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Beer News, Beer Releases and New Breweries

Archives for August 2023

Firestone Walker’s Oaktoberfest Is Back

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Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest
Photo Credit: Firestone Walker Brewing

PASO ROBLES, California— Firestone Walker’s fall classic is back with the 2023 edition of Oaktoberfest, an oak-inspired homage to the iconic “festbiers” that are synonymous with Munich’s legendary Oktoberfest celebration.

The 2023 Oaktoberfest Oak Aged Lager (5.2% ABV) begins rolling out to all Firestone Walker markets this week in 6-pack (12-oz cans) and draft formats. The name “Oaktoberfest” is a riff on Firestone Walker’s longtime commitment to brewing beer in oak barrels.

“Oaktoberfest is a beer that has stood the test of time,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “In fact, I believe that more and more craft drinkers are yearning for beers like Oaktoberfest. There’s a certain nostalgia to the style—smooth, sessionable, flavorful and malt-forward. It’s the kind of beer that you naturally crave as summer turns to fall.”

Oaktoberfest has been a seasonal staple at Firestone Walker dating back to the inaugural release in 2006. The recipe has evolved over the years, but recent tweaks have taken the beer to new heights.

A portion of the beer is lagered in French oak barrels inherited from one of Napa Valley’s top cult wineries. The barrels are stored at a temperature of 3°C for optimal lagering conditions. Meanwhile, the ingredients are decidedly German: Weyermann Vienna malt, Weyermann pilsner malt, noble German hops (Tradition and Spalter Select) and classic 34/70 Weihenstephan lager yeast.

Oaktoberfest’s light amber color foreshadows its toasty, biscuity flavor. The oak-barrel lagering allows for an even smoother texture, all while remaining true to the beer’s crisp malt profile and hints of noble hops.

“Oaktoberfest is rich in flavor but also light-bodied and easy to drink,” Brynildson said. “Which makes it enjoyable on warm and cool days alike.”

About Firestone Walker

Founded by brothers-in-law Adam Firestone and David Walker in 1996, Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a California beer company with three innovative brewing facilities. Firestone Walker’s main brewery in Paso Robles produces a diverse portfolio ranging from iconic pale ales to vintage barrel-aged beers. The Barrelworks facility in Buellton makes eccentric wild ales, while the Propagator pilot brewhouse in Venice specializes in R&D beers and limited local offerings. Firestone Walker is also the brewery behind 805, one of the nation’s fastest-growing beers. Firestone Walker was recently named “Best American Brewery of the Decade” by Paste Magazine.

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Stone Brewing Creates First-Ever Official Beer for USC Athletics

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ESCONDIDO, California— The University of Southern California (USC) Athletics, announces the debut of its first-ever official craft beer, Stone Fight On! Pale Ale. The beer is brewed by Stone Brewing, the Southern California-based brewery that has been trailblazing the craft beer category with a fierce commitment to quality and freshness for 27 years. The official USC Athletics beer will be available for purchase the week of August 14, 2023.

Stone Fight On! Pale Ale will be distributed throughout Southern California at stores, bars, and restaurants and onsite at the Los Angeles Colosseum and the Galen Center, home of the USC Trojans. Its 16oz cans feature classic USC iconography and colors. Inside, the beer is a quintessential SoCal Pale Ale – a balanced blend of tropical and citrusy hop flavors, light-body and endlessly drinkable at 5.5% ABV. Stone’s brewers developed the beer to offer that hoppiness Southern Californians crave in a style that suits tailgates, beach days, and cheering from the stands or at home.

“USC Athletics has been seeking the perfect beer partner – a regional brand that would be meaningful to our fans and add to the gameday experience, ” explained Drew DeHart, Vice President/General Manager, USC Sports Properties and Playfly Sports. “Stone really nailed a Pale Ale that’s representative of the SoCal craft beer scene, and easy drinking too. We’re honored to see our USC colors, marks and Trojan alongside the Stone Gargoyle.”

“Stone beers are popular nationwide and across the globe, but SoCal is where we started and is home to our biggest population of fans,” explained Erin Smith, Stone Brewing SVP of Marketing. “We’re thrilled at the opportunity to create a beer that instills local pride in that cross-section of craft beer drinkers and USC fans and alumni. It’s our hope that this beer is enjoyed year-round for its incredible flavor, and that it truly adds to the gameday experience across all USC sports.”

Find the beer online via Stone’s Beer Finder, Find.StoneBrewing.com or order it online for delivery in California and select states via Shop.StoneBrewing.com.

About Stone Brewing

Founded in 1996, Stone pioneered the West Coast Style IPA, helping to fuel the modern craft beer revolution and inspire generations of hop fanatics. Today Stone operates breweries in Escondido, CA and Richmond, VA plus seven tap room and bistro locations. Stone offers a wide range of craft beers including its most popular Stone IPA, Stone Delicious IPA and Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager. The company’s long list of environmental efforts includes a LEED Silver Certification, world-class water reclamation and creative uses of spent grain. Stone has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice.

About USC Sports Properties

USC Sports Properties is the locally-based, exclusive multimedia rightsholder for USC Athletics. As a part of the Playfly Sports Properties portfolio of nearly 40 collegiate and high school state association properties, the USC Sports Properties team connects brands to USC’s passionate and deeply-rooted fanbase. Through broadcast, in-arena, experiential, and technology-based marketing and media solutions, Playfly Sports Properties’ fully scalable platform provides marketers unparalleled access to the most highly engaged audiences on a local and national level. Playfly Sports Properties is a division of Playfly Sports.

About Playfly Sports

Playfly Sports is a sports media, marketing and technology business centered around the team, league, brand, and network. Believing in ‘Fandom as a Service’ and focusing on a consultative, data driven approach to REACH, ENGAGE, MONETIZE AND MEASURE FANDOM gives the company’s partners and brands a competitive advantage. Playfly connects more than 2,000 brand partners with approximately 83% of all U.S. sports fans. Through the proprietary platform the business delivers scalable, data-oriented marketing, technology, and media solutions with capabilities including exclusive MMR management, sponsorship sales and activation, streaming, consulting, ticket/premium sales, all along with new revenue-driving platforms and technologies. Founded in September of 2020, Playfly Sports is now home to approximately 1,000 team members located across 43 U.S. states dedicated to maximizing the impact of highly passionate local sports fans.

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2023 Great American Beer Festival

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Tickets for the Great American Beer Festival® (GABF) are on sale now for the 2023 event. GABF, hosted by the Brewers Association, the trade organization representing small and independent craft brewers, will return to the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, on Sept. 21-23.

With a legacy of bringing the community together, dazzling tastebuds, and celebrating those who pour their hearts into every pint, the 2023 Great American Beer Festival is an event not to be missed. Over four (4) sessions, attendees will:

  • Taste a kaleidoscope of flavors, styles, and innovative beverages from hundreds of breweries across the nation

  • Receive a commemorative, collectible, tasting glass

  • Enjoy tons of entertainment, including live music, games, silent disco, karaoke, live music, and more

  • Partake in GABF traditions, such as the bagpiper event kick-off, giveaways, and daily costume contests

  • Speak to and learn from industry experts and brewers via seminars and other educational opportunities

Every year, GABF boasts the highest concentration of American beer on the planet. This year, beer lovers will enjoy beverages poured by the likes of Allagash Brewing Company, Breakside Brewery, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Russian River Brewing Co, The Lost Abbey, WeldWerks Brewing Co., and hundreds more. While the star of GABF is beer, attendees will be excited to know that this year, select breweries will also pour the nation’s finest “beyond beer” beverages: hard seltzer, kombucha, mead, and cider. If there’s a specific brewery you’d like to see at GABF, you can nominate them here.

For foodies attending GABF and those looking for a truly special experience, the VIP Experience ticket includes access to PAIRED®, which unites independent craft breweries with acclaimed chefs from across the country, resulting in uniquely designed small bites perfectly paired with craft beer found nowhere else at the festival.

For foodies attending GABF and those looking for a truly special experience, the VIP Experience ticket includes access to PAIRED®, which unites independent craft breweries with acclaimed chefs from across the country, resulting in uniquely designed small bites perfectly paired with craft beer found nowhere else at the festival.

Don’t miss this celebration of beer! Tickets are available for anyone of legal drinking age (21+) at www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com.

About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers, and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 5,600-plus U.S. breweries. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®, National Homebrew Competition, and American Craft Beer Week®. The BA publishes The New Brewer® magazine, and Brewers Publications® is the leading publisher of brewing literature in the U.S. Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com® and about homebrewing via the American Homebrewers Association®. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 13672 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.

Old Style Beer Is Coming Back to La Crosse, Wisconsin

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LA CROSSE, Wisconsin— This November, Pabst Brewing Company is delighted to announce the triumphant return of Old Style beer production to its birthplace of La Crosse, Wisconsin after a 20 year hiatus. Old Style is currently brewed in Milwaukee, WI. To commemorate this occasion, a series of celebrations will be hosted throughout September and November. Notably, La Crosse area bars will exclusively feature custom Old Style tap handles, bar signs, pint glasses, and flags, enriching the local ambiance with a unique Old Style touch.

“We are thrilled to finally bring Old Style home” said Adam Powers, Brand Manager for Old Style beer. “We’re eager to reconnect with the community that nurtured the origins of Old Style, and hope these events will honor the deep history this beer has with the people and culture of La Crosse. It’s time to turn those Old Style signs right side up and cheers its return.

”A testament to the rich brewing legacy of La Crosse, the history of Old Style dates back to 1902. It was initially launched as Old Times Lager by G. Heileman’s Brewery, but was renamed Old Style Lager shortly afterwards. Overcoming the challenges of the Prohibition era, the brand emerged stronger, gaining popularity across states, and even earning a sponsorship with the Chicago Cubs (1950s – 2013).

The City of La Crosse warmly welcomes the return. “We are always excited to welcome businesses to our fair city and now we can proclaim an enthusiastic ‘cheers’ to a ‘comeback kid,’” said City of La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds. “The homecoming of Old Style is a celebration of our brewing heritage and a testament to the timeless appeal of this beloved beer.”

“Old Style will be brewed at the City Brewery facility and we will embrace modern techniques while preserving the traditional craftsmanship that has defined Old Style for generations” said John Kimes SVP of Brewing Operations for Pabst Brewing Co. “The brewing operations team has decades of experience and is dedicated to ensuring that each sip delivers the same authentic taste and quality that patrons have come to love.

”The celebrations will kick-off with the World’s Largest Six-Pack Pub Crawl in La Crosse at the end of September during the city’s World Famous Oktoberfest celebration. To follow in November a special event will be hosted at the site of the World’s Largest Six-Pack, a national treasure and impressive beer storage system still in operation at City Brewery.

Old Style, boasting an ABV of 4.6%, is revered for its classic Pilsner profile: light in color and body, with medium aroma and bitterness, and a full-flavored yet delicate aftertaste. The return of Old Style to La Crosse not only symbolizes the revival of a legacy but also the enduring connection between the beer and its place of origin.

About Pabst

Founded in 1844, Pabst is one of North America’s largest privately held brewing companies. Pabst’s portfolio includes iconic brands with deep ties to America’s heritage, such as its flagship Pabst Blue Ribbon and others such as Lone Star, Rainier, Old Style, Stag, Stroh’s, and Old Milwaukee. Pabst embraces change and is continuously innovating to find new and interesting ways to connect with consumers both within and outside the beer category. Our company, our people, and our brands are committed to making a positive impact on communities across the country.

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Maui Brewing Co. and Patagonia Collaborate on Limited Beer

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KIHEI, Hawaii— Maui Brewing Company is introducing a Kernza Pilsner in partnership with Patagonia Provisions, the food and beverage business of outdoor apparel company Patagonia. The Kernza Pils is brewed with Organic Vienna and Organic Pilsner malts with Organic Talus and Organic Wakatu hops and Regenerative Organic Certified Kernza. The light-bodied beer is moderately bitter with 40 IBUs and balanced with sweetness that finishes dry. It is clear with pale straw to gold appearance and offers an elegant, floral hop aroma. Its ABV is 4.6%.

This beer is part of Patagonia’s recently launched program with 11 independent craft breweries across the United States to introduce lager-style beers brewed with Regenerative Organic Certified Kernza and organic ingredients. Each brewery partner’s beer is unique, exclusive to its geography, Patagonia-branded, and began regional availability in July. The objective of the Patagonia beer partnership program is to scale regenerative farming practices and perennial ingredients that improve soil health, restore ecosystems and help fight the climate crisis.

Kernza, a deeply-rooted regenerative perennial grain, has the potential to transform the brewing industry. Kernza stabilizes soil, requires minimal tilling, increases soil organic matter, and improves soil structure and water-holding capacity. Patagonia is confident that ongoing research will also confirm that Kernza draws down and stores more carbon in the soil than annual grains. When used in beer, it adds a deliciously rich but subtle nutty flavor. The Regenerative Organic Certified Kernza used in the Kernza Pils is sourced from A-Frame Farm, a 1,200-acre Regenerative Organic Certified farm in Madison, Minnesota.

Participating breweries and Patagonia will each contribute 1% of Patagonia beer sales to a local non-profit that supports environmental initiatives and meets 1% for the Planet eligibility criteria.

“At Maui Brewing Co, we are passionate about sustainability and environmental stewardship, and we believe in Patagonia’s commitment to those values. Collaborating with a brand that shares our vision allows us to amplify our impact and reach a broader audience,” stated Kim Brisson Lutz, VP of Operations for Maui Brewing Co. “The use of Kernza Malt in our beer collaboration is significant. By incorporating Kernza Malt into our beer, we are promoting sustainable farming practices and contributing to the development of a more resilient and ecologically sound food system. It also offers a distinct flavor profile and a story worth sharing with beer enthusiasts who are interested in supporting environmentally friendly options. It’s an opportunity to showcase how the choices we make as a brewery can have a positive impact on the environment.”

“Patagonia is thrilled to partner with Maui Brewing Company, the first off-grid brewery in the US that reuses almost everything while brewing their craft beers,” says Paul Lightfoot, Patagonia Provision’s General Manager. “Craft beer drinkers want delicious high-quality beer made with clean ingredients that are better for the planet, and we look forward to bringing that beer to Patagonia customers with Maui Brewing Company in Hawaii.”

Maui Brewing restaurant locations in Kihei, Kahana, and Ka’anapali (Maui) currently have this beer on draft, while its Kailua and Waikiki (Oahu) locations will be pouring the Kernza Pilsen the upcoming weeks.

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.

About Patagonia Provisions

Patagonia Provisions is the food and beverage business of Patagonia, bringing delicious and nutritious Patagonia-branded products to customers across the United States that help fight the climate crisis. Patagonia Provisions is committed to supporting farming and fishing practices that restore and regenerate the environment, rather than extract or deplete it. A certified B-Corporation, Patagonia is in business to save our home planet.

About Maui Brewing Company

Founded in 2005, Maui Brewing Company is Hawai’i’s largest craft brewery. MBC is based on Maui, with its grid-independent production brewery, full-service restaurant and tasting room in Kihei, as well as restaurants in Lahaina (Maui), Kailua (Oahu), and Waikiki (Oahu). Maui Brewing Company is available in 26 states, 1 district, and 3 international countries with more areas to follow.

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Boulevard Brewing Company Celebrates Upcoming Football Season With New Releases

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Kansas City, Missouri – With a fairytale ending to the 2022 football season, the Kansas City community is hoping to continue the winning streak well into its 2023 games. To celebrate this past epic run as well as the upcoming season, Boulevard Brewing Company is drumming up excitement with brand new releases, updated packaging and the renewal of a familiar partnership.

To celebrate football’s 2023 kickoff, Boulevard Brewing Company presents a limited-edition Imperial Wheat, Another Round. A testament to Kansas City’s greatness and love for its champions, Another Round is smooth and refreshing at 8% ABV. The special release beer will be available in 750ml bottles for a limited time only.

Additionally, just in time for prime tailgating, Boulevard Brewing Company is releasing a brand-new variant of its beloved Unfiltered Wheat, Strawberry Wheat. Throughout August, the limited release bursting with sweet strawberry flavor, will be available in six-packs and 12-packs. And, a fellow Boulevard up and comer, BLVD ’89, is getting a Kansas City-inspired makeover. BLVD ’89, Boulevard’s Missouri-made crisp and clean lager, will dress up for the season in new can and bottle boxes featuring Kansas City’s hometown colors.

“Boulevard Brewing Company is excited to offer football fans across the Midwest the best lineup of beers and seltzers for all of their tailgating and game-watching adventures,” said Brian Reames, VP of marketing at Boulevard. “We are excited to partner with Kansas City’s favorite ‘Protector of Tailgates,’ Creed Humphrey, again as our Boulevard brand ambassador for tailgating. Nothing beats a refreshing Boulevard beverage while cheering on Creed and Kansas City’s favorite football team.”

This year, Humphrey will help celebrate Kansas City’s best tailgates and raise money for KC Pet Project along the way. Each week of the season, football fans can tag Creed Humphrey and Boulevard on social media to show off their tailgate, no matter where it may be. Whether fans are prepping for the game at home, at their local bar or at Arrowhead Stadium, Humphrey will pick his favorite to win an autographed Boulevard item and be entered to win a grand prize. Boulevard will also make a $100 charitable donation each week in the winner’s name to KC Pet Project.

“I am excited to run it back with Kansas City’s favorite craft brewery, Boulevard Brewing Company, in year two of Protecting Tailgates all across Chiefs Kingdom,” said Creed Humphrey. “Boulevard beers and seltzers are the perfect choice for any tailgates. I am also excited to raise money once again for KC Pet Project with my annual Tailgate Gala held at Boulevard Brewery.”

For more information, visit https://www.boulevard.com/protectyourtailgate/

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