Boulevard Brewing Plans Retirement of Long Strange Tripel and Chocolate Ale

Posted on by mashingin

boulevardlogoBoulevard Brewing Company (Kansas City, Missouri) recently informed their fans that the production of Long Strange Tripel, Chocolate Ale and several other offerings will be suspended indefinitely to make room in the brewing schedule for new offerings and expanded production of other established brews.

When you take a look at the newly released 2017 Brewing Schedule for Boulevard Brewing Company, you may notice that quite a few familiar names are missing.  The most glaring omission from the schedule is the long-standing Long Strange Tripel.  This Belgian Tripel was created to honor Harold “Trip” Hogue, a collector of ancient Volvos and the brewery’s longest tenured employee (circa Day 1 in 1989).  His level of dedication and ability to apply the “make-do engineering required to coax recalcitrant equipment out of retirement and into making the first Boulevard beers” more than earned him a tribute beer of the quality of Long Strange Tripel.  Sadly, this brew’s “intense fruity aroma of bananas, prominent sweet malt flavor containing a hint of toffee, and low to medium citrusy hop flavor and bitterness” has somehow progressively lost the interest of craft beer fans over the years.  Sales of this year-round Smokestack Series beer have continued to wane, and it has been decided to retire the beer at the end of the calendar year.  There are the following two pieces of good news though:

  1. The brewery will not commit to the idea that the retirement of Long Strange Tripel is permanent.
  2. Harold “Trip” Hogue is still doing his thing at Boulevard Brewing and not looking to retire anytime soon.

Lack of interest has also resulted in Boulevard’s Chocolate Ale suffering the same fate as Long Strange Tripel.  When it was initially released in 2011 as a one-off beer, Chocolate Ale quickly grew in popularity and produced quite the following of passionate fans.  Over time, the interest level fell off and brewers even tried to reverse this downward trend with the most recent release of the variant Chocolate Ale with Raspberry.  Unfortunately, these efforts fell short.  One of the biggest obstacles that Chocolate Ale faced was that there was a noticeable difference between the beer’s draft and bottled versions.  The brewery deduced that the issue was bottle conditioning and the fix was a new bottle filler for their 750 ml bottles.  Sadly, the new equipment was not commissioned in time to make a 2017 release of Chocolate Ale possible.  Brewmaster Steven Pauwels did say that he would like to revisit Chocolate Ale sometime in the future, so a 2018 release could become a reality.

There are a few other Boulevard Brewing offerings that did not make the final cut for the brewery’s roster of beers in 2017.  Due to the fact that Pumpkin Beers are beginning to trend down among craft beer enthusiasts, this will be the last season we will see a release of Funky Pumpkin.  Those who are fans of the pumpkin should fear not though because Funkier Pumpkin is scheduled for a 2017 release.  Dark Truth Stout is also enjoying its last few months of existence, but Imperial Stout is making the move to year-round Smokestack status to fill that void. The brewing of Tripel Julep and Tell-Tale Tart will also cease at the end of 2016.  Rye-on-Rye was also left off of the 2017 schedule, but this was due to a logistical issue preventing the brewery from being able to guarantee that they would receive the amount of barrels needed for the aging process.  A 2018 return for Rye-on-Rye in 750 ml bottles is most likely in the cards.

This may seem like a lot of bad news to some, but rest assured that the good news is coming.  The brewers at Boulevard Brewing Co. are constantly innovating, and a crazy amount of new beers are inbound for 2017.  Posts about some of these new offerings will be up soon, so stay tuned!  Prost!

 

 

Tasting Notes: Basketcase American Helles from Starr Hill

Posted on by mashingin

starr-hill-basketcaseThis edition of Tasting Notes has me seeking out a new lager experience by pouring up a Basketcase American Helles from Starr Hill Brewery (Crozet, Virginia).

Before we pry off any bottle caps, let’s cover the background information on Basketcase American Helles.  This beer is the latest installment in Starr Hill’s Heavy Rotation Series, a limited line of non-IPA brews that has their brewers exploring new styles and/or ingredients.  This offering is a Munich Helles-style lager sporting an American twist of Cascade hops.  2-row, Munich and Carafoam round this 5.4% ABV beer off with a balancing malt presence. Basketcase is available now as a limited offering in Alabama and throughout Starr Hill’s distribution area.  Look for this one at craft beer friendly establishments in the Fall Variety Pack mixed 12-pack, 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft.

**Like all Heavy Rotation brews, Basketcase is meant to be enjoyed while listening to a carefully selected playlist of complementing tunes. Simply click here to check that out.**

My duty of supplying you with the facts is now fulfilled, so let’s get to sipping and opining with some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Basketcase American Helles from Starr Hill Brewery

Appearance: Basketcase American Helles hits the glass with a rich golden body.  Held to direct light, the gold lightens to become a gleaming shade of yellow.  A speedy and plentiful carbonation presence races throughout the crystal clear body.  That carbonation is feeding the two fingers of bright white foam that was built off the pour.  Retention is decent with the head eventually dropping to a loose, bubbly ring that is present for the majority of the experience.

Aroma: This beer casually fills the air with aromas distinct to a German Helles.  The grain presence is clean and clear, leading the way with a light sweetness and breadiness.  Spicy and floral hop notes then open things up and invite you to inhale deeply.  The aroma closes out with a light citrus presence of grapefruit.  It may sound a bit on the simple side, but these notes all mesh to produce a billowing and beautiful aroma.

Taste:  Once again, I am more than a little surprised that this American take on a Munich Helles is nearly spot on.  The hops come forth first to charm the palate with a very fresh floral and light citrus quality.  These notes are further supported by an earthy, spicy character that has strength but is not at all aggressive in flexing those muscles.  A sweet, bready malt presence lends balance by stifling almost all of the bite these hops could muster while still avoiding any possibility of being too pronounced or cloying.  Lager yeast then sets in at the finish with a clean and unmistakable quality that brings it all together.

Mouthfeel: Basketcase is medium in body with a zippy carbonation level.  This combination supplies a beer that is crisp, dry and clean to maximize drinkability while remaining a lager that still has some size to it on the palate.  The 5.4% ABV is completely hidden and this makes the beer even more easy drinking.  The aftertaste is just a touch of earthy, floral hop tones.

Final Thoughts: I was a little more than excited when I opened the Fall Variety Pack to find that Starr Hill Brewery had taken on a Helles Lager.  I am even more delighted to report that the brewers absolutely nailed this beer.  The use of Cascade hops had me a little worried that the beer may go too far in the direction of a beer that is dominated by citrus.  That worry was quickly swept away as I found a level of craftsmanship that coaxed out the more European spicy and floral notes residing within this hop.  That said, there is still a kiss of citrus left to linger and declare, “I’m made in America.”  The attention to detail given to Basketcase American Helles supplies this offering with plenty of flavor while allowing it to keep a clean lager presentation that steers clear of overloading the palate with an unneeded level of challenging complexity.  This Helles is all about being easy drinking with just the right amount of dynamics and personality.  Fantastic and finely crafted.  I finish with the inclination to thank Starr Hill for joining a select few other American craft breweries that are dedicated to restoring the good name of the lager.  Prost!

Innis & Gunn Launches Bourbon Aged Dark Ale as Newest Year-Round

Posted on by mashingin

ingbdasmallInnis & Gunn (Edinburgh, Scotland) recently announced that they have added Bourbon Aged Dark Ale to their lineup of core offerings.

After achieving massive popularity with craft beer fans when it was previously released as a limited edition beer and then earning a gold medal at the US Open Beer Championship, the folks at Innis & Gunn realized it was a no-brainer to promote Bourbon Aged Dark Ale to year-round status.  This offering receives its bourbon notes thanks to a maturation process over American Bourbon infused oak with Innis & Gunn’s Oakerator™, an innovative and unique piece of brewing technology that provides the beer with its distinctive oak-aged aroma and flavor.  The brewery’s Master Brewer describes Bourbon Aged Dark Ale as having a “very smooth taste with flavors of caramelized fruit and sponge pudding’, which accompanies notes of brown sugar, zesty orange oil, and coconut. The aroma is described as ‘rich orange marmalade, and bitter chocolate spice.”

“The Bourbon Aged Dark is one of most our exciting brews, showcasing our passion towards innovating beer flavors and experimenting with new ideas around what beer can and should be. We look forward to growing with our import partner, United States Beverage, and our distributor partners here in the US not only with expansion across the country, but with beers that continue to push boundaries.”

– Neil Innis Sharp, General Manager, Innis & Gunn USA

Bourbon Aged Dark Ale will be available in 4-packs of 11.2 oz. bottles.  This offering will begin to roll out in the near future and will be found year-round at craft beer-friendly retailers nationwide.  Keep an eye out for this one on your next beer run to get your bourbon fix in beer form with some Bourbon Aged Dark Ale.  Prost!

 

Gaelic Ale from Highland Brewing Now Available in Cans

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highlandgaelicsixHighland Brewing Company (Asheville, North Carolina) announced this week that they are officially releasing Gaelic Ale in 12 oz. cans to give craft beer fans another option when it comes to enjoying the brewery’s flagship offering.

Since it was first brewed and bottled in 1994, Gaelic Ale – originally named Celtic Ale – quickly became a fan-favorite offering for Highland Brewing and has been “the top-selling native beer in North Carolina” for quite some time.  Now that the brewery has added a canning line, it only makes sense to have Gaelic Ale join the canned craft beer boom and become available to those who enjoy both the outdoors and fine beer offerings.  Gaelic Ale joins Highland Pilsner and Mandarina IPA as the brewery’s lineup of canned brews.

“With bottling and canning operations, we are in a new chapter. And Gaelic is the right beer to package both ways because of its flexibility – its medium body and balance.” said Leah Ashburn, President. “It fits with food or on its own, in cool or warm weather. Gaelic cans will be with me on my next hike.”

If you are unfamiliar with this offering, Gaelic Ale is an American Amber Ale that is a nod to the Scottish Ale style.  Deep amber in color, this beer boasts an exceptional balance between the sweetness of its rich malt body and the complex hop flavor and aroma.  Gaelic Ale comes together as a brew with “universal appeal” and the ability to be a true daily drinker.

Cans of Gaelic Ale officially release at a launch party to be held at the brewery on September 16 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Although distribution of cans from Highland Brewing Company has been limited to this point, the brewery plans to expand availability of all three canned offerings to all of their markets now that Gaelic Ale has joined the lineup.  Look for these cans to start hitting shelves in Alabama, Florida, and throughout the brewery’s full distribution footprint in the coming months.  Prost!

Vital Information on Gaelic Ale from Highland Brewing Company

Style – American Amber Ale
Availability – Year-round
ABV – 5.5%
IBUs – 30
Malts – 2 Row Brewers Malt, Munich, Caramel 40, Caramel 60 & Extra Special Malt
Hops – Chinook, Willamette, & Cascade
Packaging – 12 oz. cans, 12 oz. bottles, and on draft
Distribution – limited area for now with distribution planned to expand to Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Washington, DC markets in the coming months

Oskar Blues Brewery’s Hotbox Coffee Porter Returns to Shelves

Posted on by mashingin

obhotboxcanOskar Blues Brewery (Longmont, Colorado) recently announced that they have partnered once again with Hotbox Roasters to brew up a new batch of Hotbox Coffee Porter.

Thanks to a base of English and German roasted and caramel malts, Hotbox Coffee Porter is loaded with flavors of “roasted nuts, crème brûlée, cocoa and caramel.”  Hotbox Roasters, a Colorado craft coffee roaster specializing in the highest quality, fair-trade coffee beans available to coffee lovers nationwide, then cranks this sensory experience to eleven with an infusion of “potent, cold-extracted coffee from Burundian and Ethiopian beans.”  These select, exotic beans provide added aromatic and flavor notes of plum, chocolate and blueberry.  The finished beer comes together as a 6.4% ABV Porter fueled up on coffee deliciousness.

“Hotbox wake-n-roast gets us rolling in the brewhouse day in and day out.” said head of brewing operation’s Tim Mathews. “Hotbox Porter shows that beer and coffee were meant to be together. Digging in with Hotbox Roasters allowed us to develop a malt blend and a coffee blend that gel beautifully.”

Hotbox Coffee Porter is a specialty release available from September through November.  Look for this brew to turn up in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans at select craft beer retailers within Oskar Blues Brewery’s nationwide distribution footprint.  This beer moves fast once it hits shelves, so grab ’em when you see ’em.  Prost!

American Craft Breweries Collaborate with Jameson Irish Whiskey

Posted on by mashingin

jamesonbeerPernod Ricard USA (New York, New York) and Jameson Irish Whiskey recently announced that the distillery is partnering with seven American craft breweries to create the Jameson Caskmates Drinking Buddies series.

Jameson Irish Whiskey was inspired to develop this craft beer collaboration series thanks to the success of Jameson Caskmates, a unique creation that aged Irish Whiskey in “stout-seasoned whiskey casks.” Jameson Caskmates Drinking Buddies flips the script a bit by having the distillery provide seven craft breweries with barrels to age a beer offering in for a select period of time.   This treatment will allow the signature characteristics of Jameson Irish Whiskey to mingle with each brewery’s “already distinct craft beer flavors.”  To further add to the anticipation level, check out the list of participating breweries:

“Jameson Irish Whiskey has always taken pride in celebrating those who share the same passion and focus when it comes to their craft,” said Sona Bajaria, Vice President, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Pernod Ricard USA. “Jameson Caskmates Drinking Buddies allows us to put the spotlight on these local craft brewers who ultimately embody the same spirit as our motto, Sine Metu.”

Each Jameson barrel-aged beer will be released in due time and in each brewery’s respective market.  These offerings will be extremely limited, so make sure to stay tuned for updates on each beer’s official release information.  Prost!

Heavy Seas Beer Prepares for Seasonal Return of Winter Storm

Posted on by mashingin

winterstormHeavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) recently announced that Winter Storm Imperial ESB is set for release in October.

Winter Storm is the fall/winter seasonal for Heavy Seas and one of the brewery’s most anticipated releases each year.  This Imperial Extra Special Bitter showcases five hop varietals from both the United Kingdom and the West Coast of the United States –  Warrior, UK Goldings, UK Fuggles, Cascade & Centennial hops – to produce an “elegant bitterness.”  Nutty malts supply the beer’s “ruddy” color and provide balance to the earthy hops.  Winter Storm’s comforting and rich flavors make it an ideal choice for the colder months ahead.

“It was our first international gold medal winning beer,” says brewery Founder, Hugh Sisson. “And I’m not supposed to say it, but I think it may be my favorite beer!”

“I also think it’s one of the best beer names ever,” says Sisson. “Every time the winter weather gets iffy, every TV and radio station in the country is advertising the name of our beer for free!”

Winter Storm Imperial ESB will officially release in October and be available into December.  Look for this offering to turn up on draft, cask and in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles at craft beer retailers in Alabama, Florida and throughout the 18 state distribution footprint of Heavy Seas.  Prost!

Vital Information for Winter Storm Imperial ESB from Heavy Seas Beer

Availability – Seasonal, October-December
Style – Imperial Extra Special Bitter
ABV – 7.5%
IBUs – 50
Hops – Warrior, UK Goldings, UK Fuggles, Cascade & Centennial
Malts – 2-row, Crystal, Caramalt & Chocolate Malt
Packaging – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, draft and cask

Selene Saison to Make its Debut for Victory Brewing

Posted on by mashingin

selenesaison_750mlbottle_rctransVictory Brewing Company (Downingtown, Pennsylvania) announced this week that they are set to launch their newest specialty offering, Selene Saison.

As the sister beer to Helios Belgian Farmhouse Ale from Victory Brewing, Selene Saison has arrived to explore the darker side of the Saison style.  This Dark Saison leads with notes of “chocolate and clove funk, while rye blends with herbal and spicy whole flower East Kent Goldings hops to produce a smooth finish.”  In order to add even more dynamic depth to the brew, fermentation is achieved with Blaugies and two strains of the wild Brettanomyces yeast.  All of this comes together to create a wonderfully “complex and captivating celestial ale.”

“When we were dreaming up Selene Saison we had a great canvas in Helios Ale. Because Farmhouse-styles focus on individuality, we had a lot of creative license to make an enjoyable, yet completely unique, Saison. We wanted to showcase the dark side foil against the sunny side of Helios which resulted in a delicious, wild-fermented celebration of the season for all to enjoy,” says Bill Covaleski, Founder and Brewmaster of Victory Brewing Company.

Selene Saison is officially available now at craft beer establishments in Alabama, Florida and throughout Victory’s 35 state distribution area.  Look for this one on shelves in 750 ml bottles for the suggested retail price of $9 per bottle (price may vary upon location) and pouring on draft.  Get your bottles while you can because Selene Saison will only be hanging around while supplies last.  Prost!

Vital Information on Selene Saison from Victory Brewing Company

Availability – Limited/Specialty, available September 1st
Style – Dark Saison/Farmhouse-style Ale
ABV – 7.5%
Malts – Pilsner, Pale Chocolate, Rye & Chocolate
Hops – East Kent Goldings
Packaging – 750 ml bottles (suggested retail price of $9) and on draft
Fun Fact – Helios is named for the Greek God of the Sun.  His sister is Selene, Goddess of the Moon. 

Einstök Ölgerð Celebrates 5th Anniversary with Release of Icelandic Wee Heavy

Posted on by mashingin

einstok-wee-heavy-wetEinstök Ölgerð (Akureyri, Iceland) is commemorating five years of craft brewing with this week’s launch of their latest offering, Icelandic Wee Heavy.

Just five short years ago, Einstök Ölgerð first unleashed their brand of craft brews on the good folks of Iceland.  Since that date, the brewery has lived up to its motto of “Drink. Conquer. Repeat.” by winning several awards, becoming the #1 craft beer out of Iceland, earning the distinction of being the largest exporter of alcoholic beverages from Iceland, and expanding distribution to 22 countries and 15 states within the U.S.  To recognize this ridiculous amount of success, the brewery has chosen to celebrate with the release of a new packaged offering.

Not only does Icelandic Wee Heavy act as the brewery’s fifth year milestone, it is also Einstök’s newest year-round offering.  Weighing in at a formidable 8% ABV, this malty brew gets its signature character from angelica and birch-smoked Icelandic barley.  Icelandic Wee Heavy joins Icelandic White Ale, Icelandic Arctic Pale Ale and Icelandic Toasted Porter to comprise the brewery’s lineup of year-round beers.

Icelandic Wee Heavy is officially available now in Iceland.  The beer will then make its way to the European market in a few weeks, and the United States will begin to see distribution at the start of 2017.  Once it arrives stateside, you can expect to find this brew in six-packs of 330ml bottles and on draft at craft beer friendly establishments in Alabama, Florida and the rest of Einstök’s 15 state distribution footprint.  Keep an eye on the imports shelf at your favorite craft beer store for Icelandic Wee Heavy’s arrival, and be sure to give the brewery’s other offerings a try while you are at it (**cough** Icelandic Toasted Porter **cough** Do it. **cough**).  Believe me, you will not be disappointed.  Prost!

 

 

Tasting Notes: Stone Mocha IPA from Stone Brewing Co.

Posted on by mashingin

stonemochaipaThis week’s Tasting Notes seeks a new twist on the IPA style by taking a look at Stone Mocha IPA from Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, California).

Stone Mocha IPA is a new seasonal that Stone Brewing Co. added to their lineup of packaged offerings this year.  Inspired by Aleman / Two Brothers / Stone DayMan Coffee IPA and Stochasticity Project Master of Disguise Golden Stout, Stone Brewing’s Liberty Station Brewing Manager Kris Ketcham first created this beer back in 2015 and it was an instant hit with the brewery’s fans.  It was soon decided that it needed to be shared with craft beer enthusiasts across the country, and Stone Mocha IPA’s cocoa, coffee and hoppy goodness was officially released into distribution on draft and in 12 oz. bottles beginning in June.  This alluring and unique brew can still be found on shelves at some craft beer-friendly retailers within Stone Brewing’s distribution area, but be sure to act quickly because its “Enjoy By” date is fast approaching.  I’m going to go ahead and take my own advice here and get into this brew for some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Stone Mocha IPA from Stone Brewing Co.

Appearance: Stone Mocha IPA pours a honey-like, copper in color with deep orange hues residing throughout.  The oranges gain intensity when presented with direct light and the copper gains luster.  The body is clear with a moderate carbonation stirring within.  The pour produced a finger of light tan foam that has some pretty decent retention to it.  Over time, it does gracefully fall to a thin but complete frothy top cap that leaves some chunky lace on the glass.  This brew does come across darker than typical Double IPAs, but that should be expected with the added coffee and cocoa.  That said, it certainly presents itself in wonderful fashion.

Aroma: Coffee is the first note to hit the nose, but it is not exactly the heavily roasted and robust variety you may find in some coffee Stouts and Porters.  No . . . this is a coffee character reminiscent of more exotic beans that produce floral and fruity tones.  Shifting gears, a dark cocoa note coaxes the malts out to actually make an appearance at this DIPA party by contributing a floral honey sweetness.  The hops then go to work to finish off the aromatic profile with citrusy tones of orange and tangerine.

Taste:  Wow . . . it shouldn’t be a surprise, but complexity certainly abounds here.  Each flavor experience pings the palate in a quick, staccato manner to keep your mind and taste buds both guessing and completely entertained.  Cocoa strikes first with a dark chocolate note that easily complements any bitterness from the approaching hops.  The mocha quality of the coffee joins in next and has both bitterness and sweetness.  This double duty allows the coffee to apply contrasting and complementary aspects to both the cocoa and hops.  Speaking of hops, they wrap things up with a vast array of citrus fruitiness that somehow plays nicely with the coffee.  Although each and every flavor in this beer is zealous and forward, they all seem to come together effortlessly.  In perceived chaos we find harmony.

Mouthfeel: This brew is medium in body with a medium level of carbonation that allows the beer to have a creamy and delightfully soft texture.  The ABV of this Double IPA does flex some muscle at 9%, but the level of warmth is comely and comforting.  The beer brings both bitterness and sweetness to the palate, but neither is too heavy or lasting.  The aftertaste is just a wisp of citrus hops and coffee.

Final Thoughts: Coffee IPAs are becoming more and more en vogue these days, and I personally welcome this trend.  Although the idea of these flavors mingling together may sound strange or even off-putting to some, beer lovers should recognize that this combination works beautifully in both theory and practice.  Coffee, chocolate and hops function well together because they all can share one common trait: bitterness.  This attribute brings them together but the richness of the cocoa, the comforting familiarity of the coffee, and the bright citrus hoppiness are all allowed to shine individually.  Stone Mocha IPA not only displays all of this with grace and ease, but it also captivates its drinker with each sip by providing an incredibly fresh and dynamic experience.  Simply fantastic.  Prost!