21st Amendment Brewing
21A Fireside Back For Year 2
21st Amendment Brewing would like everyone to know that they will be bringing back Fireside Chat for another season.
Fireside Chat is a subtle twist on the traditional seasonal brew. We begin with a rich, dark ruby brown, English-style ale and then improvise with spices until we know we have a beer worth sharing with the nation. During Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, Fireside Chat will brighten the faces of those who enjoy it, near the hearth or at the table. Its subtle blend of spices balances the 7.9% alcohol by volume malty ale and will make this a foodie’s favorite, as it pairs perfectly with holiday meals.
Style: Winter Warmer
Taste Expectations: Caramel, Figs, Toffee. Spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger.
Availability: 12oz cans, Draft. CA, OR, WA, AK, ID, MN, OH, MA, NY, NJ, DC, MD, PA, VA, GA. Shipping now until December.
7.9% ABV
21st Amendment/Ninkasi Collab Dubbed “Special Edition”
As mentioned on BSJ before, 21st Amendment & Ninkasi Brewing have been working on a canned collaboration that was yet to be named – until now. The beer is called “Special Edition.” A few weeks ago I got to sit down with Shaun O’Sullivan of 21A and we talked about this beer over well, beers. This is going to be one awesome looking can.
About Special Edition:
This collaboration is born out of friendship. Shaun O’Sullivan and Ninkasi’s Jamie Floyd used to work together at Steelhead Brewing Company in San Francisco. Each one has gone on to found very successful brewing company’s, but the respect for each others work is very evident.
The forthcoming brew is an old ale — but as Shaun O’Sullivan puts it — “there’s nothing old about it.” Each of the duo have brewed a version of the base old ale recipe before. Shaun took bronze with it as Fort Pointe Olde Ale at GABF in 1997. What’s not so old about it? Brand new hop styles and speciality ingredients of course. The Shaun and Jamie used Falconer Flight hops, a young blend of some of the best aromatic hops in the U.S. made by Hopunion to honor legendary homebrewer Glen Hay Falconer. California dates give the old ale added flavor and complexity.
The ale will be canned as a part of 21A’s Insurrection Series with Monk’s Blood & Hop Crisis. It has a World War II theme, echoing “The Big 3 Alliance” — Russia, England & the U.S. banding together to defeat nazi Germany. This new alliance in a can teams up Ninkasi, 21A and you, the drinker to fight the “bigger” element. [Think large beer.] The cans will look like 1940′s newspapers. Expect this beer by year’s end.
Style: Old Ale brewed with Cali dates
Availability: 4pks cans, Draft. Distributed through 21A’s network
8.5% ABV, 55 IBUs
21st Amendment & Ninkasi Collaborate
21st Amendment Brewing and Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene, Oregon) have been working on a new “yet to be named” collaboration. I got to sit down with 21st’s Shaun O’Sullivan over beers and a slew of charcuterie plates and get to know 21A a bit better.
This collaboration is born out of friendship. Shaun O’Sullivan and Ninkasi’s Jamie Floyd used to work together at Steelhead Brewing Company in San Francisco. Each one has gone on to found very successful brewing company’s, but the respect for each others work is very evident.
The forthcoming brew is an old ale – but as Shaun O’Sullivan puts it – “there’s nothing old about it.” Each of the duo have brewed a version of the base old ale recipe before. Shaun took bronze with it as Fort Pointe Olde Ale at GABF in 1997. What’s not so old about it? Brand new hop styles and speciality ingredients of course. The Shaun and Jamie used Falconer Flight hops, a young blend of some of the best aromatic hops in the U.S. made by Hopunion to honor legendary homebrewer Glen Hay Falconer. California dates give the old ale added flavor and complexity.
The ale will be canned as a part of 21A’s Insurrection Series with Monk’s Blood & Hop Crisis. It has a World War II theme, echoing “The Big 3 Alliance” – Russia, England & the U.S. banding together to defeat nazi Germany. This new alliance in a can teams up Ninkasi, 21A and you, the drinker to fight the “bigger” element. [Think large beer.] The cans will look like 1940’s newspapers. Expect this beer by year’s end.
Style: Old Ale brewed with Cali dates
Availability: 4pks cans, Draft. Distributed through 21A’s network
8.7% ABV
Recent correction: Shaun O’Sullivan won a bronze for “Fort” Point Olde Ale
21A Hop Crisis Now In Cans
21st Amendment Brewing’s Hop Crisis is now available in cans. Once a draft only product, first brewed a couple of years ago when hop prices were through the roof, this beer is the one of the hoppiest in cans yet. Hop Crisis follows Monk’s Blood, both part of the Insurection Series by 21A. They are occasional releases. It’s a huge imperial IPA, with oak aging to round things out.
[quote]“We really wanted to do something different with an Imperial IPA. Aside from the higher alcohol and intense hop bitterness, we felt aging the beer on oak would add some additional layers of flavor. Because oak can overwhelm the hops, we chose a light, subtle oak character to accentuate the dry hop bitterness and add a unique character to the beer.”[/quote]
Style: Imperial IPA
Taste Expectations: Full of hops: grapefruit, pine, citrus. Hops are fresh & chewy. Oak & malt fight for dominance & add complexity.
Availability: 12oz/4pk cans. Draft. CA, OR, WA, AK, ID, MN, OH, MA, NY, NJ, DC, MD, PA, VA, and GA.
9.7% ABV
Pic: @AleYeahBeer
Full Press Release
(San Francisco, CA) — 21st Amendment founders Nico and Shaun need to break out of Alcatraz. And fast. The Hop Syndicate is hoarding hops in a remote warehouse, depriving the People of their right to hoppy, aromatic beer. This is Not Cool. Shaun and Nico have to do something. They need to Free the Hops!
21st Amendment Brewery today announced the release of Hop Crisis, an oak-aged Imperial IPA with big malt flavor at 9.7% alcohol by volume and 94 IBUs (International Bittering Units — that’s bitter!). A few years ago, when hop prices shot through the roof and many brewers were forced to skimp on hops, the folks at 21A decided there was only one thing to do. They made a bigger, hoppier IPA and then aged it on oak for good measure.
21st Amendment co-founder and Brewmaster Shaun O’Sullivan says of the idea behind the beer, “We really wanted to do something different with an Imperial IPA. Aside from the higher alcohol and intense hop bitterness, we felt aging the beer on oak would add some additional layers of flavor. Because oak can overwhelm the hops, we chose a light, subtle oak character to accentuate the dry hop bitterness and add a unique character to the beer.”
“The graphics on our four-pack box tell the story of convicts Nico and Shaun’s adventure to Free the Hops,” noted co-founder Nico Freccia. “A daring escape through the sewer pipe, surfing monster waves while being chased by a great white shark and a high speed getaway on the San Francisco cable car are all part of the adventure,” he adds. “We just really felt we had an opportunity to have some fun with this beer.”
Last year, Hop Crisis won the silver medal at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival in the “Imperial IPA” category against some stiff competition (the third largest of all categories with 96 entries).
Hop Crisis is the second installment (after the highly acclaimed Monk’s Blood) in the 21st Amendment’s Insurrection Series, a limited edition, once-in-a-while, four-pack release of a very special beer that rises up in revolt against common notions of what canned beer can be.
Hop Crisis is available in four-pack cans and on draft starting June 16 at better bars and stores in all fifteen of 21st Amendment’s current distribution territories, which include CA, OR, WA, AK, ID, MN, OH, MA, NY, NJ, DC, MD, PA, VA, and GA. For up to date availability, events and promotions, visit 21A’s website at www.21st-Amendment.com.
About 21st Amendment Brewery
Who the heck are these guys? Hey, we’re Nico & Shaun. We live for great beer. In 1920, there were thousands of breweries across America making unique hand-crafted beer. The passage of Prohibition wiped out this great culture. After thirteen years without beer, the states ratified the 21st Amendment, ending Prohibition in America. At the 21st Amendment Brewery, we celebrate the right to brew beer, the freedom to be innovative, and the obligation to have fun.
Want More Bitter American? Perhaps All The Time?
21st Amendment Brewing recently released Bitter American, a session style pale ale. It is incredibly tasty, easy drinking and the best part – low in alcohol. Bitter American is all but gone from shelves.
Furthermore, a lot of drinkers seem to want Bitter to be a year round beer. A beer is evolving in the U.S. the alcohol in beer seems to be getting higher and higher. Not complaining, but for some (me included) it’s great to find a beer with great flavor that is lower in alcohol. 21A all but admitted that they are making plans to make Bitter American year round – as evidenced by this tweet.
In other just cool stuff, check out the new 21A Can displays for retail stores @21apdxguru>
The Taste Of Summer. Canned.
21st Amendment Brewing’s Hell Or High Watermelon Wheat is back for the summer with beautiful new artwork. Hell is a wheat beer with watermelon added to the fermentation. It literally is summer in a can.
Like Lady Liberty, we stand for independence and perseverance. In the pursuit of innovative beer, there is no obstacle too great. No journey too long. No fruit too gigantic. This American wheat beer is brewed with real watermelon, for a flavor that’s surprisingly crisp, dry and refreshing–summer in a can.
Hell or High Watermelon Wheat is our summer seasonal beer available from April through September in six pack cans and on draft. We start by brewing a classic American wheat beer, which undergoes a traditional secondary fermentation using fresh watermelon. A straw-colored, refreshing beer with a kiss of watermelon aroma and flavor.
Style: American Pale Wheat Ale
Hops: Magnum
Malts: 2 Row Pale, White Wheat.
Fresh Watermelon
Taste Expectations: Soft wheat mouthfeel, just a touch of citrus giving way to a light watermelon finish.
Availability: 12oz/6 pk cans. Draft. April-Sept. Seasonally.
4.9% ABV
A Crisis In A Can
As mentioned in a previous post, 21st Amendment Brewing putting Hop Crisis in cans for the first time, previously a draft only product. This hoppy beer is aged on oak spirals.
Label (It reads like a conversation in the beginning):
The Hop Syndicate is hoarding hops in a remote warehouse. This is not cool. We have to do something. Absolutely. It’s our duty and our right. WE have to break out of Alcatraz. and fast. No worries brotha! Wer’re gonna surf out! on ironing boards! No one as ever escaped from Alcatraz!… Except in the movies. No one has ever had a good reason before. Free the hops! Free The hops!
During the hop crisis, some brewers were forced to skimp on hops, depriving the people of their right to hoppy, aromatic beer.
Style: Imperial IPA. (Oaked)
Availability: 12oz cans. Draft.
Arrival: Early Summer, 2011
9.7% ABV
94 IBU’s
