Offshoot Beer Co. Adds Escape West Coast IPA to Year-Round Lineup

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Offshoot Beer Co. (Orange County, California), the hop-centric extension of The Bruery, has officially announced that it will round off its Year-Round portfolio with the nationwide release of Escape [It’s Your Everyday West Coast IPA] in June 2020.

Arriving as Offshoot Beer Co.’s “second foray into clear-beer— and an homage to the hop-focused Southern California tradition of West Coast IPAs,” Escape is a West Coast-style India Pale Ale that “submerges the senses with notes of tropical passionfruit, grapefruit zest, and pine” sourced from a hop bill comprised of Mosaic, Strata, Simcoe and Amarillo hops. Clocking in at 7.1% ABV and 50 IBUs, the “clean, crisp, and clear” Escape [It’s Your Everyday West Coast IPA] entices you to “crack one open, kick your feet up, and Escape.”

“Offshoot Beer Co. has allowed us to branch off in new directions, continue our passion for experimentation and explore the art of developing hop-forward beers,” said Patrick Rue, founder of The Bruery and its hoppy offshoot, and one of just 19 individuals to earn the title of Master Cicerone®. VP of Brewing Operations Darren Moser chimes in, “Escape was a fun project that let us play with some hop varieties we really love. The combination of Mosaic, Strata, Simcoe, and Amarillo leaves you with a crisp IPA loaded with notes of tropical passionfruit, grapefruit zest, and hints of pine.”

Escape [It’s Your Everyday West Coast IPA] now joins Relax [It’s Just a Hazy IPA], Retreat [This is a Double Hazy IPA] and Unwind [You Earned This Hoppy Pils] in Offshoot’s nationally available lineup of Year-Round offerings.

Escape [It’s Your Everyday West Coast IPA] is scheduled to launch in June 2020 with availability in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft. You can expect to find this new Year-Round offering at craft beer-focused establishments located in Florida, California, Washington, D.C., Virginia and throughout the rest of Offshoot Beer Co.’s 25-state distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Escape [It’s Your Everyday West Coast IPA] from Offshoot Beer Co.

Release – Year-Round; launching June 2020
Style – West Coast-style India Pale Ale
ABV – 7.1%
IBUs – 50
Featured Hops – Mosaic, Strata, Simcoe & Amarillo
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.offshootbeer.com/find

Stone Brewing Brings Notorious P.O.G. Berliner Weisse Back for the Summer

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Stone Brewing (Escondido, California) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of its “cult-favorite” Stone Notorious P.O.G. Berliner Weisse in late May/early June 2020.

First brewed in 2016 as a collaboration with actor and comedian Jonah Ray with the intention of capturing his childhood memories of drinking POG Juice in Hawaii, Stone Notorious P.O.G. is a Berliner Weisse loaded down with “countless passion fruits, oranges and guavas.” Coming in at just 4.7% ABV and 20 IBUs, the “tart, refreshing, citrusy and spectacular” Stone Notorious P.O.G. Berliner Weisse “effortlessly rides its effervescence of tart orange citrus and tropicality with sip-it-like-its-Sunday ease.”

“This beer is dedicated to my homeland, the islands of Hawaii,” explained Jonah Ray. “It’s also dedicated to my dad who used to pour a little bit of booze into his PASSION ORANGE GUAVA juice on the weekends. LOOK DAD! I’VE COMBINED THE TWO!”

Stone Notorious P.O.G. Berliner Weisse is rolling into distribution now and will be hanging around as long as supplies last this summer. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 22 oz. bottles, 19.2 oz. cans and in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, Virginia and throughout the rest of Stone Brewing’s nationwide distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Stone Notorious P.O.G. Berliner Weisse from Stone Brewing

Release – Limited; releasing late May/early June 2020
Style – Berliner Weisse
ABV – 4.7%
IBUs – 20
Added Ingredients – Passion fruit, orange & guava
Suggested Food Pairings – “Starters: Stone Mac N Cheese, Meat and Cheese Board, Vietnamese-style Egg Rolls, Chinese Sticky Ribs | Salads: Fruity Goat Salad (seasonal fruits & shredded fillo-wrapped goat cheese), Wedge Salad | Main Courses: Crispy Skin Salmon, True Craft Burger, BBQ JackFruit Sandwich, Pork Katsu, Loco Moco, and a variety of brunch dishes because this is the perfect Brunch Beer—try it with Eggs Benedict! | Desserts: Ice Cream Sandwich, Crème Brulee Cheesecake, Baklava”
Availability – 22 oz. bottles, 19.2 oz. cans & 6-packs of 12 oz. cans
Beer Finder – https://find.stonebrewing.com/#ready

Tasting Notes: Raspberry Gose from Bravus Brewing Co.

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For this installment of Tasting Notes, we wander into the world of non-alcoholic beer and get acquainted with Raspberry Gose from Bravus Brewing Company (Newport Beach, California).

One of the six Year-Round offerings in Bravus Brewing Company’s non-alcoholic lineup, Raspberry Gose is Near Beer take on the Gose style – “a sour style with some salt added (or historically, derived from local water sources).” This example utilizes a “very, very small amount of salt added with the intention of balancing some of the sweetness of the raspberries.” Coming in at less than 0.5% ABV, Raspberry Gose is “a super light and refreshing summer crusher with a wonderful raspberry tartness.”

Raspberry Gose is available Year-Round in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans. You can purchase this non-alcoholic brew online or at select craft beer-friendly establishments located within Bravus Brewing Company’s distribution footprint in Southern California. 

Now that the background information is out of the way, let’s crack open a can and see how this non-alcoholic brew measures up over some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Raspberry Gose from Bravus Brewing Co.

Appearance: A gentle pour from a 12 oz. can produces a hazy, straw yellow-colored beer capped with a tight finger of bright white foam. When held to direct light, the color holds for the most part but the faintest of red tones does push through to add a bit of vibrancy. The beer is lightly cloudy, but a steady stream of carbonation bubbles can still be seen cascading within. Head retention is good, eventually falling to a scattered top cap that occasionally leaves behind wispy strings of lace on the glass.

Aroma: The raspberry is super forward, supplying plenty of juicy fruit and gently tart notes. There is also a lactobacillus-like mustiness here supporting and complementing the berries. A touch of salinity lingers in the background but does not really assert itself.

Taste: The raspberries dominate here as well, but they are offering more of a sweet and fruity character than tart. A light layer of wheat malt adds to this sweetness, while the mustiness found in the aroma returns to add some more dimension and draw attention to the beer’s gentle tartness that surfaces more in the finish. The salt is quite muted and nearly undetectable.

Mouthfeel: Light in body with a medium carbonation level, this beer has a soft weight to it on the palate and dries out nicely in due time. Although it is more sweet than tart, the overall experience is still nicely balanced and high in drinkability. The lack of alcohol does not take away from this Gose since the style tends to hide the ABV well. The aftertaste is a good amount of lingering raspberry.

Final Thoughts: Since the Gose style is typically very low in ABV, this goes a long way to help sell the illusion that Raspberry Gose is the real deal and not just a Near Beer. As a fruited Gose, the flavors are pretty spot on and it even gives you a bit of that lactobacillus character. The only gripe we could come up with is that it could definitely use some more salt but, to be fair, we pretty much say that about each and every Gose we come across. All in all, Raspberry Gose has the same feel, flavor and easy drinking nature you expect from a good Gose, and it should definitely be on your radar whenever you are after a non-alcoholic brew. Prost!

Ska Brewing Introduces Low-Calorie Aggrolite IPA

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Ska Brewing (Durango, Colorado) has officially announced that it will launch Aggrolite IPA, a new low-calorie, low-carb option, throughout its distribution footprint in June 2020.

Brewed in collaboration with The Aggrolites, one of Ska Brewing’s favorite bands, Aggrolite is a calorie-conscious India Pale Ale that gains “slight citrus and pine notes from the use of Cascade, Mandarina Bavaria, and El Dorado hops.” Coming in at just 4.2% ABV, 99 calories and 4g of carbohydrates per 12 oz. serving, Aggrolite IPA is a “delicious sidekick for athletes and adventurists” and “pairs well bike rides, boating, and bikinis.”

Aggrolite IPA is rolling out now with availability in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans. You can expect to find this new low-calorie offering at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Colorado and throughout the rest of Ska Brewing’s 13-state distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Aggrolite IPA from Ska Brewing

Release – Unknown; launching June 2020
Style – Session/Low-Calorie India Pale Ale
ABV – 4.2%
Calories – 99 (per 12 oz. serving)
Carbs – 4 grams (per 12 oz. serving)
Featured Hops – Cascade, Mandarina Bavaria & El Dorado
Fun Fact – “Aggrolite IPA is a collaboration with one of Ska’s favorite bands, The Aggrolites, who played at the brewery’s 24th anniversary invitational in 2019. The Aggrolites started as a compilation of two bands, one reggae and one ska in genre, that came together in Los Angeles in 2002 to create the soul and funk-inspired ‘dirty reggae music’ that they’re known for.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans
Beer Finder – https://skabrewing.com/where-to-find-ska/

North Coast Brewing Co. Partners with Artisanal Imports to Cover Eastern & Central U.S.

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Artisanal Imports (Austin, Texas) has officially announced that it has partnered with North Coast Brewing Co. (Fort Bragg, California) to be the brewery’s sales and marketing partner for the central and eastern regions of the United States.

A true pioneer in the craft beer community, North Coast Brewing Co. was founded in 1988 with a mission to “Make the World a Better Place, One Pint at a Time.” The brewery has since gone on to establish a highly respected beer portfolio that includes iconic beers such as Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, Old Stock Ale, Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale, PranQster Belgian Style Golden Ale, and Scrimshaw Pilsner. Now, more than 30 years after its establishment, North Coast is continuing to grow by expanding and improving upon its presence in the eastern and central U.S.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Artisanal team to introduce our portfolio to new markets around the country,” says Jeffrey Ottoboni, Chief Executive Officer of North Coast Brewing Company “The North Coast brand continues to expand, and we are delighted to have the support of Artisanal Imports.”

“I am extremely excited about our North Coast connection, as the brewery is a legendary pioneer in the American craft beer movement,” says Bob Leggett, Founder, and CEO of Artisanal Imports. “Scrimshaw and Old Rasputin are some of my favorites in their styles. The brewery has recently moved into cans that will certainly open new doors. I believe this will be a great partnership, and we will both reap the benefits of our expertise.”

With this partnership in place, Artisanal Imports now represents North Coast Brewing Co. as its sales liaison with on- and off-premises retailers and distributors in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Prost!

New Realm Brewing Sends Jacked ‘Squatch DIPA Out for Limited Release

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New Realm Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has officially announced that it will introduce fans to Jacked ‘Squatch, the second release in the brewery’s Monsters & Myths Double IPA Series, in early June 2020.

Inspired by the “big-footed ‘hide-and-seek world champion’” (a.k.a. Bigfoot or Sasquatch), Jacked ‘Squatch is a “mighty, hop forward” West Coast-style Double India Pale Ale featuring Citra, Centennial, Simcoe and Vic Secret hops. Weighing in at a sizable 9% ABV and 50 IBUs, Jacked ‘Squatch is “packed with a beastly amount of hops for an aromatic blend of citrus, peach, pine, and tropical fruit.”

“This aggressive Double IPA uses a great blend of American and Australian Hops. The Citra hop character with the citrusy, tropical fruit, and dank flavors, really come through,” said Mitch Steele, Brewmaster & Co-Founder of New Realm Brewing.

“Our first release in the Monsters and Myths series, Hazy Like an Ox DIPA, did so well that we’re very excited for fans to get to try this next one,” said Carey Falcone, CEO and Co- Founder of New Realm Brewing.

Jacked ‘Squatch is available now in the to-go coolers at New Realm’s Atlanta and Virginia Beach locations and is actively rolling out into distribution. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans at select craft beer-focused establishments located within New Realm’s distribution footprint in Georgia and Virginia. Prost!

Vital Information for Jacked ‘Squatch from New Realm Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Monsters & Myths Double IPA Series; early June 2020
Style – West Coast-style Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 9%
IBUs – 50
Featured Hops – Citra, Centennial, Simcoe & Vic Secret
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans
Distribution Georgia & Virginia
Beer Finder – https://newrealmbrewing.com/beer-finder/

DuClaw Brewing Unleashes Latest Batch of Unicorn Farts

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DuClaw Brewing Co. (Baltimore, Maryland) has officially announced that it will begin the latest Limited Release of its wildly popular Sour Me Unicorn Farts in early June 2020.

Brewed in collaboration with Baltimore-based Diablo Doughnuts to capture the magical “flavors of the [doughnut shop’s] famous Fruity Pebbles doughnut,” Sour Me Unicorn Farts is a Sour Ale “made with a trio of real fruits and edible glitter flecks.” Coming in at an enchanting 5.5% ABV, Sour Me Unicorn Farts is here “to deliver a little levity to people across the country.”

“This year’s batch is a special one,” said Chris Wood, DuClaw’s director of brewery operations. “Our industry is fighting right now, and we are incredibly grateful for the demand.  We’ve tweaked the recipe slightly to better show off the Fruity Pebbles flavors of the doughnut, and we’re excited and ready to get it out there.”

Sour Me Unicorn Farts will begin “a slow roll out” in early June and will hang around only as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 16 oz. cans at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Maryland and throughout the rest of DuClaw Brewing Co.’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Sour Me Unicorn Farts from DuClaw Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Sour Me Series; June 2020
Style – Sour Ale
ABV – 5.5%
IBUs – 10
Hops – Tettnang
Malts – Pilsner, Light Wheat & Torrified Wheat
Added Ingredients – “A trio of real fruits & edible glitter”
Availability – 16 oz. cans
Distribution – AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WV, & Washington, DC
Additional Availability – “New this year, the beer is available for June pre-order through Brew Pipeline’s Guest Brewer Program in the following additional 15 states: AK, AR, CA, CO, IA, KS, NE, OR, MO (KC only), ME, MN, NH, NV, UT, WI. Interested retailers should email: info@brewpipeline.com.”
Beer Finder – https://duclaw.com/beer-finder/

Creature Comforts Builds on the Hop Experience with Limited Release of Crescendo Hazy IPA

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Creature Comforts Brewing Co. (Athens, Georgia) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Crescendo Hazy IPA on Friday, June 5.

Meant to hit you with a continuously rising wave of hop flavor, Crescendo is a Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale featuring a hop bill comprised of El Dorado, Galaxy, and Callista hops that is “well-balanced with pilsner malt, oat malt, flaked oats, and chit malt.” In order to live up to its name, “the hop rates used during the brewing process increase over time, finishing with a heaping five pound per barrel dry hop that offers a bursting aroma.” Coming in at 7.2% ABV, the “flavorful and easy-drinking” Crescendo boasts “notes of pineapple, honeydew, and citrus.”

Crescendo will officially release in the Tasting Room at Creature Comforts Brewing Co. on June 5, but you can go ahead and pre-order your 4-packs of 16 oz. cans on CraftCellr now. There is no word at this time as to whether or not Crescendo will see distribution. Prost!

Vital Information for Crescendo from Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

Release – Limited; June 5, 2020
Style – Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale
ABV – 7.2%
Featured Hops – El Dorado, Galaxy & Callista
Malts – Pilsner Malt, Oat Malt, Flaked Oats & Chit Malt
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans
Pre-order Link – https://creaturecomforts.craftcellr.com/
Pre-order Rules – “A note for CraftCellr: You must pick up during normal drive-thru hours (2-8PM) between 6/5-6/19. Please have your offer pulled up on your phone. Any beer not picked up by the 19th will be released back into inventory for sale with no refund.”

Flying Dog Brewery Gives Dead Rise OLD BAY Beer a New Look & Recipe

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Flying Dog Brewery (Frederick, Maryland) has officially announced that it will celebrate the 5th anniversary of Dead Rise, a Summer Seasonal OLD BAY Beer, with the debut of a new look and recipe in June 2020.

Originally released as a Blonde Ale, the new and improved Dead Rise is a Gose featuring lemon, salt, Citra hops and “Maryland’s most iconic seasoning – OLD BAY.” Coming in at 5.7% ABV, the reformulated recipe blends “50% more OLD BAY then Dead Rise’s previous formula . . . with a refreshing lemony tartness for a beer low in bitterness and high in flavor.”

“The team at Flying Dog is excited to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Dead Rise with a new look OLD BAY fans will recognize, and a new recipe everyone will love,” said James Maravetz, VP of Marketing at Flying Dog. “The new refreshing pop of tart combines so deliciously with the beer’s salty and spicy elements; if you’re an OLD BAY fanatic, you’ve got to try it!”

Dead Rise started shipping out to distributors on June 1 and will hang around through the summer months. You can expect to find this Seasonal Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles at craft beer-friendly establishments located in Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and throughout the rest of Flying Dog’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Dead Rise from Flying Dog Brewery

Release – Seasonal (Summer); launching June 1, 2020
Style – Gose
ABV – 5.7%
IBUs – 25
Featured Hops – Citra
Added Ingredients – OLD BAY seasoning, lemon & salt
Fun Fact – “Born in the heart of crab country, and once called ‘the most Maryland beer ever’ by The Washington Post, Dead Rise pays homage to the history of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay and summer crab culture while also supporting the local industry. Flying Dog, the largest brewery in Maryland, donates a portion of the proceeds to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ True Blue Program, an annual campaign that highlights and rewards those restaurants who make it a point to serve local, Maryland harvested crab. The name Dead Rise is also a nod to the traditional fishing boats used year-round by Chesapeake Bay watermen to gather the shellfish.”
Suggested Food Pairings – “Dead Rise, designed to turbocharge the flavor of whatever seafood is on your plate, is a must-have at every summer meal. This recipe’s new lemony tartness freshens up the beer and helps flavors pop. In addition to seafood, try Dead Rise with salty starches like tater tots and fries, lighter proteins like turkey, chicken and tofu, or rich sauces and creamy condiments like melted cheese, bechamel and avocado and ranch dressings.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles
Beer Finder – https://www.flyingdog.com/beer-finder/

Dead Rise Brew Day from Flying Dog Brewery on Vimeo

Tampa Bay Brewing Co. Set to Drop Imperial Blueberry Cheesecake in the Face

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Tampa Bay Brewing Company (Tampa, Florida) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Imperial Blueberry Cheesecake in the Face on Friday, June 5.

Carefully crafted to be “on par with a slice of New York Style cheesecake,” Imperial Blueberry Cheesecake in the Face is an Imperial Berliner Weisse “packed full of fresh blueberries and lactose that balance the tartness of this pastry sour.” Clocking in at 8% ABV, Imperial Blueberry Cheesecake in the Face features “a nice, creamy mouth-feel” that frames the beer’s “lip-smacking, decadent flavors” beautifully.

Imperial Blueberry Cheesecake in the Face will release in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans at Tampa Bay Brewing Company’s Westchase and Ybor City locations on June 5, but you can pre-order you stash now by clicking here. There is no word at this time as to whether or not this Limited Release will see distribution. Prost!

Vital Information for Imperial Blueberry Cheesecake in the Face from Tampa Bay Brewing Company

Release – Limited; June 5, 2020
Style – Pastry Sour
ABV – 8%
Added Ingredients – Fresh blueberries & lactose
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans
Pre-order – https://www.tbbc.beer/togo