Bruery Terreux Introduces Cans of Wit The Funk

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BrueryTerreuxlogoBruery Terreux (Orange County, California) has officially announced that it will release Wit The Funk, the brewery’s first foeder-aged beer available in cans, in early February 2019.

Developed to be as traditional and accessible as possible, Wit The Funk is a classic Witbier – “brewed with coriander, orange peel and traditional Belgian Wit yeast” – that has been aged in “American and French oak foeders, with Terreux house culture, Brettanomyces and other yeasts, until final maturation.” Once its rest is completed, Wit The Funk (5.4% ABV) rises to offer “a winning combination that’s fresh with subtle complexity – balancing the classic, spiced and fruity characteristics of a Belgian-style wit with the soft – and wild – touch from its time in the oak.”

“We are really excited to have our first foeder aged beer in cans. This beer has a very complex yeast character for the more experienced beer connoisseur and an approachable level of tartness for those who are new to sour beer. At Terreux, we strive hard to produce palate provoking sour ales without the use of kettle souring. It’s our passion for old world traditions and the complexity of old world sour and wild ales that inspire us to work with wild yeast and bacteria to create a live product that truly is an expression of The Bruery’s commitment to quality craftsmanship.”

 

– Jeremy Grinkey, The Bruery’s Senior Production Manager 

Wit The Funk will officially begin rolling out in early February with availability in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans.  You can expect to find this new Year-Round offering at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Florida, California and throughout the rest of The Bruery/Bruery Terreux’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital information for Wit The Funk from Bruery Terreux 

Release – Year-Round, early February 2019
Style – Witbier 
ABV – 5.4%
Treatment – Aged in American and French oak foeders with Terreux house culture, Brettanomyces and other yeasts
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans
Beer Finder – http://www.brueryterreux.com/find/

Tasting Notes: Willettized Coffee Stout (2018) from Lagunitas Brewing Company

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lagunitaswillettizedpourFor this installment of Tasting Notes, we do our best to ward off the cold with the soothing warmth found within a bottle of Willettized Coffee Stout from Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California).

Released back in December as the perfect partner for “fireside-swigging and sweater-sipping”, Willettized Coffee Stout is a “big and burly stout” brewed with coffee beans from Metropolis Coffee Company and then aged for “up to 24 months” in Rye Whiskey casks sourced from Willett Distillery.  100% barrel aged and blended, Willettized (12% ABV) is a “chocolatey, coffee-y, smoky, oak-y, rye-y beast” that is “meant to be shared and/or aged . . . or not . . . whatever.”

A limited amount of Willettized Coffee Stout was released at the tail end of 2018, but there is a chance that a few bottles could still be hanging around out there.  Look for this OneHitter Release to (possibly) be available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, Illinois, Washington and throughout the rest of Lagunitas Brewing Company’s nationwide distribution territory.

Now that we are all a bit more familiar with this beer’s background information, what do you say we cozy up to a bottle and get into these Tasting Notes?

Tasting Notes for Willettized Coffee Stout from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Appearance:  A gentle pour produces a glossy black Imperial Stout topped with two fingers of foamy, brown sugar-colored head.  When held to direct light, the black color softens a bit at the edges to expose some brown, cola-like tones.  The beer is completely opaque, hiding any visual hint at its carbonation level.  Retention is good, gracefully falling to a tightly packed cap that coats the glass with creamy sheets of lace throughout the experience.

Aroma:  Whiskey greets the nose with gentle, alluring notes of booze, vanilla, earthy/spicy rye, and oak.  Rich dark chocolate and a dollop of caramel then work their way in to round off the alcohol with a soothing sweetness.  Dark roast coffee then turns up to offer a final layer of complexity with light notes of roast, smoke and bittersweet chocolate – accentuating both the whiskey and chocolate notes that preceded it.  Everything here is wonderfully straightforward and beautifully on point.

Taste:  Dark chocolate and dark roast coffee take the lead here by laying a rich foundation that is bitter and sweet, earthy and decadent.  The coffee gently opens further, coaxing out the rye whiskey’s notes of vanilla, oak, rye spice, molasses, and caramel.  A bit of coconut and a toasted bready/crackery quality (almost graham cracker-like) seemingly come out of nowhere only to be quickly enveloped by a faint waft of smoke and tobacco in the finish.

Mouthfeel:  Full-bodied with a soft carbonation level, this Imperial Stout is velvety and viscous in texture.  On the palate, it is beautifully balanced as any sweetness is kept in check thanks to the bitterness of the coffee and earthiness sourced from the rye whiskey barrel.  The ABV does bring some heat, but it is pretty tame for 12%.  The aftertaste is just lingering, warm notes of rye whiskey and coffee.

Final Thoughts: Living up to all expectations set by its name, Willettized Coffee Stout is simply an incredibly well-composed Imperial Stout brewed with damn good coffee and clearly aged in high-quality whiskey barrels.  The rye whiskey notes are extraordinarily clean, well-represented, and effortlessly drive the entire experience.  With that said, the base Imperial Stout – with its pronounced aromas and flavors of coffee and chocolate – maintains a fantastic depth of character and refuses to get lost in all that barrel character.  Each note is interlocking and depends on the others to come together to create a top tier barrel-aged stout experience.  Seriously, if you are at all a fan of those old school, annually released barrel-aged beers that have served as a rite of passage for so many of us over the years (think KBS and Bourbon County Brand Stout), Willettized Coffee Stout is a must try.  It just does not get much better than this.  Prost!

 

Left Hand Brewing Co. Adds Raspberry Milk Stout to Seasonal Lineup

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LHRMSlogoLeft Hand Brewing Co. (Longmont, Colorado) has officially announced that Raspberry Milk Stout, the brewery’s newest Seasonal offering, is releasing just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Arriving as the newest variant of Left Hand’s award-winning Milk Stout CO2, Raspberry Milk Stout combines “roasted coffee notes . . . with raspberries and chocolate malt for a liquid, raspberry truffle-like experience.”  The “dark and delicious” Raspberry Milk Stout comes in at 5.7% ABV.

Raspberry Milk Stout is rolling out now and is scheduled to hang around through April 2019.  You can expect to find this new Seasonal release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado and throughout the rest of Left Hand Brewing Co.’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Raspberry Milk Stout from Left Hand Brewing Co.

Release – Seasonal, February – April 2019
Style – Milk Stout
ABV – 5.7%
IBUs – 23
Malts – Pale 2-Row, Crystal, Munich, Roasted Barley, Flaked Oats, Flaked Barley & Chocolate
Hops – Magnum & US Goldings
Added Ingredients – Raspberries & Lactose
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://lefthandbrewing.com/beer-finder/

Founders Brewing Co. Sets Release Date for 2019 KBS

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ba_kbs2017clusternewFounders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has officially announced that it will begin the nationwide, limited release of its wildly-popular KBS on March 15, 2019.

Arriving as the second release of the year in Founders Brewing Co.’s Barrel-Aged Series, KBS is a 12.2% ABV Imperial Stout “brewed with massive amounts of coffee and chocolate before aging in oak bourbon barrels in caves beneath Grand Rapids and at an offsite barrel-aging facility, the Barrel House.”  Loaded with “wonderful bourbon undertones”, KBS is guaranteed to make “your taste buds squeal with delight.”

“Mid-March has become somewhat of a holiday for us as it marks the annual return of KBS,” said Co-Founder and President, Dave Engbers. “To see our barrel program grow from just a couple of bourbon barrels stacked in the brewery to the 25,000+ barrels it is today has been nothing short of amazing. While the hunt certainly added to the fun of KBS season during the early years, we’re happy that craft beer fans all over the country can now find it near them at their favorite local shops.”

With the use of “a pre-ticketed reservation process via Eventbrite”, KBS will be available for early pickup in Founders Brewing Co.’s Grand Rapids and Detroit taprooms March 8-10.  Reservations can be arranged beginning on February 8 (February 6 for Mug Club members) at 10 a.m. EST.  The nationwide release of KBS is scheduled to follow the on-site release on March 15.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 750ml bottles, 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Founders Brewing Co.’s 47-state distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for KBS from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Barrel-Aged Series, mid-March 2019
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 12.2%
Added Ingredients – Coffee & Chocolate
Treatment – Aged in oak Bourbon barrels
Availability – 750ml bottles, 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

 

Gulf Stream Brewing Company Schedules Its First Bottle Release

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gulfstreamlogo
Featured image & logo are the property of Gulf Stream Brewing Company

Gulf Stream Brewing Company (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) has announced that it will officially introduce its Spritza Series with a triple bottle release on Saturday, February 2.

For its first ever bottle release, the newly-established Gulf Stream Brewing Company is going big with the limited release of three offerings from its Spritza Series, a lineup of Sour Ales inspired by traditional craft cocktails.  The three Spritza beers releasing on Saturday are as follows (descriptions sourced from the breweries press release):

  • Paloma Spritza | This sour is a tribute to the classic Paloma cocktail. It starts with a blend of ales soured with Gulf Stream Brewing’s house culture on neutral oak. It’s then blended with fresh squeezed Florida grapefruits and limes, local wild-flower honey, tequila essence, and a hint of hibiscus.  ABV – 6.2%
  • Aviation Spritza | This sour is a tribute to the timeless classic Aviation cocktail. It starts with a blend of ales soured with Gulf Stream’s house culture on neutral oak. It’s then blended with butterfly pea flowers and violets; Bing, Maraschino, and wild amarena cherries and a hint of fresh lime.  ABV – 5.5%
  • Hurricane Spritza | This sour is a tribute to the classic Hurricane cocktail. It starts with a blend of ales soured with Gulf Stream’s house culture on neutral oak. It’s then blended with passion fruit, blood oranges, vanilla beans, and lactose.  ABV – 5.3%

“The three Spritza Sours are hand-crafted from the brewery’s live-active sour culture program, and are brewed with various fresh and local ingredients that made the classic cocktails famous,” said Brewmaster, Mike Demetrus. “As a concept I’ve wanted to do for some time, we are really pleased with how they turned out and excited to introduce some classic and some less-common flavors to the South Florida craft beer market.”

The three Spritza Series beers listed above will go on sale at Gulf Stream Brewing Company at noon on Saturday, February 2.  Approximately 150 individually numbered bottles of each Spritza style be available for purchase for $12 each (+ tax) and there will be a two (2) bottle limit per person on each Spritza cocktail style. A limited amount of Paloma Spritza, Aviation Spritza and Hurricane Spritza will also be available on draft to enjoy on-site in Gulf Stream’s taproom during the event (no growler/crowler fills).

In addition to the bottle sale, this bottle release event will also feature a raffle for two sets of the Spritza Series.  Each guest that purchases a draft pour or buys a bottle of any of the three featured Spritza Series offerings will be given a ticket and entered into the raffle.  The Gulf Stream staff will draw names and announce one winner each at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.  You must be present to claim a raffle prize.

Unique Sour Ales, reasonably priced bottles AND a raffle for a chance to win more bottles all at one event? It sounds like Gulf Stream is taking a proper approach to their first bottle release.  If you are free on Saturday and plan to be in the Fort Lauderdale area, be sure to swing by Gulf Stream to check them out and get your hands on these Spritza Series Sour Ales.  Prost!

 

 

Funky Buddha Brewery Sends The Love Below For Valentine’s Day

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lovebelowmock2019Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, Florida) has officially announced that The Love Below, a Valentine’s Day-themed Double Barrel-aged Imperial Stout, will make a limited-time return beginning on Wednesday, February 6.

Brewed each February with inspiration sourced from “a great hip hop, double album”, The Love Below starts out as a batch of Funky Buddha’s Nikolai Vorlauf Imperial Stout that is split and “aged in luscious Cabernet barrels and bold Bourbon barrels for months.”  Once its rest is complete, both barrel treatments are “then blended together along with real cherries and 100% chocolate” to produce a “thick and sultry” treat.  Coming in at 12% ABV, The Love Below is at its best when ” consumed with a very special friend.”

The Love Below will officially release in Funky Buddha’s Tap Room on February 6 and is scheduled to enter distribution shortly after that date.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Florida.  Prost!

Vital Information for The Love Below from Funky Buddha Brewery

Release – Limited; February 6, 2019
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 12%
IBUs – 40
Treatment – Double barrel-aged in Cabernet & Bourbon barrels, then blended with real cherries & 100% chocolate
Suggested Food Pairings – “Raspberry truffle, black forest cake, venison tenderloin, red wine braised short rib, balsamic glazed filet mignon”
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://funkybuddhabrewery.com/beer-finder

 

Fat Point Brewing Celebrates 4th Anniversary with Limited Release of Peanut Butter Scotch Ale

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fatpoint4thannyFat Point Brewing (Punta Gorda, Florida) has officially announced that it will release a limited-edition Peanut Butter Scotch Ale at its Fourth Anniversary Party on Saturday, February 9.

Brewed specifically for Fat Point’s Fourth Anniversary Party, Peanut Butter Scotch Ale is a decadent “malty beer with a rich and sweet flavor profile.”  Anyone lucky enough to get their hands on a pour of this draft-only indulgence will discover that the “caramel and peanut butter notes work together to create a smooth, rich and flavorful beer that is both sweet and savory.”

Peanut Butter Scotch Ale will officially debut at noon on February 9 during Fat Point’s Fourth Anniversary Party.  This event will feature $4 pints from Fat Point and Big Storm Brewing Co., a variety of family-friendly outdoor games, and live musical performances from DJ Diwrection and 1984 – a Van Halen Tribute band.  The event is free to attend from noon to 4 p.m. If you wish to hang around after 4 p.m. to see the band, you will have to purchase a ticket (click here to do so).

“We want to celebrate this milestone and say thanks to the community of Punta Gorda and all our Fat Point fans for supporting our passion, love and commitment for brewing great beer.”

– Jessy Abbate, Head Brewer at Fat Point Brewing

It is not known at this time if this limited-edition Peanut Butter Scotch Ale will see any form of distribution, so go ahead and make the necessary arrangements now to attend Fat Point’s Fourth Anniversary Party that way you do not miss out on this tasty birthday brew.  Prost!

 

Green Flash Brewing Rebrands, Revives the Original West Coast IPA

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gf19_primarylogo_rgbGreen Flash Brewing Company (San Diego, California) has officially announced that it is entering the new year with a new logo identity, refreshed packaging, and a new beer lineup featuring the return of its original 7.0% ABV West Coast IPA.

In order to “reconnect Green Flash with its San Diego origins”, the brewery has decided to roll out a new logo in 2019 alongside updated packaging featuring “custom artwork by illustrator Matthew Jay Fleming, whose illustrations depict the vibrant San Diego lifestyle.”  To further highlight the brewery’s mission and the inspiration behind its beers, Green Flash has also unveiled a “Toast from the Coast” manifesto that tells the “inspirational story behind the brand’s name and describes why a Green Flash beer is a perfect end to an extraordinary day and the start of an epic night on the horizon.”

Green Flash’s iconic West Coast IPA – yes, it is the OG version – has officially returned in 2019 to re-establish the brewery’s focus on its innovative lineup of Core beers that also includes Tropical DNA (hazy IPA), Soul Style IPA, and GFB Blonde Ale.  All Core offerings will be available in 12 oz. cans – in addition to 12 oz. bottles – “to meet the growing demand for cans by consumers.”  In addition to these Core Beers, a “strong” lineup of rotating Special Release offerings will turn up throughout the year to round out Green Flash’s 2019 portfolio.

“Our new visual identity represents a dramatic shift for the Green Flash brand and reinforces its origin as one of the original San Diego craft beers,” states Green Flash Brewing Co. VP of Marketing Ben Widseth. “Regarding West Coast IPA, over the years we have been listening to our loyal drinkers who reminisced about the original recipe. So we’re excited to bring it back for them to enjoy, along with a portfolio of other fan favorites and new beer releases to come.”

West Coast IPA and the rest of Green Flash’s new-look Core lineup is available now in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft.  You can expect to find these Year-Round offerings at craft beer-friendly establishments located in Texas, California and throughout the rest of Green Flash Brewing Company’s recently streamlined distribution territory.  Prost!

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Monday Night Brewing Sends Out a Little Reminder: Don’t Call It Hotlanta DIPA

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mnbhotlantastudioMonday Night Brewing (Atlanta, Georgia) has officially announced that it is celebrating this weekend’s “Big Game” with the Limited Release of Don’t Call It Hotlanta Quadruple Dry-Hopped IPA.  

Back to once again claim its place in Monday Night’s Black Tie Series of limited release offerings, Don’t Call It Hotlanta is an unfiltered Double India Pale Ale that has been dry-hopped four times with Columbus, Citra and Galaxy hops.  This insane hop treatment yields an experience “that pops with tropical notes on the nose, drinks dank, and finishes with a bit of bitterness.”  Clearly created to send a message, Don’t Call It Hotlanta flexes its warning with 8.5% ABV and 55 IBUs.

“It’s become kind of a joke for people who live in Atlanta. Everyone here has a friend or relative who calls our city ‘Hotlanta.’ It’s one of those cringe-worthy nicknames that nobody ever uses except out-of-towners. So we brewed this beer as a not-so-subtle way for locals to get the point across.”

 

– Joel Iverson, Co-Founder of Monday Night Brewing

Don’t Call It Hotlanta is officially available now and will stick around as long as supplies last.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located within Monday Night’s distribution footprint in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. Prost!

Vital Information for Don’t Call It Hotlanta from Monday Night Brewing

Release – Limited/Black Tie Series, late January 2019
Style – Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.5%
IBUs – 55
Hops – Columbus, Citra & Galaxy
Malts – Pilsner, 2-Row & Flaked Oats
Suggested Food Pairings – “This beer pairs well with grilled meats, chicken wings, an afternoon in Piedmont Park, and your couch after a 90-minute long commute.”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Alabama, Georgia & Tennessee 

 

Proof Brewing Co. Schedules Grand Opening for New Facility

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proofbrewinglogoProof Brewing Co. (Tallahassee, Florida) has officially announced that it will hold a grand opening celebration for its massive new facility at 1320 South Monroe Street during the weekend of February 8.

After nearly a year of renovations and $6 million invested, Proof Brewing is finally ready to reveal all that it has done to revitalize the 34,000 square foot historical building – an abandoned Coca-Cola Bottling Facility built in 1948 – “centrally located near the redevelopment of South Monroe and the downtown district” of Tallahassee.  This new expanded brewing facility will up Proof Brewing’s game with the following features and opportunities (this information was sourced directly from the brewery’s press release):

  • The larger building and additional fermentation capacity will allow brewery staff to expand production of Proof Brewing Co.’s core lineup of bold and flavorful beers. La La Land West Coast-style IPA and Lager will be added to the core lineup of cans next to the wildly popular Eightfive-0 American Pale Ale and Mango Wit Belgian-Style Wit in the months following the facility’s opening. Additional package varieties will be added for the tasting room and distribution release.
  • The inclusion of a $150,000 onsite lab and centrifuge will increase the efficiency and consistency of every beer. The new technology will significantly improve the shelf stability and production quality.
  • The larger tasting room will feature a full bar pouring twenty-four beer taps, wine, house sangria, and hand-crafted cocktails. Brewery tours will begin in the new merchandise area where fans can access growler, crowler, and package varieties to-go. Guests can relax in the all-weathered covered patio and enjoy over 8000 square feet of beer garden space.
  • A new private event space will offer guests a stunning atmosphere to host engagement, holiday, retirement, and birthday parties as well as corporate meetings and events, with views into the brewery and access to a private beer garden.
  • Proof Brewing has partnered with local chefs to open a new onsite restaurant concept called Proper. Proper will also be available for catered private events and dinners in the new event space.
  • As growth in the new facility continues, additional employees and support staff will grow when new markets are reached throughout the state of Florida and beyond.

“From day one our intention has been to give Tallahassee the most outstanding beer possible. Through the dedication of our team and the evolution of growth, that is now a reality. This growth ultimately means a higher quality of life and improved work conditions for our entire team as well as offering all of Tallahassee a welcoming and relaxing space to enjoy world class beer,” said Byron & Angela Burroughs, Proof Brewing Company founders. “We can’t wait for you to experience our new forever home.”

The grand opening of Proof Brewing’s new facility at 1320 South Monroe Street will begin on Friday, February 8 and carry throughout the weekend. After the grand opening, the new brewery and taproom will have expanded hours of operation and be open seven days a week.  Due to the move, Proof Brewing Co.’s previous location at Railroad Square is no longer operational.  Prost!