The Bruery Plans to Make Chocolate Rain Available for Public Release in 2017

Posted on by mashingin

wax-dipping-bottleThe Bruery (Orange County, California) has officially announced that Chocolate Rain, their Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stout with cacao nibs and vanilla beans, will be released to the public for the first time ever on Friday, March 24.

Born into this world as a single cask of beer at The Bruery’s first Black Tuesday release event in 2009, the liquid decadence known as Chocolate Rain quickly made a name for itself and became one of the most sought-after beers in the country. “Rich in chocolate, vanilla, oak and bourbon,” craft beer fans simply cannot get enough of this bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout that features cacao nibs from Berkeley’s TCHO and fresh vanilla beans.  The only problem: Chocolate Rain has been exclusively available to members of The Bruery’s Reserve Society and Hoarders Society only.  Well . . . until now.

On March 24, the 2017 release of Chocolate Rain will be open to the public for the first time.  Weighing in at a massive 19.6% ABV, wax-dipped 750ml bottles of this year’s Chocolate Rain can be purchased for $39.99 each.  There are quite a few moving parts when it comes to this release, so we will turn it over to The Bruery’s press release for all of the particulars:

Public Sale Details
The public sale will take place on Friday, March 24 at or around 10:00 a.m. PT on TheBrueryStore.com and at our Tasting Rooms (The Bruery Tasting Room and Bruery Terreux Tasting Room) upon opening at noon. Special, limited edition merchandise will also be available. There is a three bottle limit per person. All sales are first-come, first-served.
Members of the company’s Reserve Society and Hoarders Society will enjoy early, guaranteed access – and the highest number of bottles available to them for purchase, at their Society discount – during an allocations period that begins on Monday, March 6. Members of the Preservation Society will enjoy guaranteed access to three bottles of Chocolate Rain (2017) starting on Tuesday, March 14. Space is currently available to join the Preservation Society if you don’t want to leave your acquisition of this limited release to chance on the day of the public sale.
Three Options for Getting Bottles in-Hand
  1. Ship Within California
    Any beer purchased by the general public on TheBrueryStore.com, including bottles of Chocolate Rain on March 24, must be shipped. Shipping is available (for an additional fee), only in California, through Golden State Overnight. An adult, 21 years of age or older, must be present to receive and sign for the delivery. The first 500 shipments from The Bruery will include a specially-selected chocolate from TCHO to pair with the beer.
  2. Purchase Directly at our Tasting Rooms
    Bottles will be available to purchase first-come, first-served at both The Bruery Tasting Room and Bruery Terreux Tasting Room upon opening at noon on Friday, March 24. Chocolate Rain (and other treats) will also be available on tap for in-house consumption.
  3. Pickup for Society Members
    Society members enjoy the perk of climate-controlled storage and pickup of online purchases from our Society Fulfillment Center. Reserve and Hoarders Society members have until February 28, 2018 to pickup purchases from the 2017 calendar year. Preservation Society members have until June 30, 2017 to pickup any purchases made during the first quarter of 2017, including Chocolate Rain (2017) purchased this March.

If you meet the criteria to get bottles of Chocolate Rain in-hand, make sure that you are near a computer or at one of The Bruery’s tasting room locations at time of release on March 24. We say this because this year’s supply will disappear quickly and decisive action will be required to secure your bottles.  Good luck out there, folks.  Prost!

Vital Information for Chocolate Rain (2017) from The Bruery

Release – Very Limited, scheduled for Friday, March 24 (see quoted area above for release details)
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 19.6%
IBUs – 35
Additional Ingredients – Cacao nibs from TCHO & fresh vanilla beans
Treatment – Aged in Bourbon barrels
Availability – 750ml, wax-dipped bottles retailing for $39.99 each
Suggested Pairings – Cacao nib gelato, Sartori Peppermint BellaVitano cheese, roasted pecans, cocoa chili-rubbed tenderloin & a memorable song

Scotch on Scotch Debuts for Boulevard Brewing Company

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boulevardscotchonscotchBoulevard Brewing Company (Kansas City, Missouri) recently announced the release of their newest Smokestack Series offering, Scotch on Scotch Oak-aged Imperial Scotch Ale.

Drawing inspiration from the previous releases of Snow & Tell Oak-aged Scotch Ale and Rye on Rye, Boulevard Brewing has doubled down once again to create Scotch on Scotch.  This new Smokestack Series Limited Release beer starts with a massive malt base “created by layering caramel and amber malts with just a touch of peat smoked malt for additional complexity.”  The recipe also includes three hop varietals that were carefully chosen to lend balance and spicy earthiness, and brown sugar that was incorporated during the boil to impart “suggestions of toffee and molasses and a slightly sticky mouthfeel.”  Finally, this Imperial Scotch Ale lives up to its name by eventually finding itself aging on Scotch whisky barrel chips to “coax rich woody, char and vanilla notes along with the essence of Scotch whisky into a hearty, warming beer.”

Like most new offerings from Boulevard Brewing Company, Scotch on Scotch Oak-aged Imperial Scotch Ale has begun an initial release in the Greater Kansas City Area to allow local fans first dibs on the beer.  This limited offering will then become available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at fine beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida and other select markets that typically see Smokestack Series Limited Release beers from Boulevard.  This is just one of many exciting new beers heading to shelves and taps in the near future from Boulevard Brewing, so stay tuned for more news and keep an eye out for Scotch on Scotch while on your next beer run.  Prost!

Vital Information for Scotch on Scotch from Boulevard Brewing Company 

Release – Smokestack Series/Limited, launching late February 2017
Style – Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy
ABV – 9.6%
IBUs – 24
Hops – Magnum, Chinook & Northern Brewer
Additional Ingredients – Brown sugar
Treatment – Aged on Scotch whisky barrel chips
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://boulevard.com/beers/beer-finder/

boulevardscotchchips
To create Scotch on Scotch, Scotch whisky barrel chips were suspended in the aging tank in porous bags.

 

 

Coronado Brewing and Cigar City Brewing Release Conquista IPA Collaboration

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conquistabeachCoronado Brewing Company (Coronado, California) recently announced that they have joined forces with Cigar City Brewing (Tampa, Florida) to combine their award-winning skills in the creation of Conquista IPA.

In an act of unity that brings the East Coast and West Coast IPA together, Wayne Wambles – Brewmaster at Cigar City Brewing – partnered with Ryan Brooks – Brewmaster at Coronado Brewing – “to brew a west coast-inspired IPA featuring Polaris, a new German varietal prized for its complex pineapple and herb notes.”  To ensure that these hops were nothing but quality, Brooks ventured to Germany “to hand-select the Polaris hops used for this beer.” Equinox and Simcoe hops were then added to Conquista IPA’s recipe to yield a hop-forward beer full of “earthy, resiny, ripe mango, and herbaceous notes.”

“Wayne and I both love IPA’s and we wanted to brew something we’d enjoy drinking,” says Ryan Brooks, Brewmaster, Coronado Brewing Company. “We knew we wanted the beer to be dank and juicy, and we definitely achieved that with Conquista.”

Conquista IPA is available now in 22 oz. bottles and on draft.  This limited, collaboration release can be found at select craft beer-friendly establishments in Florida, California and throughout the rest of Coronado Brewing’s distribution network.  Track down a bottle of Conquista IPA and enjoy the best of both coasts thanks to the talents of Coronado Brewing Company and Cigar City Brewing.  Prost!

Vital Information for Conquista IPA from Coronado Brewing Company & Cigar City Brewing 

Release – Limited/Collaboration, launches late February 2017
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.5%
IBUs – 55
Featured Hops – Polaris, Equinox & Simcoe
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Distribution – Coronado Brewing’s distribution area
Beer Finder – https://coronadobrewing.com/brew-finder-2/

Shmaltz Brewing Continues Star Trek Series with Release of Klingon Imperial Porter

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CHAN2015_TAPShmaltz Brewing Company (Clifton Park, New York) will once again honor the Star Trek franchise in 2017 with the release of Klingon Imperial Porter.

Last year, Shmaltz Brewing Company recognized the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek with the release of two Star Trek Golden Anniversary Ales – The Trouble with Tribbles and Voyage to the Northeast Quadrant.  Since those two offerings were so well-received by beer geeks and Trekkies alike, the brewery has decided to keep the Star Trek series going into 2017 with the release of three more officially licensed brews.

The first Star Trek release of 2017 is Klingon Imperial Porter, a ruby-hued American Porter that pays homage to both “Klingon Bloodwine and fallen warriors who hold honor above life.”  Brewed with six malts and two hop varietals, Klingon Imperial Porter shows its strength at 7.3% ABV while recognizing that “the strongest warriors in the Galaxy” still have a sweet side.

If you would like to be one of the first to try this new offering, Klingon Imperial Porter will officially launch at the following events across the country:

Cannot make the events above?  No worries because Klingon Imperial Porter will also hit distribution in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft.  You can track this limited offering down at select craft beer bars and retailers located in Florida, New York and throughout the rest of Shmaltz Brewing’s 35-state distribution area.  Since this beer will be eagerly sought-after by two factions of ardently dedicated fans, grab your 4-pack of Klingon Imperial Porter when you see it because this one is guaranteed to disappear from shelves with a quickness.  Prost!

Vital Information for Klingon Imperial Porter from Shmaltz Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Seasonal, arriving late-February 2017
Style – American Porter
ABV – 7.3%
Malts –  Specialty 2-Row, Vienna, Melanoidin, Crystal, Honey & Pale Chocolate
Hops – Columbus & Vanguard
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft

Big Storm Brewing, Craft Life Brewing & Zephyrhills Brewing Collaborate to Release Open Spaces Porter

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bigstormlogoBig Storm Brewing Co. (Odessa, Florida) recently announced that they have teamed up with Craft Life Brewing (Land O Lakes, Florida) and Zephyrhills Brewing Company (Zephyrhills, Florida) to create Open Spaces Porter, a specialty release collaborate beer that will be unveiled at the Meet the Pasco Brewers event scheduled on Saturday, March 11 at Big Storm’s Odessa location.

To properly represent the brewing creativity and fine ingredients that can be found in Pasco County,  Joel Moore of Big Storm, Tim Foley of Craft Life Brewing, and Robert Hilferding of Zephyrhills Brewing joined forces to create a Pasco-themed, collaboration brew to feature during the 2017 Tampa Bay Beer Week celebration.  After a bit of brainstorming, it was decided that they would brew up Open Spaces Porter, a name inspired by Pasco County’s “Open Spaces – Vibrant Places” campaign that has proven to make an incredibly positive impact on area businesses. Staying true to the campaign’s intentions, this special collaboration beer keeps things local by featuring honey sourced from Queen Kathleen Honey and a citrus puree from Kumquat Growers Inc.  In taking this approach, these three breweries have created an American Porter that not only showcases the area’s beer scene but also the local products that quite often serve as their inspiration.

“The Pasco County Economic Development Council has done an amazing job promoting the area as one of great opportunity for growing businesses,” said Mike Bishop, Founder of Big Storm Brewery. “The Open Spaces – Vibrant Places campaign launched earlier this year by the Pasco EDC was the inspiration behind the name, as it speaks to our shared spirit of collaboration, teamwork and love of the area.”

Open Spaces Porter is a limited, draft-only release that will be unveiled at the Meet the Pasco Brewers event to be held at Big Storm’s Odessa location (2330 Success Dr. Odessa, Florida) on Saturday, March 11 at 6 p.m. In addition to being able to try Open Spaces Porter, attendees will also experience a discussion/Meet & Greet with all three participating brewers, several other beers from the participating breweries, live music, and tasty grub from local food trucks.  If you are north of the city and looking for a fun/educational way to wrap up your 2017 Tampa Bay Beer Week, check out the Meet the Pasco Brewers event and give Open Spaces Porter a try on March 11.  Prost!

 

 

New Belgium Brewing Celebrates 20 Years of Sour Beer with Release of 2017 La Folie

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lafolie2017bottleNew Belgium Brewing Company (Ft. Collins, Colorado) recently announced that La Folie has officially returned to shelves and taps for its annual release.

Since this award-winning Sour Ale was first launched in 1997, the 2017 release of La Folie not only marks the beer’s 20th anniversary but also New Belgium’s 20th year of brewing sour beers.  Overseen by Eric Salazar, New Belgium’s Wood Cellar Manager, and Lauren Salazar, New Belgium’s Sour Beer Blender; La Folie – French for “the folly” –  is a Flanders-style Oud Bruin-inspired beer created from a careful blend of American Sour/Wild Ales aged in various foeders (oak barrels). Their meticulous efforts result in a Sour Brown Ale that is “sharp and sour, full of green apple, cherry, and plum-skin notes.”

“We’ve been blending and experimenting with sour wood beers for two decades and as the name La Folie implies it’s always with a touch of eccentric madness,” said New Belgium Spokesman, Bryan Simpson. “We combine multiple barrels based on continual tasting to create a combination that is just right. Once again, the crew nailed it this year.”

2017 La Folie is available now in 22 oz. bottles and on draft as a limited release.  This always popular offering can be found at fine craft beer establishments in Alabama, Florida, Colorado and throughout the rest of New Belgium’s vast distribution footprint.  If you are a fan of Sour Ales, be sure to recognize this milestone in American brewing tradition by picking up a bottle of La Folie during your next beer run.  Prost!

Vital Information for La Folie (2017) from New Belgium Brewing Company

Release – Limited, launching late February 2017
Style – American Sour/Wild Ale inspired by the Flanders-style Oud Bruin
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 18
Malts – Pale, Munich, Carpils, C-80 & Chocolate
Hops – Nugget
Yeast – Lager yeast
Treatment – “Oscar Production: A base beer is fully fermented, filtered and then moved to barrels at room temperature (no carbonation). Barrels are aged for 1-3 years and it’s a blend of 2 Oscar barrels: Acidifying and aging gives it its complex tart aromas and flavors. We taste barrels every three months and then blend different foeders with different flavor profiles and ages together at different percentages to make a complete single sour brown that is decidedly La Folie.”
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder- https://www.newbelgium.com/Beer/finder

Field Trip: SweetWater Brewing Company 20th Anniversary Party

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On Sunday, February 19, SweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia) celebrated “20 Years of Heady Beers” with a 20th Anniversary Party that featured a ridiculously awesome tap list and a musical performance from moe.  We were fortunate enough to receive an invite to cover this event, and the only way to do this spectacle justice is to provide a visual account of the day.  Check out the photos below, and be sure to raise a glass in the near future to recognize SweetWater Brewing Company’s two decades of brewing excellence.   Prost!

SweetWater 20th Anniversary Imperial Hash IPA on Brett greets us as we enter the brewery’s newest facility, The Woodlands.
The delicious beers pouring in The Woodlands during the Anniversary Party.
Barrels of aging beer on display in The Woodlands.
Seemingly endless rows of barrels.
Tart Cerise back at home within a barrel.
SweetWater fans eagerly await a pour.
Although incredibly busy, bartenders still took the time to properly explain and describe the featured brews.
Rye Whiskey barrels.
moe. lights up the event with a memorable musical performance.
Packed out from start to finish, fans just could not get enough of the beers flowing in the Reel Room.
Small Batch offerings such as Kentucky Lover and Whiskey Barrel-aged The Pit & The Pendulum were served from jockey boxes in the Reel Room.
Coffee Bourbon Barrel Stout looking mighty fine on the bar.
Conversations had over beers.
On the way out, attendees were gifted a bottle of SweetWater 20th Anniversary Imperial Hash IPA on Brett to enjoy at home.

**Click any photo above to enlarge and view captions**

Breckenridge Brewery and Boundary Brewing Collaborate to Release Nitro Dry Irish Stout

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ndis-4-pack-small_editedFor the latest release in their seasonal Nitro Series, Breckenridge Brewery (Littleton, Colorado) has partnered with Boundary Brewing Cooperative (Belfast, Northern Ireland) to create Nitro Dry Irish Stout just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.

To give this new Spring Seasonal offering a proper Irish infusion, Breckenridge Brewery went to the source by teaming up with Ireland’s Boundary Brewing Cooperative.  After a bit of brainstorming, the two breweries decided to craft a Dry Irish Stout that would be “a new world take on an old world classic.”  To reach this goal, roasted barley and Irish Stout Malt were employed to create “subtle flavors of coffee and hints of grain”, and just enough hops were added to provide balance and “a particularly dry finish.”  The finished Nitro Dry Irish Stout was then packaged in Breckenridge’s “innovative nitrogen-charged can” to give the beer a velvety head and delightfully creamy mouthfeel.

“Our collaboration with Boundary Brewing resulted in a truly authentic Irish stout. We worked closely with their brewer, Matthew, to develop this recipe using ingredients from his homeland,” explained Todd Usry, President and brewmaster of Breckenridge Brewery. “The process of creating the recipe together and having Matthew come here to brew with us was so positive for our entire brew staff, and the outcome is delicious.”

Nitro Dry Irish Stout will start hitting shelves in late February and will be available until the release of the next Nitro Series offering.  This Spring Seasonal can be found in 4-packs of 15.2 oz. cans at craft beer-friendly establishments in Florida, Colorado and throughout the rest of the Breckenridge distribution area.  If you would like to add a little variety to your St. Patrick’s Day beer selection, keep an eye out for Nitro Dry Irish Stout this spring.  Prost!

Vital Information for Nitro Dry Irish Stout from Breckenridge Brewery & Boundary Brewing Cooperative 

Release – Seasonal/Nitro Series, launches February 2017
Style – Irish Dry Stout
ABV – 4.8%
IBUs – 38
Malts – Roasted Barley, Flaked Barley & Irish Stout Malt
Availability – 4-packs of 15.2 oz. cans
Beer Finder – http://www.breckbrew.com/beer-locator
Fun Fact – “In anticipation of this spring release and its timeliness for St. Patrick’s Day, Breckenridge Brewery is unveiling a Nitro Dry Irish Stout badge for Untappd, the app that allows people to share and explore new beer. The badge will be available for ‘unlocking’ the entire month of March.”

 

Brewery Ommegang Welcomes Spring with Release of Short Sleeve Saison

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ommegangsss_editedBrewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, New York) recently announced that Short Sleeve Saison will be released as the brewery’s newest Spring Seasonal offering beginning at the end of February.

To provide their fans with a thirst-quenching beer that is perfect for any springtime activity, the brewers at Ommegang have crafted Short Sleeve Saison to be one of the most sessionable brews ever produced by the brewery.  This straw-colored Saison features a floral, subtly fruity aroma and a flavor profile “of lemon tartness followed by mild wheat character.”  At just 4.5% ABV, Short Sleeve Saison finishes crisp, clean and incredibly refreshing.

“Short Sleeve Saison is one of our most easy drinking offerings to date,” says Justin Forsythe, Innovation Manager at Brewery Ommegang. “The delicate yet complex balance between lightness, spice, and fruitiness is sure to please the palate and leave you desiring another sip. As the weather begins to warm again, we hope this beer is a go-to for refreshment, and something light enough to keep you anticipating the warmer months ahead.”

Short Sleeve Saison will officially hit distribution at some point in late-February to early-March.  This offering will be available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at fine beer establishments located in Florida and other select markets within Brewery Ommegang’s distribution network.  Saisons are always a beautiful option when it comes to warm weather drinking, so make sure to give Short Sleeve Saison a try at some point this spring.  Prost!

Vital Information for Short Sleeve Saison from Brewery Ommegang

Release – Seasonal, launching late-February to early-March 2017
Style – Saison/Farmhouse Ale
ABV – 4.5%
IBUs – 35
Malts –  Pilsner, Wheat, Acidulated Malts & Flaked Oats
Hops – Southern Hemisphere Topaz & Motueka
Additional Ingredients –  Grains of paradise, lemon peel & coriander
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Distribution – FL, AR, CO, CT, DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, D.C., & Puerto Rico
Suggested Food Pairings – Poached salmon over a microgreen salad with strawberry vinaigrette, mild cheeses like queso blanco and fresh mozzarella, and light desserts like berry sorbet

Clementina Saison Returns as Limited Release from Jolly Pumpkin

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clementinajpbottleJolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales (Dexter, Michigan) recently announced that Clementina Saison will soon be sent out to distribution as the brewery’s latest Limited Release offering.

In an effort to prove that “seasons are just a state of mind,” Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales has brewed and bottled Clementina Saison to act as a soothing “ray of sunshine” that will lead us out of the winter months.  To ensure that this Saison is incredibly bright and effervescent, the brewers incorporated additions of “yuzu and lime peel, pink Himalayan salt, coriander and clementine juice” into its recipe.  The citrus forward character of Clementina is supported by a base of oak and wheat to “provide a light, bready body rounded by the refreshing blend of spices.”  Since nearly all Jolly Pumpkin offerings undergo a meticulously planned aging process, we will turn it over to the brewery for the full rundown on Clementina’s treatment:

“This batch of Clementina is composed of three 10 barrel batches that were aged in both a 20-barrel oak foeder as well as several toasted oak barrels. Brewed in December and January last winter, Clementina waited in oak for nearly the entire length of 2016, soaking up the warmth and excitement of last summer. It has kept that feeling close for us just waiting for the perfect damp and grey week of February to stave off the mid-winter blues.”

Clementina Saison will first hit shelves and taps at Jolly Pumpkin brewery and taproom locations in Dexter, Ann Arbor, Detroit and Traverse City.  Shortly thereafter, 750ml bottles of this Limited Release will then see limited distribution in Florida, Texas, New York, Missouri, and California.  This offering will most assuredly vanish as quickly as it arrives, so make the necessary plans now to secure your bottle of Clementina Saison for a timely reprieve from the harsh cold of winter.  Prost!

Vital Information for Clementina Saison from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Release – Limited, launching late February 2017
Style – Saison/Farmhouse Ale
ABV – 5.8%
Added Ingredients – Yuzu & lime peel, pink Himalayan salt, coriander & clementine juice
Treatment – Aged on oak nearly all of 2016
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Distribution – Available at Jolly Pumpkin locations in Dexter, Ann Arbor, Detroit & Traverse City; limited distribution in Florida, Texas, New York, Missouri, & California