Boulevard Brewing Co. Goes Year-Round with Whiskey Barrel Stout

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BoulevardWBS_editedBoulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, Missouri) has officially announced that it will release Whiskey Barrel Stout in mid-September as the brewery’s newest year-round barrel-aged Smokestack Series offering.

With a recipe that is “loosely based on a previous Smokestack Series Limited Release” from Boulevard Brewing Co., Whiskey Barrel Stout has arrived to expand the brewery’s newly established portfolio of Year-Round barrel-aged brews.  This Imperial Stout is built upon a hearty base of 11 malts and then “hopped with Magnum and Columbus hops to provide just enough bitterness to prevent the beer from presenting as cloyingly sweet.”  After picking up “notes of dates and plum” from Boulevard’s house Scottish yeast strain, the beer is then “transferred to freshly emptied whiskey barrels from a variety of . . . distillers.”  As the Imperial Stout ages and matures, Boulevard’s “barrel crew selects the best barrels from different vintages to be blended together with roughly one-third fresh beer to create a delicate interplay between fresh and barrel-aged beer.”  This blending process is key because it creates “a balanced beer that showcases the very best barrel flavors coaxed into Whiskey Barrel Stout while tempering the whiskey character to create a beer that is only slightly boozy and ready to drink upon release.”

Whiskey Barrel Stout will begin its launch in the Greater Kansas City area on September 11, and will eventually hit other regions shortly thereafter.  Once the rollout is initiated, you will be able to find Whiskey Barrel Stout in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Missouri, and any other states within Boulevard Brewing Co.’s distribution area that have seen their Bourbon Barrel Quad (the brewery’s other Year-Round barrel-aged offering).  Prost!

Vital Information for Whiskey Barrel Stout from Boulevard Brewing Co.

Release – Year-Round/Smokestack Series, launching mid-September 2017
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 11%
IBUs – 63
Malts – Two-Row Pale Malt, Amber 50, Cara 120, Cara 300, Mout Roost 900, Patagonia Black Pearl, Chocolate Rye, Crystal Rye, Malted Wheat, Flaked Oats, Chocolate Malt & Dark Malt Extract
Hops – Magnum & Columbus
Yeast – Boulevard’s house Scottish yeast strain
Added Ingredients – Dextrose & brown sugar
Suggested Pairings – “Smoked cheese, flourless chocolate cake, roasted leg of lamb, a quiet night”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.boulevard.com/beer/beer-finder/

Terrapin Beer Co. Brews Hammer 58 Pale Ale With Former Atlanta Falcon

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Terrapin-Arched-Logo-270x300Terrapin Beer Co. (Athens, Georgia) announced today that Hammer 58 Pale Ale, a beer inspired by and brewed in collaboration with former Atlanta Falcon Jesse “The Hammer” Tuggle, will be released to coincide with the opening of the Atlanta Falcon’s new home at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

To properly commemorate the Atlanta Falcons inaugural season at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Terrapin Beer Co. crew spent some time with Jesse “The Hammer” Tuggle, former NFL Linebacker who played his entire career (1987-2000) with the Atlanta Falcons, at their ATL BrewLab to brew a beer that celebrates both this legendary player and his team.  What they came up with was Hammer 58, an easy-drinking (5.8% ABV), hop-forward (58 IBUs) American Pale Ale that is brewed with “Falconers Flight hop blend and eight malts [to] create a citrusy and floral flavor.”

Hammer 58 Pale Ale is a Special Release offering that will be available throughout football season.  This draft-only offering will be available at Terrapin’s new bar at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, select Taco Mac locations, The Wing, Terrapin Beer Co.’s brewery in Athens, and for a limited time at the Terrapin Taproom at Suntrust Park.  Prost!

Vital Information for Hammer 58 Pale Ale from Terrapin Beer Co.

Release – Limited/Special Release, Football Season (NFL) 2017
Style – American Pale Ale
ABV – 5.8%
IBUs – 58
Hops – Falconer’s Flight
Malts – 2-row, Wheat, Flaked barley, Carapilsner, Crystal 65*L
Suggested Pairings – “Cheddar & Limburger, or pairs well with game-day nachos and a Falcons win!”
Availability – Draft-only
Where You Can Find It – Terrapin’s bar at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, select Taco Mac locations, The Wing, Terrapin Beer Co.’s brewery in Athens, & (for a limited time) the Terrapin Taproom at Suntrust Park

Good People Brewing Announces Seasonal Return of Mumbai Rye IPA

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GPmumbaiCanGood People Brewing Company (Birmingham, Alabama) recently took to social media to notify their fans that the Seasonal release of Mumbai Rye IPA will begin the week of September 11.

For their take on the Fall Seasonal, Good People Brewing Company bucks autumnal beer trends, avoids the pumpkins, and embraces the rye to create their fan-favorite Mumbai Rye IPA.  By balancing the “spicy, earthy flavors” of the rye with “the hop presence of the American IPA”, Mumbai Rye (ABV – 7.4%, IBUS – 71.9) comes together as “a uniquely flavorful, easy-to- drink, autumn-friendly beer.”

Mumbai Rye IPA will officially release the week of September 11 and be available throughout the fall months.  Once released, you will be able to find this Seasonal offering available in 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer establishments located within Good People Brewing’s distribution reach in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.  Prost!

Vital Information for Mumbai Rye IPA from Good People Brewing Company

Release – Seasonal, Fall 2017 – release begins week of September 11
Style – American IPA/Rye Beer
ABV – 7.4%
IBUs – 71.9
Malts – 2-Row and 4 Specialty Malts
Hops – Columbus & Mt. Hood
Yeast – California Ale 
Suggested Food Pairings – “Cuisine (Curried, Thai), Cheese (peppery; Monterey/Pepper Jack, sharp; Blue, Cheddar, pungent; Gorgonzola, Limburger),Meat (Poultry, Fish, Shellfish, Salmon)”
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Alabama, Florida Panhandle, Tennessee & Georgia 

Cascade Brewing Releases Sang Noir 2016

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Cascade-Brewing_Sang-Noir_2016 (Crop)Cascade Brewing (Portland, Oregon) has announced that Sang Noir 2016 has officially been released and is currently available through the brewery’s regular distribution channels.

Known as the darkest offering in Cascade Brewing’s “Sang” series, Sang Noir 2016 is a “blend of imperial red ales aged in bourbon and wine barrels for up to two years with Bing cherries.”  Weighing in at 10.1% ABV, this American Sour Ale “features flavors of dark roast malts, bourbon, black cherries and port wine.”

Sang Noir 2016 is officially available now and will be hanging around only as long as supplies last.  You can find this Tier Two offering available in 750ml bottles and on draft at fine craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Cascade Brewing’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Sang Noir 2016 from Cascade Brewing

Release – Limited/Tier Two, late-August 2016
Style – American Sour Ale (blend)
ABV – 10.1%
Treatment – Blend of Imperial Red Ales aged in Bourbon and Wine barrels for up to two years with Bing cherries
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Fun Fact – Concerning the new labels and tier designations: “Cascade’s new bottles have distinct label styles for each of the three Cascade Brewing pricing tiers, with each label within the tier utilizing distinctive colors to clearly differentiate each beer. The tiers differ by the style of beer used in the product, the type ingredients contained within, the time aged in the barrels and types of barrels used.”

Stone Brewing Collaborates with Beavertown and Garage Project, Releases Fruitallica DIPA

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Fruitallica_22oz_Mockup.pngStone Brewing (Escondido, California) has officially announced the release of Fruitallica Double India Pale Ale, a new collaboration offering featuring the talents of Beavertown (London, England) and Garage Project (Wellington, New Zealand).

To brew the third release in their ongoing heavy metal collaboration series, Stone Brewing scoured the globe to assemble a team worthy enough to brew a beer that embodies “a collective resistance to complacency and thirst for edgy, big flavor.”  Their search proved that London’s Beavertown and New Zealand’s Garage Project had the chops they were looking for, and the team united at Stone’s Escondido location to create Beavertown / Garage Project / Stone Fruitallica.  To represent the home country of each brewery working on the collaboration, this Double India Pale Ale features “kiwi and yuzu fruit alongside American and New Zealand hops plus London Ale Yeast.”  Finished off with a bit of habanero, the 8% ABV Fruitallica comes together to be “a glorious, crank-it-to-‘11’ cacophony” that features “a slight tartness from the Kiwi with flavors of peach, lime, citrus, and tropical fruit from the hops . . . hints of wheat in the background and a surprisingly pleasant pepper on the finish.”

“This beer was an amazing journey,” said Jeremy Moynier, Senior Innovation Brewing Manager. “With fruit from New Zealand, hops from New Zealand and America plus English yeast, it truly represents all of our backgrounds. And more literally, the team put on some miles to bring this beer to life. We brewed in the past with the Garage Project team in Japan as well as at our small brewery in Liberty Station. We have been to Beavertown in London and were looking for an excuse to brew with them. Hosting everyone at Stone Brewing in Escondido was an honor to say the least.”

Beavertown / Garage Project / Stone Fruitallica officially releases this week and will be available while supplies last.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-focused retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, California, Virginia and throughout the rest of Stone Brewing’s nationwide distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Beavertown / Garage Project / Stone Fruitallica from Stone Brewing

Release – Limited/Collaboration Series, late-August/September 2017
Collaborators – Beavertown, Garage Project & Stone Brewing
Style – American Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8%
IBUs – 80
Featured Hops – Wai-iti, Riwaka & Centennial
Added Ingredients – Yuzu, Kiwi & Habanero
Yeast – London Ale Yeast
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://find.stonebrewing.com/#ready

 

21st Amendment Brewery Introduces Tasty IPA as New Limited Release

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Tasty21st Amendment Brewery (San Leandro, California) has officially announced that Tasty IPA will be released as the next offering from the brewery’s Insurrection Series.

Dropping as the second release in their newly established Insurrection Series, 21st Amendment Brewery set out to create Tasty IPA so that they could both honor and collaborate with Mike “Tasty” McDole – a legendary craft beer personality, respected homebrewer and regular on The Brewing Network show “The Session”.  Sourcing inspiration “from test batches of Tasty’s own homebrews,” the brewing team built this “hop forward creation” to feature Citra and Mosaic Lupulin Powder and Ekuanot hop pellets.  Their efforts resulted in a 6.8% ABV India Pale Ale that “is rooted in friendship, created for the common love of homebrewing and dedicated to the American beer beauty known as Tasty McDole.”

“If you like hops, and you love IPA, you’ll definitely enjoy this beer… even in spite of the naked guy swimming in hops on the front of the can,” jokes Shaun O’Sullivan, co-founder and Brewmaster of 21st Amendment. “In all seriousness, this beer is delicious. The lupulin powder is made from the “heart of the hop,” where the hop resins and oils reside, giving this beer bright, fresh flavors and aromas of tropical stone fruits and pine, with a hint of spiciness.”

Tasty IPA will officially debut in September 2017 with availability in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft.  You can expect to find this Limited Release brew at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, California and throughout the rest 21st Amendment Brewery’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Tasty IPA from 21st Amendment Brewery

Release – Limited/Insurrection Series, September 2017
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.8%
IBUs – 70
Malts – Two-Row Pale, Munich & Pilsner
Hops – Mosaic, Ekuanot, CTZ, Citra & Lupulin Powder
Yeast – American Ale
Suggested Pairings – “Tasty IPA pairs with spicy foods, peach cobbler, cargo shorts and your favorite beer t-shirt.”
Fun Fact – “The can design features McDole lying in a bed of hops, inspired by the iconic fantasy scene in the movie “American Beauty,” and was drawn by Tasty’s son Mark McDole.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://21st-amendment.com/find-some/

Brew Bus and Cigar City Brew Rising Hope IPA to Benefit National Pediatric Cancer Foundation

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Brew-Bus-Brewing-logoBrew Bus Brewing (Tampa, Florida) and Cigar City Brewing (Tampa, Florida) have announced that they will officially launch Rising Hope IPA, a special collaboration release brewed to benefit the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, on September 1.

When the folks at Brew Bus Brewing and Cigar City Brewing got together to create Rising Hope IPA, they wanted this beer to be known for more than just being an India Pale Ale “featuring notes of Gooseberry and Grapefruit with a hoppy finish.”  No, they wanted Rising Hope IPA to be “renowned for its outstanding character” since it has been brewed to recognize Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and all proceeds from the sales of this beer will help the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation “fund research for less toxic, more therapeutic treatments for children battling cancer.”

Rising Hope IPA will be packaged in 12 oz. cans, and both breweries will host a Kick-Off Party for this beer and its cause at Cigar City Brewing (3924 W Spruce St, Tampa, Florida) on Friday, September 1 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.  The breweries have also promised to release details on how you can get this beer outside of the launch event, so stay tuned for that information.

**UPDATE 9.6.17**

When & Where to Get Rising Hope IPA

  • Friday, September 1 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Cigar City Brewing (3924 W Spruce St, Tampa, Florida) – Rising Hope IPA Kick-Off Party
  • Friday, September 1 at Brew Bus Brewing (4101 N Florida Ave, Tampa, Florida) – Available for purchase in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans ($11 each) and on draft. Rising Hope IPA is available while supplies last
  • Friday, September 1 at Cigar City Brewing (3924 W Spruce St, Tampa, Florida) – Available for purchase in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans ($11 each) and on draft. Rising Hope IPA is available while supplies last
  • Wednesday, September 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Independent Bar & Cafe – Tampa (5016 N Florida Ave, Tampa, Florida) – Rising Hope IPA Party Benefiting the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation
  • Friday, September 22 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at C. 1949 (6905 N. Orleans Ave., Tampa, Florida) – Rising Hope IPA and Brew Bus Spotlight

**UPDATE 9.6.17**

No matter how you secure it, just remember that 100% of the proceeds raised from the sale of Rising Hope IPA will be donated to benefit the amazing efforts and cause of the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.  That fact alone makes this a can’t miss release because “you could save a lot with this beer, like the lives of children battling cancer.”  Prost!

Dogfish Head Welcomes Fall by Releasing Punkin Ale and Carobock

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Punkin1_editedDogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware) announced today that it will enter September with the limited-time releases of Punkin Ale and Carobock.

Punkin Ale first debuted in 1995 to honor Delaware’s World Championship Punkin Chunkin event, and it has since established itself as Dogfish Head’s best-selling seasonal beer.  A great deal of its success is based on the fact that this Pumpkin Beer is brewed with “real pumpkin meat” and spiced with brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon to create an authentic pumpkin pie-like experience.  The 7% ABV Punkin Ale is available now and will most likely hang around until Thanksgiving.  You can expect to find this Seasonal brew available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Delaware and throughout the rest of Dogfish Head’s distribution footprint.

“We’ve been brewing Punkin Ale at Dogfish for over two decades, since long before there was a whole category of pumpkin beer, and have seen sales grow each and every year,” said Sam Calagione, CEO and founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. “I think it’s because the complexity and authenticity of the recipe has remained world-class since we first brewed it as it’s not made with pumpkin flavoring or concentrates – we use fresh all-natural ingredients and that makes a big difference.

If Pumpkin Beers do not happen to be your thing, Dogfish Head has you covered with the limited release of Carobock.  This Bavarian-style Weizenbock (8% ABV) is “brewed with malted wheat, dark Munich malt and chocolate wheat and is fermented with traditional weizen yeast to boost the banana and spice notes that typify the style.” Since the brewers at Dogfish Head wanted this beer to be “a play on a delicious chocolate covered banana”, they also employed the use of “toasted carob pods to provide intense, earthy chocolate flavors and rounded out the brew by aging it on Madagascar vanilla beans.”  Carobock will officially release on September 1 as a draft-only, Limited Release offering.  Look for this one to be pouring at select craft beer spots located within Dogfish Head’s distribution area.

Both Punkin Ale and Carobock are only available for a limited time, so be sure to give these tasty brews a try at some point this fall.  Prost!

Vital Information for Punkin Ale from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Release – Seasonal, Fall 2017
Style – Pumpkin Beer
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 28
Added Ingredients – Real pumpkin meat, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg & cinnamon
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.dogfish.com/brewery/fishfinder

Vital Information for Carobock from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Release – Limited, arriving September 1, 2017
Style – Weizenbock 
ABV – 8%
Featured Malts – Malted Wheat, Dark Munich Malt & Chocolate Wheat
Added Ingredients – Toasted carob pods & Madagascar vanilla beans
Availability – Draft only
Beer Finder – https://www.dogfish.com/brewery/fishfinder

Tasting Notes: Hobo Life Session IPA from Lord Hobo Brewing Company

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hobolifepour1000_editedThis week’s Tasting Notes continues our exploration of the Session IPA by taking a look at Hobo Life Session IPA from Lord Hobo Brewing Company (Woburn, Massachusetts).

Typically, we start off each Tasting Notes post by citing the official brewery descriptions and technical data behind the featured beer, but that information just does not seem to exist for Hobo Life Session IPA.  This is probably the case because Lord Hobo Brewing Company reported that it “grew nearly 415% in 2016.”  With an impressive number like that coming from a brewery that just recently celebrated its 2nd Anniversary, we completely understand that the focus at the brewery needs to be on keeping up with demand and allowing the beer to speak for itself.  **UPDATE 9.2.17** Just a week after we published this post, Lord Hobo Brewing Company launched a beautiful new website filled with information about the brewery, Hobo Life Session IPA and their full lineup of brews.  Check it out by clicking here.  **UPDATE 9.2.17**

With that said, what we do know is that Lord Hobo Brewing Company and Hobo Life recently hit the Florida market along with Boomsauce Hoppy Ale and Consolation Prize Double India Pale Ale.  Weighing in as the smaller of the three offerings, Hobo Life is a 4.5% ABV Session IPA that has been dry-hopped with Citra hops.  This beer is available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Florida, Massachusetts and throughout the rest of Lord Hobo Brewing’s distribution area.

Now that the formalities are out of the way, let’s keep this train rollin’ and get a little taste of the Hobo Life!

Tasting Notes for Hobo Life Session IPA from Lord Hobo Brewing Company

Appearance: Hobo Life presents itself as a hazy, orange juice-like, yellow orange in color with a finger and half of pure white foam resting on top.  Held to direct light, the yellows brighten greatly but an orange core holds steadfastly at the beer’s center.  Despite the haze and cloudiness, a lively carbonation presence can be seen streaming within.  Although it eventually falls to a thick, complete ring, the head lasts throughout the experience and leaves notching wisps of lace behind on the glass.

Aroma:  This brew is all hops on the nose. Composed but hinting at a nice and dank experience ahead, it opens with big, lovely pops of ruby red grapefruit, passionfruit and honeydew melon.  Those tropical, fruity tones take on a little grassy character before the profile closes with some bright lime zest and a bit of crackery malt.

Taste:  The flavor mirrors the aroma pretty closely, but with a bit more conviction when it comes its dank, resinous intentions.  We start here with a wonderfully pronounced presence of passionfruit and melon.  A bit of crackery sweetness then works its way in to wash over the palate for just a moment before the tropical fruit party continues with the development of some lychee and tangerine notes.  Just as you think the beer is done, it closes out with some lasting, bitter grapefruit.

Mouthfeel:  This Session IPA sits on the medium side of light in body and has a medium carbonation level.  The beer has a good weight to it, but still resides in the easy-drinking part of town.  Although quite fruity in the hop department, it still has some bite and brings just the right amount of bitterness to the palate.  Dries out well, and cleans up nicely.  At 4.5%, the ABV gives zero indication of its presence.  Aftertaste is light with a little grapefruit juice and zest left behind after each sip.

Final Thoughts: Hobo Life certainly has the look everyone seems to be after these days, but this beer is quick to point out that it is more than just another pretty face.  It is actually a pretty astute study of just how much the Citra hop has to offer.  Sure, this hop is a go-to these days, but I cannot remember a time that I have been able to distinguish this amount of passionfruit and melon from a Citra hopped beer.  Simply put, it’s just on another level in that regard.  Then you have to recognize the fact that this beer shows off some mighty big flavor dynamics, but it does so while maintaining an easy-drinking Session IPA experience.  All in all, the beer in this glass is damn impressive.  Yeah, Lord Hobo has a winner here and you should probably check out Hobo Life Session IPA just as soon as you get the chance.  Do it. Prost!

Bell’s Brewery to Introduce Larry’s Latest Sour Ale in 2018

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unnamed (50)Bell’s Brewery (Comstock, Michigan) has officially announced that Larry’s Latest Sour Ale will debut in February of 2018 as a new Seasonal offering.

Brewed as a “nod to the spirit of innovation and experimentation that Larry Bell, Bell’s Brewery founder and president, started in 1985″, Larry’s Latest Sour Ale is an experimental, dry-hopped and kettle-soured ale that “offers a refreshing citrus tartness combined with incredible tropical aromas.” Fans of the brewery can expect this 5% ABV brew to provide an experience that “combines the tartness you get from kettle soured beers like Oarsman Ale with aromatic hops varietals like Mosaic, Citra, Galaxy, El Dorado and more.”  Larry’s Latest Sour Ale will “stand in” for Smitten Golden Rye Ale and join Oberon Ale, Best Brown Ale and Winter White Ale to comprise Bell’s Brewery’s lineup of Seasonal releases in 2018.

“This beer is part of a long tradition of experimentation that those who visit our pub are more familiar with,” Laura Bell, CEO of Bell’s Brewery, said.  “The Eccentric Café’s Draft Board is used often to try out new ingredients and new beers. This is really the step in between creating something new and then giving it a formal name.”

Larry’s Latest Sour Ale will launch in February of 2018 and be available through March.  When released, you can expect to find this Seasonal offering available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans, 6-packs and 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Bell’s Brewery’s distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Larry’s Latest Sour Ale from Bell’s Brewery

Release – Seasonal, February to March 2018
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 5%
Treatment – Dry-hopped & kettle-soured
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans, 6-packs & 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, and draft
Beer Finder – http://www.bellsbeer.com/beer-finder