Beer News | Mashing In

Creature Comforts Brewing Co. Set for Limited Release of Common Things Saison

Posted on August 14, 2018 by mashingin

Creature Comforts Brewing Co. (Athens, Georgia) has announced that it will officially begin the Limited Release of Common Things – a Saison made with local honey – on Saturday, August 25.

Staying true to its commitment “to incorporate a local tie” in “each farmhouse style beer the brewery makes”, Creature Comforts Brewing Co. developed Common Things to be a mixed culture Saison that features honey from local bees. With the recipe rounded out with Styrian Golding and aged Cascade hops, Common Things (6.2% ABV) was finished off by being “fermented in stainless steel before being packaged and refermented in bottles.”

“We’ve learned a lot about ways to use honey through previous projects and putting it in a light, tart, refreshing beer felt like the next progression,” said Wood Cellar and Specialty Brand Manager Blake Tyers. “We’re also excited to have another opportunity to showcase locally sourced ingredients in our beer.”

750ml bottles of Common Things will officially release in the Tasting Room at Creature Comforts Brewing Co. on August 25. This Limited Release offering is not expected to see distribution. Prost!

Vital Information for Common Things from Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

Release – Limited; August 25, 2018
Style – Saison/Farmhouse Ale
ABV – 6.2%
Featured Hops – Styrian Golding & aged Cascade
Added Ingredients – Honey from local bees
Fun Fact #1 – On the honey: “The brewery worked with the University of Georgia’s Honey Bee Program to source the honey from local bees. Common Things serves as the third beer the brewery has made with honey.”
Fun Fact #2 – On the label artwork: “The label artwork was designed by Athens artist and Creature Comforts staff member Melissa Merrill.”
Availability – 750ml bottles
Distribution – None. Offered as a Tasting Room exclusive

Coppertail Brewing Co. Announces Plans for 4th Anniversary Celebration

Posted on August 13, 2018August 17, 2018 by mashingin

On Saturday, August 18 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Coppertail Brewing Co. (Tampa, Florida) will celebrate another amazing year of growth by inviting the brewery’s fans to attend a 4th Anniversary Party that will feature over 40 taps of Coppertail offerings and guest beers.

Over the past year, Coppertail Brewing Co. has expanded distribution to now completely cover the state of Florida, earned several more medals for its beers at competitions held at both the state and national levels, and “was also recognized by the Tampa Bay Business Journal as one of the fastest growing companies in Tampa.” This is all definitely cause for celebration, and the folks at the brewery will do just that with a 4th Anniversary Party on August 18.

“According to recent IRI syndicated data, we are the No. 1 selling craft brewery in Florida. Our sales are up 35% from this time last year. We are thankful to our fans and followers for continuing to support us and drink our beer.”

– Kent Bailey, Coppertail’s president

Instead of going with the strict Florida Weisse theme of years past, the folks at Coppertail have decided to mix things up a bit by having this year’s birthday party feature a vast array of beer styles from Coppertail and several guest breweries. Due to this change and the fact that there are a couple ways to gain admission into this event, we should probably just go ahead and break this thing down to avoid any confusion.

The Basics

What – Coppertail Brewing Co.’s 4th Anniversary Party
When – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 18
Where – Coppertail Brewing Co. | 2601 E 2nd Ave. | Tampa, Florida

The Beer

To bring a bit of a variety to the experience, this year’s anniversary party will go well beyond just the Florida Weisse style. There will be over 40 taps flowing with Coppertail offerings and a special lineup of beers from guest breweries. At the time of this post, the brewery was still in the process of completing the event’s official tap list and list of guest breweries. We will post those lists here just as soon as they are made available. Stay tuned.

**UPDATE – 08.16.18** As promised, here’s the tentative tap list for Coppertail’s 4th Anniversary Party:

**UPDATE 08.17.18** Coppertail has also added these foeder-aged and sour project beers to their tap list for Saturday (these are all Coppertail Brewing Co. beers):

Dragonfruit Foeder Beer
Muscadine Foeder Beer
Prickly Pear Foeder Beer
Plum & Mint Foeder Beer
Watermelon Foeder Beer
Cranberry & Cherry George
Tangerine & Strawberry Armagnac Barrel Aged Sour
Tart Cherry Burgundy Barrel Aged Brett Dubbel

Admission

There are two ways to gain entry into Coppertail’s 4th Anniversary Party:

General Admission – No ticket required. This level is come as you are and pay as you go. General Admission grants you entry at 1 p.m.
VIP – Ticket required. Tickets are $50 each plus fees and can be purchased by clicking here. Ticket cost provides “partygoers with a commemorative glass, early entry to the event at noon, and access to a VIP area with food and complimentary beer for the duration of the event.” Only 100 VIP tickets are available for this event.

Other Info

Food will be available for purchase during the event
Live musical entertainment will be provided by DieAlps! and Expert Timing

Alright . . . that should cover all the information that is currently available for Coppertail Brewing Co.’s 4th Anniversary Party, but more details are sure to surface as we get closer to the event date. We will update this post with the finalized tap list, the list of guest brewers and any other random info just as soon as we get our hands on it, so stay tuned.

If you are in the area and free on August 18, be sure to head over to the edge of Ybor so that you can raise a glass with the Coppertail Brewing Co. crew to one hell of a year and the many more ahead of them. Prost!

Brewery Ommegang Introduces Fruittanomyces as New Limited Release

Posted on August 13, 2018 by mashingin

Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, New York) has announced that Fruittanomyces, a dry-hopped Witbier brewed with tropical fruits and aged with Brettanomyces, is hitting shelves now as the brewery’s latest Limited Release.

To create this “funky, flavorful limited edition beer”, the brewers at Ommegang start with a Witbier base that is “brewed with malted and unmalted wheat and oat flakes and is spiced with sweet orange peel and coriander.” This Witbier then takes an interesting turn off its classic path by being “fermented with mango, kiwi, and passion fruit juices and dry-hopped with Citra and Cascade hops before aging in the bottle with Brettanomyces.” With all these steps completed, Fruittanomyces emerges with a complex aroma dominated by “tropical fruit and overripe funk” and “tart flavors of ripe pineapple, passion fruit and kumquat [leading] to subdued hints of lemony citrus.” Coming in at just 5.3% ABV, Fruittanomyces offers an experience that is “effervescent and surprisingly refreshing with a lingering sweetness on the finish.”

Fruittanomyces is rolling out now and will be around as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Edition beer available in 750ml bottles at craft beer-focused retailers located in Alabama, Florida, New York and throughout the rest of Brewery Ommegang’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Fruittanomyces from Brewery Ommegang

Release – Limited, August 2018
Style – Witbier/American Wild Ale
ABV – 5.3%
Grains – Malted and Unmalted Wheat & Oat Flakes
Featured Hops – Citra & Cascade
Added Ingredients – Orange Peel, Coriander & Mango, Kiwi and Passion Fruit juices
Treatment – Bottle conditioned with Brettanomyces
Fun Fact – “As with all unpasteurized brett beers, Fruittanomyces is alive, and the flavor will develop over time. This beer is suitable to enjoy now or to be cellared.”
Suggested Food Pairings – “The tart acidity of Fruittanomyces works beautifully with buttery seafood such as lobster, sweet crab, or New England clam chowder. It also pairs well with a tart dessert such as lemon meringue pie.”
Availability – 750ml bottles
Beer Finder – http://ommegang.com/blog/beer-finder/

Avery Brewing Brings The Kaiser Out of Retirement for Oktoberfest

Posted on August 10, 2018 by mashingin

Avery Brewing Company (Boulder, Colorado) has officially announced that The Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest Lager is returning for a limited time during the 2018 Oktoberfest season.

Retired back in 2016 to “make room for other big beers in Avery Brewing’s lineup”, The Kaiser is back to bestow its faithful fans with a “bold and brazen” Imperial Oktoberfest Lager that “weaves together rich, toasted Vienna and Munich malts with the floral spiciness of Hallertau and Bravo hops.” Adorned with “a gorgeous deep copper sheen, massive malty backbone, and a dry finish . . ., this dictator demands a following through its deep dark malt bill, aromas of toast, nuts, and bread, all pulled together with a boisterous booziness.” Speaking of booziness . . . The Kaiser weighs in at an imposing 8% ABV, making it the same “mammoth . . . Oktoberfest Lager. . . that fans have grown to love” over the years.

“My favorite part of brewing Kaiser is the smell it creates in the brewhouse,” says Josh Rapp, Avery Brewing’s Brewhouse Manager. “It smells like we’re making candy around the brewery on Kaiser day and the dark red color of the wort reminds me of cherry juice!”

The Kaiser is rolling out now and plans to hang around through October 2018. You can expect to find this Seasonal offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado and throughout the rest of Avery Brewing Company’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for The Kaiser from Avery Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Seasonal, August – October 2018
Style – Oktoberfest
ABV – 8%
Malts – Dark Munich, Munich, Vienna, 2-Row & Aromatic
Hops – Hersbrucker & Bravo
Yeast – House Bohemian Lager Strain
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.averybrewing.com/brew-finder

Cascade Brewing Set to Release Framblanc 2017

Posted on August 10, 2018 by mashingin

Cascade Brewing (Portland, Oregon) has officially announced that it will release its Framblanc 2017 project on Friday, August 17.

Fresh off a gold medal win in the “Wood + Barrel-aged Sour + Brett” category at the 2017 Oregon Beer Awards, Framblanc is back to supply sour beer fanatics with “a blend of sour blond ales aged for up to 14 months in oak wine barrels with more than 3,500 pounds of white raspberries.” This treatment results in an 8.4% ABV Framblanc that offers “fresh flavors of raspberries, green grapes, white peaches and pears.”

“The warm 2017 growing season produced beautifully ripened raspberries that contributed lots of fresh fruit flavor in this blend, making this project year one of the most expressive we’ve ever released,” explained Kevin Martin, Head of Brewing Operations for Cascade Brewing.

Framblanc 2017 will officially debut in Cascade Brewing’s two Portland-area pubs – Cascade Brewing Barrel House and The Lodge at Cascade Brewing – on August 17 and will enter distribution at or around that date. You can expect to find this Tier Two offering available in 500ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of the brewery’s national and worldwide distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Framblanc 2017 from Cascade Brewing

Release – Limited/Tier Two; August 17, 2018
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 8.4%
Treatment – Blend of sour blond ales aged for up to 14 months in oak wine barrels with more than 3,500 pounds of white raspberries
Fun Fact – “Framblanc is a tier two offering, with pricing based on the style of beer, the type of ingredients contained within, the time aged in the barrels, and types of barrels used.”
Availability – 500ml bottles & draft

Jester King Brewery Set to Release Blend 22 of Das Wunderkind! Saison

Posted on August 9, 2018 by mashingin

Jester King Brewery (Austin, Texas) has officially announced that it will release its latest blend of Das Wunderkind! Blended Saison on Friday, August 10.

Back for its 22nd blend, Das Wunderkind! is “a blended saison which is made by blending old, barrel aged beer with young, dry hopped farmhouse ale.” To set this year’s blend apart from previous releases, the brewery “decided to dry hop with Simcoe hops.” Das Wunderkind! comes in at 4.5% ABV.

Das Wunderkind! – Batch 22 will officially debut in Jester King’s Tasting Room at 4 p.m. on August 10 and will enter distribution shortly after that date. Once it is sent out into the wild, you can expect to find this Limited Release available in 750ml bottles at select craft beer retailers and bars located in Florida, Texas and throughout the rest of Jester King’s distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Das Wunderkind! – Blend 22 from Jester King Brewery

Release – Limited; August 10, 2018
Style – Saison
ABV – 4.5%
Treatment – A blend of “old, barrel aged beer with young, dry hopped farmhouse ale”
Featured Hops – Simcoe
Fun Fact – The story behind the name: “There are many among us who, in spite of their best efforts, just never quite fit in. It’s only a rare few, however, who, very early in life, develop the self-assurance and presence of mind to be neither conformists nor rebels, instead carving their own paths and following their own dreams, regardless of what anyone else might happen to think. Take flight, mein Wunderkind; don’t ever let gravity hold you back!”
Availability – 750ml bottles
Bottle Count – “around 5,400 bottles available”

Escape Brewing Company to Release Cans of No One Likes You & Scandalous DIPA

Posted on August 9, 2018 by mashingin

Escape Brewing Company (Trinity, Florida) has officially announced that it will host a special can release for No One Likes You Berliner Weisse and Scandalous Double IPA on Monday, August 13.

Well, a Monday afternoon in the middle of August just got a bit more interesting now that Escape Brewing Company has decided to liven things up with a double can release for the following Limited Release brews (beer descriptions sourced from the brewery’s website & social media):

No One Likes You – Berliner Weisse with Passion Fruit, Dragon Fruit, Oranges and Lemons. Collaboration we brewed last year with our friends from 7venth Sun Brewery. This beer was so good, we wanted to brew it again and release it in cans…So, we did. ABV – 3.9%
Scandalous Double India Pale Ale – scan·dal·ous | definition: causing general public outrage by a perceived offense against morality or law. | A big juicy Double IPA with loads of Citra and Simcoe hops for a dank, citrus hop bomb. ABV – 9%

Label artwork for No One Likes You and Scandalous Double IPA created by V. Steiner.

The beers above will officially release in Escape Brewing Company’s taproom at 4 p.m. on Monday, August 13. Both offerings will be available for purchase in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans. These Limited Release offerings are not expected to see distribution, so make sure you swing by Escape Brewing on August 13 if you wish to get your hands on No One Likes You and/or Scandalous DIPA. Prost!

Tasting Notes: Marionberry Sour from Rogue Ales

Posted on August 8, 2018 by mashingin

For this edition of Tasting Notes, our week takes a delightfully sour turn as we get into a pour of Marionberry Sour from Rogue Ales (Newport, Oregon).

Originally introduced back in July with the intent of being “the most Oregon of all Rogue Farms beers”, Marionberry Sour is a “vibrant violet-hued” American Sour Ale made with Rogue Farms-grown prickless marionberries – “a bigger, juicier and more flavorful variety of blackberry . . . originally developed by Oregon State University researchers in 1956.” Marionberry Sour (6.5% ABV) was specifically brewed “to highlight the tart side of the Marionberry while ensuring a pleasant balance through the fruit’s natural sweetness.”

Marionberry Sour is out now and will be available through October 2018. You can find this Seasonal brew in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Rogue’s nationwide distribution area.

Now that the introductions are out of the way, it seems this is the appropriate time to pucker up and lean in for some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Marionberry Sour from Rogue Ales

Appearance: A gentle pour fills the glass with a rose-kissed, cranberry-colored brew that is capped with over a finger of loose, pink-tinged foam. When held to direct light, the beer glows brilliantly as its pink, purple and red tones all gain an intense vibrancy. Despite having a slight cloudiness to it, a serious amount of tiny carbonation bubbles can be seen surging throughout. The head dissipates quickly to a creamy ring that does what it can to leave a few spots of lace behind on the glass.

Aroma: Lush berry goodness abounds as massive notes of blackberry and raspberry billow from the glass. A touch of dark fruit and sweet grape sneak in to add a bit more depth and complexity to the fruity character. The profile closes with sweet grains that are quickly overcome by an earthy, musty and slightly funky presence.

Taste: As one would expect, marionberry is the star here as it quickly grabs hold of the taste buds with tart notes of fresh blackberry and raspberry. That said, there is also a mixed berry jam note that offers some balancing sweetness to the beer’s more tart and acetic qualities. Bready, slightly sweet grain further reinforces that balance, creating a note that is similar to toast and jam. The flavors close out with a soft touch of musty grape and earthy funk.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a medium carbonation, Marionberry Sour actually has a bit more weight than most sours out there these days. Both tart and sweet on the palate, this thing is nicely balanced and dries out beautifully. The 6.5% ABV is nowhere to be found. Aftertaste is all berry.

Final Thoughts: There is no denying that this offering is an absolutely gorgeous representation of the marionberry, but the truly impressive thing about Marionberry Sour is its overall balance. Sure, it leads with a sharp, attention-grabbing level of tartness, but that is quickly tempered with the perfect amount of sweetness from the grains and the marionberry’s more jam-like side. The experience is not jaw-clenching sour or overly sweet. It is a balancing act that is teetering confidently somewhere in the middle, resulting in an impossibly dry, incredibly refreshing, and supremely easy-drinking Sour Ale. Around here, those marks earn this summer beer some space in the beer fridge. Be sure to check out Marionberry Sour before its Seasonal run comes to an end in October. Prost!

Dust Bunny IPA Makes Seasonal Return for Monday Night Brewing

Posted on August 8, 2018 by mashingin

DustBunny_Can (1) — *All images featured in this post are the property of Monday Night Brewing*

Monday Night Brewing (Atlanta, Georgia) has officially announced that Dust Bunny IPA will be “hopping back” for an encore Seasonal Release on Friday, August 10.

“Named for its fuzzy, fluffy characteristics”, Dust Bunny is an unfiltered, hazy India Pale Ale that “is packed with aromatics of orange and lemon, dripping with notes of honey” and “hints of peach.” Weighing in at 6.8% ABV and 60 IBUs, Dust Bunny IPA rocks a “soft and bright” body that is rounded off by a “moderate bitterness and a juicy mouthfeel.”

“Our West Midtown location has been cranking out stellar IPAs since we opened the Hop Hut. Dust Bunny was just the beginning of that journey. We’re excited for more craft beer fans to see what we can do with hops.”

– Peter Kiley, Head Brewer at Monday Night Brewing

The 2018 release of Dust Bunny IPA officially launches on August 10 at Monday Night’s West Midtown location and will then enter distribution on Monday, August 20. You can expect to find this Seasonal Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located throughout Monday Night’s distribution footprint in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. Prost!

Vital Information for Dust Bunny IPA from Monday Night Brewing

Release – Seasonal, August 2018
Style – American IPA
ABV – 6.8%
IBUs – 60
Hops – Comet, Ekuanot, Citra & Mandarina Bavaria
Malts – Flaked Wheat, 2-row, Munich & Carapils
Fun Fact – Shortly after it was introduced last year, Dust Bunny IPA was named Best New Georgia IPA 2017 by Beer Guys Radio
Suggested Food Pairings – “Roasted chicken, spicy foods, strong cheeses”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Alabama, Georgia & Tennessee

Passion Grass Debuts as New Collaboration From Lagunitas & Short’s Brewing Company

Posted on August 7, 2018 by mashingin

Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California) has officially announced the Limited Release of Passion Grass, a West By Midwest Ale brewed in collaboration with Short’s Brewing Company (Bellaire, Michigan).

Arriving as a special release, 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 rolling out now and will be available for a limited time. You can expect to find this “HIIIIGHLY limited brew” available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, Illinois, Washington and throughout the rest of Lagunitas Brewing Company’s vast distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Passion Grass from Lagunitas Brewing Company & Short’s Brewing Company

Release – Limited/One Hitter Series, August 2018
Style – American Pale Ale
ABV – 4.6%
IBUs – 54
Added Ingredients – Lemongrass & Passion Fruit
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://lagunitas.com/beer-finder