Dow Scoggins

BERTHOUD, Colo. — As the sun hangs lower in the sky each day City Star head brewer John Way tracks how far it shines inside through the taproom’s new huge south-facing windows. Solar noon is celebrated daily and well known by all those who work in the brewhouse mid-day with John. Fascinated by the Winter Solstice John Way originally crafted Widow Maker, his darkest beer of the year, with the darkest day of the year in mind.

The sun won’t be shining tomorrow in Colorado during the Winter Solstice (yay snow!) but Widow Maker will be as it flows from the taps. At 2 pm Widow Maker Imperial Stout will be released on draft and in 22oz bottles, side by side with French Roast Widow Maker and Vanilla Bean Widow Maker. Bottles will be for sale at $12-15/bottle with a 1 case limit per person of each beer. 10oz pours, tasters, and flights of all three imperial stouts will be available to enjoy in the taproom.

More about the beers:
Widow Maker is a colossal Imperial Stout. This nod to the Winter Solstice boasts a big, bold and complex flavor profile of dark roasted malt, chocolate, and dark fruit. Smooth, rich and ready to sip and savor.

The French Roast variant of Widow Maker Imperial Stout is infused with Denver based Dazbog’s French Roast coffee. Two pounds of coarse ground coffee per barrel is added to the conditioned beer for a robust 24-hour cold brew. Bold coffee mingles with the imperial stout’s dark roasted malt, chocolate, and dark fruit flavors. Not for the faint-hearted. Caffeine included.

The Vanilla Bean variant of Widow Maker Imperial Stout is infused with organic Bourbon vanilla beans from Madagascar. The conditioned beer is dosed with a tincture made in house of the scraped vanilla pods and tiny seeds. Sweet, dark roasted malt, chocolate, and dark fruit notes showcase the delicate vanilla flavor and aroma.

To date, City Star Brewing has only bottled barrel-aged beers. The bottle release of Widow Maker is the brewery’s first non-barrel aged beer to be packaged. As supply is very limited bottles of Widow Maker and variants will only be sold out of the downtown Berthoud taproom. More specialty bottle releases can be expected in 2018.

About City Star Brewing
City Star began slinging beer in downtown Berthoud, CO in 2012 and has since become a destination for the community and craft beer enthusiasts. At our small town brewery, we are handcrafting small-batch ales and lagers on our mighty 3.5 barrel brew system. We are dedicated to brewing high-quality beer that we enjoy drinking, beer you can hang your hat on.

PHILADELPHIA – Lyft has partnered with the Brewers of Pennsylvania to provide affordable, reliable transportation to 139 member breweries across Pennsylvania. As the official rideshare partner of the Brewers of Pennsylvania, Lyft will provide brewery employees, guests, and patrons a reliable ride home when they need one. The partnership also offers beer aficionados a safe way to tour multiple breweries.

To celebrate the partnership, Lyft is offering 30 percent off two rides to/from any of the 139Brewers of Pennsylvania member breweries with code BREWERSPA between 12/24 – 12/30.

“Pennsylvania is home to some of the best breweries in the world, from America’s oldest brewery to some of the most creative minds in craft beer,” said Andrew Woolf, General Manager of Lyft Pennsylvania. “As the Brewers of Pennsylvania’s official rideshare partner, we’re thrilled to be helping people safely experience the Pennsylvania Beer Trail or even just grab a pint at their local brewery, while offering area drivers increased opportunity to earn.”

Established in 2011, the Brewers of Pennsylvania represents breweries from all corners of the state, including legacy brewers and ambitious entrepreneurs. The organization works in service of Pennsylvania consumers and the brewing industry to promote the interests of craft brewers.

“Pennsylvania produces some of the very best craft beer in the world, and as people enjoy these unique and tasty products throughout this holiday season, they can celebrate knowing they have a safe, reliable ride to and from BOP member breweries with Lyft,” said Dan LaBert,Executive Director of the Brewers of Pennsylvania. “We’re excited to partner with Lyft, and anticipate beer lovers from aficionados to weekend samplers in all parts of the state to take advantage of discounted rides as they head to a familiar or new Pennsylvania brewery.”

For more information on the Brewers of Pennsylvania, visit http://www.brewersofpa.org/.

About Lyft
Lyft was founded in June 2012 by Logan Green and John Zimmer to improve people’s lives with the world’s best transportation. Lyft is the fastest growing rideshare company in the U.S and is available to 95 percent of the US population. Lyft is preferred by drivers and passengers for its safe and friendly experience, and its commitment to effecting positive change for the future of our cities.

About the Brewers of Pennsylvania
The Brewers of Pennsylvania is a 501c6 trade association that brings together leaders of Pa.-based breweries in order to promote and protect the brewing industry in the state. The Brewers of Pennsylvania, a strong and influential organization, serves the consuming public of Pa. by encouraging brand diversity in the market. BOP members employ an estimated 10,000employees earning $296 million in wages and generating $1.1 billion in direct economic benefits to communities throughout the state. Its signature annual event is the popular Meeting of the Malts. #supportPAbeer

JUNEAU, Alaska — In 2018, Alaskan Brewing will be changing up their rotating seasonal offerings, launching a new focus on three products that will not be strictly tied to seasons. The new packages and beers will concentrate on beer style and the Alaskan brew crew’s dedication to local ingredients and brews that are long-standing fan favorites. The new rotating beers will feature labels with iconic symbols of Alaska, with the Snowy Owl representing Spruce IPA debuting this January.

“We have been brewing with Sitka spruce tips for years, and we started getting interested in how well they can complement the hop flavors,” said Plant Manager Curtis Holmes. “In the past we’ve used spruce tips in sweeter beers, which brings out a citrus or berry quality, but when used in hoppy beers like IPAs, we found the evergreen and woody character played a more prominent role in producing the complexity of flavors and aromas in our IPA.”

The Snowy Owl on the label is a symbol of Alaska’s cold winter and early spring months, and has been attributed with mythical properties, seemingly appearing from out of thin air on frosty cold days because of its ability to fly silently. Slightly bitter and bracing, a lot like January in Alaska, Spruce IPA is imminently drinkable, with aromas of pine and tart berries. The taste maintains a berry like, fruity, slightly floral and tart quality, but the bitterness brings out the similarities to the hops.

“Over the past few years, as we’ve brewed more beer varieties with Sitka spruce tips, we analyzed how Sitka spruce tips compare to different hop varieties, and found that there are many similarities between spruce tips and hops,” said David Wilson, Quality Assurance Manager. “Both ingredients contain B-Pinene, which imparts a citrus, pine character. We try to brew with local ingredients whenever possible, and it’s been pretty cool to discover that this indigenous Alaskan tree has some comparable properties to hops.”

Wilson noted that Spruce has been used as an ingredient in brewing for hundreds of years. In some instances, entire boughs are soaked during the brewing process. By using only newly budded springtime spruce tips from the Sitka Spruce tree, which have a delicate citrus, sweet character, Alaskan Brewing spruce beers have an unmistakable aroma and flavor.

“We think it’s a great fit to expand our IPA selection with Spruce IPA this spring – with a nod to our Alaskan roots,” Wilson said.

A change coming later this year will be in name only – Alaskan Summer, a Kölsch-Style Ale that has been a fan favorite for over 15 years, will be renamed to Alaskan Kölsch. The beer’s recipe, iconic Orca and vibrant orange label, all stay the same. In the Fall of 2018, fans can look for a brand new seasonal offering – Alaskan Cranberry Tart Ale, which was inspired by Alaskan high bush cranberries and features Sitka spruce tips in a refreshing wheat-based beer.

Spruce IPA will be available where Alaskan beer is sold through April 2017.

For more information and updates, check out Alaskan Brewing Co. online at www.alaskanbeer.com.

Top 10 Imperial Red Ales
This Top Ten Imperial Red list is from the results of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and RateBeer.com. Imperial Red Ales are deep amber to dark copper/reddish brown. May exhibit a small amount of chill haze at cold temperatures. Fruity-ester aroma is medium. Hop aroma is intense, arising from any variety of hops. Medium to high caramel malt character is present. Hop flavor is intense, but balanced with other beer characters. May use any variety of hops. Hop bitterness is intense. Alcohol content is very high and of notable character. Complex alcohol flavors may be evident. Body is full. ABV: 8.0%-10.6%. IBU: 55-85

1. Paradocs Red IIPA – Raised Grain Brewing Co. – Wisconsin
2. Knuckle Sandwich – Bootlegger’s Brewery – California
3. Screaming Hand Imperial Amber – Strike Brewing – California
4. Wreak Havoc – Bootstrap Brewing – Colorado
5. reDANKulous – Backstage Series – Founders Brewing – Michigan
6. Nugget Nectar – Tröegs Brewing Company – Pennsylvania
7. Hop Head Red Ale – Green Flash Brewing – California
8. Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale – Lagunitas Brewing – California
9. Hog Heaven: Imperial Red IPA – Avery Brewing – Colorado
10. G’Knight Imperial Red Ale – Oskar Blues Brewery – Colorado

ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Thanks to an incredibly hands-on approach to distribution, fresh Stone Brewing beers are now regularly available in select Chinese markets. Answering the impassioned cry of craft beer fans, Stone designed an uninterrupted cold chain delivery approach from San Diego, all the way to bars, restaurants and beer shops around China. This capability positions the brewery as a pioneer, offering China the most diverse, innovative and fresh portfolio of craft beer from the States.

While Chinese beer fans are already familiar with many US brands, including Stone, the market has had little access to fresh, well-handled craft beer. Much of the beer currently available in China has been mishandled via the grey market. These beers are shipped warm and are often long out-of-code with the “enjoy by” dates removed. Fresh Stone beer always boasts bold and complex flavor profiles, preserved by proper cold chain distribution standards.

Now, through special efforts, Stone beer is being regularly shipped to China via its cold, expedited supply chain. The beer’s temperatures are tracked throughout the entire shipping process, ultimately arriving at bars and restaurants equally committed to freshness. Each of these destinations is hand-selected by local Stone Brewing team members for their commitment to maintaining the quality of the beer in storage and in serving. Stone’s first shipment of fresh beer landed in early October to great local excitement. The Stone team celebrated the momentous accomplishment with a series of events at which fans had the exclusive opportunity to sip the freshest Stone beers China has ever known alongside the co-founders and CEO.

“I returned from China energized and blown away by the welcome we received,” said Greg Koch, Stone Brewing executive chairman & co-founder. “Our reputation had evidently preceded us, and I loved being there as our fans enjoyed the bold and complex aromas and flavors of über fresh Stone beers for the first time.”

Whether at home or abroad, always check for the “bottled / canned on” date and “enjoy by” date clearly printed on all Stone beers. If those dates are missing, the beer’s quality may be compromised.

Some of the locations throughout China now stocking fresh, cold, Stone beers include:

• Beijing: Liangshi Brewery, Dao Taproom
• Shanghai: Daga Brewpub, The Cannery
• Guangzhou: Tipsy Bar & Restaurant, Bravo, The South 12 Craft Beer Bar
• Chengdu: Hugo Brewpub, Foam Ranger Taproom
• Xi’an: Xian Brewery Taproom
• Shenzhen: The Pub
• Wuhan: Dazhimen Beer Restaurant, Commune

About Stone Brewing
Founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996, the groundbreaking San Diego-based Stone Brewing is the 9th largest craft brewer in the United States. Recognized as an award-winning, industry leader, Stone has been listed on the Inc. 500 | 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list 12 times, has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice. The multifaceted company is the first American craft brewer to independently build, own and operate their own brewery in Europe (Berlin, Germany), and also opened a production brewery in Richmond, Virginia in 2016. Known for its bold, flavorful and largely hop-centric beers, Stone has earned a reputation for brewing outstanding, unique beers while maintaining an unwavering commitment to sustainability, business ethics, philanthropy and the art of brewing…and pledging never, ever, sell out to the man.  For more information on Stone Brewing, please visit stonebrewing.com or the company’s social media sites: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Brewery Ommegang is excited to introduce a new evolution in the brewery’s mission to blend the artistry of Belgian brewing traditions with a typically non-Belgian beer style. Candi Stout fuses rich roasted malts with Belgian candi sugar, bittersweet cocoa nibs, and a special strain of Belgian ale yeast. The result is a delightfully drinkable blend of a Belgian-style dark ale and a traditional stout.

“Candi Stout is unique in that the dark candi sugar lessens the body a bit and reduces the need for higher amounts of roasted grains so the beer drinks slightly lighter and less roasted than a typical stout,” said Ommegang Brewmaster Phil Leinhart. “This is a great beer for the cold months ahead, and we’re as excited to share this new beer with fans as we are to drink it this winter.”

Candi Stout is brewed with two-row, flaked barley, Pale Chocolate, Special B, aromatic, Midnight Wheat, and roasted barley malts. Candi syrup and cocoa nibs are added to create a smoothness and lightness of body not typically associated with stouts. Hopped with Styrian Golding and Saaz hops, and fermented with a Belgian abbey ale yeast, the beer’s ABV is 6.7%.

The beer pours a deep, dark black with a thick tan head. Dark chocolate and cocoa lead a complex aroma with subtle hints of dark fruit and spicy yeast. The flavor opens with mild sweetness, giving way to rich chocolate, and mild roast. The use of Belgian yeast and the extra dose of fermentables from candi syrup contribute a smooth body and finish, resulting in impressive drinkability, despite the beer’s complexity.Candi Stout is a perfect match for any variety of chocolate desserts, or on the savory side, with roasted or grilled meats, roasted root vegetables, and aged cheeses.

There will be a one-time release of Candi Stout in 750ml bottles on Saturday, December 23 at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown and in the month of January in Wegmans, Total Wine, and Costco stores in the eastern part of the United States. Candi Stout on draft will be available in The Pub by Wegmans locations in February and nationwide in March, for a limited time.

About Brewery Ommegang
Brewery Ommegang opened in 1997 to brew imaginative craft beers across a variety of styles, with particular emphasis and respect for Belgian brewing traditions. Ommegang brews nine ales year-round, as well as an extensive and innovative range of seasonal and specialty ales. The beers have won a national following by connoisseurs of fine beer and are distributed in 46 states and internationally. Ommegang is located on a 136-acre farmstead in Cooperstown, New York and offers free daily tours and inexpensive tastings as well as a 75-seat café, a well-stocked brewery store, and an annual calendar of public events including a summer concert series and a legendary beer festival, Belgium Comes to Cooperstown. Ommegang is open every day of the year except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and occasional special event days. For more information, contactwww.ommegang.com. Ommegang is a member of the Duvel family of fine beers.

WORCESTER, Mass. — In honor of the darkest day of the year – December 21 – Dunkin’ Donuts and Wormtown Brewery today announce a partnership to launch DDark Roasted Brew, the first beer to be brewed with Dunkin’ Donuts Dark Roast beans. This decadent stout-style beer features full-roasted coffee flavor reminiscent of freshly-ground beans with a creamy mouthfeel. DDark Roasted Brew will be available exclusively for purchase on draught at Wormtown Brewery’s Tap Room in Worcester beginning at the winter solstice, 11:28 a.m. on December 21, 2017.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Wormtown to launch DDark Roasted Brew,” said Rob Branca, a local Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owner in Worcester, MA. “Worcester is home to one of the first Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants so we know how much residents love the brand and our coffee. This partnership with Wormtown continues to drive innovation in Worcester and we are excited to brew up something extra bold to help our loyal guests to celebrate the darkest day of the year.”

To celebrate this special release, Wormtown Brewery and Rob Branca will be joining forces to donate $11,500 to the Worcester Food Bank to help the local community make the most out of the holiday season.

“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Dunkin’ Donuts on our latest beer,” said Scott Drake, Head Brewer at Wormtown Brewery. “We’re confident this beer is going to be an instant favorite for New Englanders this holiday season, and the fact that we’re able to give back to Worcester-area families through this partnership just makes it that much better.”

Dunkin’ Donuts and Wormtown fans are invited to attend a ceremonial keg tapping event during the winter solstice at 11:28 a.m. on December 21, 2017 at Wormtown Brewery’s Tap Room, located at 72 Shrewsbury Street. Guests will have the chance to enjoy special donut and beer pairings created by the Dunkin’ Donuts Culinary Team, like the Double Chocolate Cake Donut with DDark Roasted Brew, where the smooth body of the beer complements the creaminess of the chocolate icing, finishing with notes of Dark Roast Coffee, malt and chocolate cake. Plus, the first one hundred guests will receive a special gift bag to help celebrate the official start of the winter season.

Follow @DunkinBoston and @WormtownBrewery for additional details about the DDark Roasted Brew.

About Dunkin’ Donuts
Founded in 1950, Dunkin’ Donuts is America’s favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin’ Donuts is a market leader in the hot regular/decaf/flavored coffee, iced coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories. Dunkin’ Donuts has earned a No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for 11 years running. The company has more than 12,400 restaurants in 46 countries worldwide. Based in Canton, Mass., Dunkin’ Donuts is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) family of companies. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.

About Wormtown Brewery
Wormtown Brewery began in a small ice cream shop on Park Avenue in Worcester, MA in 2010. In 2015, after five years crammed in that location and 13 months of construction, Wormtown Brewery opened the doors to its new location, in the heart of Worcester, on Shrewsbury Street where it continues to grow today. Wormtown Brewery is dedicated to putting “A Piece of Mass in Every Glass” and works with many local farms as they believe sourcing ingredients locally ensures that they are the freshest possible for the freshest beer. For more information, visit www.wormtownbrewery.com.

Nickel Brook announced today that its highly-anticipated Kentucky Bastard Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout will be available in time for the holiday season, hitting store shelves in early December. One of the brewery’s most complex beers, it has consistently been one of the top-rated beers on Ratebeer.com, and has received multiple awards in both Canada and the United States. It also received a perfect score in the Ontario Craft Beer Guide.

Kentucky Bastard is aged for a full year in Kentucky bourbon barrels, creating a truly artisan product. Hundreds of barrels are blended to create the final beer every winter, which is bottled and wax-sealed by hand to encourage further cellar-ageing. The resulting beer blends rich chocolate, coffee and dark fruit notes from the stout with vanilla, oak and warming alcohol imparted by the bourbon barrels. At 12% ABV, it is perfect as a dessert beer, enjoyed by a fire or with a fine cigar, or to celebrate a special occasion.

“Kentucky Bastard was originally a small-batch experiment with some barrels we were able to get our hands on six years ago,” said brewmaster Ryan Morrow. “We’ve continued to refine it over the years, and we’re proud that so many now consider it one of the best bourbon-barrel aged stouts in the market.”

This year’s batch will be released in 500ml wax-sealed bottles. “We can only make a limited amount of Kentucky Bastard every year, and we wanted to give as many people as possible the chance to try this incredible beer” explained co-founder Peter Romano. “It sells out quickly every year, so switching to a smaller bottle allows us to get more bottles out there for people to enjoy.”

Bottles will be available at the brewery Bottle Shop, and wherever exceptional beers are sold while supplies last.

Boulder, CO • December 13, 2017 – Strong brewery growth, increased beer tourism and the launch of the independent craft brewer seal—with more than 2,700 craft brewers signed on—were all part of a watershed year for craft beer in 2017. The Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers—looks back on the defining beer moments of the year.

“Craft brewers continue to thrive, if at a slower pace, fueled by a passionate community dedicated to bringing innovation, jobs and beer across America—on Main Street and beyond,” said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. “Today, 83 percent of the population lives within 10 miles of a local brewery, meaning that the positive impact of breweries is being felt in communities all over the country.”

Of note in 2017:

Steady Growth: 6,000 breweries were in operation during 2017—with 98 percent of them small and independent craft brewers.

Jobs and Economic Impact: The BA’s Economic Impact Report, a biennial analysis featuring economic data of craft brewing for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, showed that craft brewers contributed $67.8 billion to the U.S. economy in 2016, a 21.7 percent increase from 2014. Craft brewers were responsible for more than 456,373 full-time equivalent jobs, a 7.5 percent increase from 2014, with 128,768 of those jobs directly at breweries and brewpubs.

Independent Craft Brewer Seal: To help educate beer lovers about which beers are independently produced, in June the BA launched a seal touting independent craft brewers. Featuring an iconic beer bottle shape flipped upside down, the seal captures the spirit with which craft brewers have upended beer, while informing beer lovers they are choosing a beer from a brewery that is independently owned. To date, more than 2,700 small and independent craft brewing companies, representing more than 75 percent of domestic volume, have signed on to use the seal.

Can’t Beat ’Em? Buy ’Em: Take Craft Back, a tongue-in-cheek crowdfunding campaign to raise $213 billion to purchase Anheuser-Busch InBev, was launched to draw attention to the lack of transparency and growing disparity in marketplace influence between small and independent brewers and Big Beer. Nearly 12,000 craft beer lovers have pledged their support.

Bipartisan Beer Support: The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA), championed by Reps. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) and Ron Kind (D-WI) and Sen. Bob Portman (R-OH), was reintroduced in the 115^th Congress and has reached a majority of support in both houses. If passed, the bill—which was added as an amendment to the larger Senate Tax Reform Bill in November—would significantly reduce the federal excise tax on the first 60,000 barrels of any domestic brewery that produces fewer than 2 million barrels a year and would lower the federal excise tax on barrelage up to 6 million barrels.

Homebrewing Heats Up: There are currently an estimated 1.1 million homebrewers in the U.S., and in 2017 homebrewers produced more than 1.4 million barrels of beer—equaling one percent of total U.S. beer production. The National Homebrew Competition, hosted by the American Homebrewers Association, continues to be the world’s largest beer competition with 8,618 entries from 3,530 homebrewers worldwide.

Beercations and Tap Rooms Are Boomin’: Beer tourism is growing, with the average craft drinker visiting 3.5 breweries near their homes and 2.5 breweries within two hours’ driving distance. Plus 64 percent surveyed said visiting a brewery/tap room was a new or different beer drinking occasion, indicating brewery visits have created a new sales channel for beer.

#GivingBack: American craft brewers are not just great at making flavorful beer—they are also a force for good. Craft brewers donated an estimated $73.4 million to charitable causes in 2016, up from $71 million in 2014.

“This has been an incredible year for the craft beer community with both challenges and successes. Emphasized more than ever before is the need to advocate for and educate beer drinkers on the importance and value of craft brewers to our nation and our culture,” said Julia Herz, craft beer program director, Brewers Association. “What is especially gratifying is watching the positive impacts beer tourism and independent breweries are having on local communities.”

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 4,000-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^SM, Great American Beer Festival^®, Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America^®, SAVOR℠: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Homebrew Con, 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.