Wild Leap Brew Co. | Mashing In

Wild Leap Brew Co. & Pink Boots Society Collaborate on Too Pure To Be Pink DIPA

Posted on March 10, 2020 by mashingin

Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) has officially announced that it is recognizing International Women’s Day with the Limited Release of Too Pure To Be Pink Double IPA, a special collaboration with the Pink Boots Society, during the week of March 9.

Created by women to celebrate women with more than a little inspiration from the iconic Pink Ladies from the musical Grease, Too Pure To Be Pink is a Double India Pale Ale brewed with a special hop blend from Yakima Chief Hops that was hand-selected by members of the Pink Boots Society, a “non-profit organization devoted to promoting the advancement of women in the beer industry, particularly in the craft beer industry.” Consisting of Loral, Azacca, El Dorado and Idaho Gem hops, this hop blend makes Too Pure To Be Pink (8.5% ABV) a “juicy IPA . . . unlike any other Wild Leap release.” Too Pure To Be Pink was “brewed, canned and packaged [by] the hardworking women of Wild Leap.”

“With so many strong women forming the backbone of Wild Leap, it was important to us to develop a beer that celebrates these incredible women, and the timing was perfect.” says Rob Goldstein, Wild Leap’s co-founder and CFO. “The beer finished just in time to package on International Women’s Day!”

Too Pure To Be Pink is available now and will hang around only as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this “extremely” Limited Release available in 6-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 Too Pure To Be Pink from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Release – Limited; March 9, 2020
Style – Hazy/Juicy Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.5%
IBUs – 46
Featured Hops – Pink Boots Society hop blend from Yakima Chief Hops (Loral, Azacca, El Dorado & Idaho Gem)
Fun Fact #1 – On the name of this beer: “Inspired by the musical Grease, Too Pure To Be Pink is a tribute to the Pink Ladies. Known for their pink jackets and tough attitudes, the Pink Ladies played by their own rules. Much like the women of Wild Leap, the Pink Ladies were trailblazers.”
Fun Fact #2 – On the mission behind the beer: “Wild Leap’s support of the Pink Boots Society is geared toward empowering women in brewing through education. For every pound of the Pink Boots hop blend sold, a minimum of three dollars is donated to the Pink Boots Society scholarship fund.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.wildleap.com/beer-finder/

Wild-Leap-Pink-Boots-Society-Too-Pure-To-Be-Pink — ***The brewing team behind Too Pure To Be Pink Double IPA***

Tasting Notes: Three Harvest Fresh Hop Double IPA from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Posted on March 7, 2020 by mashingin

For this installment of Tasting Notes, we freshen up our weekend with a few cans of Three Harvest Fresh Hop Double IPA, a special collaboration project from Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) and Extreme Hops AL (Auburn, Alabama).

Named after “the number of harvests that the hydroponic hops will have each year,” Three Harvest is a Double India Pale Ale featuring “fresh Cascade hops directly off the hop bines” at Extreme Hops AL. Thanks to the use of “a hopping process new to Wild Leap,” Three Harvest (8.2% ABV) comes together to be an “easy-drinking and juicy Double IPA” that boasts “a citrus-forward aroma and classic Cascade grapefruit and pine flavors.”

Three Harvest Fresh Hop Double IPA officially debuted in early February and will be available only as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located within Wild Leap’s distribution footprint in Georgia.

Now that we are all up to date on how the beer was made, let’s get to know these fresh hydroponic hops over some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Three Harvest Fresh Hop Double IPA from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Appearance: A somewhat overzealous pour (we really do get excited about fresh hop beers around here) from a 12 oz. can produces a DIPA that is light golden in color and capped with right at two fingers of creamy white foam. When held to direct light, the golden hues brighten, gain vibrancy and shimmer. The beer does have a gentle haze to it, but steady streams of carbonation can still be seen swirling up from the base to feed the top cap. Head retention is good, eventually falling to a frothy ring that drops chunky lines of lace on the glass whenever it is disturbed.

Aroma: Cascade hops are simply but beautifully showcased here in the nose. Bright notes of grapefruit juice and zest abound while a bit of orange juice turns up to offer a light layer of sweetness. A waft of pine then works its way in to supply some added sharpness and further amplify those grapefruit tones. The malts are light and do not offer much other than a grace of nondescript sweetness. The aroma is all hops . . . and all is right in the world.

Taste: Just like the nose, this beer’s flavor is focused on showing an endless amount of love to those fresh hops. Unmistakably Cascade, each sip is filled with an abundance of grapefruit zest and pine resin alongside that slightly grassy, green character you get from fresh hops. Any bitterness that surfaces is immediately tempered by a touch of sweet orange and a vanilla-laced floral presence. The malts are not adding much as far as flavor, but it is clear that they are silently hard at work balancing everything out.

Mouthfeel: Medium in body with a moderate carbonation level, Three Harvest has a soft, slightly creamy feel that reads more like a Hazy DIPA than a more traditional example. Balanced nicely with the hops offering minimal bitterness, the overall experience is juicy but not too sweet. The 8.2% ABV lends a bit of heat in the throat and chest, but it is subtle and not at all overwhelming. The aftertaste is all grapefruit juice and zest.

Final Thoughts: Three Harvest Fresh Hop Double IPA does an excellent job of capturing and prominently featuring the essence of those fresh Cascade hops from Extreme Hops AL. Wild Leap’s new-world approach to Double IPAs – falling somewhere in the sweet spot between West Coast and New England-style Hazy/Juicy examples – acts as the perfect vehicle to push and drive these hops to reach their full potential. The hops lead with that sharp West Coast presence of grapefruit zest and pine, but any real levels of bitterness are quickly washed away by their juicier qualities. Just when you think it cannot possibly get any better, that indescribable “green” note you get with fresh hops is the bow placed on top of the gift that is this wildly easy drinking Double IPA. If you are at all a fan of Cascade hops, you seriously need to track down some Three Harvest Fresh Hop Double IPA while you still have the chance. Prost!

Wild Leap Brew Co. Explores New Experimental Hop with Release of Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 11

Posted on February 25, 2020 by mashingin

Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) has officially announced that it will begin the release of Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 11, a Double IPA featuring the experimental hop HBC 472, during the week of February 24.

A true embodiment of Wild Leap’s mission to explore hop varieties and experiment with different flavor profiles in its Alpha Abstraction Series, Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 11 is a double dry-hopped, Juicy Double India Pale Ale that showcases the experimental hop HBC 472. This unique hop provides Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 11 (8% ABV) with “aromas of bourbon oak, berry and white grape” alongside the expected “citrus notes associated with the Alpha Abstraction series.”

“We were attracted to the really unique profile that HBC 472 had, but it was so unusual we decided to do a test batch to see how well it would work with the fruity and citrusy characteristics of the Alpha Abstraction series,” says Chris Elliott, Wild Leap’s Chief Brewing Officer. “The combination was amazing. We immediately knew we had Vol. 11!”

“With everything we do, we push ourselves to explore and bring new things to the table,” says Anthony Rodriguez, CEO and Co-Founder of Wild Leap. “Vol. 11 is a representation of that mentality.”

Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 11 is rolling out now and will last only as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 6-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 Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 11 from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Release – Limited/Alpha Abstraction Series; February 24, 2020
Style – Juicy/Hazy Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8%
Featured Hops – HBC 472
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.wildleap.com/beer-finder/

Wild Leap Brew Co. & Extreme Hops AL Collaborate on Three Harvest Fresh Hop DIPA

Posted on February 10, 2020 by mashingin

Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Three Harvest Fresh Hop Double IPA, a special collaboration project with hydroponic hop farm Extreme Hops AL (Auburn, Alabama), during the week of February 10, 2020.

Named after “the number of harvests that the hydroponic hops will have each year,” Three Harvest is a Fresh Hop Hazy/Juicy Double India Pale Ale featuring “fresh Cascade hops directly off the hop bines” at Extreme Hops AL. Thanks to the use of “a hopping process new to Wild Leap,” Three Harvest (8.2% ABV) comes together to be an “easy-drinking and juicy Double IPA” that boasts “a citrus-forward aroma and classic Cascade grapefruit and pine flavors.”

“Timing with wet hops is critical, and introducing fresh whole hops to the kettle has a few challenges,” explains Chris Elliott, Wild Leap Chief Brewing Officer. “Because it uses wet hops right off the plant, we have to get the hops directly from the field to the kettle as soon as possible.”

“We were looking for potential breweries to collaborate with and we knew we’d found the perfect partner with Wild Leap,” says Ralf DuToit, Head Hop Farmer at Extreme Hops AL, “They’re adventurous, curious-minded people like us, so the collaboration couldn’t have been more natural.”

Three Harvest Double IPA officially releases on February 10 and will be available only as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 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 Three Harvest Fresh Hop Double IPA from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Release – Limited; February 10, 2020
Style – Hazy/Juicy Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.2%
IBUs – 38
Featured Hops – Fresh Cascade hops hydroponically grown at Extreme Hops AL
Fun Fact – “Hydroponic hops allow brewers to bypass traditional growing seasons and produce fresh hop beers off-season. With very few hydroponic farms in the United States, Wild Leap Chief Brewing Officer Chris Elliott seized the opportunity to experiment with wet hops.”
Availability – 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Georgia

Wild Leap’s Truck Chaser – Creamsicle Double IPA Returns for Encore Release

Posted on January 29, 2020January 29, 2020 by mashingin

Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) has officially announced that it will re-release its wildly popular Truck Chaser – Creamsicle Double IPA during the final week of January 2020.

Back by popular demand after being first introduced in early 2019, Truck Chaser – Creamsicle is an ice-cream-inspired Double IPA “brewed with a flavor combination of ripe oranges, vanilla bean and milk sugar.” Coming in at 8.1% ABV, Truck Chaser – Creamsicle Double IPA is guaranteed “to taste like a creamsicle straight from the ice cream truck” . . . and we can confirm that claim as fact (click here to read our Tasting Notes).

“Creamsicle Double IPA was our first experiment with ice-cream-inspired beer,” shares Chris Elliott, Wild Leap’s Chief Brewing Officer. “It’s something we’ve been planning as a salute to my past in the ice cream industry.”

“We’ve had so much fun creating this beer and fine-tuning the blend of hops and creamy milkshake flavor,” explains Wild Leap co-founder Anthony Rodriguez. “We’re excited it’s back and we can’t wait to share what we’ve got in store for 2020.”

Truck Chaser – Creamsicle is rolling out now and will hang around only as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located within Wild Leap’s distribution footprint in Georgia. Prost!

Vital Information for Truck Chaser – Creamsicle from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Release- Limited/Truck Chaser Double IPA Series; January 27, 2020
Style – Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.1%
IBUs – 47
Added Ingredients – Oranges, vanilla beans & milk sugar
Fun Fact – “With a 93% rating from Beer Connoisseur, Truck Chaser Creamsicle is Wild Leap’s number one ‘most requested to return’ beer of all time.”
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Georgia
Beer Finder – https://www.wildleap.com/beer-finder/

Wild Leap Brew Co. Set for Limited Release of Alpha Abstraction DIPA – Vol. 10

Posted on December 16, 2019 by mashingin

Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Alpha Abstraction Double IPA – Vol. 10 in mid-December 2019.

Declared by the Wild Leap team to be the best of the brewery’s wildly popular Alpha Abstraction Double IPA Series so far, Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 10 is a Hazy/Juicy Double India Pale Ale featuring Strata and Cashmere hops that were “carefully selected right down to the specific lot for qualities the brewers sought.” The Strata hops offers the beer “a passion fruit flavor” while Cashmere lends “a citrus flavor that was described by the grower as a ‘Sunny D aroma.'” Coming in at 8% ABV and 46 IBUs, Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 10 promises to be a “perfect blend of citrus notes . . . and different tropical fruit notes that weren’t found in previous volumes.”

“Because it’s the tenth in the series, we wanted to make it special,” explains Chris Elliott, Wild Leap’s Chief Brewing Officer. “We definitely saved some hop ideas that we’ve had for a while.”

“Everyone at the brewery considers this to be their favorite of the series,” Elliott says. “It has a little bit of everything… it’s a little bit sweet, it’s slightly tart, and not too bitter. It’s a nicely balanced beer.”

Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 10 is set release during the week of December 16 and will hang around only as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located throughout Wild Leap’s distribution footprint in Georgia. Prost!

Vital Information for Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 10 from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Release – Limited/Alpha Abstraction Series; mid-December 2019
Style – Hazy/Juicy Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8%
IBUs – 46
Featured Hops – Strata & Cashmere
Fun Fact – “The Alpha Abstraction series was created to explore hop varieties and experiment with flavor profiles.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Georgia
Beer Finder – http://www.wildleap.com/beer-finder/

Tasting Notes: Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 9 from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Posted on December 12, 2019 by mashingin

For this installment of Tasting Notes, we feed our need for hops by getting into a few cans of Alpha Abstraction Double IPA – Vol. 9 from Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia).

Released in mid-October to “[follow] in the juicy footsteps of its predecessors” in Wild Leap’s experimental Double IPA series, Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 9 is a Hazy Double India Pale Ale that has been double dry-hopped with Michigan Chinook hops, a Midwest varietal of the Chinook hop that is typically grown on the West Coast. These hops have a “new, distinct taste” that lends this beer “the sweetness of pineapple . . . paired with a tart grapefruit bite.” Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 9 clocks in at 8% ABV and 46 IBUs.

Like all releases in the Alpha Abstraction Series, this Limited Release offering was made available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located within Wild Leap’s distribution footprint in Georgia.

Alright . . . now that we have provided a brief overview of Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 9’s background info, let’s get into these Tasting Notes and see how these Michigan Chinook hops carry this brew!

Tasting Notes for Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 9 from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Appearance: This Double IPA pours a burnished orange in color and is capped with over two fingers of creamy, bright white foam. When held to direct light, the color holds but bright beams of yellow do push through at the edges of the glass. The beer is super hazy, but a bit of carbonation can still be seen meandering about within. Head retention is quite good, falling slowly to a lasting half finger that absolutely saturates the glass with lace.

Aroma: Punchy levels of pine, spice and just pure dankness great the nose, providing a nostalgic sense of more old school, West Coast-style DIPAs. Things then shift gears to the more Juicy DIPA side as sweet pineapple and citrus turn up. Those juicy notes are further supported by a fair amount of nondescript malt sweetness that surfaces on the back end.

Taste: Big notes of grapefruit, orange and tangerine take the lead here. These notes are not overly bitter or tart, they just supply plenty of sweet citrus flavor with an added kick of sharpness. Pine resin enforces that sharpness a bit, but it is not at all heavy handed. Sweet pineapple, papaya and grains then engulf the experience with a burst of lasting sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Medium in body with a medium carbonation, this brew has a good weight to it and is nice and velvety on the palate. The balance here is impeccable, and the overall experience dries up nicely, is ridiculously easy drinking, and is devoid of any hop burn. The ABV reads much lighter than 8% and does not offer any heat at all. The aftertaste is all pine and pineapple.

Final Thoughts: By focusing on Michigan Chinook hops in Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 9, Wild Leap has created another memorable Double IPA that is a good mix of new and old. The aroma carries plenty of memories of old school hops and West Coast-style IPAs (even with the amount of sweetness present) while the flavor fully embraces the Juicy/Hazy Double IPA style by offering plenty of sweet pineapple and citrus laced with just the right amount of pine. Factor in the beer’s high level of drinkability, and Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 9 comes together to be just about everything you could possibly want from a modern IPA/DIPA. This beer’s availability window has all but closed, so be sure to give it a try while you still have the chance. Prost!

Wild Leap Vodka Reaches New Markets in Georgia

Posted on November 8, 2019 by mashingin

Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) has officially announced that Wild Leap Vodka, the company’s first product expansion into spirits, will begin hitting more cities in Georgia – including Columbus, Athens, Gainesville and Augusta – during the first week of November 2019.

Developed to expand upon the “exceptional quality Wild Leap [has delivered]” to Georgia’s craft beer community, Wild Leap Vodka is a 100% yellow corn Vodka that has been “distilled eight times for a velvety smooth taste.” Wild Leap Vodka comes in at 40% ABV (80 PROOF) and 96 calories with zero carbs, protein, sugar or fat.

Previously only available in the areas in and around LaGrange and Atlanta, the positive response to Wild Leap Vodka has made it possible for the company to now reach vodka fans in Columbus, Athens, Gainesville and Augusta.

“High quality, craft beverages have always been our focus, and craft beer was just the starting point for us,” shares Anthony Rodriguez, Wild Leap Co-Founder, and CEO. “When we began distilling vodka, we wanted to create a product that was exceptional and timeless. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”

Wild Leap Vodka is a Year-Round offering and you can expect to find it available at fine liquor retailers located in “all Georgia markets where Wild Leap beer is sold.” Prost!

Wild Leap Brew Co. Releases Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 9 Double IPA

Posted on October 8, 2019 by mashingin

Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 9, a double dry-hopped Double IPA, in mid-October 2019.

Here to “[follow] in the juicy footsteps of its predecessors” in Wild Leap’s experimental Double IPA series, Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 9 is a Hazy Double India Pale Ale that has been double dry-hopped with Michigan Chinook hops, a Midwest varietal of the Chinook hop that is typically grown on the West Coast. These hops have a “new, distinct taste” that lends this beer “the sweetness of pineapple . . . paired with a tart grapefruit bite.” Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 9 clocks in at 8% ABV and 46 IBUs.

“The Chinook hop traditionally brings a piney, dank flavor that is about 70% pine and 30% pineapple,” explains Chris Elliott, Wild Leap Head Brewer. “With Michigan Chinook, we are finding that those flavors have almost flipped, and we are getting a much sweeter result with a strong pineapple essence.”

“When brewing new volumes in the Alpha series, we are always seeking the new and unknown,” shares Elliott. “When we first learned of these varieties being grown on small farms, it was the perfect fit for Volume 9.”

Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 9 is set to debut during the week of October 14 and will hang around as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-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 Alpha Abstraction – Vol. 9 from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Release – Limited/Alpha Abstraction Series; mid-October 2019
Style – Hazy/Juicy Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8%
IBUs – 46
Featured Hops – Michigan Chinook
Fun Fact – “The Alpha Abstraction Double IPA series was created as an opportunity to explore the plethora of hop varieties and to experiment with flavor profiles they create. Volume 9 continues with this trend by introducing Michigan Chinook hops to the brewing process.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://www.wildleap.com/beer-finder/

ETA Transcontinental IPA Takes Flight as Wild Leap Brew Co.’s Newest Year-Round

Posted on September 5, 2019 by mashingin

Wild Leap Brew Co. (LaGrange, Georgia) has officially announced that it will launch ETA Transcontinental IPA as its newest Year-Round offering during the second week of September 2019.

Here to provide hopheads with a true first-class IPA experience, ETA is an American India Pale Ale brewed with “a new hop blend” and “more oats than any other Wild Leap beer, providing a soft and fluffy mouthfeel.” Coming in at an easy drinking 7.5% ABV, the “very smooth, yet juicy” ETA Transcontinental IPA “features a vibrant flavor profile of grapefruit, pineapple, and pine.”

“As we continue to explore new hop combinations and flavor profiles, we wanted to brew an IPA that was medium-balanced and could be enjoyed by a range of craft beer lovers,” explains Chris Elliott, Wild Leap Head Brewer. “ETA is a dryer IPA than any we have ever brewed and will fall behind both the Alpha Abstraction series and Chance IPA in sweetness.”

ETA Transcontinental IPA is scheduled to debut during the second week of September 2019. You can expect to find this new Year-Round offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer-focused establishments located within Wild Leap’s distribution footprint in Georgia. Prost!

Vital Information for ETA Transcontinental IPA from Wild Leap Brew Co.

Release – Year-Round; launching September 2019
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 7.5%
IBUs – 40
Fun Fact – On the label artwork: “Following in the footsteps of its predecessors, ETA IPA features fun, vibrant can artwork. The blue and green design was created with a 70’s transcontinental vibe, which transports us back to a time when traveling was an extravagant activity worthy of an extravagant beverage.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – Georgia
Beer Finder – http://www.wildleap.com/beer-finder/