between where consumers are purchasing and where breweries are supplying.
In the second half of the year, Q3 scan data suggested weaker performance than the first half of the year, though there has been some deceleration of declines in recent periods. This suggests a full-year number that may be weaker than the midyear estimate.
“Craft has been going through a painful period of rationalization as demand growth has slowed and retailers and distributors look to simplify their offerings or add options for flavor and variety outside of the craft category,” said Bart Watson, vice president of strategy and membership, Brewers Association. “That said, breweries have reacted to these changes by focusing on distribution, continuing to innovate in their taprooms and brewpubs, creating groups and partnerships, and offering a wider range of beverages in their portfolios.”
Here’s a look at the highlights defining the Year in Beer.
Craft Beer by the Numbers
- Count: The number of small and independent breweries in operation in the U.S. in 2024 totaled 9,736.
- Openings and Closings: Throughout the year, the BA has tracked 335 new brewery openings and 399 closings. Despite the slight decline in the number of breweries in operation, closings remain a low percentage of total operating breweries.
- Employment: The craft beer industry supported nearly 460,000 jobs nationwide, fostering local economies and creating opportunities.
- Economic Impact: Craft beer’s contribution to the U.S. economy reached an impressive $77.1 billion, demonstrating its vital role in the broader beverage market.
2024’s Hottest Market Trends
- Non-Alcohol Beer Boom: With the growing demand for mindful drinking, non-alcohol beer sales soared (scan dollars up 30%+ year-over-year from January through October) as brewers refined their techniques to deliver flavor-packed options.
- Focus: After years of unfettered innovation ruling the industry, brewers are focusing more on building off of products and models where they’ve found success.
- Hospitality: Breweries embraced new ways to emphasize the customer experience, from offering diverse dining options, cocktails, and mindful drinking options to family-friendly activities such as menus for kids to color.
Major Events of 2024
- Great American Beer Festival® (GABF®): October’s GABF welcomed more than 40,000 attendees and featured 2,500+ beers from 500+ breweries, highlighting the best American craft beer, ciders, ready-to-drink cocktails, hard teas, and kombuchas.
- World Beer Cup® (WBC): Known as “The Olympics of Beer,” the 2024 WBC evaluated 9,300 entries with breweries from 37 countries vying for global recognition.
- Beer Weeks: Communities across the U.S. celebrated American Craft Beer Week® in May, strengthening the bond between breweries and their fans.
Looking Ahead
As the craft beer landscape evolves, the industry is poised for another challenging year in 2025, with additional uncertainty, potential tariffs and rising costs, retailers and distributors looking to simplify offerings, and potential new dietary guidelines for beverage alcohol. Market pressures will likely lead to continued consolidation and alliances to cut costs and utilize excess capacity.
“Brewers are experiencing critical challenges at the crossroads of a high-cost environment paired with slowing growth,” said Watson. “To grow in 2025, brewers must do what they do best: adapt. They also will need to continue to do the hard work to find ways to tell their story and differentiate their brands against the competition.”
TIME OUT – More Holiday Season Groaners
What’s the difference between a Christmas tree and Santa? A Christmas tree will stay up for 12 nights, has cute balls, and looks good with the lights on.
Why was the elf having trouble with his libido? He had low elf-esteem.
What’s the most disappointing thing for a lover on Christmas morning? When they get a sweater, but they’re hoping for a screamer or a moaner.
What does a man who had a vasectomy have in common with a Christmas tree? Their balls are both decorative.
Why is Christmas like an orgasm? The closer it gets, the louder you get about its arrival.
What happened when the Grinch tried Viagra? He grew three sizes that day.
Why does Mrs. Claus wish Santa Claus was like a stocking? Because stockings are hung.
No need to eliminate what brings you joy in the New Year. Many folks resolve to exercise more but resolving to exercise moderation is fine course of action too! All the best in 2025!
