Archives for September 2018

LONGMONT, Colo. — Drink beer and support Can’d Aid Foundation – this is the task set before you from CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective, who just released their VOL. 1 Mixed Pack of brews.
The first of its kind from CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective, the Mixed Pack offers fan-favorite canned beers from four breweries. Craft beer enthusiasts can get a taste of Jai Alai IPA from Cigar City Brewing, Black Ale from Perrin Brewing Company, Hop Rising IPA from Squatters Craft Beers and the original craft beer in a can, Dale’s Pale Ale from Oskar Blues Brewery, all in one box.

These four CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective members have partnered with Can’d Aid Foundation to host bike builds, where community members gather to build bicycles for predominately low-income local schools. Collectively, the four breweries represented in the Mixed Pack have raised money to purchase bikes, host bike builds and donate bicycles and helmets to more than 770 elementary students in six states. For many of these kids, the bikes received from Can’d Aid are the first they have ever owned.
“Call me a rebel, but I have always felt like if you have a choice between doing bad and doing good, choose the good,” said Cigar City Brewing Founder & CEO Joey Redner. “Can’d Aid is doing a lot of good and it’s great to be able to play a small part in it.”

For every case of the Mixed Pack sold, $1 benefits Can’d Aid Foundation, which aims to improve communities from the ground up. Formed five years ago in immediate response to the massive flooding that devastated Lyons and Longmont, Colorado, Can’d Aid has since raised more than $4 million to support their four program areas: Towns, Tunes, Treads + Trails and Love Yur Mama.
CANarchy hopes to donate $10,000 to Can’d Aid Foundation this year through the sales of the Mixed Pack’s initial limited rollout. Find it in North Carolina and Florida today, with more markets coming soon. To keep up with availability, click to visit Oskar Blues Brewery, Cigar City Brewing, Squatters Craft Beers and Perrin Brewing via their beerfinders.

If you are interested in partnering with Can’d Aid to host a bike build, instrument donation, trail or river cleanup to support your local community, please visit candaid.org for more information. About Can’d Aid FoundationCan’d Aid is all about spreading people powered do-goodery through Towns, Tunes, Treads + Trails and Love Yur Mama efforts nationwide. Since its inception in 2013, more than 1.25 million cans of water have been shipped post-disaster, over 2,000 bikes have been built for underprivileged youth, 1,000 instruments have been donated and the equivalent of 33 million cans recycled. To donate, join the do-goodery or find out more, please visit candaid.org.

About CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective
Founded in 2015, CANarchy is a disruptive collective of like-minded brewers dedicated to bringing quality and innovative flavors to beer drinkers in the name of independent craft beer. The portfolio of craft breweries, partially funded by Fireman Capital Partners, including Oskar Blues Brewery, Perrin Brewing Company, Cigar City Brewing, Squatters Craft Beer and Wasatch Brewery, Deep Ellum Brewing Company and newly added Three Weavers Brewing Company, is challenging corporate convention to preserve independent craft beer culture. CANarchy is the #1 provider of American craft beer in a can by bringing value to distributors, retailers and beer drinkers. CANarchy was recently ranked #9 on list of the 2017 Top 50 U.S. Craft Brewers as ranked by sales volume. Cigar City Brewing Jai Alai IPA and Oskar Blues’ Dale’s Pale Ale are currently the #1 and #2 sold craft can six packs in U.S. Grocery. The CANarchy platform brewed over 350,000 bbls in 2017, reaching all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., parts of Canada, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Brazil, and South Korea. For more information, visit www.canarchy.beer

CHARLESTON, SC — Palmetto Brewing Company has recently introduced a number of Small Batch beers in their Huger Street tasting room in downtown Charleston. With the brewery’s newly expanded production capabilities, the increased diversity of draft offerings is here to stay.

South Carolina’s oldest brewery, Palmetto was acquired last winter by the Pyatt family of North Carolina, effectively joining forces with Catawba Brewing Company. Palmetto and Catawba have since maintained their distinction as separate brands while sharing production facilities in Charleston and Morganton and pilot brewhouses in Asheville and Charlotte. With each location offering its own specific operational strength, both brands are benefitting from the talent within the company’s growing roster of brewers.
Previously, Palmetto contracted with breweries in Connecticut and Florida to serve their ever-growing production needs. Since the acquisition, all Palmetto beers are brewed in-house. The company has invested over $1 million in manufacturing capacity expansions for Charleston and Morganton already this year. The first phase of the project saw the installation of five new 100-barrel fermenters in Charleston, increasing their Huger Street fermentation capacity by 83 percent and bringing the company-wide annual capacity to around 50,000 barrels. Upgrades to the Palmetto tasting room are planned to continue into 2019.

Having gained access to three additional brewhouses of varying sizes, Palmetto brewers are enjoying more flexibility for experimentation than at any time in their 25-year history. On any given day, the Palmetto tasting room will offer year-round and seasonal favorites along with a rotating selection of experimental Small Batch beers.

Next up for the Palmetto Small Batch Program is a West Coast-style Double IPA (7.7 percent ABV), slated for tasting room release on Friday, September 21. Packed with Citra, Mosaic, and Amarillo, the beer features a classic fresh hop flavor profile of citrus and pine. Following its tasting room debut, look for this draft-only offering to see limited distribution in the Charleston area.

Stevens Point, Wisconsin – The Whole Hog Brewery received a silver medal at the 2018 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition. Presented by the Brewers Association, GABF is the largest commercial beer competition in the world and recognizes the most outstanding beers produced in the United States. The top three winners in the competition’s 102 beer-style categories were announced September 22 at the Great American Beer Festival awards ceremony held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado.

The Whole Hog Brewery was recognized in the Pumpkin/Squash Beer or Pumpkin Spice beer-style category for its Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale, a savory, perfectly-balanced pumpkin ale brewed with pumpkin pie spices, natural cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin puree.

Since its introduction in 2009, Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale has received numerous awards, including a gold medal at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival, a bronze medal in the 2014 Great American Beer Festival, and a gold medal in the 2015 European Beer Star. The Whole Hog Brewery is located in Stevens Point, WI. Specializing in “next level brews,” the Whole Hog Brewery prides itself in developing innovative and outstanding craft beers.

“Everyone at our brewery is delighted with this prestigious award honoring Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale,” said Whole Hog Brewery Brewmaster

Mike Schraufnagel. “This medal confirms what we strive for: brewing high-quality, next-level craft brews.”

The 2018 GABF competition winners were selected by an international panel of 293 expert judges from 8,496 entries, received from 2,404 U.S. breweries, plus 101 Pro-Am and 49 Collaboration entries.

“The 32nd edition of the GABF competition yielded a remarkable turnout of the country’s most exemplary beers,” said Chris Swersey, competition manager, Great American Beer Festival. “I’m continuously impressed by contenders’ talent and passion and would like to extend congratulations to this year’s winners for their excellence in brewing.”

For more GABF competition information, including the 2018 winners list and photos, visit GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com.

The Whole Hog Brewery, located in Stevens Point, WI, is proud to craft the biggest, boldest brews they can envision. In addition to Pumpkin Ale, the Whole Hog Brewery offers two additional seasonal brews: Whole Hog Cold Nikita Russian Imperial Stout, a bold malty stout with roasted coffee aromas available in the winter months; and Whole Hog Peach Hefeweizen, a fruit-forward golden hefeweizen available in the summer months.

The Whole Hog Brewery also offers four year-round “Next Level” craft brews: Whole Hog Cuppa Espresso Stout, aged on Espresso Dolce and Sumatra coffee beans; Whole Hog JP’s Casper White Stout, a golden stout with flavors of white chocolate and vanilla; Whole Hog Lord James Wee Heavy Scotch Ale, with sweet notes of toffee and caramel; Whole Hog 6-Hop Imperial IPA, a big and balanced IPA brewed with six varieties of hops.

PORTLAND, Ore. –– Ecliptic Brewing’s Phaser Hazy IPA is back due to high demand from the public. After initially releasing it as a “Seasonal” beer last winter, Phaser fans will now be able to find the beer in limited runs throughout the year.

The decision to brew this beer regularly was an easy one. Erin Grey Kemplin, Ecliptic Brewing Sales Manager, said, “In my time here at Ecliptic I’ve never been asked more for a beer’s comeback than Phaser Hazy IPA.” It will be available in both draft and 6-pack cans for the Ecliptic Brewing distribution network.

About Phaser Hazy IPA
Juicy and unfiltered, Phaser Hazy IPA stuns with a lively array of fruity hop notes. Phaser features Citra, Azacca, Mosaic, and Motueka hops. ABV 6.5%

About Ecliptic Brewing
Ecliptic Brewing is a venture from John Harris, an Oregon beer icon whose background is steeped in the state’s rich craft brewing history. The name Ecliptic unites Harris’ two passions: brewing and astronomy. As such, the brewery celebrates the Earth’s yearly journey around the sun through both its beer and restaurant menus. Executive Chef Michael Molitor rotates his seasonally inspired menu every six weeks in accordance with the old-world calendar. Harris’ signature beers include Starburst IPA, Orbiter IPA, Carina Peach Sour Ale and Capella Porter. For more information, visit: www.eclipticbrewing.com.
Ecliptic beers are available at the brewery (825 North Cook St), in bottle and on-tap throughout the area, and distributed by: Maletis Beverage (Portland, Salem, Vancouver WA), Bigfoot Beverage (Eugene, Bend, Coast), Fort George Distributing (Northern Oregon Coast, Southern Washington Coast), Summit Distribution (Southern Oregon), NW Beverages (Seattle, Tacoma), Odom (Eastern Washington, Northern ID), Dickerson Distributing (Bellingham), Crooked Stave Artisans (Colorado), Freedom Distributors (North Carolina), and Graybeal (Eastern Oregon).

NAMPA, Idaho – Mother Earth is pleased to announce it’s distribution partnership with Central PA’s largest wholesale source for domestic Craft: Westy’s Beer Distributor.

From Mother Earth Vice President Kevin Hopkins, “We couldn’t be happier about forging a partnership with a company that shares our family-owned principles and a commitment to quality and an outstanding customer experience. Westy’s Beer positions us to really make an impact in an ever growing indie-craft market like we have in Central PA”.

Voted ‘Simply the Best’ Beer Distributor by Harrisburg Magazine every year since 2006, and receiving an impressive ‘A+ World Class’ rating from BeerAdvocate, Westy’s will distribute Mother Earth’s portfolio of year-round and specialty beers in both cans, as well as on draft. Customers may find Mother Earth’s products beginning mid-September, at major grocery, beer distributors, independent liquor, as well as restaurants, bars and all establishments carrying fine independent craft offerings.

Beer distributed and sold throughout the region will be brewed at Mother Earth’s large production brewery located in Nampa, Idaho and delivered cold, fresh and ready to be enjoyed!

Stay tuned for additional announcements naming states throughout the country now carrying outstanding beers brewed by one of America’s finest independent craft breweries, Mother Earth Brewing Company.

About Mother Earth
Mother Earth Brew Co. develops hand crafted artisanal ales in year-round, as well as seasonal and specialty offerings. With multi-state as well as international distribution serviced by breweries in Vista, CA and Nampa, ID; Mother Earth’s award-winning beers help define and maintain the standard of excellence expected of independent craft brewers.

ALBANY, New York – Move over wine slushies – New Yorkers will soon be allowed to purchase beer ice cream. A new state law will authorize the sale of ice cream made with cider or beer.

The measure will require the frozen products to contain no more than 5 percent alcohol and prohibit sales to anyone younger than 21.

New York has allowed the sale of wine ice cream for a decade. Lawmakers voted earlier this year to add beer and cider ice cream to the list in an effort to take advantage of consumer interest.

The bill’s sponsor, Republican Sen. James Seward, says the new product combines two of New York’s leading industries: dairy and locally-produced beer and cider.

LONGMONT, Colo. — Oskar Blues Brewery announces a cult classic comeback – Death by Coconut Irish Porter returns for winter 2018 with kickoff events in taprooms on October 5. The seasonal brew marries flavors of bittersweet cacao and creamy coconut; asserts that beer is the perfect dessert; and invites believers to join the Death by Coconut Irish Porter Cult this season. The 6.5% ABV porter will be nationally distributed in 4-packs of 12oz cans starting in early October.

Chocolate and coconut are perfectly intertwined in a recipe that pleases the beer gods. “No false advertising here – it’s as straightforward a chocolate-and-coconut beer as it gets,” said Juice Drapeau, Head Brewer at the Oskar Blues pilot brewery in Lyons. “The chocolate-y malt flavors and coconut aroma and flavor are nicely balanced, and it’s not as viscous as a stout, which makes it more palatable.”

Death by Coconut was originally brewed as a small batch collaboration with Shamrock Brewing in 2014 and went on to earn a silver medal at GABF in the chocolate beer category. At that point, increased demand challenged brewers to find innovative ways to accentuate the rich chocolate flavor while increasing consistency and stability for distribution of the cult favorite outside of the taproom.

Boulder-based Cholaca provided the answer to the chocolate question. The product is made from three ingredients – water, cacao and coconut sugar – and allows brewers to give beer a rich, smooth chocolate flavor by adding liquid chocolate (cacao emulsified in water) rather than using cacao nibs or powders. Plus, the cacao is sourced directly from farmers and co-ops in Ecuador that utilize regenerative farming practices. “Now Cholaca is in over 700 breweries, in 50 states including Canada, in 15 countries, including Australia. That volume gives us the ability to import quality cacao. It helps us get the great stuff,” said Cholaca founder Ira Leibtag. “Without the great stuff, we end up with GMO and preservative-infiltrated product… and ruined rainforests.”

Cholaca’s bittersweet chocolate flavor comes together with raw, desiccated coconut and a malt bill based around Simpson’s Extra Dark Crystal. The result is a rich, dessert-y flavor with a light, approachable mouthfeel.

Folks interested in ritual beer-drinking, chocolate worship and coconut offerings are invited to join the Death by Coconut 2018 cult. The initiation happens on October 5. Check out party details here:
Austin, TX, Taproom
Longmont, CO, Taproom
Boulder, CO, Taproom
Brevard, NC, Taproom

Following taproom releases, Death by Coconut will be distributed nationally in 4-packs of 12oz cans. Use the beerfinder to find it on shelves near you.

About Oskar Blues Brewery
Founded over 20 years ago in Lyons, Colorado, Oskar Blues Brewery launched the craft beer-in-a-can apocalypse with their hand-canned flagship brew, Dale’s Pale Ale. Today, Oskar Blues operates breweries in Colorado, North Carolina and Texas while reaching 200,000 barrels per year and featuring Dale’s Pale Ale as the nation’s #2 top-selling craft can six-pack at U.S. supermarkets. Oskar Blues is available in all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., parts of 17 other countries. Along with Cigar City Brewing, Perrin Brewing, Squatters Craft Beers and Wasatch Brewery, Deep Ellum Brewing and Three Weavers Brewing, Oskar Blues Brewery belongs to a disruptive collective of like-minded craft brewers known as CANarchy, the largest canned craft beer supplier in the country. To keep up with all things Oskar Blues, visit http://www.oskarblues.com/.

About CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective
Founded in 2015, CANarchy is a disruptive collective of like-minded brewers dedicated to bringing quality and innovative flavors to beer drinkers in the name of independent craft beer. The portfolio of craft breweries, partially funded by Fireman Capital Partners, including Oskar Blues Brewery, Perrin Brewing Company, Cigar City Brewing, Squatters Craft Beer and Wasatch Brewery, Deep Ellum Brewing Company and newly added Three Weavers Brewing Company, is challenging corporate convention to preserve independent craft beer culture. CANarchy was recently ranked #9 on list of the 2017 Top 50 U.S. Craft Brewers as ranked by sales volume. Cigar City Brewing Jai Alai IPA and Oskar Blues’ Dale’s Pale Ale are currently the #1 and #2 sold craft can six packs in U.S. Grocery. The CANarchy platform brewed over 350,000 bbls in 2017, reaching all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., parts of Canada, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Brazil, and South Korea. For more information, visit www.canarchy.beer  www.oskarblues.com

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. — Last year, 21st Amendment Brewery partnered up with homebrewer extraordinaire, Mike “Tasty” McDole, to collaborate on a delicious, limited-release IPA. The beer came and went far too fast so the brewery decided to bring it back for good. Releasing in six-packs, 15-packs and 19.2 oz cans, Tasty IPA returns this September through March 2019 – though it may look a little different than you remember.

“The original artwork featured McDole laying in a bed of hops, which inspired the direction forBenjamin Franklin, a man who was an advocate for homebrewers,” said Nico Freccia, co-founder of 21st Amendment Brewery. “This new design fits perfectly into our brand portfolio and we are excited for its permanent place a sour fall to winter seasonal.”

Derived from test batches of McDole’s own homebrew recipe, this 6.8%, gold-colored IPA is the perfect beer to have on-hand when you have history to make. With bright, fresh flavors and aromas of hops, tropical stone fruits and a hint of spiciness, it will be difficult to have just one.
“If you like hops,and you love IPA, this is the beer for you,” said Shaun O’Sullivan, co-founder and Brewmaster of 21st Amendment. “We used Calypso, Ekuanot and Azacca for flavoring; CTZ for bittering and Simcoe, Calypso and Ekuanot in the dry hop.” Ben Franklin once said, ‘well done is better than well said’ and this beer is sure to prove that theory.

Coming into the seasonal slot as Hell or HighWatermelon winds down with summer, TastyIPA will be available in all 21A distribution markets including AK, AZ, CA,CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, KY, MA, MD, ME, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI,SC, VA, VT, WA and Washington D.C. Find the beer in a location near you at http://21st-amendment.com/find-some.

About 21st Amendment
In 2000, Nico Freccia and Shaun O’Sullivan opened the doors to the 21st Amendment brewpub in San Francisco’s historic South Park neighborhood with Freccia managing the restaurant and O’Sullivan spearheading the brewing process. In addition to quickly becoming one of the city’s favorite pubs, 21st Amendment began expanding beyond the Bay Area by helping to pioneer the movement to canned craft beer. In 2015, they opened a Brewery & Tap Room in San Leandro where most of their beers are made and canned. Known for artistic packaging, witty names and delicious brews,21st Amendment offers year-round selections, seasonal offerings and itsInsurrection Series of small-batch, limited releases. Sold in 27 states, 21st Amendment is among the top 50 craft beer breweries in America.

LONGMONT, Colo. – Left Hand Brewing Co., one of the original pioneers in craft brewing, is celebrating 25 years of righteous independence on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. From a humble homebrew kit beginning to becoming one of the top 50 craft breweries in the U.S. led by its flagship Milk Stout Nitro, Left Hand has continued to grow and innovate throughout its 25-year history.

On Friday, Sept. 21 from 9-11am at its Longmont Tasting Room (1265 Boston Ave.), Left Hand will be releasing its 25th Anniversary Imperial Stout and celebrating 25 years of beer. At 12.1% ABV, it features assertive notes of dark chocolate, cherries and roasted coffee beans with a smooth warming finish. It will be available in 4-pack, 12oz bottles for $13.99 and a limited quantity will be available for purchase before you can buy it anywhere.

Attendees are encouraged to get in line early for a ticket to purchase their 4-pack, which can be enjoyed fresh or cellared for continued aging. In addition, Yolk ‘n Around food truck and Allegro Coffee will be on the scene along with music by Scott Von. Left Hand’s Co-Founder and President Eric Wallace also will be giving a toast to attendees and employee owners at 10am.
“Since the beginning we’ve been on mission to change the world one pint at a time,” said Wallace. “Employee ownership, staying independent and giving back to our community have always been at the core of our business in addition to brewing the best damn beer we can make. I’m extremely proud and humbled to be here 25 years later and thank our loyal fans locally and across the globe for their continued support of Left Hand. Cheers!”

Left Hand will be pouring its 25th Anniversary Imperial Stout at the Great American Beer Fest (GABF) Sept. 20-22 in Denver in addition to its award-winning line up including Milk Stout Nitro, Fade to Black Export Stout, Sawtooth Ale and others.

Left Hand Brewing has left its mark on the craft beer community throughout its history. Some key milestones include:
-Founded in 1993 by Eric Wallace and Dick Doore in Longmont, Colorado
-We named our brewery Left Hand after Chief Niwot (meaning left-handed), an Arapaho chief whom wintered his tribe in the Boulder Valley area of Colorado
-In 1994, our original flagship brew Sawtooth Ale took gold at our first GABF
-In 1999, we brewed our first batch of Milk Stout
-Team Left Hand was created in 2008 to raise funds and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. Since our first Bike MS ride, we’ve raised $3.5M in funds
-In 2011, Left Hand changed craft beer history with the introduction of Milk Stout Nitro in a bottle
-The Left Hand Foundation was introduced 2013 and more than $240K has been donated to worthy nonprofits and community groups     through our four annual festivals – Hops & Handrails, Leftapalooza, Longmont Oktoberfest and Nitro Fest
-On July 1, 2015 we proudly became an employee-owned company
-In 2017, Left Hand made history again with the first ever U.S. production run of U.S. made nitro widget cans

About Left Hand Brewing Company
Employee Owned, Righteously Independent. Celebrating 25 years of brewing a well-balanced portfolio of craft beers, Left Hand Brewing Company is located at 1265 Boston Avenue in Longmont, Colorado. Left Hand is one of the most honored and recognized breweries in Colorado, with over 28 Great American Beer Festival medals, 11 World Beer Cup awards, and 9 European Beer Star awards. Famous for our Nitro series, Left Hand launched America’s original Nitro bottle with our flagship Milk Stout Nitro and the first production run of U.S. made Nitro widget cans. Left Hand’s collection of perennial and seasonal beers are available in 41 states, DC and internationally. For more please visit www.lefthandbrewing.com.

PORTLAND, Ore. — BridgePort Brewing Company, Oregon’s original craft brewery, is celebrating hop harvest season with the release of its fresh hop Hoptoberfest IPA. This year’s edition is a hoppy, Mãrzen-inspired IPA using fresh Centennial, Amarillo and Mt. Hood hops.
“We start with four malts and the hops to build a solid, lightly bitter background and amber color,” describes BridgePort Brewmaster Jeff Edgerton. “We then ferment with our German lager yeast before pouring over fresh hops,” he adds. “As the beer cools, an incomparable fresh hop flavor develops.”

7.0% ABV | 40 IBU

The Hopterberfest IPAis the fourth of five limited-edition releases in BridgePort Brewing’s Hop Hero Series and won’t be around long! You can find it in select stores, bottle shops across 13 states (see distribution list below) and at the Bridgeport Brewing Brew Pub in Downtown Portland. Hopterberfest IPA is available in six-pack cans and 22-ounce bottles.

About BridgePort Brewing Company
BridgePort Brewing Company is Oregon’s original craft brewery, revolutionizing the American brew industry with award-winning beers grounded in using the freshest, local ingredients. Located in the thriving Pearl District of Portland, Oregon, the brewery was founded in 1984 and strives to uphold a long-lasting legacy dedicated to the evolving craft beer scene. BridgePort Brewing Company produces more than 100,000 barrels per year and is distributed in the following states: WA, OR, CA, AK, MT, ID, AZ, WY, CO, NM, KS, OK, TX.For more information visit http://bridgeportbrew.com/or follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.