Big Storm Brewing Acquires Darwin Brewing Co.

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Big Storm Brewing Co. (Clearwater, Florida) has officially announced that it has purchased Darwin Brewing Co. (Bradenton, Florida).

Founded in 2012 as a part of Darwin’s on 4th, an incredibly popular and highly respected Latin American gastropub, Darwin Brewing Co. expanded in 2013 with the establishment of a “fifteen-barrel production facility, taproom, and beer garden” located in downtown Bradenton across from LECOM Park. With a mission focused on “[incorporating] ingredients indigenous to Florida and the Americas,” Darwin has since made a name for itself with fan-favorite offerings such as Llama Mama Milk Stout, Circa 1926 Tangerine Wheat Ale and Summadayze IPA.

“Darwin Brewing Co. has a solid reputation for brewing the highest quality beers with an eye towards innovation and food pairs,” said Big Storm co-owner L.J. Govoni. “We are excited to grow this hyper-local brand throughout Florida.

“It is our plan to take the next year to methodically find a new home for Darwin that will allow the brand to find some of its original roots regarding a culinary experience,” added Govoni. 

Big Storm Brewing Co. has been incredibly busy over the last year. Beyond acquiring Darwin Brewing Co., Big Storm expanded to Central Florida in November 2020 with the opening of a brewpub at Amway Center in downtown Orlando and their 11,000-square-foot taproom and restaurant in Ybor is set to open in early 2022. Prost!

Guinness Releases Chocolate Mint Stout Aged in Kentucky Bourbon Barrels for the Holidays

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Guinness Open Gate Brewery (Baltimore, Maryland) has officially announced that it will treat American beer drinkers to the Limited Release of Guinness Chocolate Mint Stout Aged in Kentucky Bourbon Barrels during the 2021 Holiday Season.

Here to “[bring] the flavors of the season to life,” Guinness Chocolate Mint Stout Aged in Kentucky Bourbon Barrels is an Imperial Stout “brewed with dried mint leaves, aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels, and then conditioned with pure cacao to keep the flavors as true to life as possible.” Coming in at 10.8% ABV, Guinness Chocolate Mint Stout Aged in Kentucky Bourbon Barrels is “the perfect treat to bring to a holiday party, pair with a favorite dessert, gift to the beer lover in your life or just enjoy by the fire as the temperature drops.”

“With each new beer from our barrel-aging program, we look to challenge ourselves with flavor combinations and tastes that most people wouldn’t expect from Guinness,” said Sean Brennan, Head Brewer at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore. “And that’s exactly what we’ve got here with our Chocolate Mint Stout Aged in Kentucky Bourbon Barrels. Chocolate and mint are a classic flavor combination, and the way those flavors interact with the bourbon character leads to something really special. It’s the perfect beer to sip on after a solid meal with family and friends over the holidays.”

Guinness Chocolate Mint Stout Aged in Kentucky Bourbon Barrels is rolling out now and will hang around only as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 11.2 oz. bottles at craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Maryland and throughout the rest of the brewery’s nationwide distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Guinness Chocolate Mint Stout Aged in Kentucky Bourbon Barrels from Guinness & Co.

Release – Limited; late November/early December 2021
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 10.8%
Added Ingredients – Dried mint leaves & cacao
Treatment – Aged in Kentucky Bourbon barrels
Availability – 4-packs of 11.2 oz. bottles
Beer Finder – https://www.guinness.com/en-us/where-to-buy/

Ghost Train Brewing Co. & Piggly Wiggly Collaborate on Neighborhood Kölsch

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Ghost Train Brewing Company (Birmingham, Alabama) has officially announced that it will release Neighborhood Kölsch, a special collaboration project with Piggly Wiggly, in early December 2021.

Developed to recognize the dedication Piggly Wiggly locations have had in supporting and cultivating craft beer culture in Alabama, Neighborhood Kölsch is a Kölsch-style Ale dry-hopped with Barbe Rouge hops. Coming in at 5% ABV, Neighborhood Kölsch is “incredibly delicious” and will give you another excuse to “head down to your local Pig.”

Neighborhood Kölsch (available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans) is rolling out now and can be found at the following Piggly Wiggly locations in Alabama: Piggly Wiggly at River Run, Piggly Wiggly at Crestline, Piggly Wiggly at Homewood, Piggly Wiggly at Bluff Park, Piggly Wiggly at Clairmont, Piggly Wiggly at Dunnavant Valley, Piggly Wiggly at Hueytown, Piggly Wiggly at McCalla & Piggly Wiggly at Deerfoot. Prost!

Vital Information for Neighborhood Kölsch from Ghost Train Brewing Company & Piggly Wiggly

Release – Collaboration; December 2021
Style – Kölsch-style Ale
ABV – 5%
Featured Hops – Barbe Rouge
Fun Fact – Neighborhood Kölsch was created to help raise awareness for The Daniel Project. Each can has a QR Code beer lovers can scan to learn more about the foundation
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans
Distribution – Available at the following Piggly Wiggly locations in Alabama: Piggly Wiggly at River Run, Piggly Wiggly at Crestline, Piggly Wiggly at Homewood, Piggly Wiggly at Bluff Park, Piggly Wiggly at Clairmont, Piggly Wiggly at Dunnavant Valley, Piggly Wiggly at Hueytown, Piggly Wiggly at McCalla & Piggly Wiggly at Deerfoot

Rogue Ales Takes Santa’s Private Reserve Over the Top with Release of Kringle Krusher

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Rogue Ales (Newport, Oregon) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Kringle Krusher, the 2021 edition of the brewery’s Santa’s Private Reserve Series, in December.

Inspired heavily by that tasty holiday treat known as rum balls, Kringle Krusher is a Winter Warmer that “has mildly sweet pastry and vanilla flavors that balance with a robust aged rum and brings together notes of caramel and spice.” Weighing in at 8.3% ABV, Kringle Krusher also offers a “rich base that has complex malt character, a light and clean hop bitterness and shadows of oak.”

“The story behind Kringle Krusher is an exciting one,” adds Hagen Moore, VP of Marketing and Creative. “When Santa caught Krampus stealing his rum balls he offered Krampus a choice: either give them back, or wrestle for ’em. Krampus, blinded by the allure of the delicious sweets, chose to face Santa in the ring. A poor choice, as Santa and his love of this holiday treat would prove too powerful for Krampus. With one hit from Santa’s famous Gumdrop Elbow Drop, Krampus conceded and handed over the rum balls. That match, forever known as the Royal Rumball, and Santa’s love for the confection are the inspiration for this year’s Santa’s Private Reserve.“

Kringle Krusher is rolling out now and will hang around through the 2021 Holiday Season (while supplies last). You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Rogue’s distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Kringle Krusher from Rogue Ales

Release – Limited/Santa’s Private Reserve; December 2021
Style – Winter Warmer
ABV – 8.3%
IBUs – 33
Ingredients – Weyerman Pilsner, Caramunich, Carafa Special III, Biscuit Rye, Rum Soaked Oak Chips & Vanilla
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://finder.rogue.com/

Burial Beer Co. Lightens Things Up with Release of Ultralight Lager

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Burial Beer Co. (Asheville, North Carolina) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Can Release of Ultralight on December 1, 2021.

Crafted to be “a classic rendition of German Helles portrayed through [Burial’s] own lense,” Ultralight is a Helles-style Lager “made with Pilsner and Vienna malts, decocted and step mashed for depth, . . . spunded in the cellar for natural carbonation, . . . [and then] delicately hopped with Hallertau Mittelfruh to pay homage to its origin before lagering for many weeks to beautiful clarity.” Coming in at 5% ABV, Ultralight offers notes of “fresh loaves of crusty country bread, bouquets of fall blossoms, and mugs of, well I’ll just say it, beer.”

Ultralight will be available on December 1 for online presale for shipping and pickup at Burial’s Asheville, Raleigh and Charlotte taprooms, and limited distribution will follow shortly after that date. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located within the brewery’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Ultralight from Burial Beer Co.

Release – Limited; December 1, 2021
Style – Helles-style Lager
ABV – 5%
Malts – Pilsner & Vienna
Featured Hops – Hallertau Mittelfruh
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Limited