Beer | Mashing In

Creature Comforts Brewing Co. Schedules Double Bottle Release of Good Migrations & River Ridge Black

Posted on February 13, 2020 by mashingin

Creature Comforts Brewing Co. (Athens, Georgia) has officially announced that it will begin a Limited Bottle Release for two offerings from its Wood Cellar and Mixed Fermentation program – Good Migrations and River Ridge Black – on Saturday, February 15.

A special collaboration project inspired by Indian Ladder Farms Cidery & Brewery’s farming initiative, Good Migrations (5.9% ABV) is a Saison brewed with barley, hops, blueberries, and raspberries that were “all estate-grown by Indian Ladder in Altamont, New York.” To round out the recipe and add a “little flavor local to Athens,” the breweries also “used DaySpring Farms wheat, local honey, and Creature Comforts’ house culture to create a lightly fruited and delicious Saison.”

Crafted to highlight “Creature Comforts’ local agriculture initiative,” River Ridge Black is a Dark Ale “aged in French oak for over a year with [the brewery’s] house-mixed culture” and then “conditioned on top of organic black raspberries” sourced from a southeastern farm, River Ridge Organics. River Ridge Black comes in at 8% ABV.

Good Migrations and River Ridge Black will both release in the Tasting Room at Creature Comforts Brewing Co. on February 15. Good Migrations will be available for purchase on draft and in 750ml bottles while River Ridge Black will be available on draft and in 500ml bottles. Both of these offerings are brewery-only releases and are not expected to see distribution. Prost!

Founders Brewing Co. Adds Unraveled Juicy IPA to Year-Round Portfolio

Posted on February 12, 2020 by mashingin

Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has officially announced that it will introduce Unraveled IPA, the brewery’s first packaged Juicy IPA, as its newest Year-Round offering in mid-February 2020.

Originally released in 2019 as a part of Founder’s Brewing Co.’s Mothership Series – a lineup of experimental, taproom-only offerings – under the name Mucho Lupo, Unraveled IPA is a Juicy India Pale Ale “dry hopped with traditional hop pellets and lupulin powder, an innovative hop product that separates lupulin from the hop flower.” With wheat and oats providing “a smooth backdrop to carry all those wonderful hop characteristics,” Unraveled IPA (6.6% ABV, 50 IBUs) is a unique Juicy IPA that pours “beautifully clear.”

“This is one of my favorite IPAs to come out of the brewery in a while,” said Brewmaster, Jeremy Kosmicki. “The hop character is aggressive with its citrus and tropical flavors and aromas while the addition of lupulin powder – rather than relying on over dry-hopping with just pellets – helps keep the grassiness in check. It has great balance and is clean, bright and refreshing.”

“It’s not often we add a beer to our year-round lineup, so when we do it’s definitely reason to celebrate,” said Co-Founder and President, Dave Engbers. “Jeremy wanted to create a juicy IPA that poured clear and he hit the nail on the head with Unraveled IPA. It’s hop aroma and flavor can stand up next to even the juiciest of juicy IPAs, but its clean, crisp finish is unmistakably Founders. Unraveled IPA fits in perfectly alongside Centennial and All Day as yet another fantastic IPA option you can find from Founders.”

Unraveled IPA will debut in Founders Brewing Co.’s Grand Rapids taproom on February 11 and in its Detroit taproom on February 18, and full distribution will follow in mid-February. You can expect to find this new Year-Round offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of the brewery’s nationwide distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Unraveled IPA from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Year-Round; launching mid-February 2020
Style – Juicy India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.6%
IBUs – 50
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

Marker 48 Brewing Kicks Off 2020 Small Batch Beer Passport Program

Posted on February 12, 2020 by mashingin

Marker 48 Brewing (Weeki Wachee, Florida) has officially announced that it will begin the 2020 iteration of its popular Small Batch Beer Passport program on Wednesday, February 12.

Established to be a fun way to celebrate innovation, imagination and experimentation at the brewery, Marker 48’s Small Batch Beer Passport is an annual promotion that allows their fans to enjoy 48 weeks of “unique one-off beers” for the chance to win one of three prizes at the end of the year. Developed by Marker 48’s brewers and select guest brewers, new small-batch beers will release each week (beginning February 12) and the offerings will include “everything from sours to barrel-aged beers, and many styles in between.”

“It’s allowed our brewers to experiment with brewing all while exposing our beer fans to new styles that they may not have otherwise tried,” said Tina Ryman, Marker 48 co-founder and co-owner, and “Happiness Bestower in Charge.”

Anyone visiting the brewery can order and enjoy these small batch brews, but you must purchase a Small Batch Beer Passport to participate in the promotion. A very limited amount of passport books is available to purchase in Marker 48 Brewing’s taproom. Each Small Batch Beer Passport costs $100 and includes “one FREE small-batch beer per passport holder per week, while supplies last.” Passport holders will receive a stamp in their book for each unique small batch beer enjoyed for the chance to win one of these amazing prizes (winners will be notified when the program ends in early 2021):

Grand prize: (One winner with all 48 stamps, over $1,000 value)

One passport book for 2020
One $100 Marker 48 gift card
A two-night stay for two people in a Homosassa vacation rental house. (Dates subject to availability)
A half-day inshore fishing in Homosassa for one person with Marker 48 owner Maurice Ryman (Dates subject to availability)
The chance to brew a small batch beer with brewers
One 64-quart RTIC cooler (or equivalent) wrapped with Marker 48 logo and filled with Marker 48 beer

Second place: (One winner with 25-48 stamps. Over $400 value)

One passport book for 2020
One $50 Marker 48 gift card
One 25-quart Ozark (or equivalent) Marker 48-wrapped cooler filled with beer
A Marker 48 flag
A Marker 48 tin tacker

Third place: One winner with 10-48 stamps (Over $100 value)

One passport book for 2020
One $25 Marker 48 gift card
Three 4-packs or equivalent of Marker 48 beer
A Marker 48 flag
A Marker 48 tin tacker

In addition to being entered into the contest, passport holder who collect all 48 stamps will receive “an exclusive Marker 48 Small Batch Beer shirt AND a special 20 oz. glass to be kept in the brewery to receive pours of core beers for the same price as 16 oz. beers.”

Small Batch Beer Passports are available now at Marker 48 Brewing and the first beer of the program will be tapped on February 12. The fact that you get 48 beers throughout the year for just $100 should be reason enough for you to consider participating in the 2020 Small Batch Beer Program. Throw in the chance to win one of the three great prizes listed above, and then this promotion becomes a cannot miss opportunity for beer lovers living anywhere near Marker 48 Brewing. Just make sure you secure you Small Batch Beer Passport before they sell out. Prost!

Sixpoint Brewery Goes Big with Limited Release of Atomic-Res New England-style Triple IPA

Posted on February 11, 2020 by mashingin

Sixpoint Brewery (Brooklyn, New York) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Atomic-Res NE IIIPA in February 2020.

Here to take the “essence of RESIN . . . to its realized extreme,” Atomic-Res is a New England-style Triple India Pale Ale “loaded up with Citra, Galaxy, Mandarina Bavaria, and Idaho 7 Hop Hash.” It is the added hop hash – “pure lupulin collected during pelletization [that is] preserved, then frozen with liquid nitrogen and shattered into the beer during dry-hopping” – that supplies the desired “chain reaction of hop intensity going off in every sip.” Coming in at 11.8% ABV, Atomic-Res allows you to “experience pure juice at the ATOMIC level!”

Atomic-Res NE IIIPA is scheduled to launch in February 2020 and will hang around as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this new Limited Release available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, New York and throughout the rest of Sixpoint’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Atomic-Res NE IIIPA from Sixpoint Brewery

Release – Limited; February 2020
Style – New England-style Imperial/Triple India Pale Ale
ABV – 11.8%
Hops – Citra, Galaxy, Mandarina Bavaria & Idaho 7 Hop Hash
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft

Cigar City Brewing Introduces Fancy Papers Hazy IPA as Newest Seasonal

Posted on February 11, 2020 by mashingin

Cigar City Brewing (Tampa, Florida) has officially announced that Fancy Papers Hazy IPA is rolling out now as the brewery’s “first foray into a wide-release Hazy IPA.”

With a name inspired by the “handsome designs printed on fancy papers and applied to cigar boxes . . . to entice cigar lovers,” Fancy Papers is a Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale that “eschews the bitterness often found in IPAs for a softness on the palate and a tropical hop expression imparted by a generous helping of . . . Sabro, Idaho 7 and Strata hops.” To round out the recipe, Cigar City Brewing used an “expressive English ale yeast that adds notes of peach and supports the style’s signature cloudiness.” Coming in at just 6.5% ABV and 60 IBUs, Fancy Papers Hazy IPA offers “an invitingly moderate bitterness and a tempered ABV for its style.”

“While we’ve used Sabro, Idaho 7 and Strata hops separately in several small-batch beers, we’ve been blown away by the flavors and aromas we’re getting in Fancy Papers Hazy IPA now that we’ve combined these expressive hops into one beer. The English ale yeast we use to ferment Fancy Papers helps round out the flavor and bitterness of the beer and strikes a great balance between hop expression and drinkability.”

– Sean Sasscer, Cigar City Brewing’s Director of Brewing Operations

Fancy Papers Hazy IPA started rolling out in January and will be available through March 2020. You can expect to find this new Seasonal offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of Cigar City’s 41-state distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Fancy Papers Hazy IPA from Cigar City Brewing

Release – Seasonal; January – March 2020
Style – Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.5%
IBUs – 60
Featured Hops – Strata, Sabro & Idaho 7
Fun Fact – “The ‘fancy papers’ evoked in the beer’s name are the papers used to print the intricate labels found inside the lids of boxes containing the finest cigars rolled in Tampa, Florida’s Ybor City and elsewhere during the heyday of hand-rolled tobacco. As cigar manufacturing exploded in the Tampa area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, so too did the production of embossed plain or satin-finished paper labels glued inside cigar box lids that portrayed everything from exotic animals to historical figures to classic Americana iconography. These labels are still coveted by tobacciana collectors today and remain an important part of Tampa’s cigar history, a history that informs much of Cigar City Brewing’s branding.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.cigarcitybrewing.com/beer-finder/

Wild Leap Brew Co. & Extreme Hops AL Collaborate on Three Harvest Fresh Hop DIPA

Posted on February 10, 2020 by mashingin

Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Three Harvest Fresh Hop Double IPA, a special collaboration project with hydroponic hop farm Extreme Hops AL (Auburn, Alabama), during the week of February 10, 2020.

Named after “the number of harvests that the hydroponic hops will have each year,” Three Harvest is a Fresh Hop Hazy/Juicy Double India Pale Ale featuring “fresh Cascade hops directly off the hop bines” at Extreme Hops AL. Thanks to the use of “a hopping process new to Wild Leap,” Three Harvest (8.2% ABV) comes together to be an “easy-drinking and juicy Double IPA” that boasts “a citrus-forward aroma and classic Cascade grapefruit and pine flavors.”

“Timing with wet hops is critical, and introducing fresh whole hops to the kettle has a few challenges,” explains Chris Elliott, Wild Leap Chief Brewing Officer. “Because it uses wet hops right off the plant, we have to get the hops directly from the field to the kettle as soon as possible.”

“We were looking for potential breweries to collaborate with and we knew we’d found the perfect partner with Wild Leap,” says Ralf DuToit, Head Hop Farmer at Extreme Hops AL, “They’re adventurous, curious-minded people like us, so the collaboration couldn’t have been more natural.”

Three Harvest Double IPA officially releases on February 10 and will be available only as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located within Wild Leap’s distribution footprint in Georgia. Prost!

Vital Information for Three Harvest Fresh Hop Double IPA from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Release – Limited; February 10, 2020
Style – Hazy/Juicy Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.2%
IBUs – 38
Featured Hops – Fresh Cascade hops hydroponically grown at Extreme Hops AL
Fun Fact – “Hydroponic hops allow brewers to bypass traditional growing seasons and produce fresh hop beers off-season. With very few hydroponic farms in the United States, Wild Leap Chief Brewing Officer Chris Elliott seized the opportunity to experiment with wet hops.”
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Georgia

Allagash Brewing Sets the Mood for Valentine’s Day with Release of I Believe in Love

Posted on February 10, 2020 by mashingin

Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of I Believe in Love in early February 2020.

Surfacing as the newest offering to come out Allagash Brewing’s wild beer cellars, I Believe in Love is a Sour Ale that blends a “tart ale from one of [the brewery’s] oak foudres with fresh raspberries and cranberries.” Coming in at 6% ABV, I Believe in Love is a “stunning ruby” in color, “robustly tart” and boasts a beguiling “fruit-filled flavor” that is sure to make a believer out of all of us.

I Believe in Love is scheduled to release in early February and will hang around for as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 375ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Georgia, Maine and throughout the rest of Allagash Brewing Company’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for I Believe in Love from Allagash Brewing Company

Release – Limited; early February 2020
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 6%
Malts – Local Vienna Malt, Local Oats, Local Pale Malt, Rye, White Wheat & Two-Row Base Blend
Hops – Hallertau
Treatment – Aged on raspberries & cranberries
Availability – 375ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.allagash.com/locator/

Funky Buddha Brewery Kicks Off 2020 Mixology Series with Release of Paloma

Posted on February 10, 2020 by mashingin

Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, Florida) has officially announced that Paloma Tequila Barrel-aged Tart Ale will debut in mid-February as the brewery’s first Mixology Series release of 2020.

Inspired by the popular Mexican cocktail commonly made with tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda, Paloma is a Sour Ale “brewed with agave nectar, aged in reposado tequila barrels, and blended with grapefruit, lime juice, and Florida sea salt.” Coming in at a slow sipping 11% ABV, Paloma makes it as easy as possible for you to enjoy all the flavor and character of “Mexico’s most refreshing highball.”

Paloma released in the Tap Room at Funky Buddha Brewery on February 9 and is scheduled to enter distribution in mid-February. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, and throughout the rest of Funky Buddha’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Paloma from Funky Buddha Brewery

Release – Limited/Mixology Series; February – May 2020
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 11%
IBUs – 20
Added Ingredients – Agave nectar, lime juice, grapefruit & sea salt
Treatment – Aged in reposado tequila barrels
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://funkybuddhabrewery.com/beer-finder

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Goes Year-Round with Barrel-aged Narwhal

Posted on February 7, 2020 by mashingin

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Chico, California) has officially announced that it will add the once-elusive Barrel-aged Narwhal Imperial Stout to its Year-Round portfolio in late January 2020.

Previously only available as an occasionally released rarity, Barrel-aged Narwhal takes Sierra Nevada’s fan-favorite Narwhal Imperial Stout and ages it for nearly a year in bourbon barrels. Once its rest is completed, Barrel-aged Narwhal “emerges anew: rich with notes of oak, vanilla and coconut layered onto the Stout’s malt flavors of dark chocolate and espresso.” Weighing in at a massive 11.9& ABV, Barrel-aged Narwhal is truly a “beast of a beer.”

Barrel-aged Narwhal officially achieved Year-Round status in late January 2020. You can expect to find this tasty brew available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, North Carolina and throughout the rest of Sierra Nevada’s nationwide distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Barrel-aged Narwhal from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Release – Year-Round; late January 2020
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 11.9%
IBUs – 50
Malts – Two-row Pale, Caramelized malts, Chocolate, Carafa III, Honey & Roasted Barley
Hops – Challenger & Magnum
Treatment – Aged for nearly a year in Bourbon barrels
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://sierranevada.com/beer-locator/

Barrel-aged Narwhal from Sierra Nevada on Vimeo.

Coronado Brewing Sends Shaka Berry Pastry Stout Out for a Limited Release

Posted on February 7, 2020 by mashingin

Coronado Brewing Company (San Diego, California) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Shaka Berry Pastry Stout on Friday, February 7.

Arriving just in time to add a little sweetness to your Valentine’s Day, Shaka Berry Pastry Stout is an Imperial Milk Stout that “blends tart boysenberries and blackberries with rich cocoa and vanilla bean.” Coming in at 10.5 ABV, Shaka Berry comes together to be a decadent Pastry Stout that is carefully layered with “waves of flavor.”

“We wanted to have fun with a pastry stout that was big and decadent, but not barrel-aged,” says Mark Theisen, Head Brewer, Coronado Brewing Company. “We explored a lot of flavor profiles before landing where we did. The combo of chocolate and fruit work so well together and it really is the perfect beer to crack open for Valentine’s Day.”

“This beer is so big, that in order to hit our ABV goals, we did a double mash for each batch,” says Theisen. “We were basically using double the grist and doing a really long boil to hit our 10.5% ABV.” In addition to the imperial stout base, the brewers added cocoa powder, vanilla beans, lactose, and a blend of blackberries and boysenberries. “This was a challenging beer because we wanted the chocolate and fruit to be in harmony and not compete with each other,” says Theisen. “I get a lot of cocoa up front, then the berries hit you with a slight tartness that cuts through the sweetness of the rich stout base. In the end, its super complex but drinkable, and we encourage fans to enjoy it now!”

Shaka Berry Pastry Stout will debut at all three Coronado Brewing Company locations on February 7 and is scheduled to enter distribution the following week. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in North Carolina, California and throughout the rest of Coronado Brewing Company’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Shaka Berry Pastry Stout from Coronado Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Stout Series; February 7, 2020
Style – Imperial Milk Stout
ABV – 10.5%
Added Ingredients – Boysenberry, blackberry, vanilla, cocoa & lactose
Fun Fact – “Shaka Berry Pastry Stout is a limited release in [Coronado Brewing Company’s] new Stout Series, and the first time the company is releasing one of its high-octane stouts in a 16oz can format.”
Suggested Food Pairings – “Wood-Fired BBQ Ribs, Flat Iron Steak, Creme Brulee”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://coronadobrewing.com/brew-finder/