Hi-Wire Brewing Closes Out the Summer with Limited Release of Pink Drink

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HiWire_PinkDrink_High_Res-402x1030.pngHi-Wire Brewing (Asheville, North Carolina) has announced that it will officially begin the Limited Release of Pink Drink on Friday, September 7.

“Simple, refreshing, . . . pink” and back by popular demand, Pink Drink is a kettle-soured tart Wheat Ale brewed with lemongrass and raspberries. Weighing in at a super light 4.2% ABV, Pink Drink provides an “ultra crushable” experience that achieves “the perfect balance of raspberry fruit sweetness & fresh candied-lemon aroma from lemongrass.”

Pink Drink will be available in Hi-Wire Brewing’s taprooms on September 7 and will enter limited distribution during the second week of September.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans at select craft beer retailers located within Hi-Wire Brewing’s distribution footprint in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky and Ohio. Prost!

Vital Information for Pink Drink from Hi-Wire Brewing

Release – Limited/Specialty Series; September 7, 2018
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 4.2%
Added Ingredients – Lemongrass & raspberries
Distribution – North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky & Ohio (Distribution of this beer will be limited. It is possible that it will not make it to every state located within Hi-Wire Brewing’s distribution area)

 

Alpine Beer Co. Sends Nelson IPA out to Eight States

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AL18_Nelson_12ozBottle_Product_Image_WebAlpine Beer Company (San Diego, California) has announced that its Nelson IPA – one of the craft beer industry’s most highly sought-after IPAs – will soon see a Limited Release in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles for the first time in eight states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nebraska, Nevada, Texas and Utah.

Named after the Nelson Sauvin hop varietal from New Zealand, Nelson is a “hazy straw hued” India Pale Ale that is dosed with hops throughout the brewing process as well as in the dry-hopping stage.  This level of hop exposure lends Nelson a “tropical hop aroma” and a flavor profile that allows “pine and fruity hop notes [to linger]” alongside balancing notes sourced from a “smooth, malty addition of European rye malts.” Clocking in at a well-rounded 7% ABV and 40 IBUs, the legendary Nelson IPA comes together to become what “fans describe . . . as a stunning and multifaceted yet mellow IPA.”

“Nelson is often imitated, but there’s nothing like the original. It’s Nelson or nothing,” said Shawn McIlhenney, Head Brewer at Alpine Beer Company. “Until now, we’ve only offered very limited releases of Nelson in our tasting room and around town, so I’m really excited that now even more people can enjoy one of my favorite IPAs.”

Previously only available on draft and in limited 22 oz. bottles at Alpine Beer Company’s tasting room, this marks the first time that Nelson IPA will be available in 12 oz. bottles and see distribution.

This batch of Nelson IPA will debut on draft in Alpine Beer Company’s Pub and Tasting Room locations on September 7 and will enter distribution on or around that date.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nebraska, Nevada, Texas and Utah.  Prost!

Vital Information for Nelson IPA from Alpine Beer Company

Release – Limited, Fall 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 40
Featured Hops – Nelson Sauvin 
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Distribution – Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nebraska, Nevada, Texas & Utah
Beer Finder – http://alpinebeerco.com/find-beer/

 

 

Dogfish Head’s Punkin Ale Makes Seasonal Return

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Punkin_2018-6Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware) has announced that its wildly popular Punkin Ale is officially making its way back to shelves and taps now to serve as the brewery’s Fall Seasonal.

First released by Dogfish Head in 1995 and now recognized as “one of America’s best-selling pumpkin beers”, Punkin Ale is a “full-bodied Brown Ale . . . brewed with real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon.” Coming in at 7% ABV, Punkin Ale is “the perfect beer to warm up with” during the fall months.

“We’ve been brewing Punkin Ale for over two decades, since long before there was a whole category of pumpkin beer, and have seen sales grow each and every year,” said Sam Calagione, CEO and founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. “I think it’s because the complexity and authenticity of the recipe has remained world-class since we first brewed it, as it’s not made with pumpkin flavoring or concentrates – we use fresh, all-natural culinary ingredients, and that makes a big difference.”

Punkin Ale is rolling out now and is scheduled to hang around through November 2018.  You can expect to find this Seasonal offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at pumpkin beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Delaware and throughout the rest of Dogfish Head’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Punkin Ale from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Release – Seasonal, September – November 2018
Style – Pumpkin Beer
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 28
Added Ingredients – Real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg & cinnamon
Fun Fact – On the new label artwork: “Passionate about all things artistic and creative, Dogfish teamed up with longtime friend and highly acclaimed designer, Marq Spusta, a California-based artist known for his distinct illustrative style, to create the Off-Centered Art Series label and artwork for Punkin Ale. The label features Spusta’s version of a mystically haunted, Halloween forest with spooky characters.”
Suggested Food Pairing – “Sharp cheddar, turkey, roasted duck, lamb, stuffing, dessert dumplings”
Recommended Glassware – Pint glass
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.dogfish.com/brewery/fishfinder

Tasting Notes: Cherry Limeade! from Cherry Street Brewing

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CherryLimeade2Tasting Notes plays the nostalgia card this week as we get into a few cans of Cherry Limeade! Berliner Weisse from Cherry Street Brewing (Cumming, Georgia).

Canned earlier this summer to serve as a Limited Release offering, Cherry Limeade! Berliner Weisse is Cherry Street Brewing’s take on “a classic German style with a Sonic twist: cherries and limes are added to the tart brew, which is cherry-red in color and very refreshing.” Coming in at a low 4% ABV, Cherry Limeade! has all the thirst-quenching abilities needed to tackle a hot and humid summer in the South.

The latest limited-run of Cherry Limeade! has sadly come to an end, but it is possible that a couple 4-packs of 16 oz. cans could still be tucked away on the shelves of a few select craft beer-friendly retailers in the Atlanta area.  Possible . . . but unlikely.  If you missed out on Cherry Limeade! this time around, odds are that you will just have to wait for the next time Cherry Street Brewing decides to release another batch.

Alrighty . . . now that we’ve covered the necessary background information, let’s crack open these cans and get into some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Cherry Limeade! Berliner Weisse from Cherry Street Brewing

Appearance: This brew pours a deep cherry, Kool-Aid-like red in color that has just a tinge of amber at the edges.  The beer is clear – thanks to a careful pour that left any sediment behind in the can – and displays a moderate but steady carbonation presence.  A half finger of loose and airy pink-hued foam built off the pour, but it disappeared just as quickly as it materialized. Of course, this means that there is no lacing to report.

Aroma: In a concentrated effort to live up to its name, the aroma is dominated by notes of candied cherry and bright lime.  The Berliner’s Lacto qualities support with added citrus while the malts offer some solid wheat character and a really unexpected but intriguing layer of brown sugar.

Taste: Cherry is quick to engage the palate, deploying itself in several, very different forms: fresh tart cherries, sweeter pie cherries, and candied cherry gummies.  The Key lime character then steps up at just the right time to cut those sweeter cherry notes and bring that lovely Berliner tartness forward.  Although it is muted, the wheat supplies just enough grain presence to round and smooth out the flavor profile.

Mouthfeel: Light in body with a medium to high carbonation level, Cherry Limeade! has a crisp feel that is strikingly similar to . . . you guessed it . . . a cherry limeade. It does have a slightly sharp level of tartness, but a rush of fruity, candied sweetness does come through to balance the beer out enough to keep the experience approachable and refreshing.  As expected, the 4% ABV is nowhere to be found.  The beer cleans up nice and quick, but a touch of candied cherry is left to linger at times in the aftertaste.

Final Thoughts: As we alluded to in the opening paragraph, Cherry Limeade! Berliner Weisse is quite literally nostalgia in a glass.  Each sip of this soda fountain-like limeade experience has the power to transport you back to those hot summer nights that convinced you and your high school buddies to head over to the local hamburger drive-in for a refreshing beverage. This beer’s spot-on representation of cherry and lime in both flavor and aroma is more than enough to bring back those memories, but its impressive mouthfeel is what ultimately sells the experience to the drinker.  It truly mimics the satisfying nature of a cherry limeade by being bright, sweet, tart, crushable and – most importantly – ridiculously refreshing.

A lot is going to be asked of a beer that dares to wear the name “Cherry Limeade!“, but this one certainly checks all the boxes necessary to live up to its name.  Be sure to put Cherry Limeade! on your list of must-try beers and check it out when you get the chance.  Prost!

Heavy Seas Beer Welcomes Fall with the Limited Release of Great’er Pumpkin

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29536666227_99f655ac3c_zHeavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) has announced that Great’er Pumpkin, a Bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Pumpkin Ale, will return for a limited time beginning in September.

Back to claim its rightful place in the Heavy Seas Uncharted Waters Series, Great’er Pumpkin is a “rich, deep burnished orange” Imperial Pumpkin Ale that offers “aromas of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and clove. . ., while British crystal malt, brown sugar, and pumpkin add a sense of weight and body.”  Bourbon barrel-aging is then employed to finish off the Great’er Pumpkin (10% ABV) with added “notes of oak, vanilla, and bourbon.”

Great’er Pumpkin is rolling out now and is expected to hang around through October 2018.  You can find this Limited Release in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles – a new packaging format for Uncharted Waters offerings in 2018 – and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Maryland and throughout the rest of Heavy Seas Beer’s distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Great’er Pumpkin from Heavy Seas Beer

Release – Limited/Uncharted Waters Series, September – October 2018
Style – Pumpkin Ale
ABV – 10%
Recommended Glassware – Snifter
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.hsbeer.com/beerfinder

Wild Heaven Beer Launches Distribution in Florida

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WildHeavenLogoWild Heaven Beer (Decatur, Georgia) has announced that it has signed with Cavalier Distributing – Florida so that it can officially begin distribution in The Sunshine State.

Founded in 2010 by lifelong Georgians, Wild Heaven Beer is a craft brewery focused on creating “world-class beers . . . designed in the great tradition of European brewing but with a distinctly American creative flair.”  This philosophy has allowed the brewery to steadily grow and expand its reach over the years, and now Wild Heaven is finally ready to venture further south to share its offerings with beer-loving Floridians.

Wild Heaven Beer will enter the Florida market with the following three brews:

  • Altair | India Pale Ale – Altair features a bright hop flavor without bitterness from Mosaic Lupulin powder plus generous amounts of Citra and Idaho 7 hops to create an IPA that flies like an eagle.  ABV – 6.2%
  • Emergency Drinking Beer | Pils-style Session Ale – A one-of-a-kind session beer reminiscent of a crisp pilsner married with a traditional gose. Brightness and complexity come from additions of citrus zest, Portuguese sea salt and lemongrass.  ABV – 4%
  • Watermelon Emergency Drinking Beer – Based on Emergency Drinking Beer, Watermelon Emergency Drinking Beer . . . requires the Wild Heaven team to hand-cut and juice hundreds of watermelons. The fresh, bright red juice is added to the beer to deliver true watermelon taste without any overt sweetness or artificial flavor notes.  ABV – 4%

The beers above started hitting Florida shelves and taps last week and the statewide rollout will continue over the next week or so.  You can expect to find these Wild Heaven offerings available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer establishments located throughout the state of Florida.  Prost!

Fulton Beer Set for the Return of Specter New England-style IPA

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Specter_MedFulton Beer (Minneapolis, Minnesota) and Artisanal Imports have officially announced that Specter NE Style IPA will be available nationally for the first time beginning on November 1, 2018.

Developed to be a “distinct and deliberate departure from the high-clarification offerings” that Fulton Beer normally produces, Specter is a New England-style India Pale Ale that sources its “smooth, creamy mouthfeel and hazy appearance” from “a number of ingredients and processes, such as the use of nearly 20 percent oats in the mash, a chloride-heavy water chemistry and low flocculating yeast.”  After undergoing aggressive late boil and whirlpool hop additions as well as a double dry-hopping with Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo, and Nelson Sauvin hops, Specter (7.1% ABV, 35 IBUs) ultimately comes together to offer “aromas of citrus and stone fruits” alongside “a tropical and juicy finish with little perceived lingering bitterness.”

“We are especially excited about Specter as it will be our first beer to be released across the entire Artisanal network, which means it will hit stores and pints across the country ‒ not just our current footprint,” said Corey Shovein, Fulton’s National Sales Director. “This is a delicious beer that resonates with consumers not just because it is a hoppy, juicy, hazy NE-style IPA with packaging that stands out on a crowded cooler shelf. It’s also because Specter tells a deeply personal story for Fulton that many people can relate to. We want everyone to enjoy this beer, read the story and take action if they are able.”

The personal story that Shovein references in the quote above is best told in the words of those from the brewery and it is as follows:

In 2016, Fulton lost one of its family members, Greg Sincheff, to depression. To honor Greg’s memory, the brewery released a NE-style IPA that bore his nickname, “Grog.” One dollar from each pint of Grog sold at the taproom was donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

In 2017, the beer first known as Grog returned as “Specter.” The word specter is defined as “a visible incorporeal spirit, ghost, phantom or apparition.” The name is intended to continue honoring Greg’s memory and help his spirit remain visible. It is also an opportunity for Fulton to bring awareness to mental health issues and suicide prevention. And thus, this year Fulton will donate $1 for every pint of Specter sold at the taproom to the AFSP.

This year’s batch of Specter will officially release on November 1 and will stick around as long as supplies last.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-focused retailers, bars and restaurants located in Florida, Minnesota and all other areas of the U.S. normally serviced by Artisanal Imports.  Prost!

Vital Information for Specter NE Style IPA from Fulton Beer

Release – Limited; November 1, 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale (New England style)
ABV – 7.1%
IBUs – 35
Featured Hops –  Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo & Nelson Sauvin
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.fultonbeer.com/find-a-fulton

 

Boulevard Brewing Co. Adds Tart Apple Radler to its Seasonal Lineup

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Tart-Apple-RadlerBoulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, Missouri) has announced that it will be expanding its Radler selection in September when it introduces its latest Seasonal Release, Tart Apple Radler.

Using the same process that created fan-favorite Radlers such as Ginger Lemon Radler and Cranberry Orange Radler, Boulevard’s brewers crafted Tart Apple Radler by adding “tart apple juice and just a touch of lemon juice to . . . the Unfiltered Wheat Beer base.”  This combination yields “aromas of tart green apple juice backed by a subtle sweetness” and a flavor profile dominated by “slightly puckering apple and lemon” that eventually “[gives] way to a bready malt sweetness and a spritzy finish that wavers between apple, lemon and slight citrus notes from the base beer.”  Coming in at an “eminently drinkable and refreshing” 4.1% ABV, Tart Apple Radler “is the ultimate post-activity beer even if you’re doing nothing more strenuous than lifting it to your lips.”

Tart Apple Radler debuts in the Kansas City area on September 4 and will see expanded distribution in the coming weeks.  You can expect to find this new Seasonal Release available exclusively in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans at craft beer-friendly retailers in Alabama, Florida, Missouri and all other areas in Boulevard Brewing Co.’s distribution footprint that normally see other Seasonal offerings such as Ginger Lemon Radler, Berliner Weisse and Tough Kitty Milk Stout.  Prost!

Vital Information for Tart Apple Radler from Boulevard Brewing Co.

Release – Seasonal, launching September 2018
Style – Radler
ABV – 4.1%
IBUs – 6
Added Ingredients – Apple Juice & Lemon Juice
Suggested Food Pairings – “Apple-glazed pork chops, sharp cheddar cheese, chicken curry, ginger cookies”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans
Beer Finder – https://www.boulevard.com/beer/beer-finder/

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Re-releases Turbo Bam

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Turbo+BamJolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales (Dexter, Michigan) has announced that Turbo Bam, a Rye Farmhouse Saison brewed in collaboration with The Masonry, is officially returning to shelves and taps this month.

Developed to be a Bam variant that could serve as “the perfect beer to pair with a delicious slice of pizza” at The Masonry or anywhere, Turbo Bam is a Farmhouse Saison brewed with “a hefty portion of rye” that offers a spicy foundation for the added “coriander and Szechuan peppercorns to build upon.”  Amarillo hops and lemon peel then join Bam Bière’s normal hop bill of Cascade and Crystal hops to shift Turbo Bam (4.9% ABV) “into high gear with blasts of lemon, pineapple and mango.”

Turbo Bam started hitting distribution this week and will hang around as long as supplies last.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 375ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Jolly Pumpkin’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Turbo Bam from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Release – Limited/Collaboration Series, late-August 2018
Style – Farmhouse Ale/Saison
ABV – 4.9%
IBUs – 24
Grains –  Pilsner, Rye Malt, Crystal 75 & Flaked Barley
Hops – Michigan Cascade, Cascade, Crystal & Amarillo 
Added Ingredients – Coriander, Lemon Peel & Szechuan Peppercorns
Treatment – Aged on oak for 7 months
Availability – 375ml bottles & draft
Distribution Info – http://brewery.jollypumpkin.com/find-our-biere/

CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective Introduces First Cross-Brewery Mixed 12-Pack

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CANarchylogoCANarchy Craft Brewery Collective (Longmont, Colorado) has officially announced the release of the CANarchy Mixed Pack – VOL. 1, a mixed 12-pack that includes beers from Cigar City Brewing, Oskar Blues Brewery, Perrin Brewing Company, and Squatters Craft Beers.

The CANarchy Mixed Pack – VOL. 1 marks the first time that the CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective – a group of craft breweries who have come together to stay independent – has represented four CANarchy breweries in one box.  The first in what is sure to be a rotating series of 12-pack compilations, CANarchy Mixed Pack – VOL. 1 contains the following “assortment of CANarchist brews” (descriptions sourced from press release):

The CANarchy Mixed Pack – VOL. 1 contains three (3) 12 oz. cans of each beer listed above. This new mixed 12-pack will begin hitting craft beer shelves in North Carolina and Florida on September 1 and wider distribution is expected “soon”.  Prost!