Beer | Mashing In

Boulevard Brewing Co. Set to Release 30th Anniversary Ale – Barrel-aged Blend

Posted on August 30, 2019 by mashingin

Boulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, Missouri) has officially announced that it will celebrate three decades of brewing with the Limited Release of 30th Anniversary Ale, a blend of eight barrel-aged beers, in September 2019.

Inspired by John McDonald’s – Founder of Boulevard Brewing Co. – desire to “do something different” and Ryan McNeive’s – Lead Brewer of the barrel-aging program at Boulevard Brewing Co. – love for port wine, 30th Anniversary Ale is an “elegant, complex blend of barrel-aged beers” that captures “aspects of that wine style, but blended with Belgian ales to create a complex barrel-aged beer.” The final blend is comprised of the following offerings:

Imperial Stout in rye whiskey finished port casks – 34%
Belgian Dark Strong Ale in ruby and tawny port casks – 26%
Double Mashed Imperial Stout in bourbon barrels – 16%
Belgian Dark Strong Ale in California sherry casks – 9%
Imperial Stout in bourbon barrels – 5%
Imperial Stout in Spanish sherry puncheons – 5%
Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels followed by ruby/tawny port casks – 3%
Belgian Dark Strong Ale in bourbon barrels – 2%

The final blend of 30th Anniversary Ale comes in at 12% ABV and offers aromas of “rich caramel and chocolate, vanilla, whiskey [and] toasted oak” alongside flavors of “caramel, toffee, chocolate [and] espresso.”

30th Anniversary Ale is scheduled to release in September 2019 and will be available as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 750ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Missouri and throughout the rest of Boulevard Brewing Co.’s distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for 30th Anniversary Ale from Boulevard Brewing Co.

Release – Limited; September 2019
Style – American Strong Ale (Blend)
ABV – 12%
IBUs – 25
Treatment – A blend of eight barrel-aged beers (blend listed above)
Fun Fact – Ryan McNeive, Lead Brewer of the barrel-aging program at Boulevard Brewing Co., recommends “aging a bottle or two of this beer in proper cellar temperatures. Over time the beer will start to change, maximizing certain flavor profiles from the base beer and barrel flavors and aromas.”
Suggested Food Pairings – “Chocolate covered cherries, rich cheeses, sweet milk chocolates”
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.boulevard.com/beer/beer-finder/

Hidden Springs Ale Works & Narrow Gauge Brewing Co. Team Up to Make Everyone Peanut Butter & Jealous

Posted on August 29, 2019August 30, 2019 by mashingin

Hidden Springs Ale Works (Tampa, Florida) has officially announced that it will hold a limited bottle release for Peanut Butter & Jealous, a special collaboration with Narrow Gauge Brewing Company (Florissant, Missouri), at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 31.

Brewed specifically for all the haters out there that “hate us ’cause they A’INT us,” Peanut Butter & Jealous is an Imperial Stout with peanut butter and raspberries. Thoroughly pleased that they achieved optimum levels of PB&J goodness in this “little monster,” Hidden Springs and Narrow Gauge guarantee that Peanut Butter & Jealous (10% ABV) is “definitely gonna stick to the roof of your mouth in the very best way.”

Bottles of Peanut Butter & Jealous will release alongside Maple Marauders (click here for more info) at Hidden Springs Ale Works (1631 N. Franklin St. | Tampa, Florida) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 31. Each bottle of Peanut Butter & Jealous will cost $20 and the brewery will announce the bottle limit 15 minutes before opening. Cash is preferred, but cards will be accepted.

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

Peanut Butter & Jealous and Maple Marauders WILL NOT be available on draft during the release on August 31
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
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

Peanut Butter & Jealous will not see distribution and – like all bottle releases at Hidden Springs – is expected to sell out rather quickly. If you are at all interested in landing a bottle of this collaboration brew, make sure that you are in line no later than the final head count. Good luck out there, folks. Prost!

Rogue Ales Celebrates Hop Harvest with Limited Release of Coast Haste Hazy IIPA

Posted on August 29, 2019 by mashingin

Rogue Ales (Newport, Oregon) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Coast Haste, a Wet Hop Imperial Hazy IPA, in September.

Developed to take full advantage of the “bountiful time” that is the hop harvest, Coast Haste is an Imperial Hazy India Pale Ale “made with hops that are harvested on the Rogue Farm and quickly transported, while still wet, 71 miles to be brewed in Newport on the Oregon Coast.” These incredibly fresh hops ensure that Coast Haste (8.6% ABV, 51 IBUs) is jam-packed with “bold tropical, citrus notes.”

“As farmers and brewers, we believe the best products come from the best ingredients,” says Rogue President Dharma Tamm. “We love harvest season, when ingredients are at their peak and beer is begging to be brewed.”

Coast Haste is scheduled to roll out in September 2019 and will hang around as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Rogue’s distribution territory. Prost!

Vital Information for Coast Haste Imperial Hazy IPA from Rogue Ales

Release – Limited; launching September 2019
Style – Hazy/Juicy Imperial India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.6%
IBUs – 51
Malts – 2-Row, Breiss Synergy Pils & White Wheat Malts; Rolled Oats, Flaked Wheat
Hops – Galaxy, Vic Secret, Mosaic, Citra & Chinook; Rogue Farms-grown *wet* Centennial hops
Yeast – Imperial Juice Yeast
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://finder.rogue.com/

Schlafly Beer Goes Hopless with Limited Release of Gin Barrel Sour Gruit

Posted on August 28, 2019 by mashingin

Schlafly Beer (St. Louis, Missouri) has officially announced that Gin Barrel Sour Gruit will release in late August as the newest offering to come out of the brewery’s “From the Ibex Cellar” series.

Crafted to be an “innovative take on an ancient brewing process,” Gin Barrel Sour Gruit begins life as a Gruit-style Ale that replaces hops with “a combination of juniper, marigolds, chamomile, and lemon and orange peel.” Once the brewing process is completed, the beer is then sent to age “in gin barrels for nearly four months – infusing spice and warm notes of vanilla, caramel, oak and smoke into the brew.” Coming in at 6.5% ABV, the completed Gin Barrel Sour Gruit promises to enchant its drinker with “a taste of tart, spice and an assertive arrangement of botanicals.”

“Our brewing team takes the unique flavor profile a step further by aging the gruit. This is the first time that we’ve experimented with aging in gin barrels, and the complementary botanical notes in the spirit of gin make for a perfect vessel to age the beer with a similar flavor profile.”

– Stephen Hale, Founding Brewer at Schlafly Beer

Gin Barrel Sour Gruit is available now at Schlafly’s brewpubs (Schlafly Tap Room and Schlafly Bottleworks) and limited distribution will follow shortly after the on-site release. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles at select craft beer-focused retailers, bars and restaurants located in Missouri, Tennessee and throughout the rest of Schlafly’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Gin Barrel Sour Gruit from Schlafly Beer

Release – Limited/From the Ibex Cellar Series; launching late August 2019
Style – Gruit
ABV – 6.5%
Featured Ingredients – Juniper, marigolds, chamomile, and lemon & orange peel
Treatment – Aged for nearly four months in gin barrels
Fun Fact – On the “From the Ibex Cellar” series: “Launched in 2016, . . . this year’s series includes: Local Oak Ale, Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, Imperial Coffee Stout, Barrel-Aged Saison, and one final release this winter. Each carefully crafted brew has a unique character from the techniques, ingredients, and aging process it takes for creation. Like the others in this series, the glass bottle features an embossed majestic symbol of the Ibex and the packaging mimics the striking architecture of the Schlafly Tap Room’s building from the pitches and peaks to the arches that hold up the cellar below.”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles (suggested retail price of $17.99)
Beer Finder – http://www.schlafly.com/beer-finder/

Founders Brewing Co.’s CBS Returns in 2019 with Availability in 12 oz. Bottles

Posted on August 28, 2019 by mashingin

Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has officially announced that the highly anticipated 2019 release of Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) will begin on November 1 and – for the first time ever – it will be available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles.

Arriving as the fifth and final release in the brewery’s 2019 Barrel-Aged Series, CBS is an Imperial Stout brewed with coffee and chocolate – the same base beer as Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) – that is then aged in “bourbon barrels that had previously housed maple syrup.” Once its rest is completed, CBS (11.3% ABV) emerges from the barrels to offer a “transcendental drinking experience” featuring notes of “rich maple syrup, roasted coffee and velvety chocolate.”

The 2019 release of CBS marks the third year in a row that the brewery has released the beer and sadly “they have no future plans to brew it again.”

“This will be the last year I plan on making CBS, so get it while you can,” said Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki. “Our barrel program has grown a lot since the first time we released CBS, so it’s been fun seeing an entire new audience become introduced to CBS over the past couple of years. It’ll be missed in 2020, but I’m looking forward to bringing out some new barrel-aged releases.”

This year’s batch of CBS will debut with a presale at Founders Brewing Co.’s Grand Rapids and Detroit taproom locations on October 25 through October 27 (General Admission CBS ticket sales begin on September 13 at 10 a.m. EST) and full distribution is scheduled to begin on November 1. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Founders Brewing Co.’s nationwide distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Barrel-Aged Series; November – December 2019
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 11.3%
IBUs – 45
Treatment – Imperial Stout brewed with coffee and chocolate and aged in bourbon barrels that previously held maple syrup
Fun Fact – On the Barrel-Aged Series from Founders Brewing Co.: “Crafting legendary barrel-aged beers is an exercise in patience. We start by brewing complex, world-class beer worthy of time in a barrel. Then, our experience and years spent mastering our craft means we know exactly when it’s been aged to perfection. After one sip, you’ll know – it was worth the wait.”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

Tasting Notes: Coco Flamingo DIPA from Wild Leap Brew Co. & TrimTab Brewing

Posted on August 27, 2019August 27, 2019 by mashingin

For this installment of Tasting Notes, a few cans of Coco Flamingo Double IPA from Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) and TrimTab Brewing (Birmingham, Alabama) provide us with a tropical escape from a Tuesday afternoon in the office.

Released at the tail end of June as Wild Leap Brew Co.’s first ever collaboration project and the first beer TrimTab Brewing has brewed in collaboration with a Georgia brewery, Coco Flamingo is a Hazy Double India Pale Ale made with “a blend of tangerine, key lime, and toasted coconut.” Tropical in nature, Coco Flamingo (8% ABV) has “a unique flavor profile” that will most assuredly “take you straight to the islands!”

Coco Flamingo was introduced during the last week of June 2019 and it is possible that a few cans or kegs could still be floating around out there. Look for this Limited Release to possibly be available in 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.

Now that all the background data has been properly covered, let’s pour up some island vibes and get into these Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Coco Flamingo Double IPA from Wild Leap Brew Co. & TrimTab Brewing

Appearance: A steady pour from a 12 oz. can produces a Double IPA that is a deep, caramelized orange in color and capped with a perfect finger of slightly off-white foam. When held to direct light, those caramel tones soften to create more of a dark orange-juice-like appearance. This beer is quite hazy (bordering on murky), leaving it mostly opaque. Head retention is decent, casually falling to a thin ring that leaves spotty lacing at times.

Aroma: Notes of sweet tangerine, citrus oils and cedar present themselves as soon as the can is opened. A distinct lime presence (both juice and zest) then surfaces to further establish the citrus profile while a sweet fruit punch character adds some contrast. A grace of toasted coconut rests in the background, adding to the beer’s tropical character while providing a bit more sweetness.

Taste: Tangerine leads the way here as well and is joined by notes of sweet orange juice, mixed berries, pineapple and lime zest. A beautiful cedar quality then works its way in to provide a citrus-laced woody note. A touch of vanilla (which we believe is hop sourced) swirls about with the fruitier tones, but that floral sweetness is seemingly only here to provide balance and draw a bit of attention to the toasty malt backbone. Coconut turns up near the finish, but it translates more like an earthy, semi-sweet coconut water rather than just candied, toasted coconut. The balance here is on point.

Mouthfeel: On the full side of medium in body with a mild carbonation, this beer is soft and silky on the palate. It does lean to the juicy/sweet side at times, but the hops kick in with some bright lime notes and sharp cedar tones to push things back into the area of balance. The 8% ABV is unbelievably tame, and that keeps drinkability super high. The aftertaste reads as a sip of coconut water with a twist of tangerine.

Final Thoughts: On paper, a “Coconut, Tangerine & Lime DIPA” sounds like it could be either one of two things:

A mess
A heavenly concoction that will leave us wondering why there are not more in existence

Luckily, Wild Leap and TrimTab put their heads together and came up with a way to ensure that the second option would unquestionably apply to Coco Flamingo. It appears they pulled this off by having a deft hand with the added toasted coconut and letting the Sabro and Lotus hops provide the majority of the coconut and vanilla notes. This (along with that surprisingly clutch note of cedar) provides balance and allows the coconut notes to translate as natural (instead of artificial or sun-tan-lotion-like). Sure, this means that the overall experience reads more as an exotic Double IPA rather than a super sweet tropical cocktail, but we all showed up here for a Double IPA anyway. All in all, Coco Flamingo is an incredibly well-composed beer that is a beautiful pairing for any summer day. Prost!

Heavy Seas Beer Set to Drop ‘Dat Booty Doe’ Oktoberfest as Next Taproom Exclusive

Posted on August 27, 2019 by mashingin

Heavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) has officially announced that Dat Booty Doe – an Oktoberfest-style Lager brewed in collaboration with Reagan and Bethany from Mix 106.5 FM’s “The MIX Morning Show” – will release on Friday, September 20.

Tapped to be the next release in Heavy Seas’ Taproom Exclusive Series, Dat Booty Doe is an Oktoberfest-style Lager that is meant to be “a bit maltier than you might normally find, with loads of bready, biscuity Munich malt, and balanced with just the right amount of Noble European hops (Hallertau in particular).” Clocking in at an easy drinking 5.5% ABV, Dat Booty Doe “provides just the right amount of flavor and drinkability” for a fall afternoon or evening.

Since this collaboration beer is meant to reflect Reagan and Bethany’s shared passion for both craft beer and community, a “portion of all draft beer sales during the release event and sales of Dat Booty Doe 4-packs will be donated to the Maryland Food Bank.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Reagan and Bethany from the local Baltimore radio station, Mix 106.5, on our next can release,” says Heavy Seas Media & Communications Manager, Christine Shaffer.

“They have been so much fun to collaborate with. Reagan and Bethany embody the Fearless. Bold. Independent spirit we encourage at Heavy Seas. We love their enthusiasm for craft beer and commitment to giving back to the community, so a portion of the sales from this release will be donated to the Maryland Food Bank.”

Dat Booty Doe is scheduled to debut at a Release Event on September 20 at the Heavy Seas Brewery and will hang around only as long as supplies last. This Taproom Exclusive offering will be available for purchase in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft. Dat Booty Doe will not see distribution. Prost!

Vital Information for Dat Booty Doe from Heavy Seas Beer

Release – Limited/Taproom Exclusive Series; September 20, 2019
Style – Märzen/Oktoberfest
ABV – 5.5%
Featured Ingredients – Munich malts & Noble European hops
Fun Fact – On the label artwork: “The label artwork was designed by local artist, Owen Murphy, of One Drop Design Studio in Baltimore, MD. All of the Heavy Seas Taproom exclusive beer labels will be designed by Owen in 2019.”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – None. Taproom only

***(left to right): Bethany Linderman (Mix 106.5 Host), Brett Hagood (Heavy Seas Head Brewer) Christopher Leonard (Heavy Seas Brewmaster), Reagan Warfield (Mix 106.5 Host)***

Jolly Pumpkin Strays from the Sour, Releases All the Trees IPA

Posted on August 26, 2019August 26, 2019 by mashingin

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales (Dexter, Michigan) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of All the Trees India Pale Ale at the end of August.

Arriving as the fourth release in Jolly Pumpkin’s Non-Sour Collective, All the Trees is a Hazy India Pale Ale that “[features] a double dry hop of Chinook, Simcoe, and Vanguard” hops. Boasting a “piney aroma . . . along with a hint of grapefruit, melon, and nutmeg spice,” All the Trees (7.2% ABV, 63 IBUs) comes together to offer a flavor profile that is “a perfect harmony of orange creamsicles, bubblegum, and melon.”

“IPAs are great, and one of my favorite styles. Hop and yeast varieties create an infinite palate for delicious drinkable flavor explorations. Darker malts are just too heavy to allow these other beautiful flavors to shine through.”

– Ron Jeffries, Founder & Principal Brewer at Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

All the Trees debuted at all Jolly Pumpkin locations on August 24 and is scheduled to enter distribution any day now. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer retailers, restaurants and bars located within Jolly Pumpkin’s distribution footprint in Michigan, Ohio and California. Prost!

Vital Information for All the Trees from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Release – Limited/Non-Sour Collective; late August 2019
Style – Hazy/Juicy India Pale Ale
ABV – 7.2%
IBUs – 63
Hops – Michigan Chinook, Michigan Cascade, Falconer’s Flight & Dry-Hopped with Chinook, Vanguard & Simcoe
Grains – 2Row, Oat Malt, & Flaked Oats
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Limited to Michigan, Ohio & California only. Also available at all Jolly Pumpkin locations

Wild Leap Brew Co. Closes Out Summer By Dishing Out Some Vanilla Ice Cream Stout

Posted on August 26, 2019 by mashingin

Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Vanilla Ice Cream Stout during the last week of August 2019.

Developed to debunk the idea that big ol’ Stouts can only be “enjoyed in the cooler months,” Vanilla Ice Cream Stout is an Imperial Sweet Stout brewed with vanilla bean, caramel malt, milk sugar and lactose. Truly the “sweetest Wild Leap beer to-date,” the indulgent Vanilla Ice Cream Stout (10.5% ABV) was specifically designed for “diets high in decadence.”

“This is the biggest stout we have ever released,” shares Anthony Rodriguez, CEO and Wild Leap Co-Founder. “It’s a truly sweet, rich and creamy flavor profile, and it is the heaviest bodied beer we have produced.”

Vanilla Ice Cream Stout is rolling out now and will stick around as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release treat available in 4-packs of 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 Vanilla Ice Cream Stout from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Release – Limited; launching the last week of August 2019
Style – Imperial Sweet Stout
ABV – 10.5%
IBUs – 35
Added Ingredients – Vanilla bean, milk sugar & lactose
Fun Fact – “This beer is of special importance to Wild Leap Head Brewer Chris Elliott, as it represents a perfect blend of his past and present careers. Prior to brewing for Wild Leap, Elliott worked for Blue Bell Ice Cream.”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Georgia
Beer Finder – http://www.wildleap.com/beer-finder/

Yuengling Oktoberfest Returns with a New Look

Posted on August 23, 2019 by mashingin

D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc. (Pottsville, Pennsylvania) has officially announced that its highly coveted Oktoberfest will begin its Seasonal Release in late August 2019.

Returning to shelves and taps with “a brand-new look . . . [that] still reflects the brand’s rich German heritage and brewing expertise,” Oktoberfest is a medium-bodied Märzen brewed with “an expert blend of roasted malts and . . . hops.” Coming in at a quaffable 5.4% ABV, Oktoberfest can be easily enjoyed by the bottle, pint or stein all fest season long.

Oktoberfest is rolling out now and is scheduled to hang around through October. You can expect to find this Seasonal offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, Pennsylvania and throughout the rest of Yuengling’s distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Oktoberfest from D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc.

Release – Seasonal (Fall); August – October 2019
Style – Märzen/Oktoberfest
ABV – 5.4%
Fun Fact – On the packaging update: “This release follows a series of brand updates from Yuengling this year, including the 190th anniversary commemorative cans, updates to the Premium, Premium Light, and Lord Chesterfield cans and Porter 12-pack packaging, spearheaded by Yuengling’s 6th generation; Jen, Debbie, Wendy, and Sheryl Yuengling.”
Suggested Food Pairings – “Yuengling’s fan-favorite Oktoberfest pairs particularly well with sausages, breads, and cheeses, making it a delicious choice for the approaching fall season and Oktoberfest celebrations across the U.S. Hearty recipes like Oktoberfest Apple Pancake Recipe, Oktoberfest Turkey Dinner and Oktoberfest Fondue make for great additions to any fall tailgate or celebration.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.yuengling.com/find-our-beer/