Beer News | Mashing In

Harpoon Brewery Introduces UFO Apricadabra as New Spring Seasonal

Posted on January 16, 2018 by mashingin

Harpoon Brewery (Boston, Massachusetts) recently announced that it has officially lauched UFO Apricadabra as the newest addition to the brewery’s portfolio of UFO Seasonals.

To bring the flavors and refreshing nature of spring to their UFO (Unfiltered Offering) line, the folks at Harpoon Brewery have developed Apricadabra (4.8% ABV). A Hefeweizen “brewed with fresh apricot puree”, this new Seasonal offering has a “subtly sweet flavor [that] will leave you believing . . . a beer so juicy and refreshing could be nothing other than…magic.”

“Spring is a magical season,” said UFO Brand Manager Victoria Kidder. “Everything becomes more vibrant, more alive. We wanted to brew a flavorful beer that matched the best parts of spring. UFO Apricadabra is bright and refreshing with a perfect balance of apricot flavor, just right for this invigorating season.”

UFO Apricadabra is available now and will be hanging around through March 2018. You can expect to find this Seasonal offering available in 12-packs of 12 oz. cans, 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, in the UFO “Jet Pack” Spring Mix Pack and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Massachusetts, Vermont and throughout the rest of Harpoon Brewery’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for UFO Apricadabra from Harpoon Brewery

Release – UFO Seasonal (Spring), January – March 2018
Style – Hefeweizen
ABV – 4.8%
Added Ingredients – Fresh apricot puree
Availability – 12-packs of 12 oz. cans, 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, in the UFO “Jet Pack” Spring Mix Pack & on draft
Beer Finder – https://www.ufobeer.com/ufolocator/

Second Self Beer Co. Introduces Triforce IPA

Posted on January 15, 2018January 15, 2018 by mashingin

Second Self Beer Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has officially announced the release of Triforce IPA as the brewery’s newest Year-Round offering.

With inspiration sourced from an “iconic video game”, the brewers at Second Self have created Triforce IPA to “embody the sacred relic’s three pieces: power, courage and wisdom.” To achieve this lofty goal, this slightly hazy IPA is brewed with its own “triforce of malts (oats, wheat and barley) and hops (Mosaic, Amarillo and Cascade).” This trifecta of threes results in a 6.1% ABV, 45 IBU Triforce IPA that possesses “the aroma and flavor of papaya, mango and other tropical fruits, with a soft, flavorful mouthfeel to balance this truly inspired beer.”

Triforce IPA is officially available now in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft. You can find this Year-Round offering at craft beer-focused retailers, bars and restaurants located throughout Second Self Beer Company’s distribution area in Alabama and Georgia. Prost!

Vital Information for Triforce IPA from Second Self Beer Company

Release – Year-Round, launching January 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.1%
IBUs – 45
Grains – Oats, Wheat & Barley
Hops – Mosaic, Amarillo & Cascade
Suggested Food Pairings – “Tacos, barbecue, fresh vegetables, ceviche, fromage blanc and magical potions.”
Fun Fact – Triforce IPA’s “graphic label plays on the classic video game and was designed by artist Keith P. Rein, who also created the popular artwork for Second Self’s limited-edition beer: Manic Pixie Dream Beer #1.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Georgia & Alabama

Cascade Brewing Releases Sang Rouge 2015

Posted on January 15, 2018 by mashingin

Cascade Brewing (Portland, Oregon) has announced that Sang Rouge 2015 will begin hitting shelves and taps this month for a limited release as a Tier Two offering.

Returning after nearly a three-year hiatus, Sang Rouge is a blend of Sour Red Ales that have been aged in “select red wine barrels and oak puncheons for . . . [an] average of 24 months, with some barrels exceeding 30 months.” With absolutely no influence from added fruits or spices, this extensive aging process added further depth and complexity to the base Red Ale by lending “notes of roasted malts, dried currants, aged red wine and toasted oak.” The finished Sang Rouge 2015 comes in at 7.8% ABV.

“The release of Sang Rouge 2015 is exciting, not only because it’s been three years since this beer was on the market, but also because we have also doubled our draft output, representing Cascade’s commitment to increasing the draft availability of our brands.”

– Tim Larrance, Cascade’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Sang Rouge 2015 officially released on January 12 and will be available while supplies last. You can expect to find this Tier Two offering available in 750ml bottles and on draft at fine beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Cascade Brewing’s distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Sang Rouge 2015 from Cascade Brewing

Release – Limited/Tier Two, January 2018
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 7.8%
Treatment – A blend of Sour Red Ales aged in select red wine barrels and oak puncheons for an average of 24 months, with some barrels exceeding 30 months.
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Fun Fact – Concerning Cascade Brewing’s new labels: “Sang Rouge is a Tier Two 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.”

Dogfish Head Adds Wood-Aged Bitches Brew Stout to Year-Round Lineup

Posted on January 12, 2018January 12, 2018 by mashingin

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware) announced today that Wood-Aged Bitches Brew Stout will officially begin its Year-Round release in mid-January.

Originally brewed to honor the 40th anniversary of Miles Davis’ 1970 landmark jazz-rock record, Bitches Brew is making a triumphant return in 2018 “with a new, wood-centric spin.” Now dubbed Wood-Aged Bitches Brew, this musically inspired offering is “a fusion of three threads of imperial stout aged on oak and one thread of Tej, a native African honey beer, aged on Palo Santo.” After being aged and blended “in giant oak and Palo Santo wood tanks”, the 9% ABV Wood-Aged Bitches Brew emerges to offer “vanilla, chocolatey-licorice wood aromas with a sweet, roasty, coffee flavor finish.”

“We’ve been waiting for the right moment to reintroduce Bitches Brew and thought wood-aging it in our massive 10,000 gallon oak and Palo tanks would be the perfect innovative complement to a beer that was inspired by a culturally transformative record born out of a union of rock and roll and jazz – continuing the cycle of innovation through inspiration,” said Sam Calagione, founder and CEO of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.

Wood-Aged Bitches Brew will officially begin hitting shelves and taps on January 19. You can expect to find this new Year-Round offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Delaware and throughout the rest of Dogfish Head’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Wood-Aged Bitches Brew from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Release – Year-Round, launches mid-January 2018
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 9%
Treatment – A blend of three threads of Imperial Stout aged on oak and one thread of Tej, a native African honey beer, aged on Palo Santo
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.dogfish.com/brewery/fishfinder

Southern Tier Brewing Launches Science is the Art Double IPA Collection

Posted on January 12, 2018 by mashingin

Southern Tier Brewing Company (Lakewood, New York) has announced that it will release All is Well at the Station Unfiltered Double India Pale Ale in early January as the first release from the Science is the Art Collection.

More than just another beer series, Southern Tier’s Science is the Art is a collection of Limited Release Double IPAs that “showcases their brewers’ scientific exactitude through distinctive commissioned artistry.” Not only will each release feature a new flavor profile, but they will also be wearing “vibrant and energetic graphic novel-like labels” designed by sci-fi artist, Christopher Balaskas. The label for each of the six beers in the Science is the Art Collection will serve as “a snapshot of an unfolding science fiction tale”, collectively telling “a short story throughout 2018.”

This first episode in the collection is All is Well at the Station, an Unfiltered Double India Pale Ale brewed with Amarillo, Chinook, CTZ, and Simcoe hops. The beer’s hop profile lends “a big citrusy and earthy character with a dank edge” while “the malt bill leaves just enough residual sweetness to perfectly balance its hoppiness.” Although it weighs in at a sizable 8.5% ABV and 80 IBUs, All is Well at the Station still promises to be a “remarkably drinkable double IPA.” As far as the label artwork goes, All is Well at the Station depicts “an astronaut flying above a tranquil moon outpost. Surely all is well…or is it?”

All is Well at the Station will be available for a limited time beginning in early January 2018. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and throughout the rest of Southern Tier Brewing Company’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for All is Well at the Station from Southern Tier Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Science is the Art Collection, early January 2018
Style – Double India Pale Ale (Unfiltered)
ABV – 8.5%
IBUs – 80
Featured Hops – Amarillo, Chinook, CTZ & Simcoe
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans
Beer Finder – http://www.stbcbeer.com/find-beer/

TBBW 2018 Event: Cycle Brewing Releases Details & Ticket Information for Barrel Aged Day 2018

Posted on January 11, 2018March 9, 2018 by mashingin

On Friday, March 9 from noon to 4 p.m., Cycle Brewing (St. Petersburg, Florida) will host its annual Barrel Aged Day beer festival at St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club (559 Mirror Lake Dr. North, St. Petersburg, Florida).

Cycle Brewing will be once again treating Tampa Bay Beer Week to an insane spread of barrel-aged goodness with its extremely popular Barrel Aged Day event. There is quite a bit of information to cover when it comes to this beer festival and its procedures for securing tickets. To ensure that we do not screw anything up or leave anything out, we are going break everything down so that the information is easy to read, navigate and locate. Also, be sure to check back often because this post will be updated regularly with new information.

The Basics

What – Barrel Aged Day 2018 from Cycle Brewing
When – Friday, March 9; General Admission begins at noon, VIP entry at 11 a.m.
Where – St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club (559 Mirror Lake Dr. North, St. Petersburg, Florida)

The Beers

Just as the name would lead you to believe, Barrel Aged Day is a beer festival that showcases an incredible lineup of rare barrel-aged beers from Cycle Brewing. The brewery is currently in the process of creating the tap list for Barrel Aged Day 2018. You can rest assured knowing that we plan to post that list here just as soon as it is made public. **UPDATE 03.09.18** As promised, here is the taplist:

Ticket Information

This is where things can get a bit tricky, so please read all the information provided below.

**UPDATE 1.13.18** TICKETS FOR BARREL AGED DAY 2018 ARE SOLD OUT **UPDATE 1.13.18**

Barrel Aged Day 2018 tickets will be available for purchase at 8 a.m. on Saturday, January 13 at Cycle Brewing (534 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, Florida)
Tickets are available in two tiers:
– General Admission: $100 each
– VIP: $125 each
General Admission tickets include “a Festival Only bottle, glass and pretty exclusive access to all of the Barrel Aged beers on tap in one of the nicest settings in the world of beer fests.” VIP tickets include all of the above but also grant you early entry into the festival at 11 a.m.
Ticket Sales are Cash Only
Ticket Sales are limited to two (2) tickets per person
To be able to purchase tickets, you must be one of the two people attending the festival.
You will be required to present an ID at the time of purchase. You and that ID will have to be present again at the festival so that you and your guest can gain entry into the festival. “The tickets are basically receipts, your ID will be your ticket into the fest assuming you are on the list.” This process is in place to cut down on ticket “mules” and ensure that locals who wish to attend Barrel Aged Day 2018 have a better chance to purchase tickets.
Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable
Expect the ticket line to move slowly “as Doug will be personally writing every name down, it is slow but it is extremely effective.”
There will be “zero tolerance for shenanigans” while in the ticket line. If you get into an altercation of any kind, you will be removed from the line and asked to leave. If you are disrespectful to any neighboring business or their patrons, you will be removed from the line and asked to leave. If you just remain patient and act like an adult, all will be fine.
If by some chance tickets do not sell out on Saturday, Cycle Brewing will announce plans for ticket sales on Sunday, January 14. With that said, tickets are extremely limited and expected to sell out quickly. **UPDATE 1.13.18** THERE WILL BE NO SUNDAY SALES. TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT **UPDATE 1.13.18**

Ok . . . that covers all the details that are currently available. More information will surface as we draw closer to Barrel Aged Day 2018, and we will update you with that info just as soon as we get our hands on it. Stay tuned, and we hope you all land some tickets to this ridiculously awesome event. Prost!

Terrapin Beer Co. Goes Year-Round with Luau Krunkles IPA

Posted on January 11, 2018 by mashingin

Terrapin Beer Co. (Athens, Georgia) announced today that Luau Krunkles Passion Fruit-Orange-Guava IPA will be joining the brewery’s Year-Round lineup in 2018.

The infamous Krunkles, Terrapin’s “fictitious brewer who travels the world making creative IPAs”, is entering some new territory in his brewing career now that Luau Krunkles has emerged from its previous two limited releases to finally provide its creator with some year-round recognition. Just as the beer’s full name indicates, Luau Krunkles has “tropical aromas of Passion fruit, Orange and Guava [that dominate] the nose while a big juicy hop flavor and smooth bitterness complement the balance of the beer.” This offering clocks in at 6.5% ABV and 72 IBUs.

Luau Krunkles will begin its Year-Round availability any day now. You can expect to find Luau Krunkles in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and throughout the rest of Terrapin Beer Co.’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Luau Krunkles Passion Fruit-Orange-Guava IPA from Terrapin Beer Co.

Release – Year-Round status begins January 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.5%
IBUs – 72
Hops – Columbus, Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, Citra, Galaxy & Amarillo (Dry Hop Amarillo, Citra, Galaxy & Simcoe)
Malts – 2 row Pale, Ashburne, Carapilsner, Wheat & Honey Malt
Suggested Food Pairings – “White Cheddar & Gouda, or a nicely blacked Mahi-Mahi filet over a bed of coconut rice and an arugula salad”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://terrapinbeer.com/beer-finder/

Field Trip: Media Reception & Beer Launch at New Realm Brewing Company

Posted on January 10, 2018January 10, 2018 by mashingin

radegast Last week, we had the pleasure of attending a VIP Media Reception and Beer Launch event at New Realm Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia) and we have returned to supply you with a photographic account of our experience at this newly established craft beer institution that is sure to have a huge impact on Atlanta’s beer scene.

Established by Carey Falcone, Bob Powers and IPA whisperer Mitch Steele, New Realm Brewing Company is a 20,000 square-foot facility located on Atlanta’s Beltline. This game-changing destination brewery houses a 25hl, four vessel brewhouse and 50hl tank farm from Krones Steinecker, a stunning taproom and restaurant, multiple multipurpose rooms that can act as event space or additional seating, several bars, a dedicated growler station, and a rooftop deck featuring a breathtaking view of the Atlanta skyline. The brewery’s main system will be focused on creating world-class, regular rotation offerings while a pilot system will be dedicated to churning out a regular stream of creative and innovative one-offs and experimental batches. Helmed by General Manager Don Mioton and Executive Chef Julio Delgado, New Realm’s restaurant “[blends] global flavors and southern techniques” to offer a delicious menu that pairs beautifully with the house beers. Speaking of those beers, New Realm offerings will span the style spectrum, but you can rest assured that you will see many hop-laden brews from Mitch Steele.

New Realm Brewing Company officially opened to the public on Monday (January 8), but we were lucky enough to get a first look at the facility last week. Although part of me wishes that we returned home with a notebook full of technical data on the brewery and the beers, it was kind of refreshing to hear that this event was meant to have more of a relaxed, hangout atmosphere rather than that of a formal interview. When I say refreshing, I mean that more so from the perspective of the New Realm team that was facing an opening week that would be full of photo ops, interviews, and the intense scrutiny of being a new brewery and restaurant in a major U.S. city. This was the crew’s last chance to take a breath and a moment to celebrate before that coming storm. It was a needed break disguised as a soft opening and media event.

We wanted to respect that, so our conversations with Mitch Steele and everyone else at New Realm were limited to small talk about our personal lives, the beer industry in general, hobbies, and good food. Although fun for us, we realized that those discussions would not produce interesting copy. So . . . we adjusted our approach to the event and instead decided to document our experience through photos. We want you to experience this place through our eyes, and hopefully that will inspire you to visit New Realm, sample the beers, have a meal, take the tour, and experience something truly special. We hope that you enjoy the gallery and, above all, realize that you need to experience all that can be found in New Realm. Prost!

These two giants are happy to greet you as you approach the brewery.

The taproom’s decor is warm and inviting; rich in woods, glass and stainless steel.

The taproom also features a view of the brewery.

The space also includes several rooms that can act as private event spaces, conference rooms, or just added seating for the taproom.

The New Realm crew supplied gorgeous pours of beautiful beers all night long.

From Pilsner to Porter, here’s the dynamic tap list we enjoyed that evening: Commissioner Table Beer; Euphonia Pilsner, German-style Pilsner hop bursted with Noble and new-school German varieties; Zwickel Pils, Unfiltered Pilsner that is naturally hazy and fermented with an Augustiner lager strain; Perun Pale Ale, American Pale Ale featuring citrusy and piney hops with a touch of caramel maltiness; Hoplandia IPA, West Coast-style IPA with classic Simcoe and Centennial resinous character; Belgian Dubbel, featuring malt-derived dried plum and raisin with a hint of banana; and Pilot Coffee Porter, brewed with coffee from Firelight Coffee Roasters.

Gorgeous signage tastefully adorns the walls of the taproom.

Pilot Coffee Porter and Zwickel Pils.

Guests can view the entire brewery while enjoying a tour from the catwalk.

Mitch Steele leads a brewery tour.

The canning line is primed and ready to put in some serious work.

Radegast Triple IPA will soon see some time on that canning machine.

The pilot system prominently displayed but subtly dwarfed by the brewery’s main brewhouse hiding in the background.

For perspective, this photo of the tour group was taken from the brew deck of the main brewhouse.

Head Brewer Tyler Downey pops in on the tour to chat a bit.

Kegs are wrapped and ready to go.

When Mitch Steele is involved, it is no surprise that an IPA is ready for those kegs.

Attendees enjoy beers and a vast array of app-sized portions of dishes that will be featured on the restaurant’s menu.

Radegast Triple IPA will also be available in 750ml. This one-time release will commemorate the brewery’s grand opening. Keep an eye on New Realm’s social media accounts for release details.

Commissioner, a Belgo-American Table Beer, was the first beer brewed on New Realm’s system.

The brewery store is fully stocked and even includes a dedicated growler bar.

Perfect place for a beer and a conversation.

Perun Pale Ale was easily my favorite beer of the night. One of the most beautifully composed and balanced American Pale Ales I have ever experienced.

The rooftop deck features a full bar, ample seating, and one hell of a view.

Speaking of that view.

A good place to spend an evening and end this gallery. Be sure to visit New Realm Brewing Company as soon as you can.

Click any image to enlarge

Allagash Brewing Company Introduces Pastiche as New Limited Release

Posted on January 10, 2018 by mashingin

Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine) has announced that it will officially begin the limited release of Pastiche Blended Barrel-aged Ale in early January.

Arriving as Allagash Brewing’s “first non-wild, blended, barrel-aged beer”, Pastiche began its life as four different base beers “all created by senior Allagash brewers.” Brewed with “various local malts” and the specific intention “to blend well together”, these four beers were then sent to age in a variety of barrels – rye whiskey, vermouth, port, rum, bourbon, red wine, gin, and brandy. After spending “between three and four months” in those barrels, the brewers came together once more to sample and blend the beers “into a single, unified whole.” Their final blend is the 8.5% ABV Pastiche that proves to be “a complex, yet approachable, amber beer with notes of caramel, dried fruit, spirits, and oak.”

“We’ve been wanting to experiment with blending non-wild, spirit-aged beers for a long time,” said Zach Bodah, head Allagash’s Quality Control team. “Since each [of the four] base beer[s] in Pastiche was split and aged into at least two varieties of spirit barrels, it was a terrific logistical challenge in cellar management. We’re really happy with how all that hard work turned out.”

Officially released on January 8, Pastiche will be available in 750ml bottles and on draft as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release at select craft beer establishments located in Georgia, Maine and throughout the rest of Allagash Brewing Company’s distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Pastiche Blended Barrel-aged Ale from Allagash Brewing Company

Release – Limited, January 2018
Style – Undisclosed Ale, Blend
ABV – 8.5%
Grains – Various
Hops – Various
Yeast – Allagash House Ale
Treatment – A blend of four base beers that were aged in rye whiskey, vermouth, port, rum, bourbon, red wine, gin, and brandy barrels
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.allagash.com/locator/

Ballast Point Brewing Unveils 2018 Release Calendar

Posted on January 9, 2018 by mashingin

Ballast Point Brewing Company (San Diego, California) has officially sent out a 2018 Product Release Calendar that features three new series that will realign the brewery’s portfolio, a couple new brews, and few availability updates.

There has been a bit of a lull in brewery calendars lately, but rest assured that we will treat this one just as we have the others. Ballast Point’s full 2018 Product Release Calendar is available below for you to go over at your own pace, but there are a few highlights and changes that we need to cover before we send you to that document:

Ballast Point will restructure its portfolio in 2018 to include three distinct series: The Discovery Series, The Flagship Series, and the Explorer Series. This change has been put in place to help consumers easily distinguish the brewery’s wide portfolio and find exactly what they are after in a beer selection.
Meant to “serve as a great way to ‘discover’ Ballast Point though their approachability and exceptional quality”, the beers in The Discovery Series will all weigh in at 6% ABV or under. These gateway beers will include Year-Round offerings such as Bonito Blonde, Mango Even Keel and Longfin Lager. The Discovery Series will also feature a rotating lineup that will include Tart Peach Kolsch (April – July), Grunion (July – November) and Piper Down (December).
The Flagship Series will consist of “signature beers like Sculpin, Manta Ray, and Victory at Sea—pinnacles of their styles and premium award-winners. They also carry higher ABVs, 7% and above.” This series will also consist of Year-Round and Rotating offerings.
The Explorer Series will be made up of limited releases that feature “bold, exotic flavors and styles, like barrel-aged and sour offerings.” This series includes offerings such as Red Velvet (January – February), Tongue Buckler (February – March), and High West Barrel Aged Victory at Sea (November – December).
Aloha Sculpin will make its debut in February as a part of the brewery’s Flagship Series. Aloha Sculpin uses “Brux Trois yeast to turn [the brewery’s] award-winning IPA into a tropical oasis, with bright and refreshing notes of mango, pineapple and guava, along with a slight haze and smooth mouthfeel.”
The Explorer Series will also see a brand-new offering with the release of Moscow Mule Ale from March through July 2018. This offering is Ballast Point’s “take on the classic & refreshing cocktail, with ginger and tart lime in a light kettle sour beer. It’s an effervescent and aromatic beer just begging to be enjoyed in a copper mug.”
More Ballast Point offerings will be available in cans in 2018. This includes a rotating can 6-pack in the Discovery Series (Tart Peach Kolsch, Grunion Pale Ale, and Piper Down Scottish Ale), Unfiltered Sculpin IPA and Manta Ray DIPA in 12oz cans, as well as Sculpin IPA and Fathom IPA in 16oz cans.
Due to all of these changes and updates, a few offerings have been redesignated to become Seasonal (Grunion & Watermelon Dorado) or draft-only (Pumpkin Down, California Amber, Big Eye) releases in 2018.

That should just about cover all the details that we needed to go over, but there is still quite a bit to discover on the lengthy calendar below. Be sure to check it out so that you can be properly prepared for the fantastic year of beer ahead from Ballast Point Brewing Company. Prost!