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2014 Portland Fruit Beer Festival tickets Now On Sale

Wed, 19 Mar 2014 14:51:22 -0400

March 18th 2014 Portland, Oregon - Tickets are now on sale for the 4th annual Portland Fruit Beer Festival, which will be held this June 7th and 8th in the parking lot of Burnside Brewing Co. and adjacent space on NE 7th Avenue, with even more beers than before and a new Friday evening session on June 6th due to overwhelming popularity. Returning this year is the festival's companion event, a homebrew competition that will judge the best fruit beers in five different categories.

The PFBF is the first of its kind and also the largest. This year's fest will feature an even larger selection of specially-made exotic fruit beer offerings from Oregon and beyond. As usual, nearly every beer and a few ciders have been brewed specifically for the Fruit Beer Festival and use a wide range of fruits, from passion fruit, peaches, and cherries to rhubarb, pears, and blueberries, we have all the bases covered! Some of the participating breweries include: Deschutes, Hopworks, 10 Barrel Brewing, Stone Brewing, Ecliptic, Breakside Brewery, The Commons, Laurelwood, Upright, Elysian, Reverend Nat’s, 2 Towns Cider, and Flat Tail Brewing, with many more TBA.

As in previous years, the Portland Fruit Beer Festival is an all-ages event and features local food carts and vendors, as well as a full pub menu inside Burnside Brewing Co. This year's festival is expanding by adding another session on the evening of Friday, June 6th. This intimate event will be held in Burnside Brewing Co.’s parking lot and will be limited to just 400 advanced tickets. Attendees to this new VIP session get an early preview of the beers, including some special rare tappings, while beating the larger crowds on Saturday & Sunday. VIP session tickets are now on sale for $30.

Full beer list, food vendors and a brand new official Fruit Beer Festival bottled collaboration beer are all still to be announced.

2014 PORTLAND FRUIT BEER FESTIVAL F.A.Q.

Regular Festival Hours:

Saturday June 7h 11am - 9pm

Sunday June 8th 11am - 6pm

VIP Session

Friday June 6th 4pm - 9pm

$30 for 12 tickets and a Glass ADVANCED TICKETS ONLY

Advanced General Admission

Saturday June 7th 11am - 9pm & Sunday June 8th 11am - 6pm

$20 for 12 tickets and a Glass

LOCATION:

7th & E. Burnside on the North side of the street. Taking place between Burnside & Couch streets on 7th and in the parking lot of Burnside Brewing Co. at 701 E. Burnside Portland, OR 97214

Annual Homebrew Competition

The Portland Fruit Beer Festival is proud to again partner with the Oregon Brew Crew on our annual Homebrew Competition, sponsored by Burnside Brewing. This is an non-BJCP style competition open to any homebrewer regardless of location or club affiliation.

[If you wish to judge, please email Jeremie Landers at historian@oregonbrewcrew.org]

Do you make the best fruit beer? Prove it! The main rule is that you must use real fruit whole, pureed, dried or juiced. No artificial extracts or flavorings are allowed. If using fresh fruit, please clean your fruit of any wax or pesticides before use.

Entries will be divided into five categories: Light Colored (12 SRM and lower), Dark Colored (greater than 12 SRM), Sour, Spice/Herb and Hard Cider. The Best of Show will then be determined from the winners of those categories. Your beer will be judged with simple sensory analysis sheets designed to give feedback without regard to total overall score. Prizes for each first place in the three categories are a $20 gift certificate to Burnside Brewing. The Best of Show grand prize will win an additional $50 gift certificate! The winners will be announced on Saturday, June 7th at 2pm during the festival.

Entries accepted at Burnside Brewing and F.H. Steinbart's from Monday May 12 to Friday, May 30th by the end of business with judging to commence the next day Saturday, May 31st (we need judges!). Each entry costs $7, but you get three PFBF beer tickets in return for each entry (to collect tickets your name will be on a list at the festival gates). Please make check, money orders out to "Oregon Brew Crew" with a memo of "PFBF Entry Fee" to be included with your entry. (Submit cash at your own risk.) There are no entry limits. One beer per category please (no spamming multiple categories with one beer). For each entry please submit two unmarked 10 - 22 oz. bottles, each bottle accompanied by a bottle identification form rubber banded to it. On the entry form, please specify all fruit(s) used and (if applicable) all spice/herb(s) used. Recipes are not necessary. Specify the category you're entering or it may be miscategorized. Entries missing forms or using tape or sticker of any kind will be automatically disqualified without refund.

Again this year, the PFBF Dinner will feature a specially crafted menu to compliment the homebrews selected for it. If you would like your beer to be considered for this dinner, and receive free entry to it (a minimum $50 value), please mark in BIG BLOCK LETTERS at the top of your entry form "PFBF DINNER ENTRY". If your beer is chosen, you must have at least 3 gallons worth of beer, and be willing to donate it to the PFBF. You do not need to enter the homebrew comp in order to be considered for the PFBF Dinner, but you may enter if desired.

Burnside Brewing is graciously donating a sum of money to the Oregon Brew Crew for it's help in the competition. You can show your support and thanks, if you are a licensed OLCC server, by volunteering for a shift to pour beer for them during the festival. Contact Holly Emery-Walen at hollyemerywalen@gmail.com. The general festival info page is here.

You can get an OLCC server permit ONLINE. Go here: http://www.oregonrla.org/training/alcoholserver.php

If you have any questions about the competition, or would like to judge, please email Jeremie Landers at historian@oregonbrewcrew.org.

Stone Brewing Co. Releases Devastatingly Dank Stone Enjoy By 04.20.14 IPA

Wed, 19 Mar 2014 14:48:57 -0400

ESCONDIDO, CA (March 17, 2014) – On Friday, March 14, a devastatingly dank and über-fresh Stone Brewing Co. beer, Stone Enjoy By 04.20.14 IPA, was bottled, kegged and loaded on refrigerated trucks bound for IPA enthusiasts nationwide. For the first time ever, Stone is making the ultra-hoppy brew available in limited quantity to retailers (not dispensaries) in 40 of the states where Stone beers are sold.

Stone Enjoy By 04.20.14 IPA features a massive profile of the resinous green buds (hops, not the other green buds), coaxed from a unique blend of 13 different hop varieties added throughout the brewing process. When combined, the deluge of hops creates nuances of peaches and tropical fruit qualities that are evident in the aroma, while the taste has an overwhelmingly sweet bitterness.

Since Stone Enjoy By IPA’s initial debut in late 2012, the beer has proved to be a groundbreaking way to enjoy fresh beer and has changed the way Stone and its distributors work together to deliver beer to increasingly fervent craft beer enthusiasts. The "Enjoy By" date printed on each bottle reflects the date, precisely 35 days after bottling, by which the beer must be consumed. And Stone continues to make sure it will be. In the unlikely event that any hop-potent beer remains on the shelves on April 21, it will immediately be removed.

“This is the most ambitious Stone Enjoy By IPA release to date,” said Stone President and Co-founder Steve Wagner. “This beer continues to be a fan favorite, so we are excited that it’s being offered in a record number of states. We encourage fans who want future batches of the beer to vote through their social media accounts and online.”

Stone is giving fans the power to choose where the next batch of Stone Enjoy By IPA will go by voting with the hashtags #EnjoyBy [five-digit ZIP code] on Twitter and Instagram, or by checking in with Untappd and adding a ZIP code to the notes section. Fans may also visit the newly revamped Stone Enjoy By IPA website and a new mobile-friendly online page once a day per device to vote with their ZIP code. Based on total interactions, Stone guarantees to roll out future batches of the beer to the locations that are most vocal about their desire to savor more Stone Enjoy By IPA.

How can one find this incredibly dank beer? Visit www.stonebrewing.com/enjoyby and use the interactive map to find exactly which retailers, restaurants and bars are carrying the beer in bottles or on draft.

Stone Enjoy By 04.20.14 IPA Quick Facts

Name: Stone Enjoy By 04.20.14 IPA
URL: www.stonebrewing.com/enjoyby
Stats: 9.4% ABV, 88 IBUs
Availability: Limited 22-ounce bottles and draft, beginning the week of March 17
Hops bill: Ahtanum, Super Galena, Simcoe, Delta, Target, Amarillo, Calypso, Cascade, Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, Citra and Helga
Distribution: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT and WA

Tasting notes, provided by Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele

Appearance: Golden with a creamy white head.
Aroma: Intense dank hoppiness, resin, peaches, and hints of tropical fruit are all evident in the aroma.
Taste: Smooth malt up front, quickly dissipating into a massive onslaught of hops. The dankness and peach notes come through strongly.
Palate: Smooth with hints of alcohol, and a perfect balance of bitterness and dryness on the back end.
Overall: We took the opportunity with this beer to use several interesting techniques we’ve learned during our many years of brewing great double IPAs. The result is an intense dry beer with very little malt sweetness, but with plenty of malt flavor to provide a background to the enormous...or shall I say "ginormous" hop character. Hopping, as might be expected, was over the top. First, the brew was mash-hopped with Ahtanum, one of our favorite hop varieties, after which we kettle-hopped with a very small dose of Super Galena hop extract for bittering. Then, using a technique known in homebrew circles as “hop bursting,” we loaded up very heavily on the flavor hops at the end of the boil and in the whirlpool. Simcoe, Delta, Target and Amarillo were used in the late kettle hop. Simcoe, Amarillo, Calypso and Cascade were used for the whirlpool hop. As you can clearly tell, this beer was super hoppy even before we dry-hopped it, but then we went for it...dry-hopping with primarily Southern Hemisphere hops, including Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, Citra and Helga.

Drink extra-super-dank-and-tasty Stone Enjoy By 04.20.14 IPA well before its shelf life to maximize the pungent glory that this beautiful, intense hop profile provides.

Suggested pairings, provided by Craft Beer Ambassador "Dr." Bill Sysak

Appetizers: Guacamole, kimchi, salt and pepper shrimp (or tofu), sausage-stuffed jalapeños
Main course: Chicken-fried steak, Merguez sausage, gumbo, chile relleno, Thai drunken noodles
Dessert: Carrot cake, peach cobbler, ginger spice cake, pumpkin cheesecake
Cheeses: Parmigiano-Reggiano, extra aged Cheddar, Rogue Creamery Caveman Blue, Mimolette
Cigars: Alec Bradley Trilogy Authentic Corojo, Altadis U.S.A Edición Limitada, Camacho Select

Short's Connects Superfluid Release to Line 5 Awareness Campaign

Mon, 17 Mar 2014 22:30:19 -0400

Bellaire, Mich. – As Short’s Brewing Company prepares to release Superfluid for the first time in bottles, they are simultaneously announcing the connection of this beer to an awareness campaign about the Line 5 pipeline. Short’s is Northern Michigan’s largest craft brewery and a member of the Natural Resource Defense Council’s Brewers for Clean Water Campaign. This is the second consecutive year that they are tying a water issue to the brewing of Superfluid.

In 2014, Short’s is hoping to bring attention to Enbridge’s Line 5, a 60+ year old oil pipeline that runs underwater across the Straits of Mackinac. Due to the significant and far-reaching effects that an oil leak from this pipeline would cause to the Lakes Michigan-Huron system, Short’s joins a number of other Great Lakes companies and non-profit organizations that advocate for increased awareness of the pipeline.

“Our objectives in this campaign are twofold,” says Short’s Sustainability Specialist Matt Gacioch. “For one, we are trying to use a delicious, exciting beer as a platform to bring this potential Great Lakes risk to the public eye. Secondly, we hope that increased attention to Line 5 will bring with it an assurance that every measure possible is being taken to prevent any failure of the pipeline.”

Superfluid is the beer that Short’s has now used twice to bring attention to a water issue they feel relevant to their business and way of life in Northern Michigan. It is an American Double IPA (8.0% ABV, 71 IBU) with a large, but basic malt bill that allows the hops to seize the flavor focus, contributing bright qualities of citrus fruit, berries, and even a mild spiciness. In 2013, the first year the beer was brewed, it was a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act.

Short’s Brewing Company’s commitment to clean water also includes a number of water conservation measures at both its brewpub in Bellaire and production brewery in Elk Rapids, the forthcoming installation of a wastewater pre-treatment system at its Elk Rapids facility, and support for the Clean Water Act headwaters rule.

SweetWater Brewing Co. & Breckenridge Brewery Collaborate On A Beer

Fri, 14 Mar 2014 14:37:46 -0400

Denver, Colorado – March 13, 2014 - A new collaboration beer is born from the brewers of SweetWater Brewery in Atlanta, GA and Breckenridge Brewery in Denver, CO. The brew, named “O’ Tay,” will be a dry-hopped red wheat wine ale and will available later this month on draft in Colorado.

J. Todd Usry, Brewmaster and Director of Operations at Breckenridge Brewery says, “With a malt bill inspired by SweetWater’s 16th Anniversary Red Wheat Wine Ale and Breckenridge’s new spring seasonal, Ophelia Hoppy Wheat, the new beer will be tapped just in time for a sneak peak at Colorado’s Collaboration Festival on March 22 and featured in a select few tap rooms throughout Denver during the Craft Brewer’s Conference.”

Brewed with red wheat malt from the Colorado Malting Company, along with malted Buckwheat and Mosaic hops, this brew is a tribute to the friendship of brewing buddies J. Todd Usry and Freddy Bensch, the Big Kahuna at SweetWater Brewery, from the times when the two used to pal around Colorado in the early days of craft beer.

“For me, it was a cool experience to be a part of the collaboration, just enjoying the camaraderie and getting a better understanding of how other folks brew,” said SweetWater Head Brewer Nick Nock. “I really enjoyed our 16th Red Wheat Wine Ale and I think this brew is going to pair well with the Mosaic hops and malted Buckwheat, two ingredients we’ve never worked with before. I’m looking forward to getting back up there to get my hands, and lips, on it!”

During the Craft Brewers Conference on Wednesday, April 9th, the Ale House at Amato’s will be tapping in the collaborative brew and hosting a full tap takeover featuring Breckenridge Brewery and SweetWater Brewery beers. The night will also honor the late Curtis McArthur of SweetWater Brewery with a toast at 4:20PM. Brewer friends of McArthur, Upslope Brewing Company and Crooked Stave, will be in attendance with a few of their beers to pour as well.

Thursday, April 10th, the two breweries will embark on a crawl to seven Denver bars, listed below, that will carry the collaboration beer and an additional unique beer from each brewery. Follow @BreckBrew and @SweetWaterBrew on Twitter and Instagram to locate the crew and join the crawl yourself.

Scruffy Murphy's
The Lobby
Star Bar
Lucky Pie
Blake St. Vault
Pour House
Strata Bar at the Hyatt Regency

For more information and a list of accounts where fans can sample the brew, visit Breckenridge Brewery’s Blog at BreckBrew.com.

ABOUT BRECKENRIDGE BREWERY
Breckenridge Brewery was founded in 1990 in Breckenridge, Colorado. In the past two decades Breckenridge Brewery has grown from a small 3,000-barrels-a-year brewpub to one of the most successful craft beer and restaurant companies in the nation. It now handcrafts more than 62,000 barrels of fresh beer annually and owns and operates six brewpubs and ale houses in the state of Colorado. For more information visit www.BreckBrew.com.

ABOUT SWEETWATER BREWING COMPANY:
Living by the motto “Don’t float the mainstream,” SweetWater Brewery has been blazing its own path in craft beer throughout the Southeast since its inception in 1997. With a brewer calling the shots, quality of beer—and life—are always most important in crafting a lineup of lip-smackin’ brews. Widely known for its flagship 420 Extra Pale Ale and recent Great American Beer Fest gold medal winner LowRYEder IPA, SweetWater also serves up an ever-evolving Catch & Release seasonal lineup of brews and an off-beat, one-off Dank Tank series. SweetWater invites folks to join them for tours and tastings of their Atlanta brewery every Wednesday through Sunday. Visit www.sweetwaterbrew.com for more info about SweetWater, or hang out with your social thang out by following SweetWater on Twitter/Instagram @sweetwaterbrew, or on Facebook at facebook.com/sweetwaterbrew. And always remember; drink ‘em if you got ‘em!

Four Peaks Brewing To Introduce New "Single Tank" Beers

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 12:46:13 -0400

New, Different and Experimental Beer Styles In The Works

TEMPE, ARIZONA - March 12th, 2014 - With our Wilson location turning itself up to 11 in terms of production, we've found some occasional tank space here at the Mothership. So, because nature abhors an empty fermenter (or something like that), we're going to let the creative juices flow! Whenever we can find a single empty fermenter, we're going to try and fill it with something new; it may be new to us, it may be new to you, or it may be new to everyone.

We're calling it the Single Tank Series. Other than that, we don't really have a plan yet. We know, don't act surprised, but that's the beauty of it: find an empty tank and fill it with something out of the ordinary. Because our fermenters work hard (and are on no particular timeline other than "all the time"), the Single Tank beers won't come out regularly...there might be two in one month, or there might be one in two months. We'll use the power of the interwebs to keep you posted on when they come on draft at our pubs.

What we do know is that the first Single Tank beer will be...wait for it...a White IPA! White IPAs are a hybrid that combines the coriander and orange peel goodness of a Belgian Wit with the bracing hoppiness of an IPA. It's getting to be a popular style out there, but, like we said, it's new to us. For you die-hards who haven't punished your livers enough, look for the Single Tank White IPA on tap the day after St. Patrick's Day (March 18th). Might as well keep the party rollin', right? In the near future, look for a Single Tank Saison. We're currently gathering the ingredients and will send details out soon.

Here's to keeping it fresh! Cheers!

Bushwhacker Cidery hosts Cider Riot! Plastic Paddy Release

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 12:45:08 -0400

Bushwhacker Cidery, Portland's premiere cider taphouse will be hosting the release of the 2nd cider "Plastic Paddy" from our newest cidery - Cider Riot! on Sunday March 16th from 3-6pm!

Cider Riot! makes some serious ciders, from rare cider apples grown specifically from heirloom trees. We also like to have fun. Plastic Paddy is a fun-loving easy drinking cider released in honor of the 2-litres of Irish cider that Cider Riot! founder and cidermaker Abram Goldman-Armstrong enjoyed so much as a student at University College Cork.

American dessert apples lack the characteristic tannins of European cider apples, so in order to replicate the flavor profile of a dry Irish cider, we use Barry’s Gold Blend tea from County Cork to infuse the cider with just enough tannins to balance the natural acids of the Hood River dessert apples used to make it.

Plastic Paddy is packaged in the traditional 2-liter Irish flagon, making it the perfect package for picnics and the old Cork tradition of gatting (drinking in parks)*. A flagon is the perfect size to share with friends and family, translating to 67 ounces, or just larger than a growler, a two-liter holds 4.2 US pints.

Plastic Paddy is released for Paddy’s Day, and will be available through March and April.

Cider Riot! is an urban cidery located in Portland’s North Tabor neighborhood just off East Burnside Street, dedicated to the production of refreshing dry ciders. Cider Riot! was founded in 2013 by Abram Goldman-Armstrong, after 18 years as a home cidermaker and home brewer. Abram has collaborated with several craft breweries to create such well-known beers as Widmer Brothers Green and Gold Kölsch, and Hopworks Secession. Cider Riot!’s dry ciders are currently available on draft, and 500ml glass bottles will be available in April.

Abe will be at Bushwhacker pouring samples from bottle of Plastic Paddy and Bushwhacker will have both Plastic Paddy and Cider Riot's first release Everybody Pogo on draft. Bottles of Plastic Paddy will be available to go.

Cider Riot! Releases Plastic Paddy Irish Style Dry Cider

Sunday March 16, 3-6pm.

Bushwhacker Cidery

1212 SE Powell Blvd.

Portland, OR

Stone Brewing Co. Donates $100,000 from Sale of Matt's Burning Rosids Imperial Cherrywood-Smoked Saison

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 12:42:40 -0400

ESCONDIDO, CA (March 10, 2014) – In 2013, Stone Brewing Co. suffered the loss of a close friend, team member and exceptional brewer, Matt Courtright. After exploring several ways to honor his memory, Stone decided there was no better way than to brew one of his most recent beer recipes and release it nationally for all to enjoy. Matt’s Burning Rosids Imperial Cherrywood-Smoked Saison is currently available in 22-ounce bottles and on draft in select markets across the U.S. To further pay tribute to Matt’s memory, Stone is donating $100,000 to two non-profit organizations close to Matt’s heart and contributing to The Matt Courtright Memorial Brewing Scholarship, all made possible by proceeds from the sale of his beer.

Aside from being an incredible brewer, Matt was passionate about a pair of charity organizations: GoDesignInc.org, a non-profit devoted to meeting the architectural needs of developing communities around the world; and TKF – Tariq Khamisa Foundation, a non-profit working to stop youth violence by educating, mentoring and making positive impacts on youths in high-risk communities. The Matt Courtright Memorial Brewing Scholarship is being administered through the Southern California District of the Master Brewers Association of the Americas (MBAA), and will provide tuition assistance to one of the three brewing technical schools offered by the MBAA. Thanks to the outpouring support from fans and purchases of Matt’s Burning Rosids, Stone is proudly contributing to these programs in his memory.

“All of Team Stone, especially the brew crew, was deeply saddened to lose a beloved and vital talent from our group,” said Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele. “As soon as I tasted the small batch Matt had made of Burning Rosids, it was decided without hesitation that this amazing recipe would be a wonderful way to pay tribute to all of the contributions he gave us, while also donating funds to causes he whole-heartedly respected.”

This full-bodied, Belgian-style saison is infused with cherrywood-smoked malt, and pours a deep golden color. The Belgian yeast produces banana, fruit, spice and clove-like undertones, which blend perfectly with the smoky wood flavor provided by the malt bill. Burning Rosids, the name Matt chose for his creation, is a reference to the rosid plant family from which cherry trees hail.

Fans may enjoy this beer now, or save it for a future date at proper cellaring temperatures (~50°-55°F). Regardless of when the beer is enjoyed, fans are encouraged to do so with loved ones, and to remember that life is a precious gift to be cherished every day.

About Stone Brewing Co.

Known for its bold, flavorful and largely hop-centric beers, Stone Brewing Co. has been brewing in North County San Diego since 1996. Founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, Stone is the 10th largest craft brewer in the United States—a position it achieved without paid advertising, discounting or compromising standards. In addition to brewing, Stone owns two eclectic farm-to-table restaurants—Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Escondido and Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station—and Stone Farms, an organic farm located near the brewery which grows produce for the restaurants. Stone also operates Stone Distributing Co., which distributes more than 30 craft beer brands throughout Southern California. For more information on Stone Brewing Co., please visit stonebrewing.com or the company’s social media sites:Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+, YouTube and The Stone Blog.

FCB Releases Smoked Märzen

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 12:38:59 -0400

Fourth Chapter of Out of the Ashes series released

Fort Collins, Colo. -- The Fort Collins Brewery, along with Gravity 1020 Modern Tavern is excited to announce the release of the 4th chapter to the Out of the Ashes (OOA) series, Smoked Märzen on Friday, March 14th, including a Western Friday Release Party.

Smoked Märzen boasts rich caramel and molasses sweetness with a touch of nuttiness. A classic German style, brewed with American boldness. The 4th OOA edition will be packaged as bombers, 1/2 bbls and 1/6 bbls, true to tradition for the smoked series.

• ABV: 5.6%

• SRM: 9

• IBU: 21

To celebrate the release of the Smoked Märzen, FCB is hosting a Western Friday Release Party in their Tasting Room from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Friday. Everyone dressed in western gear will receive a pint of Smoked Märzen and BBQ Ribs for $8.

Out of the Ashes is a bomber series of limited release beers that showcase the varied and unique flavors and aromas delivered from malt smoked over wood-burning fires. This series was created to be shared with food and friends.

The Smoked Märzen adds to an awarding winner series following FCB’s previous installments of Out of the Ashes brews; Rauchbier, Mesquite Chili Lime Ale and the Smoked Rye Porter. OOA received two gold medals in the Smoked Beer, Flavored category from the BTI World Beer Championships in 2013 with Rauchbier and Mesquite Chili Lime.

The Fort Collins Brewery is a family-owned, hand-crafted brewery in Northern Colorado, since 2004. FCB also offers the only full-size restaurant inside a production brewery, Gravity 1020 Modern Tavern, in Fort Collins, Colo. For more information, visit fortcollinsbrewery.com or call 970-472-1499. FCB Tasting Room is open Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tours run both days from noon to 6 p.m. at the top of the hour.

Grimm Brothers Brewhouse to launch Little Red Cap in cans

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 19:45:57 -0500

Loveland, Colorado March 7 , 2014- In keeping with their tradition of growth, Grimm Brothers Brewhouse announced that they will be releasing their best selling beer, Little Red Cap, in cans available this April. The 12oz cans will be sold in 6 packs in Colorado and Nebraska with plans to expand distribution to other states.

“We are excited to work with two other Colorado companies (Ball and Wild Goose) to expand our packaging options to fit our Colorado lifestyle.” Says Russell Fruits, Beer Evangelist at Grimm Brothers. He went on to say “Canning allows us to take our beer places that we haven't been able to take our glass bombers.” Cans will not only allow their customers to take their beer where they like to play, but are also an easy way to practice the principle of pack it in, pack it out.

Little Red Cap, a clean tasting, full-bodied Dusseldorf Altbier, is available year round as part of the Legend series. Perhaps best known for a 2011 Gold and 2012 Bronze medal at Great American Beer Festival, Little Red Cap has won numerous awards and helped put Grimm Brothers on the map. Other Legend series beers include 3 Golden Hairs, Snow Drop, The Fearless Youth, and Master Thief. And plans to release The Fearless Youth in cans are already in the works for later this year.

To kick off the release Grimm Brothers will be having a Can Release Party at their taproom on April 12th. The party will feature Little Red Cap beer can chicken as well as a canned food drive benefiting House of Neighborly Service.

About Grimm Brothers

Grimm Brothers Brewhouse was founded in 2010 by avid homebrewers captivated by the rich tradition of European beers. They knew that the long history of beer production in Germany and surrounding areas would give them plenty of tales to share with their customers. Inspired by the stories collected By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, they crafted their beers to tell not only the story of Craft Brewing, but the harrowing and dark tales handed down through the generations. Grimm Brothers operates a Tap Room at 623 N. Denver Ave., Loveland, CO offering their beer for on premises consumption and carry-out sale.

For more information about Grimm Brothers visit www.grimmbrosbrewhouse.com

Summit releases Unchained Batch 15: Fest Bier

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 19:02:16 -0500

ST. PAUL, Minn. – (March 5, 2013) – Summit Brewing Company today announces the release of Fest Bier, the fifteenth beer produced in its limited release Unchained Series. Fest Bier is Nate Siats’ third Unchained brew. It will be available in draught and bottles the week of March 10.

“My inspiration behind Fest Bier is tradition meets hybridization. Over the past year or so I’ve fallen in love all over again with pretty much every style of German beer. This beer is modeled after a cross between an Oktoberfest bier and a Wiesn bier,” says Brewer Nate Siats. “After making more robust brews for my first two Unchained beers, I wanted to make a light, clean, crisp, refreshing beer that still had plenty of flavor and a good aroma.”

The hops are alpha/aroma hybrids of their respective traditional varieties, providing extra aroma and flavor. Since the Unchained Series allows Summit brewers to select ingredients from anywhere in the world without restraint, Siats decided to import the base malts, Pils and Munich, from a small maltster in the Czech Republic. The Cara Munich malt was imported from Weyermann in Bamberg, Germany.

This is the first lager brewed in the Unchained Series. All four brews ofFest Bier were fermented and lagered in one of the new large-capacity fermentation tanks in the brewery’s cellar addition. The lagering time was doubled to eight weeks as compared to Summit’s other year-round and seasonal lagers, which get four weeks.

Ideally, Fest Bier should be poured into the traditional 1 litre Maß. The beer pairs well with brats, sausage, cheese, cheese curds, string cheese, pretzels, red cabbage, sauerkraut, warm potato salad, cold potato salad and chips.

Since Fest Bier turns any occasion into a festival, beer lovers are encouraged to take photos and videos of everyday situations being transformed into fests with the help of Fest Bier, tagging them with #Unchained15. View this video for an example.

Fest Bier

Malts: Czech Pils, Czech Munich, Cara Munich

Hops: Saphir, Sladek

ABV: 5.5%

IBUs: 30

Yeast: Munich Lager

About the Unchained Series

The Unchained Series, which saw its first batch in 2009, allows each of Summit’s individual brewers to showcase their creativity by allowing them to break free from the norm and create their own beer. “We’re fortunate to have eight phenomenal brewers at Summit,” said Mark Stutrud, founder and president of Summit Brewing Company. “The Unchained Series is a way for our brewers to showcase their artistry. There are no budgetary restraints, no outside influences from a sales team, and the brewers are free to collect ingredients from anywhere in the world. As long as it’s legal, they have complete autonomy.”

Summit Brewing Company

Founded in St. Paul, Minn. in 1986, Summit Brewing Company has stayed close to its roots, serving the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region. Summit’s beers are currently available in 18 states including Minnesota, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Arkansas and Wisconsin. Summit now produces 14 varieties of premium craft beer, including seven year-round, five seasonal beers, and the limited release Unchained Series and Union Series. Since its inception, the brewery has been a consistent pioneer in the craft beer movement.

Upland Brewing Company Releases Lightwave Belgian Pale

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 19:00:30 -0500

March 6, 2014- Upland Brewing Company announced today Lightwave Belgian Pale Ale will be available on draft starting tomorrow, Friday March 7^th.

This fruity, funky Belgian pale combines the distinct flavors of Trappist yeast and Munich malt. Its medium body and zesty phenols are satisfying in the cool, showery days of early spring, and its slight cloudiness is what gives it its name. The broken waves of light that shine through a glass of this beer remind us that long days on the lake are drawing near! Lightwave is a very small batch beer and consequently will only be available at Upland locations in Bloomington, Indianapolis, and Carmel, IN.

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Upland Brewing Company, Inc. is a Bloomington, Indiana-based brewery established in 1998 that specializes in handcrafted ales and lagers.

Upright Brewing releases "Jeux d'eau" barrel-fermented sour with wine grapes

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 18:58:57 -0500

Saturday March 8th will be the release date for a new beer, Jeux d'eau! We've been working on it since the fall of 2012 when we brought in nearly half a ton of beautiful muscat grapes which were fermented with the beer in barrels, similar to the Fantasia. The release will be limited to three bottles per person and held during tasting room hours, 1 - 6 pm.

Description:
Jeux d'eau follows the Fantasia in our effort to produce soured fruit beers borrowing from traditional Belgian lambics while maintaining a moderate profile that doesn't overstep, allowing the fruit to be showcased. In this case, we're talking about half a ton of muscat grapes sourced from Eola-Amity Hills. These were de-stemmed by hand and packed into several oak barrels, where we then added fresh wort direct from the brewhouse, along with our favorite mix of yeast and bacteria. After a lengthy cask fermentation and maturation, the beer was blended and bottle conditioned for several months to develop. The earthy nose is followed by a spectrum of flavors, most notably the distinct muscat character which seems just as suited to beer as it does wine.

Malt & hops: two-row pale, organic C-15, 2010 warm aged hallertauer
Yeasts: House saison and brettanomyces claussenii
Bacteria: lactobacillus deibruekii
Also: Eola-Amity Hills muscat grapes
Brewed: October 16th 2012, Bottled October 22nd 2013
Total yield: 107 cases and 4 kegs, 6.5% abv

New Releases from Terrapin Beer Co. Welcome the Coming of Spring

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 18:57:03 -0500

Turtle Saw No Shadow; Believes Groundhog "Delusional", Admits This Week is a Fluke

Athens, GA- March 5, 2014 - Terrapin Beer Co. greets steadily rising temperatures with two early spring seasonal releases. Hopzilla Double IPA returns as the first Monster Beer Tour beer of 2014, and Full of Balarney Dry Irish Stout makes a comeback as a draft-only Special Release just in time for St. Patrick's Day!

Hopzilla Double IPA

has started ravaging shelves just this past week. This big double IPA has gotten a lot of attention over the last two years, but not only because this beer really is a hop lover's dream come true. Many say it's the 100% Maris Otter malt that really steals the show. Drinkability is high with this supremely balanced brew, though it still packs a punch for even the most discerning Hophead. At 110 IBU and 10.3% ABV, this monster will soon be destroying palates from Athens to Tokyo!

Malts: Maris Otter

Hops: Bravo, Chinook, Centennial, Citra (dry hop)

ABV: 10.3%

IBU: 110

OG: 22

Hopzilla will be available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and 1/6 BBL kegs throughout Terrapin's distribution network.

Returning for the second year is draft-only Special Release Full of Balarney, a dry Irish Stout that's perfect for quaffing with your corned beef and cabbage. Full of Balarney Irish Stout, Terrapin's first nitrogenated beer, hearkens to the traditional stouts of the Emerald Isle with its deep ebony hue, big roasty aroma, and clean, dry finish. Flaked barley and roasted malt give this dark, but light-bodied, brew a silky-smooth mouthfeel.

Malts: East Kent Golding

Hops: 2-Row Pale, DH Carafa III, Roasted & Flaked Barley

ABV: 4.2%

IBU: 30

OG: 10.1

Full of Balarney will be available on draft only in select areas of Terrapin's distribution network.

Starr Hill Brewery Takes Grateful Pale Ale Year-Round

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 18:52:59 -0500

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA—(March 5th, 2014): Starr Hill Brewery has a lot to be grateful for in 2014, including the year-round launch of Grateful Pale Ale, their extremely sessionable pale ale that first debuted in April 2013 as the brewery’s summer seasonal.

“Starr Hill is excited to bring Grateful Pale Ale into our yearly lineup. Grateful was the most successful seasonal launch that our brewery has ever executed, and we look forward to big things from this beer,” said Mark Thompson, Starr Hill’s Founder and Master Brewer.

Grateful is a fresh spin on the American pale ale tradition. It is a light-bodied session pale ale brewed with two-row and caramel malt. The beer is also brewed and dry-hopped with a mix of Topaz, Chinook, Cascade and Centennial hops, which produces a huge citrusy, piney aroma and big hop flavor, but the beer is refreshing and easy to drink.

“Sessionable beers are at the forefront of craft beer trends, and Grateful does not disappoint,” said Robbie O’Cain, Starr Hill’s Quality Assurance Manager.

Grateful Pale Ale will return to retail in early March in six-packs (12-ounce bottles), kegs (1/6 and 1/2 barrels), and in Starr Hill’s summer variety 12-pack called The Life, which also contains three bottles each of Northern Lights India Pale Ale, Starr Pils Lager and The Love Wheat Beer.

Grateful Pale Ale will be supported with point-of-sale materials, glassware and an on-premise campaign called “Be Grateful.” As part of this campaign, consumers will be encouraged to share things for which they are grateful. Consumers can submit comments, photos or videos via Starr Hill’s Facebook or Twitter pages or write on the Grateful Board during promotions at bars and restaurants.

“The idea behind the ‘Be Grateful’ campaign is to connect with our loyal Starr Hill consumers and let them share what they’re grateful for,” said Thompson. “We are grateful to be able to brew great beer and share it with friends every day. We’re eager to hear from Starr Hill fans, get to know what makes them tick, and give them an opportunity to win Starr Hill merchandise while enjoying Grateful Pale Ale.”

Starr Hill Brewery was founded in 1999 by Mark Thompson and Kristin Dolan in Charlottesville, Virginia. Starr Hill is one of the most award-winning craft breweries on the East Coast, having won 20 Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup and Great British Beer Festival medals since its founding. The beer is distributed in ten states, including Virginia, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington D.C.

Silver City Brewery announces the limited release of Le Fat 2013 ~ Oak Barrel Aged Belgian Sour Scotch Ale

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 14:11:25 -0500

Bremerton, WA - March 4, 2014 - Today Silver City Brewery is pleased to announce the release of Le Fat 2014~ Oak Barrel Aged Belgian Sour Scotch Ale.

Le Fat 2014 ~ Oak Barrel Age Belgian Sour Scotch Ale will be released in 750ml cork finished bottles on Friday March 7th, 2014. Le Fat production began immediately following the brewery's move to Bremerton four years ago. The beer is based on one of Silver City's most popular and award winning beers, Fat Scotch Ale. The beer was fermented with Belgian yeast, inoculated with Lactobacillus, Pediococcus and Brettanomyces and aged in used Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet barrels. Le Fat 2014 is the 2nd generation of the original batch started in 2010.

Don Spencer, brewmaster for Silver City Brewery, had this to say about this year's release "Le Fat is quite the labor of love for me and the brew team. There are so many components, steps and time that go into the process of creating Le Fat." Don added "To see Le Fat in it's beautiful bottle prepared for presentation after the long development process is personally very exciting. We can't wait to share this unique creation with our fans!"

Le Fat will go on sale Friday, March 7th at the Silver City Brewery Taproom in Bremerton & Silver City Restaurant in Silverdale. The quantities are limited so please arrive early if you would like to purchase a bottle. The 750ml cork finished bottle will be $19.99. Silver City Taproom will offer a limited amount on draft for tasting starting on March 7th as well.

For Silver City beer fans that can't make it to Kitsap County for the release, Le Fat will be released a week later on Friday, March 14th at eleven select locations around the Puget Sound. Each location will only receive 1 case each.

The Beer Junction in West Seattle will host the Seattle release party for Silver City Le Fat 2014 on Friday, March 14th starting at 6pm. The award winning original Fat Scotch Ale and the limited release, oak aged Fat Woody will join Le Fat on draft and will also be available for bottle sales to go. Take one or all of these variations home with you to replicate the side by side tasting with friends or to enjoy next to your 6-pack of Ridgetop Red or St. Florian IPA.

The complete list of locations offering Le Fat 2014 750ml bottles:

99 Bottles - 35002 Pacific Hwy S, Federal Way

Beer Junction - 4511 California Ave SW, Seattle

Bottleworks - 1710 N 45th St #3, Seattle

Chuck's 85th - 656 NW 85th St, Seattle

Chuck's CD - 2001 E Union St, Seattle

Elizabeth Station - 1400 W Holly St, Bellingham

Malt & Vine - 16851 Redmond Way, Redmond

Marina Market - 18882 Front St NE, Poulsbo

Noble Fir - 5316 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle

Pint Defiance - 2049 Mildred St W, Fircrest

Uber - 7517 Aurora Ave N, Seattle

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Additional Information

Silver City Restaurant & Brewery

Silver City Restaurant & Brewery is the Kitsap Peninsula's premier destination for award-winning, handcrafted beers, Northwest-inspired food, legendary hospitality, and great memories in a fun, friendly environment. Silver City was started in 1996 by Co-owners Steve & Scott Houmes, and it remains a locally owned and operated family establishment. Silver City Brewery's handcrafted beers are available on draft, in 22oz bottles, and 12oz bottle 6-packs around the Puget Sound area in bars, restaurants, and grocery stores.

Silver City Brewery's production facility & brewery taproom is located at 206 Katy Penman Ave. in Bremerton, WA. Silver City Restaurant is located in Silverdale at 2799 NW Myhre Rd.

Silver City's selection of Northwest-inspired food and handcrafted beers have resulted in more than 50 local, national and international awards including numerous Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals at the prestigious World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival and the North American Beer Awards. Silver City is also the recipient of Evening Magazine's "Best of Western Washington - Best Brew Pub" Award four years in a row (2007-20011 & 2013) and was voted Western Washington's Best Brewery in Evening Magazines 2013 Brewery Battle.

For more information on Silver City Restaurant & Brewery, please visit us online at:http://www.silvercitybrewery.com, and on Facebook and Twitter.

Le Fat 2014 Description

Time is transformative. Everyday all things change in minute and imperceptible ways. The journey is long and it begins with a single step until at long last we reach our ultimate destination.

Le Fat, is a scotch ale that is a scotch ale no more. Leaving its Scottish roots long behind in the summer of 2010, the ale adventured out to find its own way. Belgian influences from a host of micro-organisms have soured this once sweet behemoth. Hints of fig, plum and tart cherries occur naturally; the result of its unique fermentation.

Over time, Le Fat has softened and mellowed while gaining refinement and character through extended aging in Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet barrels. Its journey is now complete. 9.9% ABV

For more information on Silver City Restaurant & Brewery, please visit us online at: http://www.silvercitybrewery.com, and on Facebook and Twitter.

Stone Brewing Co. Releases New "Stone Mixed 12 Pack" to Retailers Nationwide

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 14:08:23 -0500

ESCONDIDO, CA (March 4, 2014) – When browsing through local bottle shops or grocery store aisles, craft beer enthusiasts face a fortunate predicament: “Which beer should I purchase?” With so many options available, it’s often difficult to choose just one beer to bring home and enjoy. To aid in overcoming this somewhat agreeable dilemma,Stone Brewing Co. is offering a multifarious option with the latest iteration of its Stone Mixed 12 Pack. Beginning today, fans in select markets nationwide can purchase a pack of twelve 12-ounce beers featuring Stone IPA, Stone Ruination IPA, Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA and Arrogant Bastard Ale.

This is the first time these four beers have been included in one case box, but that’s not the only historically significant aspect of the pack. For the first time ever, Arrogant Bastard Ale will be sold in 12-ounce bottles, as opposed to the 22-ounce bottles that have housed this belligerently bold American strong ale for the past 16 years. Although it’s tough to imagine this much liquid arrogance fitting inside a more diminutive bottle, the craft beer company has made it a reality via the Stone Mixed 12 Pack.

“We’re thrilled to be releasing the Stone Mixed 12 Pack to our fans nationwide,” said Vice President of Sales Todd Karnig. “We released a variation of the mixed pack in California late last year. It was enormously popular and we received positive feedback from our loyal fans and retailers. This 12 pack is perfect for the craft beer fan who wants to enjoy something special, but can’t decide on just one of our many delicious beers.”

Whether it’s a long-time favorite or a beer that hasn’t been tried before, the Stone Mixed 12 Pack offers what beer enthusiasts love: choice. It’s also a great option when faced with entertaining guests with varying palates and preferences.

Moving forward, Stone will continue shuffling the selection of beers included in the Stone Mixed 12 Pack, and fans are advised to stay tuned for future editions.

About Stone Brewing Co.

2nd annual Portland Farmhouse & Wild Ale Festival announced

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 14:02:07 -0500

Portland, OR - The resurgence of Farmhouse style ales is being embraced in Oregon like never before, making our state the ideal destination for the 2nd Annual “Portland Farmhouse & Wild Ale Festival”. The Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, March 29th and 30th at Saraveza, Bad Habit Room and the street outside of both venues on N. Michigan Avenue.

Farmhouse ales are among the most rustic and approachable of beers. Originally created by farm workers in Belgium & France, they were brewed using local ingredients and naturally occurring yeast from the surrounding terroir. Often brewed to be enjoyed during or after a long work day, these ales ranged from light and citrusy to amber and spicy. The “Portland Farmhouse & Wild Ale Festival” celebrates the traditional drink of workers everywhere and the rise in popularity of American Farmhouse and Wild Ales.

New Belgium Brewing "Love Leopold" Blackberry Sour Tappings

For three weeks leading up to the Festival, New Belgium Brewing will be tapping a different blend of “Love’s Leopold”, an American Wild Ale aged in Leopold blackberry flavored whiskey barrels. These weekly "Pin Parties" will take place on Wednesday March 12th, 19th & 26th at 6pm and promise fun times and your chance to taste these excellent rare brews.

Festival Exclusive: The Ale Apothecary Rum Barrel-Aged La Tache with White Peaches

Organizers are happy to announce The Ale Apothecary's special bottled-only beer produced exclusively for the Festival. The table sour ale is a single-barrel vintage of The Beer Formerly Known As La Tache that was aged in an Oregon Spirit dark rum barrel with thirty pounds of white peaches. Only 250 bottles were produced. We will both be pouring and selling unopened bottles exclusively at the Festival and Saraveza.

The Festival Beer Selection

This year’s festival features Saisons, Biere de Gardes, Brettanomyces Ales, Oak-Aged and Spiced Ales from local breweries such as Upright Brewing, The Commons and Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, as well as nationally recognized breweries: Jolly Pumpkin, Crooked Stave and Ommegang. With more than 50 different beers from over 25 different breweries, this aims to be the largest festival dedicated to American interpretations of the Farmhouse style.

Participating Breweries (so far):

Agrarian Ales
Anchorage Brewing Company
Block 15 Brewing Co
Breakside Brewery
Brewery Ommegang
The Bruery
Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
Crux Fermentation Project
de Garde Brewing
Elysian Brewery
Epic Brewing Company
Gigantic Brewing Company
Great Divide Brewing Co.
Humble Brewing
Jolly Pumpkin
Laurelwood Public House and Brewery
Logsdon Farmhouse Ales
Lompoc Brewing
New Belgium Brewing Co.
North Coast Brewing Company
Oakshire Brewing
Pfriem Family Brewers
Propolis Brewing
Solera Brewery
Stillwater Artisinal Ales
Stone Brewing Co.
StormBreaker Brewing
The Ale Apothecary
The Commons Brewery
Trinity Brewing
Upright Brewery

What: Portland Farmhouse and Wild Ale Festival

Dates & Times: Saturday, March 29th 11am-10pm & Sunday, March 30th 11am-9pm

Where: Saraveza 1004 N Killingsworth St. Portland, OR 97217, Bad Habit Room and on N. Michigan Street.

Cost: Presale entry now available. $25 entry includes 10 beer tickets and a commemorative tasting glass. Choose from 30+ Rotating Farmhouse and Wild Ales. There is a $1 processing fee for purchasing your entry online. This is a ticketless entry - your purchase will be recorded on a will-call list. Additional entries and beer tickets can be purchased at the door (cash only). All ticket holders must be 21 years of age or older and are required to show photo ID at the door. Minors are welcome in designated areas until 9pm when accompanied by an adult. Service animals only please.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/PortlandFarmhouseAndWildAleFestival

http://www.saraveza.com/site/comments/2nd_annual_portland_farmhouse_wild_ale_festival/

Upland Releases Campside Session IPA

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 13:57:41 -0500

March 1, 2014- Upland Brewing Company announced today Campside Session IPA, one of the brewery's core seasonals, will be ready for draft release the first week of March. This crisp, refreshingly bitter beer will be on tap at all Upland locations on Friday March 14th, and at select bars, restaurants and bottle shops across Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Chicago until September.

Campside, with its low ABV and light malt foundation, is the perfect companion for outdoor adventures, whether that's a day in the woods or a day on the lake, or even if the adventure never leaves your backyard. Rather than winding the party down, Campside will keep the stories and sing-alongs flowing well into the evening. After months of negative temperatures and record snowfall, we're just weeks away from tasting spring!

Upland Brewing Company, Inc. is a Bloomington, Indiana-based brewery established in 1998 that specializes in handcrafted ales and lagers.

Oskar Blues Brewery Bringing its CANned Madness to KANsas in March

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 13:56:00 -0500

Fresh craft brew available across the state

Longmont, CO & Brevard, NC – Oskar Blues Brewery, creator of the first American craft beer in a CAN, will launch in Kansas with the Kansas Craft Alliance, a partnership of 12 family-owned distributors covering the entire state. Oskar Blues beer will be in the market beginning March 10.

“Having Oskar Blues part of the KCA family is a great honor, and we are thrilled to represent such a respected brewery,” says Jerrod Nelsen, KCA Brand Development Manager.

Oskar Blues is bringing all of its award-winning beers in cans to bars, restaurants, and stores throughout the state. An OB market blitz attended by a team of Oskar Blues reps will be held the week of March 24 with multiple launch events and parties at select retail accounts across the state.

“Our neighboring state of Kansas is a place that we’ve been wanting to get our beer to for quite some time. We feel that CAN-sas is a great place for our beer, and we think that it will be a great fit for Oskar Blues’ passion for the outdoors, music, craft beer and our line-up of complex craft beer in a can,” says Chris Russell, Oskar Blues’ director of business development.

All of Oskar Blues beers will initially be available in cans only, except for our flagship brand, Dale’s Pale Ale, which will also be available on draft for the launch. Dale’s Pale Ale, Mama’s Little Yella Pils, and Old Chub will initially be available in 12-ounce six-packs and a variety12-pack called CANundrum. The Dale’s and the Mama’s will also be sold in 19.2 single-serve Imperial pints or stovepipe CANs.

The Imperial brews, Deviant Dale’s IPA and G’Knight Imperial Red IPA will be sold in 16-ounce four-packs. Spring/Summer Seasonal, GUBNA, will also be available in 12-ounce four-packs.

A full draft launch will follow in mid to late April with all of Oskar Blues core brands and some amazing specialty brews available on tap.

Oskar Blues Year-Round Beers:

Dale’s Pale Ale: As Oskar Blues’ flagship beer, this American Pale Ale delivers balanced rich flavors of malts and hops (6.5% ABV, 65 IBUs). The award-winning beer was named the “Top U.S. Pale Ale” by the New York Times and is the number-one selling pale ale in Colorado.

Mama’s Little Yella Pils: This Bohemian Style Pilsner is a refreshing balance of Saaz hops and specialty German malts while providing a gentle flavor (5.3% ABV, 35 IBUs). Like summer in your mouth.

Old Chub Scotch Ale: Strong Scotch Ale, brewed with rich malts, specialty and smoked grains to deliver flavors of semi-sweet cocoa and coffee (8% ABV).

G’Knight Imperial Red IPA: The dry-hopped double-red IPA embodies a strong aroma and malty hopped flavors while providing a rich finish (8.7% ABV, 60 IBUs).

Deviant Dale’s IPA: The American-style India Pale Ale, exemplifies aromas of citrus, grapefruit rind and piney resins to deliver a full-flavor (8% ABV, 85 IBUs).

The Kansas launch follows additional Oskar Blues distribution in Nevada, Delaware, Minnesota, Idaho, southern Alabama, and central California in the past few months, bringing the number of states that Oskar Blues distributes in to 34. Oskar Blues will add distribution in Missouri, West Virginia and Iowa as well in 2014.

The Oskar Blues family of businesses also include REEB hand-made bicycle company, Hops and Heifers Farm, and three restaurants in Colorado that offer a true farm-to-table experience and a variety of craft beers.

About Oskar Blues Brewery

Founded as a brewpub by Dale Katechis in 1997, Oskar Blues Brewery launched the craft beer-in-a-can apocalypse in 2002 using a tabletop machine that sealed one can at a time. In 2008, the makers of the top-selling pale ale in ColoRADo, Dale’s Pale Ale, moved into a 35,000-square-foot facility in Longmont, ColoRADo. The brewery has since experienced explosive growth—packaging 59,000 barrels of beer in 2011 and 86,750 barrels in 2012. In December of 2012, Oskar Blues opened the doors to anadditional brewery in Brevard, North Carolina. Together, the breweries packaged 119,000 barrels of beer in 2013, distributing its trailblazing craft brews to 31 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.

http://www.facebook.com/OskarBluesCans

http://www.facebook.com/OskarBluesBrewerySoutheast

http://twitter.com/oskarblues

http://twitter.com/oskarblueswnc

http://www.youtube.com/oskarbluescans

About the Kansas Craft Alliance:

The KCA was formed in 2009 through an established distributor partnership that maximizes brand exposure with unmatched support throughout the state of Kansas. Commitment to craft growth and consumer education ensures outstanding results and strong relationships with customers and supplier partners.

Stone Brewing Co. Introduces Stone Go To IPA

Tue, 04 Mar 2014 14:36:47 -0500

A New Addition to the Stone Year-Round Release Lineup

ESCONDIDO, CA (March 3, 2014) – Intensely hopped and big-flavor brews are known to be quite the passion for Stone Brewing Co. Taking another step in their lupulin obsession, the craft beer company is pleased to introduce Stone Go To IPA. This vibrant hop-bursted session IPA is the tenth addition to Stone’s year-round lineup and, starting today, fans will be able to find the new release in 12-ounce bottle six-packs and on draft at retailers in all of the states where Stone beer is distributed.

Stone Go To IPA is 4.5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) and, therefore, considered a “session” beer. Session beers are defined as ales or lagers below five percent ABV, which allows for greater drinkability within a reasonable stretch of time. Stone Go To IPA is a very refreshing beer, loaded with intense peach, citrus and melon aromas and all the complex hop flavor that Stone IPAs are known for…meaning, it’s a hop bomb.

To achieve these glorious hop qualities and still maintain a low ABV, a technique called “hop bursting” was implemented. This contemporary approach involves infusion of a massive amount of hops during the final phase of the brewing process to coax out the robust flavors and aromas of the hops. Stone Go To IPA achieved its fruity, citrus notes by dry-hopping with mostly Mosaic and Citra, plus a complimentary addition of Cascade hops.

“Hop bursting really helped us overcome the challenge of making a lower alcohol full-flavored brew that doesn’t taste thin or watery,” explained Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele. “By using this method, we created an intense hop aroma and flavor along with a smoother bitterness. We’re thrilled to add this to our regular lineup, especially since most of us at Stone are ready to call this our own personal ‘go-to’ beer.”

Stone Go To IPA is brewed with nine different hop varietals and meant to be consumed fresh or within 90 days, before the bountiful hop characteristics fade. The session IPA will be available all year long, so IPA enthusiasts and curious craft beer novices alike will be able to satisfy their appetite for the almighty hop with this everyday go-to ale.

Stone Go To IPA Quick Facts

Name: Stone Go To IPA

URL: www.stonebrewing.com/gotoipa

Stats: 4.5% ABV, 65 IBUs

Availability: 12-ounce bottles in six-packs, beginning March 3

Hops Bill: Mosaic, Citra, Ahtanum, Cascade, Crystal, El Dorado, Magnum, Sterling and 06300

Distribution: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT and WA

Tasting notes, provided by Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele

Appearance: Pours light gold with a white head.

Aroma: The hop aromatics are mind blowing. Intense peach, citrus and melon flavors dominate the aroma in the best possible way.

Taste: Hop flavors continue to dominate, but are balanced by just enough malt to keep things reasonably in balance. But make no mistake, this beer is very, very hop-forward!

Palate: Dry and bitter, the finish makes you want to drink more!

Overall: This beer employed the hop bursting technique, which in essence is a hopping method where all or most of the bitterness in the beer comes from late hop additions in the brewhouse, like at the end of boil and in the whirlpool, instead of the more traditional approach where most of the hop bitterness comes from earlier additions at the start of the kettle boil. The result is a beautifully aromatic beer with substantial, but somewhat mellow, bitterness. The hop bursting also enhances the flavor retention of the hops, and combined with the dry hop, creates a very intense and complex hop flavor.

Suggested pairings, provided by Stone Craft Beer Ambassador "Dr." Bill Sysak

Appetizers: Chips and salsa, ceviche, Cajun shrimp, oysters on the half shell, Buffalo-fried cauliflower

Soups and Salads: Cheddar cheese soup, tortilla soup, miso soup, Thai salad with peanut dressing, cucumber and mint salad

Entrees: Grilled salmon, stuffed poblano peppers, vegetable masala, jerk chicken

Desserts: Carrot cake, spice cake, persimmon tart, apple fritters

Cheeses: Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, Cowgirl Wagon Wheel, Parmigiano-Reggiano, extra sharp Vermont Cheddar

Cigars: La Flor Dominicano Double Claro No. 42, Illusione hl Holy Lance Candela, Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 Flor Fina Claro

About Stone Brewing Co.

New Belgium Goes Seriously Sour with a 2014 Sour Vintage Single Batch Series

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:26:30 -0500

La Folie and Transatlantique Kriek make a return to kick off the series

Ft. Collins, CO – February 27, 2014 – Having recently doubled its wood beer capacity with the addition of 32 new oak foeders, New Belgium Brewing is going sour with its latest Lips of Faith beers. La Folie and Transatlantique Kriek make a return in 2014 as part of a 2014 Sour Vintage Single Batch Series. La Folie is a wood-aged, sour brown that spends one to three years in large oak barrels, also known as foeders. When the beer finally hits the glass, it is sharp and sour, full of green apple, cherry and plum-skin notes. It pours a deep mahogany.

“La Folie is a seriously sour beer, but we like to say that it’s sour in a good way,” said New Belgium Wood Cellar Manager, Lauren Salazar. “This Flanders-style reddish brown ale delivers plenty of green apple, cherry, sometimes even blackberry and chocolate notes. It’s the beer that launched our sour beer program in ’97.”

La Folie is 7% ABV and available now, while supplies last, in 22-ounce bombers and on draft.

Transatlantique Kriek is a slightly sour cherry kriek beer. The 2014 edition began life in the oaken vessels of Frank Boon’s brewery, deep in Belgium’s Lembeek Valley. After two years of wood aging, Boon’s spontaneously fermented kriek shipped across the Atlantic and found its way to New Belgium’s Brewmaster, Peter Bouckaert. To go with Boon’s lambic ale, Bouckaert created a full golden brew to blend in, and round out, this light-bodied kriek. The intense cherry nose leads to a pleasing sweet and sour flash across the palate. Crisp and effervescent, Transatlantique Kriek is 8% ABV and available now, while supplies last, in 22-ounce bombers and on draft.

To celebrate these sour beers, New Belgium recently held a sour beer symposium that explored the art and science of blending beers, from grain to glass, followed by the brewery’s second-annual Lost in the Woods party. Here’s a look into the festivities, accompanied by some banjo playing (yes, we should probably just stick to beer), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcndh6BjR9Q.

To find New Belgium beers near you, visit the libation locator at http://www.newbelgium.com/beer/locator.aspx.

About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, is recognized as one of Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work and one of the Wall Street Journal’s Best Small Businesses. The 100% employee-owned brewery is a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business as designated by the League of American Bicyclists, and one of World Blu’s most democratic U.S. businesses, and a Certified B Corp. In addition to Fat Tire, New Belgium brews nine year-round beers; Ranger IPA, Rampant Imperial IPA, Shift Pale Lager, Snapshot Wheat, Sunshine Wheat, 1554 Black Lager, Blue Paddle Pilsener, Abbey Belgian Ale and Trippel. Learn more at www.newbelgium.com.

Limited Release GUBNA IMPERIAL IPA Returns with Specialty Dry Hops

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:22:49 -0500

Longmont, CO & Brevard, NC—Ladies and gentlemen, hop occultists from all walks of life, please give a thunderous round of applause for the fourth incarnation of Oskar Blues' GUBNA Imperial IPA. Weighing in at 100+ international bitterness units and 10 percent ABV, this complex and chameleonic concoction packs a wallop. The Granddaddy of all Oskar Blues' hop grenades in a can, GUBNA obliterates the ordinary. If G'Knight or Deviant Dale's seem too tame for you, it's time to experience the most challenging and notorious elixir from OB's diabolical roster of ferocious fermentables.

Every year, Oskar Blues' eccentric fellowship of deranged brewers work with hop growers to seek out the most potent, unique and mind-bending hop varietals of the season. By annually altering the hop bill, GUBNA continually reinvents itself while letting the best and brightest of these powerful flowers flourish.

GUBNA v 4.0 is aggressively dry-hopped with the citrusy Chinook (this year’s legendary crop was especially complex), the tropical fruit and red berry notes of Mosaic, and the zesty lemon Sorachi Ace strain. Showcased on a base recipe of Rye (now double the amount than previously used), North American Pale, and Munich malts, these three formidable hop varieties are given free rein to assault the senses in a strangely schizophrenic symphony of bewildering bitterness, complemented perfectly by the pleasant warmth to be expected from that 10 percent booziness.

The GUBNA pairs beautifully with grilled salmon, cured meats, sharp cheeses and spiced or caramel-rich desserts. Simultaneously subtle yet over-the-top, GUBNAalso holds up wonderfully when used for grilling beer-can chicken. Of course, this frothy behemoth is glorious on its own as well.

Spring's hoppy answer to the gargantuan chocolate malt bomb Ten FIDY (OB's infamous Winter seasonal), GUBNA 2014 will be available on tap and in 12-ounce 4-packs from March until May. Always evolving, no two GUBNA years will ever be the same, so grab version 4.0 while you still CAN!

In honor of this auspicious occasion, both Oskar Blues locations (in Brevard, NC and Longmont, CO) will be hosting release parties on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at both Tasty Weasel tap rooms. If you're lucky enough to be in either location, stop in and enjoy specialty barrel-aged and firkin variations on GUBNA 4.0, along with food, brewery tours, live music and general debauchery.

Oskar Blues gained notoriety as the first craft brewery to seriously consider putting serious beers into recyclable aluminum cans more than 10 years ago. Initially laughed at by their colleagues, the trend caught on when other breweries took notice and agreed that cans are simply a better vessel for keeping beer fresher longer, away from the adverse effects of UV light and ingress oxygen.

Since then, OB has evolved into an off-kilter "jack of all trades" in the beer world, adding four Colorado restaurants , the Hops & Heifers Farm and REEB Cycles hand-made bicycle company to the family. Seriously focused on having fun, pushing boundaries and making stuff we like, Oskar Blues is like no other craft brewery in the world.

Do yourself a favor and get some GUBNA before it's gone. If you need help, visit our on- line beer locator.

Harrumph!

About Oskar Blues Brewery

Founded as a brewpub by Dale Katechis in 1997, Oskar Blues Brewery launched the craft beer-in-a-can apocalypse in 2002 using a tabletop machine that sealed one can at a time. In 2008, the makers of the top-selling pale ale in ColoRADo, Dale’s Pale Ale, moved into a 35,000-square-foot facility in Longmont, ColoRADo. The brewery has since experienced explosive growth—packaging 59,000 barrels of beer in 2011 and 86,750 barrels in 2012. In December of 2012, Oskar Blues opened the doors to an additional brewery in Brevard, North Carolina. Together, the breweries packaged 119,000 barrels of beer in 2013, distributing trailblazing craft brews to 34 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.

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Boulevardia Tickets To Go On Sale

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:20:29 -0500

The first-ever event held on Father’s Day weekend will celebrate Kansas City…and beer

February 25, 2014 – Kansas City – Tickets for the brand new beer, food and music event, “Boulevardia,” will go on sale at 10a.m. on March 5th at boulevardia.com. Three different ticket packages will be available for purchase: one-day general admission passes are $10 in advance, a three-day pass is $25 and the exclusive “Taps & Tastes” craft beer experience will be $75 (includesSaturday general admission ticket). General admission tickets include entry into the festival grounds, national, regional and local music acts on two stages, and access to tasty food trucks, local artisans, a family-friendly carnival and eco-expo.

“Plans are coming together nicely and there will be some exciting announcements in the coming weeks regarding entertainment and the Taps & Tastes brewery lineup,” said Jeremy Ragonese, Boulevard’s Director of Marketing and Boulevardia Board Member. “Our number one priority is to create a festival that will make Kansas City proud.”

While there are abundant general admission tickets available to Boulevardia, there will be a limited number of tickets available for the Taps & Tastes craft beer experience on Saturday, June 14. The Taps & Tastes craft beer experience will be a special section of Boulevardia and take place from 3-7 pm on Saturday, June 14th. The limited craft beer experience will include principals and brewmasters from more than 35 national and international craft breweries along with twelve local restaurants and Kansas City culinary stars. Taps & Tastes tickets will include unlimited beer and food sampling, along with a keepsake tasting glass. A full lineup of breweries will be announced later this week. In addition to Taps & Tastes experience, many of these breweries will have special taps featured at the Boulevardia bars throughout the weekend for general admission ticket holders to purchase.

About Boulevardia
The three-day urban street festival is scheduled to take place June 13-15th in the historic West Bottoms area, specifically in and around the iconic, multi-leveled 12th Street viaduct. The multi-day event will be highlighted with a craft beer and food sampling experience, but will also include family activities, entertainment, shopping, and eco-education in a unique urban setting. Learn more atboulevardia.com, facebook.com/boulevardia and twitter.com/Blvdia.

Starr Hill Brewery & Terrapin Beer Company Collaborate on “GAVA Joe”

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:19:08 -0500

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA—(February 25th, 2014): Starr Hill Brewery is all wired up to brew a collaboration beer with Athens-based brewery Terrapin Beer Company on Monday, March 3^rd. The collaboration will be a Belgian-style espresso stout called “GAVA Joe.”

Pronounced “java,” this collaboration beer is inspired by the longtime friendship between the two brewmasters, Mark Thompson and Spike Buckowski. Long ago, both realized they had a lot in common, including a love for great beer and great music.

“Terrapin and Starr Hill started up around the same time, and Spike and I have been friends for years. When it came time to do a collaboration beer, it was a no-brainer to do one with Terrapin,” said Mark Thompson, Starr Hill’s Founder and Master Brewer. “I have always been very interested in doing something with rye, and I know that Spike has worked with that grain a bunch. We have included rye in the malt bill for this beer, which will give it a unique flavor.”

“Collaborating with other brewers is very rewarding for me,” says Brewmaster Spike Buckowski, who often travels to breweries across the country and abroad to work with other respected craft brewers. “Partnering with Starr Hill for this collaboration not only involves two great breweries, but two great coffee roasters as well.”

GAVA Joe will be a medium-bodied stout weighing in around 6.9% alcohol by volume. It will be fermented with a Belgian yeast strain, which lends underlying fruit notes to the mix and balances the slight roasted bitterness of the beer with a touch of richness. It will also feature espresso from two coffee roasters local to each brewery: Shenandoah Joe Coffee Roasters of Charlottesville, VA, and Jittery Joe’s Coffee of Athens, GA. “We’re planning to collaborate on a signature blend of espresso for this special beer,” says Dave Fafara, owner of Shenandoah Joe. “It’s an honor to collaborate with the folks from Jittery Joe’s—it’ll be a blast.” Christian Hampton, a roaster at Jittery Joe’s Coffee, says he’s “looking forward to trying the finished product.”

Just 150 barrels of GAVA Joe will be brewed, and it will be available in draft only (1/6 and 1/2 barrel kegs) with a release date of April 1^st. Once the beer hits the market, there will be release events in both Charlottesville and Athens. In the meantime, Mark and Spike will host several “Meet The Brewers” events in Charlottesville leading up to the collaboration brew day. On Saturday, March 1^stat 5:00 PM, Starr Hill and Terrapin will take over the taps at Beer Run, with each brewery showcasing six beers. Sunday, March 2^nd at 1:00 PM, the two brewers will host Beer School at Sedona Taphouse. Finally, the evening of Monday, March 3^rd, Starr Hill and Terrapin will takeover the taps at Mellow Mushroom.

“GAVA Joe brings together two breweries from like-minded college towns known for great music, great coffee, and most importantly, great beer,” says Robbie O’Cain, Starr Hill’s Quality Assurance Manager.

Starr Hill Brewery was founded in 1999 by Mark Thompson and Kristin Dolan in Charlottesville, Virginia. Starr Hill is one of the most award-winning craft breweries on the East Coast, having won 19 Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup medals since its founding. The beer is distributed in ten states, including Virginia, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington D.C.

Terrapin Beer Company was founded in 2002 by John Cochran and Brian “Spike” Buckowski in Athens, Georgia. Since Terrapin's launch in 2002, Spike has racked up numerous medals and awards for his outstanding brews. This includes gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival for his Rye Pale Ale and Tree Hugger, and a silver medal at the World Beer Cup for his Golden Ale. Terrapin is sold in ten states in the Southeast and East Coast areas of the US: Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.

Gravity Brewing and Tivoli Distributing Company Announce Distribution Agreement

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:16:20 -0500

Louisville and Denver, Colorado, Feb 23, 2014: Gravity Brewing and Tivoli Distributing Company are pleased to announce a Distribution Agreement. Effective immediately, Tivoli Distributing will handle all sales and distribution of Gravity Brewing products in all Colorado markets except certain accounts in Louisville. Because of this partnership, Gravity Brewing brands will immediately be more broadly available in all Colorado markets and retailers will see great product availability, timely delivery, and overall customer service. “Gravity Brewing aims to produce sophisticated beers that the educated Colorado market will understand. We are ready to step-up our distribution and we wanted to partner with a distribution company that understands this competitive craft beer market” said John Frazee, Founder/Brewer of Gravity Brewing. “Tivoli Distributing is definitely the company that meets our expectations for distribution,” Frazee added. Corey Marshall, CEO of Tivoli Distributing Company, commented “Gravity Brewing is a great addition to our family. Gravity has taken the specialty beer and made it a standard offering for us.”

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About Gravity Brewing

Gravity Brewing was established in December 2010 by John Frazee, Ryan Bowers (both graduates of CU-Boulder’s School of Engineering and Applied Science) and Julius Hummer (Brewmaster with over 25 years of professional brewing experience) and opened for business in August 2012, becoming Louisville Colorado’s first neighborhood craft brewery. Julius grew up in the midst of the infancy of the craft beer industry. Julius’s father, David Hummer, founded Colorado’s first microbrewery, Boulder Brewing Company (now Boulder Beer Company), in 1979. Julius holds a Master in Brewing Science from The British School of Malting and Brewing. Both John and Ryan are licensed professional engineers and continue to practice engineering and apply their experience in the brewhouse. Based on a strong appreciation and knowledge of science and engineering, Gravity Brewing takes the art and technique of brewing quite seriously. Gravity Brewing is always trying to push the envelope of conventional brewing, while maintaining a strong regard for tradition and authenticity. The name Gravity Brewing represents the goal to produce full flavored ales and lagers that are not lacking in strength; having a business/product of substance and dignity; the adventure lifestyle enjoyed in Colorado; a sense of our existence in this world; and thought provocation. Visit Gravity online: www.thegravitybrewing.com www.facebook.com/gravitybrewing www.twitter.com/gravitybrewing

About Tivoli Distributing Company

Tivoli Distributing Company was formed in 2012 to provide a new and alternative route for small craft breweries to access the craft beer marketplace. Tivoli Distributing began this process with the re-launch of Tivoli Beer, last brewed in Denver in 1969, and has followed with the launch of Sigi's, Buck Beer another important historic Colorado beer. Tivoli Distributing combines a deep passion for craft beer with a highly personal touch to forge mutually beneficial relationships with both its accounts and breweries.

Visit us online: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tivoli-Distributing/

Breckenridge Brewery Debuts Barleywine Batch #1

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:14:32 -0500

Denver, CO – February 20th, 2014 – Breckenridge Brewery debuted Barleywine Batch #1 at the Vail Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival in January. Batch #1, Breckenridge Brewery’s first barley wine, will be released to the public in a limited run of 22 oz., wax-topped bottles. Cold conditioned for three months and barrel-aged in fresh American Oak barrels for another six, this beer comes in at 10.1% ABV. It has an aromatic complexity resembling that of molasses and ripened black cherries, and a robust profile that blends a spectrum of flavors including sweet malts, dark fruits, oak, and esters.

On Saturday, March 15th, bottles of Batch #1 will become available for purchase at Breckenridge Brewery’s production brewery in Denver. Todd Usry, Breckenridge Brewery’s Brewmaster and Director of Brewing Operations, will be at the Batch #1 Bottle Release to mingle with patrons and autograph bottles. Also in attendance will be American Craft Beer Radio remote hosting their show live on ESPN Radio from the Batch #1 Release.

Usry was first inspired to brew a barley wine while at the Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival in Vail. He reached out to his friend and fellow classmate, Fal Allen, Brewmaster for Anderson Valley Brewing Company. He and Usry have been friends since their school days at the Siebel Institute of Technology and World Brewing Academy. Allen, co-author of Barley Wine: History, Brewing Techniques, Recipes, was instrumental as an adviser with whom Usry conferred during the development of Batch #1. “I wanted to create a classic barley wine,” explains Usry. “I was seeking an outside perspective and couldn’t think of anyone better than Fal who had a true understanding for what the style is supposed to be.”

Like that of its January birthstone, Barleywine Batch #1 has the appearance of Garnet, with deep reds and dark mahoganies comprising its color. Sweet caramel malt notes are the first to land the palate, followed by a rich, dark fruit dulcitude and slight tartness that balance well with a pleasant nuance from the fresh oak barrels. As the flavors set in, there is a subtle spreading warmth attributed to the alcohol.

Barleywine will become an annual release for Breckenridge Brewery. Each Batch, however, will incorporate a new imaginative twist on the recipe. It will be unveiled at Big Beers, Belgians, and Barleywines year after year, followed by a limited bottle release at the brewery with availability in select markets.

About Breckenridge Brewery

Breckenridge Brewery was founded in 1990 in Breckenridge, Colorado. In the past two decades Breckenridge Brewery has grown from a small 3,000-barrels-a-year brewpub to one of the most successful craft beer and restaurant companies in the nation. It now handcrafts more than 62,000 barrels of fresh beer annually and owns and operates six brewpubs and ale houses in the state of Colorado. For more information visit http://www.breckbrew.com.

Karl Strauss Collaborates with the Aussies that Inspired a Brewing Revolution

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:12:43 -0500

San Diego, CA – February 20, 2014 – Karl Strauss Brewing Company is celebrating 25 years of crafting the San Diego scene with a nod to its roots—a collaboration with the Australian brewery that inspired San Diego’s craft beer revolution. Karl Strauss Cofounder, Chris Cramer, first experienced microbrewed beer when he was visiting Freemantle, Australia in the mid 1980’s. “Here I was, halfway around the world, in a city so similar to San Diego, enjoying a pint of bitters at the local Sail & Anchor Pub. The beer was unlike anything I had ever tasted and when I found out that it was brewed onsite, a light bulb went off,” says Chris Cramer. “I knew that adventurous San Diegans would embrace the idea of locally brewed beer, and 25 years later, it’s amazing to see what our industry has grown into.” To commemorate the milestone anniversary, Karl Strauss Brewmaster, Paul Segura, braved the 20-hour flight to Australia to collaborate with Sail & Anchor Pub on a cross-hemisphere inspired brew.

“It was amazing to have the opportunity to collaborate with one of Australia’s craft brewing pioneers and to bring the story full circle with a nod to where Karl Strauss Brewing Company was first incepted,” says Paul Segura, Brewmaster. Dubbed “The Bloke,” the collaboration brew is a tribute to Karl Strauss and his legendary international brewing legacy. The collaboration brew is a bold, hoppy red ale—showcasing a blend of West Coast and Australian hop varieties. “We thought it would be fun to take a style we’re known for—red ale—and hop the heck out of it. We brought Cascade and Chinook hops to the party and Sail & Anchor contributed Australian-grown Ella and Galaxy hops,” says Segura. The resulting brew is 6% ABV, dry as a bone, and assertively hoppy.

Six 100-hectoliter batches of “The Bloke” were brewed and 2,700 cases will be available across Australia in 12oz bottles. Karl Strauss Brewing Company will receive an extremely limited quantity of bottles available for sampling in its tasting room in late March. For more information about “The Bloke” and the story behind the collaboration, visit www.karlstrauss.com. Share it. Cheers.

Stats:

6% ABV

60 IBU

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About Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Karl Strauss Brewing Company has pioneered the San Diego beer scene since 1989 with innovative beer releases like Big Barrel IIPA and Wreck Alley Imperial Stout. The brewery has won 54 medals over the past three years and its Red Trolley Ale is one of the most award winning beers in the world. The company is currently ranked #39 on the list of the country’s top craft breweries with sole distribution in California. 2014 is on pace to be another exciting year of double-digit sales growth, with the main brewery tasting room and new brewery restaurant in Temecula now open. For more information visit www.karlstrauss.com or call the brewery at (858) 273-2739. Share it. Cheers.

Odell Brewing Brings Tasty Brews Deep in the Heart of Texas

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:11:10 -0500

Brewery celebrates Texas launch week

Fort Collins, CO – On February 24th, Odell Brewing beers will finally hit Texas taps. Odell Brewing has partnered with Ben E. Keith Company, and will begin their statewide launch with draft the week of February 24th, followed by a package launch the week of March 31st.

“I'm thrilled to introduce our beers to the state of Texas," said Texas state sales manager, Todd Ewing. "The craft beer scene is already great, and I cannot wait to help it to continue to grow.”

Launching a state the size of Texas would not have been possible prior to the brewery’s recently completed expansion. This will be the first new market for Odell Brewing in over two years. The new brewhouse and additional fermentation vessels will provide the brewery much needed capacity to accommodate the Texas demand. Odell Brewing plans to bring its IPA, 90 Shilling, Seasonal Offerings including St. Lupulin, Four Pack offerings such as Myrcenary, as well as its limited release Cellar Series offerings.

The brewery has a full week of launch events planned all over the state, including a special tapping at Pinthouse Pizza in Austin, which was started by friend and former Odell Brewing brewer Joe Mohrfeld. Joe teamed up with Odell’s head of production, Brendan McGivney, to brew a collaboration beer that they once brewed together at Odell Brewing. "T.A.P. TX” honors that original recipe, but brings it into the culturally relevant Session Ale realm with just as many hops but a slightly lower ABV. "T.A.P. TX" is a very hoppy Session Ale brewed with a blend of hops selected by the pair as well as Colorado grown barley that is hand malted by Branden Aide at his new Austin, TX based micro-maltster, Blacklands Malt.

"It is really exciting to brew Pinthouse Pizza's first out-of-state collaboration beer with my brewing mentor and friend, especially given the exciting news that Odell will be coming to Texas,” said Joe, “and we will be able to serve not only our collaboration beer, but also the beers they distribute to TX here at Pinthouse Pizza."

T.A.P. TX will be available exclusively at Pinthouse Pizza beginning February 24th at 7 p.m. Both Brendan and Joe will be on hand to talk about brewing this collaboration beer.

Odell Brewing has over 70 launch week events planned in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and North Texas. For more information and launch week details, please visit odellbrewing.com/texas or the Odell Brewing Facebook page.

Watch the “Odell Brewing - Deep in the Heart of Texas” video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2bkGpjRzVU

About Odell Brewing: Founded in 1989, Odell Brewing was started by Doug Odell, his wife Wynne, and his sister Corkie. Twenty-four years later, the culture of family and collaboration still thrives fostering a brewery full of beer-centric people. It is this passion for beer that inspires Odell Brewing to create quality, hand-crafted, innovative brews. As a regional craft brewery, Odell Brewing is committed to serving the communities in which it distributes by minimizing its environmental impact, sourcing local raw materials, and through its charitable giving program known as Odell Outreach. Odell Brewing was named a “Best Company to Work For” in 2013 by ColoradoBiz Magazine and is an award winning brewery, nationally and internationally: 2013 Great American Beer Festival® - gold medal for 5 Barrel Pale Ale, 2012 Brewers Association Recognition Award, 2011 Great American Beer Festival® - gold medal for Friek, 2008 World Beer Cup® – gold for IPA. 2007 Great American Beer Festival® – gold medal for IPA.

About Pinthouse Pizza: Pinthouse Pizza is a brewpub that offers a great selection of delicious and unique handcrafted beers and pizzas. The brewpub makes its own hop-forward craft beers, brewed in-house, and also features a great selection of guest craft beers on its 45 taps. The menu not only is made up of its classic and specialty pizzas, it also offers its signature “Off the Map Pies” and an array of tasty salads, appetizers and desserts. Founded in 2012 and located in Austin, Texas, Pinthouse Pizza was named Austin’s Best New Brewery/Brewpub of 2012 and won a Great American Beer Festival® Bronze Medal in 2013 for our Blind Jake Porter. For more information visit www.pinthousepizza.com or follow the brewpub on Facebook and Twitter.

New Belgium Brewing Adds Another Canadian Province

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:09:44 -0500

Alberta Distribution to Begin February 24

Fort Collins, CO, February 17, 2014 - New Belgium Brewing will begin distributing beer throughout Alberta, Canada on February 24, 2014. This will become New Belgium’s second Canadian province for distribution after entering British Columbia in September of last year. Initial offerings will include Ranger and Fat Tire, which will be available on draft and in six-packs. Rampant, Snapshot Wheat, some Lips of Faith selections and New Belgium’s latest seasonal release will follow about 90 days later. New Belgium has signed an agreement with Horizon Beers to serve as the brewery’s distribution partner.

“British Columbia was our first market outside the U.S., and we’ve obviously learned a lot about beer sales in Canada since rolling out there,” said Rich Rush, Regional Sales Director with New Belgium Brewing. “There are some great emerging craft beer markets in Alberta, and we’re excited to be introducing our brews to the craft beer enthusiasts there.”

On March 3, New Belgium will enter Mississippi, making it the 37^th state of distribution. It is also looking to open Kentucky and Hawaii later this year. For more information on New Belgium Brewing, visit www.newbelgium.com.

About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, is recognized as one of Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work and one of the Wall Street Journal’s Best Small Businesses. The 100% employee-owned brewery is a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business as designated by the League of American Bicyclists, and one of World Blu’s most democratic U.S. businesses, and a Certified B Corp. In addition to Fat Tire, New Belgium brews nine year-round beers; Ranger IPA, Rampant Imperial IPA, Shift Pale Lager, Snapshot Wheat, Sunshine Wheat, 1554 Black Ale, Blue Paddle Pilsener, Abbey Belgian Ale and Trippel. Learn more at www.newbelgium.com.

Odell Brewing is Shaking Trees Again

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:08:40 -0500

Brewery celebrates the return of Tree Shaker, Imperial Peach IPA

Fort Collins, CO. – On February 22nd, Odell Brewing will celebrate the return of Tree Shaker, an Imperial Peach IPA, brewed with over 3000 pounds of pureed peaches grown on the Western slope of Colorado.

“Lightly sweet, dainty floral peach augments the beer’s brilliant grapefruit and orange hop flavors, creating an aroma and swallow that sing with orchard freshness,” saidDRAFT Magazine, which included Tree Shaker in their “Top 25 Beers of 2013.

Tree Shaker was a hit in its inaugural year, and the Odell Brewing crew couldn't wait to brew it again. They began with a complex imperial IPA. Nine days into fermentation, the team spent all day adding the pureed peaches to the beer by hand. The final brew is crisp and flavorful with subtle peach notes that complement the bright citrus hop character.

Tree Shaker will be available in 750 mL, cork and cage finished bottles throughout the brewery’s eleven state distribution region. The brewery will celebrate the release of Tree Shaker in the Tap Room on February 22^nd and 23^rd. Guests can enjoy samples of the beer, local food truck pairings, and live music by The Matt Skinner Skinner Band on Sunday from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Founded in 1989, Odell Brewing was started by Doug Odell, his wife Wynne, and his sister Corkie. Twenty-four years later, the culture of family and collaboration still thrives fostering a brewery full of beer-centric people. It is this passion for beer that inspires Odell Brewing to create quality, hand-crafted, innovative brews. As a regional craft brewery, Odell Brewing is committed to serving the communities in which it distributes by sourcing local raw materials, and through its charitable giving program known as Odell Outreach. Odell Brewing was recently named a “Top Company of 2010” by ColoradoBiz Magazineand is an award winning brewery, nationally and internationally: 2012 Brewers Association Recognition Award, 2011 Great American Beer Festival® - gold medal for Friek. 2010 North American Beer Awards – gold medal for Woodcut No. 3. 2009 BrewNZ Awards – gold for 5 Barrel Pale Ale. 2008 World Beer Cup® – gold for IPA. 2007 Great American Beer Festival® – gold medal for IPA.