New Belgium Brewing Introduces Honey Orange Tripel as Latest Year-Round

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Honey_Orange_Tripel_22oz_BottleNew Belgium Brewing (Ft. Collins, Colorado) has announced that Honey Orange Tripel officially arrives this month as the newest Year-Round addition to the brewery’s Belgian Reserve Series.

Sourcing inspiration from a style that is absolutely beloved at the brewery – the Belgian Golden Strong Ale, New Belgium’s brewers laid the foundation of Honey Orange Tripel with a recipe consisting of three malts and “a mix of Nugget and Styrian Savinjski Goldings hops.”  The beer was then infused with “wild honey sourced from the African Bronze Honey Company, a member of the Fair Trade Federation and a fellow certified B-Corp, and Seville orange peel freshly ground at Old Town Spice Shop just down the road from the brewery in Fort Collins.”  Weighing in at 10% ABV, the finished Honey Orange Tripel proves to be “a big, sweet and citrusy Belgian-style Tripel with thoughtfully sourced ingredients.”

Honey Orange Tripel is available now in 22 oz. bottles and 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles.  You can track down this new Year-Round offering at craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, and throughout the rest of New Belgium’s expansive distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Honey Orange Tripel from New Belgium Brewing

Release – Year-Round/Belgian Reserve Series, launches November 2017
Style – Tripel
ABV – 10%
IBUs – 25
Malts – Pale, Munich & Pilsner
Hops – Nugget & Styrian Savinjski Goldings
Yeast – Trappist Ale Yeast
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles
Beer Finder – https://www.newbelgium.com/beer/finder

 

Einstök Olgerd Brings its Icelandic Winter Ale to the US for the Holidays

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WinterAle-2Einstök Olgerd (Akureyri, Iceland) has announced that it will expand its Winter Seasonal lineup in the U.S. this year with the introduction of Icelandic Winter Ale.

Created as a collaboration with Eimverk Distillery in Garðabær, Einstök’s 2017 release of Icelandic Winter Ale has been “brewed with Icelandic grown, birchwood-smoked barley and flavored with spruce tips hand cut from [their] brewmaster’s backyard.”  This results in an 8% ABV Winter Ale that helps you embrace the cold with its pronounced notes of “smoky pine and whisky flavor.”  Making its American debut this holiday season, Icelandic Winter Ale now joins Icelandic Doppelbock to act as Einstök’s two Winter Seasonal offerings.

“From its native Icelandic ingredients to the unique brewing process, this is truly a special ale,” said Gudjon Gundmundsson, Einstök’s Managing Director from Reykjavik. “It was received with great fanfare here in Iceland last year, so we are very excited to now make it available in the U.S.”

Icelandic Winter Ale is rolling out now and will be hanging around through the winter months (while supplies last).  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 500ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments (notably Total Wine & More & Cost Plus World Market locations) located in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of Einstök’s U.S. distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Icelandic Winter Ale (2017) from Einstök Olgerd

Release – Seasonal/Limited, Winter 2017
Style – Winter Warmer/Holiday Ale
ABV – 8%
Malts – Smoked Icelandic Barley, Pale, Crystal & Chocolate
Hops – Bavarian hops
Added Ingredients – Icelandic Spruce Tips
Suggested Food Pairings – “Smoked leg of lamb, smoked saddle of pork. Traditional dishes like Þorramatur, Sviðahausar, Hrútspungar & Lundabaggar. Dark chocolate. Cold nights. New beginnings.”
Availability – 500ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://einstokbeer.com/ale-locator/

New Holland Brewing Co. to Release 20% ABV 20th Anniversary Ale

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NHB-20thAnniversary-627x1024New Holland Brewing Co. (Holland, Michigan) has announced that it will officially release its 20th Anniversary Ale on Black Friday – November 24th, 2017.

Just as they should, the guys and gals at New Holland Brewing Co. are going big later this month with an incredibly special bottle release that will commemorate their 20th year in the brewing industry.  And by “big”, we mean 20% ABV big.  That’s right, their 20th Anniversary Ale is a 20% ABV American Strong Ale that has been aged in “rum barrels for almost a year.” Although that ABV number may be a bit intimidating, the folks at the brewery promise that “this brew is smooth and warming with notes of vanilla and the spice of rum.”

“For the past 20 years, New Holland has worked hard to create remarkable beers for our customers to enjoy,” says New Holland President and Founder, Brett VanderKamp. “Each brew is thoughtfully crafted, inspired by the stories around us, and this 20th Anniversary Ale is no exception.”

20th Anniversary Ale will officially release on Black Friday – November 24, and will be available in “extremely limited” quantities of wax-dipped 22 oz. bottles that will only see distribution to “select retailers in Michigan.” New Holland’s brewpub locations (Pub on 8th in Holland and The Knickerbocker in Grand Rapids) will also be “offering bottle sales as well as the only draft pours in the nation.”  Prost!

Vital Information for 20th Anniversary Ale from New Holland Brewing Co.

Release – Limited, Black Friday – November 24, 2017
Style – American Strong Ale
ABV – 20%
IBUs – 45
Malts – 2-Row & Munich
Hops – Nugget & Willamette
Yeast – Super High Gravity
Treatment – Aged for nearly a year in rum barrels
Availability – 22 oz. bottles
Distribution – Select retailers in Michigan only. Bottles & limited draft will also be available at New Holland brewpub locations

Cycle Brewing Schedules Week-Long Bottle Release of Greatest Hits

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CBCycle Brewing (St. Petersburg, Florida) will showcase some of their “Greatest Hits” with a series of bottles releases running from Monday, November 13 to Friday, November 17.

To evoke some fond memories of the past, the folks at Cycle Brewing have brewed and bottled up “some of [their] favorite beers from the past couple of years, and some of the most enjoyed by [their] customers.” Appropriately dubbed the “Greatest Hits”, the following beers will be featured in this latest series of bottle releases beginning on November 13:

  • 8 a.m. on Monday, November 13: &+ Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Cinnamon, Peppers and Vanilla – $30 per bottle, bottle limit to be determined
  • 8 a.m. on Tuesday, November 14: Coconut Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout (expect coconut floaties) – $30 per bottle, bottle limit to be determined
  • 8 a.m. on Wednesday, November 15: BA Coffee Brinner Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, brewed with Maple and Cycle Brewing’s own Barrel Aged Coffee Beans – $35 per bottle, bottle limit to be determined
  • 8 a.m. on Thursday, November 16: Joyous Almond Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, brewed with Toasted Coconut and Almonds (expect floaties in this as well) – $35 per bottle, bottle limit to be determined
  • 8 a.m. on Friday, November 17: DBR Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, an extra-large Stout with an ABV around 13.5-14% – $30 per bottle, bottle limit to be determined

Quantities for all five beers are limited. Bottle limits will be based on how many people are in line, and the brewery will establish those limits at the time of each release. This being the case, there is no need to disturb Cycle’s neighbors by forming a line hours before each release. With that said, the brewery does recommend that you arrive by 7:45 a.m. to be considered in the head count. All five of these bottle releases are CASH ONLY while there is a line. Release times are for bottle sales only.

These beers are Greatest Hits for a reason and they are pretty much guaranteed to sell out promptly.   If you have your eye on one (or all five) of these beers, just make sure you are in line by 7:45 a.m. with cash in hand on the respective day.  Basically, what we are trying to say here is that we hope you clear your calendar, hit up the ATM, and double-check that alarm clock so that we can see you all next week at Cycle Brewing for this special series of releases.  Prost!

JunIPA Makes Seasonal Return for Second Self Beer Company

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SSBClogoSecond Self Beer Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has announced that it will be tackling this year’s winter months with the Seasonal release of JunIPA.

Inspired by the comforting and refreshing botanicals found in gin, Second Self Beer Company’s seasonal favorite JunIPA is an American India Pale Ale that is “brewed with citrusy Amarillo and Cascade hops plus juniper berries, then ‘dry-hopped’ with juniper and rosemary.”  Reminiscent of “a more citrusy gin”, this 6.4% ABV, 43 IBU IPA pairs beautifully with a southern winter’s “cool, crisp weather.”

JunIPA is available now and will be hanging around through the month of February 2018.  You can find this Seasonal offering in 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer establishments located within Second Self Beer Company’s distribution footprint in Georgia.  Prost!

Vital Information for JunIPA from Second Self Beer Company

Release – Winter Seasonal, November 2017 to February 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.4%
IBUs – 43
Featured Hops – Amarillo & Cascade
Added Ingredients – Juniper & Rosemary
Suggested Food Pairings – “Suggested pairings for the beer include braised short ribs, herb chicken, roasted Brussels sprouts, sharp cheeses, fire pits and roasted marshmallows.”
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Georgia 

Brewery Ommegang Releases Limited Edition Smoked Porter

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OmmegangSP4pk_editedBrewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, New York) has officially announced that Ommegang Smoked Porter is hitting shelves and taps now as the brewery’s latest Limited Edition offering.

Created as “a nod” to the classic English-style beer, Ommegang Smoked Porter is “brewed with subtle additions of smoked malt and a touch of Saaz hops to add additional depth and character to an otherwise traditional English brew.”  This approach yields a medium to full bodied, deep dark brown Smoked Porter with aromatic and flavor notes of rich cocoa, burnt sugar, roasted malt, sweet caramel, and subtle smoke.  Although this offering may be a bit of a departure from the brewery’s more Belgian-focused beers, Ommegang Smoked Porter’s “characteristic aromas of chocolate malt along with caramelized sugar are reminiscent of many things Belgian, and of all things good.”

Ommegang Smoked Porter is available now for a limited time in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft.  You can find this Limited Edition brew at fine beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, New York, and throughout the rest of Brewery Ommegang’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Ommegang Smoked Porter from Brewery Ommegang

Release – Limited Edition, November 2017
Style – Smoked Beer
ABV – 7.6%
Malts – Pilsner, Special B, Munich 20, Cara-20, Midnight Wheat, Chocolate, & Smoked Malt
Hops – Saaz
Yeast – American Ale Yeast
Suggested Food Pairings – “Smoked Porter is a wonderful accompaniment for a variety of foods. Pair smoke with smoke – and enjoy with smoked meats and cheeses. It’s also an ideal charcuterie beer, and a wonderful pairing for rich confections like chocolate cheesecake.”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://ommegang.com/blog/beer-finder/

Oskar Blues Brewery Set for National Release of Barrel-Aged Ten FIDY

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BATenFIDYOskar Blues Brewery (Longmont, Colorado & Brevard, North Carolina) recently announced that it will begin the limited release of Barrel-Aged Ten FIDY on November 11.

The long-standing and highly-respected Ten FIDY Imperial Stout is once again experiencing a bit of an upgrade after the brewers at Oskar Blues decided to lovingly “[stash] it in a blend of Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for a minimum of eight months.”  Now roused from its rest, the limited release Barrel-Aged Ten FIDY (12.9% ABV) has emerged as “a cool and drinkable concoction that gets more complex with each sip.”

“Aged through four seasons and from a blend of the top bourbons around, this Ten FIDY has morphed into a monster of cranked up flavor,” said Head of Brewing Operations Tim Matthews. “This stout is loaded with inimitable flavors consisting of espresso, burnt sugar, rich chocolate and caramel notes, which are combined with the vanilla, oak and bourbon flavors that have been smoothed out from maturation.”

Barrel-Aged Ten FIDY will officially release on November 11 and hang around while supplies last.  You can look for this Limited Release offering to be available in 19.2 oz. stovepipe cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, Texas and throughout the rest of Oskar Blues Brewery’s nationwide distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Barrel-Aged Ten FIDY from Oskar Blues Brewery

Release – Limited, November 11, 2017
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 12.9%
IBUs – 75
Treatment – Aged in a “blend of Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for a minimum of eight months”
Availability – 19.2 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.oskarblues.com/beerfinder/

Starr Hill Brewery to Release Box of Chocolates Stout Pack

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Box of Chocolates Pack_editedStarr Hill Brewery (Charlottesville, Virginia) announced today that it will begin the limited release of Box of Chocolates Stout Pack, a variety 12-pack containing Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout and three of its variants, on November 15.

First introduced at the start of 2017 as a part of Starr Hill Brewery’s All Access Series, the original Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout quickly achieved fan favorite status thanks to its “massive additions of cocoa [that bring] forward aromas of dark chocolate, mocha and vanilla.”  Looking back at that first release, the folks at Starr Hill realized this 7.8% ABV Imperial Stout had limitless potential as a base beer that could carry a plethora of other flavors and ingredients.  Since they have experienced success with the Four Kings IPA Pack that features variants of their King of Hop Imperial IPA, why not give Double Bass a similar platform with the release of Box of Chocolates Stout Pack?

This new variety 12-pack will consist of Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout and three variants that have been “infused with all-natural ingredients including organic peppermint leaves, smoke-dried jalapeño peppers, and locally roasted whole coffee beans” (three bottles of each beer in each pack).  For a little more information on these brews, here are the official names and descriptions for all four offerings that will be included in the Box of Chocolates Stout Pack:

  • Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout – This rich imperial stout is all about malt and chocolate. Aromas of dark chocolate, mocha and vanilla arise from cocoa additions. Robust bittersweet chocolate and dark fruit lead into a smooth finish.
  • Peppermint Double Bass – Bittersweet aromas arise from cocoa additions while fresh mint and chocolate notes lead into a smooth finish.
  • Chipotle Double Bass – Bittersweet aromas arise from cocoa additions while smoked pepper and chocolate notes lead into a smooth finish.
  • Mocha Double Bass – Bittersweet and roasted aromas arise from cocoa additions while coffee and chocolate notes lead into a smooth finish.

“With the great response we received from our Four Kings IPAs, we thought our Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout would be a great complementary base beer to take this idea in a new direction,” said Starr Hill Brewmaster, Robbie O’Cain. “Box of Chocolates is arriving just in time for the holiday season and will be a perfect pairing for festive desserts and winter gatherings.”

The Box of Chocolates Stout Pack will first debut in the Starr Hill Brewery Tap Room in Crozet, Virginia on Wednesday, November 15 and then enter distribution in mid-November.  You can expect to find limited quantities of Box of Chocolates available in 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at exclusive craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Virginia, and throughout the rest of Starr Hill’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Box of Chocolates Lineup

Anchor Brewing Releases 43rd Annual Christmas Ale

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Xmas2017___bottle_pintAnchor Brewing Co. (San Francisco, California) has announced that their iconic Christmas Ale has officially returned for its 43rd annual release.

First released in 1975, Anchor Brewing’s Christmas Ale has been brewed each year since with “a new, secret recipe” and adorned with “a completely unique label” (click here to see them all).  The 2017 Christmas Ale has been crafted to be “a smooth and creamy winter warmer with rich flavors of cacao, toffee, and roasted nuts, plus subtle hints of honey and herbal spice.”  You can choose to enjoy Christmas Ale (6.7% ABV) fresh or you can age the beer to see how its “wintry spiced flavors evolve over time.”

“This year’s Christmas Ale has a strong malt profile that is enhanced with wintry spices,” said Anchor Brewmaster Scott Ungermann. “The beer pours a deep, dark, mahogany brown with a creamy, tan head. It has flavors of creamy bittersweet chocolate, coffee, roasted malts and toasted nuts, with a rich, smooth, velvety mouthfeel. This is the third year in a row that we peeled back the layers of spices, taking some ingredients out and making those remaining stand out even more. In the meantime, we added more specialty malts, some that we’re using for the first time. The combination of malts, spices, and hops add layers of complexity to the beer and bring this year’s ale to a new level.”

2017 Christmas Ale is available now and will be hanging around through the month of January 2018.  You can expect to find this special holiday brew available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, gold-foiled 50.7 oz. magnum bottles (where permitted), and on draft at beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California and throughout the rest of Anchor Brewing’s expansive distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for 2017 Christmas Ale from Anchor Brewing Co.

Release – Seasonal, November 2017 to January 2018
Style – Winter Warmer
ABV – 6.7%
Malts – “Top Secret”
Hops – “Top Secret”
Fun Fact #1 – When it was originally released in 1975, Anchor Christmas Ale was “the first holiday beer in America since Prohibition.”
Fun Fact #2 – Concerning the label artwork: “Along with an evolving recipe, Christmas Ale portrays a new label every year. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew. This year’s tree is the Santa Lucia fir. Extremely rare, it is native and limited to California’s Santa Lucia Range along the central coast of California. The tree on this year’s label was hand-drawn by Bay Area artist James Stitt, who has been creating Anchor’s Christmas Ale labels since 1975.” 
Suggested Food Pairings – “Anchor Christmas Ale is perfect for cozy nights by the fire, and it pairs well with holiday fare, whether it is a roasted turkey dinner, sweet potato pie, or roasted chestnuts.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 50.7 oz. magnum bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.anchorbrewing.com/connect/beer_finder

Lindemans Brewery Introduces the US to GingerGueuze

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Gingergueuze-HighRes-_2_With the assistance of Merchant du Vin, Lindemans Brewery (Vlezenbeek, Belgium) will officially begin the US launch of Lindemans GingerGueuze during the month of November.

Lindemans GingerGueuze arrives as the latest release from the brewery’s series of small batch Botanical Lambics, experimental blends that “test the limits of their master blender, and present the pinnacle of sour beer artistry.”  To make this offering a reality, the Lindemans team based the recipe “on a blend of 12-month-old lambic with two- to three-year-old lambic, fermented in oak with fresh ginger.”  The finished product is a 6% ABV Lindemans GingerGueuze that is “a hazy golden color and combines the sourness of lambic with the enticing flavor and heady aroma of fresh ginger.”

“We all know ginger as a very powerful spice”, says Geert Lindemans, General Manager of Lindemans Brewery. “Finding the right balance for this beer was a serious challenge, as we want the spice to complement our lambic, without overpowering it. That is why we have actually used galangal for this beer. Galangal is part of the ginger family, but more complex in flavour. It took us quite a few batches to get the balance right, but now that we have, we are excited with the result”.

Lindemans GingerGueuze is hitting the US now and will be available in 750ml bottles while supplies last.  You can expect to find this new Limited Release on shelves across the country.  Prost!

Vital Information for GingerGueuze from Lindemans Brewery

Release – Limited/Botanical Lambics series, US launch begins November 2017
Style – Gueuze
ABV – 6%
IBUs – 12
Blend – 12-month-old Lambic with two- to three-year-old Lambic
Treatment – Fermented in oak with fresh ginger
Suggested Food Pairings – “It’s an ideal aperitif, or try alongside dishes that feature ginger. For a compelling contrast, serve GingerGueuze alongside rich, deeply flavored foods. Paired with a Thanksgiving dinner, GingerGueuze will make your holiday even more memorable!”
Availability – 750ml bottles