Sixpoint Brewery Adds Three New IPAs to its Year-Round Portfolio

SixpointLogoOrangeSixpoint Brewery (Brooklyn, New York) has officially announced that Hootie Hazy IPA, Meltdown IIPA and Trail Haze Hazy Adventure IPA will join the brewery’s Year-Round lineup in January 2020.

After spending the last 25 months developing and releasing over 65 beers as a part of their Small Batch innovation program, the fine folks at Sixpoint Brewery have decided to promote three top formulations to Year-Round status. Hootie Hazy IPA, Meltdown IIPA and Trail Haze Hazy Adventure IPA have all been tested by the brewery “at small scale extensively through multiple releases, incorporating feedback, and even going so far as to survey a group of ‘Super Fans’ on their opinions of the beers across several iterations.” After a few tweaks and adjustments, this is how Sixpoint describes the Year-Round versions of these three offerings (descriptions sourced directly from the brewery’s press release):

  • Hootie Hazy IPA – A 6.2% ABV, 5 IBU IPA gratuitously dry-hopped with three hops directly-sourced from farms in the Pacific Northwest and Idaho—Idaho 7, El Dorado, and Amarillo—with Australian Galaxy hops as well to boost the overall potency. It’s an everyday Hazy IPA that’s designed to be incredibly juicy and aromatic, and also very easy to drink with low bitterness.
    The hop strains for Hootie were selected to leverage the direct-to-farmer hop relationships that Sixpoint has cultivated over the years. The beer features the Idaho 7 hop sourced directly from Nate Jackson of Jackson Farms, the breeder of the varietal. Sixpoint also uses El Dorado hops directly sourced from Graham Gamache at Cornerstone Ranches, and the Amarillo variety comes from Double R farms, both in Washington’s Yakima Valley.
    Hootie was one of the first releases from Sixpoint’s Product Development team and has been worked on for over two years. Sixpoint released the beer in 16 oz cans for limited distribution in mid-2019, and the final update to the beer is raising the ABV slightly, from 5.4 to 6.2, to precisely dial in the formulation.
  • Meltdown IIPA – An 8.0% ABV, 20 IBU, Double IPA intensely hopped with Mosaic and Mandarina Bavaria. This beer has a smooth, soft, hazy body meant to be extremely lush and juicy.
    Meltdown is Sixpoint’s expression of the New England Double IPA experience at scale— complete with all the rich texture, extreme hopping rate, and ripe juiciness the style is beloved for— and available on shelves consistently.
    Meltdown was released through Sixpoint’s Infinite Loop rotating IPA series and became an instant favorite, with tasters lauding the smooth and soft body of the beer, plus the complex aroma of both ripe tropical fruit and bright orange peel.
  • Trail Haze Hazy Adventure IPA – A 4% ABV, 99 calorie Hazy “Adventure” IPA, hopped with Southern Hemisphere favorites Vic Secret and Enigma, as well as Mosaic, and produced without any sweeteners or flavorings. The beer is a collaboration with the outdoor recreational co-op REI.
    Sixpoint and REI’s relationship began through event partnership and Sixpoint’s support of REI adventures in the NY metro area. The two teams then developed Trail Haze in the summer of 2019 and released it through Sixpoint’s Small Batch events, as well as at major events at REI’s NYC location, including the announcement of their #opttoact campaign, which presented people with a 52 week plan to take action to reduce their impact on the environment in partnership with the NYC Mayors Office of Sustainability, and “Pray for Snow” Party.
    Trail Haze is an innovative formula using rice and highly attenuative brewing techniques to create a light, crisp, low calorie beer that drinks with the texture and quality of real hazy IPA but doesn’t slow you down. The beer is aggressively dry-hopped with a blend of American and Australian hops to be extremely aromatic and expressive.

Hootie Hazy IPA, Meltdown IIPA and Trail Haze Hazy Adventure IPA are all launching in January 2020.  You can expect to find these new Year-Round offerings available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, New York and throughout the rest of Sixpoint Brewery’s distribution area.  Prost!

 

Rogue Ales Releases 2020 Product Release Calendar

Cherry_Choctabulous_22oz_BottleBeer calendar season keeps chuggin’ right along, and this week we are getting into the 2020 Product Release Calendar from Rogue Ales (Newport, Oregon).

Just as we do with all brewery release calendars around here, we have posted Rogue’s 2020 Product Release Calendar in its entirety below for you to absorb at your own convenience.  With that said, we would like to highlight a few of the exciting new releases the brewery has in store for all of us this year . . . so, let’s get at it:

  • Dreamland American Lager will join Rogue’s Year-Round lineup in 2020.  Dreamland is a simple, crisp lager for year-round crushing from which a portion of the proceeds will go toward building skateparks around the world.
  • Rogue’s Experimental Ales Series will consist of the following three offerings in 2020: Cherry Choctabulous  | November 2019 – February 2020 – Sweet aromas of chocolate and cherry are prevalent on the nose, the initial hit of cherry gives way to dark chocolate that fills out the mid palate, finishing with one last blast of cherry before ultimately resigning with the slightly bitter bite of dark chocolate (8.4% ABV); Shavasana | March – June – This Imperial Blonde Ale brewed with granola, coconut and sweet oats features delicious, subtle spice flavors making it the perfect cool-down beer (8% ABV); and Pineapple Party Punch | July – October – An Imperial Hazy IPA that is reminiscent of our favorite tropical drink, the Pina Colada, and is bursting with pineapple, coconut and tropical hop flavors (8.75% ABV).  All three offerings will be available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft.
  • Newport Nights will be available February through May as a part of the brewery’s Hop Head Trio Series. This Imperial IPA opens with aromas of mango, papaya and tangerine followed by an atom bomb of pine and grapefruit, ultimately delivering a monstrous hop punch that is surprisingly smooth.  ABV – 9.8%
  • Newport Daze, the counterpart to Newport Nights, will fill the March – June slot in Rogue’s Sessionable 6-Pack Series. This sessionable Hazy Pale Ale gives off aromas of pineapple & stone fruit, features tangerine & peach flavors and finishes slightly sweet and very smooth.  ABV – 5%
  • The brewery’s Barrel-Aged lineup will see the addition of Cotes du Rogue Sour Blonde in April.  This limited-edition Sour Blonde is part of a foeder-aged sour series. It offers a tart flavor with hints of oak, lemon, vanilla and apricot.  ABV – 7.1% ABV

That covers all the notes that we wanted to pass along, but there is still quite a bit of information left for you to check out on the calendar below. Give it a good look and get yourself properly prepared for all the goodness headed your way from Rogue Ales in 2020.  Prost!

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Hidden Springs Ale Works Braces for Return of Cat Kong

HiddenSpringslogoHidden Springs Ale Works (Tampa, Florida) has officially announced that it will hold a Limited Bottle Release for Cat Kong, a Barrel-aged Imperial Stout brewed in collaboration with Felinious Hops, in its tasting room at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 11.

Fluffy, adorable and boasting all the menacing indifference you would expect from a “domesticated” feline, Cat Kong is a Barrel-aged Imperial Milk Stout with toasted coconut, graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate.  Weighing in at a beastly 12% ABV, Cat Kong is all about that “coconutty s’mores goodness.”

The bottle release for Cat Kong will take place at Hidden Springs Ale Works (1631 N. Franklin St. | Tampa, Florida) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 11. 22 oz. bottles of Cat Kong will cost $30 each and the brewery will announce the bottle limit 15 minutes prior to opening. Cash is preferred, but cards will be accepted.

A few things to keep in mind if you plan to attend this bottle release:

  • Parking is available up and down Franklin St., on Henderson just west of Tampa, and on 7th Ave. There are also paid lots located across the street from the brewery and under the I-275 overpass
  • Once you are in line, make sure that you hug the wall near the door on Henderson so that foot traffic will not be affected on the sidewalks
  • Above all, please be respectful of the brewery’s neighbors and be sure that you pick up after yourself

Cat Kong is a brewery exclusive release and will not see distribution.  Like most kitties you are lucky enough to cross paths with, Cat Kong is only going to be around as long as it wants to be.  If wish to get a hold of a bottle, just make sure that you are in line by the final head count on Saturday morning. Prost!

Vital Information for Cat Kong from Hidden Springs Ale Works

Release – Limited; January 11, 2020
Style – Imperial Milk Stout
ABV – 12%
Added Ingredients – Toasted coconut, graham crackers, marshmallows & chocolate
Treatment – Barrel-aged
Availability – 22 oz. bottles
Distribution – None. Brewery exclusive release

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Stone Brewing Launches 2020 Pilot Series Program with Release of Neverending Haze IPA

NeverendingHaze_CanMockStone Brewing (Escondido, California) has officially announced that that it will begin the nationwide Seasonal Release of Stone Neverending Haze IPA in January 2020.

Arriving as the first release of 2020 in the Stone Pilot Series Program of special releases on trial for placement in the brewery’s full-time lineup of beers, Stone Neverending Haze IPA is a sessionable Hazy/Juicy IPA featuring Mosaic and Citra hops and a Norwegian yeast strain called Voss Kveik.  These featured ingredients produce “dank aromas” of orange peel and floral notes alongside “citrus flavors of orange and lime . . . followed by oats, pineapple, star fruit and sweet strawberry preserves.”  Clocking in at just 4% ABV, Stone Neverending Haze IPA boasts a dry finish “with the slightest bitterness (lest Stone ever forget its roots) and just the right tangy tartness to refresh and implore another sip.”

Stone Neverending Haze IPA hit distribution on January 1 and will be available for a limited time.  You can expect to find this new Seasonal offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 12-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, Virginia and throughout the rest of Stone Brewing’s nationwide distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Stone Neverending Haze IPA from Stone Brewing

Release – Seasonal/Stone Pilot Series Program; launching January 1, 2020
Style – Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale 
ABV – 4% 
IBUs – 35
Featured Hops – Mosaic & Citra
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 12-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://find.stonebrewing.com/#ready

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Proof Brewing Co. Enters A New Decade with Seasonal Release of Litany of Angels

ProofLitanyofAngels2Proof Brewing Co. (Tallahassee, Florida) has officially announced that it will release its award-winning Litany of Angels for the first time in cans on Friday, January 10.

Carefully crafted with the use of “artisanal brewing methods for refined flavor,” Litany of Angels is a Belgian Golden Strong Ale that “elevates soft malt flavors and fruity esters and spices, rooted in traditional Belgian styles.”  Coming in at 9% ABV, Litany of Angels possesses a complexity comprised of “elegant candi sweetness and warming alcohol.”

“Litany of Angels has been one of the bestselling beers in our tasting room,” said Bryan Smith, Marketing Director at Proof Brewing Co. “We are excited to scale this crowd favorite up and share with more of our fans.”

Litany of Angels will release in the Tasting Room at Proof Brewing Co. at 11 a.m. on January 10 and distribution will follow shortly after the on-site release.  You can expect to find this Seasonal offering available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-focused establishments located throughout Proof Brewing Co.’s distribution footprint in Florida.  Prost!

Vital Information for Litany of Angels from Proof Brewing Co. 

Release – Seasonal; January – March 2020
Style – Belgian Golden Strong Ale 
ABV – 9%
Fun Fact – “Litany of Angels received a gold medal in 2017 at Best Florida Beer competition for Belgian Strong Ales.”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Florida 

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Heavy Seas Beer Schedules Taproom Release of Dry January Hazy IPA

45718056452_40d9331d94_cHeavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) has officially announced that it will begin the Taproom Exclusive Release of Dry January Hazy IPA on Friday, January 17.

Surfacing as the first can release to come out of the brewery’s 15 Barrel Brewhouse in 2020, Dry January is a Hazy India Pale Ale brewed with acai and pomegranate to give you “all the fruity juiciness you desire, without the smoothie bowl.”  Containing plenty of booze at 10% ABV, Dry January is the perfect way to celebrate “Ditch Your New Year’s Resolution Day” on January 17.

Dry January Hazy IPA will debut in the Heavy Seas Taproom on Friday, January 17.  This Taproom Exclusive offering will be available for purchase in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft during the release. Dry January will not see distribution. Prost!

Vital Information for Dry January Hazy IPA from Heavy Seas Beer

Release – Limited/Taproom Exclusive Series; January 17, 2020
Style – Hazy India Pale Ale
ABV – 10%
Hops – Amarillo, Idaho 7, Mosaic, El Dorado & Citra
Added Ingredients – Acai & pomegranate
Fun Fact – “The Dry January label artwork was designed by local Baltimore artist, Chris Gipple, of Nightshift Creative, who also designed Heavy Seas’ 24 Anniversary beer label this past December. All the taproom exclusive beer labels will be designed by Chris in 2020.”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – None. Taproom only

Creature Comforts Brewing Co. Set to Release My Very Own Mole Imperial Stout

creaturecomfortslogoWhiteCreature Comforts Brewing Co. (Athens, Georgia) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Bottle Release of My Very Own Mole, a mole-inspired Imperial Stout, on Friday, January 10.

Inspired by the “very regional and personal dish in Mexico that reflects a true sense of the land, ingredients, and the people making it,” My Very Own Mole is an Imperial Stout featuring chili peppers from Sundance Farm, Tumble Tree Farm, and Hickory Hill Farm; cocoa nibs from Condor Chocolates; benne seed from Anson Mills; hoja santa from The Feral Woman’s Garden; cinnamon and vanilla beans. Weighing in at 11% ABV, My Very Own Mole comes together to be a celebration and honest expression of local and regional ingredients.

My Very Own Mole will debut in the Tasting Room at Creature Comforts Brewing Co. on January 10.  This Limited Release offering will be available in 500ml bottles and on draft for as long as supplies last.  If you would like to secure bottles in advance, you can do so by visiting the brewery’s page on CraftCellr (click here).  My Very Own Mole is a brewery-only release and is not expected to see distribution. Prost!

Vital Information for My Very Own Mole from Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

Release – Limited; January 10, 2020
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 11%
Added Ingredients – Chili peppers from Sundance Farm, Tumble Tree Farm, and Hickory Hill Farm; cocoa nibs from Condor Chocolates; benne seed from Anson Mills; hoja santa from The Feral Woman’s Garden; cinnamon & vanilla beans
Fun Fact – “Mole is a very regional and personal dish in Mexico that reflects a true sense of the land, ingredients, and the people making it. With that custom in mind, Creature Comforts used local and regional ingredients, while also honoring the traditional dish, to make this mole-inspired beer. In addition, the brewery sought insight on a mole recipe from Maricela Vega, Executive Chef of 8ARM.”
Availability – 500ml bottles & draft
Distribution – None. Brewery only

Phantom Haze DIPA Materializes as Boulevard Brewing Co.’s Newest Year-Round

Phantom-Haze-IconBoulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, Missouri) has officially announced that Phantom Haze Double IPA will join the brewery’s Year-Round lineup on January 6.

Developed after a year of “bold experimentation,” Phantom Haze is a Hazy/Juicy Double India Pale Ale that combines “10 different hops with an oat and wheat malt bill to [produce] a juicy, hop-forward taste with a pillowy mouthfeel.”  Clocking in at 7.5% ABV and 30 IBUs, the “supernaturally delicious” Phantom Haze is “big, bold and beautifully balanced, bursting with luscious tropical hop flavors.”

Phantom Haze Double IPA will officially launch on Monday, January 6.  You can expect to find this new Year-Round offering available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Missouri and throughout the rest of Boulevard Brewing Co.’s distribution territory.  Prost!

Vital Information for Phantom Haze Double IPA from Boulevard Brewing Co.

Release – Year-Round/Smokestack Series; January 6, 2020
Style – Hazy/Juicy Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 7.5%
IBUs – 30
Hops – Citra, Idaho 7, Amarillo, Strata, Calypso, Cascade, El Dorado, Galaxy, Mosaic & Ekuanot
Malts – Pale Malt, Wheat Malt & Golden Naked Oats
Suggested Food Pairings – “Tacos al pastor, ginger chicken, a bacon cheese burger with onion jam, aged cheddar cheese, carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, citrus desserts”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.boulevard.com/beer/beer-finder/

Great Divide Brewing Co. Unveils 2020 Release Calendar

Coffee-Porter-LabelA new year means plenty of new beer, and this week we are here to provide you with a look at the 2020 Release Calendar from Great Divide Brewing Company (Denver, Colorado).

As is the case with most beer release calendars around these parts, we have posted Great Divide’s full 2020 Release Calendar below for you to sift through at your own leisure. With that said, there are a few exciting new releases and changes that we would like to point out real quick.  Let’s get to it:

  • Previously only available as a part of the brewery’s Tank Farm Series of limited releases, Strawberry Rhubarb Sour will be promoted to Year-Round status in April of 2020.
  • Car Camper, a Hazy Pale Ale spotlighting Sabro hops, will also join Great Divide’s Year-Round lineup in April. Car Camper will have availability in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft.
  • The Tank Farm Series will see the addition of Coffee Porter, a special collaboration project with Denver’s Pablo’s Coffee.  Here is how Matt Sandy, Marketing Manager at Great Divide, describes this new brew:
    “I am particularly excited about our collaboration with Pablo’s Coffee.  Though it sounds simple on the surface, this is one of the more multifaceted beers we’ve brewed. Whiskey barrels that once held Barrel Aged Yeti Imperial Stout were filled with green coffee beans and aged to perfection. The beans were then roasted, ground and given back to us to brew this Coffee Porter. We’ll be releasing the beer in February and some of remaining the barrel aged beans will be available at Pablo’s locations.”
  • The Wood Werks Barrel Series will transition to 16 oz. cans this year and the 2020 lineup will include the following three new offerings: Wood Werks Old Fashioned (March), Wood Werks Golden Sour with Fruit (June), and Wood Werks Double Barrel Belgian (September).
  • 2020 will see four variants of the brewery’s beloved Yeti Imperial Stout: Chocolate Cherry Yeti (February – April), S’mores Yeti (May – July), Pumpkin Yeti **NEW** (August – October), and a yet-to-be-named new Yeti variant (November – December).
  • Finally, Great Divide will get into the alcoholic sparkling water game in 2020 with the introduction of Whitewater Hard Seltzer. The brewery will release a variety 12-pack with four flavors in the spring.

“Whitewater will be crisp, refreshing and taste like real fruit,” explained Great Divide founder and president, Brian Dunn. “We’re excited to meet the demand for seltzer with a product we’re proud to serve and drink.”

Those are just a few of the highlights, but there are still quite a few new releases and returning fan-favorites left for you to discover on the calendar below.  Check it out and get ready for another exciting year with Great Divide Brewing Company in 2020. Prost!

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Harpoon Brewery Takes a Triple IPA Approach to Dry January

DryJanuaryModalHarpoon Brewery (Boston, Massachusetts) has officially announced that it will begin the Specialty Release of Dry January Triple IPA in early January 2020.

Developed specifically for anyone that wants to do the exact opposite of “forgoing booze for 31 days,” Dry January is a Triple India Pale Ale “featuring an abundance of Calypso, Zythos, and Mandarina Bavaria hops.”  Coming in at 11% ABV and 70 IBUs, Dry January is “designed for those who prefer to imbibe on a cold winter’s night, no matter the month.”

Dry January Triple IPA will debut with launch events at Harpoon Brewery locations on January 6 and distribution will begin shortly after the on-site releases.  You can expect to find this Specialty Release offering available in 16 oz. cans and on draft in Massachusetts, Vermont and other select markets in the Northeast.  Prost!

Vital Information for Dry January Triple IPA from Harpoon Brewery

Release – Limited/Specialty; January 2020
Style – Imperial/Triple India Pale Ale
ABV – 11%
IBUs – 70
Featured Hops – Calypso, Zythos & Mandarina Bavaria
Availability – 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.harpoonbrewery.com/beer-finder/

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