Contest: Monkey Tales from Victory Brewing Company

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gm-logo_tulipVictory Brewing Company (Downingtown, Pennsylvania) recently launched the “Monkey Tales” social media contest to learn the Golden Monkey fueled memories of their fans and hook them up with some sweet schwag in the process.

Not only is Golden Monkey Belgian-style Tripel the most popular brand at Victory Brewing, but it has also been a ubiquitous, go-to offering for craft beer lovers since it launched in 1997.  Brewed with whole flower European hops, imported malts and Belgian yeast, fans have gravitated to this beer again and again to revel in an experience that is “playfully delightful and profoundly satisfying.”

Since they have enjoyed countless memorable experiences with a Golden Monkey in-hand, the folks at Victory Brewing Company realized that their fans must have their fair share as well.  With that thought, the Monkey Tales social media contest was born.  Whether it be “in the form of personal anecdotes, extraordinary observations or epic memories,” the brewery wants to hear your Golden Monkey story in the form of imaginative photo and video submissions.  All you have to do is document your personal attachment to this delicious craft beer and submit it to www.RespectTheMonkey.com by October 10, 2016 (click here to do so).  

“My Golden Monkey tale will be different from what others have experienced because I see the monkey through a slightly different lens,” said Founder and Brewmaster, Bill
Covaleski. “However, we all have fallen in love with the spirit and the soul of this
delicious and powerful ale because it resonates with so many craft beer fans. I can’t
wait to see what this contest will bring.”

To find a winner, Victory Brewing will use a panel of six judges over the time span of October 11 – October 14 to select five photo and five video finalists.  Each submission will be judged utilizing the following parameters: originality (25%), creativity of presentation (25%), appropriateness to the ‘Monkey Tales’ theme (30%) and positive public appeal through likes, shares and comments (20%).  Once the ten finalists are selected, the fans of Victory Brewing Company will then vote to name the Grand Prize Winner for photo and the Grand Prize Winner for video.  Winners will be announced on October 29 and will be eligible to receive prize packs featuring “rare, exclusive Golden Monkey memorabilia ranging from autographed banners to Golden Monkey posters.”  Click here to read up on the full list of rules and dates.

Get to work on those photos and videos, and be sure to have them ready for submission by October 10.  If you need some inspiration or just want to make a new memory, you can find Golden Monkey Belgian-style Tripel on shelves year-round in Alabama, Florida and throughout Victory’s distribution footprint.  Look for it at craft beer-friendly establishments on draft, in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans or bottles for the suggested retail price of $11.99 or in 750ml bottles for the suggest retail price of $9.99 (price may vary upon location).  Prost!

Vital Information on Golden Monkey Belgian-style Tripel from Victory Brewing Company

Style – Tripel
Availability – Year-round
ABV – 9.5%
Malt – Imported 2-row
Hops – Whole flower European hops and coriander seed
Packaging – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 750 ml caged-and-corked bottles, & draft
Serving Suggestions: 

  • Have the ale chilled below 45° F
  • Have clean, wide-mouth glasses or chalices ready
  • Tilt bottle slowly into glass making certain that pour is sufficiently vigorous to raise a foamy head.
  • Try to avoid pouring the last dregs as the yeast sediment is not the most favorable part of this beer.
  • Savor the experience slowly as the ale warms

Cigar City Brewing Florida Man DIPA Headed to Cans

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unnamed-5Cigar City Brewing (Tampa, Florida) recently announced that their Florida Man Double IPA will soon be available in cans for the first time.

Named after a constant stream of news headlines that seem to always begin with “Florida Man . . .” (ex. “Florida Man Claims Wife Was Kidnapped by Holograms” and “Florida Man Jailed for Golf Cart DUI at Parents’ Retirement Home”), Florida Man Double IPA is Cigar City’s way of paying homage to the “unintentional official state animal” of Florida. Brewed and adjusted repeatedly with careful attention, the final recipe for Florida Man boasts six hop varietals to produce a Double India Pale Ale “big in flavor [and] bold in bitterness.”   Spicy notes are sourced from Simcoe hops, and prominent tropical flavors are supplied by Azacca and Pacific Jade.  Weighing in at 10.1% ABV, Florida Man still has a sweet malt character capable of laying down the needed level of balance.

“While we’ve dabbled with Double IPAs in the past, I think we’ve really nailed the style with this latest batch of Florida Man. Our Brewmaster Wayne Wambles tweaked the hop bill a bit to feature more prominently Azacca and Pacific Jade hops, adding big notes of mango and papaya. It’s got a bit of honey malt for some sweetness and body to balance the assertive bitterness but the hop flavor is definitely front and center. The beer was fermented with a different yeast than our Jai Alai IPA, creating esters that accentuate even more tropical fruit and citrus quality in this massive DIPA. It’s just intense enough to stand up to the Florida sun and our state’s more… um, interesting local residents.”

-Neil Callaghan, Cigar City’s El Lector

Previously only released in 22 oz. bottles, it was decided that Florida Man Double IPA would make the move to 12 oz. cans this year to “to put this beer in a container that Florida men and women could bring to a gator farm, an arena football tailgate or any other Florida Man-approved activities.”  Look for these 4-packs of cans to start hitting shelves at craft beer-friendly retailers within Cigar City’s distribution area in Florida any day now.  Get yours while you can because this limited release of Florida Man is sure to disappear just as quickly as it arrives.  Prost!

Vital Information for Florida Man Double IPA from Cigar City Brewing

Style – Double India Pale Ale
Availability – Specialty Release, available at the end of September 2016
ABV – 10.1%
IBUs – 132 (!)
Ingredients – American hops, British malted barley
Packaging – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans,  1/6 bbl and 1/2 bbl draft
Recommended Glassware – IPA glass
Distribution – Florida
Fun Fact – If you would like to track the exploits of the “Florida Man”, you can keep up with all the shenanigans by clicking here.  

Bottles of Ballast Point Mocha Marlin Set for Launch

Posted on by mashingin

02-beers-primary-image-mochaBallast Point Brewing (San Diego, California) recently announced that they are releasing Mocha Marlin Porter with Coffee and Chocolate as the brewery’s latest limited release offering.

Black Marlin, Ballast Point’s year-round Porter that has earned quite the favorable reputation in a town known for its obsession with IPAs, is finally getting in on the variant action that the brewery has been dabbling with lately.  Mocha Marlin starts with a roasted, chocolaty malt base of an English Porter and then livens things up a bit with the additions of coffee and cocoa.  This results in a 6.0% ABV Porter that is “full-bodied, but not too sweet.”  The brewery suggests you enjoy this one for breakfast, dessert, or anywhere in-between.

Mocha Marlin Porter with Coffee and Chocolate was officially released last week in the brewery’s tasting rooms, and it will start rolling out to Ballast Point’s full distribution area soon.  Look for this one on draft and in 22 0z. bottles at select beer establishments for a limited time. Prost!

Vital Information for Mocha Marlin Porter with Coffee and Chocolate from Ballast Point Brewing

Style – Porter
Availability – limited
ABV – 6%
IBUs – 42

Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA Returns

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unnamedDogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware) recently announced that 120 Minute IPA has once again returned to shelves.

Do you like hops?  I mean . . . really like hops?  I mean . . . like a level of hoppiness that makes you wonder if it could possibly strip paint?  Me too, and that’s why it is such good news to be able to report that Dogfish Head’s 120 Minute IPA is back for a limited time.  If you are unfamiliar with this offering, 120 Minute IPA is an Imperial IPA that typically clocks in somewhere between 15% and 20% ABV.  To counteract the sweetness level that is produced at this elevated ABV level, this offering is “continuously hopped with a copious amount of high-alpha American hops throughout the boil and whirlpool, and then dry-hopped with another pallet of hops” to rack up an incredible 120 IBUs.  Often referred to as the “Holy Grail for hopheads,” 120 Minute IPA is an extreme take on the style that is a perspective-altering, craft beer experience you will not soon forget.

120 Minute IPA is available now as a limited release and sold as single serve 12 oz. bottles.  Look for this offering now at select craft beer retailers in Florida and in any state within Dogfish Head’s distribution area that legally allows the sale of beers of this ABV.  120 Minute IPA can be enjoyed fresh, but it does equally well when aged for a few years.  That said, the brewery recommends that you do not attempt to tackle a 12 oz. by yourself.  Find a friend, share, sip, savor and discuss.  Prost!

Vital Information for 120 Minute IPA from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Availability – Limited, April & September releases
Style – Imperial IPA
ABV – 15-20%
IBUs – 120
Packaging – Single 12 oz. bottles
Recommended Glassware – IPA glass, snifter, red wine glass

Guinness Releases Two Beers New to U.S. Market

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guinnessharpGuinness & Co. (Dublin, Ireland) announced this week that Guinness Antwerpen Stout and Guinness Rye Pale Ale will now be available in the United States for the first time as limited releases.

First brewed in 1944 for the Belgian City of Antwerp, you may have heard Guinness Antwerpen Stout called by a different name, Guinness Special Export.  No matter what you call it, this fan-favorite is known the world over for its “intense roasted malt, smoked wood, raisin and licorice notes and its sweet smells of bittersweet chocolate, coffee and a touch of black currant.”  The finished beer weighs in at 8.0% ABV and 52 IBUs.  This beer is so beloved that the brewers at St. James Gate have been known to line up for a bottle or two before it ships off to Belgium.

“It’s been more than 70 years since we first exported the Antwerpen Stout from Dublin to Antwerp, but its cult following is probably stronger than it’s ever been,” noted Padraig Fox, the General Manager for the Open Gate Brewery Experience. “I guess now the secret is out. Even if it is only for a few months, we’re happy to see this Guinness favorite having its moment in the U.S.”

A slightly newer creation from Guinness, Guinness Rye Pale Ale came to be last year as a Brewers Project offering developed as a holiday gift for family and friends of the brewery.  All who received it enjoyed the beer so much that it was brewed again to tap at the Open Gate Brewery in Dublin.  The high praise continued and this surprise hit was then promoted to large scale brewing.  The popularity of Guinness Rye Pale Ale is due to the beer’s rye malt supplying a peppery bite that is balanced with “grapefruit and citrus flavor from Mosaic and Cascade hops.”  The final beer comes in at 5.0% ABV and 18 IBUs.

“Beer is obviously something we love, and we wanted to share a little something we were working on with just a few of our closest friends and family and colleagues at the brewery,” explained Peter Simpson, one of the brewers who worked on the original batch of Guinness Rye Pale Ale. “We didn’t expect it to get this kind of reaction, but it just sort of snowballed. Now here we are about to introduce it to the other side of the world.”

Guinness Antwerpen Stout and Guinness Rye Pale Ale are rolling out now and these limited time releases will continue to be available in the U.S. until December of 2016.  Look for Guinness Antwerpen Stout in 4-packs of 11.2 oz. bottles for the suggested retail price of $9.99, and Guinness Rye Pale Ale will turn up in 6-packs of 11.2 oz. bottles for the suggested retail price of $8.99.  If you are interested in trying these two examples of Guinness brewing history, seek them out at fine beer retailers nationwide over the next few months.  Prost!

Stone Brewing Co. Launches Vanilla Bean Porter, Cabin Fever Mixed 12 Pack

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2016_vanillabean_mock_printStone Brewing Co. (Escondido, California) announced this week that they are releasing Stone Vanilla Bean Porter as an exclusive offering to be found in the new Stone Cabin Fever Mixed 12 Pack.

As summer shifts to autumn and temperatures begin to dip, there is a tendency for beer lovers to seek comfort and refuge in full-bodied styles such as Porters and Stouts.  To honor this annual transition of stylistic preference, Stone Brewing is debuting Stone Vanilla Bean Porter to pair beautifully with “post-mountain hot-tub dips, roaring fires, bear skin rugs, and someone special for…you get the idea.”  Brewed with whole Madagascar vanilla beans, this rich Porter rocks an alluring vanilla aroma that is gracefully complemented by “a delicate creaminess and palate-seducing softness.”  Chocolate malts then provide supportive notes of cocoa and coffee to add another level of decadence.  Coming in at an incredibly reasonable 5.9% ABV, Stone Vanilla Bean Porter is an extremely drinkable option to be enjoyed all season long.

“We have played with many ingredient additions in our porters over the years and love the versatility of this beer,” said Jeremy Moynier, Senior Manager, Innovation Program and Supply Chain. “We first added vanilla beans back in 2006 in a cask and loved the results so much we would do small runs of this beer from time to time. Recently we tried out this new version through our pilot system to see what our fans thought and we got our best response to date! It seemed obvious to do it on the large scale to get it out there so even more people could enjoy it.”

Stone Vanilla Bean Porter is available in 12 oz. bottles found exclusively within the newly released Stone Cabin Fever Mixed 12 Pack – joining Stone Coffee Milk Stout, Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0 and Stone Delicious IPA in the pack – and on draft.  Look for this offering and the mixed 12-pack at craft beer establishments in Alabama, Florida and other markets within Stone Brewing’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Stone Vanilla Bean Porter from Stone Brewing Co.

Availability – Limited/Seasonal, officially released on September 19
ABV – 5.9%
IBUs – 53
Hops – Chinook, Magnum, Idaho 7, Motueka & Azacca
Packaging – 12 oz. bottles found exclusively in Stone Cabin Fever Mixed 12 Pack and on draft
Distribution – AL, FL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA and WI
Fun Fact – Whole Madagascar vanilla beans are the world’s second most expensive spice.

Good People Brewing Releases Mumbai Rye IPA in Cans

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gpmumbaiGood People Brewing Company (Birmingham, Alabama) recently announced that Mumbai Rye India Pale Ale officially hits cans for the first time this week.

Not too long ago, I let you know about Good People Brewing Company purchasing new canning equipment that now allows the brewery to expand their portfolio of packaged seasonal and limited releases.  Well, it did not take long for fan-favorite Mumbai Rye India Pale Ale to take advantage of this new development.  If you are unfamiliar with this offering, Mumbai Rye is known for its pronounced spicy and earthy rye notes.  Balance is achieved thanks to an American IPA level of hop presence provided by Columbus and Mt. Hood hops.  This harmonious union creates a 7.4% ABV, 71.9 IBU seasonal release that is the perfect beer to sip on all autumn long.

Mumbai Rye IPA is available now on draft and 6-packs of these beautiful 12 oz. cans are rolling out this week.  Look for this brew to turn up at select craft beer retailers within Good People’s distribution area consisting of Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and Tennessee.  Prost!

Vital Information for Mumbai Rye IPA from Good People Brewing Company

Availability – Seasonal, cans launch this week
Style – Rye Beer/India Pale Ale
ABV – 7.4%
IBUs – 71.9
Hops – Columbus & Mt. Hood
Malts – 2-row and 4 specialty malts
Yeast – California Ale
Packaging – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and draft

Heavy Seas Beer Announces 21 as New Anniversary Ale

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21.pngHeavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) informed their fans today that they will be celebrating 21 years of brewing with the December release of 21 Anniversary Ale.

As the latest offering from the Heavy Seas Uncharted Waters series and a newly incarnated anniversary beer release, 21 Anniversary Ale celebrates this impressive brewing milestone as an Imperial Rye Extra Special Bitter aged in Sagamore Spirit rye whiskey barrels.  The recipe lays a foundation boasting “imported UK Marris Otter malt, Crystal Rye malt, local Domino brown sugar, and a blend of spicy, herbaceous British and American hops.”  Once the brewing process is completed, 21 will then be aged for sixty days in those locally sourced Sagamore Spirit barrels to further support the rye notes featured in this ESB.  The finished beer weighs in at 10.5% ABV and 65 IBUs.

“We wanted to create a synergy between the Rye Whiskey Barrels, the beer, and the consumer, taking him or her on a sensory journey. By incorporating ingredients that mirror and accentuate the flavors of the Whiskey that aged in the barrels first, we’ve developed a beer that speaks to the soul of the Rye fan while satisfying the Heavy Seas enthusiast.”

– Christopher Leonard, Heavy Seas Brewmaster

21 Anniversary Ale officially launches in December as a limited release.  Look for this offering in 22 oz. bottles at select craft beer establishments in Alabama, Florida, and throughout the Heavy Seas distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for 21 Anniversary Ale from Heavy Seas Beer

Availability – Limited, releasing in December 
Style – Imperial Rye Extra Special Bitter (ESB) aged in rye whiskey barrels
ABV – 10.5%
IBUs – 65
Malts – Marris Otter Malt, Crystal Malt, Caramalt & CaraRye Malt
Hops – Chinook, UK Kent Goldings & UK Fuggle
Additional Ingredients – Brown Sugar
Beer Finder – http://hsbeer.com/beerfinder

 

SweetWater Brewing Announces Headliners for Upcoming 420 Fest

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420festlogSweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has officially announced Widespread Panic and Trey Anastasio Band as headliners for the brewery’s 13th 420 Fest to be held on April 21-23, 2017 at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park.

To the delight of music loving beer fans throughout the Southeast, SweetWater Brewing’s 13th 420 Fest returns in April of 2017.  Each year, this music festival provides attendees with an experience loaded with high profile musical acts, rare beer experiences, live comedy acts, regional and local musical acts, delicious eats from Atlanta’s finest food trucks, local art, and environmentally focused education in the Planet 420 village.

The first wave of 420 Fest news was announced this week with the release of the following list of headliners:

Additional headliners and over 45 more musical and comedic acts will be announced in January of 2017.  You can expect a musically diverse lineup featuring ” jam, rock, alternative, hip hop and EDM performing on four stages.”

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by simply clicking here.  Fans will be happy to see that ticket prices did not increase from the 2016 installment of 420 Fest with 3-Day General Admission pricing starting at $89 and 3-Day VIP pricing starting at $243.  Arrange your tickets now and stay tuned for more information coming soon concerning all aspects of the 13th SweetWater 420 Fest.  Prost!

 

Tasting Notes: Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA from Stone Brewing Co.

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encorecrown_web2This segment of Tasting Notes gets in on a celebration twenty years in the making by taking a look at Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA from Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, California).

While looking for the inspiration for a beer worthy of commemorating “20 years of revolutionary brewing,” the folks at Stone Brewing Co. did not have to look much further than the Citracado Parkway running alongside the brewery.  The parkway itself is a tribute to the citrus and avocado agricultural history of the area, so why not brew a beer with a similar theme?  Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA pulls this off by utilizing Citra hops and avocado flower honey to produce “dominant orange and floral aromatics that transcend into the overall flavor.” This limited release offering is available now on draft and in 22 oz. bottles at craft beer establishments in Alabama, Florida, and all other markets nationwide where Stone Brewing beers are sold.  If you would like to learn more about Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA, you can click here to check out the release profile I posted a few weeks ago.  As for now, this beer is calling for me to serve it up and get to these Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA from Stone Brewing Co.

Appearance: Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA pours a copper hue that displays deep oranges and the lightest/brightest browns possible.  When held to direct light, the beer illumes a bit to push more vibrant oranges through the body and displays a consistent carbonation activity residing within.  Two fingers of off white, chunky and thick head adorns the top of the brew.  Head retention is great, slowly but eventually falling a bit to a lasting finger of foam.  The only reason the head falters is because it has so much stick on the glass, leaving abundant lines of lace after each sip.

Aroma: Oh, yes . . . the beautiful and unmistakable aroma of Citra hops surges from the glass.  Big citrus hop notes of orange zest and the sweet, juicy meat of the fruit lure you in with ease.  A floral note cleanly interlaces itself with the citrus to lift the aromatic profile to an even higher level of freshness.  Although the hops easily steal the show here, a light hint of honey can be recognized.  The sugary qualities are light enough to complement the hops by further sweetening the fruit notes.

Taste:  There is a hop dankness that is not at all shy in the flavor of this beer.  Citrus hops once again dominate with notes of orange, lemon and grapefruit.  Pine pushes that dankness forward with a tinge of resiny sharpness.  A floral hop quality blends in and creates a seamless transition into the avocado flower honey.  The honey pulls the malts up to the surface a bit to produce an insanely smooth balance.

Mouthfeel:  This Double IPA falls on the heavier side of medium in body with a medium carbonation level.  Silken in texture, it has some stickiness to it on the palate but it dries out quickly to produce an amazingly clean sip.  I honestly cannot believe this brew comes in at 9% ABV because there is zero evidence of that sizable alcohol level found.  The aftertaste is just a tinge of orange and honey.

Final Thoughts: I am not going to beat around the bush here . . . Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA is easily one of the best Double IPAs I have had this year.  The fine line between aggression and restraint is gracefully traversed to present these hops in beautiful fashion. Furthermore, the decision to use avocado flower honey was an inspired and elegant choice to give this beer an unrivaled level of balance.  The most impressive feat achieved here is the complete removal of any trace of a very considerable 9% ABV.  This attribute makes the beer one of the easiest drinking Double IPAs I have ever encountered.  In summation, this is a beer that pulls no punches but still has a level of disciplined restraint to not be all haymakers either.  Confident and calculating, Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA embodies the true spirit of Stone Brewing Co.  If you are going to create a beer that reflects upon 20 years of top tier brewing reputation, this is indeed how you do it.  Finely crafted and just a joy to drink.  Prost!