THE WAKKER WEEKLY
Issue #1667 – Posted on: 09-January-2023
BREWERY “HOPP”ENINGS: Bushwakker Head brewer, Michael Gaetz, reports that our seasonally available BLACKBERRY MEAD, “MISSILE”TOW CHRISTMAS ALE, CHERRY PASSION FRUIT ALE, PICKARD’S OATMEAL CREAM STOUT and THREE DOWN PILSNER are currently available. There is also a batch of ARCTIC DARK LAGER working its way through the brewery. In addition to taking our beer home in glass bottles and 2 litre jugs direct from our brewpub, you can possibly find a varying selection of 650 ml bottles of Bushwakker beer in a number of REGINA SLGA stores.
This Weekend’s Special Dining Feature for January 6th and 7th is PORK TENDERLOIN SCALOPPINE w/ APPLE BOURBON SAUCE for $21.95. 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.
Our SASK CRAFT GUEST TAP is currently pouring the LEVITATION BOURBON BARREL-AGED IMPERIAL STOUT (10%) from Nokomis Craft Ales. Next up is the LIFT OFF BANANA STOUT from Malty National Brewing. This will be followed by a special Saskatchewan Craft Brewers Association AMERICAN PALE ALE brewed by Saskatoon’s 9 Mile Legacy Brewing.
JANUARY PREMIUM WINE FEATURES: This month’s wine features are the LES JAMELLES wines from southern France. The white wine is their SAUVIGNON BLANC and the red is their MERLOT. Both are $7.95 for a glass and $21.95 for a half litre.
After over 30 years of taking care of you, Cheryl will now be taking care of herself and will be hanging up her Bushwakker apron at the end of this year. But she is going out with a bang and you are all invited to come celebrate her monumental milestone at a huge “Last Blast” Bushwakker Bash in her honour on Thursday, January 12 at 5:30 PM. Live music with Terraplane, The Red Wagon Bohemians and a Storry With Hughes, a special firkin tapping presentation and Cheryl’s favourite dishes too! Come party with the most popular woman in Regina!
WE ARE HIRING! The busy winter season is here! We need full and part-time cooks. Stop by with your resume today or email it to kelly@bushwakker.com
Jan. 6: FIRST FIRKIN FIRDAY! Enjoy the pomp and circumstance of 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 firkin offering will be a DOUBLE DRY-HOPPED SINGLE SAAZ HOP CZECH PILSNER! The suds-soaking spectacular takes place at 5:30 PM.
Jan. 9: Monday Night Jazz & Blues. REGINA SONGWRITERS GROUP & SASKMUSIC PRESENTS a Blues performance from Artie Balkwill and Dale Mack. 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Jan. 11: Wednesday Folk Night. ASHLEY-JUDD. Talented duo featuring Ashley Martin and Judd Stachoski make their Bushwakker debut. Special opening set from Tyler Burton. 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Jan. 12: CHERYL’S “LAST BLAST” FAREWELL EVENT. After over 30 years of taking care of you, Cheryl will now be taking care of herself and will be hanging up her Bushwakker apron at the end of this year. But she is going out with a bang and you are all invited to come celebrate her monumental milestone at a huge party in her honour. Enjoy live music with Terraplane, The Red Wagon Bohemians and A Storry With Hughes, a special firkin tapping presentation and Cheryl’s favourite dishes too! Come party with the most popular woman in Regina! 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
CURRENT HOURS OF OPERATION AND RESERVATIONS NOTES
We are open Monday – Thursday from 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM. The kitchen closes at 9:00 PM and last call is at 9:15 PM. Fridays and Saturdays we are open from 11:00 AM until midnight. The kitchen is open until 11:00 PM and last call is at 11:15 PM. Closed Sundays.
Reservations are accepted and encouraged. We accept a limited number of reservations as late as 6:00 PM every day except Fridays. Fridays we accept reservations as late as 3:00 PM. Call us at 306-359-7276 to secure your table. Our two banquet rooms are also available for private party rentals. Call Kelly at 306-359-7276 to book either our main floor Arizona Room or basement Clubroom.
The Brewers Association Releases 2022 Year in Review
From Brewer’s Journal Canada
The Brewers Association in the U.S. has rounded up a year filled with varied growth, continued supply chain disruptions, and increased competition. Despite these challenges, 2022 also saw a return to in-person events and the nurturing of the next generation of craft beer professionals.
Breweries, bars, and restaurants continued their long and unsteady recovery in 2022, and while total on-premise sales bounced back to their previous trends, draught beer is still recovering. Small and local brewpubs and taprooms proved nimble during continued supply disruptions, faring better than micros and regionals fighting for shelf space in an increasingly competitive distribution climate.
Climate change and persisting supply and ingredient disruptions and shortages continued to plague brewers throughout the year. Although the 2022 barley harvest improved, the severe depletion of stocks in 2021 kept supplies tight and prices high in a dynamic and changing market. 2022 hop acreage declined slightly in the United States, while the European harvest was the worst in decades. Disruptions in the supply of aluminum cans and CO2 continued to impede recovery.
“Riding through a challenging and competitive year, taprooms and brewpubs found ways to innovate and keep customers coming through the door, while brands with a retail presence continued to compete with other beverage alcohol choices for shelf space,” said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. “2023 will be a reset for many brewers as they return to more conscious and thoughtful innovation to balance customer demand and adapt to supply chain fluctuations.”
Nationally and on the state level, the Brewers Association continued its work to ensure small brewers have equitable access to markets, fair tax rates, and sensible regulations.
In the fight for fair treatment for craft brewers, the Brewers Association submitted comments to the Department of the Treasury on wholesaler consolidation, unfair state franchise laws, and restrictions on direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales.
The Brewers Association joined fights against lowered excise taxes for ready-to-drink canned cocktails (RTDs) in Arizona, New Jersey, Washington, and Vermont and grassroots advocacy in Illinois, New Jersey, California, and Colorado. The BA will continue to support direct-to-consumer shipping, protecting existing allowances in states such as California, and bringing the practice to states currently without.
As the craft beer industry continues to mature, industry veterans have embraced their ability to assist newcomers as these rising professionals build their careers. Through its mentorship program, the Brewers Association has connected more than 100 mentors with entrepreneurs and professionals looking to develop their knowledge and skills, and those seeking to break into the craft brewing industry for the first time. With its fourth cohort now complete, the program has hosted 124 mentees and 102 mentors.
Beer lover interest in returning to in-person beer festivals was on full display in Denver October 6-8 as 40,000 attendees convened after a two-year hiatus for the 40th anniversary Great American Beer Festival.
“The maturing craft industry continues to grow more competitive, facing both internal business pressures and externally the continued growth of new beverage alcohol competitors,” said Watson. “While these challenges are daunting, craft brewers are known for their innovation and flexibility, and will need both as they evolve to meet the next generation of beer lovers with new beers and new occasions.”
Given learnings from 2022, the Brewers Association predicts that in 2023:
- Brewery openings will be the lowest in over a decade
- Distributed craft volume will not grow
- Supply chain will remain rocky, but collectively average prices will come down from 2022 peaks
- Total brewery employment will increase
TIME OUT– New Year’s Resolutions You Can Actually Keep
Read less.
Gain weight. Put on at least 30 pounds.
Start buying lottery tickets at a luckier store.
Stop exercising. Waste of time.
Watch more TV. You’ve been missing some good stuff.
Procrastinate more.
Do less laundry and use more deodorant.
Become a vegan for a day and subsequently learn that it was a missed steak.
Drink more.
Start being superstitious.
Stop bringing lunch from home and eat out more.
Take up a new habit: maybe smoking!
