Beer & Brewery Headlines: -- Alaskan ESB Named Champion Ale at World's Oldest Beer Competition. --Boston Beer Summit 2002 - May 11th, 2002   The Turning of the Millennium By Tony Forder  Tony Forder's Article, plus more beer info, can be found at The Ale Street News Online website at www.alestreetnews.com/ U.S. stepped front and center to carry the flag of beer for the entire world. While breweries are still busy closing and consolidating in Europe, the number of operating breweries in the America approached the 1,500 mark, the most of any country in the world. Beer styles that have all but disappeared in the old world are being revived - and tweaked - by America’s enterprising brewers. It’s no wonder that Michael Jackson states, “The most interesting brewing in the world is now taking place in the United States.” Mr Jackson, that ubiquitous Bard of Beer, was paid homage in Philadelphia this past year. The crème de la crème in brewing gathered during February’s Book and the Cook festivities to roast the celebrity. More love fest than roast, the outpouring of affection was indeed sincere. One of this year’s casualties was the venerable - at least in East Coast craft brewing terms - Catamount Brewing Co. in Vermont. A new brewery, opened in Windsor, proved to be too heavy a burden for the 11-year-old company. Mass Bay Brewing Co., Boston-based brewers of Harpoon brands, stepped in to purchase the brewery. They will brew Harpoon labels as well as revive some of the Catamount brands. In Maine, Alan Pugsley and Fred Forsley of Shipyard Brewing Co. bought back the 50 percent company share owned by Miller Brewing Co. Meanwhile, in Texas, Pierre Celis did the opposite...he sold his 50 percent to Miller. It was not a great surprise to hear giant brewery recently announce plans to close the Celis plant. In Europe, one classic beer, Thomas Hardy Ale, fell victim to a takeover at the Eldridge Pope brewery while another, Samichlaus was revived. The dark, malty brew, at one time the strongest beer in the world, was discontinued when Switzerland’s Hurliman brewery was taken over. At reappeared this holiday season brewed under license at Austria’s Eggenberg brewery. The World Beer Cup came to New York in June where beers from 375 breweries worldwide were judged. The Great American Beer Festival hit its 19th year in a new location, the Denver Convention Center. And amid the mayhem, Ale Street News hit the half century mark in publications. The 52nd edition will be out in February ! What are the best beers in the world? They'll tell us and so will you. In fact, tell us your 5 favorite beers right now. Please email: jwdineline@aol.com. In the meanwhile, if you'd like to learn a lot more about beer, please visit the Association of Brewers Website at AOB.org. Remember, drink responsibly. Copyright © 1998 Inter Active Media Solutions. All Rights Reserved. The interactive components of this site require that you use a current browser version of Explorer; be sure to maximize your window out so you can see the entire page. This page was created by Inter Active Media Solutions.