TBBW 2018 Event: Cycle Brewing Releases Details & Ticket Information for Barrel Aged Day 2018

cyclelogoOn Friday, March 9 from noon to 4 p.m., Cycle Brewing (St. Petersburg, Florida) will host its annual Barrel Aged Day beer festival at St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club (559 Mirror Lake Dr. North, St. Petersburg, Florida).

Cycle Brewing will be once again treating Tampa Bay Beer Week to an insane spread of barrel-aged goodness with its extremely popular Barrel Aged Day event.  There is quite a bit of information to cover when it comes to this beer festival and its procedures for securing tickets.  To ensure that we do not screw anything up or leave anything out, we are going break everything down so that the information is easy to read, navigate and locate.  Also, be sure to check back often because this post will be updated regularly with new information.

The Basics

What – Barrel Aged Day 2018 from Cycle Brewing
When – Friday, March 9; General Admission begins at noon, VIP entry at 11 a.m.
Where – St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club (559 Mirror Lake Dr. North, St. Petersburg, Florida)

The Beers

Just as the name would lead you to believe, Barrel Aged Day is a beer festival that showcases an incredible lineup of rare barrel-aged beers from Cycle Brewing.  The brewery is currently in the process of creating the tap list for Barrel Aged Day 2018.  You can rest assured knowing that we plan to post that list here just as soon as it is made public.  **UPDATE 03.09.18** As promised, here is the taplist:

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Ticket Information

This is where things can get a bit tricky, so please read all the information provided below.

**UPDATE 1.13.18** TICKETS FOR BARREL AGED DAY 2018 ARE SOLD OUT **UPDATE 1.13.18**

  • Barrel Aged Day 2018 tickets will be available for purchase at 8 a.m. on Saturday, January 13 at Cycle Brewing (534 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, Florida)
  • Tickets are available in two tiers:
    – General Admission: $100 each
    – VIP: $125 each
  • General Admission tickets include “a Festival Only bottle, glass and pretty exclusive access to all of the Barrel Aged beers on tap in one of the nicest settings in the world of beer fests.”  VIP tickets include all of the above but also grant you early entry into the festival at 11 a.m.
  • Ticket Sales are Cash Only
  • Ticket Sales are limited to two (2) tickets per person
  • To be able to purchase tickets, you must be one of the two people attending the festival.
  • You will be required to present an ID at the time of purchase.  You and that ID will have to be present again at the festival so that you and your guest can gain entry into the festival.  “The tickets are basically receipts, your ID will be your ticket into the fest assuming you are on the list.”  This process is in place to cut down on ticket “mules” and ensure that locals who wish to attend Barrel Aged Day 2018 have a better chance to purchase tickets.
  • Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable
  • Expect the ticket line to move slowly “as Doug will be personally writing every name down, it is slow but it is extremely effective.”
  • There will be “zero tolerance for shenanigans” while in the ticket line. If you get into an altercation of any kind, you will be removed from the line and asked to leave.  If you are disrespectful to any neighboring business or their patrons, you will be removed from the line and asked to leave.  If you just remain patient and act like an adult, all will be fine.
  • If by some chance tickets do not sell out on Saturday, Cycle Brewing will announce plans for ticket sales on Sunday, January 14.  With that said, tickets are extremely limited and expected to sell out quickly.  **UPDATE 1.13.18** THERE WILL BE NO SUNDAY SALES. TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT **UPDATE 1.13.18**

Ok . . . that covers all the details that are currently available.  More information will surface as we draw closer to Barrel Aged Day 2018, and we will update you with that info just as soon as we get our hands on it.  Stay tuned, and we hope you all land some tickets to this ridiculously awesome event.  Prost!

Terrapin Beer Co. Goes Year-Round with Luau Krunkles IPA

Square_Luau-Krunkles-300x300Terrapin Beer Co. (Athens, Georgia) announced today that Luau Krunkles Passion Fruit-Orange-Guava IPA will be joining the brewery’s Year-Round lineup in 2018.

The infamous Krunkles, Terrapin’s “fictitious brewer who travels the world making creative IPAs”, is entering some new territory in his brewing career now that Luau Krunkles has emerged from its previous two limited releases to finally provide its creator with some year-round recognition.  Just as the beer’s full name indicates, Luau Krunkles has “tropical aromas of Passion fruit, Orange and Guava [that dominate] the nose while a big juicy hop flavor and smooth bitterness complement the balance of the beer.”  This offering clocks in at 6.5% ABV and 72 IBUs.

Luau Krunkles will begin its Year-Round availability any day now.  You can expect to find Luau Krunkles in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and throughout the rest of Terrapin Beer Co.’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Luau Krunkles Passion Fruit-Orange-Guava IPA from Terrapin Beer Co.

Release – Year-Round status begins January 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.5%
IBUs – 72
Hops – Columbus, Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, Citra, Galaxy & Amarillo (Dry Hop Amarillo, Citra, Galaxy & Simcoe)
Malts – 2 row Pale, Ashburne, Carapilsner, Wheat & Honey Malt
Suggested Food Pairings – “White Cheddar & Gouda, or a nicely blacked Mahi-Mahi filet over a bed of coconut rice and an arugula salad”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://terrapinbeer.com/beer-finder/

Field Trip: Media Reception & Beer Launch at New Realm Brewing Company

radegastLast week, we had the pleasure of attending a VIP Media Reception and Beer Launch event at New Realm Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia) and we have returned to supply you with a photographic account of our experience at this newly established craft beer institution that is sure to have a huge impact on Atlanta’s beer scene.

Established by Carey Falcone, Bob Powers and IPA whisperer Mitch Steele, New Realm Brewing Company is a 20,000 square-foot facility located on Atlanta’s Beltline.  This game-changing destination brewery houses a 25hl, four vessel brewhouse and 50hl tank farm from Krones Steinecker, a stunning taproom and restaurant, multiple multipurpose rooms that can act as event space or additional seating, several bars, a dedicated growler station, and a rooftop deck featuring a breathtaking view of the Atlanta skyline.  The brewery’s main system will be focused on creating world-class, regular rotation offerings while a pilot system will be dedicated to churning out a regular stream of creative and innovative one-offs and experimental batches.  Helmed by General Manager Don Mioton and Executive Chef Julio Delgado, New Realm’s restaurant “[blends] global flavors and southern techniques” to offer a delicious menu that pairs beautifully with the house beers.  Speaking of those beers, New Realm offerings will span the style spectrum, but you can rest assured that you will see many hop-laden brews from Mitch Steele.

New Realm Brewing Company officially opened to the public on Monday (January 8), but we were lucky enough to get a first look at the facility last week.  Although part of me wishes that we returned home with a notebook full of technical data on the brewery and the beers, it was kind of refreshing to hear that this event was meant to have more of a relaxed, hangout atmosphere rather than that of a formal interview.  When I say refreshing, I mean that more so from the perspective of the New Realm team that was facing an opening week that would be full of photo ops, interviews, and the intense scrutiny of being a new brewery and restaurant in a major U.S. city.  This was the crew’s last chance to take a breath and a moment to celebrate before that coming storm. It was a needed break disguised as a soft opening and media event.

We wanted to respect that, so our conversations with Mitch Steele and everyone else at New Realm were limited to small talk about our personal lives, the beer industry in general, hobbies, and good food.  Although fun for us, we realized that those discussions would not produce interesting copy.  So . . . we adjusted our approach to the event and instead decided to document our experience through photos.  We want you to experience this place through our eyes, and hopefully that will inspire you to visit New Realm, sample the beers, have a meal, take the tour, and experience something truly special.  We hope that you enjoy the gallery and, above all, realize that you need to experience all that can be found in New Realm.  Prost!

 

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Allagash Brewing Company Introduces Pastiche as New Limited Release

AllagashPasticheBarrelsAllagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine) has announced that it will officially begin the limited release of Pastiche Blended Barrel-aged Ale in early January.

Arriving as Allagash Brewing’s “first non-wild, blended, barrel-aged beer”, Pastiche began its life as four different base beers “all created by senior Allagash brewers.” Brewed with “various local malts” and the specific intention “to blend well together”, these four beers were then sent to age in a variety of barrels – rye whiskey, vermouth, port, rum, bourbon, red wine, gin, and brandy.  After spending “between three and four months” in those barrels, the brewers came together once more to sample and blend the beers “into a single, unified whole.” Their final blend is the 8.5% ABV Pastiche that proves to be “a complex, yet approachable, amber beer with notes of caramel, dried fruit, spirits, and oak.”

“We’ve been wanting to experiment with blending non-wild, spirit-aged beers for a long time,” said Zach Bodah, head Allagash’s Quality Control team. “Since each [of the four] base beer[s] in Pastiche was split and aged into at least two varieties of spirit barrels, it was a terrific logistical challenge in cellar management. We’re really happy with how all that hard work turned out.”

Officially released on January 8, Pastiche will be available in 750ml bottles and on draft as long as supplies last.  You can expect to find this Limited Release at select craft beer establishments located in Georgia, Maine and throughout the rest of Allagash Brewing Company’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Pastiche Blended Barrel-aged Ale from Allagash Brewing Company

Release – Limited, January 2018
Style – Undisclosed Ale, Blend
ABV – 8.5%
Grains – Various
Hops – Various
Yeast – Allagash House Ale 
Treatment – A blend of four base beers that were aged in rye whiskey, vermouth, port, rum, bourbon, red wine, gin, and brandy barrels
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.allagash.com/locator/

Ballast Point Brewing Unveils 2018 Release Calendar

BallastPointglassesBallast Point Brewing Company (San Diego, California) has officially sent out a 2018 Product Release Calendar that features three new series that will realign the brewery’s portfolio, a couple new brews, and few availability updates.

There has been a bit of a lull in brewery calendars lately, but rest assured that we will treat this one just as we have the others.  Ballast Point’s full 2018 Product Release Calendar is available below for you to go over at your own pace, but there are a few highlights and changes that we need to cover before we send you to that document:

  • Ballast Point will restructure its portfolio in 2018 to include three distinct series: The Discovery Series, The Flagship Series, and the Explorer Series.  This change has been put in place to help consumers easily distinguish the brewery’s wide portfolio and find exactly what they are after in a beer selection.
  • Meant to “serve as a great way to ‘discover’ Ballast Point though their approachability and exceptional quality”, the beers in The Discovery Series will all weigh in at 6% ABV or under.  These gateway beers will include Year-Round offerings such as Bonito Blonde, Mango Even Keel and Longfin Lager.  The Discovery Series will also feature a rotating lineup that will include Tart Peach Kolsch (April – July), Grunion (July – November) and Piper Down (December).
  • The Flagship Series will consist of “signature beers like Sculpin, Manta Ray, and Victory at Sea—pinnacles of their styles and premium award-winners. They also carry higher ABVs, 7% and above.”  This series will also consist of Year-Round and Rotating offerings.
  • The Explorer Series will be made up of limited releases that feature “bold, exotic flavors and styles, like barrel-aged and sour offerings.”  This series includes offerings such as Red Velvet (January – February), Tongue Buckler (February – March), and High West Barrel Aged Victory at Sea (November – December).
  • Aloha Sculpin will make its debut in February as a part of the brewery’s Flagship Series.  Aloha Sculpin uses “Brux Trois yeast to turn [the brewery’s] award-winning IPA into a tropical oasis, with bright and refreshing notes of mango, pineapple and guava, along with a slight haze and smooth mouthfeel.”
  • The Explorer Series will also see a brand-new offering with the release of Moscow Mule Ale from March through July 2018.  This offering is Ballast Point’s “take on the classic & refreshing cocktail, with ginger and tart lime in a light kettle sour beer. It’s an effervescent and aromatic beer just begging to be enjoyed in a copper mug.”
  • More Ballast Point offerings will be available in cans in 2018. This includes a rotating can 6-pack in the Discovery Series (Tart Peach Kolsch, Grunion Pale Ale, and Piper Down Scottish Ale), Unfiltered Sculpin IPA and Manta Ray DIPA in 12oz cans, as well as Sculpin IPA and Fathom IPA in 16oz cans.
  • Due to all of these changes and updates, a few offerings have been redesignated to become Seasonal (Grunion & Watermelon Dorado) or draft-only (Pumpkin Down, California Amber, Big Eye) releases in 2018.

That should just about cover all the details that we needed to go over, but there is still quite a bit to discover on the lengthy calendar below.  Be sure to check it out so that you can be properly prepared for the fantastic year of beer ahead from Ballast Point Brewing Company.  Prost!

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Click here for direct link to enlarged version of the calendar above  

Good People Brewing Sends Cans of Snake Handler DIPA Out for Distribution

snake-handler-can-block-6_editedGood People Brewing Company (Birmingham, Alabama) has announced that cans of Snake Handler Double India Pale Ale will be making a limited return to craft beer shelves beginning the week of January 15.

Although Snake Handler Double IPA is available Year-Round on draft, there is still a buzz in the craft beer community each year when this hop-filled treasure makes a limited appearance in cans.  This is no surprise when you consider that Snake Handler remains “one of [Good People’s] most requested beers” and has received recognition “as one of the South’s top beers” by outlets such as Beer Advocate and Men’s Journal.  The hype is all well and good, but this beer’s true achievement is what actually ends up in the glass.

Clocking in at 10% ABV, Snake Handler is a “dangerously drinkable brew” that employs a biscuit and caramel malt backbone to balance “an aggressive hop profile featuring Columbus, Warrior, Cascade, Simcoe, and Chinook” hops.  The brewers at Good People finish the beer with a heavy dry-hopping to create a memorable sensory experience highlighted by “strong aromas of pine, citrus, flowers, spice, pineapple, and grassiness.”  Freshness is key with this one, so make sure to consume Snake Handler “as close to the canned date as possible.”

“We are always excited for the revival of Snake Handler in cans,” says Jason Malone, Co-owner and Brewmaster at Good People Brewing Company. “This beer has had a special place in our lineup since the very beginning, and we love seeing people’s reactions when it comes out in cans.”

Cans of Snake Handler Double IPA will officially hit shelves on January 15 and hang around as long as supplies last.  You can expect to find these Limited Release 4-packs of 12 oz. cans available at select craft beer establishments located within Good People Brewing’s distribution reach in Alabama, Georgia, the Florida Panhandle, and Tennessee.

Vital Information for Snake Handler from Good People Brewing Company

Release – Year-Round on draft; Limited availability in cans beginning on January 15, 2018
Style – Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 10%
IBUs – 100
Hops – Columbus, Warrior, Cascade, Simcoe & Chinook
Malts – 2-row & four specialty malts
Yeast – California Ale

Recommended Glassware – Snifter or tulip
Suggested Food Pairings – “Cuisine (Barbecue), Cheese (Peppery: Monterey/Pepper Jack; Sharp: Blue, Cheddar; Pungent: Gorgonzola, Limburger), Meat (Game, Grilled Meat, Salmon)”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans (limited) & draft
Beer Finder – http://goodpeoplebrewing.com/beer-finder

Boulder Beer Company Set to Release Irish Blessing Oak-aged Coffee Stout

BoulderIrishBlessingcanBoulder Beer Company (Boulder, Colorado) has officially announced that it will begin the Seasonal release of Irish Blessing Oak-aged Coffee Stout in mid-January.

Developed to embody the character of an Irish coffee in beer form, Irish Blessing is a “dark coffee Stout brewed with an abundance of black and chocolate malts for a bittersweet chocolate finish, and OZO Coffee for rich roasted coffee notes.”  The brewers at Boulder then finish the beer by aging it on Tullamore D.E.W. soaked oak chips to give it that eye-opening pop of Irish whiskey.  Once the aging process is completed, Irish Blessing weighs in at 6.2% ABV and 40 IBUs.

“We collaborated with our friends and local roasters at OZO Coffee in Boulder to determine the perfect roast to complement our Stout, choosing their OZO Blend to use in the brew, adding earthy, roasted coffee flavors to the beer,” said Tess McFadden, Marketing Director at Boulder Beer Company. “We then age Irish Blessing on Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey soaked oak, imparting the finishing touches of whiskey and wood.”

The release of Irish Blessing will begin on January 17 with release parties at both of Boulder Beer’s pub locations – The Pub on Wilderness and Boulder Beer on Walnut.  If you are not in the Boulder area, you will also be able to find this Seasonal offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, Georgia, Colorado and throughout the rest of Boulder Beer Company’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Irish Blessing Oak-aged Coffee Stout from Boulder Beer Company

Release – Seasonal, January through March 2018
Style – Stout
ABV – 6.2%
IBUs – 40
Malts – Pale Malt, Caramel Malt, Black Malt, Chocolate Malt, Roasted Barley & Rolled Oats
Hops – Nugget & Willamette
Added Ingredients – Coffee from OZO Coffee Co.
Treatment – Aged on Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey soaked oak chips
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://boulderbeer.com/beer-finder

Weyerbacher Brewing Introduces Funky Monks

unnamed (79)Weyerbacher Brewing Company (Easton, Pennsylvania) recently announced that it has released Funky Monks Sour Belgian-style Ale as the brewery’s latest Special Release offering.

To take their gallivanting monks on a new adventure in 2018, the brewers at Weyerbacher Brewing have developed Funky Monks as a sour take on their Year-Round  Merry Monks Belgian-style TripelFunky Monks transforms the base Tripel by taking on an “electrified zing of tartness” and a hop bill change that includes the addition of Sovereign and Rakau hops.  These changes result in a 9.3% ABV American Sour Ale that possesses “a crisp, dry tartness [that blends] harmoniously with the ever-present Belgian notes of subtle spice, ripe pear and banana.”

With its formal introduction, Funky Monks now officially joins Weyerbacher’s Monks Family that also includes Merry Monks Belgian-style Tripel (Year-Round), Mellow Monks Belgian-style Ale (Year-Round), and Berry Monks Belgian-style Tripel w/ Cranberries, Orange Peel and Ginger (Seasonal).

Funky Monks is available now at The Taproom at Weyerbacher and will soon be sent out for distribution in 12 oz. cans and on draft.  You can expect to find this Limited Release at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania and throughout the rest of Weyerbacher Brewing Company’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Funky Monks from Weyerbacher Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Special Release, January 2018
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 9.3%
Featured Hops – Sovereign & Rakau
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft

 

Café Racer 15 Makes Seasonal Return for Bear Republic Brewing Co.

crthumbBear Republic Brewing Company (Cloverdale, California) has announced that Café Racer 15 will officially begin its Seasonal return in January.

Arriving as the first release of 2018 in Bear Republic’s Seasonal lineup of Double India Pale Ales, Café Racer 15 is a “high revving” brew that is absolutely packed with Citra, Amarillo, Cascade, and Chinook hops.  Those little nuggets of hoppy goodness give Café Racer 15 (9.75% ABV) a “loud and assertive” personality that “features aromas of bright citrus and resinous pine . . .  complimented by a dry malt finish.”

Café Racer 15 will officially release on January 5 and has plans to hang around through March 2018.  You can find this Seasonal brew available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, California and throughout the rest of Bear Republic’s distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Café Racer 15 from Bear Republic Brewing Company

Release – Seasonal, January through March 2018
Style – Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 9.75%
IBUs – 100+
Featured Hops – Citra, Amarillo, Cascade & Chinook
Malts – 2-row Barley & Honey
Yeast – BRBC Ale Yeast
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://bearrepublic.com/bear-tracker/

Boulevard Brewing Co. Resurrects Rye on Rye

BoulevardRyeonRyeBoulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, Missouri) has announced that Rye on Rye will make a triumphant, limited return to the Smokestack Series in January.

First released in 2010, Rye on Rye was given a brief break from production back in 2015 so that Boulevard Brewing Co. could spend a couple years exploring experimental spin-offs such as Rye on Rye on Rye and Rye on Rye – Classic Sazerac Cocktail. Those beers were fantastic, but many beer fans were left longing for the original Templeton Rye barrel-aged version.  The folks at the brewery heard the calls asking for Rye on Rye’s return and are happy to report that it is officially ready for release this month.

To create this study in rye, Boulevard’s brewers start by brewing a “sturdy” base beer “composed of . . . two row base malt layered with German rye, English crystal rye, Cara 50 and Munich malt and then accented with brown sugar, dark brown sugar and dark candi syrup.”  After being hopped with Magnum, Citra and Styrian Golding hops and fermented with a Scottish Ale yeast, that beer is then transferred to “freshly emptied Templeton Rye barrels” so that it can age “from six to 18 months.”  Once the aging process is all said and done, “optimal barrels are selected and blended with 33% fresh beer to create a delicate balance between spicy, slightly boozy rye whiskey barrel characters and the base beer.”  Those that partake in the finished Rye on Rye can expect a warming (12% ABV), medium bodied experience characterized by notes of “spicy, fruity” rye malt, rye whiskey, vanilla, toffee, charred oak, caramel, and balancing hop tones that are “earthy, herbal, citrusy.”

Rye on Rye will first launch in the Kansas City area on January 8 and other regions will follow “in the coming weeks.”  Once it does hit wide distribution, you can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in areas that normally see Smokestack Series Limited Release beers from Boulevard Brewing Co.  Prost!

Vital Information for Rye on Rye from Boulevard Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Smokestack Series, January 2018
Style – Rye Beer
ABV – 12%
IBUs – 33
Malts – 2-row, German Rye, English Crystal Rye, Cara 50 & Munich 
Hops – Magnum, Citra & Styrian Golding
Yeast – Scottish Ale Yeast
Added Ingredients – Brown sugar, dark brown sugar & dark candi syrup
Treatment – Aged in Templeton Rye barrels (for six to eighteen months) then blended with 33% fresh beer
Suggested Food Pairings – “Pastrami, salted caramel ice cream, jerk chicken, bread pudding, bold cigars”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.boulevard.com/beer/beer-finder/