Artisanal Imports Brings St. Feuillien FIVE to the U.S.

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Artisanal Imports (Austin, Texas) has announced that the latest offering from Brasserie St. Feuillien (Le Roeulx, Belgium), St. Feuillien FIVE, is now officially available in the United States.

St. Feuillien FIVE is a bottle-conditioned Belgian-style Pale Blonde Ale with “a strong, sparkling character emitting fine bubbles” that enhance the beer’s “delicate fruity hints empowered by nuances of citrus zests [that] give way to a delightfully fresh and hoppy aroma.” Coming in at 5% ABV, St. Feuillien FIVE proves to be “a flavorful, sweet and malty and full-bodied beer with a pleasant balance post-bitterness, and it pours with a stable head of white foam.”

“We are thrilled to offer our retailers a new Belgian ale drinking experience this year with St. Feuillien FIVE,” says Bob Leggett CEO of Artisanal Imports. “The beer on draft is a refreshing welcome to warm spring days and the bottles are an excellent new addition to cellars as the yeast continuously adds complexity to the liquid.”

St. Feuillien FIVE is available now in the U.S. in draft format with 4-packs of 330ml bottles following in late April 2021. You can expect to find this new offering available at fine beer establishments located in Florida, Texas and throughout the rest of Artisanal Imports’ nationwide distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for St. Feuillien FIVE from Brasserie St. Feuillien

Release – Year-Round; launching in the U.S. in late March 2021
Style – Belgian-style Blonde Ale
ABV – 5%
IBUs – 22
Availability – 4-packs of 330ml bottles (coming in April 2021) & draft
Distribution – AK, AZ, CA, CT, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MD, MI, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI & WY

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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!

Nicaragua Craft Beer Co. Exands Distribuiton of Panga Drops Keller Pils in the U.S.

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PangaDrops2Nicaragua Craft Beer Co. (San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua) and Artisanal Imports have officially announced that they will introduce Panga Drops Keller Pils in 12 U.S. states this month.

Named after the world-famous surfing destination in Nicaragua, Panga Drops (6.2% ABV) is an “unfiltered and crisp golden-colored” Kellerbier-style Pilsner.  Meant to be “refreshing in both flavor and packaging”, Panga Drops is uniquely packaged in “an 8-ounce squat can inspired by local soft drinks.”

“When you’re drinking a beer in the Nicaraguan heat, the last four ounces tend to get warm. So, we moved those ounces to the next can to keep them cold. The 8-ounce squat cans chill faster to help keep you cool and refreshed.”

 

– Matt Greenberg, President and Co-Founder of Nicaragua Craft Beer Co.

Previously only available in Los Angeles and New York, Panga Drops Keller Pils is rolling out now in 12 U.S. states.  You can expect to find this new Import offering available in 8 oz. cans at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Florida, Arizona, California, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island and South Carolina.  Prost!

Vital Information for Panga Drops Keller Pils from Nicaragua Craft Beer Co.

Release – Year-Round, launching in the U.S. in late April/early May 2019
Style – Kellerbier 
ABV – 6.2%
Fun Fact – On the packaging for Panga Drops: “The 8-ounce squat can . . . stands out on shelves. Designed with a laid-back beachy vibe that matches the liquid within, it emulates its unique placement as Nicaragua’s only exported craft beer, and there is no other craft brew quite like it available in the United States.”
Availability – 8 oz. cans
Distribution – Florida, Arizona, California, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island and South Carolina
Beer Finder – https://nicacraftbeer.com/beer-finder/

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Fulton Beer Set for the Return of Specter New England-style IPA

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Specter_MedFulton Beer (Minneapolis, Minnesota) and Artisanal Imports have officially announced that Specter NE Style IPA will be available nationally for the first time beginning on November 1, 2018.

Developed to be a “distinct and deliberate departure from the high-clarification offerings” that Fulton Beer normally produces, Specter is a New England-style India Pale Ale that sources its “smooth, creamy mouthfeel and hazy appearance” from “a number of ingredients and processes, such as the use of nearly 20 percent oats in the mash, a chloride-heavy water chemistry and low flocculating yeast.”  After undergoing aggressive late boil and whirlpool hop additions as well as a double dry-hopping with Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo, and Nelson Sauvin hops, Specter (7.1% ABV, 35 IBUs) ultimately comes together to offer “aromas of citrus and stone fruits” alongside “a tropical and juicy finish with little perceived lingering bitterness.”

“We are especially excited about Specter as it will be our first beer to be released across the entire Artisanal network, which means it will hit stores and pints across the country ‒ not just our current footprint,” said Corey Shovein, Fulton’s National Sales Director. “This is a delicious beer that resonates with consumers not just because it is a hoppy, juicy, hazy NE-style IPA with packaging that stands out on a crowded cooler shelf. It’s also because Specter tells a deeply personal story for Fulton that many people can relate to. We want everyone to enjoy this beer, read the story and take action if they are able.”

The personal story that Shovein references in the quote above is best told in the words of those from the brewery and it is as follows:

In 2016, Fulton lost one of its family members, Greg Sincheff, to depression. To honor Greg’s memory, the brewery released a NE-style IPA that bore his nickname, “Grog.” One dollar from each pint of Grog sold at the taproom was donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

In 2017, the beer first known as Grog returned as “Specter.” The word specter is defined as “a visible incorporeal spirit, ghost, phantom or apparition.” The name is intended to continue honoring Greg’s memory and help his spirit remain visible. It is also an opportunity for Fulton to bring awareness to mental health issues and suicide prevention. And thus, this year Fulton will donate $1 for every pint of Specter sold at the taproom to the AFSP.

This year’s batch of Specter will officially release on November 1 and will stick around as long as supplies last.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-focused retailers, bars and restaurants located in Florida, Minnesota and all other areas of the U.S. normally serviced by Artisanal Imports.  Prost!

Vital Information for Specter NE Style IPA from Fulton Beer

Release – Limited; November 1, 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale (New England style)
ABV – 7.1%
IBUs – 35
Featured Hops –  Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo & Nelson Sauvin
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.fultonbeer.com/find-a-fulton

 

Elgood’s Coolship Sour Mango Ale Launches in the U.S.

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Elgoods-Coolship-Sour-Mango-Ale-by-Elgoods-BreweryElgood’s Brewery (Cambridgeshire, England) and Artisanal Imports have officially announced that Elgood’s Coolship Sour Mango Ale is now available nationwide in the U.S.

Brewed as a collaboration project between Elgood’s head brewer Alan Pateman and Artisanal Imports CEO Bob Leggett, Sour Mango Ale is a 100% spontaneously fermented brew and “the first bottle release in the renowned Elgood’s Coolship Series.”  To stand apart from the many kettle sours out there, “Elgood’s uses copper coolships from the 1920s to cool their wort overnight.”  While in these traditional, open fermentation vessels, the wort for this English “Cambic” (Lambic from Cambridgeshire) cools and “becomes the perfect home for lactobacilli, which are responsible for the bright sourness.”  The beer is also exposed to “Brettanomyces and other wild yeasts [to] add earthy notes and saccharomyces cerevisiae, or brewer’s yeast, [to finish] the fermentation.”  The full maturation process for this offering takes 9 to 12 months and occurs “in stainless steel tanks to which oak and chestnut chips have been added.”  Sour Mango Ale is finally completed when the base Sour Ale is blended with mango concentrate to impart an offsetting tropical fruit sweetness.

“Because our brewery focuses on traditional English ales, the equipment we use for all of our brewing, but in particular for the sour ale production, is actually well-suited for ‘lambic’ beers,” said head brewer Alan Pateman. “We have a unique pair of copper ’coolships’ which date from around the 1920s, and these are key to the story of the sour beer.”

Elgood’s Coolship Sour Mango Ale is available now in 11.2 oz. bottles and on draft.  You can expect to find this offering in the U.S. at fine beer establishments located in areas actively serviced by Artisanal Imports.  Prost!

Vital Information for Elgood’s Coolship Sour Mango Ale from Elgood’s Brewery

Release – Elgood’s Coolship Series, late-September 2017
Style – Sour Ale
ABV – 6%
Grains – British Pale Malt & Un-malted Wheat
Hops – Aged Styrian Goldings
Bacteria and Yeast – Lactobacilli, Brettanomyces and other wild yeasts; Saccharomyces Cerevisiae
Fermentation Period – 9 to 12 months
Added Ingredients – Mango concentrate
Availability – 11.2 oz. bottles & draft

Brouwerij Bosteels to Bring Kwaktoberfest to the U.S. in October

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bosteels-pauwel-kwakBrouwerij Bosteels (Buggenhout, Belgium) and Artisanal Imports have officially announced that they will be celebrating Kwaktoberfest at bars and restaurants across America during the month of October.

If you have not figured it out by now, Kwaktoberfest is Brouwerij Bosteels’ annual celebration of their iconic Pauwel Kwak, a Belgian Strong Pale Ale that is equally known for its quality and its “instantly recognizable carriage glass.”  With the help of Artisanal Imports, Brouwerij Bosteels will take this Kwaktoberfest party to participating locations coast-to-coast.  In addition to pouring Pauwel Kwak, these venues will also showcase “the brewery’s other world-class brews including Tripel Karmeliet and DeuS.”  These events will also feature special point of sale items such as “flags, coasters, posters, single and double Kwak glasses and the almighty Quattro, capable of holding four Kwak glasses at once.”

“Kwaktoberfest is a fun addition to the German Oktoberfest season,” says Lanny Hoff, SVP-Brands Manager of Artisanal Imports. “There are stylistic similarities between Kwak and German Märzen and glassware is a big part of the celebration. Whether it’s a liter of Oktoberfest or a carriage glass of Kwak, it’s fun!”

Kwaktoberfest events will be taking place throughout the U.S. during the month of October.  If you are interested in attending a Kwaktoberfest event, keep an eye on Artisanal Imports’ website and social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) for information, and be sure to check back here as we will update this post with any details we receive concerning official event dates and locations.  Stay tuned!  Prost!

Vital Information for Pauwel Kwak from Brouwerij Bosteels

Release – Year-round
Style – Belgian Strong Pale Ale 
ABV – 8.4%
Ingredients – Barley malts, mineral water, wheat, hops & white candy sugar
Availability – 11.2 oz. bottles & draft
Suggested Food Pairings – “Kwak is tremendous with any kind of grilled or roasted meats or poultry. It is also a good beer with dessert, particularly those with nuts or caramel. It goes with almost any cheese and makes a very tasty (if spendy!) beer soup.”
Fun Fact – Background on the glassware: “The legendary Kwak glass, or ‘Koetsiersglas’, hearkens back to the Napoleonic era. Back then, Pauwel Kwak was a brewer and owner of the De Hoorn inn, which saw daily visits from mail coaches and their passengers. While passengers could stop in for a drink, coachmen were prohibited from leaving their posts to join. To bypass this inconvenience, Kwak had special glasses blown with a convex bottom that could sit in the coach in a wooden stand, allowing the drivers to enjoy a glass!”

Iron Maiden to Expand Beer Lineup with Upcoming Release of HALLOWED

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hallowed_transIron Maiden and Robinsons Brewery (Stockport, England) have officially announced plans to release their newest collaboration HALLOWED Belgian-style Ale in October of 2017.

Drawing inspiration from their song “Hallowed Be Thy Name”, Iron Maiden has once again teamed up with the brewers at Robinsons Brewery to create HALLOWED.  This limited release, Belgian-inspired Ale pays homage to the storied brewing history of Belgium while still giving the beer a distinctly British edge.  Since Belgian beers draw a good amount of their characteristics from Belgian yeast, the brewing of HALLOWED is a “landmark” beer for Robinsons considering the brewery has not used a different yeast in its beers since 1942.

“What makes this brew pretty special is that we’re adopting a Belgian yeast for the first time,” said Bruce Dickinson, Lead Vocalist of Iron Maiden. “I’m a big fan of Belgian beers, so I jumped at the chance to brew my own. While I get very excited about experimenting with new formulas and ingredients, the thing about Belgian beer is that it’s as much a way of life as it is a drink. We’ve tried to bottle that philosophy in HALLOWED, albeit with a British twist.”

HALLOWED marks the fourth collaboration beer between Iron Maiden and Robinsons Brewery.  It now joins the ranks of “TROOPER, which has sold over 15 million pints since its launch in 2013, and the previous limited edition beers TROOPER 666 and RED ‘N’ BLACK.”

HALLOWED will officially release in October and will be distributed for four months.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 330ml bottles at select beer establishments in the U.S. located in areas that are serviced by Artisanal Imports.  Prost!

Vital Information for HALLOWED from Iron Maiden and Robinsons Brewery

Release – Limited, launching October 2017
Style – Belgian-style Ale
ABV – 6%
Availability – 330ml bottles
Beer Finder – http://www.ironmaidenbeer.com/find-beer/stockists
Fun Fact – “HALLOWED’s innovative bottle label pays tribute to Belgian beer, presenting IRON MAIDEN’s iconic mascot EDDIE, robed in traditional monk’s clothing: a nod to the Trappist monastic brewing tradition in Belgium.”

Germany’s Pfungstädter Privatbrauerei Launches Weizen Radler in the U.S.

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Dose-Weizen-Radler-500mlArtisanal Imports (Austin, Texas) recently announced that Weizen Radler from Pfungstädter Privatbrauerei (Pfungstadt, Germany) is now being canned and is available in the U.S. for the first time.

Thanks to the growing popularity of the style in the U.S., refreshing Radlers have started taking up a lot of real estate on craft and import beer shelves these days.  Weizen Radler proudly stands out from the crowd by being “a thirst-quenching blend of all-natural lemonade and Pfungstädter’s famous unfiltered Weizen.”  The Weizen portion of this blend is brewed with “top-fermenting house yeast, Hallertauer Herkules and Spalter Select hops, two-row malt blend, local malted wheat and low-sodium water from the private Pfungstädter fountain which lies within a protected nature park in the region.”  Once completed, this Weizen is then mixed 50:50 with real lemonade to result in a 2.7% ABV Radler that is a “perfectly light yet flavorful and exceedingly drinkable beverage, not too sweet and ultra-crisp – perfect for any occasion.”

“There are a lot of radlers out there,” says Lanny Hoff, SVP-Brands Manager for Artisanal Imports, “but we feel Pfungstädter’s has a place due to the excellent quality of the beer as well as the lemonade. It’s a real lemonade, not a flavoring or essence, but lemon juice. This gives it a refreshing, not-too-sweet character which really sets it apart from the competition.”

Weizen Radler is available now in the U.S. in 500ml cans and on draft.  Look for this one at fine beer establishments located in Florida and all other states that normally see products handled by Artisanal Imports.  Prost!

Vital Information for Weizen Radler from Pfungstädter Privatbrauerei

Release – Year-Round, launching June 2017
ABV – 2.7%
IBUs – 5
Blend – 50:50 Pfungstädter Weizen to lemonade
Hops – Hallertauer Herkules & Spalter Select
Malts – Two-row malt blend & Malted Wheat from Hesse, Germany
Yeast – Top-fermenting Pfungstädter yeast
Availability – 500ml cans & draft
Distribution – FL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, IL, KS, ME, MA, MI, MN, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, VT, WA, WV and WI
Suggested Food Pairings – Tapas, seafood, asparagus
Fun Fact – “Radler (German for “cyclist”) has a long history in Germany with cyclists demanding a refreshing, less-alcoholic post-ride beverage. It typically consists of a 50:50 mixture of beer and sparkling lemonade. Legend has it that a German innkeeper who couldn’t keep up with demand blended his remaining beer with a fresh citrus lemonade. The regulars were impressed and refreshed, and the Radler style was born!”

Germany’s Brauerei C. & A. Veltins Launches Grevensteiner Kellerbier in the U.S.

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grevensteiner-c--a-veltins-79147905Brauerei C. & A. Veltins (Meschede-Grevenstein, Germany) has officially announced that they have partnered with Artisanal Imports to begin distribution of their Grevensteiner Original in the United States.

For over 190 years, Brauerei C. & A. Veltins has been supplying the Westphalia region of Germany with beers that focus on quality, local ingredients and a perfect brewing method.  A great deal of the brewery’s long-standing success is thanks to the water in Meschede-Grevenstein.  Considered to be some of “the finest brewing water in the world,” this vital ingredient provides the beers of Brauerei C. & A. Veltins “with a soft, mineral quality uniquely characteristic of the . . . region.”

Now that Brauerei C. & A. Veltins has nearly two centuries of brewing expertise under its belt, the folks at the brewery feel that it is finally time to introduce the U.S. beer market to their Grevensteiner Original.  Described as “an unusual and fascinating brew,” Grevensteiner is an amber-hued Kellerbier that possesses “caramel flavors with slight undertones of honey, . . . notes of roasted almonds and fresh fruit that is mostly reminiscent of green apple.”  Unfiltered and unpasteurized, Grevensteiner is a lager that is best when enjoyed fresh.

“We feel this is an exciting release for the U.S. market,” said Fabian Mueller, Export Sales Manager at Brauerei C. & A. Veltins. “As the third-largest brewery in Germany, we can provide overseas markets with beers featuring ample complexity in both aroma and flavor. In this case, kellerbiers such as Grevensteiner represent a new angle for craft lagers in America.”

Grevensteiner Original is available now in the U.S. and can be found in 4-packs of 16.9 oz. cans.  If you are a fan of traditional German lagers, be sure to look for this one at fine beer establishments in Florida and all other states that normally see products handled by Artisanal Imports (full list of states available below).  Prost!

Vital Information for Grevensteiner Original from Brauerei C. & A. Veltins

Release – Year-Round, U.S. launch begins March 2017
Style – Kellerbier 
ABV – 5.2%
Ingredients – “Naturally cloudy Grevensteiner Original is a light country beer brewed with soft spring water and harvest-fresh hops. Traditional malts give the beer its amber colour and its full-bodied taste. Brewed in accordance with the German purity law.”
Availability – 4-packs of 16.9 oz. cans
Distribution – FL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, IL, KS, ME, MA, MI, MN, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, VT, WA, WV and WI