TERRAPIN TIMES

TERRAPIN TIMES - Summer 2006
http://www.terrapinbeer.com

Welcome to the latest issue of the TERRAPIN TIMES, the quarterly email newsletter of Terrapin Beer Company. If you do not wish to receive future issues of the TERRAPIN TIMES, instructions on how to be removed from the Terrapin Team membership list are included at the bottom of this message.

* MONSTER BEER TOUR ROLLS ON
* CREAM ALE CHANGES TO GOLDEN ALE
* TERRAPIN LAUNCHES IN BIRMINGHAM
* UPCOMING EVENTS (Yeah, Right!)
* OTHER STUPID RULES
* ALL GA BREWERIES NEED YOUR HELP
* LET'S TALK BEER (CONTEST)
* HAPPY BIRTHDAY (CONTEST)

* MONSTER BEER TOUR ROLLS ON
The Summer Tour in this limited release series is the Terrapin All American Imperial Pilsner. Created to celebrate American Independence and brewing ingenuity this traditional German lager is crafted with typical Terrapin creativity. By using only the finest American malt, hops, water and yeast Terrapin has produced an Imperial Pilsner that is true "Red, White and Brew".
http://www.terrapinbeer.com/beers/all.american.php

* CREAM ALE CHANGES TO GOLDEN ALE
Beginning immediately Terrapin is changing the name of the Terrapin Cream Ale to the Terrapin Golden Ale. It is still the same award winning beer with the same crisp, refreshing flavor and the same incredible packaging with the kayaking turtle. Only the name will change.

Terrapin Beer Company was started by two guys who love big, bold beers. We are known for using a ton of flavorful ingredients and pushing the envelope with the brews we create. We have also been known to take pleasure in hiking, biking, kayaking, or just plain having fun in the great outdoors. When we get hot and sweaty even hopheads like us want nothing more than to enjoy a beer that is crisp and refreshing. Which is why we created the perfect session beer - the Terrapin Golden Ale.

* TERRAPIN LAUNCHES IN BIRMINGHAM
If you live in any part of Northern Alabama you can now enjoy the great taste of the Terrapin Rye Pale Ale and Terrapin Golden Ale. Be sure to tell your favorite retailer that they can now order Terrapin.

* UPCOMING EVENTS (Yeah, Right!)
This newsletter will no longer be sent out on a monthly basis. We will be sending the Terrapin Times out quarterly from this point forward. So what does that have to do with UPCOMING EVENTS?

Well, it seems the State of Georgia has decided that it is against the law for us to tell anyone about any promotional events that we are doing. In fact Terrapin recently received a citation and is being fined for doing just that. Seriously. As hard as it may be to believe, Terrapin is being fined for listing upcoming promotions on our website.

We were also told that if someone calls us on the phone wanting to know where to find Terrapin, we are not allowed to tell them a specific retail account. We are only allowed to say, "Any package store in Athens should have our beer" or "Terrapin is in most good beer bars in your area". We are not even allowed to tell you about any upcoming beer festivals we may be attending.

So how are we supposed to promote Terrapin and actually try to grow our business? According to the State of Georgia we aren't. We must sit back and hope you somehow find us. Following State guidelines here is what our current event listings would look like:

--Terrapin is going to be at a bar in Cumming on Monday July 10th, Snellville on Tuesday July 11th, and Roswell on Wednesday July 12th to promote the All American Imperial Pilsner.

--Every Thursday in July we are doing an All American Imperial Pilsner pint night at a chain of beer bars throughout Atlanta. Buy a beer and keep the glass.

Honestly those listings seem pretty pointless so we just aren't going to do them any more. If we continue to list our promotions the State of GA would actually go so far as to revoke our license and put us out of business. So all we can say is please continue to visit your local taverns and hopefully we will see you there some time.

* OTHER STUPID RULES
CAVEAT: John Cochran is writing this and is expressing personal opinions that in no way reflect the views of Terrapin Beer Company. Or maybe it does. You decide.

So what other rules are breweries in GA hamstrung by?

How about the fact that when a Terrapin rep goes into a bar to attempt to convince them to carry Terrapin it is against the law for us to give them a sample? Yet it is perfectly legal for wine and liquor salespeople to leave samples.

How about the fact that as brewery reps if we walk into a package store and the shelf is empty we are not allowed to take a case from the back of the store and put it on the shelf?

How about the fact that we are prohibited from pouring our own beer at a beer festival? If a volunteer has to take a bathroom break we can only stand there and tell customers, "Sorry, you have to wait. I'm not allowed to pour the beer because I work for the company that made it."

How about the fact that we are not allowed to give anything of "value" to a retailer? That means we can not give pint glasses to a bar. They have to buy them. That means we can not give t-shirts to the staff of a restaurant. The owner has to purchase them. And of course this means we can not list promotional events on our website.

How about the fact that when breweries give tours they are not allowed in any way to sell growlers, 6-packs or kegs to anyone visiting the brewery? We are only allowed to give free samples. After all, why would we actually want the right to sell our product to the hundred or so customers that are standing in front of us at the brewery?

That starts to get into the three tier distribution system and how it works. We will leave that one alone as it is a huge can of worms. Just ask Crawford Moran, former owner of Dogwood Brewing about it. He claims it put him out of business.
See http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A17287

* ALL GA BREWERIES NEED YOUR HELP
Enough talk, its time for action. We know, as do the other local breweries, that you guys support us all. And now all the local breweries need your help. Julie Baggett, the President of SouthEastern Brewers Guild is collecting statements from all the local breweries about the hassles we have been getting from the State of Georgia recently. She is going to try to work with a State Representative to see if we can get some rules changed. Any statements of support that you would like to add to this can only strengthen our case. Send any comments you may have to info@terrapinbeer.com and we will forward them on to Julie. Thanks in advance for your help.

Enough serious talk. Let's get back to the fun stuff.

* LET'S TALK BEER (CONTEST)
We are always in the mood to talk beer. Email us at info@terrapinbeer.com
about your experience with Terrapin: stories, compliments, or just why you
like the taste. A free Terrapin T-shirt will go to the top response each month.
To see previous winners go to http://www.terrapinbeer.com/beertalkwinners.html
Be sure to include your name, address, phone number and shirt size.

This month's winner is Dan Rosen from somewhere in Atlanta. Congratulations, Dan. Please email us with your shipping address and what size shirt you would like.

"I just cannot put into words how much I am enjoying the All American Imperial Pilsner. I kind of stopped drinkin’ pilsners because they have become too light tasting for me. This beer has reminded me how much I truly enjoy a world class pilsner. Had I had access to this beer in the ‘70s, I probably would not have made it past my sophomore year of High School. I would be working a manual labor job and living in the projects.

Anyway, this and the Monster Stout are easily among the top 5 beers I have ever had. That says a lot. You should be very proud."

* HAPPY BIRTHDAY (CONTEST)
Every month Terrapin Beer Company will be giving away one T-shirt to a Team member who has a birthday during that month. Are you registered? Maybe. If you receive this email you are a member of The Terrapin Team but that doesn't mean that we know your birthday. Make sure that we have all of your info updated by sending your name, address, phone, and birthdate to info@terrapinbeer.com. You will be entered to win and we promise not to tell anyone how old you are.

The winner for June is Martin Pilowa.
The winner for July is Michelle Mathis.
The winner for August is Katie Mclennan.

Congratulations. Please email us with your contact info and what size shirt you would like.

That's all for now. Thank you for all of your support. Feel free to send any comments, suggestions or questions for Terrapin Beer Company to info@terrapinbeer.com. Or call John Cochran at (706) 202-4467 or Brian (Spike) Buckowski at (678) 522-3489.

Cheers,
Spike and John
Terrapin Beer Company

To contact Terrapin, send an email to info@terrapinbeer.com.

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