Don’t Miss This

Posted in SweetWater Brewing, Don't Miss This

SweetWater Through the Brambles is out of the foeder again

SweetWater Through the Brambles was the inaugural release from the brewery’s multi-million dollar sour and wild ale expansion last year. The blackberry heavy ale truly set the tone for what was to come from the program. Its popularity is prompting a second release. .

PICS: SweetWater The Woodlands

SweetWater Through the Brambles is a sour ale brewed with blackberries that has spent 12 months aging in French oak. The result is something magical. We were wowed by the fresh peach flavor in Pit & the Pendulum. The blackberries in Brambles is equally as fresh and bright. The mixed culture of wild yeast and bacteria used here is the beginnings of the house culture, which is sure to become a superstar over time. The beer finishes with just a hint of tartness, and a touch of funk.

Through the Brambles and The Woodlands is just the beginning of a whole new era for the brewery. A strong lab program and a team of incredibly talented brewers will most assuredly turn these releases into household names in the next couple of years.

Rose in color with notes of blackberry, oak and some southern funk form the wild yeast and bacteria. Initially light bodied and slightly tart, this beauty will evolve with time.

SweetWater Through the Brambles will return again in new 375 milliliter bottles, just like 100% foeder beer Cambium.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (w/ Blackberries. Oak Aged.)
Availability:  500ml Bottles
Debut: January 2017
Latest Return: TBA

6.3% ABV

Image: SweetWater

SweetWater Through the Brambles bottle

SweetWater Through The Brambles original release in January 2017. Image: Beer Street Journal

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Terrapin Beer Company, Don't Miss This, Seasonal Return

Forecast: Hazy (& juicy). Terrapin Cumulus Lupulus returns this spring

If you are a brewery that just invested thousands in a new centrifuge, the news lately might sting a little bit. Hazy IPA is now an official style according to the Brewers Association. The style is basically here to stay.  Terrapin Cumulus Lupulus, a hazy IPA that was very popular last year, will return this spring.

Think of this beer as a hop showcase. Terrapin Cumulus Lupulus brings Amarillo, Citra, Galaxy, and Mosaic hops into play, at nearly 4 pounds per barrel. If you are in the hops purchasing business, that translates to expensive.

For the drinker, those hops mean an imperial India pale ale big on citrus, passionfruit, and kiwi. “Trop hops” as we call them. The beer is unfiltered and hazy, which means a glass of resiny, juicy goodness. Not to overuse the terms hazy and juicy, but that’s what Terrapin brings to the table in this new can. 12 ounces of juicy citrus, meant to be consumed as soon as possible.

 Cumulus Lupulus is a great big juicy super hopped up unfiltered IPA with tropical fruit notes throughout the entire beer, from aroma to finish. – “Spike”, Terrapin Co-Founder & Brewmaster

Terrapin Cumulus Lupulus will return in the spring of 2018 in 12-ounce cans and draft. The brewery will again stagger market releases to ensure freshness.

Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Amarillo, Citra, Galaxy, Mosaic
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: March 2017
Latest Return: April 2018

8.1% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Yuengling, Don't Miss This

Yuengling is releasing their first year-round beer in 17 years

Yuengling Golden Pilsner debuts on April 1st- the brewery’s first new core product in 17 years. 

America’s largest craft brewery calls it a “modern pilsner”. Despite the “modern” moniker, Yuengling Golden Pilsner actually uses traditional noble hops – Saaz and Hallertau in their interpretation of the pilsner. This release joins best selling Traditional Lager, Yuengling Light, and Black & Tan as a part of the brewery’s core lineup.

The Golden Pilsner announcement also coincides in the same week that the Brewers Association released updates to their beer style guidelines to include “Contemporary Pilsner”. The expanded definition covers the market growth in American-brewed pilsners with bolder, American hop varieties.

Yuengling Golden Pilsner – an all-malt beer – combines pale and specialty malts, and Hallertau and Saaz hops, to create a bold, noble hop flavored brew that with a smooth, clean finish. The balance of flavors and enhanced drinkability offers a “New Standard in Refreshment” for beer drinkers.  “We spent over 18 months developing this beer and believe it is a great choice for outdoor, social and active occasions. We’re excited for consumers to try it,” said Yuengling. – Jen Yuengling, brewer

Yuengling Golden Pilsner will debut in Cleveland, Ohio, Harrisburg and Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Atlanta, the Virginia Beach area, Rhode Island. Tampa and Fort Myers, and Orlando, Florida on April 1st. The expanded rollout will take place in late April and May.

Style: Pilsner
Hops: Saaz, Hallertau

Availability: 12oz Bottles, 12oz Cans, 16oz Cans, Draft. Year-Round
Debut: 4/1/18

4.7% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Evil Twin Brewing, Don't Miss This, Westbrook Brewing Co

Pastry stout fan? Wait until you read the name of this Evil Twin & Westbrook collaboration

Evil Twin Maple Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Mexican Biscotti Toasted Coconut Cake Break is a future bottle potential. The name is quite the mouthful.

Evil Twin is in the process of building their first brick and mortar location in New York City. In the meantime, Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergso has “gypsy” brewing stateside at various breweries -one being Westbrook Brewing in South Carolina.

The origin of this mega-collaboration starts as Evil Twin’s Biscotti Break and Westbrook Brewing’s Mexican Cake Imperial Stout. The two brewing teams combine the two beers into one beast of a beer – Imperial Mexican Biscotti Cake Break. They didn’t stop there. Barrel-aged variants surfaced Double Barrel Aged Imperial Mexican Biscotti Cake Break, aged in Marsala wine and bourbon barrels, and Evil Twin Maple Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Mexican Biscotti Cake Break.

if you didn’t know pastry stouts are alive and well in the brewing industry, then let this serve as your official notice. Half the lines at breweries on Saturdays are for pastry stouts. A beer name like Evil Twin Maple Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Mexican Biscotti Toasted Coconut Cake Break is enough to make a beer geek break out in a sweat.

Evil Twin Maple Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Mexican Biscotti Toasted Coconut Cake Break is slated to be a 22-ounce bottle release. The brewery has not yet announced this offering.

Style: Imperial Stout (Coconut. Coffee, Cinnamon, Almonds, Cocoa Nibs, Habanero Peppers. Barrel Aged. Maple Syrup Barrel Aged.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles
Debut: TBA

10.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Hi Wire Brewing, Don't Miss This, Seasonal Return

One of our favorites from last year. Hi-Wire Citra Gose returns to shelves

The Asheville, North Carolina based Hi-Wire Brewing’s specialty lineup has recently included stars like Pink Drink, 10W-40 Imperial Stout, and, Man Eater. A Beer Street Journal favorite from 2017 Hi-Wire Citra Gose is making a second appearance this month.

The tart gose is big on the tropical notes of Citra hops which fall on a background of sour tartness. Gose is a great beer, but throw in the aspects of Citra hops, and the real winner is your taste buds. This release is so bright you’ve got to wear shades. Every sip of this is a reminder that warm weather is coming.

Hi-Wire Citra Gose is available in 16-ounce cans and draft in limited quantities across the brewery’s distribution footprint.

Style: Gose
Hops: Citra

Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: 5/12/17
Latest Return: March 2018

4.2% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Realm Brewing, Coming Soon, Don't Miss This

There’s a new pilsner in cans in the southeast: New Realm Euphonia

New Realm Euphonia Pilsner is being canned for the first time this month.

In the two short months that Atlanta’s New Realm Brewing has been opened, two beers have become headliners – Hoplandia IPA and Euphonia Pilsner. While one has brewmaster Mitch Steele’s hoppy west coast fingerprints all over it, the pilsner leans a bit more traditional.

RELATED: Inside New Realm in Atlanta

Steele uses Hersbrucker, Huell Melon, Saphir and Sterling hops on a German malt “blackboard”. The finished beer is the beautifully smooth, dangerously drinkable, delightfully crisp pilsners that is hard to put down. (Ed. note: we haven’t left the brewery drinking less than at least four each time.)

“… Euphonia Pilsner, our refreshing, easy sipping pils has been a favorite amongst our brewers and guests at our bar.” Mitch Steele, Co-Founder & Brewmaster

Today the brewery is hard at work canning Euphonia PIlsner for the first time. 12-ounce cans of the crisp pilsner will be available at the brewery first, with distribution to follow in April 2018.

Style: Pilsner
Hops: Huell Melon, Saphir, Sterling
Malts: German Pilsner

Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Year-Round
Debut (Cans): March 2018

5% ABV, 30 IBUs

PIC: Beer Street Journal

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Terrapin Beer Company, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Terrapin Chopsecutioner, aged on baseball bats leads off in cans this season

Terrapin Chopsecutioner was born at the brewery’s baseball brewhouse Suntrust Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, last season. This month, the beer steps up to the plate in cans for the first time.

Maybe drinking 7.3% ABV IPA for 9 innings of baseball in a hot city like Atlanta isn’t recommended. Terrapin Chopsecutioner is here to help. The Athens, Georgia based brewery has a new 5 barrel pilot system at Suntrust Park, the new home of the Atlanta Braves and is the birthplace of this unique beer.

RELATED: First Look: Terrapin ATL BrewLab

Attendees to Suntrust Park this summer will see quite a few unique recipes coming out of the new ATL BrewLab, starring with Chopsecutioner, which is actually aged on Mizuno wood bat chips. The hop lineup is the same as the bigger Hopsecutioner sibling, but with a lighter body, lower ABV, and a touch of wood flavor from the bats.

Terrapin Chopsecutioner is available on draft year-round at Suntrust Park. New 16-ounce cans are hitting shelves around Georgia, March until June.

Style: IPA (Aged on Baseball Bats)
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: April 2017
Can Debut: March 2018

5% ABV, 60 IBUs

PIC: Beer Street Journal. There is another IPA aged on baseball bats, dubbed ‘Homefront’, that benefits a great cause -Operation Homefront. 

by Reid Ramsay