Beer News | Mashing In

Ballast Point Brewing Co. Goes National with Aloha Sculpin Hazy IPA

Posted on April 3, 2018 by mashingin

Ballast Point Brewing Co. (San Diego, California) has officially announced that Aloha Sculpin Hazy IPA is now available nationally as a Limited Release offering.

Arriving as the newest member of the Sculpin IPA family, Aloha Sculpin is a hazy, tropically-themed India Pale Ale that obtains its juicy fruit flavors from a somewhat surprising source. Instead of relying on fruit additions of any kind, the brewers at Ballast Point turned Aloha Sculpin (7% ABV, 70 IBUS) into “a tropical oasis with aromas and flavors of guava, mango, and pineapple” by using a “distinct yeast strain known as Saccharomyces “Bruxellensis” Trois, or Brux Trois.” Able to do more than just cultivate these tropical notes, this yeast strain “also adds a slight haze to the beer, creating a smooth mouthfeel to round out its juicy character.”

“We’re always experimenting with new ingredients and methods,” said James Murray, vice president of brewing at Ballast Point. “Most brewers tend to experiment with hops for flavor and aroma. But when we tasted the guava, mango and pineapple notes from this yeast in other R&D recipes we brewed, we knew it would really enhance the bright, tropical fruit characteristics already present in Sculpin IPA.”

Aloha Sculpin IPA is rolling out now and has plans to hang around through the months of spring and summer. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, Virginia, and throughout the rest of Ballast Point’s nationwide distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Aloha Sculpin Hazy IPA from Ballast Point Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Seasonal, Spring/Summer 2018
Style – Hazy India Pale Ale
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 70
Yeast – Saccharomyces Bruxellensis Trois
Suggested Food Pairings – “Crab, Macadamia Nut and Papaya Salad, Chicken Katsu, Hawaiian Huapia Coconut Pudding”
Fun Fact – On the history of Sculpin IPA: “The original Sculpin IPA launched in 2005 and has since become the hallmark of the west coast-style IPA, winning gold medals at the World Beer Cup (2010, 2014) and European Beer Star (2010, 2011). Years later, the Sculpin family has expanded to include Grapefruit, Pineapple, Habanero, Unfiltered – and now Aloha Sculpin.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft

Full Sail Brewing Co. Adds Citrus Maxima to Year-Round Lineup

Posted on April 2, 2018 by mashingin

Full Sail Brewing Co. (Hood River, Oregon) has officially announced the release of Citrus Maxima Pale Ale as its newest Year-Round offering.

With a name derived “from the scientific name of the pomelo”, Citrus Maxima is an American Pale Ale that achieves “maximum citrus levels” thanks to additions of grapefruit, pomelo and citrus peel. With Simcoe and Citra hops further amplifying “the greatness of tart and juicy, fresh-squeezed citrus”, Citrus Maxima (5.7% ABV, 38 IBUs) ultimately comes together to be “a balanced and refreshing pale ale.”

“This was a fun project, but certainly complicated and labor intensive at this scale,” says Full Sail Brewmaster Greg Doss. “Our goal was to blend aromas from citrus-forward hops with fresh grapefruit and pomelo in a refreshing and drinkable pale ale. I think we did it.” You’ve heard of dry hopping – so why not dry peeling? “Hundreds of pounds of fresh citrus peel are infused into each batch,” says Doss, “but it’s worth it.”

Citrus Maxima Pale Ale is available now in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, in the Full Sail Grab ‘n’ Go-Go variety 12-pack of 12 oz. cans and on draft. You can find this new Year-Round brew at craft beer-focused retailers, bars and restaurants located in Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Full Sail’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Citrus Maxima Pale Ale from Full Sail Brewing Co.

Release – Year-Round, launching late March 2018
Style – American Pale Ale
ABV – 5.7%
IBUs – 38
Featured Hops – Simcoe & Citra
Added Ingredients – Fresh pomelo & grapefruit peels
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans, in the Full Sail Grab ‘n’ Go-Go variety 12-pack of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://fullsailbrewing.com/where-to-buy/

Juicy Bunny Pale Ale Makes Limited Return for Straight to Ale

Posted on April 2, 2018 by mashingin

Straight to Ale (Huntsville, Alabama) has officially announced that Juicy Bunny Pale Ale is back and this time around it is available for a limited time in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans.

Hopping onto shelves and taps as Straight to Ale’s latest Limited Release, Juicy Bunny is a New England-style Pale Ale that has been hit with a substantial “late addition and dry hopping with healthy doses of very fruit forward hops.” Weighing in at 6.2% ABV and 61 IBUs, Juicy Bunny provides “a soft mouth feel with a nice haze, and it’s so very juicy.”

Juicy Bunny Pale Ale is available now and is expected to hang around through April or as long as supplies last. You can find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and throughout the rest of Straight to Ale’s seven state distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Juicy Bunny Pale Ale from Straight to Ale

Release – Limited, late March through April 2018
Style – New England-style Pale Ale
ABV – 6.2%
IBUs – 61
Suggested Food Pairings – “Pair with: A Classic Burger; From Ale’s Kitchen: Sriracha-Buffalo Wings”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina & Tennessee

Tasting Notes: Looking Glass IPA from Starr Hill Brewery

Posted on March 30, 2018 by mashingin

This week’s installment of Tasting Notes finds us reflecting on the India Pale Ale style as we take a long look at Looking Glass IPA from Starr Hill Brewery (Crozet, Virginia).

Currently serving as Starr Hill’s 2018 Spring Seasonal, Looking Glass IPA is a fruity India Pale Ale that sources pronounced “notes of juicy pineapple, mango and passion fruit” from an impressive hop bill comprised of Galaxy, Citra, Mosaic and Columbus hops. Although Looking Glass (6.5% ABV, 40 IBUs) is packed with a “big hop aroma and flavor”, it remains incredibly easy-drinking “with minimal bitterness.”

Looking Glass IPA is available now and will hang around through April 2018. You can expect to find this Seasonal brew available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Virginia and throughout the rest of Starr Hill’s distribution footprint.

Now that the background data has been properly presented, let’s gaze deeply into the Looking Glass and lose ourselves in some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Looking Glass IPA from Starr Hill Brewery

Appearance: Slightly hazy in appearance, this IPA presents itself as a pale golden in color with just over a finger of bubbly white foam resting on top. When held to direct light, the golden tones take on a bit of a soft orange hue. Although hazy, the beer avoids being ridiculously cloudy and allows the drinker to see the tiny carbonation bubbles hard at work within. Head retention is good, falling gradually to a lasting cap that leaves an intricate web of lace behind on the glass.

Aroma: A strong tropical wave hits the nose first with a crash of pineapple and mango. Grapefruit zest and orange juice act as a solid foundation for those tropical notes and the hops close out with just a grace of pine. Malts lie underneath with a subtly sweet presence of clean grain. Mighty juicy and oh-so pleasant.

Taste: That juiciness carries over onto the palate as Looking Glass basically comes across as a fruit bowl of mango, passion fruit, grapefruit and pineapple blended into a base of sweet orange juice. The zest of various citrus fruits and a touch of resinous pine then surface to cut the fruitiness at the perfect moment. The malts and yeast mingle throughout the experience to add some balancing sweetness, but otherwise they are not really players in this game. The hops are the star, and they flex their ability to provide both a fruit-laden flavor and a subdued but present level of bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Falling on the lighter side of medium in body with a moderate carbonation, this IPA provides an experience that is quite smooth and easy drinking. It is nicely balanced and dry, but there is a sharp – but not harsh – jab of bitterness that creeps in near the finish. The ABV does bring a bit of warmth to the throat at times, but it is not at all out of hand. The aftertaste is a lingering presence of orange juice with a twist of pineapple.

Final Thoughts: What we have here is middle ground. Looking Glass IPA has found a comfortable spot somewhere between classic American IPAs and those newfangled hazy brews that everyone is so gaga over these days. Sure, it definitely has some characteristics of the New England/Hazy IPA: a slightly hazy appearance, a good amount of balance, and a serious burst of tropical juiciness sourced from a sublime hop bill. With that said, it is not so hazy/cloudy/muddy that it comes across as a tall pour of orange juice in a fancy glass. It still retains a semblance of that invigorating hop bite that many of us long for when we see the letters “IPA” or the words “India Pale Ale”. It is there in middle. It is a balanced and juicy not-so-filtered American IPA. It is a more bitter, less hazy New England-style IPA. It is the neutral ground between the two where fans of either style can come together and discuss their allegiances (like adults) over a beer that appeals to both of them. Now that we are at a point where we are altering and adding style guidelines to accommodate changing tastes and preferences, Looking Glass IPA serves as a much-needed place to discuss where we have been and where we will go in this ever-evolving, hop-fueled realm of craft beer. It sparks a conversation and I can certainly get behind that. Be sure to check this one out before its Seasonal run comes to a close at the end of April. Prost!

Brewery St. Bernardus Now Offering Witbier in Cans

Posted on March 30, 2018 by mashingin

Brouwerij St. Bernardus (Watou, Belgium) and D&V International, Inc., the brewery’s exclusive importer, have officially announced that 11.2 oz. cans of the award winning St. Bernardus Wit Ale are now available exclusively in the U.S.

Often referred to as “the finest White Ale in the world”, St. Bernardus Wit is a “traditional Belgian white beer developed and brewed in collaboration with the legendary Master Brewer Pierre Celis.” Presenting itself as “very pale (whitish-yellow color) and quite hazy” in appearance, this 5.5% ABV Witbier hits the nose and palate with a refreshingly “wheaty, apple-like, tartness; herbal-spicy notes with coriander and orangey fruitness and honeyish sweetness.” The gorgeous nature of St. Bernardus Wit is well known across the globe, but American beer drinkers can now enjoy this “perfect thirst quencher” just about anywhere thanks to a new option in packaging: convenient 11.2 oz. cans.

“We are very excited to provide this new packaging to the U.S. market, it’s the first time we canned one of our beers. We believe our customers will be very excited with this additional format!”

– Marco Passarella, Sales Manager, Brewery St. Bernardus

Cans of St. Bernardus Wit Ale are available now. You can find this Year-Round offering available in 4-packs of 11.2 oz. cans, 4-packs of 11.2 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles and on draft at fine beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of Brouwerij St. Bernardus’s reach in the United States. Prost!

Vital Information for St. Bernardus Wit Ale from Brouwerij St. Bernardus

Release – Year-Round, cans launch March 2018
Style – Witbier
ABV – 5.5%
Availability – 4-packs of 11.2 oz. cans, 4-packs of 11.2 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.specialtybeer.com/beer-locator/

Funky Buddha to Release No Crusts on National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day

Posted on March 29, 2018March 29, 2018 by mashingin

Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, Florida) has officially announced that it will release No Crusts Peanut Butter & Jelly Brown Ale for the first time ever in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles on National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day – Monday, April 2.

Inspired by a lunchtime meal shared between Funky Buddha’s head brewer and founder, Ryan Sentz, and his daughter, No Crusts captures the youthful delight that is a PB&J in “a bready brown ale that sandwiches the aroma of creamy peanut butter with a fruity finish reminiscent of mixed berry jam.” Clocking in at 6.4% ABV, this adult take on the PB&J guarantees that “one taste will envelop you in waves of nostalgic flavor.”

No Crusts will officially begin its release in Funky Buddha’s Tap Room on April 2 at 11:30 a.m. Distribution will follow shortly after the brewery launch. Once fully released, you can expect to find this Core offering available for a limited time in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Florida and throughout the rest of Funky Buddha’s steadily expanding distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for No Crusts from Funky Buddha Brewery

Release – Limited Core, April 2018
Style – Brown Ale/Fruit Beer
ABV – 6.4%
IBUs – 36
Suggested Food Pairings – “Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fried ice cream, sweet banana wontons, tostones, pad thai”
Fun Fact – Concerning the recipe development for No Crusts: “Funky Buddha’s head brewer and founder, Ryan Sentz, was inspired by lunchtime with his daughter to brew a pb&j beer that tastes just like the real thing. Ryan tried 30 or 40 different recipes, using different methods before he found the perfect combination. After nailing the recipe, he brought the brew across the country to many different beer festivals. People were blown away by the redolent flavor and were instantly hooked on the juice. This year Funky Buddha took home a silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival for this mind-blowing beer.”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://funkybuddhabrewery.com/beer-finder

Spencer Brewery Introduces Grapefruit IPA as Latest Fruit Series Release

Posted on March 29, 2018 by mashingin

Spencer Brewery (Spencer, Massachusetts) at St. Joseph’s Abbey, home to the first certified Trappist Brewery outside of Europe, has announced that it is expanding its Fruit Series with the limited release of Grapefruit IPA.

Arriving as Spencer Brewery’s ninth beer to receive approval from the International Trappist Association and the brewery’s second release in its newly established Fruit Series, Grapefruit IPA is a “ruby red [hued]” India Pale Ale that is brewed with grapefruit and Citra hops. Clocking in at 6.5% ABV, Spencer’s Grapefruit IPA promises an experience that is “tart and clean with a closing bitterness characteristic to IPAs.”

Grapefruit IPA is available now in Spencer Brewery’s new Craft Assortment 4-pack -which also includes Trappist IPA, Trappist Feierabendbier and Trappist Festive Lager – and will then become available in dedicated 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft beginning on April 16, 2018. You can seek this new Limited Release out at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, Massachusetts and throughout the rest of Spencer Brewery’s distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Grapefruit IPA from Spencer Brewery

Release – Limited/Fruit Series, launching late March 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.5%
Featured Hops – Citra
Added Ingredients – Grapefruit
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles, in the Craft Assortment 4-pack of 12 oz. bottles & on draft
Beer Finder – https://spencerbrewery.com/index.php/find-our-beer

Biscayne Bay Brewing Company Expands Distribution in Florida

Posted on March 28, 2018 by mashingin

Biscayne Bay Brewing Company (Miami, Florida) has announced that it has officially expanded its distribution area in Florida to reach down into Key West and extend all the way up the state’s east coast to Indian River County.

When it launched distribution of its beer in kegs in 2014, Biscayne Bay Brewing Company intended to stay hyper-focused on the bars, restaurants and hotels located throughout the Greater Miami community of South Florida. Once beer lovers were able to experience these delicious beverages around town, the brewery ran into an issue as it was bombarded with requests from all over “regarding where these tasty brews could be purchased.” In response to these requests that continued to pile up over time, the good people behind Biscayne Bay decided to adjust their approach by investing in equipment so that they could begin bottling some of their fan-favorite offerings. This move will now give “the brewery the chance to expand its product’s reach to other restaurants and hotels that do not have draft systems and to fans of Biscayne Bay Brewing all across South Florida.”

“From the day we began brewing in September 2014 we have been looking forward to this moment, when we can share our delicious hand-crafted beers with the entire South Florida Community via bottles. This is a big milestone for us, but we continue to push forward and innovate the process as well as seek opportunities to expand our operation so we can offer our beers to the entire state of Florida and beyond.”

– Jose Mallea, President of Biscayne Bay Brewing Company

Biscayne Bay will launch its expanded distribution with the following core offerings packaged in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles (descriptions sourced from the brewery’s website):

Kapitan’s Kolsch – Crisp and light bodied German style lager continues an easy drinking tradition.
Miami Pale Ale – Brewed in the tradition of a European-style Pale Ale, the Scotch malt foundation lays the groundwork for its unique flavor and character. A heavy dry hopping lends aroma and flavor to this beer, but keeps the bitterness factor low.
Siren’s Saison – Our combination of Pilsner, Pale and Wheat malts along with French hops and an authentic Belgian yeast creates a beer with a distinguished taste, a generous bitterness and a nice balance between body and bite. Unfiltered to keep its character intact.

These Biscayne Bay 6-packs are rolling out now and you will be able to find them at the brewery, different Publix locations from Indian River County to Key West, and at select Total Wine & Spirits, Safeway, Whole Foods and Milam’s Market locations in the Doral/Miami area. Prost!

New Belgium Launches The Hemperor HPA as Newest Year-Round

Posted on March 28, 2018 by mashingin

New Belgium Brewing Company (Ft. Collins, Colorado) has officially introduced The Hemperor HPA, a hemp-infused IPA, as the latest addition to its Year-Round portfolio.

With a mission to revitalize the use of hemp in America and bring attention to the restrictive regulatory process surrounding its use, New Belgium has developed The Hemperor HPA as an American India Pale Ale that “offers a mystical marriage of hops and hemp that fills the senses with a ground-breaking blend of herbal olfactory like no other beer on the market.” Since “federal law prohibits brewers from using hemp leaf and flower”, The Hemperor “is brewed with hemp hearts (the meat of the seed, minus the shell) and dry-hopped with Simcoe and experimental HBC 522 hops to create a dank, pungent hop aroma balanced by a sweet, mildly bitter finish.” The Hemperor HPA weighs in at 7% ABV and 55 IBUs and “contains no THC or CBD.”

“Let’s face it, brewers have been trying to get cannabis-like aromas from hops for years, but it’s always missing a certain something,” said Ross Koenigs, New Belgium’s Research and Development Brewer. “The Hemperor HPA is possibly the first beer to deliver meaningful hemp flavors and aromas.”

“This beer has been over two years in the making, most of the time spent learning and reacting to laws that really suppress this crop’s usage,” Koenigs said of the beer that is currently banned in Kansas. “Flavor-wise, this isn’t the beer we wanted to make, but due to misinformed laws governing the use of industrial hemp, we had to take a creative and long-winding road to get to this point. We’re happy with where we landed, and we’ll be working to change federal regulation so that one day we can brew The Hemperor HPA with hemp flowers and leaves as we originally envisioned.”

The Hemperor HPA will initially roll out on draft on April 2 and 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles will follow on May 21. Once fully released, you can expect to find this new Year-Round at craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina and throughout the rest of New Belgium’s nationwide distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for The Hemperor HPA from New Belgium Brewing Company

Release – Year-Round, launching April 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 55
Malts – Pale, White Wheat & Midnight Wheat
Hops – Nugget, Cascade, HBC 522 & Simcoe
Added Ingredients – Hemp hearts & natural flavor
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles (May 2018) & draft (April 2018)
Beer Finder – https://www.newbelgium.com/beer/finder
Fun Fact – Concerning the use of hemp and The Hemperor’s mission: “The restrictive regulatory process around brewing The Hemperor HPA gives New Belgium the opportunity and platform to raise awareness around the social, environmental and economic benefits of industrial hemp. Beer drinkers will be encouraged to learn more and take action at www.thehemperor.com. New Belgium is also partnering with GCH Inc, the company founded by Willie Nelson and family to build brands inspired by his journey as an artist and advocate, in supporting the national campaign, Hemp 4 Victory, www.H4V75.com. One dollar from every barrel of The Hemperor HPA sold will be donated to Hemp 4 Victory in support of its mission to raise awareness and promote pro-hemp bills in the House & Senate.”

Dark Swan Makes Limited Return for Lagunitas Brewing Company

Posted on March 27, 2018March 27, 2018 by mashingin

Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California) has announced that Dark Swan Sour Ale is officially back on shelves and taps for a limited time.

Sauntering in as the latest release from Lagunitas Brewing Company’s One Hitter Series, Dark Swan is a “deep and rich purple” American Sour Ale that gets its color from Petite Syrah grapes added during fermentation. Finished off with “the signature Lagunitas treatment with a healthy dose of experimental dry hops”, Dark Swan (8.5% ABV) is released into the wild as a unique hybrid ale that promises to be “smooth, slightly sour, and superbly strange.”

“Observers of yestercentury once denied the existence of the Dark Swan as obstinately as flat-earthers once denied the shape of our spherical home. They insisted the species was confined to a singular snowy hue. But there is a fragile futility to such narrowness of thought. The broader of mind understood that light and dark must forever compliment each other as eternal counterpoints. And just as Aristotle convinced us of our circularity, so adventuring ornithologists eventually contradicted the misconception of the monochrome swan, astonishing the world and casting light upon the Dark. This beer may well do the same…”

Dark Swan is available now and will hang around as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this “HIIIIGHLY Limited” offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments in Alabama, Florida, California, Illinois and throughout the rest of Lagunitas Brewing Company’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Dark Swan Sour Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Release – Limited/One Hitter Series, March – April 2018
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 8.5%
IBUs – 22.6
Featured Hops – Pekko, Centennial & HBC 344
Added Ingredients – Petite Syrah grapes
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://lagunitas.com/beer-finder