Beer | Mashing In

Starr Hill Brewery Releases 2017 Lineup Calendar

Posted on December 21, 2016 by mashingin

Starr Hill Brewery (Crozet, Virginia) offers the craft beer community a glimpse into the future with the official release of the brewery’s 2017 Lineup Calendar.

Just as we’ve done with previous posts concerning brewery release calendars, we are going to post Starr Hill Brewery’s 2017 Lineup below so that you can check it out on your own. Before we do so, Starr Hill is going big once again this year and we need to cover a few highlights first:

The brewery’s All Access Series will see three new additions: Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout (January), brewed with generous cocoa additions for a mocha aroma with a bittersweet chocolate and dark fruit finish; Hop Buzz Coffee IPA (April), dry-hopped with whole coffee beans for a roasty aroma with subtle coffee flavor and citrus hops on the finish; & Resinate Imperial Red IPA (July), brewed with specialty malts for a ruby-red hue and firm maltiness, with American hops imparting citrus aroma and flavor.
Starr Hill’s Heavy Rotation Series will also feature three new brews: Warehouse Pils (March), a German Pilsner dry-hopped with German hops, golden in color with a mildly floral flavor and a crisp malt finish; Festie Oktoberfest Lager (September), a smooth and malty tribute to the great German Märzen, makes its awaited return to 6-packs for the first time in over four years; & Two-Tone Vanilla Porter (December), melds the aroma and flavor of real vanilla beans with the sweetness of chocolate, malt and subtle caramel notes.
The draft-only Debut Series will be rocking four new offerings: Scotch Ale (January), characterized by its huge malty nose and features a full, sweet palate with very little hop bitterness; Denali Double IPA (April), highlights the fruity aroma of Denali hops; Farmhouse IPA (July), blends American hops with spicy notes from the French yeast; & Russian Imperial Stout (October), for the holidays with special ingredients to be announced.
Arriving in February, the Spring Tour Variety Pack will be the first seasonal variety 12-pack of bottles released by the brewery in 2017. It will feature Grateful Pale Ale, Reviver Red IPA, The Love Wheat Beer, & Warehouse Pils.

Check out the rest of the 2017 releases on the calendar available below, and settle in for another great year of craft beer from Starr Hill Brewery. Prost!

Founders Brewing Co. Adds Barrel-Aged Series, Releases 2017 Availability Calendar

Posted on December 20, 2016 by mashingin

With the recent release of the brewery’s upcoming Availability Calendar, Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has revealed their plan to add the Barrel-Aged Series to an already lengthy list of exciting offerings and changes headed our way in 2017.

In recognition and anticipation of the brewery’s 20th Anniversary in 2017, the folks at Founder Brewing have decided to celebrate by expanding their “famed and highly-regarded barrel-aging program.” With a ridiculously solid foundation provided by the fan-favorite releases of KBS and Backwoods Bastard, the new Barrel-Aged series will also introduce the craft beer community to four additional barrel-aged brews.

The first release in the 2017 Barrel-Aged Series – and the newest barrel-aged brew from Founders – will be Frootwood. To create this offering, brewers take a “a crisp, light-bodied cherry ale” and age it in “oak barrels that have held both bourbon and maple syrup” to impart “notes of warm vanilla and earthy sweetness.” Full of depth and complexity thanks to the wood treatment, Frootwood displays tones of “tart cherry while the maple imposes a velvety texture that lingers for not a moment too long.” Frootwood Cherry Ale aged in Maple Syrup Bourbon Barrels will officially release in the Founders Brewing Co. taproom on Wednesday, January 25, 2017. This beer will then see a staggered release during the months of January and February in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of the Founders distribution area. Frootwood will be available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles (suggested retail price of $14.99) and in single 750ml bottles (suggested retail price of $11.99). Information on the three remaining new beers in the Barrel-Aged Series has not yet been made available, but those details will be released as the year goes on.

As far as the rest of the 2017 Availability Calendar goes, we will post it below and allow it to speak for itself. Before we do so, let’s just cover a few highlights first:

The brewery’s Seasonal Series – Azacca IPA, PC Pils, & Mosaic Promise – will have availability in both 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and 15-packs of 12 oz. cans in 2017.
Beginning in early 2017, All Day IPA will be available in 19.2 oz. cans.
Since Founders Brewing Co. is constantly experimenting and adding new offerings to their portfolio, the brewery has made the difficult decision to retire Pale Ale and Devil Dancer to make room in their brewing schedule.

Alright, that about covers it. Check out the full 2017 Availability Calendar below and prepare yourself for the amazing year of beers ahead from Founders Brewing Co. Prost!

2017-availability-calendar-1 — Click here to enlarge image

Hop Disciples IPA to Debut for Great Divide Brewing Co. in 2017

Posted on December 20, 2016December 20, 2016 by mashingin

In January of 2017, Great Divide Brewing Co. (Denver, Colorado) plans to introduce Hop Disciples India Pale Ale as the latest release in the brewery’s Tank Farm Series.

Rather than handcuffing themselves to a specific recipe for a seasonally released India Pale Ale, Great Divide Brewing Co. has decided to approach Hop Disciples IPA as more of “a rotating hop project” that provides hop lovers with the freshest and most exciting experience possible with each year’s release. This goal is achieved by brewing a bright, clean IPA that will feature “a different hop variety at the forefront of the sensory experience every year.” The 2017 version of Hop Disciples will showcase the Idaho 7 variety, a hop that displays “aromas of orange zest and stone fruit complemented by a hint of black tea leaves in an uncharacteristic element of subtlety.” Hop Disciples will join Old Ruffian Barley Wine Style Ale, Nadia Kali Hibiscus Saison, and Fresh Hop Pale Ale to round out Great Divide’s Tank Farm Series, a lineup of seasonally released, experimental styles that allows “the brewers a chance to play a bit.”

The Hop Disciples IPA project will officially launch in January of 2017. Once released, you will be able to find this brew available in 12 oz. cans at craft beer-friendly retailers in Alabama, Florida and anywhere else within the Great Divide distribution footprint that normally sees Hop Farm releases. If you have been looking for a new IPA to enjoy and/or a new hop to experience, be sure to keep an eye out for this one when it drops early next year. Prost!

Vital Information for Hop Disciples India Pale Ale from Great Divide Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Hop Farm Series, January 2017
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.2%
Featured Hop – Idaho 7
Availability – 12 oz. cans
Beer Finder – http://greatdivide.com/beer-finder/

Highland Brewing Provides First Look at Imperium Russian Imperial Stout

Posted on December 19, 2016December 19, 2016 by mashingin

With the label now officially approved, Highland Brewing Company (Asheville, North Carolina) has announced that Imperium Russian Imperial Stout will join the brewery’s Warrior Series in 2017.

After an incredibly solid stream of releases in 2016, Highland Brewing Company is closing out the year with a little love note – in label form – that subtly implies that the craft beer community should expect more of the same in 2017. Imperium Russian Imperial Stout will be the brewery’s first big release of the year and the newest addition to their Warrior Series, a limited line of small batch, big brews featuring bold aromas and flavors. This imposing Russian Imperial Stout sources its power from generous additions of vanilla, coconut and specialty coffee from Octane Coffee / Bar. The brewery has not yet released all of the details concerning this brew, but we can get a bit more information from Imperium’s full label description:

The dark complexity of a Russian Imperial Stout made more irresistible with the addition of hand-cut vanilla, toasted coconut, and Octane® coffee. Pitch black, velvet smooth and aggressively roasty, Imperium commands all of your senses. ABV – 8.5% IBUs – 50

The only release information that we currently have for Imperium Russian Imperial Stout is that it will officially launch on Friday, February 10 with availability in 12 oz. bottles. Since this was meant as just a little tease from Highland Brewing Company, you can expect more details to arrive soon. Stay tuned. Prost!

Vital Information for Imperium Russian Imperial Stout from Highland Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Warrior Series, launch date set for February 10, 2017
Style – Russian Imperial Stout
ABV – 8.5%
IBUs – 50
Added Ingredients – Vanilla beans, coconut & Octane coffee

Heavy Seas Beer Prepares for Return of Siren Noire

Posted on December 19, 2016December 19, 2016 by mashingin

Heavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) recently announced that the 2017 vintage of Siren Noire Imperial Chocolate Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels is slated for release in January.

If you happened to see the 2017 Heavy Seas release calendar posted last week (click here to check that out), Siren Noire may have already caught your eye as the year’s first limited release offering to come out of the brewery’s Uncharted Waters Series – a lineup of barrel/wood-aged limited releases that exhibit elevated levels of brewing prowess. Siren Noire starts with a base of a “velvety, rich chocolate stout” brewed with nearly three pounds of Belgian cocoa nibs per barrel. Once the brewing is completed, the beer is then “aged for five weeks in bourbon barrels with vanilla beans added.” This process allows the beer to mature and finish as a 9.5% ABV Imperial Stout with a “well-rounded body that is decidedly chocolatey—but without being extraordinarily sweet or cloying.”

Siren Noire Imperial Chocolate Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels will officially release in January 2017. This offering will be available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer establishments found in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of the Heavy Seas distribution area. This offering has proven to be one of the more popular releases from Heavy Seas, so keep this one in mind while beer shopping next month. Prost!

Vital Information for Siren Noire from Heavy Seas Beer

Release – Limited/Uncharted Waters Series, January 2017
Style – American Imperial Stout
ABV – 9.5%
IBUs – 25
Malts – 2-Row, Crystal, Chocolate & Roasted Barley
Hops – Brewers Gold
Treatment – Vanilla beans added, aged in Bourbon Barrels
Food pairings – Fresh berries and whipped cream, ice cream sandwiches
Glassware – Snifter or English pint
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://hsbeer.com/beerfinder

Stone Brewing Co. Creates Collaboration Beer with Virginia Breweries and Governor

Posted on December 15, 2016 by mashingin

Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, California) recently announced that they have partnered with Ardent Craft Ales, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, and Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe to create the limited release collaboration Give Me Stout or Give Me Death.

Now that their new production brewery in Richmond, Virginia is operational, the folks at Stone Brewing Co. figured they would properly introduce themselves to Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and neighboring breweries Ardent Craft Ales and Hardywood Park Craft Brewery by inviting them over to collaborate on a beer. This motley brew crew put their heads together and decided to create Give Me Stout or Give Me Death as a “cry for resistance against the tyrannical oppression of industrial beer.” With the foundation of this Imperial Stout being heavily influenced by Stone Brewing’s predilection for assertive, hop-forward beers, the Virginia locals implemented the use of locally sourced raspberries and blackberries to “provide a sweetness to start, followed by fruit tartness that nicely balances” the beer. To come full circle, all parties involved agreed on the use of Belma hops – a variety that provides berry and citrus notes – late in the brewing process to “complement the Virginia-grown berries, making for an assertive bitterness on the finish alongside the warm flavors of roasted malt.” Weighing in at a sizeable 9.5% ABV, Give Me Stout or Give Me Death comes together as a steadfast declaration that would make Patrick Henry proud.

“With nearly 160 craft breweries, Virginia’s craft beer industry is booming and thanks to partnerships like this, we can continue to share the Virginia craft beer story not only up and down the East Coast, but across the U.S.,” said Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe. “Stone Brewing has built an incredible operation here that is already benefiting the City of Richmond’s economy and its quality of life. Now with its first collaboration with local mainstays, Ardent Craft Ales and Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Stone has created an excellent platform for future partnerships with the Virginia craft beer industry. It was a great honor to contribute to the production of this stout that touts both the history of our Commonwealth and its rich agricultural offerings, and an even greater honor to drink it!”

Give Me Stout or Give Me Death is a limited release that will officially become available on December 12. You will be able to find this offering in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer establishments in Virginia, Alabama and handful of other select markets within Stone Brewing’s distribution area (mostly East Coast, full list of states available below). If this sounds like your kind of brew, start checking those bottle shops soon and often because I am certain that this release will not last for long. Prost!

Vital Information for Give Me Stout or Give Me Death from Stone Brewing Co., Ardent Craft Ales, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe

Release – Limited, beginning December 12
Style – American Imperial Stout
ABV – 9.5%
IBUs – 94
Hops – Belma & Nugget
Added Ingredients – Virginia raspberries & blackberries
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Distribution – AL, AR, DC, DE, GA, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, NH, NY, PA, RI, VA and at CA Stone Brewing locations only

Funky Buddha Brewery Enters December with Plans to Release Three Limited Beers

Posted on December 15, 2016 by mashingin

Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, Florida) has announced the release of three holiday, craft beer treats during the month of December 2016: Nikolai Vorlauf Imperial Russian Stout, I’m So Excited, I’m So Scared Imperial Coffee Stout, and Last Buffalo in the Park.

Leading this month-long barrage of big beers from Funky Buddha is Nikolai Vorlauf. Brewed with oats and lactose, this classic Russian Imperial Stout rocks a “thick body . . . complemented by plenty of complex chocolate, cocoa, and caramel undertones, before finishing on a balanced roasty note.” In an effort to take “care of the locals and visiting beer enthusiasts,” this year’s batch of Nikolai Vorlauf will be available for purchase exclusively at Funky Buddha Brewery beginning on Tuesday, December 20. This offering will be available in 22 oz. bottles for $10 each (6 bottle limit per person) and on draft.

Named after a scene from Saved By the Bell that really showcased the acting range of a young Elizabeth Berkley (click here to experience the awesome), I’m So Excited, I’m So Scared is the “ferociously coffee-d” variant of the brewery’s Imperial Stout and the second limited release to be featured in December. Fueled by a massive coffee aroma and a shot or two of vanilla, thoughts of this 10% ABV “caffeinated queen” are almost guaranteed to keep you up at night. Once released on Tuesday, December 20, this offering can be purchased at the brewery in 22 oz. bombers for $13 each (6 bottle limit per person) and on draft. After the official brewery launch, bottles of I’m So Excited, I’m So Scared will see distribution throughout Funky Buddha’s distribution area in Florida.

Finally, Funky Buddha rounds off an incredibly busy month with the exciting release of Last Buffalo in the Park. To create “this rare and highly sought after beer” that was originally brewed in collaboration with Delray Beach’s Park Tavern, the folks at Funky Buddha start by brewing an Imperial version of their Last Snow Coconut & Coffee Porter. For added depth and complexity, the beer is then “aged in Buffalo Trace barrels for months to accentuate the vanilla and coconut notes.” This very limited, barrel-aged brew will be released in 22 oz. bottles ($25 each, 3 bottle limit per person) on Friday, December 23. Bottles of Last Buffalo in the Park will also see statewide distribution for the first time shortly after the taproom release.

The release dates for Nikolai Vorlauf, I’m So Excited, I’m So Scared, and Last Buffalo in the Park are just a few days away, so start making those plans now to ensure that you do not miss out on these limited brews. Prost!

Vital Information for Nikolai Vorlauf Imperial Russian Stout from Funky Buddha Brewery

Release – Limited/Little Buddha Small Batch, December 20, 2016
Style – Russian Imperial Stout
ABV – 10%
IBUs – 45
Availability – Draft & 22 oz. bottles ($10 each, brewery only)

Vital Information for I’m So Excited, I’m So Scared Imperial Coffee Stout from Funky Buddha Brewery

Release – Limited/Little Buddha Small Batch, December 20, 2016
Style – American Imperial Stout
ABV – 10%
IBUs – 40
Availability – Draft & 22 oz. bottles ($13 each)

Vital Information for Last Buffalo in the Park from Funky Buddha Brewery

Release – Limited/Little Buddha Small Batch, December 23, 2016
Style – Imperial Porter
ABV – 11.5%
IBUs – 40
Treatment – Aged in Buffalo Trace Bourbon barrels
Availability – Draft & 22 oz. bottles ($25 each)

Rogue Ales Plans to Release Hazelutely Choctabulous, Candy Bar in a Bottle

Posted on December 14, 2016December 21, 2016 by mashingin

Rogue Ales (Newport, Oregon) recently hit social media with the news that their fan-favorite blend lovingly known as Hazelutely Choctabulous will soon be released in bottles and on draft.

Hazelutely Choctabulous, an innocent idea dreamed up by brewery super-fans to mix two long-standing and respected brews from Rogue Ales, is a secret that can no longer be contained. This 60/40 blend of Hazelnut Brown Nectar and Rogue Chocolate Stout has reached such a level of popularity that the brewery has decided to officially release it as a stand-alone offering in bottles and on draft. For the full story on the beverage also known as “Candy Bar in a Bottle,” here is the full brewery description:

For years, our hardest core local fans have been drinking a blend of Chocolate Stout and Hazelnut Brown Nectar, they say it tastes like a chocolate candy bar. We have taken these two absolutely fabulous beers and fused them together to create Hazelutely Choctabulous, dark and decadent with a rich nutty flavor up front followed by a chocolate truffle finish. We’re thrilled to share our little secret with the world.

Rogue Ales has hinted that Hazelutely Choctabulous will be arriving ~~soon, but an official release date has yet to be set (will update once we have that info)~~ in January of 2017. What is confirmed is that this offering will be available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at fine beer bars, restaurants and retailers in Alabama, Florida and throughout the brewery’s expansive distribution area. The idea of a “Candy Bar in a Bottle” is sure to get the attention of many beer lovers out there, so stay vigilant and snag your bottle or pour when you see it. Prost!

Vital Information for Hazelutely Choctabulous from Rogue Ales

Release – Limited, January 2017
Style – Beer Blend, 60% Hazelnut Brown Nectar & 40% Rogue Chocolate Stout
ABV – 5.7% ABV
IBUs – 51
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.rogue.com/finder/

Tasting Notes: Last Snow Coconut & Coffee Porter from Funky Buddha Brewery

Posted on December 14, 2016 by mashingin

Tasting Notes returns to completely obliterate the midweek hump by taking a look at Last Snow Coconut and Coffee Porter from Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, Florida).

Released twice a year -typically in February and September – as a Little Buddha Small Batch offering, Last Snow is Funky Buddha’s way of book-ending the harsh, sub-70 degree “winters” experienced in Florida. This “rich, creamy Porter” is brewed with “coconut and freshly-roasted coffee for a taste that recalls a winter wonderland.” Although packed with flavor, the beer’s surprisingly low 6.4% ABV creates an easy-drinking experience that you can enjoy all season long. Since Last Snow happens to be one of Funky Buddha’s more popular releases, odds are that bottles from this last release have all been bought up by now. Hope still remains though. I have recently seen this brew available on draft at a few beer bars and growler stations around Tampa, and Funky Buddha has it listed as “On Tap Now” at the brewery’s taproom.

Alright, enough talk. It’s time to open this bomber, pretend drinking this beer is “work” and take down some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Last Snow Coconut & Coffee Porter from Funky Buddha Brewery

Appearance: Last Snow fills the glass with an incredibly glossy black, completely opaque body. Held to direct light, the color holds with just a tinge of rusty brown presenting itself at the extreme edges of the liquid. The beer is too dark to identify a carbonation level. The pour produced two fingers of light brown foam. This head is loose and eventually dissipates to allow the beer’s darkness to shine from all angles.

Aroma: As my nose approaches the glass, I am delighted to be greeted by a spot-on toasted coconut aroma. This note is rich and downright intoxicating. Roasted coffee and fine chocolate soon emerge to swirl about and provide an added level of decadence to the coconut. A slight caramelized brown sugar presence then develops to round off an aromatic profile that is ridiculously reminiscent of German chocolate cake. Simply amazing.

Taste: The luxurious, rich and flavorful toasted coconut icing you find on German chocolate cake leads the way, but the beer then begins to take on another identity as it opens up. The coffee assumes a larger role here by providing a hefty dose of beautiful roast and subtle bitterness. Dark chocolate rides that bitterness out and lays down a bit of sweetness as well. Caramel, toffee and bit of hazelnut finishes the experience off.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate carbonation level, this Porter proves to be much lighter than you would ever expect. The beer does cling to the palate a bit, but this is a welcomed characteristic because it allows you to bask in each and every note provided by the flavor experience. The ABV is surprisingly light and well hidden. Notes of coconut and coffee linger as the aftertaste.

Final Thoughts: So . . . yeah, I can easily declare that Last Snow Coconut & Coffee Porter is one of the best flavored Porters I have encountered during my lengthy craft beer journey. Until now, I have never experienced such a fresh and clean coconut flavor in a finished beer. Usually there is a bit of a plastic-like, artificial character to the coconut that just can’t seem to be circumvented. This is not the case here because Funky Buddha obviously figured it out and absolutely nailed it. The coconut note would be enough to sell me on this brew, but then we have that coffee presence. Coming across beautifully roasted and high-end, the aromatics and flavors of the chosen coffee are the perfect complement to that coconut. The final surprise – and possibly the most impressive feat achieved by this offering – is that so much flavor was stuffed into a pretty low ABV Porter. So many breweries would have pushed this thing to the area of 10% or above without a second thought, but not Funky Buddha. It is clear that they took their time with Last Snow, laid it down gently in the sweet spot, and effectively killed it with laser-guided precision. I want more. Now. Please? Prost!

Holiday Gift Idea: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Bottle Opener from YOpeners

Posted on December 13, 2016December 21, 2016 by mashingin

If you want to hook up your beer-lovin’ friend/family member this year with a unique but useful gift, you really need to check out the Bourbon Barrel-Aged Bottle Opener handcrafted by the folks at YOpeners.

Before we get to these incredibly awesome bottle openers, we really need to let you know the wonderful story behind them. When John Miller came up with the idea to create YOpeners, his intentions went far beyond just establishing a small business. The true inspiration for YOpeners was simply to come up with a project that allowed him to spend some quality time with his autistic and legally blind son. Although his dexterity and vision issues keep him from using power tools, Miller’s son has become quite the expert at “helping press the carriage bolt into the opener.” When the duo completes a batch of bottle openers, pricing for each YOpener is then set to “basically covers the cost of materials and shipping” so that they can continue to buy materials for the next project. It is quite clear that these openers are about much more than selling a product and making a profit. They are more importantly a means to provide a father and son the chance to bond while “making some sawdust together.”

The Bourbon Barrel-Aged Rare Earth Edition YOpener has been made with various bourbon barrels that once aged beers at Anthem Brewing Company. Once the barrels are broken down, the staves are then cut, shaped and assembled to become a uniquely designed bottle opener that “opens the bottle while leaving the cap in perfect condition with no bends or creases of any kind.” For your convenience, these bottle openers also feature a wax cutter to handle those stubborn wax-dipped bombers and a convenient leather strap for added ease of use. As an added bonus, the special edition Bourbon Barrel-Aged Rare Earth Edition YOpener has a “a rare earth magnet embedded so it will stick to the fridge AND hold onto the cap when you open your bottle.” These openers are available on Etsy now for just $22 (click here to check them out), and you can even get a custom engraving add-on for $5 more.

Basically, what we have here is a thoughtful, custom-made, handcrafted gift that will see daily use and act as a heartwarming conversation piece whenever used while entertaining company. How can you possibly go wrong here? Make it happen and you can thank me later. Prost!