Don’t Miss This

Posted in Monday Night Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Throwout the playbook on barleywines. Monday Night Entente Cordiale just changed the rules

For years now we’ve tried various attempts at brewers recreating the famed “chocolate orange” dessert in fermented form. Quite a few came close. Monday Night Entente Cordiale gets it right.

First of all, throw out everything you know about a barleywine. You won’t need that info here. Sure, Monday Night Entente Cordiale is a barleywine, or at least was – at one point in time. What is it now? A symphony of nuanced flavors that hide the 13% alcohol by volume perfectly.

“Every bit of this beer is intentional,” says Peter Kiley, Monday Night’s Head Brewer. “We didn’t just have some empty barrels and decide to throw something into them.”

As a kid, Kiley loved the Chocolate Orange candy, especially around Christmas. They are pretty big in England, plus the base beer being an English-style barleywine, the idea was already taking shape. Monday Night’s first barleywine appeared back in 2014, at the hands of the brewery’s creative (experimental) brewer, Josh Johnson. “It came out great,” Kiley says, but like everything else we are doing, it about finding the time to scale up the recipe and do it right.

Kiley stuck with thoughts of Chocolate Orange dancing in his head, and Johnson with his English-style barleywine, Monday Night Entente Cordiale was born.

Every addition to Entente plays into the stylistic weakness. Barleywines are big and boozy and hard to approach for some. Cognac barrels plus some fresh orange zest add a citrusy flavor to the big caramel notes of the base beer. The almost creamy, dessert-like flavor is thanks to whole cocoa nibs and vanilla beans Entente Cordiale was laid to rest for months on.

Kiley and Johnson absolutely nailed it. For years we’ve drank various beers inspired by the Chocolate Orange candy. Many come close. Monday Night achieved it in the most unlikely way, with the most unlikely style. No imperial stout or even English-style porter here. A barleywine that is high on the alcohol by volume but you wouldn’t know it, that tastes like a creamy, subtle mix of the chocolate orange candy or dare we say it – Grand Marnier.

All in all, that what you can expect from Monday Night’s new Garage facility. Creative, deliberate beers. “The Garage will be innately polarizing,” says Kiley. “People will most likely love it or hate it.”

Monday Night Entente Cordiale has limited availability in market now, on draft and 750-milliliter bottles.

Style: Barleywine (w/ Cocoa Nibs. Orange Zest. Vanilla Beans. Barrel Aged. Cognac.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles, Draft.)
Debut: Christmas Week, 2017

13% ABV

About the name: Entente Cordiale was a series of agreements signed on April 8, 1904 between the United Kingdom. Ireland and the French Third Republic which saw a significant improvement in Anglo-French relations.

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

Far from evil & damn tasty: Schlafly The Devil’s Farmhouse

Schlafly The Devil’s Farmhouse joins the Rare Ibex Series on December 22nd.

Schlafly Brewery is one of the biggest names in Saint Louis, Missouri brewing. The 26-year-old brewery is known for a great many beers, but none so hard to come by as the Ibex Rare Series. Don’t feel bad if you aren’t too familiar with Schlafly Ibex. They are truly limited to just a few thousand bottles, whenever a beer decides that it’s ready.

For the second time this year, the Ibex Rare Series has born another unique fruit – The Devil’s Farmhouse. The name doesn’t conjure up thoughts of Christmas, but the design and rarity are indeed perfect for the season. Something truly special, worth sipping with loved ones.

A plethora of malts, including rye, wheat, and dark malt is what the Brettanomyces has been feasting on for over a year. This is no ordinary farmhouse ale. It’s every bit as dark, brooding and complex as the devil himself, hardened by 18 months of aging in wine barrels with sweet red cherries and black currants. Every sip is a wave of farmhouse Bretty funk, tart, and fruity flavors, with the slightest hint of oak. You are sipping little nuances of oaky time, captured in a sexy 750-milliliter bottle.

No this isn’t a beer for mass consumption. Nor is it something easily replicated. It’s beer and brewer passion, elevated. In this case, the devil is truly in the details.

Schlafly The Devil’s Farmhouse will be available starting December 21st in the brewery’s tap room, plus limited distribution, $30 dollars each.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Black Currants. Cherries. Wine Barrel Aged.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles. Limited release.
Debut: 12/22/17

7.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Second Self Brewing Company, Don't Miss This

Zelda inspired Second Self Triforce IPA debuts in January

Second Self Triforce IPA debuts in January 2018. 

The geekdom runs deep in this new India pale ale. Just like everyone at Beer Street Journal, Second Self co-founder Jason Santamaria is a big Legend of  Zelda fan. “I’ve always wanted to do something in honor of a game that I have spent countless hours playing,” he tells us. Enter the Triforce.

Much like any release of the game, the making of Second Self Triforce IPA has taken a while. “We know hazy hop-bombs are hot right now, and I wanted something like it – just a bit cleaner,” Santamaria adds.

Six test batches and one full-scale batch later, Santamaria and co-founder Chris Doyle team turned their focus on water chemistry and an aggressive triple dry-hop. This month, Jason drops us a text – “I think I’ve got it!” The quest back to the brewery began.

Santamaria didn’t disappoint. The finished beer drinks like a hoppy session beer, but is far from it at 6.1% ABV. The result is slightly hazy and very aromatic, thanks to the Ganon-sized hops in it – Mosaic, Amarillo, and Cascade. This hoppy compliment to hours and hours of future gameplay is big on tropical fruit flavors, including mango, papaya and a hint of pineapple that finishes soft, thanks to oats and wheat.

Second Self Triforce IPA will hit shelves in 12-ounce cans as well as draft starting in January 2018.

It’s dangerous to go alone, drink this.

Style: IPA
Hops: Mosaic, Cascade, Amarillo

Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: January 2018

6.1% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, Mikkeller NYC

Hoppy hockey collaboration: Mikkeller NYC Filthy Flow IPA

Mikkeller NYC Filthy Flow IPA, a collaboration with Buffalo-based Thin Man Brewery, debuts on December 15th.

It’s hockey season, which means the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers are battling it out in pursuit for the coveted Stanley Cup. Incidentally, the teams face off against one another outdoors on New Year’s Day. In honor of the ensuing chilly bloodbath, Mikkeller NYC is releasing Filthy Flow IPA, in collaboration with their Sabres backing opponents, Thin Man Brewery.

The India pale ale features the biggest names in hops, including Citra, Simcoe, Mosaic and Galaxy.

RELATED: Mikkeller to build in New York City

Mikkeller NYC Filthy Flow IPA will be available at the New York City and Buffalo bars starting December 15th, as well as Citi Field during the outdoor game. (Which is also the home to Mikkeller NYC’s Citi Field Brewery that will open in 2018.

Style: IPA
Availability: 16oz Cans
Debut: 12/15/17

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This

SweetWater Brewing opens a new bar & grill at Atlanta’s Airport

Atlanta’s SweetWater Brewing Co. opens SweetWater Last Cast Bar and Grill in Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport this month.

Concourse B was home once before to SweetWater. This new concept, Last Cast Bar and Grill will replace Dos Equis Explorer Lounge. Expect the brewery’s core lineup, including 420 Extra Pale Ale, IPA, Blue, Goin’ Coastal IPA with pineapple, and TripleTail Tropical IPA.

The food has been designed to pair with the beer and will include Pretzel Bites with Signature 420 Extra Pale Ale Mustard Sauce, Creole Shrimp Hoagies, Roasted Portabella on Ciabatta, and the Signature SweetWater Grilled Chicken Sandwich.

“Hartsfield-Jackson International has done an excellent job of populating the world’s busiest airport with brands that showcase the best of Atlanta. SweetWater is Atlanta’s hometown brew, and we’re thrilled to give flyers a taste of what makes our city heady and delicious.” – SweetWater founder Freddy Bensch

The concessions program at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport topped $1 billion in revenue in 2016. SweetWater Last Cast Bar and Grill will open for business to travelers on December 9th.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in The Bruery, Coming Soon, Don't Miss This

The Bruery PB & Jelly Thursday is coming to the Reserve Society in 2018

The Bruery PB & Jelly Thursday will be available to the Reserve Society members in 2018.

The “Weekday” Series is home to Grey Monday, Black Tuesday, and Mocha Wednesday, each of variable rarity. Last year The Bruery’s Reserve Society was home to PB & Thursday, a variant of barrel-aged Black Tuesday brewed with peanut flour. Basically peanut butter Black Tuesday.

Next year, Reserve Society members can claim The Bruery PB & Jelly Thursday. This sandwich inspired spin on Black Tuesday is brewed with peanut flour, boysenberries, and salt. The end result has to be the most alcoholic peanut butter and jelly sandwich every made (in beer form) clocking in at 19.2% alcohol by volume.

It won’t stick to the roof of your mouth, but it will impart layers of peanut character and fruity sweetness to the bourbon notes of our revered, barrel-aged imperial stout.

The Bruery PB & Jelly Thursday will be available in 750-milliliter bottles only to those in the Reserve Society in 2018.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Peanut Flour. Boysenberries. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles.
Debut: 2018

19.2% ABV

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

Nutella inspired Terrapin Moo-Tella truly delivers

Terrapin Moo-Tella has joined the brewery’s Special Reserve Series.

This specialty lineup started in 2013 with a white chocolate edition of Moo-Hoo, Terrapin’s chocolate milk stout. After a heated round of fan voting, White Chocolate Moo-Hoo snagged a return to the series again (on shelves now).

Since White Chocolate, the series has grown to include dessert inspired releases like French Toasted Wake-n-Bake, and Tiramisu-Hoo.

Now for Terrapin Moo-Tella. The Nutella inspired beer uses their Moo-Hoo Milk Stout, brewed with Nashville based Olive & Sinclair cocoa nibs, and a touch of hazelnut syrup. Brewery co-founder “Spike” Buchowski chose the syrup route because of potential nut allergy issues. Don’t let that slow you down. Moo-Tell really delivers.

Terrapin’s Special Reserve Series milk stouts are a bit more robust and bold than their seasonal Moo-Hoo. As far as Moo-Tella is concerned, the beer truly delivers a Nutella-inspired experience. The nose is a blend of hazelnut and chocolate, with a creamy milk chocolate finish that becomes more and more like the dessert spread as it warms.

Our 2017 Reserve Series release ‘Moo-Tella,” is a Chocolate Imperial Milk Stout so decadent you could eat it with a spoon. The intermingling of Olive and Sinclair chocolate and the rich flavor of hazelnuts creates an experience so pleasurable it should be shared with friends.

Terrapin Moo-Tella is now available in16.9-ounce bottles hitting the market the week of November 12th.

Style: Milk Stout (w/ Hazelnut. Cocoa Nibs. Lactose.)
Availability: 16.9oz Bottles. Limited Release.
Debut: November 2017

8.5% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal

by Reid Ramsay