Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) has officially announced that it will kick off its Vacanza Series of sour-style craft beers with the late April release of Vacanza Raspberry Gose.
Developed with “leisure” and “relaxation in mind”, Vacanza Raspberry Gose is a refreshing Gose-style Ale that has a “sweet, yet tart flavor profile” thanks to the addition of “over 500 pounds of fresh raspberries per batch.” This fruit-heavy recipe supplies Vacanza (5.5% ABV) with “a rich pink color, evidence of its freshness.”
“People have asked us to brew a sour-style beer from the day we opened,” shared Anthony Rodriguez, Co-founder and CEO of Wild Leap Brew Co. “With warm weather approaching, we felt like this was the perfect time to add one to our lineup.”
Vacanza Raspberry Gose is rolling out now and will hang around as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this new Limited Release offering available in 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly establishments located within Wild Leap’s distribution footprint in Georgia. Prost!
Vital Information for Vacanza Raspberry Gose from Wild Leap Brew Co.
Release – Limited/Vacanza Series, late April 2019 Style – Gose ABV – 5.5% IBUs – 5 Added Ingredients – Salt & 500 lbs. of fresh raspberries per batch Fun Fact – On Vacanza Raspberry Gose and the Vacanza Series: “With a brewing style and ABV that is designed for the warm weather approaching, it is important to point out that Wild Leap had relaxation in mind when brewing this beer. The name itself, Vacanza, is Italian for ‘vacation’ or ‘holiday’, while the tongue-in-cheek quote on the back of the can describes it as ‘brewed for those who take leisure very, very seriously.'”
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.wildleap.com/beer-finder/
Half Acre Beer Co. (Chicago, Illinois) has officially announced that it will launch Bodem IPA, its newest Year-Round offering, on April 26.
Arriving as a bit of a departure from the “bone-dry West Coast IPAs” that Half Acre has been known for since 2007, Bodem IPA is a “different” take on the India Pale Ale – “smack in the middle of West and East Coast styles” – that is “balanced with a soft, welcoming mouthfeel that plays to the sticky citrus and tropical fruit qualities of the hops.” Clocking in at just 6.8% ABV, Bodem IPA promises to be “accessible for classic craft drinkers and intriguing for those intimately familiar with Half Acre’s portfolio of pioneering brews.”
Bodem IPA will officially launch to the public on Friday, April 26 in Half Acre’sLincoln Avenue and Balmoral Avenue Taprooms and Store, and distribution is scheduled to follow on Monday, April 29. You can expect to find this new Year-Round offering available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Illinois and throughout the rest of Half Acre’s distribution footprint. Prost!
Vital Information for Bodem IPA from Half Acre Beer Co.
Release – Core/Year-Round; launching April 26, 2019 Style – American India Pale Ale ABV – 6.8% Featured Hops – Idaho 7, Mosaic Cryo & Cashmere Fun Fact – “Bodem—Dutch for ‘soil’—is a reference to earthiness, to the creation of new landscapes and the transforming potential of hop varietals.” Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Bell’s Brewery (Comstock, Michigan) has officially announced that it will introduce new-look packaging designs for two of its oldest craft beers – Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout and Bell’s Porter – in April 2019.
In an effort to give these two long-standing offerings a bit of a visual update that will allow them to stand out on today’s crowded craft beer shelves, Bell’s Brewery has decided to redesign the packaging and label artwork for its Kalamazoo Stout and Porter. Although these beers may now look different on the outside, the liquid inside the bottle will remain “the same Bell’s beer fans have loved from the beginning.”
If you happen to be unfamiliar with these two iconic craft brews, here are the full descriptions of Kalamazoo Stout and Porter from the press release issued by Bell’s:
Kalamazoo Stout – Named after the city where Bell’s began and still brews to this day, Kalamazoo Stout is one of Bell’s most classic recipes. Originally debuting in 1988, this smooth, full-bodied stout offers a blend of aromas and flavors of dark chocolate and freshly roasted coffee, balanced with a significant hop presence. ABV – 6.0%
Porter – Bell’s award-winning Porter bridges the gap between malty brown ales and heavily roasted stouts. Notes of chocolate, coffee and roasted barley are offset with just a slight hop bitterness. Bell’s Porter is another one of Bell’s darker, roastier offerings that can be enjoyed during the warmer months as well as during the colder months. ABV – 5.6%
“We’ve been brewing both of these beers since the late ’80s. Along with Amber Ale, these two were some of our first craft beers to hit the market, offering a flavorful alternative to what was pretty much the only option at the time (domestic, light beer).” said Larry Bell, President and Founder of Bell’s Brewery.
The new packaging for Kalamazoo Stout and Porter will begin hitting shelves in April 2019. You can expect to find both of these Year-Round offerings available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Bell’s Brewery’s distribution area. Prost!
Jester King Brewery (Austin, Texas) has officially announced that it will host a bottle release for the 2019 batch of Atrial Rubicite on Friday, May 3.
Originally released in 2013 and now back for its 9th batch, Atrial Rubicite is a highly-coveted “barrel-aged Wild Ale refermented with raspberries. This year’s batch of Atrial Rubicite is 5.5% alcohol by volume and was packaged in early April.”
Atrial Rubicite (2019) will officially release at Jester King’s Tasting Room & Restaurant at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 3. This Limited Release offering will be available on draft and in 500ml bottles ($20 each, limit of six [6] bottles per guest per day). Outside of special events, Atrial Rubicite is a brewery exclusive release that will not see distribution. Prost!
Vital Information for Atrial Rubicite (2019) from Jester King Brewery
Release – Limited; May 3, 2019 Style – American Wild Ale ABV – 5.5% Treatment – “Raspberries were added to mature barrel-aged sour ale and refermented to dryness. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and 100% naturally conditioned.” Availability – 500ml bottles & draft Bottle Count – 7,500 Distribution – None. Brewery exclusive
Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, Florida) has officially announced that Margarita Gose will launch in late April as the next release in the brewery’s newly-established Mixology Series.
Just as its incredibly straight-forward name suggests, Margarita Gose is “a traditional, tart wheat ale” that has been brewed real agave nectar, lime juice, and sea salt . . . to capture the essence of a classic margarita recipe and achieve a heightened ABV.” The beer was then aged “inside Casa Noble Anejo Tequila barrels for notes of charred oak and a smooth booze finish.” Despite coming in at a sizeable 11% ABV, Margarita Gose remains a slow-sipping refresher that can be enjoyed all summer long.
Margarita Gose will officially debut in Funky Buddha’s Tap Room on April 27 and will enter distribution shortly after the on-site release. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located throughout the state of Florida. Prost!
Vital Information for Margarita Gose from Funky Buddha Brewery
Release – Limited/Mixology Series, late April – August 2019 Style – Gose ABV – 11% IBUs – 20 Added Ingredients – Real agave nectar, lime juice & sea salt Treatment – Aged in Casa Noble Anejo Tequila barrels
Suggested Food Pairings – “Grilled fish tacos, chips and salsa, mariquitas with fresh guacamole, arroz con gandules, roasted pork, lemon pound cake, flan” Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft Beer Finder – https://funkybuddhabrewery.com/beer-finder
Proof Brewing Co. (Tallahassee, Florida) has announced that Proof Lager will officially join the brewery’s Year-Round portfolio on Friday, April 19.
Serving as Proof Brewing Co.’s “salute to the classic German style”, Proof Lager is a “bright, refreshing” Munich-style Lager that “showcases a balance of light malt with a delicate German Noble hop aroma.” Weighing in at an easy-drinking 5% ABV and 24 IBUs, Proof Lager boasts “a clean, crisp finish which pairs perfectly with a sunny day or any day you please.”
“The Proof Lager is a great everyday-beer for any occasion,” said Byron Burroughs, Proof Brewing Company’s founder. “From the craft beer novice to the aficionado, any drinker will find our Lager is enjoyable year-round.”
Proof Lager will officially launch in Proof Brewing Co.’s Tasting Room on April 19 and is scheduled to enter distribution shortly after the on-site release. You can expect to find this new Year-Round offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located within Proof Brewing Co.’s distribution footprint in Florida. Prost!
Vital Information for Proof Lager from Proof Brewing Co.
Release – Year-Round; launching April 19, 2019 Style – Munich-style Lager ABV – 5% IBUs – 24 Fun Fact – Proof Lager won a bronze medal at the 2018 Florida Best Beer Championships Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft Distribution – Florida
A big thank you goes out to 7venth Sun Brewery – Tampa for allowing us to photograph in their beautiful tasting room.
Not too long ago, Groovy Guy Gifts reached out to us to see if we would be willing to review their Personalized Growler Cooler Bag. Figuring it would make for a fun little project, we agreed and put this product to the test this week.
**Disclaimer: Groovy Guy Gifts supplied Mashing In with a Personalized Growler Cooler Bag in exchange for an honest review of the product**
The Personalized Growler Cooler Bag is made of a light-weight, military green canvas and has brown faux leather trim around the base and on the handle. It is cylindrical in shape and measures in at just over 12 inches tall and 23 inches around. The bag features a sturdy carrying handle that folds flat and a removable shoulder strap for easy transport. The front of the bag has a small pocket where you can easily stash an ID, credit cards, cash, newly acquired brewery stickers, a small bottle opener, etc. This pocket also acts as the frame for the personalized embroidery option of a single initial.
The interior of the main compartment has an insulated liner made of thick gray plastic and is capable of holding water in case any ice melts before you get your growler to its final destination. This area can easily accommodate a 64 oz. jug-style growler with an ice pack, a 32 oz. growler with ice and/or ice packs, or two 32 oz. crowlers with ice and/or ice packs.
In addition to just being a growler tote, this item’s versatility just might make it your new best friend for bottle shares as it also has the ability to hold and keep cold two 4-packs of 12 oz. cans, one 4-pack of 16 oz. cans and one 4-pack 12 oz. cans, three 22 oz. bottles, or two standard 750ml bottles (it is not quite tall enough to accommodate 750ml bottles with cork & cage).
We put the Growler Cooler Bag to the test by picking up a 32 oz. growler at 7venth Sun Brewery at noon on a 90 degree day in Tampa, Florida. The growler was filled at the beginning of our visit and then placed directly into the bag with no ice. It was then left in the car as we ran errands for around 3 hours or so. Upon returning to the office, the growler was still cold and just a couple degrees warmer than fill temperature. To test the bag’s ability to hold water, it was then filled halfway with ice and left in a hot garage for two days. The ice did completely melt but there were no signs of leaks.
Everything above amounts to a whole lot of positives, but we do have to report that there are a couple negatives. First, you can tell the bag was mass-produced and the stitching got incredibly wonky in some areas. The bad stitching is most prevalent at the bottom of our bag and it actually deformed its shape a bit. With that said, we only received one bag and it is entirely possible that this was an isolated incident that somehow made it through quality check. The good news is that the bad stitching did not appear to affect the bag’s performance or durability.
The second negative when it comes to this Personalized Growler Cooler Bag is that Groovy Guy Gifts discontinued this model shortly after sending us the sample. Although you can no longer get this exact bag, the company did replace it on their website with a larger, backpack-style Personalized Growler Cooler Bag featuring a much larger front pocket, two side pockets capable of holding 64 oz. growlers, and personalized embroidery options that include a single initial inside a square outline or a custom line (max 12 characters) at no additional cost. The best part about this upgrade is that it costs $29.99, the same price as the smaller bag that we received.
All in all, we are incredibly happy with the Growler Cooler Bag that we received, and it will definitely be put to work carrying beers to bottle shares and events we attend from here on out. If you are in the market for an insulated growler/beer bag or just some personalized beer-themed gifts for friends, we suggest you give Groovy Guy Gifts a look to see if they have anything that meets your needs. Prost!
Hidden Springs Ale Works (Tampa, Florida) has officially announced that it will hold a bottle release for Darkness in the Light Barrel-aged Imperial Stout at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 20.
Developed to harness the power found within the most dualistic of confections, Darkness in the Light is a cookies-and-cream-inspired Imperial Stout that has been aged in Bourbon barrels. Clocking in at 12% ABV, Darkness in the Light is sure to be the perfect beer pairing for any plans you may or may not have in store for 4/20.
The Darkness in the Light bottle release will take place at Hidden Springs Ale Works (1631 N. Franklin St. | Tampa, Florida) at 11 a.m. on April 20. Bottles will be $30 each and the brewery will announce the bottle limit 15 minutes before opening. Cash is preferred, but cards will be accepted.
A couple things to keep in mind if you plan to attend this bottle release:
Parking – Remember to park in Hidden Springs’ lot directly across the street, or on the street up and down Franklin, on Henderson just west of Tampa, or on 7th Ave.
Once you are in line, make sure that you hug the wall near the door on Henderson so that foot traffic will not be affected on the sidewalks
Above all, please be respectful of the brewery’s neighbors
Darkness in the Light will not see distribution and will only be available in bottles on April 20 (there will be no draft availability during the bottle release). If you aspire to procure a bottle of Darkness in the Light, make sure that you are in line for the 10:45 head count on Saturday and just hope that the beer gods deem you worthy. Good luck out there. Prost!
Avery Brewing Co. (Boulder, Colorado) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Double Barreled Maple Stout in late April.
Arriving as the 52nd release in Avery Brewing Co.’s Barrel-Aged Series, Double Barreled Maple Stout is an “indulgent” Imperial Stout that was “aged in Bourbon barrels THEN aged in maple syrup barrels and dosed with coffee, cinnamon, and extra maple syrup.” Weighing in at an absolutely massive 15.3% ABV, Double Barreled Maple Stout can be easily enjoyed “for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner!”
Colin says, “Keep your pastries, we’ll have our flapjacks and black coffee.”
Double Barreled Maple Stout will officially release in Avery Brewing Co.’s Tap Room during the weekend of Friday, April 26 and is expected to enter distribution shortly after the on-site release. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Florida, Colorado and throughout the rest Avery’s nationwide distribution network. Prost!
Vital Information for Double Barreled Maple Stout from Avery Brewing Co.
Release – Limited/Barrel-Aged Series; April 26, 2019 Style – Imperial Stout ABV – 15.3% Treatment – “Aged in Bourbon barrels THEN aged in maple syrup barrels and dosed with coffee, cinnamon, and extra maple syrup” Availability – 12 oz. bottles & draft Beer Finder – https://www.averybrewing.com/brew-finder
Garage Brewing Co. (Temecula, California) has officially announced that it will release Hop ‘N Boots, a limited-edition Red India Pale Lager brewed in collaboration with and support of the Pink Boots Society and women in the brewing industry, on April 19.
Crafted at Garage Brewing Co. by “a group of several women involved in the craft beer industry” on Pink Boots Society’s 2019 Collaboration Brew Day and in conjunction with International Women’s Day, Hop ‘N Boots is a Red India Pale Lager brewed with “Yakima Chief’s Pink Boots blend featuring Loral, Glacier, Mosaic, Simcoe and Sabro hops.” Coming in at 6% ABV, the “clean, straightforward and super drinkable” Hop ‘N Boots promises to supply its drinker with a sensory experience filled with “tropical fruit and dank notes.”
“Girls rock! How important is it to have women in the craft beer industry? Extremely important,” Laura Ulrich, Pink Boots Society’s president said via email. “We want diversity in our beer and we also want it in our business. We have great palates, amazing beer knowledge and we make some really great beer.”
“I love how we all come from different paths which means we all bring something different to the brewing process,” said Maurine Frey, Garage Brewing Co.’s microbiologist and project lead on Hop ‘N Boots. “Relationships and friendships are formed with people we might not have met.”
Hop ‘N Boots is a draft-only offering that will officially release in Garage Brewing Co.’s brewpub/taproom and at various bars and restaurants throughout Southern California beginning on Friday, April 19. To further support the Pink Boots Society’s mission, Garage Brewing Co. “will donate 50 percent of proceeds of on-premise sales of Hop ‘N Boots to Pink Boots Society. At Garage Brewing’s brewpub in Old Town Temecula, pints of this brew will be specially priced at $5 per pint with 50 percent of proceeds donated to Pink Boots Society.” Prost!
Vital Information for Hop ‘N Boots from Garage Brewing Co. & Pink Boots Society
Release – Limited; April 19, 2019 Style – India Pale Lager ABV – 6% Featured Hops – Yakima Chief’s Pink Boots Blend featuring Loral, Glacier, Mosaic, Simcoe & Sabro hops Fun Fact – “Pink Boots Society’s mission is to assist, inspire and encourage women beer industryprofessionals to advance their careers through education and Garage Brewing Co. wholeheartedly supports that mission!” Availability – Draft only Distribution – Southern California
Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) has officially announced that it will kick off its Vacanza Series of sour-style craft beers with the late April release of Vacanza Raspberry Gose.
Garage Brewing Co.
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