Left Hand A Blessing & A Curse joins the Colorado brewery’s ‘Big ‘Mo” lineup in May.
The brewery partners hops from the northern and southern hemispheres when creating this imperial India pale ale. The finished beer boasts citrus, pine and tropical Continue Reading →
It’s hard not to judge a book by it’s cover. The same goes for beer. As beer gets infinitely more creative, so has the artwork that goes along with it. Atlanta’s Second Self Beer didn’t just brew a great beer Continue Reading →
Orpheus Brewing Serpent Bite, one of the brewery’s original launch beers, is now available year-round.
The Atlanta, Georgia based brewery first canned Serpent Bite in May of 2016. The base beer is a saison fermented with a French saison yeast, and soured Continue Reading →
Marking the double decade milestone, SweetWater 20th Anniversary Ale will debut in February.
If we could sum up the just the last 5 years of Atlanta’s SweetWater Brewing Company, it would be growth. The brewery has jumped from a 25 barrel Continue Reading →
Asheville, North Carolina’s Hi-Wire Brewing has been absolutely killing it with the artwork. Don’t believe us? See Hi-Wire 10W-40 Imperial Stout. Coming in February is some more awesome artwork, found in the Hi-Wire Collaboration 12-Pack. If you’ve ever used a can Continue Reading →
Left Hand A Blessing & A Curse joins the Colorado brewery’s ‘Big ‘Mo” lineup in May.
The brewery partners hops from the northern and southern hemispheres when creating this imperial India pale ale. The finished beer boasts citrus, pine and tropical fruit.
This double IPA delivers a synthesis of hops from opposite hemispheres with an aggressive disposition of citrus, pine, and tropical fruit characteristics for a delightfully juxtaposed consequence. Count your blessings, accept the curse.
Left Hand A Blessing & A Curse is slated for a May, 2017 release.
Style:Imperial IPA Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft. Debut: May, 2017
It’s more than just beer. It’s art. Second Self Manic Pixie Dream
It’s hard not to judge a book by it’s cover. The same goes for beer. As beer gets infinitely more creative, so has the artwork that goes along with it. Atlanta’s Second Self Beer didn’t just brew a great beer and slap a label on it. Manic Pixie Dream is a “next level” kind of collaboration.
This story starts a bit before the beer was brewed. Brewery co-founder Jason Santamaria has been a fan of Keith P. Rein’s artwork for a while. The guy is best known for the Slaughterhouse Starlets Series. Basically, he takes famous females like Winona Ryder or Taylor Swift and juxtaposes them into a murdery, Dexter-like composition. When Santamaria married his wife Liz, he noticed Keith P. Rein to be the dominant in each other’s art collection.
All Santamaria needed was a good reason to reach out to is favorite artist. As it turns out, Rein has always wanted to do a piece for a beer can. Manic Pixie Dream was born.
The Second Self team went big when it comes to the beer. The base is an 11% alcohol by volume Russian imperial stout, that has been aged in Blis barrels. The mere mention of Blis will make a beer fan salivate. Blis Gourment is a Michigan based company that ages maple syrup in bourbon barrels. After the maple syrup is drained, what you have left is a playground for one hell of an awesome beer. As an added bonus, Second Self infused locally roasted Batdorf & Bronson coffee.
Santamaria and Rein weren’t satisfied with just creating one label. Especially with a beer as complex as this one. Blis barrels are hard to come by, and recipes like this one are expensive. Ultimately, this beer is in short supply. Created simply for your own happiness. A bit like the Manic Pixie Dream Girl movie trope.
Coined in 2005 by film critic Nathan Rabin after watching Kirsten Dunst’s character in Elizabethtown, MPDG is a “bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures.” Other examples include Kate Hudson’s character in Almost Famous, Natalie Portman in Garden State, or Marilyn Monroe in Some Like it Hot.
With Manic Pixie Dream in mind, Rein drew four different iterations of Pixie. Each label breaks out a component of the beer – Coffee, Maple Syrup, Bourbon, and Grains. Besides the incredible artwork, the beer is fantastic. Truly a sipper, where the each of the components starts to pop as the beer warms. After the barrel-aging, you’re drinking at near 14% alcohol by volume beer.
Second Self is holding a special release event on February 26th where attendees can purchase all four cans. The brewery is planning on making Manic Pixie Dream a series going forward, with an evolving list of styles (including a sour/wild ale).
This is one of the few times we have found ourselves torn between the beer or the artwork that’s more exciting. A few more sips and we might just decide.
Shorter name & year-round: Half Acre Tuna Extra Pale Ale
Half AcreTuna Extra Pale Ale is the next year-round can by the Chicago, Illinois based brewery.
This beer went by ‘Golden Tuna’ in the taproom in the past. As Half Acre puts it – “We all took the short cut and now Tuna lives.” The pale ale features Mosaic and Centennial hops, and is big on citrus and passionfruit.
It’s a perpetually gassed up 3-wheeler, churned and ready to take you wherever you wanna go.
Cans of Half Acre Tuna Extra Pale Ale will be available at the brewery’s Lincoln Avenue shop starting Friday, March 3rd.
Orpheus Brewing Serpent Bite upgraded to year-round status
Orpheus BrewingSerpent Bite, one of the brewery’s original launch beers, is now available year-round.
The Atlanta, Georgia based brewery first canned Serpent Bite in May of 2016. The base beer is a saison fermented with a French saison yeast, and soured with the brewery’s house Lactobacillus bacteria culture. With this addition brewery has two year round sour ales in cans
Just as the Serpent Bite and loss of Eurydice was the catalyst for Orpheus’s journey, our love for hops and sour beers was the catalyst for Orpheus Brewing. Serpent Bite is a dry-hopped, sour saison, with a tart bite, and notes of orange and tropical fruit.
Orpheus Brewing Serpent Bite is a draft and 12 ounce can offering, year-round.
Style:Saison Hops: Mandarina Bavaria, Pekko Malt: Two Row barley, White Wheat Yeast: House Lactobacillus Mother, French saison yeast
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Year-round Original Debut (Cans): May, 2016
For the love of Atlanta, there is Second Self A.T. aLe
Just in time for the Atlanta Falcon’s Super Bowl appearance, Atlanta will get to sip Second Self A.T. aLe for the first time.
In case you haven’t figured it out, Second Self Beer Company calls Atlanta home, just miles from The Georgia Dome. Second Self A.T. aLe is an unfiltered hoppy pale ale, perfect for 4 quarters of big game watching.
Officially launching in March, it’s CRISP, CLEAN, REFRESHING, and something you’ll love to drink in every season.
Fans can catch a sneak peek of Second Self A.T. aLe on February 5th at the brewery. 12 ounce cans will be available starting in March, 2017.
Style:Pale Ale Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Year-round. Debut: March, 2017
SweetWater 20th Anniversary Ale gets funky in February
Marking the double decade milestone, SweetWater20th Anniversary Ale will debut in February.
If we could sum up the just the last 5 years of Atlanta’s SweetWater Brewing Company, it would be growth. The brewery has jumped from a 25 barrel brewhouse to a 400 barrel system, added cans, expanded lab and quality control, added distribution states, bottle conditioning. and most recently, a multi-million dollar sour & wild facility. So much good coming out of 195 Ottley Drive.
In February, the brewery will mark their 20th year with a party featuring the band Moe. as well as releasing SweetWater 20th Anniversary Ale.
For the past few years, SweetWater has been working on their own house blend of Brettanomyces. A part from some small batch releases, this is the first time the beer has seen the big time. The base beer is an imperial IPA brewed with brewery staple “hop hash”. (Hash is the potent chunks leftover after hops are pelletized.)
Described as extremely hop forward, the American wild ale is fruity, herbal, and citrusy, with a touch of funk in the finish.
Can’t make the party? SweetWater 20th Anniversary Ale will be available in 750 milliliter bottles in mid to late February, 2017.
Style:American Wild Ale Hops: Bravo, Mosaic, Citra Malts: Pilsner, Maris Ottler, Wheat, Flaked Oats, Midnight Wheat
More amazing artwork from Hi-Wire Brewing in new 12 pack
Asheville, North Carolina’s Hi-Wire Brewing has been absolutely killing it with the artwork. Don’t believe us? See Hi-Wire 10W-40 Imperial Stout. Coming in February is some more awesome artwork, found in the Hi-Wire Collaboration 12-Pack. If you’ve ever used a can of spray paint, or stepped foot in the paint section of a hardware store, you’ll find something familiar with this branding.
It has been a while since Hi-Wire has been able to collaborate with other breweries, thanks to the time it has taken to get settled in with their new production facility. When time opened up on the production schedule, they opted to go big.
The mixed pack features Hi-Wire teamed up with NOLA Brewing, Holy City Brewing (Charleston, SC), and Hardywood Park Craft Brewery (Richmond, VA), each creating three unique beers.
NOLA Brewing’s collaboration, Pimm’s Berliner Weisse, is based on the New Orlean’s favorite Pimm’s Cup drink. A Berliner Weisse brewed with juniper berries, orange peel, and cucumber. 4.2% ABV
Holy City co-owner Jeff Moreadith is a lover of lighter beers, as well as an Asheville resident. Together, they created Carolina Coastal Black Rye Lager using Seashore Black Rye, a malt grown outside Charleston, South Carolina.
The 12-pack will be rounded out with Hi-Wire’s flagship beers: Hi-Pitch Mosaic IPA, Hi-Wire Lager, and Hi-Wire Gose.
Look for Hi-Wire Collaboration 12-pack throughout the brewery’s entire distribution footprint in mid-February, 2017.
Santamaria and Rein weren’t satisfied with just creating one label. Especially with a beer as complex as this one. Blis barrels are hard to come by, and recipes like this one are expensive. Ultimately, this beer is in short supply. Created simply for your own happiness. A bit like the Manic Pixie Dream Girl movie trope.
