Tasting Notes: 1966 Coffee IPA from 21st Amendment Brewery & Peet’s Coffee

Posted on by mashingin

21stAmendment1966PourFor this installment of Tasting Notes, we kick off another week of social distancing by multitasking our two favorite beverages – beer and coffee – thanks to a pour of 1966 Coffee IPA from 21st Amendment Brewery (San Leandro, California) and Peet’s Coffee (Berkeley, California).

Brewed to recognize the year when “Alfred Peet opened his coffeebar at the corner of Walnut and Vine in Berkeley and changed the way Americans, and the world, thought about coffee,” 1966 Coffee IPA (6.8% ABV) is a West Coast-style India Pale Ale featuring “aromas of fruity blueberries and bright citrus notes from Columbus, Citra, Amarillo, and Centennial hops.”  To cover the coffee side of this IPA, Ethiopian Super Natural Coffee from Peet’s Coffee was “incorporated several ways in the brew, including ‘dry-hopping’ with whole beans,” to provide “[accents] of rich coffee . . . balanced with malt structure and defined bitterness all giving this West Coast IPA a phenomenal flavor profile.”

1966 Coffee IPA debuted back in late January of this year and the brewery’s Beer Finder indicates that there is still a good amount of this brew floating around out there. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Florida, California and throughout the rest of 21st Amendment’s 28 state distribution footprint.

Alright . . . now that we know why and how coffee came to meet up with this IPA, let’s see how it all comes together in a glass over some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for 1966 Coffee IPA from 21st Amendment Brewery & Peet’s Coffee

Appearance:  A quick but careful pour – one you would expect from a somewhat caffeine-starved human being who has been spending way too much time indoors – produces a beer that is a deep golden yellow in color and capped with almost two fingers of frothy white foam.  When held to direct light, the golden tones hold and shine brightly.  This IPA is clear and shows off a casual carbonation presence bubbling away within.  Head retention is quite nice, falling slowly to a complete top cap that leaves the glass covered in sheets of lace.

Aroma:  Up front, the nose bursts with IPA goodness as the hops unleash incredibly fragrant notes of citrusy grapefruit, lime and orange alongside some soft floral tones.   The coffee complements the hops with a little added fruitiness that resembles mixed berries.  A gentle malt presence rounds everything out with a bit of honey and wheat.

Taste:  Almost a mirror of the nose, the flavor profile opens with juicy, citrusy hop notes of orange and grapefruit.  The added coffee supplies a balancing earthiness and a fruity pop of blueberry. Bitterness is subdued (just a touch of grapefruit zest and pine in here supplying some bite) and that is thanks to a gentle, closing layer of honey and caramel coming off the malts.

Mouthfeel: On the light side of medium in body with a medium carbonation level, this IPA is incredibly easy-drinking and dries out beautifully.  The balance is impeccable by being not too hoppy/bitter and not too sweet. The 6.8% ABV is surprisingly non-existent, further elevating the beer’s overall high level of drinkability.  The aftertaste is all citrusy hops.

Final Thoughts:  For those folks out there who have been on the fence about the idea of trying a “Coffee IPA,” 21st Amendment’s 1966 Coffee IPA is the one example you need to seek out.  The chosen beans from Peet’s Coffee meld perfectly with the hop bill to strike a gorgeously balanced experience that unites the worlds of coffee and beer in a cohesive way that just makes sense.  Hopheads will be happy to know that this is an IPA first as the hops shine brightly and boldly, but the coffee takes things a step further by complementing, accentuating and mimicking hop aromas and flavors with added floral, fruity and earthy notes.  The overall idea of coffee being an ingredient in this IPA is subtle, but its impact on the hops is powerful as it elevates the entire sensory profile with wonderfully placed layers of complexity.  If you are at all a fan of IPAs, do not let the word “coffee” in the name throw you.  Get yourself a 6-pack of 1966 Coffee IPA while you still can and see for yourself the amazing things that the right coffee can do with your beloved hops.  Prost!

Funky Buddha Brewery Launches New Line of Premium Hard Seltzers

Posted on by mashingin

FunkyBuddhaLogoBlackFunky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, Florida) has officially announced that four flavors of Funky Buddha Hard Seltzer – Tropical Mango Guava, Lush Key Lime Cherry, Juicy Blood Orange and Crisp Pink Grapefruit – will begin hitting shelves in early April 2020.

Developed to give you a better option than those other hard seltzers out there that are “made from neutral grain spirits and preservatives,” Funky Buddha Hard Seltzer takes a more natural approach by being “brewed from cane sugar and blue agave for a crisp, clean taste.”  Each easy-drinking natural flavor weighs in at just 4.5% ABV, and “90 Funkin’ calories, with 1g of carbs and 0g sugar.”

Funky Buddha Hard Seltzer will launch with the following four “bright and refreshing” flavors (descriptions sourced from the brewery’s press release):

  • Tropical Mango Guava – As Miami as a pink and orange sunset, these two fruits were made to go together. We’re just doing as nature intended.
  • Lush Key Lime Cherry – A killer combination of natural black cherry flavor with Florida’s best defense against scurvy, the Key lime. 
  • Juicy Blood Orange – Our all-natural Juicy Blood Orange is bursting with ripe, citrus and a hint of berry-like flavor without the added sweetness.
  • Crisp Pink Grapefruit – This Crisp Pink Grapefruit Seltzer balances bracing citrus with a zesty finish that’s funkin’ refreshing.

All four flavors of Funky Buddha Hard Seltzer will be available in Variety 12-packs of 12 oz. cans (three cans of each flavor in each Variety Pack) beginning in early April 2020.  You can expect to find these Variety Packs at craft beer-friendly retailers located within Funky Buddha’s distribution footprint in Florida.  Prost!

seltzerpackweb

Brewery Ommengang Launches New Series of Canned Sour Ales

Posted on by mashingin

OmmeganglogoBlackBrewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, New York) has officially announced that it will expand on its Sour Series in April with the release of three Sour Ales in cans – Apripêche, Solera and Rosetta.

In a move that will act as the latest step in the “exciting evolution” of the brewery’s wildly popular and highly respected lineup of Sour Ales, Brewery Ommegang has decided to give the following “trio of eminently drinkable beers” an upgrade by making them more conveniently accessible in 12 oz. cans (descriptions and quotes sourced directly from the brewery’s press release):

  • Apripêche – The newcomer, Apripêche, combines a quaffable Belgian-style witbier with peaches, apricots, and just the right amount of a tart Flemish golden ale. The delicious result is an artful interplay of sweet nectar, hazy refreshment, and wine-like acidity.
    “We’ve experimented with stone fruit sours for a long time,” says our brewmaster Phil Leinhart. “Apripêche blends the juicy sweetness of peaches and the delicate acidity of apricots, resulting in a beer that pairs perfectly with a variety of lighter, warm weather dishes.”
  • Solera – Formerly known as Pale Sour, a tart golden ale crafted by Liefmans, Ommegang’s sister blendery in Belgium. A mixed-culture fermentation in open copper vats is followed by months of aging. Similar in approach to the classic “solera method” of blending liquids of varying ages, master blenders regularly mix new batches with older ones to achieve the perfect balance of sweet and sour.
    “Our most popular sour is perfect for sipping in the sun, so when we resolved to release it in cans, we decided that Solera was a better name,” says Leinhart. “This beer is truly sunshine in a glass.”
  • Rosetta – Ommegang’s year-round kriek ale, moves from bottles to cans to complete the set. A charming combination of Oud Bruin, a tart Flemish brown ale, and Cuvée Brut, a cheerful cherry beer, Rosetta offers elegance, depth, complexity and an intriguing interplay of tartness and sweetness.

Apripêche, Solera and Rosetta will all be available Year-Round in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans beginning in April 2020 (draft availability will begin “when on-premise establishments reopen”).  Locations for the first shipments of these three offerings are listed below.  Prost!

  • Apripêche: CA, CO, NC, NY, PA, WA, & Puerto Rico
  • Rosetta: AZ, CA, CO, DE, IL, MD, MN, MO, ND, NH. NJ. NM, NY, OR, PA, VA, WA, & Washington, DC
  • Solera: AZ, CA, CO, IL, MI, MN, ND, NH, NH, NM, NY, OR, WA, & Puerto Rico

OmmegangApripeche

Hi-Wire Brewing Introduces Pink Lemonade Sour Session Ale

Posted on by mashingin

HiWirePinkLemonadeHi-Wire Brewing (Asheville, North Carolina) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Pink Lemonade Sour Session Ale in early April 2020.

Crafted to bring “the lemonade stand right to your door . . . while you’re stuck inside,” Pink Lemonade Sour Session Ale is a Fruited Sour Ale brewed with raspberries, lemon peel, and lemongrass.  Coming in at an “incredibly crushable and refreshing” 4.2% ABV, Pink Lemonade Sour Session Ale features “raspberry fruit sweetness . . . balanced with just the right amount of lemony zip from lemon peel and nostalgic candied-lemon aromas from lemongrass.”

6-packs of 12 oz. cans of Pink Lemonade Sour Session Ale are available now for nationwide shipping (in states where legal) on Hi-Wire Brewing’s online store and local pickup at Hi-Wire Brewing locations (Asheville now, Durham and Knoxville soon). This Limited Release is also expected to enter distribution soon, and you can expect to find it at craft beer-friendly establishments located within the brewery’s distribution footprint in Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio and Kentucky. Prost!

Vital Information for Pink Lemonade Sour Session Ale from Hi-Wire Brewing

Release – Limited; April 2020
Style – Fruited Sour Ale
ABV – 4.2%
Added Ingredients – Raspberries, lemon peel & lemongrass
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans
Distribution – Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio & Kentucky

Tampa’s World of Beer Locations Continue Pay it Forward Campaign to Feed Healthcare Workers on April 9

Posted on by mashingin

WOB-logoSmallTampa, Fla. (April 6, 2020) — World of Beer Bar & Kitchen is asking Tampa residents to help Pay It Forward Round 2. Monday through Thursday, customers can “Pay It Forward” by purchasing a $10 meal for a Brandon Regional employee. Each meal purchased will be matched with an additional meal from World of Beer to help feed those who are on the front line of COVID-19.

“Last week, through our Pay It Forward initiative we were able to donate 100+ meals to ICU employees at Tampa General Hospital,” said Laurel Avery, Community Ambassador of World of Beer. “This week we will continue to give back to our Tampa Bay community and its brave heroes by feeding Brandon Regional Hospital employees during our Paying It Forward Round 2. Please join us as we feed our front line.”

Your $10 will provide Brandon Regional employees with a warm meal delivered directly to their staff tomorrow evening. Fresh burgers, chicken sandwiches, and a hearty helping of fries and tots. Simply stop by or call your local World of Beer to help “Pay It Forward” on Thursday, April 9th. It’s as simple and rewarding as that.

Where:

World of Beer Bar & Kitchen (WOB)
World of Beer was founded in 2007 by two best friends in Tampa, Fla. who wanted to create a welcoming place where friends could gather, drink, eat and explore. WOB, the original craft beer bar, boasts hundreds of beers and rotating taps at each location along with signature food menus specifically designed to enhance the flavor of beers. World of Beer has grown to a global franchise with 50+ locations. For more information, visit www.worldofbeer.com

Note: Mashing In does not regularly cut & paste press releases, but we made an exception in this case due to the subject matter and the time sensitive nature of this initiative. 

Processed with VSCO with c1 preset

Jester King Brewery Issues a Love Letter to Lager with Release of Unfiltered Pilsner

Posted on by mashingin

JesterkinglogoJester King Brewery (Austin, Texas) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Jester King Unfiltered Pilsner, the brewery’s first ever pale lager in cans, on Wednesday, April 8.

Meant to embrace a brewer’s love for lager and all the good things that come from “patience and simplicity,” Jester King Unfiltered Pilsner was brewed with “a wort with Hill Country well water (which [the brewery] softened), White Horn Pilsner Malt from [Jester King’s] friends at Blacklands Malt, and Hallertau Mittelfruh hops.” The patience mentioned above surfaces in this beer in two ways:

  • The brewers employed “a single decoction mash, which involves removing part of the main mash and cooking it separately for a period of time, in an effort to yield malt complexity and melanoidin production.”
  • The brewers then “fermented the wort with German lager yeast from Community Cultures Yeast Lab in San Antonio, then lagered the beer for six weeks in a horizontal dairy tank.”

Just as its name suggests, Jester King Unfiltered Pilsner was left unfiltered and unpasteurized and clocks in at 5.1% ABV.

Jester King Unfiltered Pilsner will debut at Jester King Brewery at noon on April 8 (if you are local to the brewery, you can set up your drive through pickup by clicking here or by calling 512-661-8736), and limited distribution is expected to begin shortly after that date.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans at select craft beer-focused establishments located within Jester King’s distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Jester King Unfiltered Pilsner from Jester King Brewery

Release – Limited; April 8, 2020
Style – Pilsner
ABV – 5.1%
Featured Malts – White Horn Pilsner Malt from Blacklands Malt
Featured Hops – Hallertau Mittelfruh
Yeast – German lager yeast from Community Cultures Yeast Lab
Fun Fact – A note on lagers from Jester King: “Like a lot of brewers and beer geeks, pale lagers have had a special place in our hearts for a long time. For instance, when we receive a box of beer from our brewer friends in other parts of the world, it’s usually the pale lagers that get picked through the fastest. We remember waiting on our loading dock for our first ever shipment of Live Oak Pilz cans to arrive at Jester King and celebrating the moment. At beer festivals, we’re quick to locate the breweries pouring Pilsner or Helles. In central Texas, we’re pretty spoiled to be home to some of the best lager brewers in the country.”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans
Distribution – Limited

Stone Brewing Sends Soaring Dragon Imperial IPA Out for a Special Release

Posted on by mashingin

2020_SoaringDragon_22ozBottleMockupStone Brewing (Escondido, California) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Stone Soaring Dragon Imperial IPA in early April 2020.

Inspired by ” a side trip . . . a few of [Stone Brewing’s] brewers took . . . to the famous Tianshan Tea City market” in Shanghai, China, Stone Soaring Dragon is an Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with a blend of Citra and Loral hops and Peony White Tea. Coming in at 8% ABV and 38 IBUs, Stone Soaring Dragon Imperial IPA boasts “a delicate complexity within an intense double IPA punch.”

Stone Soaring Dragon Imperial IPA is available now at all Stone Brewing locations and distribution is scheduled to begin during the week of April 13.  You can expect to find this Special Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft 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 Soaring Dragon Imperial IPA from Stone Brewing

Release – Limited/Special; early April 2020
Style – Imperial India Pale Ale
ABV – 8%
IBUs – 38
Featured Hops – Citra & Loral
Added Ingredients – White Tea
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & 22 oz. bottles 
Beer Finder – https://find.stonebrewing.com/#ready

StoneSoaringDragon

Portland Cider Co. Adds Electrolyte-Fueled Ciderade to Small Batch Series

Posted on by mashingin

Ciderade19.2_square-2Portland Cider Company (Clackamas, Oregon) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Ciderade, a light Lemon Lime Cider with electrolytes, in April 2020.

Developed to give us all a light and thirst-quenching cider option this summer, Ciderade is a low-ABV (4%) Hard Cider featuring 100% Northwest apples, freshly squeezed lemons and limes, and “electrolytes sourced from sea salt harvested in Netarts Bay along the Oregon Coast by Jacobsen Salt Co.” Weighing in at just 96 calories, 3.5 grams of sugar and carbs per 12 oz. serving, Ciderade is “light, citrusy, refreshing and tangy.”

Jeff Parrish, co-owner of Portland Cider Co. and husband to a British expat, explained that Ciderade evolved from his enjoyment of drinking cider during the hottest days of summer.

 

“In England, cider is often drunk over ice when it’s really warm outside. It lightens it up, reduces the overall ABV, and makes it even more refreshing when you’re really looking to hydrate,” explained Parrish. “There’s nothing better to quench the thirst while doing yard work. But hydrating with a 7% cider in the heat of summer may not be the most effective way to mow the lawn. Ciderade is the perfect refreshing cider with its lower ABV, real citrus juice, and essential electrolytes.”

Ciderade is available now and scheduled to hang around through the months of summer 2020. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 19.2 oz. “proper pint” cans and on draft at select cider-friendly establishments located within Portland Cider Co.’s distribution footprint in Oregon, Washington, Northern Idaho, and Northern California.  Prost!

Vital Information for Ciderade from Portland Cider Company

Release – Limited/Small Batch Series; launching April 2020
Style – Hard Cider
ABV – 4%
Calories – 96 (per 12 oz. serving)
Carbs – 3.5 grams (per 12 oz. serving)
Ingredients – Northwest apples, lemon zest & juice, lime juice & electrolytes from locally sourced sea salt from Jacobsen Salt Co.
Suggested Food Pairings – ” Lemon pepper grilled chicken, chipotle lime avocado salad, mozzarella cheese and Mediterranean salad––and lawn mowing!”
Availability – 19.2 oz. cans & draft
Cider Finder – https://www.portlandcider.com/cider-finder

Ciderade on Fruit

Wild Heaven Beer Promotes Social Distancing with Release of Don’t Stand So Close to Me Lager

Posted on by mashingin

WildHeavenLogoWild Heaven Beer (Decatur, Georgia) has officially announced that it will offer Don’t Stand So Close to Me German-style Lager, the brewery’s latest Exploration Project, for a limited time beginning in early April 2020.

Here to help us all imbibe while abiding to safe social distancing practices, Don’t Stand So Close to Me is a classic Vienna-style Lager brewed with Saaz and Hallertau hops.  Coming in at 5.5% ABV, Don’t Stand So Close to Me promises an experience that is “crisp, floral, and refreshing.”

Don’t Stand So Close to Me debuted at Wild Heaven’s Avondale location on April 3 (you can schedule a Contactless To-Go Beer Pick-up at Wild Heaven by clicking here) and is set to enter limited distribution any day now.  You can expect to find this new Limited Release available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans at select craft beer-focused establishments located in within Wild Heaven’s distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Don’t Stand So Close to Me from Wild Heaven Beer

Release – Limited/Exploration Project; April 3, 2020
Style – Vienna-style Lager
ABV – 5.5%
Featured Hops – Saaz & Hallertau 
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans
Distribution – Georgia, possibly other states depending on supply

Iron Fist Brewing Company Closes Permanently

Posted on by mashingin

IronFistLogoIron Fist Brewing Company (Vista, California) has sadly announced that it has officially closed its doors permanently after a decade of craft brewing in Southern California.

Iron Fist officially announced its closure with the following letter:

Iron Fist Brewing Company Closure

 

It is with heartfelt sorrow that after ten years we are closing our doors permanently. Iron Fist was founded by the Sieminski family in 2010 and this endeavor has truly been a family passion and a dream hard to give up. 

 

The San Diego competitive Craft Beer landscape has transformed over the years which has resulted in an insatiable thirst for the newest, unique brew. In addition to our solid core beers that included Counter Strike, Renegade Blonde, Blood Orange and Velvet Glove, we spent the last year innovating. The brew crew put out same amazing small batch experiments for which we are very appreciative and have a great sense of pride.

 

When combining the lack of traction with our distributor, a competitive craft brew market and the final catalyst, the forced shutdown due to the Coronavirus, we just couldn’t sustain any longer.

 

We at Iron Fist are sincerely appreciative to our loyal customers and will truly miss each and every one of you. Ten years is a long time (especially long in craft beer years), and so many of you have shared life stories, joys and sorrows.  You have given us ten years of memories to cherish.

 

We hope to run into you as we all continue to support our amazing craft brew
community.

On a personal note, everyone here at Mashing In is greatly saddened to hear this news.  We have been working closely with the folks at Iron Fist Brewing Company for a little over a year, and we were always stoked to see a new press release or email from their crew.  Not only was Iron Fist quietly making some of the best beer in the country, everyone we had the pleasure to talk with at the brewery was genuinely excited to discuss beer, answer questions or just chat about something random on a Tuesday afternoon.  They were an absolute delight to work with and we are completely bummed to see them leave the craft beer scene.  With that said, the entire Mashing In crew would like to wish nothing but the best to everyone in the Iron Fist Brewing Company family.  We cannot wait to see and hear what the future holds for each and every one of you.  Be well and be safe. Prost!