Breweries

Posted in New Belgium, New Beers

New Belgium Piano Keys

New Belgium Piano Keys

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Creature Comforts, Brewery Expansions, Headlines

Georgia’s Creature Comforts partners with Avengers director on L.A. brewery

Athens, Georgia based Creature Comforts is expanding to Los Angeles, California, opening next year.

By the summer of 2021, Creature Comforts Brewing Company will have a home in the Fashion District of Los Angeles. The new build is thanks to a partnership with film director Joe Russo, director of movies like Marvel’s Infinity War and End Game. You might recall the brewery’s Tropicalia IPA making a “guest” appearance thanks to Thor in Endgame. That screen appearance occurred after Russo’s assistant, a Georgia native, brought Tropicalia to the set during Infinity War filming. Russo fell in love.

Even before Marvel fame, Creature Comforts has collaborated frequently with other brewers in California, including Russian River, Modern Times, Firestone Walker, Alvarado Street, and Sierra Nevada. Creature Comforts has always had an affinity for the Golden State.

While Creature fans had long been hoping a taproom was coming to Atlanta, the brewery’s 3rd location will be on City Market South at 1124 San Julian St. in the Fashion District of L.A., The new build includes a 3,000-sq. ft. taproom, a 10,000-sq. ft. production facility and copious outdoor seating. The production capacity of the new facility initially maxes out at 15,000 barrels (nearly 500,000 gallons) annually. Russo apparently discovered the space in the same development as his AGBO production company that was already zoned for a brewery.

“We are excited to join the vibrant craft beer scene in California and plan additional collaborations. While we are delighted to share many of our core year-round and seasonal beers, we also look forward to creating unique brews for the Los Angeles community.” – Adam Beauchamp, Brewmaster and Co-Owner, Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

Creature Comforts opened its original facility in April of 2014. A larger production facility nearby by the original taproom opened in June of 2018.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Oskar Blues Brewing, Headlines

Oskar Blues debuts ‘Mustard Beer’ featuring 150 pounds of French’s

We wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t know that today, August 1st, is National Mustard Day. There’s a “day” for everything. While you are smothering everything in spicy yellow goodness, there’s a craft beer to pair with it. Oskar Blues Mustard Beer.

It’s craft beer, so you know we aren’t kidding. Oskar Blues partnered with French’s on the collaboration, a tropical wheat beer infused with the yellow stuff. 150 pounds of it to be exact. The result is a wheat beer with a yellowish tinge, boasting flavors of lime, lemon, tangerine, and passion fruit to complement the spice and zip added by the mustard.

Last year French’s made a mustard flavor ice cream for the occasion. We never got to try it, but some folks on social media melted down over its mear existence. (One person even called it a slight against God. That might be a little much.)

Oskar Blues Mustard Beer was available to ship on CraftShack.com, but it sold out pretty much immediately.

Style: Wheat Beer (w/ French’s Mustard)
Availability: 12oz Cans. Limited Release.
Debut: 8/1/20

5.2% ABV

Update: Sold out. Everywhere. Next stop, ketchup day. 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Tucker Brewing Company, Seasonal Return

Tucktoberfest Märzen Lager

Tucktoberfest Märzen Lager

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Dogfish Head, New Beers

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale 2020

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale 2020

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Bell's Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Bell’s Mango Oberon is being distributed for the first time

Bell’s Oberon is easily one of the most popular seasonal beers in America. (Unless you live in a handful of areas where it’s year-round). Every so often, and in very limited quantities, variants of Oberon have surfaced, such as Pineapple Jalapeno, Guava Raspberry, and Cucumber Basil. This month, another variant – Mango Oberon, has been selected for wider distribution.

Those living close to Bell’s General Store in downtown Kalamazoo have might have seen this beer in the past. According to Larry Bell, brewery president, and founder, says brewery fans have been asking for Oberon special releases to see more distribution.

12-ounce bottles of Bell’s Mango Oberon start shipping in limited quantities across the United States the week after July 4th.

Style: Fruited Wheat Beer (w/ Mango)
Availability: 12oz Bottles
Debut: July 2020

5.8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Holland Brewing, Don't Miss This

New Holland Dragon’s Milk series gains a foeder beer

A new Dragon’s Milk is joining the New Holland Brewing family this month – Dragon’s Milk Solera. Unlike the year-round barrel-aged imperial stout, this release is a completely different beer, from grain to glass.

“Dragon’s Milk (the 11%’er) has really given us the ability to experiment and grow the Dragon’s Milk family,” says New Holland’s brand manager Dominic Berquist. “This is really one of the most unique brewing approaches to the series yet,” he adds.

Dragon’s Milk Solera’s base beer is best described as an American strong ale before it’s racked to American oak foeders. New Holland is going to fractionally blend each batch, known as the “solera” method. The oak foeders will house different generations of the base beer, each contributing to what you will taste in the bottle, starting with the master batch, down the line to the youngest batch. The maximum age of a thread of Solera will increase with each blend until reaching an age equilibrium. At release, that’s 7.5 months. At equilibrium, the age will increase to just over 11 months.

Each blend in the process will be numbered, so fans can follow along with blending journey.

…Dragon’s Milk Solera presents a gorgeous mahogany hue. An oaky and subtly sweet nose draws the drinker in for a sip where beguiling flavors of caramel, toffee and fig coalesce into a beer best savored amongst good company.

New Holland Dragon’s Milk Solera year-round starting in mid-July, with draft available in select states in August.

Style: American Strong Ale (Foeder Aged)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: 7/19/20

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay