Breweries

Contrast Artisan Ales: 7 Years Strong

On this Saturday afternoon in Chamblee, seven years feels worth celebrating—not just because Chase didn’t give up, but because he’s built something where great people make the beer that much better.

If my beer memory serves me well (enough) I first Continue Reading →

Posted in Brewery Closures, Headlines, Rogue Brewing, Rogue Spirits

Rogue Ales Abruptly Closes After 37 Years

Rogue Ales, makers of Dead Guy Ale has shut down suddenly under financial strain.

Absolute shock rocks the beer industry today. Rogue Ales & Spirits abruptly closed all operations Friday morning, marking the end (at least for now) of one of Oregon’s most iconic breweries.

The Newport-based brewery informed Port of Newport officials Friday morning that it would cease operations immediately, shuttering its massive 47,000-square-foot South Beach production facility along with all remaining pubs in Astoria, West Salem, and Southeast Portland.

The closure comes amid surprising financial distress. Rogue owes $545,000 in back rent to the Port of Newport and more than $30,000 in property taxes to Lincoln County.

Rogue was founded in Ashland in 1988 before relocating to Newport in 1989 and is an absolute cornerstone of Oregon’s craft beer scene for 37 years, with beers in all 50 states and so many countries beyond the United States.

Every brewer in America knows John Maier joined Rogue in 1989 that lead Rogue to winning 1,000s of beer awards. Just pick one – Dead Guy Ale, Hazelnut Nectar, Shakespeare Stout. There was even a beer made with yeast extracted for Maier’s beard a few years ago. Aptly named Beard Beer.

Beer Industry in 2025 is complicated.

Rogue’s closure is part of a what feels like a beer industry blood bath. As of late, Oregon has lost nearly 75 breweries, taprooms, or brewpubs since the the pandemic, while the national craft beer market declined by more than 4% in the past 16 months. Rogue has not been immune to that decline.

Paradoxically, Rogue opened a new Salem pub this year, which at the time signaled a positive flux in Oregonian craft beer.

Rogue Brewing has not responded to requests for comment at the time of this article. No word if Rogue is seeking a buyer for the company, beers, or trademarks.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Contrast Artisan Ales, Headlines

Contrast Artisan Ales: 7 Years Strong

On this Saturday afternoon in Chamblee, seven years feels worth celebrating—not just because Chase didn’t give up, but because he’s built something where great people make the beer that much better.

If my beer memory serves me well (enough) I first met Chase Medlin when he was brewing at Twain’s in Decatur, Georgia. At some point we struck up a conversation about one of his new IPAs or something and the rest is history.

Chase always wanted his own brewery, but Contrast Artisan Ales was still a little far down the road. There would be a few more years at Twain’s, a failed run with starting Locomotion Brewing (he even had tanks on the ground). One thing is certain, he loves beer and because he never gave up, that brings us to today. It’s the 7th anniversary of Contrast Artisan Ales. 

It’s shortly after 1 pm and folks are slowly getting the party started at the small brewery in Chamblee, Georgia. Halloween was just last night on Friday in Atlanta, for some, this party is also part hair of the dog. (Damn, we miss that brewery.) It’s perfect Georgia fall weather, winter in the morning, summer by noon, fall by dark. Chase and his crew are pouring some of the best beer they’ve made yet, reminding you why he fought so hard to make this place happen.

What strikes you most isn’t just the beer, though. It’s the atmosphere built here. The staff is genuinely happy to be here (increasingly rare in craft beer), joking with regulars and welcoming newbies with happy enthusiasm. Seven years in, Contrast isn’t trying to be the biggest or the flashiest. It’s something better: a neighborhood spot with great beer that makes you want to drink, and most of all – stay.

On this Saturday afternoon in Chamblee, seven years feels worth celebrating—not just because Chase didn’t give up, but because he’s built something where great people make the beer that much better.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines, Marshall Brewing Company

QuikTrip’s Quittin’ Time Beer expanding to more states

Almost 50 years ago, QuickTrip launched their own house beer that died out in the 90’s. Now it’s back and expanding.

There’s a certain magic that happens when nostalgia meets craft beer, and QuikTrip is banking on that alchemy with the revival of Quittin’ Time Premium Beer—a house brand that hit shelves in 1977 and has been dormant for nearly four decades.

The relaunch, which kicked off in January 2025 at QuikTrip locations across Oklahoma, represents more than just another craft beer hitting the market. It’s the resurrection of a cultural touchstone for a generation of Oklahomans who cracked open a cold QT beer at the end of a shift.

A Name Born from a Casual Goodbye

The origin story of Quittin’ Time reads like something out of Mad Men. In 1977, QuikTrip’s Vice President of Marketing, Wyatt Phillips, was finishing up at office when co-founder and CEO Chester Cadieux walked past. Phillips as the story goes, would wave and say, “It’s quittin’ time.”

That exchange named their proprietary beer, and fit so well with grabbing a cold one at the end of workday.

The original Quittin’ Time was contract brewed by Pearl Brewing in San Antonio, Texas, and was available through the late 1970s and into the mid-1980s before being discontinued sometime in the early 1990s. Advertising drove the product, a regional favorite before the craft beer boom, but as those costs skyrocketed with modern media, the beer was discontinued.

Marshall Brewing revives the past

For the modern revival, QuikTrip turned to Tulsa’s Marshall Brewing Company. Founded by Wes Marshall, the brewery has become a cornerstone of Tulsa’s beer scene and was a perfect choice to reimagine Quittin’ Time for today’s craft beer heavy palate.

The collaboration wasn’t about simply recreating the original recipe—it was about capturing the spirit of what Quittin’ Time represented while meeting the expectations of modern craft beer enthusiasts.

A Beer for Every Day

The new Quittin’ Time Premium Beer is crafted as an American Lager, with all the usual descriptions – light, crisp, and refreshing, etc. It’s a drinking beer plain and simple. No need to overthink it.

Launch and Expansion

Quittin Time beer officially relaunched in Oklahoma in January in Marshall Brewing’s taproom in Tulsa. For the first few months it was only available in Oklahoma but ever so quietly, the beer has been showing up in more states, like Kansas and now Georgia. Quiktrip operates in 19 states with more than 1000 stores, so Marshall better get brewing.

For Oklahomans who remember the original, it’s a chance to reconnect with a piece of their past. For younger drinkers, you can throwback a can of beer history.

Style: American Lager
Availability: 12oz Cans/ 6-packs. $9.99
Re-Launch: January 2025

4.3% ABV

Quittin’ Time advertising from the late 70’s launch

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in 3 Sheeps Brewing, Beer News, Headlines, New Releases

Piggly Wiggly Beer Is Real, Brewed by 3 Sheeps

Piggly Wiggly officially has their own house craft beer brand with the help of 3 Sheeps Brewing. The beers started hitting stores over the past few weeks.

Grant Pauly, founder of 3 Sheeps in Sheboygan, Wisconsin first started going Piggly Wiggly as a kind in nearby Manitowoc. Family shopping trips to the “Hoggly Woggly” aka “The Pig” left an impression all the way through adulthood. Piggly Wiggly might at one point be synonymous with The South hailing from Arkansas, The Pig brand is strong in the Badger State.

Piggly Wiggly already sells Pauly’s 3 Sheeps brands all over Wisconsin. Now, 3 Sheeps Brewing and The Pig have a new partnershp, Piggly Wiggly beer.

Three house-branded beers are available exclusively at Piggly Wiggly stores across Wisconsin. And unlike the typical grocery store beer play—slap a new label on an existing product and call it a day—3 Sheeps actually created each of these beers from scratch. No rebranding some beer sku here. 3 Sheeps is all in on some Pig originals.

The lineup includes a Midwest IPA, German Pilsner, and Amber Lager— three styles that are refrigerator staples. Triple dry-hopped gummy bear lactose imported vanilla bean rare coffee quadruple barrel-aged beers with a Saturday morning cartoon trademark infringed label need not apply.

Shop the Pig

If you think about it, the partnership makes perfect sense. Especially for Wisconsin. The land where their Kwik Trip gas stations are 30% beer cooler. Bars open early for knitting circles so grandma can have a beer before noon. The Midwest loves beer. So does Piggly Wiggly.

The first look at these beers, the branding is on point, but the expectations were low. Until you turn the can and see the 3 Sheeps Brewing branding on the side, dispelling any fears that this is a marketing stunt. The pilsner is crisp with a touch of bitterness, the Midwest IPA leans hard on the (Mid)West Coast, and our personal favorite – the Amber Lager is everything the style is supposed to be.

For now, the Piggly Wiggly beers are only available across Wisconsin. While the demand might be tempting to expand beyond the state, Pauly and Piggly Wiggly are happier than a pig in… beer to keep in local for now.

Next time a Wisconsinites are at The Pig grabbing a milk and some donuts, you can toss in Piggly Wiggly beer too. It’s probably the most Wisconsin thing you can do in the morning short of drinking it in the parking lot before you drive home.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Brewery Expansions, Fire Maker Brewing Company, Galleries, Headlines

Fire Maker Brewing opens Southern Social in Griffin, Georgia

Forty miles south of downtown Atlanta lies Griffin, Georgia, the birthplace of dentist-turned-gunslinger Doc Holliday. It’s also the new second home to Firemaker Brewing Company, where history and modern flair converge in a pint glass.

The brewery renovated a 114-year-old abandoned building, transforming it into Southern Social, a taproom with a small brewery space and the company’s first full kitchen. In 2023, the city of Griffin saw the space as a perfect fit for a brewery, offering incentives to lure an Atlanta-based brewer to take a chance south of the city. Elliot Hall, Firemaker’s owner and co-founder, seized the opportunity, announcing the project in September 2023.

Fast forward to fall 2025, and Southern Social has become a cornerstone of Griffin’s revitalized downtown. Visitors can savor a beer and burger, pork chop, or fried bologna sandwich alongside Firemaker’s tap lineup or sip wine and cocktails from their “Get Lucky Spirits” collection. The taproom radiates authentic Southern charm, with exposed brick walls and food served on brown paper atop metal trays—a nod to old-school Southern meat-and-three diners or vintage department store lunch counters like Woolworth’s or Kress. The fare is hearty, no-frills, and downright tasty: think pork chops, green beans, coleslaw, and creamed corn. It’s practical, unpretentious, and inviting, much like Griffin itself. The price is quite on point as well.

The spacious taproom also features a small brewing setup just off the kitchen and Full Swing Virtual Golf bays, perfect for working off that burger while enjoying another beer—perhaps a pint of Calamity Jane, Firemaker’s PGA Georgia sponsorship brew. Southern Social isn’t just a place to eat and drink; it’s a gathering spot that breathes new life into Griffin’s historic heart.

If you find yourself south of Atlanta, grab a stool at Southern Social and have a pint in Doc’s hometown, or work on your drive before your next tee time and enjoy the warmth of a Southern town reborn.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines, New Releases, Oskar Blues Brewing

Oskar Blues Expands Dale’s Lineup with Dale’s American IPA

Oskar Blues and the “Dale’s” beers are synonmous with each other. Dale’s Pale Ale launched 2002 is easily one of the best known pale ales in craft beer. This month, the Dale’s lineup is expanding, with the launch of Dale’s American IPA.

Dale’s American IPA is a 7% ABV West Coast-style IPA designed to bridge classic hop-forward brewing with modern drinkability (a stark contrast the chunky haze bombs of the past few years.) The new offering features a citrus, pine, and herbal profile built on a contemporary malt foundation, to create a more both hoppy and straight forward while still being familiar.

PA is the most iconic style in American craft beer…and the roots of the Dale’s lineup are in hop-forward, aggressive but approachable beers. With American IPA, we found the classic balance of hop flavor between familiar and fearless – an American quality of pushing boundaries but staying grounded.” – Aaron Baker, Brand Director, Oskar Blues

Dale’s American IPA joins an expanding portfolio that includes Dale’s Pale Ale, Dale’s Light Lager, Double Dales IPA, Easy IPA, and most recently – Designated Dales NA Pils. T

The beer is currently available on tap at Oskar Blues’ Brevard, North Carolina and Longmont, Colorado taprooms, with select state distribution beginning this month and national availability in 6-packs of 12-ounce cans and on draft expected by fall 2025.

As part of Oskar Blues’ partnership with USA Curling, the new IPA will be featured at curling clubs and events nationwide through the 2026 Winter Olympic Games season.

Style: IPA (West-Coast Style)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Year-Round

Debut: October 2025

7% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Headlines, New Holland Brewing

New Holland Dragon’s Milk Rolls a d20 with more Dungeons & Dragons releases

New Holland Brewing & Distilling Co. is expanding its Dungeons & Dragons collaboration lineup this November, continuing to prove that beer and dragons (and dungeons) is a perfect match.

The Michigan brewery announced this week that both D20 Brew and Mead Cask Bourbon will return to shelves starting November 8, each packaged with enough dragon-themed collectibles to make your quest rewards even more desirable.

This marks the latest chapter in what is officially a full-fledged partnership between New Holland and Hasbro’s Wizards of the Coast. As we covered in August, the collaboration kicked off in 2024 to celebrate D&D’s 50th anniversary with a Coconut Rum Barrel Reserve, followed by the high-octane D20 Brew at 20% ABV. This year’s Dragon Turtle release continued the narrative with another coconut rum barrel-aged stout and now the brewery is circling back to bring fan favorites out of the vault.

What’s in the Barrel

D20 Brew leads the charge—a bourbon barrel-aged stout that pays homage to silver dragons from D&D lore. The beer hits retail nationwide November 8, but besides the boozy prize in the bottle, the release includes a D20 Dice Tower Set, which packages the stout inside a custom dice tower complete with special-edition dice. That collector’s edition drops at New Holland brewpubs November 8 and online November 17.

For the spirits crowd, the Mead Cask Bourbon Gift Set returns with Dragon’s Milk Bourbon finished in mead casks. This black dragon-themed release comes boxed with a custom pour spout and exclusive D&D packaging, available at the same locations and dates as the dice tower set.

New Holland Mead Finished Bourbon
New Holland Dragon’s Milk Origin

“Our collaboration with DUNGEONS & DRAGONS has allowed us to craft unique offerings that bring fans together at the table in new and memorable ways. The return of D20 and Mead Cask Bourbon is a celebration of community, storytelling, and the legendary experiences that both brands inspire.” said Brett VanderKamp, CEO and founder, New Holland

Last year’s inaugural partnership sold out quite quickly, and these limited editions are sure to do so as well. The collaboration between Hasbro’s Wizards of the Coast and New Holland proves that sometimes the best campaigns happen when two completely different worlds meet at the tavern.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles, Wax Dipped.
Debut: 11/8/25

20% ABV

Ed. Note: Beer Street Journal humbly requests a New Holland/Magic the Gathering collab next…

by Reid Ramsay