Goodwood Brewing to Release Chicken Cock Barrel Aged Brown Ale as New Collaboration

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8yr Aged MagnetGoodwood Brewing Company (Louisville, Kentucky) and Chicken Cock Whiskey (Charleston, South Carolina) have officially announced the release of Chicken Cock Barrel Aged Brown Ale, a draft-only collaboration brew that spent time aging in barrels that once housed the 160th Anniversary Chicken Cock Whiskey.

Although the brand “disappeared from the market in the 1950’s after the original distillery burned down”, Chicken Cock is a truly iconic whiskey that was established in Paris, Kentucky in 1856.  The brand “really hit its stride” (or strut) during Prohibition when it was “forced to move production to Canada”.  During that time, the infamous Chicken Cock “was smuggled across the border in tin cans” and became a staple at “some of the era’s most famous speakeasies, including the legendary Cotton Club in Harlem.”  Those times were good for the Chicken Cock, but the end of Prohibition brought about an unfortunate twist of fate.  “Shifting drinking habits” in the country “caused . . . many significant American Whiskey brands of the 19th and early 20th centuries to disappear”, and Chicken Cock was sadly one of them.

After multiple attempts had been made over the years to revive “The Famous Old Brand”, Grain & Barrel Spirits purchased Chicken Cock in 2013 “and is now restoring it to its rightful pantheon among the great American whiskies.”  Now relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, the distillery recently recognized a significant milestone for the brand with the debut of the Chicken Cock 160th Anniversary Limited Release, a Single Barrel 8-Year-Old Bourbon made with “70% Corn, 21% Rye and 9% Malted Barley.”  This whiskey was aged in “fresh white American oak barrels” that saw their staves “charred to level four, the highest commonly used char level also known as the ‘alligator char’ due to the rough, shiny texture the staves acquire.” Once the barrels were emptied, the folks at Chicken Cock Distilleries wanted to give a second life to these beautiful 8-Year-Old Bourbon barrels and were looking for ideas.  Breakthru Beverage South Carolina, the distributor for both Chicken Cock Whiskey and Goodwood Brewing Company, stepped in to introduce the two businesses and a collaboration was born.

“We’re proud to collaborate with Goodwood Brewing Company, a brewery as serious about their craft as we are at Grain & Barrel. This is a partnership that places a premium on quality. The Chicken Cock Bourbon Barrel Brown Ale is a distinctly delicious and artful expression. There are whiskey connoisseurs and beer lovers for whom it will be innovative and exciting. We couldn’t be more thrilled.”

– Matti Anttila, CEO and Founder of Grain & Barrel Spirits

Goodwood Brewing Company, a brewery that specializes in barrel-aged beers, gladly accepted the Chicken Cock 160th Anniversary Limited Release barrels and got to work.  They decided to brew up a Brown Ale and then aged the beer for “a month in the 160th Anniversary, 8-year-old bourbon barrels.”  Their efforts resulted in the aptly named Chicken Cock Barrel Aged Brown Ale, a 6.5% ABV offering that “offers an excellent synergy between bourbon and beer.”  This “partnership with Chicken Cock Whiskey marks the brewery’s first brand collaboration.”

Chicken Cock Barrel Aged Brown Ale is being released exclusively in South Carolina as a draft-only offering.  If you are in the area and wish to give it a try, keep an eye on the websites and social media accounts for Goodwood Brewing Company and Chicken Cock Whiskey for details on which South Carolina establishments will be pouring this special brew in the near future.  Prost!

 

Boulevard Brewing Co. works with Arizona Wilderness & Creature Comforts on Collaboration No.7

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Collab7-Diamond-Badge-copyBoulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, Missouri) has officially announced the limited release of Collaboration No. 7 – Oak-Aged Lager, a special collaboration offering brewed with Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. (Gilbert, Arizona) and Creature Comforts Brewing Co. (Athens, Georgia).

For the first time in the history of their Collaboration series, Collaboration No. 7 – Oak-Aged Lager has Boulevard Brewing Co. working with not one but two breweries.  This offering stands as a liquid embodiment of both Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.’s reputation “as champions for local ingredients in innovative beers” and Creature Comforts Brewing Co.’s philosophy of being “dedicated to better being through being curious.”

To pull this off, the three brewing teams built a crisp lager upon “a base of two-row pale malt, Sonoran White Wheat, honey malt and corn grits.”  They then introduced Riesling grape juice, peaches and lemon zest; incorporated a hop bill consisting of Nelson Sauvin, Lemondrop and Hallertau Blanc hops; and fermented the beer with an Ayinger lager yeast strain.  Once the brewing process was completed, Collaboration No. 7 – Oak-Aged Lager received its finishing touches by being “briefly aged on Cuvee No. 5 Tank Staves, French oak staves that impart fruit, spice, toast and tannins similar to aging in a fresh/virgin French oak barrel.”  For a clear idea of what to expect from this elaborate recipe, here is Collaboration No. 7’s full description from Boulevard Brewing’s official press release:

“At 6% ABV and 16 IBUs, Collaboration No. 7 Oak-Aged Lager pours a brilliant golden color with tight, off-white lacing. Bright aromas of peach and Riesling grapes mingle with the tropical fruit notes provided by subtle hopping. Lemon zest accentuates the naturally citrusy character of the beer as the malt bill forms a slightly sweet, honey-like base from which the chosen regional ingredients shine. French oak character lends a drying effect resulting in a bright, fruity lager that finishes incredibly crisp. Bottle conditioned with champagne yeast, Collaboration No. 7 – Oak-Aged Lager has fluffy, effervescent carbonation that scrubs the palate and begs for another sip.”

Collaboration No. 7 – Oak-Aged Lager will officially launch in the Kansas City area beginning on August 21, and it will then see distribution to other regions in the coming weeks.  Once it hits distribution, you will be able to find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Missouri and any other area that normally sees Smokestack Series Limited Release beers from Boulevard Brewing Co.  Prost!

Vital Information for Collaboration No. 7 – Oak-Aged Lager from Boulevard Brewing Co., Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. & Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Collaboration Series, launching August 21, 2017
Style – American Lager
ABV – 6%
IBUs – 16
Malts/Grains – 2-Row Pale, Sonoran White Wheat, Honey Malt & Corn Grits
Hops – Nelson Sauvin, Lemondrop & Hallertau Blanc
Yeast – Ayinger Lager 
Added Ingredients – Riesling grape juice, peaches and lemon zest
Treatment – Aged “briefly” on on Cuvee No. 5 Tank Staves
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.boulevard.com/beer/beer-finder/

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Releases New Collaboration Beer with Gigantic Brewing Company

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JPPhuketJolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales (Dexter, Michigan) has officially announced the release of Phuket; It’s Not That Far from Laos, a Sour Fruit Saison brewed in collaboration with Gigantic Brewing Company (Portland, Oregon).

The inspiration to create Phuket; It’s Not That Far from Laos came after the masterminds at Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales and Gigantic Brewing Company had a little meeting in Hawaii last summer.  After that meeting, Ron Jefferies – Brewmaster at Jolly Pumpkin – headed out to Gigantic Brewing’s facility in Portland to develop a recipe and brew a beer.  “That beer, Gigantic’s side of the collaboration, is still resting on oak”, but Ron flew back to Michigan to “brew the same recipe with the Jolly Pumpkin funk.”

Phuket; It’s Not That Far from Laos is a “hoppy, lime saison” that rocks a foundation built upon “aromas of lime, unripe pear, and the classic pineapple tinted notes of Jolly Pumpkin funk.”  Dosed with “Cascade, Chinook, and Jarrylo hops, as well as Lime Peel,” Phuket then takes on “flavors of citrus, pine, and white grape that linger quietly before finishing slightly bitter with mild tartness.”  To mix things up a bit, jasmine rice and palm sugar was incorporated into the mash to keep the mouthfeel “light, lively, and quite dry.”  Finally, Phuket; It’s Not That Far from Laos received its finishing touches as it was left to rest on oak for 8 months.

Phuket; It’s Not That Far from Laos is making its way into the Jolly Pumpkin network now, and will be around while supplies last.  This limited release offering will be available in 750ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Jolly Pumpkin’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Phuket; It’s Not That Far from Laos from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales and Gigantic Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Collaboration, launching late-July/early-August 2017
Style – Saison
ABV – 6%
IBUs – 20
Malts/Grains – Pilsner Malt, Aromatic Malt, & Jasmine Rice
Hops – Michigan Chinook, Michigan Cascade, & Dry Hopped with Jarrylo
Added Ingredients – Lime Peel & Palm Sugar
Treatment – Aged in oak for 8 months
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft

Sierra Nevada and Germany’s Brauhaus Miltenberger Collaborate on Oktoberfest 2017

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oktoberfest2017_12ozbottle_with_pint

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Chico, California) announced today that is has partnered with Brauhaus Miltenberger (Miltenberg, Germany) to craft the 2017 release of Oktoberfest Festbier.

Back in 2015, Sierra Nevada launched a new Oktoberfest program that now has their brewers partnering with a different German brewery each year “to create an authentic fest beer fit for celebrating the world’s largest beer festival right here at home.”  For the 2017 Oktoberfest, the folks at Sierra Nevada invited Brauhaus Miltenberger, one of Germany’s most highly regarded craft brewers, to their Mills River facility in North Carolina to be a part of this special collaboration.

“Cornelius Faust and his team from Brauhaus Miltenberger embody the spirit and tradition of Oktoberfest,” says Brian Grossman, second-generation brewer for Sierra Nevada.  “It was a great to host them at our brewery in Mills River, NC, for the creation of this year’s fest beer.  They brought literally centuries of family brewing experience to the mix and helped us create the ultimate festival beer.”

This year’s version of Oktoberfest is a “deep golden lager” that stays true to Brauhaus Miltenberger’s “approach to the classic style.”  This yields a drinking experience that boasts “an authentic, rich, and layered malt flavor balanced by traditional German-grown hops.”

“We tried to re-create a classic Oktoberfest beer in the true German tradition,” says Cornelius Faust, fourth-generation brewmaster for Brauhaus Miltenberger. “We used traditional techniques to create layers of rich malt notes that remain light and crisp to the taste. That’s the secret of an authentic fest beer—complex malt flavor in a lager that remains easy to drink while you are celebrating the Oktoberfest season.”

2017 Oktoberfest is rolling out now and will be available throughout Oktoberfest season.  You can expect to find this special collaboration brew available in 12 oz. cans, 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer-focused bars, restaurants and retailers located in Alabama, Florida, California, North Carolina and throughout the rest of Sierra Nevada’s expansive distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for 2017 Oktoberfest Festbier from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. & Brauhaus Miltenberger

Release – Seasonal, Oktoberfest Season 2017 (August to mid-October)
Style – Oktoberfest
ABV – 6.1%
IBUs – 30
Malts – Two-row Pale, Steffi, Pilsner & Munich
Bittering Hops – German Magnum 
Finishing Hops – German Select, Tettnanger & Spalter
Yeast – Lager Yeast
Suggested Food Pairings – “Mild Cheddar, Butterkase, German Weisswurst sausage, Roast Pork, Apple Strudel with fresh whipped cream”
Availability – 12 oz. cans, 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.sierranevada.com/beer-locator

**All images provided by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.**

 

Stone Brewing Geeks Out with 2017 Release of Farking Wheaton w00tstout

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Stonew00tstoutbottleStone Brewing (Escondido, California) recently announced that it has once again teamed up with Drew Curtis and Wil Wheaton to create and release the 2017 vintage of Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout.

Now that comic convention season is in full swing, that can mean only one thing to craft beer fans: Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout is back!  This Limited Release brew is a nerd love-fueled collaboration between Drew Curtis, Creator of Fark.com; Wil Wheaton, Actor and Web Celebrity; and Greg Koch, CEO and Co-Founder of Stone Brewing.  These three collaborators put their mark on Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout by creating a massive Imperial Stout (a reference to “Greg’s lifelong quest for pushing the limits of ‘why the hell not?’ to make bigger, bolder beers”) that has been brewed with wheat (literally taking the “wheat” out of Wheaton. The name, not the man.) and finished off with pecans and bourbon barrels (a nod to Drew’s home state of Kentucky).  This all results in a 13% ABV Stout that “is a mind-blowing amalgamation of intense yet smooth flavors, perfect for a warm summer evening, a cozy winter’s night or the approaching destruction of the entire human race (be it externally or internally inflicted).”

Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout officially released on July 10 and will be available while supplies last.  This Limited Release brew is available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, Virginia, and throughout the rest of Stone Brewing’s nationwide distribution area.  This beer never lasts long on shelves, so grab your supply of Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout while you can.  Prost!

Vital Information for Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout from Stone Brewing

Release – Limited/Collaboration, official release date: July 10, 2017
Style – American Imperial Stout
Collaborators – Drew Curtis, Fark.com Creator; Wil Wheaton, Actor & Web Celebrity; Greg Koch, CEO & Co-Founder of Stone Brewing
ABV – 13%
IBUs – 65
Featured Hops – English Target
Featured Ingredients – Pecans, wheat & rye
Treatment – One quarter of the beer was aged in Bourbon barrels
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Fun Fact – In reference to this year’s label artwork: “For this year’s bottle art, we were thrilled to entrust the task to heralded comic book writer and artist Walt Simonson. He was gracious enough to work with us in exchange for our donation to The Hero Initiative, a charity organization that provides retirement funds for golden-age comic book artists.”

5 Rabbit Cervecería & Central State Brewing Collaborate on Cascarudo

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cascarudo5 Rabbit Cervecería (Bedford Park, Illinois) has officially announced the release of Cascarudo, a cascara-infused Kettle-Soured Red Ale brewed in collaboration with Central State Brewing Company (Indianapolis, Indiana).

Costa Rican for shameless, Cascarudo was born out of 5 Rabbit Cervecería’s inclination to experiment with cascara – the dried pulped skins of the coffee cherry. After comparing notes on this rarely used ingredient at the last Uppers and Downers Coffee and Beer Festival in Chicago, 5 Rabbit and Central State Brewing Company decided to tackle this project together. Once the cascara was sourced from Gaslight Coffee Roasters, the two breweries decided to create a “beautifully balanced kettle sour red” to act as the vehicle for the featured ingredient.  The cascara “adds layers of red fruit, leather and funk” while orange peel and ginger complement the malt bill and “[brighten] the beer as a whole.”  To put the finishing touch on Cascarudo, the brewers rounded the beer off by adding oak spirals during fermentation.

Cascarudo is available now in 750ml bottles, and you can expect to find this limited-release collaboration “where good beer is sold” within 5 Rabbit’s distribution area.  This unique brew is guaranteed to catch the eye of many in the craft beer community, so be sure to check it out before it disappears from shelves.  Prost!

Vital Information for Cascarudo from 5 Rabbit Cervecería & Central State Brewing Company

Release – Limited, late-June 2017
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 7.3%
Added Ingredients – Coffee cascara, ginger, orange peel & oak
Availability – 750ml bottles

 

Forbidden Root Brewery to Launch Its Fernet-Inspired Fernetic in Florida

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Ferneticbottle_editedForbidden Root Brewery (Chicago, Illinois) recently announced that it will introduce the Florida craft beer community to Fernetic Imperial Black Ale, a limited release collaboration with Fratelli Branca Distillerie (Milan, Italy), beginning in late-June.

To properly represent Fernet-Branca in “its first foray into craft beer”, the brewers at Forbidden Root teamed up with the Branca family to “[deconstruct] the beloved Italian digestif and [reconstruct] the legendary family recipe into an unforgettable craft beer for Amaro and beer lovers alike.”  Their collaborative efforts resulted in Fernetic, “an exotic, spicy and complex” Imperial Black Ale made with a recipe boasting “quality ingredients such as rhubarb root, saffron, and wormwood, among the selected botanics of the 27 herbs and spices found in Fernet-Branca.” With an aromatic profile hinting at notes of coffee and peppermint, the 8.4% ABV Fernetic supplies a drinking experience possessing “a soft roastiness . . ., bitter notes [that] build to a spicy, creamy middle and dry woody finish.”

“Collaborations are always an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone and build off someone else’s creative energy,” says Forbidden Root head brewer BJ Pichman. “With Fernet-Branca, we were working with a nearly 175 year-old recipe, a body of very distinct flavors and a bitterness factor that is not usually present in beers. Our team really enjoyed the creative challenge of working to make a delicious, uncommon beer while keeping true to the flavors and history of the Fernet-Branca recipe.”

Fernetic Imperial Black Ale will officially release in Florida in late-June at the following launch events:

  • Wednesday, June 21 at 3 p.m. at Ice Plant Bar (110 Riberia Street, St. Augustine, FL) – “A cocktail competition will run from 3-5 p.m. preceding the 5 p.m. Fernetic tapping. The event will give attendees an opportunity to taste the unique collaboration brew, meet Fernet-Branca and Forbidden Root representatives, and enjoy Fernet-inspired cocktails.”
  • Thursday, June 22 at 7 p.m. at SweetWater Bar & Grill (1507 S Federal Highway, Boynton Beach, FL) – A special tapping of Fernetic that will feature a cocktail competition at 10 p.m.
  • Friday, June 23 at 6 p.m. at The Blue Goose (48 9th St N, Saint Petersburg, FL) – Launch event with a Fernetic tapping at 8 p.m.

In addition to those launch events, Fernetic Imperial Black Ale will also see an extremely limited release on draft at select locations found within the Florida distribution area of Forbidden Root Brewery.  If you have been looking for a truly unique craft beer experience, be sure to check out one of the launch events above or keep a close eye on tap lists for Fernetic Imperial Black Ale.  Prost!

Vital Information for Fernetic Imperial Black Ale from Forbidden Root Brewery & Fratelli Branca Distillerie

Release – Limited, Florida launch begins June 21, 2017
Style – Imperial Black Ale
ABV – 8.4%
The Inspiration –  Fernet-Branca, an Italian Amaro made with 27 herbs and spices
The Botanicals – Rhubarb root, peppermint, saffron, wormwood, angelica, star anise, & 14 others
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft (bottles may not be available in Florida)

SweetWater Brewing and Telluride Brewing Collaborate on Torikumi Wasabi Blonde Ale

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unnamed (24)SweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has announced a release date of June 8 for Torikumi Wasabi Infused Blonde Ale, the brewery’s latest Dank Tank release and collaboration with Telluride Brewing Co. (Telluride, Colorado).

Chris Fish, Brewmaster at Telluride Brewing Co., recently ventured to Atlanta to meet up with SweetWater’s Nick Nock so the two could share the ol’ Dank Tank for a little collaboration action.  After the two explored Atlanta’s Buford Highway, a culinary playground of international cuisine, they returned to the brewery with the inspiration to brew something with wasabi.  That something became Torikumi Wasabi Infused Blonde Ale (7.5% ABV and 27 IBUs).  The addition of wasabi provides some “serious heat” to the Blonde Ale base, making the beer a perfect candidate to enjoy as a pairing for a wide variety of dishes.

SweetWater Brewing Company will officially release Torikumi Wasabi Infused Blonde Ale at a brewery launch party on Thursday, June 8 (click here for more details on the party).  Starting the week of June 12, this limited offering will have availability in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer bars, restaurants and retailers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and throughout the rest of SweetWater Brewing’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Torikumi Wasabi Infused Blonde Ale from SweetWater Brewing Company and Telluride Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Dank Tank Series, launch date: June 8, 2017
Style – American Blonde Ale
ABV – 7.5%
IBUs – 27
Malts – 2-Row, Wheat, Carapils, Rye Malt & Oat Flakes
Hops – Magnum, Saaz & Sorachi Ace
Added Ingredients – Wasabi
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans & draft
Suggested Food Pairings – “Sushi, ginger, Japanese noodle dishes, or just some grilled chicken.”
Beer Finder – http://sweetwaterbrew.com/vibe/find-sweetwater/

Heavy Seas and Cigar City Brewing Collaborate on Partner Ships IPL

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35031085885_4e10682b3e_kHeavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) has announced that IPL, a special collaboration beer with Cigar City Brewing (Tampa, Florida), will release in July as the next installment in the brewery’s Partner Ships Series.

The brewers at Heavy Seas and Cigar City Brewing recently got together to create India Pale Lager (IPL) as the second release of 2017 in the Partner Ships Series, a lineup of limited releases from Heavy Seas Beer that “features beers produced in collaboration with other regionally and nationally recognized brewers in the spirit of friendship, creativity, and adventure.”  IPL is a golden lager that showcases the characteristics of a sizable hop bill –  Cascade, Centennial, Mosaic, Simcoe and Mandarina Bavaria – alongside “bready malt aromatics.”  Thanks to “late addition kettle hops followed by extensive dry-hopping”, the 7.8% IPL provides “full citrus and tropical fruit flavors and aromas balancing a soft bitterness.”

IPL is a limited release that will officially launch in July.  You can expect to find this offering in 22 oz. bottles at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Maryland and throughout the rest of Heavy Seas Beer’s distribution footprint.  Like all releases from the Partner Ships series, the supply of IPL will be incredibly limited.  Keep that in mind when this brew releases next month and get it while you can.  Prost!

Vital Information for Partner Ships Series: IPL from Heavy Seas Beer & Cigar City Brewing

Release – Limited/Partner Ships Series, July 2017
Style – India Pale Lager
ABV – 7.8%
IBUs – 48
Hops – Cascade, Centennial, Mosaic, Simcoe & Mandarina Bavaria
Malts – Pilsen, Vienna & MFB Special Aromatic Malt
Availability – 22 oz. bottles
Beer Finder – http://hsbeer.com/beerfinder