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Tasting Notes: Tangerine Deuce Coupe DIPA from Garage Brewing Co.

Posted on February 13, 2019February 14, 2019 by mashingin

For this installment of Tasting Notes, we cruise over the midweek hump with a little assistance from Tangerine Deuce Coupe DIPA from Garage Brewing Co. (Temecula, California).

Built to be the perfect vehicle to carry Garage Brewing Co. into 2019, Deuce Coupe is a Limited Release series of West Coast-style Double India Pale Ales that boast a “citrusy note of grapefruit” sourced from a hop bill comprised of Chinook, Simcoe and Amarillo hops. The Tangerine Deuce Coupe variant revs up the base beer with a “tangy note of tangerine” while Grapefruit Deuce Coupe adds depth to its already established grapefruit character. All three versions of Deuce Coupe come in at 8.9% ABV and 100 IBUs.

Deuce Coupe DIPA, Grapefruit Deuce Coupe and Tangerine Deuce Coupe are all out now and plan to hang around for a bit. You can expect to find these Limited Release brews available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located within Garage Brewing Co.’s distribution footprint in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. **Pro-tip: Tangerine Deuce Coupe is this week’s (February 13 – 17, 2019) Growler Fill Special in Garage Brewing Co.’s Tap Room**

Now that we are done with the background information on the Deuce Coupe DIPA series, it is finally time to choose one for the full Tasting Notes treatment. Since everyone here is a sucker for just about anything tangerine, it was a pretty easy decision to go with the Tangerine Deuce Coupe . . . so, let’s pop the top and take this thing out for a test drive!

Tasting Notes for Tangerine Deuce Coupe Double IPA from Garage Brewing Co.

Appearance: This Double IPA is an intensely vivid, sunburst orange in color and is capped with almost two fingers of super fluffy, white foam. When held to direct light, bright yellows push through at the sides while that deep orange holds firm at the center. Although the beer does have a tinge of cloudiness/haze, it is mostly clear and presents an exuberant display of carbonation bubbles. Head retention is quite good, slowly falling to a lasting 1/4 finger that leaves massive chunks of lace behind on the glass.

Aroma: A subtle earthy and piney hop presence is the first note to step forward, but it eventually turns things over to the wonderfully pronounced citrus qualities – sweet orange juice mostly – of those Amarillo hops. This sets the stage beautifully for the tangerine to assert itself with a wonderful juiciness that is supported by a bright burst of zest. It seriously smells like a crate of freshly picked tangerines.

Taste: Bitter grapefruit intertwines with some pine resiny goodness to wake up the taste buds with a jolt. The citrusy hops open further to welcome in orange tones and eventually an incredibly clean tangerine presence. We are talking fresh tangerine juice that is both sweet and zippy along with a bracing bite from the peel and zest. A gently sweet pale malt character works its way in at the finish to leave behind a note of candied tangerine peel.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a peppy carbonation level, this Double IPA is wildly refreshing and drinks much lighter than one might expect. It definitely leans to the bitter side (it is 100 IBUs after all), but the malts are dialed in perfectly to keep things from getting out of hand. ABV is nicely muted for 8.9% and does not bring much heat at all. Aftertaste is all pine and tangerine peel.

Final Thoughts: Just as billed, this variant absolutely takes the Deuce Coupe DIPA base to all new, tangerine-filled heights (yes, we actually drank all three . . . you know . . . for research). As the regular Deuce Coupe DIPA and Grapefruit Deuce Coupe both focus on their hops’ ample grapefruit notes, Tangerine Deuce Coupe shifts gears, turns the wheel and takes the experience in a whole new direction.

The tangerine character – in both aroma and flavor – is beautifully clean (there is absolutely no trace of artificiality to be found) and complements the hop bill perfectly by pulling the Amarillo hops forward to shine while the Simcoe and Chinook hops dutifully support with complex notes that are earthy, piney and citrusy (grapefruit). This is really interesting because Tangerine Deuce Coupe completely flips the script when it comes to how the hop bill performs in it (Amarillo dominant) rather than in the other two variants (Simcoe and Chinook dominant).

All three variants are damn good, legit West Coast Double IPAs and work nicely as a group, but Tangerine Deuce Coupe is basically just that close buddy that always seems to set off to do his/her own thing. For us, it just pulls away from the pack by being a simply gorgeous, incredibly refreshing, and ridiculously easy-drinking Double IPA. If you get the chance, check out all three Deuce Coupe DIPA variants so that you can pick a fave of your own. Prost!

TBBW 2019 Event: Campfire S’mores Sweet Stout Bottle Release at Rapp Brewing

Posted on February 13, 2019 by mashingin

Rapp Brewing Company (Seminole, Florida) has officially announced that it will be getting in on the Tampa Bay Beer Week 2019 festivities by hosting a bottle release for Campfire S’mores Sweet Stout at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 8.

It just would not be Tampa Bay Beer Week without a special bottle release from Rapp Brewing Company, and this year they are mixing things up a bit by going the Sweet Stout route. Just as its name would lead you to believe, Campfire S’mores is a s’mores-inspired Sweet Stout filled with “that ooey gooey goodness when the marshmallow and chocolate melt together with a light char from the campfire.” Coming in at smooth sipping 7.3% ABV, each warming sip of Campfire S’mores promises to conjure up memories of “nights camping in the wilderness and roasting s’mores on a stick.”

Campfire S’mores Sweet Stout will officially release at 4 p.m. on March 8 and is expected to sell out quickly. This Limited Release offering will be available in 22 oz. bottles for the price of $15 each (bottle limits have yet to be determined). Due to the limited nature of this release, Campfire S’mores will not be available on draft. Prost!

7venth Sun Brewery & LOKO Cuisine Team Up for Valentine’s-Themed Triple Bottle Release

Posted on February 12, 2019 by mashingin

7venth Sun Brewery (Dunedin & Tampa, Florida) has officially announced that it will host “For the Love of Chocolate!”, a special bottle release event featuring three chocolate-centric beers brewed in collaboration with LOKO Cuisine, on Thursday, February 14.

To bring the appropriate amount of chocolaty goodness to your Valentine’s Day this year, 7venth Sun Brewery recently brought in John LoScalzo of LOKO Cuisine to “put his creative, wonderful and talented chef brain to work on some delicious beer ideas” that all feature cacao nibs from Pinellas Chocolate. As usual, LoScalzo came through to produce some amazing flavor combinations that he and the brewery translated into the following three culinary-inspired Imperial Sweet Stouts that will be featured at the “For the Love of Chocolate!” Bottle Release (descriptions sourced directly from 7venth Sun’s event page on Facebook):

LOKO for the Coco – Chocolate & toasted coconut Imperial Sweet Stout (a distant relative of Eat Your Coco Nibs, for those who are acquainted)
Mole con Cacahuetes – Mole is typically made with a plethora of ingredients from the pantry like chili, spices, chocolate and nuts. We chose peanuts to blend with the complex flavors of this Imperial Sweet Stout with guajillo and ancho chilies, cacao nibs, roasted peanuts, cinnamon, allspice and lactose.
Double Chocolate Chip Flapjack Stack – If you don’t know, brunch is pretty much LOKO Cuisine’s jam – so we couldn’t neglect a brunch-inspired beer. Gossip with your friends over this Imperial Sweet Stout with cacao nibs, maple, vanilla and lactose aged on cypress wood. (seriously it tastes like chocolate chip pancakes)

All three beers above are priced at $17 per bottle and will go on sale at both 7venth Sun locations at noon on Valentine’s Day. These beers will be available as long as supplies last and there will be no bottle limits.

In addition to the triple bottle release, “For the Love of Chocolate!” will also feature a few special beer tappings at both 7venth Sun locations. As far as food goes, Xtreme Tacos will be at the Tampa location at 6 p.m. to collaborate with LOKO Cuisine on “a mole chicken Valentine’s dinner special” that will pair beautifully with the featured beers. Guests attending in Dunedin are encouraged to venture next door to HopScotch Cafe to experience their “charcuterie and cheese boards in addition to their delicious salads and sandwiches.”

For those keeping score at home, this event features indulgent levels of chocolate, decadent adult beverages, and delicious food options. So . . . it pretty much sounds like 7venth Sun and LOKO Cuisine just handled all your Valentine’s Day needs in one sweet package. Whether you are in Dunedin or Tampa, do the right thing, swing by a 7venth Sun location and treat yourself (and anyone you feel inclined to bring along) to everything this “For the Love of Chocolate!” event has to offer. Prost!

Good People Brewing Co.’s Hitchhiker IPA Returns for the Spring

Posted on February 11, 2019 by mashingin

Good People Brewing Company (Birmingham, Alabama) has officially announced that it will begin the Seasonal Release of Hitchhiker IPA on Monday, February 11.

Sauntering back into the Heart of Dixie with “more of a West Coast vibe than [Good People’s] flagship India Pale Ale“, Hitchhiker is an American India Pale Ale that “balances the aromas of pineapple, grapefruit, orange, and tangerine with a caramel malt backbone.” Coming in at an intriguing 7.8% ABV and 100 IBUs, this is one Hitchhiker that you will be more than happy to pick up.

Hitchhiker IPA rolls out this week and will stick around throughout the months of spring. You can expect to find this Seasonal brew available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly establishments located within Good People’s distribution footprint in Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, Georgia and Tennessee. Prost!

Vital Information for Hitchhiker IPA from Good People Brewing Company

Release – Spring Seasonal, returning February 11, 2019
Style – American India Pale Ale (West Coast-style)
ABV – 7.8%
IBUs – 100
Featured Hops – Columbus, Cascade & Simcoe
Suggested Food Pairings – “Cuisine (Curried, Thai), Cheese (Peppery: Monterey/Pepper Jack; Sharp: Blue, Cheddar; Pungent: Gorgonzola, Limburger), Meat (Poultry, Fish, Shellfish, Salmon)”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://goodpeoplebrewing.com/beer-finder

Wild Leap Brew Co. Dreams of Spring, Releases Prize Inside Cracker Jack Stout

Posted on February 11, 2019 by mashingin

Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) has officially announced that the Limited Release of Prize Inside Cracker Jack Stout will begin during the second week of February 2019.

Developed to get us all ready for spring training, Prize Inside is a decadent, Cracker Jack-inspired American Stout “brewed with the iconic flavor combination of caramel, peanuts and dreams of the big leagues.” Coming in at a comforting 8.5% ABV, Prize Inside boasts “a roasted, full bodied flavor” that is guaranteed “to get you through those last weeks of winter.”

“As spring and baseball season approach, we wanted to incorporate flavors of some of our favorite memories,” shares Rob Goldstein, Co-Founder. “Prize Inside brought our current love of beer and our lifelong love of baseball into one delicious brew.”

Prize Inside Cracker Jack Stout launches during the week of February 11 and will hang around as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in and around the Atlanta, LaGrange, Newnan, Peachtree City, Columbus, Athens, Gainesville and Augusta areas of Georgia. Prost!

Vital Information for Prize Inside Cracker Jack Stout from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Release – Limited, second week of February 2019
Style – American Stout
ABV – 8.5%
IBUs – 30
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – This offering will be available in following areas of Georgia: Atlanta, LaGrange, Newnan, Peachtree City, Columbus, Athens, Gainesville & Augusta
Beer Finder – http://www.wildleap.com/beer-finder/

Tasting Notes: Truck Chaser – Creamsicle DIPA from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Posted on February 8, 2019 by mashingin

For this edition of Tasting Notes, we treat ourselves to a little end of the week indulgence by getting into a pour of Truck Chaser – Creamsicle Double IPA from Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia).

Introduced back in mid-January, Wild Leap Brew Co.’s Truck Chaser Series – a tongue-in-cheek homage to all those craft beer fanatics that tirelessly pound the streets in search of the most elusive brews out there – is a new, Limited Release lineup of playful takes on the Double India Pale Ale style. Truck Chaser – Creamsicle, the inaugural release in the series, is “brewed with a flavor combination of ripe orange, vanilla bean and milk sugar.” Somehow both decadent and refreshing, Truck Chaser – Creamsicle (8.1% ABV) will have you thinking you are enjoying “a creamsicle straight from the ice cream truck.”

Truck Chaser – Creamsicle is out now with plans to hang around as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located in and around the Atlanta, LaGrange, Newnan, Peachtree City, Columbus, Athens, Gainesville and Augusta areas of Georgia.

Alright . . . now that we have properly covered the particulars behind Truck Chaser – Creamsicle, let’s crack open a can and relive some ice-cream-truck-fueled memories over some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Truck Chaser – Creamsicle Double IPA from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Appearance: A vigorous pour produces a beer that is somewhat murky, dark orange in color and topped with a faint, fizzy half finger of white foam. When held to direct light, the orange brightens a touch but does not really gain any vibrancy. The beer is cloudy and opaque, but sporadic pops of carbonation can still be observed pushing their way through at times. Head retention is nearly nonexistent as the foam completely disappears almost as soon as the pour settles.

Aroma: The aromatics begin with a bright, green/fresh hoppy presence that is both citrusy and earthy. A distinct presence of orange zest and juice then quickly moves in to act the perfect bridge between the hops and a soft vanilla tone that turns up at the very end of the profile.

Taste: Mirroring the nose, the flavor opens with a pronounced hop presence featuring a sharp citrus note and bitter bite. A wonderfully juicy orange quality settles in, bringing with it fresh notes of peel, zest, juice and citrus oils. Vanilla and sweet cream then saturate the finish, locking in just enough cutting sweetness to create that distinct creamsicle experience.

Mouthfeel: This DIPA is medium to full bodied with a softer carbonation level, creating a nice and creamy texture. Across the palate, this beer moves easily between hop-sourced bitterness and fruity sweetness to find a lovely balance that never tips too far in either direction. The 8.1% ABV is well hidden, but it does sneak in a gentle warmth that builds in the chest. Citrus hop notes are left to linger in the aftertaste.

Final Thoughts: All in all, we were happily surprised to find that Truck Chaser – Creamsicle Double IPA lands in a nice place somewhere between a real deal, hop-laden Double IPA experience and the tamer/more accessible world of the Milkshake IPA. The hops in this beer do take the lead and have quite a bit of presence, making it so you really need to hold some love for their delightful bite to enjoy this one. With that said, it still follows through with more than enough juicy sweetness, vanilla creaminess, and luscious texture to nail the creamsicle notes and properly represent the Milkshake IPA style. Basically, it translates as if you are chasing sips of Double IPA with a couple bites of creamsicle . . . and who could be mad at that? Be sure to check out Truck Chaser – Creamsicle before its limited run comes to an end. Prost!

Saint Louis Crafted Cocktails Launches with Release of White Russian Ale

Posted on February 8, 2019 by mashingin

The Saint Louis Brewery (St. Louis, Missouri), makers of Schlafly Beer, has officially introduced Saint Louis Crafted Cocktails as its newest brand of all-natural, crafted malt beverages.

Crafted to capture “the flavors of the most iconic cocktails”, Saint Louis Crafted Cocktails is a new line of experimental malt beverages that all have one mission: to be “a cocktail that’s not a beer, and a beer that’s not a cocktail.” This new brand is expected to produce “five beverages throughout 2019 with inspirations from the Paloma to Old Fashioned cocktails.”

The first release from Saint Louis Crafted Cocktails will be White Russian Wheat Ale, a malted beverage that uses “coffee toddy, lactose and solid malt [to tie] the drink together.” Weighing in at a sip-worthy 7.5% ABV, White Russian Wheat Ale offers a “smooth toffee sweetness, reminiscent of flavors of the legendary cocktail.”

White Russian Wheat Ale is rolling out now with availability in 4-packs of 330ml apothecary-style bottles. You can expect to find this new brew at select craft beer-friendly establishments located “throughout the Midwest, in St. Louis, Missouri as well as surrounding states.” Prost!

New Belgium Brewing Introduces La Folie Grand Reserve: PX

Posted on February 7, 2019 by mashingin

New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins, Colorado) has officially announced that it will begin the incredibly limited release of La Folie Grand Reserve: PX on February 9.

Inspired by “a love of dessert wines”, La Folie Grand Reserve: PX – the latest small batch version of New Belgium’s award-wining La Folie – was created with the use of “20 sought-after sherry barrels, each previously holding PX Sherry.” If you are unfamiliar with this particular sherry, the “PX” references “Pedro Ximénez, a white Spanish wine grape varietal grown under intense sun to produce the super sweet, unctuous Pedro Ximénez Sherry with flavors of figs, molasses, roasted nuts and exotic spices.” After La Folie’s dark base beer and New Belgium’s house culture matured in these barrels for nine months, the sherry barrel-aged base beer was infused with “400 whole, hand-split Tahitian vanilla beans . . . for four months, swirled every day to intensify the combination of vanilla’s sweetness with existing fig, sour plum and cocoa flavors.” Once this laborious process was completed, the finished La Folie Grand Reserve: PX (8% ABV) was “bottled and kegged on a gentle amount of nitrogen, a unique technique unusual for wood-aged sour beers, providing a smooth and velvety mouthfeel that elevates the entire drinking experience.”

“When I set out to make Grand Reserve, I feel like I’m taking La Folie to the prom or on a once-in-a-lifetime luxury vacation. It has to be very special,” explained Lauren Woods Limbach, New Belgium’s wood cellar director and blender. “La Folie is already so brilliant and complex. What I look for is the spaces in between and imagine what we could introduce to fill in those flavor gaps. The dried, stewed fruit of PX Sherry promised to elevate La Folie to a new level.”

“It was an absolute labor of love. We were very meticulous throughout the process, sort of like helicopter parents/brewers. You really only get one shot at it,” Limbach continued, noting the limited availability of fresh sherry casks. “This recipe started in my head about two years ago. It always feels a little magical when the end result matches such high expectations.”

La Folie Grand Reserve: PX officially releases on Saturday, February 9 and will hang around as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 375ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located “in select markets in the states of Colorado, North Carolina, California, Hawaii, Missouri, Arizona, Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, Illinois, Idaho, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.” Prost!

Vital Information for La Folie Grand Reserve: PX from New Belgium Brewing

Release – Limited; February 9, 2019
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 8%
Treatment – Aged for nine months in Pedro Ximénez Sherry barrels; infused with 400 whole, hand-split Tahitian vanilla beans for an additional four months
Availability – 375ml bottles & draft
Distribution – Select markets in Colorado, North Carolina, California, Hawaii, Missouri, Arizona, Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, Illinois, Idaho, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts

Birdsong Brewing Co. Set to Release Two Barrel-aged Stout Variants on Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 7, 2019 by mashingin

Birdsong Brewing Co. (Charlotte, North Carolina) has announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Prehistoric Dog and Turtles on Pterodactyls on Thursday, February 14.

Officially billed as the first time that Birdsong Brewing Co. will release two variants of the same beer on the same day, this incredibly special Valentine’s Day can release will feature the following two Barrel-aged Stouts (beer descriptions sourced directly from the brewery’s press release):

Prehistoric Dog – the base beer, an Imperial Stout aged in Booker’s Bourbon Barrels. Robust stout with notes of chocolate, espresso, toffee and the undeniable notes of Booker’s – intense and complex medley of oak, leather and caramel. ABV – 10.5% IBUs – 60
Turtles on Pterodactyls – the variant. This version of the Imperial Stout is aged in Four Roses Bourbon Barrels with cacao nibs and cinnamon added. There are strong notes of cacao, sweet/spicy notes from the cinnamon, Bowman says, and a smoother bourbon nose and note from the softer Four Roses barrels. ABV – 10.5% IBUs – 60

“We have done variants of other recipes and released at a later date, often a much smaller release than the first,” says Jeff Bowman, Birdsong lead brewer. “We are very excited to have both of these beers come out at the same time as they each stand on their own and are two of our favorite beers. Being able to sample them side by side and taste the similarities and differences between the two is something we look forward to enjoying and conversing about — and think our customers will too.”

Prehistoric Dog and Turtles on Pterodactyls will be available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans ($18 each) and on draft in Birdsong Brewing Co.’s taproom beginning on February 14 and limited distribution is expected to follow shortly after the on-site release. You can expect to find both of these Limited Release beers at select craft beer-focused establishments located within Birdsong’s distribution footprint in North Carolina. Prost!

Hidden Springs Ale Works Sets Release Date for In Between Dreams

Posted on February 6, 2019February 6, 2020 by mashingin

This post covers the 2019 release of In Between Dreams. Click here if you are looking for info on the 2020 release.

Hidden Springs Ales Works (Tampa, Florida) has officially announced that it will hold a bottle release for In Between Dreams on Saturday, February 9.

Crafted to be the liquid portal that “[takes] take you down the rabbit hole and into a surrealist world of endless possibilities”, In Between Dreams is an Imperial Stout with chocolate, vanilla and hazelnut that has been double barrel-aged in cognac and bourbon barrels. Looming at 12% ABV, this is one stout that you do not want to sleep on.

The In Between Dreams bottle release will take place at Hidden Springs Ale Works (1631 N. Franklin St. | Tampa, Florida) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 9. Bottles will be $30 each and the brewery will announce the bottle limit 15 minutes before opening. Cash is preferred, but cards will be accepted.

A couple things to keep in mind if you plan to attend this bottle release:

Parking – Remember to park in Hidden Springs’ lot directly across the street, or on the street up and down Franklin, on Henderson just west of Tampa, or on 7th Ave.
Once you are in line, make sure that you hug the wall so that foot traffic will not be affected on the sidewalks
Above all, please be respectful of the brewery’s neighbors

In Between Dreams will not see distribution and is expected to sell out with a quickness. If you wish to get your hands on a bottle, make sure that you are in line for the 10:45 head count on Saturday and just hope that you make the cut. Good luck out there. Prost!