Archives for June 2019

LAGRANGE, Ga. — Leap Brew Co. is excited to announce that some of its most sought-after beers have been chosen for Taco Mac’s June Beers of the Month. In addition, Wild Leap will be releasing a specialty beer for the occasion, the ‘79 Series Summer IPA.

During June, five of Wild Leap’s craft beers will be featured at all 25 of Taco Mac locations in Georgia. Patrons will be able to enjoy Chance IPA, Local Gold Blonde Ale, Alpha Abstraction Vol. 7 Double IPA, the recently-released Truck Chaser Bomb Pop Double IPA, and the never-before-seen ‘79 Series Summer IPA.

“Compared to some of our other IPAs, ‘79 Series Summer IPA is very dry with a lot of aromatic tropical fruit flavors of peach, berry and citrus,” explains Chris Elliott, head brewer at Wild Leap. It has a slightly lower ABV, and is a very-light bodied beer brewed specifically for the summer season.”

In October of 2018, Wild Leap launched the ‘79 Series in collaboration with Taco Mac. The series, named in recognition of the year Taco Mac was founded, was brewed as a celebration for the restaurant’s 40th Anniversary. Summer IPA is the third beer in the series and the first to be canned.

There is also a significant incentive to order Wild Leap beer during the month. Each Thursday in June, Wild Leap will be giving away a specialty item with the purchase of any of their beers.

“It’s a huge honor to be chosen by Taco Mac as their Beers of the Month and we are thrilled with the opportunity,” shares Anthony Rodriguez, co-founder and CEO of Wild Leap Brew Co. “In partnership with the honor, we have designed specialty glassware that will be available exclusively at Taco Mac. If you have fallen in love with pieces from our new merch collections, you will not want to miss this.”

Specialty glassware and ‘79 Series Summer IPA will be available while supplies last during the month of June. For information about Wild Leap Brew Co., or to request samples for review, please reach out to media@wildleap.com.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — WaveGrip’s G1 multi-packing applicator has helped craft brewers Fernson automate their packaging line for its canned craft beer thanks to its low cost of entry.

Fernson Brewing Co. opened in Sioux Falls, South Dakota just over four years ago and now operates across two locations; its brewery and taproom on the outskirts of town and a bustling and lively taproom & kitchen right in the heart of Sioux Falls.

The brewery offers five core beers of which the range includes a hoptastic IPA Shy Giant, Lions Paw, an easy drinking lager, and even Curio, a citrusy tart brew; these core beers stay on year-round alongside one-off specials, collaborations and season guests.

As well as being available on-site, a range of Fernson beers are available in cans and play a key part in the Brewery’s offer, allowing drinkers to enjoy Fernson’s beers at home.

“We are often asked why we chose cans for our beers rather than bottles, and there are two basic reasons. One is that cans are better at protecting each beer from light and oxygen, and two is because aluminum cans are lighter and easier to recycle than glass,” said Joel Thompson, CEO of Fernson Brewing Co. “However, while cans are great for the beers and our drinkers, packaging them was proving to be very labor intensive, and many of the automated solutions we had seen were just too expensive for the level we need to run our machines at.”

Yet WaveGrip’s G1 applicator proved to change that for Fernson. With its low entry price, automating the packaging process became a reality and the G1 delivered savings in both the cost of labor and materials needed to pack its cans.

While the G1 applicator provides efficiency upgrades for the brewery, the WaveGrip carriers are also providing sustainability benefits as well. Weighing less than 4g for a standard six-pack and using less material than any other multi-packing solution, WaveGrip is the lightest carrier on the market. Additionally, all WaveGrip carriers are 100% recyclable and meet current US Packaging regulations by being photodegradable.

WaveGrip managing director, Aaron McIvor, commented: “We wanted the G1 to be an accessible solution for craft brewers, giving them an entryway into automated multi-packing of cans and allowing them to increase their production at an affordable cost. We are delighted to see that Fernson is already benefitting from reductions in labor and material to pack their beers, and look forward to these growing as their production scales up.”

“The WaveGrip G1 was the perfect choice for us and even running at just 30cpm we are seeing significant benefits, including giving the team more time to spend on what they love – the brewing!” concluded  Thompson.

About WaveGrip
WaveGrip is a multi-packing solution that enables beverage producers of all sizes to securely and efficiently collate their products. Value engineered to offer the lowest cost carrier on the market, WaveGrip provides an alternative that is stronger, more environmentally friendly and economical. As part of the RPC Group, WaveGrip offers complete support at every stage in the specification and supply chain process, based from its Greenock headquarters and through its global OEMs and commercial partners. Continued investment in world-leading manufacturing technology ensures WaveGrip keeps pace with ever-evolving customer multi-packing requirements. By combining the best raw materials with the latest manufacturing equipment, their advanced manufacturing facilities consistently deliver to customer expectations.

HOLLAND, Mich. – Michigan summers are defined by outdoor adventuring, days spent in the woods or trips to the “Big Lake.” Big Lake Brewing, one of the fastest-growing craft breweries in Michigan, just announced two new IPAs for the summer months that capture the flavor of Michigan summertime activities—Lake King, an American IPA, and Camper, a New England IPA.

In a reference to reeling in that prized King Salmon on the Great Lakes, Lake King is an American IPA brewed with Columbus hops, which presents a clean, bright lemony flavor. Featuring a King Salmon on the label, Lake King is the perfect complement to take out on the boat during a fishing trip on Lake Michigan, or on one of Michigan’s many inland lakes.

Camping culture is the defining character of Michigan’s summer and autumn months. Whether you’re camping in a tent, trailer, RV, cabin or just under the stars, Big Lake celebrates getting out into nature with Camper, a bold, New England IPA. With its blast of citrus-forward hops and a hazy color, Camper is the perfect beer for summers around the campfire at our beautiful campgrounds throughout the state.

“We take our inspirations from Michigan’s amazing natural resources and outdoor activities, and combine what makes them great, with the beers we like to drink,” said Travis Prueter, co-founder of Big Lake Brewing. “We love the pride and the connection our customers feel when they drink a beer named after a favorite activity or place in our beautiful state.”

Big Lake recently announced a 50 percent brewing expansion with two new 30-barrel fermenters and a new britetank, increasing the brewery’s overall output to 5,000 barrels per year. Since opening in 2013, Big Lake has grown more than 400 percent, and recently landed on the Brewers Association list of fastest-growing independent and craft breweries in the United States, one of only two Michigan breweries on the list.

Lake King and Camper are now in distribution across the entire state, in retail stores through Imperial Beverage, and on draft in bars and restaurants.

About Big Lake Brewing
Big Lake Brewing is a craft brewery located on 7th St. in downtown Holland, Mich. The taproom has more than 15 taps, always full of handcrafted beer in a variety of styles, made by a passionate team of brewers who love to experiment. The brewery also offers a full hand-crafted lunch and dinner menu in the taproom, focusing on pizzas, sandwiches, salads and more, all made from scratch with the same care and love as their beer. More at biglakebrewing.com. 

SAN DIEGO – Only a year in the making, JuneShine, the organic hard kombucha brand that is on a mission to brew honest alcohol for a healthier planet, is excited to announce their expansion into the Pacific Northwest, including Seattle, Portland, and Northern California – San Francisco and Sacramento.

The expansion north parallels the opening of JuneShine’s Scripps Ranch brewery (previously occupied by Ballast Point Brewing) in San Diego this month, allowing them to increase production in great volume. JuneShine 12 oz. 6-packs and 16 oz. cans will launch in retailers, including Total Wine, and BevMo! in Northern California and Whole Foods Market in both Northern California and Portland. JuneShine will roll out into additional retailers and on tap in select restaurants in Seattle throughout summer as well.

“The northern region was the obvious next step for us – Northern California, Oregon, and Washington are consistently leaders in sustainability and conservation, not to mention craft beverages. We are excited to bring our product to a set of like-minded customers that appreciate and are similarly trying to conserve our outdoors. Our friends, some of them our co-owners, were born and raised in Northern California and the PNW and have been pushing us to launch there since day one. Frankly, this expansion is overdue,” said Greg Serrao, JuneShine co-founder and CEO. “We’re 100% organic, and that’s very rare for the alcohol industry. We bought a used brewery versus building new. We donate 1% for the planet. But it doesn’t stop there – we need to keep pushing ourselves towards larger sustainability measures, and what better way than to engage the most sustainability-minded consumers in the country – our friends in the PNW and Northern California – to push us to be better, faster?”

Looking to plant their roots in the region’s communities, JuneShine will partner with local artists, athletes, and creatives. Co-owner ambassadors and Pacific City, Oregon natives, musician Corey Harper and photographer/filmmaker Ben Moon will partner with JuneShine in their PNW launches.

“These areas of the country are known for their outdoor athletes and emerging artists. We’re looking forward to working with local adventurers and creatives to help them showcase their work,“ commented Forrest Dein, JuneShine co-founder and chief creative officer.

Rich in probiotics, antioxidants, and of course, a good time, JuneShine is uniquely brewed with organic green tea and honey, producing an unbelievably smooth and delicate jun kombucha. Organic cane sugar and brewer’s yeast elevate the alcohol with a second fermentation. JuneShine is made in a variety of refreshingly smooth flavors like Blood Orange Mint and Acai Berry, featuring organic juices and spices. Better for your body and the environment, JuneShine contains no artificial coloring, no GMOs, no pesticides, nor processed corn or rice syrup. Real. Refreshing.

For more information on JuneShine, visit juneshine.co and @juneshineco.

About JuneShine
JuneShine launched in June of 2018 with the purpose of brewing honest alcohol for a healthier planet. JuneShine manufactures and sells organic hard (6.0% ABV) kombucha. While a variety of flavors are on draft in their tasting room, the company currently distributes five flavors in both cans and draft (Blood Orange Mint, Honey Ginger Lemon, Midnight Painkiller, Acai´ Berry, and Cucumber Mojito). JuneShine is currently distributed throughout San Diego, select accounts in Orange County and Los Angeles, and Greater Portland and Seattle, and sells product in the tasting room of their North Park (San Diego) based brewery. For more information, visit JuneShine.co and @juneshineco on Instagram

PORTLAND, Ore. — Ecliptic Brewing is keeping their next Cosmic Collaboration beer close to home, as they’ve paired with Portland’s Breakside Brewery to create a Nectarine Sour Ale.

In celebration of Ecliptic’s fifth anniversary, the company is releasing a “5 Years/5 Beers” series, and the collaboration beer with Breakside is third in the launch. Ecliptic Brewing owner and Brewmaster, John Harris, worked with Breakside’s Brewmaster, Ben Edmunds, to create the recipe, and the result is a thirst-quenching beer that will help kick off the summer season. The ale is brewed with pale and Munich malts, wheat and oats, but what provides its unique, fruity flavor is both pureed and fresh nectarines. A touch of coriander and Ecliptic’s house lactobacillus strain add to the classic sour ale flavor profile.

Says Harris, “Ben and I are really stoked to do our first collab. We jumped right on the sour style, and Ben suggested Nectarines. It’s great to have such awesome friends in the craft beer industry”.

A Cosmic Beer Dinner with Harris and Edmunds for the release of the Nectarine Sour Ale is planned at Ecliptic’s Restaurant on June 19 at 6 p.m. Attendees will enjoy three courses, plus appetizers, from Ecliptic Brewing Chef Michael Molitor, along with sour beer pairings from each of the breweries and signed bottles of the collaboration to take home. Tickets are available to purchase for $50. The Nectarine Sour Ale will also be released in both draft and 500ml bottles throughout Ecliptic Brewing’s distribution network.

About Ecliptic’s Cosmic Collaboration Nectarine Sour Ale
In celebration of Ecliptic Brewing’s fifth year of passage through this awesome star system we call home, they are teaming up with five esteemed breweries to brew five beers of cosmic significance. Space can feel a bit lonely, so here’s to making the journey with friends! Brewed with Breakside Brewmaster Ben Edmunds.
ABV 8.2%
IBU 10

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: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), Hodgen Distributing (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).

NORWOOD, Mass. — This Father’s Day, Castle Island Brewing will commemorate the holiday with a new beer release and a backstory that weaves three generations together through beer. This shared history involves two current Castle Island team members, their families, and a Czech pilsner release on Sunday, June 16th, giving a nod to where the story all began.

Derek Hannan, Castle Island’s Social Media Manager, and Patrick Gill, Lead Cellarman, discovered their connection accidentally after working together and becoming fast friends. Derek, one of Castle Island’s longest standing employees who has worked positions in the taproom, production, and now marketing, mentioned to Patrick that his father recommended checking out a former colleague and friend’s band, Boston’s Erin Og, that was playing a show in the area. That former colleague was Patrick’s father and they quickly realized that not only had their fathers known each other, but their grandfathers had also worked together at a Budweiser distribution warehouse.

Starting out at a facility in Brighton and then moving to Medford, where all four men overlapped and worked together, their lives became connected through the memories shared and friendships developed. Much like Castle Island’s tightknit team, the crew there was also close, and their families became close as well. This story inspired a beer collaboration that celebrates the driving force behind their paths crossing over decades and generations.

Castle Island crew recreates photo with George Hannan and Stephen Gill during the collaboration brew day.

Castle Island coordinated a father-son brew day in mid-May when they flew Derek’s father up from Florida and organized a reunion between the two men. Derek’s dad, George Hannan, and Patrick’s dad, Stephen Gill, hadn’t seen one another for over 20 years. The four men brewed a pilot batch of a 4.7% ABV Czech-style pilsner, named Twisted Büdlines, as tribute to the fathers’ history together and inspiration for the collaboration.

Derek Hannan commented on the collaboration brew day: “I’ve told the story about 100 times and it really doesn’t get old. The fact that our families have such a unique history, yet Pat and I hadn’t known each other prior to working together; coupled with how quickly we got along even before figuring out the connection – you just can’t help but think about the way people are connected.”

Twisted Büdlines is a taproom-only release, fittingly slated for Father’s Day at open. The beer will be available both on draft and in growlers to-go. The day will also feature barbeque dishes and live cooking courtesy of Ribpublic which pairs perfectly with this crisp, clean, refreshing pilsner. Follow the story on Castle Island’s Facebook page (/castleislandbeer), Instagram (@cibrewing), and Twitter (@cibrewing) accounts, and spend the holiday toasting to three generations of working in beer. More information can be found at the event page here: https://castleislandbeer.com/event/fathers-day-at-castle-island/

About Castle Island Brewing
Castle Island is an award-winning Massachusetts brewery dedicated to crafting a party with a purpose. With a focus on American-style ales and lagers, we make offerings that are both unique and approachable. Whether you find yourself discovering Castle Island for the first time or have returned for another round, you can expect a stellar experience from the very first to the very last sip. You can find our beer throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island in cans and on draft, as well as at our Norwood brewery and taproom.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Von Ebert Brewing, a locally owned, Portland-based brewing company, is excited to announce its first bottle release out of its Glendoveer location on the East Side of Portland.

The beer, called Obeisance, meaning deferential respect, is an homage to Upright Brewing, who is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. The beer is actually two beers that were brewed at Von Ebert’s Pearl Location. Both beers spent over a year in Oak Puncheons with Brettanomyces. They were then brought over to Glendoveer for blending and the addition of Etrog and Calamondins from Pearson Ranch in California as well as Long Pepper. Calamondins are also known as Calamansi or Philippine Lime and they are a hybrid of Kumquat and Mandarin Orange. Etrogs are a citron typically used in the Jewish celebration of Sukkot. The beer was then bottle conditioned for more than two months.

There are only about 70 cases being released on June 8 starting at 11 a.m. There will be a six bottle limit for the public and a 12 bottle limit for Von Ebert Stein Society members. There will be keg conditioned Obeisance also available so that folks can try the beer before they buy it. Von Ebert will have brewers available for tours from 11 to 3 and snacks will be provided during the tour for folks buying bottles. The release will only occur at Glendoveer, but the Pearl District location will receive a limited number of cases/ kegs for release the following week, on June 15. Obeisance bottles will cost $12 each and they are 500ml (16.9 oz.) bottles.

About Von Ebert Brewing
Von Ebert Brewing sits at the crossroads where storied traditions meet bold new ideas in brewing. For more information on Von Ebert Brewing, please visit www.vonebertbrewing.com.

KIHEI, Hawaii – The second of four beers in a series of variations of the award-winning Imperial Coconut Porter, Maui Brewing Company will be releasing Flat White beginning Friday, June 7th in the MBC Kihei Restaurant and Tasting Room. The elegant beer features flavors of dark chocolate, rich coffee, brown sugar, and creamy nougat provided by the Sumatra Tano Batak and Peru El Puno coffee beans and lactose from a collaboration with locally roasted Origin Coffee Roasters.

MBC’s Brewmaster, Kim Brisson-Lutz, states that she is excited to collaborate with local Origin Coffee Roaster, Heather Brisson-Lutz. Kim and Heather have been collaborating coffee beers for years and wanted to adapt Maui Brewing Company’s Imperial Coconut Porter with a play on the classic beverage Flat White using lactose, sugar and fresh roasted coffee. Heather Brisson-Lutz calls Flat White “A delicious duo of coffees that resonate with dark chocolate, tangerine and spice.”

Flat White will be available in 750ml bottles for take-home consumption in specified markets, as well as on draught in each of MBC’s four locations on Maui and Oahu in the weeks following.

MBC is a fiercely local company and has remained steadfast regarding local production. The MBC team are stewards of their communities and the ‘aina, and curators of the craft beer way of life. Their beers have been recognized worldwide for quality and innovation. For more information, visit MauiBrewing.com or follow @MauiBrewingCo on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About Maui Brewing Company
Founded in 2005, Maui Brewing Company is Hawaii’s largest craft brewery, operating 100% in Hawaii. MBC is based on Maui, with its production brewery, full service restaurant and tasting room in Kihei, well as restaurants in Lahaina (Maui), Kailua (Oahu), and Waikiki (Oahu). Maui Brewing Company is available in 23 states and 10 international countries with more areas to follow.

PORTLAND, Ore.— Kicking off the 2019 West Coast League baseball season, Portland Brewing announces the first ever craft beer collaboration with Dillon The Pickle, mascot for the Portland Pickles baseball team. Dill’s Pils is available on draft at all Pickles’ home games  at Walker Stadium in Portland’s Lents Park. Later in the summer, the brewery will also participate in two events at the ballpark highlighting their Keep Portland Weird beer series.

“We are a proud new partner of the Portland Pickles,” said Ryan Pappe, head brewer at Portland Brewing. “The Pickles are already a ton of fun to watch on warm summer days. I love that I’ll now be able to enjoy the games with a few pints of beer celebrating Dillon the pickle. What goes together better than baseball and a nice cold pilsner?”

Dill’s Pils is brewed to be a summery stadium-style Pilsner, light and refreshing at just 4.5% ABV with a golden straw color, floral aroma from Mt. Hood hops, and a clean, crisp finish. Available for the entirety of the season, thirsty Pickles fans can find Dill’s Pils in Walker Stadium on the main concourse and at the Ford Northside Party Deck.

“Dillon has been asking for a light and refreshing beer for a couple years,” said Alan Miller, owner and operating partner of the Portland Pickles. We are excited to be working with Portland Brewing on this amazing beer and we look forward to sharing it with Pickles fans everywhere.

In addition to the new brew, Portland Brewing will also highlight other specialty beers from their Keep Portland Weird seasonal series during two special events at the stadium:

July 9, 2019, Unipiper Day
Unipiper Hazy IPA is available in 12oz cans all season at a number of the stadium’s beer stations, and for delivery to your stadium seat through the Portland Pickle’s direct messaging system. For Unipiper Day, The Unipiper will throw the first pitch, sign autographs, giveaway fun gear, and recruit people to join Weird Portland United, a nonprofit supported by proceeds of Unipiper Hazy IPA.

August 11, 2019, Terry Currier Day
Terry Currier is the owner of Music Millennium and a co-founder of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. Portland Brewing will have a new seasonal brew for Terry available in the stadium on this special day.

ATLANTA — Fire Maker Brewing Company is currently renovating a 9,000 square foot warehouse in the heart of West Midtown, with plans to open Fall 2019.

Directly located on Chattahoochee Avenue, the brewery will feature a 2,000 square foot Taproom for serving and purchasing beers. The brewery will feature a fully covered patio, perfect for enjoying the sunny afternoons and city nights all year round. On top of their great location, their stylish taproom that extends onto the patio will make them an ideal place to hold an exclusive event. They will host everything from intimate affairs to large-scale celebrations.

Fire Maker will also partner with a distributor to bring their beers to the Atlanta market, so you can look forward to finding Fire Maker at your favorite local bar, restaurant, or package store. Or you can always visit their Taproom, where they will offer a variety of beer for every beer drinker and will rotate experimental beer for those who always want to try something new.

Fire Maker is thrilled to be joining the expanding number of breweries in West Midtown that have grown the craft beer community over the past few years.

“We are extremely excited and grateful to be joining so many other amazing breweries on the Westside,” said owner Elliott Hall. “I’ve been going to these breweries for years and it’s been great seeing the Westside grow so much. I really believe it’s on its way to becoming an established brewery district in Atlanta.”

Fire Maker Brewing Co. will be coming Fall 2019 to Atlanta, Georgia! For more information, visit firemakerbeer.com and follow the brewery on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube @firemakerbeer

Are You a Fire Maker?
Can you fly? Do you breathe fire? Do you have a long tail? No worries, most of us don’t either. A Fire Maker is someone who playfully embraces life and creates a spark in the world. They dream of the impossible and make it a reality. Fire Makers are the free-thinkers, go-getters, and audacious explorers. They are always illuminating themselves and their community.

Why a Dragon?
Life is full of obstacles and opportunities. Our dragon represents a choice between fear and freedom. We learn freedom from our fears by having the courage to conquer them. You can either run from the dragon or ride the dragon…so which will you choose?

Visit firemakerbeer.com or follow @firemakerbeer on social media.