Archives for December 2018

WESTMINSTER, Mass. — Two of Central Massachusetts most well-known brewers are coming together for the first time for a very worthy cause. In response to the recent tragic death of Worcester Firefighter Christopher Roy, the two breweries are creating and launching a beer called “Worcester’s Bravest,” with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the Ava Roy Fund. The fund that has been set up by the Worcester International Association of Firefighters Local 109 in support of Firefighter’s Roy’s 9-yr old daughter.

“We are super excited to team up with Wachusett on the project,” said David Fields, Managing Partner of Wormtown Brewery. “I cannot think of a better way to honor Firefighter Roy’s memory and his family.”

“Wachusett Brewing Company has had a long relationship with the Worcester Firefighter Community dating back to our original support of the Leary Firefighter Foundation,” said Christian McMahan, President of Wachusett Brewing Company. “David and I have been speaking for over a year about doing something, up until now we never had the right reason to come together, we are both honored to be a part of something that has such a profound impact on our community.”

The beer style for Worcester’s Bravest is a Belgian Wit, a light-bodied, unfiltered, wheat beer.

“It has sweet and zesty citrus notes with some complex pepper spice and herbal hops,” said Ben Roesch, Brewmaster of Wormtown Brewery”. “While still being refreshing and easy drinking” added Dave Howard, Brewmaster at Wachusett Brewing Company.

“Worcester’s Bravest” will be released on draft in January at both brewery tap rooms as well as having a limited amount of cans being made available for sale.

Donations can also be made directly to the Ava Roy Fund and mailed to the Worcester Fire Department Credit Union, 34 Glennie St, Worcester, MA 01605

For more information about Wachusett Brewing Company, visit www.wachusettbrew.com

For more information about Wormtown Brewing Company, visit www.wormtownbrewery.com

About Wachusett Brewing Company
Celebrating 25 years in 2019, WBC produces a diverse, award-winning line of beers ranging from their best-selling Blueberry Ale to their highly-rated Wally New England IPA series. WBC was named of the top 50 largest craft breweries in the US in 2017.

About Wormtown Brewery
Founded in 2010, Wormtown has grown to become a highly decorated MA brewery including being named Grand National Champion at 2014 US Open Beer Championship. Led by their flagship Be Hoppy IPA, Wormtown is now available in MA, RI, NH, and CT (2019).

Milton, DE – Is there anything more magnificent than a New Year’s resolution centered around drinking a deliciously crafted beer for a month? No. There isn’t. So join Sam Calagione, founder and CEO of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, for the ultimate, beer-centric New Year’s quest known as JanuQuenchy. With a goal of kicking off 2019 right, Calagione and a boatload of Dogfish coworkers pledge to only drink the low-calorie SeaQuench Ale for 31 days while eating sensibly and doing something active.

So how do you join along? From January 1 through January 31, share images of your JanuQuenchy journey on Instagram using #JanuQuenchy #DogfishEntry. Dogfish Head will follow along to see how you’re doing and might just reach out to repost your progress to their Instagram page. You will also be entered for the chance to win a Dogfish Head SeaQuench themed trucker hat during the JanuQuenchy challenge.  There will be one winner, per week.  For official JanuQuenchy rules, click here.

“I am committed to only drinking SeaQuench Ale in January, as well as avoiding french fries and cheesesteaks – probably two of my favorite foods – and doing something healthy with my body every day,” said Calagione. “That’s it – eat sensibly, do something active and drink only SeaQuench Ale for 31 days…who’s with me!?”

SeaQuench Ale (4.9% ABV) is the most thirst-quenching beer ever made at Dogfish Head and it’s only 140 calories, 9g carbs, 2g protein and zero fat. Brewed with lime juice, sea salt and black limes, it’s the best selling beer in the fastest growing craft beer style (sours) in America thanks to its super flavorful and approachable profile.

Dogfish Head
Dogfish Head has proudly been focused on brewing beers with culinary ingredients outside the Reinheitsgebot since the day it opened as the smallest American craft brewery 23 years ago. Dogfish Head has grown into a top-20 craft brewery and has won numerous awards throughout the years including Wine Enthusiast’s 2015 Brewery of the Year and the James Beard Foundation Award for 2017 Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional. It is a 350+ coworker company based in Delaware with Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, an off-centered brewpub and distillery, Chesapeake & Maine, a geographically enamored seafood restaurant, Dogfish Inn, a beer-themed inn on the harbor and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, a production brewery and distillery featuring a tasting room and food truck.  Dogfish Head supports the Independent Craft Brewing Seal, the definitive icon for American craft breweries to identify themselves to be independently-owned and carries the torch of transparency, brewing innovation and the freedom of choice originally forged by brewing community pioneers. Dogfish Head currently sells beer in 44 states and Washington D.C. For more information, visit www.dogfish.com, Facebook: @dogfishheadbeer, Twitter: @dogfishbeer, and Instagram: dogfishhead.

Hood River, OR – For one day at the end of January, 13 breweries from both sides of the Columbia River come together for one special beer festival. Breweries in the Gorge (B.I.G.), the non-profit group of 13 local breweries in the Columbia River Gorge region of Washington and Oregon return for the 3rd annual Holiday Hangover Beer Festival.

The 2019 Holiday Hangover Beer Festival will take place on Saturday, January 26, 2019, from 1:00-7:00pm, at the Elks Lodge in downtown Hood River. This afternoon will feature a variety of craft beer, food from Apple Valley BBQ, and funky beats by DJ Magnetwork.

B.I.G.’s latest brewery, Ferment Brewing Company from Hood River will be pouring at the festival. “We are thrilled to be participating in the Holiday Hangover alongside our friends and neighbors,” says Jenn Peterson of Ferment Brewing Company in a statement. “My husband Dan and I are ever thankful to be launching Ferment with the support and encouragement of B.I.G.”

In addition to Ferment Brewing, the Holiday Hangover Beer Festival will feature the 12 other breweries that are members of B.I.G. pouring over 25 different beers. There will be numerous special-release beers being tapped from all 13 member breweries.

“Nowhere else can you check out so many great local breweries in the Gorge in one spot,” says Double Mountain owner and brewmaster Matt Swihart in a statment. “It’s an exciting time after the busy holiday season for our customers to relax and talk one-on-one with both brewers and owners.”

Participating Breweries:
Backwoods Brewing Company – Carson, WA
Big Horse Brew Pub – Hood River, OR
Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom – Hood River, OR
Dwinell Country Ales – Goldendale, WA
Everybody’s Brewing – White Salmon, WA
Ferment Brewing – Hood River, OR
Freebridge Brewing – The Dalles, OR
Full Sail Brewing Company – Hood River, OR
pFriem Family Brewers – Hood River, OR
Sedition Brewing Co. – The Dalles, OR
Solera Brewery – Parkdale, OR
Thunder Island Brewing Company – Cascade Locks, OR
Walking Man Brewing – Stevenson, WA

Admission (21+ only) is $20.00 ($22.35 after fees) in advance and can be purchased by clicking here. Entry includes collectible glass and 10 four ounce drink tickets. Entry at the door increases to $25.00.

In addition to the upcoming beer festival, B.I.G. encourages fans of craft beer to be part of its Gorge Beer Guide, a passport program that invites drinkers to visit and collect stamps from each brewery. This year, beer fans can now collect their stamps using the Breweries in the Gorge App, available for download on Apple and Android devices. Those who visit 11 of the 13 breweries will receive a limited-edition commemorative B.I.G. pint glass.

B.I.G. Holiday Hangover Beer Festival
Elk’s Lodge
304 Cascade Ave.
Hood River, OR 97031

Asheville, NC. – New York City drops a ball, Atlanta drops a peach and Miami drops an orange. Asheville drops a keg! Thirsty Monk announces its 6th Annual New Year’s Eve Keg Drop Celebration and Must Love Coconut IPA Release at its Biltmore Park Town Square location, which this year has grown to include its new craft cocktail bar, Monk’s Flask. Ring in the New Year at Biltmore Park as we welcome 2019, sipping on Thirsty Monk Brewery beers, craft spirits and cocktails. Our two-story golden keg will be lit up and glowing on the patio on New Year’s Eve, descending at midnight as we tap a keg of Must Love Coconut IPA, and toast to 2019! The Keg Drop Celebration is free to attend and ample parking is available for guests.

If you’re in the mood for an escape from the typical IPA, and want to be whisked away from winter to a tropical paradise, then Must Love Coconut IPA is for you. Brewed with toasted coconut and a blast of Citra and Centennial hops, this Belgian-style IPA is a totally tropical experience. Flavors of stone fruit, tropical fruit and–you guessed it–coconut, take you straight to your own island oasis, with hints of spice and citrus peaking through the palm trees. This special, fan-favorite release makes an annual appearance on tap, especially for New Year festivities.

CONTACT INFO

Company: Thirsty Monk Brewery
Contact: Joanna Postlethwaite
Email: joanna@monkpub.com

CASTLE ROCK, Colo.– Rockyard Brewing Co. cans Aged & Rugged, their latest limited release from their barrel aged series.

They have taken their Rugged Grind Coffee Stout base and aged it in freshly dumped Maker’s Mark bourbon barrels for over six months.  The result is the perfect stout to keep you warm this winter season.

Supporting local, they used a double dose of fresh coffee from their friends at Spanish Peaks Coffee out of Colorado Springs, Colo. which lends a strong coffee nose complimented by tones of vanilla, oak, and bourbon.

“Aged and Rugged is a beer that we are very excited about as a team. Aside from the amazing barrel aged flavor profile, it was an awesome experience having every member of the team involved in this beer. From recipe design to aging, and final packaging, this beer was really a reflection of the entire Rockyard Team.” says Rockyard Head Brewer Derick Rivera.

The Aged & Rugged can art was designed by local Denver artist Drew Button of D. Button Ink. With his reappearance on this barrel aged version, Rockyard’s Rugged Grind character has become more aged, more flavored, weathered and experienced. He has also traded in his coffee mug for a copper flask filled with bourbon to help numb old wounds he’s gained over the years out in the wilderness.

Aged & Rugged is part of Rockyard’s Barrel Aged Series and will be available in six-packs at select retail locations on the Front Range only while supplies last.

For more information about Aged & Rugged and or Rockyard Brewing, contact Elaine Patch at marketing@rockyard.com.

About Rockyard Brewing Company
Rockyard is the longest running brewpub in Douglas County, founded in 1999. Rockyard’s beers have won medals at many prestigious beer competitions including the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, and the Colorado State Fair. Rockyard’s beer can be found in many retail locations and a handful of craft-centric bars and restaurants throughout the state of Colorado. Find the brewery online at www.rockyard.com.

SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla.,– Grayton Beer Company, the South Walton County Florida craft brewery, announces a partnership with middle Tennessee’s BountyBev.

Delivering brands to eight central Tennessee counties, BountyBev operates the only 100 percent American craft beer distributorship in The Greater Nashville area. The Grayton Beer-BountyBev alliance expands the availability of Grayton Beer Company’s classic, contemporary beers in BountyBev’s heavily-populated region. The December roll out includes Grayton Beer’s popular year-round styles, 30A Beach Blonde Ale and 30A Rosé Gose.

Located in Walton County, Florida, Grayton Beer Company hosts thousands of tourists annually at both its brewery taproom and its 30A brewpub location. Some 11 percent of these visitors hail from Tennessee.

“Our desire to have a strong partner in middle Tennessee was evident almost as soon as we opened distribution in the state,” said Grayton Beer Company founder, Jamey Price. “Having developed meaningful relationships over the years with visitors from The Volunteer State, our partnership with BountyBev further cultivates the North Florida-Tennessee bond long after they’ve left the beach.”

President and Better Beer Guy, Kurt Strickmaker, is thrilled to add Grayton Beer to the BountyBev portfolio.

“My family has been enjoying a week every summer in Grayton Beach for over a decade. Having met Jamey five years ago and learning of his Nashville roots, we’re both excited and honored to bring his fantastic lineup of beer to middle Tennessee. 30A is already a household name in our area for those who visit the white, sugary sand beaches of the Florida Panhandle. BountyBev is fortunate to call Grayton Beer Company a partner, so consumers can now keep Grayton Beer’s 30A beer stocked in their home fridge!”

Tennessee residents will find Grayton Beer Company beers on the shelves of favorite retailers as well as in restaurants and bars.

About Grayton Beer Company
Founded in 2011 in Santa Rosa Beach, Grayton Beer Company (GBC) is a family-owned brewery with an emphasis on sourcing the finest ingredients to craft beers of character for a Gulf Coast state of mind. Grayton Beer Company brews a variety of year-round styles, limited releases and barrel-aged beers in their 30,000-square foot state-of-the-art facility. In addition to availability in Northwest Florida, consumers can find GBC beers throughout Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. With its community-driven mindset, Grayton Beer Company invites guests to its taproom, which is both pet and child friendly. In addition, beer and pub aficionados are encouraged to dine at GBC’s new Grayton Beer Brewpub, located in Grayton Beach, Florida. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, the brewpub offers a varied food menu with an emphasis on locally-sourced, fresh ingredients and beers from the 7-barrel small batch system. For hours and more information, please visit www.graytonbeer.com or call (850) 231-4786.

About BountyBev
Born of passion for better beer, BountyBev brings the reward of American craft to greater Nashville by delivering brands to eight middle Tennessee counties. Founded in 2010 by a guy and a truck, BountyBev now employs 34 passionate team members carving out a craft beer universe. Kurt Strickmaker, Founder, President & Better Beer Guy, still maintains the “little guy” approach while competing with mega beverage distributors in the market. Customer service, education, and a desire to be better drives the Bounty ethos. Knowledge for our stakeholders, disrupting the market, and helping consumers discover new choice and selection in beer is the BountyBev way. BountyBev works hard to keep its beer fresh to maximize beer drinkers’ experiences. Honk when you see BountyBev’s trucks around town and challenge the status quo by picking up better beer!

Eagle Co. — Excitement grows through the slopes of the Vail Valley as Bonfire Brewing celebrates a season in full swing. Introducing Rope Drop Hazy IPA, a limited release available in six packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft while supplies last. Rope Drop will be released at the Bonfire tasting room on Monday, December 24 at 12:24pm and will gradually become available throughout its distribution footprint beginning Wednesday, December 26.

Rope Drop is Bonfire’s first canned Hazy IPA and contains huge tropical fruit and citrus notes from a combination of Citra, Mosaic, Eldorado and Ekuanot hops. These varietals, in conjunction with late boil additions and double dry hopping, provide an aroma bursting with tropical flavors of papaya, pineapple, mango, orange, and hints of fresh pine.

“Rope Drop is brewed to trigger that feeling you get when you roll up on a slope that is just opened (or just about to open) and you get to make the first giant pillowy turns down it,” explains, co-founder, Andy Jessen. “It’s like winning the lottery. This release is also appropriate for the time of year as most ski resorts are getting close to 100% open and dropping all of their in-bounds ropes. Finally, it’s dropping the rope on a brand new year!”

Weighing in at 6% ABV and 45 IBU, Rope Drop was fermented with London Ale yeast strain to provide a soft, yet juicy profile. Just like the perfect powder day, this hazy IPA drinks extremely smooth with very little bitterness. Made to be enjoyed with your après crew after an amazing day on the slopes.

For more information about Bonfire Brewing and their latest releases, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT BONFIRE BREWING
Craft enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers gather around Bonfire Brewing in Eagle, Colorado, where the beers are driven by quality, curiosity, and community. Founded in 2010, Bonfire continues on their path of sustainable growth with cans of their year-round beers available in liquor stores and restaurants across Colorado. Gather ‘round Bonfire online at bonfirebrewing.com.

SEATTLE — On December 19, 2018, at a private party at Tankard & Tun, founders Charles and Rose Ann Finkel will name Drew Gillespie president of Pike Brewing Company. Auspiciously, December 19 is Drew’s 20th anniversary at Pike: He started as a line cook at The Pike Pub in 1998 before working his way up to vice president of operations in 2011 and becoming co-owner alongside the Finkels, Patti Baker, and Gary Marx in 2015.

“Pike is an independent family business and Drew is part of the family. He is a caring, ethical individual of integrity,” says Rose Ann. The Finkels call Drew’s promotion a natural development, and the clear next step in the plan for Pike to become a 100-year-old independent craft brewery. “We have seen first-hand Drew’s enthusiasm and devotion to Pike, its success, and its adherence to a philosophy of quality and sustainability. This includes a passion for giving back to the community. He is a superb business person, illustrated by his almost seven years as vice president of operations, anda key part of Pike’s plan for longevity entering year 30. Rose Ann and I are thrilled to have Drew help guide Pike into the future and are pleased to present him with the title to match his contributions.”

Charles and Rose Ann will continue to be active members of Pike’s management team as board chairs.

During his tenure as vice president of operations, Pike Brewing Company has thrived, seeing consistent sales growth at The Pike Pub, a brewery production increase of 30%, and the addition of Pike’s new oyster bar and Northwest-focused restaurant Tankard & Tun. Since its opening last year, Eater Seattle called Tankard & Tun Pike’s “glittering crown,” one of the most beautiful restaurants of the year,Sip Northwest proclaimed it, “one giant leap into 21st century craft beerdom,” Seattle Magazine named it the “new downtown go-to,” and Seattle Met promised the restaurant was, “as committed to good beer as ever.”

This year, Drew expanded Pike’s public transportation benefits to include all full-time Pike team members, and in October, Pike Brewing celebrated its 29th anniversary and the release of newly designed cans for four year-round beers: Pike IPA, Pike Space Needle IPA, Pike Kilt Lifter, and Pike Monk’s Uncle.

With an eye toward the future, Drew says, “What separates Pike is that we’re always looking forward. While we take pride in the past, Pike was founded by forward thinking, and it’s how we make decisions today. What new beer, what new project is around the corner—that’s what gets me excited about my job.”

About Pike Brewing Company
Pike Brewing Company is an independent craft brewery founded in 1989. Located in Seattle’s iconic Pike Place Public Market neighborhood, Pike Brewing Company is home to The Pike Puband Tankard & Tun. For larger photo files, additional questions, or to coordinate an interview with Drew Gillespie, Charles Finkel, or Rose Ann Finkel, please reach out to Stasia Brewczynski, Director of Communications at StasiaB@pikebrewing.com

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — On Wednesday, December 19, Bellingham breweries Boundary Bay Brewing Co. & Wander Brewing are each releasing Resilience IPA, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company’s nationwide fundraising brew.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company created the recipe for Resilience IPA and invited the craft beer community to brew and donate proceeds to benefit the communities affected by the wildfires.

“The destruction from the most recent season of wildfires in Northern California is devastating. We believe the craft beer industry has the responsibility to support the communities that have supported our businesses and helped to build our craft industry,” says Chad Kuehl, owner of Wander Brewing. “When Ken and Sierra Nevada put the ask out to the beer community, it was a simple decision to lend a hand.”

Boundary Bay Brewing Co. and Wander Brewing each joined more than a thousand other breweries to brew Resilience IPA on Giving Tuesday, November 27.

“The recovery efforts from craft breweries to help rebuild in the communities who’ve faced disaster is truly amazing,” says Janet Lightner, General Manager of Boundary Bay Brewing Co. “We’re a tight-knit community and participating in such a cause reinforces where the heart of our industry is.”

The Camp Fire, which started on November 8, destroyed nearly 10,000 homes, killing many residents and leveling the town of Paradise, California. 100% of the proceeds from Resilience IPA will benefit the nonprofit organization, Sierra Nevada Brewery Camp Fire Relief at the Golden Valley Community Bank Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and 100% of the fund will be used to help rebuild the lives of those devastated by the Camp Fire.

“We know that the rebuilding process will take time, but we’re in this for the long haul,” says Ken Grossman, Sierra Nevada Founder, in an invitation letter to brewers. “Our hope is to get Resilience IPA in taprooms all over the country to create a good foundation for our community’s future.”

Resilience IPA is a classic IPA that will be available on tap at Boundary Bay Brewing Co. and Wander Brewing and every pint sold will directly benefit the fundraising effort.

Seattle, WA – From an outstanding group of talented applicants, Barry Chan of Lucky Envelope Brewing has been named recipient of the 2019 American Brewers Guild scholarship.  Barry will be attending ABG’s Intensive Brewing Science & Engineering course that runs from January to June 2019.  The Intensive Brewing Science & Engineering course is a 22-week distance education program with a final week of residential instruction in Middlebury, VT.  The course covers all the fundamentals of beer production and quality assurance with a special emphasis on practical issues.

Barry Chan is currently Head Brewer/co-Founder at Lucky Envelope Brewing.  While Barry began to pursue a career in engineering, he quickly became immersed in the Washington homebrewing scene.  Finding a deep sense of community and shared learning, Barry further refined his craft by becoming a Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) judge and earned a National score on his first tasting exam.  His passion and dedication soon translated into a desire to transition to professional brewing with the founding of Lucky Envelope Brewing.  In its very first year, Lucky Envelope Brewing won a medal at the 2015 GABF, which is now one of many national and regional awards earned to date.  About Barry, Selection Committee members highlighted “his sense of life-long learning and openness to sharing knowledge that is at the core of homebrewing and professional craft brewing” and underscored “his perspective that brewing forward includes looking back which Barry did with a modern recreation of a 5000-year-old beer from northern China.”  “Barry grounds himself with the science of brewing and then innovates with vigor, spirit, and even humor.”  So aptly, a Selection Committee summarized “Barry is at the perfect time of his career to benefit from the ABG course.  He’ll spread that knowledge far and wide, as he is a natural teacher.  Barry is a true ambassador of our profession and industry.”

The American Brewers Guild is a premier school for the craft brewing industry dedicated to providing a comprehensive learning experience that focuses on the technical, scientific, and operational matters and issues that brewers face in a craft brewing environment.  This year marks the tenth year of collaboration between the Falconer Foundation and the American Brewers Guild.  We offer our deepest gratitude to ABG for its long-standing and continuing support for the Foundation’s brewing education scholarship program.

Join us in thanking the Selection Committee of Paul Bergman, Head Brewer and Owner of Wild Ride Brewing, Rodger Davis, Owner and Brewer of Faction Brewing, Jamie Floyd, Owner and Founding Brewer of Ninkasi Brewing, Alan Moen, Senior Writer and Columnist for American Brewer Magazine, and Steve Parkes, Owner and Lead Instructor of American Brewers Guild who were given the difficult decision of selecting a single recipient from a deep and talented group of deserving candidates.

The Falconer Foundation has granted 41 scholarships since 2004 and is dedicated to promoting knowledge and expertise in the craft brewing industry in memory and honor of Glen Hay Falconer.  For more information on the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation, visit www.glenfalconerfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook.