Beer News | Mashing In

New Holland Brewing Gives Dragon’s Milk a New Look, Introduces Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut

Posted on September 11, 2018September 11, 2018 by mashingin

New Holland Brewing Company (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has announced that it is officially unveiling the re-branding of its flagship Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout alongside the latest release from its Dragon’s Milk Reserve Series, Banana Coconut.

After 17 years of production, the legendary Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout will soon be hitting shelves with a “dramatic new look” that better represents its “creativity and artistry.” This update will see the artwork shifting to “a premium all-black base, allowing the hallmark dragon emblem to serve as the visual focus in place of the brewery’s own logo.” It will also feature “gradient dragon scales”, a visual accent that acts as a “nod to the stout’s name while mimicking the way foam dissipates in the glass when poured.”

This updated visual design will be displayed on Dragon’s Milk packaging, retail elements and branded merchandise. If you would like to see more of this beer’s refreshed appearance, you should check out its dedicated website and Instagram account.

“Synonymous with its name, Dragon’s Milk has become its own legend and we’re proud of its heritage as the best liquid in our house,” said Brett VanderKamp, President of New Holland Brewing Company. “We are passionate about the stout’s full, warming and rich blend comprising roasted malt characteristics complemented by smooth vanilla and oak flavors. Our new packaging aims to celebrate the complexity of the beer while paying tribute to its bold, rich undertones.”

To add a little flair to the occasion, New Holland will celebrate the Dragon’s Milk re-brand by introducing the latest Limited Release variant to come out of its Dragon’s Milk Reserve Series, Banana Coconut. Just as the name would lead you to believe, Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut (11% ABV) takes the “traditional roasted, malty and smooth characteristics of Dragon’s Milk” and infuses it with “hints of real banana, plantain and coconut.”

Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut will officially debut on September 15 at both New Holland Brewing Company brew pub locations and enter distribution shortly after that date. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located within New Holland’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut from New Holland Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Dragon’s Milk Reserve, mid-September 2018
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 11%
Malts – 2-row, Munich, Caramel, Flaked Barley, Chocolate, Black & Honey
Hops – Nugget & Brewer’s Gold
Added Ingredients – Banana, plantain & coconut
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://newhollandbrew.com/beer-finder/

Binary IIPA Kicks Off New Rotating Year-Round Series from Sixpoint Brewery

Posted on September 11, 2018 by mashingin

Sixpoint Brewery (Brooklyn, New York) has officially introduced Binary IIPA as the first release in its brand new rotational year-round Imperial IPA series.

Meant to serve as a “connection between hop bines from opposite ends of the globe”, Binary is an Imperial India Pale Ale that sources stone fruit and tropical notes – “think mango-peach bomb” – from Galaxy hops from Tasmania, Australia while Citra hops from Yakima, Washington provide “dank citrus notes . . . complemented by complex flavors of white wine and gooseberry.” All this hop goodness is set upon an “east-meets-west” IIPA setup that features “a milder, but still present bitterness, a touch of malt sweetness, and the use of high protein malts [to create] a soft impression, almost like an NEIPA, but with subtle haze.”

“Binary is a super-expressive, hugely aromatic Double IPA. Peach, mango, and pineapple hop aromas lead the way, with orange juice citrus notes underneath. Subtle white bread malt sweetness makes any bitterness on the palate seem super low, and the peachy/tropical flavors continue to dominate. A pillowy soft mouthfeel makes this beer drink like a Northeastern style IPA, even if it doesn’t have the haze to look like one.”

– Max Finnance, Advanced Cicerone and Sixpoint Quality & Education Specialist

Binary IIPA is rolling out now and will be available for a limited time. 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 Alabama, Florida, New York and throughout the rest of Sixpoint’s distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Binary IIPA from Sixpoint Brewery

Release – Limited, launching September 2018
Style – Imperial India Pale Ale
ABV – 8%
IBUs – 40
Featured Hops – Citra & Galaxy
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft

Lagunitas Brewing Company Keeps Summer Alive with Release of Mozango

Posted on September 10, 2018 by mashingin

Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California) has announced that it will introduce Mozango, a Mosaic-hopped Ale with mango juice, in September as its next Limited Release offering.

Offered as one last tribute from the folks at Lagunitas to the summer of 2018, Mozango is a Fruit Beer/IPA-ish “juicy concoction chock-full of earthy-floral Mosaic and a pinch of citrus-piney Simcoe hops, topped off with loads of fresh mango juice.” Once this magical marriage of Mosaic and mango does its thing, Mozango (7.7% ABV) rises to deliver “a smooth and aromatic tropicalian punch, right to the kisser.”

Mozango will begin hitting shelves and taps in September and is expected to stick around through October 2018. You can find this new Limited Release brew available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, California, Illinois, Washington and throughout the rest of Lagunitas Brewing Company’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Mozango from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Release – Limited, September – October 2018
Style – Fruit Beer
ABV – 7.7%
IBUs – 49
Featured Hops – Mosaic
Added Ingredients – Fresh mango juice
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://lagunitas.com/beer-finder

Tasting Notes: Lord Grey from Three Taverns Craft Brewery

Posted on September 10, 2018September 10, 2018 by mashingin

For this installment of Tasting Notes, we kick off the week by inviting Lord Grey from Three Taverns Craft Brewery (Decatur, Georgia) to join us for a spot of tea-infused beer.

Released back in February as a new Seasonal addition to Three Taverns’ Sour Asylum Series, Lord Grey was actually conceptualized with the help of folks at The Porter Beer Bar who “suggested the addition of tea leaves in a sour beer.” That idea stuck with the brewers at Three Taverns and they eventually developed a recipe for a “refreshingly balanced 5% sour ale with Earl Grey tea.” All those who sit down with a pour of Lord Grey will be treated to a “crisp and mildly tart” experience where “herbal flavors abound up front with a subtle bergamot orange in the background.”

If you would like to track this offering down, Lord Grey is currently listed on the draft menu at The Parlour at Three Taverns Craft Brewery. You can also find this Seasonal brew available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Georgia.

Now that the formalities are out of the way, it does appear that it is time for tea and Tasting Notes. Let’s get to it!

Tasting Notes for Lord Grey from Three Taverns Craft Brewery

Appearance: Lord Grey presents itself as a pale yellow-colored brew that has a slightly darker, apricot-like hue resting near its core. When held to direct light, the overall color softens to the palest of yellows that has the look of lemon juice at it edges. The beer has a good amount of cloudiness to it, but a vibrant carbonation level can still be seen bouncing about within. The pour produced half a finger of wispy, white foam, but it dissipates immediately and leaves no trace of lace.

Aroma: The aromatics softly open with the floral and citrusy notes of bergamot held against a strong backbone of black tea. The lacto-fermentation then works its way in to round things out with a note that is similar to lightly-sweetened lemonade. This aroma may be straight-forward, but its pronounced yet comforting nature easily lures you in for a sip.

Taste: Delicate and reserved, the flavor profile opens with a dead-on Earl Grey tea character that is laced with a touch of herbaceousness and soothingly floral lavender. The bergamot has presence, adding a good amount of orange zest and floral tones to the black tea. This transitions nicely into the lemony qualities of the base Sour Ale to create a combination that comes across as the most pleasant and refined Arnold Palmer – the delightful union of iced tea and lemonade – that you have ever had.

Mouthfeel: Light in body with a medium carbonation level, Lord Grey dries out nicely and is crisply refreshing. It is lightly tart on the palate, but only enough to read as a burst of citrusy brightness. The ABV is reserved for the most part, but it does supply a gentle warmth in the throat as the experience goes on. The aftertaste is just a bit of that previously mentioned Arnold Palmer-like quality.

Final Thoughts: Just as one might hope from a tea-themed beer, everything about Lord Grey has a certain level of grace to it. Despite having flavor and aromatic notes that run the risk of becoming overwhelming on their own, each aspect of this beer – whether it be the black tea, bergamot, lavender or the Sour Ale used as the base – finds its place and joins all the other notes to create an approachable unified whole. Sure, it is sophisticated and elegant, but it still has that Arnold Palmer-ish familiarity that nearly everyone can relate to. This results in a cold tea experience that still somehow retains the pleasant and inviting comfortable warmth you get from a cup of Earl Grey. Lord Grey is afternoon tea meets after-work beer, and that combo gets a big ol’ thumbs up from us. Prost!

Portland Cider Co. Releases Pumpkin Spice Cider

Posted on September 7, 2018 by mashingin

Portland Cider Company (Clackamas, Oregon) has officially announced the release of its seasonal fall favorite, Pumpkin Spice Cider.

Developed to be a “delicious tribute to the flavors of autumn”, Pumpkin Spice Cider is a “classic American semi-sweet apple cider . . . made with 100 percent freshly-pressed Northwest apples and a blend of the spices typically found in pumpkin pie: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and ginger.” Portland Cider Company may not include any actual pumpkin in this cider’s recipe, but that is nothing to worry about. With spices alone, Pumpkin Spice Cider (5.4% ABV) still has the ability to hit you will all the flavors found in your favorite pumpkin pie.

“Our Pumpkin Spice cider is our tribute to the flavors of autumn,” explained Portland Cider co-owner Lynda Parrish. “It features a stunning blend of apples and spices that will remind you of a cool, crisp fall morning.”

Pumpkin Spice Cider is available now and will be sticking around through November 2018. You can expect to find this Seasonal offering available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at Portland Cider Co.’s two taproom locations and at cider-friendly establishments located within the cidery’s distribution area in Oregon and Washington. Prost!

Vital Information for Pumpkin Spice Cider from Portland Cider Company

Release – Seasonal, September – November 2018
Style – Hard Cider
ABV – 5.4%
Ingredients – Cinnamon, Clove, Allspice, Ginger, Nutmeg, Gala apples, Honeycrisp apples, Golden delicious apples & Fuji apples
Suggested Food Pairings – “Pairs well with pulled pork sandwiches, turkey, and apple pie.”
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Distribution – Oregon & Washington

Hi-Wire Brewing Closes Out the Summer with Limited Release of Pink Drink

Posted on September 7, 2018 by mashingin

Hi-Wire Brewing (Asheville, North Carolina) has announced that it will officially begin the Limited Release of Pink Drink on Friday, September 7.

“Simple, refreshing, . . . pink” and back by popular demand, Pink Drink is a kettle-soured tart Wheat Ale brewed with lemongrass and raspberries. Weighing in at a super light 4.2% ABV, Pink Drink provides an “ultra crushable” experience that achieves “the perfect balance of raspberry fruit sweetness & fresh candied-lemon aroma from lemongrass.”

Pink Drink will be available in Hi-Wire Brewing’s taprooms on September 7 and will enter limited distribution during the second week of September. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans at select craft beer retailers located within Hi-Wire Brewing’s distribution footprint in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky and Ohio. Prost!

Vital Information for Pink Drink from Hi-Wire Brewing

Release – Limited/Specialty Series; September 7, 2018
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 4.2%
Added Ingredients – Lemongrass & raspberries
Distribution – North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky & Ohio (Distribution of this beer will be limited. It is possible that it will not make it to every state located within Hi-Wire Brewing’s distribution area)

Alpine Beer Co. Sends Nelson IPA out to Eight States

Posted on September 6, 2018September 6, 2018 by mashingin

Alpine Beer Company (San Diego, California) has announced that its Nelson IPA – one of the craft beer industry’s most highly sought-after IPAs – will soon see a Limited Release in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles for the first time in eight states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nebraska, Nevada, Texas and Utah.

Named after the Nelson Sauvin hop varietal from New Zealand, Nelson is a “hazy straw hued” India Pale Ale that is dosed with hops throughout the brewing process as well as in the dry-hopping stage. This level of hop exposure lends Nelson a “tropical hop aroma” and a flavor profile that allows “pine and fruity hop notes [to linger]” alongside balancing notes sourced from a “smooth, malty addition of European rye malts.” Clocking in at a well-rounded 7% ABV and 40 IBUs, the legendary Nelson IPA comes together to become what “fans describe . . . as a stunning and multifaceted yet mellow IPA.”

“Nelson is often imitated, but there’s nothing like the original. It’s Nelson or nothing,” said Shawn McIlhenney, Head Brewer at Alpine Beer Company. “Until now, we’ve only offered very limited releases of Nelson in our tasting room and around town, so I’m really excited that now even more people can enjoy one of my favorite IPAs.”

Previously only available on draft and in limited 22 oz. bottles at Alpine Beer Company’s tasting room, this marks the first time that Nelson IPA will be available in 12 oz. bottles and see distribution.

This batch of Nelson IPA will debut on draft in Alpine Beer Company’s Pub and Tasting Room locations on September 7 and will enter distribution on or around that date. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nebraska, Nevada, Texas and Utah. Prost!

Vital Information for Nelson IPA from Alpine Beer Company

Release – Limited, Fall 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 40
Featured Hops – Nelson Sauvin
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Distribution – Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nebraska, Nevada, Texas & Utah
Beer Finder – http://alpinebeerco.com/find-beer/

Dogfish Head’s Punkin Ale Makes Seasonal Return

Posted on September 6, 2018 by mashingin

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware) has announced that its wildly popular Punkin Ale is officially making its way back to shelves and taps now to serve as the brewery’s Fall Seasonal.

First released by Dogfish Head in 1995 and now recognized as “one of America’s best-selling pumpkin beers”, Punkin Ale is a “full-bodied Brown Ale . . . brewed with real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon.” Coming in at 7% ABV, Punkin Ale is “the perfect beer to warm up with” during the fall months.

“We’ve been brewing Punkin Ale for over two decades, since long before there was a whole category of pumpkin beer, and have seen sales grow each and every year,” said Sam Calagione, CEO and founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. “I think it’s because the complexity and authenticity of the recipe has remained world-class since we first brewed it, as it’s not made with pumpkin flavoring or concentrates – we use fresh, all-natural culinary ingredients, and that makes a big difference.”

Punkin Ale is rolling out now and is scheduled to hang around through November 2018. You can expect to find this Seasonal offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at pumpkin beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Delaware and throughout the rest of Dogfish Head’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Punkin Ale from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Release – Seasonal, September – November 2018
Style – Pumpkin Beer
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 28
Added Ingredients – Real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg & cinnamon
Fun Fact – On the new label artwork: “Passionate about all things artistic and creative, Dogfish teamed up with longtime friend and highly acclaimed designer, Marq Spusta, a California-based artist known for his distinct illustrative style, to create the Off-Centered Art Series label and artwork for Punkin Ale. The label features Spusta’s version of a mystically haunted, Halloween forest with spooky characters.”
Suggested Food Pairing – “Sharp cheddar, turkey, roasted duck, lamb, stuffing, dessert dumplings”
Recommended Glassware – Pint glass
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.dogfish.com/brewery/fishfinder

Tasting Notes: Cherry Limeade! from Cherry Street Brewing

Posted on September 5, 2018September 5, 2018 by mashingin

Tasting Notes plays the nostalgia card this week as we get into a few cans of Cherry Limeade! Berliner Weisse from Cherry Street Brewing (Cumming, Georgia).

Canned earlier this summer to serve as a Limited Release offering, Cherry Limeade! Berliner Weisse is Cherry Street Brewing’s take on “a classic German style with a Sonic twist: cherries and limes are added to the tart brew, which is cherry-red in color and very refreshing.” Coming in at a low 4% ABV, Cherry Limeade! has all the thirst-quenching abilities needed to tackle a hot and humid summer in the South.

The latest limited-run of Cherry Limeade! has sadly come to an end, but it is possible that a couple 4-packs of 16 oz. cans could still be tucked away on the shelves of a few select craft beer-friendly retailers in the Atlanta area. Possible . . . but unlikely. If you missed out on Cherry Limeade! this time around, odds are that you will just have to wait for the next time Cherry Street Brewing decides to release another batch.

Alrighty . . . now that we’ve covered the necessary background information, let’s crack open these cans and get into some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Cherry Limeade! Berliner Weisse from Cherry Street Brewing

Appearance: This brew pours a deep cherry, Kool-Aid-like red in color that has just a tinge of amber at the edges. The beer is clear – thanks to a careful pour that left any sediment behind in the can – and displays a moderate but steady carbonation presence. A half finger of loose and airy pink-hued foam built off the pour, but it disappeared just as quickly as it materialized. Of course, this means that there is no lacing to report.

Aroma: In a concentrated effort to live up to its name, the aroma is dominated by notes of candied cherry and bright lime. The Berliner’s Lacto qualities support with added citrus while the malts offer some solid wheat character and a really unexpected but intriguing layer of brown sugar.

Taste: Cherry is quick to engage the palate, deploying itself in several, very different forms: fresh tart cherries, sweeter pie cherries, and candied cherry gummies. The Key lime character then steps up at just the right time to cut those sweeter cherry notes and bring that lovely Berliner tartness forward. Although it is muted, the wheat supplies just enough grain presence to round and smooth out the flavor profile.

Mouthfeel: Light in body with a medium to high carbonation level, Cherry Limeade! has a crisp feel that is strikingly similar to . . . you guessed it . . . a cherry limeade. It does have a slightly sharp level of tartness, but a rush of fruity, candied sweetness does come through to balance the beer out enough to keep the experience approachable and refreshing. As expected, the 4% ABV is nowhere to be found. The beer cleans up nice and quick, but a touch of candied cherry is left to linger at times in the aftertaste.

Final Thoughts: As we alluded to in the opening paragraph, Cherry Limeade! Berliner Weisse is quite literally nostalgia in a glass. Each sip of this soda fountain-like limeade experience has the power to transport you back to those hot summer nights that convinced you and your high school buddies to head over to the local hamburger drive-in for a refreshing beverage. This beer’s spot-on representation of cherry and lime in both flavor and aroma is more than enough to bring back those memories, but its impressive mouthfeel is what ultimately sells the experience to the drinker. It truly mimics the satisfying nature of a cherry limeade by being bright, sweet, tart, crushable and – most importantly – ridiculously refreshing.

A lot is going to be asked of a beer that dares to wear the name “Cherry Limeade!“, but this one certainly checks all the boxes necessary to live up to its name. Be sure to put Cherry Limeade! on your list of must-try beers and check it out when you get the chance. Prost!

Heavy Seas Beer Welcomes Fall with the Limited Release of Great’er Pumpkin

Posted on September 5, 2018 by mashingin

Heavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) has announced that Great’er Pumpkin, a Bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Pumpkin Ale, will return for a limited time beginning in September.

Back to claim its rightful place in the Heavy Seas Uncharted Waters Series, Great’er Pumpkin is a “rich, deep burnished orange” Imperial Pumpkin Ale that offers “aromas of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and clove. . ., while British crystal malt, brown sugar, and pumpkin add a sense of weight and body.” Bourbon barrel-aging is then employed to finish off the Great’er Pumpkin (10% ABV) with added “notes of oak, vanilla, and bourbon.”

Great’er Pumpkin is rolling out now and is expected to hang around through October 2018. You can find this Limited Release in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles – a new packaging format for Uncharted Waters offerings in 2018 – and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Maryland and throughout the rest of Heavy Seas Beer’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Great’er Pumpkin from Heavy Seas Beer

Release – Limited/Uncharted Waters Series, September – October 2018
Style – Pumpkin Ale
ABV – 10%
Recommended Glassware – Snifter
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.hsbeer.com/beerfinder