Founders Brewing Co. Launches Brewed for MI Series with Release of Red’s Rye IPA

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reds_rye_ipa_fullwrap_12ozcan_webFounders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has officially announced that it will introduce Brewed for MI, a new series of Limited Release offerings available exclusively in Michigan, with the mid-March release of Red’s Rye IPA.

Brewed for MI is a Michigan-exclusive series that will consist of three different beer releases in 2020.  To go a step further than just being a chance to treat Michigan beer lovers to a special beer of their own, each Brewed for Mi release also “aims to raise awareness for Michigan-based non-profits through” the Big Pitcher, Founders Brewing Co.’s “corporate giving platform designed to give back to the causes that mean the most to the brewery. All causes Founders supports fall under three categories: Social Justice, Environment and Arts & Culture and range from local, MI-based organizations to those that operate on a national-level.” Red’s Rye IPA “intends to raise awareness for MI-based organizations that fall under the Arts & Culture category.”

A longtime favorite in the brewery’s “Grand Rapids taproom by employees and fans alike,” Red’s Rye IPA is an India Pale Ale “brewed with an abundance of Amarillo hops that impart intense grapefruit aromatics while the addition of rye malt lends a spicy, crisp finish.”  Boasting a “serious hop bitterness,” Red’s Rye IPA comes in at 70 IBUs and 6.6% ABV.

“We’re excited to release Red’s Rye IPA in package outside of our taproom for the first time in years,” said Co-Founder and President, Dave Engbers. “There’s a reason Red’s Rye IPA is consistently the #1 selling beer in the Grand Rapids taproom month after month – it’s a well-balanced, flavorful IPA that celebrates the delicious citrus characteristics of the Amarillo hop. We’re thrilled to put this product in a can for the first time in the name of supporting the artistic community throughout the state of Michigan.”

Red’s Rye IPA hit Founders Brewing Co.’s two taproom locations last week – Grand Rapids taproom on March 11 and Detroit taproom on March 12 – and distribution is scheduled to begin in mid-March 2020.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly establishments located in Michigan only.  Prost!

Vital Information for Red’s Rye IPA from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Brewed for MI Series; mid-March 2020
Style – American India Pale Ale/Rye Beer
ABV – 6.6%
IBUs – 70
Featured Hops – Amarillo
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Michigan only

Heavy Seas Beer Expands Joose Cannon Series with Taproom Exclusive Release of Key Lime Pie IPA

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45718056452_40d9331d94_cHeavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) has officially announced that it will soon hold a Limited Release for Joose Cannon: Key Lime Pie IPA.  The exact release date for this offering is currently undetermined due to concerns regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Dropping as the third release in Heavy Seas Beer’s Joose Cannon Series of “hazier, juicer” takes on the brewery’s flagship Loose Cannon IPA, Joose Cannon: Key Lime Pie IPA is a Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale brewed with “key lime for zest and lactose for creaminess” to mimic the “sweet and tart flavors of key lime pie.”  Coming in at 7.25% ABV, Joose Cannon: Key Lime Pie IPA is “a little slice of sunshine on a rainy, spring day.”

“The third beer in our Joose Cannon series is a take on one of my favorite desserts,” says Heavy Seas Brewmaster, Christopher Leonard. “Key lime pie has that indulgent, satisfying quality while still being refreshing and fun. We’ve used Lotus and Citra hops, along with lactose, twelve gallons of fresh key lime juice, and yes, graham crackers in the mash. Hopefully folks will find the beer as refreshing, satisfying and fun as I find the pie!”

Since Heavy Seas Beer has temporarily closed its taproom in the interest of public safety as we all deal with this Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, the previously set release date for Joose Cannon: Key Lime Pie IPA has been postponed indefinitely.  We will be sure to update you here once Heavy Seas sets a new release date.

Joose Cannon: Key Lime Pie IPA will be available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft as long as supplies last.  This Limited Release offering is a taproom exclusive release and will not see distribution.  Prost!

Vital Information for Joose Cannon: Key Lime Pie IPA from Heavy Seas Beer

Release – Limited/Joose Cannon Series
Style – Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale
ABV – 7.25%
Featured Hops – Lotus & Citra
Added Ingredients – Key lime juice, lactose & graham crackers
Fun Fact – “The Joose Cannon: Key Lime Pie label artwork was designed by local Baltimore artist, Chris Gipple, of Nightshift Creative, who also designed Heavy Seas’ 24 Anniversary beer label this past December. All the taproom exclusive beer labels will be designed by Chris in 2020.”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – None. Taproom only release

Tasting Notes – Spirits Edition: Porter’s Small Batch Rye from Ogden’s Own Distillery

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PortersRye3x800For this special Spirits Edition of Tasting Notes, we find a little escape from all the worries floating around the world these days by getting momentarily lost in a dram of Porter’s Small Batch Rye from Ogden’s Own Distillery (Ogden, Utah).

Developed to be the first non-flavored whiskey to join the Porter’s portfolio, Porter’s Small Batch Rye is a Straight Rye Whiskey that is comprised of a “95/5 blend of rye and barley . . . to deliver well-balanced flavor.”  Aged for over three years in heavy charred, new oak barrels . . . at 111 proof,” Porter’s Small Batch Rye is finished by being “blended down to 90 proof with Ogden’s Own Distillery’s signature water blend.”

Produced as a limited run of just 1,000 cases, Porter’s Small Batch Rye is available now in 750ml bottles adorned with “labels made from a real wood veneer.”  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering at fine liquor retailers located in Utah, Idaho, Nevada and Michigan. Bottles of Porter’s Small Batch Rye can also be ordered online through Hi-Time Wine Cellars (shipping available to CA, AZ, CO, FL, HI, ID, MO, ME, NE, NM, OH and WA).

Now that we are all caught up on how Porter’s Small Batch Rye was made and how we can get it, let’s pour a little into a fancy glass and see how it all comes together over some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Porter’s Small Batch Rye from Ogden’s Own Distillery

Appearance: Served neat and at room temperature into a shaped whiskey glass, Porter’s Small Batch Rye pours a honey gold in color.  When held to direct light, that honey-like hue brightens and glows softly.  This whiskey is absolutely pristine in clarity.  When jostled about in the glass, the liquid leaves a slick, wide-sweeping arc that drops thin, quick-moving tears back down into the pour.

Aroma:  Rye immediately hits the nose with an array of spicy, peppery notes that are complemented by toasted, bready grains.  Sweeter tones of caramel and tropical/citrus fruit then bloom a bit. The wood character then surfaces with light notes of vanilla and fresh oak.  Straight booze and a touch of dill spice round out the profile.

Taste:  Spicy rye takes lead here as well by supplying big notes of black pepper, clove, cinnamon and baking spice.  The barrel then smooths out those spicier/sharper edges with vanilla, caramel, toffee and oak. A dollop of honey adds a bit more sweetness while a twist of lemon brightens things up a bit.  The dill character that surfaced in the nose is light, but it does hide in the background at times.  The experience closes with some bready grains and a touch of herbal black tea.

Mouthfeel:  Medium in weight, this whiskey softly coats the palate for a moment, but it dries out nicely. Heavy on the spice at times, it does eventually find a nice balance thanks to the sweeter notes coming off the barrel and grains.  Although the nose was filled with booze, the 45% ABV is actually pretty tame on the palate and only offers a gentle warmth in the throat and belly.  Black pepper and caramelized grains are left to linger in the aftertaste.

Final Thoughts:  Despite having only aged in barrels for three years, Porter’s Small Batch Rye surprisingly drinks with a balance that you would expect from an offering that has spent a little more time on oak.  Sure . . . the nose comes across a little hot and boozy and the overall experience is filled with plenty of punchy, spicy rye character, but this younger Straight Rye Whiskey is mellowed out nicely with a hefty infusion of barrel-sourced notes of vanilla, caramel, toffee and oak.  This creates an enticing sip that can easily appeal to lovers of Rye Whiskey and also Bourbon fans who are looking to branch out into rye.  Add in the fact that this is an incredibly reasonably priced Straight Rye Whiskey (currently going for only $18.99 a bottle over at Hi-Time Wine Cellars), and it suddenly becomes really difficult to find a reason to not give this limited-edition offering a shot at making your home bar’s roster.  Seriously, make sure to keep Porter’s Small Batch Rye in mind the next time you are on the hunt for a Straight Rye Whiskey.  Prost!

Yuengling Introduces FLIGHT as ‘The Next Generation of Light Beer’

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6-YuengFlight_6pkNR-735x800D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc. (Pottsville, Pennsylvania) has officially announced that it will add FLIGHT, an upscale light beer with only 95 calories, to its Year-Round portfolio in March 2020.

Developed with the intention to “[redefine] what consumers deserve in an upscale light beer,” FLIGHT is a Light Lager meticulously crafted with Yuengling’s “190 years of brewing expertise.” Coming in at just 4.5% ABV, 95 calories and 2.6 grams of carbs, FLIGHT is “a crisp, easy-to-drink beer that will complement the brewery’s existing portfolio of brands.”

“Recognizing an opportunity in the light beer category, we have been working to deliver an upscale refreshment brand that fits within the active lifestyles of today’s consumers,” said Jennifer Yuengling, Vice President of Operations and 6th generation family member, D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc. “Our family brewing business was built on providing consumers with a high-quality, great-tasting drinking experience for social occasions. We have spent more than a year perfecting FLIGHT by Yuengling, taking the taste of this light beer to new heights, and can’t wait for our fans and light beer drinkers to try it.”

FLIGHT is rolling out now with availability in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, and draft availability will hit select markets in the second half of 2020.  You can expect to find this new Year-Round offering at beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, Pennsylvania and throughout the rest of Yuengling’s 22-state distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for FLIGHT from D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc.

Release – Year-Round; launching late February 2020
Style – American Light Lager
ABV – 4.2%
Calories – 95
Carbs – 2.6 grams
Fun Fact #1 – “The FLIGHT brand name is a unique take on light beer, with a nod to D.G. Yuengling & Son’s iconic eagle logo. The brand’s modern packaging design and sleek wing logo is a contemporary take on the brewery’s traditional eagle logo and is a tribute to D.G. Yuengling’s original Eagle Brewery built in 1829.”
Fun Fact #2 – “FLIGHT will be supported by the fully integrated Raise the BarTM campaign which is built off the brewery’s foundation of hard work, passion and pride.  The campaign will encourage consumers to strive to be the best versions of themselves and continue to push themselves in their lives. These qualities are exemplified by Yuengling’s newest brand ambassadors Rose Lavelle, American professional soccer star, and Lauren Alaina, award-winning country singer, songwriter and actress. Rose and Lauren embody the spirit and passion of ‘Raising the Bar,’ with their drive to pursue their own standards of success and personal growth, whether it’s on the field or on the stage. As FLIGHT brand ambassadors, Rose and Lauren will represent the brand via personal appearances and performances, fan meet & greets, special promotions and sweepstakes, and prominent roles in the new multichannel advertising campaign.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles (draft will launch during the second half of 2020)
Beer Finder – https://www.yuengling.com/find-our-beer/

DuClaw Brewing Co. & Wockenfuss Candies Collaborate on The PastryArchy Carmallow

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DuclawLogoDuClaw Brewing Co. (Baltimore, Maryland) has officially announced that it will release The PastryArchy Carmallow, a Limited Release Imperial Stout brewed in collaboration with Baltimore’s 104-year-old Wockenfuss Candies, in late March 2020.

Crafted to emulate the decadent experience of enjoying a famous caramel-dipped marshmallow (a.k.a. Carmallow) from Wockenfuss Candies, The PastryArchy Carmallow is a Pastry Stout brewed with “one hundred pounds each of marshmallows and Wockenfuss caramel.” Weighing in at 8.5% ABV, The PastryArchy Carmallow is rounded off with “roasty notes of toffee & honey.”

“Our team is really excited about this partnership,” said Greg Butler, candy manufacturing manager at Wockenfuss. “There are a lot of similarities between candy-making and brewing, and we learned that through this process. It’ll be fun to taste the final result.”

The PastryArchy Carmallow is scheduled to release in late March, just in time for Easter.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering 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 Brewing Co.’s distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for The PastryArchy Carmallow from DuClaw Brewing Co. & Wockenfuss Candies

Release – Limited/The PastryArchy Series; late March 2020
Style -Imperial Stout/Pastry Stout
ABV – 8.5%
Added Ingredients – 100 pounds each of marshmallows & Wockenfuss caramel
Fun Fact – “The DuClaw team visited Wockenfuss to see how the Carmallows are made, including the making of their house-made caramel, and hand-dipping the candies. The Wockenfuss team visited DuClaw for a brew day, and helped to add their ingredients into the beer.”
Availability – 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://duclaw.com/beer-finder/

Avery Brewing Co. Looks Toward Summer with Limited Release of Paws & Claws IPA

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AveryPawsClawsPourAvery Brewing Co. (Boulder, Colorado) has officially announced that it will introduce Paws & Claws IPA in late March as the brewery’s new summer Limited Release.

Developed to “highlight the beauty of both West Coast and East Coast IPAs in one argument-crushing beer,” Paws & Claws is a style-defying India Pale Ale that uses new school dry hopping techniques to achieve a “genuine and juicy haze, while Simcoe, Centennial, Chinook, and Cascade hops deliver the piney hop flavor and aroma of your favorite West Coast IPA.”  Coming in at 7.5% ABV and 50 IBUs, Paws & Claws IPA boasts “the zip of west coast hops and the more tropical and melon notes of hazy IPAs.”

“We’re constantly told to pick a side,” says founder Adam Avery. “But we think that’s dumb. Instead of feeding the hazy vs. clarity war, we created Paws & Claws IPA to bring people together.”

Paws & Claws IPA will debut in late March and is scheduled to hang around through the summer months of 2020.  You can expect to find this new Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado and throughout the rest of Avery Brewing Co.’s distribution territory.  Prost!

Vital Information for Paws & Claws IPA from Avery Brewing Co.

Release – Seasonal/Limited; launching late March 2020
Style – West Coast/East Coast Hybrid India Pale Ale
ABV – 7.5% 
IBUs – 50
Hops – Apollo, Simcoe, Centennial & Chinook; Dry-hopped with Simcoe, Centennial, Cascade & Chinook
Malts – Oats, 2-Row & Wheat
Yeast – House yeast strain
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.averybrewing.com/brew-finder

 

Terrapin Beer Co. Adds High & Hazy IPA to Year-Round Portfolio

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TerrapinHighHazyCanTerrapin Beer Co. (Athens, Georgia) has officially announced that High & Hazy IPA will join its Year-Round lineup in mid-March 2020.

Brewed with a “copious amounts of wheat and flaked oats” to achieve a “soft and silky-smooth mouthfeel,” High & Hazy IPA is a Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale “loaded with four varieties of tropical and citrus forward hops” – Amarillo, Citra, Idaho 7, and Simcoe – that were incorporated as late whirlpool and dry-hop additions.  This “last minute” approach to the use of the featured hops makes it so High & Hazy IPA (5.8% ABV, 38 IBUs) has a pronounced juicy hop character in both flavor and aroma but with a “laid-back bitterness.”

High & Hazy
‘hi (‘)an(d) ‘ha-ze
Soft, juicy, hazy, drinkable, bitterless, fruity, mango, delicious, pillowy, luscious, hoppy, chewy, grapefruit, cloudy, dank, fluffy, sticky, foggy, pungent, kiwi, citrus, fresh, pithy, bright, jam, orange, groovy, rad, yummy, nectar, kushy, guava, tropical, smooth, tasty, enjoyable, done.

High & Hazy IPA will debut at Terrapin’s brewery location in Athens, Georgia on March 13 and is scheduled to enter distribution shortly after that date.  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 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and throughout the rest of Terrapin’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for High & Hazy IPA from Terrapin Beer Co.

Release – Year-Round; launching March 13, 2020
Style – Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale
ABV – 5.8%
IBUs – 38
Hops – Amarillo, Citra, Idaho 7 & Simcoe
Malts – 2-Row Pale, Wheat & Flaked Oats
Fun Fact – “High & Hazy was originally tested at the ATL Brew Lab at the Battery in Atlanta as ‘Three Up, Three Down,’ and was the number one selling beer from the Brew Lab while on draft.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.terrapinbeer.com/beer-finder

EVENT CANCELLED – TBBW 2020 Event: Bangers & Berliners Eggs & Kegs Brunch at Late Start Brewing

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**UPDATE 03.14.2020**  Due to rising concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19), LOKO Cuisine has decided to cancel Bangers & Berliners and all Eggs & Kegs events until further notice.  Here is the full message from John LoScalzo, owner of LOKO Cuisine: 

After much thought and with a heavy heart, LOKO Cuisine has decided to cancel Eggs & Kegs indefinitely until further notice due to the rising risk factors associated with the Coronavirus. This decision is the right thing to do and it protects the LOKO family and our valued guests. LOKO events are very social and communal and it wouldn’t be the same with the concerns of this virus. Each guest will receive a full refund next week. We’ll keep you posted on future events and when we can eat, drink, and be merry together again.

Take care and be well,

John LoScalzo
Owner/Chef LOKO Cuisine

LokoLateStart_editedOn Sunday, March 15 at 11 a.m., LOKO Cuisine and Late Start Brewing (Tampa, Florida) will join forces at Pour House – Tampa (1208 E. Kennedy Suite 112 | Tampa, Florida) to properly close out Tampa Bay Beer Week 2020 with a Bangers & Berliners edition of Eggs & Kegs.

Organized with the intention to ease you out of Tampa Bay Beer Week and ease you back into the reality of the fast approaching workweek, Bangers & Berliners is a hearty brunch capable of soaking up a week’s worth of over indulgence while still supplying a little hair of the dog in the form of low ABV Berliners and session beers.

Since food will definitely be a priority by the time Sunday rolls around, the centerpiece of this event is the following four-course English-influenced brunch (served self-serve-style) prepared by the crazy talented crew at LOKO Cuisine:

BangersBerlinersEggsKegsMenu

To ensure that you have plenty of pairing options for the meal above, Late Start Brewing will be pouring a vast array of Berliner Weisse-style beers, Session beers and other low ABV styles.  If you find yourself in need of something other than beer on Sunday morning, Ginger Beard Coffee’s location within Pour House – Tampa will be fully operational and serving up their full menu and two featured drinks – London Fog: a nitro Earl Grey tea with vanilla and macadamia nut milk; and Whiskey Nitro Coffee: brewed with whiskey rested coffee beans.

Tickets for Bangers & Berliners 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 beer, wine, coffee, or tea. 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.

It is well known that food should be a priority whenever you decide to partake in a beer or three.  In keeping with that way of thinking, it only makes sense that the only way to properly end a week of drinking the finest beers in Tampa Bay is to sit down to a decadent brunch like LOKO Cuisine’s Bangers & Berliners Eggs & Kegs at Late Start Brewing/Pour House – Tampa on Sunday, March 15.  Do the right thing and get yourself some tickets while you still have your chance.  Seriously, this event gives you the best possible chance at being somewhat functional when you inevitably face everything that comes along with a Monday following Tampa Bay Beer Week.  Prost!

TBBW 2020 Event: 8th Annual Hangover Day – Pi(e) Day at 7venth Sun Brewery

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7venthSunLogoBoth7venth Sun Brewery (Tampa | Dunedin, Florida) has officially announced that it will put the cherry on top of Tampa Bay Beer Week 2020 by hosting a Pi(e) Day-themed Hangover Day at both of the brewery’s locations on Saturday, March 14.

Returning for its 8th year to serve as the official unofficial follow-up event to Hunahpu’s Day and wrap party for Tampa Bay Beer Week, this year’s 7venth Sun Hangover Day is embracing the numerical value of its date (3.14) by featuring an extensive lineup of pi(e)-inspired beers “that will make you wish your granny knew her way around some grain, hops, yeast and maybe an adjunct or two.”  There are quite a few beers and some important details to go over when it comes to this event, so let’s jump right in and break it all down:

The Basics

What – Hangover Day 2020: Pi(e) Day
When – Noon to 1 a.m. on Saturday, March 14
Where – 7venth Sun Brewery – Tampa |6809 N Nebraska Ave | Tampa, Florida AND 7venth Sun Brewery – Dunedin | 1012 E Broadway Ave | Dunedin, Florida

The Tap List 

7venth Sun is still in the process of compiling the exact tap lists for each location, but here is a sneak peek at some of the pie-inspired beers you can expect to see pouring at Hangover Day 2020 (all beers are 7venth Sun offerings unless otherwise noted):

  • Cherry Pie Eyes Berliner
  • Guava Key Lime Pie Berliner
  • Pumpkin Pusher Pie Berliner
  • Peach Cobbler Berliner
  • Strawberry Banana Cream Pie Berliner
  • Oreo Cookie Pie Stout
  • Butterfinger Pie Stout
  • Peanut Butter Jelly Pie Berliner
  • Moon Pie Imperial Stout
  • Raspberry Rhubarb Pie Imperial Saison
  • Mango Cream Pie Pale Ale
  • Public Love – Mango Key Lime Pie Berliner
  • Samoas Stout
  • Spiced Blueberry Pie Imperial Saison
  • Amora Blackberry Cobbler Berliner
  • Blueberry Pie from Brewski (Helsingborg, Sweden)
  • Strawberry Pie from Brewski (Helsingborg, Sweden)
  • Triple Berry Pie from Brewski (Helsingborg, Sweden)
  • Apple Pie Cider from Bolero Snort Brewery (Carlstadt, New Jersey)
Other Useful Info
  • Hangover Day is free to attend, and no tickets are required
  • This is a come-as-you-are, pay-as-you-go style event
  • Since “hangover” is literally in the name of this event, the vibe here is relaxed
  • It is highly recommended that you go to this event with the intention to hang out for a bit and pace yourself
  • Lines may get long at times, but there will be plenty of beer to go around.  Just hit up the water station and use that line time to catch up on some much-needed hydration

That should just about cover all the information currently available for Hangover Day 2020 – Pi(e) Day.  If any more details surface before the event, we will be sure to update this post just as soon as we get a hold of that info.

The Tampa Bay Beer Week experience just is not complete unless you and your crew roll out of bed and stumble into a 7venth Sun Brewery location to partake in Hangover Day.  Just set a reasonable alarm time on Saturday morning, put on some clothes that can pass as clean, maybe snag some breakfast at one of the many awesome spots in Seminole Heights or Dunedin, and hit up 7venth Sun for a relaxing day filled with pie-inspired brews. Prost!

 

Heavy Seas Beer Welcomes Back Smooth Sail Summer Ale, Introduces Kiwi Strawberry Variant

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SmoothSailKiwiStrawberryTapHandleHeavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) has officially announced that Smooth Sail Summer Ale will make its Seasonal return in April alongside an extremely limited, draft-only variant, Kiwi Strawberry Smooth Sail.

Back to serve as Heavy Seas Beer’s warm weather Seasonal, Smooth Sail is a “refreshingly delicious” American Wheat Ale brewed with lemon and orange peel to give it “a pleasantly, citrusy finish” while wheat malt supplies a “round mouthfeel.” Coming in at just 4.5% ABV, Smooth Sail is “the perfect beer for trips to the park, hiking, or just sitting on the beach with your friends.”

“With more than 20% malted wheat, Smooth Sail has an airy mouthfeel,” says Heavy Seas Brewmaster, Christopher Leonard. “We’ve employed a neutral strain of ‘wheat’ yeast to produce a clean tasting beer that is delicate on the palate. American hops are introduced late in the boil to impart a crisp flavor dimension. Finally, dried orange and lemon peel went into our hopback to provide a fruity, citrus aroma – without adding sweetness.”

To jazz up this Summer Ale with a little added juiciness in 2020, Heavy Seas Beer is also introducing Kiwi Strawberry Smooth Sail as a special, super limited release this year.  Just as its name implies, this draft-only variant takes everything you love about the original Smooth Sail and adds “kiwi and strawberries for a bright and fruity twist.”

Smooth Sail Summer Ale and Kiwi Strawberry Smooth Sail are both scheduled to release in April 2020.  The original Smooth Sail will be available throughout Heavy Seas Beer’s distribution footprint in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft through September while Kiwi Strawberry Smooth Sail will only be available on draft in select markets as long as supplies last.  Prost!

Vital Information for Smooth Sail Summer Ale from Heavy Seas Beer

Release – Seasonal/Limited; April – September 2020
Style – American Wheat Ale
ABV – 4.5%
IBUs – 18
Malts – 2-Row, Wheat Malt & Carapils
Hops – Warrior, Hallertau & Cascade
Added Ingredients – Lemon & orange peel
Suggested Food Pairings – “Grilled white fish, Citrus, Wild Rice, BBQ”
Recommended Glassware – “Can, straight to the face”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://hsbeer.com/beerfinder