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barrel aged

Dragon’s Milk Announces Packaging Refresh, New Beers, RTS Cocktail

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HOLLAND, Michigan – Dragon’s Milk announced a full flight of upgrades to its bourbon barrel-based brand family of beer and high-proof bourbon, including new packaging and new products.

First, fans of the #1 selling American-made stout will notice a completely new look on the shelves. The signature black-and-white packaging, along with the iconic dragon, have evolved to better showcase the attributes that consumers have come to expect from the Dragon’s Milk brand family; namely: bourbon barrel-aging and potent ABV in a 4-pack bottle format.

“We’re committed to providing a premium beer experience to our fans, and our new packaging more accurately reflects that goal. The new 4-pack carriers maximize visibility and readability on shelf, and create a beautiful billboard of brands when placed side-by-side. Increasing the height of the carriers is also better for the beer, protecting it from harmful light exposure. The dragon has never looked better and is truly ready to fly!” said Dominic Bergquist, Brand Manager for the Dragon’s Milk portfolio.

Coinciding with the launch of new packaging is the release of two new beers into the Dragon’s Milk brand family: Crimson Keep and Tales of Gold. Crimson Keep is a Bourbon Barrel-Aged Red Ale, and Tales of Gold is a Bourbon Barrel-Aged Golden Ale with Milk Sugar. Both brews tout superior drinkability at a potent 11% ABV, in-line with the signature stout. These new brands expand the Dragon’s Milk family into familiar style groups ripe for innovation. Both beers will see distribution across the brand’s footprint beginning in March.

Rounding out beer updates is the annual release of the highly touted Dragon’s Milk Triple Mash. Aged for one year in bourbon barrels, Triple Mash clocks in at 17% ABV. Also featuring exciting new packaging, this beer will release in New Holland Brewing Co.’s Holland and Grand Rapids, MI brewpubs on Saturday March 18, and will receive limited distribution in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin shortly after.

Finally, the Dragon’s Milk bourbon portfolio continues to grow. Following on the success of the first stouted-bourbon, Beer Barrel Bourbon, Dragon’s Milk Ready-to-Serve Old Fashioned cocktail will premiere in a 375ml bottle. The Old Fashioned is made with Beer Barrel Bourbon, house-made bitters, orange peel oil, and their signature Simple Syrup which is crafted by reducing down the flagship Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout into a syrup and adding sugar. The syrup adds an incredibly unique and delicious savory and sweet quality to the cocktail. The Old Fashioned will be available in late April and will be sold throughout Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Kentucky in Meijer stores and local retailers.

About Dragon’s Milk

Throughout the ages, Dragon’s Milk has been a term used to describe potent ales and elixirs worthy of a celebration, a reward at the end of the journey. New Holland Brewing Co. is proud to continue that tradition today with the Dragon’s Milk family of brands. What began as a single barrel of beer in 2001 has now become a full portfolio of legendary beverages, led by Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout, the #1 selling American-made stout.

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Bonfire Brewing Introduces Community Creator Series

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EAGLE, CO— Bonfire Brewing graces Colorado with a spring surprise from the Vail Valley. Fueled by the inspiration of their community and power of a new automated labeler, the brewery began brewing, packaging and distributing a line of new limited-release beers as part of their new Community Creator Series last month.

Bonfire is kicking off the Community Creator series with the limited release of Après-Cot, an Apricot Blonde Ale previously a draft-only offering. Après-Cot is a delicate, smooth American blonde ale brewed with nugget hops, munich and white wheat malts, and real apricot purée to create a balanced and easy drinking beer perfect to throw back at the après of any activity.

Après-Cot is available in 6 packs of 12 oz. cans at Bonfire’s tasting room and select local accounts now, with limited statewide shipments by the end of May and through the summer.

Following the release of Après-Cot, Bonfire Brewing plans to continue the Community Creator series with the release of Pink-I Raspberry IPA, followed in the fall by GrapepHruit Kettle Sour IPA, and the return of the Rope Drop Hazy IPA in 12 oz. for a limited time. More creations are certain to follow.

For more information about Bonfire Brewing or the Community Creator series, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT BONFIRE BREWING
Craft enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers gather around Bonfire Brewing in Eagle, Colorado, where the beers are driven by quality, curiosity, and community. Founded in 2010, Bonfire continues on their path of sustainable growth with cans of their year-round beers available in liquor stores and restaurants across Colorado. Gather ‘round Bonfire online at bonfirebrewing.com.

Introducing Napa Parabola: A Barrel-Aged Icon With A Cult Wine Twist

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Paso Robles, California – Fine wine meets a Firestone Walker legend with the inaugural release of Napa Parabola, a Russian imperial stout matured in French oak wine barrels from one of Napa Valley’s most prestigious cult wineries.

“Being an avid wine drinker, I always thought that Parabola would lend itself well to red wine barrels,” said Eric Ponce, Firestone Walker’s barrel program manager. “It was something that was always in the back of my mind, so when these rare wine barrels became available, I jumped at the opportunity. The winery didn’t want to be named—all I can say is that these barrels held some of the finest wines you’ll find in Napa Valley.”

The result is a singular beer that marries the French oak qualities of premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot barrels with Parabola’s own signature notes of dark fruit, tobacco and chewy roasted malts. The oak contributes a satiny texture with notes of spice and toasted coconut, while the residual wine character layers in flavors of cedar, clove, mocha, ripe berry and dried chili pepper.

Napa Parabola is rolling out to all Firestone Walker markets starting this week. It comes on the heels of the 2019 vintage release of the regular bourbon barrel-aged Parabola last month.

Parabola is Firestone Walker’s most notorious bourbon barrel-aged beer, with a lineage that dates back to 2006. With a rich, roasty intensity that can stand up to a variety of complementary flavors, Parabola lends itself to variant iterations. Earlier small-batch variants have included Coconut Rye Parabola and Parabajava—but Napa Parabola is the first variant to reach all Firestone Walker markets as a limited vintage release.

“While boozy bourbon notes are predominant in our regular Parabola, Napa Parabola offers an entirely different dimension of French oak character, and the wine spices and berry flavors marry perfectly with the beer’s roasted malts and chocolaty aromatics,” Ponce said.

About Firestone Walker Brewing Company:
Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a pioneering regional craft brewery founded in 1996 and located on the coast of California. 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. For more information: FirestoneBeer.com.