New Belgium Brewing Introduces Whizbang as New Seasonal

Posted on by mashingin

whizbang_brand_icon_jpgNew Belgium Brewing Company (Ft. Collins, Colorado) has officially announced the release of Whizbang Hoppy Blonde Ale as the brewery’s newest Spring Seasonal.

Crafted by New Belgium to be the perfect beer to ease us all back into the idea and weather of spring, Whizbang firmly sets a “soft malt base” to support the “vibrant notes of mango, lemon, blueberry, and pine” supplied by a generous dry-hopping with Mosaic, UK Admiral and Centennial hops.  At just 5.7% ABV, Whizbang proves to be a refreshing hoppy Blonde Ale that can only be described as “a full-flavored taste explosion.”

“Whizbang offers a blast of hops, thus the name, yet it’s still crisp and quaffable,” said Bryan Simpson, media relations director for New Belgium. “It’s hoppy complexity and balanced drinkability makes it a great go-to beer for the late winter and early spring season.”

Whizbang Hoppy Blonde Ale is available now through March of 2017.  This seasonal release can be found in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer establishments in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of New Belgium’s distribution area.  If you feel so inclined, pick up a 6-pack of Whizbang during your next beer run to get an early jump on warm weather drinking.  Prost!

Vital Information for Whizbang Hoppy Blonde Ale from New Belgium Brewing Company

Release – Seasonal, January through March 2017
Style – American Blonde Ale
ABV – 5.7%
IBUs – 45
Hops – Nugget, Simcoe, UK Admiral, Mosaic & Centennial
Malts – Pale, Caramel 80 & Munich
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.newbelgium.com/beer/finder

Victory Brewing Packages Sour Monkey in 6-packs, Set to Release Sour Monkey Remix

Posted on by mashingin

vbcsourmonkeyremixMonkey Madness continues at Victory Brewing Company (Downingtown, Pennsylvania) with the announcements that Sour Monkey is now available year-round in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and Sour Monkey Remix will see its first limited release on Friday, January 20.

As of January 1, Sour Monkey has officially returned in 2017 as a Year-Round offering from Victory Brewing.  Not only is it rocking this new portfolio designation, it is also sporting some new packaging in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles.  This was all made possible thanks to the many craft beer fans that just could not get enough of this “tastefully tart twist” on Golden Monkey, the brewery’s wildly popular Belgian-style Tripel.  Starting with the same base recipe as Golden Monkey, Sour Monkey gets a funky, tart and sour character by way of an introduction to lactobacillus and a “secondary fermentation with two strains of Brettanomyces yeast.”  This results in a surprisingly easy-drinking, 9.5% ABV Sour Brett Tripel that boasts “a sharp, citrus-laden tang [that] makes this brew a Monkey all its own!”  Sour Monkey 6-packs are available now at craft beer retailers in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of Victory’s 35 state distribution footprint for the suggested retail price of $11.99 (price may vary by location).

Victory Brewing plans to take Monkey mania to another level on January 20 by introducing their fans to a new variant of Sour Monkey that has been aptly named Sour Monkey Remix.  This version continues the evolution of Golden Monkey by aging Sour Monkey in Chardonnay barrels.  This process adds depth to the brew by imparting “aromas of white oak and vanilla” and “tart, lemon flavors and oak from the barrels.”  Once completed, Sour Monkey Remix ultimately comes together to be “a very balanced and drinkable beer with a bone-dry finish.”  On Friday, January 20, Victory Brewing will release a limited supply of Sour Monkey Remix on draft and in 750ml bottles ($22 each) exclusively at their Downingtown, Kennett Square and Parkesburg brewpub locations.  This offering will not see distribution and will not last long.

Sour Monkey Remix will most likely prove to be a tough get (as it should be), but we can all easily find solace in the fact that we now have access to sixers of Sour Monkey all year long.  That’s a pretty fantastic consolation in my book.  Prost!

Vital Information for Sour Monkey from Victory Brewing Company

Release – Year-Round as of January 1, 2017
Style – American Wild Ale
ABV – 9.5%
Malts – Pilsner
Hops – Tettnang Tettnang
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.victorybeer.com/beerfinder/

Vital Information for Sour Monkey Remix from Victory Brewing Company

Release – Extremely Limited, Brewpub-only release beginning on January 20
Style – American Wild Ale
ABV – 9.5%
Malts – Pilsner
Hops – German Tettnang Tettnang
Treatment – Aged in Chardonnay barrels
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft

Anchor Brewing Reinvents a Classic with Release of Liberty IPA

Posted on by mashingin

anchorlipa-bottle-pint-shotAnchor Brewing Company (San Francisco, California) has officially announced the limited release of Liberty IPA, a modern twist on the brewery’s classic Liberty Ale.

Originally brewed in 1975 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Paul Revere’s midnight ride, Anchor Brewing Company’s Liberty Ale was the first American IPA brewed after prohibition . . . [and] introduced America to the Cascade hop and the nearly lost art of dry-hopping.”  Over 40 years later, Anchor is now releasing Liberty IPA as an updated take on this original craft classic.

“Liberty IPA is a revolutionary brew—reimagined,” said Anchor Brewmaster Scott Ungermann. “The beer is a bright straw golden color and boasts aromas of dank and resinous pine up front, with bold citrus and grapefruit notes on the back end. You can really taste the assertive bitterness, with hints of a light biscuit malt base and a smooth, dry finish. Liberty IPA is a celebration of the Cascade hopped IPA’s that Anchor first popularized back in 1975 and remain at the forefront of American craft beer trends.”

Liberty IPA is available now and will be around for a limited time in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft.  You can find this one at craft beer-friendly establishments in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of Anchor Brewing’s nationwide distribution footprint.  When you grab your sixer or pour of Liberty IPA, I highly suggest you get some Liberty Ale to enjoy alongside it.  Not only will this be a fun side-by-side experience, it will also prove to be a fine history lesson that traces the growth of American IPAs from their most recent rebirth to present day trends and practices.  You simply cannot go wrong when you are able to double down to get both your drink and learn on at the same time.  Prost!

Vital Information for Liberty IPA from Anchor Brewing Company

Release – Limited, January to April 2017
Style – American IPA
ABV – 6.3%
Malts – 2-Row Pale
Hops – Cascade & Nelson Sauvin. 
Dry Hops – Cascade, Nelson Sauvin & El Dorado
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.anchorbrewing.com/connect/beer_finder
Fun Fact – “Taking cues from the original Liberty Ale packaging, the newly designed Liberty IPA label features the bald eagle, a symbol of strength and freedom.”

Ballast Point Brewing Releases Nitro Bottles of Red Velvet Stout

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02-beers-primary-image-redvelvetBallast Point Brewing (San Diego, California) recently announced the release of their first bottled nitro beer, Red Velvet Nitro Stout.

Created to be a “mind-bending beer” that perfectly replicates the dessert for which it is named, Red Velvet is an Oatmeal Stout that has been tinted red thanks to the beets used during the brewing process.  Supplying more than just color, the beets also give this beer an “earthy character that complements the chocolate flavor and aroma.”  The use of nitrogen rounds the beer off by lending a “creamy smoothness to the mouthfeel” that is “reminiscent of icing.”  Although this is meant to be a dessert beer, Red Velvet Nitro Stout is by no means overly sweet or heavy because it weighs in at a very reasonable 5.5% ABV.

Arriving as Ballast Point Brewing’s first nitrogenated bottle release, Red Velvet Nitro Stout has been packaged in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles.  This limited release is currently available at all Ballast Point Tasting Room locations, and will start turning up in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of the brewery’s distribution area over the next two weeks.  Red Velvet Nitro Stout is sure to be a unique drinking experience, so keep an eye out for this one the next time you find yourself at the bottle shop.  Prost!

Vital Information for Red Velvet Nitro Stout from Ballast Point Brewing

Release – Limited, January 2017
Style – Oatmeal Stout
ABV – 5.5%
IBUs – 35
Added Ingredients – Beets
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Suggested Food Pairings – “Humboldt Fog (Fresh Goat Cheese), Chipotle BBQ Sauce on Baby Back Ribs, & Rhubarb Pie with Strawberry Ice Cream”

Rogue Ales Releases 2017 Product Calendar

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roguebanner_edited_editedRogue Ales (Newport, Oregon) has officially gotten in on the beer calendar madness to provide us all with an idea of what to expect from the brewery in 2017.

Just as you would expect, the folks at Rogue Ales have quite a bit planned for 2017.  We have posted their full 2017 Product Calendar below for you to take a look at, but the following highlights certainly deserve a mention first:

There are still plenty of goodies adorning the calendar below, so check them out and settle in for another year filled with tasty brews from Rogue Ales.  Prost!

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Brew Bus Brewing Plans Limited Release of Hazelnut Spread Porter

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brewbushazelbottlesBrew Bus Brewing (4101 N Florida Ave., Tampa, Florida) has announced that they will host a bottle release for their fan-favorite Hazelnut Spread Porter on Sunday, February 5.

Hazelnut Spread Porter, created as a liquid celebration of World Nutella Day, will be making a much-anticipated return to bottles on February 5.  The distinct and nostalgic flavors of Hazelnut Spread Porter are made possible thanks to “over 360 pounds of real hazelnuts, cacao nibs and vanilla” used during the brewing process.  When it is all said and done, Hazelnut Spread Porter comes together as a delicious, 6.5% ABV Porter “that’s as smooth as the famous brand of spread [Brew Bus Brewing’s] lawyers told [them] not to mention by name.”

Hazelnut Spread Porter will be officially released at Brew Bus Brewing on February 5 at noon.  This limited release will be available in 22 oz. bottles.  Information on cost per bottle and bottle limits has yet to be released, but we will be sure to update you with those details once they surface.  Stay tuned.  Prost!

Vital Information for Hazelnut Spread Porter from Brew Bus Brewing

Release – Limited Special Release, Bottle Release Event on Sunday, February 5 at noon
Style – American Porter
ABV – 6.5%
IBUs – 35
Added Ingredients – Hazelnuts, cacao nibs & vanilla
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft

Crooked Thumb Brewery Prepares for First Bottle Release

Posted on by mashingin

ctlogos_editedOn Friday, January 20 at 4 p.m., Crooked Thumb Brewery (555 10th Ave. S., Safety Harbor, Florida) will host their first ever bottle release event featuring Abbey of the South Trippel and Brett Singel Ale Aged on Plums.

As a way of recognizing Inauguration Day with the brewery’s own inaugural event, Crooked Thumb Brewery has officially announced that they will introduce the following two packaged offerings from their Abbey of the South lineup of Belgian Ales on January 20:

  • Abbey of the South Trippel: $8 per bottle- A tasting room favorite with a limited release in bottles. This strong Belgian Ale is comprised of Pilsner and wheat malts and flaked oats for a full rich mouthfeel. Noble hop aromatics prevail with esters of orange rind, clove, banana and apricot. Becomes more complex as it warms.  ABV – 10%
  • Brett Singel Ale Aged on Plums: $9 per bottle – With faint aromas of pear, plum and clove that give way to an array of flavors from the yeast’s early presence. This release finds the addition of plums resulting in a second fermentation with hints of ripe fruit.  ABV – 6%

Bottles of Abbey of the South Trippel and Brett Singel Ale Aged on Plums will be available for purchase exclusively at the brewery on Friday, January 20.  Details on cost per bottle, bottle limits and exact bottle size have yet to be released, but we will update you with that information just as soon as Crooked Thumb provides it.  Stay tuned.  Prost!

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Founders Brewing Co. Set to Release Frootwood

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frootwood_label_750ml_artworkBeginning on Friday, January 13, Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) will launch their new Barrel-Aged Series with the debut release of Frootwood.

We glossed over this news a couple of weeks back while covering the brewery’s 2017 Availability Calendar (click here to check that out), but it is now official that Founders Brewing Co. will kick off their 20th anniversary year with the introduction of Frootwood.  As a bit of an unexpected take on a barrel-aged beer, this offering is a “Cherry Ale” that has been aged in oak barrels that have previously held both Bourbon and maple syrup.  Laced with “warm vanilla and earthy sweetness,” Frootwood’s wood treatment “proves itself the star of this beer, adding depth and taming the tart cherry while the maple imposes a velvety texture.”

“A light-bodied cherry ale is probably not the first thing that comes to someone’s mind when they consider a barrel-aged beer,” said Co-Founder and President Dave Engbers. “We love playing with expectations and Frootwood is proof of that.”

Frootwood will be the first release in the brewery’s new Barrel-Aged Series.  This offering will join KBS (April 2017), Backwoods Bastard (November 2017), and three other new barrel-aged brews as the 2017 lineup for this series.  Founders will announce the remaining three releases in the Barrel-Aged Series later in the year.

Founders Brewing will begin the limited release of Frootwood in their taproom on January 13, 2017.  The beer will then become available “in some states as early as January, with remaining states seeing it by February.”  You will eventually be able to find Frootwood in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles (suggested retail price of $14.99), single 750ml bottles (suggested retail price of $11.99) and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of the Founders distribution footprint.  If you are a fan of any and all things barrel-aged, be sure to keep an eye out for this one over the next month or so.  Prost!

Vital Information for Frootwood from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Barrel-Aged Series, staggered release beginning January 13, 2017
Style – Undisclosed American Ale with cherries
ABV – 8%
Treatment – Aged in oak barrels that have previously held both Bourbon and maple syrup
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/find-our-beer/

Cans of Good People Snake Handler DIPA Make Annual Return

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gpbcshcanGood People Brewing Company (Birmingham, Alabama) recently hit social media with the fantastic news that cans of Snake Handler Double India Pale Ale will make their yearly return beginning the week of January 16.

Although it is listed as a part of Good People’s Ales from the Heart of Dixie – the brewery’s year-round lineup of six staple beers -, Snake Handler Double IPA kind of does its own thing when it comes to availability.  Sure, there’s a good chance that you can track it down on draft throughout the year, but cans are infrequently released and tough to come by.  This could be a good thing when you consider that the brewery describes this beer as a “dangerously drinkable . . . spirited celebration of all things hoppy.”  After all, a beer that boasts of having “aromas of pine, citrus, flowers, spice, pineapple, and grassiness [that] complement a biscuit and caramel backbone” should probably be consumed in moderation.  Sometimes in life we need a limited supply of something so that we appreciate it more, and that truth makes it no mystery why Snake Handler is Good People’s most requested beer and one of the most highly-regarded Double IPAs brewed in the Southeast.

The good news to take from all of this is that the time for Snake Handler’s release in cans draws near.  Beginning the week of January 16, you will be able to find 4-packs of 12 oz. cans at select craft beer retailers in Alabama and within the rest of Good People’s distribution area.  Truly appreciate it while you have it, drink it fresh and spread the Snake Handler love if you can.  Prost!

Vital Information for Snake Handler DIPA from Good People Brewing Company

Release – Year-Round on draft, limited in cans.  Cans release during week of January 16
Style – American Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 10%
IBUs – 100+
Hops – Columbus, Warrior, Cascade, Simcoe & Chinook
Malts – 2-Row and 4 Specialty Malts
Yeast – California Ale
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.goodpeoplebrewing.com/beerfinder.php

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Green Flash Brewing Co. Reveals 2017 Product Lineup

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gfblondecanGreen Flash Brewing Co. (San Diego, California) has given their fans a sneak peek at what is in store this year with the announcement of their 2017 product lineup.

We may not have a calendar for this one, but we definitely have a ton of information to pass along concerning Green Flash Brewing’s plans for 2017.  With that said, let’s not waste any time and jump right in:

  • Green Flash Brewing Co. is now producing and shipping beers from both the San Diego and Virginia Beach breweries.
  • The brewery will round out its portfolio with the introduction of GFB Blonde Ale in 2017. With a “fruity hop-character and a nice malty flavor,” GFB has been meticulously crafted to be an “interesting and drinkable Blonde Ale” that still has the soul of a Green Flash brew. GFB Blonde Ale will initially launch on draft in January and packaging in 12 oz. cans will follow in spring.  The brewery plans to eventually bottle this offering in 2018.  ABV – 4.8%
  • Palate Wrecker will make its triumphant return as a Limited Release in February.  Due to its complex brewing process, this incredibly hoppy Imperial India Pale Ale was temporarily discontinued in 2016 to free up some of the brewing schedule to introduce several new offerings.  With both breweries now fully operational, Palate Wrecker will be available for a limited time in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft.  ABV – 9.5%
  • All of the following beers will be returning in 2017 (click any beer’s name for a direct link to more info): West Coast IPA, Soul Style IPA (available in cans and bottles), Tangerine Soul Style IPA, Passion Fruit Kicker Wheat Ale, Cosmic Ristretto Baltic Porter with Espresso, Dia de los Serranos Double Stout with Serrano Chiles, Imperial IPA, & Le Freak Belgian Style Imperial IPA, as well as year round can releases – Jibe Session IPA & Sea to Sea Zwickel Lager.
  • The 2017 Cellar 3 lineup of rare and barrel-aged beers will include a dozen new and returning products.  These offerings are available nationally on a limited-release basis.

As they do every year, it appears that Green Flash Brewing is hooking us all up with a great assortment of brews to enjoy over the next 12 months.  Drink up, enjoy and stay tuned for future posts concerning any of the Green Flash Brewing/Cellar 3 Special Releases that are bound to surface during 2017.  Prost!