Archives for February 2019

LOUISVILLE, Ky.— In a move toward diversifying its portfolio and reaching spirits consumers, Goodwood Brewing Co. announced a foray into the crafts spirits space with the launch of a Premium Bourbon aged in stout barrels.

The 90 proof, small-batch bourbon is the first product to be launched under the Goodwood Spirits line. As with all Goodwood Brewing products, an emphasis was placed on quality and craftsmanship, with months of preparation and experimentation going into the spirit.

Goodwood Stout Bourbon is aged in charred white oak American barrels for 12 years, before being finished in Goodwood Bourbon Stout barrels, for a special flavor that can only develop by being finished in this unique manner. The stout beer-barrel aging lends malt sweetness and a cocoa character to the robust whiskey tones of vanilla and sweet caramel.

“Bourbon has always been an integral part of the Goodwood product line with our barrel aged program,” noted CEO Ted Mitzlaff. “We are located in the heart of bourbon Country and understand the tremendous impact barrel finishing has on creating superior taste profiles. We are extremely excited to launch our first of many spirit expressions and believe the consumer will enjoy our Stout Bourbon as much as we do.”

Goodwood Spirits will be released in early February in select retail stores and exclusive accounts throughout the Louisville and Lexington markets, and will enter the rest of Kentucky in the near future. Goodwood Spirits can also be purchased at the Goodwood Brewing Taproom in Louisville, Kentucky.

About Goodwood Brewing
Goodwood Brewing is located in the heart of downtown Louisville, Kentucky. The brewery is dedicated to making beers that have been touched by wood; whether in reclaimed oak casks once used to house bourbon, red wine, tequila, rum and brandy or seasoned on oak, hemp, poplar or ash. Goodwood’s “shade-grown beers” are all touched by the natural gradations of reclaimed casks and other wood types for flavorful expressions that are unique to Goodwood. Just like the bourbon Kentucky is famous for, all of Goodwood’s beers begin with limestone water. The gents behind Goodwood are some of Louisville’s longest-serving brewing veterans, producing craft beer since 1988. Goodwood beers are available in Kentucky, Indiana, Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, West Virginia, Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Ohio and Kansas.

MINNEAPOLIS — Finnegans Brew Co., long known as the first beer company to donate 100 percent of profits to charities fighting hunger, is giving something else away this month: recognition. They are releasing a beer called Tricia to honor one of their long-tenured team members, Tricia Nelson.

Tricia has been with the company for 11 years, having started as an intern (rather, FINNtern) and moved her way up to Sales Development and Community Relations Manager. She is the woman behind the curtain of many Finnegans projects, including the Finnegans Market, a self-sustaining market held in the Finnegans House courtyard that aims to build community and increase access to nutritious food for all in the neighborhood. She takes on the heavy lifting that goes into managing the Finnegans Community Fund and non-profit partnerships, and fosters relationships with farmers and producers that source the ingredients used in beers and whose fresh produce line the shelves of the food pantries that partner with the brewery.

To put it simply: Tricia does it all. She is incredibly committed to Finnegans and is the living embodiment of the mission to turn beer into food and build strong communities in the process.

Tricia (the beer) is a barrel-aged Belgian Brett Pale Ale sitting at 6.4 percent ABV. It is a funky brew with a classic Belgian taste and notes of pepper and spice. Drinkers will get hints of mild oak, mixed berry and pineapple on the nose. It is available on tap at the Finnegans House and in 750 ml bottles. And it is Tricia (the person)’s favorite type of beer. No Tricias were harmed in the making of this brew, despite her reluctance to accept the attention.

“I was horrified at first, but now I’m embracing it. Who has a beer named after them?! I’m just so flattered and grateful to work for a company that would go this far to recognize an employee,” Tricia noted, blushing of course.

Finnegans is known for being unconventional. The release of Tricia lines up with Employee Appreciation Day on Friday, March 1, but that is not by design. Jacquie Berglund, Founder and CEO of Finnegans, believes in giving recognition in the moment and isn’t driven by status quo, which can be said for how she runs the business as a whole.

Having launched in 2000, Jacquie and the Finnegans team opened their first brewery/taproom just last year, in the Elliot Park neighborhood of Minneapolis. Finnegans then shifted from contract brewing to crafting their own brews, with the hiring of their first ever head brewer, Ryan Mihm and assistant brewer, Logan McLean. They went from having three beers available to having brewed over 70 varieties.

Despite all of these changes, one thing remains the same: Finnegans cares about giving back and positively impacting the community and about their team. It takes a village to raise a more purposeful pint, and this village works hard to do good.

MUKILTEO, Wash. — Diamond Knot Brewing Company is taking 2019 by storm with three new beers offered in cans and draft along with two beloved styles in a new package. The new beers are: The Flagstate IPA, a hop forward IPA that drinks smoothly without overwhelming bitterness; the Tropic Island Stout with fruity aromas that come from a specialty yeast with flavors reminiscent of Caribbean rum; and the Lower Deck Lager, which is a hop forward lager with an intense citrus aroma and clean caramel undertones. They will also offer the Northwest Blonde year-round and the Premium Series will be kicked off with the Industrial IPA.

Flagstate IPA is a hop forward IPA, lighter in color and much less bitter than other IPAs that DKB has brewed in the past. Flagstate IPA is a daily drinker that you will want to keep in your fridge to have on hand when you get off work. “This IPA is nothing like the IPA that Diamond Knot has been brewing since 1994,” says brewery production manager Brian Guerrant. “Our focus on innovation in 2018 led us to this updated flavor profile that is sure to please northwest beer drinkers.”

Tropic Island Stout is a year-round stout that is not heavy and is surprisingly refreshing for a dark beer with smooth undertones of brown sugar followed by a roasted barley backbone. “On the beach or the slopes, you will love this beer,” noted one of Diamond Knot’s latest hires, Grady Warnock, who has a degree from the World Brewing Academy, Siebel. The Tropic Island Stout recipe comes from Eric Plummer, who is an integral part of the R&D program.

Lower Deck Lager is a traditional lager with a west coast twist. Incredibly refreshing and crisp, this beer has a citrus aroma and a pleasant hop bite followed by a complexity brought on by the smooth malt background. “I am excited to finally share what our brewers were able to do with this style,” said DKB’s sales manager Josh Russell, an industry veteran who came aboard in 2018. “It’s a damn fine Lager.”

“Not only are we excited to release three new beer styles in package, we are thrilled to share our new branding,” declared President & CEO Andy Eason “We have worked very hard alongside the amazing folks at Blindtiger Design to keep the integrity of our brand while refreshing our look. With a focus on R&D, quality control and being able to control our product from conception all the way to finished packaging, the next chapter of Diamond Knot Brewing Company will be sure to delight beer enthusiasts across the northwest.”

About Diamond Knot Brewing Company
Diamond Knot Brewing Company is the longest continuously running brewery in Snohomish County, independently owned and founded in 1994. They employ over 120 people with two full service brewpubs in Washington, one in Mukilteo and one in Mountlake Terrace and a production facility in Mukilteo, Washington. Diamond Knot Beers are distributed in select northwest regions. For more information go to www.diamondknot.com or email info@diamondknot.com

Nashville, Tennessee –Tennessee Brew Works release new year-round “Headliner” beer, “Hippies & Cowboys” IPA.

Tennessee Brew Works gives a nod to their friends in the community through this delicious new year-round India Pale Ale. It will be available Friday, March 1st at 2PM, at the Tennessee Brew Works taproom. Here are the details of the new release:

HIPPIES & COWBOYS INDIA PALE ALE, ABV 6.0%, IBU 50

DESCRIPTION: This tropical and citrus IPA provides luscious aromas that filter through to the palate. Light on the bittering, it ends with a smooth and crisp finish. Crushable on the ranch or at a music festival. This beer will be a year-round, aka “Headliner” beer, for the brewery.

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS: Hippies & Cowboys is a very versatile beer that can easily be enjoyed in the rolling meadow or at the bar of a gritty honky tonk. It pairs well with long summer days and cool winter nights. It is best consumed with good friends and loud music.

ABOUT TENNESSEE BREW WORKS: Tennessee Brew Works was founded with a mission to create high quality craft beer that pays homage to the land, traditions and culture of Tennessee. We brew beers using only natural ingredients and source them from local farmers whenever possible. Our culture places importance on family, friends and community, and we hope you’ll be a part of it.

CONTACT INFO

Company: Tennessee Brew Works
Contact: Christian Spears
Email: info@tnbrew.com

PORTLAND, Ore. — Originally brewed for the 2018 Oregon Brewer’s Festival, Flamingo Planet Guava Blonde Ale has flown its way onto Ecliptic Brewing’s Seasonal Series line-up this year. An easy drinking blonde ale brewed with guava, 100% pale malt provides a light body and golden color. Lightly hopped with Amarillo and Crystal, this fruit-forward beer is sure to blast you away to a tropical planet paradise.

Ecliptic Brewing Owner and Brewmaster, John Harris said the decision to bring this beer back was an easy one. “We thought that this refreshing and juicy beer would be perfect for spring.”

Flamingo Planet will release in mid March and will be available through the end of May. It will be released in both draft and 6-pack cans throughout Ecliptic Brewing’s distribution network.

About Flamingo Planet Guava Blonde Ale
Easy drinking blonde ale brewed with guava. Lightly hopped with Amarillo and Crystal. ABV 5.5%

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. 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), Graybeal (Eastern Oregon), Summit Distribution (Southern Oregon), NW Beverages (Seattle, Tacoma), Odom (Eastern Washington, Northern ID), Dickerson Distributing (Bellingham), Crooked Stave Artisans (Colorado), Freedom Distributors (North Carolina), Beer Thirst (Canada) and Tread Water (Japan).

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Heineken USA is proud to announce the March 2019 relaunch of Newcastle Brown Ale brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company, a new brew that celebrates the Altogether Uncommon by bringing together a unique blend of pale and roasted malts with American hops.

“Lagunitas Brewing Company is one of the most recognized and respected brewers in the craft beer space,” commented Amy Tay, brand director. “Now with Lagunitas in the family, we have the perfect partner to reimagine our beloved Newcastle Brown Ale.”

The new liquid is brewed with American Centennial and Chinook hops, fermented using Lagunitas’ English house ale yeast. The medium-colored brown ale is smooth, crisp slightly roasty and complete with a delicious hoppy twist.  Not too sweet not too bitter.

“We are not known for malty beers,” said Jeremy Marshall, Lagunitas brew master. “We are really honored and excited to re-imagine the new Newcastle Brown Ale using our malts, hops, and yeast for a silky smooth flavorful experience.”

To support the launch along with highly targeted digital outreach, the team is leading with retail sampling, brew tastings at community events and fan influencer engagement that will let the delicious new brew speak for itself.

In addition, a range of POS and merchandising materials for both retail and on-premise accounts will be available to encourage shoppers and on-premise drinkers to try this new brown ale.

Tay concluded, “Newcastle Brown Ale is all about our consumers.  With this significant move we are showing these drinkers that, while uncommon, it isn’t impossible to teach an old dog new tricks!”

Newcastle Brown Ale will be produced at Lagunitas’ breweries in Petaluma, California. and Chicago, Illinois, and will be available in 12 oz. 6-, 12- and 24-pack bottles and a 7.75-gallon slim steel keg. The brand will continue to be marketed by Heineken and distributed through its network.

About Heineken USA
Heineken USA Inc., the nation’s leading high-end beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken International NV, the world’s most international brewer. Key brands imported into the U.S. are Heineken– the world’s most international beer brand, Dos Equis and Tecate. Heineken USA also imports Strongbow Hard Apple Ciders. Amstel Light, RedStripe, Tiger Beer and the new, locally brewed Newcastle Brown Ale, brewed with love from our friends at the Lagunitas Brewing Company. For news and updates, follow us on Twitter @HeinekenUSACorp, or visit HEINEKENUSA.com

MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. — DeCrescente Distributing Company (DDC) and Shmaltz Brewing Company are excited to announce that DDC has become the exclusive distributor of Shmaltz’s award-winning core beers as well as their coveted special releases throughout the Capital Region. Starting immediately, DDC will distribute all draft and package versions of Shmaltz’s core beers, including their flagship Hop Manna IPA, a heavily dry hopped and unfiltered American IPA; Messiah Brown Ale, a complex yet smooth American Brown Ale; Slingshot Lager, a dry hopped American craft lager; Hop Momma IPA, a hazy and juicy New England-style IPA brewed with peach, apricot and a hint of habanero; and 518 Craft Foggy Goggles, a New England-style hazy session IPA.

“Shmaltz fits a unique niche in this market, having been brewed in Saratoga County since 2003,” said Russ Teplitzky, general manager at DDC. “Their award-winning selection and fun brand personality are a great addition to our world class craft beer portfolio.”

In addition to teaming up with DDC, Shmaltz has recently transitioned all packaging for its acclaimed portfolio into cans. Look for their limited release Jewbelation 22 Anniversary Ale, a bold and malty triple brown ale; No Shtick, a juicy New England-style double IPA; and R.I.P.A. Rye Double IPA, brewed with an obscene amount of malts and hops in 16 oz. cans for the first time. Shmaltz also has plans to release a rare and exotic barrel aged series called the Funky Blender. Look for this to hit select specialty craft bars draft only in the spring.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join the DeCrescente family of breweries and to work with the premier beverage distributor in our home market,” said Jeremy Cowan, owner and founder of Shmaltz Brewing Company. “From my favorite craft beer bars and gastropubs to the many beverage centers and chain accounts throughout the Capital Region, I am very confident that DDC, with their passion for craft, their experience and expertise, can service everyone across this craft beer market and put our best laid plans into action. I’m both grateful and excited to work with them to grow our Shmaltz Brewing and 518 Craft brands.”

In July 2018, Shmaltz opened 518 Craft, a new bar and tasting room in downtown Troy, New York. In late February 2019, Shmaltz will open a second tasting room at The Comedy Works in Saratoga Springs, New York. Shmaltz beers are available at 518 Craft and their Saratoga Springs tasting room as well as throughout Upstate New York at the best craft beer bars and retailers.

For more information regarding Shmaltz Brewing Company’s core lineup of products, visit gotbeer.com/beer-finder.

About DeCrescente Distributing Company
DeCrescente Distributing Company (DDC) is a fourth-generation beverage distributor,  family owned and operated since 1948, taking great pride in its employees, customer service and community involvement. Most notably, DDC was awarded Best Places to Work in the Capital Region for nine consecutive years and employs more than 400 people. Some of the company’s brands include MillerCoors, Boston Beer Co., New Belgium, Heineken, Pabst, Corona, Sierra Nevada, Matt Brewing Company, Yuengling, Guinness, FIFCO USA, Mike’s Hard, Snapple, Saratoga Water and Polar Beverages. DDC also distributes a unique variety of local craft beers as well as wine and spirits, including Brooklyn Brewery, Artisanal Brew Works, Adirondack Brewery, Brown’s Brewing Co., Druthers, Ithaca Beer Co., Brewery Ommegang, R.S. Taylor & Sons Brewery, Mad Jack Brewing, Davidson Brothers, Saratoga Winery, Saratoga Courage Distillery, Springbrook Farm Distillery, Heron Hill Winery and Galway Rock Winery. For more information on DeCrescente Distributing Company, please visit our website www.ddcbev.com.

About Shmaltz Brewing Company
Founder and owner Jeremy Cowan established Shmaltz Brewing in San Francisco in 1996. The first 100 cases of He’brew Beer were hand-bottled and delivered throughout the Bay Area from the back of his Grandmother’s Volvo. Shmaltz Brewing now sells across 30 states, through 40 wholesalers and in nearly 5,000 retailers. RateBeer.com ranked Shmaltz as one of the “Top 100 Brewers in the World” in 2013, and the brewery recently brought home one platinum, ten gold and six silver medals from the World Beer Championships. In the past several years, Shmaltz Brewing introduced its line of upstate New York focused farm beers under the 518/838 Craft brand name, acquired and rebranded the Alphabet City Brewing beers, and signed an exclusive licensing agreement with CBS for a series of Star Trek beers distributed through its sales network. In 2018, Shmaltz also signed a national sales and marketing partnership with Artisanal brands, who represents renowned brewers such as Bosteels (Triple Karmeliet), La Trappe and American craft brewers Fulton (MN) and Whiner (IL).