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Tasting Notes: Roxanne Raspberry American Sour from Starr Hill Brewery

Posted on April 26, 2019 by mashingin

For this edition of Tasting Notes, we close out the week with a berry burst supplied by Roxanne Raspberry American Sour from Starr Hill Brewery (Charlottesville, Virginia).

Available now as one of four current releases in Starr Hill’s newly-established Sour Series “inspired by the sweet songs that celebrate women with attitude”, Roxanne is “an extremely low-hopped, kettle-soured Wheat Ale” that has been dosed with “sweet and tart” red raspberry purée. Not afraid to have the “carbonation turned up”, Roxanne (4.7% ABV) is here to treat its drinker to an “effervescent and refreshing” Sour Ale experience.

Roxanne is available now for a limited time in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, in the Say It Ain’t Sour Variety 12-pack of 12 oz. bottles, and on draft. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Virginia and throughout the rest of Starr Hill’s distribution footprint in the Southeast.

Alrighty . . . now that all the particulars are out of the way, what do you say we turn off that red light, keep things casual, and get to know Roxanne over some Tasting Notes?

Tasting Notes for Roxanne American Sour from Starr Hill Brewery

Appearance: Roxanne pours a pink-tinged, light orange in color and is capped with just under a finger of tight white foam. When held to direct light, the vibrant pink tones shine bright as a softer orange tone holds fast at the core of the pour. The beer is slightly cloudy, but a spritzy carbonation presence can still be seen streaming within. Head retention is good, falling slowly to a thin ring of creamy foam that draws wide lines of lace after each pull.

Aroma: Raspberries are all over the nose, supplying notes of fresh fruit straight for the carton and rich raspberry preserves from the jar. Through all this fruitiness billowing from the glass, a sturdy presence of wheat and lactobacillus establishes itself and asserts that there is a solid Berliner-like base holding everything together. The aromatics are simple, but they are just as billed.

Taste: Raspberry takes point here as well, dishing out a jammy presence that is just as sweet as it is tart. Fresh raspberries and a twist of lemon add to the beer’s tart side while a subtle undercurrent of melon and strawberry tinker with the sweetness levels. The wheat base lingers in the background with some bready sweetness as the lacto is dialed in to maintain just the right amount of tartness to follow through the finish.

Mouthfeel: Light in body with a bright carbonation, this Sour Ale is ridiculously light, refreshing and easy-drinking. Although it does lean a bit toward the tart/sour side, the fruity sweet notes balance nicely and raise the beer’s already high level of drinkability. The ABV is low at 4.7% and it reads as such by being completely devoid of booze/heat. The aftertaste is all jammy raspberry goodness.

Final Thoughts: Roxanne is an incredibly tasty, “take me as I am” kind of brew that offers all the raspberry and sour goodness it promises with little to no frill. Sure, its tartness is dialed down a bit by the sweet side of the berries and malts, but that is just balance at work and it only adds to this beer’s crushable nature. With its high level of drinkability and its fresh flavors and aromatics, there is no denying that this is a beer built for summer drinking. If you are looking to fill your fridge or cooler with a stellar refresher capable of tackling the warm weather ahead, you really should consider picking up a sixer or two of Roxanne American Sour during your next beer run. Prost!

Narragansett Beer Launches Del’s Watermelon Shandy as New Summer Seasonal

Posted on April 26, 2019 by mashingin

Narragansett Beer (Pawtucket, Rhode Island) has officially announced that it is once again teaming up with Del’s Frozen Lemonade to tackle summer thirsts with the Seasonal Release of Del’s Watermelon Shandy.

Arriving as the latest installment in Narragansett’s “Hi Neighbor Mash Up” series, Del’s Watermelon Shandy is a refreshing blend of “natural watermelon flavor” from Del’s Frozen Lemonade and Narragansett Lager. Loaded with “sweet and tart watermelon flavors”, Del’s Watermelon Shandy (4.7% ABV) is sure to be “the perfect companion for your cooler this summer.”

“If you ever want a quick way to start a heated debate with your neighbor here in Rhode Island, and I know you do, just ask what their favorite Del’s flavor is,” says Mark Hellendrung, President of Narragansett Beer. “While Del’s has made a ton of great flavors in the last 70+ years, around here it’s the Lemon and Watermelon that we argue over the most. So we figured, ‘why not fuel the fire’? I suspect our Nobel Peace Prize is in the mail.”

Del’s Watermelon Shandy is rolling out now and is scheduled to hang around throughout the summer months. You can expect to find this Seasonal Release available in 6-packs of 16 oz. cans, 12-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly establishments located in Florida, Rhode Island and throughout the rest of Narragansett’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Del’s Watermelon Shandy from Narragansett Beer

Release – Seasonal; launching mid-April 2019
Style – Shandy/Radler
ABV – 4.7%
Blend – Natural watermelon flavor from Del’s Frozen Lemonade, Narragansett Lager and “a touch of sugar”
Fun Fact – On Del’s Frozen Lemonade: “Dating all the way back to 1840 in Naples, Italy, Del’s Frozen Lemonade began when great–grandfather Delucia carried snow into nearby caves, insulating it with a straw and then combining it with sugar and fresh lemon juice for a delectable frozen drink. Nearly a century later, DeLucia’s great–grandson Angelo brought the recipe to Cranston, Rhode Island, where locals got a first taste of the now beloved summer beverage. Today, Del’s Frozen Lemonade is symbol of summertime, revered by New Englanders as a go–to hot weather treat and available statewide in several varieties.”
Suggested Food Pairings – “The perfect refresher to complement standard American cookout fare like a hamburger or hot dog right off the grill, or try it with a garden salad.”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans, 12-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft

Boulevard Brewing Co. Introduces Smooth Fuzz as Newest Limited Release

Posted on April 25, 2019 by mashingin

Boulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, Missouri) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Smooth Fuzz Apricot Sour Ale on Monday, May 6.

Crafted to provide a taste of summer while taking full advantage of apricot season, Smooth Fuzz (7.2% ABV) is a “tart and funky” American Sour Ale comprised of a “mélange of Belgian-style ales fermented and aged in oak barrels and foeders for up to 36 months.” Prior to bottling, the final blend was further aged on “whole apricots . . . to infuse juicy stone fruit flavors which mingle with the mixed fermentation character provided by [Boulevard’s] house lactobacillus and brettanomyces cultures.”

Smooth Fuzz will roll out in the Greater Kansas City area on May 6 and is expected to enter wider distribution in the weeks that follow. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 750ml bottles and on draft at craft beer-focused establishments located in Missouri and all other areas that “typically see Smokestack Series, Limited Release and seasonal beers like Plaid Habit, Chocolate Ale and Love Child blends.” Prost!

Vital Information for Smooth Fuzz Apricot Sour Ale from Boulevard Brewing Co.

Release – Limited, May 2019
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 7.2%
IBUs – 8
Grains – Pale malt, flaked oats, spelt, malted wheat & raw wheat
Hops – Magnum
Treatment – Aged in oak barrels with lactobacillus and brettanomyces with final aging on apricots
Suggested Food Pairings – Strong cheeses, apricot trifle, charcuterie, shrimp & grits, roasted poultry
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.boulevard.com/beer/beer-finder/

TrimTab Brewing Sets Release Date for Southern Sphere Hazy Double IPA

Posted on April 25, 2019 by mashingin

TrimTab Brewing (Birmingham, Alabama) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Light Visions: Southern Sphere, a Southern Hemisphere Double Dry-Hopped Hazy Double IPA, at noon on Friday, April 26.

Arriving as the newest installment in TrimTab’s Light Visions Collection of small-batch hazy and New England IPAs, Southern Sphere is a New England-style India Pale Ale that is supported by “a grain bill [of] clean Pilsner malt, as many fluffy flaked oats as possible and just a touch of lactose to produce the ideal mouthfeel for this style.” The beer was then hit with a “fruit-forward yeast strain” and double dry-hopped with 100% New Zealand hops – Wakatu, Pacifica and Nelson Sauvin. Coming in at 7.5% ABV, Southern Sphere promises to supply its drinker with a “REAL smooth” experience filled with “overwhelming flavor notes and aromas of citrusy tangerine pulp, apricot marmalade, HUGE sauvignon blanc grape vibes and kiwi like resin, all rounded out with lower bitterness and a creamy mouthfeel.”

Light Visions: Southern Sphere will officially debut in the Tasting Gallery at TrimTab Brewing at noon on Friday, April 26. This Limited Release offering will have availability in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft. It is not yet known if this offering will see distribution. Prost!

Vital Information for Light Visions: Southern Sphere from TrimTab Brewing

Release – Limited/Light Visions Series; April 26, 2019
Style – New England-style India Pale Ale
ABV – 7.5%
Featured Hops – Wakatu, Pacifica & Nelson Sauvin
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft

Samuel Adams Introduces Reformulated Summer Ale

Posted on April 24, 2019April 24, 2019 by mashingin

Samuel Adams/The Boston Beer Company (Boston, Massachusetts) has officially announced that the 2019 Seasonal Release of Samuel Adams Summer Ale features a new, citrus-forward recipe that promises to be both lighter and brighter.

Although Summer Ale arrives in 2019 boasting its “first recipe change in twenty-three years”, dedicated fans of this “American Wheat Ale brewed in the Hefeweizen tradition will still enjoy the balanced notes of citrusy Hallertau Mittelfrüh Noble hops, hint of peppery spice from the Grains of Paradise and a crisp mouthfeel.” The changes to this classic Seasonal offering come in the form of “a handful of new citrus elements including orange, lime and lemon to enhance the citrus profile with the right balance of flavor and aromas.” Orange and lime purees “give more roundness” to the beer’s sensory profile while the pureed lemon “pulls double duty by giving a taste like fresh lemon juice with an almost candied note that the brewers thought makes the beer even more drinkable.” Weighing in at an incredibly easy-drinking 5.3% ABV and 7 IBUs, the new Summer Ale now has the ability to “capture lighter and brighter flavors and aromas, and even more summer refreshment.”

“When we introduced Summer Ale 23 years ago it was inspired by the weather and ingredients of the season and had a dynamic flavor profile. As we started experimenting with the Summer Ale recipe, we decided to only update the classic recipe if we were blown away by the flavor and drinkability. With this new recipe, we found a way to give drinkers even more of what they know and love about Summer Ale.”

– Jim Koch, Sam Adams Founder & Brewer

The reformulated Samuel Adams Summer Ale is rolling out now and is scheduled to hang around through August 2019. You can expect to find this Seasonal Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 12-packs of 12 oz. cans, 16 oz. cans, and on draft at craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Massachusetts and throughout the rest of Samuel Adams’s nationwide distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Summer Ale from Samuel Adams/The Boston Beer Company

Release – Seasonal, April – August 2019
Style – American Wheat Ale
ABV – 5.3%
IBUs – 7
Malts – Samuel Adams 2-Row Pale Malt Blend & Malted Wheat
Hops – Hallertau Mittelfrüh & Saaz
Added Ingredients – Grains of Paradise & lemon, lime and orange purees
Suggested Food Pairings – “Mussels, Sushi, Caesar Salad, Seafood, Jerk Chicken, Thai Food, Key Lime Pie, Peach Sorbet, Lemon Meringue Pie”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 12-packs of 12 oz. cans, 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.samueladams.com/find-a-sam

Wild Leap Brew Co. Launches New Sour Series with Release of Vacanza Raspberry Gose

Posted on April 24, 2019 by mashingin

Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) has officially announced that it will kick off its Vacanza Series of sour-style craft beers with the late April release of Vacanza Raspberry Gose.

Developed with “leisure” and “relaxation in mind”, Vacanza Raspberry Gose is a refreshing Gose-style Ale that has a “sweet, yet tart flavor profile” thanks to the addition of “over 500 pounds of fresh raspberries per batch.” This fruit-heavy recipe supplies Vacanza (5.5% ABV) with “a rich pink color, evidence of its freshness.”

“People have asked us to brew a sour-style beer from the day we opened,” shared Anthony Rodriguez, Co-founder and CEO of Wild Leap Brew Co. “With warm weather approaching, we felt like this was the perfect time to add one to our lineup.”

Vacanza Raspberry Gose is rolling out now and will hang around as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this new Limited Release offering available in 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly establishments located within Wild Leap’s distribution footprint in Georgia. Prost!

Vital Information for Vacanza Raspberry Gose from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Release – Limited/Vacanza Series, late April 2019
Style – Gose
ABV – 5.5%
IBUs – 5
Added Ingredients – Salt & 500 lbs. of fresh raspberries per batch
Fun Fact – On Vacanza Raspberry Gose and the Vacanza Series: “With a brewing style and ABV that is designed for the warm weather approaching, it is important to point out that Wild Leap had relaxation in mind when brewing this beer. The name itself, Vacanza, is Italian for ‘vacation’ or ‘holiday’, while the tongue-in-cheek quote on the back of the can describes it as ‘brewed for those who take leisure very, very seriously.'”
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.wildleap.com/beer-finder/

Half Acre Beer Co. Adds Bodem IPA to Its Core Lineup

Posted on April 23, 2019 by mashingin

Half Acre Beer Co. (Chicago, Illinois) has officially announced that it will launch Bodem IPA, its newest Year-Round offering, on April 26.

Arriving as a bit of a departure from the “bone-dry West Coast IPAs” that Half Acre has been known for since 2007, Bodem IPA is a “different” take on the India Pale Ale – “smack in the middle of West and East Coast styles” – that is “balanced with a soft, welcoming mouthfeel that plays to the sticky citrus and tropical fruit qualities of the hops.” Clocking in at just 6.8% ABV, Bodem IPA promises to be “accessible for classic craft drinkers and intriguing for those intimately familiar with Half Acre’s portfolio of pioneering brews.”

Bodem IPA will officially launch to the public on Friday, April 26 in Half Acre’s Lincoln Avenue and Balmoral Avenue Taprooms and Store, and distribution is scheduled to follow on Monday, April 29. You can expect to find this new Year-Round offering available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Illinois and throughout the rest of Half Acre’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Bodem IPA from Half Acre Beer Co.

Release – Core/Year-Round; launching April 26, 2019
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.8%
Featured Hops – Idaho 7, Mosaic Cryo & Cashmere
Fun Fact – “Bodem—Dutch for ‘soil’—is a reference to earthiness, to the creation of new landscapes and the transforming potential of hop varietals.”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft

Bell’s Brewery Refreshes Packaging for Kalamazoo Stout and Porter

Posted on April 23, 2019April 23, 2019 by mashingin

Bell’s Brewery (Comstock, Michigan) has officially announced that it will introduce new-look packaging designs for two of its oldest craft beers – Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout and Bell’s Porter – in April 2019.

In an effort to give these two long-standing offerings a bit of a visual update that will allow them to stand out on today’s crowded craft beer shelves, Bell’s Brewery has decided to redesign the packaging and label artwork for its Kalamazoo Stout and Porter. Although these beers may now look different on the outside, the liquid inside the bottle will remain “the same Bell’s beer fans have loved from the beginning.”

If you happen to be unfamiliar with these two iconic craft brews, here are the full descriptions of Kalamazoo Stout and Porter from the press release issued by Bell’s:

Kalamazoo Stout – Named after the city where Bell’s began and still brews to this day, Kalamazoo Stout is one of Bell’s most classic recipes. Originally debuting in 1988, this smooth, full-bodied stout offers a blend of aromas and flavors of dark chocolate and freshly roasted coffee, balanced with a significant hop presence. ABV – 6.0%
Porter – Bell’s award-winning Porter bridges the gap between malty brown ales and heavily roasted stouts. Notes of chocolate, coffee and roasted barley are offset with just a slight hop bitterness. Bell’s Porter is another one of Bell’s darker, roastier offerings that can be enjoyed during the warmer months as well as during the colder months. ABV – 5.6%

“We’ve been brewing both of these beers since the late ’80s. Along with Amber Ale, these two were some of our first craft beers to hit the market, offering a flavorful alternative to what was pretty much the only option at the time (domestic, light beer).” said Larry Bell, President and Founder of Bell’s Brewery.

The new packaging for Kalamazoo Stout and Porter will begin hitting shelves in April 2019. You can expect to find both of these Year-Round offerings available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Bell’s Brewery’s distribution area. Prost!

Jester King Brewery Sets Release Date for Atrial Rubicite 2019

Posted on April 22, 2019April 22, 2019 by mashingin

Jester King Brewery (Austin, Texas) has officially announced that it will host a bottle release for the 2019 batch of Atrial Rubicite on Friday, May 3.

Originally released in 2013 and now back for its 9th batch, Atrial Rubicite is a highly-coveted “barrel-aged Wild Ale refermented with raspberries. This year’s batch of Atrial Rubicite is 5.5% alcohol by volume and was packaged in early April.”

Atrial Rubicite (2019) will officially release at Jester King’s Tasting Room & Restaurant at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 3. This Limited Release offering will be available on draft and in 500ml bottles ($20 each, limit of six [6] bottles per guest per day). Outside of special events, Atrial Rubicite is a brewery exclusive release that will not see distribution. Prost!

Vital Information for Atrial Rubicite (2019) from Jester King Brewery

Release – Limited; May 3, 2019
Style – American Wild Ale
ABV – 5.5%
Treatment – “Raspberries were added to mature barrel-aged sour ale and refermented to dryness. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and 100% naturally conditioned.”
Availability – 500ml bottles & draft
Bottle Count – 7,500
Distribution – None. Brewery exclusive

Funky Buddha Brewery Continues Mixology Series with Summer Release of Margarita Gose

Posted on April 22, 2019April 22, 2019 by mashingin

Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, Florida) has officially announced that Margarita Gose will launch in late April as the next release in the brewery’s newly-established Mixology Series.

Just as its incredibly straight-forward name suggests, Margarita Gose is “a traditional, tart wheat ale” that has been brewed real agave nectar, lime juice, and sea salt . . . to capture the essence of a classic margarita recipe and achieve a heightened ABV.” The beer was then aged “inside Casa Noble Anejo Tequila barrels for notes of charred oak and a smooth booze finish.” Despite coming in at a sizeable 11% ABV, Margarita Gose remains a slow-sipping refresher that can be enjoyed all summer long.

Margarita Gose will officially debut in Funky Buddha’s Tap Room on April 27 and will enter distribution shortly after the on-site release. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located throughout the state of Florida. Prost!

Vital Information for Margarita Gose from Funky Buddha Brewery

Release – Limited/Mixology Series, late April – August 2019
Style – Gose
ABV – 11%
IBUs – 20
Added Ingredients – Real agave nectar, lime juice & sea salt
Treatment – Aged in Casa Noble Anejo Tequila barrels
Suggested Food Pairings – “Grilled fish tacos, chips and salsa, mariquitas with fresh guacamole, arroz con gandules, roasted pork, lemon pound cake, flan”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://funkybuddhabrewery.com/beer-finder