Beer | Mashing In

Great Lakes Brewing Co. Announces 2020 Beer Release Calendar

Posted on December 26, 2019December 26, 2019 by mashingin

The seasonal wave of Beer Calendars continues to roll through this month, and today we are here to provide you with a peek at the 2020 Beer Release Calendar from Great Lakes Brewing Company (Cleveland, Ohio).

Just as we typically do with most beer calendar-related posts around here, we have published Great Lakes Brewing Company’s full 2020 Beer Release Calendar below for you to take in at your convenience. Before we turn you directly over to that document, there are a few highlights we would like to bring to your attention. So . . . let’s not waste any time and knock that out real quick:

Great Lakes Brewing Company’s iconic Dortmunder Gold Lager will see new packaging options and get a new look in 2020. This award-winning Year-Round offering “will make its long-awaited . . . canned debut in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 12-packs 12 oz. cans, and 16 oz. cans beginning Q2, 2020. Both can and bottle will sport new artwork celebrating Dortmunder Gold’s winning legacy, balanced crowd-pleasing flavor, and Cleveland roots.” ABV – 5.8% IBUs – 30
Great Lakes IPA will join the brewery’s Year-Round lineup in Q2, 2020. A bright, citrusy, dry-hopped American IPA originally released in 2019 in celebration of the brewery’s ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) announcement, Great Lakes IPA will be available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 12-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft. ABV – 6.5% IBUs – 50
After becoming “an instant hit when it debuted as part of 2019’s Small Batch Can Series,” Mexican Lager with Lime – brewed with real lime peel and purée – will join the brewery’s Seasonal lineup in Q2. This Seasonal brew will be available in redesigned 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 12-packs of 12 oz. cans, and on draft from April through July 2020.
The brewery’s Legendary Series, which pairs mythological stories with premium styles and ingredients, will see two new brews in 2020: Bierwolf Dunkelweizen (January) – Cold brew coffee, chocolate, and orange peel creep deep into the heart of this German-style Dunkelweizen, transforming a once traditional brew into a hauntingly decadent hybrid (ABV – 6.6% IBUs – 25); and Siren Shores Passion Fruit Saison (May) – Ahoy, weary sailor! Heed the call of the North Coast’s “inland seas” and plunge into an effervescent maelstrom of sweet passion fruit, zesty spices, and tempting tropical fruit aromas (ABV – 6.9% IBU – 15)
In addition to Great Lakes Brewing Company’s storied seasonal lineup, a trio of new limited release bottles will join the portfolio. This fresh series of unique, one-off releases brings the GLBC brewpub’s experimental spirit to colorful 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and draft throughout the brewery’s distribution footprint. Hazy IPA (March), Lemon Hefeweizen (April), and SMASH IPA (June) will launch this new series in 2020.

Alright . . . that takes care of all the points we wanted to gloss over, but there is still a ton of information waiting for you on the calendar below. Give it a gander and get ready for all the exciting releases headed your way from Great Lakes Brewing Company in 2020. Prost!

glbc_beerreleasecalendar2020 — **CLICK HERE TO ENLARGE CALENDAR**

Abita Brewing Company’s Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout Returns for a Limited Time

Posted on December 26, 2019 by mashingin

Abita Brewing Company (Abita Springs, Louisiana) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout in late December 2019.

Carefully crafted to “combine the rich flavor of roasted coffee with a full-bodied stout,” Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout is a Milk Stout that establishes a base with Pale, Caramel, Chocolate and Roasted malts, finds balance with Willamette hops, and gets its coffee kick from espresso dolce beans from PJ’s Coffee added “during the cold brewing process.” Rounded off with a touch of sweetness supplied by natural milk sugar and oats, the smooth-sipping Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout (6% ABV) offers its drinker “a strong coffee flavor and aroma that complements the existing flavors of the malt.”

Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout is rolling out now and will be available through March 2020. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and throughout the rest of Abita’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout from Abita Brewing Company

Release – Limited; December 2019 – March 2020
Style – Milk Stout
ABV – 6%
Malts – Pale, Caramel, Chocolate & Roasted
Hops – Willamette
Yeast- American Ale
Added Ingredients – Espresso Dolce coffee beans from PJ’s Coffee, natural milk sugar & oats
Recommended Glassware – Goblet or Snifter
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://abita.com/find-abita

Ithaca Beer Co. Adds Every Day Haze IPA to Year-Round Lineup

Posted on December 24, 2019 by mashingin

Ithaca Beer Co. (Ithaca, New York) has officially announced that Every Day Haze IPA will join its Year-Round lineup in February 2020.

Developed to be the East Coast-style companion to “Ithaca’s classic West Coast-style Flower Power,” Every Day Haze IPA is a Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale that has Citra and Mosaic hops providing “a solid foundation of fruit character” while Lotus hops “uniquely [accent] profiles of soft orange, vanilla and cream.” Coming in at 6.6% ABV and 22 IBUs, Every Day Haze IPA boasts complex hop aromatics, “a unique tropical citrus depth,” and a “soft, creamy and silky mouthfeel.”

Every Day Haze IPA is scheduled to officially debut on February 6, 2020. You can expect to find this new Year-Round offering available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans, 8-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-friendly establishments located in North Carolina, New York and throughout the rest of Ithaca Beer Co.’s 16-state distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Every Day Haze IPA from Ithaca Beer Co.

Release – Year-Round/Core; launching February 6, 2020
Style – Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.6%
IBUs – 22
Hops – Citra, Mosaic & Lotus
Malts – 2-Row Pale, Oats & Wheat
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans, 8-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft

Orpheus Brewing Brings the Heat with 2019 Release of The Ferryman

Posted on December 23, 2019 by mashingin

Orpheus Brewing (Atlanta, Georgia) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of a ghost pepper-infused variant of The Ferryman Imperial Stout on Thursday, December 26.

Here to make sure that 2019 closes on an extra spicy note, the latest version of The Ferryman is an Imperial Stout that includes additions of “ghost pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cocoa nibs.” Coming in at 10% ABV, this year’s recipe for The Ferryman promises “a rich fudge experience with notes of baking spice and a fiery finish to warm you to the bone.”

The Ferryman

Approach Charon and pay the price to be taken to the land of emptiness and silence. Stare deeply into The Ferryman and be transfixed by the blackness of this Imperial Stout. The enticing, rich aroma will pull you in, soothing you to stillness.

The 2019 version of The Ferryman will debut in the Tasting Room at Orpheus Brewing on December 26 and distribution is expected to follow shortly after the on-site release. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located within Orpheus Brewing’s distribution footprint in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Prost!

Vital Information for The Ferryman from Orpheus Brewing

Release – Limited/Rotating; December 26, 2019
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 10%
Added Ingredients – Ghost pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg & cocoa nibs
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Georgia, Alabama & Florida

Funky Buddha Brewery Reveals 2020 Release Schedule

Posted on December 23, 2019 by mashingin

Another week brings with it another wave of beer calendars, and this one is kicking off with the 2020 Release Schedule from Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, Florida).

In keeping with our approach to beer calendar season, we have posted Funky Buddha Brewery’s full 2020 Release Schedule below for you to thumb through at your own pace. With that said, there is a good amount of news (both on and off the official schedule) that we would like to clue you in on first. Let’s get at it:

Chant Repeatable IPA will join Funky Buddha’s Year-Round portfolio in February. Low in calories and carbs but high on hop flavor, Chant is a supremely crushable ale that channels notes of citrus, mango, and pine from the addition of Mosaic hops. Chant IPA will be available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft. ABV – 4.2% IBUs – 27
The 2020 Goodness Series will consist of two new offerings and two returning favorites: Tart Shake **NEW** (Feb-May): Milkshake sour ale with black currants, passion fruit, vanilla, and lactose; Cosmic Trip **NEW** (May-Aug): Hazy IPA with starfruit and galaxy hops; Sweet Potato Casserole (Aug-Oct): Spiced ale with sweet potato, vanilla, and spices; Last Snow (Oct-Dec): Creamy porter with coconut and coffee. All Goodness Series offerings will be available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft.
The Mixology Series will return in 2020 with three new cocktail-inspired beers: Paloma (Feb-May): Tequila barrel-aged tart ale with agave nectar, grapefruit, lime, and sea salt; Negroni (June-Sept): Chardonnay barrel-aged ale with herbs and botanicals; Old Fashioned (Oct-Dec): Bourbon barrel-aged rye ale with orange peel, herbs, and botanicals. All 2020 Mixology Series releases will be available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft.
Funky Buddha’s line of Limited Releases – bold, innovative beers that marry culinary-inspired ingredients with time-honored technique – will return with offerings like Maple Bacon Coffee Porter (statewide distribution), No Crusts Brown Ale, Sticky Nuts Blonde Ale, Rum Barrel-Aged Coquito Imperial Cream Ale and several more. These beers will be released throughout the year in the South Florida market with availability in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft. Keep an eye on Funky Buddha’s social media channels for updates and exact release dates.
The Living Barrel Series is also scheduled to return with an array of small batch, barrel-aged beers. A majority of these releases will remain in the tap room with a few being released to the South Florida market.
Funky Buddha Brewery plans to launch a new line of Natural Hard Seltzers in 2020. Made with real agave nectar, pure cane sugar, and natural fruit flavors, these premium beverages offer a guilt-free alternative with a clear purpose. The seltzers will be launched in variety 12-packs consisting of bright, refreshing flavors like Lush Key Lime Cherry, Tropical Mango Guava, Crisp Pink Grapefruit, and Juicy Blood Orange. With only 90 calories, 1g carbs, and 0g sugar, these bubbly bevies are a perfect pair to an active and enlightened lifestyle. 12-packs will be available in the South Florida area starting in March.

That should just about cover all the items that we wanted to go over, but there is still plenty of fun stuff left for you to find on the calendar below. Make sure to give it a good look so that you can be fully prepared for the year ahead with Funky Buddha Brewery. Prost!

FBB_2020_Release_Schedule_Consumer_Version — **CLICK HERE TO ENLARGE CALENDAR**

Holiday Gift Guide 2019: DraftBottle Stainless-Steel, Reusable Beer Bottle

Posted on December 20, 2019 by mashingin

The 2019 Holiday Season is upon us and it is time to start thinking about those unique gift ideas. The crew here at Mashing In is well aware that it is often difficult to find that perfect gift, so we have decided to compile a gift guide for anyone in your life that enjoys a well-crafted adult beverage from time to time. This installment of the gift guide is for the beer drinker who enjoys his/her draft beer on the go: the DraftBottle from CTL Investments LLC.

Chris Lyons, Inventor/President at CTL Investments LLC & DraftBottle, came up with the idea for the DraftBottle one day when he was wanting to enjoy a beer from his kegerator while doing yard work. In that moment, Lyons realized he did not have a proper vessel for that occasion because a mug or plastic cup could easily spill, make it possible for debris to get into his beer, and would allow the beer to warm/go flat too quickly. That realization led Lyons to mentally design a reusable, insulated, stainless-steel beer bottle that opens below the neck so that it can be easily filled with draft beer. He then put his idea on paper, sent it off to a patent attorney, and the DraftBottle went on to become a reality.

More than just another stainless-steel bottle, the patented DraftBottle is a truly unique beverage container that has the following features and uses (descriptions sourced directly from DraftBottle’s press release):

DraftBottle Features

DraftBottle unscrews below the neck allowing you to easily fill it with 1 Pint (the bottle will hold 22oz in total) of draft beer, beer from a growler, mixed drinks or any other beverage. It’s made from 18/8 food grade stainless steel, and the base cup is double walled and vacuum sealed to keep your brew cold!

The reusable screw cap prevents spills and stops anything unwanted from getting inside. The exterior is powder coated to help durability, it’s sweat-proof, and has a leak-proof seal around the separation. DraftBottle is eco-friendly, BPA free and dishwasher safe.

DraftBottle Uses

The uses for DraftBottle are endless. There is the obvious use for draft beer, beer from a growler, glass bottled/canned beer, and so on. It also is great in the heat around your pool, where you do not want glass drinkware/bottles, at the beach, in the yard, tailgating and on and on. We have also had feedback of customers using them as water bottles where it allows you to easily add ice to the cup.

The DraftBottle is available now for the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $24.99 each, and you can purchase yours by visiting the DraftBottle website (click here to do so). Prost!

Highland Brewing Continues Southern Nouveau Series with Release of Bonbon Stout with Earl Grey Tea

Posted on December 20, 2019 by mashingin

Highland Brewing (Asheville, North Carolina) has officially announced that it will hold a Limited Bottle Release of Bonbon Stout with Earl Grey Tea, the second barrel-aged release to come out its newly established Southern Nouveau Series, on December 20.

Inspired by the London Fog chocolate bonbon crafted at Asheville’s own French Broad Chocolates, Bonbon Stout with Earl Grey Tea is an Imperial Stout “brewed with cacao nibs and Earl Grey tea and then laid to rest in bourbon barrels for 9 months.” This clever recipe and treatment produces a decadent stout featuring notes of “rich chocolate . . . underscored by the slightly bittersweet note of the Earl Grey tea, all while being supported by a hearty bourbon character.”

Bonbon Stout with Earl Grey Tea will officially release at Highland Brewing on Friday, December 20. Like all Southern Nouveau Series releases, Bonbon Stout with Earl Grey Tea will be available in 500ml bottles and on draft for a limited time. The first 100 bottles released will be signed by Highland’s family owners, Oscar Wong and Leah Wong-Ashburn. Bonbon Stout with Earl Grey Tea is a brewery exclusive release and is not expected to see distribution. Prost!

Vital Information for Bonbon Stout with Earl Grey Tea from Highland Brewing

Release – Limited/Southern Nouveau Series; December 20, 2019
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – ???
Added Ingredients – Cacao nibs & Earl Grey tea
Treatment – Aged in Bourbon barrels for 9 months
Fun Fact – With a name inspired by “the architectural beauty” found in Highland’s home city of Asheville, the Southern Nouveau Series is a new lineup of carefully crafted offerings that will “encompass both clean and sour barrel-aged beers.”
Availability – 500ml bottles & draft
Distribution – None. Brewery only

LOKO Cuisine Kicks Off 2020 Eggs & Kegs Series with Tang! & Biscuits Brunch

Posted on December 19, 2019 by mashingin

LOKO Cuisine has officially announced that it will enter the New Year by teaming up with Green Bench Brewing Co. (1133 Baum Ave. N | St. Petersburg, Florida) to celebrate shuffleboard, beer and food with a special Tang! & Biscuits Eggs & Kegs Brunch at 11 a.m. on Sunday, January 19.

Inspired by the fact that St. Petersburg is home to the largest and oldest shuffleboard courts in the world, the mad geniuses at LOKO Cuisine have approached their first Eggs & Kegs event of 2020 by designing a menu “named after the sport’s ‘Tang’ cue stick and ‘Biscuit’ puck.” The Tang! & Biscuits Brunch will consist of the following four-course meal (served buffet-style):

In addition to all the tasty grub listed above, Green Bench Brewing Co. will have a full array of tasty beverages available for you to pair with your meal (one beer, wine or cider included in ticket price. Additional beverages can be purchased separately throughout the meal). Also, event organizers have arranged for a portable shuffleboard court to be on-site “so you can brush up on your game” during brunch.

Tickets for Tang! & Biscuits Eggs & Kegs are available now for $34.00 each, and you can purchase yours by clicking here. Ticket cost includes the four-course brunch and one selected beer, wine or cider. Physical tickets will not be issued, but your name will be added to a paid list once the purchase process is completed. FYI: Everyone in your party will have to check in under the purchaser’s name at the door.

Like all LOKO Cuisine Eggs & Kegs events, seating is incredibly limited for Tang! & Biscuits. With that in mind, reach out to brunch buddies ASAP and lock down some tickets before they sell out. Prost!

Allagash Brewing to Roll Out Cans of Allagash White & River Trip Across Full Distribution

Posted on December 19, 2019December 19, 2019 by mashingin

Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine) has officially announced that it will make cans of Allagash White and River Trip available across its full distribution footprint in the first quarter of 2020.

Thanks to the addition of a state-of-the-art canning line, Allagash Brewing first started offering cans of Allagash White and River Trip in its east coast distribution network in early 2019. The cans proved to be a real hit with Allagash fans in that area, and the brewery has now decided to expand the availability of 16 oz. cans of Allagash White and River Trip to its entire distribution area in 2020.

If you happen to be unfamiliar with these two offerings, here is some background information on both Allagash White and River Trip (descriptions sourced directly from the brewery’s press release):

Allagash White – Belgian-style wheat beer, Allagash White has won a combined seven gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, and European Beer Star Awards, was lauded as “one of the top 25 most important Craft Beers in America,” by Food and Wine; described as “one of the most consistently perfect beers ever brewed on American soil,” by Popular Mechanics; and hailed “one of the 19 best beers of 2019,” by Craft Beer and Brewing. ABV – 5.2%
River Trip – Inspired by a canoe trip taken by brewery employees to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, River Trip—a Belgian-style session ale—is dry hopped for balanced notes of grapefruit, melon, and stone fruit. River Trip was announced as a 2020 Good Food Awards Finalist, and was listed as one of only two beers on Gear Patrol’s 2019 GP100, that recognizes the 100 best new products of 2019. River Trip is brewed with local pale malt and locally grown oats. Refreshing and full of hop-forward flavor, River Trip is also the lowest-calorie beer in the brewery’s year-round lineup (170 calories per 16 oz. can). ABV – 4.8%

“We love that cans create a wide variety of new opportunities for people to enjoy our beer,” said Rob Tod, founder, Allagash. “Earlier this year, we successfully launched cans in states close to home. Now we’re excited to get Allagash cans into the hands of even more beer lovers.”

“The demand for our beer in cans has impressed us,” added Jason Perkins, Brewmaster/VP of Brewing Operations, Allagash. “Our recently increased production capacity means we can deliver two of our most sought-after beers in a new, exciting way—while continuing to meet our high quality standards.”

Allagash White and River Trip will be available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans “starting in January in the following markets: California, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania come February.” Additionally, these two offerings will see availability in 12-packs of 12 oz. cans “within the majority of the brewery’s east coast distribution network (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Virginia and DC) starting in February.” Prost!

Big Storm Brewing Co. Set to Release Huracán Rum Maple Barrel-aged Imperial Stout

Posted on December 18, 2019 by mashingin

Big Storm Brewing Co. (Clearwater, Florida) has officially announced that it will hold a Limited Bottle Release for Huracán Rum Maple Barrel-aged Imperial Stout at all three of the brewery’s taprooms on Saturday, December 21.

Here to provide Big Storm fans with a little something special for the holidays, Huracán Rum Maple Barrel-aged Imperial Stout is 2019 Huracán Imperial Stout that has aged for five months in Jamaican rum barrels that also “aged maple syrup in New England before arriving at the brewery.” These incredibly special, “well-traveled” barrels enhance the original beer’s “complex body of dark chocolate, espresso and dark pit fruit by melding with the sweeter maple and tropical rum.” Clocking in at 11% ABV, Huracán Rum Maple Barrel-aged Imperial Stout comes together to be “an enjoyable after-dinner drink reminiscent of a Florida winter.”

Huracán Rum Maple Barrel-aged Imperial Stout will officially release at 9 a.m. on December 21 at Big Storm’s Pasco, Pinellas and Cape Coral locations. This Limited Release offering will be available in 750ml bottles and on draft during this release. Huracán Rum Maple Barrel-aged Imperial Stout is a brewery-only release and is not expected to see distribution. Prost!

Vital Information for Huracán Rum Maple Barrel-aged Imperial Stout from Big Storm Brewing Co.

Release – Limited; December 21, 2019
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 11%
Treatment – Aged for five months in Jamaican rum barrels that previously aged maple syrup
Suggested Food Pairings – “Ginger Snaps | Beef Wellington | Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano”
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Distribution – None. Brewery only