Ballast Point Brewing Introduces Manta Ray Double IPA

Posted on by mashingin

02-beers-primary-image-mantarayBallast Point Brewing Company (San Diego, California) starts the New Year off in proper fashion with the debut of their newest Year-Round offering, Manta Ray Double India Pale Ale.  

Previously brewed as “The Landlord” or “Roots to Boots Double IPA” from the brewery’s R&D program, Ballast Point Brewery has now officially upgraded this Double IPA’s status to become a packaged, Year-Round release under the name Manta Ray.  In true West Coast style, this hop experience is laden with “aromas of fresh, citrusy tangerine, melon and light pine [that] leap from the beer and linger over a smooth finish.”  Ballast Point offers this brew up with one simple warning: “Like its namesake, this brew can sneak up on you – a big ABV (8.5%) without a bite. ”  Wasting absolutely no time, Manta Ray Double IPA has already been named a 2016 Euro Beer Star Gold Medalist.

Manta Ray Double IPA is available now at all Ballast Point Tasting Room locations and will eventually roll out across the country during the month of January 2017.  You can expect to find this offering in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at fine beer establishments in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of Ballast Point’s expansive distribution territory. Hopheads, be sure to take notice of this new release and give Manta Ray DIPA a try in 2017.  Prost!

Vital Information for Manta Ray Double IPA from Ballast Point Brewing Company

Release – Year-Round, January 2017
Style – American Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.5%
IBUs – 70
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Suggested Food Pairings – Chinese salt & pepper wings, Bay Blue Cheese, Dungeness crab cakes

Dogfish Head Brewery Announces Return of Olde School Barleywine

Posted on by mashingin

oldeschool1_editedDogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware) will officially reintroduce Olde School Barleywine as a limited release beginning on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

First released back in 2002, Olde School Barleywine quickly achieved the status of being one of Dogfish Head’s most popular seasonal beers.  This is in large part thanks to the addition of dates and figs to tame the trademark hop bitterness found within the American-style Barleywine.  Although this ageable ale weighs in at a sturdy 15% ABV, it proves to be a gentle giant that is “beautifully balanced . . ., dark red to amber in color, with a sweet and velvety flavor profile and huge complexity and warmth.”  You can either enjoy Olde School Barleywine fresh to enjoy its full hop power or stash your bottles away in the cellar to later experience developing “oxidative characteristics, including honey and toffee flavors and aromas, and lessened bitterness.”

“Our approach was to do a new world take on traditional English barleywine,” says Dogfish Head president and founder, Sam Calagione. “American style barleywines tend to be more hop-forward while, in comparison, English barleywines are malt-forward and develop their fruity attributes from the esters. When properly aged, the pit-fruit and sweet, sherry characteristics mature into something spectacular.”

Olde School Barleywine officially returns on January 3 as a Limited release offering.  This brew will be available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles at craft beer-friendly establishments found in Florida and throughout the rest of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery’s 31 state (+ D.C.) distribution footprint.  Olde School Barleywine is released quite infrequently these days, so be sure to grab an adequate supply this month to hold you over until its next release.  Prost!

Vital Information for Olde School Barleywine from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Release – Limited, beginning January 3, 2017
Style – American Barleywine
Original Release Date – 2002
ABV – 15%
IBUs – 85
Added Ingredients – Figs & dates
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles
Beer Finder (a.k.a. Fish Finder) – https://www.dogfish.com/brewery/fishfinder