Headlines

Posted in Headlines, Founders Brewing, New Releases

Founders Curmudgeon’s Better Half is as great as we remember it

Founders Curmudgeon’s Better Half, originally the third release in the brewery’s Backstage Series, returns in August.

The grumpy “Curmudgeon” on the label is best known for appearances on hiatus old ale by the same name. In February 2012, the brewery released Curmudgeon’s Better Half as a part of their Backstage Series, now known as the Barrel-Aged Series.

Curmudgeon’s Better Half is the familiar old ale brewed with molasses and aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels. (Similar to Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout.) Fan demand prompted the return of this boozy treat.

Six years later, how is it? Let’s take it back to December. Christmas saw the return of another legendary beer in Founders lineup – Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS). The fans clamored and traded for it like it would cure cancer. The reviews ended up being a little mixed, and here’s our theory why. It’s been a quite a while since the last release, and so many barrel-aged beers have come and gone in that time span. Folks built it up in their minds over the years to a level CBS couldn’t achieve, no matter how good it actually was.

Curmudgeon’s Better Half was pretty great in our opinion six years ago and really hasn’t been subjected to this mental buildup over the past half decade. We never thought we’d see it again. With the first sip, we are instantly reminded of the subtle beauty of this beer. There aren’t a lot of old ales running around breweries these days. The original Curmudgeon was brewed with molasses and had a touch of sweetness that mixes with hints of brown sugar and caramel. This version aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels didn’t throw “Better Half” over the top. Each sip is a subtle symphony of vanilla oak, sweet maple, caramel malt, with a finishing alcoholic heat and lingering sweetness. A slow sipper after dinner, or in a rocking chair on a porch as the sunsets. Our love affair was rekindled immediately.

Every year, the brewery plans to bring new creations to their coveted Barrel-Aged Series, but a few releases from the past beg to be re-released. Founders fans have been begging for Curmudgeon’s Better Half to return since it’s release 6 years ago.  “This was a beer that needed to get back into the rotation,” says Barrel Maestro, Jason Heystek.

Founders Curmudgeon’s Better Half will make its return starting August 24th in the new 12-ounce bottle format, 750-milliliter bottles, as well as draft.

Style: Old Ale (w/ Molasses. Maple Syrup Bourbon Barrel Aged.)
Availability: 750ml bottles, 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: February 2012
Latest Return: 8/24/18

12.7% ABV, 35 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Bell's Brewing, Headlines

A “tropical staycation” is coming to Bell’s lineup in January

Bell’s Larry’s Latest Fruit Fight will join the brewery founder’s namesake series in January.

It started with Larry’s Latest Sour Ale earlier this year. The brewery moved this kettle sour into the spot in the lineup previously held by Smitten Rye Ale. Now the series will host a new release in the coming new year – Bell’s Bell’s Larry’s Latest Fruit Fight, brewed with passionfruit, lime zest, and wheat. In the dead of winter, Bell himself bills this tropically themed release as a “staycation beer”:

This is a fun beer with a fun name. When it’s released, it’ll be nice little staycation of sorts, a break from the wintery blues January can bring.” – Larry Bell

Many of the beers in the “Larry’s Latest” series never leave the Eccentric Cafe in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan. This Fruit Fight will be just the second beer to be distributed in the series. Expect it in 12-ounce bottles, 16-ounce cans, and draft.

Style: Fruited Sour Ale (w/ Passionfruit. Lime Zest.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, 16oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: January 2019

5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines

Constellation “Craft Team” eliminated in surprise layoffs

In a conference call this afternoon, Constellation Brands laid off a majority of their craft beer sales team.

According to a source close to the situation, employees thought it was a routine phone call. Ultimately, the company that has purchased Funky Buddha, Ballast Point, and most recently Texas-based Four Corners, eliminated almost their entire sale representatives covering craft brands.

Beer Street Journal is told that the layoffs might include as many as 60 people. (That number has not been confirmed by Constellation.)

Per individuals on the layoff call, the Corona Modelo “Import Team” will take responsibility for the craft brands going forward.

In the past year, Anheuser-Busch eliminated most of their “High End” Division that was responsible for promoting their acquired craft brands, like Wicked Weed, Breckenridge, and Goose Island.

Developing…

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Ommegang, Coming Soon, Headlines

Ommegang Game of Thrones Mother of Dragons up next in series

Ommegang Game of Thrones Mother of Dragons joins the brewery’s Game of Thrones Series in late September.

As the world continues to wait on George RR Martin’s sixth book (for years now), as well as HBO’s 8th season of the live action show, Brewery Ommegang continues to deliver beers inspired by the series. This September is dedicated to the “Mother of Dragons” Daenerys Targaryen.

This release is a blend of a smoked porter and Belgian Kriek, meant to be a representation of smoke and fire, found in the wake of Daenerys as she fights for her place on the Iron Throne. Ommegang describes this release as having “a rich with tart cherry up front leading to a center palate of semi-sweet chocolate then resolving to subtle smoke and mild sweetness.”

“Mother of Dragons represents in beer one of our favorite characters from Game of Thrones. Daenerys’s ascent from obscurity has been one of the most inspiring storylines of the show, and we’re thrilled to release a blend that embodies the character traits that have underpinned that rise.” – Doug Campbell, Brewery Ommegang president.

Ommegang Game of Thrones Mother of Dragons will be available in 750-milliliter bottles starting on September 28th.

Style: Smoked Porter/Kriek Blend (w/ Cherries)
Availability:750ml Bottles

Debut: 9/28/18

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines

Constellation Brands acquires Texas-based Four Corners Brewing

According to a market representative with Constellation Brands, the company has acquired Dallas, Texas-based Four Corners Brewing Company.

This brewery purchase will add Four Corners to a growing portfolio of craft breweries acquired by Constellation, including Ballast Point Brewing, and Funky Buddha.

George Esquivel and Greg Leftwich founded the brewery in 2012. When asked for a statement, Constellation forwarded a press release with this statement from the owners:

“We like to say that Four Corners Brewing is our collective beer journey, and partnering with Constellation continues that journey by opening amazing possibilities of where our brand and company can go. We’re proud Texas brewers, and we’ve always had the intent of sharing our brews and our story with as many people as possible. We know Constellation Brands is the right partner to help us do that.” – ” Four Corners co-founder George Esquivel.

In 2017, Four Corners production was 25,000 barrels. The financial value of the transaction has not been disclosed.

Developing…

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Goose Island Brewing, Coming Soon, Headlines

Goose Island’s Bourbon County Series “Neopolitan Stout”, another brewery fake

Ed Note: Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Neopolitan Stout is a fake. The brewery created fake labels ahead of the official BCBS announcement. 

The original story below from July 10th, 2018.

First get familiar with the term “pastry stout”. The beer industry is full of them these days. Take a simple imperial stout.- and throw in ingredients you’d find in a scone, brownie, cookie, or cake. Pastry stouts now have vanilla beans, cinnamon, cacao nibs, coconut, lactose, even breakfast cereal or movie theater candy. Not to mention aged various spirits barrels. They are basically alcoholic desserts.

Chicago’s Goose Island is home to one of the most well-known barrel-aged imperial stouts – Bourbon County. Over the years, Coffee, Vanilla, and berry editions have surfaced. Goose Island hasn’t turned a blind eye to the success of the (using this term loosely) “style” and is potentially bringing their own pastries to the table.

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Neopolitan Stout looks to sweeten palates this fall. The imperial stout has been aged in bourbon barrels with vanilla, lactose milk sugar, strawberry puree, and chocolate. Think boozy ice cream.

No official announcement has been made by Goose Island on any of the 2018 variants.

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Neopolitan Stout is slated for 16.9-ounce bottles and draft.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Strawberry Puree. Chocolate. Vanilla. Lactose. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 16.9oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: N/A

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Lagunitas, Headlines

Lagunitas creates cannabis-infused sparkling water, headed for California dispensaries

Flavored waters, electrolyte waters, and fruited waters are very popular in the non-alcoholic beverage category. Now, cannabis-infused water is coming to California dispensaries this summer by a very familiar national brewer – Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops.

The base of this beverage is a hoppy sparkling water, created with a touch of lavender and grapefruit. Sounds like normal artisan water, until the last ingredients – Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD).

Partnering with AbsoluteXtracts, Lagunitas uses THC and CBD extracts from California grown cannabis (where cannabis sales are legal). Much like the alcohol by volume statements on beer, the two editions of Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops have a “cannabis” declaration. The white edition has 5 milligrams of THC and 5 milligrams of CBD, while the purple edition has 10 milligrams of THC.

“Hi-Fi is not the first chapter in the love affair between cannabis and Lagunitas, but it is one of the most exciting. The idea of having a no-calorie beverage infused with cannabis seemed like a perfect next step in our product innovation, and a natural way to marry our past with our future.”  – Maria Stipp, CEO of Lagunitas Brewing Company

Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops is non-alcoholic and contains zero calories. The cannabis water will be available in 12-ounce cans in select California dispensaries starting July 30th.

Style: Cannabis Water
Availablity: California Dispensaries (Controlled Substance)
Debut: 7/30/18

0% ABV

by Reid Ramsay