Beer | Mashing In

Allagash Brewing Company Brings Brett IPA Back for an Encore Release

Posted on September 14, 2018 by mashingin

Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine) has announced that Brett IPA will return in September for a second run as a Limited Release offering.

Back after Allagash Brewing Company received much critical acclaim for the beer’s debut release in 2017, Brett IPA is a re-imagined take on the India Pale Ale that is “fermented with 100% Brettanomyces . . . to create a fruit-forward character with plenty of depth.” That Brettanomyces character is further supported and enhanced by “a healthy amount of Bravo, Cascade, Amarillo, Centennial, Citra, and Galaxy hops” to result in “one fruit-filled IPA.”

“Brett IPA showcases the intensely tropical flavors you can get from just yeast and hops,” said Jason Perkins, Allagash Brewmaster.

“Brewers found new and intriguing ways to weave hops and funky yeast strains together this year, but none did it better than Allagash.” — Draft Magazine, “The Top 25 Beers of 2017”

“For its superb Brett IPA, the best example of this IPA subgenre that we found this year, Allagash uses the Brett strain not for the funk factor, but to double down on fruit-forward hop aromas.” — Serious Eats, “The Best New Beers of 2017”

Brett IPA is rolling out now and will be available as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Georgia, Maine and throughout the rest of Allagash Brewing Company’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Brett IPA from Allagash Brewing Company

Release – Limited, September 2018
Style – Wild Ale/American India Pale Ale
ABV – 7%
Hops – Amarillo, Bravo, Cascade, Centennial, Citra & Galaxy
Malts – Maris Otter, Munich & Raw Wheat
Yeast – Brettanomyces
Availability – 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.allagash.com/locator/

Bell’s Brewery Goes Year-Round with Hopsoulution Ale in Select States

Posted on September 13, 2018 by mashingin

Bell’s Brewery (Comstock, Michigan) has announced that it has officially made Hopsoulution Ale, a Double IPA, a Year-Round offering in five states: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

Previously only available as a limited, specialty release from Bell’s Brewery, Hopsoulution Ale is a “remarkably drinkable” Double India Pale Ale “brewed with several hop varieties for massive aromas of tropical fruit, citrus and pine.” Balanced with a “mild caramel malt character and dry finish”, Hopsoulution Ale weighs in at 8% ABV.

“Our fans have been asking for a Double IPA to be a part of our year-round portfolio. We’re going to start with the Great Lakes region and re-evaluate other markets in the future.”

– Larry Bell, President and Founder of Bell’s Brewery

Beginning in September, Hopsoulution Ale will be available Year-Round in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. This offering will remain a Specialty Release in the remaining 35 states in Bell’s distribution footprint (plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico) and will return in spring of 2019. Hopsoulution Ale is available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft. Prost!

Vital Information for Hopsoulution Ale from Bell’s Brewery

Release – Year-Round or Specialty depending on location. Year-Round status begins September 2018
Style – Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8%
Recommended Glassware- Snifter
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.bellsbeer.com/beer-finder

Terrapin Beer Co. Goes Old School with Limited Release of Touch of Grisette

Posted on September 13, 2018 by mashingin

Terrapin Beer Co. (Athens, Georgia) has announced that it will be showing its respect for an underappreciated, classic style this month with the Limited Release of Touch of Grisette.

Originally brewed in the 19th century as a thirst-quenching option for the miners that worked in the Hainaut region of Belgium, the Grisette is a low-alcohol, wheat-focused Farmhouse Ale that has quietly faded into obscurity over the years. Although a handful of modern brewers have embraced the Grisette, the style still remains on the periphery of mainstream craft beer.

Terrapin Beer Co. is doing its part to put the Grisette back in the hands of beer lovers with the release of Touch of Grisette. Their take on this classic Farmhouse-style Ale is loaded with “wheat and spelt for a soft biscuity malt profile” and “dry-hopped with Azacca for an aromatic rush.” Saison yeast and a lactic fermentation is then employed to round off Touch of Grisette (4.2% ABV) with “a slightly tart and spicy finish.”

Touch of Grisette will hit Terrapin’s Tasting Room in Athens this week and enter distribution at some point in mid- to late September. You can expect to find this Limited Release brew available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at select beer-focused establishments in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and throughout the rest of Terrapin Beer Co.’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Touch of Grisette from Terrapin Beer Co.

Release – Limited, mid-September 2018
Style – Grisette
ABV – 4.2%
IBUs – 23
Hops – East Kent Golding, Tettnang & Saaz; dry-hopped with Azacca
Malts – Pilsner, Malted Wheat, Unmalted Wheat, Flaked Wheat & Spelt Malt
Suggested Food Pairings – “Havarti & Triple Cream Le Riopelle, or a French classic roasted chicken with garlic and herbs.”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://terrapinbeer.com/beer-finder/

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Launches New Cork-Finished Wild Beer Program

Posted on September 12, 2018 by mashingin

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware) has officially announced that KnottyBits, a Wild Ale aged on sweet and sour cherries and rhubarb, will release at the end of September as the first offering to come out of its brand new, funky wild beer program, “Wooden…It Be Nice!”.

To continue the brewery’s proud history of “producing and celebrating sour and wild ales for over two decades”, Dogfish Head has established the “Wooden…It Be Nice!” program so that it can further explore the art of wood-aging beers and the use of “wild yeast variations, like Brettanomyces and often times . . . bacteria like Lactobacillus or Pediococcus.” Each “Wooden…It Be Nice!” offering is hand-bottled in cork and caged 375ml bottles that are then “hand painted with a special stripe signifying its uniquely crafted touch.” All offerings to come out of the “Wooden…It Be Nice!” program will be released exclusively at Dogfish Head’s brewery location in Milton.

“About fifteen years ago, we first started experimenting with sours, beginning with Festina Lente – a peach wild ale that won us a bronze medal at the World Beer Cup in 2006 – then went on to produce SeaQuench Ale which is currently the top selling sour in America,” said Sam Calagione, CEO and founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. “Now, we’re amplifying our wild beer program with Wooden…It Be Nice!, as it’s another step forward in our journey and evolution of goodness incorporating everything from herbs and spices, to local fruits, and of course, bringing it all together in wood.”

The “Wooden…It Be Nice!” series will launch on September 29 with the release of KnottyBits and will see two additional releases before the end of 2018. The official descriptions and release details for all three 2018 “Wooden…It Be Nice!” offerings are as follows:

KnottyBits – The “Wooden…It Be Nice!” program opens with the release of KnottyBits, a wild ale (8.2% ABV) aged on sweet and sour cherries and rhubarb, available beginning September 29 at 11 a.m. KnottyBits was wood-aged for a year with Brettanomyces and then racked onto several hundred pounds of sweet and sour cherries and locally sourced rhubarb from Fifer Orchards at a rate of more than 2 lbs. of fresh fruit per gallon. KnottyBits is bottle conditioned for an elevated carbonation resembling a ruby red colored sparkling wine of sorts. Priced at $10/375ml bottle, approximately 2000 bottles will be available for purchase at the Milton Brewery.
Wet Hop American Summer Farmhouse Ale – Look for Wet Hop American Summer in early November – a Farmhouse Ale (7.75% ABV), this beer was aged in freshly emptied Chardonnay barrels with Brettanomyces for over a year, before being racked onto freshly harvested and hand-selected whole leaf Citra hops, still wet from the fields. The resulting beer has a great citrus aroma from the hops which is a perfect complement to the funky and rustic nature of the Farmhouse Ale base. Wet Hop American Summer is priced at $10/375ml bottle, approximately 1500 bottles will be available for purchase at the Milton Brewery.
Eastern Seaboard – In mid-December, the brewery will release Eastern Seaboard, a wild ale (8% ABV) brewed with blackberries and beach plums. After spending almost a year and a half aging in wine barrels, the liquid was met with several hundred pounds of blackberry and Eastern Shore beach plums, handpicked and selected by the brewers. The jamminess of the blackberry and tartness of the plums perfectly pair with one another in this deceptively dry beer. Eastern Seaboard is bottle conditioned to achieve champagne-like carbonation and is violet in color. Priced at $10/375ml bottle, approximately 2000 bottles will be available for purchase at the Milton Brewery.

As mentioned in each beer’s description, “Wooden…It Be Nice!” offerings can only be purchased at Dogfish Head’s brewery location in Milton and quantities are extremely limited. If you cannot make it to Delaware or are unable to arrange for someone to secure you some bottles of the 2018 “Wooden…It Be Nice!” lineup, there is no need to fret because Dogfish Head promises that there are “more releases to come in future years.” Prost!

Anchor Brewing Adds Fog Breaker IPA to Year-Round Portfolio

Posted on September 12, 2018 by mashingin

Anchor Brewing Company (San Francisco, California) has officially introduced Fog Breaker IPA as the newest addition to its lineup of Year-Round offerings.

Inspired by Anchor Brewing Company’s “fog-busting location in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill neighborhood”, Fog Breaker IPA is “a bright, golden straw-colored” American India Pale Ale that features a “distinctly fruity aroma and assertively bitter taste.” Rocking notes of “pineapple, melons and resinous pine”, this brew’s “intense” aromatic profile is “derived from essential oils in Citra Cryo hops as well as whole-cone Denali and Cascade hops.” After “hints of light biscuity malt flavors” balance things out a bit, Fog Breaker IPA comes together to be a “a thirst-quenching, fresh brew that puts a San Francisco spin on an American IPA.”

“San Francisco is notorious for its foggy climate, but one neighborhood is a pinnacle for sunshine—Potrero Hill, where Anchor calls home. Fog Breaker IPA pays homage to our fortunate spot in the city,” said Brewmaster Scott Ungermann. “If you’ve spent time in San Francisco, you’ve experienced that distinctive moment when the sun finally shines through the fog. We bottled up that experience into a San Francisco IPA that’s filled with layers of hop flavor.”

Fog Breaker IPA is rolling out now with availability in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 22 oz. bottles and on draft. You can expect to find this new Year-Round offering at select beer-focused retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, California and throughout the rest of Anchor Brewing’s nationwide distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Fog Breaker IPA from Anchor Brewing Company

Release – Year-Round, launching September 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.8%
Hops – Apollo, Nugget & Denali; dry-hopped with Citra, Citra Cryo, Cascade & Denali
Malts – 2-Row Pale & Malted Wheat
Fun Fact – On this beer’s development: “Fog Breaker IPA is another first for Anchor; the first beer exclusively developed at Anchor Public Taps’ pilot brewery that has been moved into full-scale production. Located just across the street from the iconic brewery, Public Taps is a pilot brewery and bar that serves as a gathering place for locals and visitors seeking a one-of-a-kind San Francisco experience. Public Taps is home to The Potrero Project—a collection of beers brewed at the pilot brewery for guests to enjoy on tap at the bar and share feedback with the Anchor crew. Fog Breaker IPA evolved from The Potrero Project, quickly becoming one of the most popular beers served there this year.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.anchorbrewing.com/connect/beer_finder

New Holland Brewing Gives Dragon’s Milk a New Look, Introduces Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut

Posted on September 11, 2018September 11, 2018 by mashingin

New Holland Brewing Company (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has announced that it is officially unveiling the re-branding of its flagship Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout alongside the latest release from its Dragon’s Milk Reserve Series, Banana Coconut.

After 17 years of production, the legendary Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout will soon be hitting shelves with a “dramatic new look” that better represents its “creativity and artistry.” This update will see the artwork shifting to “a premium all-black base, allowing the hallmark dragon emblem to serve as the visual focus in place of the brewery’s own logo.” It will also feature “gradient dragon scales”, a visual accent that acts as a “nod to the stout’s name while mimicking the way foam dissipates in the glass when poured.”

This updated visual design will be displayed on Dragon’s Milk packaging, retail elements and branded merchandise. If you would like to see more of this beer’s refreshed appearance, you should check out its dedicated website and Instagram account.

“Synonymous with its name, Dragon’s Milk has become its own legend and we’re proud of its heritage as the best liquid in our house,” said Brett VanderKamp, President of New Holland Brewing Company. “We are passionate about the stout’s full, warming and rich blend comprising roasted malt characteristics complemented by smooth vanilla and oak flavors. Our new packaging aims to celebrate the complexity of the beer while paying tribute to its bold, rich undertones.”

To add a little flair to the occasion, New Holland will celebrate the Dragon’s Milk re-brand by introducing the latest Limited Release variant to come out of its Dragon’s Milk Reserve Series, Banana Coconut. Just as the name would lead you to believe, 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 will officially debut on September 15 at both New Holland Brewing Company brew pub locations and enter distribution shortly after that date. 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. Prost!

Vital Information for Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Banana Coconut from New Holland Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Dragon’s Milk Reserve, mid-September 2018
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 11%
Malts – 2-row, Munich, Caramel, Flaked Barley, Chocolate, Black & Honey
Hops – Nugget & Brewer’s Gold
Added Ingredients – Banana, plantain & coconut
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://newhollandbrew.com/beer-finder/

Binary IIPA Kicks Off New Rotating Year-Round Series from Sixpoint Brewery

Posted on September 11, 2018 by mashingin

Sixpoint Brewery (Brooklyn, New York) has officially introduced Binary IIPA as the first release in its brand new rotational year-round Imperial IPA series.

Meant to serve as a “connection between hop bines from opposite ends of the globe”, Binary is an Imperial India Pale Ale that sources stone fruit and tropical notes – “think mango-peach bomb” – from Galaxy hops from Tasmania, Australia while Citra hops from Yakima, Washington provide “dank citrus notes . . . complemented by complex flavors of white wine and gooseberry.” All this hop goodness is set upon an “east-meets-west” IIPA setup that features “a milder, but still present bitterness, a touch of malt sweetness, and the use of high protein malts [to create] a soft impression, almost like an NEIPA, but with subtle haze.”

“Binary is a super-expressive, hugely aromatic Double IPA. Peach, mango, and pineapple hop aromas lead the way, with orange juice citrus notes underneath. Subtle white bread malt sweetness makes any bitterness on the palate seem super low, and the peachy/tropical flavors continue to dominate. A pillowy soft mouthfeel makes this beer drink like a Northeastern style IPA, even if it doesn’t have the haze to look like one.”

– Max Finnance, Advanced Cicerone and Sixpoint Quality & Education Specialist

Binary IIPA is rolling out now and will be available for a limited time. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, New York and throughout the rest of Sixpoint’s distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Binary IIPA from Sixpoint Brewery

Release – Limited, launching September 2018
Style – Imperial India Pale Ale
ABV – 8%
IBUs – 40
Featured Hops – Citra & Galaxy
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft

Lagunitas Brewing Company Keeps Summer Alive with Release of Mozango

Posted on September 10, 2018 by mashingin

Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California) has announced that it will introduce Mozango, a Mosaic-hopped Ale with mango juice, in September as its next Limited Release offering.

Offered as one last tribute from the folks at Lagunitas to the summer of 2018, Mozango is a Fruit Beer/IPA-ish “juicy concoction chock-full of earthy-floral Mosaic and a pinch of citrus-piney Simcoe hops, topped off with loads of fresh mango juice.” Once this magical marriage of Mosaic and mango does its thing, Mozango (7.7% ABV) rises to deliver “a smooth and aromatic tropicalian punch, right to the kisser.”

Mozango will begin hitting shelves and taps in September and is expected to stick around through October 2018. You can find this new Limited Release brew available in 22 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 distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Mozango from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Release – Limited, September – October 2018
Style – Fruit Beer
ABV – 7.7%
IBUs – 49
Featured Hops – Mosaic
Added Ingredients – Fresh mango juice
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://lagunitas.com/beer-finder

Tasting Notes: Lord Grey from Three Taverns Craft Brewery

Posted on September 10, 2018September 10, 2018 by mashingin

For this installment of Tasting Notes, we kick off the week by inviting Lord Grey from Three Taverns Craft Brewery (Decatur, Georgia) to join us for a spot of tea-infused beer.

Released back in February as a new Seasonal addition to Three Taverns’ Sour Asylum Series, Lord Grey was actually conceptualized with the help of folks at The Porter Beer Bar who “suggested the addition of tea leaves in a sour beer.” That idea stuck with the brewers at Three Taverns and they eventually developed a recipe for a “refreshingly balanced 5% sour ale with Earl Grey tea.” All those who sit down with a pour of Lord Grey will be treated to a “crisp and mildly tart” experience where “herbal flavors abound up front with a subtle bergamot orange in the background.”

If you would like to track this offering down, Lord Grey is currently listed on the draft menu at The Parlour at Three Taverns Craft Brewery. You can also find this Seasonal brew available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Georgia.

Now that the formalities are out of the way, it does appear that it is time for tea and Tasting Notes. Let’s get to it!

Tasting Notes for Lord Grey from Three Taverns Craft Brewery

Appearance: Lord Grey presents itself as a pale yellow-colored brew that has a slightly darker, apricot-like hue resting near its core. When held to direct light, the overall color softens to the palest of yellows that has the look of lemon juice at it edges. The beer has a good amount of cloudiness to it, but a vibrant carbonation level can still be seen bouncing about within. The pour produced half a finger of wispy, white foam, but it dissipates immediately and leaves no trace of lace.

Aroma: The aromatics softly open with the floral and citrusy notes of bergamot held against a strong backbone of black tea. The lacto-fermentation then works its way in to round things out with a note that is similar to lightly-sweetened lemonade. This aroma may be straight-forward, but its pronounced yet comforting nature easily lures you in for a sip.

Taste: Delicate and reserved, the flavor profile opens with a dead-on Earl Grey tea character that is laced with a touch of herbaceousness and soothingly floral lavender. The bergamot has presence, adding a good amount of orange zest and floral tones to the black tea. This transitions nicely into the lemony qualities of the base Sour Ale to create a combination that comes across as the most pleasant and refined Arnold Palmer – the delightful union of iced tea and lemonade – that you have ever had.

Mouthfeel: Light in body with a medium carbonation level, Lord Grey dries out nicely and is crisply refreshing. It is lightly tart on the palate, but only enough to read as a burst of citrusy brightness. The ABV is reserved for the most part, but it does supply a gentle warmth in the throat as the experience goes on. The aftertaste is just a bit of that previously mentioned Arnold Palmer-like quality.

Final Thoughts: Just as one might hope from a tea-themed beer, everything about Lord Grey has a certain level of grace to it. Despite having flavor and aromatic notes that run the risk of becoming overwhelming on their own, each aspect of this beer – whether it be the black tea, bergamot, lavender or the Sour Ale used as the base – finds its place and joins all the other notes to create an approachable unified whole. Sure, it is sophisticated and elegant, but it still has that Arnold Palmer-ish familiarity that nearly everyone can relate to. This results in a cold tea experience that still somehow retains the pleasant and inviting comfortable warmth you get from a cup of Earl Grey. Lord Grey is afternoon tea meets after-work beer, and that combo gets a big ol’ thumbs up from us. Prost!

Portland Cider Co. Releases Pumpkin Spice Cider

Posted on September 7, 2018 by mashingin

Portland Cider Company (Clackamas, Oregon) has officially announced the release of its seasonal fall favorite, Pumpkin Spice Cider.

Developed to be a “delicious tribute to the flavors of autumn”, Pumpkin Spice Cider is a “classic American semi-sweet apple cider . . . made with 100 percent freshly-pressed Northwest apples and a blend of the spices typically found in pumpkin pie: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and ginger.” Portland Cider Company may not include any actual pumpkin in this cider’s recipe, but that is nothing to worry about. With spices alone, Pumpkin Spice Cider (5.4% ABV) still has the ability to hit you will all the flavors found in your favorite pumpkin pie.

“Our Pumpkin Spice cider is our tribute to the flavors of autumn,” explained Portland Cider co-owner Lynda Parrish. “It features a stunning blend of apples and spices that will remind you of a cool, crisp fall morning.”

Pumpkin Spice Cider is available now and will be sticking around through November 2018. You can expect to find this Seasonal offering available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at Portland Cider Co.’s two taproom locations and at cider-friendly establishments located within the cidery’s distribution area in Oregon and Washington. Prost!

Vital Information for Pumpkin Spice Cider from Portland Cider Company

Release – Seasonal, September – November 2018
Style – Hard Cider
ABV – 5.4%
Ingredients – Cinnamon, Clove, Allspice, Ginger, Nutmeg, Gala apples, Honeycrisp apples, Golden delicious apples & Fuji apples
Suggested Food Pairings – “Pairs well with pulled pork sandwiches, turkey, and apple pie.”
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Distribution – Oregon & Washington