Beer News

Too Many Bubbles In Commercial Suicide

Jester King Brewing’s Commerical Suicide has a bubbly issue.  The yeast did a little extra work, causing leakage and spewing. (That’s what she said.)  Jester is recalling the recently released bottles.

A few weeks ago, we posted about an issue with Continue Reading →

Founders Bottling Imperial Stout

Founder’s Brewing mentioned today that they are bottling Imperial Stout.  Available in January seasonally.

Brewed with ten varieties of malted barley, this stout is smooth as silk, yet complex and rich in body. Serve this guy at cellar temperature. Put another Continue Reading →

Big Win For Brewers In Texas

The United States District Court of Texas has ruled in favor of Jester King Brewing, and their 2 co-plaintiffs – Authentic Beverage Company and Zax Restaurant & Bar, filed against the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

It was a 1st Amendment challenge Continue Reading →

Why Lagunitas Still Sucks

So this season, Brown Shugga’couldn’t be made by Lagunitas Brewing.  They weren’t happy about it at all, but DID make Lagunitas Sucks – an IPA attempting to smooth over hurt feelings.  As it turns out, Sucks has been quite popular. Continue Reading →

Posted in Beer News, Jester King Brewery

Too Many Bubbles In Commercial Suicide

Jester King Brewing’s Commerical Suicide has a bubbly issue.  The yeast did a little extra work, causing leakage and spewing. (That’s what she said.)  Jester is recalling the recently released bottles.

A few weeks ago, we posted about an issue with Commercial Suicide bottles continuing to ferment beyond the projected finishing point, and becoming overcarbonated as a result. At the time, we did not feel that the issue warranted a full recall, but with extended cold storage, the bottle fermentation would cease and the excess CO2 that resulted from it would most likely get reabsorbed into the beer. Unfortunately, the fermentation has continued to a point where bottles may now be showing significant signs of leakage and may gush extensively upon opening. For this reason, we must ask that any retailer that still has Commercial Suicide on its shelves pull the product immediately. We would also advise any consumers who may be in possession of Commercial Suicide bottles to return them, either to the retailer from which they were purchased, or directly to the brewery. While we do not currently have any more Commercial Suicide to replace the overcarbonated batch, we are currently working on a Farmhouse version, which we hope to have ready sometime this spring. In the meantime, we will gladly replace any unopened bottles of Commercial Suicide that are returned to the brewery during our Saturday open hours with fresh bottles of one of our other beers of equal or higher retail value. Please accept our apology for this issue and for the inconvenience it has caused.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, New Belgium

New Belgium’s Mothership Wit On Hiatus In 2012

It’s been out of stock for a few weeks now, and then removed from price lists in 2012. I’m talking about New Belgium’s Mothership Wit.  That warranted a little investigation.  As it turns out, New Belgium will be placing Mothership Wit on indefinite hiatus at the end of this year.  Wit is New Belgium’s first organic beer, made with copious amounts of wheat.

The brewery just released Prickly Passion Saison, and Fresh Hop Ale, both bombers on shelves & tap handles right now.  Also, seasonal favorite Frambozen is currently available.

There are a host of new beers coming soon from New Belgium, including Shift Pale Lager (16oz cans), Dig, Cocoa Mole, & more.  New Belgium also plans on announcing an east coast facility in 2012.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Coming Soon, Founders Brewing

Founders Bottling Imperial Stout

Founder’s Brewing mentioned today that they are bottling Imperial Stout.  Available in January seasonally.

Brewed with ten varieties of malted barley, this stout is smooth as silk, yet complex and rich in body. Serve this guy at cellar temperature. Put another log on the fire, sit back, and enjoy the friendship of this ultimate winter warmer

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Jester King Brewery

Big Win For Brewers In Texas

The United States District Court of Texas has ruled in favor of Jester King Brewing, and their 2 co-plaintiffs – Authentic Beverage Company and Zax Restaurant & Bar, filed against the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

It was a 1st Amendment challenge – stating that labels in Texas have to have special labeling.  Now, beer may be labeled as “beer” and “ale” as ale.  TABC also prohibited breweries in the state from telling people where to buy the beer.   Now Jester King can add a “Where To Buy” section to their website.

“In a remarkable (though logically dubious) demonstration of circular reasoning” Judge Sparks writes in his ruling, “TABC attempts to defend the constitutional legitimacy of the Code through an appeal to the statutory authority of the Code itself.” Referring to the required use of the terms “beer”, “ale”, and “malt liquor”, he writes “TABC’s argument, combined with artful legislative drafting, could be used to justify any restrictions on commercial speech. For instance, Texas would likely face no (legal) obstacle if it wished to pass a law defining the word ‘milk’ to mean ‘a nocturnal flying mammal that eats insects and employs echolocation.’ Under TABC’s logic, Texas would then be authorized to prohibit use of the word ‘milk’ by producers of a certain liquid dairy product, but also to require Austin promoters to advertise the famous annual ‘Milk Festival’ on the Congress Avenue Bridge.’”

The judge did not rule on the on TABC’s treatment of Texas brewpubs and breweries.  Jester King (among others) claim that the TABC v

We were disappointed, but not too surprised, that Judge Sparks ruled against our claims that Texas’s disparate treatment of breweries and brewpubs:

…violated the Equal Protection Clause and that its treatment of foreign breweries violated both the Equal Protection Clause and the Commerce Clause. The TABC never gave any reason why Texas should be able to prohibit craft brewers from selling beer to customers on-site, while allowing wineries to do so, or why Texas should be able to favor foreign wineries over foreign breweries, and Judge Sparks did not speculate on why that might be. But the legal standards are different and more demanding for challenges brought under the Equal Protection Clause than the First Amendment, and we were unable to persuade Judge Sparks to strike down these discriminatory laws. We were encouraged, however, by Judge Sparks’s observation that “The State of Texas is lucky the burden of proof was on [the Plaintiffs] for many of its claims, or else the Alcoholic Beverage Code might have fared even worse than it has.”

A huge step forward for not only Jester King, but all breweries in the State Of Texas.  Jester King will continue to push more “freeing” legislation during the 2013 session.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Coming Soon, Lagunitas

Why Lagunitas Still Sucks

Lagunitas Still SucksSo this season, Brown Shugga’couldn’t be made by Lagunitas Brewing.  They weren’t happy about it at all, but DID make Lagunitas Sucks – an IPA attempting to smooth over hurt feelings.  As it turns out, Sucks has been quite popular.  Ok, so it’s no Shugga’ but a tasty substitute.

Remember when I mentioned you’ll see it again?  If you missed your shot at this tasty second stringer, you’ll get you’re shot with Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Leftover Ale. Here’s some good bad or bad good news.  It’s taking the place of Big Hairy Eyeball.  Recently, Lagunita’s new brewhouse ate it en route to Petaluma.  The delay has set production back even more.  So, more Sucks, less Balls. err.. Eyeballs. Hairy ones.

Big Hairy Eyeball will return in 2013.   Some beer is better than no beer right?

In other Lagunitas news: More Bourbon Cappuccino Stout headed your’re way, Fusion 8, & some Butterfly Videos

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Russian River Brewing

Russian River’s Beatification Gone In 30

Russian River’s Beatification sold out this morning in about 30 minutes.  The 375ml bottles sold for $15 a piece, with a 2 per person limit.  Beatification is an American Wild Ale.  Batch#5 will release in Spring, 2012.

We just ran out of Batch 4 Beatification at 11:20am! There were about 100 people in line when we opened the doors and there was not much to go around. If you are still planning to come to the pub, you won’t be disappointed. We do have about 18 beers on tap, including Mortification, and lots of other great beers in the bottle! Batch 5 Beatification will be out in the Spring and there will be much more available!

[RussianRiver]

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Coming Soon, Goose Island Brewing

Goose Island & Frontera Releasing New Collaborations

Goose FronteraGoose Island and Frontera Mexican Grill have a beer collaboration – Alma.   While rumored to have come and gone already, Frontera Grill says there is enough to last through January, 2012.  That’s not the only collaboration between the brewery and the restaurant. Xocolatl, a barrel aged chocolate barleywine will tap this Wednesday at Frontera Grill.

Xocolatl is made with the same chocolate beans used in the divine hot chocolate served at Frontera’s sister restaurant, Xoco, Mexican vanilla and ancho chili. It was aged for 18 months in barrels used to age Elijah Craig 18-year-old whiskey.

Frontera proprietor Rick Bayless and Manny Valdes (Frontera) brewed the beer with Jared Rouben Goose Island Clybourn.  Marisol, GI’s Belgian Pale was also a Frontera collaboration.  The beer is billed as a “Latin Style White Ale.”  Up to now, the beer has only been available on draft.  It’s spiced with tangerine zest, coriander and ugli fruit (an orange hybrid.)

Corazon, is yet another Goose Island/Frontera collaboration – hitting taps at the restaurant in 2012.

Frontera Grill
445 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 312-661-1434

[ChicagoTribune]

Goose Island Marisol

by Reid Ramsay