Beer | Mashing In

Cigar City Brewing Sends Cubano Espresso Out for Distribution

Posted on October 2, 2018 by mashingin

Cigar City Brewing (Tampa, Florida) has officially announced that the Special Release of Cubano-style Espresso Brown Ale will begin in October.

Back once again to supply you with a comforting coffee fix during the fall months, Cubano-style Espresso Brown Ale – also known simply as Cubano Espresso – is an English-style Brown Ale brewed with “a heaping of Cuban-style espresso beans from Tampa’s Buddy Brew Coffee.” Cubano Espresso (5.5% ABV) is then finished off with additions of lactose and cacao to create “a bold ale that brings to mind a fine cup of Cuban coffee.”

Cubano-style Espresso Brown Ale is hitting distribution now and is scheduled to stick around through December 2018. You can expect to find this Special Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments in Florida and throughout most of Cigar City Brewing’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Cubano-style Espresso Brown Ale from Cigar City Brewing

Release – Special/Limited, October – December 2018
Style – American Brown Ale
ABV – 5.5%
IBUs – 25
Added Ingredients – Buddy Brew coffee, cacao nibs & lactose
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://cigarcitybrewing.com/beers/cigar-city-distribution/

Allagash Brewing Company’s Ganache Returns for a Limited Time

Posted on October 1, 2018October 1, 2018 by mashingin

Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine) has officially announced that bottles of Ganache, a Dark Ale fermented with Brettanomyces and aged on raspberries, will return to craft beer shelves for a limited time during the month of October 2018.

Inspired by a chocolate cake, Ganache is a Belgian-style Dark Ale that is brewed with a “robust grain bill” – for those cocoa notes – and then fermented with “both Allagash Brewing Company house yeast and Brettanomyces claussenii before aging on fresh, local raspberries.” Although it does not include “the addition of actual chocolate”, Ganache (7.5% ABV) comes together to offer “the liquid equivalent of biting into a tart, raspberry-filled chocolate cake.”

Ganache is officially shipping out now and will be available as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 375ml bottles at select craft beer retailers located in Georgia, Maine and throughout the rest of Allagash Brewing’s 17 state distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Ganache from Allagash Brewing Company

Release – Limited, October 2018
Style – Belgian Dark Ale
ABV – 7.5%
Malts – Special B, Caramel Malt, Raw Wheat, Oats, Allagash 2-Row, Midnight Wheat & Black Malt
Yeast – House Yeast & Brettanomyces claussenii
Added Ingredients – Fresh raspberries
Availability – 375ml bottles
Beer Finder – https://www.allagash.com/locator/

Lagunitas Brewing Company Releases 2018 Batch of Brown Shugga’

Posted on October 1, 2018 by mashingin

Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California) has announced that Brown Shugga’ will enjoy its annual “Sweet Release” from October to December 2018.

First created back in 1997, Brown Shugga’ is a Barleywine-style Ale that actually came into existence when the brewers at Lagunitas botched a batch of Olde GnarlyWine Ale and attempted to save it by adding “loads of brown sugar.” Although this quick fix made it so they were able to reach the same original gravity of GnarlyWine, they discovered that they ended up with something completely different in terms of flavor and aroma. What they did get was the “dangerously slammable”, mighty tasty Brown Shugga’ (10% ABV) that has been a hit with the brewery’s fans ever since.

Brown Shugga’ officially returns this month and will hang around through December. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, California, Illinois, Washington and throughout the rest of Lagunitas Brewing Company’s nationwide distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Brown Shugga’ from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Release – Limited, October – December 2018
Style – American Barleywine
ABV – 10%
IBUs – 51.1
Special Ingredient – “Loads of brown sugar”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://lagunitas.com/beer-finder

Tasting Notes: Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut from New Holland Brewing Company

Posted on September 28, 2018 by mashingin

For this edition of Tasting Notes, we close out the week by sampling a new spin on an old classic: Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut from New Holland Brewing Company (Grand Rapids, Michigan).

Earlier this month, New Holland Brewing Company unveiled a refreshed look for its fan-favorite Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout. As one might expect, this re-brand also applies to the brewery’s Dragon’s Milk Reserve Series, a Limited Release line of Dragon’s Milk variants that feature complementary ingredients to “showcase the dimension of Dragon’s Milk“. Surfacing as the first Reserve offering to wear the new look, Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut (11% ABV) takes the “traditional roasted, malty and smooth characteristics of Dragon’s Milk” and infuses it with “hints of real banana, plantain and coconut.”

Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut debuted in mid-September and will be available as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located within New Holland’s distribution footprint.

With all that background information now out of the way, what you say we take this new Dragon’s Milk snifter out for a test drive and get into some Tasting Notes?

Tasting Notes for Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut from New Holland Brewing Company

Appearance: A gentle pour fills the glass with a deep, glossy black Imperial Stout wearing two fingers of creamy, brown sugar-colored foam that easily extends well above the brim. When held to direct light, the darkness holds and the beer remains completely opaque. The head shows decent retention, falling slowly down to a frothy half finger that lasts throughout the experience. Each jostle of the glass traces a gorgeous line of lace, but the beer’s slick nature causes most of the foam to slide back down to reunite with the top cap.

Aroma: The aromatics open with a big surge of banana in various forms: fresh banana, sweetened dried banana, banana ice cream, and banana candies (think Runts). The character of the original Dragon’s Milk then rises to unleash notes bourbon, vanilla, and roasted grain. The coconut is light, but it does lend a slight tropical note that pulls the banana to forefront once more. This beer is incredibly banana-heavy in the aroma department and we ain’t mad at that.

Taste: Banana takes the lead here as well by laying down sweet notes of fresh banana, banana candies, and earthy plantain. The coconut is more confident as a flavor as it surfaces with the barrel character of the base beer. Vanilla, bourbon, toasted coconut, and a gentle nuttiness collide with that substantial banana presence to create what can only be described as a boozy banana cream pie-like quality. Just as you think this stout is getting too sweet, the heavily roasted grains finally slip through with notes of dark chocolate and dark roast coffee to offer just the right amount of balancing bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Teetering a bit toward the medium side of full-bodied with a medium carbonation level, this big ol’ Imperial Stout drinks much lighter than one might expect from an 11% ABV brew. It is mostly sweet on the palate, but it does not get anywhere near Pastry Stout levels of cloying. This thing actually still has a bit of balance. The previously mentioned ABV does creep up on you, settling into the throat with a gentle warmth. The aftertaste is all banana and vanilla.

Final Thoughts: Full disclosure – Most of the participants on this tasting panel are longtime fans of the classic Dragon’s Milk. Since that beer has been around for over 20 years and was one of the first easily obtainable Bourbon Barrel-aged Stouts on the market, it served as an introduction to barrel-aged beers for many of us.

That level of nostalgia had us going into this tasting of Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut thinking there is no way that it could be better than the original . . . but then we were reminded of the fact that the beers of the Dragon’s Milk Reserve Series are not meant to “improve” upon the original. They are here to make you think about Dragon’s Milk in new and inventive ways, and Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut does just that by taking the Dragon’s Milk experience into the realm of dessert beers. The sweetness of the banana and coconut tames the roasted and boozy character of the original, and then beautifully melds with those notes to create a sinfully decadent treat. Every aspect of Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut – from the familiar notes of the base beer to the newly added banana and coconut – effortlessly finds a meaningful place and leaves you craving more the second your glass goes dry.

Sure, it is not better than the original Dragon’s Milk, but nothing is going to be. That’s why it has been around for two decades and is still going strong. Even with that being the case, it still does not take away from the fact that Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut is a damn tasty Imperial Stout that left each and every one of us thoroughly impressed. Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut proudly stands on its own while still respecting the beer that made its creation possible, and that’s always going to earn high marks from us. Be sure to check out Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut before its limited-time run comes to an end. Prost!

Creature Comforts Brewing Co. to Release Cans of Classic City Lager in the Fall

Posted on September 28, 2018 by mashingin

Creature Comforts Brewing Co. (Athens, Georgia) has announced that it will officially add Classic City Lager to its lineup of canned Year-Round offerings on Monday, October 8.

First introduced by Creature Comforts in September 2017 as an homage to its home in Athens, Georgia (a.k.a. The Classic City), Classic City Lager is “a highly drinkable lager that can serve as both an entry into craft beer for new consumers, as well as a staple product in the fridge for those who love craft beer and sometimes want an uncomplicated, simple, and delicious lager.” Previously only available as a local draft offering, the “clean, crisp, and easy-drinking” Classic City Lager (4.2% ABV) has now graduated to Year-Round status with availability in 12 oz. cans.

“We aspire to help people navigate through the beautiful and complex world of craft beer,” said Co-founder and Head Brewer David Stein. “There are so many options to choose from and we wanted to make a beer that is perfect for those who enjoy drinking a lower ABV pale lager. Classic City Lager is simply good cold beer.”

Classic City Lager will make its debut in cans on October 8 in the Tasting Room at Creature Comforts Brewing Company. Distribution in Athens will begin immediately after the Tasting Room release, and Classic City Lager is expected to hit the Atlanta market by November 2018. Once the rollout is complete, you can expect Classic City Lager to be available Year-Round in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 12-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-focused establishments located throughout Athens and Atlanta, Georgia. Prost!

Vital Information for Classic City Lager from Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

Release – Year-Round, cans arrive October 8, 2018
Style – Helles-style Lager
ABV – 4.2%
Fun Fact – On the label artwork: “In a continuous effort to work with local partners, the brewery collaborated with Athens artist Chris Collins to design the typography for the Classic City Lager can label.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 12-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Athens & Atlanta, Georgia

7venth Sun Brewery Speaks Out Against Domestic Violence with Break the Silence Event

Posted on September 27, 2018 by mashingin

On Sunday, October 7 from noon to 11 p.m., both locations of 7venth Sun Brewery (Tampa & Dunedin, Florida) will host Break the Silence, a 7venth Sunraiser Event meant to raise funds and increase awareness about domestic violence.

If you are local to the Tampa area, a fan of craft beer and pay attention to the news, it is safe to assume that you have already heard about how domestic violence has affected 7venth Sun Brewery. When you consider how difficult and sensitive this subject is, it would have been really easy for the crew at 7venth Sun to put their heads down, stay quiet and work their way through to the other side . . . but the heart of 7venth Sun has decided to take a much different approach.

The remaining members of the 7venth Sun team have decided to show their strength, raise their voices, and speak out against domestic violence by hosting Break the Silence, a 7venth Sunraiser Event. Taking place simultaneously at both 7venth Sun locations on October 7, this event will raise funds/donations and increase awareness about domestic violence through a donation drive, silent auction, fundraising efforts, and the sale of limited/rare beers that have been donated by breweries from around the area. Most importantly, the hope is that the collective show of strength displayed at this event will help other victims of domestic violence realize that they too have a voice and can get the help they need to get out of a dangerous situation.

There is quite a bit to go over when it comes to this event, so we are just going to break the whole thing down to ensure that we cover all the details. Let’s get to it.

The Basics

What – Break the Silence, a 7venth Sunraiser Event
When – Sunday, October 7 from Noon to 11 p.m.
Where – 7venth Sun Brewery – Tampa |6809 N Nebraska Ave | Tampa, Florida AND 7venth Sun Brewery – Dunedin | 1012 E Broadway Ave | Dunedin, Florida

The Cause

“Domestic Violence is something that many women live with in silence. Often because they are too afraid or embarrassed to reach out to friends or family members, or ties have been cut to their support systems.

Domestic Violence can be happening to the strongest person you know, sitting right next to you, and you are completely unaware. It doesn’t always take the form of obvious physical bruises and often the victim is terrified and trying to hide it.

Domestic Violence is an epidemic and it’s hardly discussed in US society. Three women are murdered a day in the US and 38,028,000 have experienced physical intimate partner violence in their lifetimes.

Domestic Violence has directly impacted 7venth Sun and it is for this reason we are hosting a fundraiser called Break the Silence.

This event will raise money, collect supplies and promote education and awareness about Domestic Violence. If we can even help just one person escape the cycle of abuse, then we consider this a success, but we hope to free many more than that.

Fundraising proceeds will be given to The Spring of Tampa Bay and CASA St. Pete. They provide shelter, resources, counseling and support for victims who have nowhere to turn, are in search of a safe-haven, or are trying to process the mental, physical and emotional trauma they have sustained.

Break the Cycle. Break the Chains. Break the Silence.”

The Beer

100% of funds raised from the beers on the following tap list will be donated to the selected domestic violence organizations:

Cigar City Brewing (Tampa, Florida) – Maple Bourbon Barrel-Aged Hunahpu’s: Maple Bourbon BA Imperial Stout (15% ABV)
Angry Chair Brewing (Tampa, Florida) – Unrepentant Transgression: Imperial Milk Stout aged in Bourbon barrels with cinnamon, toasted walnuts, cacao and vanilla bean (11.5% ABV)
Garagiste Meadery (Tampa, Florida) – She Showed Me a Beach, Gave Me a Peach: Locally produced honey, California peaches, apricots from Spain and fermented on bourbon staves (14% ABV)
Arkane Aleworks (Largo, Florida) – Chocolate Starscream: Blackberry, raspberry dark sour with cocoa nibs (6.2% ABV)
Calusa Brewing (Sarasota, Florida) – Battle Canoe Hazy IIPA: Double Dry-Hopped with Denali, Simcoe and Citra (8.3% ABV)
Green Bench Brewing Co. (St. Petersburg, Florida) – Alice: Barrel Aged Golden Sour (6% ABV)
Green Bench Brewing Co. (St. Petersburg, Florida) – Turbid 12: NE IPA Triple Dry Hopped with Hallertau Blanc, Huell Melon, and Grungeist (6.5% ABV)
B. Nektar Meadery (Ferndale, Michigan) – Funky Monky: Belgian inspired imperial melomel with Balaton Cherry Juice and Styrian Goldings hops (12% ABV)
Coppertail Brewing Co. (Tampa, Florida) – Raspberry Lychee Foeder Beer
Escape Brewing Company (Trinity, Florida) – Overnight Sensation: Brett Barrel Aged Saison w/ Raspberries (7% ABV)
Hidden Springs Ale Works (Tampa, Florida) – Pretty In Pink: Raspberry Lemon Gose (5% ABV)
7venth Sun Brewery (Tampa & Dunedin, Florida) – Vultures From the Past: Barrel Aged Barley Wine (12% ABV)
7venth Sun Brewery (Tampa & Dunedin, Florida) – Drinks with Chocolate: Chocolate Coconut Imperial Sweet Stout (10% ABV)
7venth Sun Brewery (Tampa & Dunedin, Florida) – Berry White: Raspberry, Blueberry, Blackberry Berliner with Lactose (5% ABV)
Overflow Brewing Company (St. Petersburg, Florida) – TBA
Late Start Brewing (Tampa, Florida) – TBA

In addition to the beers listed above, Special Hoperations will be at the Tampa location pouring some awesome homebrewed beer for donation. The Dunedin Brewers Guild and the New World Celts will be doing the same at the brewery’s Dunedin location.

Fundraising

If you would like to make a direct financial donation to the cause, you can click here to do so. All proceeds will be donated to The Spring of Tampa Bay and CASA St. Pete. There will be collection areas for cash donations at both 7venth Sun locations during the event, but the brewery does ask that you use the fundraising link for any/all credit card donations.

Donation Drive

The Break the Silence event will also act as a donation drive to supply The Spring of Tampa Bay and CASA St. Pete with personal care items, kitchen essentials, and all the other necessities that they so desperately need to function. You can view a list of the most needed items by clicking here. Donated items can be dropped off at either 7venth Sun location during the event or on the days leading up to the event.

Silent Auction

Both 7venth Sun locations will hold a silent auction (or possibly a raffle) during the event as another means of raising funds for The Spring of Tampa Bay and CASA St. Pete. These auctions will include items such as rare/”super fancy” beers, gift cards from local businesses, artwork, etc. If you would like to donate an item for the silent auction/raffle, you can email Devon Kreps at info@7venthsun.com to set that up.

Other Info

LOKO Cuisine will be at the Tampa location of 7venth Sun to dish out some grub from its new pop-up concept, LOKO-Q Florida-Style Barbecue. Those wishing to experience these tasty eats will need to buy a food ticket in advance from LOKO Cuisine. If you would like to see the menu and/or secure food tickets, you can do so by clicking here. A portion of the proceeds raised from food ticket sales will be donated to the cause.
The Dunedin location of 7venth Sun will have a spread of awesome smoked foods available as a dining option. 100% of proceeds raised will go to donation. Menu to be announced soon.
Shuffle will set up a pop-up shuffle court at 7venth Sun’s Tampa location. There will be a suggested minimum donation of $5 to play – 100% of proceeds to be donated.
Arielle Stevenson will be spinnin’ some records at the brewery’s Tampa location.

That should just about cover all the information currently available concerning 7venth Sun’s Break the Silence event. If more info surfaces between now and the event, we will be sure to update you here with those details.

This is an event that we should all attend because this is a subject that we should all talk about. If you are in the Tampa area and free on October 7, just go ahead and block that date out on your calendar, extend an invite to your friends, pick up a few items for the donation drive, and join us at one of the 7venth Sun Brewery locations so that we can all band together to “Break the Cycle. Break the Chains. Break the Silence.” We hope to see you all then. Prost!

Heavy Seas Beer Sends Word of Approaching Winter Storm

Posted on September 27, 2018 by mashingin

Heavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) has announced that Winter Storm Imperial ESB will officially begin its annual Limited Release in October.

Meant to be a bit of a change of pace from the Porters and Stouts that typically dominate during the fall and winter months, Winter Storm is an Imperial Extra Special Bitter (ESB) that employs the use of “hops from the West Coast and the UK for its pronounced bitterness.” With “a mix of pale and darker malts” rounding things out with a “tawny color and . . . bigger body”, Winter Storm (7.5% ABV) comes together to be “a perfect beer for fall, especially because of its warming qualities.”

“It was our first international gold medal winning beer,” says Hugh Sisson, Founder of Heavy Seas Beer. “And I’m not supposed to say it, but I think it may be my favorite beer!”

Winter Storm will make landfall in October and hang around through December 2018. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants in Alabama, Florida, Maryland and throughout the rest of Heavy Seas Beer’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Winter Storm Imperial ESB from Heavy Seas Beer

Release – Limited, October – December 2018
Style – Imperial Extra Special Bitter
ABV – 7.5%
IBUs – 50
Hops – Warrior, UK Goldings, UK Fuggles, Cascade & Centennial
Malts – 2-row, Crystal, Caramalt & Chocolate Malt
Suggested Food Pairings – “Brie or Havarti cheese, pan-seared steak, barbecued pork”
Recommended Glassware – Imperial Pint or Snifter
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://hsbeer.com/beerfinder

Great Divide Brewing Celebrates the Hop Harvest with Return of Fresh Hop Pale Ale

Posted on September 26, 2018 by mashingin

Great Divide Brewing Company (Denver, Colorado) has announced that its Colorado-centric Fresh Hop Pale Ale has returned for a Seasonal run spanning from September to November 2018.

Back to claim its spot in Great Divide’s Tank Farm series, Fresh Hop is an American Pale Ale built from a recipe featuring all Colorado ingredients – “whole cone Cascade hops from Colorado’s own High Wire Hop Farm, . . . malt locally sourced from Proximity Malt in Monte Vista, and yeast from the Brewing Science Institute near Colorado Springs.” These locally produced goodies supply Fresh Hop Pale Ale (6.1% ABV) with a “grassy, citrus hop brilliance” that is “meant to be enjoyed immediately.”

Fresh Hop Pale Ale is releasing this month and has plans to stick around through November. You can expect to find this Seasonal offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado, and throughout the rest of Great Divide’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Fresh Hop Pale Ale from Great Divide Brewing Company

Release – Seasonal/Tank Farm Series, September – November 2018
Style – American Pale Ale
ABV – 6.1%
Featured Hops – Whole cone Cascade hops from High Wire Hops
Suggested Food Pairings – “Grilled trout, grilled bratwurst, ginger-garlic sweet potatoes, Epoisses (a rich, washed rind cow’s milk cheese from France).”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://greatdivide.com/beer-finder/

New Belgium & Knob Creek Collaborate to Create Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale

Posted on September 25, 2018 by mashingin

New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins, Colorado) has officially announced that Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale, a Limited Edition offering brewed in collaboration with Knob Creek Distillery (Clermont, Kentucky), will begin hitting shelves and taps in mid-September 2018.

Brewed to showcase “Knob Creek and New Belgium’s shared passion for innovation and dedication to hard-earned flavor”, Oakspire is “an entirely new style of bourbon barrel ale” that employs the use of “a steel, missile-shaped vessel” that New Belgium’s engineers created to act as “a delivery system where Knob Creek Bourbon-soaked oak spirals and char from used Knob Creek Bourbon barrels [mingle] with – and [add] robust flavors to – New Belgium’s high rye ale.” Thanks to this new technique, the beer is allowed to pick up “sweet brown sugar and caramel notes” from the char and “flavors of oak and spice” from a “custom blend” of oak spirals that were “toasted in varying degrees.” This all results in a “beautiful, full-flavored” Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale (9% ABV) that boasts “notes of caramel, vanilla and toasted oak.”

“We could have simply barrel-aged some ale, or rested beer on barrel staves, but that wouldn’t have given us the amazing freshness and flavor of Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale,” said Ross Koenigs, Research and Development Brewer at New Belgium. “Our Brewhouse team likes to say that we didn’t just develop a custom extraction technology, but rather, a beer-flavoring ‘missile,’ and we’re thrilled to present our newest, innovative venture with the launch of Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale.”

Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale will officially release in mid-September and hang around as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Special Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, and throughout the rest of New Belgium’s nationwide distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale from New Belgium Brewing

Release – Limited/Special, mid-September 2018
Style – Rye Beer
ABV – 9%
IBUs – 20
Malts – Pale, Munich, Caramel 80, Rye & Roasted Barley
Hops – Nugget & HBC 472
Yeast – Ale
Special Ingredients – Knob Creek Bourbon soaked oak spirals & char from used Knob Creek Bourbon barrels
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.newbelgium.com/beer/finder/

Jester King Brewery Set to Release 2018 SPON Raspberry & Cherry

Posted on September 25, 2018September 25, 2018 by mashingin

Jester King Brewery (Austin, Texas) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of 2018 SPON Raspberry & Cherry at 4 p.m. on Friday, September 28.

Arriving as Jester King Brewery’s third-ever blend to come out of its SPON project, 2018 SPON Raspberry & Cherry (5.4% ABV) is a blend of 100% spontaneously fermented beer selected from “two puncheons of SPON from 2014, two puncheons of SPON from 2015, and one 225 liter barrel of SPON from 2016.” This blended beer was then “refermented . . . with 960 pounds of raspberries and 840 pounds of Balaton cherries” to create what Head Brewer Averie Swanson describes as a cherry character that is “more prominent compared to [the brewery’s] 2017 blend.”

2018 SPON Raspberry & Cherry will officially release in Jester King’s Tasting Room on September 28. This Limited Release offering will be available in 375ml bottles for the price of $25 per bottle and there will be a bottle limit of four (4) bottles per person per day. 2018 SPON Raspberry & Cherry “will only be available at [Jester King’s] tasting room and at special events.” Prost!

Vital Information for 2018 SPON Raspberry & Cherry from Jester King Brewery

Release – Limited/SPON Project; September 28, 2018
Style – American Wild Ale
ABV – 5.4%
Treatment – A blend consisting of beer selected from two puncheons of SPON from 2014, two puncheons of SPON from 2015, and one 225 liter barrel of SPON from 2016 that was then refermented with 960 pounds of raspberries and 840 pounds of Balaton cherries
Fun Fact – On the SPON Project: “Our SPON beers are 100% spontaneously fermented. We combine Texas malted barley and raw wheat in a turbid mash, boil for four hours with aged hops from our barn, cool and inoculated the wort overnight in our coolship, and 100% spontaneously ferment in oak barrels (no yeast or bacteria added). After blending and fruit refermentation, we 100% naturally condition in bottles and kegs. Our SPON beers are inspired by the old world tradition of Lambic, but are an expression of our own time, place and people.”
Availability – 375ml bottles
Distribution – None/Brewery-only release