Archives for March 2020

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.— SLO Brew is launching into spring with the seasonal-release of the crisp, refreshing classic Blueberry Blonde Ale. Crafted by one of the longest-standing microbreweries in California, this light-bodied beer remains a steadfast favorite across three decades of independent craft brewing.

“Designed for easy drinking, Blueberry Blonde has been a part of the SLO Brew lineup since the 1990s,” said Brewmaster Steve Courier. “Honey and crystal malts kick up this beer’s natural sweetness and enhance fruit character, while golden naked oats add a nutty flavor that partners with a slightly creamy texture.”

Blueberry infusion is brought into this blonde towards the middle and end of fermentation for a fresh “crop-to-can” aroma and balanced body. Magnum and Willamette hops hover at the finish to round out its malt profile and deliver a bundle of berries from start-to-finish.

Blueberry Blonde Ale is available in 16 ounce 4-packs and on draft at the brewhouse and taproom SLO Brew Rock. Find a retailer and take home a piece of this seasonal bounty in cans across California, visit: website.

About SLO Brewing Co.
We began our journey in 1988 as a humble brewpub in the heart of California. Led by a passion for quality and craftsmanship, SLO Brewing Co. remains the Central Coast’s longest standing microbrewery, crafting gold-medal-winning beers and earning the honor of “Brew Pub of the Year” at The Great American Beer Festival. Great things take time. Our house of brands has grown to include SLO Brew craft beers, Tio Rodrigo craft micheladas, Porch Pounder premium canned wine and Rod & Hammer’s SLO Stills craft whiskey. www.slobrewingco.com

For More Information: website

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Twenty-seven females from the New York State craft beer industry will come together during Women’s History Month to collaboratively brew a Brut IPA named IMPACT. A portion of the beer’s proceeds will go towards purchasing undergarments for SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensic Exam) programs at local hospitals, UR Medicine Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua, N.Y. and Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, N.Y.

The Female Brew Day will take place on Mar. 16th, beginning at 8:00 a.m. at Naked Dove Brewing Company, located at 4048 State Route 5 and 20, in Canandaigua, N.Y. The event will include brewers, brewery owners, beer managers and other industry professionals from 15 different craft breweries, beer bars and organizations.

“March is Women’s History Month and the year 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote, a movement that started here in New York,” said Chloe Kay, communications coordinator for the New York State Brewers Association (NYSBA), where three out of four staff members are female. “As a state, we’ve been at the forefront of equal rights throughout history, so it’s no surprise that New York women are making an IMPACT in the craft beer industry.”

IMPACT will have tantalizing tangerine notes and will be canned in April, for sale shortly afterwards. The can labels, designed by Finger Lakes artist Amy Colburn, will feature a colorful silhouette of a woman with words used to describe females in the craft beer industry – strong, driven, fierce, leader, determined, creative, influential – woven through her hair.

“I have always wanted to shine a light on all of the amazing women in this industry,” said event organizer, Kim Porter of Naked Dove Brewing Company. “And to come together for one day with such a unique group of females (most of whom are not brewers), to produce a beer that will help make a difference in the community is extremely exciting. I can just imagine the strength, intelligence and determination all in one room. What kind of impact can that make on the women participating and for future women entering this industry?”

Porter chose to support SAFE programs run by forensic nurses in emergency rooms after reading an article about women who are sexually assaulted and undergo forensic exams.

“When they’re released from the hospital after a 3-4-hour long examination, they often go home in scrubs with no undergarments,” explained Porter. “Almost always, their clothes and undergarments are kept as evidence.”

Porter went on to learn that the nurses often work to come up with something for these women to wear home. After reaching out to local hospital programs and discovering a great need for support, Porter hopes that IMPACT will help raise further awareness and assistance for the cause.

Participants of the Female Brew Day will include:

Kim Porter, Naked Dove Brewing Company
Donna Schlosser, Naked Dove Brewing Company
Kate Rodgers, Naked Dove Brewing Company
Annemarie Weigert, Naked Dove Brewing Company
Mandy Cucino, Naked Dove Brewing Company
Laura Helker, Naked Dove Brewing Company
Chloe Kay, New York State Brewers Association
Jen Meyers, New York State Brewers Association
Kristy Aldrich, Reinvention Brewing Company
Emma Shannon, Reinvention Brewing Company
Colleen Lieberg, WeBe Brewing Company
Emily Penrose, Fifth Frame Brewing Co
Beth Partee, Fleur De Lis Brew Works
Jea’Ne Terry, Knucklehead Craft Brewing
Emily Chard-Carpenter, WhichCraft Brews
Maria von Rathonyi, Genesee Brewing Company
Emily Zimmerman, Greenfront Restaurant
Nikki Moore, Greenfront Restaurant
Adrean Hayward, Gleason’s Food and Drink
Kim Killigrew, Bee Hive Brew Pub
Tracy Sidmore, Bee Hive Brew Pub
Laura Britton, Craft Beer Blogger
Abi Bellavia, Wegman’s Geneva Beer Manager
Jennie Darling, Crafty’s Ales and Lagers
Dawn Schultz, Prison City Brewing
Kim Morse, Swiftwater Brewing Company
Ryan Boulas, The Gate House Cafe

This Female Brew Day is one example of women in the craft beer industry getting together throughout New York, and more events are expected. On Thursday, Mar. 5, Prison City Brewing hosted the 3rd annual Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day to celebrate International Women’s Day, where 40 women got together to brew a Juicy Hazy IPA due to be released in 3 weeks.

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WHITE SALMON, Wash. — Everybody’s Brewing will release their newest 16oz can: Velvet Tiger Double IPA, available in stores March 11th. With a hop profile of Simcoe, Chinook and Cascade, it offers drinkers some smooth citrus and pine flavors with a robust aroma and clean finish. Velvet Tiger is a Northwest-style Double IPA with a glowing copper color and 8.7% ABV.

As consumers increasingly seek the newest and wildest hazy creations, owner/brewmaster Doug Ellenberger said the goal for this beer was to remind people why they first fell in love with the IPA style. “While there’s nothing wrong with a sweeter, juicy IPA, there are still a lot of people who appreciate a big piney IPA with a balanced bitterness. Velvet Tiger is a nod to those drinkers who have been a little forgotten about.”

Although Everybody’s makes plenty of new and experimental styles, they pride themselves on the details of the brewing process that make consistent, flawless beer. Head Brewer Adam McClure said that Velvet Tiger combined both passions. “We wanted to extract as much aroma and flavor from hop varieties that don’t get much notoriety these days, so we used some techniques we’ve developed making hazy, juicy-flavored beers and applied them to these classic hops.” He also noted that some of the hops used have more depth than their names suggest. “The Chinooks we got this year are incredible. We hand selected them from Roy Farms (Moxee, WA). They specialize in Chinooks and this beer is proof of the quality they are growing.”

The brand name and package design are a nod to the fuzzy velvet posters that usually feature tigers and other animals. Often found displayed on dorm room walls, the posters glow especially bright under a black light. The description on the can paints a picture of the fictious “Velvet Tiger Lounge”, where “classic is king and old school never dies.” Ellenberger said “We’ve had a velvet tiger poster in the employee lounge here for years. It always gets a lot of compliments, so we knew it would make a fun beer can. We thought it was appropriate since it’s a higher ABV beer at a price a price that even a 21-year-old college student can afford.”

The brewery has a rotating 16oz can program that puts out 12 different styles per year. Velvet Tiger will be available until the end of April. They release two different price “tiers” of 16oz cans at a time. Velvet Tiger falls into their lower priced tier and has a suggested retail of $11.99 per four pack, or $3.00 per can. The next 16oz can will be a hazy IPA brewed in collaboration with Stoup Brewing (Seattle). It will fall into the higher priced tier ($15.99 a four pack) and will be available April 15th.

Everybody’s brewed 7200 barrels in 2019, making them the largest brewery in Southwest Washington.

Ellenberger gives all the credit to his staff and the extensive lab they have built in their new brewery as reasons for the quality and consistent beer. “Our staff pays the highest attention to the smallest details. The process must be the same every time, while always being evaluated for ways to improve. Beers like Velvet Tiger really show what our team is capable of making.”

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After days of speculation, the Brewers Association announced the decision to forgo holding the 2020 edition of the Craft Brewers Conference & Brew Expo America, as well as the World Beer Cup competition.
From the BA’s website, CraftBeer.com:

The Brewers Association has been following the situation around COVID-19 as it relates to the Craft Brewers ConferenceⓇ & BrewExpo AmericaⓇ and World Beer Cup™. We have been closely monitoring updates and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, as well as state and local governments. We have also been actively following travel advisories and restrictions being placed on health care providers and hospitals and institutions in the U.S. and globally.

Developments over the past 24 hours have made hosting this year’s conference infeasible, and, after much thought and consideration, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America and World Beer Cup. The Brewers Association will provide full refunds of conference registration and booth fees, sponsor payments, and World Beer Cup competition entries.

We are grateful to all of you who made plans to attend this year’s events. It is heartbreaking to miss the annual gathering of our craft brewing community, but the safety and health of attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, staff, volunteers, and the craft brewing community at large are paramount to the Brewers Association.

For more information from the Brewers Association about the cancellation – Click Here

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — New Belgium Brewing announces the release of Sour IPA, a hazy, Citra and Amarillo dry-hopped IPA blended with authentic wood aged golden sour. With juicy aromas and refreshing acidity, Sour IPA claims its stake as the first nationally released IPA of its kind. Inspired by the crucially placed bridle point of a kite, Sour IPA balances acidity and hops with delicate perfection.

New Belgium Brewing is no stranger to producing the highest quality sour beers. Holding 12 Great American Beer Fest medals, New Belgium is America’s most award-winning sour producer and home to the largest cellar of French and American Oak foeders (pronounced “foo-ders”) in the country. New Belgium’s sours age in traditional foeders for up to a year and the brewery is home to the oldest, continuous souring culture in the United States – over 22 years! In fact, New Belgium was the first brewery to dry hop sours in the US with their first release of Le Terroir in 2005 and couldn’t resist the opportunity to apply that knowledge to a fruit-forward, hazy IPA. The addition of refreshing acidity from their iconic wood cellar pushes the fruity, juicy qualities forward and takes this IPA to the next level.

“Perfecting the balance of hops and acidity is very difficult and we’ve been doing it for over 10 years now. We’re experts in this space,” said Lauren Limbach, Wood Cellar Director and Blender for New Belgium Brewing. “Sour IPA is another example of approaching IPA through an artisanal lens to create a completely unique experience for the craft beer drinker.”

Building on their history of sour innovation, New Belgium continues to set the bar with innovative, style blurring brews. Accessible in flavor and price, Sour IPA is now available nationwide.

Sour IPA was brewed and canned with the following characteristics:
Alcohol: 7% ABV
Style: Hazy IPA with Wood Aged Golden Sour
Visual: Bright orange haze with eggshell white head
Flavor and aroma: Sweet lemon, tangerine, peach, guava and grapefruit
Taste: Strong tartness quickly countered by fruity sweetness and an easy finish
Availability: Nationwide in 6 pack cans and on draft
Suggested Retail Price: $10.99/ 6 pack

For more information on Sour IPA, visit HERE. To find the nearest Sour IPA near you or any of New Belgium’s other offerings, visit the beer finder or download New Belgium’s Beer Mode app.

About New Belgium Brewing
New Belgium Brewing is recognized as a leader in sustainability and social responsibility. Founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colorado, the company expanded to Asheville, North Carolina in 2016 and Denver, Colorado in 2018 and is now the 4th largest craft brewery in the U.S. Dedicated to proving that business can be a force for good, New Belgium is a Certified B Corp and was the first brewery to join 1% for the Planet. The brewery has donated over $26 million to charitable causes since 1991. New Belgium is famous for its flagship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale, along with year-round favorites like Voodoo Ranger IPA, Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza, and La Folie Sour Brown Ale; as well as an award-winning wood-aged sour program and innovative limited release beers. To learn more about the full product lineup and New Belgium’s Human Powered Business model, visit NewBelgium.com

About Lauren Limbach
Lauren Limbach developed New Belgium’s sour program, and serves as its chief curator, carefully tasting and blending the barrels, recording their personalities and bringing them to life. While developing the wood program, Lauren also built the company’s sensory program and turned it into the world class operation and employee education platform it is today. In 2019, she received the prestigious Russell Scherer Award for Innovation in Brewing from the Brewers Association. Lauren is adamant about making craft beer accessible, sharing her passion for and knowledge of one of the world’s most ancient artisanal nectars.

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Odell Brewing announced the addition of Witkist Grapefruit White Ale to their year round portfolio.

Witkist Grapefruit White is a modern take on a Belgian-style White Ale with bright aromas of citrus from pureed grapefruit, and a delicate spice from dried orange peel and coriander.

As a hop-forward brewery with a love for IPAs, Odell Brewing wanted to round out their portfolio by offering a bright, refreshing White Ale that explores a new flavor profile driven by complex fermentation.

“American craft beer is all about bending the rules. While we enjoy a classic Belgian Wit, we thought about how we’d share our take on style,” explains COO, Brendan McGivney. “The addition of fresh grapefruit puree was exactly what we were looking for. The tart grapefruit perfectly compliments the sweet esters of Belgian yeast.”

Whitkist Grapefruit White debuts a year after the successful release of Sippin’ Pretty Fruited Sour.

“The response from Sippin Pretty has been incredible,” explains McGivney. “While we’ll always love experimenting with IPAs, Sippin’ Pretty showed us that the flavor profiles of beer are endless and by exploring them we’re inviting more fans into the craft beer community.”

Witkist Grapefruit White Ale comes in at 5% ABV and is available year round on draft and in 6-pack cans across Odell’s 19-state footprint.

About Odell Brewing
Odell Brewing, the 23rd largest craft brewery in the U.S., is a regional, independent, and employee owned craft brewery. Since 1989, the culture of family and collaboration has thrived, fostering a brewery full of beer-centric people. It is this passion for beer that inspires Odell Brewing to create quality, hand-crafted and innovative brews. Odell Brewing is committed to providing exceptional service to its customers while making positive contributions to their co-workers and community through its outreach and charitable giving programs.

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LONGMONT, Colo. — Left Hand Brewing Co., one of the original pioneers in craft brewing and famous for its Nitro series, plans to open its second location outside of Longmont in the heart of Denver’s booming Curtis Park neighborhood at 2403 Champa Street. Construction and redesign will be starting this month with plans to open later this summer.

The 12,000 square foot location will feature a seven-barrel pilot brewery, 50 tap handles, full food menu, live music, a large outdoor patio, ample parking, and private event space for up to 300 people. Of the 50 taps, the majority will feature Left Hand’s current Nitro, year-round and seasonal offerings as well as pilot beers made on site that will be exclusively available at Left Hand Curtis Park. Left Hand’s non-beer beverages including hard kombucha, hard seltzer, and Present CBD-Infused Sparkling Water round out the lineup.

“We’ve been considering opening a second location in Denver for a long time but have been waiting to find the right spot. We found it,” said Eric Wallace, President and Co-Founder of Left Hand Brewing. “The amenities this location offers are really unparalleled in this area. We are slightly off the beaten path but within blocks of the RiNo Art District and Rockies Field.”

Originally built in 1934, Left Hand’s new outpost was originally home to Denver’s second-oldest commercial printer, the Golden Bell Press, and most recently Liberati Restaurant, which recently closed.

“We look forward to integrating ourselves into the neighborhood and building community as we have in Longmont for the past 26 years,” Wallace added.

Left Hand Curtis Park also will include big screen TVs with local sports packaging, bar games like shuffleboard, pool and foosball, and community-based activities. Additional details regarding its grand opening date, hours of operation, and employment information will be made available in the coming weeks at www.lefthandbrewing.com.

About Left Hand Brewing Company
Left Hand Brewing Company, founded in Longmont, Colorado, is one of the original pioneers in craft brewing. From a humble homebrew kit beginning to becoming one of the top 50 craft breweries in the U.S., Left Hand has continued to grow and innovate throughout our 26-year history. Famous for our Nitro series, Left Hand launched America’s original Nitro bottle with our flagship Milk Stout Nitro and the first production run of U.S.-made Nitro widget cans. We’re proud to be one of the most honored and recognized breweries in Colorado with 29 Great American Beer Festival medals,11 World Beer Cup awards and 9 European Beer Star awards. Our collection of year-round and seasonal beers is available in 45 states, DC and internationally. To learn more, please visit www.lefthandbrewing.com.

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LAGRANGE, Ga. — In honor of International Women’s Day, Wild Leap is releasing a limited edition double IPA created by women to celebrate women. Too Pure To Be Pink features a special blend of hops that were hand-selected by members of the Pink Boots Society. Brewed, canned and packaged with the hardworking women of Wild Leap, you can find this rare beer in your favorite bars, restaurants and stores this week!

The Pink Boots Society is a non-profit organization devoted to promoting the advancement of women in the beer industry, particularly in the craft beer industry. Wild Leap reached out to the Pink Boots Society after learning of their Collaboration Brew Day Initiative.

“With so many strong women forming the backbone of Wild Leap, it was important to us to develop a beer that celebrates these incredible women, and the timing was perfect.” says Rob Goldstein, Wild Leap’s co-founder and CFO. “The beer finished just in time to package on International Women’s Day!”

Inspired by the musical Grease, Too Pure To Be Pink is a tribute to the Pink Ladies. Known for their pink jackets and tough attitudes, the Pink Ladies played by their own rules. Much like the women of Wild Leap, the Pink Ladies were trailblazers.

Too Pure To Be Pink is a double IPA featuring the Pink Boots blend from YCH hops. Too Pure To Be Pink uses Loral, Azacca, El Dorado and Idaho Gem hops to bring its flavor to life. In style and in taste, this juicy IPA is unlike any other Wild Leap release.

Wild Leap’s support of the Pink Boots Society is geared toward empowering women in brewing through education. For every pound of the Pink Boots hop blend sold, a minimum of three dollars is donated to the Pink Boots Society scholarship fund. Find this extremely limited beer in the Wild Leap tasting room as well as stores, bars and restaurants throughout Georgia this week!

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. — In a partnership with Vino Volo, the award-winning airport wine bar operator and retailer throughout North America, Thirsty Monk Brewery beers will soon be available on draft and to-go at Asheville Regional Airport.

Thirsty Monk will co-brand a comfortable space with local Asheville flair just to the right of the TSA security checkpoint inside the gate area. This traveler lounge will offer beers on tap, packaged beer to-go, and a selection of curated food offerings alongside Vino Volo’s wine program. Current the opening is slated for the end of summer 2020.

More than a year in the making, this is Thirsty Monk’s first partnership with an internationally recognized company, and could serve as a model for partnerships in other cities seeking to further extend local personality into airports.

“When I first reached out to the Asheville Regional Airport about how we could go about opening a Thirsty Monk taproom — their team was so receptive and connected me with Vino Volo,” says Barry Bialik, Thirsty Monk CEO.

“After a year of ideas, discussions, and straight up reality checks, everything is now a go to move forward with the Asheville Regional Airport’s first local brewery taproom and Vino Volo wine bar. I am so proud that our airport staff recognizes the importance of adding local character, and so pleased to have been able to collaborate with Vino Volo’s truly world class team,” says Bialik.

As Asheville Regional Airport grows with new destinations added continually, Thirsty Monk’s partnership with Vino Volo is perfectly poised to host visitors to and from Western North Carolina—taking one of Asheville’s most iconic breweries along with them on their travels.

For more information about Thirsty Monk’s partnership with Vino Volo, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

About Thirsty Monk
Founded in 2008, Thirsty Monk Brewery currently operates a family of brewpubs (Thirsty Monk Downtown, Thirsty Monk Biltmore Park, 2×4 Brew Pub) and cocktail bars (Monk’s Flask, Top of the Monk) in Asheville, North Carolina, Denver, Colorado and Portland, Oregon. Thirsty Monk’s award-winning, Belgian-rooted Modern Ales are showcased in the company’s expertly crafted beer-paired food menus and synergistic cocktail ingredients. Find the company online at monkpub.com.

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