Oskar Blues Brewery Set for National Release of Barrel-Aged Ten FIDY

Posted on by mashingin

BATenFIDYOskar Blues Brewery (Longmont, Colorado & Brevard, North Carolina) recently announced that it will begin the limited release of Barrel-Aged Ten FIDY on November 11.

The long-standing and highly-respected Ten FIDY Imperial Stout is once again experiencing a bit of an upgrade after the brewers at Oskar Blues decided to lovingly “[stash] it in a blend of Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for a minimum of eight months.”  Now roused from its rest, the limited release Barrel-Aged Ten FIDY (12.9% ABV) has emerged as “a cool and drinkable concoction that gets more complex with each sip.”

“Aged through four seasons and from a blend of the top bourbons around, this Ten FIDY has morphed into a monster of cranked up flavor,” said Head of Brewing Operations Tim Matthews. “This stout is loaded with inimitable flavors consisting of espresso, burnt sugar, rich chocolate and caramel notes, which are combined with the vanilla, oak and bourbon flavors that have been smoothed out from maturation.”

Barrel-Aged Ten FIDY will officially release on November 11 and hang around while supplies last.  You can look for this Limited Release offering to be available in 19.2 oz. stovepipe cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, Texas and throughout the rest of Oskar Blues Brewery’s nationwide distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Barrel-Aged Ten FIDY from Oskar Blues Brewery

Release – Limited, November 11, 2017
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 12.9%
IBUs – 75
Treatment – Aged in a “blend of Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for a minimum of eight months”
Availability – 19.2 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.oskarblues.com/beerfinder/

Starr Hill Brewery to Release Box of Chocolates Stout Pack

Posted on by mashingin

Box of Chocolates Pack_editedStarr Hill Brewery (Charlottesville, Virginia) announced today that it will begin the limited release of Box of Chocolates Stout Pack, a variety 12-pack containing Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout and three of its variants, on November 15.

First introduced at the start of 2017 as a part of Starr Hill Brewery’s All Access Series, the original Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout quickly achieved fan favorite status thanks to its “massive additions of cocoa [that bring] forward aromas of dark chocolate, mocha and vanilla.”  Looking back at that first release, the folks at Starr Hill realized this 7.8% ABV Imperial Stout had limitless potential as a base beer that could carry a plethora of other flavors and ingredients.  Since they have experienced success with the Four Kings IPA Pack that features variants of their King of Hop Imperial IPA, why not give Double Bass a similar platform with the release of Box of Chocolates Stout Pack?

This new variety 12-pack will consist of Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout and three variants that have been “infused with all-natural ingredients including organic peppermint leaves, smoke-dried jalapeño peppers, and locally roasted whole coffee beans” (three bottles of each beer in each pack).  For a little more information on these brews, here are the official names and descriptions for all four offerings that will be included in the Box of Chocolates Stout Pack:

  • Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout – This rich imperial stout is all about malt and chocolate. Aromas of dark chocolate, mocha and vanilla arise from cocoa additions. Robust bittersweet chocolate and dark fruit lead into a smooth finish.
  • Peppermint Double Bass – Bittersweet aromas arise from cocoa additions while fresh mint and chocolate notes lead into a smooth finish.
  • Chipotle Double Bass – Bittersweet aromas arise from cocoa additions while smoked pepper and chocolate notes lead into a smooth finish.
  • Mocha Double Bass – Bittersweet and roasted aromas arise from cocoa additions while coffee and chocolate notes lead into a smooth finish.

“With the great response we received from our Four Kings IPAs, we thought our Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout would be a great complementary base beer to take this idea in a new direction,” said Starr Hill Brewmaster, Robbie O’Cain. “Box of Chocolates is arriving just in time for the holiday season and will be a perfect pairing for festive desserts and winter gatherings.”

The Box of Chocolates Stout Pack will first debut in the Starr Hill Brewery Tap Room in Crozet, Virginia on Wednesday, November 15 and then enter distribution in mid-November.  You can expect to find limited quantities of Box of Chocolates available in 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at exclusive craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Virginia, and throughout the rest of Starr Hill’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Box of Chocolates Lineup

Anchor Brewing Releases 43rd Annual Christmas Ale

Posted on by mashingin

Xmas2017___bottle_pintAnchor Brewing Co. (San Francisco, California) has announced that their iconic Christmas Ale has officially returned for its 43rd annual release.

First released in 1975, Anchor Brewing’s Christmas Ale has been brewed each year since with “a new, secret recipe” and adorned with “a completely unique label” (click here to see them all).  The 2017 Christmas Ale has been crafted to be “a smooth and creamy winter warmer with rich flavors of cacao, toffee, and roasted nuts, plus subtle hints of honey and herbal spice.”  You can choose to enjoy Christmas Ale (6.7% ABV) fresh or you can age the beer to see how its “wintry spiced flavors evolve over time.”

“This year’s Christmas Ale has a strong malt profile that is enhanced with wintry spices,” said Anchor Brewmaster Scott Ungermann. “The beer pours a deep, dark, mahogany brown with a creamy, tan head. It has flavors of creamy bittersweet chocolate, coffee, roasted malts and toasted nuts, with a rich, smooth, velvety mouthfeel. This is the third year in a row that we peeled back the layers of spices, taking some ingredients out and making those remaining stand out even more. In the meantime, we added more specialty malts, some that we’re using for the first time. The combination of malts, spices, and hops add layers of complexity to the beer and bring this year’s ale to a new level.”

2017 Christmas Ale is available now and will be hanging around through the month of January 2018.  You can expect to find this special holiday brew available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, gold-foiled 50.7 oz. magnum bottles (where permitted), and on draft at beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California and throughout the rest of Anchor Brewing’s expansive distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for 2017 Christmas Ale from Anchor Brewing Co.

Release – Seasonal, November 2017 to January 2018
Style – Winter Warmer
ABV – 6.7%
Malts – “Top Secret”
Hops – “Top Secret”
Fun Fact #1 – When it was originally released in 1975, Anchor Christmas Ale was “the first holiday beer in America since Prohibition.”
Fun Fact #2 – Concerning the label artwork: “Along with an evolving recipe, Christmas Ale portrays a new label every year. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew. This year’s tree is the Santa Lucia fir. Extremely rare, it is native and limited to California’s Santa Lucia Range along the central coast of California. The tree on this year’s label was hand-drawn by Bay Area artist James Stitt, who has been creating Anchor’s Christmas Ale labels since 1975.” 
Suggested Food Pairings – “Anchor Christmas Ale is perfect for cozy nights by the fire, and it pairs well with holiday fare, whether it is a roasted turkey dinner, sweet potato pie, or roasted chestnuts.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 50.7 oz. magnum bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.anchorbrewing.com/connect/beer_finder

Lindemans Brewery Introduces the US to GingerGueuze

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Gingergueuze-HighRes-_2_With the assistance of Merchant du Vin, Lindemans Brewery (Vlezenbeek, Belgium) will officially begin the US launch of Lindemans GingerGueuze during the month of November.

Lindemans GingerGueuze arrives as the latest release from the brewery’s series of small batch Botanical Lambics, experimental blends that “test the limits of their master blender, and present the pinnacle of sour beer artistry.”  To make this offering a reality, the Lindemans team based the recipe “on a blend of 12-month-old lambic with two- to three-year-old lambic, fermented in oak with fresh ginger.”  The finished product is a 6% ABV Lindemans GingerGueuze that is “a hazy golden color and combines the sourness of lambic with the enticing flavor and heady aroma of fresh ginger.”

“We all know ginger as a very powerful spice”, says Geert Lindemans, General Manager of Lindemans Brewery. “Finding the right balance for this beer was a serious challenge, as we want the spice to complement our lambic, without overpowering it. That is why we have actually used galangal for this beer. Galangal is part of the ginger family, but more complex in flavour. It took us quite a few batches to get the balance right, but now that we have, we are excited with the result”.

Lindemans GingerGueuze is hitting the US now and will be available in 750ml bottles while supplies last.  You can expect to find this new Limited Release on shelves across the country.  Prost!

Vital Information for GingerGueuze from Lindemans Brewery

Release – Limited/Botanical Lambics series, US launch begins November 2017
Style – Gueuze
ABV – 6%
IBUs – 12
Blend – 12-month-old Lambic with two- to three-year-old Lambic
Treatment – Fermented in oak with fresh ginger
Suggested Food Pairings – “It’s an ideal aperitif, or try alongside dishes that feature ginger. For a compelling contrast, serve GingerGueuze alongside rich, deeply flavored foods. Paired with a Thanksgiving dinner, GingerGueuze will make your holiday even more memorable!”
Availability – 750ml bottles

Cascade Brewing Announces Long-Awaited Return of Sang Royal

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cascadenewlogoCascade Brewing (Portland, Oregon) confirmed today that Sang Royal (2016), a Barrel-aged Red Ale with Pinot Noir Grapes, will make a limited return on November 14.

Back after a three-year hiatus, Sang Royal is “a blend of double red ales aged in oak barrels, foudres and puncheons for up to 22 months with Pinot Noir grapes from Oregon’s famed Willamette Valley wine region.”  Often referred to as “the most sophisticated” of Cascade Brewing’s “Sang” projects, the 2016 vintage of Sang Royal “captures complex notes of summer berry fruit, plum, cola, earth and spice, with a vibrant acidity and soft tannic structure.”

Sang Royal 2016 officially releases on Tuesday, November 14 and will be available in 750ml bottles and on draft while supplies last.  Once released, this Tier Two offering will be available at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Cascade Brewing’s regular distribution channels.  Prost!

Vital Information for Sang Royal 2016 from Cascade Brewing

Release – Limited/Tier Two, November 2017
Style – American Sour Ale 
ABV – 9.4%
Treatment – A blend of Double Red Ales aged in oak barrels, foudres & puncheons for up to 22 months with Pinot Noir grapes
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Fun Fact – Concerning Cascade Brewing’s new labels: “Sang Royal is a Tier Two offering; Cascade’s bottles have distinct label styles for each of the three Cascade Brewing pricing tiers, with each label within the tier utilizing distinctive colors to clearly differentiate each beer. The tiers differ by the style of beer used in the product, the type ingredients contained within, the time aged in the barrels and types of barrels used.” 

Angry Chair Brewing Releases Details for 3 Year Anniversary Party

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angrychairlogoAngry Chair Brewing (Tampa, Florida) has officially announced that they will celebrate their 3 Year Anniversary with a ticketed, two-session party on Saturday, December 2.

The last three years at Angry Chair Brewing have been filled with amazing beers, crazy long lines for bottle releases, parking frustrations/jokes, and just a ridiculous amount of good times had in their taproom.  There is no denying how awesome all of that is, but the folks at the brewery realize none of it would have been possible without the support of their friends, family, fans, regulars and community.  That is what truly needs to be celebrated, and celebrate they will on Saturday, December 2 with their 3 Year Anniversary Party.

Like all events at Angry Chair, there is a copious amount of exciting brews and in & outs to cover.  So, without further ado, let’s break it all down:

The Basics

Ticket Information

  • Tickets are $40 each and include entry into one (1) session of the party, one (1) Barrel-Aged Anniversary bottle, one (1) commemorative anniversary glass, and one (1) free draft ticket
  • Ticket Sales – Tickets can be purchased in-person at the brewery at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 11 or at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, November 12.  Each day the brewery will sell half of the in-person ticket sale allotments for each session.  This basically means that the same amount of Session 1 tickets will be sold on both days, and the same amount of Session 2 tickets will be sold on both days.  To allow more people a chance to purchase tickets, you will only be able to buy tickets to ONE session per day.  There will be a TWO ticket limit per person, and you must have the name for your plus one upon purchase of the tickets.
  • Ticket Sales cont’d – Any remaining tickets will be sold online on Sunday, November 19 at 2 p.m.  Same rules apply: Two ticket limit per order, and you must have the name of your plus one upon purchase of the tickets.  Website link will be available here just as soon as it goes live  **UPDATE 11/16/17**  As promised, here’s the link for online tickets – https://angrychair3yr.brownpapertickets.com/  **UPDATE 11/16/17**
  • Tickets are NON-TRANSFERABLE.  ID’s will be required at the Anniversary Party, and the names on the ID’s must match the names on the tickets.

The 3 Year Anniversary Draft List

  • Barrel-aged Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake Stout
  • Barrel-aged Lunar Lycan Imperial Marzipan Coffee Cream Stout (collaboration with Omnipollo)
  • Barrel-aged Rocky Road Imperial Stout
  • Barrel-aged Peanut Butter & Marshmallow Popinski Russian Imperial Stout
  • Rum Barrel-aged Imperial Awakening
  • Barrel-aged Arawn Imperial Sweet Stout
  • Russian Interference (collaboration with Westbrook Brewing)- Blend of Angry Chair & Westbrook Russian Imperial stouts with toasted pecans, vanilla, and cinnamon
  • Woke Imperial Milk Stout with coffee and maple
  • Sloth Love Coffee – Rocky Road Imperial Stout with coffee
  • Triple C’s Imperial Milk Stout with cacao, cinnamon, and coffee
  • Fionn Imperial English-style Porter with toasted hazelnut and coffee
  • Saucin’ Blonde Barleywine with macadamia nuts, cinnamon, and vanilla
  • Purple Puffs Blackberry and Black Currant Berliner with marshmallows
  • Strawberry Vanilla Berliner
  • Apricot Berliner
  • Sloppy Thirds Tiki inspired Berliner (collaboration with Voodoo Brewery)
  • Space Grass IPA
  • Thought Process IPA
  • Calmer Than You Rye Double IPA
  • A “few more” beers could be added to list in the near future. Stay tuned

All beers above will cost $5 per pour (pour sizes will vary)

Parking Info

Parking always plays an important role when it comes to events at Angry Chair, so please pay attention to the following rules so that you can avoid pissing anyone off during the party:

  • Please Uber, Lyft, taxi, or carpool. Not only will this guarantee you a safe way home after a day of drinking high ABV brews, but it will also help everyone else out considering the brewery’s “typical lack of parking”.
  • Angry Chair’s small lot WILL NOT be available for parking that day as it will be used as added event space for the party
  • DO NOT park on Fern
  • DO NOT park at Trip’s Diner
  • DO NOT park in the lot north of the brewery
  • DO NOT park in the plaza that houses Rooster & the Till and Urban Bungalow
  • There is some street parking available throughout the neighborhoods (other than on Fern), but please be respectful of the people that live there by not blocking their driveways, mailboxes, sidewalks, etc.
  • Seriously . . . just Uber, Lyft, taxi or carpool to save yourself the frustration

Other Useful Info

  • Please show up NO SOONER THAN 30 minutes early to help expedite the check-in process
  • Please have ID’s ready at check-in
  • If possible, please bring cash.  This will make it easier when purchasing the beers that will be pouring outside
  • This event is 21 and up only
  • Due to the limited capacity, this event is NOT kid or pet-friendly
  • Outside bottles & bottle shares WILL NOT be allowed at this event
  • To avoid any breakage, you will receive your anniversary bottle & commemorative glass as you leave the party
  • Mouthole BBQ and Create Bakery & Gifts will be dishin’ out grub during the party. Menu to be posted soon

Alright, that should just about cover all the information that is currently available.  We will update this post with any and all additional info as it surfaces, so make sure you check back often.  Other than that, just make those arrangements for tickets, follow the rules, and have an amazing time celebrating three great years with Angry Chair on December 2.  Prost!

Dogfish Head Releases Oak-Aged Siracusa Nera in Bottles

Posted on by mashingin

siracusa-nera-6On November 3, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware) will officially release Oak-Aged Siracusa Nera Russian Imperial Stout in bottles for the first time.

Created as an experimental beer that has both American and Italian inspiration, Oak-Aged Siracusa Nera is an “innovative beer-wine hybrid [that] marries a dry-roasted Imperial Stout with a jammy wine.” The brewers at Dogfish Head pull this off by “beginning with roasty malts that give notes of coffee and dark chocolate in the aroma.”  Syrah grape must is then added to impart “multifaceted flavors of plums and cherries.”  Finally, the beer is aged on American oak to round everything off with “hints of light toasty vanilla.”  This all results in a 10% ABV Oak-Aged Siracusa Nera that is absolutely laden with bold and beautiful complexities.

“This delicious stout captures the Dogfish spirit of beer-wine interaction and innovation which we’ve been experimenting with for over two decades with fusions like Midas Touch, Sixty One and Rasion D’tre,” says Sam Calagione, founder and CEO of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.  “A Russian Imperial Stout is a style we’ve been excited about recreating with a beer-wine hybrid twist.  We’re super happy with the way Siracusa drinks like a roasty, punchy, pitted-fruit wine but with a toasted oak finish. And props to our brewer coworker Amanda for leading on this recipe innovation.”

Oak-Aged Siracusa Nera officially releases on November 3 and will have limited availability in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft.  You can find this on shelves and taps at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Delaware and throughout the rest of Dogfish Head’s distribution footprint.  Prost!

A side note for the hopheads out there – 120 Minute Imperial IPA will also see a limited release this month.  Look for it to be on shelves and taps alongside Oak-Aged Siracusa Nera beginning on November 10, 2017.

Vital Information for Oak-Aged Siracusa Nera from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Release – Limited; November 3, 2017
Style – Russian Imperial Stout
ABV – 10%
IBUs – 60 
Added Ingredients – Syrah grape must
Recommended Glassware – Snifter
Suggested Food Pairings – “For the foodies out there, Siracusa Nera pairs well with full-flavored, rich dishes like seared duck breast and roast venison, and on the sweeter side, it tastes yummy with a dark chocolate mousse or a plum tart.”
Fun Fact – “This . . . stout was originally brewed as a collaboration beer with Eataly, the largest Italian marketplace in the world. In fact, the name Siracusa Nera pays homage to the historic origins of the Syrah grape, tracing its ancient roots to the small Sicilian city of Siracusa in Italy.”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.dogfish.com/brewery/fishfinder/

Jolly Pumpkin’s Noel de Calabaza Returns for the Holidays

Posted on by mashingin

unnamed (11)Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales (Dexter, Michigan) recently announced that Noel de Calabaza Special Ale, the brewery’s annually released Holiday Ale, will make its way back to shelves and taps beginning in early November.

With a name that translates to “The Holiday Pumpkin”, Noel de Calabaza is a Belgian Dark Strong Ale that is “deep mahogany in appearance with flavors of malt, layered hops, figs, raisins, sugar plums, cashews, and betwixt rum laden truffles.”  After aging in oak for six months, Noel de Calabaza emerges as a 9% ABV Holiday Ale that is “the perfect accompaniment for all times of good cheer.”

“From our family to yours, please enjoy this special beer. Join us in celebrating the season with wishes of peace and joy for all.”

– Ron Jeffries, Jolly Pumpkin’s Founder and Chief Squeegee Operator

Noel de Calabaza officially returns in early November and will be available in 750ml bottles and on draft during the holiday season (while supplies last).  You can find this Special Ale at fine beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Jolly Pumpkin’s distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Noel de Calabaza Special Ale from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Release – Seasonal/Limited, arrives early November 2017
Style – Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV – 9%
IBUs – 22
Malts – Pilsner, Wheat & Chocolate
Hops – Celia, Fuggle & Tettnang
Treatment – Aged in oak for 6 months
Availability – 750ml bottles & draft
Distribution Info – http://brewery.jollypumpkin.com/find-our-biere/

Roundhouse India Red Ale Makes Limited Return for Bell’s Brewery

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Roundhouse_WebPic_736X736Bell’s Brewery (Comstock, Michigan) has officially announced that Roundhouse India Red Ale is currently back on shelves and taps for a limited time.

Returning once again as a Specialty Release from Bell’s Brewery, Roundhouse India Red Ale is “a variation on the IPA, but with more caramel and toasted malt character and a reddish hue.” To retain its IPA-like qualities, Roundhouse is loaded with “fruity aromas of pineapple, peach and citrus” that have been sourced from “substantial amounts of late-kettle hop additions and dry-hopping.” Those hop notes carry over into the flavor but are balanced by “the judicious use of toasted and caramel specialty malts.”  Locally sourced Michigan honey was then added to level everything out and give Roundhouse “a smooth, dry finish.”

Roundhouse India Red Ale is out now and will be available for a limited time in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft.  You can find this Specialty Release at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Bell’s Brewery’s distribution footprint.  Prost!

Vital Information for Roundhouse India Red Ale from Bell’s Brewery

Release – Limited/Specialty, arrives late October 2017
Style – India Red Ale
ABV – 7.5%
Added Ingredients – Locally sourced Michigan honey
Shelf Life – 3 months
Recommended Glassware – Nonic
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.bellsbeer.com/beer-finder

Boulevard Brewing Gets Into the Cider Game with Release of City Market Cider

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CityMarketCider-Diamond-Badge-1Boulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, Missouri) will officially introduce its first ever Cider with the upcoming Seasonal release of City Market Cider.

Kansas City’s historic City Market is widely known as “a place where chefs and home cooks come together to show and taste the best flavors in the region.”  This is an institution and community that should be celebrated, and Boulevard Brewing Co. has done just that with the creation of City Market Cider.

Checking in as Boulevard’s first cider and next Seasonal release, City Market Cider is a “local blend [combining] juice from Jonathan and Fuji apples sourced directly from Sibley Orchard & Cider Mill in Sibley, Missouri.”  After undergoing fermentation with Boulevard’s house strain of English ale yeast, City Market Cider was then finished with “a slight blend back of fresh Fuji juice (2.8% of the total blend) to lend a balancing sweetness.”  This all results in a 6.2% ABV Cider that “[alternates] between sweet and tart apple character” in both flavor and aroma.

City Market Cider will launch in the Greater Kansas City Area on Tuesday, November 14 with other regions to follow shortly thereafter.  Once the rollout is completed, you can expect to find this Seasonal release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles at select beer and cider-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Missouri and throughout the rest of Boulevard Brewing Co.’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for City Market Cider from Boulevard Brewing Co.

Release – Seasonal, launches November 14, 2017
Style – Hard Apple Cider
ABV – 6.2%
IBUs – 0
Featured Apples – Jonathan & Fuji Apples from Sibley Orchard & Cider Mill
Yeast – Boulevard’s house English Ale Yeast
Suggested Food Pairings – “Washed Rind Cheeses, Mushroom Risotto, Asian Glazed Pork Belly, Sushi”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & limited draft
Beer/Cider Finder – https://www.boulevard.com/beer/beer-finder/