All set for next year, Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has officially released a 2018 Availability Calendar that is absolutely loaded with new brews, old favorites, and updated packing options.
Just as we always do with all release calendars, Founders Brewing Co.’s full 2018 Availability Calendar is posted below for you to look over at your own pace. Before we turn you loose, there are a few things on that calendar that we are just dying to point out . . . so let’s knock that out real fast:
Breakfast Stout and Backwoods Bastard will be available year-round in 2018. Yeah, you read that correctly! Breakfast Stout should seamlessly shift into year-round availability through the New Year while Backwoods Bastard will resurface in late-March to early-April to begin its year-round status.
Although the calendar does not mention this, Founders Brewing Co. will be offering Solid Gold, All Day IPA, Rubaeus and all of its Seasonal beers, which include Mosaic Promise, Azacca IPA and PC Pils, in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans in 2018.
Double Trouble Imperial IPA will return as a Limited Release in 2018. It will be available from late-May to July in 4-packs of 12oz bottles across all 46 states that currently comprise the distribution area for Founders Brewing.
The Barrel-Aged Series will return in 2018 with KBS (April) and four new releases. Details about the yet-to-be-named beers will be released throughout the year.
Founders is launching a “brand new taproom carryout series called the ‘Mothership Series’. These beers will range from classics like the inaugural release, Red’s Rye IPA, to experimental new styles. They will only be available for carryout in 6-pack bottles at [all Founders Brewing Co.] taproom locations.”
Finally . . . a bit of bad news: Founders will say “goodbye to some favorites, like Imperial Stout, Curmudgeon and reDANKulous” in 2018. Since the brewery is known to regularly bring back old favorites (see Double Trouble & Red’s Rye IPA above), it assures that this is more of an “until we meet again” scenario.
Alright, that’s a wrap on all that we wanted to cover. Be sure to check out the full calendar below so that you can properly prepare for an amazing 2018 with Founders Brewing Co. Prost!
Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) recently announced that PC Pils and Sumatra Mountain Brown have officially returned to shelves and taps as a couple of “spring offerings that highlight [the brewery’s] depth of production.”
First introduced in 2016, PC Pils is back this year by popular demand and with “a more extended run from April to August 2017.” This Seasonal offering reimagines the classic Pilsner style thanks to a recipe loaded “with three flavor-packed American hops: Chinook, Cascade and Centennial.” Clocking in at a reasonable 5.5% ABV, PC Pils is “pleasantly crisp, . . . perfectly clean, . . . and profoundly crushable.” PC Pils is available now in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles (suggested retail price of $9.99), 15-packs of 12 oz. cans (suggested retail price of $17.99) and on draft at craft beer-friendly restaurants, bars and retailers located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of the Founders Brewing Co. distribution area.
Also making a return after debuting in 2016, Sumatra Mountain Brown – a 9% ABV Imperial Brown Ale made with Sumatra coffee – acts as “a bold addition” to the brewery’s Specialty Series. This brew begins with a base comprised of “a team of malts including Caramel malt for sweetness, flaked barley for dense foam, a bit of Chocolate malt for its deep color and Aromatic and Munich malts to add even more depth.” These malts are then balanced with the use of “German and Perle hops”, and rich Sumatra coffee is then added to take “this perfectly balanced Brown Ale to a decadent level.” Sumatra Mountain Brown is available from May until June in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles (suggested retail price of $11.99) and on draft. You can find this Specialty release available at select craft beer establishments found within Founders Brewing Co.’s distribution footprint.
PC Pils and Sumatra Mountain Brown join Doom Barrel-aged Imperial IPA – click here to read more about this latest release from the Barrel-Aged Series – to complete a trifecta of springtime releases from Founders Brewing Co. All three of these offerings are only available for a limited time, so be sure to secure your stash while you can. Prost!
Vital Information for PC Pils from Founders Brewing Co.
Release – Seasonal, April to August 2017 Style – Pilsner ABV – 5.5% IBUs – 45 Hops – Chinook, Cascade & Centennial Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles ($9.99), 15-packs of 12 oz. cans ($17.99) & draft Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/find-our-beer/
Vital Information for Sumatra Mountain Brown from Founders Brewing Co.
Release – Specialty, May to June 2017 Style – American Imperial Brown Ale ABV – 9% IBUs – 40 Featured Malts – Caramel, Chocolate, Aromatic, Munich & Flaked Barley Added Ingredients – Sumatra coffee Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles ($11.99) & draft Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/find-our-beer/
Lager madness continues to dominate and delight the Tasting Notes segment this week as we take a look at PC Pils from Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan).
I first brought you news of PC Pils back in August when Founders Brewing Co. announced that this offering would be joining their portfolio as a new fall to winter Seasonal release (click here to read the full post). This “American Hopped Pilsner” employs the expected qualities of the fine Pilsner malts you would find in European examples, but the brewery throws your palate a curve with the use of Chinook, Cascade and Centennial hop varietals sourced stateside. This happy union produces piney, citrusy and floral flavors and aromatics in a beer that can only be described as “profoundly crushable, pleasantly crisp.” PC Pils is available through the end of the year and can be found on draft, in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles for the suggested retail price of $9.99, and in 15-packs of 12 oz. cans for the suggested retail price of $17.99. Look for this one at craft beer retailers in Alabama, Florida and throughout the full distribution footprint of Founders Brewing Co. With that information covered, let’s open this can, quench some thirst and take some Tasting Notes!
Tasting Notes for PC Pils from Founders Brewing Co.
Appearance:PC Pils slips into the glass as a light golden yellow in color. When exposed to direct light, the body glows, gaining a vibrancy that can only be described as a highlighter yellow hue. The body is pristine, clear, and shows off a moderate carbonation level meandering about. The pour built three fingers of pillowy, bubbly foam that is the brightest of whites. Retention is good, eventually causing the head to fall to fluffy, amoebic masses playfully acting as a top cap. Lacing is decent and turns up as chunky spots left behind sparingly and sporadically after sips. Reserved in presentation but silently screaming all things Pilsner.
Aroma: A delicate but unmistakable hop presence gets things started in the department of aromatics. Light pine and juicy citrus laze about, mingling casually with the fresh floral tones that nonchalantly greet the nose on each and every inhale. Clean and lightly sweet Pilsner malts cut the hops a bit by lending a touch of biscuity goodness. It may sound simple, but this is one alluringly fragrant Pils.
Taste: Without any apprehension at all, the hops certainly show a little more bite here. Pine resin kicks the flavors off, shifting to bitter grapefruit peel and zest with ease. Lithe floral and serene grassy tones soften things up a bit as the flavors move toward a crackery Pils malt presence that is more savory than sweet. The maltiness complements and lends balance to the hops. A fine level of brewing craftsmanship is stamped all over this brew’s flavor profile.
Mouthfeel: This offering is light in body with a bright carbonation level to it. That said, the beer is still somehow allowed to retain a touch of weight. This gives PC Pils the ability to properly and fully engage the palate, and separate itself from any mass-produced lagers out there masquerading as standards for the style. The ABV plays zero role here, and rightfully so. The beer is crisp, clean, dry and incredibly easy drinking. Aftertaste is just a touch of lingering pine and grapefruit zest.
Final Thoughts: If you are looking for a traditional, Euro-style Pilsner, PC Pils probably will not get you that fix. Sure, it retains the malt characteristics of a traditional Pils and European examples of the style do have a snappy hop presence . . . but full disclosure warrants that I inform you that the hops in PC Pils show some teeth. Aptly described as an “American Hopped Pilsner,” this offering absolutely shows the brashness that our country is often accused of having and displays our seemingly undying love of lupulin. This being the case, I do have to say that the bitterness and hoppiness are both presented in such a way that the beer retains the style’s easy drinking nature. This is not a case of over-hopped insanity. No, not at all. It is more of an artistically penned love letter to American hops delivered in a medium other than the expected IPA. It is a beer that will satisfy the most decorated of hophead, and will also act as a great way to introduce the craft beer novice to the bewildering world of hops in the format of an easy drinking and more approachable style. Crisp and wonderfully drinkable, PC Pils is a welcomed addition to the new and growing landscape of American lagers. Prost!
Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) recently announced that PC Pils will soon join the brewery’s Seasonal lineup.
Lagers are absolutely making a comeback these days, and Founders Brewing Co. is joining this welcomed trend by adding PC Pils as a new autumn to winter Seasonal. Aptly described as ” profoundly crushable, pleasantly crisp”, PC Pils lays a foundation with the finest Pilsner malts and then shakes things up a bit in the hop department. Although European Noble hops are usually employed in this style, the brewers at Founders decided to go with the American varieties of Chinook, Cascade and Centennial to develop aromatic and flavor notes that are piney, citrusy and floral. This offering comes together at a very reasonable 5.5% ABV and 45 IBUs to achieve maximum drinkability.
PC Pils will see an initial release in September in the Founders taproom and in a very limited amount of select markets. Full distribution will then be seen by the entire brewery distribution footprint from October through the end of the year. This offering will be available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles for the suggested retail price of $9.99 and in 15-packs of 12 oz. cans for the suggested retail price of $17.99. October will be here before you know it, so keep an eye out for PC Pils to satisfy all your easy drinking beer needs this fall. Prost!
Vital Information on PC Pils from Founders Brewing Co.
Release – Seasonal, limited release in September in brewery taproom and select markets. Full distribution from October through year’s end ABV – 5.5% IBUs – 45 Hops – Chinook, Cascade & Centennial Packaging – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles for suggested retail price of $9.99, 15 packs of 12 oz. cans for suggested retail price of $17.99
All set for next year, Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has officially released a 2018 Availability Calendar that is absolutely loaded with new brews, old favorites, and updated packing options.
Mashing In 