May | 2018 | Mashing In

Trigo Slated to be Founders Brewing Co.’s Next ArtPrize Series Offering

Posted on May 16, 2018August 24, 2018 by mashingin

Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) recently sent out a little teaser to inform fans that Trigo Hoppy Wheat Lager will arrive in September 2018 as the next installment in the brewery’s ArtPrize Series.

Spanish for “wheat”, Trigo is a Pale Wheat Lager that Founders Brewing Co. brewed to benefit ArtPrize, “an open, independently organized international art competition which takes place for 19 days each fall in Grand Rapids, Michigan.” To ensure that the art of lagering is properly represented in this beer, Founders reached out to their friends at “Mahou San Miguel to bring the recipe for Trigo to life.” By combining San Miguel’s “lager-brewing expertise” with Founders Brewing Co.’s “hopping expertise”, Trigo (6.3% ABV, 35 IBUs) comes together to be “a clean and crisp wheat lager with big, American-hopped aromatics.”

“Trigo is the culmination of many of my favorite aspects of craft beer today,” says Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki. “A collaboration with Alejo, one of my friends from the R&D department of our partner Mahou San Miguel, it features some of my favorite hop varieties in a way that highlights their flavor and aromatic characters without letting the bitterness get over the top. This is the next generation of lagers, brewed for those of us who love American hops and a well-balanced, satisfying beer. It’s the perfect combination of tradition and innovation, and a great fit for our ArtPrize portfolio.”

Trigo Hoppy Wheat Lager will officially debut in Founders Brewing Co.’s taproom on September 7 and distribution will begin in mid-September. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans (suggested retail price of $9.99 each) and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan, and throughout the rest of the brewery’s 46 state distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Trigo Hoppy Wheat Lager from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited, September 2018
Style – Pale Wheat Lager
ABV – 6.3%
IBUs – 35
Fun Fact – On Trigo’s label artwork: “As we have done for the past three years with Spectra Trifecta, Pale Joe and Green Zebra, we reached out to our immensely talented Founders Family to create a piece of original work for the label. This year, that honor went to culinary team member Cody Levon, an incredible kitsch painter whose work emulates the beautiful methods of the old masters.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

Rogue Ales Takes Hop Family Series into Double Digits with Release of 10 Hop IPA

Posted on May 16, 2018May 16, 2018 by mashingin

Rogue Ales (Newport, Oregon) has announced that 10 Hop IPA will officially join its Special Release portfolio in May.

Cultivated to round out Rogue’s Hop Family series of beers, 10 Hop IPA is brewed with ten hop varietals grown at Rogue Farms in Independence, Oregon: Liberty, Newport, Revolution, Independent, Freedom, Rebel, Yaquina, Alluvial, Keven and Adair hops. This massive hop bill yields a 10.10% ABV Imperial IPA filled with “tropical aromatics and notes of pine.”

“The eight hops we grew before made great beers, but we needed a few more,” says Brewmaster John Maier. “We started growing Keven and Adair hops to round out the profile of 10 Hop IPA, adding citrus and melon aromatics (from the Keven hops) and notes of lemon, lime and dill (from the Adair hops). I love being this involved in the hop growing process, and working with our farmers; it lets me truly grow the ingredients I need to innovate.”

10 Hop IPA releases this month (May 2018) and will stick around as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Special Release offering available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Rogue’s nationwide distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for 10 Hop IPA from Rogue Ales

Release – Limited/Special, May 2018
Style – Imperial India Pale Ale
ABV – 10.10%
IBUs – 75
Hops – Rogue Farms Liberty, Newport, Revolution, Independent, Freedom, Rebel, Yaquina, Alluvial, Adair, & Keven Hops
Malts – Rogue Farms Dare™ & Weyermann Pils Malts
Yeast – Pacific Ale & Pacman Yeast
Fun Fact – 10 Hop IPA joins 4 Hop IPA, 5 Hop IPA, 6 Hop IPA, 7 Hop IPA & 8 Hop IPA to complete Rogue’s Hop Family series
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://finder.rogue.com/

7venth Sun Brewery & IchiLOKO Join Forces for Freak Your Tiki Beer Dinner & Can Release

Posted on May 15, 2018 by mashingin

On Sunday, June 3, LOKO Cuisine and Ichicoro Ramen will team up once again with 7venth Sun Brewery – Tampa (6809 N Nebraska Ave | Tampa, Florida) to host a very special IchiLOKO: Freak Your Tiki Can Release and Beer Dinner.

The creative culinary minds from LOKO Cuisine and Ichicoro (a.k.a. IchiLOKO) will welcome the approaching summer by going tiki and island-inspired for the latest installment in their collaboration series. Kicking off at 5 p.m. on June 3, the IchiLOKO: Freak Your Tiki Beer Dinner will be an all-you-can-eat, self-serve feast featuring a spread of delicious tropical island dishes that have been given that signature IchiLOKO flair. As an added bonus, The Revolution Ice Cream Company will get in on the action by “creating boozy treats to cool you off” during the dessert portion of the meal. The menu speaks for itself and we will allow it to do just that:

To cover the beer portion of the dinner, 7venth Sun Brewery will be pouring up seven different tiki cocktail-inspired beers AND a Tart Wheat Brett Beer with Pineapple and Orange Zest brewed in collaboration with Overflow Brewing Company.

Tickets for the Freak Your Tiki Beer Dinner are available now for $32.10 each, and you can purchase yours by clicking here. Ticket cost includes the all-you-can-eat dinner and one pour of beer (pint or snifter of equal value). Physical tickets will not be issued, but your name will be added to a paid list once the purchase process is completed. FYI: Everyone in your party will have to check in under the purchaser’s name at the door.

In addition to the beer dinner, 7venth Sun will also be doing a Limited Release of a Tiki Beer in cans. The can release will begin at noon on June 3 and the cost of the cans are not included in the beer dinner’s ticket cost. You do not have to attend the beer dinner to participate in the can release. Also, if things work out, there may be a special bottle release as well. We will be sure to update you here just as soon as any further information surfaces on the can release and that possible bottle release. Stay tuned.

If you are free on June 3 and interested in enjoying a Sunday full of awesome in the Seminole Heights area of Tampa, it sounds like the IchiLOKO: Freak Your Tiki festivities at 7venth Sun have you covered. Just keep in mind that IchiLOKO events tend to sell out quickly, so you should probably just go ahead and lock down your tickets ASAP. Prost!

Lagunitas Brewing Company Brings CitruSinensis Pale Ale Back for the Summer

Posted on May 15, 2018May 15, 2018 by mashingin

Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California) has announced that CitruSinensis Pale Ale has officially returned and this time around it will be available all summer long in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles.

With a name derived from the Latin scientific name for blood orange (citrus x sinensis), CitruSinensis is basically a slightly imperialized, “wheatier version of [Lagunitas’] DogTown Pale Ale” that is dosed with – you guessed it – blood oranges. To make sure this blood orange infusion influences the beer’s aroma and flavor as much as possible, the brewers took fresh Sanguinello blood oranges, “juiced ’em, concentrated ’em (sans heat), and then threw ’em” in during secondary fermentation. This approach results in “a refreshingly hopped pale-ish ale with a huge citrus burst!”

CitruSinensis Pale Ale is rolling out now and will be available throughout the summer months of 2018. You can expect to find this Seasonal release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, California, Illinois, Washington and throughout the rest of Lagunitas’ distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for CitruSinensis Pale Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Seasonal, Summer 2018
Style – American Pale Ale
ABV – 7.7%
IBUs – 49
Added Ingredients – Sanguinello Blood Oranges
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://lagunitas.com/beer-finder

Hi-Wire Brewing Begins Limited Release of Man Eater Double IPA

Posted on May 14, 2018 by mashingin

Hi-Wire Brewing (Asheville, North Carolina) has officially announced that Man Eater Double IPA returns this month for a limited run.

Emerging once again from Hi-Wire Brewing’s Specialty Series, Man Eater is an aggressively hopped Double India Pale Ale that “marries Amarillo’s spicy aromas with Citra’s classic notes of lemon zest and mandarin orange.” Meant to satisfy the cravings of the most dedicated hop fiends out there, Man Eater Double IPA (8.3% ABV) offers an experience filled with “big hop aromas [that accompany] a spicy, citrusy, floral flavor with a warming alcohol finish.”

Man Eater Double IPA is available now in both of Hi-Wire Brewing’s taprooms and will enter limited distribution any day now. You can expect to find this Specialty Release available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans at select craft beer retailers located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky and Ohio. Prost!

Vital Information for Man Eater Double IPA from Hi-Wire Brewing

Release – Limited/Specialty Series, May 2018
Style – Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.3%
IBUs – 88
Featured Hops – Amarillo & Citra
Fun Fact – Man Eater is “hopped at a rate of 3.5 pounds per barrel”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans
Distribution – North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky & Ohio

Peach Beerllini Radler Makes Seasonal Debut for Left Hand Brewing Co.

Posted on May 14, 2018 by mashingin

Left Hand Brewing Company (Longmont, Colorado) has officially released Peach Beerllini Radler as its new summer Seasonal offering.

Created as a beer-focused twist on the Peach Bellini cocktail, Peach Beerllini Radler is a “light and refreshing effervescent concoction” that is made with pale malts and “230 barrels of peach puree” (for those interested in the math, that means “approximately a half a peach worth of puree” is in each can). This incredibly peach-heavy recipe yields a 4.1% ABV Radler that has an aroma that is “all peaches, like millions of peaches”, and a flavor that is “slightly sweet from the sugars in the peaches, but not cloying.”

Peach Beerllini Radler is available now and has plans to hang around through July of this year. You can expect to find this new Seasonal offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado and throughout the rest of Left Hand Brewing Co.’s 41 state distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Peach Beerllini Radler from Left Hand Brewing Company

Release – Seasonal, May – July 2018
Style – Radler
ABV – 4.1%
IBUs – 8
Malts – Pale 2-Row
Hops – Varies
Added Ingredients – Peach puree
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://lefthandbrewing.com/beer-finder/

Harpoon Brewery Adds Lime-y Vice Gose to Summer Lineup

Posted on May 11, 2018May 11, 2018 by mashingin

Harpoon Brewery (Boston, Massachusetts) has officially released Lime-y Vice Gose as its newest summer seasonal offering.

Developed to be a Miami-inspired version of the style, Lime-y Vice is a Gose that boasts “an intriguing mix of tart lime, spicy coriander, and sea salt.” This combination offers a drinking experience that is “tart and lime-y up front, with a delicately salty, slightly spiced crisp finish.” Clocking in at an easy-drinking 4.7% ABV, the refreshing Lime-y Vice “is the perfect beer for every summer celebration.”

“A first for us here at Harpoon Brewery, this gose-style beer is packed with summery lime flavor that we think our fans will love,” said Al Marzi, Chief Brewing Officer for Harpoon Brewery. “As someone who can only dream of living the Miami life, sipping Lime-y Vice easily transports me to my imaginary harborside yacht.”

Lime-y Vice is rolling out now and will be available throughout the summer in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, in the brewery’s Summer Vacation mixed 12-pack of 12 oz. bottles, and on draft. You can expect to find this new Seasonal at craft beer-focused retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, Massachusetts, Vermont and throughout the rest of Harpoon’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Lime-y Vice from Harpoon Brewery

Release – Seasonal (summer), launching May 2018
Style – Gose
ABV – 4.7%
IBUs – 6
Added Ingredients – Lime, coriander & sea salt
Fun Fact – On Lime-y Vice’s recipe development: “Harpoon’s brewers experimented with 8 or so iterations of a lime gose before achieving the perfect balance of flavors and settling on the final recipe for Lime-y Vice.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, in the Summer Vacation mixed 12-pack of 12 oz. bottles, and on draft
Beer Finder – https://www.harpoonbrewery.com/beer-finder

Brewery Ommegang Plans to Launch Saison Rosé This Summer

Posted on May 11, 2018 by mashingin

Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, New York) has officially announced that it too is getting on the rosé train this summer with the Limited Release of Saison Rosé.

To create their own riff on a rosé-inspired beer, the folks at Ommegang begin by taking a “delicate” saison brewed with hibiscus flowers and send it “to stainless steel fermenters for a co-fermentation with chardonnay grape juice.” While that magic is happening, a second, “heartier version of the saison base” is lying in wait in oak barrels so that it can “develop subtle tannic notes.” The two Saisons are then “masterfully” blended to result in a pale red Saison Rosé (7.7% ABV) that offers “aromas of grapefruit and red berries . . . followed by a hint of oak” and “flavors of sweet berries and lightly-tart citrus [that resolve] to subtle oak tannins and spicy Belgian yeast.”

“At Ommegang, we’ve been blending beers for many years, starting with Three Philosophers in 2002. This is an area where we’ve been spending a lot of time experimenting lately, and I’m particularly excited about this release, just in time for the summer,” says brewmaster Phil Leinhart.

Saison Rosé is scheduled to release in June and has plans to hang around through the summer months. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, New York and throughout the rest of Brewery Ommegang’s distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Saison Rosé from Brewery Ommegang

Release – Limited/Seasonal (summer), launching June 2018
Style – Saison
ABV – 7.7%
Treatment – “A blend of saisons, one aged on oak, the other brewed with hibiscus flowers and co-fermented with chardonnay grape juice”
Suggested Food Pairings – “Saison Rosé will pair beautifully with creamy cheeses like Brie and fontina; light seafood such as scallops, seabass, and halibut; and fruit-based desserts like blueberry tarts or sorbet.”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Distribution – AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TX, VA, VI, VT, WI, and Washington D.C.
Beer Finder – http://ommegang.com/blog/beer-finder/

Tasting Notes – Spirits Edition: Blazing HEEET Vodka from MerryGo Spirits

Posted on May 10, 2018May 10, 2018 by mashingin

For this special edition of Tasting Notes, we find ourselves pregaming the weekend by getting into a little Blazing HEEET Hot Cinnamon Vodka from MerryGo Spirits.

Released as the first high-quality, luxury spirit from MerryGo Spirits, Blazing HEEET is here to spice up your summer with an experience that combines the sweet heat of cinnamon with the crisp taste of vodka. More than just another gimmicky flavored-vodka, Blazing HEEET is an “ultra-premium American-made Vodka” that is 6x distilled, carbon filtered and made with 100% all-natural ingredients. Clocking in at 68 Proof (34% ABV), Blazing HEEET is an “intense, hot cinnamon” libation that you can shoot straight, enjoy on the rocks, or mix into your favorite cocktail. Blazing HEEET Hot Cinnamon Vodka is available now at fine liquor stores for the suggested retail price of $24.99 per 750ml bottle.

Now that we are all a little more familiar with the information behind Blazing HEEET, let’s go ahead and jump headlong into the fire and burn through some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Blazing HEEET Hot Cinnamon Vodka from MerryGo Spirits

Appearance: Blazing HEEET is packaged in a uniquely shaped, squat and heavy glass bottle. The label is an eye-grabbing reddish orange in color with retro-style fonts, and the design cleverly incorporates actual strike points for matches. The liquid itself is perfectly clear, but it does take on a bit of a haze when chilled. There are absolutely no off colors from the added ingredients, and it looks exactly as one would expect when presented with a glass of vodka.

Aroma: That said, those expectations see a little realignment just as soon as you unscrew the cap on this bottle. At that moment you are hit with a big waft of pure cinnamon. It has that signature, attention-getting heat that the spice is known for, but there is also a candied note pushing forward. It is almost as if you infused a beautiful vodka with some of those cinnamon candies we all sought after at one time or another as kids. It is clean, nostalgic, and it certainly has our attention.

Taste: Each sip of HEEET leads with a rush of sweet heat from the cinnamon. It is not overly aggressive, but it definitely takes the alpha role in the flavor department. The heat from the cinnamon then seamlessly threads itself into the booziness of the vodka. The experience closes with a pure and clean vodka flavor that possesses just a touch of earthiness.

Mouthfeel: Slick in texture, HEEET coats the palate well, hangs around for a moment, and then evaporates slowly to leave behind a lingering heat. That heat comes from both the cinnamon and 34% ABV, but it is tempered beautifully with that subtle sweetness. Subtle is the word here because both the sweetness and the heat are dialed in just right to avoid any issues with cloying. The aftertaste is straight vodka.

Final Thoughts: Although cinnamon-flavored spirits are all the rage right now, Blazing HEEET proved to this tasting panel that it is something special. Sure, the aggressively aromatic cinnamon had a few us more than a little wary, but that all changed with a sip. This thing is crafted for balance and it is artful in its execution. It leads with the expected pop of cinnamon, but it is just the right amount to get your attention without burning you down. That is impressive enough on its own, but the finish is what truly amazes us. The fact that this spirit can start with an assertive flavor like cinnamon and close out with an aftertaste that is nothing but clean premium vodka is remarkable. It would be so easy for Blazing HEEET to be one note, but the folks who crafted it clearly wanted you to know it is a vodka at heart. This gives Blazing HEEET character, and that is not something we often find in flavored spirits.

All in all, Blazing HEEET just comes together to be a damn tasty flavored-vodka experience that can be easily enjoyed on its own with ice, thrown back as a shot with friends (we might have done a few . . . for science), or used to spice up an old cocktail recipe. It’s delicious. It’s different. It’s fun. And it does not have be much more than that. Be sure to check it out the next time you are looking for something to spice up the liquor cabinet. Prost!

Side Note: Speaking of cocktails, we dabbled with Blazing HEEET in a variety of mixed drinks this week and this one turned out to be the office favorite.

Shimmering HEEET

1.5 oz. Blazing HEEET Hot Cinnamon Vodka
3 oz. Pear Juice
Champagne

Combine the Blazing HEEET and pear juice with ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a collins or highball glass filled with fresh ice. Top with champagne and enjoy.

This cocktail basically plays on the idea of champagne poached pears. The sweetness of the pear juice tempers the heat of Blazing HEEET but draws out its comforting cinnamon characteristics. The champagne adds dryness and effervescence to round out the experience. This all results in a ridiculously refreshing cocktail that you can pair with a cool summer evening on the porch or you could use it to break up the mimosa monotony at brunch.

If you do not want to mess around with the pear juice and champagne, you can simplify this into a two-ingredient cocktail by replacing those with a Pear Cider like Samuel Smith’s Organic Perry Sparkling Pear Cider or the more adventurous could use an apple-infused Lambic like Lindemans Pomme/Apple Lambic.

Hidden Springs Ale Works to Release Six Offerings at The Mega Drop Two

Posted on May 10, 2018May 10, 2018 by mashingin

At 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, Hidden Springs Ale Works (Tampa, Florida) will be going big once again by holding a massive can release that they are aptly calling The Mega Drop Two.

A lot of things were learned during this year’s Tampa Bay Beer Week, but a positive to come out of the insanity is that we all now know that Hidden Springs Ale Works does not screw around when it comes to can releases. The Mega Drop approach employed by the brewery that week proved to be convenient and user-friendly for all in attendance, and it is not at all surprising that it will return this weekend for Round 2.

The Mega Drop Two will consist of six Limited Release beers that will all have availability in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans. There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to this release, so let’s just go ahead and break it all down.

The Basics

What – The Mega Drop Two
When – 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 12
Where – Hidden Springs Ale Works | 1631 N. Franklin St. | Tampa, Florida

The Beers

Axl Rosé – Rosé-inspired Berliner Weisse
Deja Moo – Milk Stout with Smoked Chipotle Peppers & Cocoa Nibs
Drone Thugs ‘N Harmony – Passionfruit & Hibiscus Berliner Weisse
Estevey – Papaya, Lime & Vanilla Berliner Weisse
Man Child – Peanut Butter & Jelly Berliner Weisse
Zero Fucks Given (ZFG) – Zero IBU Pale Ale

Pricing & Limits

In order to speed up the purchase process, attendees who wish to purchase cans will have to purchase tokens for $15 each. One (1) token is good for one (1) 4-pack of cans. Tokens will be available for purchase in the back of the brewhouse during the event.

Limits for Deja Moo, Drone Thugs ‘N Harmony and Zero Fucks Given will be one case per person per brand. Limits for Axl Rosé, Estevey and Man Child will be based on turnout and established at the time of the release.

Other Info

Parking – You can park in the lot directly across the street from the brewery. Parking is also available on Franklin & Henderson just beyond Tampa St.
The brewery asks that you please be cool to their neighbors
While in line, hug the wall on Henderson to the right of the door (heading towards Florida). This will keep the line from disturbing normal daily activity in the area.

Alright, that should just about cover all the information currently available on The Mega Drop Two. If any changes or other details surface before the event, we will be sure to update you with that information here. Otherwise, if you head out to Hidden Springs for The Mega Drop Two on Saturday, just remember to be respectful and have a good time. Prost!

Mashing In

News & Perspectives on Beer and its Culture

Month: May 2018