Leather Sleeve for Threshold Provisions…

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Threshold Provisions photo

We are excited to be working with Threshold Provisions. It’s a new company that is making healthy, yummy, imaginative food. It’s aimed at offering high quality, energy-inducing foods devoted to developing athletic potential. Here at Oowee, we dig the outdoors and want to maintain and support healthy lifestyle!

We know Threshold Provisions will love ending the day with a craft beverage in our awesome leather Sleeves!

 

Check them out on FB https://www.facebook.com/4thresholdprovisions

 

Introducing our newest team member…

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Oowee Products would like to introduce the newest addition to our team, Raleigh Harris. Raleigh is our new Director of Sales and Marketing. Originally from Chattanooga, TN she has lived in a variety of cities including Bozeman, Portland, Charleston, and Memphis. Her background encompasses graphic design, sales, marketing, and photography. Raleigh is excited to bring her skills to Oowee Products and we are very happy to have her as one of our valued employees! Please help us make Raleigh feel welcome.

Sleeves in Spring

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Oowee Products is excited about this Spring in Asheville! We are working on koozies for the Best Firkin Festival coming up at the end of April. Then at the end of May we get to join Asheville in celebrating Asheville Beer Week!! Then we finish that week on June 1st with  Asheville Beer City Festival. Oh, we love this town!

http://ashevillebeerweek.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BeerCityFest

We also have a bunch of new koozies that are headed up to Highland Brewery this week! We are working new products beyond our well known koozies! We love the leather insulated sleeves so we now have a bottle sleeve and can sleeve. Koozies in all shapes and sizes!! Also, we added some coasters to the collection. Some awesome new specialty beer gifts if you have anyone that you’re looking for a unique gift for your beer drinking buddy.

 

Oowee Koozie name change to Oowee Products

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Oowee Koozie would like to introduce you to our enhanced identity:

 

 

 

 Oowee Products

Oowee was founded in 2009 on the simple concept of bringing class, style, and function to the age old tradition of having a cool refreshing pint to round out your day. The leather pint sleeve, most commonly known as a pint glass koozie, was born from the love of hand crafted beer and Oowee’s creative ability to transform leather into a something we can use daily.

By 2010 things were taking off and the business was growing fast. The year 2011 was a great year for the company. We expanded our market and partnered with the Autism Society of North Carolina. This partnership was a real turning point for Oowee Products, it allowed us to employ adults on the autism spectrum to hand sew each  of our koozies, otherwise known leather pint sleeves.

In 2012, this newly formed partnership with the Autism Society of NC  allowed us to have the work force that we needed to expand. The koozie production was in full swing! Oowee has been using the term “koozie” to describe our leather beverage insulators for a long time and most of you know us as Oowee Koozie. The word koozie is just a descriptive term used to describe what type of products we make. We are growing and expanding, making new products and are having a great time evolving into much more than just a koozie company.

Recently, we have been made aware of some controversy over the ownership and use of the word koozie. Oowee has official dropped this word ”koozie” due to the controversy and our product expansion. We will, from now on, be called Oowee Products. We are the same great company with the same great ”Leather Beverage Insulators”, only now we have few more products. We appreciate your continued support, please check out some of  our new stuff at Ooweeproducts.com.

For those of you that would like to learn a bit more about the term koozie and some of its history, please check out the following. This is just some of the key information out in there about the topic.

http://www.yourtrademarkattorney.com/trademark-attorney-blog/norwood-icatalog-trademark-opposition/

http://www.scribd.com/doc/77334706/Norwood-Promotional-Products-v-KustomKoozies-Decision

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_koozie

http://indianaintellectualproperty.com/2012/01/06/indiana-trademark-litigation-update-norwood-promotional-products-v-kustomkoozies-decision/

Beautiful New Mexico

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On our way through the hills of New Mexico, we’ve enjoyed taking the back roads through tiny towns and gorgeous landscapes. From below the earth in Carlsbad Caverns to above the sands of White Sands National Monument, we got a full experience of what NM has to offer. The elevator operator who took us down into the caverns suggested we go to Artesia, NM and visit a small start up brewery called The Wellhead. It was great to meet the young guys that were so passionate about their beer.

 

In Santa Fe, Oowee Koozie visited Bryan at Santa Fe Brewing Company, New Mexico’s oldest craft brewery. The brewhouse has finally found it’s permanent home also on the Turquoise Trail,with the help of a brilliant, yet crazy Hungarian named Alfonz Vizsolay, the new 30 bbl brewery and bottling line is complete! With the ability to brew ten times the beer, Santa Fe Brewing has gone abroad (well, to a few other states at least) into Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas. Because we look at this kind of stuff…I just have to say it…I am jealous of the New Mexico state flag. I mean, I love North Carolina, but our state flag is boring, and no one is ever going to be able to market it as a product. Lucky Santa Fe Brewing gets to have a cool logo and show pride in their state. But I digress, we took a couple of 6 packs for the road (one Red Ale and one Blond Ale-both delish.)

We aren’t just hitting up the major breweries on our road trip, I mean, it is a road trip, and that means adventure. So when we were en route to Taos from Santa Fe (in the middle of BFE), and saw a sign that said “Brewery Ahead” we had to stop at Blue Heron Brewing Company, in Rinconada, NM, just for fun. We got the most beautifully presented flight of beer on our trip yet, a most welcomed glass of WINE from the local winery La Chiripada, and a local band lulling us into a Taos state of mind along the Rio Grande.

 

Just outside of Taos, is the Taos Mesa Brewing Company, which is not even open yet, but we got a sneak peek before they are open to the public! We only met a part of the founding crew, Peter-the sustainable builder, Alissa, and Jayson-the brewer. First, I just have to say that every time you look around, you see that thought and attention was given to every inch of the facility. They have re-purposed tons of materials to make this brewery a stunning destination and worth the drive out. (Conveniently, it is just before the popular Rio Grand Gorge.)

 

            

 

 

Albuquerque Part Deux

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That’s right…we visited so many breweries in Albuquerque that we needed a “part 2”. Gabriel and I visited 7 breweries/brewpubs in one day. It was a TON of fun to meet all these folks but it IS hard work at the end of the day. Truly.

We met Jeff from Chama River Brewing Company who showed us around the location. Chama River is one of the more established breweries in Albuquerque and is also a fine dining establishment. The owner had an extensive collection of beautiful Eliot Porter nature photographs in the back room.  Gabriel enjoyed the Broken Spoke Honey Wheat Ale that is “light bodied and dry with a touch of honey sweetness and a floral bouquet.”

We heard that Nob Hill was a really cool district in Albuquerque so we had to check it out. What we found was an area on historic Route 66 that was full of hipsters right near the University. From retro signs to palm readers, the next to taproom and brewpub were sure to be cool. When we pulled up to Tractor Brewing Co, we noticed a handwritten sign that said “No more Growlers being served due to Nob Hill regulations.” We have found throughout our trip that so many regulations are being imposed on microbreweries that can impede their growth. Read more about successes and challenges in craft beer today.  Gabe went for the Haymaker Honey Wheat Ale and the Farmer’s Tan Red Ale.

Right nearby was a cool old filling station that had been remodeled into Kelly’s Brew Pub & Restaurant. Kelly’s also is a BYOB (BREW Your Own Beer)! You can actually make a date to learn about brewing beer, make a batch of your own and enjoy the experience with a group of your friends all for the price of the cost of one keg! We enjoyed talking with Tracy who served us a Brewnette and the IPA and learning more about the brewery from Zac. This was a perfect place to sit out on the large patio and enjoy a cold one.

 

         

Austin is HOT for beer

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Austin is known for its music, food trucks, and beer. There was so much to do and see, we really only got around to the beer. Our first stop was meeting Belgian beer enthusiast and founder of Adelbert’s Brewing, Scott Hovey.  Scott was operating on a small scale and focusing great attention to quality in the Belgian style bottle and keg conditioning. They have only been distributing since December 2011 and have plenty of room for growth within their facility. We left with two samples of their 750 ml bottles of the Philosophizer and Scratching Hippo.  The Philosophizer claimed to spark in-depth conversations and philosophies while drinking and Gabriel found this to be strangely true while relaxing with our hosts Neil and Amelia later that night.
Since Austin Beerworks was right around the corner, we popped in and met Michael, one of the owners. He let us try their seasonal beer “The Einhorn” a Berliner Weisse as we toured the facility.  Michael was really enthusiastic to show us their customized compact canning system (it was awesome and we were floored with how little space it took up!) and new fermenter. We thoroughly enjoyed the “bold and clean” taste of the Double IPA, the Peacemaker Extra Pale Ale, and the Fire Eagle American IPA. We were sad to miss the “shotgun Friday” that had become a local tradition at 3 o’clock each Friday.
We had heard that Hops & Grains Brewery tours were something not to miss so we headed across town after visiting Barton Springs Cold Pool. We got to meet Josh the owner, who won the Gold award for his brew ALT-eration at the World Beer Cup. We enjoyed ALT-eration as well as the Pale Dog Pale Ale.It was a busy evening and we were excited to meet fellow beer enthusiasts Joe & Dawn from Marion, NC! They were putting us to shame with visiting twice the amount of breweries in Austin during their stay. We later saw this energetic couple at future breweries and they had done an amazing job of marketing our Oowee Koozies to each tour they went on. Thanks to our new recruits!
Gabriel took a trip to visit Brian and Mike out at Thirsty Planet, and since I was absent, had a grand old time drinking all of their beers but his favorite was the Buckethead IPA. Go figure. Now, we have been asked about drinking responsibly on a beer tour across the country and let me assure you that we typically are having very small samples, switch drivers, or sober up before we leave the facilities. At Thirsty Planet, the tour guide was really knowledgeable about the beer processes and encouraged folks to get to know their beers as well as familiarizing themselves with the craft beer industry.
The last brewery in Austin he was was able to visit was Jester King Craft Brewery, just down the road from Thirsty Planet. It was in a really cool old barn out in the beautiful Texas hill country and had a real authentic cowboy feel. Sadly, it was last call when he arrived and did not have long to enjoy this fine establishment that the majority of the beers are Certified Organic. But we hear that the brother owners Jeffrey & Michael cannot even keep Wytchmaker on tap at local bars because its popularity.
Austin had so much to offer in the craft beer market world, but we had to move on to our next destination. We were sad to miss out on (512) Brewing Company, Independence Brewing, Live Oak Brewing, Circle Brewing, South Austin Brewing Company, and Twisted X Brewing Company. You can learn more about these Austin Breweries at www.AustinBrewingGuide.com

Get Your Kicks on Route 66-Albuquerque

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After days…and I mean DAYS going through the desert of New Mexico, we finally arrive in Albuquerque! We met up with Brady at Il Vicino Brewing Company at 9:30 am and enjoyed our earliest beer of the tour…a Pilsner straight from the fermenter. It was cold and delicious. Il Vicino has a very cool scene in an industrial part of town with a great patio and facility. I’m sure it’s hopping later on each evening.

 

Just down the road, we went to Marble Brewery where they had already heard about Oowee Koozies and knew that they would make great beer gifts for their customers!  We met Amberly, John, and brewer Ted who gave us a quick tour of the facility. Like Austin Beerworks, Marble Brewery has just gotten a small compact canning system from Wild Goose Canning out of Boulder who is revolutionizing the craft micro-canning industry. We tasted just about all of their brews from their Wildflower Wheat (with local honey), their Pilsner, the Marble Red, the IPA and Double IPA. They have been perfecting their craft since 2008 and it showed!

Cruising to La Cumbre Brewing Company next, we learned that the owners were big outdoors enthusiast and “La Cumbre” means “peak” in Spanish. Several the beers we got to enjoy are named after mountains from the year round Jefe’s Hefe, South Peak Pilsner, Pyramid Rock Pale Ale, Elevated IPA and Malpais Stout to seasonal Gracias por Fumar, No You’re a Dort, Miles from Cologne, Blanche de Burque, and Pale 32. (We could not finish them all!) We enjoyed talking with Scott and Devan who told us that they have only been open about a year and a half but already had won several different medals in craft brewing.

Onward to Nexus Brewery, where we met Manuel, the head brewer who had recently won the Silver Award for his Imperial Cream Ale at the World Beer Cup and gave us samplings of their other fine brews including their Cream Ale, White Ale, Scottish and Brown Ales. We were also pleased to meet the owner Ken, who is one of the only African American brewery founders that we have met and possibly one of the only ones in the nation. We were so tempted by the good looking southern-style soul food that we had to have some collard greens and mac & cheese. Wow.

San Antonio, TX

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In San Antonio, we practiced being tourists and stayed in an air conditioned hotel in the heart of downtown near the Riverwalk area. We biked along the river spying water taxis, ducks and fish in the river. We soon realized that it was too damn hot to do anything but sit in the shade and be still. That didn’t stop us from biking around the city and to the Alamo. The Alamo, much to our surprise, was in the middle of city, not in the middle of the desert as we had always imagined. The city grew all around this historic site where Texas was won.
San Antonio has not yet realized its potential in the craft beer industry, so we had to seek out our fine beers based on recommendations. We had heard about Freetail, an awesome brewpub that was kind of in the suburbs. The brewpub is named after the Mexican Freetail bat, which if you are from North Carolina, looks like a small dragon and is actually the official flying mammal for the state of Texas. Whoops. Roy the manager was kind enough to set the record straight about this and let us sample some of their beers. The Broken Treaty IPA and the Round Earth IPA were delicious and we were pleasantly surprised by the Witicus.  We enjoyed talking beer and koozie business with him and Michael, a Freetail regular. Michael gave us a great recommendation for dinner “just down the road”.
Now, “just down the road” in Texas is a lot different than on the east coast. We arrived at the Dodging Duck Restaurant & Brewhaus  forty minutes later in Boerne, TX to find that the restaurant was celebrating its 10th Anniversary! The owner, Keith, was good enough to take the time to talk to us during his celebration. We sat on the porch enjoying the small town ambiance and savoring our chance to have vegetables for the first time in Texas. The beers that we sampled were the Sir Francis Drake Porter and the Old Speckled Duck E.S.B. We left and walked along the Cibolo River, watching the dozens of ducks with full stomachs and knowing that the drive was worth it. Locals rock.
San Antonio wouldn’t have been complete without us visiting Ranger Creek Brewing & Distillery. That’s right, we got to taste some bourbon that recently won the American Distillers Institute Bronze Award in 2012. The owner, TJ gave us a tour and taught us a little more about the distilling process that was happening alongside the brewing equipment. While sipping on the Oatmeal Pale Ale (which was delicious) we learned that the submarine looking thing is actually copper still for distilling the bourbon.
Outside, in the hot Texas sun on a 100 degree day, TJ took us to see a forty and a twenty foot shipping container out back. The first held casks upon casks of small oak barrels aging the bourbon. When you step inside the container, your senses are filled with the aging process. With watering eyes and noses on fire from the heady aroma, we felt the heated metal rims of the bottom barrels versus the top barrels and learned of the 20 degree temperature difference in the solar heated environment.  The smaller shipping container was actually a smoker for the grains that would be soon be turned into yummy beer. We asked TJ what gave him the idea to use shipping containers in this way and he referred to his time in the US Army where containers were often used in many ways. We were so impressed with TJ’s passion and good old fashioned American ingenuity.  ’Merica.
On our way out of town, we stopped by Blue Star Brewing Company that was still undergoing construction during our stay. Alex at Blue Star was sweet enough to listen to our spiel about what AWESOME beer gifts our Oowee Koozies make even though she and the rest of the crew were busy remodeling their facility. We really wished that we could have hung out  with the Blue Star team because the South Town area where they were located was very artsy and cool. It reminded us of Asheville’s very own River Arts District. As Gabriel was getting some spare bike tubes at the cycling shop next doors, he got a great recommendation to take a smaller highway up to Austin and visit another great brewery in Blanko, TX. So we did.
Blanko was a part of Texas’ hill country that we have found to be incredibly beautiful and wild. The guys were hanging out at Real Ale Brewing Company, and Tyler was kind enough to give us a tour of the facility. We found it to be immaculate and they were expanding into a whole additional warehouse! After the tour, we got to shoot the breeze with Tummy, the laboratory man and their buddy Kelly, who was starting up a brewery of his own in New Braunfels, TX. Tummy tried to teach us big “science words” like “lactobacillus” that were integral in the processes of making some of their beers. If you are reading this blog and thinking that I am going to explain any of them, you’ve got the wrong blog. But here are a few sites that can help: American Chemical Society and The Chemistry of Making Beer.  We sipped on their flagship beer the Fireman’s #4 Blond Ale as well as several of their seasonal and year round brews.