Dogfish Head’s Punkin Ale Makes Seasonal Return

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Punkin_2018-6Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware) has announced that its wildly popular Punkin Ale is officially making its way back to shelves and taps now to serve as the brewery’s Fall Seasonal.

First released by Dogfish Head in 1995 and now recognized as “one of America’s best-selling pumpkin beers”, Punkin Ale is a “full-bodied Brown Ale . . . brewed with real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon.” Coming in at 7% ABV, Punkin Ale is “the perfect beer to warm up with” during the fall months.

“We’ve been brewing Punkin Ale for over two decades, since long before there was a whole category of pumpkin beer, and have seen sales grow each and every year,” said Sam Calagione, CEO and founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. “I think it’s because the complexity and authenticity of the recipe has remained world-class since we first brewed it, as it’s not made with pumpkin flavoring or concentrates – we use fresh, all-natural culinary ingredients, and that makes a big difference.”

Punkin Ale is rolling out now and is scheduled to hang around through November 2018.  You can expect to find this Seasonal offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at pumpkin beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Delaware and throughout the rest of Dogfish Head’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Punkin Ale from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Release – Seasonal, September – November 2018
Style – Pumpkin Beer
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 28
Added Ingredients – Real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg & cinnamon
Fun Fact – On the new label artwork: “Passionate about all things artistic and creative, Dogfish teamed up with longtime friend and highly acclaimed designer, Marq Spusta, a California-based artist known for his distinct illustrative style, to create the Off-Centered Art Series label and artwork for Punkin Ale. The label features Spusta’s version of a mystically haunted, Halloween forest with spooky characters.”
Suggested Food Pairing – “Sharp cheddar, turkey, roasted duck, lamb, stuffing, dessert dumplings”
Recommended Glassware – Pint glass
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.dogfish.com/brewery/fishfinder

Tasting Notes: Cherry Limeade! from Cherry Street Brewing

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CherryLimeade2Tasting Notes plays the nostalgia card this week as we get into a few cans of Cherry Limeade! Berliner Weisse from Cherry Street Brewing (Cumming, Georgia).

Canned earlier this summer to serve as a Limited Release offering, Cherry Limeade! Berliner Weisse is Cherry Street Brewing’s take on “a classic German style with a Sonic twist: cherries and limes are added to the tart brew, which is cherry-red in color and very refreshing.” Coming in at a low 4% ABV, Cherry Limeade! has all the thirst-quenching abilities needed to tackle a hot and humid summer in the South.

The latest limited-run of Cherry Limeade! has sadly come to an end, but it is possible that a couple 4-packs of 16 oz. cans could still be tucked away on the shelves of a few select craft beer-friendly retailers in the Atlanta area.  Possible . . . but unlikely.  If you missed out on Cherry Limeade! this time around, odds are that you will just have to wait for the next time Cherry Street Brewing decides to release another batch.

Alrighty . . . now that we’ve covered the necessary background information, let’s crack open these cans and get into some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Cherry Limeade! Berliner Weisse from Cherry Street Brewing

Appearance: This brew pours a deep cherry, Kool-Aid-like red in color that has just a tinge of amber at the edges.  The beer is clear – thanks to a careful pour that left any sediment behind in the can – and displays a moderate but steady carbonation presence.  A half finger of loose and airy pink-hued foam built off the pour, but it disappeared just as quickly as it materialized. Of course, this means that there is no lacing to report.

Aroma: In a concentrated effort to live up to its name, the aroma is dominated by notes of candied cherry and bright lime.  The Berliner’s Lacto qualities support with added citrus while the malts offer some solid wheat character and a really unexpected but intriguing layer of brown sugar.

Taste: Cherry is quick to engage the palate, deploying itself in several, very different forms: fresh tart cherries, sweeter pie cherries, and candied cherry gummies.  The Key lime character then steps up at just the right time to cut those sweeter cherry notes and bring that lovely Berliner tartness forward.  Although it is muted, the wheat supplies just enough grain presence to round and smooth out the flavor profile.

Mouthfeel: Light in body with a medium to high carbonation level, Cherry Limeade! has a crisp feel that is strikingly similar to . . . you guessed it . . . a cherry limeade. It does have a slightly sharp level of tartness, but a rush of fruity, candied sweetness does come through to balance the beer out enough to keep the experience approachable and refreshing.  As expected, the 4% ABV is nowhere to be found.  The beer cleans up nice and quick, but a touch of candied cherry is left to linger at times in the aftertaste.

Final Thoughts: As we alluded to in the opening paragraph, Cherry Limeade! Berliner Weisse is quite literally nostalgia in a glass.  Each sip of this soda fountain-like limeade experience has the power to transport you back to those hot summer nights that convinced you and your high school buddies to head over to the local hamburger drive-in for a refreshing beverage. This beer’s spot-on representation of cherry and lime in both flavor and aroma is more than enough to bring back those memories, but its impressive mouthfeel is what ultimately sells the experience to the drinker.  It truly mimics the satisfying nature of a cherry limeade by being bright, sweet, tart, crushable and – most importantly – ridiculously refreshing.

A lot is going to be asked of a beer that dares to wear the name “Cherry Limeade!“, but this one certainly checks all the boxes necessary to live up to its name.  Be sure to put Cherry Limeade! on your list of must-try beers and check it out when you get the chance.  Prost!

Heavy Seas Beer Welcomes Fall with the Limited Release of Great’er Pumpkin

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29536666227_99f655ac3c_zHeavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) has announced that Great’er Pumpkin, a Bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Pumpkin Ale, will return for a limited time beginning in September.

Back to claim its rightful place in the Heavy Seas Uncharted Waters Series, Great’er Pumpkin is a “rich, deep burnished orange” Imperial Pumpkin Ale that offers “aromas of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and clove. . ., while British crystal malt, brown sugar, and pumpkin add a sense of weight and body.”  Bourbon barrel-aging is then employed to finish off the Great’er Pumpkin (10% ABV) with added “notes of oak, vanilla, and bourbon.”

Great’er Pumpkin is rolling out now and is expected to hang around through October 2018.  You can find this Limited Release in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles – a new packaging format for Uncharted Waters offerings in 2018 – and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Maryland and throughout the rest of Heavy Seas Beer’s distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Great’er Pumpkin from Heavy Seas Beer

Release – Limited/Uncharted Waters Series, September – October 2018
Style – Pumpkin Ale
ABV – 10%
Recommended Glassware – Snifter
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.hsbeer.com/beerfinder

Wild Heaven Beer Launches Distribution in Florida

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WildHeavenLogoWild Heaven Beer (Decatur, Georgia) has announced that it has signed with Cavalier Distributing – Florida so that it can officially begin distribution in The Sunshine State.

Founded in 2010 by lifelong Georgians, Wild Heaven Beer is a craft brewery focused on creating “world-class beers . . . designed in the great tradition of European brewing but with a distinctly American creative flair.”  This philosophy has allowed the brewery to steadily grow and expand its reach over the years, and now Wild Heaven is finally ready to venture further south to share its offerings with beer-loving Floridians.

Wild Heaven Beer will enter the Florida market with the following three brews:

  • Altair | India Pale Ale – Altair features a bright hop flavor without bitterness from Mosaic Lupulin powder plus generous amounts of Citra and Idaho 7 hops to create an IPA that flies like an eagle.  ABV – 6.2%
  • Emergency Drinking Beer | Pils-style Session Ale – A one-of-a-kind session beer reminiscent of a crisp pilsner married with a traditional gose. Brightness and complexity come from additions of citrus zest, Portuguese sea salt and lemongrass.  ABV – 4%
  • Watermelon Emergency Drinking Beer – Based on Emergency Drinking Beer, Watermelon Emergency Drinking Beer . . . requires the Wild Heaven team to hand-cut and juice hundreds of watermelons. The fresh, bright red juice is added to the beer to deliver true watermelon taste without any overt sweetness or artificial flavor notes.  ABV – 4%

The beers above started hitting Florida shelves and taps last week and the statewide rollout will continue over the next week or so.  You can expect to find these Wild Heaven offerings available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer establishments located throughout the state of Florida.  Prost!

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

 

Boulevard Brewing Co. Adds Tart Apple Radler to its Seasonal Lineup

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Tart-Apple-RadlerBoulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, Missouri) has announced that it will be expanding its Radler selection in September when it introduces its latest Seasonal Release, Tart Apple Radler.

Using the same process that created fan-favorite Radlers such as Ginger Lemon Radler and Cranberry Orange Radler, Boulevard’s brewers crafted Tart Apple Radler by adding “tart apple juice and just a touch of lemon juice to . . . the Unfiltered Wheat Beer base.”  This combination yields “aromas of tart green apple juice backed by a subtle sweetness” and a flavor profile dominated by “slightly puckering apple and lemon” that eventually “[gives] way to a bready malt sweetness and a spritzy finish that wavers between apple, lemon and slight citrus notes from the base beer.”  Coming in at an “eminently drinkable and refreshing” 4.1% ABV, Tart Apple Radler “is the ultimate post-activity beer even if you’re doing nothing more strenuous than lifting it to your lips.”

Tart Apple Radler debuts in the Kansas City area on September 4 and will see expanded distribution in the coming weeks.  You can expect to find this new Seasonal Release available exclusively in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans at craft beer-friendly retailers in Alabama, Florida, Missouri and all other areas in Boulevard Brewing Co.’s distribution footprint that normally see other Seasonal offerings such as Ginger Lemon Radler, Berliner Weisse and Tough Kitty Milk Stout.  Prost!

Vital Information for Tart Apple Radler from Boulevard Brewing Co.

Release – Seasonal, launching September 2018
Style – Radler
ABV – 4.1%
IBUs – 6
Added Ingredients – Apple Juice & Lemon Juice
Suggested Food Pairings – “Apple-glazed pork chops, sharp cheddar cheese, chicken curry, ginger cookies”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans
Beer Finder – https://www.boulevard.com/beer/beer-finder/

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Re-releases Turbo Bam

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Turbo+BamJolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales (Dexter, Michigan) has announced that Turbo Bam, a Rye Farmhouse Saison brewed in collaboration with The Masonry, is officially returning to shelves and taps this month.

Developed to be a Bam variant that could serve as “the perfect beer to pair with a delicious slice of pizza” at The Masonry or anywhere, Turbo Bam is a Farmhouse Saison brewed with “a hefty portion of rye” that offers a spicy foundation for the added “coriander and Szechuan peppercorns to build upon.”  Amarillo hops and lemon peel then join Bam Bière’s normal hop bill of Cascade and Crystal hops to shift Turbo Bam (4.9% ABV) “into high gear with blasts of lemon, pineapple and mango.”

Turbo Bam started hitting distribution this week and will hang around as long as supplies last.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 375ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Jolly Pumpkin’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Turbo Bam from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Release – Limited/Collaboration Series, late-August 2018
Style – Farmhouse Ale/Saison
ABV – 4.9%
IBUs – 24
Grains –  Pilsner, Rye Malt, Crystal 75 & Flaked Barley
Hops – Michigan Cascade, Cascade, Crystal & Amarillo 
Added Ingredients – Coriander, Lemon Peel & Szechuan Peppercorns
Treatment – Aged on oak for 7 months
Availability – 375ml bottles & draft
Distribution Info – http://brewery.jollypumpkin.com/find-our-biere/

CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective Introduces First Cross-Brewery Mixed 12-Pack

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CANarchylogoCANarchy Craft Brewery Collective (Longmont, Colorado) has officially announced the release of the CANarchy Mixed Pack – VOL. 1, a mixed 12-pack that includes beers from Cigar City Brewing, Oskar Blues Brewery, Perrin Brewing Company, and Squatters Craft Beers.

The CANarchy Mixed Pack – VOL. 1 marks the first time that the CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective – a group of craft breweries who have come together to stay independent – has represented four CANarchy breweries in one box.  The first in what is sure to be a rotating series of 12-pack compilations, CANarchy Mixed Pack – VOL. 1 contains the following “assortment of CANarchist brews” (descriptions sourced from press release):

The CANarchy Mixed Pack – VOL. 1 contains three (3) 12 oz. cans of each beer listed above. This new mixed 12-pack will begin hitting craft beer shelves in North Carolina and Florida on September 1 and wider distribution is expected “soon”.  Prost!

Maple Barrel-aged Black Aggie Headlines Next Mega Drop at Hidden Springs Ale Works

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HiddenSpringsShunOn Saturday, September 1 at 11 a.m., Hidden Springs Ale Works (Tampa, Florida) will host a Mega Drop release event featuring bottles of Maple Barrel Aged Black Aggie Imperial Stout and four other limited-release offerings in cans.

That’s right . . . Black Aggie is back and this time she is bringing some sticky maple barrel-aged Imperial Stout action to Hidden Springs Ale Works’ latest Mega Drop, the brewery’s all-in approach to beer releases that has its fans leaving the facility with an armful of instant gratification.  Obviously, to make this a true Mega Drop, Maple Barrel Aged Black Aggie will be joined by four other “frands” in cans (pictured on the right).  The descriptions and pricing for all five Mega Drop beers are as follows:

  • Maple Barrel Aged Black Aggie | $30 per bottle – The name of this massive Imperial Stout says it all.  ABV – 13%
  • Shun the Non-Believer | $18 per 4-pack of 16 oz. cans – Berliner with Mango and Habanero. It’s spicy. It’s tart. It’s oh so juicy and missing a kidney.  ABV – 5.5%
  • Tiki Apocalypse | $18 per 4-pack of 16 oz. cans – A tropical Berliner with yuzu, cucumber and hibiscus tasty enough to please the gods.  ABV – 5.5%
  • Djuice Flute | $18 per 4-pack of 16 oz. cans – (pronounced “joos floot”) A sour IPA with coconut & lime brewed in collaboration with Calusa Brewing.  ABV – 6.5%
  • I am the Walrus | $18 per 4-pack of 16 oz. cans – This Berliner with plum and bourbon soaked oak chips is so tart, so refreshing, so enigmatic, it’ll have you tasting colors while you fly high with Lucy & her diamonds. Yoko Ono can’t even touch this.  ABV – 5.5%

Note: Limits for each release will be announced the morning of the Mega Drop.

As is the case at every Mega Drop, cash is the preferred form of payment to keep the release running smoothly and the line moving.  If you cannot come up with that kind of cash by Saturday, cards are still an option.

A couple more things to keep in mind when it comes to the Mega Drop:

  • Parking is available in the lot across the street from Hidden Springs Ale Works, up and down Franklin St., on Henderson just west of Tampa St., and on 7th Ave.
  • While in line, the brewery asks that “don’t be a menace to the ‘hood while waiting fo yo juice. Hug the wall to the right of the door on Henderson.”

Other than that, just make sure that you get to the Mega Drop reasonably early to make the final head count, be respectful of the brewery’s neighbors while in line, and just have a good time while you wait to get your stash of bottles and cans.  Prost!

 

 

Tasting Notes: Passion Grass from Lagunitas Brewing Company

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LagunitasPassGrassPourFor this installment of Tasting Notes, we neglect some much needed yard work to instead focus our attention on Passion Grass, the new collaboration brew from Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California) and Short’s Brewing Company (Bellaire, Michigan).

Released back at the start of August as a Joint Session brew that Lagunitas Brewing Company developed with their friends at Short’s Brewing Company, Passion Grass is a “smooth and slammable” West-by-Midwest Ale “with some passion fruit added for that pleasant summery tropical-ness, rounded off with a special zing of lemongrass.” Clocking in at an easy-drinking 4.6% ABV and 54 IBUs, Passion Grass is “best imbibed with your ‘buds … it’s good to have friends.”

Passion Grass is out now and available for a limited time in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft.  You can expect to find this “HIIIIGHLY limited brew” at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, Illinois, Washington and throughout the rest of Lagunitas Brewing Company’s distribution area.

Now that we know who did what and why, let’s pop these bottles, hit the lounge chairs and watch the grass continue to grow while we get into these Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Passion Grass from Lagunitas Brewing Company & Short’s Brewing Company

Appearance: Passion Grass pours a pale yellow in color and builds right at a finger of fluffy white foam.  When held to direct light, the color remains pale but does take on a more lemony yellow hue.  The beer has a nice clarity that displays an ample carbonation presence streaming up to feed the top cap.  Head retention is pretty fantastic, but it does eventually tighten up and condense down to a lasting, creamy half finger that casts a wide web of lace across the glass.

Aroma: Passion fruit is all over this aroma, bringing a big tropical presence that works beautifully with the juicier hop notes of citrus, pineapple and papaya.  The lemongrass then surfaces to create a tea-like character when combined with the more earthy/herbal/piney hop qualities.  Wonderfully complex here but in a way that is still incredibly inviting and alluring.

Taste: Not much unlike the nose, the flavor profile kicks off with a big, juicy burst of passion fruit and orange (both juice and zest).  A bevy of tropical hop notes then turn up in the form of guava, pineapple, papaya and grapefruit.  Pine, lemongrass and a slight herbal character combine with a coy malt presence to close out the profile by quietly tempering and taming all of that pronounced juicy sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Skirting on the lighter side of medium in body with a bright carbonation level, this beer is super refreshing and dries out lightning-quick.  Despite the fact that the malts do get a bit lost in the mix, the beer still finds a nice balance between its bitter, lightly tart, and fruity/sweet qualities.  At a wonderfully low 4.6%, the ABV’s only role here is to keep its head down and do whatever it can to ensure that the drinker enjoys a refreshing, easy-drinking experience.  Aftertaste is minimal, but pleasant notes of passion fruit and citrus do linger at times.

Final Thoughts: To put it simply, Passion Grass is a supremely easy-drinking beer that is everything you could possibly want in a summer-themed release.  Big tropical fruit notes supply a quenching and satisfying sweetness while the lemongrass and hops support with both complementary and contrasting notes that run the spectrum from added fruitiness to balancing earthiness and herbaceousness. Throw in that low ABV and this all results in a dynamic yet approachable experience completely focused on refreshment.  If you are in search of the perfect brew to enjoy at the beach, on the boat or after a hike, you really need to give the compact flavor bomb that is Passion Grass a shot.  Just make sure you snag a sixer before this beer’s limited-time run comes to an end.  Prost!