I'm glad that we've chosen the newly-minted And Union for our brewery of the month for February. For starters, since they've recently undergone a brand overhaul, it gives us the opportunity to bid adieu to "Brewers and Union" and welcome the tremendously simplified And Union. Secondly I must admit that I've been a bit remiss in learning what these guys are all about so I'm going to take that chance now.

And Union came to be way back in 2007--and entered the UK market in 2010--as the brainchild of Rui Esteves, Manuel Esteves, and Brad Armitage. Fiercely protective of their vision of only producing small batches using the traditional ingredients of water, hops, barley, wheat and yeast, And Union bases their business model on partnerships with small regional Bavarian breweries. That's right--they contract brew.

I'm still a little foggy as to where these guys are based--a message, that with their re-brand, could become clearer--but I'm gathering that the label is part

I'm glad that we've chosen the newly-minted And Union for our brewery of the month for February. For starters, since they've recently undergone a brand overhaul, it gives us the opportunity to bid adieu to "Brewers and Union" and welcome the tremendously simplified And Union. Secondly I must admit that I've been a bit remiss in learning what these guys are all about so I'm going to take that chance now.

And Union came to be way back in 2007--and entered the UK market in 2010--as the brainchild of Rui Esteves, Manuel Esteves, and Brad Armitage. Fiercely protective of their vision of only producing small batches using the traditional ingredients of water, hops, barley, wheat and yeast, And Union bases their business model on partnerships with small regional Bavarian breweries. That's right--they contract brew.

I'm still a little foggy as to where these guys are based--a message, that with their re-brand, could become clearer--but I'm gathering that the label is part of the Collective Sao Gabriel in Cape Town, South Africa. Yet, the concept of contract brewing affords a brand an opportunity to be located anywhere on paper while the brewing takes place elsewhere. Therefore, considering the And Union's passion for Bavarian style beers it's no surprise that the brewing takes place in Germany.

The concept of contract brewing may sound somewhat contradictory to the hipster-ethos of "craft brewing" ("Dude, I harvest my own organically grown barley and mill it myself by chewing it--I wouldn't trust anybody else to do it right."**) Nevertheless, even well-established breweries take this step especially when trying expand operations to new locales before building their own brewery there. Likewise, it is an absolutely legitimate way for those who want to start a brewery and still need to learn about the brewing process or the industry--a thought that is echoed by And Union's UK Operations Partner, Byron Redman:

"[A]lthough we think we have a great understanding of the ingredients, flavour and aroma that good bier demands, we did not have the exceptional brewing history and knowledge that a fifth generation family brewery, and their very experienced brewmasters offer.   People might say we are not purists but I think any person wanting to brew beer will find contract brewing is a great way to get started economically and to learn. We still, and intend to continue, contract brewing as this is what works for us. People should do whatever they think is the right to create the biers they want and that others might enjoy."

With that said, it is my humble opinion that contract brewing should be intended to be temporary. Brands run the risk of criticism and skepticism if they espouse to be one thing--passionate, obsessed, independent--and give control of the product over to somebody else. There's no harm, however, in turning the reins over to someone else so long as you're passionately involved, and learning, every step of the way.

-- Maggie

**Yes, that is overt stereotyping. And a joke.

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