Good People Brewing Releases Details for El Gordo Day 2017

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elgordoOn Saturday, December 9 at 9 a.m. (CST), Good People Brewing Company (Birmingham, Alabama) will hold its second, in-house bottle release for the wildly-popular El Gordo Imperial Stout at a festival-style event playfully dubbed ¡Dia del Gordo! – The Rematch!

Yeah, you read that correctly.  The infamous and super-sized El Gordo Imperial Stout has committed to make another rare appearance on December 9 for its highly-anticipated rematch to last year’s ¡Dia del Gordo!  Back to defend the title it earned in 2015, El Gordo plans to deliver its signature “flavorful smackdown” as a 13.9% ABV Imperial Stout that “[dominates] the senses without overwhelming the palette.” Oh, and we almost forgot to mention that he’s bringing friends to this party – a.k.a. variants and vintages that date back to 2014.

¡Dia del Gordo! – The Rematch! will be held at Good People Brewing Company and act as the exclusive bottle release event for El Gordo in 2017. You best believe that many will show up on December 9 to witness the power, grace and mystery of El Gordo, so let’s break this thing down to ensure that you have all the details needed to prepare for this glorious spectacle:

The Basics

  • What – ¡Dia del Gordo! – The Rematch! / El Gordo Imperial Stout Bottle Release Event
  • When – Saturday, December 9 at 9 a.m.
  • Where – Good People Brewing Company (114 14th St S, Birmingham, Alabama)

The Bottle List

  • 2014 El Gordo Imperial Stout – $25 per 22 oz. bottle
  • 2015 El Gordo Imperial Stout – $25 per 750ml bottle
  • 2016 El Gordo Imperial Stout – $25 per 750ml bottle
  • 2016 Barrel Aged El Gordo – $30 per 750ml bottle
  • 2016 Olé Mole El Gordo – $25 per 750ml bottle
  • 2017 El Gordo Imperial Stout – $20 per 750ml bottle
  • 2017 Barrel Aged El Gordo – $25 per 750ml bottle
  • 2017 Olé Mole El Gordo – $20 per 750ml bottle
  • 2017 Fatso Russian Imperial Stout – $20 per 750ml bottle

The Draft List

¡Dia del Gordo! – The Rematch! will also feature a variety of exciting beers pouring on draft throughout the event.  These offerings will be available by full pour or sample.  The official draft list is still being compiled.  We will update this area with that information just as soon as we have it, so stay tuned.

The Ins & Outs

  • Bottle sales will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, December 9
  • In an effort to improve upon last year’s experience, the brewery has decided to have a dedicated line for bottle sales only this year.  This line will begin at Good People’s side patio, take you through the back of the brewery, and have you exiting through “the garage doors on 2nd Ave with bottles in tow.”  This line will NOT go through the taproom.
  • There will be NO forms to fill out this year.  Once you make it to the bottle selection area, you will grab a box and “move down the line to grab whatever bottles you want.”  You will then pay for your bottles at the end of that line.
  • The legal limit for take-home sales in the state of Alabama is 288 oz. per person per day, and the brewery will be enforcing this limit.  That amounts to roughly a maximum of 11 bottles per person.
  • All bottle sales will be sold on a first come, first served basis
  • The taproom will also open at 9 a.m. so that you can enjoy some tasty offerings on draft.  If you would like a brew while in line for bottles, you will have the ability to grab a beer from the brewery’s “draft trailer, a beer station close to [the] QC lab, and the taproom.”
  • Attendees are encouraged to hang out “to enjoy plenty of El Gordo and other specialties in the taproom after [they are] done buying bottles”
  • Bottles and draft beers can be purchased with either cash or credit cards, and you will be required to present a valid ID to make any purchases at the brewery
  • To make sure you are all covered in the grub department,  Cantina on Wheels will be at the brewery at 9 a.m. to serve up some breakfast burritos and The Hot Tag will be on-site later in the day to take care of the lunch crowd

Alright, that should cover all the information that is available at this time.  We will update this post just as soon as more details surface, so stay tuned.  Until then . . . ¡Viva El Gordo!  Prost!

Tasting Notes: Boomsauce from Lord Hobo Brewing Co.

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BoomsaucePour1000For this edition of Tasting Notes, we set those midweek doldrums ablaze by getting into some Boomsauce from Lord Hobo Brewing Co. (Woburn, Massachusetts).

When an IPA is named the flagship offering at a brewery the specializes solely in hoppy styles, that means something.  Boomsauce has achieved that status at Lord Hobo Brewing Co. by being brewed with “six hop varietals and a blend of spelt, oat and wheat.”  To attain a level of hoppiness worthy of a Lord Hobo offering, this India Pale Ale is then finished off with “a late hop addition of Mosaic, Falconer’s Flight and Amarillo [to deliver] a notable citrus and tropical fruit finish.”  Boomsauce is available year-round in 16 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Florida, Massachusetts and throughout the rest of Lord Hobo’s ever-growing distribution area.

With all that background info now properly covered, let’s crack these cans and get into some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Boomsauce from Lord Hobo Brewing Co.

Appearance: Boomsauce presents itself as a medium to dark honey-like-golden colored brew with over two fingers of rocky white foam resting on top.  When held to direct light, the golden hues lighten in color and brighten in intensity.  The beer is slightly hazy, but you can still observe a strong carbonation level bouncing around some floaties within.  The head has pretty fantastic retention, but it does eventually (over a great deal of time) fall to a lasting, chunky half finger that devoutly sheets the glass with lace after each sip.

Aroma:  The aromatics lead with a pronounced floral hop character before giving way to citrus and tropical fruit tones of grapefruit rind, ripe melon, tangerine and lemon.  To display added versatility and depth, the hops actually open further to give off a slight grassiness. All of this is supported by a lightly sweet undercurrent of caramel and grain.

Taste:  The citrus and tropical hop qualities move to the front of the line here with notes of orange, bitter grapefruit, papaya, passionfruit and a touch of apricot.  Those refreshingly fruity and satisfyingly dank notes eventually settle down to allow some grassy and floral tones to move forward.  A touch of caramel maltiness sneaks in just before the finish to round everything off a bit.

Mouthfeel:  Coming in on the heavier side of medium in body, this beer has some weight to it but its bright carbonation keeps things nice and easy-drinking.  It is mostly hoppy and lightly bitter on the palate, but a tinge of sweetness does hit the tongue from time to time.  The 7.8% ABV does bring a slight heat that builds a bit over time.  It cleans up pretty nicely overall, but there is some bitter grapefruit left lingering in the aftertaste.

Final Thoughts:  All in all, Boomsauce comes together to be just about anything and everything you could look for in an IPA these days.  It has that hazy quality everyone is currently obsessed with, but beyond that (and more importantly) it shows some really impressive dynamics in the hop department.  Citrusy, tropical, floral and grassy tones are all present here in one cohesively complex package.  That hop character is incredibly beautiful and alluring, but it is truly made possible by the beer’s subtle malt backbone that interjects every once in a while with a deft touch of caramel sweetness.  That faint jolt of maltiness mischievously resets the palate so that it can get hit once again with the full force of those hops.  Dank and full-flavored while still remaining easy-drinking and gulp-worthy, it is really easy to see why Lord Hobo Brewing Co. named Boomsauce their flagship. Prost!

Stone Brewing Welcomes Xocoveza Back for the Holidays

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70_stone_social_171003Stone Brewing (Escondido, California) recently announced that their fan-favorite Stone Xocoveza, a Mexican hot chocolate-inspired Imperial Stout, has officially returned for a limited run during the holiday season.

To ensure that only the finest, “expertly sourced, high-quality cacao” makes its way into Stone Xocoveza – a beer that is widely known as “one of the country’s best-selling holiday spiced stouts”, the brewers at Stone Brewing take a “bean to beer” approach.  This process begins by sourcing the cacao directly from Belize, and then those “raw cacao beans are sorted, roasted, de-hulled and ground into chocolate all by hand at Stone Brewing under the tutelage of Belyzium brand cacao grower and chocolate maker Andrei Shibkov.”  These efforts result in a gorgeous cocoa flavor that works beautifully alongside Xocoveza’s
“strong malt bill” and added notes of cinnamon, coffee, pasilla peppers, vanilla and nutmeg.  Stone Xocoveza (8.1% ABV) can either be enjoyed fresh or it can be cellared for “months or even years [to] allow the malt character to evolve, making the cocoa and coffee flavors more prevalent.”

“Stone Xocoveza continues to rally our fans into the holiday spirit, but it stands for even more than that here at Stone,” said Greg Koch, Stone Brewing executive chairman & co-founder. “This extraordinary beer dates back to our annual American Homebrewers Association competition of 2014 in which Chris Banker’s original recipe was selected as the winner and first brewed on a national scale. Its powerful flavor profile, innovative recipe and the way in which it lends itself to the use of such high-quality ingredients, make this a winner for us still today.”

Stone Xocoveza is out now and will be available through the 2017 holiday season.  You can find this Seasonal release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, Virginia and throughout the rest of Stone Brewing’s nationwide distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Stone Xocoveza from Stone Brewing

Release – Seasonal, 2017 Holiday Season
Style – American Imperial Stout
ABV – 8.1%
IBUs – 50
Featured Hops – German Perle & English East Kent Golding 
Added Ingredients – Cocoa, coffee, pasilla peppers, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg & milk sugar
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://find.stonebrewing.com/#ready
Fun Fact – To tell the story of the intensive process required to craft Xocoveza each year, Stone Brewing recently released a short-form documentary called ‘Bean to Beer: A Cacao Story.’  Check it out below:

Fresh Roast Ale Makes Limited Return for Rogue Ales

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FreshRoastRogue_edited1Rogue Ales (Newport, Oregon) recently announced that Fresh Roast Ale has officially returned to shelves and taps for a limited time.

To create Fresh Roast Ale, the brewers at Rogue Ales “break from the norm” by “roasting Rogue Farms-grown barley in-house with a vintage coffee roaster.”  The freshly roasted barley then makes a short, 273-step journey to the brew kettle to create a “signature taste unlike any other beer on the market.”  Although no coffee was incorporated into the recipe for Fresh Roast Ale (5.7% ABV), that “signature taste” translates as nothing but “robust, roasted coffee” goodness.

“We wanted to challenge ourselves to do something unique,” said Rogue President Brett Joyce. “Fresh Roast highlights every step of the brewing process. We took our Rogue Farms estate-grown barley, hand-roasted it, and walked 53 seconds to the brew kettle to capture the freshest taste of roasted barley.”

Fresh Roast Ale is out now and will be available through February of 2018.  You can find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Rogue Ale’s national distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Fresh Roast Ale from Rogue Ales

Release – Seasonal/Limited, November 2017 to February 2018
Style – Undefined Ale
ABV – 5.7%
IBUs – 37
Malts – Rogue Farms Dare™, Risk™, Dare R-3™, Risk R-1™, Risk R-3™, Risk R-7™ & Freshly Roasted R-10 
Hops – Rogue Farms Liberty & Rebel 
Yeast – Pacman
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.rogue.com/finder/

New Belgium Brewing Introduces Honey Orange Tripel as Latest Year-Round

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Honey_Orange_Tripel_22oz_BottleNew Belgium Brewing (Ft. Collins, Colorado) has announced that Honey Orange Tripel officially arrives this month as the newest Year-Round addition to the brewery’s Belgian Reserve Series.

Sourcing inspiration from a style that is absolutely beloved at the brewery – the Belgian Golden Strong Ale, New Belgium’s brewers laid the foundation of Honey Orange Tripel with a recipe consisting of three malts and “a mix of Nugget and Styrian Savinjski Goldings hops.”  The beer was then infused with “wild honey sourced from the African Bronze Honey Company, a member of the Fair Trade Federation and a fellow certified B-Corp, and Seville orange peel freshly ground at Old Town Spice Shop just down the road from the brewery in Fort Collins.”  Weighing in at 10% ABV, the finished Honey Orange Tripel proves to be “a big, sweet and citrusy Belgian-style Tripel with thoughtfully sourced ingredients.”

Honey Orange Tripel is available now in 22 oz. bottles and 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles.  You can track down this new Year-Round offering at craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, and throughout the rest of New Belgium’s expansive distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Honey Orange Tripel from New Belgium Brewing

Release – Year-Round/Belgian Reserve Series, launches November 2017
Style – Tripel
ABV – 10%
IBUs – 25
Malts – Pale, Munich & Pilsner
Hops – Nugget & Styrian Savinjski Goldings
Yeast – Trappist Ale Yeast
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles
Beer Finder – https://www.newbelgium.com/beer/finder

 

Einstök Olgerd Brings its Icelandic Winter Ale to the US for the Holidays

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WinterAle-2Einstök Olgerd (Akureyri, Iceland) has announced that it will expand its Winter Seasonal lineup in the U.S. this year with the introduction of Icelandic Winter Ale.

Created as a collaboration with Eimverk Distillery in Garðabær, Einstök’s 2017 release of Icelandic Winter Ale has been “brewed with Icelandic grown, birchwood-smoked barley and flavored with spruce tips hand cut from [their] brewmaster’s backyard.”  This results in an 8% ABV Winter Ale that helps you embrace the cold with its pronounced notes of “smoky pine and whisky flavor.”  Making its American debut this holiday season, Icelandic Winter Ale now joins Icelandic Doppelbock to act as Einstök’s two Winter Seasonal offerings.

“From its native Icelandic ingredients to the unique brewing process, this is truly a special ale,” said Gudjon Gundmundsson, Einstök’s Managing Director from Reykjavik. “It was received with great fanfare here in Iceland last year, so we are very excited to now make it available in the U.S.”

Icelandic Winter Ale is rolling out now and will be hanging around through the winter months (while supplies last).  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 500ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments (notably Total Wine & More & Cost Plus World Market locations) located in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of Einstök’s U.S. distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Icelandic Winter Ale (2017) from Einstök Olgerd

Release – Seasonal/Limited, Winter 2017
Style – Winter Warmer/Holiday Ale
ABV – 8%
Malts – Smoked Icelandic Barley, Pale, Crystal & Chocolate
Hops – Bavarian hops
Added Ingredients – Icelandic Spruce Tips
Suggested Food Pairings – “Smoked leg of lamb, smoked saddle of pork. Traditional dishes like Þorramatur, Sviðahausar, Hrútspungar & Lundabaggar. Dark chocolate. Cold nights. New beginnings.”
Availability – 500ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://einstokbeer.com/ale-locator/

New Holland Brewing Co. to Release 20% ABV 20th Anniversary Ale

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NHB-20thAnniversary-627x1024New Holland Brewing Co. (Holland, Michigan) has announced that it will officially release its 20th Anniversary Ale on Black Friday – November 24th, 2017.

Just as they should, the guys and gals at New Holland Brewing Co. are going big later this month with an incredibly special bottle release that will commemorate their 20th year in the brewing industry.  And by “big”, we mean 20% ABV big.  That’s right, their 20th Anniversary Ale is a 20% ABV American Strong Ale that has been aged in “rum barrels for almost a year.” Although that ABV number may be a bit intimidating, the folks at the brewery promise that “this brew is smooth and warming with notes of vanilla and the spice of rum.”

“For the past 20 years, New Holland has worked hard to create remarkable beers for our customers to enjoy,” says New Holland President and Founder, Brett VanderKamp. “Each brew is thoughtfully crafted, inspired by the stories around us, and this 20th Anniversary Ale is no exception.”

20th Anniversary Ale will officially release on Black Friday – November 24, and will be available in “extremely limited” quantities of wax-dipped 22 oz. bottles that will only see distribution to “select retailers in Michigan.” New Holland’s brewpub locations (Pub on 8th in Holland and The Knickerbocker in Grand Rapids) will also be “offering bottle sales as well as the only draft pours in the nation.”  Prost!

Vital Information for 20th Anniversary Ale from New Holland Brewing Co.

Release – Limited, Black Friday – November 24, 2017
Style – American Strong Ale
ABV – 20%
IBUs – 45
Malts – 2-Row & Munich
Hops – Nugget & Willamette
Yeast – Super High Gravity
Treatment – Aged for nearly a year in rum barrels
Availability – 22 oz. bottles
Distribution – Select retailers in Michigan only. Bottles & limited draft will also be available at New Holland brewpub locations

Cycle Brewing Schedules Week-Long Bottle Release of Greatest Hits

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CBCycle Brewing (St. Petersburg, Florida) will showcase some of their “Greatest Hits” with a series of bottles releases running from Monday, November 13 to Friday, November 17.

To evoke some fond memories of the past, the folks at Cycle Brewing have brewed and bottled up “some of [their] favorite beers from the past couple of years, and some of the most enjoyed by [their] customers.” Appropriately dubbed the “Greatest Hits”, the following beers will be featured in this latest series of bottle releases beginning on November 13:

  • 8 a.m. on Monday, November 13: &+ Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Cinnamon, Peppers and Vanilla – $30 per bottle, bottle limit to be determined
  • 8 a.m. on Tuesday, November 14: Coconut Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout (expect coconut floaties) – $30 per bottle, bottle limit to be determined
  • 8 a.m. on Wednesday, November 15: BA Coffee Brinner Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, brewed with Maple and Cycle Brewing’s own Barrel Aged Coffee Beans – $35 per bottle, bottle limit to be determined
  • 8 a.m. on Thursday, November 16: Joyous Almond Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, brewed with Toasted Coconut and Almonds (expect floaties in this as well) – $35 per bottle, bottle limit to be determined
  • 8 a.m. on Friday, November 17: DBR Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, an extra-large Stout with an ABV around 13.5-14% – $30 per bottle, bottle limit to be determined

Quantities for all five beers are limited. Bottle limits will be based on how many people are in line, and the brewery will establish those limits at the time of each release. This being the case, there is no need to disturb Cycle’s neighbors by forming a line hours before each release. With that said, the brewery does recommend that you arrive by 7:45 a.m. to be considered in the head count. All five of these bottle releases are CASH ONLY while there is a line. Release times are for bottle sales only.

These beers are Greatest Hits for a reason and they are pretty much guaranteed to sell out promptly.   If you have your eye on one (or all five) of these beers, just make sure you are in line by 7:45 a.m. with cash in hand on the respective day.  Basically, what we are trying to say here is that we hope you clear your calendar, hit up the ATM, and double-check that alarm clock so that we can see you all next week at Cycle Brewing for this special series of releases.  Prost!

JunIPA Makes Seasonal Return for Second Self Beer Company

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SSBClogoSecond Self Beer Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has announced that it will be tackling this year’s winter months with the Seasonal release of JunIPA.

Inspired by the comforting and refreshing botanicals found in gin, Second Self Beer Company’s seasonal favorite JunIPA is an American India Pale Ale that is “brewed with citrusy Amarillo and Cascade hops plus juniper berries, then ‘dry-hopped’ with juniper and rosemary.”  Reminiscent of “a more citrusy gin”, this 6.4% ABV, 43 IBU IPA pairs beautifully with a southern winter’s “cool, crisp weather.”

JunIPA is available now and will be hanging around through the month of February 2018.  You can find this Seasonal offering in 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer establishments located within Second Self Beer Company’s distribution footprint in Georgia.  Prost!

Vital Information for JunIPA from Second Self Beer Company

Release – Winter Seasonal, November 2017 to February 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.4%
IBUs – 43
Featured Hops – Amarillo & Cascade
Added Ingredients – Juniper & Rosemary
Suggested Food Pairings – “Suggested pairings for the beer include braised short ribs, herb chicken, roasted Brussels sprouts, sharp cheeses, fire pits and roasted marshmallows.”
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Georgia 

Brewery Ommegang Releases Limited Edition Smoked Porter

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OmmegangSP4pk_editedBrewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, New York) has officially announced that Ommegang Smoked Porter is hitting shelves and taps now as the brewery’s latest Limited Edition offering.

Created as “a nod” to the classic English-style beer, Ommegang Smoked Porter is “brewed with subtle additions of smoked malt and a touch of Saaz hops to add additional depth and character to an otherwise traditional English brew.”  This approach yields a medium to full bodied, deep dark brown Smoked Porter with aromatic and flavor notes of rich cocoa, burnt sugar, roasted malt, sweet caramel, and subtle smoke.  Although this offering may be a bit of a departure from the brewery’s more Belgian-focused beers, Ommegang Smoked Porter’s “characteristic aromas of chocolate malt along with caramelized sugar are reminiscent of many things Belgian, and of all things good.”

Ommegang Smoked Porter is available now for a limited time in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft.  You can find this Limited Edition brew at fine beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, New York, and throughout the rest of Brewery Ommegang’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Ommegang Smoked Porter from Brewery Ommegang

Release – Limited Edition, November 2017
Style – Smoked Beer
ABV – 7.6%
Malts – Pilsner, Special B, Munich 20, Cara-20, Midnight Wheat, Chocolate, & Smoked Malt
Hops – Saaz
Yeast – American Ale Yeast
Suggested Food Pairings – “Smoked Porter is a wonderful accompaniment for a variety of foods. Pair smoke with smoke – and enjoy with smoked meats and cheeses. It’s also an ideal charcuterie beer, and a wonderful pairing for rich confections like chocolate cheesecake.”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – http://ommegang.com/blog/beer-finder/