The Pit Boss Triple IPA Returns for Pair O’ Dice Brewing

Posted on by mashingin

podlogoPair O’ Dice Brewing Company (Clearwater, Florida) recently announced that The Pit Boss Triple IPA will make a limited return beginning on Friday, December 2.

Florida hop heads, take notice!  Pair O’ Dice Brewing has brewed up a new batch of The Pit Boss Triple IPA just for you.  With a hop bill comprised of Amarillo, Apollo, Chinook, Mosaic and Simcoe hops, this juicy Imperial India Pale Ale was brewed with “more than 4 pounds of hops per barrel.”  This heavy-handed punch of hops “delivers an enormous amount of citrus and tropical fruit aromas and flavors followed by some resinous, dank goodness.”  Not to be trifled with, The Pit Boss weighs in at an intimidating 11.5% ABV and 125 IBUs.

“I love IPAs and The Pit Boss Triple IPA is my masterpiece.” says Pair O’ Dice’s Head Brewer, Ken Rosenthal. “When I opened Pair O’ Dice Brewing 3 years ago, I was inspired to bring fresh, hoppy, west coast style IPAs to Florida. As new hops varieties become available and the IPA market changes I’ve taken inspiration from the northeast as well. The Pit Boss Triple IPA blends the clean, hoppy, light bodied west coast imperial IPA with the juicy and fruity IPAs of New England. There is a distinct citrus and tropical fruit profile that I love about this beer. It tastes like hop candy and it’s a delicious damn imperial IPA.”

Pair O’ Dice Brewing will officially release this batch of The Pit Boss Triple IPA at the brewery on Friday, December 2 at 4 p.m.  During this release event, The Pit Boss will be available for purchase in 4-packs of cans for $19.99 each (plus tax).  Cans will only be available at the brewery, but this offering will see limited distribution on draft at “select craft beer retailers in Florida starting Monday, December 5th.”  If hops are your thing, you better make plans now to get your fix with The Pit Boss Triple IPA and Pair O’ Dice Brewing Company.  Prost!

Vital Information for The Pit Boss Triple IPA from Pair O’ Dice Brewing Company

Release – Limited, cans on December 2 & draft on December 5
Style – Imperial IPA
ABV – 11.5%
IBUs – 125
Hops – Amarillo, Apollo, Chinook, Mosaic & Simcoe
Malts – 2-Row & Munich
Availability – 4-packs of cans (brewery only) & limited draft at select craft beer retailers in Florida

Stevens Point Brewery Introduces Snow Pilot Pistachio Nut Brown Ale as Winter Seasonal

Posted on by mashingin

spsnowpilotbottleStevens Point Brewery (Stevens Point, Wisconsin) has officially announced the release of Point Snow Pilot Pistachio Nut Brown Ale as the brewery’s new Winter Seasonal.

As a bit of a different take on the winter seasonal, Stevens Point decided to provide their fans with the comfort and familiarity of a Nut Brown Ale.  To create Point Snow Pilot, brewers laid the foundation of this English-style Brown Ale with Victory malt, Caramel malt and Palisade hops.  When it came time for nut selection, the brewery chose crushed pistachios as a bit of twist to take this offering to full on Nut Brown status.  Although big in flavor, the very reasonable 6% ABV allows this beer to remain an easy-drinking option that you can revisit all winter long.

“When you want to highlight the nutty components of a beer’s flavor, you brew with a nutty malt like Victory,” Brewmaster Gabe Hopkins said. “The first thing you notice when you taste Snow Pilot is a caramel maltiness, followed by a very nice pistachio-flavored sweetness,” he explained. “Snow Pilot has a very distinct, well-defined pistachio flavor and nutty aroma that shows itself more and more as the beer warms in the glass. “The ideal serving temperature for Snow Pilot, Hopkins noted, is around 44 to 48 degrees. “Snow Pilot is a very sessionable, easy-to-drink brown ale just right for colder weather,” he said.

Available now through the end of January 2017, Point Snow Pilot Pistachio Nut Brown Ale can be found in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 6-packs & 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, in the Winter Wonderland variety 12-pack, and on draft.  If this brew has piqued your interest, you can expect this one to turn up at craft beer-friendly establishments in Alabama and throughout the full Stevens Point distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Snow Pilot Pistachio Nut Brown Ale from Stevens Point Brewery

Release – Seasonal, November 2016 through January 31, 2017
Style – English Brown Ale
ABV – 6%
IBUs – 16
Malts – Victory & Caramel
Hops – Palisade
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 6-packs & 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, in the Winter Wonderland variety 12-pack, & on draft
Beer Finder – http://www.pointbeer.com/find-brews/

M.I.A. Beer Company Expands Distribution to Ohio

Posted on by mashingin

mialogoM.I.A. Beer Company (Doral, Florida) has partnered with Cavalier Distributing to begin distribution of their offerings in Ohio on Monday, December 5.

When they first opened for business in 2015, the owners of M.I.A. Beer Company – Johann Beckford, Eddie Leon, and Kevin Smith – wanted to create a craft beer experience greatly inspired by South Florida’s tropical environment and local pop culture.  They did just that by infusing the unique vibe of Miami into their lineup of quality craft beers and the brewery’s overall culture.  This approach has proven to be a formula for success and M.I.A. Beer Company is now ready to expand distribution to Ohio, their first market outside of Florida.

The expansion to Ohio will officially begin on December 5, and M.I.A. will launch in that market with the following offerings:

  • Miami Weiss Hefeweizen – This traditional German-Style Hefeweizen is brewed with wheat, barley, & sweet orange peel. This unfiltered hefe produces vanilla, banana & bubblegum esters.  ABV – 6%  IBUs – 10
  • Mega Mix Pale Ale – A West-Coast style light bodied pale ale with a Megamix of Mosaic, Galaxy and Citra late addition and dry hops. Hugely aromatic and mildly bitter.  ABV – 6%  IBUs – 50
  • Tourist Trappe Belgian Tripel – This tripel is brewed with blond malts and a touch of candy sugar. It’s fermented with Belgian Abby yeast strain that imparts fruity and spicy yet soft, well rounded esters. This low hopped brew is easy on the palate, but deceptively strong.  ABV – 10%  IBUs – 35

In addition to the three beers listed above, M.I.A. will also treat the Ohio craft beer community to “seasonal and limited releases as they are available.”

“M.I.A. is excited to bring our line of Miami-inspired beers to Ohio. We have many Ohio vacationers who have discovered us, and now, they can enjoy a little taste of vacation at home,” said Eddie Leon, Co-Owner of M.I.A. Beer Company.

The brews of M.I.A. Beer Company will be available in 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer establishments in “the Cincinnati, Dayton, and Oxford markets.”  The Ohio branch of Cavalier Distributing will handle all distribution responsibilities for M.I.A. in those areas. A taste of Florida can certainly go a long way during an Ohio winter, so keep an eye out for these beers when they start hitting shelves and taps on Monday.  Prost!

Tasting Notes – Spirits Edition: Jameson Caskmates

Posted on by mashingin

jamesonpromoA confirmed truth: very few things hit the spot quite like a dram of whiskey after a big holiday meal.  With that in mind, this special edition of Tasting Notes features the craft beer-themed offering from Jameson Irish Whiskey (Dublin, Ireland) simply named Jameson Caskmates.

It is pretty safe to assume that the two beverages that see the most time on bar tops at Irish pubs are fine Irish Whiskeys and really good Irish Dry Stouts.  This being the case, it is kind of odd that there has yet to be a truly thoughtful attempt at bringing these two together.  Well . . . until now.  This all changed when the Master Distiller at Jameson Irish Whiskey and the Master Brewer at Franciscan Well Brewery (Cork, Ireland) sat down together and hatched a plan:

  • Step 1 – Jameson would send the brewery several used whiskey barrels.  The brewers at Franciscan Well would then fill these barrels with their Irish Stout.  Once the beer properly aged and picked up the complex notes of the Irish Whiskey tucked snugly away within the wood, the barrels would then be returned to the distillery.
  • Step 2 – Upon receiving the return shipment of the now Irish Stout-infused barrels, Jameson distillers would fill the casks once again with their classic Original Irish Whiskey.

Since they had never done anything like this before, all the distillers could really do at that point was wait and see what would be the result of this collaborative experiment.  When the aging process was finally completed, they found the whiskey’s “triple-distilled smoothness . . . very much intact” but it had also taken on Stout-influenced notes of “cocoa, coffee and butterscotch.”  The proper introduction of Irish Whiskey and Irish Stout had finally been achieved, and now we all get to enjoy these results in bottles of Jameson Caskmates – Stout Edition.  If you would like a taste of this unique offering, you can find this Stout-infused Whiskey available in 750ml bottles at fine liquor stores and bars across the United States.

Now that we have the story behind Jameson Caskmates covered, it is time to break out the whiskey glasses, sip, relax, and take down a few Tasting Notes.

Tasting Notes for Jameson Caskmates – Stout Edition from Jameson Irish Whiskey

Appearance:  With a pour of two fingers, this whiskey rests in the glass light golden in color with soft hues of brown burnishing the edges.  Although pristine in clarity, the still liquid displays mesmerizing, oily rings when presented with the right angle of light.  With a gentle swirl of the glass, the whiskey leaves lengthy, slick legs behind.

Aroma:  The presence of alcohol soaked grain and hay begin the experience.  Once given a little time to breathe, the aromatics open up and soften to reveal notes of citrus, pear and apple.  The stout-like characteristics are reserved, but they do grab your attention late by lending qualities of cocoa and coffee.  The aroma rounds off with some honey sweetness.

Taste:  Caramelized, bordering on burnt, brown sugar and earthy barley rush the palate to start.  These two notes take on toffee and butterscotch qualities that nicely complement the building stout flavors of roasted malt, coffee and bittersweet dark chocolate.  Slightly nutty, this offering finishes with notes of woodsy, charred oak and creamy vanilla.

Mouthfeel:  Slick in texture, the coating ability of this whiskey quickly grabs the attention of your taste buds.  Sweet on the palate, but far from being overly cloying.  At 80 Proof, any heat here is slow and comforting.  The finish is long, allowing notes of oak, vanilla and cocoa the opportunity to linger.

Final Thoughts:  Jameson Caskmates absolutely comes together as an offering that builds on the experience of Jameson Original.  That being said, craft beer fans need to realize that this is still an Irish Whiskey experience.  It must be noted that we are dealing with a 40% ABV Irish Whiskey here, so boozy notes of fine grain and charred oak do show some aggression at first sip.  When this happens, just slow down, sip gently and really take in the flavors resting on your palate.  If done correctly, you can reach that transcendental moment that reveals the Irish Stout-like notes of coffee, roasted malt, toffee and cocoa.  With a bit of patience, this whiskey will open up and a rush of familiar flavors will surface to absolutely blow your mind.  I had a blast exploring this offering, and I highly suggest that you sit down with a glass of Jameson Caskmates to experience it for yourself.  Prost!

Sprecher Brewery Releases Winter Lager as Limited Edition Seasonal

Posted on by mashingin

sprecherwinteraleSprecher Brewery (Glendale, Wisconsin) has officially sent Winter Lager out to distribution as a limited Seasonal offering.

First brewed in 1985, Sprecher Brewery’s Winter Lager has been a dependable liquid refuge from the cold for over three decades now.  This award-winning Munich Dunkel (Dark) Lager is deep mahogony in color and boasts notes of coffee, nuts, dark roast and spice. At 5.75% ABV, Winter Lager will provide you with the perfect amount of comforting warmth to battle anything that winter can throw at you.

“Winter Lager is our version of a classic Bavarian style lager. One of the original beers we brewed back in 1985, it is still among my favorites. If you want to experience some Wisconsin gemütlichkeit try this beer with cheese, sausage and big soft pretzels,” said Randy Sprecher, CEO and founder of Sprecher Brewing Company.

Winter Lager is available now as a limited edition Seasonal release and will be available while supplies last.  This offering can be found in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer retailers in Alabama, Florida, and the rest of Sprecher’s distribution area.  If you are as big a fan of traditional German beer styles as I am, the word to keep in mind here is “limited”.  Get this one while you can.  Prost!

Vital Information for Winter Lager from Sprecher Brewery

Release – Limited Seasonal, beginning late November 2016
Style – Munich Dunkel Lager
Year First Brewed – 1985
ABV – 5.75%
Malts – Black Patent, Caramel, Chocolate & Pale
Hops – Cascade, Chinook, Mt. Hood & Tettnanger
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft

Second Self Beer Company to Begin Distribution in Alabama

Posted on by mashingin

ssbclogoSecond Self Beer Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has officially signed with Pinnacle Imports and will begin distribution in Alabama on Thursday, December 1.

Established with the mission “to brew exceptionally high-quality beer made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients that vary with the seasons,” Second Self Beer Company launched in Atlanta during the fall of 2014.  Since that date, the brewery has grown steadily, earned a solid reputation and created a loyal following by simply staying true to their five core values: Local, Flavor, Community, Sustainable and People.  Their sustained success has finally made it possible for the brewery to expand their reach outside of the state of Georgia, and Second Self Beer Company has chosen the neighboring craft beer community of Alabama as their first step toward distribution expansion.

When the brewery launches in Alabama on December 1, Second Self Beer Company will offer the following five offerings (all pictured above):

Year-Round Beers

  • Citrus IPA: a year-round IPA that packs a citrus punch yet isn’t overly bitter. It’s made with citrusy hops: Columbus, Amarillo, Citra & just a touch of lemon, orange & grapefruit peel to enhance the citrus aroma without any bitterness. The beer is then dry-hopped with more Amarillo & Citra hops for the added hoppy, citrus punch. The aroma is sweet, yet the taste is dry with a robust IPA finish.  Suggested parings: pan-roasted trout, mussels, artichokes, potato soup & gruyere cheese. ABV – 6.2%  IBUs – 50
  • Red Hop Rye: a Red IPA with an abundance of hoppy citrus aromas from dry-hopping. Spicy rye mixed with hops & balanced by a malty backbone from American caramel & honey malts.  Suggested pairings: BBQ, steak, burgers, brats, cheddar cheese & spicy foods.  ABV – 7.3%  IBUs – 69
  • Thai Wheat:  a year-round American Wheat. This spicy beer is as exotic as the country that inspired it, with fresh lemongrass & ginger for a refreshing aroma & taste.  Suggested pairings: fish, chicken, pork loin, grilled vegetables, sushi & Asian cuisine.  ABV – 5.1%  IBUs – 18

Seasonal Releases

  • Maverick & Gose: a fresh take on a traditional Gose with the addition of coriander. Dry-hopped with fruity Wakatu hops to balance out a slightly tart & salty nature.  Suggested pairings: grilled grouper, oysters, guacamole, pineapple & beach volleyball.  ABV – 4.4%  IBUs – 8
  • Molé Porter: a chocolate porter with extra spices reminiscent of Second Self Co-founder Jason Santamaria’s family recipe for Oaxacan sauce. This robust porter is packed with flavor to warm you up this winter.  Suggested pairings: pork or beef tacos, stews & chilis, gruyere cheese & chocolate desserts.  ABV – 6.5%  IBUs – 27

The five beers listed above will be available in 12 oz. cans and on draft at “bars, restaurants, and shops throughout Birmingham, Montgomery, Auburn and surrounding counties.”  All distribution responsibilities will be handled by Bessemer’s Pinnacle Imports.  Details concerning official launch parties should emerge soon, and I’ll update you here once I have that information.  Until then, just swing by your favorite, local craft beer establishment on Thursday to sample these brews and give Second Self Beer Company a proper welcome to the Alabama beer scene.  Prost!

ssbcvalues

Full Sail Brewing Observes the Winter Solstice with Shortest Day CDA

Posted on by mashingin

2016-shortest-day-cda-252x577In recognition of the year’s shortest day and longest night, Full Sail Brewing Co. (Hood River, Oregon) has officially released Shortest Day Cascadian Dark Ale as their latest limited release offering.

As the winter solstice looms over us, Full Sail Brewing has brewed up Shortest Day Cascadian Dark Ale (CDA) to be as dark as the long nights of winter seem.  Arriving as the latest offering to come out of the brewery’s Brewmaster Reserve, this CDA – a style also known as the Black India Pale Ale – has been brewed with a recipe boasting three malts (2-Row Pale, Crystal, and de-husked Chocolate malts) and three varietals of tropical and citrus hops (Mosaic, Simcoe and Citra hops).  These ingredients come together to create a beer that “pours a deep dark black with a lacy tan head, with aromas of dark roasty malt and hints of tropical and citrus fruit.”  Quick to make an impression with the craft beer community, Shortest Day CDA has already won a gold medal at this year’s Great International Beer & Cider Competition.

“Shortest Day CDA offers bold flavor with excellent balance,” says Full Sail Executive Brewmaster Jamie Emmerson. “De-husked chocolate malt imparts dark chocolate flavor while crystal adds depth and complexity. Generous additions of Mosaic, Simcoe and Citra hops lend flavors of fruit and sweet floral notes.”

Brewed in small batches, Shortest Day CDA is a limited release offering available from November 2016 through February 2017.  You can find this beer in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments in Florida and throughout the rest of Full Sail’s distribution network.  Get your bottles when you can so that you may properly enjoy a long, winter’s night with a Shortest Day CDA in hand.  Prost!

Vital Information for Shortest Day Cascadian Dark Ale from Full Sail Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Brewmaster Reserve Series, November 2016 through February 2017
Style – Cascadian Dark Ale/Black India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.6%
IBUs – 57
Malts – 2-Row Pale, Crystal & de-husked Chocolate 
Hops – Mosaic, Simcoe & Citra
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://fullsailbrewing.com/where-to-buy/
Fun Fact – The hand-drawn artwork by Portland-based TWEEQiM creativeLab’s MiQ Willmott on all of Full Sail’s recently rebranded packaging pays homage to Hood River’s water sources, bounty of fresh ingredients, and of course, the award-winning taste in each and every bottle. Shortest Day CDA’s label design does all this and more. Willmott’s meticulous design features the Green Man—known in lore as the mascot of the winter solstice—fashioned from hops, celebrating the darkness of night and rebirth, as days begin getting longer again. “The Green Man’s crescent-moon smile reflects on the river,” says Willmott. “And the white stars represent the ‘winter circle,’ the phenomenon of stars that appear only on the winter solstice. Even the Big Dipper gets a cameo.”

 

Sixpoint Brewery Tackles Beer Climate Issues with Release of Global Warmer

Posted on by mashingin

globalwarmer_frontSixpoint Brewery (Brooklyn, New York) recently announced that Global Warmer Cloudy Red Ale has returned to shelves and taps as a limited, Seasonal release.

Created as a statement that addresses a beer climate currently overwhelmed by the same ol’ styles of the season, Sixpoint has reformulated and reimagined the Winter Warmer with the creation of Global Warmer.  In keeping with the initial intentions of the brewery’s Cycliquids Series – a constantly rotating lineup of beers in which the brewery experiments with styles and/or tweaks the recipes of past releases -, this Winter Warmer shakes things up by rockin’ a base of an American Red Ale that is “unfiltered [and] hop-intensified.”  Clocking in at 7% ABV and 70 IBUs, this Cloudy Red Ale bucks trends to make a real impact on your choice of beers this season.

Global Warmer Cloudy Red Ale is available now as a limited release offering.  You can track this one down in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans at select craft beer retailers found in Alabama, Florida and throughout the full distribution footprint of Sixpoint Brewery.  Join the movement this winter, call for change, and raise a glass of Global Warmer as a sign of solidarity.  Prost!

Vital Information for Global Warmer Cloudy Red Ale from Sixpoint Brewery

Release – Limited/Cycliquids Series, beginning late November 2016
Style – American Red Ale/Winter Warmer
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 70
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans
Beer Finder – http://sixpoint.com/connect/finder

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Tasting Notes: Mandarina IPA from Highland Brewing Company

Posted on by mashingin

highlandmandarinalogo_editedThe Thanksgiving holiday provided us with the opportunity to try quite a few new libations over the long weekend, so let’s kick the week off by jumping right into some Tasting Notes featuring Mandarina IPA from Highland Brewing Company (Asheville, North Carolina).

First released back in June, Mandarina IPA was created as Highland Brewing Company’s answer to the incredibly popular and expanding segment of fruited India Pale Ales filling craft beer shelves these days.  For this offering, the brewers at Highland achieved a massive citrus profile thanks to the use of German Mandarina Bavaria and Hull Melon hops and hundreds of pounds of puréed whole California oranges.  The beer is then supported by a classic IPA backbone reinforced with Cascade, Chinook and Bravo hops.  All of this culminates into a “palate-pleasing, fruity crusher burst[ing] with intense orange and tropical notes and assert[ing] a crisp, bright finish.”  Mandarina IPA is a year-round release available now in 12 oz. cans, 12 oz. bottles, and on draft.  You can find this one in Alabama, Florida and throughout the full distribution area of Highland Brewing Company.  With those details covered, I believe it is now time to fill this Spiegelau IPA glass and jot down some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Mandarina IPA from Highland Brewing Company

Appearance: Mandarina IPA fills the glass with a rich, golden yellow liquid softly painted with subtle brushstrokes of the lightest of oranges.  Held to direct light, the beer softens to expose gentle gold and pale, straw yellow tones.  The body is pristine in its clarity and displays a carbonation activity dashing throughout.  The pour built over two fingers of airy, white foam.  That head eventually drops down to a thin, but complete top cap that lays down traces of lace.  As I gently swirl the beer around, it is easy to see that it is quite slick on the glass. Utterly beautiful in presentation.

Aroma: Have you ever walked into a kitchen where someone is slicing a large amount of oranges or visited an establishment that makes fresh orange juice right in front of their guests?  If so, then you know the exact aroma that is pleasantly permeating my senses at this very moment.  Ridiculously bright, citrusy notes fill the air with ease.  So clean.  So natural.  Such a blatantly spot on representation of orange juice and zest.  Tropical hop notes reside underneath, but stand no chance of competing with this aromatic blitz of citrus.

Taste: Orange zest leads this flavorful charge with a gentle sweetness and a little pithy bitterness.  The flavors then shift to the center of the fruit to produce notes of freshly squeezed orange juice.  The hops surface to complement with tropical fruit flavors of tangerine, grapefruit, mango and melon.  A light malt sweetness balances the hops and encompasses the entire flavor profile by adding a bit of a candied orange-like effect. Incredibly nuanced and balanced here.

Mouthfeel: This IPA rests on the lighter side of medium in body with a bright carbonation presence.  It may be bitter and sweet on the palate, but the beer quickly dries out cleanly and crisply.  There is a slight tinge of ABV heat on the throat, but it is barely noticeable.  The aftertaste is the whole orange: zest, pith, juice and pulp.  This beer is basically the definition of easy-drinking and quenching.

Final Thoughts: The brewers at Highland Brewing Company obviously had their sights set on having Mandarina IPA harness the essence of the orange, and their aim has proven incredibly true.  Although the fruit is the star here, this beer is by no means one dimensional.  Whether they originate from the hops or the malts, all of the notes within the base IPA are allowed to complement and play nicely with the orange character.  From the first to the last sip, it is clear that a lot of care, consideration and attention went into crafting Mandarina IPA.  In conclusion, this is a fantastic offering that can either act as a wonderful introduction to the world of India Pale Ales or as a thirst-quenching, daily drinker for the most avid of hopheads.  In other words, this is a must try brew.  Prost!

Breckenridge Brewery Gets Festive with Release of Christmas Ale and Holidale

Posted on by mashingin

christmas-ale-updatedTo get the Holiday Season in full swing, Breckenridge Brewery (Littleton, Colorado) has officially sent their Christmas Ale and Holidale out for national distribution.

Brewed with the same recipe since it was first released in 1993, the iconic Christmas Ale is Breckenridge Brewery’s riff on the Winter Warmer.  Unlike a lot of the Winter Warmers and Holiday Ales currently on the market, Christmas Ale’s recipe does not include any spice additions.  Instead, this Strong Ale relies heavily on “rich flavors of caramel and chocolate from carefully roasted malts” and any notes of spice have been sourced from the use of Chinook and Mt. Hood hops.  Since this seasonal has achieved a level of popularity that has caused the beer to sell out early each year, the brewery has “increased the volume of Christmas Ale’s production by twenty-five percent” to hopefully keep up with demand in 2016.

“People look forward to our annual release of Christmas Ale because it marks the start of the holiday season,” said Todd Usry, President of Breckenridge Brewery. “Its strikes the perfect balance of hearty flavors with tradition and cheer.”

holidale-10-33Fully embracing the giving spirit of the season, Breckenridge Brewery does not stop at just one option when it comes to Holiday Ale releases. Holidale begins with the same base beer as Christmas Ale, but this batch spends some time aging and maturing in whiskey barrels.  This treatment expands on the beer’s sensory experience by adding “toasted biscuit notes complemented by soft caramel sweetness and hints of oak and whiskey warmth.”  2016 marks the second year that this true holiday treat has been given expanded availability throughout Breckenridge’s national distribution area.

Christmas Ale and Holidale are both available from November through December.  Christmas Ale can be found in 6-packs and 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 5L mini-kegs, and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Florida and throughout the full distribution footprint of Breckenridge Brewery.  A bit more limited in availability, 22 oz. bottles of Holidale can be picked up in select markets within the brewery’s distribution network.  Secure your stash when you can because both of these brews are sure to be holiday hits once again in 2016.  Prost!

Vital Information for Christmas Ale from Breckenridge Brewery

Release – Seasonal, November through December 2016
Style – Winter Warmer
ABV – 7.1%
IBUs – 22
Hops – Chinook & Mt. Hood
Availability –  6-packs & 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 5L mini-kegs, & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.breckbrew.com/beer-locator

Vital Information for Holidale from Breckenridge Brewery

Release – Limited Seasonal, November through December 2016
Style – Barrel-aged Winter Warmer (whiskey barrels)
ABV – 10.3%
IBUs – 22
Availability – 22 oz. bottles
Beer Finder – http://www.breckbrew.com/beer-locator