Tasting Notes: TripleTail Tropical IPA from SweetWater Brewing Company

Posted on by mashingin

SWTripleTailThis week’s edition of Tasting Notes returns to the land of lupulin for a hop fix as we get into some TripleTail Tropical India Pale Ale from SweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia).

Released back in June as SweetWater’s newest Catch n’ Release Seasonal, the summer-appropriate TripleTail “weaves juicy and bodacious hops with notes of papaya, pineapple and passionfruit into this lush hop-forward IPA.”  Clocking in at an incredibly reasonable 5.5% ABV, this easy-drinker promises to “refresh from sun up to sun down.”  TripleTail Tropical IPA is available now, and you can track it down in 12 oz. cans, 12 oz. bottles, Variety 12-packs and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and throughout the rest of SweetWater Brewing’s distribution footprint.

Now that we have all that background information out of the way, let’s find a place to lounge and get into some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for TripleTail Tropical India Pale Ale from SweetWater Brewing Company

Appearance:  TripleTail fills the glass as a soft orange-colored brew wearing two fingers of fluffy, bright white foam.  Held to direct light, things change dramatically as the beer gains vibrancy and exposes a sunny golden yellow residing within.  The body has just a touch of haze to it, but you can still easily spot a gentle carbonation presence bubbling away.  Head retention is fantastic, falling only slightly to a lasting finger of chunky foam that effortlessly notches the glass with lace.

Aroma:  Tropical hop notes burst from the glass with papaya leading the way.  Ripe pineapple then takes control as things move in more of a dank hop direction.  A little lemon zest turns up just before the profile closes with some crackery malt sweetness.

Taste:  Although absent in the aroma, the passionfruit really asserts itself here alongside that papaya.  Pineapple plays more of a subtle role behind a developing citrus character of grapefruit zest and juice.  Just a grace of sweetness works its way in at the end, but it is only present for a bit of balance.  One thing is clear here: TripleTail is all about those fruity, juicy hops.

Mouthfeel:  This beer is leaning toward the lighter side of medium in body with a medium carbonation level.  Although quite hoppy in aroma and flavor, the bitterness is tame thanks to one hell of a balancing act.  The beer dries up almost immediately, leaving the drinker with an incredibly clean and refreshing experience.  Aftertaste is minimal, but a bit of papaya and grapefruit can be found lingering.

Final Thoughts:  If you are looking for a refreshing summertime brew that is still serious about its hops, TripleTail Tropical IPA has you covered.  The true highlight of this beer is the fact that is just so damn clean and easy-drinking.  Those juicy and fruity hop notes are big, but not at the expense of refreshment.  Thanks to a tame level of bitterness and a low ABV, this beer is completely chill and has no aggressive qualities at all.  Its main goal is to establish that tropical beach vibe and allow you the opportunity to escape the heat, kick back and relax. Goal achieved, yo . . . and I do believe it is time for another.  Prost!

Iron Maiden to Expand Beer Lineup with Upcoming Release of HALLOWED

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hallowed_transIron Maiden and Robinsons Brewery (Stockport, England) have officially announced plans to release their newest collaboration HALLOWED Belgian-style Ale in October of 2017.

Drawing inspiration from their song “Hallowed Be Thy Name”, Iron Maiden has once again teamed up with the brewers at Robinsons Brewery to create HALLOWED.  This limited release, Belgian-inspired Ale pays homage to the storied brewing history of Belgium while still giving the beer a distinctly British edge.  Since Belgian beers draw a good amount of their characteristics from Belgian yeast, the brewing of HALLOWED is a “landmark” beer for Robinsons considering the brewery has not used a different yeast in its beers since 1942.

“What makes this brew pretty special is that we’re adopting a Belgian yeast for the first time,” said Bruce Dickinson, Lead Vocalist of Iron Maiden. “I’m a big fan of Belgian beers, so I jumped at the chance to brew my own. While I get very excited about experimenting with new formulas and ingredients, the thing about Belgian beer is that it’s as much a way of life as it is a drink. We’ve tried to bottle that philosophy in HALLOWED, albeit with a British twist.”

HALLOWED marks the fourth collaboration beer between Iron Maiden and Robinsons Brewery.  It now joins the ranks of “TROOPER, which has sold over 15 million pints since its launch in 2013, and the previous limited edition beers TROOPER 666 and RED ‘N’ BLACK.”

HALLOWED will officially release in October and will be distributed for four months.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 330ml bottles at select beer establishments in the U.S. located in areas that are serviced by Artisanal Imports.  Prost!

Vital Information for HALLOWED from Iron Maiden and Robinsons Brewery

Release – Limited, launching October 2017
Style – Belgian-style Ale
ABV – 6%
Availability – 330ml bottles
Beer Finder – http://www.ironmaidenbeer.com/find-beer/stockists
Fun Fact – “HALLOWED’s innovative bottle label pays tribute to Belgian beer, presenting IRON MAIDEN’s iconic mascot EDDIE, robed in traditional monk’s clothing: a nod to the Trappist monastic brewing tradition in Belgium.”

Victory Brewing Company Goes National with Home Grown New American Lager

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HG_12oz_Bottle_RC(RBG)Victory Brewing Company (Downingtown, Pennsylvania) recently announced that it has officially added Home Grown New American Lager to its portfolio of Year-Round offerings.

In attempt to redefine “what an American lager can be to both craft and domestic drinkers”, Victory Brewing Company has developed Home Grown New American Lager by staying true to its “brewing principal of combining European tradition and American ingenuity.”  With an impressive hop bill consisting of six varieties of 100% American whole-flower hops (Azacca, Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Citra, and Mosaic), this 4.8% ABV “hoppy Lager . . . features inviting aromatic notes of pine, citrus, and hop resins that melds perfectly with flavors of tangerine citrus and slight maltiness.”

“Our goal has always been to deliver beers to you that offer satisfying comfort. But, we never overlook the excitement of bold twists and nuanced flavors. Look for Home Grown to deliver all of the above as the crisp lager body supports an aromatic and delicious blaze of whole flower American hop glory.”

 

– Bill Covaleski, Co-Founder & Brewmaster at Victory Brewing Company

Home Grown New American Lager is currently available in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.  Beginning in August, the brewery will expand this gradual roll out “further south and west, eventually hitting Victory’s entire 35 state footprint.”  Once it hits your area, you can expect to find this new Year-Round available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles (suggested retail price of $9.99 each), 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles (suggested retail price of $18 each), and on draft.  Prost!

Vital Information for Home Grown New American Lager from Victory Brewing Company

Release – Year-Round, expanded distribution roll out begins August 2017
Style – American Lager
ABV – 4.8%
Malt – Pilsner & CaraPils
Hops – Centennial, Mosaic, Azacca, Cascade, Chinook & Citra
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.victorybeer.com/beerfinder/

Avery Brewing Company Welcomes Fall with Release of Rumpkin

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Bottle_RumpkynAvery Brewing Company (Boulder, Colorado) recently announced that it will begin the annual release of Rumpkin Pumpkin Beer aged in Rum Barrels on Monday, August 7.

Arriving as the latest release from Avery Brewing’s Annual Barrel Series, Rumpkin is a massive, 16.9% ABV Barrel-aged Pumpkin Beer with flavors and aromas meant to resemble that of “a pumpkin pie soaked in rum.” The brewers at Avery infuse the beer with that familiar pumpkin pie flavor by “using pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger.”  Once the brewing is completed, the beer is left to age in Rum barrels for four months to “add an additional level of rich complexity that isn’t typical to classic pumpkin ales.”

Since Rum barrels are “notorious for leaking massive amounts of beer,” the folks at Avery Brewing Company went the extra mile this year to set a higher standard of efficiency and quality control for Rumpkin.  This was achieved by flying in two professional coopers from France to repair their barrels, and the results far surpassed expectations.

“In past years, the debarreling of Rumpkin has been the thorn in our collective side,” says Andy Parker, Chief Barrel Herder at Avery. “If a barrel leaks more than normal, that means the dreaded oxygen is getting in the barrel and potentially creating off-flavors. If it leaks heavily, you can have an entire barrel empty to the ground in the matter of a month or two. In the past years, 30-40% of the batch has leaked out or gone down the drain, and watching your hard work go to hell is extremely disappointing. This year was easily the best debarreling in the history of Rumpkin. We didn’t find a single barrel mysteriously empty, off-flavors were almost non-existent, and for once we didn’t have to explain to the production staff that we simply wouldn’t be able to fill orders for this beer”.

Rumpkin will officially release on August 7 and will be available through October (while supplies last).  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, Colorado, and throughout the rest of Avery Brewing Company’s distribution footprint (sadly, this excludes Alabama and any other state where Rumpkin would exceed local ABV restrictions). Prost!

Vital Information for Rumpkin (2017) from Avery Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Annual Barrel Series, official release date of August 7, 2017
Style – Pumpkin Beer
ABV – 16.9%
Added Ingredients – Pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice & ginger
Treatment – Aged four months in Rum Barrels
Availability – 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.averybrewing.com/brew-finder

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Releases New Collaboration Beer with Gigantic Brewing Company

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JPPhuketJolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales (Dexter, Michigan) has officially announced the release of Phuket; It’s Not That Far from Laos, a Sour Fruit Saison brewed in collaboration with Gigantic Brewing Company (Portland, Oregon).

The inspiration to create Phuket; It’s Not That Far from Laos came after the masterminds at Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales and Gigantic Brewing Company had a little meeting in Hawaii last summer.  After that meeting, Ron Jefferies – Brewmaster at Jolly Pumpkin – headed out to Gigantic Brewing’s facility in Portland to develop a recipe and brew a beer.  “That beer, Gigantic’s side of the collaboration, is still resting on oak”, but Ron flew back to Michigan to “brew the same recipe with the Jolly Pumpkin funk.”

Phuket; It’s Not That Far from Laos is a “hoppy, lime saison” that rocks a foundation built upon “aromas of lime, unripe pear, and the classic pineapple tinted notes of Jolly Pumpkin funk.”  Dosed with “Cascade, Chinook, and Jarrylo hops, as well as Lime Peel,” Phuket then takes on “flavors of citrus, pine, and white grape that linger quietly before finishing slightly bitter with mild tartness.”  To mix things up a bit, jasmine rice and palm sugar was incorporated into the mash to keep the mouthfeel “light, lively, and quite dry.”  Finally, Phuket; It’s Not That Far from Laos received its finishing touches as it was left to rest on oak for 8 months.

Phuket; It’s Not That Far from Laos is making its way into the Jolly Pumpkin network now, and will be around while supplies last.  This limited release offering will be available in 750ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Jolly Pumpkin’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Phuket; It’s Not That Far from Laos from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales and Gigantic Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Collaboration, launching late-July/early-August 2017
Style – Saison
ABV – 6%
IBUs – 20
Malts/Grains – Pilsner Malt, Aromatic Malt, & Jasmine Rice
Hops – Michigan Chinook, Michigan Cascade, & Dry Hopped with Jarrylo
Added Ingredients – Lime Peel & Palm Sugar
Treatment – Aged in oak for 8 months
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft

Synchopathic Apricot Joins DESTIHL Brewery’s WiLD SOUR SERIES

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DESTIHLSynchApricotSaleSheet_editedDESTIHL Brewery (Normal, Illinois) has officially announced that Synchopathic Apricot will soon be released as the next Seasonal offering to come out of the brewery’s WiLD SOUR SERIES.

Arriving as the third of four seasonal releases in DESTIHL Brewery’s 2017 WiLD SOUR SERIES (Flanders Red and Blueberry Gose preceded this release), Synchopathic Apricot is a “refreshingly tart sour ale with the citrus dry-hopping of a pale ale . . . and an uplifting stone fruit beat from added apricots.”  Like all beers in the WiLD SOUR SERIES, Synchopathic Apricot is then “kettle soured utilizing the brewery’s own culture of wild microflora originally harvested from the terroir of Central Illinois.”  This all results in a 6% ABV Sour Ale that is filled with “truly authentic sour, tart, fruity and floral characteristics.”

Synchopathic Apricot will officially release in August and hang around through the fall months.  Look for this new Seasonal offering to be available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-focused retailers, bars and restaurants located in Florida, Illinois and throughout the rest of DESTIHL Brewery’s 20-state distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Synchopathic Apricot from DESTIHL Brewery

Release – Seasonal/WiLD SOUR SERIES, launching August 2017
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 6%
IBUs – 8
Added Ingredients – Apricots
Treatment – Kettle soured & dry-hopped 
Recommended Glassware – Snifter, tulip or over-sized wine glass
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.destihlbrewery.com/beer-finder-1.html

Field Trip: An Evening with Lord Hobo Brewing Co.

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On Monday, July 31, Cavalier Distributing welcomed Lord Hobo Brewing Co. (Woburn, Massachusetts) to the Florida beer scene with an industry-only event at The Dalí Museum.  We were lucky enough to score an invite to the event, and you know we took plenty of photos to document the festivities for you.

Just last week, we let you all know the exciting news that Lord Hobo Brewing Co. was arriving in Florida with a series of launch events set to take place from August 2 to August 12 (click here to read that post).  The party got off to an early start on Monday as representatives from Tampa-area breweries and craft beer establishments got together at The Dalí to introduce themselves to the crew and brews of Lord Hobo.  The evening was filled with damn good beer, tasty eats, great tunes and even better conversation held against a backdrop of Salvador Dalí’s artistic masterpieces.  It was a truly unique, craft beer experience that is probably best conveyed in a visual format.  Check out photos of the festivities below, and be sure to hit up one of the remaining launch events so that you too can get to know the amazing folks of Lord Hobo Brewing Co. while they are in town.  Prost!

 

**Click any photo below to enlarge, read descriptions, and/or view the gallery as a slideshow**

 

Florida hop heads, rejoice! Lord Hobo is here.
The Dalí served as an incredible venue for this industry Meet & Greet with Lord Hobo Brewing Co.
It just isn’t a party unless you have inflatable pink flamingo koozies.
Lord Hobo lights up the night.
The DJ successfully set a beach party vibe in a museum. Not an easy task.
Cans of Boom Sauce and Hobo Life were quick to greet us.
Consolation Prize DIPA joined the party as a meal fit for a Lord Hobo hit the table: Hobo burger sliders with road snacks.
Everyone in attendance was eager to try the three featured beers from Lord Hobo.
Cases of beer make for one hell of a Consolation Prize.
The entire Lord Hobo crew was stoked to meet their industry peers in Tampa.
The evening closed as we all enjoyed some s’mores while living that Hobo Life.

7venth Sun Brewery Gears Up for Grand Opening of Tampa Facility

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7venthSunTampaPosterAt 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 12, 7venth Sun Brewery (Dunedin & Tampa, Florida) will officially open their new brewery and taproom in Tampa with a Grand Opening celebration comprised of collaboration beers, tasty grub, live music and plenty of good times.

Since first opening their doors in Dunedin in 2012, Devon Kreps and Justin Stange, founders of 7venth Sun Brewery, have firmly established themselves in the Central Florida craft beer scene.  Their lineup of Belgian-style brews, IPAs, barrel-aged beers, and oak-aged sours has earned 7venth Sun a stellar reputation that has craft beer lovers across the country eager to try anything coming out of the brewery.  Business has been good, and now Devon and Justin are ready to bring the 7venth Sun vibe to Tampa proper by opening a new brewery and taproom at 6809 North Nebraska Avenue.  It goes without saying that they have quite a bit planned for their Grand Opening Party on August 12, so let’s break it all down.

The Basics

What – Grand Opening of 7venth Sun Brewery – Tampa
When – Saturday, August 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Where – 6809 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa, Florida

The Beer

In addition to a full lineup of awesome 7venth Sun brews, this Grand Opening is going next level by featuring special collaborations with the following EIGHT breweries:

**UPDATE 8/11/17**  Here’s the full taplist for the event:

7SunTaplist

The Food

7venth Sun has arranged for Ramen and Waffles Food Truck and Buddy Brew Coffee and Food to be on site to handle any grub and/or coffee needs you may encounter during the event.

The Entertainment

To keep the party going, Lowry Parcade will be onsite with a Pop Up setup of games, and live music will be provided by The Heavy Pets at 7 p.m.

This Grand Opening event is free to attend and pay as you go.  This is going be a hell of a good time so get your friends together, make a day out of it, and give 7venth Sun Brewery a proper welcome to Tampa on August 12.  Prost!

Wynwood Brewing Company to Can La Rubia Blonde Ale

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WBCo-LaRubia_editedWynwood Brewing Company (Miami, Florida) has officially announced that it will introduce 12 oz. cans of La Rubia Blonde Ale in time for Labor Day.

To give their fans the “perfect vessel” to enjoy their flagship offering, the folks at Wynwood Brewing Company have decided to now add 12 oz. cans of La Rubia Blonde Ale to their portfolio.  La Rubia, the lightest beer brewed by Wynwood, is a perfect pairing for the South Florida lifestyle, and now this new format will allow fans to bring it along as they journey to “new adventures and places.”

“We wanted people to have the right brew that fits South Florida lifestyle in an outdoor friendly packaging. Fishing, boating, the beach, golf courses, arenas, everything… these are the places for cans and for La Rubia.”

 

– Luis Brignoni, Founder of Wynwood Brewing Company

Light in body but big on flavor, La Rubia is “a true American Blonde Ale with a crisp bitterness and slightly bready, sweet flavor.”  Clocking in at just 5% ABV, La Rubia is a refreshing easy-drinker that can handle just about anything South Florida can throw at it.

La Rubia cans will begin to roll out in late August, but the official launch date is set for Monday, September 4 (Labor Day).  Once this new packaging option is released, you will be able to find this Year-Round offering available in 12-packs of 12 oz. cans at craft beer establishments located throughout Wynwood Brewing’s distribution area in South Florida.  Prost!

Vital Information for La Rubia Blonde Ale from Wynwood Brewing Company

Release – Year-Round, 12 oz. cans launch late-August 2017
Style – American Blonde Ale
ABV – 5%
IBUs – 16
Malts – German Pilsner Malts & British Crystal Malts
Hops – Czech Saaz
Yeast – German Ale Yeast
Recommended Glassware – Pilsner Flute
Suggested Food Pairings – Salad, seafood, chicken
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 12-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft

Straight to Ale Establishes the Anti Temperance Society

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Logo-01Straight to Ale (Huntsville, Alabama) recently announced that it is actively looking to initiate founding members of its new Craft Brewery Loyalty Club, the Anti Temperance Society.

The folks at Straight to Ale have launched the Anti Temperance Society as a means of giving their most dedicated and loyal fans a chance to enjoy a few much-deserved, exclusive perks.  Membership for a year will run you $200, and that’s a pretty sweet deal when you consider the following list of included benefits:

  • A personalized 22 oz. Anti Temperance Society tulip glass
  • A club exclusive Anti Temperance Society t-shirt
  • The ability to attend members-only, bi-monthly (6 per year) free tasting events featuring new and unreleased Straight to Ale beers, ciders, & Shelta Cavern Spirits paired with small bite food pairings by Ale’s Kitchen
  • Members will have the option of purchasing beer to go from these events before it is released to the general public
  • 10% discount on Straight to Ale merchandise & Ale’s Kitchen menu items
  • Special rates on rental space/private events at both Straight to Ale locations
  • Early entry into many of the brewery’s popular events throughout the year
  • A monthly newsletter with all the inside information on what’s going on at Straight to Ale 

Straight to Ale is taking applications now for founding members of the Anti Temperance Society, and you can sign up by clicking here.  Slots will fill quickly, so be sure to act soon if you wish to be a part of “Huntsville’s most exclusive Craft Brewery Loyalty Club.”  Prost!