SweetWater Brewing
Atlanta, Georgia
SweetWater’s 2nd weed beer “Mango Kush” debuts this month
SweetWater Mango Kush Wheat Ale debuts this month, the second edition in the weed-inspired “420 Strain” Series.
Hops and marijuana have some biological similarities. That’s why you hear the descriptor “dank” thrown around so often with India pale ales. Atlanta-based SweetWater Brewing decided last year to go all-in on that very smell and released 420 Strain: G13 IPA. The “G13” dates back to a government strain of weed created in the 1970s. If you haven’t tried it, you should. The brewery killed it with this release. It smells like weed and is a solid IPA to boot. G13 has a new bragging right at the brewery, since launch it has become the brewery’s second best-selling beer, behind 420 Pale Ale.
The brewery had always intended to make this a full series of “420 Strain” beers and this month, the second iteration has arrived – Mango Kush Wheat Ale.
This fruity “kush” strain features herbal, juicy notes of mango, finishing with the “dank” nose that the 420 Strain Series is now known to give.
This dank series uses strain specific terpenes (flavor molecules) plus organic hemp flavors to mimic real marijuana strain smells. These beers are 100% legal everywhere and contain zero psychotropic compounds, like THC.
SweetWater Mango Kush Wheat Ale can be found at the brewery as early as this week, with 12-ounce bottles arriving later this month.
Style: Wheat Ale (w/ Mango)
Hops: Nuggetzilla, El Dorado
Malts: Pilsner, White Wheat, Flaked Oats
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: Early March 2019
5% ABV, 30 IBUs
SweetWater will debut Peach Love & Happiness Berliner at their 22nd bash
SweetWater Peach Love & Happiness debuts as a spring seasonal February 16th.
Ahead of warmer weather, and just in time for the Atlanta based brewery’s 22nd Anniversary Party, comes SweetWater Peach Love & Happiness. This new Berliner Weisse is dosed with peach puree.
…Peach, Love, and Happiness brings color to spring with ripe local peaches in this golden effervescent and tastily tart Berliner Weisse.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, plus Anders Osborne and Samantha Fish all headline their 22nd birthday bash, where the first taste of Peach Love & Happiness, as well as SweetWater’s 22nd Anniversary beer release, can be found.
EVENT: SweetWater 22nd Anniversary
Expect this new spring seasonal in 12-ounce cans, 12-ounce bottles, and draft.
Style: Berliner Weisse (w/ Peaches.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, 12oz Bottles. Draft. Spring Seasonal.
Debut: 2/16/19
4.7% ABV
SweetWater’s taproom is undergoing a major renovation, adding onsite kitchen
SweetWater Brewing Company’s main taproom has remained unchanged for years. Starting October 1st, that is about to change. Starting October 1st, the taproom is closing to undergo some pretty major renovations.
The bar is going to be shifted to a centerpiece of the room, with additions of large roll-up doors, and new communal seating. Taproom attendees have most likely seen the removals of a wall and stairwell near the back. That space will soon house SweetWater’s new kitchen. The kitchen will serve food during taproom hours, as well as catering services for private events.
In the meantime, tours will still be held during normal hours with bars set up on the tented patio. The Woodlands (sour and wild ale facility) will still be open on Saturdays.
The brewery has hired Rene Ferandel as architect and Catamount as the contractor. The brewery expects the new taproom to be open in January 2019.
Rendering of SweetWater’s renovated exterior
SweetWater is releasing Mosaic Single Hop Hazy IPA as a seasonal this month
SweetWater Mosaic Single Hop Hazy IPA is officially the brewery’s latest seasonal, packaged this week.
Mosaic hops are the star of this hazy India pale ale. SweetWater debuted this release at the brewery for IPA Day on August 2nd.
We are going to simplify the release into simple terms. Mosaic is a dank all-star hop in the brewing world. Having a great stash of this hop increases your chances of a damn good IPA. In real life, not every brewery pulls it off. Water chemistry and dry-hopping plays a big role in the result. SweetWater Mosaic Single Hop IPA simply put – gets it all right. This hazy beer was once found in their “Hatchery Series”. Now, this release is gone full production, full on dank.
Waves of tropical and citrus flavors attack your palate. Think mango and pine. Finish just with just a touch of soft bitterness. If this were baseball, this a walk-off homerun of a seasonal.
SweetWater Mosaic is available for a limited time in 12-ounce bottles, 12-ounce cans, and draft.
Style: IPA
Hops: Mosaic
Availability: 12oz Bottles, 12oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: Mid-August 2018
6.2% ABV
PIC: Beer Street Journal
SweetWater debuts a new weed inspired series
Humulus Lupulus, more commonly known as “hops”, are easily the most prominent ingredient in beer. Using the term “dank” or “weed-like” when describing in India pale ale isn’t just a fun descriptor, but pretty accurate. Marijana and Humulus share the same family – Cannabaceae. The very unique scents by both hops and weed are not only familial traits but quite complimentary of each other.
Terpenes are hydrocarbons derived from the essential oils of hemp plants, and a major component of their resin. Terpenes give plants their aroma, taste and even color. While marijuana is still illegal in a majority of U.S. states, the flavor terpenes – which lack the psychoactive cannabinoids Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) have the blessing of the U.S. government.
Taking some of the all-stars in hops, and combining with the “dankness” of weed aromas is heating up in craft beer. Atlanta based SweetWater has had 420 Pale Ale for years, sporting a weed-culture undertone, only containing hops from the Cannabaceae family.
This month, SweetWater 420 Strain: G13 IPA debuts on draft, marrying hops and weed aroma mimicking terpenes into truly (dare we say dank again-) experience.
The origin of G13, or “Government Indica Strain 13” marijuana is the subject of various rumors, including one where the government created this “super-strain”. It was even mentioned in the movie American Beauty back in 1999. It’s easily one of the most well-known strains known to pop-culture after first appearing sometime in the 1970’s.
SweetWater has been experimenting for months with various iterations of plant-derived terpenes with cannabis aromatics, and India pale ales. The final recipe uses a proprietary terpene blend on the backdrop of a dry-hopped IPA that smells like the infamous G13 strain. Per head brewer Nick Nock, “The [IPA] flavor was undeniable, and a no-brainer for this first release. We used Columbus and Simcoe hops in both the boil and double dry-hop, plus flaked oats and wheat for a smooth finish.”
Let us say this. You know damn well when someone opens a bottle of 420 Strain: G13 IPA by smell alone. When Beer Street Journal published a photo of 420 Strain prior to this piece. Many followers made allusions to New Belgium’s recent terpene heavy release – The Hemperor. That beer also smelled like Willy Nelson’s house or a Widespread Panic concert. Sadly, so many drinkers told us while the beer’s aroma was very much on point, but the beer’s taste didn’t match. New Belgium does fantastic work, but that the disparity for many was hard to get past.
SweetWater’s 420 Strain: G13 doesn’t stop at the extremely notable aroma. The brewery got the IPA recipe right to boot. The entire package is dank, juicy, and incredibly aromatic. The brewer and laboratory work really shines in this creation. Keep in mind, just because you’ve had one IPA, doesn’t mean you’ve had them all. Same goes for terpene beers.
When you pour it in a glass, you get a face full of the G13 aroma, like opening a bag of fresh marijuana. And though it smells like the infamous cannabis strain, it tastes like a super delicious, nice and soft IPA with a clean finish.- SweetWater Brewing
The brewery is creating a full “420 Strain” series using various cannabis mimicking terpenes.
SweetWater 420 Strain: G13 is hitting taps in all of the brewery’s distribution states this summer. Expect new black bottles and black cans coming in the fall. The brewing team is working on new recipes for the 420 Strain Series, including a porter or stout.
Style: IPA (w/ Terpenes)
Hops: Columbus, Simcoe
Malts: 2 Row, Wheat, Flaked Oats
Availability: Draft (Summer). Cans/ Bottles (Fall)
Debut: June 22, 2018
6% ABV, 48 IBUs
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- PIC: Beer Street Journal
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- PIC: Beer Street Journal
SweetWater Twisted Fish is a beautiful, hoppy, water saving pilsner
SweetWater Twisted Fish is hitting shelves this week – brewed with and for Building Conservation Trust. The Trust is the Coastal Conservation Association’s National Habitat Program.
Water is the biggest component of every beer, and Atlanta based SweetWater Brewing Co. is dedicated to protecting the Earth’s precious liquid. In 2006, the brewery launched the “Save Our Water” initiative in conjunction with local Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. Every summer since, SweetWater has donated $100,000 dollars to clean water and natural habitat protection initiatives around the nation.
In honor of those hard-working freshwater protectors, SweetWater created Twisted Fish. This new pilsner is brewed with traditional Czech yeast, Hallertau hops, pilsner malts while breaking tradition Citra and Mandarina Bavaria hop varieties.
Lagers and pilsners are being seen more frequently on beer shelves, and for most this is a very welcomed sight. SweetWater’s new pilsner is built on a traditional recipe, with an American hoppy twist. The crisp and clean pilsner most certainly has a traditional start with each sip, finishing with a juicier, more citrus hop aroma and flavor. It’s almost a pilsner that finishes with a lingering “hazy IPA” aroma and flavor.
A little bit of the old world and a little bit of the new world make for a truly a unique, pilsner that does some good in the process.
SweetWater Twisted Fish is available in 16-ounce cans and draft across the brewery’s entire 22-state distribution while supplies last. According to the brewery, they have already sold through every keg they have in the taproom.
Style: Pilsner
Hops: Hallertau Mittelfruh, Citra, Mandarina Bavaria, Crystal
Malts: Pilsner, Carapils, Vienna
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: Late May 2018
5.3% ABV
PIC: Beer Street Journal
Mango, guava and passionfruit highlight April’s SweetWater Tropical Lover
SweetWater Tropical Lover rolls off the can in Atlanta as a new seasonal in April.
Nick Burgoyne, brewer at SweetWater has been developing this recipe for some time now. He created a low alcohol by volume Berliner Weisse; adding mango, guava, and passionfruit to the beer. The result was something quite tropical and very refreshing.
“When we put test batches on tap at the Woodlands and in our main taproom, people kept commenting on how drinkable and refreshing it was; they loved the tropical flavors. I imagine Tropical Lover will be a hit with folks hanging out on the water all summer, kicking back with a few daytime drinks.” – Nick B.
SweetWater Tropical Lover will be available in 12-ounce cans and draft starting April 7th. Look for a launch party at the brewery on April 19th.
Style: Berliner Weisse (w/ Mango. Passionfruit. Guava.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: April 2018
4.5% ABV
