Upland Brewing Co. Introduces Oak & Rosé Sour Ale

Posted on by mashingin

UplandSoursUpland Brewing Co. (Bloomington, Indiana) has officially released Oak & Rosé Barrel-aged Fruited Sour Ale, a collaboration with Oliver Winery & Vineyards, as a part of its current series of summer sours.

After working with Oliver Winery on previously released grape-themed Sour Ales such as Oak & Red and Oak & White, Upland Brewing is further exploring this collaborative partnership this summer with the development and release of Oak & Rosé.  This new offering consists of a select blend of base Blonde Ales that is then aged on “a high concentration of Chambourcin grapes” – a grape varietal commonly used in Rosé wines.  After the aging period has run its course, Oak & Rosé emerges from the barrels to offer “nuanced grape aromas [infused] with pear and citrus notes” and a “moderate red grape flavor . . . balanced by tartness and complexity from the blended beer selection.”

“We are eager to get Oak & Rosé out to all of our distribution partners. This sour ale will stand out amongst the crowd of other rosé grape inspired beers.”

– Dusty Howe, Upland Brewing’s Director of National Sales

Oak & Rosé is rolling out now and has plans to hang around throughout the summer months (as long as supplies last).  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 500ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana and throughout the rest of Upland Brewing’s distribution area.  Prost!

Catawba Brewing Begins Limited Release of Peach of Mind Peach Grisette

Posted on by mashingin

catawbapeachcan.jpgCatawba Brewing Co. (Asheville, North Carolina) has officially introduced Peach of Mind Peach Grisette as its latest Limited Release offering.

Brewed in recognition of Asheville Beer Week, Peach of Mind is a reinterpretation of the classic Grisette style that “also faithfully [honors the] Belgian tradition of infusing beer with local flavor.”  Built upon a base of flaked wheat, this harvest-time Session Beer “showcases the fruity esters of its farmhouse ale yeast strain” alongside “a late addition of fresh Carolina peaches.”  Weighing in at a refreshing 4.5% ABV, Peach of Mind comes together to be “a homegrown Grisette that captures the sweet, juicy essence of a peach, so you can savor the taste of summer in the South.”

Peach of Mind Peach Grisette officially released on June 1 as a part of the Asheville Beer Week festivities and will enter distribution any day now.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, North Carolina and throughout the rest of Catawba Brewing Co.’s five state distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Peach of Mind Peach Grisette from Catawba Brewing Co.

Release – Limited, June 2018
Style – Grisette
ABV – 4.5%
Malts – 2-Row Pale, Flaked Wheat, Crystal & Munich
Hops – Nugget & Cascade
Added Ingredients – Fresh Carolina peaches
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia
Beer Finder – http://catawbabrewing.com/beer-finder

Sticker-whitebgCVB-PoMind

Cascade Brewing Shifts to a Smaller Format Bottle

Posted on by mashingin

cascadenewlogoCascade Brewing (Portland, Oregon) has officially announced that it will move away from 750ml bottles and begin packaging its award-winning barrel aged Northwest sour beers in 500ml bottles on Friday, June 15.

Although Cascade Brewing is widely known for its signature 750ml cork and cage bottle conditioned sour beers, the brewery has decided to shift production to a “more user-friendly and price-conscious” 500ml bottle.  Cascade’s reasoning behind this decision is that this smaller packaging format “will enable first-time consumers to purchase its barrel aged sour beers in a format that works for them, while allowing long-standing customers to purchase its beers in more locations.” The bottle conditioning process at Cascade Brewing will remain the same, and the new 500ml bottles will continue to use the cork and cage.

“The decision to move to the 500ml bottles is consistent with the shift in the industry away from large format bottles,” explained Tim Larrance, Cascade VP of Sales and Marketing. “We have had numerous request from our wholesaler partners and retail accounts, all asking for a smaller format package.”

Cascade’s Apricot 2017 will release on June 15 and will be the first offering to launch in the 500ml bottle format.  For those of you that are fans of the larger format bottles, Cascade Brewing did mention that it “has inventory on more than a dozen releases over the past year and will continue to sell them until they are gone.”  With that said, the folks at the brewery did go on to warn that “fans looking to purchase beers for their cellar are encouraged to do so while they can, because when the 750ml bottles are gone, they are gone forever.”  Make sure to act accordingly when it comes to those 750ml bottles and look for the 500ml bottles to begin hitting shelves later this month. Prost!

Tasting Notes: Braupakt from Weihenstephan & Sierra Nevada

Posted on by mashingin

braupaktpourThis installment of Tasting Notes has us closing out the week with an in-depth look at Braupakt, the highly-anticipated collaboration beer from Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan (Freising, Germany) and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Chico, California).

When Weihenstephan – the World’s Oldest Brewery – and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. – one of America’s pioneering craft brewers – come together to work on a collaboration project, it kind of goes without saying that the beer community is going to take notice.  The resulting beer that everyone is talking about is Braupakt (literally translates to mean “Brewery Pact” but is also a play on “America’s ‘bro pact’ vernacular for fraternal allegiances”), a Hefeweizen that introduces a style that is rich in German tradition – Weihenstephan’s area of expertise – to a carefully selected hop bill comprised of juicy American hops – Sierra Nevada’s playground –  that can both complement and accentuate the style’s classic flavors and aromatics.  When all is said and done, Braupakt promises to be a unique take on a classic style that will effortlessly reinforce both breweries’ reputations for “establishing brewing standards for their respective styles and . . . renowned . . . contributions to contemporary brewing techniques.”

Braupakt is currently available in the US and will hang around as long as supplies last.  You can expect to find this Limited Edition beer available in 6-packs of 11.2 oz. bottles (suggested retail price of $10.99) at fine beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, North Carolina and throughout the rest of Weihenstephan’s nationwide distribution network.

Now that we are all up to speed on the particulars behind Braupakt, let’s break out the Weizen glasses and get into some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Braupakt from Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan & Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Appearance: Braupakt presents itself as a burnt orange in color that holds a darker amber tone at the core of the glass’s bulb.  When held to direct light, that amber core holds as vibrant orange and bright gold hues burst outward from the center.  The beer is appropriately cloudy for the style, but you can still see a dutiful carbonation presence rising up to feed the 3+ fingers of cream-colored head sitting above.  Head retention is extraordinary, gradually falling to a lasting, rocky finger that effortlessly coats the glass with gobs of lace throughout the experience.

Aroma:  The hops turn up first with a nice grapefruit presence that takes on notes of ripe to over ripe peach and melon.  Clove then works its way through and brings with it banana and bubblegum notes to establish a very pronounced Hefeweizen character. The aromatics close out with just a bit of honey-laced wheat and caramel.

Taste:  Although similar to the aroma, this beer’s flavors mix it up a bit by leading with those beautiful, trademark Hefeweizen notes of banana, bubblegum and clove.  The hops work their way out of the clove and fully engulf the palate with tones of peach, melon, apricot, lemon zest and grapefruit.  A touch of pine and black pepper slips in just before the beer finishes with some gently sweet notes of wheat and caramel.

Mouthfeel: Medium in body with a medium to medium-high carbonation level, this beer has a beautifully creamy texture that allows you to fully explore every aspect of each sip.  The hops supply a bit more bite than you would normally expect from a Hefeweizen, but they are held in check and gorgeously balanced by the sweeter banana notes from the yeast and caramel from the malts.  The ABV is tame at 6%, but it does allow for a touch of warmth in the throat.  The aftertaste is a welcomed, lingering presence of clove and peach.

Final Thoughts:  Braupakt delivers exactly what you hope would come from a brew day led by the master brewers at Weihenstephan and Sierra Nevada.  They wrapped that legendary Hefeweizen base around some juicy American hops to offer just the right amount of invigorating brightness (citrus fruit and pine) while a stone fruit character (peach and apricot) actually accentuates and highlights the style’s more expected clove, banana and bubblegum tones. It is the best of both worlds meeting on middle ground.  Its Hefeweizen character is absolutely stunning and is not at all bullied by those American hops . . . but those juicy hops still find their moments to shine brilliantly through those Hefeweizen notes and elevate the overall experience.  These brewers were clearly looking for a sweet spot between the two, and they certainly found it in this artful composition.  Braupakt is not your everyday collaboration project and it certainly should not be missed.  Be sure to check it out before this Limited Release runs its course and disappears for good.  Prost!

Squatters Craft Beers Hits Summer with Three Seasonal Releases

Posted on by mashingin

Squatterschasing-tail-orangeSquatters Craft Beers (Salt Lake City, Utah) has officially announced that it will feature not one but three Seasonal brews this summer: Chasing Tail Orange Golden Ale, Hop Rising Tropical Double IPA and Provo Girl Pilsner.

As summer approaches and the temperatures rise, beer lovers tend to seek out the perfect go-to option for thirst-quenching, beery refreshment . . . but who says you can’t mix it up and have multiple go-to options? Squatters Craft Beers wants to supply you with those options with the recent release of the following three Seasonals that include two new variants of established core beers – Chasing Tail Golden Ale & Hop Rising Double IPA – and the return of an old favorite:

  • Chasing Tail Orange Golden Ale – Building on the popularity of Squatters much-loved Chasing Tail Golden Ale, Chasing Tail Orange Golden Ale has a higher alcohol content at 5.2% ABV and a subtle, not-too-sweet, navel orange nose. This little puppy proudly wears the Best Friends Animal Society logo and will be served at events celebrating the partnership between the two organizations throughout the year. 
  • Hop Rising Tropical Double IPA – Trade in the pitchfork for a Tiki torch and grab a Hop Rising Tropical Double IPA this summer. In this 9% ABV island twist on the mighty-hop lovers dream, entirely hop-derived citrus and mango notes complement the malty backbone and high alcohol content of this perennial favorite.
  • Provo Girl Pilsner – This Bavarian-style darling is back and better than ever – a classic Pilsner style featuring aromatic, slightly floral Hersbrucker hops. It’s the perfect refresher for summer nights – and days.  ABV – 4%

All three beers above are rolling out now and will be available all summer long in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft. You can expect to find these Seasonal brews on shelves and taps at craft beer-focused establishments located in Texas, Louisiana, Utah and throughout the rest of Squatters’ 19-state distribution footprint. Prost!

SquattersProvo.jpg

 

Little Brett Ale Makes Limited Return for Allagash Brewing

Posted on by mashingin

AllagashLittleBrettBottle_editedAllagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine) has announced that Little Brett Ale is officially heading back to shelves and taps this month for a limited release.

Returning as Allagash Brewing Company’s low ABV option for summer, Little Brett is a lighter Ale fermented in stainless “with 100% Brettanomyces yeast and hopped and dry-hopped exclusively with Mosaic hops.”  Those two ingredients work with one malt – a house 2-Row Blend – to produce “a hazy, straw-colored” Little Brett (4.8% ABV) that offers “notes of pineapple, citrus, and even a little bit of tartness.”

“The beer is really process-driven,” said Evan Culver, the brewer behind Little Brett’s original recipe. “Getting the brew, fermentation, and dry hopping right is what really brings out that range of flavors.”

Little Brett is rolling out now and will hang around as long as supplies last.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Georgia, Maine and throughout the rest of Allagash Brewing’s distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Little Brett Ale from Allagash Brewing Company

Release – Limited, late May/early June 2018
Style – American Wild Ale
ABV – 4.8%
Malts – Allagash 2-Row Blend
Hops – Mosaic
Yeast – House Brettanomyces
Fun Fact – On working with Brettanomyces: “Brettanomyces yeast presents another brewing challenge. It differs from typical brewers yeast (saccharomyces) in that it often takes months to ferment, rather than weeks. It can also be finicky in in its fermentation patterns, something the brewers at Allagash have become quite accustomed to wrangling.”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Distribution – Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, California, Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., Chicagoland, & Philadelphia.
Beer Finder – https://www.allagash.com/locator/

 

 

Ghost Train Brewing Company Releases 99 Calorie Light Lager

Posted on by mashingin

GhostTrainLightLagercanGhost Train Brewing Company (Birmingham, Alabama) has officially announced that it is entering summer with the release of its low calorie Light Lager.

Serving as proof that you do not have depend on mass-produced lagers from those big macro breweries for low-calorie options, Ghost Train Brewing Company’s Light Lager has arrived to give you “a full-flavored, less filling” experience that only hits you with 99 calories.  Weighing in at just 4% ABV and 5 grams of carbs, this “smooth, easy drinking” Light Lager promises to “great for long days at the pool, lake, beach, golf outings or as an everyday beer.”

Light Lager is available now in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans (SRP of $7.99). You can expect to find this new brew at craft beer-friendly retailers located in the following Alabama counties: Jefferson, Shelby, Calhoun, Etowah, Montgomery, Autauga, Lauderdale, Colbert, Walker and Chilton.  It is expected that Light Lager will see statewide distribution in the near future. Prost!

Vital Information for Light Lager from Ghost Train Brewing Company

Release – Core, debuts May 2018
Style – Light Lager
ABV – 4%
Calories – 99
Carbs – 5 grams
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans
Distribution – Jefferson, Shelby, Calhoun, Etowah, Montgomery, Autauga, Lauderdale, Colbert, Walker and Chilton counties in Alabama

Straight to Ale Releases Latest Batch of Monkey’s Uncle Double IPA

Posted on by mashingin

monkeysunclecanStraight to Ale (Huntsville, Alabama) officially welcomes Monkey’s Uncle Double IPA back as a Limited Release that will have availability during June and July of 2018.

Widely known as the “grumpy uncle” of Straight to Ale’s flagship Monkeynaut IPA, Monkey’s Uncle is a Double India Pale Ale that rocks different grains and hop varieties than its nephew.  These changes allow the brash but loveable Monkey’s Uncle (8.25% ABV, 100 IBUs) to “[tout] a huge hop aroma, big citrus flavors and a bold bitterness . . . all while maintaining a good balance and drinkability.”

This year’s batch of Monkey’s Uncle officially debuted in Straight to Ale’s taproom on May 28 and will see distribution during the months of June and July.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and throughout the rest of the brewery’s seven state distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Monkey’s Uncle from Straight to Ale

Release – Limited, June – July 2018
Style – Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.25%
IBUs – 100
Fun Fact – On the can artwork for Monkey’s Uncle: “The can art, crafted by Operations Manager Matthew Broadhurst, depicts an ape in a collared bowling shirt clutching a can, smoking a pipe as he peers off into the distance over his half-moon glasses; the look of your uncle who’s seen some things back in his day and now just wants to crack open a cold one and enjoy.”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Alabama, Florida (Panhandle), Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina & Tennessee

 

Cascade Brewing Releases 2017 Vintage of Pêche Fumé

Posted on by mashingin

Peche Fume bottle COLA labelCascade Brewing (Portland, Oregon) has announced that Pêche Fumé 2017 has officially released as the brewery’s latest Tier One offering.

Offered as a delicate balance of smoke and fruit, the Pêche Fumé 2017 project is “a blend of wheat ales brewed with cherrywood smoked malt and aged in oak barrels for up to 14 months with Northwest-grown peaches.” This dynamic union comes together as a pale golden American Sour Ale that “captures notes of fresh peaches and campfire smoke with hints of dried apples and lemon zest.”

Pêche Fumé 2017 officially released in both of Cascade’s Portland-area pubs on May 25 and will enter distribution any day now.  You can expect to find this Tier One offering available in 750ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of the brewery’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Pêche Fumé 2017 from Cascade Brewing

Release – Limited/Tier One, late May 2018
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 6.8%
Treatment – “A blend of wheat ales brewed with cherrywood smoked malt and aged in oak barrels for up to 14 months with Northwest-grown peaches”
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
The Supply – “Pêche Fumé is a limited release with only 400 cases and 100 kegs produced”
Fun Fact – Concerning Cascade Brewing’s new labels: Pêche Fumé “is a Tier One offering; Cascade’s bottles have distinct label styles for each of the three Cascade Brewing pricing tiers, with each label within the tier utilizing distinctive colors to clearly differentiate each beer. The tiers differ by the style of beer used in the product, the type ingredients contained within, the time aged in the barrels and types of barrels used.”

 

Tasting Notes: Born Again Yesterday Unfiltered Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Posted on by mashingin

LagunitasBAYpourx1000For this edition of Tasting Notes, the wacky alchemists at Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California) magically transport us back to wet hop season with a pour of their Born Again Yesterday Unfiltered Ale.

Wet hop season typically starts in late August and lasts for about a month or so each year. During this time, many brewers usually take this opportunity to make a special beer with fresh hops that are picked and in the brew kettle within a 24-hour window.  They get one shot at this a year and then – because hops are easily susceptible to mold and spoilage – the rest of the harvest is quickly dried for year-round use. Even though the folks that process hops are masters of this delicate craft, many brewers are left feeling that “something is always lost in translation.”

Very fond of that je ne sais quoi that wet hops possess, the brewers at Lagunitas decided that they were going to find a way to take the wet hop experience year-round.  To do this, they took the book that taught them everything that they already knew about hops, threw it out the window, and went all trial and error to devise a new process for hop preservation.  After “5 or 6” botched attempts, they finally discovered “a relatively simple process” that just forced them to “[think] about hops and freshness in new ways.” Now armed with this proprietary, “homegrown process of time dilation for the delicate hop cone that the flower doesn’t even perceive”, Lagunitas can now offer Born Again Yesterday Unfiltered Ale (7% ABV) as a true wet hop experience six months removed from harvest season.

Born Again Yesterday Unfiltered Ale is available now for a limited time in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft.  You can expect to find this Limited Release at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, Illinois and throughout the rest of Lagunitas Brewing Company’s vast distribution area.

Alright . . . now that we are all caught up on that lengthy backstory, let’s get into these Tasting Notes to see exactly what a preserved wet hop beer can offer to a self-proclaimed hophead.

Tasting Notes for Born Again Yesterday Unfiltered Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Appearance: Born Again Yesterday pours up as a deep golden colored brew that is wearing a perfect finger of pure white foam. When exposed to direct light, the color shifts a bit to take on some vibrant orange tones.  The beer has a light haze/cloudiness to it, but an abundant carbonation presence can still be seen kicking around a serious amount of floaties suspended in the liquid.  Head retention is good, falling oh so slowly to a lasting and incredibly creamy top cap that leaves wide sheets of lace behind after each sip.

Aroma: Big on the citrus, the aromatics lead with pronounced notes of sweet orange and mandarin.  Lime and grapefruit zest then move in to brighten the lightly sweet malts running parallel. The profile closes beautifully with that signature earthy grassiness that is so often found in wet hop beers. These aromas may seem simple, but they are enormous.

Taste:  Citrus leads here as well, but this time around it serves as more of a role player.  Orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit offer a bright initial pop before the hops take a dynamic turn toward more earthy and grassy qualities.  The profile then takes on a lightly herbaceous and piney quality that eventually fades out to leave behind a finish filled with clean, non-obtrusive malt character.

Mouthfeel: Medium in body with a medium carbonation level, this beer has a good weight to it and fully coats the palate with each sip.  The hops do bring some bite, but the balance is dialed in so that the bitterness is not all-consuming. Despite its palate engulfing nature, the beer still finds a way to dry out quickly and clean up nicely. The 7% ABV is well-behaved, but it does draw some attention to itself as the beer warms.  The aftertaste is all clean malt with a dash of grapefruit zest.

Final Thoughts: Whatever the process is that Lagunitas devised to preserve wet hops, it works.  When I approach wet hop beers, I tend to look for two things:

  1. Big ol’ gains in the department of hop aroma
  2. A very distinguishable grassy and “green” flavor

Born Again Yesterday Unfiltered Ale easily checks both those boxes, and then goes on to turn it up a notch by having a bigger hop flavor than most wet hop beers.  Just as you would expect from a hop-forward beer from Lagunitas, the citrus hop notes are absolutely massive and work beautifully with that wet hop grassy character to supply the drinker with a memorable and dank Pale Ale.  Wet hops at the end of spring? Yeah, you best believe that they live on in Born Again Yesterday Unfiltered Ale.  If you are a lover of hops, be sure to get your hands on this tasty beverage before its Limited Release runs its course.  Prost!