Maui Brewing and Crooked Stave Collaborate on Two Tickets to Paradise

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Two-tickets-iconMaui Brewing Company (Kihei, Hawaii) has officially announced the limited release of Two Tickets to Paradise, a Tropical Saison brewed in collaboration with Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project (Denver, Colorado).

Not too long ago, members of the Crooked Stave brewing team agreed to take the arduous journey over to Hawaii so that they could collaborate with Maui Brewing on a beer that utilized the two breweries’ “like-minded, innovative, and independent” approaches to local ingredients and sour beer techniques.  Their combined efforts resulted in Two Tickets to Paradise, a tart, tropical Saison brewed with hibiscus and locally sourced limes.  Bright pink in color, the “super refreshing and crushable” Two Tickets to Paradise (4.8% ABV) is described as “having a very vibrant acidity from the hibiscus and lime.”

“We decided to brew a Saison that blended our love for sour fermentation and the use of local ingredients,” said Maui Brewing Company’s Brewmaster, Kim Brisson-Lutz. “We enjoy collaborating with breweries that are innovative and independent. We are huge fans of Crooked Stave and the beer they produce.”

Two Tickets to Paradise officially debuted in Maui Brewing’s new full-service restaurant and tasting room in Kihei on February 14 and will enter distribution any day now.  You can expect to find this new Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, Hawaii, Colorado and throughout the rest of Maui Brewing Company’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Two Tickets to Paradise from Maui Brewing Company & Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project

Release – Limited, mid-February 2018
Style – Saison
ABV – 4.8%
IBUs – 20
Malts – Pilsner, Wheat, Flaked & Golden Naked Oats
Hops – Motueka, Huell Melon & Mandarina
Added Ingredients – Hibiscus & lime
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://mauibrewingco.com/find-our-beer/

Hi-Wire Brewing to Release 2018 Collaboration Mixed 12-Pack

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Hi-Wire-BrewingHi-Wire Brewing (Asheville, North Carolina) has announced that it will officially release its 2018 Collaboration Mixed 12-Pack with Against The Grain Brewery (Louisville, Kentucky), Blackberry Farm Brewery (Walland, Tennessee) and Trophy Brewing Co. (Raleigh, North Carolina) in mid-February.

In the spirit of sharing their “craft with respected peers in the Southeast”, the folks at Hi-Wire Brewing recently brought in “longtime [friends] and connections” from Against the Grain, Blackberry Farm and Trophy Brewing Co. so that they could develop some creative offerings to be featured in the 2018 version of their annually released Collaboration Mixed 12-pack.  This year’s featured collaboration beers are as follows (descriptions provided by Hi-Wire Brewing):

  • Against the Grain Brewery – Dark Coffee Lager: “We took special care to let the beautiful fruit notes from naturally processed Ethiopian coffee via Dynamite Roasting sing in this collaboration with our buddies from Against The Grain Brewery in Louisville, Kentucky. Aromatic notes of fresh ground coffee beans, hazelnut, cherry, and new leather meld perfectly with a soothing dark malt sweetness and hints of fresh baked bread with a clean, crisp finish.” (5.5% ABV)
  • Blackberry Farm Brewery – A Wee Bit More Hops Tropical Saison: “In our collaboration with Blackberry Farm Brewery we decided to celebrate Blackberry Farm’s world class house Saison yeast strain by pairing it with a plethora of tropically aggressive American hops, including a mid fermentation hop addition for added depth. Azacca, El Dorado, and Mosaic shine with magnificent aromas of mango, papaya, juicy fruit, and white grape while a slight bitterness and dry finish preps the palette for another sip.” (6.2% ABV)
  • Trophy Brewing Co. – Double Dry-Hopped IPA: “It’s no secret Trophy Brewing makes some of the best IPAs in the country. So after very little deliberation, we decided to brew the hoppiest beer Hi-Wire has ever created at 3.5 lbs per barrel. Starting with Simcoe and Centennial in the whirlpool before mid-fermentation and dry-hop additions of El Dorado and Simcoe, this hazy gold monstrosity screams of green mango, huge citrus, and piney resin with a slight sweetness on the finish. This one is for the truest of hop fiends.”  (7% ABV)

To complete this mixed 12-pack, Hi-Wire has also included three of its flagship brews: Hi-Pitch Mosaic IPA, Lo-Pitch Juicy IPA, and Hi-Wire Gose.  Each Mixed 12-pack will contain two 12 oz. bottles/cans of each of the six beers mentioned above.

According to Hi-Wire’s Release Calendar, the 2018 Collaboration Mixed 12-pack is slated for release on February 16 and will be around as long as supplies last.  You can expect to find this Limited Release mixed pack at select craft beer retailers located within Hi-Wire Brewing’s distribution footprint in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Ohio.  Prost!

 

Three Taverns Craft Brewery to Offer Lord Grey in Cans

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3TavernsLordGrey2Three Taverns Craft Brewery (Decatur, Georgia) has announced that Lord Grey Sour Ale will officially hit cans for the first time in mid-February.

Arriving as the latest can offering from Three Taverns’ Sour Asylum Series, Lord Grey was actually conceptualized with the help of the 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.”

“We can’t wait to get this beer into people’s hands, it’s been a favorite of our staff and the folks in The Parlour for quite some time. The can art really conveys the full experience we were going for with this beer and to see it all come together has been a really fun experience.”

 

– Brian Purcell, Founder and CEO of Three Taverns Craft Brewery

Cans of Lord Grey will debut at Three Taverns Craft Brewery on February 16 and enter distribution during the week of February 19.  You can expect to find this Sour Asylum offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Georgia.  Prost!

Vital Information for Lord Grey from Three Taverns Craft Brewery

Release – Sour Asylum Series, cans launch mid-February 2018
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 5%
Added Ingredients – Earl Grey tea
Recommended Glassware – Teku glass
Fun Fact – Lord Grey joins Rapturous and Enchantress as the third Sour Asylum Series offering to see availability in cans
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.threetavernsbrewery.com/find-our-beer/

Tennessee Brew Works Set for Seasonal Return of Wildwood Flower

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TNBrewWorkslogoTennessee Brew Works (Nashville, Tennessee) has announced that Wildwood Flower Honey Blonde Ale will officially begin its Seasonal release on February 16.

Meant to ease beer fans into the warmth and renewal of spring, Wildwood Flower is a Belgian-style Blonde Ale “derived from a classic Belgian Abbey yeast; accentuated by a floral, aromatic hop profile and commingled with a blend of the locally sourced Wildflower and Sourwood honeys.”  When all is brewed and done, those beautiful ingredients produce a “sophisticated” and refreshing experience that comes in at 6.8% ABV and 22 IBUs.

Wildwood Flower will officially release in the Tennessee Brew Works Taproom on February 16 and will hit distribution shortly thereafter.  You can expect to find this Seasonal release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located within the brewery’s distribution footprint in North Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky.  Prost!

Vital Information for Wildwood Flower from Tennessee Brew Works

Release – Seasonal, arrives mid-February 2018
Style – Blonde Ale
ABV – 6.8%
IBUs – 22
Added Ingredients – A blend of Wildflower and Sourwood honeys sourced from Del Rio, Tennessee’s Strange Honey Farm
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Distribution – Alabama, Tennessee & Kentucky
Fun Fact – On the label artwork: “Wildwood Flower Ale showcases one of Tennessee Brew Work’s original employees, Director of Sales, Danielle Daniel. A native Tennessean, Danielle was born in Cottontown and raised in Hendersonville. Danielle worked at renowned Nashville beer spots such as the Flying Saucer and Frugal MacDoogal, where she discovered her love for craft beer and became determined to work in the industry. In 2013, she met Tennessee Brew Works founder, Christian Spears, at the Flying Saucer while the brewery was still being built. Danielle’s driving influences of wanting to work within a local community, explore Nashville’s ever-expanding scenes, and produce distinct and delicious beer led her to Tennessee Brew Works. Her business savvy and dedication to the industry quickly set her apart, and Danielle became one of the first members of the Tennessee Brew Works family.”

TrimTab Brewing Plans Small Batch Can Release of Chocolate Churro Milk Stout

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TrimTabCCMS8canOn Friday, February 16 at 3 p.m., TrimTab Brewing (Birmingham, Alabama) will release Chocolate Churro Milk Stout as the 8th installment in its tasting room-exclusive Gallery Series.

Established expressly for R&D reasons and to gain feedback from their fans, TrimTab Brewing’s Gallery Series is a small batch series comprised of the brewery’s most artful and experimental recipes.  The first Stout to hit this series of very limited releases is Gallery Series #008 – Chocolate Churro Milk Stout, a decadent dessert beer brewed with chocolate malts, cinnamon sticks and pure liquid cacao.  Although big on flavor, Chocolate Churro Milk Stout clocks in at a reasonable 6.9% ABV.

Gallery Series #008 – Chocolate Churro Milk Stout will officially release in TrimTab Brewing’s Tasting Gallery at 3 p.m. on Friday, February 16.  This Small Batch offering will be available exclusively at the brewery in 12 oz. cans and on draft.  If Chocolate Churro Milk Stout has piqued your interest, be sure to hit the brewery early on Friday because releases from TrimTab’s Gallery Series have a habit of disappearing with a quickness. Prost!

Vital Information for Gallery Series #008 – Chocolate Churro Milk Stout from TrimTab Brewing

Release – Gallery Series/Taproom-only; 3 p.m. on February 16
Style – Milk Stout
ABV – 6.9%
IBUs – 17
Added Ingredients – Cinnamon sticks & pure liquid cacao
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Event Location – TrimTab Brewing | 2721 5th Ave S |Birmingham, Alabama 35233

 

North Coast Brewing Adds Beachmaster Imperial IPA to Seasonal Lineup

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Beachmaster-Imperial-IPA-bottleNorth Coast Brewing Co. (Fort Bragg, California) has officially released Beachmaster Imperial IPA as the brewery’s newest Seasonal offering.

Created as a “tribute and companion” to North Coast Brewing Co.’s flagship Red Seal Ale, Beachmaster Imperial IPA continues the seal theme by honoring “the mighty Northern Elephant Seals that frequent [the] coast from Mexico to Alaska.”  Weighing in at a substantial 9% ABV and 100 IBUs (practically double the size of Red Seal), the massive Beachmaster promises to be a high quality, finely crafted Imperial India Pale Ale that will fit in easily with North Coast’s “lively array of iconic beers.”

Beachmaster Imperial IPA is officially available now in 12 oz. bottles and on draft.  You can expect to find this new Seasonal offering at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California and throughout the rest of North Coast Brewing Co.’s distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Beachmaster Imperial IPA from North Coast Brewing Co.

Release – Seasonal, launching February 2018
Style – Imperial India Pale Ale
ABV – 9%
IBUs – 100
Fun Fact – On the label artwork: “Artist Mike Patrick, whose work has appeared on several of our labels including Red Seal Ale, Old No. 38 Stout, and North Coast Steller IPA, created the bull Elephant Seal illustration.”
Availability – 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://northcoastbrewing.com/beers/beer-locator/

The Bruery and Top Chef Brooke Williamson Collaborate on Girl Grey

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BrueryGirlGreyChef
Photo Credit – The Bruery

The Bruery (Orange County, California) recently announced the release of Girl Grey Belgian-style Ale, a new Seasonal offering brewed in collaboration with Chef Brooke Williamson, the most-recent winner on Bravo’s “Top Chef” Season 14.

To further build upon their reputation “for pushing the boundaries on what can be achieved with flavors in beer”, the folks at The Bruery extended an invitation to Chef Brook Williamson to help them brew “a unique ale that would not only intrigue craft beer drinkers throughout the country, but also introduce a new generation of beer drinkers to cutting-edge flavors and new styles of beer.” After some brainstorming, this talented brew team decided to create a Belgian-style Ale “brewed with lactose, almonds, earl grey tea and natural flavors.”  Graciously offering an experience filled with “creamy, floral notes of earl grey tea”, Girl Grey (8.5% ABV) comes together to be “a complex yet delicate ale . . . perfect for a new generation of beer lovers.”

“Being a chef, first and foremost, I felt like my ultimate goal with creating the perfect collaboration beer was to balance the important uniqueness in flavor profile, while remaining food-friendly. This beer to me does just that,” said Chef Brooke Williamson. “It’s a perfect blend of creamy richness and complex floral notes, making for a wide variety of food pairing options. I’m inclined to go tart and sweet, like biscuits with lemon curd, or banana cream pie, but at the same time, it’s versatile and subtle enough to work with spiced mole chicken and toasted almond rice. It really is the perfect food beer.”

Girl Grey will officially release to the public on February 14 with the intention to hang around for a limited time.  You can expect to find this Seasonal release available in 750ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer-focused retailers, bars and restaurants located in Florida, Georgia, California, Washington D.C. and throughout the rest of The Bruery’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Girl Grey from The Bruery 

Release – Seasonal/Limited, mid-February 2018
Style – Belgian-style Strong Pale Ale
ABV – 8.5%
Added Ingredients – Lactose, almonds, Earl Grey tea & natural flavors
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.thebruery.com/find/
Fun Fact – About Chef Brooke Williamson: “Officially beginning her career at the young age of 17, Williamson was the youngest chef to ever cook at the James Beard House, and was recently a winner on Bravo’s “Top Chef” in March 2017. Williamson is the Co-Owner and Co-Chef, along with husband Nick Roberts, of Hudson House in Redondo Beach, The Tripel and Playa Provisions in Playa del Rey, the culinary retail boutique Tripli-Kit, Da Kikokiko in Playa Vista, and Small Batch, an artisanal ice cream shop, in Mar Vista, CA.”

BrueryGirlGreyBrew

Stone Brewing Files Lawsuit Against MillerCoors

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GK_ProjectGargoyle_1x1Stone Brewing (Escondido, California) announced today that it has filed suit to defend its iconic STONE® brand against one of the world’s largest beer conglomerates, MillerCoors.

Widely known for its commitment to never sell out to Big Beer, Stone Brewing is now boldly stepping up to Big Beer by filing a lawsuit that “alleges that MillerCoors is trying to rebrand its Colorado Rockies-themed ‘Keystone’ beer as ‘STONE.'”  Stone Brewing feels that this rebrand – a move that has led to the repeated and habitual reference to Keystone Light as simply “STONE” or “‘STONE” in MillerCoors’ marketing and social media posts – can only lead to confusion in the marketplace, leaving the craft brewery with “no choice but to combat MillerCoors’ aggressive marketing moves, which abandon Keystone’s own heritage by falsely associating with the one true STONE®.”  The official Complaint goes on to allege “federal and state causes of action for unfair competition, trademark infringement and related claims.”

“Keystone’s rebranding is no accident,” said Dominic Engels, Stone Brewing CEO. “MillerCoors tried to register our name years ago and was rejected. Now its marketing team is making 30-pack boxes stacked high with nothing but the word ‘STONE’ visible. Same for Keystone’s social media, which almost uniformly has dropped the ‘Key.’ We will not stand for this kind of overtly and aggressively deceptive advertising. Frankly, MillerCoors should be ashamed.”

Stone Brewing is represented in the lawsuit by Noah Hagey, Rebecca Horton and Toby Rowe of San Francisco litigation boutique BraunHagey & Borden LLP.

For more information on this lawsuit, you can check out the video below where Greg Koch, Stone Brewing executive chairman & co-founder, explains his brewery’s stance and reasons for pursuing this action.  Since this situation is ongoing, we will be sure to update you here with any and all information as it develops.  Stay tuned.  Prost!

Tasting Notes: Dry Hopped Censored Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company

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LagunitasCensoredPour1000For this edition of Tasting Notes, we ease into the workweek with a little help from the “kroniky krunk” Dry Hopped Censored Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California).

Born out of a happy accident, the aptly named Dry Hopped Censored Ale entered this world as a normal batch of the classic Censored Ale and was then given new dimension when it was unintentionally “brightened up with a generous dry-hopping of Centennial, Chinook, Simcoe, and Citra hops” meant for another tank.  Being the laid back, cool kids that they are, the folks at Lagunitas decided to roll with this “mistake” and ultimately discovered that the additional hops supplied a pleasant bite to the beer’s “malty, roasty, and deceptively smooth” character.  It was so good that they eventually brewed more and sent Dry Hopped Censored Ale out as a Limited Release.  This tasty little number is available now for a limited time in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles at select craft beer retailers located in Alabama, Florida, California, Illinois and throughout the rest of Lagunitas Brewing Company’s distribution network.

Now that we have cleared our way through the background information, let’s get an uncensored look at this brew with some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Dry Hopped Censored Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Appearance:  This brew pours a caramel laced amber in color and has over a finger of slightly off-white foam resting on top.  When held to a light source, deep orange tones push through to create a vibrant copper look.  The beer is completely clear and displays a bountiful carbonation presence streaming within.  The head has fantastic retention and coats the glass with some seriously chunky lace patterns.

Aroma: The dry-hopping has worked wonders here as the aromatics lead with incredibly inviting notes of citrus (aromas of orange peel and grapefruit) and floral hops. That hop presence does soften a bit to expose a lightly sweet malt character of caramel, honey, and toasted bread.

Taste:  The malts take point in this department and treat the taste buds to notes of lightly roasted grain, caramel, toffee and just a slight undercurrent of chocolate.  The hops advance at the perfect moment and balance the experience out with floral tones, resinous pine, grapefruit, passion fruit, and a touch of earthiness.

Mouthfeel:  On the lighter side of medium in body with a bright carbonation, this beer is just a touch creamy in texture but retains an incredibly easy drinking nature.  Sublimely balanced and clean, this experience teeters gracefully between sweet and hoppy/bitter on the palate.  The ABV is deceptive for 6.7%, and it drinks like a much smaller beer.  Aftertaste leaves behind some notes of pine and caramel.

Final Thoughts:  Dry Hopped Censored Ale is a happy accident indeed as its dry-hop addition is dialed in to perfectly interlace with the malty goodness that was lying in wait within the original Censored.  The piney and citrusy hops are definitely there, but the toffee and caramel-filled malt notes are still allowed to step forward and own an equal share of the overall experience.  This beer’s balance is a thing of beauty and it results in a dangerously drinkable brew that simply should not be missed.  Make sure you get your hands on some Dry Hopped Censored Ale before its Limited Release runs its course.  Prost!

 

Stone Brewing Releases Loral & Dr. Rudi’s Inevitable Adventure Double IPA

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Inevit_FBStone Brewing (Escondido, California) recently announced that it has officially begun the Limited Release of Stone Loral & Dr. Rudi’s Inevitable Adventure Double IPA.

Emerging as an unlikely union of new and old hop varietals, Stone Loral & Dr. Rudi’s Inevitable Adventure Double IPA introduces the popular and trendy Loral hop (released in 2016) to the long-standing old timer known as Dr. Rudi (a.k.a. Super Alpha, available since 1976).  With 40 years separating these two hops, shenanigans ensue as this Double India Pale Ale plays Loral’s tones of “citrus, peach and . . . fresh berries” against Dr. Rudi’s “classic piney and herbal notes.”  As unexpected as it may be, Stone Loral & Dr. Rudi’s Inevitable Adventure Double IPA comes together to be “refreshing, crisp and smooth with mild bitterness and an ABV (8.9%) that boosts the overall aromas and flavors of this inevitable adventure.”

“We have been a bit obsessed with Loral hops lately,” said Jeremy Moynier, Stone Brewing Senior Innovation Manager. “We’re loving its bright, floral qualities and have been impressed with the hop on its own and blended with others. Dr. Rudi is an older hop, one we haven’t used much lately and we were blown away by how the two complement one another – a good example of how sometimes opposites attract.”

Stone Loral & Dr. Rudi’s Inevitable Adventure Double IPA is officially available now and will hang around into the month of June.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 22 oz. bottles, 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, Virginia, and throughout the rest of Stone Brewing’s nationwide distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Stone Loral & Dr. Rudi’s Inevitable Adventure Double IPA from Stone Brewing

Release – Limited, February – June 2018
Style – Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.9%
IBUs – 84
Featured Hops – Loral & Dr. Rudi 
Availability – 22 oz. bottles, 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://find.stonebrewing.com/#ready