craft lager

MALDEN, Mass. — Next week, Idle Hands Craft Ales will release their fourth beer in collaboration with the Ales for ALS program, a New England IPA named Kevin. The beer is being released to celebrate the life of Kevin Lynch, the brother-in-law of Grace Tkach, one of the brewery’s founders, who passed away last April after a four year battle with ALS.

Every year, brewers from around the country gather together at Yakima Chief Hops in Washington, and create a blend of hops to be used in the Ales for ALS program. These hops are then given to breweries who commit to donating $1 per pint sold to the ALS Therapy Development Institute.

This year, Idle Hands has elected to donate 100% of the proceeds from the sale of Kevin to the Institute.

“We started participating in the Ales for ALS program when Kevin was originally diagnosed,” said Chris Tkach, owner, Idle Hands. “We felt it was only right that, although Kevin is gone, we honor his memory and continue to build awareness about and support ways to fight this awful disease any way that we can.”

To help commemorate Kevin’s life and the brewery’s involvement in the Ales for ALS program, Idle Hands is hosting a special release party on Wednesday, August 4th, starting at 5:00pm in the Idle Hands taproom in Malden.

A $25 ticket price ensures a small donation to the ALS Therapy Development Institute, and gets customers their first beer of the evening and a Philly cheesesteak from Odyssey’s Hot Dogs, a locally-based food truck. The choice of cuisine is another nod to Kevin, who was born and raised in South Philadelphia.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at shop.idlehandscraftales.com or customers can arrive on the day of the event and pay in person. Any and all donations are welcome. The beer will be available on draft and in cans at the Idle Hands taproom. A limited amount will also be available in distribution.

Find Idle Hands on social media: @idlehandsbeer on Instagram and @IdleHandsCraftAles on Facebook.

About Idle Hands Craft Ales

Idle Hands Craft Ales was founded in 2010 by husband and wife team, Chris and Grace Tkach. Today, it focuses on producing a wide-array of craft beer with uncompromising quality. Located in Malden, MA, Idle Hands brews fresh IPAs, lagers, sours, and more. To learn more, visit www.idlehandscraftales.com.

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BOSTON – Two of the leading American craft brewers, Samuel Adams and New Belgium Brewing, announced they are partnering for Pride to help spread a message of hope, love and inclusion through beer – something that has brought people together for centuries.

Both brewers share a commitment to fostering an inclusive setting for coworkers, partners and drinkers that supports and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. This laid the groundwork for Samuel Adams and New Belgium to “share the love” and co-produce Love Conquers Ale, Samuel Adams’ hallmark Pride beer recipe.

As part of this partnership, during the month of June, Samuel Adams and New Belgium will donate 100% of the purchase price of the co-brewed Love Conquers Ale directly to GLAAD, a leading nonprofit organization working to accelerate acceptance and advance equality for the LGBTQ+ community. From brewing better beer, to building a better community and bettering each other, Samuel Adams and New Belgium know that by working together they can make a greater impact.

“We knew we had to do something powerful this year to bring the meaning behind Love Conquers Ale to life,” says Carissa Sweigart, Leader of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at The Boston Beer Company. “We couldn’t think of a better brewer to share such a personal and special recipe with than New Belgium Brewing – a team with a long standing history supporting the LGBTQ community. By co-brewing Love Conquers Ale together, we hope to spread unity, love and togetherness to even more people. And we’re proud to continue to support the important work of our partners at GLAAD, who are at the forefront of change, as we celebrate our peers as members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community.”

“Beer is universal, represented across countries, cultures, and people. Our ongoing work is to make sure that beer represents and celebrates everyone, both inside and outside our industry,” says Patrice M. Palmer, New Belgium’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist. “New Belgium was the first craft brewery recognized by the Human Rights Campaign as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality, and our “Brewed for All” mentality informs our efforts to support and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. We’re happy to join Samuel Adams in co-brewing Love Conquers Ale this year to support GLAAD’s important work to increase awareness, visibility, and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community all year round.”

BEHIND THE BEER: LOVE CONQUERS ALE
First brewed in 2017, Love Conquers Ale has always intended to do what beer does best: bring people together. Samuel Adams Boston Brewery coworkers first concepted the Blackberry Basil Lime Gose for a Pride celebration at the brewery. Love Conquers Ale, brewed by and for the LGBTQ+ community, is meant to represent the spirit of Pride and brings unique ingredients together harmoniously to create a beautiful beer. The bright fruit notes, refreshingly light body and pink hues make it the perfect brew to celebrate love. To grow the reach and impact of this special beer, in 2021 Samuel Adams connected with New Belgium Brewing Company to share the love, based on New Belgium’s leadership on LGBTQ+ equity and advocacy.

During the month of June, Love Conquers Ale will be available for drinkers to purchase at the following locations:

Samuel Adams Boston Brewery and Tap Room
Samuel Adams Cincinnati Tap Room
New Belgium’s San Francisco Tap Room
New Belgium’s Denver Pilot Brewery and Fort Collins Tasting Room
Love Conquers Ale will be available in 4-pack 16oz cans and Samuel Adams and New Belgium will donate 100% of the purchase price of every 4-pack to GLAAD during the month of June.

BRINGING MORE INCLUSIVITY TO THE BEER INDUSTRY AT QUEER BEER FEST
Samuel Adams and New Belgium will also celebrate their shared commitment to the LGBTQ+ community through beer at Hop Culture’s Queer Beer Fest, which will be held virtually on Saturday, June 5th. The event aims to capture the unique, vibrant and diverse voices of the queer community and build a stronger culture of inclusivity in the beer industry.

About Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams is a leading independent, American craft brewer that helped to launch the craft beer revolution. The brewery began in 1984 when Founder and Brewer Jim Koch used a generations-old family recipe to brew beer in his kitchen. Inspired and unafraid to challenge conventional thinking about beer, Jim brought the recipe to life with hopes drinkers would appreciate the complex, full-flavor and started sampling the beer in Boston. He named the flagship brew Samuel Adams Boston Lager in recognition of one of our nation’s founding fathers, a revolutionary man of independent and pioneering spirit. Today, Samuel Adams is one of the world’s most awarded breweries and remains focused on crafting the highest quality beers through innovation and experimentation in the relentless pursuit of better. Samuel Adams remains dedicated to elevating and growing the American craft beer industry overall, including providing education and support for entrepreneurs and fellow brewers through its philanthropic program, Brewing the American Dream, which helps others pursue their American Dream.

About New Belgium Brewing
New Belgium Brewing is recognized as a leader in sustainability and social responsibility. Founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colorado, the company expanded to Asheville, North Carolina in 2016, Denver, Colorado in 2018, and San Francisco, California in 2021, and is now the 4th largest craft brewery in the U.S. Dedicated to proving that business can be a force for good, New Belgium is a Certified B Corp and was the first brewery to join 1% for the Planet. The brewery has donated over $29 million to charitable causes since 1991. New Belgium is famous for its flagship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale, along with year-round favorites like Voodoo Ranger IPA, Sour IPA, and La Folie Sour Brown Ale; as well as an award-winning wood-aged sour program and innovative limited release beers.

 

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CINCINNATI, Ohio – MadTree Brewing announced plans for a new bar & restaurant, Alcove. Located at 1400-1410 Vine Street in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine district, Alcove will feature MadTree beers, house-made cocktails and upscale farm-to-table offerings from chef Stephen Williams, proprietor of Covington’s Bouquet Restaurant and their new concept Spoon: Kitchen & Market. Alcove, which is being developed in a partnership with building-owner 3CDC, is slated to open in fall 2021; Drawing Department is leading the architectural design.

Alcove is a nook of nature in the heart of the city, with a series of unique spaces for guests to explore. The main space will feature a large bar, light-filled lounges, dining areas and an intimate private dining room for small groups. Connected by expansive windows and doors that run the length of the building, the main space opens to one of the city center’s rare outdoor spaces. Alcove will feature a lush outdoor patio space for lounging and dining, which connects to a lively greenhouse bar filled with vibrant plants; herbs growing in the greenhouse will be used in the house-made cocktails.

To create an immersive, warm space, MadTree will invest in extensive greenery, created by non-profit Urban Blooms, who designed the living wall in MadTree’s Oakley taproom. Filled with living walls and living chandeliers, the company will create living greenspaces throughout Alcove, designed for people to relax and revive with good friends and good food in a great atmosphere.

“Our goal is to create experiences that encourage people to connect with each other, get comfortable and relax in an easy going, vibrant and natural space. Whether you’re popping in for a drink and bite, or making a night of it, we’re creating a space that feels like an urban oasis and a break from the norm” said Brady Duncan, co-founder of MadTree Brewing.

Open for lunch & dinner daily, Chef Stephen Williams’ menu will feature bar snacks, shareable small bites, and entrees that will be locally and sustainably sourced and constantly evolving with the seasons.

The Building
Alcove, located at 1410 Vine Street, was built in 1873 and has been mostly vacant for decades. 3CDC acquired the property in 2008. While there has been significant interest from several potential operators over the years, 3CDC wanted to make sure it found the right collaborator to restore the space to its former glory.

“3CDC has waited more than a decade to find the right partner to bring the old Weilert’s Beer Garden back to life, and we feel we’ve finally found the perfect collaborator in MadTree” Lindzie Gunnels, 3CDC’s Senior Commercial Leasing Officer, said. “We are incredibly excited about Alcove. It’s going to be an amazing addition to the neighborhood.”

In the early days of the building, the space was a traditional family friendly German beer hall run by Henry Weilert and featured the “summer garden” – a canvas covered patio in what is now the parking lot behind the building. The balcony overlooking the garden is where the World Series was conceived.

The private event space, at 1400 Vine Street, used to house the Yokum Athletic Club, where Ezzard Charles trained as a boxer.

MadTree will maintain the historical aspects of the building, while introducing environmentally efficient features to qualify the building for LEED Certification; Emerald Built Environments, based in Cincinnati, is consulting on this process. Oswald Construction is the contractor for the remodel.

Impact
MadTree Brewing is a member of 1% For the Planet, contributing 1% of all sales to environmental non-profits through financial donations and volunteerism. With the opening of Alcove, MadTree will continue its impact efforts in the downtown Cincinnati area. In October 2020, MadTree planted over 100 trees in the West End’s Laurel Park, in partnership with Cincinnati Parks Foundation. The tree planting is part of the revitalization of Laurel Park, which will feature a 13-foot bronze statue of Ezzard Charles, to be dedicated at this October’s Ezz Fest — a celebration put on by Cincinnati Parks Foundation and Seven Hills Neighborhood Council — honoring West End native, philanthropist, world heavyweight champion, Ezzard Charles. Earlier this year MadTree launched a new lager brand, MadTree Legendary Lager, featuring Ezzard Charles as the inaugural legend in the series.

Through 1% For the Planet, the MadTree team recently volunteered at Rothenberg Rooftop Garden, on the roof of Rothenberg Preparatory Academy in Over-the-Rhine, preparing the educational garden ahead of Cincinnati Public Schools’ return to in-person instruction.

The garden provides unique learning opportunities for the students of Rothenberg Preparatory Academy through hands-on garden-based lessons that are integrated with math, science, and language arts. The garden’s innovative program creates opportunities to enhance students’ learning in an outdoor garden classroom as well as engages neighborhood families in garden activities and skill-building.

Get In Touch
Alcove will feature two private event spaces, something unique for the heart of Over-the-Rhine. One of the spaces will accommodate parties of 60, the other, 150. MadTree is now accepting reservations for dates starting November 1, 2021.

To manage the opening and operations of the new space, MadTree is kicking off the search for a new role — General Manager of Alcove. The person will oversee the day-to-day operations of the bar & restaurant.

About MadTree Brewing Company
When MadTree was started 8 years ago, we were driven to craft great beer – but more importantly – to build something bigger than ourselves and the high-quality beer we produce. Since the beginning, we have cared deeply about creating meaningful connections with our communities. We embrace our name MadTree and work to celebrate and protect nature, while reducing our impact on the environment. We are proud members of 1% For The Planet, with a commitment to donate 1% of our sales to non-profits focused on environmental sustainability. The craftspeople at MadTree wake up every day to connect people to nature and each other.

We are MadTree. Inspiring Madness, Rooted in Purpose.

About 3CDC
The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) is a private, non-profit full-service real estate developer with a mission and strategic focus to strengthen the core assets of Downtown Cincinnati in partnership with the City of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati corporate community. Its work is specifically focused on revitalizing and connecting the Central Business District and Over-the-Rhine.

About Stephen Williams
Chef Stephen Williams opened Bouquet in 2007 as one of the first restaurants in the Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky area to embrace local and sustainable farming as a cornerstone of its mission, and that practice remains at the core of Bouquet and Spoon: Kitchen and Market operations today. Through their involvement in initiatives such as Zero FoodPrint, Seafood Watch, Chefs Collaborative and Slow Food USA, Williams’ restaurants are able to reduce their carbon footprint, promote biodiversity, and connect with the local community.

Williams’ deep relationships with over fifty local farmers and purveyors allows for a constantly-evolving menu, inspired by the seasons’ freshest ingredients. In addition to an innovative and ever-changing array of charcuterie, small plates, entrees, and desserts, Bouquet has become known for their extensive bourbon collection and elevated, farm-to-table dining experience within a relaxed, neighborhood atmosphere

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National Beer Day is celebrated in the United States every year on April 7, marking the day that the Cullen–Harrison Act was enacted after having been signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 22, 1933. This led to the Eighteenth Amendment being repealed on December 5, 1933, with the ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. April 6, the day prior to National Beer Day, is known as New Beer’s Eve.

Background
Upon signing the legislation, Roosevelt made his famous remark, “I think this would be a good time for a beer.” The law went into effect on April 7 of that year in states that had enacted their own law allowing such sales. The beer could contain up to 3.2% alcohol by weight (or 4.05% by volume) compared to the 0.5% limit of the Volstead Act because 3.2% was considered too low to produce intoxication.

People across the country responded by gathering outside breweries, some beginning the night before. On that first day, 1.5 million barrels of beer were consumed, inspiring the future holiday. Today, April 7 is recognized as National Beer Day, and April 6 is known as New Beer’s Eve.

The Cullen-Harrison Act was not the official end of prohibition in the US (that happened on December 5, 1933, when the 21st Amendment was ratified). What the Cullen-Harrison Act did do was redefine an “intoxicating beverage” under the Volstead Act. As such, April 7 is a beer specific holiday and should not be confused with Repeal Day celebrated on December 5.

Recognition
National Beer Day was first celebrated in 2009 by Justin Smith of Richmond, Virginia. After much prodding from his friend, Mike Connolly, Smith started a Facebook page that was noticed by Colorado Beer Examiner, Eli Shayotovich. Smith’s promotion of the new observance day via various social media outlets was rewarded when the beer drinking app Untappd created a badge for National Beer Day that rewarded participants that checked a beer into the app on April 7. National Beer Day has since been trending on social media every year on April 7 using the hashtag #NationalBeerDay.

Source: Wikipedia

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In 1987, we originally hired Frank Appleton, a brewing consultant from Canada to help us establish the brewing component of our planned brewpub in Bend, Oregon. In addition to designing the equipment, and having it installed, he would formulate the first three beers in our line-up. Not knowing much about it in 1988, we wanted something light, medium, and dark. Frank came up with Cascade Golden Ale, Bachelor Bitter, and Black Butte Porter. Our first brewer, John Harris, then put his hand (and considerable skill) on the formulation and Black Butte Porter was born. However, it was not until sometime later that Black Butte Porter became our “flagship” beer. After a year or so, and out of necessity to keep the brewery going, we began to explore wholesale distribution. Thinking conventionally, we began with Cascade Golden Ale and Bachelor Bitter as being most adaptable to the limited palates of 1980’s drinkers. It just seemed like lighter colored beer would make sense.

Once while meeting with our distributor in Portland, Oregon, Jim Kennedy, he posed a question. He said, “You need to decide what you want to be as a brewery. Now, you can sell these lighter colored beers and carve out your small but reasonable slice of the very large, light colored beer-pie, competing with everyone for that slice. Or, you can sell Black Butte Porter and, although the dark-colored beer-pie is much smaller, you can own the whole thing”. I guess being a contrarian at heart, that proposition appealed to me. Although we had to sacrifice quite a bit to make that happen. You see, the path of least resistance for beer salespeople was certainly not in dark beer. Particularly when we had developed some really popular lighter beers like Mirror Pond Pale Ale. But we were committed. For the next few years, we kept the brakes on Mirror Pond and limited its market exposure to ensure Black Butte could gain a foothold in the market. It didn’t hurt that it was winning awards at a pretty good clip in those days. As a result, you could say we developed our second brand first, and we actually had two flagship brands with Black Butte and Mirror Pond sharing that distinction.
Black Butte Porter has continued to evolve, although our target flavors never really changed. But with growth naturally comes change. When we built our larger production facility in 1993, we installed a 50-barrel brewery. Later, we added a German-manufactured 150 barrel brewery that was much more efficient. Getting those two breweries to brew Black Butte Porter that tasted the same was quite the chore. But, we’re pretty stubborn, so four years later, we declared success and the legacy (and flavor) of Black Butte Porter could continue.

Black Butte continues to be our flagship. Even though beers like Mirror Pond Pale Ale and Fresh Squeezed outsell it. Black Butte is the best-selling porter in America and a significant point of pride for our team. It has successfully dispelled the misconceptions of dark beer. It is particularly successful at that task with novice craft drinkers. But, if we can get them to taste it, they are usually hooked! It has also spurred spin-offs like Black Butte Anniversary that is an imperial version of Black Butte Porter brewed for our company’s anniversary, but being barrel-aged and topping out around 11% alcohol with various added adjuncts like chocolate, chilis or coffee. We have also made a Black Butte Whiskey, with local distillery, Bendistillery. We make the wash for the whiskey using a variation of the Black Butte formula for that wash. Finally, we also do Black Butte3 where we use an imperial version of Black Butte Porter and age it in barrels that were used for Black Butte Whiskey.

Business consultants like to ask a question evaluating your business. That is, “what can you do your competitors can’t?” For me, the answer is clearly Black Butte Porter. The legend will continue. What we do with it next, well, stay tuned.

Written by Gary Fish, Founder of Deschutes Brewery

 

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CLEVELAND — Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) announces the release of new year-round Crushworthy Lo-Cal Citrus Wheat, a refreshing low calorie ale brewed with real citrus purée and peel.

Releasing March 1 throughout GLBC’s distribution footprint, Crushworthy Lo-Cal Citrus Wheat is a “better-for-you” Wheat Ale with just 105 calories, 4.0% ABV, a sessionable light body, and bursts of citrus aroma and flavor thanks to the addition of orange and lemon purée and peel. Crushworthy will release in 12 oz. Can 6-Packs and 15-Packs, and Draft.

Crushworthy Lo-Cal Citrus Wheat is GLBC’s first entry into the low calorie space, and joins the brewery’s growing portfolio of year-round offerings in cans. “We’re excited to bring another unique style to our year-round brand family,” says CEO Mark King. “Crushworthy is lighter, sessionable, and fruit-forward with a really delicious and crushable flavor. It fills a need for active and wellness-minded drinkers who don’t want to sacrifice craft, body, and taste when choosing a beverage.”

Crushworthy’s can artwork features a tattoo-inspired illustration of a juicy citrus heart by artist Sam Hadley, framed by bright yellow accents. The artwork speaks to Crushworthy’s playful and crushable nature, as the beer makes a perfect match for year-round recreation and relaxation.

Crushworthy Lo-Cal Citrus Wheat is available now in the GLBC gift shop and releases March 1 throughout GLBC’s distribution footprint in 12 oz. Can 6-Packs, 15-Packs, and Draft. Customers can also find Crushworthy Lo-Cal Citrus Wheat in GLBC’s new Gimme Five! Variety Pack 15-Pack, which features three of each of a mix of five refreshing beers: Dortmunder Gold Lager, Burning River Pale Ale, Great Lakes IPA, Hazecraft IPA, and Crushworthy Lo-Cal Citrus Wheat.

About Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) was founded in 1988 by brothers Patrick and Daniel Conway in Cleveland, Ohio. Independent and employee-owned, GLBC is known for its award-winning portfolio of fresh, balanced, and flavorful beers with names and artwork that tell stories of the Great Lakes region. Since its founding, GLBC has remained a principle-centered brewery with a “triple bottom line” philosophy, balancing financial responsibility with social and environmental responsibility.

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WOBURN, Massachusetts — Lord Hobo is proud to announce Juice Lord IPA as the newest member of their illustrious core lineup. With Juice Lord IPA, Lord Hobo has crafted a juicy, 6% IPA that expresses all of the best qualities of the style. Pillowy oats and pilsner malt provide a smooth canvas upon which they’ve painted a juicy and fruity masterpiece. Citra and Huell Melon hops combine to produce an easy-drinking IPA with the irresistible notes of citrus fruits and ripe melon. Lord Hobo President, Nathan Whipple, states: “Juice Lord IPA is a beer made for the modern IPA drinker who appreciates a smooth and sophisticated beer with well-balanced hop character. We are excited to showcase our softer side with this juicy offering”.

In April 2020, Lord Hobo announced a transformation of their logo and a new packaging design for their core lineup. The LHBCo crown transformed and aligned to a more dramatic location on the packaging with fresh bursts of new colors. Juice Lord completes the rebranded lineup, rounding out their hop-focused portfolio. “We had a lot of fun with this brand, bringing a new splash of color to our lineup. We’ve given this packaging more of a 80’s – 90’s feel to invoke an emotional connection to a wide range of our consumer base.” said Marketing Director, Aubree Karls. This beer will be available across Lord Hobo’s entire distribution footprint starting with a package-only release in early March, followed by draft in April 2021.

About Lord Hobo
Lord Hobo Brewing Company was founded in 2015 and strives to bring world-class beer to the Northeast and beyond! Now entering our 6th year, we are looking forward to continuing to bring innovative New England style beers to our thirsty and dedicated fans. Craft beer is the world’s most affordable luxury item and we’re determined to make sure excellent beer is within everyone’s reach to experience and enjoy daily. Like you, we celebrate life, work, loved ones, experiences, and are proud to be a small part in your own story.

Our brewery and taproom is located in Woburn, Mass. The taproom recently received an upgrade and expansion in July, adding a full kitchen and beautiful outdoor patio, increasing maximum seating to 472! In addition to the Woburn taproom and our Lord Hobo Cambridge bar, we also opened a new satellite location – an 18,000sq ft brewery and restaurant located in downtown Boston: Lord Hobo Seaport, which will be reopening Spring of 2021.

Lord Hobo beers are currently available in 12 states throughout the Eastern United States with 15 wholesaler partners.

 

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SAN DIEGO – Celebrating 25 years of craft beer innovation in San Diego, Ballast Point is pleased to announce the addition of two new offerings to its year-round portfolio: Big Gus and Wee Gus. Clearly different from anything Ballast Point has released before, the crystal-clear duo — a R&D hoppy lager and a clear hazy IPA — mark the first additions to the craft beer pioneer’s portfolio since 2019. Big Gus and Wee Gus hit off-premise shelves this month throughout Ballast Point’s distribution network in Southern California and Arizona in 12 oz. 6-pack cans, and is currently available on draft at all Ballast Point taprooms in San Diego, Anaheim, and Long Beach.

The journey to the “Brothers Gus” began several years ago as the brainchildren of the brewers at Ballast Point’s Little Italy R&D facility, where they brew more than 150 experimental recipes per year. Big ideas are typically born after a few beers, so the team sat down and came up with a fun challenge. “What if we made a clear hazy IPA?” As the rest of the industry was deep in the haze craze, the Ballast Point brewers bucked the trend by developing two beers that are clearly different from anything on the market. Ballast Point is well-known for brewing hop-forward beers – the Brothers Gus are no exception– but they are crystal clear by design.

“We always wanted to make a beer that looks different than it tastes,” said Aaron Justus, Ballast Point’s director of research and development. “That’s sort of the creative play with Big and Wee Gus. We sat around as a R&D team and thought ‘how can we make these beers as clear as possible? What kind of scientific processes can we do to ensure that clarity and how can we make them hoppy? They also had to be beers that we like to drink.”

Originally called Hop Soda due to its resemblance to tonic water, Wee Gus is what happens when you brew a beer that looks like an American Light Lager but is aromatic and flavorful with the late addition of hops – while also being crystal clear. The result is a bright and spritzy, easy-drinking 4.2% ABV hoppy lager. Wee in calories (95) – not in flavor – this crisp, bone-dry beer is brewed with German Bach lager yeast and dry-hopped with heaps of Northern Brewer and German Hallertau Mittelfrüh hops, giving it a refreshing undercurrent of lemon, herbal, and floral aromas with a hint of black pepper.

Big Gus is the bigger, bolder brother of Wee Gus and is what happens when brewers swim in the opposite direction of the haze craze. This behemoth is a crystal clear, extremely dry, and colossally dry-hopped 6.5% ABV India Pale Ale. Big Gus has the spine of a traditional IPA with a generous amount of American Amarillo, Cashmere, and handpicked Yakima Valley Mosaic hops and a delicate pilsner malt.

An unexpected added bonus: Both beers weigh in at under 150 calories each — Big Gus (145) and Wee Gus (95). The brewers bucked one trend and stumbled onto another.

As he has done for the past 25 years, Ballast Point’s resident artist, Paul Elder, brought the story of the art inside the can to life from sketch to full-color art on the outside. Wee Gus, a delicate, little fish in a big ocean full of scary danger, and Big Gus, a goliath of a grouper who rules the reef.

Big Gus:
Serving Facts: Serving size: 12 fl oz; Servings per container: 1; Amount Per Serving: Alcohol by volume: 6.5%; Calories: 145; Carbohydrates: 5g; Fat: 0g; Protein: 1.3g.

Wee Gus:
Serving Facts: Serving size: 12 fl oz; Servings per container: 1; Amount Per Serving: Alcohol by volume: 4.2%; Calories: 95; Carbohydrates: 3g; Fat: 0g; Protein: 0g.

About Ballast Point Brewing Co.
What started in 1996 as a small group of homebrewers who simply wanted to make great beer evolved into the team of adventurers known today as Ballast Point. A pioneering brewery born 25 years ago within the hallowed, hopped walls of San Diego’s Home Brew Mart, the complete art of the craft swims in the DNA of Ballast Point and informs both what’s inside and on the can.

On March 2, 2020, Ballast Point officially returned to its iconic independent roots under the new ownership of San Diego-headquartered, Kings & Convicts Brewing Co., and continues to be an internationally recognized leader in the industry with 6 taproom locations in California and Chicago. From bringing a hoppy twist to a porter or adding four types of malt to its amber ale, to creating the breakthrough gold-medal winning Sculpin IPA, Ballast Point is known for adding its touch and asking if there’s a better way. Ballast Point brews over 50 styles of beer with an emphasis on R&D and innovation and is distributed in select markets across the US and internationally. For more information, visit www.ballastpoint.com.

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