Deep Ellum Brewing Welcomes Back Football With Release of Lateral Haze

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Duclaw Brewing Co. Annouces Limited Release of PIVOT Hazy DIPA

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DuClaw Brewing Co. (Baltimore, Maryland) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of PIVOT in mid-August 2020.

Brewed as an homage to the DuClaw crew’s “fave scene from [their] fave show about camaraderie & couches,” PIVOT is a Hazy/Juicy Double India Pale Ale that possesses so much hop and haze that it required “at times [for the brewers] . . . to change course to make sure it fit just right.” Coming in at 8.5% ABV and 45 IBUs, PIVOT is here to remind us all that “life’s about taking what comes and reacting to it.”

PIVOT is rolling out now and will hang around only as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 16 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Maryland and throughout the rest of DuClaw’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for PIVOT from DuClaw Brewing Co.

Release – Limited; mid-August 2020
Style – Hazy/Juicy Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.5%
IBUs – 45
Hops – Amarillo, Sultana & Motueka
Malts – Pilsner, Carapils, Crystal 60 & Flaked Oats
Availability – 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://duclaw.com/beer-finder/

Schlafly Beer Begins Seasonal Release of Two Fall Favorites

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Schlafly Beer (St. Louis, Missouri) has officially announced that it will begin the Seasonal Release of two award-winning fall staples, Pumpkin Ale and Oktoberfest, in early August 2020.

Eager to give us all an early taste of autumn, the folks at Schlafly Beer are offering up all the comforting, malty goodness we can handle with the August release of these two fall brews (descriptions sourced directly from the brewery’s press release):

  • Pumpkin Ale (8.0% ABV): Schlafly Beer’s special release Pumpkin Ale has been an award-winning seasonal staple for over 10 years. Capturing the attention and accolades from experienced beer drinkers across the country (GABF Silver Medal Winner, VinePair, Thrillist), the Pumpkin Ale highlights sweetness and spice. Intended to taste like a slice of pumpkin pie in a bottle, the squash-forward beer is balanced with a blend of seasonal spices.
  • Oktoberfest (5.5% ABV): Although Oktoberfest is cancelled in Germany this year, celebrate the traditional style with Schlafly’s Oktoberfest at home. Authentic in its execution and evocation of heritage, Munich malt and German hops contribute to the smooth and clean traditional Märzen brew. Several members of the brewing team even traveled to Germany to meet the farmers and experience Oktoberfest celebrations a few years ago. Amber in color and balanced in its sweetness and toasted malts, the celebratory autumnal style is a tribute to Schlafly’s German roots.

“Our Oktoberfest and Pumpkin Ale are two of our most anticipated seasonal beers,” says Founding Brewer Stephan Hale. “As fall comes closer, we hope Pumpkin Ale and Oktoberfest can provide that sense of comfort, even if it’s at home.”

Pumpkin Ale and Oktoberfest are both hitting shelves now and are scheduled to hang around throughout the months of fall. Pumpkin Ale is available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft while Oktoberfest is available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 12-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft. You can expect to find both of these Seasonal Releases at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Missouri, Tennessee and throughout the rest of Schlafly’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Coronado Brewing Marks 24th Anniversary with Limited Release of Gentle Giant Triple IPA

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Coronado Brewing Company (San Diego, California) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Gentle Giant on Friday, August 14.

Crafted to serve as a liquid celebration of Coronado Brewing Company’s 24th year of brewing in San Diego, Gentle Giant is a Triple Hazy New England-style India Pale Ale brewed with “a blend of Idaho Gem, Sabro, Cashmere, and Chinook hops that lend the beer a tropical, fruity hoppiness.” Weighing in at a substantial 10% ABV, Gentle Giant is “full-bodied, yet juicy with a slightly creamy mouthfeel.”

“I like brewing big IPA’s to celebrate our anniversary each year.” says Mark Thiesen, Head Brewer, Coronado Brewing Company. “The blend of hops we used was pretty unique and brought out really nice tropical, fruity, juiciness in a triple IPA. The end result is a surprisingly drinkable, yet full-bodied IPA that’s a perfect toast to our 24th year of brewing.”

Gentle Giant is scheduled to release at all Coronado locations on August 14 and will hang around only as long as supplies last. This Limited Release offering will be available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans exclusively at Coronado Brewing locations in San Diego, Coronado, and Imperial Beach. Prost!

Vital Information for Gentle Giant from Coronado Brewing Company

Release – Limited; August 14, 2020
Style – Hazy/Juicy Triple India Pale Ale
ABV – 10%
Featured Hops – Idaho Gem, Sabro, Cashmere & Chinook
Fun Fact – Gentle Giant “features artwork from San Diego local artist, Jack Stricker, and will be the first of three cans featuring Stricker’s art.”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans
Distribution – None. Available exclusively at Coronado Brewing locations