Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream Program Announces 2015 Craft Brewer Experienceship Winner

BOSTON, Oct. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Samuel Adams today announced that San Diego County-based craft brewery ChuckAlek Independent Brewers has been selected as the winner of the 2015 "Brewing and Business Experienceship," a unique mentoring opportunity awarded to one craft brewer annually as part of the Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream program.

Similar to an extended internship, the Experienceship provides hands-on educational and enrichment experiences tailored to the winning brewery's needs. As part of the program, ChuckAlek Independent Brewers will receive a trip to the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery for coaching and mentoring from a variety of Samuel Adams experts and brewers, including those involved in ingredients sourcing, sales and distribution, package design and more. Additionally, winners have the opportunity to brew a collaboration beer with Samuel Adams, and receive funding to attend industry events such as The Great American Beer Festival.

Founder and head brewer Grant Fraley, and co-founder and CEO Marta Jankowska were selected from craft brewer applicants that are part of Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream, a micro-lending and coaching program for small business owners working in food, beverage, craft brewing and hospitality. The brewery was chosen by a panel of professionals from Samuel Adams and the program's non-profit microlending partner Accion, based on their passion for brewing quality craft beer, current success, and strong growth potential.   

"Our Brewing and Business Experienceship provides fellow craft brewers with important ongoing support and advice - something that I wish I had when starting Samuel Adams 30 years ago," said Samuel Adams founder and brewer Jim Koch. "We understand how difficult it is to manage the many moving pieces of an up-and-coming brewery, and look forward to working and collaborating with Grant and Marta as they continue to provide innovative craft beers to the San Diego region."

In 2013, Grant Fraley and Marta Jankowska opened ChuckAlek Independent Brewers in Ramona, CA of eastern San Diego County to turn their passion for reviving old, hard-to-find beer styles into a business. Last fall, Fraley and Jankowska looked to expand but faced difficulty securing traditional financing. They then turned to Brewing the American Dream, and were able to secure a $10,000 loan through Accion to help them develop draft beer sales in San Diego. What resulted was their ability to grow distribution to 30 accounts, and become one of the most widely distributed nano breweries in San Diego County.

"We're very excited to be selected for the Samuel Adams Brewing and Business Experienceship Program," said Fraley. "Our revivals of old-school beers are a unique contribution to the San Diego beer scene, and this invaluable opportunity will give us the support we need to help grow the brewery and get our uniquely hopped sessionable lagers and original-era porters in front of a wider audience. We look forward to working with the brewers and employees at Samuel Adams and can't wait to visit the Boston Brewery."

Samuel Adams Continues to Support the Craft Beer Movement
ChuckAlek Independent Brewers is the fourth craft brewery to receive the Brewing and Business Experienceship. Past winners include San Francisco, CA-based MateVeza, Rochester, NY-based Roc Brewing Co. and Denver, CO-based Brewery Rickoli. Each brewery released a limited-edition collaboration beer with Samuel Adams, and has received a loan through the Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream program.  To date, the program has provided loans to more than a dozen craft brewers across the country in an effort to continue to support fellow craft brewers.

Created by Samuel Adams brewer and founder Jim Koch in partnership with Accion, the Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream program provides two important components that Jim didn't have access to when starting Samuel Adams 30 years ago: access to financing and nuts-and-bolts business advice. Since its creation in 2008, the program has provided more than $3 million in microloans to nearly 375 businesses nationwide, coached 4,000+ small business owners, and helped create or retain more than 2,000 jobs. To learn more, visit http://btad.samueladams.com/.

About Samuel Adams and The Boston Beer Company
The Boston Beer Company began in 1984 with a generations-old family recipe that Founder and Brewer Jim Koch uncovered in his father's attic. Inspired and unafraid to challenge conventional thinking about beer, Jim brought the recipe to life in his kitchen.  Pleased with the results of his work, Jim decided to sample his beer with bars in Boston in the hopes that drinkers would appreciate the complex, full-flavored beer he brewed fresh in America.  That beer was aptly named Samuel Adams Boston Lager, in recognition of one of our nation's great founding fathers, a man of independent mind and spirit.  Little did Jim know at the time, Samuel Adams Boston Lager soon became a catalyst of the American craft beer revolution.

Today, The Boston Beer Company brews more than 60 styles of beer.  It relentlessly pursues the development of new styles and the perfection of classic beers by searching the world for the finest ingredients.  Using the traditional four vessel brewing process, the Company often takes extra steps like dry-hopping, barrel-aging and a secondary fermentation known as krausening.  The Company has also pioneered another revolution, the 'extreme beer' movement, where it seeks to challenge drinker's perceptions of what beer can be. The Boston Beer Company has been committed to elevating the image of American craft beer by entering festivals and competitions around the globe, and is one of the world's most awarded breweries at international beer competitions. As an independent company, brewing quality beer remains its single focus. Although Samuel Adams beer is America's largest-selling craft beer, it accounts for only one percent of the U.S. beer market.  The Boston Beer Company will continue its independently-minded quest to brew great beer and to advocate for the growth of craft beer across America. For more information, please visit www.samueladams.com.

Samuel Adams, Sam Adams, Samuel Adams Boston Lager, and Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream are registered trademarks of The Boston Beer Company.

About ChuckAlek Independent Brewers
ChuckAlek Independent Brewers opened its doors in January of 2013 in Ramona, CA. Named after their grandfathers, Chuck and Alek, the brewery pulls some of the past into the present by creating Old School Beers for New School Palates. They specialize in original interpretations of old-school styles of beer, with a focus on brewing unique German-style lagers and British-style Porter & Stout. Grant Fraley, head brewer, also experiments with barrel-aged beers in their Trading Col series including: Keeping Stout, British EIPA, and a kettle soured Burgundy aged in French Oak with Brettanomyces. Currently you can sample their beers in a variety of craft beer bars and food establishments around San Diego County, or try the full lineup of unique beers including their Archives 1804-1933 Historical Porters and Stouts series, in their recently upgraded tasting room in Ramona, CA. 

About Accion in the U.S.
As the largest nationwide nonprofit micro- and small business lending network in the United States, Accion connects small business owners with the accessible financing and advice it takes to create or grow healthy businesses. Since 1991, the five members of Accion's U.S. Network have collectively made over 50,000 loans, totaling over $406 million. Additionally, over 400,000 business owners across the nation have turned to Accion for financial and business support via workshops, online tools, and one-on-one consultations. Globally, Accion is a pioneer in microfinance, reaching millions of individuals through its international network of partners. For more information visit http://usnetwork.accion.org.

SOURCE Samuel Adams