Field Trip: Media Reception & Beer Launch at New Realm Brewing Company

Posted on by mashingin

radegastLast week, we had the pleasure of attending a VIP Media Reception and Beer Launch event at New Realm Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia) and we have returned to supply you with a photographic account of our experience at this newly established craft beer institution that is sure to have a huge impact on Atlanta’s beer scene.

Established by Carey Falcone, Bob Powers and IPA whisperer Mitch Steele, New Realm Brewing Company is a 20,000 square-foot facility located on Atlanta’s Beltline.  This game-changing destination brewery houses a 25hl, four vessel brewhouse and 50hl tank farm from Krones Steinecker, a stunning taproom and restaurant, multiple multipurpose rooms that can act as event space or additional seating, several bars, a dedicated growler station, and a rooftop deck featuring a breathtaking view of the Atlanta skyline.  The brewery’s main system will be focused on creating world-class, regular rotation offerings while a pilot system will be dedicated to churning out a regular stream of creative and innovative one-offs and experimental batches.  Helmed by General Manager Don Mioton and Executive Chef Julio Delgado, New Realm’s restaurant “[blends] global flavors and southern techniques” to offer a delicious menu that pairs beautifully with the house beers.  Speaking of those beers, New Realm offerings will span the style spectrum, but you can rest assured that you will see many hop-laden brews from Mitch Steele.

New Realm Brewing Company officially opened to the public on Monday (January 8), but we were lucky enough to get a first look at the facility last week.  Although part of me wishes that we returned home with a notebook full of technical data on the brewery and the beers, it was kind of refreshing to hear that this event was meant to have more of a relaxed, hangout atmosphere rather than that of a formal interview.  When I say refreshing, I mean that more so from the perspective of the New Realm team that was facing an opening week that would be full of photo ops, interviews, and the intense scrutiny of being a new brewery and restaurant in a major U.S. city.  This was the crew’s last chance to take a breath and a moment to celebrate before that coming storm. It was a needed break disguised as a soft opening and media event.

We wanted to respect that, so our conversations with Mitch Steele and everyone else at New Realm were limited to small talk about our personal lives, the beer industry in general, hobbies, and good food.  Although fun for us, we realized that those discussions would not produce interesting copy.  So . . . we adjusted our approach to the event and instead decided to document our experience through photos.  We want you to experience this place through our eyes, and hopefully that will inspire you to visit New Realm, sample the beers, have a meal, take the tour, and experience something truly special.  We hope that you enjoy the gallery and, above all, realize that you need to experience all that can be found in New Realm.  Prost!

 

These two giants are happy to greet you as you approach the brewery.
The taproom’s decor is warm and inviting; rich in woods, glass and stainless steel.
The taproom also features a view of the brewery.
The space also includes several rooms that can act as private event spaces, conference rooms, or just added seating for the taproom.
The New Realm crew supplied gorgeous pours of beautiful beers all night long.
From Pilsner to Porter, here’s the dynamic tap list we enjoyed that evening: Commissioner Table Beer; Euphonia Pilsner, German-style Pilsner hop bursted with Noble and new-school German varieties; Zwickel Pils, Unfiltered Pilsner that is naturally hazy and fermented with an Augustiner lager strain; Perun Pale Ale, American Pale Ale featuring citrusy and piney hops with a touch of caramel maltiness; Hoplandia IPA, West Coast-style IPA with classic Simcoe and Centennial resinous character; Belgian Dubbel, featuring malt-derived dried plum and raisin with a hint of banana; and Pilot Coffee Porter, brewed with coffee from Firelight Coffee Roasters.
Gorgeous signage tastefully adorns the walls of the taproom.
Pilot Coffee Porter and Zwickel Pils.
Guests can view the entire brewery while enjoying a tour from the catwalk.
Mitch Steele leads a brewery tour.
The canning line is primed and ready to put in some serious work.
Radegast Triple IPA will soon see some time on that canning machine.
The pilot system prominently displayed but subtly dwarfed by the brewery’s main brewhouse hiding in the background.
For perspective, this photo of the tour group was taken from the brew deck of the main brewhouse.
Head Brewer Tyler Downey pops in on the tour to chat a bit.
Kegs are wrapped and ready to go.
When Mitch Steele is involved, it is no surprise that an IPA is ready for those kegs.
Attendees enjoy beers and a vast array of app-sized portions of dishes that will be featured on the restaurant’s menu.
Radegast Triple IPA will also be available in 750ml. This one-time release will commemorate the brewery’s grand opening. Keep an eye on New Realm’s social media accounts for release details.
Commissioner, a Belgo-American Table Beer, was the first beer brewed on New Realm’s system.
The brewery store is fully stocked and even includes a dedicated growler bar.
Perfect place for a beer and a conversation.
Perun Pale Ale was easily my favorite beer of the night. One of the most beautifully composed and balanced American Pale Ales I have ever experienced.
The rooftop deck features a full bar, ample seating, and one hell of a view.
Speaking of that view.
A good place to spend an evening and end this gallery. Be sure to visit New Realm Brewing Company as soon as you can.

Click any image to enlarge

Allagash Brewing Company Introduces Pastiche as New Limited Release

Posted on by mashingin

AllagashPasticheBarrelsAllagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine) has announced that it will officially begin the limited release of Pastiche Blended Barrel-aged Ale in early January.

Arriving as Allagash Brewing’s “first non-wild, blended, barrel-aged beer”, Pastiche began its life as four different base beers “all created by senior Allagash brewers.” Brewed with “various local malts” and the specific intention “to blend well together”, these four beers were then sent to age in a variety of barrels – rye whiskey, vermouth, port, rum, bourbon, red wine, gin, and brandy.  After spending “between three and four months” in those barrels, the brewers came together once more to sample and blend the beers “into a single, unified whole.” Their final blend is the 8.5% ABV Pastiche that proves to be “a complex, yet approachable, amber beer with notes of caramel, dried fruit, spirits, and oak.”

“We’ve been wanting to experiment with blending non-wild, spirit-aged beers for a long time,” said Zach Bodah, head Allagash’s Quality Control team. “Since each [of the four] base beer[s] in Pastiche was split and aged into at least two varieties of spirit barrels, it was a terrific logistical challenge in cellar management. We’re really happy with how all that hard work turned out.”

Officially released on January 8, Pastiche will be available in 750ml bottles and on draft as long as supplies last.  You can expect to find this Limited Release at select craft beer establishments located in Georgia, Maine and throughout the rest of Allagash Brewing Company’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Pastiche Blended Barrel-aged Ale from Allagash Brewing Company

Release – Limited, January 2018
Style – Undisclosed Ale, Blend
ABV – 8.5%
Grains – Various
Hops – Various
Yeast – Allagash House Ale 
Treatment – A blend of four base beers that were aged in rye whiskey, vermouth, port, rum, bourbon, red wine, gin, and brandy barrels
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.allagash.com/locator/

Ballast Point Brewing Unveils 2018 Release Calendar

Posted on by mashingin

BallastPointglassesBallast Point Brewing Company (San Diego, California) has officially sent out a 2018 Product Release Calendar that features three new series that will realign the brewery’s portfolio, a couple new brews, and few availability updates.

There has been a bit of a lull in brewery calendars lately, but rest assured that we will treat this one just as we have the others.  Ballast Point’s full 2018 Product Release Calendar is available below for you to go over at your own pace, but there are a few highlights and changes that we need to cover before we send you to that document:

  • Ballast Point will restructure its portfolio in 2018 to include three distinct series: The Discovery Series, The Flagship Series, and the Explorer Series.  This change has been put in place to help consumers easily distinguish the brewery’s wide portfolio and find exactly what they are after in a beer selection.
  • Meant to “serve as a great way to ‘discover’ Ballast Point though their approachability and exceptional quality”, the beers in The Discovery Series will all weigh in at 6% ABV or under.  These gateway beers will include Year-Round offerings such as Bonito Blonde, Mango Even Keel and Longfin Lager.  The Discovery Series will also feature a rotating lineup that will include Tart Peach Kolsch (April – July), Grunion (July – November) and Piper Down (December).
  • The Flagship Series will consist of “signature beers like Sculpin, Manta Ray, and Victory at Sea—pinnacles of their styles and premium award-winners. They also carry higher ABVs, 7% and above.”  This series will also consist of Year-Round and Rotating offerings.
  • The Explorer Series will be made up of limited releases that feature “bold, exotic flavors and styles, like barrel-aged and sour offerings.”  This series includes offerings such as Red Velvet (January – February), Tongue Buckler (February – March), and High West Barrel Aged Victory at Sea (November – December).
  • Aloha Sculpin will make its debut in February as a part of the brewery’s Flagship Series.  Aloha Sculpin uses “Brux Trois yeast to turn [the brewery’s] award-winning IPA into a tropical oasis, with bright and refreshing notes of mango, pineapple and guava, along with a slight haze and smooth mouthfeel.”
  • The Explorer Series will also see a brand-new offering with the release of Moscow Mule Ale from March through July 2018.  This offering is Ballast Point’s “take on the classic & refreshing cocktail, with ginger and tart lime in a light kettle sour beer. It’s an effervescent and aromatic beer just begging to be enjoyed in a copper mug.”
  • More Ballast Point offerings will be available in cans in 2018. This includes a rotating can 6-pack in the Discovery Series (Tart Peach Kolsch, Grunion Pale Ale, and Piper Down Scottish Ale), Unfiltered Sculpin IPA and Manta Ray DIPA in 12oz cans, as well as Sculpin IPA and Fathom IPA in 16oz cans.
  • Due to all of these changes and updates, a few offerings have been redesignated to become Seasonal (Grunion & Watermelon Dorado) or draft-only (Pumpkin Down, California Amber, Big Eye) releases in 2018.

That should just about cover all the details that we needed to go over, but there is still quite a bit to discover on the lengthy calendar below.  Be sure to check it out so that you can be properly prepared for the fantastic year of beer ahead from Ballast Point Brewing Company.  Prost!

ballastpoint2018
Click here for direct link to enlarged version of the calendar above  

Good People Brewing Sends Cans of Snake Handler DIPA Out for Distribution

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snake-handler-can-block-6_editedGood People Brewing Company (Birmingham, Alabama) has announced that cans of Snake Handler Double India Pale Ale will be making a limited return to craft beer shelves beginning the week of January 15.

Although Snake Handler Double IPA is available Year-Round on draft, there is still a buzz in the craft beer community each year when this hop-filled treasure makes a limited appearance in cans.  This is no surprise when you consider that Snake Handler remains “one of [Good People’s] most requested beers” and has received recognition “as one of the South’s top beers” by outlets such as Beer Advocate and Men’s Journal.  The hype is all well and good, but this beer’s true achievement is what actually ends up in the glass.

Clocking in at 10% ABV, Snake Handler is a “dangerously drinkable brew” that employs a biscuit and caramel malt backbone to balance “an aggressive hop profile featuring Columbus, Warrior, Cascade, Simcoe, and Chinook” hops.  The brewers at Good People finish the beer with a heavy dry-hopping to create a memorable sensory experience highlighted by “strong aromas of pine, citrus, flowers, spice, pineapple, and grassiness.”  Freshness is key with this one, so make sure to consume Snake Handler “as close to the canned date as possible.”

“We are always excited for the revival of Snake Handler in cans,” says Jason Malone, Co-owner and Brewmaster at Good People Brewing Company. “This beer has had a special place in our lineup since the very beginning, and we love seeing people’s reactions when it comes out in cans.”

Cans of Snake Handler Double IPA will officially hit shelves on January 15 and hang around as long as supplies last.  You can expect to find these Limited Release 4-packs of 12 oz. cans available at select craft beer establishments located within Good People Brewing’s distribution reach in Alabama, Georgia, the Florida Panhandle, and Tennessee.

Vital Information for Snake Handler from Good People Brewing Company

Release – Year-Round on draft; Limited availability in cans beginning on January 15, 2018
Style – Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 10%
IBUs – 100
Hops – Columbus, Warrior, Cascade, Simcoe & Chinook
Malts – 2-row & four specialty malts
Yeast – California Ale
Recommended Glassware – Snifter or tulip
Suggested Food Pairings – “Cuisine (Barbecue), Cheese (Peppery: Monterey/Pepper Jack; Sharp: Blue, Cheddar; Pungent: Gorgonzola, Limburger), Meat (Game, Grilled Meat, Salmon)”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans (limited) & draft
Beer Finder – http://goodpeoplebrewing.com/beer-finder

Boulder Beer Company Set to Release Irish Blessing Oak-aged Coffee Stout

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BoulderIrishBlessingcanBoulder Beer Company (Boulder, Colorado) has officially announced that it will begin the Seasonal release of Irish Blessing Oak-aged Coffee Stout in mid-January.

Developed to embody the character of an Irish coffee in beer form, Irish Blessing is a “dark coffee Stout brewed with an abundance of black and chocolate malts for a bittersweet chocolate finish, and OZO Coffee for rich roasted coffee notes.”  The brewers at Boulder then finish the beer by aging it on Tullamore D.E.W. soaked oak chips to give it that eye-opening pop of Irish whiskey.  Once the aging process is completed, Irish Blessing weighs in at 6.2% ABV and 40 IBUs.

“We collaborated with our friends and local roasters at OZO Coffee in Boulder to determine the perfect roast to complement our Stout, choosing their OZO Blend to use in the brew, adding earthy, roasted coffee flavors to the beer,” said Tess McFadden, Marketing Director at Boulder Beer Company. “We then age Irish Blessing on Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey soaked oak, imparting the finishing touches of whiskey and wood.”

The release of Irish Blessing will begin on January 17 with release parties at both of Boulder Beer’s pub locations – The Pub on Wilderness and Boulder Beer on Walnut.  If you are not in the Boulder area, you will also be able to find this Seasonal offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, Georgia, Colorado and throughout the rest of Boulder Beer Company’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Irish Blessing Oak-aged Coffee Stout from Boulder Beer Company

Release – Seasonal, January through March 2018
Style – Stout
ABV – 6.2%
IBUs – 40
Malts – Pale Malt, Caramel Malt, Black Malt, Chocolate Malt, Roasted Barley & Rolled Oats
Hops – Nugget & Willamette
Added Ingredients – Coffee from OZO Coffee Co.
Treatment – Aged on Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey soaked oak chips
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://boulderbeer.com/beer-finder

Weyerbacher Brewing Introduces Funky Monks

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unnamed (79)Weyerbacher Brewing Company (Easton, Pennsylvania) recently announced that it has released Funky Monks Sour Belgian-style Ale as the brewery’s latest Special Release offering.

To take their gallivanting monks on a new adventure in 2018, the brewers at Weyerbacher Brewing have developed Funky Monks as a sour take on their Year-Round  Merry Monks Belgian-style Tripel.  Funky Monks transforms the base Tripel by taking on an “electrified zing of tartness” and a hop bill change that includes the addition of Sovereign and Rakau hops.  These changes result in a 9.3% ABV American Sour Ale that possesses “a crisp, dry tartness [that blends] harmoniously with the ever-present Belgian notes of subtle spice, ripe pear and banana.”

With its formal introduction, Funky Monks now officially joins Weyerbacher’s Monks Family that also includes Merry Monks Belgian-style Tripel (Year-Round), Mellow Monks Belgian-style Ale (Year-Round), and Berry Monks Belgian-style Tripel w/ Cranberries, Orange Peel and Ginger (Seasonal).

Funky Monks is available now at The Taproom at Weyerbacher and will soon be sent out for distribution in 12 oz. cans and on draft.  You can expect to find this Limited Release at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania and throughout the rest of Weyerbacher Brewing Company’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Funky Monks from Weyerbacher Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Special Release, January 2018
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 9.3%
Featured Hops – Sovereign & Rakau
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft

 

Café Racer 15 Makes Seasonal Return for Bear Republic Brewing Co.

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crthumbBear Republic Brewing Company (Cloverdale, California) has announced that Café Racer 15 will officially begin its Seasonal return in January.

Arriving as the first release of 2018 in Bear Republic’s Seasonal lineup of Double India Pale Ales, Café Racer 15 is a “high revving” brew that is absolutely packed with Citra, Amarillo, Cascade, and Chinook hops.  Those little nuggets of hoppy goodness give Café Racer 15 (9.75% ABV) a “loud and assertive” personality that “features aromas of bright citrus and resinous pine . . .  complimented by a dry malt finish.”

Café Racer 15 will officially release on January 5 and has plans to hang around through March 2018.  You can find this Seasonal brew available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, California and throughout the rest of Bear Republic’s distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Café Racer 15 from Bear Republic Brewing Company

Release – Seasonal, January through March 2018
Style – Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 9.75%
IBUs – 100+
Featured Hops – Citra, Amarillo, Cascade & Chinook
Malts – 2-row Barley & Honey
Yeast – BRBC Ale Yeast
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://bearrepublic.com/bear-tracker/

Boulevard Brewing Co. Resurrects Rye on Rye

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BoulevardRyeonRyeBoulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, Missouri) has announced that Rye on Rye will make a triumphant, limited return to the Smokestack Series in January.

First released in 2010, Rye on Rye was given a brief break from production back in 2015 so that Boulevard Brewing Co. could spend a couple years exploring experimental spin-offs such as Rye on Rye on Rye and Rye on Rye – Classic Sazerac Cocktail. Those beers were fantastic, but many beer fans were left longing for the original Templeton Rye barrel-aged version.  The folks at the brewery heard the calls asking for Rye on Rye’s return and are happy to report that it is officially ready for release this month.

To create this study in rye, Boulevard’s brewers start by brewing a “sturdy” base beer “composed of . . . two row base malt layered with German rye, English crystal rye, Cara 50 and Munich malt and then accented with brown sugar, dark brown sugar and dark candi syrup.”  After being hopped with Magnum, Citra and Styrian Golding hops and fermented with a Scottish Ale yeast, that beer is then transferred to “freshly emptied Templeton Rye barrels” so that it can age “from six to 18 months.”  Once the aging process is all said and done, “optimal barrels are selected and blended with 33% fresh beer to create a delicate balance between spicy, slightly boozy rye whiskey barrel characters and the base beer.”  Those that partake in the finished Rye on Rye can expect a warming (12% ABV), medium bodied experience characterized by notes of “spicy, fruity” rye malt, rye whiskey, vanilla, toffee, charred oak, caramel, and balancing hop tones that are “earthy, herbal, citrusy.”

Rye on Rye will first launch in the Kansas City area on January 8 and other regions will follow “in the coming weeks.”  Once it does hit wide distribution, you can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in areas that normally see Smokestack Series Limited Release beers from Boulevard Brewing Co.  Prost!

Vital Information for Rye on Rye from Boulevard Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Smokestack Series, January 2018
Style – Rye Beer
ABV – 12%
IBUs – 33
Malts – 2-row, German Rye, English Crystal Rye, Cara 50 & Munich 
Hops – Magnum, Citra & Styrian Golding
Yeast – Scottish Ale Yeast
Added Ingredients – Brown sugar, dark brown sugar & dark candi syrup
Treatment – Aged in Templeton Rye barrels (for six to eighteen months) then blended with 33% fresh beer
Suggested Food Pairings – “Pastrami, salted caramel ice cream, jerk chicken, bread pudding, bold cigars”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.boulevard.com/beer/beer-finder/

Brewery Ommegang Plans to Release Game of Thrones Royal Reserve Collection

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Hand-of-the-Queen-445x1024Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, New York) and HBO Global Licensing have announced that they will commemorate the final season of Game of Thrones with the release of Hand of the Queen Barleywine Ale in April as the first installment in the Royal Reserve Collection.

To ensure that you experience the final episodes of HBO’s Game of Thrones series with the perfect beers in hand, Brewery Ommegang has established the Royal Reserve Collection to be “a collectible series of four special, limited release beers, each designed and brewed as an homage to one of four epic figures in the battle for the Seven Kingdoms.”  Each of these beers “will be brewed and blended with ingredients selected to match the character and temperament of the chosen hero, designed and brewed as Brewery Ommegang’s interpretation of what a royal brewer might brew for his or her noble master.”

The first release in the Royal Reserve Collection will be Hand of the Queen, a beer brewed for Tyrion Lannister.  Widely respected for his ability to “drink and know things”, the wine-loving Tyrion will be properly honored with a “a big, bold barleywine, a beer fit for those who seek knowledge and truth, both great and small.”  Clocking in at 11% ABV, the malt-forward Hand of the Queen Barleywine Ale is “an old-world example of the style” that is characterized by notes of brandy-soaked raisins, dark fruit, apricots, molasses and toffee.

“While technically not royalty at all, Tyrion certainly qualifies as a nobleman in our esteem,” says Doug Campbell, President of Brewery Ommegang. “We’ve wanted to brew for Tyrion for six seasons, and we believe his time has come. Knowing his preferences, our beer for Tyrion could only be a barleywine.”

As noted above, Hand of the Queen will be the first of four releases in the Royal Reserve Collection.  The remaining three releases will arrive in July, October, and December of 2018.  The names and details for those future beers will be made available as their release dates draw closer.

Hand of the Queen will officially release in April with availability in 750ml bottles (suggested retail price of $12.99 each) and on draft.  A list of distribution states will be made available in March of 2018, and we will update you with that information just as soon as we have it.  Prost!

Vital Information for Hand of the Queen from Brewery Ommegang

Release – Limited/Royal Reserve Collection, April 2018
Style – English-style Barleywine 
ABV – 11%
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://ommegang.com/blog/beer-finder/

Lagunitas Brewing Adds Sumpin’ Easy to Year-Round Lineup

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LagunitasSumpinEasytapLagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California) has announced that it will soon introduce Sumpin’ Easy Ale as the newest addition to its line of Unlimited Releases.

Arriving as a smaller sibling to Lagunita’s A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale, Sumpin’ Easy Ale is meant to “dip beneath the flotsam of categories.”  It doesn’t really matter whether you call it an American Pale Ale or a Pale Wheat Ale or whatever. This offering just wants to be a “hop-forward beer expressed in a moderate voice.” With a soul made up of “a healthy dose of 2-row malted barley, a bit of wheaty-esque-ish-ness and loads of Ekuanot hops”, Sumpin’ Easy reaches its goals by rocking the quiet confidence of “a super smooth and velvety ale [that has] a fruit and resin-y- finish like biting into a freshly picked peach.”  All in all, you can expect the 5.7% ABV Sumpin’ Easy to be “pale, cold, slightly alcoholic, and bitter.”

Lagunitas Brewing Company claims that Sumpin’ Easy Ale will officially release “soon-ish”, but check-ins on Untappd and other beer reviewing sites seem to indicate that this brew has at least started a soft rollout.  Once it does fully release, you can expect to find this Year-Round available in 12-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, Illinois, Washington and throughout the rest of Lagunitas Brewing’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Sumpin’ Easy Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Release – Year-Round/Unlimited, launching somewhere around late December 2017 and January 2018
Style – American Pale Ale/Pale Wheat Ale
ABV – 5.7%
IBUs – 50.8
Featured Hops – Ekuanot
Availability – 12-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft