New Holland Brewing Co's Fred Bueltmann Releases First Book: Beervangelist’s Guide to the Galaxy

Fred Bueltmann (also known as The Beervangelist) is an owner of New Holland Brewing Co. and an outspoken, fiercely passionate champion of well-made beer and food. Well-known in the beer and food communities, Fred’s exuberant and sometimes manic quest to artfully integrate beer with food led to his first book — Beervangelist’s Guide to the Galaxy.

The book is chock-full of mouth-watering recipes and tantalizing photos, and features rants on the culture of food, drink, and entertaining. Bueltmann’s journey is one of waking up our taste buds, educating our palates, and remembering that our food and drink are meant to be enjoyed—even relished.

“Fred has created a comprehensive guide to tasting, pairing, seasonal cooking, and most importantly – drinking! From novice to pro, if you want to be a better beer drinker, this book is for you,” said Paul Kahan, Executive Chef, The Publican and James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Chef, 2013.

The Beervangelist will be attending several events and book signings in Michigan and on the East Coast in June. Catch up with him on the road at any number of events. He’ll be kicking off his tour in conjunction with the prestigious Savor event in New York City, where he’ll be hosting two salons on beer and food. For his most current schedule - you can visit his book's web page HERE or his Facebook page HERE.

If you're unable to meet up with him, you can find his book on the New Holland ONLINE STORE or at AMAZON.

Wholesale books available for retailers HERE.

About Fred
Fred Bueltmann (a.k.a. The Beervangelist) is an owner of New Holland Brewing Company and nationally-recognized expert on pairing beer and food. He is a Certified Cicerone®, past president of the Michigan Brewers Guild and recipient of their prestigious Tom Burns Award recognizing the “pioneering spirit of the Great Beer State.” He also serves as a judge for the Brewers Association’s Great American Beer Festival. Fred authored the book Beervangelist’s Guide to the Galaxy and pens the column Beer and Food with the Beervangelist which appears in various flavorful magazines.

About New Holland Brewing Co.
New Holland Brewing Company’s deep roots in the craft industry go back to 1997. Our role as an integral member of the artisan approach is something we take seriously, yet engage lightheartedly. We believe the art of craft lives in fostering rich experiences for our customers, through creating authentic beer, spirits and food while providing great service. Recognized for our creativity and artistry, our mission to improve the lives of craft consumers everywhere is seen in our diverse, balanced collection of beer and spirits.
New Holland brews and distills at two locations in Holland, Michigan: our production facility on the north side and our Pub & Restaurant in downtown Holland. The restaurant welcomes guests seven days a week and production tours are on Saturday afternoons. We welcome visitors and locals alike, and appreciate the opportunity to share our artisan approach through warm hospitality and enriching education.

With just under 150 employees, New Holland Brewing Co. sells its beer and spirits across a growing regional landscape, while anchored in the upper Midwest. In 2012, our production facility underwent substantial development including the tripling of our brewing capacity through outdoor fermentation, the addition of a centrifuge and the expansion of our Dragon’s Milk cellar. In 2013, the company is expanding its distilling capabilities, renovating the downtown Holland Pub & Restaurant and focusing on the integration of Michigan agriculture; hops, wheat and barley, into several new and existing brands.

Fred Bueltmann Presented "Tom Burns Award" for Pioneering Spirit of Michigan: The Great Beer State

Nearly 200 leaders in the state’s craft brewing industry were present at the Michigan Brewers Guild annual conference which took place at the Radisson Plaza Hotel, where the “Tom Burns Award” – recognizing the pioneering spirit of the “Great Beer State” – was presented to Fred Bueltmann of New Holland Brewing Company

“As a past President of the Brewers Guild, and a mentor to many in our industry, there isn’t a person who is more deserving of the Tom Burns award,” says Eric Briggeman, Guild President. “Fred is very active at both the local and national level and is one of the top promoters of the Michigan beer scene. His passion for championing craft beer and the Michigan Brewers Guild is second to none.”

Bueltmann – aka “The Beervangelist” – is a managing partner in New Holland Brewing Company, Past President of the Michigan Brewers Guild and Certified Cicerone™. An avid home cook and expert at pairing beers, he’s an ardent advocate for quality food and craft beer’s place at the table. Bueltmann serves as a judge for the Brewers Association’s Great American Beer Festival and authors of “Beer and Food with the Beervangelist,” a regular column in Michigan’s “Food for Thought” and “Flavor 616” magazines. Fred’s first book, “Beervangelist’s Guide to the Galaxy” is due in Spring of 2013.

“The Michigan beer scene is a beautiful thing to behold, due in large part to the efforts of the Michigan Brewer’s Guild,” says Bueltmann. “I am immensely proud of the organization and continually inspired by the cast of characters that make up our Michigan brewing community. I am honored and humbled to receive the Tom Burns recognition award. I strive to live up to the example he set with his remarkable and pioneering spirit.”

The award was named after Detroit & Mackinac Brewing Company founder and brewer, Tom Burns, who passed away of cancer May 1, 1994. Burns, a “recovering attorney” whose passion was brewing, is credited with many of the advancements in brewing legislation, rules, and regulations in the 1990s which paved the way for a thriving industry which is currently ranked #5 nationally.

“Nominations for the award were submitted by members of the Guild’s Board of Directors,” Briggeman stated. “Tom Burns truly was a pioneer for the Michigan brewing industry, and the Guild felt that naming this award after him was a great way to honor Tom as a person, while recognizing his legacy that has been the foundation for the “Great Beer State!’”

Founded in 1997, the Michigan Brewers Guild oversees the organization’s administrative and promotional affairs, including four annual public events: Winter Beer Festival in February in Grand Rapids, Summer Beer Festival in July in Ypsilanti, UP Fall Beer Festival in September in Marquette, and Detroit Fall Beer Festival in October, as well as its annual Winter Conference in January. Currently, the Guild represents 106 member breweries – the highest number since the organizations inception.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry conservatively contributes more than $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #5 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the community of brewers, to increase the sale of Michigan Craft Beer, to contribute culturally and economically throughout the state, and to monitor and assure a healthy brewing industry. By working collaboratively with proponents of craft beer, we strive to achieve 10% share of all beer sold in Michigan by producing world-class events, increasing public awareness, educating consumers, and encouraging responsible consumption. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries, log on to www.MiBeer.com.

Nation’s Leading Beer & Food Pairing Expert to Release “Beervangelist’s Guide to the Galaxy”

When it comes to the art of pairing food and beer, few are as knowledgeable or passionate as Fred Bueltmann – aka The Beervangelist. His ability to marry food and beer, combined with his flair for entertaining prose, make him one of the most impressive and charismatic individuals in the culinary world. As an industry leader and Certified Cicerone™., Fred has a keen sense of focusing on the local while spreading his message on an international scale – both in a verbal and written sense.

In 2013, Fred will take his message to the masses with the release of “Beervangelist’s Guide to the Galaxy” – which is being published by Black Lake Press of Holland. Yet, unlike traditional publishing methods, Fred is taking a more personal approach to his project. Utilizing the online funding platform Kickstarter.com, anyone in the world can contribute to this exciting culinary project and in return receive everything from a limited-edition advanced autographed copy of the book to a VIP in-home four-course beer dinner for eight, prepared by Fred himself.

Essentially, this online system represents pre-orders for contributions of $25 to $1000. With a 30-day window, the project must accumulate $10,000 by Noon on January 18, 2013 in order to be fully funded. Given the return-on-investment, it’s a goal that should be easily accomplished. Once the funds are accounted for, the timeline takes a fast track with the book expected to be released via “print on demand” before the start of summer entertaining season.

“The Beervangelist’s Guide will connect readers to seasonal cooking, demonstrating that pairing begins with understanding when and where our food is coming from,” says Fred. “I’ll focus on sourcing, preserving and preparing food in a way that authentically connects us to our ingredients, making pairing opportunities abundant, rich and immensely enjoyable.”

Dispersed throughout the pages will be delicious and poignant photos from Jeff Hage of Green Frog Photo in Grand Rapids, who has helped chronicle Fred’s culinary contributions for the past several years.

“While readers will find numerous recipes and tips, this is as much of a book about entertaining and hosting as it is about food and beer pairing,” says Fred, who has been published in countless magazines over the years – including a column “Beer and Food with the Beervangelist” which has appeared in the no-longer-published Food For Thought and the newly introduced Flavor 616. His articles have also appeared in Women’s Lifestyle, Michigan: The Great Beer State and Michigan HOME & Lifestyle, among others.

As eloquent in person as he is with the written word, Fred has shared his beer knowledge to groups throughout the state and beyond, including the Michigan Brewers Guild; Michigan Restaurant Association; Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival; the former Epicurean Classic; and Siebel Institute of Technology. (Great American Beer Festival, Savor, Great Taste of the Midwest.)

In April, 2013, Fred will speak on a panel with others from the Michigan Brewers Guild at the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism, focusing on craft beer and its impact on the state’s thriving tourism industry. Fred has been an integral part of the Michigan Brewers Guild since it was formed in 1997, serving for eight years as the organization’s president.

When he’s not writing, speaking or judging at the Brewers Association’s, “Great American Beer Festival” each fall in Denver, Fred serves as a managing partner and Vice President of Sales and Marketing at New Holland Brewing Company, a post he's held since 2004. His beer career dates back to 1991, when as a hobbyist home brewer he started selling beer for a specialty beer distributor in his hometown of Chicago. He went on to manage the Midwest region for Warsteiner Importers before joining Bell’s Brewing in 1995, where he served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for more than nine years.

The release of the “Beervangelist’s Guide to the Galaxy” is sure to be a well-used book for those who celebrate the culture of beer and food pairing, as well as those who seek to elevate their skills in the world of home entertaining.
WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT THE BEERVANGELIST:

I’ve known Fred Bueltmann, managing partner of the New Holland Brewing Company and past president of the Michigan Brewers Guild, for more than a decade, and his skill as a home cook and expertise in pairing beer with food will certainly elevate and educate your palate! As the Beervangelist, Bueltmann brings the pleasures of chocolate, cheese and craft beer to their rightful place at the table. ~ Lucy Saunders, editor - Beercook.com

When you hear Fred Bueltmann speak about beer and food, it is difficult not to smile. His enthusiasm, passion, and detailed knowledge brings the very complex world of brewing to an understandable and approachable place that inspires those listening to take up the cause. The Beervangelist is also a walking professional resource. He understands how flavors connect and compliment, and explains it in a way that lacks pretentiousness and radiates welcomness. He makes learning about beer a pleasure and brings the world's most social beverage to a comfortable place in every home. ~ John Holl, journalist, contributor to The Oxford Companion to Beer, and author of Craft Beer Kitchen

Fred is someone others follow. Not because he demands it or is a “natural leader”, but because he gives his life and the lives around him an almost inescapable inertia. His passion for food and drink swirl around him so enthusiastically that is is nearly impossible not to get caught up in it. Suddenly his opinions might become yours and something you never cared about might become your newest obsession simply after giving Fred five minutes to describe it. This is because he grounds his passions with real experience and knowledge. He understands that to be larger than life one must absorb as much life as possible, and share it with the world generously, honestly, and with integrity. Fred knows you can’t fake it and he never tries. Luckily, what springs from him – as naturally as breathing – is enough to keep you captivated. ~ Matthew Millar, Chef, Reserve Wine & Food, Grand Rapids, MI (James Beard Foundation Semi-Finalist, Best Chef Great Lakes 2012)


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