Jolly Pumpkin’s Noel de Calabaza Returns for the Holidays

Posted on by mashingin

unnamed (11)Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales (Dexter, Michigan) recently announced that Noel de Calabaza Special Ale, the brewery’s annually released Holiday Ale, will make its way back to shelves and taps beginning in early November.

With a name that translates to “The Holiday Pumpkin”, Noel de Calabaza is a Belgian Dark Strong Ale that is “deep mahogany in appearance with flavors of malt, layered hops, figs, raisins, sugar plums, cashews, and betwixt rum laden truffles.”  After aging in oak for six months, Noel de Calabaza emerges as a 9% ABV Holiday Ale that is “the perfect accompaniment for all times of good cheer.”

“From our family to yours, please enjoy this special beer. Join us in celebrating the season with wishes of peace and joy for all.”

– Ron Jeffries, Jolly Pumpkin’s Founder and Chief Squeegee Operator

Noel de Calabaza officially returns in early November and will be available in 750ml bottles and on draft during the holiday season (while supplies last).  You can find this Special Ale at fine beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Jolly Pumpkin’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Noel de Calabaza Special Ale from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Release – Seasonal/Limited, arrives early November 2017
Style – Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV – 9%
IBUs – 22
Malts – Pilsner, Wheat & Chocolate
Hops – Celia, Fuggle & Tettnang
Treatment – Aged in oak for 6 months
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Distribution Info – http://brewery.jollypumpkin.com/find-our-biere/

Roundhouse India Red Ale Makes Limited Return for Bell’s Brewery

Posted on by mashingin

Roundhouse_WebPic_736X736Bell’s Brewery (Comstock, Michigan) has officially announced that Roundhouse India Red Ale is currently back on shelves and taps for a limited time.

Returning once again as a Specialty Release from Bell’s Brewery, Roundhouse India Red Ale is “a variation on the IPA, but with more caramel and toasted malt character and a reddish hue.” To retain its IPA-like qualities, Roundhouse is loaded with “fruity aromas of pineapple, peach and citrus” that have been sourced from “substantial amounts of late-kettle hop additions and dry-hopping.” Those hop notes carry over into the flavor but are balanced by “the judicious use of toasted and caramel specialty malts.”  Locally sourced Michigan honey was then added to level everything out and give Roundhouse “a smooth, dry finish.”

Roundhouse India Red Ale is out now and will be available for a limited time in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft.  You can find this Specialty Release at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Bell’s Brewery’s distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Roundhouse India Red Ale from Bell’s Brewery

Release – Limited/Specialty, arrives late October 2017
Style – India Red Ale
ABV – 7.5%
Added Ingredients – Locally sourced Michigan honey
Shelf Life – 3 months
Recommended Glassware – Nonic
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.bellsbeer.com/beer-finder

Boulevard Brewing Gets Into the Cider Game with Release of City Market Cider

Posted on by mashingin

CityMarketCider-Diamond-Badge-1Boulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, Missouri) will officially introduce its first ever Cider with the upcoming Seasonal release of City Market Cider.

Kansas City’s historic City Market is widely known as “a place where chefs and home cooks come together to show and taste the best flavors in the region.”  This is an institution and community that should be celebrated, and Boulevard Brewing Co. has done just that with the creation of City Market Cider.

Checking in as Boulevard’s first cider and next Seasonal release, City Market Cider is a “local blend [combining] juice from Jonathan and Fuji apples sourced directly from Sibley Orchard & Cider Mill in Sibley, Missouri.”  After undergoing fermentation with Boulevard’s house strain of English ale yeast, City Market Cider was then finished with “a slight blend back of fresh Fuji juice (2.8% of the total blend) to lend a balancing sweetness.”  This all results in a 6.2% ABV Cider that “[alternates] between sweet and tart apple character” in both flavor and aroma.

City Market Cider will launch in the Greater Kansas City Area on Tuesday, November 14 with other regions to follow shortly thereafter.  Once the rollout is completed, you can expect to find this Seasonal release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles at select beer and cider-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Missouri and throughout the rest of Boulevard Brewing Co.’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for City Market Cider from Boulevard Brewing Co.

Release – Seasonal, launches November 14, 2017
Style – Hard Apple Cider
ABV – 6.2%
IBUs – 0
Featured Apples – Jonathan & Fuji Apples from Sibley Orchard & Cider Mill
Yeast – Boulevard’s house English Ale Yeast
Suggested Food Pairings – “Washed Rind Cheeses, Mushroom Risotto, Asian Glazed Pork Belly, Sushi”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & limited draft
Beer/Cider Finder – https://www.boulevard.com/beer/beer-finder/

Heavy Seas Beer Marks 22nd Birthday with New Anniversary Ale

Posted on by mashingin

38059314122_6827f4efcb_kHeavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) will officially celebrate its 22nd year in the craft beer industry with the December release of 22 Anniversary Ale, a Belgian-style Tripel aged in rye whiskey barrels.

Brewing craft beer commercially for 22 years is one hell of an achievement, and Heavy Seas Beer has turned to its Uncharted Waters Series – a lineup of barrel/wood-aged limited releases – to create a celebratory brew worthy of the title 22 Anniversary Ale.  To take this “goldenrod” Belgian-style Tripel to the next level, the brewers at Heavy Seas aged this offering in local Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey barrels.  This barrel treatment imparted notes of “vanilla and subtle [spice]” to work beautifully alongside the Tripel’s “phenolic flavors of white pepper and peach skin.”  The finished 22 Anniversary Ale weighs in at 10% ABV and 37 IBUs.

Thank you, thank you very much for all of the support over the years, without you, we wouldn’t still be here sailing into Uncharted Waters year after year,” says Heavy Seas Founder, Hugh Sisson. “Cheers!”

22 Anniversary Ale is scheduled for release in early December and will hang around as long as supplies last.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Maryland and throughout the rest of Heavy Seas Beer’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for 22 Anniversary Ale from Heavy Seas Beer

Release – Limited/Uncharted Waters Series, early December 2017
Style – Tripel
ABV – 10%
IBUs – 37
Malts – 2-row, Crystal, Caramalt & Chocolate Malt
Hops – Warrior, UK Goldings, UK Fuggles, Cascade & Centennial
Treatment – Aged in Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey barrels
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://hsbeer.com/beerfinder

Tasting Notes: Wandering Blind Through Pumpkin Beer Hell

Posted on by mashingin

pumpkincornIn honor of Halloween, this week’s Tasting Notes exposes my mind, body, soul and palate to the horrors that can only be found in Pumpkin Beer Hell.

This comes as no shock to those that know me personally, but I must admit that I despise Pumpkin Beers.  In all fairness, it really is not limited to the beer alone.  I just never developed a taste for pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie or the distinctive spice mixture that thrives within these recipes.  It is just not my thing.

Even with that being the case, I still drink at least one Pumpkin Beer each year without fail.  Some may say I do this for science.  Others may say I do this because I secretly hate myself.  I say I do it as a practice to test my palate and see how it continues to develop as I get older.  Well, this year I decided to go all in on this palate punishment by accepting an invitation to a friend’s annual Blind Pumpkin Beer Tasting.  This event amounts to one evening with 10 beer lovers, 15 Pumpkin Beers that remain unnamed until after the tasting, and a ridiculous amount of groaning and whining from this guy.  Let’s do this.

Tasting Notes: An Evening Wandering Blind Through Pumpkin Beer Hell

Pumpkin Beer No. 1 – Alright . . . I’m trying to be open-minded here and it seems to be paying off.  This one is dark amber in color, has a really pleasant vanilla malt base, light pumpkin spice, and a grace of bitterness for balance.  The beer’s reserved spice level and slight nuttiness keeps this one tolerable.  Damn, I nearly finished off my pour.  We are off to a good start.

Pumpkin Beer No. 2 – As the second offering hits the table, I am immediately reminded of why I have a disdain for the Pumpkin Beer style.  This one is a very light copper in color and has a huge pumpkin spice presence in both flavor and aroma.  Nutmeg and all-spice is all over the place, and the beer’s body is far too light to carry these flavors.  There is absolutely nothing here to provide balance and, to top it off, there is also a contrasting floral and metallic presence building.  Nope . . . just a whole lotta’ nope in a glass.

Pumpkin Beer No. 3 – Light brown in color with a bit of an orange tint to it, No. 3 leads with some sweet caramel backed by a floral character.  The pumpkin spice starts light, but builds and settles heavily into the aftertaste.   Vanilla and apple also turn up from time to time.  This brew is not overly off-putting, but not particularly memorable either.  Movin’ on.

Pumpkin Beer No. 4 –  Ok, I have been presented with a very light amber, golden-hued brew that is just billowing with spice.  Like a lot of spice.  Too much damn spice.  I can taste the pumpkin spice just by smelling this beer.  It really wants to be pumpkin pie, but it just comes across to me as nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and a touch of wet dog.  It’s abrasive, boozy, and everything I fear in life.

Pumpkin Beer No. 5 – Next up is a dark orange-colored brew that is sporting a likable sweet vanilla cream and caramel malt base.  This opens to show off the expected pumpkin spice notes along with some crust like character.  There is a solid balance being achieved here between the spice and sweetness, and I can dig that.  It also has a bit of a root beer-like quality to it.  I may not like pumpkin pie, but I do have a youthful love for root beer . . . so I’ll take my wins when I can get them.

Pumpkin Beer No. 6 – Hmmm . . . this one is just weird.  Red-tinged copper in appearance, No. 6 has big floral and citrus notes working alongside all the pumpkin spice.  It is also extremely proud to show off a few more pumpkin spices than the beers that preceded it, but it is impossible to individually distinguish them as they relentlessly assail the senses.  The malts and hops are lost behind a booze-laden spice train of pain.  It’s just so aggressive.  Why is it so angry?!?!

Pumpkin Beer No. 7 –  It appears this tasting has taken a turn and things have gone dark with this brew.  Dark brown, almost black in color, Beer No. 7 is giving off some roasted malts and a bit of cocoa.  The pumpkin spice in this beer is mild and actually acts as more of a complement to the base beer.  What a novel idea!  And it works really well.  A note of black coffee adds some bitterness and strikes a nice balance between the malty sweetness and roastiness.  It pains me to say this, but this is a really nice Pumpkin Beer.

pumpkinwitchPumpkin Beer No 8. – Just as I find hope in this tasting, Beer No. 8 shows up to give me the finger.  This orangish-brown colored beast leads with a strong chemical smell that is like a mix of fusel alcohol and acetone.  Silver lining: at least it kills any chance of pumpkin spice turning up in the aroma.  AMIRITE?!?!  Each sip begins with a huge burst of booze that’s quickly followed by a deep, sticky sweetness filled with caramel, burnt brown sugar, and just a touch of fruit.  Then there’s the pumpkin spice.  All the spice is here.  All of it.  It is like a bomb went off in a spice cabinet and they all just happened to fall into this beer.  If I were to sum up this experience, this beer basically tastes like a caramel apple that has been dipped repeatedly in a barrel of pumpkin spice and then infused with the essence of spray paint.

Pumpkin Beer No. 9 – Alright . . . gotta regroup.  Gotta get myself together and Beer No. 9 is gonna turn it all around for me.  I just know it because it has to.  This brew is a light orange to almost blonde in color, and it opens with a lovely apple pie aroma.  That’s right, apple pie and not pumpkin pie.  The apple pie character carries over into the flavor with big hits of cinnamon and just a wisp of various other pumpkin spices.  That cinnamon brings some heat, but that heat is supported by something a bit more powerful.  Habaneros maybe?  It must be because it has a serious level of pepper heat that still holds some nice citrus tones.  The heat is on point and well placed.  I do not know how this sizes up as a “Pumpkin Beer”, but it’s fun and a welcomed distraction.

Pumpkin Beer No. 10 – As the tray approaches, I notice that the glasses are filled with another dark representation of the style.  That has proven to be a good sign so far, so I am hopeful.  Dark brown in color, this one is giving off a good amount of cocoa and nuttiness in both aroma and flavor.  This is supported by a bready, lightly roasted grain character that has a muted level of pumpkin spice laced within.  Medium in body, No. 10 has a peppy carbonation presence that keeps it easy-drinking.  I can get behind this one.

Pumpkin Beer No. 11 –  Salvation!  My palate has been saved by something that it has yet to experience today: tartness.  Dark yellow to gold in color, this beer is light in body with an effervescent carbonation level.   The flavor profile is comprised of light pumpkin (actual pumpkin), a dash of cocoa, a touch of pumpkin spice, and a delightful dose of sour citrus.  The beer is actually refreshing, and it reminds me that I am going to be ok.  I’m going to make it.  Is there more of this one?

Pumpkin Beer No. 12 – Rejuvenated after a good little run there, I approach this beer with a bit of optimistic curiosity.  The beer is dark orange in color and nearly devoid of aroma.  Strange . . . or sneaky?  The flavor is filled with mostly burnt caramel and a handful of brown sugar, but there is a light pumpkin spice presence lurking in the background with some dark fruit.  The spice to sweetness ratio is a bit more balanced, but it is just another stereotypical attempt at pumpkin pie in liquid form. Alas.

Pumpkin Beer No. 13 – It appears we have stumbled upon another twist, and I believe it is nitrogen.  Dark mahogany brown in color, this beer is crazy creamy in texture.  Fluffy even.  Aroma is just a touch of coffee, but the flavor produces notes of pumpkin spice, cream, and watered-down coffee.  This proves to be a decent combination, but it is muted overall.  You can tell it wants to be more.  Wait . . . have I stumbled into PSL territory?  Did I just become “basic”?  This tasting is trying to change me.  I can feel it.

Pumpkin Beer No. 14 –  It is just more of the same.  Pleasant pumpkin spice on the nose, but that spice goes on to dominate and overwhelm the malt base in the flavor department. More pumpkin pie.  I feel lost.  I look around and realize that everyone else at this tasting is thoroughly enjoying this beer and the tasting as a whole.  I am alone here and left reminded of that Conrad quote in Heart of Darkness:

“No, it is impossible; it is impossible to convey the life-sensation of any given epoch of one’s existence–that which makes its truth, its meaning–its subtle and penetrating essence. It is impossible. We live, as we dream–alone.”

Pumpkin Beer No. 15 – A bronze-hued orange in color, this beer is really assertive with the pumpkin spice in all arenas. The flavor tries to strike a balance with notes of caramel and vanilla, but the spice cannot be vanquished.  It cannot be contained!  The beer is light in body and in ABV . . . wait . . . that’s the last one?  Hahahaha, I made it!  Beaten but not broken, I survived and I’m getting the hell out of here.

With the journey now completed, I rise out of this hell with the realization that many of you will want to know what beers were served during this tasting.  I will provide you with a list, but I will do so with a disclaimer. As I have said many times in the past, I am not in the business of hurting anyone when it comes to my reviews/Tasting Notes.  My intentions here are based purely in fun and to educate myself further on this style.  I may not like pumpkin beers, but that does not mean that these are bad beers.  I actually walked away from this tasting with an appreciation for many of these beers, and those that I gave the harshest criticism proved to be favorites for the nine other tasters in attendance (For example, Pumpkin Beer No. 8 was actually one of the highest rated beers at the tasting).  Sure, they were not all enjoyed by me, but they were all enjoyed by many at the table.  Now that I have gotten that off my chest, here are the beers in order of appearance in the photo below (Left to right; this is NOT the order that they were served in the reviews above – Deal with it – Sorry not sorry):

pumpkinlineup.jpg

**Once again, the list above is NOT the same order that the beers were presented in during the tasting.**

If you are lover of Pumpkin Beers and pumpkin spice, there is no denying that these beers have something to offer you and are absolutely worth a try this fall.  Be sure to check them out and don’t mind me at all.  Prost and Happy Halloween, folks!

 

Founders Brewing Co. Announces the Return of Canadian Breakfast Stout

Posted on by mashingin

CBSlabelFounders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has officially confirmed that CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout) will be released later this year as the sixth and final release in the 2017 Barrel-Aged Series.

Six years may have passed since the last time CBS was bottled, but Founders Brewing Co. is ready to once again treat the craft beer community to this highly sought-after Imperial Stout in December.  Starting with “the same base beer as KBS, an imperialized version of Breakfast Stout” that is loaded with coffee and chocolate, CBS gets its unique and alluring character after being aged in “bourbon barrels that had previously housed maple syrup.”  This treatment results in “what can only be described as a transcendental drinking experience” filled with notes of “rich maple syrup, roasted coffee and velvety chocolate.”

“Well, the rumors are true. CBS will make its long-awaited return this December,” said Co-Founder and President, Dave Engbers. “It would be irresponsible for us to not release CBS again. The beer enthusiasts who have supported our brands throughout the years are vocal and their message is heard loud and clear. We could not be happier to bring back this beloved beer… they speak, we listen.”

CBS will officially release on December 1 with availability in 750ml bottles (suggested retail price of $24.99 each) and on draft.  You can expect to find this limited release offering at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Founders Brewing Co.’s distribution area.  Quantities will be extremely limited, and CBS is guaranteed to disappear with a quickness.  Be sure to stay tuned to this post as we will do our best to keep you up-to-date with any and all information as it is released. Prost!

 

 

New Belgium’s La Folie Grand Reserve: Geisha Makes its Debut

Posted on by mashingin

geishaNew Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins, Colorado) has officially announced the limited release of La Folie Grand Reserve: Geisha Sour Ale.

To celebrate “the artistry and passion behind two of the world’s most beloved liquids”, the brewers at New Belgium have introduced their award-winning La Folie Sour Brown Ale to the highly coveted Panama Geisha coffee grown at the Peterson family’s Hacienda La Esmeralda.  The whole roasted Geisha coffee beans possess “brilliant mandarin and soft jasmine floral notes which play nicely with the sour plum and cocoa flavors synonymous with La Folie.”  To further marry these flavors, the beer was also brewed with a “custom blend of Colorado-grown malted barley and wheat from Fort Collins based Troubadour Maltings . . . [to bring] the sweet, floral notes to the forefront.”  The 7.9% ABV La Folie Grand Reserve: Geisha was finished by being “bottled on nitrogen for a soft, velvet-like mouthfeel and body, and is recommended to be served chilled and fresh (not cellared).”

“La Folie is the sour that launched our wood beer program nearly 20 years ago, and as we reimagine our specialty portfolio, we’re revisiting many of our most-loved and acclaimed beers, presenting them in new and unique ways,” said Andrew Emerton, New Belgium specialty brand manager. “This take on La Folie is adventurous – reminiscent of coffee’s silky, rich attributes but counterbalanced with the bright, complexity of a foeder-aged sour. This will be the most expensive beer we’ve ever made, and it’s so very worth it.”

La Folie Grand Reserve: Geisha is rolling out now in 750ml bottles and will be available while supplies last.  You can look for this Limited Release to be available “in select markets” within New Belgium’s distribution area.  Prost!

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

Release – Limited/Special, late-October/early-November 2017
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 7.9%
Featured Malts – Malted Barley & Wheat from Fort Collins based Troubadour Maltings
Added Ingredients – Geisha Coffee from Panama’s Hacienda La Esmeralda
Availability – 750ml bottles 
Beer Finder – https://www.newbelgium.com/beer/finder
Fun Fact – “New Belgium partnered with Fellow B Corp, Sustainable Harvest out of Portland, OR, who brokered the coffee deal. A portion of proceeds from the beer will contribute to a grant that will distribute climate resistant coffee varietals to small scale coffee farmers across the globe.”

Guinness Sends 200th Anniversary Export Stout to the U.S.

Posted on by mashingin

200thExportStoutGuinness & Co. (Dublin, Ireland) has officially announced that Guinness 200th Anniversary Export Stout is now available in the U.S. market for a limited time.

America’s history with Guinness can be traced back to “a single line” recorded in a brewer’s log on October 16, 1817.  That short note indicated that the “first eight barrels of Guinness beer – a porter to be exact – meant for America would make their arrival in South Carolina.” Two centuries have now passed since that modest note was written, but its impact has resulted in more than anyone could have imagined.  It was the genesis of a 200-year bond between America and Ireland that has resided within each and every pint of Guinness that has been poured in this country since.

To honor and recognize this 200-year-old relationship, the folks at Guinness conceived and crafted Guinness 200th Anniversary Export Stout at their Open Gate Brewery, “the pilot brewery . . . where Guinness brewers experiment with new styles and reinterpret historical brews.”  Drawing inspiration from a recipe developed in 1817 by Benjamin Guinness, the son of Arthur Guinness, the 200th Anniversary Export Stout (6% ABV) has been “brewed with Black Patent Malt and Goldings Hops” to result in a “dark ruby red” Stout that is “complex and smooth with a sweet chocolate flavor.”

“We took a look at that export stout’s recipe from 1817 in our brewing records and used that as our inspiration here, but it’s not just an homage to who we were as brewers then or who America was as a country,” said Peter Simpson, Head Brewer at the Open Gate Brewery in Dublin. “We’re also using this beer as a way to show how much we’re looking forward to the next 200 years. We knew it had to be special, and we really think this throwback recipe captures exactly what we wanted from 1817 all the way through 2017.”

Guinness 200th Anniversary Export Stout is hitting shelves now in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles (MSRP: $8.99, 6-pack) and in the 200 Years of Stout in America Mixed Pack (MSRP: $21.99, 12-pack). You can find this Limited Release offering at fine beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of Guinness & Co.’s nationwide distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Guinness 200th Anniversary Export Stout from Guinness & Co.

Release – Limited, launching October 2017
Style – Export Stout
ABV – 6%
Featured Malt – Black Patent Malt
Hops – Goldings
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & in the Guinness 200 Years of Stout in America Mixed 12-Pack
Beer Finder – https://www.guinness.com/en-us/where-to-buy/

SweetWater Brewing Introduces Sinner’s Son

Posted on by mashingin

unnamed (64)SweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has announced that Sinner’s Son, a Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Coffee, will officially arrive on Saturday, October 28 as the latest release from the brewery’s Woodlands Project.

Arriving just in time for Halloween, Sinner’s Son is an American Imperial Stout that is fresh out of SweetWater’s cellar at The Woodlands, an annex of the brewery designed specifically for barrel-aged and wild beers.  After spending “months” there maturing in Bourbon barrels, Sinner’s Son was then pulled and finished off with “a fresh blend of coffee and espresso beans from the JavaVino farm . . . to harmonize with the roasted malts and bring balance to its complex barrel aged soul.”  This all results in an imposing, 12.4% ABV Imperial Stout that ” is decadent and rich with chocolate and vanilla notes, a velvety mouthfeel and hints of oak.”

This introductory batch of Sinner’s Son will make its debut in SweetWater’s taproom on October 28.  Once early-November rolls around, this Limited Release offering will be available in 500ml cork & cage bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located within SweetWater Brewing’s distribution area.  Distribution will be limited, so stay vigilant and be on the lookout for Sinner’s Son next month. Prost!

Vital Information for Sinner’s Son from SweetWater Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Woodlands Project Series, arriving late-October 2017
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 12.4%
IBUs – 60
Malts – 2 Row, Chocolate, Roasted Barley, Flaked Oats, Crystal, Victory & Lactose
Hops – Columbus
Added Ingredients – A blend of coffee & espresso beans from the JavaVino farm
Treatment – Aged “for months” in Bourbon barrels
Availability – 500ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://sweetwaterbrew.com/find-sweetwater/

The 2017 Vintage of Samuel Adams Utopias has Arrived

Posted on by mashingin

utopiasdetail--en--d9106a3e-f7e0-4f94-b950-cab7b3c930f8_editedThe Boston Beer Company/Samuel Adams (Boston, Massachusetts) has officially announced the 10th release of the highly-coveted Samuel Adams Utopias.

Widely known as “the craft beer community’s most renowned and sought-after extreme barrel-aged beer”, Samuel Adams Utopias has returned for a 2017 vintage.  Defiant of any style classification, this unique, 28% ABV brew begins with “a special blend of two-row pale malt combined with Munich and Caramel 60 malts that impart a rich, ruby color.”  To balance the sweetness from those malts, the beer then receives three varieties of German Noble hops: Spalt Spalter, Hallertau Mittelfrueh, and Tettnang Tettnanger.  Once the brewing is complete, Utopias then undergoes a proprietary fermentation process with “several yeast strains . . .  including one typically reserved for champagne and a “ninja yeast,” created for its ability to survive and continue fermenting in an environment that has such a high alcohol level.”

To complete this labor-intensive offering, “a portion of this freshly brewed beer is then aged in hand-selected, single-use bourbon casks from the award-winning Buffalo Trace Distillery while the rest is aged in a variety of barrels including Bourbon, White Carcavelos, and Ruby Port.”  This year’s vintage was also given an added twist by being the first Utopias to see “Aquavit barrels, a Scandinavian spirit with distinct flavor from spices and herbs, primarily caraway or dill.”  After carefully aging the beer, the brewers at Samuel Adams created “the final 2017 blend by sampling and blending barrel-aged beer including 24-year-old Triple Bock and 17-year-old Millennium, as well as previous Utopias vintages, Kosmic Mother Funk, and a variety of barrel-aged blends.”  With the blend finalized, a portion of 2017 Utopias was finished in “Moscat barrels, a wine known for its slightly smoky character.”  When all is said and done, a sip of Utopias “is reminiscent of a rich vintage Port, old Cognac, or fine Sherry with notes of dark fruit, subtle sweetness, and a deep rich malty smoothness.”

“My original idea for Utopias was to push the boundaries of craft beer by brewing an extreme beer that was unlike anything any brewer had conceived. We’ve continued to stretch the boundaries in brewing with the release of our tenth vintage and I’m proud to present to drinkers this lunatic fringe of extreme beer worthy of the Utopias name.”

– Jim Koch, Samuel Adams Founder & Brewer 

With “only 68 wooden casks of Utopias created in 2017″, that means there are “roughly 13,000 bottles” of 2017 Utopias available for nationwide distribution.  You can track down this incredibly rare Limited Release “at select specialty beer and liquor stores for a suggested retail price of $199 per bottle” (price may vary by location).  Happy hunting and good luck out there, folks.  Prost!

Vital Information for Samuel Adams Utopias (2017) from Samuel Adams

Release – Limited, 2017 vintage release late-October 2017
Style – N/A
ABV – 28%
IBUs – 25
Malts – Samuel Adams Two-Row Pale Malt blend, Caramel 60 & Munich
Hops – Spalt Spalter, Hallertau Mittelfrueh & Tettnang Tettnanger
Added Ingredients – Maple syrup
Aging Process – Portions of the beer are aged in Buffalo Trace Bourbon casks along with a variety of barrels including Bourbon, White Carcavelos, Ruby Port, Aquavit & Moscat
Blending Process – The final blend is comprised of the various barrels of aged Utopias base beer and other barrel-aged beer “including 24-year-old Triple Bock and 17-year-old Millennium, as well as previous Utopias vintages, Kosmic Mother Funk, and a variety of barrel-aged blends”
Availability – 24 oz. bottle 
Beer Finder – http://www.samueladams.com/find-a-sam