Beer News | Mashing In

Wild Heaven Offers Watermelon Emergency Drinking Beer in Cans for First Time

Posted on June 20, 2018 by mashingin

Wild Heaven Beer (Decatur, Georgia) has officially announced that Watermelon Emergency Drinking Beer will see a Seasonal release this summer in both 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft.

Building off the base of Wild Heaven’s extremely popular Emergency Drinking Beer – a Pils-style Session Beer, Watermelon Emergency Drinking Beer is a refreshing, summer variant that requires the brewery’s team to “hand-cut and juice hundreds of watermelons” for each batch. This labor-intensive approach yields a 4% ABV Watermelon Emergency Drinking Beer that delivers true watermelon taste without any overt sweetness or artificial flavor notes.”

Watermelon Emergency Drinking Beer is officially rolling out now and will hang around through August 2018. You can expect to find this Seasonal brew available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located within Wild Heaven’s distribution footprint in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. Prost!

Vital Information for Watermelon Emergency Drinking Beer from Wild Heaven Beer

Release – Seasonal, June – August 2018
Style – Fruit Beer
ABV – 4%
Added Ingredients – Hand-cut, juiced watermelons
Fun Fact – On how Watermelon Emergency Drinking Beer made it to cans this year: “After a huge response in Georgia and Tennessee for 2017’s draft-only release, the brewery’s production team, led by Brewmaster and Co-Founder Eric Johnson developed an all-natural process to maintain the beer’s remarkable fresh watermelon flavor while achieving shelf stability.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Alabama, Georgia & Tennessee

Rogue Ales Introduces Marionberry Sour

Posted on June 19, 2018 by mashingin

Rogue Ales (Newport, Oregon) has officially announced that it will release Marionberry Sour in July as the latest beer to come out of the Rogue Farms project.

Now known to be “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.”

“We made Marionberry Sour this year because it celebrates the delicious berry we love so much,” says Rogue Brewmaster John Maier. “I’m constantly inspired to brew new beers based on the crops we grow at the farm. They come to the brewery at peak ripeness and I always know exactly how the crops were treated when I get them. That quality matters.”

“We grow our own ingredients because it gives us an unlimited well of inspiration and innovation,” says Rogue President Brett Joyce. “If we add a new crop that is delicious and tastes great in a beer, we’ll increase the acreage and brew more beer with it. We’re all a part of the relentless innovation here at Rogue, but the farm is our greatest inspiration.”

Marionberry Sour will officially enter distribution in July and will hang around through October 2018. You can expect to find this new Seasonal offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Rogue’s nationwide distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Marionberry Sour from Rogue Ales

Release – Seasonal, July – October 2018
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 6.5%
IBUs – 5
Malts – Rogue Farms Dare™, Munich, C-15 & Acidulated
Hops – Rogue Farms Liberty & Rebel Hops
Yeast – Kolsch II
Added Ingredients – Rogue Farms Marionberries & Plums
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://finder.rogue.com/

Funky Buddha Brewery Adds Black Currant Tripel Lindy to Little Buddha Small Batch Series

Posted on June 19, 2018 by mashingin

Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, Florida) has announced that it will officially begin the Limited Release of Black Currant Tripel Lindy on Saturday, June 30.

Previously only available as a draft-only taproom exclusive, Black Currant Tripel Lindy (9.3% ABV) has become such a hit with Funky Buddha’s fans and employees that it will now experience its first distributed release as a Little Buddha Small Batch offering. Brewed with a “complex blend of malts and 100% real sugar”, this Belgian-style Tripel offers a “pilsner-like . . . body and appearance” while an “addition of black currants balances malty sweetness and Belgian esters with a tart, refreshing finish.”

Black Currant Tripel Lindy will officially debut in Funky Buddha’s Tap Room on June 30 and will enter distribution shortly thereafter. You can expect to find this Little Buddha Small Batch offering available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select beer-focused establishments located in Florida and throughout the rest of Funky Buddha’s steadily growing distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Black Currant Tripel Lindy from Funky Buddha Brewery

Release – Limited/Little Buddha Small Batch Series; Tap Room release on June 30, distribution during July 2018
Style – Tripel
ABV – 9.3%
IBUs – 30
Added Ingredients – Black currants
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://funkybuddhabrewery.com/beer-finder

Stone Brewing Introduces Stone ///Fear.Movie.Lions Double IPA as New Year-Round

Posted on June 18, 2018 by mashingin

Stone Brewing (Escondido, California) has officially announced the East Coast release of Stone ///Fear.Movie.Lions Double IPA, the first Year-Round offering developed at Stone Brewing – Richmond.

Named after the what3words address (click here to learn more) for the “three-meter square smack dab in the middle of . . . [Stone’s Richmond, Virginia brewery] in which the recipe was created”, Stone ///Fear.Movie.Lions Double IPA is an East Coast-inspired unfiltered Double India Pale Ale that still retains “a noticeably West Coast-influenced bitterness, and tactfully balanced Richmond-style finish.” Weighing in at an “amped up” 8.5% ABV, Stone ///Fear.Movie.Lions Double IPA abounds with juicy aromatics of “fresh fruit and fresh hops” along with flavors of “fresh-squeezed fruit juice, strawberry, blueberry, grapes and a hint of white sage.”

“We’re supporting the what3words convention because we think it’s cool, and we see the significant social good in it,” said Stone Brewing Executive Chairman & co-founder Greg Koch. “We’re early adopters of the convention, and while companies like GPS company TomTom, and Mercedes, also believe that what3words is onto something big, we’re the first ones to use the convention to name a beer. In the not-so-distant future you’ll be able to use what3words to get beer delivered to you wherever you are, or to verbally tell your self-driving car to take you to the beer. In the meantime, we can relax and enjoy a Stone ///Fear.Movie.Lions Double IPA and dream about the world of the future.”

Stone ///Fear.Movie.Lions Double IPA will only be brewed at Stone’s Richmond facility and is currently available exclusively on the Eastern seaboard. You can expect to find this new Year-Round available in 6-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, Virginia, and select other states on the East Coast (full list available below). Prost!

Vital Information for Stone ///Fear.Movie.Lions Double IPA from Stone Brewing

Release – Year-Round, launching week of June 4, 2018
Style – Double India Pale Ale (unfiltered)
ABV – 8.5%
IBUs – 60
Featured Hops – Magnum, Loral & Mosaic
Fun Fact – On what3words: “what3words provides a precise and incredibly simple way to talk about location by dividing the world into a grid of 3m x 3m squares. Each square has a unique three word address. So ensuring that your Uber drops you at the correct entrance, finding your friend at a concert, or bringing emergency medical services to a remote mountainside just got easier. what3words is making the world less frustrating, more efficient, and safer, three words at a time. Watch the what3words video here.“
Availability – 6-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WA, WI and WV
Beer Finder – https://find.stonebrewing.com/#ready

Dogfish Head Promotes Liquid Truth Serum IPA to Year-Round Lineup

Posted on June 18, 2018 by mashingin

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware) has officially announced that it will add Liquid Truth Serum IPA to its Year-Round portfolio in late June 2018.

Back by popular demand after a successful Limited Release that took place back in October of 2017, Liquid Truth Serum is an unfiltered India Pale Ale that “debunks the myth that IBUs (hop bitterness) can only be achieved by adding hops during the boil, as all of its hops are added post-boil.” With many different forms of hops – whole leaf, liquefied, pelletized and powdered hops – all added during the whirlpool, the “immensely and approachably hoppy” Liquid Truth Serum comes in at 65 IBUs and offers “citrusy notes of mandarin orange, tangerine, tropical mango and hints of juicy stone fruits.”

“After so much love from our fans, the truth was clear – Liquid Truth Serum needed to come back, and this time, as a year-round offering,” said Sam Calagione, CEO and founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. “Introducing it in cans makes it more convenient than ever, increasing its portability and overall awesomeness, and we couldn’t be more excited about the evolution of this brew.”

Liquid Truth Serum will officially return in late June with availability in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft. You can expect to find this Year-Round brew at craft beer-focused establishments in Alabama, Florida, Delaware, and throughout the rest of Dogfish Head’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Liquid Truth Serum IPA from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Release – Year-Round, returns late June 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 65
Recommended Glassware – IPA Glass
Suggested Food Pairings – “Teriyaki, chicken satay, pad thai, stir-fried vegetables”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.dogfish.com/brewery/fishfinder

Wynwood Brewing Introduces Laces IPA as New Year-Round

Posted on June 15, 2018 by mashingin

Wynwood Brewing Company (Miami, Florida) has officially announced that it will replace its original Wynwood IPA later this month with a reformulated take that they are calling Laces IPA.

With a name inspired by “the ubiquitous pair of sneakers hanging on power lines by their laces across urban neighborhoods” such as the Wynwood Art District, Laces IPA is a “beautifully crafted” India Pale Ale brewed with “a blend of Mosaic, Amarillo and Falconers Flight hops.” Coming in at 6.9% ABV, Laces IPA offers a “light golden crisp malt body and a dry finish.”

“When our doors opened in 2013, hop contracts and innovative hop varieties were hard to come by so we worked with what we had and created a classic West Coast IPA brewed with Columbus hops and balanced with a full malt body. Wynwood IPA was a solid IPA for the time, but a few things have changed over the past five years. First, we now have access to some amazingly unique and vibrant hop varieties. Second, the IPA has become the most recognizable and diverse beer style offering a virtual smorgasbord of flavor and style options for beer lovers. We have seen in our own taproom and in the market that consumers tastes have evolved. We are excited to debut our newest core offering, Laces IPA, which we’re confident will wrap taste buds in hop delicious.”

– Luis Brignoni, Founder of Wynwood Brewing Company

Laces IPA will completely replace Wynwood IPA as the brewery’s core/year-round IPA offering. This change will be completed somewhere between the end of June and the start of July 2018. You can expect to find Laces IPA pouring at all South Florida craft beer establishments that normally carry offerings from Wynwood Brewing. Prost!

Lagunitas Brewing Company Offers Up A Little Sumpin’ Extra

Posted on June 14, 2018June 27, 2018 by mashingin

Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California) is officially welcoming summer with the Limited Release of A Little Sumpin’ Extra Ale.

Meant to act as the big sister to the brewery’s Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale, A Little Sumpin’ Extra is a “Double-ish White IPA” sporting a grain bill comprised of “50% malted barley and 50% wheatly-esque-ish-ness.” Although it may be a bit lighter in color than lil’ sis, the “bigger, badder, and bolder” A Little Sumpin’ Extra Ale (8.7% ABV) proves to be “huge in flavor and satisfaction” while rockin’ a uniquely “curious malt complexity.”

A Little Sumpin’ Extra Ale is available now for a limited time in 22 oz. bottles and on draft. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering at beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, California, Illinois, Washington and throughout the rest of Lagunitas Brewing Company’s expansive distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for A Little Sumpin’ Extra Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Release – Limited, June 2018
Style – Double White India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.7%
IBUs – 72.51
Malts – “50% malted barley and 50% wheatly-esque-ish-ness”
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://lagunitas.com/beer-finder

Oskar Blues Brewery Schedules Release Events for Bourbon Barrel-Aged Mocha Ten FIDY

Posted on June 14, 2018 by mashingin

Oskar Blues Brewery (Longmont, Colorado) has officially announced that it will release a very limited amount of Bourbon Barrel-Aged Mocha Ten FIDY Imperial Stout on July 7 at the Oskar Blues Taproom locations in Boulder, Colorado; Longmont, Colorado; and Brevard, North Carolina.

Just as the name would lead you to believe, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Mocha Ten FIDY starts with a base of the O.G. Ten FIDY Imperial Stout that is then “massively doused with unsweetened pure liquid cacao made by [Oskar Blues Brewery’s] friends at Cholaca, then dosed with Hotbox Roasters’ cold brew from Mexican coffee beans.” With that much chocolaty goodness involved, it is no wonder why the brewery scheduled the release of Bourbon Barrel-Aged Mocha Ten FIDY Imperial Stout on National Chocolate Day (July 7).

“Ten FIDY Imperial Stout doesn’t know how to use its inside voice in the first place; and on this one, we hooked it up to a Cholaca-and-coffee amplifier and turned the volume up to 11,” said Tim Matthews, Head of Brewing Operations for Oskar Blues.

Bourbon Barrel-Aged Mocha Ten FIDY Imperial Stout will officially release on Saturday, July 7 and will be available in Oskar Blues’ Boulder, Longmont and Brevard taprooms only. Here is the full breakdown on how Oskar Blues plans to handle the release:

Numbered wristbands will be handed out at 9:30am but a line may begin to form much earlier. Wristbands will allow folks to (reasonably) wander without losing their place in line. Each wristband has a number on it, and yes that number does matter. Beer will be sold in order according to the number system so Mocha seekers must be present when their number is called. Each person may purchase up to five cases of BA Mocha Ten FIDY. 19.2 oz cans come in 12-count cases. If there are cans left at 3pm (both MST and EST), a “No Limit” rule kicks in and peeps will be able to purchase to their hearts’ content . . . All sales (draft and cans) will begin at 10am. A limited amount of BA Mocha Ten FIDY will be on draft, 10 ounces at a time.

PRICING:

4 oz pour on DRAFT = $4

10 oz pour on DRAFT = $10

One 19.2 oz CAN of Mocha BA Ten FIDY = $15

One CASE (12 CANs) = $180

Crowler and/or growler fills will not be available, and Bourbon Barrel-Aged Mocha Ten FIDY Imperial Stout will not see distribution. That means you only have a shot to land this decadent treat if you hit up one of these three Oskar Blues taprooms on July 7 to enjoy a pour on draft and/or secure your stash of cans. Be sure to plan accordingly because this brew will move with a quickness. Prost!

B. Nektar Introduces American Gods Branded Line of Craft Beverages

Posted on June 13, 2018 by mashingin

B. Nektar (Ferndale, Michigan) has officially announced plans to release a branded American Gods line of meads, ciders, and beers inspired by FremantleMedia North America’s TV series that airs in the United States on STARZ.

With the use of the American Gods series and Neil Gaiman’s award-winning novel of the same name as source material, the folks at B. Nektar are actively in recipe development stages and “the goal is to release the first of this [American Gods product] line in late 2018.” B. Nektar, a nationally recognized meadery, was tapped for this project in large part due to a sequence in the storyline that will have “three shots of mead . . . seal the bargain between Mr. Wednesday and Shadow Moon, drafting Shadow into Wednesday’s service.” Wednesday goes on to describe mead as ““The drink of heroes. The drink of gods.”

Brad Dahlhofer, B. Nektar C.E.O. and Co-Founder said “I have always been a big fan of Neil Gaiman’s work. It’s surreal to be working on a product tied to one of his greatest literary accomplishments.”

“Creating a brand based on American Gods is something I no doubt would have done anyway,” said Brand Director and Co-founder, Kerri Dahlhofer. “But to be able to do it collaboratively and with license, allows the brand to be so much more than it would have otherwise. Artistically, the label is a complete embodiment of American Gods, contrasting the delicious product.”

Although recipes are still in development, B. Nektar did supply a sneak peek at the label for Believe in the press release. Believe is described as a 5.6% ABV Mead made with orange blossom honey and fresh pressed Michigan Cider. This offering is based on an ongoing theme in American Gods that reminds the viewer/reader that “All Gods need to be worshiped. The Old Gods need you to BELIEVE.”

Look for Believe and other American Gods branded offerings from B. Nektar to begin hitting shelves and taps later in the year. Prost!

Sun King Brewery Expands Distribution to Florida

Posted on June 13, 2018June 13, 2018 by mashingin

Sun King Brewery (Indianapolis, Indiana) has officially announced that it has formed a partnership with Cavalier Distributing of Florida so that they can expand the brewery’s reach to the state of Florida.

What began as a pipe dream shared between two men – Dave Colt and Clay Robinson – while spending “long hours brewing, scrubbing, and polishing . . . brewery equipment” at a previous brewing job, Sun King Brewery finally became a reality in 2009 when Colt and Robinson went all in and sold their first keg. Since that first sale, the Sun King crew has gone on to compile a respected portfolio of handcrafted “core, seasonal and specialty beers that have been awarded multiple medals including four golds at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup competitions.” Firmly established as “a leader in the independent craft brewing movement”, Sun King Brewery has carefully and steadily grown distribution over time to include Indiana; Illinois; Louisville, Kentucky . . . and now Florida.

“Since our inception, Sun King has been working hard to keep up with the growing demand for our beer,” says Clay Robinson, co-owner of Sun King Brewery. “Over the past year, we’ve been increasing our distribution footprint throughout the Midwest, and this spring, we sent some beer down to Florida for a festival that we participate in every year. The response to our beer was overwhelming, so we decided that the Sunshine State would be a good fit for Sun King. Our VP of Sales Joe Burns spent nearly 20 years working for a beer distributor and a brewery in Florida before joining our team, so we have the perfect person to champion our efforts in the market and work with our new partner, Cavalier Distributing.”

With the help of Cavalier Distributing of Florida, Sun King Brewery will launch distribution in Florida in July with package and draft versions of seasonal and specialty beers along with the following core offerings (descriptions sourced from the brewery’s website):

Osiris Pale Ale – Osiris Pale Ale is an assertive West Coast-Style Pale with a distinct citrus hop punch. ABV – 5.6% IBUs – 50
Pachanga Mexican-style Lager – Pachanga is a Mexican-Style Lager with a crisp malt flavor, perfect for hot days in the summer sun. ABV – 4.2% IBUs – 24
SKB IPA – SKB IPA is an India Pale Ale (IPA) brewed with American hops for long-lasting aroma and flavor. ABV – 6.5% IBUs – 70

Sun King and Cavalier Distributing plan to host a series of Florida launch events that will “include specialty beers like Gin Dreams, The Afterparty, Razzleblaster Busey, and The Velvet Fog, as well as seasonals GFJ IPA and Freedom Rock.” Exact details for these events have not yet been released, but we will be sure to update this post with that info just as soon as we get it. Stay tuned, and we hope to raise a glass with you in July as we all welcome Sun King Brewery to the Sunshine State. Prost!