New Belgium Brewing to Introduce Fat Tire Belgian White

Posted on by mashingin

new-belgium-logoNew Belgium Brewing (Ft. Collins, Colorado) has officially announced plans to expand upon the Fat Tire trademark family by launching Fat Tire Belgian White in August as a Special Release.

For 25 years, Fat Tire Amber Ale has easily been one of the most popular offerings in New Belgium’s portfolio and in American craft beer culture in general.  Well, this iconic offering will soon have a sister beer for the first time in its storied history.  Fat Tire Belgian White stays “true to New Belgium’s roots” and the style by being a “light-bodied, unfiltered wheat beer, brewed with juicy Seville orange peel and freshly ground coriander.”  Seville oranges were carefully selected as a brewing ingredient because they have “a brighter, less cloying sweetness than Valencia oranges that are typically used in Belgian White beers.”  This meticulously crafted recipe results in a 5.2% ABV brew that provides “the perfect balance of refreshment and drinkability with just a hint of sweetness.”

“Fat Tire Belgian White captures the spirit and flavor of a truly authentic Belgian White beer,” said New Belgium’s Belgian Brewmaster, Peter Bouckaert. “We are sourcing the Seville orange peel and coriander through Old Town Spice Shop locally here in Fort Collins, so the spices are freshly ground less than a mile from our brewery. This gives the beer a fuller, fresher flavor and aroma resulting in a very drinkable Belgian White beer with just the right amount of complexity.”

Fat Tire Belgian White will be available for a limited time beginning on August 1, 2017.  This Special Release offering will be found in 12 oz. bottles, in variety packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly retailers, restaurants and bars in Alabama, Florida, Colorado and throughout the rest of New Belgium’s distribution network.  It goes without saying that New Belgium Brewing would only consider applying the Fat Tire name to a truly special beer, so keep an eye out for Fat Tire Belgian White when it launches later this year. Prost!

Vital Information for Fat Tire Belgian White from New Belgium Brewing

Release – Special Release, launching August 2017
Style – White Wheat Ale
ABV – 5.2%
IBUs – 12
Malts – Pale, White Wheat & Oats
Hops – Nugget & Cascade
Yeast – American Wheat Ale Yeast
Added Ingredients – Grains of Paradise, Fresh Ground Seville Orange Peel & Fresh Ground Indian Coriander
Availability – 12 oz. bottles, 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.newbelgium.com/beer/finder

 

Avery Brewing Launches Coconut Porter as Latest Botanicals & Barrels Offering

Posted on by mashingin

averycoconutporterbottleAvery Brewing Company (Boulder, Colorado) has announced that Coconut Porter will officially release on April 7 as the fifth installment in the brewery’s Botanicals & Barrels series.

Originally slated for release in early 2016, Coconut Porter was held back a bit because the folks at Avery Brewing wanted to ensure that this beer was absolutely perfect before it made it to shelves.  That yearlong delay was spent “making small tweaks, specifically regarding the way the coconut is infused into the beer.”  They now believe Coconut Porter is where it should be and that it is finally ready to be the newest addition to their Botanicals & Barrels series, a lineup of beers that “have all been aged in oak barrels for at least three months and have the addition of one ‘botanical’ ingredient outside the standard malted barley, hop, yeast, and water recipe.”  Coconut Porter now joins Raspberry Sour, Vanilla Bean Stout, Tangerine Quadruple Ale, and Apricot Sour in this series.

Just as the name implies, Coconut Porter is an Imperial Porter (10.4 % ABV) that has been loaded with real coconut flakes roasted by “Spice of Life Catering Services in Boulder, Colorado, to ensure consistency and quality.”  The beer was then aged in Bourbon barrels to lend vanilla and oak tones that “complement the chocolaty and sumptuous nature of this delectable Porter.”

“Infusing coconut flavor into beer is very challenging at a production level,” says Andy Parker, Chief Barrel Herder at Avery. “We had great success with coconut porters in the past, such as Momi Hiwa and Dui Cochi, but we recently found a way to better dial in the amount of coconut flavor so it is consistent batch over batch. Our goal is to let all elements of the beer shine. There is substantial coconut flavor, but you don’t lose any of the richness of the porter or the bourbon oak characters from the barrels. It’s a fantastically balanced beer that we now can produce all year long.”

Avery Brewing Company will host an official bottle release event for Coconut Porter on April 7, and the beer will then hit distribution in the weeks that follow.  You can expect to find this offering available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado and throughout the rest of Avery Brewing’s expansive distribution area.  There is a good amount of hype and anticipation surrounding the long-awaited release of Coconut Porter, so be sure to check this one out once it hits shelves and taps in your area later this month.  Prost!

Vital Information for Coconut Porter from Avery Brewing Company

Release – Year-Round/Botanicals & Barrels, launches April 7, 2017
Style – American Imperial Porter
ABV – 10.4%
Malts – Wheat, Munich, C-120, 2-Row, Chocolate, Black, & CaraAroma
Hops – Bravo
Yeast – London Ale
Added Ingredients – Coconut
Treatment – Aged for at least three months in Bourbon barrels
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.averybrewing.com/brew-finder

Guinness Introduces Irish Wheat as New Limited Release

Posted on by mashingin

irishwheathandGuinness & Co. (Dublin, Ireland) has officially announced the release of Guinness Irish Wheat as the brewery’s newest beer.

Since “The Open Gate Brewery is home to a group of Guinness brewers from all over the world whose job is to explore new recipes . . .  and . . . bring exciting beers to life,” the brewery has now further expanded their portfolio by welcoming the warm weather of spring and summer with the limited release of Guinness Irish Wheat.  For their take on this style, the brewers at Guinness combined 100% Irish-grown wheat, Amarillo and Mount Hood hops, and the brewery’s signature yeast to create “a clean, crisp refreshing tasting beer with notes of zesty citrus, subtle clove and banana.” Guinness Irish Wheat is the latest offering to join “a line of creations that includes Rye Pale Ale, Antwerpen Stout, Nitro IPA, and Guinness Blonde American Lager.”

“I wanted to help create the best wheat beer outside of Germany,” said brewer Jasmin Winterer, whose native home of Germany led her to come up with the concept for Irish Wheat. “The style is familiar, but if you look closer, you’ll see how we made it distinctly Guinness – this beer uses 100% wheat sourced in Ireland and the very same yeast that goes into our world famous stout.”

Guinness Irish Wheat is rolling out now and will be available throughout the warm weather months.  This limited release offerings can be found nationwide in the U.S. in 6-packs of 11.2 oz. bottles for the suggested retail price of $9.99.  Prost!

Vital Information for Guinness Irish Wheat from Guinness & Co.

Release – Limited, launching spring 2017
Style – Wheat Ale
ABV – 5.3%
IBUs – 21
Malts – Irish Wheat & Stout malts
Hops – Mount Hood & Amarillo
Availability – 6-packs of 11.2 oz. bottles
Beer Finder – https://www.guinness.com/en-us/where-to-buy/

 

Orlando Whiskey Festival Returns in May

Posted on by mashingin

3rdOWFposterOn Saturday, May 13 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Whiskey & Bizz Events will host their 3rd Annual Orlando Whiskey Festival at Mercedes Benz of Orlando in Maitland (810 N Orlando Ave, Maitland, Florida).

Established as “the first ever Whiskey Festival to hit Central Florida,” the Orlando Whiskey Festival will officially return on May 13 for its third installment.  With a pour list boasting nearly 100 brands spanning from fine single malts to flavored whiskies, this event promises to provide guests with a top tier, educational whiskey experience that also allows them to interact with industry professionals.  In addition to the abundance of amazing whiskies, this event will also feature “gourmet menu selections . . . from some of Orlando’s most popular restaurant groups”, craft beer from Hourglass Brewery, wine, live entertainment, and all net proceeds will benefit the amazing cause of The Lovely Project.  There is a lot to cover when it comes to the 3rd Annual Orlando Whiskey Festival, so let’s break it all down:

The Basics

The Whiskey

This event will feature a pour list of 92 whiskeys.  This will include such distilleries as Angel’s Envy, The Balvenie, Basil Hayden’s, Four Roses Bourbon, Heaven Hill Distillery, Highland Park, Jack Daniel’s, Laphroaig Distillery, Suntory Whisky, Willett Distillery, Woodford Reserve, and many more.  To check out the full list of featured whiskeys, click here.  

The Food & Entertainment

“Menu sampling from some of Orlando’s most popular restaurant groups” will be available during the event.  Participating eateries include the following:

The event will also feature live musical entertainment provided by Mo’mo-Browne.

The Charity

All net proceeds from the Orlando Whiskey Festival will benefit The Lovely Project, “a Non-Profit Organization, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, that exists to empower girls by providing them with tools, education and peer-mentorship for living a purposeful, productive life.”  The Lovely Project’s Mission Statement is as follows:

“Our mission is for every young girl to grow into a woman who will create positive impact on the world around them. The girls we reach in our community have the opportunity to cultivate healthy friendships in a safe, fun environment while being encouraged and mentored. Our vision is for every girl to know that she is Lovely.”

Ticket Information

Tickets to the Orlando Whiskey Festival are available for purchase now (click here to purchase), and tickets will be available online until May 12 (while supplies last).  Tickets are available in the following tiers:

  • General Admission: $95 plus fees – Ticket includes entrance into the festival at 7 p.m., a branded Glencairn official whiskey tasting glass, unlimited tasting of nearly 100 different brands of whiskey, menu sampling from some of Orlando’s most popular restaurant groups, access to an outdoor cigar lounge featuring Drew Estates Cigars, live entertainment from Mo’mo Browne, specialty cocktails prepared by selected whiskey brands, and craft beer from Hourglass Brewery
  • VIP Early Access: $145 plus fees – Ticket includes entrance into the festival one hour early at 6 p.m., a branded Glencairn official whiskey tasting glass, unlimited tasting of nearly 100 different brands of whiskey, menu sampling from some of Orlando’s most popular restaurant groups, access to an outdoor cigar lounge featuring Drew Estates Cigars, live entertainment from Mo’mo Browne, specialty cocktails prepared by selected whiskey brands, and craft beer from Hourglass Brewery

(**NOTE** There is a third ticket option available for purchase on the Eventbrite link provided above.  The “Ultimate Whiskey Dinner Experience” is a separate event scheduled for Friday, May 12 at DoveCote Brasserie.  If you purchase that ticket, it only grants you access to the three-course dinner.  It DOES NOT grant you admission into the Orlando Whiskey Festival. **NOTE**)

If you happen to be in the Orlando area and free on May 13, you may want to consider checking out the Orlando Whiskey Festival.  Not only will you be treated to an incredible evening filled with the finest whiskies, but you will be able to enjoy it all while supporting the very worthy cause of The Lovely Project.  How can you go wrong with that?  Prost!

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Tasting Notes: Share This: OC from The Bruery

Posted on by mashingin

BruerySTOCglass1000This week’s Tasting Notes finds us drinking with a purpose as we take a look at Share This: OC from The Bruery (Placentia, California).

Not too long ago, we let you all know about the recent release of Share This: OC (click here to check that out).  If you happened to miss that post, this offering comes to us by way of The Bruery’s Share This program, a beer series that acts as a fundraising effort for charities in regions that supplied ingredients or inspiration for each release.  For Share This: OC, the brewers focused on their “home county and its history as a significant growing region for oranges” by creating an Imperial Stout “dosed with orange zest, TCHO cacao nibs, and vanilla beans.”  For each bottle of Share This: OC produced, The Bruery will donate $1 to Food Forward of Southern California – a 501(c)(3) charity that provides hunger relief within their community by rescuing “fresh, local produce that would normally go to waste from backyard fruit trees, public orchards, farmers markets, and the downtown Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market.”  Share This: OC is available for a limited time in 750ml bottles.  You can support this wonderful cause by picking up a bottle at craft beer establishments located in Florida, California and throughout the rest of The Bruery’s distribution network.

With that information now covered, I do believe it is time to pour up a few glasses for the Mashing In family and get to some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Share This: OC from The Bruery

Appearance:  Deep black in color, Share This: OC presents itself in the glass with a look that is similar to highly polished obsidian.  When presented with direct light, the oily blacks stand firm to deny any light from penetrating.  The body is completely opaque and reflective.  The pour produced a good two fingers of creamy, dark tan foam.  The head displays good retention and eventually settles in as a chunky half finger that lasts throughout the experience.  Each sip leaves behind a solid sheet of lace on the glass that slowly slips back down to rest in the top cap once again.  Truly stunning in appearance.

Aroma:  As soon as the nose approaches the glass, it is greeted by intense notes of heavily roasted malt and the finest dark chocolate.  The chocolate is splendidly pronounced, but it eventually opens up a bit to reveal a layer of freshly scraped vanilla beans.  Just as you think the beer is done, it closes out with a lingering, comforting fragrance of fresh orange juice and zest.

Taste:  Just as in the aroma, the chocolate is more than happy to bat lead-off in the flavor.  We are talking about some incredibly rich chocolate qualities that span from notes of bars of bittersweet dark chocolate to luxurious chocolate pot de crème to tall glasses of chocolate milk.  Vanilla builds and merges with a heavily roasted, black coffee character to lend some light mocha tones. At 11% ABV, a touch of alcohol presents itself in the flavor but it finds a place with the orange zest to create an orange liqueur note.  All of these flavors harmoniously work together to make each sip an indulgent delight.

Mouthfeel:  Fullest of the full in body with a moderate carbonation presence.  Slick and coating on the palate, the flavors are allowed to linger so that the drinker can truly savor everything hitting the taste buds.  With that said, the hops and citrus qualities lift the beer a bit to keep it from being cloying.  The ABV is absolutely there and creates a warmth that rises slowly from the belly.  The aftertaste conjures memories of chocolate oranges at Christmas.

Final Thoughts:  True to the name of the series, there is no denying that Share This: OC is a massive beer that is meant to be sipped and shared with friends.  Once you get beyond the sheer size of this brew, it becomes quite easy to get lost in its intoxicating chocolate and citrus notes.  The use of the orange gives the beer added dimension and supplies it with a bright freshness not often found in big ol’ Imperial Stouts.  That being the case, Share This: OC can be enjoyed on its own, as a pairing with dessert, or could even have some play with a few savory dishes as well.  No matter how you choose to enjoy it, we highly suggest you pick up a bottle of Share This: OC during its limited release.  Not only so you can enjoy a truly delicious brew, but to also support the very worthy cause of Food Forward in the process.  Make it happen because there is absolutely no way that you can walk away from this beer disappointed.  Prost!

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Shiner Beer Releases Strawberry Blonde as New Summer Seasonal

Posted on by mashingin

ShinerStrawbottleShiner Beer/Spoetzl Brewery (Shiner, Texas) has announced that Shiner Strawberry Blonde is hitting shelves and taps now as the brewery’s summer Seasonal.

Previously released in 2015 as a part of the brewery’s Brewer’s Pride Series, Shiner Strawberry Blonde is making a comeback this summer with a new look as a Seasonal release.  Pale and Wheat malts lay the foundation for this beer, and then the brewers at Shiner give it a refreshing infusion of “juicy homegrown strawberries from Poteet, Texas.”  At just 4.3% ABV, Shiner Strawberry Blonde comes together as an incredibly quenching beer with a crisp finish.  Shiner Strawberry Blonde officially replaces Shiner Prickly Pear as this year’s summer Seasonal from Shiner Beer/Spoetzl Brewery.

Shiner Strawberry Blonde is available now and will be hanging around through the summer months.  This Seasonal offering can found in 12 oz. bottles, 12 oz. cans and on draft at beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Texas and throughout the rest of Shiner Beer’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Shiner Strawberry Blonde from Spoetzl Brewery

Release – Seasonal, rolling out March 2017
Style – American Blonde Ale
ABV – 4.3%
IBUs – 11
Malts – Pale & Wheat malts
Added Ingredients – Strawberries from Poteet, Texas
Availability – 12 oz. bottles, 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.shiner.com/find

Founders Brewing Co. to Offer Centennial IPA in 15-Packs of Cans

Posted on by mashingin

CentennialIPA2017FeatureFounders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has announced that their popular Centennial IPA will soon be available in 15-packs of 12 oz. cans.

First released in 2001, Centennial IPA has since firmly established itself as an enduring fan-favorite offering in Founders Brewing Co.’s Year-Round portfolio.  To better keep up with demand and make this this floral, citrusy India Pale Ale more conveniently accessible, the folks at Founders have decided to now offer Centennial IPA in 15-packs of 12 oz. cans.  Although this new packaging option will replace “the current 12-pack can package, . . . the suggested retail price will remain the same.”  Centennial IPA now joins All Day IPA, Azacca IPA, PC Pils and Mosaic Promise as the brewery’s offerings currently available in this 15-pack format.

“Centennial IPA was first of many IPAs in our portfolio,” said Co-Founder and President, Dave Engbers. “In today’s landscape of thousands of IPAs, it still holds up to be a rock-solid, well-balanced IPA, defined by its strong malt backbone and floral, citrusy flavor and aroma. The decision to give it the 15-pack treatment was an easy one and we hope Centennial IPA fans are as pumped as we are to see this brand grow – literally in this case.”

Centennial IPA will be available in 15-packs of 12 oz. cans beginning in April 2017.  This offering will also continue to be available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft.  As always, you can find Centennial IPA available at craft beer friendly establishments in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Founders Brewing Co.’s distribution area (which will soon include 45 states).  Prost!

Vital Information for Centennial IPA from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Year-Round, 15-packs launch in April 2017
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 7.2%
IBUs – 65
Description – “Get ready to bask in the glory of the frothy head’s floral bouquet. Relish the citrus accents from the abundance of dry hopping. This one’s sweet, yet balanced. Malty undertones shake hands with the hop character for a finish that never turns too bitter.”
Availability – 15-packs of 12 oz. cans, 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/find-our-beer/

Wicked Barley Brewing Company Launches Distribution

Posted on by mashingin

wickedbarleylogoWicked Barley Brewing Company (Jacksonville, Florida) has announced that they have partnered with Cavalier Distributing to begin distribution of their craft beer offerings in the area of Jacksonville, Florida.

Since first opening its doors in July 2016, Wicked Barley Brewing Company has quickly established itself within the craft beer community of Jacksonville.  Not only has the brewery – which includes a taproom, restaurant, large outdoor beer garden, and a boat – become a favorite destination for local craft beer lovers, but their beers have also recently received quite a bit of recognition at the 2017 Best Florida Beer Championships: Dortmunder Export SB took Gold in the European Dark Lager/Ale category and was named “Best Small Batch Beer in Florida”; Wicked Barley Gose took Gold in the Gose category; Orange Blossom Mead took Silver in the Mead category; and the brewery was named “Best Brewpub in Florida”.

This success and the brewery’s steady growth has now made it possible for Wicked Barley Brewing Company to ease itself into distribution.  The brewery has entered into an agreement with Cavalier Distributing to begin distribution of “draught versions of . . . Left Leg Lager, The Eradicator DIPA, and seasonal/limited releases as available, in the Florida counties of Duval, Clay, St. John’s, Nassau, and Baker.”  To properly celebrate this new milestone, Wicked Barley and Cavalier Distributing will host the following launch events in the Jacksonville area:

Jacksonville Distribution Launch Events

If you are in the Jacksonville area, be sure to check out one (or many) of the events above and raise a glass with Wicked Barley Brewing Company in celebration of their continued growth and success.  Prost!

New Holland Brewing to Release Mexican Spice Cake as Next Dragon’s Milk Reserve

Posted on by mashingin

dmr4packNew Holland Brewing Co. (Holland, Michigan) has announced that Dragon’s Milk Reserve Mexican Spice Cake will release on April 1.

Dragon’s Milk Reserve Mexican Spice Cake arrives as the latest variant of New Holland Brewing Co.’s wildly popular Dragon’s Milk, a Bourbon Barrel Stout “with roasty malt character intermingled with deep vanilla tones, all dancing in an oak bath.”  To create this variation, the base beer for Dragon’s Milk is aged for three months in Bourbon barrels with toasted chiles, cocoa nibs, vanilla, and cinnamon.  This allows the beer’s chocolate character to be “enhanced by the soft chili heat and mellowed out by the flavors of vanilla and cinnamon.”

“We first brewed this variation for Michigan Brewers’ Guild Winter Beer Fest (WBF) in February of 2016,” says Brett VanderKamp, president of New Holland. “And it’s been a fan favorite ever since. People couldn’t get enough at that beer fest, at the handful of small events across the country in which we tested it, and again at this year’s WBF. It was time for this variant to own the spotlight.”

The New Holland Brewing Co. brewpubs will host release parties for Dragon’s Milk Reserve Mexican Spice Cake on April 1, and the beer will then enter distribution shortly thereafter.  This limited release will be available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft in Alabama, Michigan, and throughout the rest of the brewery’s distribution network.  All previous Dragon’s Milk Reserve releases have disappeared with a quickness, and Mexican Spice Cake should be no different.  Keep that in mind and secure your stash when you stumble across it.  Prost!

Vital Information for Dragon’s Milk Reserve Mexican Spice Cake from New Holland Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Dragon’s Milk Reserve, April 1, 2017
Style – American Imperial Stout
ABV – 11%
Treatment – Aged for three months in Bourbon barrels with toasted chiles, cocoa nibs, vanilla & cinnamon
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://newhollandbrew.com/finder/
Suggested Food Pairings – Caramel, vanilla ice cream, chili con carne 

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Rhye IPA Goes Year-Round for Smuttynose Brewing Company

Posted on by mashingin

SBC-12oz-Bottle-RHYE-silver-192x600Smuttynose Brewing Company (Hampton, New Hampshire) has announced that Rhye IPA has been officially promoted to the brewery’s Year-Round line-up.

If it is possible for a beer to serve as an example of persistence, that beer would be Rhye IPA.  This offering originally got its start as an experimental release in Smuttynose Brewing’s Big Beer Series, and its popularity quickly earned this brew a place in the brewery’s Seasonal line-up.   Even with this change, the hop-loving masses voiced that they wanted more access to Rhye IPA.  The brewery has listened and will now meet that demand by once again reclassifying Rhye IPA to become a Year-Round offering.

The brewers at Smuttynose lay the base of Rhye IPA with a variety of malts (including North American 2-Row, Rye, Aromatic, and CaraRye), but the goal is to ensure that the spiciness of rye stands out.  To complement that character, “Magnum hops were used for bittering, and Falconer’s Flight and Citra were added for flavor and dry-hopping.”  This all results in 6.9% ABV, “hoppy IPA, with rye spiciness and big hop character.”

Rhye IPA will officially roll out as a Year-Round offering beginning on April 3.  This offering will be available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, New Hampshire and throughout the rest of Smuttynose’s distribution area.  It has been a long road for Rhye IPA, so make sure you show the beer a little love by picking up a sixer while on your next beer run.  Prost!

Vital Information for Rhye IPA from Smuttynose Brewing Company

Release – Year-round, April 3, 2017
Style – American India Pale Ale/Rye Beer
ABV – 6.9%
IBUs – 71
Hops – Magnum, Citra & Falconer’s Flight
Malts – North American 2-Row, Rye, Aromatic & CaraRye
Yeast – American Ale
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://smuttynose.com/beer-finder/
Suggested Food Pairings – “Spicy Asian foods: Thai, Vietnamese especially, sweet BBQ ribs and Jamaican food.”
Fun Fact – “The bottle label and package art is inspired by a drawing of an Indian rhino drawn by 16th century German painter and printmaker, Albrecht Durer. Durer was renowned throughout Europe for his wooden prints, and he worked with some of the most famous painters and artists of the day, including Da Vinci, Raphael, and many more.
Durer had never seen a rhino before, and created the drawing based on a description and a crudely scribbled sketch.”

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