Creature Comforts Brewing Co. Revives Athena Paradiso with Passion Fruit & Guava

Posted on by mashingin

CCBC_AthenaParadisoPGStillWeb--2Creature Comforts Brewing Co. (Athens, Georgia) has officially announced that Athena Paradiso with Passion Fruit & Guava will return for a limited time in late August 2019.

Back to close out summer with a blast of tropical refreshment, this release of Athena Paradiso starts with a base of Athena – Creature Comforts’ year-round Berliner Weisse – and treats it with “the gentle tartness and subtle sweetness of the passion fruit and guava.” Meant to be sessionable and thirst quenching, Athena Paradiso with Passion Fruit & Guava comes in at an easy drinking 4.5% ABV.

Athena Paradiso with Passion Fruit & Guava is available now on draft and is scheduled to release in cans on Tuesday, August 20.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused retailers, bars and restaurants located within Creature Comforts Brewing Co.’s distribution footprint in Georgia.  Prost!

Vital Information for Athena Paradiso with Passion Fruit & Guava from Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

Release – Limited; August 20, 2019
Style – Berliner Weisse
ABV – 4.5%
Added Ingredients – Passion fruit & guava
Fun Fact – “The addition of the word ‘Paradiso’ to the Athena brand’s name and the label artwork are intended to instill a vision of paradise, representative of the flavor and aroma of the beer.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Georgia

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SweetWater Brewing Company Adds to 420 Strain with Release of Chocolope Stout

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sw-brew-420stain-product-vignette-ChocolopeSweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has announced that it will officially begin the Seasonal Release of 420 Strain Chocolope Stout during the week of August 19.

Developed to mimic the flavor characteristics of the marijuana strain of the same name, Chocolope is an American Stout that unites a “roasty malt backbone” with SweetWater’s “unholy trinity of hops, strain-specific terpenes and natural hemp-type flavors.”  Weighing in at 6.4% and 35 IBUs, Chocolope Stout offers its drinker “tropical fruit on the inhale, coffee on the exhale, gooey chocolate all the way through.”

420 Strain Chocolope Stout will make its debut in the 420 Strain Stash Box – a mixed 12-pack of 12 oz. cans that also includes 420 Extra Pale Ale, 420 Strain G13 IPA and 420 Strain Mango Kush – during the week of August 19 and will release on its own in Fall 2019.  You can expect to find this new Seasonal available in 12 oz. cans, 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and throughout the rest of SweetWater Brewing Company’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for 420 Strain Chocolope Stout from SweetWater Brewing Company

Release – Seasonal; launching August 19, 2019
Style – American Stout
ABV – 6.4%
IBUs – 35
Malts – 2-Row, Munich, 70/80, Pale Chocolate, Chocolate, Roasted Barley & Wheat
Hops – Bravo & Willamette
Added Ingredients – Dutch chocolate
Availability – 12 oz. cans, 12 oz. bottles, on draft & in the 420 Strain Stash Box
Beer Finder – https://sweetwaterbrew.com/find-sweetwater/

 

Tasting Notes – CBD Beverage Edition: VYBES | Blueberry Mint

Posted on by mashingin

VYBESPourFor this special edition of Tasting Notes, we round the edges off a rough week by winding down with a CBD beverage from VYBES (Los Angeles, California).

Newly available in the Central Florida area thanks to Sunshine State Distributing, VYBES is an organic beverage made with CBD sourced from the hemp plant.  Since hemp-based CBD does not contain THC (the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana), VYBES products are completely legal in Florida.

VYBES beverages come in five flavors: Honey Crisp Apple Basil, Burning Mandarin, Strawberry Lavender, Peach Ginger and Blueberry Mint.  Each VYBES offering contains 25mg of organic Hemp CBD and “touts the ability to help consumers’ bodies naturally achieve homeostasis by regulating anxiety, stress and sleep.”

VYBES beverages started rolling out in Central Florida – Orange, Osceola, Polk, Brevard, Lake, Seminole, Volusia and Flagler counties – in late July.  You can expect to find these CBD beverages available in 14 oz. bottles at high-end retail stores and restaurants located in Central Florida, California and throughout the rest of VYBES’ distribution footprint.

Alright . . . now that we are all a little more familiar with VYBES and CBD, let’s go ahead and crack open a bottle of Blueberry Mint and get into these Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Blueberry Mint from VYBES

Appearance: Blueberry Mint VYBES pours a red tinged, pale purple in color.  When held to direct light, the majority of the liquid softens to a peach-colored tone that surrounds a pale purple core.  It does have a bit of cloudiness to it, but it remains clear enough for you to take notice of what appears to be floaties/slight separation provided by the fresh fruit (this is an organic beverage after all).  Since this is a still beverage, the only bubbles to report are the ones that appear after the initial shake of the bottle.

Aroma:  The aromatics kick off with an earthy/herbal quality that is reminiscent of honey-laced green tea.  This is quickly overtaken by fruity notes of fresh blueberries, lemon and lime.  The profile closes with a soft breeze of sweet, cool mint.

Taste: Delicately tart blueberry notes greet the taste buds and are accompanied by a touch of grape and sweet citrus. These fruity tones are balanced perfectly by an earthy note of slightly sweet iced green tea. The mint presence is complementary, and is able to gently settle into the experience without overpowering any of the flavors that precede it.

Mouthfeel: Medium in body and still, this super easy drinking beverage has a weight that is lighter than a juice but slightly heavier than an iced tea.  Thanks to a wonderful mix of sweet, tart and earthy/herbal notes, it has a nice overall balance and finishes incredibly clean. The aftertaste is all blueberry.

Final Thoughts: I actually had my bottle of Blueberry Mint VYBES after a hellacious week and a pretty rigorous workout. Not only did I find this beverage to be incredibly tasty and refreshing, but I also finally found myself experiencing a bit of solace and peace shortly after finishing the bottle.  I was able to untie the knotted thoughts that had been lingering in my mind all day, and my joints actually felt better than they had after a workout in a long time. These effects were casual and not at all overwhelming. I just felt calm, relaxed and good, and that seems to fall in line with how many folks describe their experiences with CBD.

Beyond the pleasant effects of the CBD, the drink is just delicious.  Thanks to its beautiful mix of sweet, tart and herbal flavors and aromas, it is wonderfully balanced and easy drinking.  There are no aggressive or medicinal notes at all. It simply comes across as a fruited tea that you could easily enjoy at breakfast, lunch, dinner or anytime you find yourself in need of a refreshing beverage. So, if you have been thinking about introducing CBD into your daily routine, you seriously might want to consider VYBES as a delightfully easy option to do so.  Prost!

 

Cahaba Brewing Co. Set for Limited Can Release of Cinematic Sour

Posted on by mashingin

Cahabalogo2Cahaba Brewing Company (Birmingham, Alabama) has officially announced that it will release cans of Cinematic Sour in its taproom on Monday, August 19.

Created to be the official Sour Ale of Birmingham’s Sidewalk Film Festival, Cinematic Sour is a Berliner Weisse featuring “a hint of pink guava and a punch of passion fruit.” Brewed for ultimate approachability and refreshment, the “delicately pale orange” Cinematic Sour (4.1% ABV) is “moderately tart without being over the top.”

Cinematic Sour will officially release at Cahaba Brewing Company on August 19 but you can lock down your allotment now by pre-ordering on the brewery’s CraftCellr page (click here to do so). This Limited Release offering will be available for the cost of $12 per 6-pack of 12 oz. cans (limit of four 6-packs per person).  Prost!

Vital Information for Cinematic Sour from Cahaba Brewing Company

Release – Limited; August 19, 2019
Style – Berliner Weisse
ABV – 4.1%
IBUs – 3
Added Ingredients – Pink guava & passion fruit
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans ($12 per 6-pack)
Release Limit – Four 6-packs per person
Pre-order Info – https://cahaba.craftcellr.com/

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Proof Brewing Co. Marks Return of College Football with Annual Release of Warpath IIPA

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ProofBrewingLogo2Proof Brewing Co. (Tallahassee, Florida) has officially announced that it will begin the taproom-only release of its award-winning Warpath Imperial IPA at 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 29.

Released each year at the start of college football season “[to pay] tribute to [the brewery’s] hometown team,” Warpath is an Imperial India Pale Ale brewed “with over six pounds of hops per barrel” (hop bill: Mosaic, Cryo Azacca, El Dorado, and Citra hops).  Meant to “[lead] the way in a modern IPA world,” this beer’s “hop profile emulates the juicy flavors of New England-Style hazy IPAs but with the dryness and mouthfeel of West Coast-Styles.”  Coming in at 8% ABV, Warpath’s “hoppy flavor will galvanize your taste buds and your thirst for victory.”

“Last year, sales of 4-pack cans exceeded all expectations and we sold out quickly,” said Founder, Byron Burroughs. “We’ve increased production to ensure this Tallahassee tradition can be shared with friends at football tailgates, social events, or anywhere you are on the Warpath!”

Warpath Imperial IPA will officially release in the Tasting Room at Proof Brewing Co. at 4 p.m. on August 29.  These limited edition 4-packs of 12 oz. cans will only be available as long as supplies last.  Warpath is a brewery exclusive release that will not see distribution.  Prost!

Vital Information for Warpath Imperial IPA from Proof Brewing Company

Release – Limited; August 29, 2019
Style – Imperial India Pale Ale
ABV – 8%
Hops – Mosaic, Cryo Azacca, El Dorado & Citra
Fun Fact – “Proof Brewing Company is a proud sponsor of FSU Athletics.”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans
Distribution – None. Taproom/Brewery only

New Realm Brewing Continues Sour Series With Release of Bless Your Little Tart Gose

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NewRealmBlessTartCanNew Realm Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Bless Your Little Tart, a Blueberry Peach Gose, on August 19.

Arriving as the third release in New Realm’s Sour Series, Bless Your Little Tart is a Gose-style Ale “brewed with a blue-ribbon combination of . . . blueberries and peaches with added blackberry, sea salt and coriander.”  Sauntering in at an easy-going 5.3% ABV and 10 IBUs, Bless Your Little Tart is here to offer “that fresh taste of good-ole southern hospitality in a can or on draft.”

“It’s a pretty well-known fact that Georgia produces peaches, but not many know that blueberries are the largest fruit crop in the state,” said Mitch Steele Co-Founder and Brewmaster of New Realm Brewing. “Turns out that blueberries are also widely grown in Virginia, so we thought why not combine the two great fruits from our two home states to create a kind of the perfect salute to summertime.”

Bless Your Little Tart will make its official debut on Monday, August 19 at both New Realm locations – Atlanta, Georgia and Virginia Beach, Virginia – and distribution is scheduled begin at or around that time as well.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located within New Realm’s distribution footprint in Georgia and Virginia.  Prost!

Vital Information for Bless Your Little Tart from New Realm Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Sour Series; August 19, 2019
Style – Gose
ABV – 5.3%
IBUs – 10
Added Ingredients – Blueberries, peaches, blackberries, sea salt & coriander
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Georgia & Virginia

 

 

Tastings Notes: A Little Sumpin’ Hazy from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Posted on by mashingin

LagunitasLSHPour_editedFor this edition of Tasting Notes, we push through the midweek daze and craze with a little help from A Little Sumpin’ Hazy from Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California).

Released back in July as an “au naturel” take on the “classic wheatly-esque-ish-ness . . . you know and love” from A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’, A Little Sumpin’ Hazy is a “juicy” and “catty” brew that has underwent a “special dry-hopping of Cashmere, Citra & Mosaic on a bed of Centennial and Chinook.” Built upon a solid base of “shlarfy” grains, A Little Sumpin’ Hazy (7.2% ABV) is guaranteed to have an eye-catching haze that will work beautifully with your favorite Instagram filters.

A Little Sumpin’ Hazy is available now for a limited time.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, California, Illinois, Washington and throughout the rest of Lagunitas Brewing Company’s distribution area.

Now that we have properly gone over all that background info, it appears that it is finally time to get comfortable, succumb to the haze and get into these Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for A Little Sumpin’ Hazy from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Appearance: Although it is undoubtedly hazy, A Little Sumpin’ Hazy pours a more IPA-traditional light golden yellow in color rather than that orange-juice-like appearance all the cool haze kids seem to be after these days.  That haze still allows some visibility and reveals a lively carbonation presence cascading within.  A somewhat vigorous pour produced right at two fingers of creamy white foam.  Retention is solid, falling gracefully to a chunky half finger that leaves the glass coated with a broad sheet of lace when completed.

Aroma:  This thing hits hard and fast with an extremely juicy presence of sweet orange, mango, pineapple, mixed berry and melon.  A gently floral undercurrent supplies some more traditional hoppy character, but it is dialed in just right so that it only balances and supports that juiciness.  The malts are muted here and only slip in a whisper of biscuity sweetness near the end of the profile.

Taste:  Just like the nose, juiciness takes point and bombards the palate with sweet fruit notes of orange, brûléed grapefruit, melon, berries, pineapple, lemon and lime.  The grains support those juicy hop flavors with some biscuity sweetness while piney hop notes mix things up a bit by providing some balancing hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel:  Somewhere between medium and full bodied with a medium carbonation level, this beer is soft, smooth and creamy on the palate.  As expected, it leans to the sweeter/juicier side but still maintains a touch of hop bitterness.  The 7.2% ABV is quite sneaky, making this beer dangerously drinkable.  Aftertaste is orange juice with a hint of pine.

Final Thoughts:  A Little Sumpin’ Hazy might fall short for some in the haze department (to be honest, we actually appreciate that it still has a touch of clarity), but it more than makes up for that in the areas of flavor and aroma.  This beer’s overall juiciness is intense and wonderfully pronounced, giving you all that you expect from a Hazy/Juicy IPA.  With that said, it still reminds you that it is indeed a Lagunitas creation by somehow holding on to some old school IPA qualities (floral and pine notes and just straight up hop bitterness). It basically unites both schools of thought on the IPA – West Coast vs. New England/Hazy/Juicy – in a subtle but incredibly tasty way.

All in all, A Little Sumpin’ Hazy is a widely available, reasonably priced hazy brew that is built for ultimate crushability and accessibility.  What else could you possibly ask for when dealing with summer heat indexes this insane? Be sure to get you some before this brew’s Limited Release comes to an end.  Prost!

 

Vermont Cider Co. Celebrates Fall with Return of Woodchuck Pumpkin

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WoodchuckLogo2Vermont Cider Co. | Woodchuck Hard Cider (Middlebury, Vermont) has officially announced that its fan-favorite Woodchuck Pumpkin will return in August for a Seasonal run.

Previously released as a part of Woodchuck’s Private Reserve line, this year’s Woodchuck Pumpkin has been reclassified as a Core Seasonal and now boasts “the addition of oak aging.” This new approach allows the offering’s “naked pumpkin profile and oak aging [to play] perfectly against the red culinary apple varieties used in this cider.”  Coming in at 5.5% ABV, the semi-sweet Woodchuck Pumpkin has “an earthy taste with hints of vanilla and caramel.”

“When we look at our limited release plans each year, we listen to what our customer partners and fans are asking for,” said Bridget Blacklock, Vice President of Marketing. “Pumpkin has been a style that everyone requests so we wanted bring back the original pure pumpkin taste with new complexity to give our fans something special.”

Woodchuck Pumpkin officially releases in August and has plans to hang around for a limited time this fall.  You can expect to find this Seasonal offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select cider-friendly establishments located throughout Woodchuck Hard Cider’s distribution footprint in the East and Central regions of the U.S.  Prost!

Vital Information for Woodchuck Pumpkin from Vermont Cider Co./Woodchuck Hard Cider

Release – Seasonal/Limited; returning August 2019
Style – Hard Cider
ABV – 5.5%
Added Ingredients – Pumpkin
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Cider Finder – http://www.woodchuck.com/locator/

Unibroue Releases Autre Chose Peach IPA in Select U.S. States

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UnibrouePeachUnibroue (Chambly, Québec) has officially announced that its Autre Chose Peach IPA is available now for a limited time in select U.S. markets including California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Las Vegas, Nevada and Long Island, New York.

Arriving as the first release in Unibroue’s Autre Chose (translating from French to mean “something else”) series of offerings “designed to push back the limits of the brewery’s traditions,” Autre Chose Peach IPA is a dry-hopped, single-fermented and unfiltered India Pale Ale brewed with peaches and a hop bill featuring Cascade, Galaxy, Citra and Lemondrop hops.  “Royal gold” in color with “orange highlights,” Autre Chose Peach IPA (6% ABV) offers a “blend of ripe peach and fresh hop fragrance [that melds] together to create a bright and balanced bitterness that envelopes notes of apple, lemon and tropical fruit along with a delicately spicy, piney and floral hop presence.”

Autre Chose Peach IPA is rolling out now and is scheduled stick around through September (as long as supplies last).  You can expect to find this new Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Florida, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Las Vegas, Nevada and Long Island, New York. Prost!

Vital Information for Autre Chose Peach IPA from Unibroue

Release – Limited/Autre Chose Series; August – September 2019 (U.S. Release)
Style – Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale
ABV – 6%
IBUs – 50
Featured Hops – Cascade, Galaxy, Citra & Lemondrop
Added Ingredients – Peaches
Fun Fact – On the Autre Chose Series: “Each beer in the Autre Chose series, meaning “something else”, is designed to push back the limits of the brewery’s traditions, offering stylistic novelties different from the bottle fermented Belgian Style beers Unibroue has built its reputation upon. . . . In keeping with the experimental nature of the series, some beers in the series will be available for only a limited time in select markets while others may stay on shelves for longer periods, or even year-round.”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans
Distribution – Florida, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Las Vegas, Nevada and Long Island, New York
Beer Finder – http://www.unibrouefinder.com/#

Champion Brewing Company Expands Distribution to Florida

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Champion_CanMockUp_Masks_Final_Shower_DesktopChampion Brewing Company (Charlottesville, Virginia) has officially announced that it has partnered with Progressive Distribution and will begin distributing in the state of Florida in mid-August.

Known as “Virginia’s most progressive brewery,” Champion Brewing Company is “obsessed with creating the highest quality beer through expertise and creativity.”  Champion’s production facility – armed with a 30-barrel brewhouse currently operating at a capacity of 15,000 barrels per year – produces a wide variety of Core and Seasonal offerings while its tap room breweries – Brasserie Saison in Charlottesville and Richmond Tap Room – offer “constantly changing and innovative Seasonals, One-offs, and Barrel-aged Wild Beers.” With the addition of Florida, Champion Brewing Company is now available in ten states and Washington, D.C.

Champion will launch in the Sunshine State with the following offerings (descriptions sourced directly from the brewery’s website):

  • Shower Beer – Perfect for any relaxing occasion, this Bohemian Pilsner sings with fresh, clean maltiness and spicy flavor and aroma contributions from 100% traditional Czech Saaz hops.  Aged cold on lager yeast for weeks for maximum refreshment.  If you’ve never had a Shower Beer, it’s high time.  ABV – 4.5%  IBUs – 35
  • Missile IPA – An American India Pale Ale with firm bitterness and intense citrusy hop aromas.  Made with 2-Row Pale Ale malt and dry-hopped with Simcoe, Cascade, Summit, and more for the full experience of an American IPA.  ABV – 7%  IBUs – 65
  • True Love Mexican Lager – A party in a can.  Clean and refreshing Lager Beer inspired by classics from south of the border and brewed with our friends at Cockfight Skateboards.  Enjoy with a lime or as is.  ABV – 4.5%  IBUs – 20
  • Wheeze the Juice – A Juicy IPA dry-hopped for maximum flavor with Mandarina Bavaria, El Dorado, and Cascade hops.  ABV – 6.4%  IBUs – 54
  • In addition to the Core offerings listed above, the brewery will enter Florida with a limited selection of “Seasonal and Limited Release brews”

“We are beyond excited for the opportunity to represent and introduce Champion Brewing Company, to the State of Florida,” said Mike Paul, Progressive’s head of key accounts and strategic development. “Their high-quality, innovative beers and collaborative spirit will definitely resonate with consumers and our retail partners, here in the sunshine state.”

 

“Florida is such a great state for the Champion brand,” said Champion Brewing Company owner, Hunter Smith. “We’re psyched to work with Progressive and be among their portfolio of carefully curated beers.”

With Progressive Distribution handling all distribution responsibilities, Champion Brewing Company will begin its Florida roll out with a series of launch events during the week of August 13. You can expect to find Champion offerings available in their respective packaging formats and on draft at craft beer-friendly retailers, restaurants and bars located throughout the state of Florida.  Prost!