(Anchorage, AK & St. Louis, MO) – Some recent headlines worthy of noting . . .

Alaskan beer blogger, Bill Sterling, a.k.a. the 2010 Beer Drinker of the Year, broke some big news on Tuesday (though his use of the word ‘reportedly’ makes me think it was reported earlier?):

“[Head Brewer] Gabe Fletcher is leaving Midnight Sun to start his own brewery, Anchorage Brewing Company. The new company will reportedly produce only 100 percent barrel-aged, all brettanomyces-influenced beers that will be finished strictly in 750 ml wine-style bottles with cork and bail finish. Fletcher has already signed on with the Shelton Brothers Importers to distribute his brews nationally. He has worked out a deal with the Snow Goose Restaurant and Sleeping Lady Brewing Company to use their brewing system and some extra space in the area under the brewery where his oak barrels, conditioning tanks and bottling line will be set up. Production will be limited to about 360 barrels annually, but the good news is that at least some of it will be distributed locally, with the first bottles being available in February, 2011. It’s an ambitious plan, but if anyone can pull it off, Gabe can.”

And from STL Today’s Evan Benn last week:

“Phil Wymore, head brewer for Half Acre Beer Co. in Chicago, is moving here next month to start a microbrewery. Wymore’s brewery will be called Perennial Artisan Ales, and it’ll be a family affair: He’ll brew, his wife will handle marketing and sales, and his father-in-law will help keep the books. Wymore is still scouting locations, but he tells me he hopes to begin buildout by the end of the year.”