Stone Brewing Brings White Geist Berliner Weisse Stateside for a Limited Time

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StoneBerlinerWeisse_GermanCANStone Brewing (Escondido, California) has officially announced that Stone White Geist Berliner Weisse will venture over from Germany to make its debut in the U.S. beginning this week.

Available in Europe as a Year-Round offering from Stone Brewing – Berlin, Stone White Geist is an authentic take on the Berliner Weisse-style that “gains its orthodox lightly sour and acidic character from a specially selected historic Lactobacillus strain sourced from Berlin’s cultures.”  Well . . . mostly authentic because you know Stone Brewing had to put its own twist on the style by raising the ABV a bit to 4.7%. Rounded off with newer German hop varieties (Calista and Hüll Melon), Stone White Geist Berliner Weisse’s “aroma leads with lemon, peach and melon and the unexpectedly bold and pleasantly refreshing tart flavor punches above its ABV weight.”

“As global participants in the craft beer community, Stone has the unique opportunity to share beers across locations, highlighting the different local and regional influences along the way,” stated Greg Koch, Stone Brewing executive chairman & co-founder. “Stone White Geist Berliner Weisse features the work of our talented team at Stone Berlin, and we’re truly honored to be among Berlin’s craft brewers taking charge as the revivalists to help return this style to its former glory.”

Stone White Geist Berliner Weisse will debut in California beginning this week and a “broad national launch” will follow in the fall of this year.  Once fully released, you can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 0.33l cans and on draft at select craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants in Alabama, Florida, California, Virginia and throughout the rest of Stone Brewing’s nationwide distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Stone White Geist Berliner Weisse from Stone Brewing

Release – Limited; California in May 2018, national this fall 
Style – Berliner Weisse
ABV – 4.7%
IBUs – 12
Featured Hops – Calista & Hüll Melon
Fun Fact – On the style’s history: “The Berliner Weisse is a style dating back to at least the 16th century, and to this day, European appellation labeling standards require that a beer must be brewed within the city of Berlin to call the beer a ‘Berliner Weisse.’ A complex sour beer, the style was once honored by Napoleon as the ‘Champagne of the North.’ It’s now enjoying a resurgence by small brewers in the US and elsewhere in the world, many of whom are creating amazing variations with fruit and other creative additives. As Stone deepens its roots in the city of Berlin, it seems only fitting that the team would take an interest in exploring the style in its purest and most authentic form.”
Availability – 6-packs of 0.33l cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://find.stonebrewing.com/#ready

American Homebrewers Association To Celebrate 40 Years with AHA Big Brew

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AHAThe American Homebrewers Association (AHA) will recognize National Homebrew Day and its 40th Anniversary on Saturday, May 5 with the AHA Big Brew, a national, same-day homebrewing session and worldwide, simultaneous toast to homebrewing.

To recognize 40 amazing years of homebrew advocacy and the hobby itself, the American Homebrewers Association has organized the AHA Big Brew as an event that will see “hundreds of bars, breweries, shops and homebrew clubs nationwide . . . host their local communities to brew on-site for a national, same-day homebrewing session.”  You can get in on the Big Brew action by brewing whatever you want, but the AHA has provided Rocky Raccoon’s Honey Lager and Dusty Mud Irish-style Stout as this year’s official Big Brew recipes.  These recipes have been handpicked by Charlie Papazian, a.k.a. the “godfather of homebrewing” and founder of the AHA.

In addition to the nationwide homebrewing session, the AHA is also encouraging all homebrewers and beer lovers to participate in a worldwide, simultaneous toast to homebrewing at noon CDT on May 5.

For more details on the AHA Big Brew, here’s how the American Homebrewers Association breaks down the day’s festivities:

WHEN: All day long! Saturday, May 5.  The simultaneous toast occurs at 12:00 p.m. CDT

WHERE: Everywhere! From homebrewers’ homes and backyards, to the shops that provide the ingredients and supplies, to local breweries and craft beer bars worldwide.  View an interactive map of AHA Big Brew event locations across the country. Register your local AHA Big Brew event and join the conversation on Twitter with #BigBrew18.

WHO: Everyone! As long as they’re 21 and over, of course.

WHY: There over 1.1 million homebrewers in the United States, 40 percent of which started homebrewing only within the last four years. AHA Big Brew is a toast to the nation’s homebrewers and their shared love and appreciation for homebrewed beer, mead and cider. In 1988, May 7 was announced before Congress as National Homebrew Day, and so the AHA created AHA Big Brew, held each year on the first Saturday in May, to celebrate National Homebrew Day across the U.S. and globe.

Our nation’s current craft beer culture would not have become a reality without the dedication and dreams of homebrewers, and these folks deserve our encouragement and appreciation.  If you are free on Saturday and looking to avoid the Cinco de Mayo and Derby crowds, swing into a local AHA Big Brew event to experience a brew day and raise a glass to the art of homebrewing.  Prost!

 

Highland Brewing and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Collaborate on Half Yüszch

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HalfYuszchHighland Brewing (Asheville, North Carolina) has officially teamed up with Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats to create a special collaboration beer, Half Yüszch Pilsner, that will be featured at the band’s sold out May 11 tour stop at the iconic Asheville brewery.

Brewed as an homage to Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats’ yüszch – or usual – tradition where they drink a beer and take a shot, Half Yüszch (a.k.a. the beer half) is a Limited Release Czech-style Pilsner that has Weyermann Pilsner malt supplying “a clean and elegant mouthfeel, while Saaz hops contribute mild earthy, floral, and herbaceous aromas.” Clocking in at a “crisp and crushable” 4.5% ABV, Half Yüszch promises to be the perfect pairing for “an evening of restless and soulful music.”

Half Yüszch is a brewery-only release that will be available in 12 oz. cans and on draft during the sold-out Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats show at Highland Brewing on May 11, and also on draft at the band’s sold-out shows in Charlotte, N.C. (May 8) and Raleigh, N.C (May 9).  If you were unable to land tickets for those concerts, Highland Brewing has also scheduled a listening party of Tearing at the Seams, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats’ newly released album, on Thursday, May 10. Half Yüszch will be available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at the listening party as well.

More than just an awesome collaboration, Half Yüszch also has a charitable cause as “$1 from each beer sold will support The Marigold Project, a foundation established by Nathaniel Rateliff to address issues of economic and social justice.”

For those keeping score at home, Half Yüszch basically serves as a junction that unites damn good beer and music with a great cause . . . and you simply cannot go wrong with that combo.  Be sure to check out this Limited Release if you have the chance.  Prost!

Vital Information for Half Yüszch from Highland Brewing and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

Release – Limited; May 10 & May 11, 2018 at Highland Brewing
Style – Czech-style Pilsner
ABV – 4.5%
Featured Malts – Weyermann Pilsner
Featured Hops – Saaz
Fun Fact – On the label artwork: Highland Brewing “worked with local poster artist Drew Findley with Subject Matter Studio for the can graphics.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft 
Distribution – None, brewery-only release

 

Monday Night Brewing Offers ‘Don’t Call It Hotlanta’ as Both a Warning & Limited Release

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MNBDCIHpour_editedMonday Night Brewing (Atlanta, Georgia) has officially released Don’t Call It Hotlanta Quadruple Dry-Hopped IPA as the newest offering to come out of its Black Tie Series.

With a name inspired by the ire that so many Atlanta natives have for their city’s unfortunate nickname, Don’t Call It Hotlanta is a quadruple dry-hopped (Columbus, Citra and Galaxy hops), cloudy Double India Pale Ale “that pops with tropical notes on the nose, drinks dank, and finishes with a bit of bitterness—much like an Atlanta sports fan.”  Since this beer weighs in at a “bridge-collapsing” 8.5% ABV, the brewery claims that Don’t Call It Hotlanta is best enjoyed “after your hour-long evening commute.”

Don’t Call It Hotlanta officially debuted in Monday Night’s West Midtown location on April 29 and will begin hitting distribution this week.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located within the brewery’s distribution area in Alabama and Georgia.  Prost!

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

Release – Limited/Black Tie Series, late April/early May 2018
Style – Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.5%
IBUs – 55
Featured 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 an hour-long commute.”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Georgia & Alabama

Due South Brewing Co. Begins Limited Release of Mexican Standoff Porter

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DueSouthMexDue South Brewing Co. (Boynton Beach, Florida) has officially announced that it is getting on the Cinco de Mayo festivities with the Limited Release of its Mexican Standoff Porter.

Arriving each year as one of Due South’s most sought-after Limited Releases, Mexican Standoff is a mole-inspired American Porter brewed with vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon, and chili peppers.  Clocking in at 8.5% ABV, Mexican Standoff promises to put your tastebuds at odds with “the perfect blend of sweet and heat.”

“This is a beer we get a lot of requests for on social media,” said Doug Fairall, the brewery’s Brand Marketing Manager. “So it’s always great to be able to release this porter. As part of the mole beer style, it resonates with people looking for a bit of heat in their beer!”

This year’s batch of Mexican Standoff Porter officially debuted at the brewery on April 27 and entered distribution this week.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans on draft in the Due South Brewing Co. Taproom and at select craft beer establishments located within the brewery’s distribution area across South Florida.  Prost!

Vital Information for Mexican Standoff Porter from Due South Brewing Co.

Release – Limited, late April/early May 2018
Style – American Porter
ABV – 8.5%
IBUs – 31
Added Ingredients – Vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon & chili peppers
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – South Florida

Straight to Ale to Celebrate 8th Anniversary with Two Parties

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STA8thNookStraight To Ale (Huntsville, Alabama) has announced plans to recognize its 8th Anniversary with a special Beer Release Event at The Nook on May 1 AND an Anniversary Party at the brewery on May 5.

Eight years ago, Straight To Ale began brewing beer in Huntsville at a time when Alabama’s craft beer community was more of a hopeful idea than a reality.  Since then, Straight To Ale has outgrown two previous locations, moved to set up shop in the truly special Campus 805 facility, expanded distribution to seven states, and firmly established itself as one of the finest breweries producing in an exploding Alabama beer scene. Realizing that these many accomplishments call for a celebration, Straight To Ale has decided to recognize its 8th Anniversary by holding TWO parties this week.

Straight To Ale will kick off the festivities at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1 at The Nook (3305 Bob Wallace Ave SW | Huntsville, Alabama), the Huntsville craft beer bar that has served as a second home and pillar of support over the years for both up-and-coming and long-standing Alabama craft breweries. In addition to providing Straight To Ale fans with their first opportunity to taste the brewery’s 8th Anniversary Quad, this Brew Release event will also feature other special releases, merch giveaways, and various specials on food items.

The second Anniversary Party will take place at the brewery (2610 Clinton Ave | Huntsville, Alabama) beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 5.  This event will feature the release of Straight To Ale’s 8th Anniversary Quad, a whole mess of special brews, live music, brewery tours, educational classes and more.  The official schedule for this party is as follows:

  • 11 a.m. – Tapping of the 8th Anniversary Quad
  • Noon – Brewery Tour
  • 1 p.m. – Class with Head Brewer, Bob Gile, more details TBA
  • 2 p.m. – Brewery Tour
  • 3 p.m. – Distilling Class, more details TBA
  • 4 p.m. – Brewery Tour
  • 7 p.m. – Live music from Me and My Knife
  • 8 p.m. – Live music from BGH
  • 9 p.m. – Live music from Property

Alright, that should just about cover all the details currently available for these events.  If you are free this week and in the area, be sure to hit up one (or both) of these parties so that you can join the Straight To Ale crew in raising a glass to eight great years and the many more ahead.  Prost!

Coppertail Brewing Co. Sends Winston Sheffield IPA Out on the Alpha Hunt

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Winston_Bottle.pngCoppertail Brewing Co. (Tampa, Florida) recently introduced Winston Sheffield India Pale Ale as the third installment in its Alpha Hunt Series.

Also known as “The Big Game Hunter”, Winston Sheffield IPA has officially arrived as the newest and biggest member of Coppertail Brewing’s Alpha Hunt Series, a line of Limited Release “India Pale Ales dedicated to discovery of new hops and the constant hunt for innovative IPAs.” Characterized as an exploration of Cashmere, Ekuanot and Calista hops, Winston Sheffield (8% ABV) is an American India Pale Ale that supplies its drinker with notes of lemon, melon and papaya.

Each Alpha Hunt has a story to tell, and the following is the account of Winston Sheffield’s expedition:

SHEFFIELD DISPATCHES DESCEND INTO LUNACY

Coppertail Sighting? Malaria to blame?

The latest dispatches arriving from Sir Winston Sheffield’s Congo expedition may be the work of a fevered brain. In shaky handwriting on smudged and blackened pages Sheffield claims to have finally sighted the infamous cryptid, Coppertail – on dry land no less – only to suffer some strange misfortune as he raised his Willougby Mark 11 into firing position.

“Snakes! My firearm was infested with them. Elephants, zebras, Hyenas – every manner of wild beast swarmed upon me each time I took aim at my quarry. I squeezed off a shot – a tremendous flash of light, and I awoke on the ground, hair smoldering, face singed, weapon in pieces. There were snakes, I tell you.”

Winston Sheffield IPA is available now and has plans to hang around through June 2018.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located within Coppertail Brewing Co.’s distribution area in Florida.  Prost!

Vital Information for Winston Sheffield IPA from Coppertail Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Alpha Hunt Series, April – June 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 8%
Featured Hops – Cashmere, Calista & Ekuanot
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Distribution – Florida

New Realm Brewing Company to Open Second Location in Virginia Beach

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radegastNew Realm Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has officially announced that it will open a second brewery and taproom in the facility that formerly served as the Virginia Beach location of Green Flash Brewing Co.

A little over a week ago, news broke that New Realm Brewing – the Southeast-based craft brewery co-founded by Carey Falcone, Bob Powers and Mitch Steele – had acquired the brewing equipment housed within Green Flash Brewing Co.’s recently shuttered Virginia Beach location.  Since the time of that news, many rumors have been swirling that New Realm – despite just launching operations in Atlanta in January of this year – was also considering assuming control of the facility so that they could open a second brewery and taproom.  Those rumors have now been confirmed as true with the announcement that “New Realm has partnered with The Miller Group to lease the 58,000 square-foot facility which formerly housed the Green Flash Brewing Company” in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  The acquisition of this new equipment and facility will allow New Realm to expand production up to “40,000 barrels annually.”

“As we looked at ways to serve our growing base of New Realm fans, it was important to us that we remain a local brewer in the Southeast, expand capacity, increase innovation and stay true to our core values,” said Carey Falcone, CEO and co-founder of New Realm Brewing. “When the opportunity came up to partner with The Miller Group to lease the Virginia Beach facility, purchase newer, high-quality brewing equipment at a great value and create jobs in Virginia Beach, we knew we needed to seize it.”

“New Realm is proud to become part of the Virginia Beach community as we continue to serve our fans in Atlanta. We could not ask for better local partners than Jerry Miller and The Miller Group. We look forward to benefiting from their experience, support and advocacy as we serve the Virginia Beach community for many years to come.”

Jerry Miller, CEO and founder of The Miller Group, said, “We are thrilled to welcome New Realm to Virginia Beach. With the backing of a strong management team, world-class facility and premier location, New Realm’s brewery and taproom will support job creation and draw visitors to Virginia Beach year-round.”

New Realm plans to open its Virginia Beach brewery and taproom – located at 1209 Craft Lane, Virginia Beach, Virginia – just as soon as “it receives all applicable licenses and permits required for operation.”  Once this facility is operational and staffed, craft beer fans can expect an experience that features “a tasting room with a wide variety of beers on tap, an outdoor beer garden, and private event space.”

Since this situation is still developing, we will be sure to provide you with opening dates and any other updates just as soon as they surface.  Stay tuned.  Prost!

Second Self Beer Co. Vows to Make IPA Great Again

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MIPAGA-CAnSecond Self Beer Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has announced that it is going old school on hop heads with the upcoming Limited Release of Make IPA Great Again.

Harkening back to the days before the IPA haze craze consumed the craft beer community, Make IPA Great Again is a “throwback double IPA” created by Second Self’s Co-founders Jason Santamaria and Chris Doyle “as an homage to the bitter and clear IPAs that inspired them to start brewing over a decade ago.”  With a “YUGE” hop bill jam-packed with Cascade, Centennial, Chinook and Simcoe hops, this ‘Murican Double IPA “has tremendous notes of pine, resin, covfefe and citrus with a bitter finish.” For a more eloquent, stately explanation of what you can expect from this beer, here’s the brewery’s full description for Make IPA Great Again (9% ABV, 111 IBUs):

“Many people are saying we have the best hops. Believe me, we have all the best hops. Billions and billions of hops. Believe me, folks! Other beers are a YUGE problem! Beers today do not remember what it was like when this country made the best beers, the biggest beer, the most bitterest beers!!

Your milkshake pasty stout IPAs are FAKE NEWS!!. This bitter beer is DANK, PINEY, RESINY, and clear; just like the RETRO forgotten beers of this country. We make sure it has a tremendous flavor in a bigly tariffed aluminum tall boy! I have to thank our employees for their great jerb Putin in hard hours to make this magnificent beer.”

Make IPA Great Again will debut on April 28 in Second Self’s Westside taproom and distribution will follow shortly after that release.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 16 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located within Second Self’s distribution footprint in Alabama and Georgia.  Prost!

Vital Information for Make IPA Great Again from Second Self Beer Company

Release – Limited; April 28, 2018
Style – Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 9%
IBUs – 111
Featured Hops – Cascade, Centennial, Chinook & Simcoe
Suggested Food Pairings – “Suggested pairings for the beer include well-done steak with ketchup, taco bowls, Russian dressing, and anything off the Dollar Menu.”
Fun Fact – On the name and packaging for Make IPA Great Again: “Label artwork was designed by Tex Grubbs, and the yuge 16 oz. cans will fit comfortably even in small hands. The beer’s name was devised by Eddie Holly, Owner of Ale Yeah! in Decatur.”
Availability – 16 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Alabama & Georgia

Lord Hobo Brewing Co. Adds Angelica New England Wheat to Year-Round Lineup

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LHBCoAngelica
Photo Credit – Eran Shaysh

Lord Hobo Brewing Co. (Woburn, Massachusetts) has officially announced that Angelica New England Wheat Beer will begin hitting shelves and taps this week as the brewery’s newest Year-Round offering.

Developed as means of applying “New England-style” characteristics to beers found outside the realm of Pale Ales, India Pale Ales and Double IPAs, Angelica has arrived as a Wheat Beer that employs the use of the incredibly popular “brewing techniques and ingredients used in ‘New England-Style’ or ‘Hazy IPAs’.”  By uniting “the sought-after haze and juice-like qualities [with] the more traditional characteristics of wheat beer”, Angelica New England Wheat Beer (5.5% ABV) comes together to be “a highly quaffable beer that showcases the bready, tangy, and elegant sweetness of a wheat beer with the juicy, tropical fruit characteristics attributed from the highly acclaimed Mosaic hop varietal.”

 

“Angelica is our first new beer release in over a year,” says Daniel Lanigan, CEO and Founder of Lord Hobo Brewing Co. “We’ve been working hard at building our brand and business around a small core of offerings in order to better assess what products to add. With a growing, raving fan base comes a demand for a wide variety of products, and we’re extremely excited to be adding a wheat beer to the mix.”

Angelica New England Wheat Beer is rolling out now with availability in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft.  You can expect to find this new Year-Round at craft beer establishments located in Florida, Massachusetts and throughout the rest of Lord Hobo’s distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Angelica New England Wheat Beer from Lord Hobo Brewing Co.

Release – Year-Round, launching late April/early May 2018
Style – American Wheat Beer 
ABV – 5.5%
Featured Hops – Mosaic
Fun Fact – On Angelica’s packaging: “Similar to the beer, Angelica’s packaging is a shift from [Lord Hobo Brewing Co’s] current offerings. Dressed in white, Angelica boldly contrasts Lord Hobo’s hoppy offerings. A well-known Boston-based tattoo artist, Brian Hemmings (of The Ghost in the Machine tattoo shop) was commissioned to sketch Angelica’s hop and wheat-encircled wings.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://lordhobobrewing.com/get-some/