DESTIHL Brewery Adds Amra Mango IPA to Seasonal Lineup

Posted on by mashingin

Amra2_editedDESTIHL Brewery (Normal, Illinois) has officially introduced Amra Mango IPA as the brewery’s newest packaged Seasonal offering.

Previously brewed as a draft-only release, Amra Mango IPA is now headed to 12 oz. cans as DESTIHL Brewery’s first seasonal of 2017 that is not in their WiLD Sour Series.  “Amra”, Sanskrit for mango, begins with an American India Pale Ale recipe supported by a solid malt backbone and a hop bill bursting with tropical fruit characteristics.  Real mangoes are then added to “dampen the impact of the bittering hops” and deliver a 7% ABV IPA that is a full-on tropical experience.

“Hops and mangoes are two pieces of a puzzle that we brought together to form an unbelievable IPA,” said Founder, CEO and Brewmaster, Matt Potts. “The hop characteristics are already chock full of tropical fruit, so accompanying it with juicy mangoes was a very natural pairing. We’re really excited about Amra because whether you’re a hop-head or hop-shy, you’ll find what you’re looking for. We have been brewing this beer for years on draft, so it is great to finally package Amra.”

Amra Mango IPA acts as “a seasonal accompaniment” to DESTIHL’s Year-Round portfolio that includes beers such as Abbey’s Single, Weissenheimer Hefeweizen and Vertex IPA. Once it’s Seasonal run is completed, Amra will be “followed by another 4 month seasonal to be announced.”

Amra Mango IPA will have availability in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft from May to August.  You can expect to find this Seasonal offering available at craft beer-friendly establishments located in Florida, Illinois and throughout the rest of DESTIHL Brewery’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Amra Mango IPA from DESTIHL Brewery

Release – Seasonal, May through August 2017
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 60
Added Ingredients – Real mangoes
Suggested Glassware – Pint, snifter, tulip or over-sized wine glass
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.destihlbrewery.com/beer-finder-1.html

Cigar City Brewing Adds Colorado to Distribution Network

Posted on by mashingin

ccb-logo-2colorCigar City Brewing (Tampa, Florida) has officially announced plans to begin distribution in the state of Colorado effective immediately.

Distribution was obviously on Cigar City Brewing’s agenda this year as Colorado now marks the fourth new state to receive deliveries from the brewery in 2017.  To ensure that this new market launch is a success, the brewery has partnered with the following distributors to cover the state of Colorado: RMC Distributors, Coors Distributing Company, High Country Beverage and Mountain Beverage Co.  Craft beer fans in Colorado will be happy to find 12 oz. cans of Jai Alai IPA, Maduro Brown Ale, Florida Cracker Belgian-style White Ale, Invasion Pale Ale and Tampa-style Lager available on shelves now. During the launch, the brewery will also be sending several specialty draft releases such as Marshal Zhukov’s Penultimate Push and Margarita Gose.

Speaking of the launch, the brewery will be hosting several market launch events across Colorado from May 15 through May 18.  In addition to the distributor reps, quite a few Cigar City Brewing representatives are making the trip to be in attendance – Brewmaster Wayne Wambles, COO Justin Clark, El Lector Neil Callaghan, and Brand Manager Lucas Widrick – so the Colorado craft beer community can receive a proper introduction to the brewery’s “brand and its award-winning beer from the people who know it best.”  The Colorado launch events currently scheduled are as follows:

Monday, May 15 – Denver

Tuesday, May 16 – Fort Collins

Wednesday, May 17 –  Vail, Colorado Springs & Longmont

  • 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Launch Party at Vail Ale House (2161 N Frontage Rd W, Vail, CO 81657)
  • 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Launch Event at Brass Tap (13271 Bass Pro Dr #110, Colorado Springs, CO 80921)
  • 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Pint Night at Parry’s Pizza Longmont (1232 S Hover Rd #100, Longmont, CO 80501)

Thursday, May 18 – Denver, Northglenn & Highlands Ranch

If you happen to be a craft beer lover in the Colorado area, now is the time to start getting excited.  Make sure you hit up one or several of these launch event to raise a glass with the Cigar City crew and give them a proper welcome to the great state of Colorado.  Prost!

 

Tasting Notes: Tropical IPA from Garage Brewing Co.

Posted on by mashingin

garageTropIPA1000Our well documented love of hops surfaces once again in this week’s installment of Tasting Notes as we have a look at the Seasonal release of Tropical IPA from Garage Brewing Co. (Temecula, California).

Established in 2013 in what was once an eight-bay garage, Garage Brewing Co. hit the California beer scene with a mission “to provide exceptional beer in an array of styles that appeal to a broad spectrum of beer lovers.”  Since many homebrewers got their start in a garage, Garage Brewing Co. uses their own to adopt the homebrewer’s freedom to dabble and experiment so that they can “stay on the cutting edge of the craft beer industry.”  This approach allows their brewing team to “maintain four or more year round styles and regularly rotate in five to six seasonal creations.”  The beers of Garage Brewing Co. are currently available in over 100 locations within the Inland Empire and San Diego County areas of California.

One of the most recent releases from Garage Brewing Co. is their Tropical IPA.  This Seasonal brew is an American India Pale Ale that has been heavily dosed with the flavors of grapefruit, pineapple and passion fruit.  At 7.5% ABV, this refreshing brew promises to be the perfect balance of tropical fruit notes and hoppy goodness.  Tropical IPA is available for a limited time in 22 oz. bottles.  It just so happens that we were lucky enough to get our hands on a bottle, so let’s pry off this cap and get to some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Tropical IPA from Garage Brewing Co.

Appearance: Tropical IPA fills the glass as a bright orange-colored brew with a frothy two fingers of white foam lounging comfortably on top.  Held to the light, sun-kissed yellows appear but that deep, vibrant orange holds its ground at the center of the pour.  The beer is pristine in clarity and displays an enthusiastic carbonation activity coursing within.  The head drops down to a complete and lasting finger that lays down wide sheets of lace after each sip.

Aroma: Tropical leads in the name and it certainly leads in the department of aromatics.  Incredibly clean notes of pineapple and grapefruit hit the olfactory quickly and clearly.  Seriously, the pineapple is impressively pronounced and enticing.  Orange and tangerine notes reinforce the tropical character before giving way to a lightly sweet grain presence.  A wisp of hop resin breezes through to close things out.

Taste: Juicy, tropical fruit notes once again strike first with passion fruit and grapefruit immediately establishing their dominance.  Those notes eventually allow the hop character the chance to show off a playful bitterness that bounces back and forth between pine and the zest of various citrus fruits.  Pineapple slips through the back door with the malts to lay down a bit of balancing sweetness.

Mouthfeel: This IPA is on the lighter side of medium in body and has a prickly carbonation level.  This combination keeps the beer easy-drinking and constantly begging for another sip.  The hops do have some stick to them, and this allows the beer’s flavors and bitterness to linger a bit.  Both sweet and bitter on the palate, balance is eventually achieved so the beer can clear out and allow the palate to reset.  At 7.5%, the ABV presence is well masked and never makes a noticeable appearance. The aftertaste keeps things tropical with lasting notes of pineapple and grapefruit.

Final Thoughts: Garage Brewing’s Tropical IPA absolutely showed up to represent itself in the incredibly popular fruited IPA segment while still remaining true to its West Coast IPA roots.  The tropical fruits definitely get top billing in this release, but the hops are still given a chance to work and add their own distinctive dimension to the experience.  The real showstopper with this beer is the aroma.  I simply cannot think of another beer that has such a blatant and pronounced pineapple character billowing from the glass like this Tropical IPA.  Once you combine that with the juicy tropical fruit flavors and the hidden ABV, you are left with a ridiculously easy-drinking and refreshing IPA that is a fantastic go-to option after any hot day.  If you happen to be in the SoCal area, be sure to give this one a shot.  Prost!

Full Sail Brewing Co. Set for Limited Release of Kentucky Cream Bourbon Barrel Aged Pale Ale

Posted on by mashingin

FS_KentCream_22BottleFull Sail Brewing Co. (Hood River, Oregon) recently announced that they will recognize American Craft Beer Week (May 15 – 21) with the limited release of Kentucky Cream Bourbon Barrel Aged Pale Ale.

To create this homage to the classic flavors and ingredients of American bourbon, the brewers at Full Sail brewed the base beer for Kentucky Cream Bourbon Barrel Aged Pale Ale back in February of 2016.  This special brew was then aged for over a year in Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon, and Old Forester barrels so that it may soak up as much oak and bourbon character as possible.  This all results in a unique, 10% ABV Pale Ale that is packed with “aromas of ripe cherries, vanilla and tobacco leaf and oak that lead to flavors of caramel, honey and dried fruit.”

“We looked to bourbon, the whiskey that made Kentucky famous, for this latest barrel aged release,” says Full Sail Brewmaster Jim Kelter. “Deconstructing this American classic, the grains most often used for bourbon (in this case corn, barley, and rye) were incorporated into a pale ale, racked post-ferment into bourbon barrels, and left to rest for one year.”

Kentucky Cream Bourbon Barrel Aged Pale Ale is an extremely limited release that will become available “this May just in time for American Craft Beer Week.”  This offering will be available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, Oregon and within the rest of Full Sail Brewing Co.’s distribution area.  The limited quantity of Kentucky Cream Bourbon Barrel Aged Pale Ale is sure to disappear with a quickness, so be sure to snag your bottle or pour if you find yourself lucky enough to happen upon it.  Prost!

Vital Information for Kentucky Cream Bourbon Barrel Aged Pale Ale from Full Sail Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Barrel Aged Series, mid-May 2017
Style – American Pale Ale
ABV – 10%
IBUs – 40 
Treatment – Aged for over a year in Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon, & Old Forester barrels
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://fullsailbrewing.com/where-to-buy/

LOKO Cuisine to Host Oeste Cubano Q Dinner at Cigar City Brewing

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CUBANO-FRONTAt 7 p.m. on Friday, June 2, LOKO Cuisine will set up once again in the Fermentorium at Cigar City Brewing (3924 W. Spruce St, Tampa, Florida) to host the second installment in their Oeste Dinner Series, Cubano Q.

Chef John LoScalzo of LOKO Cuisine developed the Oeste Dinner series as a means of celebrating the culinary history and traditions of West Tampa.  Since Cigar City Brewing also draws a good amount of inspiration from this region, LoScalzo made the very easy decision to partner with the brewery so that he may pair his dishes with the most appropriate beers available.  For Round 2 of Oeste, LOKO Cuisine’s Cubano Q will be “a Cuban infused BBQ spread that will tantalize your taste buds with sweet, salty, sour and spicy flavors.”  This seated, family-style dinner event will feature the following menu of six dishes:

CUBANO-BACK

As attendees enjoy the elaborate meal above, they will have the option to pair it with Cigar City’s Margarita Gose, Guava Grove Sour Ale, Guayabera Pale Ale or Pilsner.  One pint or snifter of equal value is included in cost of the dinner, but attendees will have the option to purchase additional pours throughout the event.

Tickets for Oeste Cubano Q are $50 (plus tax) each, and you can purchase yours now through the LOKO Cuisine website (click here).  The cost of the ticket allows you to enjoy the full menu and one pint or snifter of beer.  Like all LOKO Cuisine events, seating is extremely limited.  With that in mind, lock in those tickets as soon as possible to ensure that you do not miss out on what is sure to be an amazing dining experience.  Prost!

Blood Orange Blonde Debuts for Anchor Brewing Co.

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Blood-Orange-Blonde-1-blog-thumbnail-1024x558_editedAnchor Brewing Co. (San Francisco, California) has officially launched Blonde Orange Blonde as the latest release from their Pacific Siren Series.

Hitting shelves and taps just in time for the summer months, Blood Orange Blonde is “a refreshingly unique Blonde Ale” that highlights “the delectable taste of the blood orange.”  This offering’s citrus characteristics actually begin to surface in the brewhouse when brewers add California orange peels to the kettle.  Blood orange – the Sanguinello cultivar – is then introduced during secondary fermentation to combine the fruit’s “enticingly rich aroma and tangy-sweet juiciness” with the base beer’s “mild hop bitterness, subtle malty sweetness, and . . . long, dry finish.”  Joining Mango Wheat and Meyer Lemon Lager, Blood Orange Blonde is now the third release currently available in Anchor’s Pacific Siren Series.

“Blood Orange Blonde is an exciting addition to our wildly popular Pacific Siren Series,” said Anchor Brewmaster Scott Ungermann. “This refreshing, crisp craft brew gets some of its citrusy aroma in the brewhouse, where California orange peels are added to the brew kettle. However, most of the action is in the cellar where the blood orange fruit—the Sanguinello cultivar variety—is added during secondary fermentation. The result is a fruit-forward blonde ale with a tangy citrus tartness, hints of sweet malt and honey notes and a dry orange peel bitterness at the back end.”

Blood Orange Blonde officially releases in May 2017 and will be available as a Year-Round offering. You can expect to find this new offering available in 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer bars, restaurants and retailers located in Alabama, Florida, California and throughout the rest of Anchor Brewing’s national distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Blood Orange Blonde from Anchor Brewing Company

Release – Year-Round/Pacific Siren Series, launching May 2017
Style – American Blonde Ale
ABV – 4.5%
Malts – Blend of Tow-Row Pale & Pilsner
Hops – Cluster & Experimental No. 431
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.anchorbrewing.com/connect/beer_finder
Fun Fact – “The eye-catching packaging artwork for Blood Orange Blonde stays true to its Pacific Siren Series counterparts, donning an illustrated siren inspired by a 75-year-old California fruit crate label. Fruit-crate labels have a long and colorful history in California dating to the late nineteenth century. Most such agricultural art features enticingly succulent fruit and an idealized pastoral landscape. Anchor’s Pacific Siren Series labels however—as unique as the beers themselves—feature a stunning siren.”

Avery Brewing Co. to Add The Real Peel IPA to Year-Round Lineup

Posted on by mashingin

AveryRealPeelcans_editedAvery Brewing Company (Boulder, Colorado) recently announced that The Real Peel India Pale Ale with Tangerine Peel will officially release as the brewery’s newest Year-Round offering on May 19.

“Inspired by a . . . taproom-only beer that Boulder locals have come to enjoy every summer for the past seven years,” the folks at Avery Brewing Co. decided to develop The Real Peal IPA as a “bright, fresh, and zesty” offering that can be enjoyed all year long.  Beginning with a base of crisp Rocky Mountain glacier water, Columbus, Chinook, Centennial and Cascade hops, this American India Pale Ale (6.3% ABV) is then dosed with 100% real tangerine peel “to create [a] brilliant, zesty, and fresh IPA that will satisfy rain or shine.”

“It’s been a project that has been ongoing for six or seven years”, says Andy Parker, Chief Barrel Herder at Avery. “As we developed this beer, we have made small tweaks each year to make it better and better. It’s been a staff favorite forever and at this point, it’s time to get it out to the Avery nation to enjoy.”

The Real Peel IPA will officially release on Friday, May 19 and will be available year-round.  You can expect to find this offering in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado and throughout the rest of Avery Brewing’s expansive distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for The Real Peel IPA from Avery Brewing Co.

Release – Year-Round, launches May 19, 2017
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.3%
Hops – Columbus, Chinook, Centennial & Cascade
Added Ingredients – 100% real tangerine peel
Suggested Food Pairings – “Fresh citrus ceviche, teriyaki chicken and veggie kabobs, Hawaiian-style pizza, and, of course, sunshine.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.averybrewing.com/brew-finder

 

 

Creature Comforts Brewing Co. to Release Tritonia with Cucumber and Lime in Cans

Posted on by mashingin

CCBCTritoniaglass_editedCreature Comforts Brewing Co. (Athens, Georgia) recently announced that Tritonia Gose with Cucumber and Lime will be packaged in 12 oz. cans for the first time in late May.

Arriving as a thirst-quenching springtime offering, Tritonia with Cucumber and Lime is a Limited Release variant of Creature Comforts Brewing Co.’s “tart and refreshing Gose” known simply as Tritonia.  The base beer’s tartness, coriander and sea salt gets an added infusion of refreshment thanks to the additions of lime and cooling cucumber.  This all results in a 4.5% ABV brew that is the perfect option to sip on after a long day in the sun.

“Tritonia is one of my favorite of our limited release beers,” said Creature Comforts Brewing Co. Co-founder and Head Brewer David Stein. “It’s extremely refreshing and perfect for the spring months as the weather starts to warm up.”

Tritonia with Cucumber and Lime will be available on draft in early May, and 12 oz. cans will follow shortly behind with a release scheduled for late May.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available “on-site at Creature Comforts as well as in the Athens and Atlanta markets.”  Like most packaged beers from Creature Comforts, you should not expect Tritonia with Cucumber and Lime to last long on shelves.  Get it while you can.  Prost!

Vital Information for Tritonia with Cucumber and Lime from Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Seasonal; available on draft in early May, cans release in late May
Style – Gose
ABV – 4.5%
Added Ingredients – Coriander, sea salt, lime & cucumber
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Athens & Atlanta, Georgia
Fun Fact – “In The Iliad, The Homeric Hymns, and in Hesiod’s Theogony, Athena is given the curious epithet Tritogeneia.  The meaning of this term is unclear; it could mean various things, including ‘Triton-born’, perhaps indicating that the sea-deity was her parent according to some early myths.  In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Athena is occasionally referred to as ‘Tritonia’.”

 

 

Field Trip: Cavalier Distributing Trade Show – Tampa

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Just a few weeks ago, Cavalier Distributing (Lakeland, Florida) held a fantastic and informative trade show at The Vault, a beautiful venue located in the heart of Tampa’s Downtown Arts District.  Cavalier used this industry-only event as an opportunity to introduce the area’s restaurants, bars, retailers, and media members to their vast portfolio of fine craft beers, meads, ciders and spirits.  The best way to capture all that this event had to offer was through a visual medium, so check out the photos below (click to enlarge) so that you too can get the inside scoop on the exciting beverages headed our way this year from Cavalier Distributing.  Prost!

Constructed in 1923 as The Exchange National Bank, The Vault is now a unique and versatile venue located in the heart of Tampa’s Downtown Arts District.
Driftwood Brewery (Victoria, British Columbia) was on hand to showcase their Fat Tug IPA, an intense Northwest-style India Pale Ale brewed with the hop aficionado in mind.
New to the area, Forbidden Root sampled their line of botanical-themed offerings: Sublime Ginger, Money on My Rind, & Wildflower Pale Ale (WPA).
Blavod, the original Black Vodka, was on hand to create beautiful and inventive cocktails for attendees.
M.I.A. Beer Company (Doral, Florida) brought their core lineup along with several small-batch and limited brews.
View of a happy crowd from above.
Duclaw Brewing Co. (Baltimore, Maryland) treated the crowd to tastes of decadent ales like Sweet Baby Jesus! Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter and Dirty Little Freak Coconut Caramel Chocolate Brown Ale.
The beautiful Farmhouse Ales of Blackberry Farm Brewery (Walland, Tennessee) were in attendance.
The folks at B. Nektar (Ferndale, Michigan) were nice enough to share bottles of Episode 13 Mead Aged in Bourbon Barrels alongside several other beautiful meads.
Crafted Artisan Meadery (Akron, Ohio) dazzled taste buds with Jinja Dragon, a Honey Wine dosed with “generous additions of hibiscus and ginger with a touch of black peppercorn.”
Harris Meadery (Orange Park, Florida) absolutely nailed their Key Lime Pie Mead.
We can’t think of anything more awesome than a bandolier of Underberg.
The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery (Farmville, North Carolina), the Dark Beer Specialist, poured up their classic Milk Stout alongside Hoppy Bunny American Black Ale.
Maeloc Hard Cider, a cidery from Galicia, Spain, will soon be hitting the area with their line of delicious ciders.
Town Branch Distillery, an extension of Alltech Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. (Lexington, Kentucky) sampled their line of spirits: Town Branch Bourbon (pictured), Pearse Lyons Reserve, and Town Branch Rye.
Shmaltz Brewing Company (Clifton Park, New York) discussed and shared their Year-Round brews with attendees.
Maui Brewing Co. (Kihei, Hawaii) brought the Aloha spirit to the trade show.
Good times were found throughout the event.
Key West Distilling (Key West, Florida) broke out a full array of rums along with their Spyglass Vodka.
Nothing but quality on ice here, but the Grevensteiner from C. & A. Veltins was a delightful treat.
The eye-catching can artwork of Central 28 Beer Company (DeBary, Florida).
Original Sin (New York, New York) Extra Dry and Elderberry Cider.
New Planet Brewery (Boulder, Colorado) supplied some gluten-free goodies.
Beyond their delicious brews, Heavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) came to the trade show prepared with a full-sized skeleton and hook for their display.
Alltech Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. (Lexington, Kentucky) also shared their wildly popular Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.
Two Brothers Artisan Brewing (Chicago, Illinois) Pinball Juicy Hop Pale Ale and In the Flesh American Sour Ale Brewed with Real Peaches.

cavbeerglasses1000

Anderson Valley Brewing Company Returns to Alabama

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AVBCglass_editedAnderson Valley Brewing Company (Boonville, California) has officially announced that they have partnered with International Wines & Craft Beer to bring their offerings back to the state of Alabama beginning this month.

When the brewery was founded on December 26th, 1987 in the town of Boonville, California, Anderson Valley Brewing Company was just “one of only 20 craft breweries in the country.”  Thanks to a commitment to experimentation and innovation, their hand-crafted, authentic ales and lagers have helped the brewery grow from a “modest” 10-barrel brewhouse to what is now a “26-acre property [that] houses a 100-barrel brewhouse, tasting room, beer garden, and is home to the first 18-hole disc golf course ever to be built at a brewery.” Now considered to be one of the pioneers of the American craft beer industry, Anderson Valley Brewing Co. is known for a solid, time-tested portfolio of Year-Round brews, an incredibly popular line of Goses, and an exclusive partnership with Wild Turkey® Bourbon that yields their Barl Series of bourbon barrel-aged beers.  To the delight of the Alabama beer community, the brewery has now decided that its next step moving forward is a much-anticipated return to the Heart of Dixie.

“As the craft beer movement continues to grow, we’ve been keeping our eye open for opportunities to expand into regions with strong, craft-oriented wholesalers. Partnering with International just made sense; their knowledge of craft is exemplary and their dedication to building brands is impressive. We’re optimistic about what the future holds for us in Alabama.”

 

– Trey White, President and Owner of Anderson Valley Brewing Company

The beers of Anderson Valley Brewing Company are available throughout the state of Alabama effective immediately.  International Wines & Craft Beer will handle all distribution responsibilities for the brewery in Alabama, and this fine distributor already has the following list of Anderson Valley launch events planned:

Monday, May 8

Tuesday, May 9

Wednesday, May 10

Thursday, May 11

All the launch events listed above are sure to feature some tasty treats, so be sure to attend one (or many) so that you can give the folks at Anderson Valley Brewing Company a proper welcome back to the great state of Alabama.  Prost!