Beer News

Lucky Town Ballistic Blonde Launching in Cans

Lucky Town Brewing (Jackson, MS) will launch Ballistic Blonde in cans in November, 2014.

Lucky Town Ballistic Blonde is a Belgian style blonde ale, popular since it was first introduced in 2012.

“Ballistic Blonde sales have done so well in Mississippi that Continue Reading →

Posted in Beer News, Headlines, Short's Brewing

Budweiser To Launch Tequila Flavored Offering “Oculto”

Anheuser-Busch has announced they will launch new tequila-flavored beer Oculto in spring, 2015.

Oculto is brewed with blue agave, then blended with beer aged in tequila barrels. The launch is designed to attract younger drinker demographic (those who have just turned 21) that aren’t drinking hard liquor yet, along with capturing some of the Mexican beer sales. Oculto has no tequila in it.

The label feature a skull with the Oculto name etched into it. The eyes will glow when the bottle is cold.

Oculto will be 6% ABV, and will be competing with Heineken USA’s recently launched Desperados, another tequila flavored offering.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, New Breweries

Alter Ego Brewing Now Zeroday. Opening in 2015

Alter Ego Brewing has been in planing for the last couple of years in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The brewery is on track to open in the city in 2015, but with a name change – Zeroday Brewing Co.

Theo and Brandalynn Armstrong, creators of (now Zeroday Brewing Co.) made the decision to change the name after attempting to trademark the Alter Ego Brewing moniker. All the legal red tape boiled down to requiring a change the name to protect the brand’s future. Zero Day is a hiking term for time off the trail, doing no hiking.

Construction has already begun at the brewery’s new location.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, SweetWater Brewing

SweetWater’s Can Tabs Get a “Mini” Upgrade

SweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, GA) is a paying attention to the little details. The can tabs on 420 Extra Pale, and IPA will feature a laser etched rainbow trout starting in November.

Also, you might have noticed the brewery’s cans colors have changed a little since launch. SweetWater has been working on refining the can look, basically since day one. They are getting closer to satisfied with look now.

Image via SweetWater Brewery

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Don't Miss This, Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale Launches this Week with New Art

Sierra Nevada (Chico, CA) Celebration, a perennial favorite, returns on October 15th. Celebration is a fresh-hop ale, something the brewery wants to clarify. Wet-hopped beers have hops that are freshly picked, and added to the beer undried within 24 hours. Fresh-hopped, in the case of Celebration Ale, are freshly dried hops from the field within 7 days of harvest.

We started brewing our beloved Celebration IPA in 1981, and it depends on the first hops of the annual harvest to capture the powerful pine and citrus aromas that are a hallmark of winter at our brewery. Let’s get festive with one of the earliest examples of an American IPA.

You’ll notice 2014 brings an artwork update. Sierra Nevada Celebration season kicks off in the brewery’s tap room on October 15, 2014.

Style: American IPA
Hops: Chinook, Centennial, Cascade
Malts: Two Row Pale, Caramel

Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Late Fall/Winter.

6.8% ABV, 65 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Lucky Town Brewing Co.

Lucky Town Ballistic Blonde Launching in Cans

Lucky Town Brewing (Jackson, MS) will launch Ballistic Blonde in cans in November, 2014.

Lucky Town Ballistic Blonde is a Belgian style blonde ale, popular since it was first introduced in 2012.

“Ballistic Blonde sales have done so well in Mississippi that we knew we would have to offer it in cans once we started packaging,” said Chip Jones, co-founder of Lucky Town Brewing.”

Lucky Town Ballistic Blonde will be available in 12oz/6, and draft year round.

Style: Belgian Blonde
Hops: Pearle, Styrian Goldings
Malts: Belgian Pilsner, Munich, Biscuit, Melanoiden

Availability: Draft (Current) Cans (November, 2014)

5.2% ABV, 31 IBUS

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Great Raft Brewing

Great Raft Reasonably Corrupt Launching in Cans

Great Raft Brewing (Shreveport, LA) will launch a new can – Reasonably Corrupt, in November. This will be the third year round can offering.

Great Raft Reasonably Corrupt is a black lager, an offering the brewery never expected to give the 365 treatment. A sleeper hit, if you will.

“We never anticipated canning Reasonably Corrupt as a year-round offering, but our fan base has been loud and clear,” said Andrew Nations, co-founder and president of Great Raft Brewing.

While Resonably Corrupt has already been available on draft, six pack cans hit retailers just after Halloween. The brewery commissioned Status Serigraph of Knoxville, Tennessee with typography from DeRouen & Co. of Austin, Texas.

The name? A jab a Louisiana politics.

Style: Schwarzbier
Hops: Fuggle, Hallertau
Malts: Premium Pilsen, Chocolate, Caramel, Munich

Availability: Draft (Current) Cans (November, 2014)

5.5% ABV, 30 IBUS

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Ballast Point Brewing, Beer News, Don't Miss This

Ballast Point Victory at Sea Returns Friday. Brewery Teases Year Round

Ballast Point Brewing Victory at Sea returns this Friday. The imperial porter is brewed with vanilla beans, and coffee. It never sticks around very long.

Our Victory at Sea Imperial Porter is a bold, smooth brew with just the right amount of sweetness. We infused this robust porter with whole vanilla beans and San Diego’s own Caffe Calabria coffee beans. The subtle roasted notes and minimal acidity of the cold brewed coffee, balances perfectly with the sweet caramel undertones of the malt, creating a winning combination for your palate.

Ballast Point Victory at Sea is available in 22oz bottles and draft. The brewery teased fans this week by saying it might become a year round offering. We can always hope.

Style: Imperial Porter (w/ Coffee, Vanilla Beans)
Availability: 22oz bombers, Draft. Limited Release

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay