Archives for May 2019

CHICO, Calif. — Doubling down in their home state of California, Sufferfest has officially moved its brewing operations to parent company, Sierra Nevada’s Chico, California headquarters. The strategic move starts with a major expansion of Sufferfest’s footprint in California, enabled by Sierra Nevada’s robust distribution network.

“Northern California is our home and home to thousands of active, healthy, and passionate humans who don’t settle on taste and quality,” shared Caitlin Landesberg, CEO and founder of Sufferfest Beer Company. “We can’t wait to increase our presence throughout this region and share our purpose-brewed beer with a community who goes the extra mile.”

Effective immediately, Sierra Nevada will brew and distribute Sufferfest’s consolidated all-star lineup starring Repeat Kolsch, Flyby Pilsner and FKT Pale Ale. Designed to celebrate and support active humans, from the finish line of a race to a well-deserved rest day, each beer is highly regarded and has been recognized by publications such as Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Outside Magazine, Men’s Journal, bon appétit and more.

While bee pollen, sea salt and blackcurrant are ingredients more often found in health foods than beer, Sufferfest has made a splash by creating craft without compromise, inspired by athletes and brewed for those who love a beer after a good effort.

Repeat Kolsch
The award-winning Repeat weighs in at 95 calories, 5 grams of carbs, and just 3.5% ABV. This Kolsch has been bolstered with added bee pollen, making it a fan favorite for those looking for a lighter option without sacrificing flavor or richness.

FKT Pale Ale
Fastest Known Time Pale Ale, launched in May 2018, is brewed with black currant and salt, giving this hop-forward beer even more depth and great tang—all while delivering that quenching feeling from the salt.

Flyby Pilsner
Sufferfest’s award-winning Flyby is a champion for a reason: Infinitely versatile and easy to love, this lager is perfect for sharing with your friends and teammates. This pilsner boasts classic malty richness, a hint of spice and the balance that brings it across the line like a winner.

“We love Sufferfest’s story and are thrilled they are now part of our team,” said Jeff White, CEO of Sierra Nevada. ”We are excited to bring Sufferfest to beer-lovers across California.”

Sufferfest’s distribution footprint will materially grow in the Golden State. Moving into Q3, Sufferfest will become widely available in new and existing California regions, including Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Inyo, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Humboldt, Shasta and beyond, with larger goals in mind by the end of the year.

The new move also helps Sufferfest meet ambitious environmental goals—a priority to Sufferfest’s B Corporation status. Sierra Nevada’s impressive Chico-based facility boasts a 300-barrel brewhouse, equipped to offset nearly 90% of brewery electricity needs, save roughly 2.5 million gallons of water per year and a compost program to help divert 99.8% of solid waste from the landfill.

About Sufferfest
Sufferfest Beer Company provides active, healthy and passionate humans with premium quality craft beer. Created for those who go the extra mile, we’re committed to serving delicious beer that delivers more without settling on taste or quality. Sufferfest Beer Co. is a certified B Corporation, because we’re dedicated to practicing environmental sustainability and positively impacting the communities in which we sweat, drink and celebrate. Whether you crushed it on the trails, had a big win at the office, flexed your weekend warrior, or shredded the gnar, you deserve our beer. From us to you: go hard, have fun, and enjoy the sufferfest. Learn more about why we sweat for our beer at sufferfestbeer.com.

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Proof Brewing Co.’s beer physicists have defied the space/time continuum to introduce Quantum Foam Double IPA. Set to release in the Proof Brewing Co. tasting room on May 24^th in 16-ounce 4 packs at 11:00 am this beer was brewed in collaboration with New York City’s Finback Brewery. Quantum Foam is brewed with three main hop varieties— experimental Bru-1, cryo Azzaca, and Mosaic. This Double IPA is very bright and floral, with a depth of character. Vivid aromas of citrus encompass the bold flavors of tropical fruit and pineapple.

“After brewing a collab with Finback in NYC, we had to bring it home to Tallahassee,” said Byron Burroughs, Proof Brewing Company’s founder. “We really wanted to make an IPA symbolic of the tropical flavors and aromas of bold East-coast styles. These new hops add many layers of complexity throughout the beer.”

Quantum Foam will be Proof Brewing Co.’s first 16-ounce can release. The brewery recently added new equipment to expand its package size variety for can releases. This new format will allow for future opportunities and additional avenues of expansion for growth to meet the consumer’s needs.

ABOUT US
Founded by Byron & Angela Burroughs in 2012, Proof Brewing Company prides itself on being an industry leader of innovative beers. Proof Brewing Co. produces big, bold, flavorful beers and remains committed to true artisanal brewing methods in an evolving industry. The brewery has received numerous awards and recognition from the world renowned Hunahpu’s Day, US Open Beer Championship, Best Florida Beer, and Paste Magazine. Proof Brewing Company is a proud member of the Florida Brewers Guild. For more information, visit www.proofbrewingco.com, Facebook: PBCBeer, Twitter: proofbrewingco, and Instagram: proofbrewingco

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Former Chattanooga resident Nathan Michaels has returned home to open Five Wits Brewing Company with long-time Denver brewers, Elliot Kehoe and Bryan Harris. Five Wits Brewing Company is slated to open in the Fall of 2019 and will reside in the new Southside Chattanooga Market South development in the former Grocery Bar space on Main Street.

After nearly a decade in the Mile-High city, Michaels decided to return to Chattanooga alongside two friends and tenured brewers, Kehoe and Harris, who met while working together at Great Divide Brewing in Denver, Colorado – one of the Rocky Mountain region’s oldest and largest craft breweries.  The trio will bring more than 15 years of craft brewing experience with them to this new Chattanooga craft brewery.

“After spending so much time living in Denver and watching craft breweries in the city continue to grow, I became super passionate about not only the craft of brewing beer but also the opportunity to be a part of the community and culture that comes along with it.  After meeting and working closely with Elliot and Bryan, I knew that I had found the right people and we decided that it was time to venture out and start a brewery of our own,” said Michaels. “It’s all about finding the right location.  Starting your own business is super challenging and we wanted to find a place that we knew we could contribute to and bring our craft to a community that is growing.  I have continued to visit Chattanooga frequently over the years and I was starting to see a local craft beer community flourishing.  I knew that moving back to my hometown and starting this here was the right decision and I could not be more excited about opening Five Wits Brewing Company in the heart of the Southside in Chattanooga.”

This group will not only bring great brews to this project, but also a big vision to be a great addition to the Chattanooga craft brewing community. “Since moving to Chattanooga from Denver last year, we have really enjoyed learning about the craft beer community in Chattanooga and the surrounding Southeastern region,” said Harris. “We are huge advocates for collaboration and have spent our entire brewing careers in Denver in a culture of comradery amongst the breweries in that community.  It’s not just about the beer, it’s about growing an amazing group of breweries that all work together to help put a city on the map as a respected brewing community.  And that’s exactly what we are hoping to be a part of here in Chattanooga.”

Elliot Kehoe, Five Wits Brewing Company’s lead brewer, has been hard at work studying the local and regionally brewed beers and has been working to put together a line-up of Five Wits own hand-crafted beers that will complement the offerings that are available in this part of the country. “It’s been an exciting and incredible experience to meet all of the local Chattanooga brewers over the past year,” said Kehoe. “Chattanooga has its own unique identity and we hope that Five Wits Brewing Company will be a big part of helping the city’s beer community continue to thrive.”

The Five Wits Brewing Company will also house a restaurant incubator, R&D Test Kitchen, that will host a rotating line-up of up-and-coming aspiring chefs and restaurateurs from all over the country. These aspiring chefs will apply for a residency program to occupy and operate their restaurant concepts in the R&D Test Kitchen as the sole food offering for the Five Wits Brewing tap room.

For more information, follow updates on fivewitsbrewing.com.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – On Friday, May 17, Short’s Brewing Co. and statewide beer, wine and spirits distributor Imperial Beverage will again team up for the release of Short’s Psychedelic Cat Grass, triple dry hopped IPA that will be packaged and delivered to retailers throughout Michigan in less than 24 hours.

“This one-of-a-kind release has grown in popularity over the last three years, and 2019 is shaping up to be the biggest release yet,” said Larry Cekola, VP of sales at Imperial Beverage. “I want to thank the crew at Short’s and the more than 60 members of the Imperial Beverage team for putting in countless hours of prep time to ensure this event goes off without a hitch.”

This year, the same-day-delivery Psychedelic Cat Grass event has a renewed focus on Michigan with almost all product slated to stay in-state. Short’s will release the beer in other markets in very limited quantities. Also new this year: The beer will be exclusively sold in cans and on draft. In total, more than 1,700 cases of 6-pack, 12 oz. cans and 150 kegs of varying sizes will be delivered to over 900 retailers throughout Michigan.

Short’s will begin canning and kegging Psychedelic Cat Grass at 12:01 a.m. on May 17. The beer will then be loaded onto Imperial Beverage trucks and distributed throughout the lower and upper peninsulas.

“Typically, beer lovers have to travel to Bellaire for beer this fresh, but thanks to the creativity of Short’s team and the ingenuity of our team at Imperial Beverage we’ve found a way to get brewpub-fresh beer to bars, restaurants and retailers all over the state,” Cekola said. “At Imperial Beverage, we’re proud to work hand-in-glove with brewers big and small to help them succeed today and in the future.”

Psychedelic Cat Grass (7.6% ABV and 72 IBU) is a triple dry hopped American India Pale Ale first brewed for HopCat. Aromas of pineapple, mango and grapefruit accompany the brew’s slightly hazy, pale orange color and lasting white head. A dry finish is preceded by balanced flavors of tropical fruit and bitter hops.

About Imperial Beverage
Imperial Beverage is a long-standing member of the Michigan beverage distribution community. Established in 1933 after the repeal of prohibition and purchased by Kalamazoo’s Cekola family in 1984, Imperial has grown from a one county beer distributor to a top 10 statewide beer, wine & spirits wholesaler. With 390 employees and f0ur locations in Kalamazoo, Livonia, Traverse City and Ishpeming, Imperial provides statewide coverage that serves every Michigan County, every week, all year long.

CHICAGO – Lincoln Park Zoo and DryHop Brewers are partnering on the release of a new beer to raise funds for the zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute, monitoring our city’s animal inhabitants to help create wildlife-friendly cities. This is the sixth consecutive year that the zoo and DryHop are collaborating on a beer; in 2018, a Coconut Milk Stout was brewed to support Puerto Rican parrot conservation as this species’ habitat was devastated from Hurricane Maria, as well as a Double Dry Hopped IPA to benefit reintroduction and relocation of endangered species, including the New Zealand hihi bird.

On Saturday, May 18, “Sour Patch Kits,” a Fruited Sour brewed with blueberries, will be released at Zoo-ologie, the Auxiliary Board of Lincoln Park Zoo’s annual signature fundraiser. DryHop Brewers executive chef Will Befort will also serve Slagel Farm Meatballs in a Seedling Farms Blueberry Sweet and Sour Sauce, Nichols Farm Baby Basil, and La Fournette Toast to pair with the beer. The beer will also be tapped at DryHop (3155 N. Broadway) on Wednesday, May 15 at 5 p.m.; available on draft and to-go in 32 oz. crowlers and 64 oz. growlers. For each “Sour Patch Kits” sold, DryHop will donate a dollar to Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute which is responsible for the world’s largest urban wildlife monitoring infrastructure and dataset.

“Sour Patch Kits” was inspired by the collaboration beer style, the red fox’s diet of wild berries, including blueberries, in addition to “Kit” being the name of a baby fox. Interestingly, a Fruited Sour’s brewing process is a two-day procedure. DryHop started their souring process on day one by pitching a lactobacillus blend from Omega Yeast to 95-degree Fahrenheit wort (the liquid extracted from the mashing process). After 18 hours when the desired pH was reached, DryHop brought the wort to a boil, added hops, as well as the yeast. This kills any bacteria, produces alcohol and all the wonderful tartness. At the end of fermentation, DryHop added blueberry purée to compliment the citrus tartness. “Sour Patch Kits” has a light tartness, along with flavors of blueberry, lemon and citrus.

The Urban Wildlife Institute was founded in 2010 with a goal of understanding urban wildlife to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and coexist with our animal neighbors. In 2016, the zoo launched the Urban Wildlife Information Network (UWIN) which has expanded this urban wildlife monitoring effort to 21 cities across North America, enabling scientists to compare city-dwelling creatures and their behaviors to help build wildlife-friendly cities and mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

“A red fox is a rare sight to see in Chicago but they serve as a reminder we are constantly surrounded by wildlife,” said Urban Wildlife Institute director Seth Magle, Ph.D. “Chicago is an amazing city that is home to little brown bats, flying squirrels, white-tailed deer, mink, beaver, and of course, rat. Our studies enable us to better understand our ecosystem and how we can create environments where wildlife can thrive.”

“We’re very excited for Sour Patch Kits as this is the first time we’ve brewed a kettle sour with Lincoln Park Zoo! It’s a unique style of beer, especially with the added fruit – we chose blueberries as they are part of the red fox’s diet. As our sixth year working with the zoo, we were pleased to be able to brew a beer for the Urban Wildlife Institute since their focus is to create a wildlife-friendly urban environment for all of Chicago’s animal inhabitants. Their inclusive perspective on wildlife that surrounds all of us here in the city is unique and inspiring,” said DryHop Brewers director of brewing operations Brant Dubovick.

“Sour Patch Kits” will only be available while it lasts at Zoo-ologie on Saturday, May 18, and at DryHop Brewers, starting Wednesday, May 15 at 5 p.m. Cheers!

Past DryHop-Lincoln Park Zoo collaboration beers:

• 2014: “I’m Not a Raccoon!” beer benefiting the Red Panda Wish List
• 2015: “Take Me to Your Lemur” beer benefiting the Crowned Lemur Wish List
• 2016: “Chimp Off the Old Block” beer benefiting the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes
• 2017: “Ursus Mapletimus” beer benefiting polar bears and climate change awareness
• 2018: “Coco Loro” beer benefiting Puerto Rican parrot conservation
• 2018: “Hopped Hihi” beer benefiting wildlife relocation and reintroduction, including the New Zealand Hihi bird

About Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo inspires communities to create environments where wildlife will thrive in our urbanizing world. The zoo is a leader in local and global conservation, animal care and welfare, learning and science. A historic Chicago landmark founded in 1868, the not-for-profit Lincoln Park Zoo, is a privately-managed, member-supported organization and is free and open 365 days a year. Visit us at lpzoo.org.

About DryHop Brewers
DryHop Brewers is a brewery and kitchen in Chicago, Ill. DryHop brews hop-forward beers, in addition to traditional, Belgian, and experimental craft beers – all only available at the brewery in East Lakeview, and to-go in 64 oz. growlers and 32 oz. crowlers. DryHop’s kitchen showcases the artisanal, neighborhood attitude of the brewery through classic and flavorful fare. Visiting DryHop is all about being in a brewery, feeling connected to the craft brewing and culinary worlds, and most importantly, feeling a personal connection to a community of craftsman. For more information, visit dryhopchicago.com. Follow DryHop on Facebook, and Twitter and Instagram at @dryhopchicago.

About Zoo-Ologie
Zoo-ologie is the Auxiliary Board of Lincoln Park Zoo’s signature fundraiser being held on Saturday, May 18, 2019. The event begins at 8 p.m. (early entry for Explorer guests) and will be held at Lincoln Park Zoo. General admission begins at $135 and tickets are limited. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit zoo-ologie.org. Founded in 1985, the Auxiliary Board of Lincoln Park Zoo is widely recognized as one of Chicago’s most popular fundraising groups. Their efforts have helped support the zoo’s operating costs and to remain free 365 days a year.

DENVER — Karl Strauss Brewing Company and Cervecería Colorado collaborated together to brew an English Mild called Cajeta Borracha during CBC week in Denver, Colorado. This beer, brewed with roasted plantains, cinnamon bark, vanilla beans and Cajeta, and is now available at Cervecería Colorado.

Even with more than 35 years of brewing experience between them, Jason Beuhler, the head brewer at Cervecería Colorado, and Paul Segura, brewmaster of research and development at Karl Strauss Brewing Company, had never brewed with plantains before this collaboration.

The decision to make such a unique flavor profile for the brew began with Beuhler’s recent trip to Mexico.

“We wanted to use a unique combination of ingredients to create a flavor profile inspired by Mexico,” said Beuhler. “I brought back the cinnamon bark from a recent trip to Mexico and I’ve eaten roasted plantains served by street vendors there before. We thought the combination of cinnamon and plantain would be great with cajeta which is commonly used in Mexican candy.”

Segura looked at the ingredients and suggested the English Mild as a base style to compliment the cajeta flavor and finish with the plantains and cinnamon.

Cajeta Borracha will be released Friday, May 10 at Cervecería Colorado, located at 1635 Platte Street in Denver.

Cajeta Borracha

• Stats: 4.6% ABV
• Base: English Mild
• Special Ingredients: Roasted plantains, Ceylon Cinnamon bark from Veracruz, Vanilla beans and Cajeta

This collaboration between Cervecería Colorado and Karl Strauss Brewing in San Diego features a delightful combination of dessert infused flavors of Mexico. The base beer of an English Mild is made with brown and caramel malts. Roasted plantains were added to the mash for a hint of banana and the beer was fermented with cajeta, which is a goat’s milk caramel closely related to dulce de leche, commonly found in Mexican candies. Aging on ceylon cinnamon bark from Veracruz and vanilla beans brings the flavors together for a delightful caramel treat. Salud!

About Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Karl Strauss Brewing Company has been proudly independent since 1989, pioneering the craft beer scene with innovative beer releases like Aurora Hoppyalis IPA, Queen of Tarts Dark Sour and Boat Shoes Hazy IPA. For more information, visit karlstrauss.com.

About Cerveceria Colorado
Cervecería Colorado believes beer is inclusive, collaborative and celebratory. We seek to honor the traditions, flavors and culture of Mexico by utilizing traditional Mexican ingredients, flavors and processes to create innovative styles of beer. Our beer is brewed to be shared with family and neighbors, and to build bridges, not walls, in our communities. Visit cerveceriacolorado.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Sun King Brewery, one of the leaders of the independent craft beer movement in Indiana, is celebrating a decade of award-winning beers, and the collaborative spirit of the brewing industry with the launch of 10-4 Good Buddy. This mixed 4-pack of 16 oz. cans, each one a unique collaboration crafted with one of four independent breweries from across the U.S. – including 3 Floyds, Austin Beerworks, Cigar City and Rhinegeist – is a first for Sun King and appears to be a first in the canned craft beer industry.

Collaboration is at the core of Sun King’s success, from internal operations to opportunities working alongside industry peers. Over the last 10 years of brewing, Sun King has worked with more than 40 breweries across the U.S. in order to experiment with new brewing techniques, ingredients and styles. That same collaborative spirit fueled the launch of Sun King Spirits in Carmel, Indiana, which opened last summer with spirits that Sun King distilled in collaboration with four local and regional distilleries – Hotel Tango, 8th Day Distillery, Cardinal Spirits and Copper & Kings.

“Sun King Brewery began as a collaboration between two professional brewers and friends sharing ideas over a few pints about what they would want their own brewery to be like, and grew with the insights of our business partners, and the input and hard work of our team,” said Clay Robinson, co-founder of Sun King Brewery. “We have continued to share and create beers with so many of our respected peers along the way, and we wanted to create something unique and special for our 10th anniversary. 10-4 Good Buddy represents the creativity and camaraderie that is the heart of, not just Sun King, but the independent craft beer industry.”

10-4 Good Buddy features four distinct beers brewed with Sun King’s long-time friends and connections.

Collabergé in collaboration with Austin Beerworks (Austin, Texas) is an Imperial Brut IPA that brings the dryness of champagne with an assertive hop profile.

“This collaboration was what it is all about,” said Will Golden, co-founder of Austin Beerworks. “A true friendship, complete with a lot of the bad jokes! The hospitality from Hoosiers is not just a saying y’all, they mean it! All I have to say is I can’t wait to come back!”

Highway Queen in collaboration with Cigar City Brewing (Tampa, Florida) is a sour golden ale with Zinfandel grapes, sour cherries, and raspberries aged on oak.

“Working with Dave and the Sun King team was a great, innovative experience that was in the planning process for months,” said Wayne Wambles, brewmaster at Cigar City Brewing. “The beer makes use of an experimental yeast strain that produces lactic acid combined with a combination of fruits that lend complex acidity as well as fruit harmony. It was a pleasure to celebrate Sun King’s tenth anniversary by creating this wonderful beer with them.”

Hoppiness Jones in collaboration with Rhinegeist (Cincinnati, Ohio)is an IPA that was aged in both Tequila and Pinot Noir barrels, infused with hibiscus, and is dry hopped.

“We’ve known Sun King for a long time, since before we even existed as a brewery, and they have been a great mentor and a good buddy for us over the years,” said Bryant Goulding, co-founder of Rhinegeist. “We’re thankful to be able to work together on this high-powered collaboration alongside three other brewers for whom we also have much respect, and we’re excited to help celebrate this special decade milestone. Happy birthday Sun King! Mad respect!”

Maximum Overdrive in collaboration with 3 Floyds Brewing (Munster, Ind.) is a Baltic porter brewed with Indiana malt from Sugar Creek Malt, two different yeast strains, and American and Slovenian hops.

“It’s great to brew with Sun King on their 10th anniversary” said Nick Floyd, owner of 3 Floyds Brewing. “Being a part of a one-time 4-pack was cool, as was hanging out with Clay and Dave. Congratulations to Sun King and the other brewers that participated. Looking forward to trying some at Dark Lord Day.”

10-4 Good Buddy four-packs will be available on Thursday, May 23 at all Sun King locations, including its Indianapolis Tap Room, Fishers Small Batch Brewery and Sun King Spirits Carmel Tap Room & Distillery, and at liquor stores and restaurants across Indiana the following week. Sun King fans outside of Indiana can get this exclusive four-pack at select bars, restaurants, and liquor stores in Chicago, Cincinnati, Dayton, Louisville, Jacksonville and Tampa beginning in June.

About Sun King Brewery
Sun King Brewing Company is an independently owned Indiana Brewery. Conceived by two professional brewers, Dave Colt and Clay Robinson, and started with the help of family and friends, Sun King rolled out their first keg of beer in July of 2009. Over the years, Sun King has grown to become one of Indiana’s best-selling and most award-winning breweries. Currently available on tap and in cans throughout Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Florida, as well as in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, Sun King has grown to become a leader in the independent craft beer movement. Sun King’s brewers handcraft core, seasonal and specialty beers that have been rewarded with dozens of medals at the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, Festival of Barrel Aged Beers, and the Indiana Brewers Cup competitions. Sun King takes great pride in partnering with hundreds of community organizations throughout the places where its beer is sold in order to help them raise awareness and funds for great causes. Each year Sun King helps these organizations collectively raise over a million dollars through its community give backs, gift baskets and beer donations. Sun King also owns Sun King Spirits Tap Room and Distillery in Carmel, Ind., where guests can sample spirits made collaboratively with local distilleries, handcrafted cocktails, Sun King beers, food from local restaurants and soon, a variety of Sun King’s own small-batch spirits. Visit sunkingbrewing.com for more information. Sun King Brewery is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

BALTIMORE– The “Uncharted Waters” series by Heavy Seas Beer will welcome a brand new offering in June 2019: Red Flag, Barrel Aged Sour Ale. This beer will be available in both 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and draft throughout the Heavy Seas distribution footprint.

Brewed in the classic Flemish Red style, Red Flag is brewed in small batches on our 15 Barrel Brewhouse. Each batch is aged in stainless and then moved to bourbon and red wine barrels for further maturing. The barrels are then hand selected and blended to create the most complex and seductive sour ale possible. Red Flag is the first sour offering in the Uncharted Waters series. Deep ruby in color, this barrel aged sour ale delights with sweet malt tones, complex fruit undertones and a deliciously tart finish.

“We are very excited about Red Flag, as it is the first barrel aged beer we’ve produced with wild yeast and bacteria,” said Heavy Seas brewmaster, Christopher Leonard. “Red Flag is inspired by the tart, dry, Sour Red and Brown ales of Flanders. Ultimately, it will be a blend of six different batches of ‘sour’ beer aged in 4 different ‘styles’ of barrels. It’s been quite a complicated, but exciting process. Blending all of these similar but different barrels and ‘fresh beer’ to create one dynamic, complex, mysterious, funky, tart offering has been an amazing journey for us. And, as a bonus, we will be holding on to some of the beer in barrels to allow for some fun, interesting blending down the road. We don’t yet know when or how, but I have no doubt we’ll find a way to use these in more fascinating projects in the future!”

Product Specs

• Style: Barrel Aged Sour Ale
• ABV: 8%
• IBU: 5
• Hops: Strisselspalt
• Malts: 2-Row, Cara Medium, Cara Dark, Cara Extra Dark

KANSAS City, Mo. – Boulevard Brewing Company, the Midwest’s largest craft brewery, has announced details of the first endorsement of a craft beer by a Major League Baseball player. Kansas City Royals’ second baseman and outfielder Whit Merrifield will star in Unfiltered Whit, a campaign for Boulevard’s classic Unfiltered Wheat Beer. The campaign includes advertising, merchandise, a sweepstakes and player appearances.

“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Whit Merrifield,” said Boulevard president Jeff Krum. “Beyond his status as an exceptional player and a rising star – last year he led all of MLB in hits and stolen bases – he’s a big fan of Boulevard and an all-around great guy.”

Unfiltered Wheat and Whit

As part of the Unfiltered Whit campaign, Merrifield and the team at Boulevard have developed a series of unfiltered ‘Whit-icisms.’ The tongue-in-cheek videos playfully refer to Merrifield’s life, his experiences as a baseball player, and Kansas City. Merrifield’s image will be featured on billboards throughout the region, including Boulevard’s outfield wall sign at Kauffman Stadium. In addition, three lucky sweepstakes winners will receive VIP tickets to an on-field meet-and-greet with Merrifield during batting practice at a September game, and will join Boulevard in the dugout suite to enjoy the game.

Kansas City’s Charlie Hustle Clothing Co. will produce Unfiltered Whit T-shirts, set to debut on May 9 at the Royals Rally at Boulevard’s Tours & Recreation Center. A portion of the proceeds will go toward the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City (RMHC-KC) to aid them in their mission to provide a supportive home for families while their child is receiving medical care. Tees cost $35, and may be purchased at Boulevard’s Tours & Rec Center, Charlie Hustle’s Plaza store and online at www.charliehustle.com.

“Boulevard is an essential part of Kansas City,” said Whit Merrifield. “It’s an honor to come together with them on this campaign, and to give back to the Ronald McDonald House. I’m so proud of these iconic Kansas City partners and the opportunity to raise money and awareness for this incredible organization.”

“We are thrilled to team up with Boulevard Brewing and Whit Merrifield to create our spin on Unfiltered Whit and to support a great cause,” said Katie Martincich, Charlie Hustle CMO. “This collaboration is near and dear to us as it embodies three things we love:  synergy among KC brands, enthusiasm for local sports, and charitable contributions to a great KC foundation.”

“Last year, RMHC-KC kept 7,685 families close to their sick children during some of the most important days of their lives,” said Emily Gretzinger, director of marketing and communications at RMHC-KC. “People can wear this shirt with pride, knowing it supports families in need.”

Tami Greenberg, RMHC-KC’s CEO, added: “We are excited to be the beneficiary of this teamwork between three of Kansas City’s coolest, most powerful brands, and are grateful for the generosity and support of Boulevard, Charlie Hustle and Royals Charities.”

New Look, Same Beloved Beer
After 25 years, Unfiltered Wheat, Boulevard’s best-selling beer known for its distinctive hazy appearance and natural citrus flavor, has gotten a makeover to fit the times. The original image of a farmer bringing in the harvest has given way to a sleeker, sassier and simpler design, with a bold black background and “Unfiltered Wheat” proudly taking center stage.

The brewery also created new ad spots for Hulu and the Fox Sports Royals Live Postgame Show featuring a brewery employee known as “The Unfiltration Manager.” This guy takes his job seriously – very seriously – to ensure that all filters of any kind stay far away from the brewing process.

About Boulevard Brewing Company
Boulevard Brewing Company is the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest, dedicated to the craft of producing fresh, flavorful beers using traditional ingredients and the best of both old and new brewing techniques. Today, Boulevard beers are available in 41 states and 11 countries, widely known for their full flavor, exceptional balance and superior quality. For more information, visit boulevard.com or follow us on facebook.com/Boulevard, twitter.com/Boulevard_Beer and instagram.com/Boulevard_Beer.