Beer News | Mashing In

Stone Brewing Files Lawsuit Against MillerCoors

Posted on February 12, 2018 by mashingin

Stone Brewing (Escondido, California) announced today that it has filed suit to defend its iconic STONE® brand against one of the world’s largest beer conglomerates, MillerCoors.

Widely known for its commitment to never sell out to Big Beer, Stone Brewing is now boldly stepping up to Big Beer by filing a lawsuit that “alleges that MillerCoors is trying to rebrand its Colorado Rockies-themed ‘Keystone’ beer as ‘STONE.'” Stone Brewing feels that this rebrand – a move that has led to the repeated and habitual reference to Keystone Light as simply “STONE” or “‘STONE” in MillerCoors’ marketing and social media posts – can only lead to confusion in the marketplace, leaving the craft brewery with “no choice but to combat MillerCoors’ aggressive marketing moves, which abandon Keystone’s own heritage by falsely associating with the one true STONE®.” The official Complaint goes on to allege “federal and state causes of action for unfair competition, trademark infringement and related claims.”

“Keystone’s rebranding is no accident,” said Dominic Engels, Stone Brewing CEO. “MillerCoors tried to register our name years ago and was rejected. Now its marketing team is making 30-pack boxes stacked high with nothing but the word ‘STONE’ visible. Same for Keystone’s social media, which almost uniformly has dropped the ‘Key.’ We will not stand for this kind of overtly and aggressively deceptive advertising. Frankly, MillerCoors should be ashamed.”

Stone Brewing is represented in the lawsuit by Noah Hagey, Rebecca Horton and Toby Rowe of San Francisco litigation boutique BraunHagey & Borden LLP.

For more information on this lawsuit, you can check out the video below where Greg Koch, Stone Brewing executive chairman & co-founder, explains his brewery’s stance and reasons for pursuing this action. Since this situation is ongoing, we will be sure to update you here with any and all information as it develops. Stay tuned. Prost!

Tasting Notes: Dry Hopped Censored Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Posted on February 12, 2018February 12, 2018 by mashingin

For this edition of Tasting Notes, we ease into the workweek with a little help from the “kroniky krunk” Dry Hopped Censored Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California).

Born out of a happy accident, the aptly named Dry Hopped Censored Ale entered this world as a normal batch of the classic Censored Ale and was then given new dimension when it was unintentionally “brightened up with a generous dry-hopping of Centennial, Chinook, Simcoe, and Citra hops” meant for another tank. Being the laid back, cool kids that they are, the folks at Lagunitas decided to roll with this “mistake” and ultimately discovered that the additional hops supplied a pleasant bite to the beer’s “malty, roasty, and deceptively smooth” character. It was so good that they eventually brewed more and sent Dry Hopped Censored Ale out as a Limited Release. This tasty little number is available now for a limited time in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles at select craft beer retailers located in Alabama, Florida, California, Illinois and throughout the rest of Lagunitas Brewing Company’s distribution network.

Now that we have cleared our way through the background information, let’s get an uncensored look at this brew with some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Dry Hopped Censored Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Appearance: This brew pours a caramel laced amber in color and has over a finger of slightly off-white foam resting on top. When held to a light source, deep orange tones push through to create a vibrant copper look. The beer is completely clear and displays a bountiful carbonation presence streaming within. The head has fantastic retention and coats the glass with some seriously chunky lace patterns.

Aroma: The dry-hopping has worked wonders here as the aromatics lead with incredibly inviting notes of citrus (aromas of orange peel and grapefruit) and floral hops. That hop presence does soften a bit to expose a lightly sweet malt character of caramel, honey, and toasted bread.

Taste: The malts take point in this department and treat the taste buds to notes of lightly roasted grain, caramel, toffee and just a slight undercurrent of chocolate. The hops advance at the perfect moment and balance the experience out with floral tones, resinous pine, grapefruit, passion fruit, and a touch of earthiness.

Mouthfeel: On the lighter side of medium in body with a bright carbonation, this beer is just a touch creamy in texture but retains an incredibly easy drinking nature. Sublimely balanced and clean, this experience teeters gracefully between sweet and hoppy/bitter on the palate. The ABV is deceptive for 6.7%, and it drinks like a much smaller beer. Aftertaste leaves behind some notes of pine and caramel.

Final Thoughts: Dry Hopped Censored Ale is a happy accident indeed as its dry-hop addition is dialed in to perfectly interlace with the malty goodness that was lying in wait within the original Censored. The piney and citrusy hops are definitely there, but the toffee and caramel-filled malt notes are still allowed to step forward and own an equal share of the overall experience. This beer’s balance is a thing of beauty and it results in a dangerously drinkable brew that simply should not be missed. Make sure you get your hands on some Dry Hopped Censored Ale before its Limited Release runs its course. Prost!

Stone Brewing Releases Loral & Dr. Rudi’s Inevitable Adventure Double IPA

Posted on February 12, 2018 by mashingin

Stone Brewing (Escondido, California) recently announced that it has officially begun the Limited Release of Stone Loral & Dr. Rudi’s Inevitable Adventure Double IPA.

Emerging as an unlikely union of new and old hop varietals, Stone Loral & Dr. Rudi’s Inevitable Adventure Double IPA introduces the popular and trendy Loral hop (released in 2016) to the long-standing old timer known as Dr. Rudi (a.k.a. Super Alpha, available since 1976). With 40 years separating these two hops, shenanigans ensue as this Double India Pale Ale plays Loral’s tones of “citrus, peach and . . . fresh berries” against Dr. Rudi’s “classic piney and herbal notes.” As unexpected as it may be, Stone Loral & Dr. Rudi’s Inevitable Adventure Double IPA comes together to be “refreshing, crisp and smooth with mild bitterness and an ABV (8.9%) that boosts the overall aromas and flavors of this inevitable adventure.”

“We have been a bit obsessed with Loral hops lately,” said Jeremy Moynier, Stone Brewing Senior Innovation Manager. “We’re loving its bright, floral qualities and have been impressed with the hop on its own and blended with others. Dr. Rudi is an older hop, one we haven’t used much lately and we were blown away by how the two complement one another – a good example of how sometimes opposites attract.”

Stone Loral & Dr. Rudi’s Inevitable Adventure Double IPA is officially available now and will hang around into the month of June. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 22 oz. bottles, 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, Virginia, and throughout the rest of Stone Brewing’s nationwide distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Stone Loral & Dr. Rudi’s Inevitable Adventure Double IPA from Stone Brewing

Release – Limited, February – June 2018
Style – Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.9%
IBUs – 84
Featured Hops – Loral & Dr. Rudi
Availability – 22 oz. bottles, 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://find.stonebrewing.com/#ready

Creature Comforts Brewing Co. to Begin Canning Reclaimed Rye

Posted on February 9, 2018 by mashingin

Creature Comforts Brewing Co. (Athens, Georgia) has announced that Reclaimed Rye will join the brewery’s portfolio of canned Year-Round offerings in mid-February.

Developed as Creature Comforts Brewing Co.’s attempt to “reclaim” the Amber Ale style, Reclaimed Rye (5.5% ABV) is “a uniquely complex and full-flavored amber ale that the brewery ages on French oak.” The French Oak works with the beer’s malted and flaked rye to create “a well-rounded body, with notes of toasted bread, spice, and subtle vanilla.” Reclaimed Rye now joins Tropicália American IPA, Athena Berliner Weisse, and Bibo Pilsner as the fourth year-round offering from Creature Comforts to be made available in cans.

“We have wanted Reclaimed Rye in cans for three years,” said Creature Comforts Co-founder and CEO Chris Herron. “It is a favorite beer around the brewery and in the market, but capacity constraints have kept it as a draft only offering. With our capacity increase coming from our new brewery, the wait is finally over and cans of Reclaimed Rye will finally be a real thing!”

Cans of Reclaimed Rye will officially release onsite at Creature Comforts Brewing Co. on February 17, and distribution will follow shortly thereafter. You can expect to find Reclaimed Rye available in 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located within the brewery’s distribution footprint of Athens and Atlanta, Georgia. Prost!

Vital Information for Reclaimed Rye from Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

Release – Year-Round; cans launch February 17, 2018
Style – Amber Ale/Rye Beer
ABV – 5.5%
Treatment – Aged on French Oak
Fun Fact – On the naming of Reclaimed Rye: “The beer was named with the brewers’ intentions in mind of shedding new light on the amber style – reclaiming it back from the ordinary. In addition, the name is a nod to the wood that was reclaimed to make up the bars, picnic tables and paneled walls in the brewery’s tasting room. Local woodworkers, Oneta, designed and built the reclaimed wood additions to Creature Comforts’ tasting room.”
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Athens & Atlanta, Georgia

Monday Night Brewing Set to Release Excolatur Dark Sour

Posted on February 9, 2018 by mashingin

Monday Night Brewing (Atlanta, Georgia) has announced that it will officially begin the limited release of Excolatur Dark Sour on February 10.

Coming at you straight out of Monday Night Brewing’s Garage Series, Excolatur – pronounced echo-lahtour and Latin for “development” – is a Dark Sour Ale that has spent over two years aging in Bourbon and Rum barrels and an additional four months over Montmorency cherries. To supply Excolatur with its lovely Wild/Sour Ale character, Monday Night’s brewers inoculated the beer with a combination of lactobacillus and pediococcus [to give it] a clean sourness with just enough funk to remind you it is, like the fox on the bottle, wild and untamed.” This all results in a 9.7% ABV Excolatur that possesses “an acidity similar to wine.”

“When I think of this beer, I think of a dark, double barrel aged, pretty agreeable dark sour. We get a lot of barrel expression from the rum and Bourbon barrels, and then we added another source of sugar with the Montmorency cherries,” said Monday Night’s head brewer and barrel program director Peter Kiley. “This is truly a one-of-a-kind beer that I’m not sure we can make again, so let’s enjoy it while we have it.”

After it makes an official debut at Monday Night Brewing’s Garage location on February 10, Excolatur will then enter distribution by mid-February. Once released, you can expect to find this Garage Series offering available in 500ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama and Georgia. Prost!

Vital Information for Excolatur Dark Sour from Monday Night Brewing

Release – Limited/Garage Series; launching February 10, 2018
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 9.7%
IBUS – 15
Treatment – Aged for over two years in Bourbon & Rum barrels, then spent another four months on Montmorency cherries
Suggested Food Pairings – “Excolatur pairs well with a great steak, chocolate-covered cherries, or an outdoor fire pit with friends”
Availability – 500ml bottles & draft
Distribution – Alabama & Georgia

Marker 48 Brewing Launches 2018 Smallbatch Beer Program

Posted on February 8, 2018 by mashingin

After a successful inaugural year in 2017, Marker 48 Brewing (Weeki Wachee, Florida) has announced that the Smallbatch Beer Program has officially returned for another year of limited release brews and awesome prizes.

Back for its second year, the Smallbatch Beer Program is a 48-week-long promotion that allows Marker 48’s fans the chance to explore a vast array of beers for the remainder of 2018. Committed to brewing one new beer every week, Marker 48’s brewers and select guest brewers will use this program as an opportunity to “explore creative and experimental brewing — everything from sours to barrel-aged beers, and many styles in between.” One new small-batch beer will be tapped each Wednesday – beginning February 7 – in Marker 48’s taproom, and guests will have the option to purchase a Smallbatch Beer Book to track their craft beer journey with stamps collected throughout the year. Depending on the amount accumulated, those stamps could ultimately lead to “a chance to win magnificent prizes at the end of the year.”

A limited number of Smallbatch Beer Books are available now at Marker 48 Brewing for the price of $100 each. The cost of the passport grants its holder with “one FREE small-batch beer per week or half-off bomber bottles of the week’s small-batch beers (when available).” In addition to the 48 free beers, book holders will receive a stamp for each Smallbatch Beer drank.

The amount of stamps a guest collects will determine what prizes he/she will qualify for at the end of the year. The prize tiers are as follows:

10-25 stamps are qualified to win:

$100 Marker 48 gift certificate
Free passport book for 2019 ($100 value)
$25 BeckyJack’s Food Shack gift certificate
$25 Florida Cracker Kitchen gift certificate
($250 value total)

26-35 stamps are qualified to win all of the above, PLUS:

The chance to brew a small-batch beer with Marker 48’s brewers in 2018

36-48 stamps are qualified to win all of the above, PLUS:

A one-night stay with one guest, hosted by Marker 48, on a private island on the Homosassa River and a half-day fishing inshore charter with a guide captain.

New this Year:

All books with 48 stamps will be entered to win two VIP tickets to a 2019 Tampa Bay area beer festival of Marker 48’s choice, accompanied by either the owners or brewers.

In addition to the chance to win the prizes above, passport holders “that have all 48 stamps will get an exclusive Marker 48 Smallbatch Beer shirt AND a special 20 oz. glass to be kept in the brewery to receive pours of core beers throughout 2019 for the same price as 16 oz. beers.”

The Smallbatch Beer Program officially started on Wednesday, February 7 when Marker 48 tapped Wallace Wee Heavy (8.2% ABV), a lightly smoked Scottish style ale with a nice meaty, malty backbone. This is your chance to get into the Smallbatch Beer Program early, so do what you can to swing by the brewery this week, try the Wallace Wee Heavy, snag a Smallbatch Beer Book, and settle in for 48 weeks of good times and tasty brews with Marker 48 in 2018. Prost!

New Belgium Brewing Introduces Tartastic Raspberry Lime Ale

Posted on February 8, 2018 by mashingin

New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins, Colorado) has officially announced that it is launching its rotating Tartastic Series with the release of Tartastic Raspberry Lime Ale.

To build off of the success of the previously released Tartastic Lemon Ginger Sour, New Belgium has decided to reestablish the “Tartastic” brand in 2018 as a rotating series of kettle-soured, fruit-forward beers. Each release in the Tartastic series will be “a blend of two beers – one that is traditionally fermented and one that undergoes a lactobacillus fermentation that creates a subtle tartness.” Once the two beers are combined, the overall tartness will be tempered and result in “a very refreshing and sessionable beer packed with fruit flavors and aromas.” Although the Tartastic Series will focus on “other new flavors rotating throughout the year”, it will eventually include the return of the wildly popular Lemon Ginger Sour that started it all.

“We found most of the current competitive offerings to be overly sweet, almost artificial in flavor,” said Ross Koenigs, Brewer at New Belgium. “Our goal here is to let the fruits’ natural sweetness shine through while being complimented and enhanced by blending with a kettle sour. The crew in the brewhouse is pumped to have a new platform to explore all that fruit can bring to the beer table.”

The first Tartastic Series release of 2018 will be Tartastic Raspberry Lime Ale, a raspberry hued brew that possesses “welcoming aromas of raspberry, strawberry and cherry, followed by lemon and lime.” Clocking in at an easy drinking 4.2% ABV, Tartastic Raspberry Lime Ale boasts “an irresistibly playful sweet-tart sip that’ll put a smile on your face every time.”

Tartastic Raspberry Lime Ale is available now for a limited time in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft. You can expect to find this new offering at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina and throughout the rest of New Belgium’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Tartastic Raspberry Lime Ale from New Belgium Brewing

Release – Rotating/Tartastic Series, launching February 2018
Style – American Sour Ale (kettle-soured, blended)
ABV – 4.2%
IBU – 8
Malts – Pale & White Wheat
Hops – Nugget
Added Ingredients – Raspberry & Lime purees
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.newbelgium.com/beer/finder

Rogues Ales Rolls Out Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout 2018

Posted on February 7, 2018 by mashingin

Rogue Ales (Newport, Oregon) has announced that it has officially begun the limited release of the 2018 version of Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout.

With every aspect of “the only farm-brewery-distillery-cooperage” being put to use in the creation of this beer, Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout can basically be summed up as an elaborate and highly-involved DIY project for Rogue Ales. This massive Imperial Stout is “brewed with ingredients grown at Rogue Farms, and then ocean aged for nine months in barrels made by hand at Rogue’s Rolling Thunder Barrel Works.” The house-made Dead Guy Whiskey that once filled those barrels lends notes of whiskey and vanilla to complement the base beer’s dark roasted malts while raspberries – the special ingredient for 2018 – provide a unique thread of lightly tart sweetness. This all results in a 14.4% ABV Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout that features “deep sherry notes accentuated by hints of raspberries, brown sugar and vanilla, held up against a dark roasted malt backbone with earthy hops.”

“We chose raspberries for 2018 because it seemed like a natural, Willamette Valley-driven progression from last year’s cherries. They add a whole new dimension to the beer through a slight hint of tartness, followed by a deep dark fruit flavor,” said Rogue Innovation Brewer Michael King. “This marries perfectly with the dark roasted malt flavors and vanilla characteristics highlighted from the aging in Oregon Oak.”

Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout 2018 is officially available now and will hang around as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in hand-numbered 16.9 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Rogue’s national distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout 2018 from Rogue Ales

Release – Limited, February 2018
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 14.4%
IBUs – 63
Malts – 2-Row, Munich, Hates AC Smoke, Kiln Black, Roast Barley, C40, C60, C75 & Brown malts; Rolled Oats
Hops – Rogue Farms Liberty & Freedom
Added Ingredients – Brown Sugar, Raspberries & Vanilla
Yeast – Pacman Yeast
Treatment – “Aged for 9 months in hand made Rolling Thunder Barrel Works barrels previously used to age [Rogue’s] Dead Guy Whiskey”
Availability – 16.9 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://finder.rogue.com/

The Unknown Brewing Company Schedules Limited Release of Rarest Bean

Posted on February 7, 2018February 7, 2018 by mashingin

The Unknown Brewing Company (Charlotte, North Carolina) has announced that it will hold a special taproom release for Rarest Bean, an Imperial Stout brewed with two of the rarest beans in the world, at 3 p.m. on Friday, February 16.

To ensure that Rarest Bean lives up to its name, The Unknown Brewing Company brewed this “Imperial Pastry Sweet Stout” with a recipe that boasts not one but two highly coveted beans. The first of the beans is Black Ivory Coffee, “literally the rarest coffee bean on earth.” With only about 1,000 pounds produced each year, this rare and pricey coffee ($100 a bag) is consumed and “processed” by elephants. Yeah, that means what you think it means.

The overachievers at The Unknown then took things a step further by adding Tongan vanilla beans to this rare bean roster. Although these beans were never inside an elephant, they do create “an extremely rich vanilla flavor.” That’s a good thing because these magic beans come in a package that “only contains 2 beans and is around $30-$40 per container.” Do you see the trend here? The Rarest Bean’s ingredients are special, rare and exclusive, and that makes Rarest Bean special, rare and exclusive.

Rarest Bean will be available exclusively in the taproom at The Unknown Brewing Company at 3 p.m. on Friday, February 16. Due to the rarity of the ingredients and the exorbitant cost of brewing this beer, the brewery has only produced 100 bottles of Rarest Bean and bottle limits will be set at two (2) per person during the release event. A quick run on that math leads us to believe that these bottles will not last long, so make sure you are at the brewery early on February 16 to give yourself the best chance possible to secure your bottle(s) of Rarest Bean. Prost!

Vital Information for Rarest Bean from The Unknown Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Taproom-only; 3 p.m. on February 16, 2018
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 12.5%
Added Ingredients – Black Ivory Coffee & Tongan vanilla beans
Availability – 16.9 oz. bottles (only 100 bottles produced, limit of 2 bottles per person)
Event Location – The Unknown Brewing Company | 1327 South Mint Street | Charlotte NC 28203

Starr Hill Brewery Adds Front Row Golden Ale to Year-Round Lineup

Posted on February 6, 2018February 21, 2018 by mashingin

Starr Hill Brewery (Crozet, Virginia) has officially announced that Front Row Golden Ale will be introduced this month as the brewery’s newest Year-Round offering.

Developed to be an accessible beer that puts you in the front row when “savoring life’s moments in-person and sharing the experience with others”, the aptly named Front Row is a light and refreshing Golden Ale that finds “the perfect balance” between a light dose of Cascade hops and “a honey-like malt body” supplied by the sweetness of Honey malt and oats. Weighing in at just 4.9% ABV and 20 IBUs, the easy-drinking Front Row promises a “smooth mouthfeel and clean finish” that pairs beautifully with “a local concert, the big game, or [time spent with] friends around the fire.”

Front Row is available now in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft. You find this new Year-Round offering at craft beer-focused retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Virginia and throughout the rest of Starr Hill’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Front Row from Starr Hill Brewery

Release – Year-Round, launching February 2018
Style – American Blonde Ale/Golden Ale
ABV – 4.9%
IBUs – 20
Malts – Pilsner, Oats, Caramel & Honey
Hops – Cascade
Yeast – Ale
Suggested Food Pairings – “FOOD: Grilled Calamari CHEESE: Monterey Jack DESSERT: Lemon Custard Tart”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://starrhill.com/beer-finder/