Beer News | Mashing In

Zundert Trappist 8 Ale Heads to U.S. Shelves

Posted on May 23, 2018May 23, 2018 by mashingin

Brouwerij De Kievit (Netherlands) and Merchant du Vin have officially announced that Zundert Trappist 8 Ale will launch in the U.S. this summer.

One of only 11 Trappist breweries in the world, Brouwerij De Kievit is located “in the quiet countryside outside the village of Zundert, near the Belgian border”, at Abbey Maria Toevlucht, Netherlands. After visiting several Trappist breweries in 2011, the monks at the abbey decided to establish Brouwerij De Kievit, “developed a beer to their taste” and started selling Zundert Trappist 8 Ale in the Netherlands and Belgium in 2013. Built in one of the abbey’s historic farm buildings, Brouwerij De Kievit – “The Lapwing Brewery” – is named for the lapwing weathervane on the building’s roof and “also uses the beautiful crested northern lapwing in their logo.”

The “slightly unruly” Zundert Trappist 8 is a bottle conditioned and chestnut-colored Belgian-style Tripel that “you have to take time to understand.” This complex Trappist Ale offers an “aroma of caramel, herbs and spices; initially floral and slightly sweet; character develops from light caramel to a lovely, dry, mellow hoppy bitterness as the flavor opens.” Clocking in at a slow-sipping 8% ABV, Zundert Trappist 8 “evolves with each taste and defines a new chapter in the book of excellent Trappist ales.”

Zundert Trappist 8 Ale will roll out in the U.S. during the summer of 2018. You can expect to find this offering available year-round in 11.2 oz. bottles at fine beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida and all other areas of the U.S. regularly serviced by Merchant du Vin. Prost!

Vital Information for Zundert Trappist 8 Ale from Brouwerij De Kievit

Release – Year-Round, launching in the U.S. during the summer of 2018
Style – Tripel
ABV – 8%
IBUs – 28
Ingredients – “Water, barley malt, candi sugar, hops, yeast, herbs”
Suggested Food Pairings – “Peking duck with hoisin sauce, goat cheeses, grilled tuna, spicy Southeast Asian cuisine, Boerenkoolstamppot (hearty mashed vegetables and potatoes, a traditional Dutch meal), mosselen (mussels).”
Serving Recommendations – Zundert Trappist 8 is “traditionally enjoyed in Zundert chalices at 45-50 °F.”
Availability – 11.2 oz. bottles

CiderBoys Hard Cider Sends La Vida Sangria Out For a Limited Release

Posted on May 23, 2018 by mashingin

CiderBoys Hard Cider (Stevens Point, Wisconsin) has officially released La Vida Sangria as the latest offering to come out of its Fruitful Pairing Series.

Meant to emulate the traditional sangria – a wine punch made by mixing red wine with citrus fruits and spices – that is so popular in Portugal and Spain during the summer months, La Vida Sangria (5% ABV) is a fruit-laden Hard Cider that unites “the clean, crisp taste of . . . Washington state apples . . . with the subtle tartness of red wine and the citrus flavors of fresh lemons and oranges.” This refreshing combination offers a flavor experience that “leads with a rich, red-wine note followed by hints of orange and lemon, and then a sweet, crisp apple-cider finish.”

“La Vida Sangria is faithful to Ciderboys’ mission and vision of producing delicious and refreshing fruitful pairings by blending unexpected fruit flavors with the crisp taste of apple,” said Julie Birrenkott, Ciderboys Marketing Director. “Sangria means fruit, and fruit is what Ciderboys is all about, so naturally we thought it was a great idea.”

La Vida Sangria arrives as the fifth release in CiderBoys’ “fruitful pairing” series, a lineup of limited releases that “blend unexpected fresh fruit flavors with the crisp taste of apple cider.” La Vida Sangria was preceded in this series by Royal Blueberry, Blackberry Wild, Cherry Jubilee and Zen Berry.

Officially available now, La Vida Sangria is a Limited Release that will hang around as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this new offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at cider-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, Wisconsin and throughout the rest of CiderBoys’ distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for La Vida Sangria from CiderBoys Hard Cider

Release – Limited/Fruitful Pairings Series, May 2018
Style – Hard Cider
ABV – 5%
Fun Fact – “In a first for Ciderboys, La Vida Sangria is packaged in clear glass bottles to showcase its appealing ruby-red hue. The word ‘sangria’ is derived from the Latin ‘sanguis,’ meaning blood, and refers to the blood-red color of most Spanish or Portuguese sangrias.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Cider Finder – http://www.ciderboys.com/cider-locator/

Marker 48 Brewing Commemorates Local Legend with John Reeves Incident Double IPA Beer Release Event

Posted on May 22, 2018 by mashingin

Beginning at noon on Sunday, May 27, Marker 48 Brewing (Weeki Wachee, Florida) will add some local lore to its Memorial Day Weekend festivities by hosting the brewery’s 2nd Annual The John Reeves Incident Bottle Release and UFO Celebration.

Did you know that the Brooksville area of Florida that Marker 48 Brewing calls home was once referred to as the “UFO Capital of the World”? It is totally true, and the source of this designation can be tracked back to one encounter in particular: The John Reeves Incident. The folks at Marker 48 Brewing are very dedicated to increasing awareness of this local legend and that is why they are once again hosting The John Reeves Incident Bottle Release and UFO Celebration on Sunday, May 27.

Between the story of John Reeves, info on the release of The John Reeves Incident Hazy Double IPA and the party itself, we certainly have a lot to go over when it comes to this event. So, what do you say we just break it all down?

The Basics

What – The John Reeves Incident Double IPA Bottle Release & UFO Celebration
When – Sunday, May 27. Bottle release begins at noon and the party starts at 6:30 p.m.
Where – Marker 48 Brewing | 12147 Cortez Blvd. (S.R. 50) | Weeki Wachee, Florida 34613

The Story

“John Reeves lived in the Brooksville area of Florida and, like many of us, enjoyed traipsing around in the beautiful woodlands of The Nature Coast. Then one day, in 1961, he came upon a saucer-shaped craft parked in the wilderness, with tall, luminous beings near it.

Those beings, it turns out, arrived from the stars, and over the next few years John Reeves befriended them. In fact, in 1968, his alien friends flew him to their base on the far side of our moon, where he spent hours exploring before returning with a small bottle of gray lunar dust and a softball-sized chunk of rock. In doing so, he became the first man to walk on the moon’s surface — a year before Neil Armstrong did it.

Or so the story goes.”

Click here if you would like to read a more detailed account of the John Reeves incident.

The Beer Release

This event will be headlined by the bottle release of The John Reeves Incident Double IPA, a hazy Double India Pale Ale “brewed with Galaxy, Simcoe, and several experimental hops to create a delicious balanced brew with citrus and tropical flavors that might just send your taste buds into outer space.” A limited number of 750ml bottles of The John Reeves Incident will go on sale for $20 each at noon on May 27. The John Reeves Incident Double IPA will also be pouring on draft as long as supplies last.

The UFO Celebration

The UFO Party will kick off at 6:30 p.m. when the Texas-based Ally Venable Band takes the stage in Marker 48’s beer garden. At 9 p.m., there will be an Alien/UFO Costume Contest that will award prizes for best female, best male, and best couple costumes.

In addition to the entertainment, the celebration will also feature the following:

A free photo booth set up to snap your own souvenir pics
Food trucks BarbieCue, Nina’s Wood Fire Pizza and Nina Cucina Cheesesteaks and Appetizers will be on site to cover any needs in the grub department
T-shirts to commemorate Mr. Reeves and his otherworldly friends will be available for purchase

Alright, that should cover all the information currently available on Marker 48’s The John Reeves Incident Bottle Release and UFO Celebration. If you are in the area and looking for something fun to get into this Memorial Day Weekend, head over to Marker 48 for the unique opportunity to celebrate a real deal, documented alien encounter. Just make sure that you arrange a safe way home because I am pretty sure that aliens probe those foolish enough to drive impaired. Prost!

Funky Buddha Brewery Offers Key Lime Pie Tart Ale As Its Answer to Summer

Posted on May 22, 2018 by mashingin

Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, Florida) has announced that Key Lime Pie Tart Ale will officially join the brewery’s Goodness Series in June.

Created to mimic the flavors of the official state pie of Florida, Key Lime Pie Tart Ale is a Berliner-style Wheat Ale “brewed with real key lime juice, sticky vanilla, and bready wheat malt.” The delicious ingredients of Key Lime Pie (5% ABV) come together to supply its drinker with a “lightly soured . . . refreshing treat as memorable as an evening in Key West. Whip cream included.”

Key Lime Pie Tart Ale will officially release in June with plans to stick around through August 2018. You can expect to find this Seasonal offering available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select beer-friendly establishments located in Florida and throughout the rest of Funky Buddha’s steadily growing distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Key Lime Pie Tart Ale from Funky Buddha Brewery

Release – Seasonal/Goodness Series, June – August 2018
Style – Berliner Weisse
ABV – 5%
IBUs – 10
Added Ingredients – Key lime juice, cinnamon & vanilla
Suggested Food Pairings – “Real key lime pie with whipped cream, yucca tots, lobster mac and cheese, mahi tacos, mojo pork (preferably in a media noche)”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://funkybuddhabrewery.com/beer-finder

Left Hand Brewing Co. Introduces Blackcurrant Nitro

Posted on May 21, 2018May 21, 2018 by mashingin

Left Hand Brewing Company (Longmont, Colorado) has officially released Blackcurrant Nitro as the second offering from its Seasonal Nitro Series.

Developed to be “the yin to the Milk Stout Nitro yang”, Blackcurrant Nitro is a “super smooth” Cream Ale that has obviously been introduced to a healthy dose of blackcurrant. This powerful berry supplies the light bodied base beer with a ruby red color and a refreshing level of tartness. Weighing in at 4.7% ABV, Blackcurrant Nitro is “the ultimate crushable summer nitro beer” that you can enjoy “right from the can for warm weather adventures on the go or watch the vibrant nitro cascade when poured into a glass.”

Blackcurrant Nitro is available now and will hang around through July of 2018. You can expect to find this new Seasonal offering available in 4-packs of 13.65 oz. cans and on draft (nitro) at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado and throughout the rest of Left Hand’s 41-state distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Blackcurrant Nitro from Left Hand Brewing Company

Release – Seasonal Nitro Series, May – July 2018
Style – Cream Ale
ABV – 4.7%
IBUs – 11
Malts – Pale 2-Row & CaraFoam
Hops – CTZ
Added Ingredients – Blackcurrant
Availability – 4-packs of 13.65 oz. cans & draft (nitro)
Beer Finder – http://lefthandbrewing.com/beer-finder/

Grayton Beer Company Unveils Redesigned Packaging with Release of 30A Rosé Gose

Posted on May 21, 2018May 21, 2018 by mashingin

Grayton Beer Company (Santa Rosa Beach, Florida) is officially introducing beer fans to its new-look packing by rolling out cans of its newly released 30A Rosé Gose and flagship 30A Beach Blonde Ale.

First released in the brewery’s taproom in August of 2017, 30A Rosé Gose is a Gose-style ale – a tart and salty German style pronounced “Goes-uh” – that is “inspired by the abundant salt from the Gulf Coast waters in the brewery’s backyard and the colors of the Emerald Coast’s vibrant sunsets.” Organic hibiscus flowers supply this brew with “the perfect shade of rosé pink while bright berry notes interplay with the unique salty and tart foundation.” 30A Rosé Gose clocks in at an easy-drinking 4% ABV and 12 IBUs.

This new packaging format for 30A Rosé Gose and 30A Beach Blonde Ale officially marks the start of the brewery’s gradual “transition into cans . . . Later in the year, Grayton Beer Company will release two additional beer styles in cans, Fish Whistle IPA and Staff Pale Ale.”

Cans of 30A Rosé Gose and 30A Beach Blonde Ale are rolling out now and will reach Grayton’s full six-state distribution footprint over the next four weeks. Both offerings will now have availability in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft. Prost!

Vital Information for 30A Rosé Gose from Grayton Beer Company

Release – Year-Round, rolling out May 2018
ABV – 4%
IBUs – 12
Added Ingredients – Organic hibiscus flowers
Recommended Glassware – Tulip
Suggested Food Pairings – “Traditionally, this style would have been enjoyed by the gallon with rich German pork and potato dishes. The acidity and citrus help to cut through these fatty dishes. These elements also offer a wonderful complement to creamy desserts such as cheesecake or bread pudding.”
Fun Fact – “30A Rosé Gose is the second beer produced by Grayton Beer Company in partnership with The 30A Company.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Northwest Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi & Tennessee

SweetWater Brewing Introduces Twisted Fish Pils as New Summer Collaboration

Posted on May 18, 2018 by mashingin

SweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has officially announced the release of Twisted Fish, a Crystal Pilsner brewed with and to benefit Building Conservation Trust.

One of five beneficiaries of SweetWater’s annual Save Our Water campaign, Building Conservation Trust – the Coastal Conservation Association’s National Habitat Program – recently “competed against the other non-profits in a social media campaign, winning the opportunity to create a beneficial brew.” $1 from every case of that beneficial brew – Twisted Fish Crystal Pilsner – sold will be donated by SweetWater “to fund projects that benefit sustainable fisheries and recreational anglers, creating and restoring habitats and advancing the science of marine conservation.” These funds are “in addition to SweetWater’s donation of $100,000 every summer to clean water and natural habitat protection initiatives around the nation.”

As for the beer itself, Twisted Fish is a modern take on the Czech-style Pilsner that “uses traditional Czech yeast and fermentation temps, with traditional and non-traditional pilsner hops – Crystal, Citra and Mandarina add a juicy aroma and flavor profile more typical of IPAs, mixed with spicy and herbal notes from the Hallertau for complexity.” Weighing in at 5.3% ABV, this refreshing Pilsner promises to be a perfect warm weather go-to.

Twisted Fish Crystal Pilsner will officially release on May 21 and will hang around for a limited time. You can expect to find this Special Release available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and throughout the rest of SweetWater Brewing Company’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Twisted Fish Crystal Pilsner from SweetWater Brewing Company

Release – Limited, late May 2018
Style – Czech-style Pilsner
ABV – 5.3%
IBUs – 30
Malts – Pilsner, Carapils & Vienna
Hops – Hallertau Mittelfruh, Citra & Mandarina Bavaria; dry-hopped with Crystal, Citra & Mandarina Bavaria
Yeast – Czech Pils
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://sweetwaterbrew.com/find-sweetwater/

Founders Brewing Co. Resurrects Curmudgeon’s Better Half for 2018 Barrel-Aged Series

Posted on May 18, 2018August 7, 2018 by mashingin

Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has officially announced that Curmudgeon’s Better Half will make a long-awaited return on August 24 as the fifth release in the brewery’s 2018 Barrel Aged Series.

Last bottled back in 2012, Curmudgeon’s Better Half is finally making its way back to allow Founders Brewing Co.’s long-standing but now infrequently released Curmudgeon Old Ale to once again feel “the tender embrace of oak and sweet maple.” Meant to be the sweeter side of the relationship, Curmudgeon’s Better Half (12.7% ABV) is “a harmonious matrimony of [Founders Brewing Co.’s] deceptively smooth old ale brewed with molasses and time spent aging in bourbon barrels that have previously held maple syrup.” This all results in a beautiful counterpart that is “sweet, rich and utterly delicious.”

“The flavor profile of Curmudgeon’s Better Half has lots of rich specialty grains, toasted malts, caramel malts, and, of course, the perfect hop balance” said Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki. “After that it spends some time in bourbon barrel which gives you vanilla and coconuts tones and the maple gives you the perfect amount of sweetness.”

Preceded by KBS, Backwoods Bastard, Dankwood and Barrel Runner, Curmudgeon’s Better Half will officially serve as the fifth release in Founders Brewing Co.’s 2018 Barrel-Aged Series. A yet-to-be-named sixth offering will round out the series later in the year.

Curmudgeon’s Better Half will turn up in Founder Brewing Co. taprooms on August 24 and distribution will follow later that month. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles (SRP of 16.99 each), 750ml bottles (SRP of 12.99 each) and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of the brewery’s 46 state distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Curmudgeon’s Better Half from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Barrel-Aged Series. late-August 2018
Style – Old Ale
ABV – 12.7%
IBUs – 35
Treatment – Aged in bourbon barrels that previously held maple syrup
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

Tasting Notes: Gose from Reuben’s Brews

Posted on May 17, 2018May 17, 2018 by mashingin

This week’s Tasting Notes finds us fighting off Tampa’s ridiculously sudden spike in humidity with the outside help of some Gose from Reuben’s Brews (Seattle, Washington).

Offered as an incredibly popular Year-Round from this family-run brewery that was named Mid-Sized Brewery of the Year at the 2015 Washington Beer Awards, Gose (pronounced “GOES-UH”) is Reuben’s Brews’ take on a style of German Sour Ale that nearly went extinct before it experienced a recent revival in the U.S. Staying true to tradition, this Gose is brewed simply with “Lactobacillus, salt and coriander to make a refreshingly crisp brew with lemon notes and a vibrant salinity.” This classic approach to the style has paid off greatly for Reuben’s Brews as Gose has earned the brewery a Silver Medal at the 2015 World Beer Championships, a Gold Medal at the Best of Craft Beer Awards, and two Gold Medals at the Great American Beer Festival (2015 & 2016). Reuben’s Brews Gose is available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Washington and throughout the rest of the brewery’s distribution footprint in the Pacific Northwest region.

Now that all the pertinent details are out of the way, let’s jump into these Tasting Notes and get our first sip of this highly-decorated brew!

Tastings Notes for Gose from Reuben’s Brews

Appearance: Gose presents itself as a pale straw-colored brew that is wearing just under two fingers of airy white foam. Held to direct light, the color holds for the most part but does gain a touch of a lemony yellow tone. The beer is crystal clear and displays an incredibly active carbonation presence dashing throughout. The head falters rather quickly, leaving very little foam or lace behind.

Aroma: The aromatics begin with that unmistakable Lactobacillus character that quickly takes shape as a bright lemon note. Coriander reinforces that citrus quality and offers some floral tones as well. A gorgeous note of citrus zest (lemon and orange) establishes itself just before the profile closes with a clean wave of salt water.

Taste: This beer quickly grabs the attention of your tastebuds with a bright and lightly tart lemon-lime presence upfront. Surprisingly, the grains then move in with a gentle bready note that works nicely with the dominating citrus. Coriander supplies some earthiness and a floral character that blends with the other flavors to offer an almost vinous/white wine-like note at times. As the finish closes in, all of these flavors are ultimately overtaken by just the perfect amount of salinity.

Mouthfeel: Light in body with a prickly carbonation level, this beer is crisp and refreshing. Lightly tart and noticeably salty on the palate, it dries out nicely and easily coaxes you to take another sip. Coming in at 4.3%, the ABV is not at all noticeable. The aftertaste is just a touch of limeade.

Final Thoughts: Elegant in its simplicity, Reuben’s Brews Gose is proof that traditional takes on styles – when done correctly – can be just as flavorful and mind-blowing as those limited release, adjunct-laden, hybrid-style ales that always seem to get the beer trading community all in a tizzy. As soon as you take a sip of this Gose, you are reminded of why beer is so amazing. It is nothing but simple, basic ingredients coming together to work in harmony and provide sip after perfect sip. The flavors and aromas are big and attention grabbing, but not overly aggressive or obtrusive. It is simply a Gose as it should be and that is the source of its awe-inspiring beauty.

The most remarkable aspect of this beer is that the folks at Reuben’s Brews did not shy away from the salt – the ingredient that so many breweries skimp on when tackling this style – at all in their Gose. This example shows you that a proper level of salinity is integral to the style because it does so much to draw attention to the beer’s tart citrus qualities and boost its overall quenching ability. With this attribute dialed in to the degree that it is, Reuben’s Brews Gose is well on its way to becoming an American-made standard for the style.

Honestly, it is no wonder why this beer has earned such prestigious awards over the years because absolutely everything about it is just so precisely on point. We may only be five months in, but we can easily declare that this beer will make our Top 10 of 2018. Yeah, it is that damn good and it certainly deserves any and all praise that it receives. If you have the ability, do yourself a favor and get yourself some Reuben’s Brews Gose as soon as you can. It will undoubtedly come in handy this summer. Prost!

Jolly Pumpkin & Tired Hands Collaborate on Bath-o-Mat & Washeteria Sour Saison

Posted on May 17, 2018 by mashingin

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales (Dexter, Michigan) has officially announced the limited release of Bath-o-Mat & Washeteria, an inventive Sour Saison brewed in collaboration with Tired Hands Brewing Company (Ardmore, Pennsylvania).

Just as you would expect from any collaboration beer shaped by the minds at Jolly Pumpkin and Tired Hands, creativity abounds in Bath-o-Mat & Washeteria as its recipe starts with a “base of Pilsner malt, Crystal 30, Teff, Almonds, and Couscous.” Hopped with Hallertau and Tettnang hops, this Sour Saison then sees “additions of saffron and lemon [to bring] aromas of Jolly Pumpkin funk, spicy oak and lemon in the nose.” The Bath-o-Mat & Washeteria (6.4% ABV) experience closes with “flavors of light oak funk and lemon [that pair] well with the slight spiciness and noble hop profile.”

Bath-o-Mat & Washeteria is rolling out now and will be available as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 750ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Jolly Pumpkin’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Bath-o-Mat & Washeteria from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales & Tired Hands Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Collaboration Series, May 2018
Style – Saison/American Sour Ale
ABV – 6.4%
IBUs – 35
Grains – Pilsner, Teff, Couscous, & Crystal 30
Hops – Hallertau & Tettnang
Added Ingredients – 95 Lemons, Lemon Peel, Saffron, & Almonds
Treatment – Aged in oak for 4 months
Fun Fact – On the beer’s name: “So how did we come up with the name? Well…When it came time to name this beer [Jean Broillet of Tired Hands] wanted to call it Alien Baphomet, which was too scary for us. Instead, we chose Bath-o-Mat & Washeteria, which is close enough and possibly equally scary! Inspired by a stay across the street from our dear friend Polly’s Washeteria, Prytania Washateria, located in the hauntingly beautiful city of New Orleans.”
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft