Beer | Mashing In

Left Hand Brewing Co. Introduces Juicy Goodness as New Year-Round

Posted on April 4, 2018 by mashingin

Left Hand Brewing Co. (Longmont, Colorado) has officially announced that it is adding another new offering to its Year-Round portfolio with the April release of Juicy Goodness Dry-Hopped Golden Ale.

Arriving as Left Hand’s third new Year-Round brew of 2018, Juicy Goodness is an American Golden Ale “brewed with Azacca and Ekuanot hops and dry-hopped with Mosaic.” Clocking in at just 5.5% ABV and “bursting with juicy tropical and citrus notes”, Juicy Goodness is meant to be “hoppy and light with a tingly mouthfeel and fruity hop characteristics—perfect for the hophead and hop-averse.”

“Bright, citrus hops explode in the bouquet and on the palate of this slightly hazy and low bitterness golden ale,” said Matt “Truck” Thrall, Left Hand’s Director of Brewing. “Juicy Goodness was brewed for those times when you want an abundance of hops, but not a lot of alcohol or bitterness.”

Juicy Goodness is rolling out now with availability in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft. You can look for this new Year-Round to be on shelves and taps at craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado and throughout the rest of Left Hand Brewing Co.’s 41 state distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Juicy Goodness from Left Hand Brewing Co.

Release – Year-Round, launching April 2018
Style – American Golden Ale
ABV – 5.5%
IBUs – 29
Malts – Pale 2-Row, Wheat & Acidulated Barley
Hops – Azacca, Ekuanot & Mosaic
Fun Fact – On the new Year-Round brews from Left Hand Brewing Co.: Juicy Goodness “is the third new year-round beer released in 2018, following previous releases of Left Hand IPA and Death Before Disco Porter.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://lefthandbrewing.com/beer-finder/

Heavy Seas Beer Charts a Course for Summer with Release of Smooth Sail

Posted on April 4, 2018 by mashingin

Heavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) has officially announced that Smooth Sail Summer Ale will return this month with a refreshed can design and new can wrap.

Back and rocking a fresh look for 2018, Smooth Sail Summer Ale is an American Wheat Ale that is brewed with 20% malted wheat and fermented with “a neutral strain of ‘wheat’ yeast to produce a clean tasting beer that is delicate on the palate.” To up the refreshment level, the brewers at Heavy Seas also hit the beer with late additions of American hops and toss dried orange and lemon peel into the “hopback to provide a fruity, citrus aroma – without adding sweetness.” This all results in an easy-drinking Smooth Sail (4.5% ABV) that “finishes with a subtle citrus kick.”

“Because it’s available in cans, it’s the perfect beer for sailing, trips to the park, hiking, or just sitting on the beach with your friends,” says Heavy Seas Founder, Hugh Sisson. “It is the perfect beer for folks with an active outdoor lifestyle during the summer months.”

Smooth Sail Summer Ale is set to roll out in April and will be available through September 2018. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in those new-look 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-focused retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, Maryland and throughout the rest of Heavy Seas Beer’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Smooth Sail Summer Ale from Heavy Seas Beer

Release – Limited/Seasonal, April – September 2018
Style – American Wheat Ale
ABV – 4.5%
IBUs – 18
Malts – 2-Row, Wheat Malt & Carapils
Hops – Warrior, Hallertau & Cascade
Added Ingredients – Lemon & Orange peel
Recommended Glassware – “Can, straight to the face.”
Suggested Food Pairings – “Grilled white fish, Citrus, Wild Rice, BBQ”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.hsbeer.com/beerfinder

Maui Brewing Co. Begins Limited Release of Waimea Red Ale

Posted on April 3, 2018 by mashingin

Maui Brewing Company (Kihei, Hawaii) has officially announced that Waimea Red Ale is hitting shelves and taps now as the brewery’s third limited release of 2018.

With a name inspired by its featured hops and “also the Hawaiian word for the reddish water of rivers running through the red dirt of the islands”, Waimea Red Ale “boasts a great aromatic profile of tangelo, citrus, and pine” sourced from those New Zealand-grown Waimea hops. This American-style Red Ale was first brewed in May of 2017, but this release of Waimea Red Ale (6.5% ABV, 50 IBUS) marks the first time that it is available in cans.

Waimea Red Ale is rolling out now and will be available for a limited time in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft. You can expect to find this Limited Release at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, Hawaii, and throughout the rest of Maui Brewing Company’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Waimea Red Ale from Maui Brewing Company

Release – Limited, April 2018
Style – American-style Red Ale
ABV – 6.5%
IBUs – 50
Featured Hops – Waimea & Mosaic
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://mauibrewingco.com/find-our-beer/

Ballast Point Brewing Co. Goes National with Aloha Sculpin Hazy IPA

Posted on April 3, 2018 by mashingin

Ballast Point Brewing Co. (San Diego, California) has officially announced that Aloha Sculpin Hazy IPA is now available nationally as a Limited Release offering.

Arriving as the newest member of the Sculpin IPA family, Aloha Sculpin is a hazy, tropically-themed India Pale Ale that obtains its juicy fruit flavors from a somewhat surprising source. Instead of relying on fruit additions of any kind, the brewers at Ballast Point turned Aloha Sculpin (7% ABV, 70 IBUS) into “a tropical oasis with aromas and flavors of guava, mango, and pineapple” by using a “distinct yeast strain known as Saccharomyces “Bruxellensis” Trois, or Brux Trois.” Able to do more than just cultivate these tropical notes, this yeast strain “also adds a slight haze to the beer, creating a smooth mouthfeel to round out its juicy character.”

“We’re always experimenting with new ingredients and methods,” said James Murray, vice president of brewing at Ballast Point. “Most brewers tend to experiment with hops for flavor and aroma. But when we tasted the guava, mango and pineapple notes from this yeast in other R&D recipes we brewed, we knew it would really enhance the bright, tropical fruit characteristics already present in Sculpin IPA.”

Aloha Sculpin IPA is rolling out now and has plans to hang around through the months of spring and summer. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, Virginia, and throughout the rest of Ballast Point’s nationwide distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Aloha Sculpin Hazy IPA from Ballast Point Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Seasonal, Spring/Summer 2018
Style – Hazy India Pale Ale
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 70
Yeast – Saccharomyces Bruxellensis Trois
Suggested Food Pairings – “Crab, Macadamia Nut and Papaya Salad, Chicken Katsu, Hawaiian Huapia Coconut Pudding”
Fun Fact – On the history of Sculpin IPA: “The original Sculpin IPA launched in 2005 and has since become the hallmark of the west coast-style IPA, winning gold medals at the World Beer Cup (2010, 2014) and European Beer Star (2010, 2011). Years later, the Sculpin family has expanded to include Grapefruit, Pineapple, Habanero, Unfiltered – and now Aloha Sculpin.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft

Full Sail Brewing Co. Adds Citrus Maxima to Year-Round Lineup

Posted on April 2, 2018 by mashingin

Full Sail Brewing Co. (Hood River, Oregon) has officially announced the release of Citrus Maxima Pale Ale as its newest Year-Round offering.

With a name derived “from the scientific name of the pomelo”, Citrus Maxima is an American Pale Ale that achieves “maximum citrus levels” thanks to additions of grapefruit, pomelo and citrus peel. With Simcoe and Citra hops further amplifying “the greatness of tart and juicy, fresh-squeezed citrus”, Citrus Maxima (5.7% ABV, 38 IBUs) ultimately comes together to be “a balanced and refreshing pale ale.”

“This was a fun project, but certainly complicated and labor intensive at this scale,” says Full Sail Brewmaster Greg Doss. “Our goal was to blend aromas from citrus-forward hops with fresh grapefruit and pomelo in a refreshing and drinkable pale ale. I think we did it.” You’ve heard of dry hopping – so why not dry peeling? “Hundreds of pounds of fresh citrus peel are infused into each batch,” says Doss, “but it’s worth it.”

Citrus Maxima Pale Ale is available now in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, in the Full Sail Grab ‘n’ Go-Go variety 12-pack of 12 oz. cans and on draft. You can find this new Year-Round brew at craft beer-focused retailers, bars and restaurants located in Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Full Sail’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Citrus Maxima Pale Ale from Full Sail Brewing Co.

Release – Year-Round, launching late March 2018
Style – American Pale Ale
ABV – 5.7%
IBUs – 38
Featured Hops – Simcoe & Citra
Added Ingredients – Fresh pomelo & grapefruit peels
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans, in the Full Sail Grab ‘n’ Go-Go variety 12-pack of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://fullsailbrewing.com/where-to-buy/

Juicy Bunny Pale Ale Makes Limited Return for Straight to Ale

Posted on April 2, 2018 by mashingin

Straight to Ale (Huntsville, Alabama) has officially announced that Juicy Bunny Pale Ale is back and this time around it is available for a limited time in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans.

Hopping onto shelves and taps as Straight to Ale’s latest Limited Release, Juicy Bunny is a New England-style Pale Ale that has been hit with a substantial “late addition and dry hopping with healthy doses of very fruit forward hops.” Weighing in at 6.2% ABV and 61 IBUs, Juicy Bunny provides “a soft mouth feel with a nice haze, and it’s so very juicy.”

Juicy Bunny Pale Ale is available now and is expected to hang around through April or as long as supplies last. You can find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and throughout the rest of Straight to Ale’s seven state distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Juicy Bunny Pale Ale from Straight to Ale

Release – Limited, late March through April 2018
Style – New England-style Pale Ale
ABV – 6.2%
IBUs – 61
Suggested Food Pairings – “Pair with: A Classic Burger; From Ale’s Kitchen: Sriracha-Buffalo Wings”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina & Tennessee

Tasting Notes: Looking Glass IPA from Starr Hill Brewery

Posted on March 30, 2018 by mashingin

This week’s installment of Tasting Notes finds us reflecting on the India Pale Ale style as we take a long look at Looking Glass IPA from Starr Hill Brewery (Crozet, Virginia).

Currently serving as Starr Hill’s 2018 Spring Seasonal, Looking Glass IPA is a fruity India Pale Ale that sources pronounced “notes of juicy pineapple, mango and passion fruit” from an impressive hop bill comprised of Galaxy, Citra, Mosaic and Columbus hops. Although Looking Glass (6.5% ABV, 40 IBUs) is packed with a “big hop aroma and flavor”, it remains incredibly easy-drinking “with minimal bitterness.”

Looking Glass IPA is available now and will hang around through April 2018. You can expect to find this Seasonal brew available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Virginia and throughout the rest of Starr Hill’s distribution footprint.

Now that the background data has been properly presented, let’s gaze deeply into the Looking Glass and lose ourselves in some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Looking Glass IPA from Starr Hill Brewery

Appearance: Slightly hazy in appearance, this IPA presents itself as a pale golden in color with just over a finger of bubbly white foam resting on top. When held to direct light, the golden tones take on a bit of a soft orange hue. Although hazy, the beer avoids being ridiculously cloudy and allows the drinker to see the tiny carbonation bubbles hard at work within. Head retention is good, falling gradually to a lasting cap that leaves an intricate web of lace behind on the glass.

Aroma: A strong tropical wave hits the nose first with a crash of pineapple and mango. Grapefruit zest and orange juice act as a solid foundation for those tropical notes and the hops close out with just a grace of pine. Malts lie underneath with a subtly sweet presence of clean grain. Mighty juicy and oh-so pleasant.

Taste: That juiciness carries over onto the palate as Looking Glass basically comes across as a fruit bowl of mango, passion fruit, grapefruit and pineapple blended into a base of sweet orange juice. The zest of various citrus fruits and a touch of resinous pine then surface to cut the fruitiness at the perfect moment. The malts and yeast mingle throughout the experience to add some balancing sweetness, but otherwise they are not really players in this game. The hops are the star, and they flex their ability to provide both a fruit-laden flavor and a subdued but present level of bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Falling on the lighter side of medium in body with a moderate carbonation, this IPA provides an experience that is quite smooth and easy drinking. It is nicely balanced and dry, but there is a sharp – but not harsh – jab of bitterness that creeps in near the finish. The ABV does bring a bit of warmth to the throat at times, but it is not at all out of hand. The aftertaste is a lingering presence of orange juice with a twist of pineapple.

Final Thoughts: What we have here is middle ground. Looking Glass IPA has found a comfortable spot somewhere between classic American IPAs and those newfangled hazy brews that everyone is so gaga over these days. Sure, it definitely has some characteristics of the New England/Hazy IPA: a slightly hazy appearance, a good amount of balance, and a serious burst of tropical juiciness sourced from a sublime hop bill. With that said, it is not so hazy/cloudy/muddy that it comes across as a tall pour of orange juice in a fancy glass. It still retains a semblance of that invigorating hop bite that many of us long for when we see the letters “IPA” or the words “India Pale Ale”. It is there in middle. It is a balanced and juicy not-so-filtered American IPA. It is a more bitter, less hazy New England-style IPA. It is the neutral ground between the two where fans of either style can come together and discuss their allegiances (like adults) over a beer that appeals to both of them. Now that we are at a point where we are altering and adding style guidelines to accommodate changing tastes and preferences, Looking Glass IPA serves as a much-needed place to discuss where we have been and where we will go in this ever-evolving, hop-fueled realm of craft beer. It sparks a conversation and I can certainly get behind that. Be sure to check this one out before its Seasonal run comes to a close at the end of April. Prost!

Brewery St. Bernardus Now Offering Witbier in Cans

Posted on March 30, 2018 by mashingin

Brouwerij St. Bernardus (Watou, Belgium) and D&V International, Inc., the brewery’s exclusive importer, have officially announced that 11.2 oz. cans of the award winning St. Bernardus Wit Ale are now available exclusively in the U.S.

Often referred to as “the finest White Ale in the world”, St. Bernardus Wit is a “traditional Belgian white beer developed and brewed in collaboration with the legendary Master Brewer Pierre Celis.” Presenting itself as “very pale (whitish-yellow color) and quite hazy” in appearance, this 5.5% ABV Witbier hits the nose and palate with a refreshingly “wheaty, apple-like, tartness; herbal-spicy notes with coriander and orangey fruitness and honeyish sweetness.” The gorgeous nature of St. Bernardus Wit is well known across the globe, but American beer drinkers can now enjoy this “perfect thirst quencher” just about anywhere thanks to a new option in packaging: convenient 11.2 oz. cans.

“We are very excited to provide this new packaging to the U.S. market, it’s the first time we canned one of our beers. We believe our customers will be very excited with this additional format!”

– Marco Passarella, Sales Manager, Brewery St. Bernardus

Cans of St. Bernardus Wit Ale are available now. You can find this Year-Round offering available in 4-packs of 11.2 oz. cans, 4-packs of 11.2 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles and on draft at fine beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of Brouwerij St. Bernardus’s reach in the United States. Prost!

Vital Information for St. Bernardus Wit Ale from Brouwerij St. Bernardus

Release – Year-Round, cans launch March 2018
Style – Witbier
ABV – 5.5%
Availability – 4-packs of 11.2 oz. cans, 4-packs of 11.2 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.specialtybeer.com/beer-locator/

Funky Buddha to Release No Crusts on National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day

Posted on March 29, 2018March 29, 2018 by mashingin

Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, Florida) has officially announced that it will release No Crusts Peanut Butter & Jelly Brown Ale for the first time ever in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles on National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day – Monday, April 2.

Inspired by a lunchtime meal shared between Funky Buddha’s head brewer and founder, Ryan Sentz, and his daughter, No Crusts captures the youthful delight that is a PB&J in “a bready brown ale that sandwiches the aroma of creamy peanut butter with a fruity finish reminiscent of mixed berry jam.” Clocking in at 6.4% ABV, this adult take on the PB&J guarantees that “one taste will envelop you in waves of nostalgic flavor.”

No Crusts will officially begin its release in Funky Buddha’s Tap Room on April 2 at 11:30 a.m. Distribution will follow shortly after the brewery launch. Once fully released, you can expect to find this Core offering available for a limited time in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Florida and throughout the rest of Funky Buddha’s steadily expanding distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for No Crusts from Funky Buddha Brewery

Release – Limited Core, April 2018
Style – Brown Ale/Fruit Beer
ABV – 6.4%
IBUs – 36
Suggested Food Pairings – “Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fried ice cream, sweet banana wontons, tostones, pad thai”
Fun Fact – Concerning the recipe development for No Crusts: “Funky Buddha’s head brewer and founder, Ryan Sentz, was inspired by lunchtime with his daughter to brew a pb&j beer that tastes just like the real thing. Ryan tried 30 or 40 different recipes, using different methods before he found the perfect combination. After nailing the recipe, he brought the brew across the country to many different beer festivals. People were blown away by the redolent flavor and were instantly hooked on the juice. This year Funky Buddha took home a silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival for this mind-blowing beer.”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://funkybuddhabrewery.com/beer-finder

Spencer Brewery Introduces Grapefruit IPA as Latest Fruit Series Release

Posted on March 29, 2018 by mashingin

Spencer Brewery (Spencer, Massachusetts) at St. Joseph’s Abbey, home to the first certified Trappist Brewery outside of Europe, has announced that it is expanding its Fruit Series with the limited release of Grapefruit IPA.

Arriving as Spencer Brewery’s ninth beer to receive approval from the International Trappist Association and the brewery’s second release in its newly established Fruit Series, Grapefruit IPA is a “ruby red [hued]” India Pale Ale that is brewed with grapefruit and Citra hops. Clocking in at 6.5% ABV, Spencer’s Grapefruit IPA promises an experience that is “tart and clean with a closing bitterness characteristic to IPAs.”

Grapefruit IPA is available now in Spencer Brewery’s new Craft Assortment 4-pack -which also includes Trappist IPA, Trappist Feierabendbier and Trappist Festive Lager – and will then become available in dedicated 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft beginning on April 16, 2018. You can seek this new Limited Release out at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, Massachusetts and throughout the rest of Spencer Brewery’s distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Grapefruit IPA from Spencer Brewery

Release – Limited/Fruit Series, launching late March 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.5%
Featured Hops – Citra
Added Ingredients – Grapefruit
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles, in the Craft Assortment 4-pack of 12 oz. bottles & on draft
Beer Finder – https://spencerbrewery.com/index.php/find-our-beer