Great Divide Brewing announces return of Samurai Rice Ale

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samuraicanGreat Divide Brewing Company (Denver, Colorado) announced this week that Samurai Rice Ale will make its triumphant return to the brewery’s portfolio beginning this month.

Back by popular demand, Great Divide Brewing Company has officially revived the previously retired, fan-favorite Samurai Rice Ale.  The difficult decision to honorably retire Samurai was made back in 2012 to make room for Colette Farmhouse Ale and Nomad Pilsner on the year-round brewing schedule. As the name so aptly implies, Samurai is an ale made with rice to create a “slightly fruity, crisp, refreshing element to this unfiltered ale, creating a light, easy-going beer suitable for the peaceful warrior.”  Not only is the noble Samurai coming out of retirement, but this 5.5% ABV ale is officially back as the brewery’s latest year-round offering.

Samurai Rice Ale is rolling out in cans in Colorado only right now, but this offering is available on draft throughout the brewery’s national distribution.  Six-packs of 12 oz. cans will make it to Alabama, Florida and the rest of Great Divide’s national distribution area by the start of 2017.  Be sure to revisit this beloved classic whenever and wherever you happen upon it.  Prost!

Vital Information on Samurai Rice Ale from Great Divide Brewing Company

Release – 12 oz. cans: now in Colorado, the rest of the country to follow at start of 2017. Draft: throughout the brewery’s distribution area now.  
Availability – Year-round
ABV – 5.5%
Words of Warning to the Gluten Intolerant – “Though it is a Rice Ale, it is not Gluten-Free. We still use barley in the recipe.”

The Unknown Brewing Co. set to release Bright Ass Tank Top Gose

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BrightAssLimesUnknownThe Unknown Brewing Co. (Charlotte, North Carolina) announced on Tuesday that they will soon be releasing Bright Ass Tank Top Rum Barrel-aged Key Lime Gose.

Bright Ass Tank Top starts with the wildly popular base of the Gose, a German style that is “generally light in color with a blend of barley and wheat and then lightly soured for a dry tart finish.”  This Gose was later introduced to some fresh key limes and fine sea salt, and then the beer took a three-month rest in 15-year-old Nicaraguan Rum barrels. 4.1% ABV + key limes + Rum barrel-aging = quite possibly the perfect beer to finish off the summer.

“When I smelled these barrels I instantly thought of relaxing on a beach in the sun with something refreshing and light, and I also thought about being a Pirate but sometimes my mind wanders,” said Head Brewer Brad Shell.

Bright Ass Tank Top will officially release in about two weeks with distribution in North Carolina, South Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia.  **UPDATE** Details on the official release have surfaced.  Bright Ass Tank Top will be available starting this weekend and will then see distribution beginning next week (Monday, September 5) **UPDATE** You can find this limited offering in 16 oz. 4-packs and limited draft.  Prost!

Vital Information on Bright Ass Tank Top from The Unknown Brewing Co.

Style – Gose, Aged 3 months in 15-year-old Rum Barrels
Release – limited: Taproom release weekend of September 3, Distribution beginning week of Monday, September 5
Packaging – 16 oz. 4-packs, limited draft
ABV – 4.1%

Stone Brewing marks 20th Anniversary with Citracado IPA

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citracado_hero_webTo recognize quite the milestone, Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, California) has announced the release of Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA this week.

With two decades of celebrated craft brewing experience in the books, the folks at Stone Brewing believe they have the perfect beer in Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA to mark such an occasion.  The name “Citracado” not only references the featured ingredients in this beer – Citra hops in the dry hop stage and native avocado flower honey -, but it also “pays homage to the [Citracado Parkway] on which the flagship brewery is located (“which itself is a tribute to the citrus and avocado agricultural history of the region”).  This unique recipe creates “dominant orange and floral aromatics that transcend into the overall flavor and are perfectly balanced by avocado flower honey and a strong malt backbone.”  Be sure to sip and savor this one because this bad boy comes in at a sizable 9% ABV.

“Thanks to the incredible support from our fans, we have been able to do what we do for the last 20 years while upholding our rugged independence and core company philosophies,” said Stone CEO & co-founder Greg Koch. “We’re excited to close in on two full decades of high-quality brewing, and Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA is our special way of saying thank you to all craft beer supporters. Cheers to what the future holds for true craft!”

As an added anniversary gift to their fans, Stone Brewing is also rebrewing Stone 5th Anniversary IPA, Stone 10th Anniversary IPA and Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA.  These landmark and fan-favorite IPAs will be available exclusively alongside Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA in the Stone Anniversary IPA Collection four-pack beginning the week of September 12.

Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA officially rolls out on August 8 in Alabama, Florida and throughout Stone Brewing Co.’s national distribution footprint.  This very limited offering will be available on draft and in 22 oz. bottles for the initial release and then again in the Stone Anniversary IPA Collection four-pack in September.  If you are a fan of amazing and innovative IPAs, you need to track down some Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA because these Anniversary IPAs rarely disappoint.  Prost!

Vital Information on Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA from Stone Brewing Co.

Style – Double India Pale Ale
Release – August 8
Availability – Limited 22-ounce bottles and draft
ABV – 9%
IBUs – 80
Hops – Nugget, El Dorado, Centennial, and, of course, lots of Citra!
Distribution – AL, FL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA and Puerto Rico

Heavy Seas Beer prepares for return of The Great’er Pumpkin

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HSBGreatERPumpBottleHeavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) announced this week that The Great’er Pumpkin Bourbon Barrel-aged Pumpkin Ale will return to shelves in September.

For the 2016 release of The Great’er Pumpkin, this offering returns to Heavy Seas Beer’s Uncharted Waters Series in all its beloved Barrel-aged Pumpkin Ale glory.  The Great’er Pumpkin presents itself as “a rich, deep burnished orange color” and is absolutely loaded with aromatic and flavor notes of “cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and clove . . . British crystal malt, brown sugar, and pumpkin.”  The Bourbon barrel-aging rounds off this 10% ABV ale with added “notes of oak, vanilla, and bourbon.”

This limited offering will become officially available in September and will hang around through October (while supplies last).  The Great’er Pumpkin will be found in 22 oz. bottles in Alabama, Florida and throughout the 17 state distribution area of Heavy Seas.  If Pumpkin Ales are your thing, this is one that should not be missed.  Prost!

Vital Information on The Great’er Pumpkin from Heavy Seas Beer

Style – Bourbon Barrel-aged Pumpkin Ale
Availability – Limited, 22 oz. bottles
ABV – 10%
IBUs – 20
Hops – Mt Hood
Malts – Pale, Wheat & Crystal
Distribution – AL, FL, CT, DC, DE, GA, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI & VA

Green Man Brewery releases seasonal Harvester Ale

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GreenManHarvesterbottleGreen Man Brewery (Asheville, North Carolina) recently announced the return of Harvester Ale as the brewery’s latest seasonal release.

To mark the impending arrival of autumn, Green Man Brewery is preparing its fan base for dropping temperatures with this year’s release of Harvester Ale.  This offering is the brewery’s “unique interpretation of the classic German Märzen.” With a base of caramel & toasted malts and a hop bill comprised of Magnum & Palisade hops, this recipe creates an amber colored ale that is “rustic and approachable” with lightly sweet notes balanced by just the right amount of those earthy and spicy hops.

Harvester Ale starts hitting shelves this month with availability in 12 oz. bottles.  Look for this one to turn up at craft beer-friendly establishments in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.  Be sure to check it out when you see it.  Prost!

Vital Information for Harvester Ale from Green Man Brewery

Style – German Märzen
Release – August
Packaging – 12 oz. bottles
ABV – 6.0%
IBUs – 30
Distribution – Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee & Georgia

Fort Collins Brewery set to release Oktoberfest

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FTCollinsOFest2Fort Collins Brewery (Fort Collins, Colorado) recently announced that their 2016 release of Oktoberfest will start hitting shelves and taps on August 11.

Fresh off its gold medal win in the Dortmunder/German-Style Oktoberfest category at last year’s Great American Beer Festival, Fort Collins Brewery’s (FCB) Oktoberfest is ready to make its seasonal return for the third year in a row.  This offering was brewed to be a truly authentic Oktoberfest by utilizing only German ingredients and “a single decoction mash to achieve a super traditional malt profile.”  Oktoberfest weighs in at 6% ABV and sports ” a smooth balance of rich malts and noble hops that provide a delicate herbal and spicy bouquet of aromas.”  In addition to rocking that new gold medal hardware, this year’s release of Oktoberfest will also have some sweet new packaging thanks to being the first FCB Seasonal to become available in cans.

“We’ve had tremendous change this year with our recipes, artwork, and packaging,” said FCB and Modern Tavern Owner and General Manager Tina Peters. “With the release of Oktoberfest, we’re paying homage to our roots and our passion for brewing German styles.”

FCB Oktoberfest will become officially available in Florida and throughout the Fort Collins Brewery distribution area on Thursday, August 11.  Look for this one on draft and in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans. Prepare yourself because this is just the first of many Oktoberfest releases that I will be letting you know about over the next few weeks.  Prost!

Vital Information on Oktoberfest from Fort Collins Brewery

Availability – Seasonal, August 11 release
ABV – 6%
IBUs – 24
SRM – 7
Packaging – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & kegs

Alabama’s ABC Board, Proposed Regulation Change & Privacy of Craft Beer Drinkers

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_5Xxp2HDThe Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC) has recently submitted eight proposed changes to rules and regulations, and one of these possible changes has craft beer fans up in arms about privacy concerns.

When Alabama lawmakers legalized off-premise sales of craft beer (growlers & packaged beer) directly from the state’s breweries and brewpubs last session, there was a stipulation within the law that limited these purchases to 288 ounces a day per consumer.  The act of enforcing this limit falls on the Alabama ABC Board and they have proposed a regulation change to aid them in achieving this task.  The problem here is centered around privacy concerns from the craft beer community as the possible change calls for breweries and brewpubs to collect the following data from the purchaser during each off-premise transaction:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Telephone Number
  • Date of Birth

Free the Hops, a grassroots, non-profit organization whose mission is to help bring the highest quality beers in the world to Alabama, has voiced their opinion on their blog (click here to read) and they are highly concerned  that “this rule would essentially empower the ABC Board to come to an individual’s house to confirm his or her purchase of a six pack of beer.”  The Alabama Brewers Guild has also addressed this issue on their blog (click here to read).  Although the Brewers Guild recognizes that the ABC has a job to do, they also believe “there are less invasive ways to ensure compliance.”

If you are concerned about this new proposal, Free the Hops has provided information on how you can help.  Let your voice and opposition to this regulation change be heard by the ABC Board by sending an email to admin@abc.alabama.gov or letter to the following address:

Alabama ABC Board
2715 Gunter Park Drive West
Montgomery, Alabama 36109

All correspondence concerning this issue must be received by the ABC before September 7th, 2016.  Let your voice be heard and keep fighting the good fight, Alabama.  Prost!

Pair O’ Dice Brewing to hold taproom release for The Great Nelson Motato

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PODLogoPair O’ Dice Brewing Company (4400 118th Avenue North, Suite 208, Clearwater, Florida) recently announced that they will be hosting a draft release for The Great Nelson Motato Double Pale Ale on Friday, August 5 at 4 p.m.

To mark the first beer release for Assistant Brewer Dominique Eva Erwin, Pair O’ Dice Brewing will be featuring The Great Nelson Motato Double Pale Ale on the taproom’s tap wall on Friday.  The name of this offering is an homage to The Great Mutato, the monster in Dominique’s favorite X-Files episode called The Post-Modern Prometheus (Season 5/Episode 5).  This Double Pale Ale weighs in at 7.4% ABV and was brewed with Nelson Sauvin and Motueka hops.  This hop treatment should yield an aromatic and flavor profile that is bursting with tropical fruits and a lovely complexity reminiscent of white wine grape notes.

While you explore all that The Great Nelson Motato has to offer, you can also enjoy a wonderful pairing of bratwurst from Brats Sensation (on-site at the taproom from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.).  The beer starts pouring at 4 p.m. on Friday, so get there early to sip on this special limited release from Dominique and Pair O’ Dice Brewing Company.  Prost!

Avondale Brewing to add Spring Street Saison to lineup of cans

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AvondaleSSScansAvondale Brewing Company (Birmingham, Alabama) announced earlier this week that Spring Street Saison will soon be available in 12 oz. cans.

Coming in as the fourth beer to make it to cans from the brewery (joining Battlefield India Pale Ale, Mill City White Belgian Wit, and Vanillaphant Porter), Avondale Brewing’s flagship Spring Street Saison will soon be delighting craft beer fans with canned convenience.  This truly fantastic Saison is brewed with a “proprietary house yeast, a 4 malt blend and traditional Slovenian hops.”  Although it may come in at a sizeable 7.2% ABV, Spring Street Saison’s delightfully easy drinking ways will be welcomed in any cooler found at the lake, river or beach.

There is no word on the exact date these cans will hit shelves in Alabama, but you can still find Spring Street Saison in bottles and on draft until the official release of this new packaging option.  Once the information is released, I will update you with that info here.  Stay tuned.  Prost!

Vital Information on Spring Street Saison from Avondale Brewing Company

Style – Belgian-style Farmhouse Ale
Availability – Year-round
ABV – 7.2%
IBUs – 18

Dogfish Head launches SeaQuench Ale as new limited release

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SQ2Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware) recently announced the limited release of SeaQuench Ale Session Sour this week.

To kick off a “new partnership between Dogfish Head and the National Aquarium that will focus on inspiring conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures,” Dogfish Head Craft Brewery has brewed and released SeaQuench Ale Session Sour.  This new offering is a sessionable Sour Ale that is a blend of three German styles.  SeaQuench starts with a “straightforward Kolsch with lots of wheat and Munich Malt, then . . . a salty Gose with black limes, coriander and . . . sea salt,” and it is all finished “with a citrusy-tart Berlinerweiss made with lime juice and lime peel.”  The National Aquarium contributed by helping the brewery replicate the sea salt from Maine and the Chesapeake Bay to give the Gose portion of this beer its satisfying salinity.  The blended, finished beer comes in at 4.9% ABV and has “amazingly tart, refreshing crisp flavors of lime and the deeper slight bitter of black lime, a touch of salt on the tongue, [and] a bit of malt sweetness in the finish.”

The limited release of SeaQuench Ale officially shipped from the brewery on August 1st and will be hanging out throughout September.  Look for this one on draft and in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles in Florida and in other select markets within Dogfish Head’s distribution footprint (full list below).  Additionally, SeaQuench Ale will be available year-round in the National Aquarium’s cafe and at select National Aquarium events.  Get it while you can and be sure to enjoy this refresher during the hottest months of the year.  Prost!

Vital Information on SeaQuench Ale Sour Session from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Release – Limited, August through September
ABV – 4.9%
IBUs – 10
Distribution – FL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI
Fun Fact – “Releasing just in time for the 500th anniversary of the Reinheitsgebot – aka the ‘German Beer Purity Law’ that says it’s illegal to brew with anything other than water, barley, and hops – SeaQuench Ale both commemorates (and disintegrates) this art-censorship law.”