New Belgium Brewing and Orval Partner to create Anne-Françoise Spiced Dark Strong Ale

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lips_of_faith_anne_francoise_12oz_bottleNew Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado) recently announced that they have teamed up with Brasserie d’Orval (Florenville, Belgium) to brew Anne-Françoise Spiced Dark Strong Ale.

Hitting shelves and taps now, Anne-Françoise Spiced Dark Strong Ale arrives as the final beer in the New Belgium Lips of Faith Belgian-collaboration series, a liquid celebration of the brewery’s 25th Anniversary that has them partnering with some of the most respected brewers in Belgium.  For this release, brewers at New Belgium partnered with Orval Abbey’s first female brewmaster Anne-Françoise Pypaert to create the perfect counterpart to the Authentic Trappist Product respected as “one of the finest golden beers in the world, Orval.”  They ultimately crafted a Belgian Strong Dark Ale “brewed with specialty malts, dry-hopped with herbal French Strisselspalt, and then spiced with citrusy grains of paradise and spruce tips.”  To provide a little American edge to the beer, this offering then sat on toasted American oak spirals for two weeks to impart a “subtle spicy, vanilla flavor to tie the chocolaty malts and citrus spices together.”  At 9.5% ABV, this brew comes together as medium bodied with a warm, coating finish.

Anne-Françoise Spiced Dark Strong Ale is available now and will hang around as long as supplies last.  You can pick up this offering in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles or enjoy it on draft at craft beer retailers in Alabama, Florida and throughout New Belgium’s distribution area.  When you hit up your favorite local spot for bottles of Anne-Françoise Spiced Dark Strong Ale, be sure to pick up a bottle of Orval as well to see how these two compare and contrast.  After all, Orval is a dynamic classic that should be experienced and revisited as often as possible.  Prost!

Vital Information for Anne-Françoise Spiced Dark Strong Ale from New Belgium Brewing Company and Brasserie d’Orval

Release – Limited/Lips of Faith Belgian-Collaboration Series, November 2016
Style – Belgian Strong Dark Ale
ABV – 9.5%
IBUs – 30
Malts – Pale, C-80, Munich, Black Prinz & Chocolate
Hops – Nugget, Liberty, Willamette & Strisselspalt
Fruits/Spices – Grains of paradise & spruce
Special Processing – Aged on American white oak spirals. Dry hopped with Strisselspalt hops
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.newbelgium.com/Beer/finder

Bifrost Winter Ale Makes Seasonal Return for Elysian Brewing

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bifrostElysian Brewing Company (Seattle, Washington) recently announced that Bifrost Winter Ale has officially returned as the brewery’s winter seasonal offering.

Bifrost Winter Ale may be light in color, but Elysian Brewing crafted this winter seasonal release to be a sturdy, sizable Pale Ale that can hold its own in a market currently inundated with big, holiday-themed Stouts and Winter Warmers.  This Winter Pale Ale lures you in with aromas reminiscent of “caramel apples with a little spice and orange zest,” and a bold and balanced flavor profile satisfies the soul with notes of earthy, citrusy hops and malt sweetness.  Weighing in at 8.3% ABV, Bifrost Winter Ale has the ability to be that warming libation we all seek after a long, winter’s day.

Bifrost Winter Ale is a winter seasonal release currently available November through December 2016.  Look for this one to turn up in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer retailers in Florida, Georgia, and throughout the full distribution area of Elysian Brewing Company.  If you find yourself in search of a warming ale that still provides you with a hop fix this winter, it sounds like you need to keep Bifrost Winter Ale in mind while on your next beer run.  Prost!

Vital Information for Bifrost Winter Ale from Elysian Brewing Company

Release – Seasonal, November-December 2016
Style – Pale Ale
ABV – 8.3%
IBUs – 58
Hops – Bittered with Magnum, finished with Chinook & Styrian Golding
Malts – Pale with small amounts of Munich & Crystal
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.elysianbrewing.com/beer-locator/

Swamp Head Brewery Release Lloyd’s Christmas Ale in Cans

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lloydsxmasLloyd’s Christmas Ale has officially returned as a special holiday offering from Swamp Head Brewery (Gainesville, Florida), and this year’s release also includes limited availability in 12 oz. cans.

Inspiration to create memorable craft beer experiences can certainly be found just about anywhere, and the good folks of Swamp Head Brewery turned to the cult classic comedy known as Dumb & Dumber when it was time to brew up a holiday-themed offering.  Lloyd’s Christmas Ale, a release from the brewery’s Elusive Reclusive Series, starts with a hoppy Amber Ale base that is then loaded with “a colossal amount of spruce tips.”  This treatment yields a 5.5% ABV brew featuring “up front flavors of hops and an assertive essence of spruce . . . balanced perfectly with a hearty malt backbone.”

Lloyd’s Christmas Ale officially releases Wednesday, November 16 in the Swamp Head Brewery taproom (a.k.a. The Wetlands).  This limited release brew will be pouring on draft at select craft beer establishments in Florida, and 12 oz. cans will be available for purchase exclusively in the brewery’s taproom (limited quantities available, one case maximum per person).  To do the holidays correctly, all you have to do is follow three simple steps: pick up those cans today, fire up the DVD player, and enjoy “Lloyd’s best idea yet” as a truly immersive experience.  Prost!

Vital Information for Lloyd’s Christmas Ale from Swamp Head Brewery

Release – Limited/Elusive Reclusive Series, available beginning on November 16, 2016
Style – Spiced Ale/American Amber Ale
ABV – 5.5%
IBUs – 31.8
Hops – Simcoe
Malts – Pale Ale, Caramel, Vienna, Crystal, Carapils & Chocolate
Added Ingredients – Spruce tips
Availability – Limited draft throughout Florida distribution area & 12 oz. cans available exclusively in Swamp Head Brewery’s tap room
Required Movie Quote – “Some place warm, a place where the beer flows like wine, where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I’m talking about a little place called Aspen.”  Lloyd Christmas – Dumb & Dumber

Forbidden Root Brewery to Expand Distribution to Florida

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fr-logo-orange-on-trans2xForbidden Root Brewery (Chicago, Illinois) has officially signed with Cavalier Distributing to bring the brewery’s offerings to Florida in early 2017.

Situated in the West Town area of the city, Forbidden Root is “Chicago’s first botanic brewery making craft beer inspired by nature.”  For their offerings, the brewery uses water, barley, hops and yeast as a foundation on which they can explore, honor and showcase wild, natural ingredients such as “bark, stems, flowers, herbs, spices, leaves, roots, and other foraged flavors.”  Randy Mosher, respected craft beer authority and author of Tasting Beer, is an equity partner and acts as the brewery’s Alchemist by providing the guidance needed to craft and harness these complex and unique flavors.  Forbidden Root was founded by Robert Finkel as a benefit corporation, “meaning benefits, other than shareholder value, are built into their operating charter [and] they donate 100% of all non-consumable merchandise profits to charity.”  Their overall approach to the brewing industry has resulted in rapid growth, and now Forbidden Root Brewery is nearly ready to share their offerings with the Florida craft beer community.

When they enter the market early next year, you can expect Forbidden Root to launch in Florida with the following three brews:

  • Money on My Rind Witbier – Juniper and grapefruit have become a legendary combination in pop culture, known for their ability to refresh and satisfy. So we take a witbier, spike it with juniper berries and the deliciousness of pure grapefruit, and add a peppery hint of grains of paradise.  ABV – 5%  IBUs – 9
  • Sublime Ginger Wheat Ale – Storms come and go, and in the end, there’s just a refreshing breeze. So with this shimmering golden wheat beer, the escape is sure to be fresh, cooling and sustaining. We start with a dry and creamy wheat beer, and add fresh botanicals and a splash of key lime juice for a tangy flavor with the delicious bite of ginger. The flavor is bright, layered, and thoroughly satisfying. This beer resonates with the Caribbean otherworldliness of the Florida Keys.  ABV – 3.8%  IBUs – 14
  • Wildflower Pale Ale (WPA) – WPA entices with a bright, refreshing hop aroma with a citrusy character, along with added depth from the subtle addition of Elderflower, Marigold, and Sweet Osmanthus flowers, and just enough clean maltiness to balance. On the palate, it is full-flavored up front, then builds to a crisp bitterness, with waves of range citrus, spicy and fruity hop flavors enhanced by a hint of exotic blossoms. Finish is complex and scrips, with a lingering clean bitterness. It’s a breath of fresh air, like a bouquet picked along a country lane.  ABV – 5.6%  IBUs – 55

Once they arrive in 2017, the unique beers of Forbidden Root Brewery are sure to be a welcomed addition to any craft beer retailer’s shelf in Florida.  More information concerning exact release dates and launch parties should begin to surface soon, and I will update you with those details as soon as I get them.  Prost!

forbidden-root-cap

Black Watch Double Chocolate Milk Stout Returns for Highland Brewing

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highland-brewing-black-watch-double-chocolate-milk-stoutHighland Brewing Company (Asheville, North Carolina) has announced plans to release Black Watch Double Chocolate Milk Stout on Black Friday, November 25.

Black Watch – named for the historic military regiment that protected the Scottish Highlands – was first brewed as a Highland staff collaboration between lead bartender J. Unger and pilot brewer Paul Rollow.  They achieved their goal of creating “the chocolatiest beer” possible, and it proved to be a huge hit with the brewery’s regulars.  The beer’s instant popularity ultimately led to it earning its first packaged release last year within the brewery’s Warrior Series, a limited series of “big beers in small batches.”  After a bit of tinkering from Brewmaster Hollie Stephenson, the recipe for Black Watch Double Chocolate Milk Stout now combines “one pound of cacao nibs per barrel with five malts, roasted barley, and flaked oats to create a rich, high-gravity ale reminiscent of brownie batter and marshmallows.”

“Black Watch was an overnight sensation last year. When the pilot batch was on tap, there was daily talk among our team. We had this totally natural and exciting staff engagement around this beer. Then the public release created an instant following,” said Leah Ashburn, President. “It’s so much fun to see people react to the chocolate sensations, from the first sniff through the finish.”

Highland Brewing Company will hold an official release event for Black Watch Double Chocolate Milk Stout at the brewery on Black Friday, November 25 at 2 p.m.  Shortly thereafter, a limited amount of 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and kegs of Black Watch will head to Alabama, Florida and the rest of Highland Brewing’s 9-state distribution area.  This fan-favorite offering will absolutely move with a quickness once it hits shelves, so be sure to keep an eye out for this one when it drops in late November.  Prost!

Vital Information for Black Watch Double Chocolate Milk Stout from Highland Brewing Company

Release – Limited: Warrior Series.  Black Friday, November 25, 2016
Style – Milk Stout
ABV – 8%
IBUs – 45
Hops – Chinook & Willamette
Malts – 2-Row Base, Munich Dark, Chocolate Malt, Carafa II, Roast Barley, Honey Malt & Flaked Oats
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.highlandbrewing.com/beer-finder/

Stone Brewing Co. Launches Ripper Pale Ale as New Year-Round Offering

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rippercan_webStone Brewing Co. (Escondido, California) recently announced that Stone Ripper San Diego Pale Ale has officially started rolling out in California as the newest addition to the brewery’s line of Year-Round Releases.

With 20 years of craft brewing in the books and the brewery’s steady expansion across the United States and the Atlantic established, Stone Brewing has added Stone Ripper to their Year-Round lineup as a declaration of their San Diego roots.  Stone Ripper – Australian slang for something especially strong, fine, or good of its kind – is a “San Diego Pale Ale . . . inspired by the coastal surf cultures of SoCal and Oz.”  Brewed with a hop blend of Cascade hops from the Pacific Northwest and Galaxy hops sourced from Australia, this offering provides “fresh orange, pineapple, peach and floral” aromatics and “a balance of citrus and pine flavors mingling with bright fruit and dankness.”  Stone Ripper weighs in at an easy-drinking 5.7% ABV and is meant to be enjoyed fresh.

“A few of us on the brewing team were lucky enough to visit Australia over the last few years and were impressed with the quality of hops coming out of that region, and especially with the signature hop Galaxy,” said Jeremy Moynier, senior innovation program manager. “We started referring to it as ‘Australian Cascade’ in reference to America’s key hop and got the idea of combining the two together, bringing the bright, intense flavors and aromas from two hemispheres into one amazing beer.”

Currently only available in California, Stone Ripper will begin national distribution in January of 2017.  When it arrives in your area, you can expect to find this brew in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at your favorite craft beer-friendly retailers, bars, and restaurants.  If you are currently in California, drink up and enjoy.  If you are elsewhere, keep this brew in mind to satisfy any hop cravings you encounter in 2017.  Prost!

Vital Information for Stone Ripper from Stone Brewing Co.

Release – Year-round
Style – Pale Ale
ABV – 5.7%
IBUs – 40
Hops – Cascade & Australian Galaxy
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – California only until national distribution begins in January 2017
Beer Finder – https://find.stonebrewing.com/#ready

Bell’s Brewery Winter White Ale Makes Seasonal Return

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bellswwabottleBell’s Brewery (Comstock, Michigan) recently announced that Winter White Ale has officially shipped to distribution and is now available as the brewery’s current Seasonal offering.

Since so many Winter Warmers and Stouts tend to crowd craft beer shelves and taps during the winter months, Bell’s Brewery opted to take a lighter approach when establishing Winter White Ale, a Belgian-inspired Wheat Ale, as their Winter Seasonal.  Cloudy in appearance, this offering is brewed with a blend of barley and wheat malts and then fermented with a Belgian yeast strain.  Although this beer provides aromatics and flavors full of clove and fruit, it was created “without the use of any spices.”  At just 5% ABV, Winter White Ale is an easy drinking beer meant for “embracing winter.”

The Seasonal release of Winter White Ale can be enjoyed now through January of 2017.  This offering is available in 6-packs and 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 4-packs of 16 oz. cans, and on draft at craft beer establishments in Alabama, Florida, and throughout the full distribution footprint of Bell’s Brewery.  If you are looking for an alternative to the darker, heavier beers of the season, Winter White Ale is a beer that needs to be on your radar.  Prost!

Vital Information for Winter White Ale from Bell’s Brewery

Release – Seasonal, November 2016 through January 2017
Style – Belgian-inspired Wheat Ale
ABV – 5%
Shelf Life – 6 months
Availability – 6-packs and 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 4-packs of 16 oz. cans, and draft
Recommended Glassware – Spiegelau American Wheat Beer/Witbier glass or Wheat glass
Beer Finder – http://www.bellsbeer.com/beer-finder

bellswwacaps_edited

 

Samuel Adams Expands Rebel Lineup with Addition of Rebel Juiced IPA

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unnamed-1Samuel Adams/The Boston Beer Company (Boston, Massachusetts) recently announced that Rebel Juiced IPA is the latest offering to join the brewery’s Rebel IPA series.

Samuel Adams is continuing to step up their IPA game with Rebel Juiced IPA arriving as the newest addition to the Rebel Family, a growing series of India Pale Ales that has the brewery experimenting with various new and exciting hop varietals.  Loaded with “juicy, citrusy” Mandarina and Mosaic hops, Rebel Juiced IPA is then dosed with an “extra shot of mango juice” to create a tropical IPA experience sure to please any hop head out there.

Samuel Adams Rebel Juiced IPA is classified as a year-round offering.  Although it is currently only available on draft, 12 oz. bottles are expected to roll out at the start of 2017.  Look for this one to be pouring at craft beer-friendly establishments in Alabama, Florida, and throughout the nationwide distribution footprint of Samuel Adams. Prost!

Vital Information for Samuel Adams Rebel Juiced IPA from Samuel Adams/The Boston Beer Company

Release – Year-round
Style – India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.2%
IBUs – 55
Hops – Zeus, Mosaic & Mandarina
Malts – Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend
Special Ingredients – Mango juice
Availability – Currently available on draft only.  6-packs of 12 oz. bottles to come in 2017
Beer Finder (a.k.a. Find A Sam) – http://www.samueladams.com/find-a-sam

Angry Chair Brewing Releases Details for 2nd Anniversary Party

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angrychairOn Saturday, November 26, Angry Chair Brewing (6401 N Florida Ave, Tampa, Florida) will host a two-session 2nd Anniversary celebration featuring a killer draft list and the bottle release of Bourbon Barrel Aged Fudge Bucket with Vanilla Beans.

As a means of saying thank you for “sitting . . . in [their] ‘angry’ chairs, lining up at bottle releases, and simply making [their] jobs worthwhile,” the folks at Angry Chair Brewing are pulling out all the stops to treat their fans to a 2nd Anniversary Party truly worthy of their undying devotion. The foundation for a great Anniversary Party is always laid with the draft list, so here’s the full list of Angry Chair offerings and guest taps confirmed to be pouring at this event:

Angry Chair Brewing Draft List

  • 2nd Anniversary Imperial Stout (Bourbon Barrel-aged Fudge Bucket with Vanilla Beans)
  • Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake Stout
  • Tuesday Tasting Series: Bourbon Barrel Aged Dave’s Barleywine
  • French Toast Imperial Porter
  • Fluffer Nutter Imperial Stout (Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Marshmallow)
  • Fionn Hazelnut Coffee Imperial Porter
  • Cinna-Fionn French Toast Imperial Porter
  • Purple Peeps (Blackberry, Black Currant, Marshmallow Berliner Weisse)
  • Mega Coffee Blend Imperial Stout
  • Coffee Coconut Imperial Stout
  • Grandma’s Dried Up Raisin Imperial Stout (Coffee, Cinnamon, Vanilla Beans, Raisins)
  • Bananas Foster Strong Ale 
  • Rocky Road Imperial Sweet Stout (Cacao, Vanilla Beans, Toasted Walnuts)
  • Cucumber Lime Gose
  • Space Grass Session IPA
  • Vassago Raspberry Berliner Weiss

Guest Tap List

All pours on draft will cost $5 each and will vary in size.  Some of the areas pouring beer at this event will be cash only.  If you do not have cash, you will be able to purchase beer tickets inside.  To cut down on line times and just help with the overall flow of the event, the brewery suggests that you just plan ahead and bring cash.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase bottles of the limited release 2nd Anniversary Imperial Stout – Bourbon Barrel-aged Fudge Bucket with Vanilla Beans.  Bottles are limited to one per ticketed guest and can be purchased for $25 each.  Bottles sales are cash only.

The Angry Chair Brewing 2nd Anniversary Party is a ticketed event (**UPDATE – THIS EVENT IS OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT – UPDATE**), and tickets can be purchased beginning Saturday, November 12th at noon (click here for a direct link to the ticket page).  Tickets are $30 each (maximum of 2 tickets per person) and that gets you an anniversary glass, one draft pour, and the ability to purchase the special release anniversary bottle.  This event has been limited to 100 tickets for each of the two sessions (200 tickets total) on Saturday, November 26:

  1. Session 1 – 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. SOLD OUT
  2. Session 2 – 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  SOLD OUT

This is a 21 and up event, and IDs matching the names on the tickets are required.

If you are free on November 26th and wish to get in on the celebration of Angry Chair’s 2nd Anniversary, be sure to snag your tickets when they go on sale this Saturday.  Tickets are sure to go fast and you certainly do not want to miss out on all of the good times sure to be had at this event.  Prost!

 

 

 

 

Left Coast Brewing Co. Launches Rebrand with Updated Hop Juice Triple IPA

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leftcoastlogoLeft Coast Brewing Co. (San Clemente, California) recently announced plans to completely rebrand their existing lineup of beers, and this process will begin with the update and release of Hop Juice Triple India Pale Ale.

Craft beer fans throughout the distribution area of Left Coast Brewing Co. will soon see the brewery’s offerings sporting a new look on shelves.  Left Coast’s award-winning Hop Juice Double IPA is not only the first to receive the new packaging, but it is also getting a fully reformulated recipe to become Hop Juice Triple India Pale Ale.  This updated version sees the addition of “Mosaic hops, a completely new look and an increase from 9.7% to 10% ABV.”  Confident that Hop Juice Triple IPA will be a huge hit with hopheads, the folks at the brewery have decided that this offering will completely replace the previous Double IPA version.

“We wanted to express our beach vibe through our packaging bringing back the bright colors from each beer,” says Tommy Hadjis, General Manager of Left Coast Brewing. “We also strived for consistency throughout our entire brand with some signature stripes on each item.”

Hop Juice Triple IPA is available now as a Full-Time offering from the brewery and can be found in 12 oz. bottles, 22 oz. bottles, and on draft throughout Florida, California, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii at more than 500 locations.  Left Coast Brewing Co. also has plans to release this offering in 16 oz. cans beginning in February of 2017.  Look for Hop Juice Triple IPA on shelves and taps now, and keep in mind that the brewery’s full line of brews will be wearing some new packaging artwork in the very near future.  Prost!

Vital Information for Hop Juice Triple IPA from Left Coast Brewing Co.

Release – Full-Time, beginning November 2016
Style – Imperial India Pale Ale (Triple IPA)
ABV – 10%
IBUs – 100
Hops – Mosaic, Simcoe, Columbus, Cascade & Mt. Hood
Availability – Draft, 12 oz. and 22 oz. bottles. 16 oz. cans will launch February 2017
Distribution – California, Nevada, Arizona, Florida and Hawaii
Beer Finder – http://leftcoastbrewing.com/find-our-beer/
Full Description – “The Hop Juice Triple IPA is a hop-centric brew using Premium American 2– Row and a touch of light crystal malt to create a solid malt foundation. A total of five different hop varieties are used in the Hop Juice. It’s dry hopped with Mosaic (new addition), Simcoe and Columbus, which contributes to its great hop aroma. Hop Juice Triple IPA starts out sweet and finishes crisp and refreshing.”