Archives for December 2017

ATHENS, Ga. — Terrapin Beer Company is releasing a new spring seasonal, Beyond the Galaxy. This brew features a single hop… you guessed it, Galaxy!

The beer is brewed with an astronomical amount of Galaxy hops for stellar flavor and an aroma of candied pineapple and tropical fruit. Beyond the Galaxy is deep gold in color with a soft, juicy bitterness that will take you on a voyage where no man has gone before.

Beyond the Galaxy replaces Terrapin’s Mosaic IPA as Terrapin’s first seasonal offering of 2018; and while it is always sad to see a beer retire, Terrapin is sure that Beyond the Galaxy will really take off in the new year. It will be joining Terrapin’s already strong line-up of IPAs, including year-rounds Hopsecutioner, Hi-5 and RecreationAle.

Beyond the Galaxy will be exclusively released at the brewery on January 4th and is expected to hit retail shelves in early January throughout Terrapin’s distribution network.

MORGANTON, N.C. — Catawba Brewing is now pouring a Chocolate Cherry Stout (6.7 percent ABV) at all four Catawba tasting rooms. This American-style Stout starts with a sturdy backbone of big malty flavors, leading with dark chocolate and roast. Those flavors were amplified by aging on locally-sourced cacao beans. The beer was then conditioned on tart cherries.

Chocolate Cherry Stout is Passport Beer #52, the final Small Batch release in Catawba’s 2017 rewards program. Participants who collected all 52 stamps for the year are invited to a private party at the brewery’s Asheville South Slope Rickhouse Bar on January 21, where they will be rewarded with custom-made ceramic growlers and dinner compliments of Catawba. The Passport Program will return in 2018, beginning with the release of a Small Batch Russian Imperial Stout on Thursday, January 4. Passport booklets are free at all four participating Catawba locations (Charlotte, Morganton, Asheville-South Slope, Asheville-Biltmore Village).

Chocolate Cherry Stout is one of eleven Small Batch beers that will be featured at Catawba’s Asheville South Slope New Year’s Eve Party. The celebration begins at 10pm on the dance floor with music from DJ trio Twisted Sister Act. The festivities will also include a photo booth with props and special NYE menu from Food Stop food truck. Prosecco splits are available for a midnight toast. The brewery will open at noon with extended hours until the party ends. No cover charge.

About Catawba Brewing Company
Founded in 1999 by the Pyatt family, natives of Western North Carolina, Catawba Brewing operates a main production facility in downtown Morganton, NC at 212 S. Green St; a boutique brewery/tasting room in downtown Asheville, NC at 32 Banks Ave; a tasting room in Asheville’s Biltmore Village at 63 Brook St.; and a new Catawba brewery/tasting room in Charlotte’s Plaza Midwood neighborhood at 933 Louise Ave. Catawba beers can be found in NC, SC, TN, AL, GA, and now in the Dominican Republic. Find us at www.catawbabrewing.com

Urban Artifact, Cincinnati-based craft brewer and “wild culture” expert, today announced the release of their 2018 brewing calendar and the release of Pocket Watch, a Midwest Fruit Tart with a copious amount of concord grapes, black currants, and red plums.

In 2017 Urban Artifact released 94 different beers in draft, bottle and can which allowed for creativity of our signature style. The release calendar for 2018 was built from that innovation with an even greater focus on the Midwest Fruit Tart style as well as building out the core portfolio.

New additions for 2018 are Glimmer, a tart IPA, that showcases Mosaic hops along with refreshingly tart acidity, as well as the six month rotational line which includes Flash Lamp (Tart White Ale) and Owler (Tart Vanilla Brown).

“We are excited to not only bring back many fan favorites including Squeezebox and Fire Iron, but also adding beers like Glimmer to our perennial. Glimmer is a beer that is opening a large number of customerss eyes to what a tart/sour beer can be” said Scotty Hunter, Chief of Strategic Development.

Releasing for the first time in the new year, Pocket Watch looks to be a staple every winter moving forward. It is a beer that was inspired by the concept of traditional fruit punch and this adaptation utilizes three fresh fruits, vanilla beans in the form of spice and Urban Artifact’s house lactobacillus fermentation for the tart kick to round everything out. The blend of red plums, concord grapes and black currants creates a beer with incredible depth of character.

Pocket Watch is set to release the week of January 1st, on draft and in cans. It will go on sale at better beer retailers across Ohio and Northern Kentucky. The Urban Artifact taproom release is Tuesday, January 2nd at 4 pm.

About Urban Artifact
Urban Artifact celebrates “Wild Culture”, both by the beers they artfully craft and the experiences they create in their taproom. Focusing on wild beers, as well as bringing the best in local entertainment to their performance space, Urban Artifact strives to be a destination for the Northside neighborhood and Cincinnati as a whole. Located on Blue Rock Street in the former St. Patrick’s church, Urban Artifact is comprised of partners Scott Hand, Bret Kollmann Baker, and Scotty Hunter.

BERTHOUD, Colo. — As the sun hangs lower in the sky each day City Star head brewer John Way tracks how far it shines inside through the taproom’s new huge south-facing windows. Solar noon is celebrated daily and well known by all those who work in the brewhouse mid-day with John. Fascinated by the Winter Solstice John Way originally crafted Widow Maker, his darkest beer of the year, with the darkest day of the year in mind.

The sun won’t be shining tomorrow in Colorado during the Winter Solstice (yay snow!) but Widow Maker will be as it flows from the taps. At 2 pm Widow Maker Imperial Stout will be released on draft and in 22oz bottles, side by side with French Roast Widow Maker and Vanilla Bean Widow Maker. Bottles will be for sale at $12-15/bottle with a 1 case limit per person of each beer. 10oz pours, tasters, and flights of all three imperial stouts will be available to enjoy in the taproom.

More about the beers:
Widow Maker is a colossal Imperial Stout. This nod to the Winter Solstice boasts a big, bold and complex flavor profile of dark roasted malt, chocolate, and dark fruit. Smooth, rich and ready to sip and savor.

The French Roast variant of Widow Maker Imperial Stout is infused with Denver based Dazbog’s French Roast coffee. Two pounds of coarse ground coffee per barrel is added to the conditioned beer for a robust 24-hour cold brew. Bold coffee mingles with the imperial stout’s dark roasted malt, chocolate, and dark fruit flavors. Not for the faint-hearted. Caffeine included.

The Vanilla Bean variant of Widow Maker Imperial Stout is infused with organic Bourbon vanilla beans from Madagascar. The conditioned beer is dosed with a tincture made in house of the scraped vanilla pods and tiny seeds. Sweet, dark roasted malt, chocolate, and dark fruit notes showcase the delicate vanilla flavor and aroma.

To date, City Star Brewing has only bottled barrel-aged beers. The bottle release of Widow Maker is the brewery’s first non-barrel aged beer to be packaged. As supply is very limited bottles of Widow Maker and variants will only be sold out of the downtown Berthoud taproom. More specialty bottle releases can be expected in 2018.

About City Star Brewing
City Star began slinging beer in downtown Berthoud, CO in 2012 and has since become a destination for the community and craft beer enthusiasts. At our small town brewery, we are handcrafting small-batch ales and lagers on our mighty 3.5 barrel brew system. We are dedicated to brewing high-quality beer that we enjoy drinking, beer you can hang your hat on.

PHILADELPHIA – Lyft has partnered with the Brewers of Pennsylvania to provide affordable, reliable transportation to 139 member breweries across Pennsylvania. As the official rideshare partner of the Brewers of Pennsylvania, Lyft will provide brewery employees, guests, and patrons a reliable ride home when they need one. The partnership also offers beer aficionados a safe way to tour multiple breweries.

To celebrate the partnership, Lyft is offering 30 percent off two rides to/from any of the 139Brewers of Pennsylvania member breweries with code BREWERSPA between 12/24 – 12/30.

“Pennsylvania is home to some of the best breweries in the world, from America’s oldest brewery to some of the most creative minds in craft beer,” said Andrew Woolf, General Manager of Lyft Pennsylvania. “As the Brewers of Pennsylvania’s official rideshare partner, we’re thrilled to be helping people safely experience the Pennsylvania Beer Trail or even just grab a pint at their local brewery, while offering area drivers increased opportunity to earn.”

Established in 2011, the Brewers of Pennsylvania represents breweries from all corners of the state, including legacy brewers and ambitious entrepreneurs. The organization works in service of Pennsylvania consumers and the brewing industry to promote the interests of craft brewers.

“Pennsylvania produces some of the very best craft beer in the world, and as people enjoy these unique and tasty products throughout this holiday season, they can celebrate knowing they have a safe, reliable ride to and from BOP member breweries with Lyft,” said Dan LaBert,Executive Director of the Brewers of Pennsylvania. “We’re excited to partner with Lyft, and anticipate beer lovers from aficionados to weekend samplers in all parts of the state to take advantage of discounted rides as they head to a familiar or new Pennsylvania brewery.”

For more information on the Brewers of Pennsylvania, visit http://www.brewersofpa.org/.

About Lyft
Lyft was founded in June 2012 by Logan Green and John Zimmer to improve people’s lives with the world’s best transportation. Lyft is the fastest growing rideshare company in the U.S and is available to 95 percent of the US population. Lyft is preferred by drivers and passengers for its safe and friendly experience, and its commitment to effecting positive change for the future of our cities.

About the Brewers of Pennsylvania
The Brewers of Pennsylvania is a 501c6 trade association that brings together leaders of Pa.-based breweries in order to promote and protect the brewing industry in the state. The Brewers of Pennsylvania, a strong and influential organization, serves the consuming public of Pa. by encouraging brand diversity in the market. BOP members employ an estimated 10,000employees earning $296 million in wages and generating $1.1 billion in direct economic benefits to communities throughout the state. Its signature annual event is the popular Meeting of the Malts. #supportPAbeer

JUNEAU, Alaska — In 2018, Alaskan Brewing will be changing up their rotating seasonal offerings, launching a new focus on three products that will not be strictly tied to seasons. The new packages and beers will concentrate on beer style and the Alaskan brew crew’s dedication to local ingredients and brews that are long-standing fan favorites. The new rotating beers will feature labels with iconic symbols of Alaska, with the Snowy Owl representing Spruce IPA debuting this January.

“We have been brewing with Sitka spruce tips for years, and we started getting interested in how well they can complement the hop flavors,” said Plant Manager Curtis Holmes. “In the past we’ve used spruce tips in sweeter beers, which brings out a citrus or berry quality, but when used in hoppy beers like IPAs, we found the evergreen and woody character played a more prominent role in producing the complexity of flavors and aromas in our IPA.”

The Snowy Owl on the label is a symbol of Alaska’s cold winter and early spring months, and has been attributed with mythical properties, seemingly appearing from out of thin air on frosty cold days because of its ability to fly silently. Slightly bitter and bracing, a lot like January in Alaska, Spruce IPA is imminently drinkable, with aromas of pine and tart berries. The taste maintains a berry like, fruity, slightly floral and tart quality, but the bitterness brings out the similarities to the hops.

“Over the past few years, as we’ve brewed more beer varieties with Sitka spruce tips, we analyzed how Sitka spruce tips compare to different hop varieties, and found that there are many similarities between spruce tips and hops,” said David Wilson, Quality Assurance Manager. “Both ingredients contain B-Pinene, which imparts a citrus, pine character. We try to brew with local ingredients whenever possible, and it’s been pretty cool to discover that this indigenous Alaskan tree has some comparable properties to hops.”

Wilson noted that Spruce has been used as an ingredient in brewing for hundreds of years. In some instances, entire boughs are soaked during the brewing process. By using only newly budded springtime spruce tips from the Sitka Spruce tree, which have a delicate citrus, sweet character, Alaskan Brewing spruce beers have an unmistakable aroma and flavor.

“We think it’s a great fit to expand our IPA selection with Spruce IPA this spring – with a nod to our Alaskan roots,” Wilson said.

A change coming later this year will be in name only – Alaskan Summer, a Kölsch-Style Ale that has been a fan favorite for over 15 years, will be renamed to Alaskan Kölsch. The beer’s recipe, iconic Orca and vibrant orange label, all stay the same. In the Fall of 2018, fans can look for a brand new seasonal offering – Alaskan Cranberry Tart Ale, which was inspired by Alaskan high bush cranberries and features Sitka spruce tips in a refreshing wheat-based beer.

Spruce IPA will be available where Alaskan beer is sold through April 2017.

For more information and updates, check out Alaskan Brewing Co. online at www.alaskanbeer.com.

Top 10 Imperial Red Ales
This Top Ten Imperial Red list is from the results of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and RateBeer.com. Imperial Red Ales are deep amber to dark copper/reddish brown. May exhibit a small amount of chill haze at cold temperatures. Fruity-ester aroma is medium. Hop aroma is intense, arising from any variety of hops. Medium to high caramel malt character is present. Hop flavor is intense, but balanced with other beer characters. May use any variety of hops. Hop bitterness is intense. Alcohol content is very high and of notable character. Complex alcohol flavors may be evident. Body is full. ABV: 8.0%-10.6%. IBU: 55-85

1. Paradocs Red IIPA – Raised Grain Brewing Co. – Wisconsin
2. Knuckle Sandwich – Bootlegger’s Brewery – California
3. Screaming Hand Imperial Amber – Strike Brewing – California
4. Wreak Havoc – Bootstrap Brewing – Colorado
5. reDANKulous – Backstage Series – Founders Brewing – Michigan
6. Nugget Nectar – Tröegs Brewing Company – Pennsylvania
7. Hop Head Red Ale – Green Flash Brewing – California
8. Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale – Lagunitas Brewing – California
9. Hog Heaven: Imperial Red IPA – Avery Brewing – Colorado
10. G’Knight Imperial Red Ale – Oskar Blues Brewery – Colorado

ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Thanks to an incredibly hands-on approach to distribution, fresh Stone Brewing beers are now regularly available in select Chinese markets. Answering the impassioned cry of craft beer fans, Stone designed an uninterrupted cold chain delivery approach from San Diego, all the way to bars, restaurants and beer shops around China. This capability positions the brewery as a pioneer, offering China the most diverse, innovative and fresh portfolio of craft beer from the States.

While Chinese beer fans are already familiar with many US brands, including Stone, the market has had little access to fresh, well-handled craft beer. Much of the beer currently available in China has been mishandled via the grey market. These beers are shipped warm and are often long out-of-code with the “enjoy by” dates removed. Fresh Stone beer always boasts bold and complex flavor profiles, preserved by proper cold chain distribution standards.

Now, through special efforts, Stone beer is being regularly shipped to China via its cold, expedited supply chain. The beer’s temperatures are tracked throughout the entire shipping process, ultimately arriving at bars and restaurants equally committed to freshness. Each of these destinations is hand-selected by local Stone Brewing team members for their commitment to maintaining the quality of the beer in storage and in serving. Stone’s first shipment of fresh beer landed in early October to great local excitement. The Stone team celebrated the momentous accomplishment with a series of events at which fans had the exclusive opportunity to sip the freshest Stone beers China has ever known alongside the co-founders and CEO.

“I returned from China energized and blown away by the welcome we received,” said Greg Koch, Stone Brewing executive chairman & co-founder. “Our reputation had evidently preceded us, and I loved being there as our fans enjoyed the bold and complex aromas and flavors of über fresh Stone beers for the first time.”

Whether at home or abroad, always check for the “bottled / canned on” date and “enjoy by” date clearly printed on all Stone beers. If those dates are missing, the beer’s quality may be compromised.

Some of the locations throughout China now stocking fresh, cold, Stone beers include:

• Beijing: Liangshi Brewery, Dao Taproom
• Shanghai: Daga Brewpub, The Cannery
• Guangzhou: Tipsy Bar & Restaurant, Bravo, The South 12 Craft Beer Bar
• Chengdu: Hugo Brewpub, Foam Ranger Taproom
• Xi’an: Xian Brewery Taproom
• Shenzhen: The Pub
• Wuhan: Dazhimen Beer Restaurant, Commune

About Stone Brewing
Founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996, the groundbreaking San Diego-based Stone Brewing is the 9th largest craft brewer in the United States. Recognized as an award-winning, industry leader, Stone has been listed on the Inc. 500 | 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list 12 times, has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice. The multifaceted company is the first American craft brewer to independently build, own and operate their own brewery in Europe (Berlin, Germany), and also opened a production brewery in Richmond, Virginia in 2016. Known for its bold, flavorful and largely hop-centric beers, Stone has earned a reputation for brewing outstanding, unique beers while maintaining an unwavering commitment to sustainability, business ethics, philanthropy and the art of brewing…and pledging never, ever, sell out to the man.  For more information on Stone Brewing, please visit stonebrewing.com or the company’s social media sites: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Brewery Ommegang is excited to introduce a new evolution in the brewery’s mission to blend the artistry of Belgian brewing traditions with a typically non-Belgian beer style. Candi Stout fuses rich roasted malts with Belgian candi sugar, bittersweet cocoa nibs, and a special strain of Belgian ale yeast. The result is a delightfully drinkable blend of a Belgian-style dark ale and a traditional stout.

“Candi Stout is unique in that the dark candi sugar lessens the body a bit and reduces the need for higher amounts of roasted grains so the beer drinks slightly lighter and less roasted than a typical stout,” said Ommegang Brewmaster Phil Leinhart. “This is a great beer for the cold months ahead, and we’re as excited to share this new beer with fans as we are to drink it this winter.”

Candi Stout is brewed with two-row, flaked barley, Pale Chocolate, Special B, aromatic, Midnight Wheat, and roasted barley malts. Candi syrup and cocoa nibs are added to create a smoothness and lightness of body not typically associated with stouts. Hopped with Styrian Golding and Saaz hops, and fermented with a Belgian abbey ale yeast, the beer’s ABV is 6.7%.

The beer pours a deep, dark black with a thick tan head. Dark chocolate and cocoa lead a complex aroma with subtle hints of dark fruit and spicy yeast. The flavor opens with mild sweetness, giving way to rich chocolate, and mild roast. The use of Belgian yeast and the extra dose of fermentables from candi syrup contribute a smooth body and finish, resulting in impressive drinkability, despite the beer’s complexity.Candi Stout is a perfect match for any variety of chocolate desserts, or on the savory side, with roasted or grilled meats, roasted root vegetables, and aged cheeses.

There will be a one-time release of Candi Stout in 750ml bottles on Saturday, December 23 at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown and in the month of January in Wegmans, Total Wine, and Costco stores in the eastern part of the United States. Candi Stout on draft will be available in The Pub by Wegmans locations in February and nationwide in March, for a limited time.

About Brewery Ommegang
Brewery Ommegang opened in 1997 to brew imaginative craft beers across a variety of styles, with particular emphasis and respect for Belgian brewing traditions. Ommegang brews nine ales year-round, as well as an extensive and innovative range of seasonal and specialty ales. The beers have won a national following by connoisseurs of fine beer and are distributed in 46 states and internationally. Ommegang is located on a 136-acre farmstead in Cooperstown, New York and offers free daily tours and inexpensive tastings as well as a 75-seat café, a well-stocked brewery store, and an annual calendar of public events including a summer concert series and a legendary beer festival, Belgium Comes to Cooperstown. Ommegang is open every day of the year except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and occasional special event days. For more information, contactwww.ommegang.com. Ommegang is a member of the Duvel family of fine beers.