Topic Archives: American Strong Ales
Southern Tier Cinnamon Roll expands the brewery’s dessert beer lineup
Southern Tier Cinnamon Roll has debuted going into November, for those needing a little dessert beer by the fireside.
Dessert-style beers have done quite well for the Lakewood, New York-based brewery. Choklat (featuring Belgian chocolate) Salted Caramel, Thick Mint (echoing the Girl Scout cookie) and the big daddy dessert beer – Creme Brûlée all grace the lineup. In mid-November, tack on a cinnamon bun inspired beer to the lineup.
Southern Tier Cold-Press Coffee Pumking debuts in September
The base beer features blend of toasted malts, cinnamon, and a touch of lactose milk sugar for a sweet, creamy finish.
In this brew, lightly toasted malts with subtly spicy hops blend into cinnamon avors and creamy lactose sugar. Their coalescence is so uncannily close to fresh baked cinnamon rolls that it was impossible to name this beer anything other than Cinnamon Roll Imperial Ale! Pairs perfectly with eggs benedict at brunch, after dinner, or next to the re for an unforgettable nightcap.
Southern Tier Cinnamon Roll is now available in late-October in 12 and 22-ounce bottles and draft.
Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Cinnamon. Lactose.)
Availability: 12oz, 22oz Bottles. Draft.
Debut: Late October 2017
8.6% ABV
Mid August: Funky Buddha Sweet Potato Casserole Strong Ale
Funky Buddha Sweet Potato Casserole Strong Ale returns to the brewery’s lineup on August 13th.
When you start reaching for fall beers, make sure you don’t overlook this one. When Florida’s Funky Buddha Brewery calls a beer Sticky Treats, Blueberry Cobbler or Sweet Potato Casserole, they mean it.
Yet another beer in the brewery’s arsenal brewed with marshmallows. The strong ale is brewed the gooey stuff, plus sweet potatoes and a bevy of fall spices.
Funky Buddha Sweet Potato Casserole Strong Ale will be available in 12-ounce bottles and draft at the brewery starting August 13th, and throughout Florida shortly after.
Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Marshmallows. Sweet Potato. Spices.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Seasonal Release.
Latest Return: 8/13/17
7.9% ABV
Image: Beer Street Journal
Barrel-aged malt liquor. Founders DKML debuts in July
Founders DKML, a barrel-aged malt liquor, has been formally announced for release in the brewery’s Barrel-Aged Series this July.
Hot on the heels of Kentucky Breakfast Stout, and recently released Doom, is a completely new style for the Grand Rapids, Michigan based brewery – a malt liquor. The base beer is brewed with corn, plus a lager yeast that has been cultivated by Spanish brewer Mahou San Miguel, a strategic partner with Founders.
Founders DKML is not only dry-hopped, but aged in bourbon barrels.
“With DKML I wanted to do something totally original, and I don’t know anyone in the craft beer world who is barrel-aging malt liquor. After some early trials, we ended up with Mahou’s lager yeast to brew a really amazing malt liquor, and then we did what we do best – barrel-aged it. The bourbon barrel smoothed it out while giving it that ‘kick’ you would expect from an imperial malt liquor.” – Jeremy Kosmicki, Brewmaster
Founders DKML will be available in 12 ounce bottles, 750 milliliter bottles, and draft in the taproom starting in July, 2017. The brewery’s 46 state footprint will receive it in late-July.
Style: American Strong Ale (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, 750ml Bottles, Draft.
Debut: July, 2017
?? ABV
Boulevard Chocolate Ale in on an indefinite hiatus
Boulevard Chocolate Ale, one of the brewery’s most popular beers, won’t be a part of the beer lineup in 2017. The beer first debuted in 2011.
The American strong ale was a special collaboration with Kansas City chocolatier Christopher Elbow. Earlier this year, Boulevard released a variation of the popular dessert beer, Chocolate Ale with Raspberries.
The brewery wouldn’t go as far to say Chocolate Ale is gone for good. Just think of it as on-hold. For at least a while. Boulevard Funky Pumpkin has seen its last year, even though 2016 is only the second year it was released.
The 2017 lineup boasts a few new releases coming to the Smokestack Series, including Scotch-on-Scotch.
[Original Post below, for 2015 Chocolate Ale release.)
One of Boulevard Brewing’s (Kansas City, MO) most popular beers, Chocolate Ale, will release again the first week of February, 2015.
Chocolate Ale is a collaboration with Kansas City’s chocolatier Christopher Elbow. Boulevard brewmaster Steven Pauwels and Elbow used a special chocolate variety from the Dominican Republic. The result is a magical and delicious balance of malt, hops and chocolate.
Chocolate Ale is full of surprises, beginning with a glowing amber hue. The aroma is given over to earthy, fruity cocoa, with just a hint of hops. Smooth layers of dark chocolate intertwine with threads of caramel, vanilla, and nutty malt as the flavor warms and rounds to a bittersweet finish.
Boulevard Chocolate Ale was first released in 2011. The demand has been so high since then, the brewery has increased the amount brewed and packaged every year. In both 2014, and again in 2015, Boulevard has brewed the maximum amount possible for the production schedule.
Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Chocolate)
Availability: 750ml Bottles, Corked & Caged
Latest Return: Early 2015. Retired, 2016.
9.1% ABV
Read more: Boulevard Brewing News
Lost Abbey Santo Ron Diego is back in rum filled action
Lost Abbey Santo Ron Diego is returning to the brewery’s lineup once again in December, with a few changes in tow.
The beer was a big hit when it was released in 2015, and Tomme Arthur and brewery crew knew it had to be brewed again. Lost Abbey Santo Ron Diego (2016) features a new twist – cherries, vanilla beans, and cacao nibs. It spent a full 14 months in rum barrels.
“We were really happy with last year’s version but we wanted to add a bit more complexity to help bring the rum notes out with this year’s batch.” – Tomme Arthur, co-founder, The Lost Abbey
In order to have more of Santo to go around, the Lost Abbey is making this release draft only. The big 13.5% rum barreled monster hits distribution in December. Happy hunting.
Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Vanilla Beans, Cherries, Cacao Nibs. Barrel Aged. Rum.)
Availability: Draft Only (2016 Release)
Latest Return: December, 2016
12.5% ABV
Elysian Bifrost back for the cold weather
Elysian Bifrost, a strong ale winter seasonal from the Seattle Washington based brewery, returns this holiday season. The brewers at Elysian wanted to create a different winter seasonal than the typical dark, heavily spiced offering. Out came Bifrost, a drinkable, strong, pale ale with Magnum, Amarillo, and Syrian Golding hops that bring citrus and spice aromas.
The brewers at Elysian set out to create a more balanced, medium-bodied pale ale, with just the right amount of classic holiday beer characteristics like the sweet aromas of fruit and orange zest.” -Head Brewer Josh Waldman
Elysian Bifrost arrives on shelves in 12oz bottles, 22oz bottles, and draft in select locations. You can also find it at any of the four Elysian pubs in Seattle, Washington.
Style: American Strong Ale
Hops: Magnum, Amarillo, Styrian Golding
Malts: Premium 2-Row, Munich, and Crystal
Availability: 12oz Bottles, 22oz Bottles, Draft. Seasonal release.
Release: November 2016
8.3% ABV
Stone Double Bastard Bigger Longer Uncut, all Islay Scotch
Stone Double Bastard Bigger Longer Uncut, a new form of one of the most “arrogant” beers out there.
Double Bastard has been out there for years – an 11% alcohol by volume, in your face, hoppy American strong ale. Now, like a special director’s cut edition of a movie, comes Stone Double Bastard Bigger Longer Uncut. A bastard with extra scenes. An alternate ending. And of course, director’s commentary:
Weakness Is worn on the sleeves. Boldness Is within the heart.This intensified blend of barrel-aged Double Bastard Ale is all heart baby. The weak will find it to be a telltale heart. It knows of your fallibility. It smells your fear. The heart of this beer disdains you, as it disdains all things homogenized, wimpy and uncultured. You do know the truth of yourself, no? If you hesitated to answer that, if even for a split second, that in and of itself is telling. If you aren’t capable of knowing the reality of yourself, this beer can and will take the responsibility of informing you of what you should already know. (And it you’ve lost your way in this text already and no longer are clear about what I am saying, your reading pace has exceeded your comprehension pace. Go back, slow down and start over, bright eyes.) Take a deep breath. Let it out slowly. Evenly. Give yourself some positive affirmations. Breathe deep again. There. Feel better? If you followed those instructions, then set this bottle down and back away immediately, you new age poseur. Fight or flight and I’d recommend the latter for you, tiger. Wet paper bags are more your speed.
Stone Double Bastard Bigger Longer Uncut is aged in 100% Islay Scotch Whisky barrels. Aggressive indeed, and definitely NOT for everyone.
Taste. If you are fan of peaty scotch whisky, then look no future. Not every beer can handle a scotch barrel. It can easily overrun by the barrels. This Bastard is indeed peaty as hell, very much scotch heavy, with a strong flavor undertone of everything that Double Bastard is. Consider this your fireside sipper. Drink it as speak in a fancy accent.
You’ll see this beer falls Stone Brewing’s new Arrogant Brewing moniker. Available in 22 ounce bottles for a limited time.
Style: American Strong Ale (Barrel Aged. Scotch. Bourbon.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: November, 2016
13% ABV
