Firestone Walker Brewing Announces Plans to Discontinue Current Proprietor’s Reserve Series

Posted on by mashingin

fswbottlesFirestone Walker Brewing Company (Paso Robles, California) has officially confirmed that the three beers within their Proprietor’s Reserve Series – Double Jack Double IPA, Opal Farmhouse Ale and Wookey Jack Black Rye IPA – will be retired by the end of 2016.

Created as a series dedicated to smaller-batch standout beers, Firestone Walker’s Proprietor’s Reserve has been represented incredibly well by Double Jack Double IPA, Opal Farmhouse Ale and Wookey Jack Black Rye IPA over the last several years. These brewery favorites have acted as the perfect offerings to bridge the gap between the accessible year-round and seasonal brews within the Lion & Bear Series and the limited release, barrel-aged beers of the Proprietor’s Vintage Series.  Sadly, times have changed and the current craft beer landscape calls for breweries to now constantly awe fans with newly created, innovative offerings.  Since the Proprietor’s Reserve Series was created for these very reasons, it only seems fitting that it falls victim to its initial intention.

If you happen to be unfamiliar with the beers of the Proprietor’s Reserve, here are the full brewery descriptions of all three:

 

  • fswdjDouble Jack Double IPA – “With Double Jack, we amped up our signature Union Jack IPA to create an aggressively hopped, flawlessly balanced and dangerously drinkable imperial IPA. Double Jack opens up with bright grapefruit and tangerine American hop aromas, courtesy of liberal dry hopping with Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial and Simcoe. Undertones of stone fruit are revealed upon first sip, followed by the essence of blue basil and pine. A sturdy pale and crystal malt backbone brings balance to high hop intensity.” ABV – 9.5%  IBUs – 85
  • fswopalOpal Farmhouse Ale – “Opal is an unfiltered interpretation of the classic saisons that originated from the 18th century farmhouses of southern Belgium’s Wallonia region. In true agrarian beer fashion, Opal is loaded with rustic grains and spicy Belgian yeastiness, with a hazy namesake opalescence in the glass. Into this mix comes a dimension of dry-­‐hopped brightness, layering in notes of fragrant citrus and tropical fruit. The result is a rootsy, rustic saison that brings down the farmhouse, merging Belgian tradition with West Coast style.”  ABV – 7.5%  IBUs – 35
  • fswwjWookey Jack Black Rye IPA – “A riff on the familiar Black IPA style, Wookey Jack is gnarly on the outside yet refined on the inside. Malted Rye and a dash of Cara Rye impart a spicy grain quality to the palate, while double dry-­‐hopping with Citra and Amarillo hops brings a citrusy dimension to the aroma profile. The brewing team also claims to have incorporated a bit of “Wookey Dust” into the recipe. The beer is black in color, but if you close your eyes and taste it, you’ll say it’s a true IPA. Wookey Jack is unfined and unfiltered to retain its woolly natural texture and character.”  ABV – 8.3%  IBUs – 80

“It’s a bittersweet occasion,” said David Walker. “Each of these beers was forward-thinking and representative of some of our best brewing efforts, but they are now stepping aside to make room for the next generation.”

Added Adam Firestone, “This was a hard decision made for the sake of innovation. These beers were born of that ideal, and now they are yielding to it.”

The elimination of the current Proprietor’s Reserve Series supplies the brewers at Firestone Walker with a “brand new canvas” where they can express themselves with the creation of some exciting new beers.  Details on this new direction and these new beers have yet to be announced, and the brewery is being quite hush-hush on the matter at this time.  As soon as we have those details, we will be sure to update you with them.

Although they enter retirement, this is not exactly the end for Double Jack, Opal and Wookey Jack.  Fans of these fantastic beers can take solace in knowing that Brewmaster Matt Brynildson has said these offerings will most assuredly return at some point in the future as “curtain call” limited releases or as “reimagined” takes on these now classic recipes.  As for now, all we can do is enjoy them while we have them.  Those who are fond of Double Jack, Opal and Wookey Jack should get their fill while they can, and those who wish to try them for the first time need to secure their bottles before they disappear by the end of the year.  Prost!

Boulevard Brewing Co. Launches Cranberry Orange Radler

Posted on by mashingin

cor_12canBoulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, Missouri) recently announced that Cranberry Orange Radler has officially headed out to shelves as a new Seasonal release.

With Ginger Lemon Radler earning nearly instantaneous fan-favorite status when it first debuted in 2014, it was just a matter of time before Boulevard Brewing Co. took another swing at the wildly popular beverage known as the Radler.  Although some may give it recognition as a full-blown beer style while others may call it a beer cocktail, what can be said for sure is that the Radler is an ultra-thirst quencher that combines citrus juice or soda with an easy-drinking base beer.  This time around, Boulevard approaches this beverage by having Cranberry Orange Radler incorporate – spoiler alert – the refreshing flavors of cranberry and orange.  The citrus and slightly bready qualities of the base Unfiltered Wheat Beer get a boost thanks to a “blood orange character [that] boldly manifests in the flavor giving way to cranberry tartness.” Hazy and lightly pink in appearance, this brew comes together at just 4.05% ABV and 12 IBUs.

Cranberry Orange Radler officially became available in the Greater Kansas City area on Tuesday, October 11.  Other select cities within Boulevard Brewing Co.’s distribution area will see shipments of these 6-packs of 12 oz. cans soon.  The brewery did say the areas that previously received shipments of Ginger Lemon Radler stand the best chance of seeing cans of Cranberry Orange Radler (luckily, this includes areas of Alabama and Florida), and that fans should reach out to their local retailers, bars and distributors to request this seasonal offering.  Get on the phone or swing by your local, put in that request, and make it happen.  Prost!

Vital Information for Cranberry Orange Radler from Boulevard Brewing Co.

Release – Seasonal, launch in Mid-October 2016
Style – Radler
ABV – 4.05%
IBUs – 12
Aroma – Sweet orange with a hint of cranberry
Malt – Slightly sweet, bready flavor
Hops – Low bitterness and flavor
Balance – Bright citrus
Body – Light
Food Pairings – bleu cheese, roasted poultry, spiced pears & spinach salad
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans
Beer Finder – https://www.boulevard.com/beers/beer-finder/

 

Harpoon Brewery Releases Mixed 30-pack to Celebrate 30th Anniversary

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harpoon30Harpoon Brewery (Boston, Massachusetts) recently announced that they have released the Harpoon 30-Pack in honor of the brewery reaching the milestone of 30 years of craft brewing.

The number of stories created and shared at a brewery that has been operating for 30 years is kind of difficult to quantify, but that is exactly what has happened over the last three decades at Harpoon Brewery.  Whether they were entertaining anecdotes, life-altering accounts or just trivial, day-to-day banter, these are the stories that helped all of the brewery’s co-workers, friends, family, fans, etc. bond and relate to one another.  To honor these 30 years of stories, Harpoon is giving their team members and fans an outlet to share them at www.Harpoon30.com (click here to check that out).

Just like each and every member of the Harpoon Brewery family, each beer that the brewery has created over the last 30 years can also tell a story. Craft beer fans can get a taste of this experience with the release of the Harpoon 30-Pack.  This mixed 30-pack consists of the following 15 different offerings – two 12 oz. bottles of each – that span the brewery’s history:

  1. Harpoon Ale – Release: 1986.   A balanced and mild amber ale.  5.0% ABV
  2. Harpoon Octoberfest – Release: 1989.  A malty, rich welcome to fall.  5.3% ABV
  3. Harpoon IPA – Release: 1993.  Hoppy, floral, crisp.  5.9% ABV
  4. Harpoon Dark Dunkel – Release: 1998.  Deliciously dark and velvety smooth with roasted notes.  5.2% ABV
  5. Oatmeal Stout – Release: 2003.  The first session of the Harpoon 100 Barrel Series kicked off this new adventure in brewing with style.  5.05% ABV
  6. Leviathan IPA – Release: 2008.  Our Imperial IPA is loaded with big, juicy American hop character and balanced by a strong, malty backbone.  10.0% ABV
  7. El Triunfo Coffee Porter – Release: 2012.  Hints of chocolate and caramel complement bittersweet coffee in this hearty porter.  6.0% ABV
  8. Hoppy Belgian-style Blonde – Release: 2012.  A delightfully drinkable Belgian-style ale with a big kick of American hops.  6.5% ABV
  9. Citra Victorious Pale Ale – Release: 2013.  A sessionable pale ale loaded with Citra hops and grapefruit peel.  5.8% ABV
  10. Harpoon Take 5 Session IPA – Release: 2014.  Vibrant citrus and pine hop aromatics greet a distinct malt profile in this Session IPA.  4.3% ABV
  11. The Long Thaw White IPA – Release: 2014.  A seasonal IPA for the ‘in-between’ season.  6.2% ABV
  12. Hoppy Adventure Double IPA – Release: 2015.  A Double IPA that’s slightly sweet with a lingering bitterness.  7.8% ABV
  13. Harpoon Sweet Spot Golden Ale – Release: 2016.  Complex meets smooth in this full-flavored but easy-drinking Golden Ale.  4.8% ABV
  14. Harpoon Flannel Friday Amber Ale – Release: 2016.  A hoppy amber ale brewed for the crisp days of fall.  5.7% ABV
  15. Interrobang Imperial Stout – Release: 2016.  An unabashed Imperial Espresso Stout.
    18% ABV

The Harpoon 30-Pack is available now as a very limited release.  Look for this mixed 30-pack to be available at select craft beer retailers within Harpoon Brewery’s distribution area (this will probably exclude states like Alabama where that 18% ABV Interrobang Imperial Stout is deemed illegal).  Get this mixed pack while you can, and be sure to share a beer and a story or two with a friend while you work your way through this liquid history of Harpoon Brewery.  Prost!

Heavy Seas Beer and Stone Brewing Co. Collaborate on Final Installment of 2016 Partner Ships Series

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partnershipsstoneHeavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) recently announced that they have teamed up with Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, California) to create Imperial Brown IPA as the next release in the Partner Ships Series.

Created by Heavy Seas Beer earlier this year, Partner Ships is a series of limited release beers “produced in collaboration with other regionally and nationally recognized brewers in the spirit of friendship, creativity, and adventure.”  The fourth and final official release of 2016 in this series will be Partner Ships Imperial Brown IPA created with the assistance of the respected and self-proclaimed arrogant industry giant that is Stone Brewing Co.  Partner Ships Imperial Brown IPA combines Stone Brewing’s trademark “American hop mayhem” with Blackstrap Molasses and a pronounced malt backbone to create “a burly, palate obliterating” brew.

Officially releasing in November of 2016, Partner Ships Imperial Brown IPA will be available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft.  Look for this limited release offering at select craft beer retailers in Alabama, Florida and throughout the full distribution area of Heavy Seas Beer.  Prost!

Vital Information on Partner Ships Imperial Brown IPA from Heavy Seas Beer and Stone Brewing Co.

Release – Limited, 2016 Partner Ships Series
Style – Hybrid of American Brown Ale & American India Pale Ale
ABV – 9%
IBUs – 90
Hops – Centennial, Palisade, Citra, Chinook & Simcoe
Malts – 2-Row, UK Amber Malt, Brown Malt & Crystal Malt
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Previous Partner Ships Releases – Red IPA with Maine Beer Company, Hoppelbock with Tröegs Independent Brewing, & Rye Wit with Terrapin Beer Co.

Great Divide Brewing Co. Releases Fresh Hop Pale Ale in Cans

Posted on by mashingin

fresh-hop-medalionGreat Divide Brewing Co. (Denver, Colorado) announced this week that Fresh Hop Pale Ale has officially made its annual return and it is available in 12 oz. cans this time around.

Released as an offering from the brewery’s Tank Farm Series, Fresh Hop Pale Ale is Great Divide Brewing’s annual ode to the hop.  Brewed each fall, this offering is a “labor of love” that features wet, whole cone hops fresh from the hop harvest in the Pacific Northwest.  These wet hops provide the beer an “unparalleled grassy, citrus hop brilliance” that you can only experience during harvest season.

Since Fresh Hop Pale Ale is meant to be kept cold and consumed as fresh as possible, switching its packaging to cans just made sense.  The cans will keep the beer ice cold and help preserve the fragile integrity of the fresh hops until you get around to pouring one up.

Fresh Hop Pale Ale is available now as a limited offering. Look for this one in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer establishments in Alabama, Florida and throughout Great Divide Brewing Co.’s full distribution footprint.  This beer is only going to be around for a few weeks, so get it while you can and drink it now.  Prost!

Vital Information for Fresh Hop Pale Ale from Great Divide Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Seasonal, October release
Style – Pale Ale, Harvest Ale
ABV – 6.1%
IBUs – 55
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and draft
Beer Finder – http://greatdivide.com/beer-finder/
Food Pairings – “Grilled trout, grilled bratwurst, ginger-garlic sweet potatoes, Epoisses (a rich, washed rind cow’s milk cheese from France).”

 

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. to Launch Two New Core Beers in 2017

Posted on by mashingin

snsidecarSierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Chico, California) recently announced that the first quarter of 2017 will see the launch of two new brews: Sidecar Orange Pale Ale and Tropical Torpedo IPA.

Coming in as a new look at a respected classic, Sidecar Orange Pale Ale adds a quenching citrus infusion to the familiar characteristics of the brewery’s flagship Pale Ale. “Made with orange peel and bold, citrus-heavy hops,” this beer comes together as a quaffable offering weighing in at 5.3% ABV and 35 IBUs.  Just as the name implies, Sidecar Orange Pale Ale is meant to be enjoyed as an accompaniment to the standard that is Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale.

“Innovation is part of our DNA,” says Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada. “36 years ago we changed the way Americans look at hoppy beer with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. In 2017 we’ll be doing it again, with fresh takes on beer styles that we helped pioneer: pale ale and IPA.”

sntroptorpedoThere is no denying that the India Pale Ale is by far the most popular beer style in the U.S. right now, and Sierra Nevada hopes that Tropical Torpedo IPA – when it is released at the start of 2017 – will act as that perfect introduction to “new drinkers entering the craft beer market via the IPA.”  With the use of the Hop Torpedo – Sierra Nevada’s proprietary dry-hopping device -, brewers coax huge tropical fruit notes of mango, papaya and passionfruit out of the hops employed in the recipe for Tropical Torpedo IPA.    The finished IPA comes in at an easy drinking 6.7% ABV and 55 IBUs, and absolutely no fruit was added during the brewing process.

Sidecar Orange Pale Ale will be available January 1, 2017, in 6-packs and 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft.  Tropical Torpedo IPA launches January 1, 2017, in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles only, with draft to follow late in the first quarter of 2017.  Look for both of these year-round offerings to be available at craft beer-friendly establishments in Alabama, Florida and throughout Sierra Nevada’s full distribution area.  Be sure to experience the innovation and evolution of Sierra Nevada when these new brews drop after the New Year.  Prost!

 

Tasting Notes: Oktoberfest German-style Festbier from Cigar City Brewing

Posted on by mashingin

CCBOfestThese Florida breezes carrying fleeting cooler temperatures certainly call out for the flavors and styles of fall.  I will wisely heed this call by taking a look at Oktoberfest German-style Festbier from Cigar City Brewing (Tampa, Florida) in this week’s edition of Tasting Notes.

Back in September, I gave you all the lowdown on the seasonal return of Cigar City Brewing’s Oktoberfest German-style Festbier (click here to view that post).  Brewed with Hallertauer Mittlefruh hops, Munich malt and five other varieties of German malts, the brewery describes this Festbier as a nod “firmly toward the style’s history with its amber color.”  The news of a more traditional, heartier, locally-produced Oktoberfest lager certainly piqued the interest of my German side, and I just had to go out and grab a few cans to experience this one for myself.  So, here we are . . . can in hand . . . stein at the ready . . . I guess the only thing left to do is get to some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Oktoberfest German-style Festbier from Cigar City Brewing

Appearance: Oktoberfest fills the stein with an amber colored liquid popping with brown, garnet and sunny orange hues.  Held to direct light, the body brightens and bursts with lighter browns and burnt oranges.  The beer is quite clear with an ample carbonation presence darting throughout.  The pour produced two fingers of off-white to light tan foam.  The head is loose and bubbly, falling to a thin ring that leaves minimal lacing.  This brew certainly makes this stein look good and feel at home.

Aroma:  Each time the stein’s cap is raised, the air is filled with a comforting presence that is as gentle and subdued as a fall day.  Grains . . . so much grain presence pushes forward to produce notes of the beautifully baked, hearty breads of Europe.  Real bread.  This fantastic grain note and a bit of nuttiness comprises the majority of the profile, but there is a muted and restrained hop presence kicking around in here to lend complementing earthy and herbaceous tones.  If these aromatics could fill my house each and everyday, I would not be upset at all.

Taste: Cereal grains and rich breadiness lead the way once again.  A touch of caramel is woven in along with just a kiss of floral honey.  Although this brew is malt driven, it is by no means overly sweet thanks to a deft and balancing infusion of hops.  Herbal in character, these hops supply a wisp of complementing flavor and just enough bitterness to pull everything together.  Delicious and incredibly satisfying.

Mouthfeel: This one is medium in body with a bright carbonation that carries the beer gracefully across the palate.  Sweet on the tongue, but it clears out with haste to achieve a wonderful level of crispness and drinkability.  The ABV shows itself as quite light in presence with just the slightest tinge of heat prickling the throat at times.  The aftertaste is all bready malt.

Final Thoughts: When my mind wanders to ideas of what makes a good Oktoberfestbier, the characteristics residing within Cigar City’s Oktoberfest German-style Festbier are pretty much what always come to mind: comforting, bready malt qualities possessing just enough sweetness to meld seamlessly with floral and herbal hop notes that supply balance and added depth.  Malt is the unrivaled yet careful wheel-man for this ride, and the hops know that their place is in the backseat.  Through cunning and a non-obtrusive nature, this Oktoberfest proves that malty beers can also be easy drinking and quenching.  If my notes have led you astray, please do not be mistaken because there is nothing simple about this beer. No, sir . . . this is artful complexity disguised as simplicity.  Without a doubt, this is a beautifully executed, respectful homage to the Festbier . . . and to that, I can always raise a glass.  Prost!

 

Lizard of Koz Next Up in Backstage Series from Founders Brewing

Posted on by mashingin

founderslokFounders Brewing Company (Grand Rapids, Michigan) recently announced that Lizard of Koz Imperial Stout will be joining their Backstage Series beginning in mid-November.

Lizard of Koz enters the Founders Brewing portfolio of distributed offerings as the second and final release in the 2016 Backstage Series, a limited release lineup made up of “boundary-pushing, experimental beers” that the brewery affectionately refers to as their “brewers’ playground.”  This Imperial Stout’s recipe was created by Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki as a birthday gift to his sister Liz and features some of her favorite ingredients: “fresh Michigan blueberries, rich chocolate and vanilla – aged in bourbon barrels to round out those beautiful flavors.”  Fans of Founders Brewing first experienced Lizard of Koz when it was added to the tap list at the brewery’s 2015 Black Party – an annual celebration of the brewery’s dark, experimental beers -, and it proved to be an undeniable hit that just had to be revived on a larger scale.  The Backstage Series was established for just such a beer, and now the nation will have the opportunity to try this special offering.

“Lizard of Koz represents everything we love about the Backstage Series,” says Co-Founder and President Dave Engbers, “Inspired, creative, a little bit out there and exploding with flavor. The perfect way to cap off 2016.”

Starting in mid-November with most areas seeing it by December, the extremely limited release of Lizard of Koz will officially hit shelves in 750 ml bottles for the suggested retail price of $18.99 each (price may vary upon location).  Look for this beer to turn up at select craft beer retailers in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of Founders Brewing’s 39 state distribution footprint.  It goes without saying that anything with “Bourbon Barrel-aged” in its description does not last long on shelves these days, so do not waffle on your decision to purchase this one if you see it at your favorite craft beer shop.  Take my advice and just buy the bottle.  Prost!

Stone Brewing Coffee Milk Stout and Xocoveza Make Seasonal Return

Posted on by mashingin

coffeemilkstout_12ozwebStone Brewing Co. (Escondido, California) has clearly embraced the changes in temperature this month by releasing two seasonal Stouts, Stone Coffee Milk Stout and Stone Xocoveza Winter Spiced Mocha Stout.

Stone Coffee Milk Stout is an English-style Milk Stout that “is making coffee drinkers rethink their coffeehouse cold-brew ritual.”  To ensure only the freshest ingredients are used in the creation of this beer, batches of Stone Coffee Milk Stout produced on the West Coast use coffee beans sourced from San Diego’s Ryan Bros. Coffee while batches brewed at Stone Brewing’s new Virginia brewery rock beans from Richmond’s Lamplighter Coffee Roasters.  This mild, smooth and easy-drinking Stout has a “slight bitterness of the slow-roasted coffee . . . balanced out brilliantly by milk sugar for a touch of sweetness and creaminess.”

“This beer is very smooth and well balanced, and we love using coffee from our friends over at Ryan Bros. and Lamplighter,” explained Jeremy Moynier, senior innovation program manager. “The combination of bitter coffee and sweet flavors with the smoothness of this beers works well with a diverse selection of food.”

xoco12oz_bottle_webReturning for its third year, Stone Xocoveza quickly ascended to fan-favorite status the moment it first hit shelves and taps.  There is absolutely no mystery as to why when you consider that this Winter-spiced Mocha Stout is boasting aromatics and flavors of fine chocolate, Mostra coffee, pasilla peppers, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and milk sugar to create “a harmoniously balanced beer strikingly reminiscent of Mexican hot chocolate.”  To get those chocolate notes absolutely on point, the folks at Stone Brewing tracked down the perfect cocoa beans in Belize.  The beans were then roasted and processed into chocolate bars created exclusively for use during the brewing of Stone Xocoveza.  With each sip taken, you will find that a ridiculous amount of attention to detail was employed in the creation of this Stout.

“The quality of our house-made chocolate is out of this world, making this year’s Stone Xocoveza more rich and festive than ever,” said Moynier. “I love the warm aromas and flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and pasilla peppers, and they’re complemented perfectly with the strong malt bill and German Perle and English East Kent Golding hops.”

Stone Coffee Milk Stout and Stone Xocoveza are both available now as seasonal releases.  Look for these offerings on draft and in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles at craft beer friendly establishments in Alabama, Florida, and throughout Stone Brewing’s national distribution footprint.  The cold weather is coming . . . you might as well drink like it by picking up a sixer of each of these delicious Stouts.  Prost!

Vital Information on Stone Coffee Milk Stout from Stone Brewing Company

Release – Seasonal, beginning October 3
Style – English-style Milk Stout
ABV – 5%
IBUs – 40
Hops – Magnum
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and draft
Distribution – AL, FL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI and Puerto Rico

Vital Information for Stone Xocoveza from Stone Brewing Co.

Release – Seasonal, beginning October 3
Style – American Stout
ABV – 8.1%
IBUs – 50
Hops – German Perle & English East Kent Golding
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and draft
Distribution – AL, FL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI and Puerto Rico

Harbinger Fest from Brew Hub Returns for Second Year

Posted on by mashingin

harbingerfestOn Saturday, October 22 at 1 p.m., Brew Hub (3900 Frontage Road, Lakeland, Florida) will host the 2nd Annual Harbinger Fest in celebration of the constantly growing and evolving craft beer landscape in Florida and throughout the country.

Harbinger Fest is a craft beer festival featuring over 100 carefully curated “beers of all styles and tastes” that represent some of the finest craft offerings being brewed locally and throughout the country.  This event will be serving up “familiar craft favorites, rare finds and some of America’s next great craft beers” from the following participating breweries:

In addition to all of the delicious beer from the breweries above, Harbinger Fest 2016 will also feature live music, concessions and various retail vendors.  More details to come.

Tickets are available now for advance purchase (click here) or they can be obtained at the gate on the day of the festival.  The following ticket tiers and their benefits are available below:

  1. General Admission: $35 each – Admission into the festival at 1 p.m.; commemorative tasting glass; unlimited samples of over 100 beers; access to concessions, vendors and live entertainment
  2. VIP: $75 each – Early admission into the festival at 12 p.m.; access to an exclusive bottle share in the Tasting Room; first access to purchase bottles of special barrel-aged releases; complimentary Harbinger Fest t-shirt; commemorative tasting glass; unlimited samples of over 100 beers; access to concessions, vendors and live entertainment.
  3. Brew Bus Ticket: $60 each – Same as General Admission ticket but includes roundtrip bus transportation from Tampa to Brew Hub (Advance purchase only)
  4. Designated Driver: $10 each – Admission into the festival at 1 p.m.; access to concessions, vendors and live entertainment.

**Harbinger Fest 2016 is for guests 21 years of age and older. All guests must have a valid ID to enter the festival.**

Starting at just $35 a head, I cannot think of a better and more affordable way to spend a Saturday afternoon.  If you are free on October 22nd and near the Lakeland area, secure some tickets and get in on the good times sure to be had at Harbinger Fest 2016.  Prost!