Don’t Miss This

Lost Abbey Veritas 019 goes on sale March 28th

Lost Abbey Veritas 019, the 19th edition in the brewery’s “Veritas” line of beers, goes on sale this month.

The California based brewery calls this ongoing experiment a “relationship between fruit, barrel-aging, and the wild yeast Brettanomyces. Each release is unique, Continue Reading →

Posted in The Unknown Brewing Co., Don't Miss This

Big on aromatics. Unknown Brewing Scratch n Sniff, a session IPA

Unknown Brewing Scratch n Sniff hits shelves just as spring begins.

Subtitled “Aromatic IPA,” the beer’s name is truly fitting. Unknown uses a technique called “hop bursting,” where a massive (read: unreasonable) amount of hops are added at the end of the beer’s boil and whirlpool stages. The result is a beer that is low on bitterness and big on hop aromas. The Unknown Brewing team uses a seven hop blend, bringing a real burst of flavor to the table.

The hop bursting technique is really evident in Scratch n Sniff. There is so much hop aroma in a 4.8% session IPA. It’s hopped like an imperial IPA, but won’t put you under the table nearly as fast.

This aromatic IPA is made with 7 hop additions. All those hops are thrown in at special timed editions to create flavor, a nose full of goodness, and light bitterness.

Unknown Brewing Scratch n Sniff is available in 12 ounce cans and draft as a spring seasonal.

Style: IPA
Availability: 12oz Can, Draft. Seasonal release.
Latest Return: March, 2017

4.7% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Scofflaw Brewing Co., Don't Miss This, New Releases, Shipyard Brewing

Scofflaw GOAT IPA makes good on Super Bowl Bet

Scofflaw GOAT IPA debuts this Thursday, settling a bet from Atlanta’s ill-fated Super Bowl.

We all know what happened. Atlanta had a massive lead in this year’s Super Bowl, only to see it disappear by the end of the game. The city’s breweries made a few Super Bowl bets, most notably SweetWater with Boston Beer Company, and Scofflaw with Shipyard Brewing. SweetWater has already paid up. Now it’s Scofflaw’s turn.

Scofflaw GOAT IPA is a “New England Style” IPA, chosen because of where the Patriots call home. Scofflaw’s brewmaster Travis Herman worked with Shipyard’s head brew Joe Rank on the recipe.

The new IPA honors the “Greatest Of All Time” New England Patriots while celebrating the friendly collaboration among these two craft brewers. Deep with never-quit character, G.O.A.T. is an unfiltered IPA with a murky first impression that leads into winning flavors and aromas and a miraculous come-from-behind finish.

Scofflaw GOAT IPA will be available on tap at the Atlanta brewery starting Thursday, March 30th. Scofflaw’s Herman sums up his thoughts on the beer: “For spring days when the Atlanta weather is cool,  we’ll use lower pressure in our kegs so Patriots fans can hold on to their glass.” 

G.O.A.T. indeed.

Style: IPA
Hops: Simcoe, Amarillo, Mosaic

Availability: Draft only, limited.
Debut: 3/30/17

7.9% ABV

Scofflaw Brewing’s Matt Shirah looks a bit unhappy in his Patriots jersey…

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

The Veil Brewing brews with Hawaiian Punch in ‘Never Aloha’

Think tropical. Think about that impossibly red kids drink that stained everything and got the entire kindergarten class wired. The Veil Brewing Never Aloha, a new gose might come close.

This beer is all bout Hawaii. The Richmond, Virginia brewer used the Hawaiian sea salt, a necessary ingredient in gose as a part of the base beer. Not tropical enough for you? Next is hundreds of pounds of of passionfruit, pineapple, mango, blood orange, and cherry purée.

READ MORE: The Veil Brewing

The finishing move: a touch of Hawaiian Punch drink mix. Yeah, they’ve gone there. Over the top trop(ical).

The Veil Brewing Never Aloha debuts today at the brewery in 16 ounce cans. Just don’t wear a white shirt when cracking the can.

Style: Gose (w/ Passionfruit, Pineapple, Mango, Blood Orange, Cherries. Hawaiian Punch.)
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: 3/28/17

4.9% ABV

Image: The Veil Brewing 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Full Sail Brewing, Don't Miss This

Pairs perfectly with warm weather. Full Sail Sesión Cervesa

A member of the “Session” brand is hitting shelves this month – Full Sail Sesión Cervesa.

Think beaches, hot weather, tans. The Hood River, Oregon brewery is bringing a Mexican lager to the table. You’ve probably seen a surge in the “Mexican” lager across craft brewing recently. Examples include 21st Amendment El Sully, and Oskar Blues Beerito. Around the end of the 19th century, Germany ex-patriots started brewing Vienna lagers in country. Somewhere along the line, the style became synonymous with Mexican lagers.

Full Sail Sesión Cervesa falls right in line with the style, brewed with pilsner malt and flaked corn. We poured it ice cold on a sunny 72 degree spring day and couldn’t stop thinking about getting tacos or chips and salsa on a porch somewhere. Sesión Cervesa is an absolutely perfect day drinking. Let’s put it this way: if you are someone that doesn’t like the idea of industrial lagers On your next beer run, make sure you say Hola! to this one.

“The pour is pure gold in a bottle.” Sesíon Cerveza offers the refreshing character of the imports in a locally crafted beer, perfect for your next fiesta. The hops impart subtle hints of lemon and spice to complement the crisp malt body. -Full Sail Brewmaster Jim Kelter

Full Sail Sesión Cervesa is available in 11 ounce “stubby” bottles and draft, year-round.

Style: Lager
Hops: Celeia, Northern Brewer
Malts: Pilsner, Flaked Corn

Availability: 11oz Bottles, Draft.

4.5% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal

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

Want to drink a cookie? Southern Tier Thick Mint can make that happen

Southern Tier Thick Mint, a new imperial stout by the New York based brewery, has shipped for the first time.

The brewery’s Blackwater Series is home to some of the most well known beers in the industry. Creme Brûlée, Choklat, & Mokah imperial stouts are just a few examples. Spring brings Girl Scout cookies, and Southern Tier has a perfect beer pairing.

Southern Tier Thick Mint mimics one of the most popular Girl Scout cookies out there, Thin Mints. (For some reason we always find them in people’s freezers.) The 10% alcohol by volume imperial stout is brewed with cocoa nibs and mint. Another dessert beer cometh.

If the past has taught us anything, it’s this. When Southern Tier makes a flavored imperial stout, flavor is what you are going to get. While Thick Mints is truly like drinking a cookie, the brewery showed enough restraint to where it pairs well with its inspiration, while being very drinkable on on its own.

We made big ways when we introduced Choklat in 2007. Since then, our affection for decadent, flavorful, dessert-like beers and a zeal to venture into the far corners of the flavor world, have been the drivers in our endless quest to brew the perfect indulgence.

Southern Tier Thick Mint is now available in 12 ounce bottles and draft.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Chocolate, Mint.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: March, 2017

10% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Lost Abbey, Don't Miss This

Lost Abbey Veritas 019 goes on sale March 28th

Lost Abbey Veritas 019, the 19th edition in the brewery’s “Veritas” line of beers, goes on sale this month.

The California based brewery calls this ongoing experiment a “relationship between fruit, barrel-aging, and the wild yeast Brettanomyces. Each release is unique, small-batch, and unforgettable.

Lost Abbey Veritas 019 is a blonde sour ale that has been aging in French oak for over a year, before being introduced to fresh raspberries. Per Tomme Arthur, Lost Abbey’s co-founder, “The last time we did a fruited sour this intense was Cable Car Kriek back in 2011.”

Pouring shockingly pink, Veritas 019 begins with sweet aromas of rich berries and notably peppery Brett. Intense, Vibrant Raspberry character leading to a refreshingly sour middle with notes of funk on the finish.

Lost Abbey is planning a preview weekend starting March 24th where Veritas 019 will be available on draft. Attendees will have an opportunity to purchase bottles for pickup in April.

The general sale will occur online on Tuesday, March 28th at 12 Noon. No proxies. Sales are limited to 6 bottles per person, $41 dollars per bottle.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Raspberries. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles. Extremely limited. No distro.
Presale: 3/24/17
Pickup: 4/23-4/25

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in The Hop Concept Brewing, Don't Miss This, Seasonal Return

The Hop Concept IPA Galaxy & Comet is back for another citrusy spring

The Hop Concept IPA Galaxy & Comet is back for a second time in March, 2017.

California’s Port/Lost Abbey launched a new line extension in 2015 dubbed, The Hop Concept. The Hop Freshener series featured some of the THC’s first beers, focusing on how hops change IPAs.

The Hop Concept India pale ales focus on the dry-hopping process, focusing on how the brewing technique changes smell and aroma. In this case, Galaxy and Comet hops.

This edition is all about the tropical fruit, and dank pine flavors. Galaxy boasts peach and passionfruit flavors, and Comet – even more citrus. If you love a bright IPAs with just a bit of bitterness, don’t sleep on this release. The brewery touched up the recipe a bit for this second release.

“We really liked the way Galaxy and Comet turned out last year, but we felt we could do better this year. Tweaking the recipe this year gave us a chance to really let these two hops shine much more in this years batch.”  Steve Burchill, Lead Brewer for The Hop Concept

The Hop Concept IPA Galaxy & Comet is a draft and 22 ounce bottle release.

Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Galaxy, Comet

Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Latest Return: March, 2017

8% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal 

by Reid Ramsay