Brouwerij Bosteels to Bring Kwaktoberfest to the U.S. in October

Posted on by mashingin

bosteels-pauwel-kwakBrouwerij Bosteels (Buggenhout, Belgium) and Artisanal Imports have officially announced that they will be celebrating Kwaktoberfest at bars and restaurants across America during the month of October.

If you have not figured it out by now, Kwaktoberfest is Brouwerij Bosteels’ annual celebration of their iconic Pauwel Kwak, a Belgian Strong Pale Ale that is equally known for its quality and its “instantly recognizable carriage glass.”  With the help of Artisanal Imports, Brouwerij Bosteels will take this Kwaktoberfest party to participating locations coast-to-coast.  In addition to pouring Pauwel Kwak, these venues will also showcase “the brewery’s other world-class brews including Tripel Karmeliet and DeuS.”  These events will also feature special point of sale items such as “flags, coasters, posters, single and double Kwak glasses and the almighty Quattro, capable of holding four Kwak glasses at once.”

“Kwaktoberfest is a fun addition to the German Oktoberfest season,” says Lanny Hoff, SVP-Brands Manager of Artisanal Imports. “There are stylistic similarities between Kwak and German Märzen and glassware is a big part of the celebration. Whether it’s a liter of Oktoberfest or a carriage glass of Kwak, it’s fun!”

Kwaktoberfest events will be taking place throughout the U.S. during the month of October.  If you are interested in attending a Kwaktoberfest event, keep an eye on Artisanal Imports’ website and social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) for information, and be sure to check back here as we will update this post with any details we receive concerning official event dates and locations.  Stay tuned!  Prost!

Vital Information for Pauwel Kwak from Brouwerij Bosteels

Release – Year-round
Style – Belgian Strong Pale Ale 
ABV – 8.4%
Ingredients – Barley malts, mineral water, wheat, hops & white candy sugar
Availability – 11.2 oz. bottles & draft
Suggested Food Pairings – “Kwak is tremendous with any kind of grilled or roasted meats or poultry. It is also a good beer with dessert, particularly those with nuts or caramel. It goes with almost any cheese and makes a very tasty (if spendy!) beer soup.”
Fun Fact – Background on the glassware: “The legendary Kwak glass, or ‘Koetsiersglas’, hearkens back to the Napoleonic era. Back then, Pauwel Kwak was a brewer and owner of the De Hoorn inn, which saw daily visits from mail coaches and their passengers. While passengers could stop in for a drink, coachmen were prohibited from leaving their posts to join. To bypass this inconvenience, Kwak had special glasses blown with a convex bottom that could sit in the coach in a wooden stand, allowing the drivers to enjoy a glass!”

Cascade Brewing Launches Vitis Noble as New Tier One Offering

Posted on by mashingin

CascadeVitisbottleCascade Brewing (Portland, Oregon) has officially announced that it will begin the release of Vitis Noble 2016 on Tuesday, September 19.

Created as a cousin of Cascade Brewing’s The Vine project, Vitis Noble (translation – Noble Vine) is a blended offering that “features sour wheat and blond ales aged in oaks barrels for up to 16 months with Willamette Valley grown chardonnay grapes, one of the most celebrated noble varietals.”  This all results in 9.1% ABV American Sour Ale that showcases “a wonderful balance between the beautiful flavors of the Northwest grown chardonnay grapes, oak tendencies and a bright clean finish.”

Vitis Noble 2016 will officially release on September 19 and will be available while supplies last.  You can expect to find this Tier One offering available in 750ml bottles and on draft at fine beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Cascade Brewing’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Vitis Noble 2016 from Cascade Brewing

Release – Limited/Tier One; September 19, 2017
Style – American Sour Ale (blended)
ABV – 9.1%
Treatment – Sour wheat and blond ales aged in oaks barrels for up to 16 months with Willamette Valley grown chardonnay grapes
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Fun Fact – Concerning Cascade Brewing’s new labels: “Vitis Noble is a Tier One offering; Cascade’s bottles have distinct label styles for each of the three Cascade Brewing pricing tiers, with each label within the tier utilizing distinctive colors to clearly differentiate each beer. The tiers differ by the style of beer used in the product, the type ingredients contained within, the time aged in the barrels and types of barrels used.”

 

Rogue Ales Introduces Dead ‘N’ Dead as New Limited Release

Posted on by mashingin

deadndead1Rogue Ales (Newport, Oregon) announced today that they have officially released Dead ‘N’ Dead, a Limited Release offering that unites Dead Guy Ale with Dead Guy Whiskey barrels.

Arriving as the newest evolution of Rogue’s Dead Guy Ale, Dead ‘N’ Dead is the brewery’s way of introducing their iconic German Maibock-style Ale to the barrels that once held Dead Guy Whiskey, a spirit “distilled from the same three malts as . . . Dead Guy Ale.”  Taking full advantage of being the only brewery-distillery-cooperage in the U.S., Rogue had their brewers, distillers and coopers work together to carefully age this brew for six months in these barrels.  Their hard work has paid off, and Dead ‘N’ Dead (7.3% ABV) comes together to feature “a strong whiskey nose and added notes of oak and vanilla, with a smooth caramel flavor from the whiskey barrels that balances out Dead Guy Ale’s malty, honey sweetness.”

“We had a lot of fun producing Dead ‘N’ Dead,” said Rogue President Brett Joyce. “We have these amazing tools to work with, from our handcrafted ales and spirits to our whiskey barrels. Our brewers and distillers got resourceful by colliding our most popular beer and spirit to make a new favorite.”

Dead ‘N’ Dead is a Limited Release offering that is available while supplies last.  You can expect to find Dead ‘N’ Dead in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer establishments located in select areas of the Rogue Ales distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Dead ‘N’ Dead from Rogue Ales

Release – Limited, mid-September 2017
Style – German Maibock-style Ale (Barrel-aged)
ABV – 7.3%
IBUs – 40
Malts – 2-Row, C15, Munich & Rogue Farms Dare™ and Risk™
Hops – Perle & Sterling
Yeast – Pacman
Treatment – Aged for six months in Dead Guy Whiskey oak barrels
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.rogue.com/finder/

Funky Buddha Brewery’s Last Snow Coconut & Coffee Porter Returns

Posted on by mashingin

Lastsnow22ozbottlenew (2)Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, Florida) has officially begun the limited release of their fan-favorite Last Snow Coconut & Coffee Porter as of September 17.

Released twice a year as Funky Buddha’s way of bookending both ends of Florida’s “colder” months, Last Snow is a “rich, creamy porter . . . layered with coconut and freshly-roasted coffee for a taste that recalls a winter wonderland.”  Big in flavor but still clocking in at a reasonable 6.4% ABV, Last Snow Coconut & Coffee Porter is the perfect beer to help all those in the Sunshine State get through the harsh sub-75° temperatures headed their way.

Last Snow Coconut & Coffee Porter is available now in Funky Buddha’s tap room, and will hit distribution any day now.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select beer-focused retailers, bars and restaurants located throughout Funky Buddha Brewery’s statewide distribution footprint in Florida.  Prost!

Vital Information for Last Snow Coconut & Coffee Porter from Funky Buddha Brewery

Release – Limited/Little Buddha Small Batch, September 2017
Style – American Porter
ABV – 6.4%
IBUs – 35
Added Ingredients – Coconut & freshly-roasted coffee
Suggested Pairings – “Stilton cheese, Roquefort, porter-braised beef, fresh Gulf oysters, Texas-style smoked brisket, Kansas City strip-steak with broiled asparagus, corned beef & cabbage with bacon, tres leches cake, black forest cake with coconut ice cream”
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://funkybuddhabrewery.com/beer-finder

 

 

Big Storm Brewing & Tampa Bay Lightning Announce the Release of Lightning Twenty Five Craft Lager

Posted on by mashingin

BSBCLightning25Big Storm Brewing Co. (Clearwater, Florida) has officially teamed up with the Tampa Bay Lightning to honor a quarter century of NHL hockey in Tampa with the release of The Lightning Twenty Five Craft Lager.  

Twenty-five.  That number means quite a bit to the Tampa Bay Lightning as they enter the 2017-2018 season.  First, that number reminds the organization and its incredible fan base that they have enjoyed an amazing 25 years of NHL hockey in the Tampa area. An anniversary bearing that number is more than worthy of commemoration, but a bit of kismet has made it possible for the team to also recognize one of their own that once wore that number.  Dave Andreychuk played for Tampa Bay from 2001 to 2006 and “wore jersey No. 25 when he led the Lightning as team captain to the 2004 Stanley Cup Championship.”  Fittingly, No. 25 will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame the same year that the Lightning organization gets to wear his number.  Twenty-five.

To celebrate both the Lightning’s 25-year milestone and the legacy of Dave Andreychuk, Big Storm Brewing Co. collaborated with the team to develop The Lightning Twenty Five.  This liquid tribute is an American Light Lager that features “classic American cluster hops and German pilsner barley malt.”  At 4% ABV, this easy-drinking offering promises to be the perfect go-to brew for Tampa hockey fans all season long.

“It’s exciting to play in role in highlighting the Lightning’s remarkable 25 years in the National Hockey League,” said Big Storm CFO and co-owner L.J. Govoni. “Big Storm Head Brewer Joel Moore has also done a fantastic job creating a stand-out beer that is worthy of the championship caliber team the Lightning will put on the ice this season,” Govoni added.

The Lightning Twenty Five Craft Lager will launch in Big Storm Taproom locations beginning on September 15, and it will then become “available at AMALIE Arena for the first preseason game and throughout Tampa Bay on September 19.”  Craft beer fans and Lightning supports can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 16 oz. cans and on draft at “at Amalie Arena, various Tampa Bay restaurants and bars, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Total Wine & More, select Publix locations and other outlets.”  If the celebration behind the beer wasn’t enough, Big Storm Brewing – a proud partner of the Lightning – is also giving the beer a cause as they “will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Lightning Twenty Five during the season to the Lightning Foundation, which supports charities across Tampa Bay.”  The reasons are many to pick up a pack or two of The Lightning Twenty Five, so be sure to check out this special brew while you can.  Prost!

Vital Information for The Lightning Twenty Five Craft Lager from Big Storm Brewing Co.

Release – Limited; launching September 15, 2017
Style – American Light Lager
ABV – 4%
Featured Malts – German Pilsner Barley Malt
Featured Hops – American Cluster
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Where To Get It – Big Storm Brewing Taproom locations, Amalie Arena, various Tampa Bay restaurants and bars, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Total Wine & More, select Publix locations and other outlets in the Tampa area

Creature Comforts Brewing Co. Schedules Limited Release of Duende Double IPA

Posted on by mashingin

Duendecan_editedCreature Comforts Brewing Co. (Athens, Georgia) has announced that it will officially release 4-packs of Duende Double IPA in their tasting room beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday, September 15.

Arriving as Creature Comforts Brewing Co.’s first release to be available in 16 oz. cans, Duende Double IPA is a “slightly hazy” marigold-colored brew that is most notably known for its “notes of orange, grapefruit, apricot, and tangerine coming from the hops.”  A closer look at this beer reveals that it starts with “a bright almost citrusy pine note” before developing those more intense fruit notes and “a consistent fruit flesh flavor.”  Just as you think Duende might be done, this 8% ABV Double India Pale Ale develops “subtle earth and berry notes . . . and the beer finishes with a perfectly balanced bitterness that rounds out the alcohol sweetness and immediately invites you to take another sip.”

Duende Double IPA will officially release in the Creature Comforts Tasting Room on Friday, September 15.  The brewery will open early at 1 p.m. for to-go purchases only, and on-site consumption will begin at 5 p.m.  Duende Double IPA will be available for purchase in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans ($15 per 4-pack, limit of FOUR 4-packs per customer).  Cans will only be available for purchase in the tasting room, but Duende Double IPA will see limited distribution on draft to select craft beer spots located in Athens and Atlanta, Georgia.  Prost!

Vital Information for Duende Double IPA from Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

Release – Limited; September 15, 2017
Style – American Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8%
Featured Hops – Citra, Mosaic & Simcoe
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans available for purchase only in the Creature Comforts Tasting Room; limited distribution on draft in Athens & Atlanta, Georgia
Price – $15 per 4-pack
Limit – Four (4) 4-packs per customer

Harpoon Brewery Introduces UFO Leaf Peepin’! Mix Pack

Posted on by mashingin

UFOLeafPeep_editedHarpoon Brewery / UFO Beers (Boston, Massachusetts) recently announced that it is diving into fall with the launch of their UFO Leaf Peepin’! Mix Pack.

To recognize and welcome all the visitors that will soon be flooding the back roads of New England to “check out all the beautiful fall foliage” (a.k.a. Leaf Peepers), Harpoon Brewery has decided to release the UFO Leaf Peepin’! Mix Pack.  This variety 12-pack is comprised of 12 oz. cans of the following four UFO (UnFiltered Offering) brews:

  • UFO Hefeweizen – “Inspired by a 400-year tradition, our award-winning Hefeweizen features a cloudy golden color and is refreshing, smooth and light bodied. Perfect to quench your thirst while on a summer hike. Serve with a lemon wedge to complement the citrusy UFO Hefeweizen experience. Swirl, pour and enjoy!”  ABV – 4.8%
  • UFO White Ale – “Light, crisp, refreshing and brewed with orange peel and coriander, UFO White Ale follows in the tradition of spiced white beers that have been brewed in Belgium for well over 100 years. Cool down at a beachside bonanza with this brew. Serve with a slice of orange and enjoy!”  ABV – 4.8%
  • UFO Cranbeery – “This hefeweizen is infused with cranberries right from the bogs of Massachusetts. A little tart, a little sweet, and a lot delicious, this cranberry hefeweizen is a refreshing addition to leaf peepin’, hiking, or just hanging out around a camp fire (s’mores encouraged).”  ABV – 4.8%
  • UFO Raspberry – “Natural raspberry flavor is added to this delightfully sweet and slightly tart raspberry hefeweizen to give it a delicate fruit flavor. The raspberries are balanced by the clean, wheat beer taste making it a delicious blend of sweet and refreshing for any season. Drink it to cool down when your summer BBQ starts to heat up.”  ABV – 4.8%

The UFO Leaf Peepin’! Mix Pack is available now and will be hanging around through October.  You can expect to find this Seasonal Variety 12-pack of 12 oz. cans at craft beer-friendly retailers located in Alabama, Florida, Massachusetts, Vermont and throughout the rest of Harpoon Brewery’s distribution network.  Prost!

Full Sail Brewing Co. Set to Release 8 Pound Pale Fresh Hop Ale

Posted on by mashingin

8lbPalePourShot-_252x577Fresh hop season is officially upon us, and the folks at Full Sail Brewing Co. (Hood River, Oregon) are celebrating this glorious time of year with the release 8 Pound Pale Fresh Hop Ale.

Arriving as the latest offering from Full Sail Brewing Co.’s Brewmaster Reserve series, 8 Pound Pale Fresh Hop Ale is a small-batch American Pale Ale that has been “brewed with eight pounds of local, freshly harvested Centennial hops per barrel.”  To make this beer go “from farm to tank in three hours”, Full Sail brewers Chris Davis and Greg Doss ventured out to “B&D Farms in Saint Paul, Oregon on harvest day last month to procure fresh, wet hops from the field” and then immediately returned to the brewery to begin the brewing process.  This offering – like all Wet Hop/Harvest Ales – proves to be a unique experience each year, so here’s what you can expect from this year’s 8 Pound Pale Fresh Hop Ale:

“This year’s 8 Pound Pale Fresh Hop Ale explodes with bright tropical notes,” says Full Sail brewer Greg Doss. “A blend of pale and wheat malts created a light golden base which we packed with Willamette Valley-grown Centennial Hops, only hours off the vine. Beautiful fresh-hop aromas of tropical fruit and citrus are complemented nicely with subtle malt notes. This refreshing beer is high on hop aromatics yet well balanced.”

8 Pound Pale Fresh Hop Ale will officially release in late-September and will be available as long as supplies last.  Once released, this Limited Release offering will be available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, Georgia, Oregon, and throughout the rest of Full Sail Brewing Co.’s distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for 8 Pound Pale Fresh Hop Ale from Full Sail Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Brewmaster Reserve, late-September 2017
Style – American Pale Ale/Harvest Ale
ABV – 5.6%
IBUs – 54
Featured Hops – Freshly harvested Centennial hops
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://fullsailbrewing.com/where-to-buy/

Breakfast Stout Returns as Fall Seasonal for Founders Brewing Co.

Posted on by mashingin

BreakfastStout2017FeatureFounders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) announced today that this year’s batch of Breakfast Stout is officially hitting distribution now.

Now considered to be “one of the top stouts in the world”, Breakfast Stout was originally conceptualized over a decade ago when Dave Engbers, co-founder of Founders Brewing Co., washed down a chocolate-covered espresso bean with a Founders Porter.  That experience inspired him to develop what later became “a proprietary process to combine two types of imported chocolate, oats and a Colombian and Sumatra blend from Grand Rapids artisanal roaster, Ferris Coffee and Nut.”  This combination yields an 8.3% ABV Breakfast Stout that is truly “the coffee lover’s consummate beer.”

Breakfast Stout is available now and will hanging around through December.  You can expect to find this fan-favorite Seasonal release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles (suggested retail price of $10.99) and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Founders Brewing Co.’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Breakfast Stout from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Seasonal/Specialty, September to December 2017
Style – American Stout
ABV – 8.3%
IBUs – 60
Featured Ingredients –  Two types of imported chocolate, oats & a Colombian and Sumatra blend from Ferris Coffee and Nut
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/find-our-beer/

Green Flash Treasure Chest IPA Returns to Raise Funds for Breast Cancer Research

Posted on by mashingin

TC17_Beer2Green Flash Brewing Co. (San Diego, California) recently announced that Treasure Chest 2017, a Limited Release India Pale Ale brewed to benefit breast cancer research and prevention, is officially pouring now from coast to coast.

The Treasure Chest program was established in 2011 by Lisa Hinkley, Co-Founder of Green Flash Brewing Co. and breast cancer survivor, as an “annual fundraising program to raise money for breast cancer charities.”  Each year’s release is different, and Treasure Chest 2017 is a tropical India Pale Ale that “features Green Bullet, Warrior, Citra, Cascade, and Simcoe hops, and is infused with passion fruit tea.”

Treasure Chest 2017 is pouring now as a draft only offering.  You can find this Limited Release now at craft beer bars, restaurants and growler stations located in Alabama, Florida, California, Virginia, and throughout the rest of Green Flash Brewing Co.’s nationwide distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Treasure Chest 2017 from Green Flash Brewing Co. 

Release – Limited, late-August/September 2017
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.5%
IBUs – 50
Featured Hops – Green Bullet, Warrior, Citra, Cascade & Simcoe
Added Ingredients – Passion fruit tea
Availability – Draft-only
Beer Finder – http://www.greenflashbrew.com/find-beer/