Beer | Mashing In

Second Self Beer Company to Begin Distribution in Alabama

Posted on November 30, 2016 by mashingin

Second Self Beer Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has officially signed with Pinnacle Imports and will begin distribution in Alabama on Thursday, December 1.

Established with the mission “to brew exceptionally high-quality beer made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients that vary with the seasons,” Second Self Beer Company launched in Atlanta during the fall of 2014. Since that date, the brewery has grown steadily, earned a solid reputation and created a loyal following by simply staying true to their five core values: Local, Flavor, Community, Sustainable and People. Their sustained success has finally made it possible for the brewery to expand their reach outside of the state of Georgia, and Second Self Beer Company has chosen the neighboring craft beer community of Alabama as their first step toward distribution expansion.

When the brewery launches in Alabama on December 1, Second Self Beer Company will offer the following five offerings (all pictured above):

Year-Round Beers

Citrus IPA: a year-round IPA that packs a citrus punch yet isn’t overly bitter. It’s made with citrusy hops: Columbus, Amarillo, Citra & just a touch of lemon, orange & grapefruit peel to enhance the citrus aroma without any bitterness. The beer is then dry-hopped with more Amarillo & Citra hops for the added hoppy, citrus punch. The aroma is sweet, yet the taste is dry with a robust IPA finish. Suggested parings: pan-roasted trout, mussels, artichokes, potato soup & gruyere cheese. ABV – 6.2% IBUs – 50
Red Hop Rye: a Red IPA with an abundance of hoppy citrus aromas from dry-hopping. Spicy rye mixed with hops & balanced by a malty backbone from American caramel & honey malts. Suggested pairings: BBQ, steak, burgers, brats, cheddar cheese & spicy foods. ABV – 7.3% IBUs – 69
Thai Wheat: a year-round American Wheat. This spicy beer is as exotic as the country that inspired it, with fresh lemongrass & ginger for a refreshing aroma & taste. Suggested pairings: fish, chicken, pork loin, grilled vegetables, sushi & Asian cuisine. ABV – 5.1% IBUs – 18

Seasonal Releases

Maverick & Gose: a fresh take on a traditional Gose with the addition of coriander. Dry-hopped with fruity Wakatu hops to balance out a slightly tart & salty nature. Suggested pairings: grilled grouper, oysters, guacamole, pineapple & beach volleyball. ABV – 4.4% IBUs – 8
Molé Porter: a chocolate porter with extra spices reminiscent of Second Self Co-founder Jason Santamaria’s family recipe for Oaxacan sauce. This robust porter is packed with flavor to warm you up this winter. Suggested pairings: pork or beef tacos, stews & chilis, gruyere cheese & chocolate desserts. ABV – 6.5% IBUs – 27

The five beers listed above will be available in 12 oz. cans and on draft at “bars, restaurants, and shops throughout Birmingham, Montgomery, Auburn and surrounding counties.” All distribution responsibilities will be handled by Bessemer’s Pinnacle Imports. Details concerning official launch parties should emerge soon, and I’ll update you here once I have that information. Until then, just swing by your favorite, local craft beer establishment on Thursday to sample these brews and give Second Self Beer Company a proper welcome to the Alabama beer scene. Prost!

Full Sail Brewing Observes the Winter Solstice with Shortest Day CDA

Posted on November 29, 2016 by mashingin

In recognition of the year’s shortest day and longest night, Full Sail Brewing Co. (Hood River, Oregon) has officially released Shortest Day Cascadian Dark Ale as their latest limited release offering.

As the winter solstice looms over us, Full Sail Brewing has brewed up Shortest Day Cascadian Dark Ale (CDA) to be as dark as the long nights of winter seem. Arriving as the latest offering to come out of the brewery’s Brewmaster Reserve, this CDA – a style also known as the Black India Pale Ale – has been brewed with a recipe boasting three malts (2-Row Pale, Crystal, and de-husked Chocolate malts) and three varietals of tropical and citrus hops (Mosaic, Simcoe and Citra hops). These ingredients come together to create a beer that “pours a deep dark black with a lacy tan head, with aromas of dark roasty malt and hints of tropical and citrus fruit.” Quick to make an impression with the craft beer community, Shortest Day CDA has already won a gold medal at this year’s Great International Beer & Cider Competition.

“Shortest Day CDA offers bold flavor with excellent balance,” says Full Sail Executive Brewmaster Jamie Emmerson. “De-husked chocolate malt imparts dark chocolate flavor while crystal adds depth and complexity. Generous additions of Mosaic, Simcoe and Citra hops lend flavors of fruit and sweet floral notes.”

Brewed in small batches, Shortest Day CDA is a limited release offering available from November 2016 through February 2017. You can find this beer in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments in Florida and throughout the rest of Full Sail’s distribution network. Get your bottles when you can so that you may properly enjoy a long, winter’s night with a Shortest Day CDA in hand. Prost!

Vital Information for Shortest Day Cascadian Dark Ale from Full Sail Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Brewmaster Reserve Series, November 2016 through February 2017
Style – Cascadian Dark Ale/Black India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.6%
IBUs – 57
Malts – 2-Row Pale, Crystal & de-husked Chocolate
Hops – Mosaic, Simcoe & Citra
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://fullsailbrewing.com/where-to-buy/
Fun Fact – The hand-drawn artwork by Portland-based TWEEQiM creativeLab’s MiQ Willmott on all of Full Sail’s recently rebranded packaging pays homage to Hood River’s water sources, bounty of fresh ingredients, and of course, the award-winning taste in each and every bottle. Shortest Day CDA’s label design does all this and more. Willmott’s meticulous design features the Green Man—known in lore as the mascot of the winter solstice—fashioned from hops, celebrating the darkness of night and rebirth, as days begin getting longer again. “The Green Man’s crescent-moon smile reflects on the river,” says Willmott. “And the white stars represent the ‘winter circle,’ the phenomenon of stars that appear only on the winter solstice. Even the Big Dipper gets a cameo.”

Sixpoint Brewery Tackles Beer Climate Issues with Release of Global Warmer

Posted on November 29, 2016January 6, 2017 by mashingin

Sixpoint Brewery (Brooklyn, New York) recently announced that Global Warmer Cloudy Red Ale has returned to shelves and taps as a limited, Seasonal release.

Created as a statement that addresses a beer climate currently overwhelmed by the same ol’ styles of the season, Sixpoint has reformulated and reimagined the Winter Warmer with the creation of Global Warmer. In keeping with the initial intentions of the brewery’s Cycliquids Series – a constantly rotating lineup of beers in which the brewery experiments with styles and/or tweaks the recipes of past releases -, this Winter Warmer shakes things up by rockin’ a base of an American Red Ale that is “unfiltered [and] hop-intensified.” Clocking in at 7% ABV and 70 IBUs, this Cloudy Red Ale bucks trends to make a real impact on your choice of beers this season.

Global Warmer Cloudy Red Ale is available now as a limited release offering. You can track this one down in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans at select craft beer retailers found in Alabama, Florida and throughout the full distribution footprint of Sixpoint Brewery. Join the movement this winter, call for change, and raise a glass of Global Warmer as a sign of solidarity. Prost!

Vital Information for Global Warmer Cloudy Red Ale from Sixpoint Brewery

Release – Limited/Cycliquids Series, beginning late November 2016
Style – American Red Ale/Winter Warmer
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 70
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans
Beer Finder – http://sixpoint.com/connect/finder

Tasting Notes: Mandarina IPA from Highland Brewing Company

Posted on November 28, 2016December 1, 2016 by mashingin

The Thanksgiving holiday provided us with the opportunity to try quite a few new libations over the long weekend, so let’s kick the week off by jumping right into some Tasting Notes featuring Mandarina IPA from Highland Brewing Company (Asheville, North Carolina).

First released back in June, Mandarina IPA was created as Highland Brewing Company’s answer to the incredibly popular and expanding segment of fruited India Pale Ales filling craft beer shelves these days. For this offering, the brewers at Highland achieved a massive citrus profile thanks to the use of German Mandarina Bavaria and Hull Melon hops and hundreds of pounds of puréed whole California oranges. The beer is then supported by a classic IPA backbone reinforced with Cascade, Chinook and Bravo hops. All of this culminates into a “palate-pleasing, fruity crusher burst[ing] with intense orange and tropical notes and assert[ing] a crisp, bright finish.” Mandarina IPA is a year-round release available now in 12 oz. cans, 12 oz. bottles, and on draft. You can find this one in Alabama, Florida and throughout the full distribution area of Highland Brewing Company. With those details covered, I believe it is now time to fill this Spiegelau IPA glass and jot down some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Mandarina IPA from Highland Brewing Company

Appearance: Mandarina IPA fills the glass with a rich, golden yellow liquid softly painted with subtle brushstrokes of the lightest of oranges. Held to direct light, the beer softens to expose gentle gold and pale, straw yellow tones. The body is pristine in its clarity and displays a carbonation activity dashing throughout. The pour built over two fingers of airy, white foam. That head eventually drops down to a thin, but complete top cap that lays down traces of lace. As I gently swirl the beer around, it is easy to see that it is quite slick on the glass. Utterly beautiful in presentation.

Aroma: Have you ever walked into a kitchen where someone is slicing a large amount of oranges or visited an establishment that makes fresh orange juice right in front of their guests? If so, then you know the exact aroma that is pleasantly permeating my senses at this very moment. Ridiculously bright, citrusy notes fill the air with ease. So clean. So natural. Such a blatantly spot on representation of orange juice and zest. Tropical hop notes reside underneath, but stand no chance of competing with this aromatic blitz of citrus.

Taste: Orange zest leads this flavorful charge with a gentle sweetness and a little pithy bitterness. The flavors then shift to the center of the fruit to produce notes of freshly squeezed orange juice. The hops surface to complement with tropical fruit flavors of tangerine, grapefruit, mango and melon. A light malt sweetness balances the hops and encompasses the entire flavor profile by adding a bit of a candied orange-like effect. Incredibly nuanced and balanced here.

Mouthfeel: This IPA rests on the lighter side of medium in body with a bright carbonation presence. It may be bitter and sweet on the palate, but the beer quickly dries out cleanly and crisply. There is a slight tinge of ABV heat on the throat, but it is barely noticeable. The aftertaste is the whole orange: zest, pith, juice and pulp. This beer is basically the definition of easy-drinking and quenching.

Final Thoughts: The brewers at Highland Brewing Company obviously had their sights set on having Mandarina IPA harness the essence of the orange, and their aim has proven incredibly true. Although the fruit is the star here, this beer is by no means one dimensional. Whether they originate from the hops or the malts, all of the notes within the base IPA are allowed to complement and play nicely with the orange character. From the first to the last sip, it is clear that a lot of care, consideration and attention went into crafting Mandarina IPA. In conclusion, this is a fantastic offering that can either act as a wonderful introduction to the world of India Pale Ales or as a thirst-quenching, daily drinker for the most avid of hopheads. In other words, this is a must try brew. Prost!

Breckenridge Brewery Gets Festive with Release of Christmas Ale and Holidale

Posted on November 28, 2016 by mashingin

To get the Holiday Season in full swing, Breckenridge Brewery (Littleton, Colorado) has officially sent their Christmas Ale and Holidale out for national distribution.

Brewed with the same recipe since it was first released in 1993, the iconic Christmas Ale is Breckenridge Brewery’s riff on the Winter Warmer. Unlike a lot of the Winter Warmers and Holiday Ales currently on the market, Christmas Ale’s recipe does not include any spice additions. Instead, this Strong Ale relies heavily on “rich flavors of caramel and chocolate from carefully roasted malts” and any notes of spice have been sourced from the use of Chinook and Mt. Hood hops. Since this seasonal has achieved a level of popularity that has caused the beer to sell out early each year, the brewery has “increased the volume of Christmas Ale’s production by twenty-five percent” to hopefully keep up with demand in 2016.

“People look forward to our annual release of Christmas Ale because it marks the start of the holiday season,” said Todd Usry, President of Breckenridge Brewery. “Its strikes the perfect balance of hearty flavors with tradition and cheer.”

Fully embracing the giving spirit of the season, Breckenridge Brewery does not stop at just one option when it comes to Holiday Ale releases. Holidale begins with the same base beer as Christmas Ale, but this batch spends some time aging and maturing in whiskey barrels. This treatment expands on the beer’s sensory experience by adding “toasted biscuit notes complemented by soft caramel sweetness and hints of oak and whiskey warmth.” 2016 marks the second year that this true holiday treat has been given expanded availability throughout Breckenridge’s national distribution area.

Christmas Ale and Holidale are both available from November through December. Christmas Ale can be found in 6-packs and 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 5L mini-kegs, and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Florida and throughout the full distribution footprint of Breckenridge Brewery. A bit more limited in availability, 22 oz. bottles of Holidale can be picked up in select markets within the brewery’s distribution network. Secure your stash when you can because both of these brews are sure to be holiday hits once again in 2016. Prost!

Vital Information for Christmas Ale from Breckenridge Brewery

Release – Seasonal, November through December 2016
Style – Winter Warmer
ABV – 7.1%
IBUs – 22
Hops – Chinook & Mt. Hood
Availability – 6-packs & 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 5L mini-kegs, & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.breckbrew.com/beer-locator

Vital Information for Holidale from Breckenridge Brewery

Release – Limited Seasonal, November through December 2016
Style – Barrel-aged Winter Warmer (whiskey barrels)
ABV – 10.3%
IBUs – 22
Availability – 22 oz. bottles
Beer Finder – http://www.breckbrew.com/beer-locator

Burnt City Brewing Launches Freight Handler Milk Stout as Newest Seasonal

Posted on November 28, 2016 by mashingin

Burnt City Brewing (Chicago, Illinois) celebrates Stout Season by introducing the craft beer community to their newest offering, Freight Handler Milk Stout.

Born from the ashes of what was previously known as Atlas Brewing Company, Burnt City Brewing has risen to embrace winter with the Seasonal release of Freight Handler Milk Stout. This full-bodied Milk Stout boasts “rich chocolate flavors and a complex maltiness.” The addition of lactose adds a touch of sweetness and lends the beer a smooth, silken texture.

Freight Handler Milk Stout has been released as a Seasonal offering that will hang around through the winter months. This brew is available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans (suggested retail price of $9.99) and on draft at craft beer retailers in Alabama, Chicagoland, Northern Illinois and Northern Indiana. Freight Handler Milk Stout can be found alongside Burnt City’s three flagship beers – Dick The Butcher Pale Ale, Face Melter Hibiscus IPA and Balloon Boy Farmhouse Wheat Ale – on shelves and taps now. Prost!

Vital Information for Freight Handler Milk Stout from Burnt City Brewing

Release – Winter Seasonal, beginning late November 2016
Style – Milk Stout
ABV – 5%
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and draft
Fun Fact – Not only can you enjoy a vast array of draft beers and some tasty grub at Burnt City Brewing’s brewpub, but you can also bowl a few frames in the pub’s fully functioning bowling alley.

Ballast Point Brewing Releases Three Versions of Victory at Sea Imperial Porter in 22 oz. Bottles

Posted on November 23, 2016November 23, 2016 by mashingin

Ballast Point Brewing (San Diego, California) has officially announced that 22 oz. bottles of three versions of their brewery-favorite Victory at Sea Imperial Porter have headed out to distribution.

As a bit of a tease to get everyone ready for the upcoming Victory at Sea Day on Sunday, December 18 (more info available below), Ballast Point Brewing has released 22 oz. bombers of the following three versions of their world-class Imperial Porter, Victory at Sea:

Victory at Sea Imperial Porter with Coffee & Vanilla (Original) – A big porter crafted to weather any storm. Our Victory at Sea Imperial Porter is a bold, smooth brew with just the right amount of sweetness. We infused this robust porter with vanilla and San Diego’s own Caffé Calabria coffee beans. The subtle roasted notes and minimal acidity of the cold brewed coffee, balances perfectly with the sweet caramel undertones of the malt, creating a winning combination for your palate. ABV – 10% IBUs – 60
Coconut Victory at Sea Imperial Porter with Coffee, Vanilla & Coconut – Our favorite porter with just a touch of the tropics. This Coconut Victory at Sea takes our popular Imperial Porter to another place. We added sweet roasted coconut to our robust porter brewed with Caffé Calabria coffee and vanilla, the perfect complement to this beer’s subtle roasty intensity. A favorite at our annual Victory at Sea Day, but it’s worth enjoying anytime you need to be transported. ABV – 10% IBUs – 60
Peppermint Victory at Sea Imperial Porter with Coffee, Vanilla & Peppermint – A winning combo of coffee, vanilla & mint. This Peppermint Victory at Sea is a festive take on our popular Imperial Porter. We took our trademark robust porter brewed with Caffé Calabria coffee and vanilla and added a dose of refreshing peppermint. The trio of flavors play perfectly on your palate – the brew’s sweet roasting balances nicely with a cool, minty finish. ABV – 10% IBUs – 60

The original version of Victory at Sea Imperial Porter is a Year Round release available in 12 oz. bottles, 22 oz. bottles and on draft. You can find this one on shelves and taps at craft beer-friendly establishments throughout Ballast Point’s distribution network. Coconut Victory at Sea Imperial Porter and Peppermint Victory at Sea Imperial Porter are both Limited releases available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft. These two Limited releases will be turning up in select markets within the Ballast Point distribution area. Keep an eye open for all three of these offerings during your next visit to the beer store, and be sure to make plans to attend a Victory at Sea Day event near you on December 18. Prost!

Vital Information for Victory at Sea Day on Sunday, December 18

Description of Event – “December 18th marks the return of Ballast Point’s annual Victory at Sea Day. What began as a local event in our tasting rooms featuring several varieties of our Coffee Vanilla Imperial Porter has become a day to celebrate everywhere with our original, coconut, or peppermint Victory at Sea varieties coming soon nationwide.”

Establishments in Florida Confirmed to be Celebrating Victory at Sea Day

**Victory at Sea Day will be celebrated across the country. Click here for the full list of event locations that will be participating in Victory at Sea Day.**

Genesee Brewing Releases Salted Caramel Chocolate Porter

Posted on November 23, 2016November 23, 2016 by mashingin

Genesee Brewing Company (Rochester, New York) has officially announced that this year’s limited release of Salted Caramel Chocolate Porter will see widespread distribution for the first time in the beer’s history.

Originally brewed in 2014 as “a small, hand-crafted, 20-barrel batch” in the Genesee Brew House – a modern extension of the legendary, 138 year-old Genesee Brewing Company, the Brew House was created with the intention of being a world-class beer destination that will keep the brewery’s “story alive for generations to come” -, Salted Caramel Chocolate Porter’s initial release was praised by fans of the brewery and sold out with a quickness. This should not be a surprise when you consider that Brewmaster Dean Jones created this offering by focusing on the “rich, sweet flavor” of the fine French chocolate he sourced from Hedonist Artisan Chocolates, a nationally-recognized boutique chocolatier. With the use of this particular chocolate, he was able to craft “a seductively complex English Style Porter with a rich caramel aroma and a lot of roast.”

Salted Caramel Chocolate Porter is available now as a limited release offering. You can find this brew in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer establishments in select markets throughout the East and Midwest (it has been confirmed that Florida will receive shipment). This is the first time that Salted Caramel Chocolate Porter will see wide distribution, so you should not expect this offering to hang around on shelves for long. Grab ’em when you see ’em. Prost!

Vital Information for Salted Caramel Chocolate Porter from Genesee Brewing Company

Release – Limited, November 2016 release
Style – English Porter
ABV – 6.5%
Chocolate Supplier – Hedonist Artisan Chocolates
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.geneseebeer.com/finder/

SanTan Brewing Company Brews Up Yotes Pale Ale for Arizona Coyotes

Posted on November 22, 2016 by mashingin

SanTan Brewing Company (Chandler, Arizona) and the Arizona Coyotes (Glendale, Arizona) recently announced that they have partnered to create the hockey team’s first ever beer, Yotes Pale Ale.

Due to the widespread popularity of hoppy American Pale Ales and American India Pale Ales across the country, the Arizona Coyotes decided it was time to offer their craft beer-loving hockey fans the perfect brew to enjoy during home games at Gila River Arena. The team entrusted their good friends and proud sponsors at SanTan Brewing Company to create such a brew, and Yotes Pale Ale was officially born. Brick red in color, this American Pale Ale bursts with lupulin-laced aromatics and flavors thanks to a hop bill comprised of Cascade, Citra and Nelson Sauvin hops. At just 5.4% ABV, Yotes Pale Ale is an easy-drinking offering that fans can enjoy all game long.

“The Coyotes and SanTan Brewing Company are very excited to launch this delicious new American Pale Ale for Coyotes fans attending games at Gila River Arena,” said Coyotes President and CEO Anthony LeBlanc. “We are confident that Coyotes beer lovers will enjoy this new beverage and we hope that they will celebrate many Coyotes wins this season with a Yotes Pale Ale.”

Available as a draft-only offering pouring exclusively at Gila River Arena during Coyotes home games, Yotes Pale Ale will make its official debut on Wednesday, November 23 when the Yotes take on the Vancouver Canucks. If you happen to be visiting the Glendale area this season, be sure to make plans to attend a Coyotes game and enjoy a Yotes Pale Ale while experiencing the unique and electric atmosphere that only a live hockey game can provide. Prost!

Vital Information for Yotes Pale Ale from SanTan Brewing Company and the Arizona Coyotes

Release – Seasonal . . . Hockey Seasonal that is, beginning on Wednesday, November 23
Style – American Pale Ale
ABV – 5.4%
IBUs – 40
Hops – Cascade, Citra & Nelson Sauvin
Availability – Draft only at Gila River Arena during Coyotes home games
Arizona Coyotes Tickets Info – ArizonaCoyotes.com or call 480-563-PUCK (7825)

Green Flash Brewing Rebrands Rayon Vert as Baroque Belgique

Posted on November 22, 2016November 22, 2016 by mashingin

Green Flash Brewing Co. (San Diego, California) recently announced that Rayon Vert is officially headed back to shelves with a new name: Cellar 3 – Baroque Belgique.

After being temporarily discontinued in 2014, Rayon Vert – Green Flash Brewing’s Belgian-style Pale Ale conditioned with Brettanomyces – has finally returned under a new name, with a new look and in new packaging. Now a Cellar 3 offering dubbed Baroque Belgique, the foundation for this “bold and complex” Belgian Pale Ale has been laid with herbal hops and traditional malts. The beer is then bottle conditioned with fresh ale yeast and Brettanomyces to create a funk-filled experience adorned with “a delightfully bright effervescence, dryness, and continuously evolving character.” Green Flash declares that if they were “founded in historical Belgium, Baroque Belgique would have been [their] flagship brew.”

Baroque Belgique is available now as a year-round, Cellar 3 offering. Packaged in cork finished champagne style 750ml bottles, you can find this brew at craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants in Alabama, Florida and throughout Green Flash Brewing Co.’s full distribution area. Keep an eye out for Baroque Belgique as it hits shelves this holiday season because this newly-named old favorite will make a wonderful pairing for any of the turkey dinners in your near future. Prost!

Vital Information for Cellar 3 – Baroque Belgique from Green Flash Brewing Co.

Release – Year-Round, November 2016
Style – Belgian-style Pale Ale with Brettanomyces
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 32
Availability – 750ml bottles
Beer Finder – http://www.greenflashbrew.com/find-beer/