Bent Water Brewing Co. Expands Distribution to Florida

Posted on by mashingin

Bent Water Brewing Co. (Lynn, Massachusetts) has officially announced that it has partnered with Progressive Distribution so that it can begin distribution in Florida immediately.

Founded in 2015, Bent Water Brewing Co. decided to “plant [their] passion” in Lynn, Massachusetts due to the area’s “rich industrial history and superior water source.” That precious water source quickly shaped the brewery’s core beliefs around the idea that “every beer begins with water, and with careful, creative manipulation, [Bent Water Brewing Co. bends] water into unique, flavorful brews.” After spending the last few years executing their mission and endearing themselves to craft beer fans in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Bent Water will venture out of New England for the first time and send their wildly popular beers to Florida.

Bent Water Brewing Co. will enter the Sunshine State with the following two flagship offerings (descriptions sourced directly from the brewery’s website):

  • Sluice Juice | New England IPA – With aromatics of orange, tangerine and lime peel, Sluice Juice is our juicy, hazy and smooth New England IPA. ABV – 6.2%
  • Thunder Funk | West Coast-style IPA – Brewed with four hop varieties and three different malts, Thunder Funk pours a hazy orange color with a thick head. Its nose offers mango, citrus, pine and a touch of honey. Juicy hops supported by a soft malt backbone deliver mango, passion fruit, slight biscuit and a lingering bitterness. ABV – 7.2%

“We’re really excited about getting down to Florida,” said Aaron Reames, co-founder and President, Bent Water Brewing. “It’s a really dynamic environment with a lot of enthusiasm for great beer. We also know a lot of people from the Northeast like to vacation or snowbird down there, and we think they’ll like a chance to support one of their hometown breweries.”

Progressive Distribution will handle all distribution responsibilities for Bent Water Brewing Co. in Florida. You can expect to find Sluice Juice and Thunder Funk available at select craft beer-focused establishments located throughout the state of Florida beginning in August 2020. Prost!

Paulaner USA Celebrates Oktoberfest With Two Beers in 2020

Posted on by mashingin

Paulaner USA (White Plains, New York), the U.S. importer of the legendary Paulaner Brauerei (Munich, Germany) portfolio, has officially announced that Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier and Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen will both be readily available in the U.S. this fall during Oktoberfest Season.

With the cancellation of the official Oktoberfest celebrations in Munich this year, Paulaner – “one of only six breweries allowed to serve at the official event and even serves the #1 selling bier” – is making it so we all can enjoy 200+ years of Oktoberfest tradition at home by providing U.S. beer drinkers with the following two Oktoberfest offerings (descriptions sourced directly from the brewery’s press release):

  • Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier – This golden Oktoberfest lager is Germany’s #1 Oktoberfest bier. It is also the only bier served in Paulaner Oktoberfest tents today and the favorite bier at the Munich Oktoberfest. Brewed once a year, and only available while supplies last, Oktoberfest Bier is the pinnacle of German brewing: deep golden color, full-bodied and wonderfully mellow, with a balanced harmonious taste and the pleasant fragrance of hops. At 6% ABV, it is stronger and bolder than the usual lager.
  • Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen – This amber bier style was developed more than 200 years ago to celebrate the original Munich Oktoberfest. The Märzen name originates from “March bier” because it was historically brewed in March, to be available for its peak flavor by the Oktoberfest celebration. Today, this style is available year-round in the U.S., due to popular demand. 
    This full-bodied bier with its rich malt flavor and dark toffee notes, has an underlying fruitiness and masterful hop balance. It will instantly turn your home into an Oktoberfest celebration. ABV – 5.8%

Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier and Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen are available now and will be hanging around through Oktoberfest Season (Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen is actually available Year-Round in the U.S.). You can expect to find both of these legendary Oktoberfest beers available in 6-packs of 11.2 oz. bottles at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, New York and throughout the rest of Paulaner USA’s nationwide distribution network.  Prost!

Second Self Beer Co. & My Abuelas Food Collaborate on La Fría Lager

Posted on by mashingin

Second Self Beer Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has announced that it will officially launch La Fría, a Caribbean Lager brewed in collaboration with My Abuelas Food, as the brewery’s newest Year-Round offering on August 28.

Crafted with the inspiration found in the “sultry vibes and sandy beaches of Puerto Rico,” La Fría – which translates to “The Cold One” – is a Caribbean-style Lager that allows you to “invest in your own refreshment.” Coming in at an easy-drinking 4.5% ABV, La Fría encourages all who drink it to “sit back, relax, love, share, and drink . . . responsibly.”

“My family is Cuban and food is a big part of my life. Creating a beer that pairs well with the rich cuisine of my heritage has always been something I’ve wanted to do,” says Jason Santamaria, co-founder and chief beer architect at Second Self Beer Co. “When I met Luis Martinez (owner of My Abuelas Food) and tasted his Puerto Rican dishes that are similar to what I grew up with, I knew we were a great match. We’ve spent over a year creating La Fría, and the result is crisp, approachable and clean. Its flavor profile is complex enough to satisfy a hardcore craft beer fan but mellow enough that even a macro-beer drinker will like it. Plus, at only 4.5% ABV, you can enjoy it responsibly all day.”

La Fría is pouring now at Second Self’s Westside taproom and cans will be available on August 28. Distribution is scheduled to begin in September, and you can expect to find this new Year-Round offering available in 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-focused establishments located in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina. La Fría will also see distribution in Puerto Rico. Prost!

Vital Information for La Fría from Second Self Beer Company & My Abuelas Food

Release – Year-Round; launching August 28, 2020
Style – Caribbean-style Lager
ABV – 4.5%
Pairing Suggestions – “Pairings include moments of refreshment: relaxing on a beach, enjoying a family cookout, watching football, or pizza.”
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina & Puerto Rico

Deep Ellum Brewing Welcomes Back Football With Release of Lateral Haze

Posted on by mashingin

Deep Ellum Brewing Company (Dallas, Texas) has officially announced that it will begin the Seasonal Release of Lateral Haze, a Tropical Hazy IPA, in August 2020.

Created “in honor of the greatest game on earth – football,” Lateral Haze is a Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale that boasts a “fruit-forward play by Simcoe, Amarillo, and Idaho 7 hops with pass protection by English malts.” Coming in at 7.5% ABV and 25 IBUs, Lateral Haze makes it so “Texans can still drink like diehard football fans . . . no matter what the 2020 football season brings.”

“With Lateral Haze, we set out to make the perfect companion for football season. A triple-option of sorts, Lateral Haze is triple dry-hopped with three different hops (Amarillo, Simcoe and Idaho-7) that come together to provide a beautifully tropical drinking experience.”
– Brian Morris, Deep Ellum Brewing Company’s Head Brewer

Lateral Haze is rolling out now and is scheduled to stick around through October 2020. You can expect to find this Seasonal Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located within Deep Ellum’s distribution footprint in Texas. Prost!

Vital Information for Lateral Haze from Deep Ellum Brewing Company

Release – Seasonal; August – October 2020
Style – Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale
ABV – 7.5%
IBUs – 25
Featured Hops – Simcoe, Amarillo & Idaho 7
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Texas
Beer Finder – https://www.deepellumbrewing.com/beer-finder/

Bell’s Best Brown Ale Makes Seasonal Return With New Look

Posted on by mashingin

Bell’s Brewery (Comstock, Michigan) has officially announced that its long-standing Best Brown Ale will be rocking a new look when it makes its Seasonal return in September 2020.

Originally released in 1988, Best Brown is a “smooth, toasty” American Brown Ale that “offers hints of cocoa and caramel” balanced by American hops. Coming in at 5.8% ABV, Best Brown is “incredibly balanced and bridges the gap between lighter-bodied beers and malty stouts.”

For its 2020 release, Best Brown will be adorned with new-look packaging and label designs featuring a modern take on the beloved owl that has been on the beer’s label since 1993.

“It’s a mix of the old and the new. It hearkens back to our original labels while paying homage to the heritage of the brand, a modernized nod to the history of Best Brown.”
– Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s Brewery

Best Brown Ale is scheduled to release in September and will hang around through October 2020. You can expect to find this Seasonal Release available in 6-packs and 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Bell’s Brewery’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Best Brown Ale from Bell’s Brewery

Release – Seasonal; September – October 2020
Style – American Brown Ale
ABV – 5.8%
IBUs – 34
Calories – 187 (per 12 oz. serving)
Carbs – 16 grams (per 12 oz. serving)
Recommended Glassware – Nonic
Availability – 6-packs & 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.bellsbeer.com/beer-finder

Tasting Notes – Spirits Edition: Lemon Drop from Costa Brava Cocktails

Posted on by mashingin

For this special Spirits Edition of Tasting Notes, we comfortably ease into the second half of the workweek with the help of a few cans of Lemon Drop from Costa Brava Cocktails (Los Angeles, California).

Founded by Matthew Kaplan and Ethan Lazar – lifelong friends and LA natives – and inspired by their time studying abroad in Spain, Costa Brava Cocktails is a new lineup of craft cocktails packaged in “vibrant 12 fluid ounce [cans] that [capture] the spirit of Los Angeles’s sun, surf and sand lifestyle.” Crafted to be “a unique twist on a classic cocktail,” Lemon Drop is a delightful mix of premium vodka and “a light lemon kick” that comes in at just “6.7% ABV, [contains] only 130 calories, and [is] gluten-free, without sacrificing the great taste.”

Costa Brava Cocktails is currently self-distributing Lemon Drop in Los Angeles, California. You can expect to find this new offering available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans at “select West Los Angeles liquor stores and on-premise locations.” Costa Brava Cocktails are also available for direct purchase (in states where legal) from the company’s online store.

Alright . . . now that we are all a little more familiar with the background info on Costa Brava Cocktails and Lemon Drop, let’s pop the top on a can and get into some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Lemon Drop from Costa Brava Cocktails

Appearance: A gentle pour from a slim 12 oz. can into a tall highball glass produces a pristine, colorless Lemon Drop that is completely devoid of any foam or froth on top. When held to direct light, nothing changes in the color department and the presentation remains the same. The liquid is perfectly clear and filled with large, fast-moving carbonation bubbles. If we had to sum up the look in a few words, it basically looks like a super clean sparkling water.

Aroma: The aromatics are a muted, but a note of fresh lemon and a bit of lemon-lime soda fill the nose with each inhale. A slight amount of vodka booziness settles into the background, but it is very reserved. All of the expected notes are accounted for.

Taste: The first thing to hit the palate is a gentle pop of high-quality vodka. Seriously, it is like straight-up, real deal vodka. This is mellowed out quickly as bright lemon notes bloom alongside a touch of sweetness to create an incredibly satisfying lemon soda-like quality. The experience closes with a refreshing wash of sparkling mineral water.

Mouthfeel: Extremely light in body with a wonderfully bright carbonation presence, this cocktail is exceedingly refreshing and easy-drinking. Crisp and clean, there is nothing aggressive, overwhelming or overly sweet about this offering. The 6.7% ABV is expertly tucked away and provides zero warmth or indication that this is an alcoholic beverage (well, other than the vodka presence in the flavor). Aftertaste is just a bit of lemon soda.

Final Thoughts: The most striking thing about Lemon Drop from Costa Brava Cocktails is the very real presence of vodka in both aroma and flavor. All too often when it comes to canned cocktails, they tend to taste like watered down offerings with no real hint of the advertised booze contained within. That is not at all the case here. Premium vodka is quick to make itself known in each sip and that really drives home an actual cocktail experience.

Combine that with Lemon Drop’s ridiculously refreshing citrus notes and high level of drinkability, and you have the perfect canned cocktail option for drinking around the pool, at the beach, on the back porch during a barbecue or gathering, or just when you want a quick cocktail without the hassle of having to mix something up on the fly. If you have been on the hunt for something different to add to the fridge or cooler, Lemon Drop and Costa Brava Cocktails really need to be on your radar. Prost!

Ogden’s Own Distillery Introduces Porter’s Peanut Butter Whiskey

Posted on by mashingin

Ogden’s Own Distillery (Ogden, Utah) has officially announced that Porter’s Peanut Butter Whiskey will join its fan-favorite line of Porter’s flavored whiskeys in August 2020.

Arriving as further proof of “Ogden’s Own’s willingness to take risks through experimentation with bold, unconventional flavor profiles through its beloved Porter’s line,” Porter’s Peanut Butter Whiskey is a Canadian Whiskey that “captures the unmistakable, one-of-a-kind essence of peanut butter and balances it with a hint of rich chocolate flavor, delivering a familiar yet subtle peanut butter presence that . . . elevates the whiskey itself.” Coming in at 66.6 PROOF, Porter’s Peanut Butter Whiskey is “an ideal candidate for any consumers looking to indulge their curiosity in the unexpected sipping experience of a peanut butter spirit, as it is completely safe to drink for those with peanut allergies.”

“Our top priority at Ogden’s Own has always been listening and catering to the feedback of our customers, the loyal community that has embraced our distillery and grown it into what it is today,” said Steve Conlin, CEO and Co-Founder of Ogden’s Own. “Those who know us know that we’re not afraid to take risks and think outside of the box when it comes to our products, and Porter’s Peanut Butter represents our willingness and desire to provide our fans with a unique offering that not only taps into a burgeoning consumer trend, but slots in seamlessly with our existing Porter’s whiskey portfolio. We couldn’t be more excited to see the response. After all, who doesn’t love peanut butter?”

Porter’s Peanut Butter Whiskey is available now at Ogden’s Own Distillery (615 W. Stockman Way | Ogden, Utah) for the price of $19.99 per 750ml bottle. Nationwide availability for Porter’s Peanut Butter Whiskey is expected to follow in the coming weeks via the brand’s retail and online partners. Prost!

Stone Brewing Celebrates 24th Anniversary with Release of DidgeriDoom Double IPA

Posted on by mashingin

Stone Brewing (Escondido, California) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Stone 24th Anniversary DidgeriDoom Double IPA in mid-August 2020.

Carefully crafted to capture “24 years of IPA obsession,” Stone 24th Anniversary DidgeriDoom is a Double India Pale Ale featuring Galaxy, Ella and Vic Secret hops. These “intense” Australian hop varietals “boast a multitude of dank & tropical elements, building a flavor profile as powerful as the sound of a didgeridoo.” Weighing in at 8.1% ABV and 50 IBUs, the “big, bold, beautiful” Stone 24th Anniversary DidgeriDoom Double IPA emphatically draws the line “where classic West Coast bitterness meets modern fruit-forward hoppiness.”

Stone 24th Anniversary DidgeriDoom Double IPA is available now at all of Stone Brewing’s Southern California locations (availability at Stone Brewing’s Napa and Richmond, Virginia locations will begin the week of August 24) and in the brewery’s online store for direct shipping to California addresses only. Distribution in California is scheduled to begin in the “coming days and weeks,” and you can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 22 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer-focused establishments in California only. There is no word at this time as to if or when Stone 24th Anniversary DidgeriDoom Double IPA will see distribution outside of California. Prost!

Vital Information for Stone 24th Anniversary DidgeriDoom Double IPA from Stone Brewing

Release – Limited; mid-August 2020
Style – Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.1%
IBUs – 50
Featured Hops – Galaxy, Ella & Vic Secret
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 22 oz. bottles & draft
Distribution – California only
Beer Finder – https://find.stonebrewing.com/#ready

Brew Bus Brewing Kicks Off PSL Season with Release of Basic B!tch

Posted on by mashingin

Brew Bus Brewing (Tampa, Florida) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Can Release of Basic B!tch, a Pumpkin Spice Latte Milk Stout, at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18.

Brewed each year to capture all the allure of PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte) Season, Basic B!tch is a Milk Stout featuring additions of Brazilian coffee, pumpkin spice, allspice, cinnamon, vanilla and lactose. Coming in at 5.5% ABV, Basic B!tch allows you to be as basic as possible all while taking advantage of its highly “Instagrammable” can design.

Basic B!tch – available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans – will release at Brew Bus Brewing at 4 p.m. on August 18 and will hang around only as long as supplies last. This Limited Release offering tends to sell out quickly each year, so be sure to hit up the taproom as soon as you can because Basic B!tch will not be seeing distribution. Prost!

Vital Information for Basic B!tch from Brew Bus Brewing

Release – Limited; August 18, 2020
Style – Milk Stout
ABV – 5.5%
Malts – 2-Row, Chocolate Wheat & Melanoidin
Hops – Warrior
Added Ingredients – Allspice, Brazilian coffee, cinnamon, lactose, pumpkin spice & vanilla
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans
Distribution – None. Brewery only

Burial Beer Co. Schedules Bottle Release for A Deranged Meditation of Nonsequitur

Posted on by mashingin

Burial Beer Co. (Asheville, North Carolina) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Bottle Release of A Deranged Meditation of Nonsequitur, an Imperial Stout with Decaf Coffee, Coconut Milk, Macaroon Coconut and Vanilla Bean, on Wednesday, August 19.

Crafted to serve as a study on the nonsensical that somehow still makes sense, A Deranged Meditation of Nonsequitur is Imperial Stout inspired by the Vegan Decaf Latte. The brewers at Burial Beer Co. pulled this off by making their own “in house coconut milk from heavy macaroon coconut and added fresh Madagascar vanilla beans to add a richness that trumps your daily Cappuccino.” The beer was then infused with Summit Coffee Co.’s Decaf Descent coffee beans to add “a gorgeous array of texture that you expect from your full-on diesel fuel coffees.” Coming in at 15% ABV, A Deranged Meditation of Nonsequitur “conjures mindfuls of rich tiramisu, coconut creme pie, mocha frappe and other lust-free bounty.”

500ml bottles of A Deranged Meditation of Nonsequitur will be available for online presale for pickup at Burial Beer Co.’s Asheville taproom and pickup and local delivery at the Raleigh taproom at noon on August 19 (proxies welcome). If any bottles survive the presale, the brewery will release those in their online shop for nationwide shipping on August 20 at noon. A Deranged Meditation of Nonsequitur will not see distribution. Prost!

Vital Information for A Deranged Meditation of Nonsequitur from Burial Beer Co.

Release – Limited; August 19, 2020
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 15%
Added Ingredients – Decaf Coffee from Summit Coffee Co., Coconut Milk, Macaroon Coconut & Vanilla Bean
Availability – 500ml bottles
Distribution – None. Brewery locations only via online presale