Orpheus Brewing Brings the Heat with 2019 Release of The Ferryman

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orpheuslogoOrpheus Brewing (Atlanta, Georgia) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of a ghost pepper-infused variant of The Ferryman Imperial Stout on Thursday, December 26.

Here to make sure that 2019 closes on an extra spicy note, the latest version of The Ferryman is an Imperial Stout that includes additions of “ghost pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cocoa nibs.”  Coming in at 10% ABV, this year’s recipe for The Ferryman promises “a rich fudge experience with notes of baking spice and a fiery finish to warm you to the bone.”

The Ferryman

Approach Charon and pay the price to be taken to the land of emptiness and silence. Stare deeply into The Ferryman and be transfixed by the blackness of this Imperial Stout. The enticing, rich aroma will pull you in, soothing you to stillness.

The 2019 version of The Ferryman will debut in the Tasting Room at Orpheus Brewing on December 26 and distribution is expected to follow shortly after the on-site release.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located within Orpheus Brewing’s distribution footprint in Alabama, Florida and Georgia.  Prost!

Vital Information for The Ferryman from Orpheus Brewing

Release – Limited/Rotating; December 26, 2019
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 10%
Added Ingredients – Ghost pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg & cocoa nibs
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Georgia, Alabama & Florida

Funky Buddha Brewery Reveals 2020 Release Schedule

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tartshakewebmockAnother week brings with it another wave of beer calendars, and this one is kicking off with the 2020 Release Schedule from Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, Florida).

In keeping with our approach to beer calendar season, we have posted Funky Buddha Brewery’s full 2020 Release Schedule below for you to thumb through at your own pace. With that said, there is a good amount of news (both on and off the official schedule) that we would like to clue you in on first.  Let’s get at it:

  • Chant Repeatable IPA will join Funky Buddha’s Year-Round portfolio in February.  Low in calories and carbs but high on hop flavor, Chant is a supremely crushable ale that channels notes of citrus, mango, and pine from the addition of Mosaic hops. Chant IPA will be available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft.  ABV – 4.2%  IBUs – 27
  • The 2020 Goodness Series will consist of two new offerings and two returning favorites: Tart Shake **NEW** (Feb-May): Milkshake sour ale with black currants, passion fruit, vanilla, and lactose; Cosmic Trip **NEW** (May-Aug): Hazy IPA with starfruit and galaxy hops; Sweet Potato Casserole (Aug-Oct): Spiced ale with sweet potato, vanilla, and spices; Last Snow (Oct-Dec): Creamy porter with coconut and coffee. All Goodness Series offerings will be available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft.
  • The Mixology Series will return in 2020 with three new cocktail-inspired beers: Paloma (Feb-May): Tequila barrel-aged tart ale with agave nectar, grapefruit, lime, and sea salt; Negroni (June-Sept): Chardonnay barrel-aged ale with herbs and botanicals; Old Fashioned (Oct-Dec): Bourbon barrel-aged rye ale with orange peel, herbs, and botanicals.  All 2020 Mixology Series releases will be available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft.
  • Funky Buddha’s line of Limited Releases – bold, innovative beers that marry culinary-inspired ingredients with time-honored technique – will return with offerings like Maple Bacon Coffee Porter (statewide distribution), No Crusts Brown Ale, Sticky Nuts Blonde Ale, Rum Barrel-Aged Coquito Imperial Cream Ale and several more.  These beers will be released throughout the year in the South Florida market with availability in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft.  Keep an eye on Funky Buddha’s social media channels for updates and exact release dates.
  • The Living Barrel Series is also scheduled to return with an array of small batch, barrel-aged beers. A majority of these releases will remain in the tap room with a few being released to the South Florida market.
  • Funky Buddha Brewery plans to launch a new line of Natural Hard Seltzers in 2020.  Made with real agave nectar, pure cane sugar, and natural fruit flavors, these premium beverages offer a guilt-free alternative with a clear purpose. The seltzers will be launched in variety 12-packs consisting of bright, refreshing flavors like Lush Key Lime Cherry, Tropical Mango Guava, Crisp Pink Grapefruit, and Juicy Blood Orange. With only 90 calories, 1g carbs, and 0g sugar, these bubbly bevies are a perfect pair to an active and enlightened lifestyle. 12-packs will be available in the South Florida area starting in March.

That should just about cover all the items that we wanted to go over, but there is still plenty of fun stuff left for you to find on the calendar below.  Make sure to give it a good look so that you can be fully prepared for the year ahead with Funky Buddha Brewery.  Prost!

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CLICK HERE TO ENLARGE CALENDAR

Holiday Gift Guide 2019: DraftBottle Stainless-Steel, Reusable Beer Bottle

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DraftBottleBreakdownThe 2019 Holiday Season is upon us and it is time to start thinking about those unique gift ideas. The crew here at Mashing In is well aware that it is often difficult to find that perfect gift, so we have decided to compile a gift guide for anyone in your life that enjoys a well-crafted adult beverage from time to time. This installment of the gift guide is for the beer drinker who enjoys his/her draft beer on the go: the DraftBottle from CTL Investments LLC.

Chris Lyons, Inventor/President at CTL Investments LLC & DraftBottle, came up with the idea for the DraftBottle one day when he was wanting to enjoy a beer from his kegerator while doing yard work.  In that moment, Lyons realized he did not have a proper vessel for that occasion because a mug or plastic cup could easily spill, make it possible for debris to get into his beer, and would allow the beer to warm/go flat too quickly.  That realization led Lyons to mentally design a reusable, insulated, stainless-steel beer bottle that opens below the neck so that it can be easily filled with draft beer.  He then put his idea on paper, sent it off to a patent attorney, and the DraftBottle went on to become a reality.

More than just another stainless-steel bottle, the patented DraftBottle is a truly unique beverage container that has the following features and uses (descriptions sourced directly from DraftBottle’s press release):

DraftBottle Features

DraftBottle unscrews below the neck allowing you to easily fill it with 1 Pint (the bottle will hold 22oz in total) of draft beer, beer from a growler, mixed drinks or any other beverage. It’s made from 18/8 food grade stainless steel, and the base cup is double walled and vacuum sealed to keep your brew cold!

The reusable screw cap prevents spills and stops anything unwanted from getting inside. The exterior is powder coated to help durability, it’s sweat-proof, and has a leak-proof seal around the separation. DraftBottle is eco-friendly, BPA free and dishwasher safe.

DraftBottle Uses

The uses for DraftBottle are endless. There is the obvious use for draft beer, beer from a growler, glass bottled/canned beer, and so on. It also is great in the heat around your pool, where you do not want glass drinkware/bottles, at the beach, in the yard, tailgating and on and on. We have also had feedback of customers using them as water bottles where it allows you to easily add ice to the cup.

The DraftBottle is available now for the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $24.99 each, and you can purchase yours by visiting the DraftBottle website (click here to do so).  Prost!

 

Highland Brewing Continues Southern Nouveau Series with Release of Bonbon Stout with Earl Grey Tea

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HighlandBonbonHighland Brewing (Asheville, North Carolina) has officially announced that it will hold a Limited Bottle Release of Bonbon Stout with Earl Grey Tea, the second barrel-aged release to come out its newly established Southern Nouveau Series, on December 20.

Inspired by the London Fog chocolate bonbon crafted at Asheville’s own French Broad Chocolates, Bonbon Stout with Earl Grey Tea is an Imperial Stout “brewed with cacao nibs and Earl Grey tea and then laid to rest in bourbon barrels for 9 months.”  This clever recipe and treatment produces a decadent stout featuring notes of “rich chocolate . . . underscored by the slightly bittersweet note of the Earl Grey tea, all while being supported by a hearty bourbon character.”

Bonbon Stout with Earl Grey Tea will officially release at Highland Brewing on Friday, December 20.  Like all Southern Nouveau Series releases, Bonbon Stout with Earl Grey Tea will be available in 500ml bottles and on draft for a limited time.  The first 100 bottles released will be signed by Highland’s family owners, Oscar Wong and Leah Wong-Ashburn.  Bonbon Stout with Earl Grey Tea is a brewery exclusive release and is not expected to see distribution.  Prost!

Vital Information for Bonbon Stout with Earl Grey Tea from Highland Brewing

Release – Limited/Southern Nouveau Series; December 20, 2019
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – ???
Added Ingredients – Cacao nibs & Earl Grey tea
Treatment – Aged in Bourbon barrels for 9 months
Fun Fact – With a name inspired by “the architectural beauty” found in Highland’s home city of Asheville, the Southern Nouveau Series is a new lineup of carefully crafted offerings that will “encompass both clean and sour barrel-aged beers.”
Availability – 500ml bottles & draft
Distribution – None. Brewery only

LOKO Cuisine Kicks Off 2020 Eggs & Kegs Series with Tang! & Biscuits Brunch

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lokocuisinelogoLOKO Cuisine has officially announced that it will enter the New Year by teaming up with Green Bench Brewing Co. (1133 Baum Ave. N | St. Petersburg, Florida) to celebrate shuffleboard, beer and food with a special Tang! & Biscuits Eggs & Kegs Brunch at 11 a.m. on Sunday, January 19.

Inspired by the fact that St. Petersburg is home to the largest and oldest shuffleboard courts in the world, the mad geniuses at LOKO Cuisine have approached their first Eggs & Kegs event of 2020 by designing a menu “named after the sport’s ‘Tang’ cue stick and ‘Biscuit’ puck.”  The Tang! & Biscuits Brunch will consist of the following four-course meal (served buffet-style):

Menu-Card-GB

In addition to all the tasty grub listed above, Green Bench Brewing Co. will have a full array of tasty beverages available for you to pair with your meal (one beer, wine or cider included in ticket price. Additional beverages can be purchased separately throughout the meal).  Also, event organizers have arranged for a portable shuffleboard court to be on-site “so you can brush up on your game” during brunch.

Tickets for Tang! & Biscuits Eggs & Kegs are available now for $34.00 each, and you can purchase yours by clicking here. Ticket cost includes the four-course brunch and one selected beer, wine or cider. 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.

Like all LOKO Cuisine Eggs & Kegs events, seating is incredibly limited for Tang! & Biscuits. With that in mind, reach out to brunch buddies ASAP and lock down some tickets before they sell out.  Prost!

Allagash Brewing to Roll Out Cans of Allagash White & River Trip Across Full Distribution

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River-Trip

Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine) has officially announced that it will make cans of Allagash White and River Trip available across its full distribution footprint in the first quarter of 2020.

Thanks to the addition of a state-of-the-art canning line, Allagash Brewing first started offering cans of Allagash White and River Trip in its east coast distribution network in early 2019. The cans proved to be a real hit with Allagash fans in that area, and the brewery has now decided to expand the availability of 16 oz. cans of Allagash White and River Trip to its entire distribution area in 2020.

If you happen to be unfamiliar with these two offerings, here is some background information on both Allagash White and River Trip (descriptions sourced directly from the brewery’s press release):

  • Allagash White – Belgian-style wheat beer, Allagash White has won a combined seven gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, and European Beer Star Awards, was lauded as “one of the top 25 most important Craft Beers in America,” by Food and Wine; described as “one of the most consistently perfect beers ever brewed on American soil,” by Popular Mechanics; and hailed “one of the 19 best beers of 2019,” by Craft Beer and Brewing. ABV – 5.2%
  • River Trip – Inspired by a canoe trip taken by brewery employees to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, River Trip—a Belgian-style session ale—is dry hopped for balanced notes of grapefruit, melon, and stone fruit. River Trip was announced as a 2020 Good Food Awards Finalist, and was listed as one of only two beers on Gear Patrol’s 2019 GP100, that recognizes the 100 best new products of 2019. River Trip is brewed with local pale malt and locally grown oats. Refreshing and full of hop-forward flavor, River Trip is also the lowest-calorie beer in the brewery’s year-round lineup (170 calories per 16 oz. can). ABV – 4.8%

“We love that cans create a wide variety of new opportunities for people to enjoy our beer,” said Rob Tod, founder, Allagash. “Earlier this year, we successfully launched cans in states close to home. Now we’re excited to get Allagash cans into the hands of even more beer lovers.”

“The demand for our beer in cans has impressed us,” added Jason Perkins, Brewmaster/VP of Brewing Operations, Allagash. “Our recently increased production capacity means we can deliver two of our most sought-after beers in a new, exciting way—while continuing to meet our high quality standards.”

Allagash White and River Trip will be available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans “starting in January in the following markets: California, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania come February.” Additionally, these two offerings will see availability in 12-packs of 12 oz. cans “within the majority of the brewery’s east coast distribution network (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Virginia and DC) starting in February.” Prost!

Allagash-White-Announcement-tweet-1

Big Storm Brewing Co. Set to Release Huracán Rum Maple Barrel-aged Imperial Stout

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BigStormWaveLogoBig Storm Brewing Co. (Clearwater, Florida) has officially announced that it will hold a Limited Bottle Release for Huracán Rum Maple Barrel-aged Imperial Stout at all three of the brewery’s taprooms on Saturday, December 21.

Here to provide Big Storm fans with a little something special for the holidays, Huracán Rum Maple Barrel-aged Imperial Stout is 2019 Huracán Imperial Stout that has aged for five months in Jamaican rum barrels that also “aged maple syrup in New England before arriving at the brewery.”  These incredibly special, “well-traveled” barrels enhance the original beer’s “complex body of dark chocolate, espresso and dark pit fruit by melding with the sweeter maple and tropical rum.”  Clocking in at 11% ABV, Huracán Rum Maple Barrel-aged Imperial Stout comes together to be “an enjoyable after-dinner drink reminiscent of a Florida winter.”

Huracán Rum Maple Barrel-aged Imperial Stout will officially release at 9 a.m. on December 21 at Big Storm’s Pasco, Pinellas and Cape Coral locations.  This Limited Release offering will be available in 750ml bottles and on draft during this release.  Huracán Rum Maple Barrel-aged Imperial Stout is a brewery-only release and is not expected to see distribution.  Prost!

Vital Information for Huracán Rum Maple Barrel-aged Imperial Stout from Big Storm Brewing Co.

Release – Limited; December 21, 2019
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 11%
Treatment – Aged for five months in Jamaican rum barrels that previously aged maple syrup
Suggested Food Pairings – “Ginger Snaps | Beef Wellington | Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano”
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Distribution – None. Brewery only

 

Proof Brewing Co. Presents 2020 Release Calendar

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ProofBrewingLogo2Brewery release calendar season continues to roll on and this week we kick things off with a look at the 2020 Release Calendar from Proof Brewing Co. (Tallahassee, Florida).

As is the case with all brewery calendars around here, we have posted Proof Brewing Co.’s full 2020 Release Calendar below for you to look over at your own leisure.  That said, there are a few interesting releases that we would like to bring to your attention . . . so . . . let’s get into it:

  • Proof Brewing Co.’s 2020 Seasonal lineup will consist of four releases:  Litany of Angels, a 9% ABV Belgian Strong Ale, available January through March in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and draft; White Orchid, an American IPA with tropical fruits and citrus notes, available April through July in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and draft; Prooftoberfest, a German-style Festbier, available August through October in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and draft; Coffee Creatures In the Dark, a sweet stout aged on local coffee, available October through December in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and draft.
  • The brewery will also offer a draft-only Sour Seasonal Series in 2020.  This series will feature the following four variants of the brewery’s Evil Kiss Berliner Weisse: January – March | Pomegranate Passion Fruit Evil Kiss; April – June | Strawberry Lemonade Evil Kiss; July – September | Key Lime Pie Evil Kiss; and October – December | Raspberry Lime Evil Kiss.
  • Proof Brewing Co. will release additional beers in the brewery’s tasting room and local Tallahassee distribution. These releases will be announced closer to their release dates. Stay tuned to the brewery’s social media and website for updates on those releases.

“Our new production facility gives us the capacity for innovation and creativity,” said Marketing Director Bryan Smith. “We’re so excited to give our fans the beers they’ve been wanting for so long. This calendar allows our team to continue to push boundaries and define our future as industry leaders.”

That should just about cover all the big news, but there is still a bit of info left for you to discover on the calendar below.  Check it out and get yourself prepared for another amazing year with Proof Brewing Co.  Prost!

Proof_2020PublicReleaseCalendar-01
CLICK HERE TO ENLARGE CALENDAR

 

Hi-Wire Brewing Adds Go Getter Low Calorie IPA to Year-Round Portfolio

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Hi-Wire-BrewingHi-Wire Brewing (Asheville, North Carolina) has officially announced that Go Getter Low Calorie IPA will join the brewery’s Year-Round lineup at the start of 2020.

Developed to be an ideal option for the calorie-conscious hophead, Go Getter is an American India Pale Ale that “boasts notes of tropical fruit, melon, and citrus from juicy American hops along with low bitterness at an easy-drinking 4% ABV.”  Coming in at just 100 calories (per 12 oz. serving), the “crisp and refreshing” Go Getter may be “low in calories but certainly does not lack in flavor.”

Go Getter Low Calorie IPA is scheduled to officially launch on January 1, 2020.  You can expect to find this new Year-Round offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly establishments located within Hi-Wire Brewing’s distribution footprint in Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio and Kentucky.  Prost!

Vital Information for Go Getter Low Calorie IPA from Hi-Wire Brewing

Release – Year-Round; launching January 2020
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 4%
Calories – 100 (per 12 oz. serving)
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio & Kentucky

Heavy Seas Beer Kicks Off the New Year with Release of Hydra’s Haze IPA

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HydrasHaze12ozCanMockHeavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) has officially announced that it will introduce Hydra’s Haze, a Limited Release Hazy IPA, in January 2020.

Surfacing as “one of [Heavy Seas’] haziest beers yet,” Hydra’s Haze is a Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale featuring a “dank aroma” and “powerful citrus finish” thanks to a hop bill comprised of “a ridiculous amount of Citra, Galaxy and Enigma hops.”  Coming in at 6% ABV and 68 IBUs, Hydra’s Haze “is one monster of a beer.”

“This beer is a bit hazy from heavy use of wheat and oats,” says Heavy Seas Brewmaster, Christopher Leonard. “It has an incredible, explosive juicy, fruity, citrus aroma from employing almost 3 pounds per barrel of Citra, Galaxy, and Enigma hops. It is soft on the [palate], with a subtle bitterness but a very high hop flavor. The finish is on the dry side, with a slight lingering sweetness and floral, grapefruit trail. Everything about Hydra’s Haze screams ‘drink me’, from the striking green packaging, to the alluring foggy appearance, to the sense tingling nose. We’ve only brewed a (relatively) small amount, so make sure you get some when you see it in cans or on draft, as it will be gone before spring kicks into full bloom!”

Hydra’s Haze is scheduled to launch in January 2020 and will hang around only as long as supplies last.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Maryland and throughout the rest of Heavy Seas Beer’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Hydra’s Haze from Heavy Seas Beer

Release – Limited; launching January 2020
Style – Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale
ABV – 6%
IBUs – 68
Hops – Citra, Galaxy & Enigma
Malts – 2-Row, Malted Wheat & Oats
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://hsbeer.com/beerfinder

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