Victory Brewing Packages Sour Monkey in 6-packs, Set to Release Sour Monkey Remix

Posted on by mashingin

vbcsourmonkeyremixMonkey Madness continues at Victory Brewing Company (Downingtown, Pennsylvania) with the announcements that Sour Monkey is now available year-round in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and Sour Monkey Remix will see its first limited release on Friday, January 20.

As of January 1, Sour Monkey has officially returned in 2017 as a Year-Round offering from Victory Brewing.  Not only is it rocking this new portfolio designation, it is also sporting some new packaging in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles.  This was all made possible thanks to the many craft beer fans that just could not get enough of this “tastefully tart twist” on Golden Monkey, the brewery’s wildly popular Belgian-style Tripel.  Starting with the same base recipe as Golden Monkey, Sour Monkey gets a funky, tart and sour character by way of an introduction to lactobacillus and a “secondary fermentation with two strains of Brettanomyces yeast.”  This results in a surprisingly easy-drinking, 9.5% ABV Sour Brett Tripel that boasts “a sharp, citrus-laden tang [that] makes this brew a Monkey all its own!”  Sour Monkey 6-packs are available now at craft beer retailers in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of Victory’s 35 state distribution footprint for the suggested retail price of $11.99 (price may vary by location).

Victory Brewing plans to take Monkey mania to another level on January 20 by introducing their fans to a new variant of Sour Monkey that has been aptly named Sour Monkey Remix.  This version continues the evolution of Golden Monkey by aging Sour Monkey in Chardonnay barrels.  This process adds depth to the brew by imparting “aromas of white oak and vanilla” and “tart, lemon flavors and oak from the barrels.”  Once completed, Sour Monkey Remix ultimately comes together to be “a very balanced and drinkable beer with a bone-dry finish.”  On Friday, January 20, Victory Brewing will release a limited supply of Sour Monkey Remix on draft and in 750ml bottles ($22 each) exclusively at their Downingtown, Kennett Square and Parkesburg brewpub locations.  This offering will not see distribution and will not last long.

Sour Monkey Remix will most likely prove to be a tough get (as it should be), but we can all easily find solace in the fact that we now have access to sixers of Sour Monkey all year long.  That’s a pretty fantastic consolation in my book.  Prost!

Vital Information for Sour Monkey from Victory Brewing Company

Release – Year-Round as of January 1, 2017
Style – American Wild Ale
ABV – 9.5%
Malts – Pilsner
Hops – Tettnang Tettnang
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.victorybeer.com/beerfinder/

Vital Information for Sour Monkey Remix from Victory Brewing Company

Release – Extremely Limited, Brewpub-only release beginning on January 20
Style – American Wild Ale
ABV – 9.5%
Malts – Pilsner
Hops – German Tettnang Tettnang
Treatment – Aged in Chardonnay barrels
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft

Birmingham to host Inaugural Winter Beer Fest

Posted on by mashingin

bwbflogoOn Saturday, February 4 at 3 p.m., the first annual Birmingham Winter Beer Fest will be held in the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex’s North Exhibit Hall (2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, Alabama).

Newly established to provide area beer lovers with a little refuge from the cold, Birmingham Winter Beer fest is a true winter wonderland filled with over 150 craft beer offerings, food, fun and games.  There is quite a bit of information for this beer festival, so let’s not waste any time and jump right in:

The Basics

  • When – Saturday, February 4 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Where – Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex – North Exhibit Hall (2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, Alabama)

Participating Breweries, Cideries & Meaderies 

The Birmingham Winter Beer Fest will have over 150 offerings available for sampling from the following breweries, cideries and meaderies:

Fun, Games & Education

Ticket Info

Tickets are available now.  You can purchase yours online by clicking here or by visiting any of the Birmingham-area Piggly Wiggly locations or the BJCC Central Ticket Office**.  Tickets are available in the following tiers:

  • General Admission – $45 each plus fees: Ticket cost gets you entrance into the festival, commemorative tasting glass, full color festival guide, a sampling card to sample 150+ craft beers, and access to live entertainment, games, Brew University sessions and Cooking with Beer Demos
  • Jack Brown’s VIP Ticket – $80 each plus fees: Ticket cost gets you entrance into the festival one hour early, access to the Jack Brown’s VIP Lounge, complimentary food from Jack Brown’s from 3pm – 6pm, commemorative tasting glass, full color festival guide, a sampling card to sample 150+ craft beers, and access to live entertainment, games, Brew University sessions and Cooking with Beer Demos.  **UPDATE** VIP Tickets are now sold out online, but there are still some available for purchase at Piggly Wiggly locations.  **UPDATE**
  • Designated Driver Ticket – $15 each plus fees: Designated Drivers Will Not be Allowed to Sample Any Beer.  Ticket cost gets you entrance into the festival, and access to live entertainment, games, Brew University sessions and Cooking with Beer Demos
  • Jack Brown’s VIP Designated Driver Ticket – $25 each plus fees: Designated Drivers Will Not be Allowed to Sample Any Beer.  Ticket cost gets you entrance into the festival one hour early, access to the Jack Brown’s VIP Lounge, complimentary food from Jack Brown’s from 3pm – 6pm, and access to live entertainment, games, Brew University sessions and Cooking with Beer Demos

(**) NOTE: If the event does not sellout in advance, tickets will be available at the door day of the event. (**)

That should cover all of the information currently available for the Birmingham Winter Beer Fest.  Between the impressive brewery lineup and the extensive list of activities, this event sounds like a pretty affordable good time during a season when beer festivals are few and far in-between.  If your calendar is clear on February 4 and you are in the Birmingham area, go ahead and secure some tickets to check out this new festival.  Prost!

Anchor Brewing Reinvents a Classic with Release of Liberty IPA

Posted on by mashingin

anchorlipa-bottle-pint-shotAnchor Brewing Company (San Francisco, California) has officially announced the limited release of Liberty IPA, a modern twist on the brewery’s classic Liberty Ale.

Originally brewed in 1975 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Paul Revere’s midnight ride, Anchor Brewing Company’s Liberty Ale was the first American IPA brewed after prohibition . . . [and] introduced America to the Cascade hop and the nearly lost art of dry-hopping.”  Over 40 years later, Anchor is now releasing Liberty IPA as an updated take on this original craft classic.

“Liberty IPA is a revolutionary brew—reimagined,” said Anchor Brewmaster Scott Ungermann. “The beer is a bright straw golden color and boasts aromas of dank and resinous pine up front, with bold citrus and grapefruit notes on the back end. You can really taste the assertive bitterness, with hints of a light biscuit malt base and a smooth, dry finish. Liberty IPA is a celebration of the Cascade hopped IPA’s that Anchor first popularized back in 1975 and remain at the forefront of American craft beer trends.”

Liberty IPA is available now and will be around for a limited time in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft.  You can find this one at craft beer-friendly establishments in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of Anchor Brewing’s nationwide distribution footprint.  When you grab your sixer or pour of Liberty IPA, I highly suggest you get some Liberty Ale to enjoy alongside it.  Not only will this be a fun side-by-side experience, it will also prove to be a fine history lesson that traces the growth of American IPAs from their most recent rebirth to present day trends and practices.  You simply cannot go wrong when you are able to double down to get both your drink and learn on at the same time.  Prost!

Vital Information for Liberty IPA from Anchor Brewing Company

Release – Limited, January to April 2017
Style – American IPA
ABV – 6.3%
Malts – 2-Row Pale
Hops – Cascade & Nelson Sauvin. 
Dry Hops – Cascade, Nelson Sauvin & El Dorado
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.anchorbrewing.com/connect/beer_finder
Fun Fact – “Taking cues from the original Liberty Ale packaging, the newly designed Liberty IPA label features the bald eagle, a symbol of strength and freedom.”

Ballast Point Brewing Releases Nitro Bottles of Red Velvet Stout

Posted on by mashingin

02-beers-primary-image-redvelvetBallast Point Brewing (San Diego, California) recently announced the release of their first bottled nitro beer, Red Velvet Nitro Stout.

Created to be a “mind-bending beer” that perfectly replicates the dessert for which it is named, Red Velvet is an Oatmeal Stout that has been tinted red thanks to the beets used during the brewing process.  Supplying more than just color, the beets also give this beer an “earthy character that complements the chocolate flavor and aroma.”  The use of nitrogen rounds the beer off by lending a “creamy smoothness to the mouthfeel” that is “reminiscent of icing.”  Although this is meant to be a dessert beer, Red Velvet Nitro Stout is by no means overly sweet or heavy because it weighs in at a very reasonable 5.5% ABV.

Arriving as Ballast Point Brewing’s first nitrogenated bottle release, Red Velvet Nitro Stout has been packaged in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles.  This limited release is currently available at all Ballast Point Tasting Room locations, and will start turning up in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of the brewery’s distribution area over the next two weeks.  Red Velvet Nitro Stout is sure to be a unique drinking experience, so keep an eye out for this one the next time you find yourself at the bottle shop.  Prost!

Vital Information for Red Velvet Nitro Stout from Ballast Point Brewing

Release – Limited, January 2017
Style – Oatmeal Stout
ABV – 5.5%
IBUs – 35
Added Ingredients – Beets
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Suggested Food Pairings – “Humboldt Fog (Fresh Goat Cheese), Chipotle BBQ Sauce on Baby Back Ribs, & Rhubarb Pie with Strawberry Ice Cream”

Rogue Ales Releases 2017 Product Calendar

Posted on by mashingin

roguebanner_edited_editedRogue Ales (Newport, Oregon) has officially gotten in on the beer calendar madness to provide us all with an idea of what to expect from the brewery in 2017.

Just as you would expect, the folks at Rogue Ales have quite a bit planned for 2017.  We have posted their full 2017 Product Calendar below for you to take a look at, but the following highlights certainly deserve a mention first:

There are still plenty of goodies adorning the calendar below, so check them out and settle in for another year filled with tasty brews from Rogue Ales.  Prost!

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Brew Bus Brewing Plans Limited Release of Hazelnut Spread Porter

Posted on by mashingin

brewbushazelbottlesBrew Bus Brewing (4101 N Florida Ave., Tampa, Florida) has announced that they will host a bottle release for their fan-favorite Hazelnut Spread Porter on Sunday, February 5.

Hazelnut Spread Porter, created as a liquid celebration of World Nutella Day, will be making a much-anticipated return to bottles on February 5.  The distinct and nostalgic flavors of Hazelnut Spread Porter are made possible thanks to “over 360 pounds of real hazelnuts, cacao nibs and vanilla” used during the brewing process.  When it is all said and done, Hazelnut Spread Porter comes together as a delicious, 6.5% ABV Porter “that’s as smooth as the famous brand of spread [Brew Bus Brewing’s] lawyers told [them] not to mention by name.”

Hazelnut Spread Porter will be officially released at Brew Bus Brewing on February 5 at noon.  This limited release will be available in 22 oz. bottles.  Information on cost per bottle and bottle limits has yet to be released, but we will be sure to update you with those details once they surface.  Stay tuned.  Prost!

Vital Information for Hazelnut Spread Porter from Brew Bus Brewing

Release – Limited Special Release, Bottle Release Event on Sunday, February 5 at noon
Style – American Porter
ABV – 6.5%
IBUs – 35
Added Ingredients – Hazelnuts, cacao nibs & vanilla
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft

Crooked Thumb Brewery Prepares for First Bottle Release

Posted on by mashingin

ctlogos_editedOn Friday, January 20 at 4 p.m., Crooked Thumb Brewery (555 10th Ave. S., Safety Harbor, Florida) will host their first ever bottle release event featuring Abbey of the South Trippel and Brett Singel Ale Aged on Plums.

As a way of recognizing Inauguration Day with the brewery’s own inaugural event, Crooked Thumb Brewery has officially announced that they will introduce the following two packaged offerings from their Abbey of the South lineup of Belgian Ales on January 20:

  • Abbey of the South Trippel: $8 per bottle- A tasting room favorite with a limited release in bottles. This strong Belgian Ale is comprised of Pilsner and wheat malts and flaked oats for a full rich mouthfeel. Noble hop aromatics prevail with esters of orange rind, clove, banana and apricot. Becomes more complex as it warms.  ABV – 10%
  • Brett Singel Ale Aged on Plums: $9 per bottle – With faint aromas of pear, plum and clove that give way to an array of flavors from the yeast’s early presence. This release finds the addition of plums resulting in a second fermentation with hints of ripe fruit.  ABV – 6%

Bottles of Abbey of the South Trippel and Brett Singel Ale Aged on Plums will be available for purchase exclusively at the brewery on Friday, January 20.  Details on cost per bottle, bottle limits and exact bottle size have yet to be released, but we will update you with that information just as soon as Crooked Thumb provides it.  Stay tuned.  Prost!

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Founders Brewing Co. Set to Release Frootwood

Posted on by mashingin

frootwood_label_750ml_artworkBeginning on Friday, January 13, Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) will launch their new Barrel-Aged Series with the debut release of Frootwood.

We glossed over this news a couple of weeks back while covering the brewery’s 2017 Availability Calendar (click here to check that out), but it is now official that Founders Brewing Co. will kick off their 20th anniversary year with the introduction of Frootwood.  As a bit of an unexpected take on a barrel-aged beer, this offering is a “Cherry Ale” that has been aged in oak barrels that have previously held both Bourbon and maple syrup.  Laced with “warm vanilla and earthy sweetness,” Frootwood’s wood treatment “proves itself the star of this beer, adding depth and taming the tart cherry while the maple imposes a velvety texture.”

“A light-bodied cherry ale is probably not the first thing that comes to someone’s mind when they consider a barrel-aged beer,” said Co-Founder and President Dave Engbers. “We love playing with expectations and Frootwood is proof of that.”

Frootwood will be the first release in the brewery’s new Barrel-Aged Series.  This offering will join KBS (April 2017), Backwoods Bastard (November 2017), and three other new barrel-aged brews as the 2017 lineup for this series.  Founders will announce the remaining three releases in the Barrel-Aged Series later in the year.

Founders Brewing will begin the limited release of Frootwood in their taproom on January 13, 2017.  The beer will then become available “in some states as early as January, with remaining states seeing it by February.”  You will eventually be able to find Frootwood in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles (suggested retail price of $14.99), single 750ml bottles (suggested retail price of $11.99) and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of the Founders distribution footprint.  If you are a fan of any and all things barrel-aged, be sure to keep an eye out for this one over the next month or so.  Prost!

Vital Information for Frootwood from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Barrel-Aged Series, staggered release beginning January 13, 2017
Style – Undisclosed American Ale with cherries
ABV – 8%
Treatment – Aged in oak barrels that have previously held both Bourbon and maple syrup
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/find-our-beer/

Tasting Notes – Spirits Edition: Dark Chocolate Coffee Cream Liqueur from Sugarlands Distilling Co.

Posted on by mashingin

dccclsugarlandspour1000Tasting Notes wanders back into the realm of spirits this week by partaking in a little Appalachian Sippin’ Cream – Dark Chocolate Coffee Cream Liqueur from Sugarlands Distilling Co. (Gatlinburg, Tennessee).

Since the flavors of chocolate and coffee are commonly found in various beer styles these days, it only seemed natural to do a Tasting Notes crossover featuring this Dark Chocolate Coffee Cream Liqueur.  Sugarlands Distilling Co. created the Appalachian Sippin’ Cream Series to add depth and diversity to their popular and ever-expanding Moonshine lineup.  Just as the name implies, Appalachian Sippin’ Cream – Dark Chocolate Coffee Cream Liqueur has been crafted to be a dessert-style drink that is “rich in cacao and notes of roasted coffee beans.”  Whether consumed straight or in a mixed drink, this offering is meant to be savored as the sweet treat that we all deserve after a long day.  750ml Mason jars of Dark Chocolate Coffee Cream Liqueur and the full Appalachian Sippin’ Cream lineup** are available for purchase online (click here) or at select retailers found in Florida and throughout the rest of Sugarlands Distilling Co.’s distribution area.  That should pretty much cover all the necessary background information, so let’s break out the fancy ice and get to some Tasting Notes!

**If you somehow have an aversion to chocolate and coffee, Sugarlands Distilling Co. also currently produces Appalachian Sippin’ Cream – Butter Pecan Cream Liqueur.**

Tasting Notes for Appalachian Sippin’ Cream – Dark Chocolate Coffee Cream Liqueur from Sugarlands Distilling Co.

Appearance: This liqueur fills the glass with a presentation that is strikingly similar to chocolate milk.  It falls somewhere between dark tan to milk chocolate brown in color.  The liquid is completely opaque and somewhat viscous.  When swirled about, an off white to light tan sheet coats the glass and drops down evenly spaced, slightly darker, streaky legs.

Aroma: As is the case with most liqueurs, the first inhale brings a gentle waft of alcohol.  Fully committed, I leave my nose in the glass and discover rich, indulgent layers of depth with each breath.  Vanilla and whipped cream rise up first, and this easily shifts to a sweet milk chocolate note.  The aromas then deepen to produce tones of dark roasted coffee beans and a touch of bittersweet dark chocolate.  These enchanting aromatics easily convince you to take sip after sip.

Taste: The start of each sip is a comforting reminder of youthful moments spent enjoying an awesome milkshake or a tall glass of chocolate milk after school.  Out of the gate, there is just so much chocolaty goodness.  This naturally opens up to expose qualities of toffee, vanilla, cream and caramel.  The flavor profile extends even further and finishes with fresh brewed coffee and fine dark chocolate.  This is dangerously good.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and silken in texture on the palate.  Each sip coats softly to allow all the flavors the chance to develop and be thoroughly enjoyed.  At just 20% ABV, this liqueur only leaves a suggestion of heat to linger in the throat.  Although sweet, it still avoids being cloying or over the top.  Milk chocolate and vanilla remain as a lasting aftertaste.

Final Thoughts:  If you are a fan of sweet Liqueurs/Cordials and have been looking to try an alternative to offerings like Baileys Original Irish Cream, you may have just found it. Rich, decadent and absolutely loaded with indulgent flavors, Appalachian Sippin’ Cream – Dark Chocolate Coffee Cream Liqueur immediately proved to us that it is an incredibly tasty and versatile addition to any bar (home or otherwise).  This offering was very much enjoyed straight and in coffee – great with brunch or as an after-dinner drink – while taking these notes, but this liqueur’s list of possible uses does not stop there.  You could easily slip some into the mixing bowl to make an adults-only batch of whipped cream to top your coffee, mixed drink, brownies, pie, etc.  Sub it into your favorite chocolate martini recipe to give it a mocha-like twist. Finally, if you are a fan of “Depth Charge” shots, we came up with this Tennessee-themed take on the “Irish Car Bomb” that proved to be quite delicious.  The name is still a work in process, but here’s the recipe:

VOLuntary Takedown 

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pint of lower ABV, locally produced American Stout or Irish-style Dry Stout (avoid hoppy Stouts) 
  • 1/2 shot of Appalachian Sippin’ Cream – Dark Chocolate Cream Liqueur from Sugarlands Distilling Co.
  • 1/2 shot of Tennessee Whiskey of your choice

Instructions: Fill 1/2 of a sturdy shaker pint glass with your Stout of choice.  Take a standard shot glass and add the Sippin’ Cream and chosen Whiskey (layer the Sippin’ Cream to the bottom of the shot).  Carefully drop the shot into the pint glass and enjoy!

However you choose to enjoy it, it is pretty much a certainty that you will be using several of the following words to describe each sip you take of Appalachian Sippin’ Cream – Dark Chocolate Coffee Cream Liqueur: Luscious. Delightful.  Tempting.  Enticing.  Heavenly.  Ambrosial.  Faced with terms such as those, how could you possibly resist?  Seriously, we highly recommend that you give this offering a try and let us know what you think.  Prost!

Cans of Good People Snake Handler DIPA Make Annual Return

Posted on by mashingin

gpbcshcanGood People Brewing Company (Birmingham, Alabama) recently hit social media with the fantastic news that cans of Snake Handler Double India Pale Ale will make their yearly return beginning the week of January 16.

Although it is listed as a part of Good People’s Ales from the Heart of Dixie – the brewery’s year-round lineup of six staple beers -, Snake Handler Double IPA kind of does its own thing when it comes to availability.  Sure, there’s a good chance that you can track it down on draft throughout the year, but cans are infrequently released and tough to come by.  This could be a good thing when you consider that the brewery describes this beer as a “dangerously drinkable . . . spirited celebration of all things hoppy.”  After all, a beer that boasts of having “aromas of pine, citrus, flowers, spice, pineapple, and grassiness [that] complement a biscuit and caramel backbone” should probably be consumed in moderation.  Sometimes in life we need a limited supply of something so that we appreciate it more, and that truth makes it no mystery why Snake Handler is Good People’s most requested beer and one of the most highly-regarded Double IPAs brewed in the Southeast.

The good news to take from all of this is that the time for Snake Handler’s release in cans draws near.  Beginning the week of January 16, you will be able to find 4-packs of 12 oz. cans at select craft beer retailers in Alabama and within the rest of Good People’s distribution area.  Truly appreciate it while you have it, drink it fresh and spread the Snake Handler love if you can.  Prost!

Vital Information for Snake Handler DIPA from Good People Brewing Company

Release – Year-Round on draft, limited in cans.  Cans release during week of January 16
Style – American Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 10%
IBUs – 100+
Hops – Columbus, Warrior, Cascade, Simcoe & Chinook
Malts – 2-Row and 4 Specialty Malts
Yeast – California Ale
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.goodpeoplebrewing.com/beerfinder.php

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