New Launches

New Launch – Moa Brewing

Launching on Friday are 3 offerings from Moa Brewing Company all the way from New Zealand.   This is the first time Moa has been offered in the Atlanta market.  These offerings will initially be found in one place — Hop Continue Reading →

New in Bottle – Founder’s Old Curmugeon

Arriving alongside Nemesis this week is Old Curmudgeon Ale both from Founder’s Brewing, Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Old Curmudgeon is an old ale (simply meaning aged, usually in oak.)

Curmudgeon is brewed with molasses with a huge focus on malts.  Then it Continue Reading →

Founder’s Brewing Launch Lineup!

Founder’s will be hitting Atlanta shelves in less than 24 hours.   Not familiar with Founder’s Brewing yet?  Read HERE first!

Ok.  Now you have that out of the way,  here are beers in Founder’s launch lineup —

Dirty Bastard –  Scotch Ale, Continue Reading →

Founder’s Brewing to Launch in Atlanta!

Founders Brewing is coming to Georgia.  ETA? January.    Founders  hails from Grand Rapids, Michigan — founded in 1997.

It all started in a beat up college rental house in chilly Michigan back in 1990.   Mike Stevens & Dave Engbers were self Continue Reading →

Posted in Hoppin' Frog Brewing, New Launches

Hoppin’ Frog Brewing to Launch in Atlanta!

UPDATE – 4/23 – No more production issues.  Expected on shelves today.

In a matter of days, Atlanta will see beers from a new brewery.  Hoppin’ Frog Brewing from Akron, Ohio.

Hoppin’ Frog was founded by Fred Karm, who has been craft brewing since 1994.  A graduate of the University of Akron, brewing was a dream made a reality.  A reality that has won Karm more awards than any other Ohio brewer since 2000. Hoppin’ Frog boasts a JV Northwest brewing system to produce its delicious lineup.  JV Northwest is based out of Oregon, and is a specialty maker of stunning, handcrafted tanks designed individually for each brewer’s specifications.  Hoppin’ also has a special bottling line Fred Karm procured to keep beer fresher, longer.  Attention to intricate detail is a key focus with Hoppin’ Frog.

So what do I expect?

I don’t have a definitive line up of launch beers… yet.  This is a TENTATIVE list of the launch lineup.

Hop Dam – Imperial IPA, 10% ABV.  Big citrus/piney IPA here.  You like lots of hops and bitter? HOP DAM! Seasonal release.

Outta Kilter Wee Heavy Scotch Red — Scotch Ale, 8.2 ABV.  Malt forward red ale w/ caramel malts.  A touch of Rye is added for more character.  A great wee-heavy.

B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher  Oatmeal Imperial Stout — Russian Imperial,  9.4% ABV.  Boris is big on oatmeal, masking the near 10% alcohol. If you’re an imperial stout fan, get your taste buds ready.  2008 GABF Gold Medal Winner.

Silk Porter — Porter, 6.2% ABV.  Smooth palette. Robust.  Toasted and caramel malts.  Porter is rich is history.  Do some reading! While having a Silk of course.

Mean Manalishi Double — Imperial IPA, 8.2% ABV.  Manalishi is an assertive DIPA, with lots of hops, and caramels, toasted malts, and great hoppy aroma to start you off.  100+ IBU??

Hoppin’ Frog is distributed by Carlaken Wholesale in Atlanta.  Frog’s beers have officially been approved and are maybe 7 days away from hitting the shelf.  Hoppin’ Frog popularity is growing fast, but they are still a very small brewery with no pub, or tasting room.  More on this launch soon.

Welcome to Georgia Hoppin’ Frog!

Check out JV Northwest Brewing Systems –  www.jvnw.com


by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Moa Brewing, New Launches

New Launch – Moa Brewing

Launching on Friday are 3 offerings from Moa Brewing Company all the way from New Zealand.   This is the first time Moa has been offered in the Atlanta market.  These offerings will initially be found in one place — Hop City.

Moa beer was first realized by Josh Scott, a winemaker at his family winery, Allan Scott Family Winemakers in Marlborough, New Zealand.  Josh thought after years of winemaking, what if he applied these winemaking techniques to craft brewing?  Moa beer uses local champagne.  I got to taste these today, and each is unique and effervescent with a  bubby mouthfeel.  New Zealand hops, malts, wheats, and barley.  Once bottled, Josh Scott carbonates these beers like champagne.

The 3 offerings launching Friday are —

Moa Original — Pilsner, 5.5% ABV.  Vienna & Wheat malts.  Noble hops Saaz & Hallertau, w/ Nelson area grown hops.  Both pellet and cone hops were used to give bitterness and aroma.  German style pilsner with citrus notes and bready yeast balance.

Blanc Wheat — Weissbier, 5.5% ABV.  Utilizes both pilsner and wheat malts.  Low hop content.  Flavors include banana, and vanilla. Very subtle, drinkable and unassuming.

Noir Dark Lager — Euro Dark Lager, 5.5% ABV.  Pilsner, Munich, & Crystal and Chocolate malts.   Low hop content also in the dark lager.  Wine yeast used for bottle fermentation.  Expect bottle sediment.  Flavors include coffee & chocolate.   Very little bitterness.  Definite favorite.

No word yet if more Moa beers will follow.  Again, initially these offerings will solely be available at Hop City on launch on Friday.  All bottles are corked & caged, with a $7.99 price tag.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Founders Brewing, New Launches

New in Bottle – Founder’s Old Curmugeon

Arriving alongside Nemesis this week is Old Curmudgeon Ale both from Founder’s Brewing, Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Old Curmudgeon is an old ale (simply meaning aged, usually in oak.)

Curmudgeon is brewed with molasses with a huge focus on malts.  Then it is aged in oak barrels.   The end result is a malty but sweet strong ale.  You will note caramel malts, raisin tones in the nose and palette, subtle hints of a vanilla, with some noticeable alcohol.  Its very drinkable, you can easily forget it’s almost 10%.  If you enjoyed Dirty Bastard (malty scotch ale) or Backwoods Bastard (scotch ale in bourbon) Then don’t pass this up.

Available seasonally in small batches.  It shipped with Nemesis. Should starting popping up today.  Sightings to come.  Follow @AtlBeerMaster on Twitter.

9.8% ABV

50 IBU’s

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Magic Hat Brewing, New Launches

New in Bottle – Magic Hat’s Vinyl

Ok, its January but inevitably it was going to start.  Spring beers.   This one is a little early, but it has arrived none the less – Vinyl by Magic Hat Brewing.

Vinyl is an amber lager.  Here is the ingredient run down –

Malts – Pale, Crystal, Munich, & Victory.

Hops – Northern Brewer

Magic Hat’s Description –

Vinyl Lager is a beer with deep amber hue, sweet malt taste and slight balancing hop touch.  This beer is produced using a lager strain of yeast and is fermented low end of ale fermentation temperatures, allowing the beer to maintain its easy-drinking lager-like characteristics.

Vinyl is 5.1% ABV.   Available in 6 pks seasonally.  Confirmed at Hop City currently.

Check out the You Tube video intro of Vinyl HERE

Fun Fact – The label artwork was drawn by Jim Pollock who has done Phish posters for years.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Founders Brewing, New Launches, New Releases

Founder’s Brewing Launch Lineup!

Founder’s will be hitting Atlanta shelves in less than 24 hours.   Not familiar with Founder’s Brewing yet?  Read HERE first!

Ok.  Now you have that out of the way,  here are beers in Founder’s launch lineup —

Dirty Bastard –  Scotch Ale, 8.5% ABV.  Brewed with 7 varieties of malts.  Hints of smoke, and peat.  Finishes with a strong hit of hops in the finish.

Centennial IPA — IPA, 7.2% ABV.  Floral and Citrusy.  This IPA has been dry hopped, and has a noticeable malt backbone.

Red’s Rye P.A. –  Rye Beer, 6.8% ABV.  Grapefruit tones, with slight bitter hop finish.  Dry hopped with Amarillo.  Enriched with 4 types of Belgian caramel malts and 1 type of rye malt.   Great spicy finish.

Pale Ale — Pale Ale, 5.4% ABV.  Founder’s describes this as “A tribute to Cascade hops in a bottle.”  Floral and citrus flavors with a balanced sweet malt finish.

UPDATE! – Breakfast Stout – Stout, 8.3% ABV.  Coffee laden stout.  Flaked oats, bitter & imported chocolates.  Sumatra and Kona Coffee.   Hints of cinnamon, especially in the head.

Also, as a VERY limited offering in the “Seasonal” category  –

Backwoods Bastard — Scotch Ale, 10.2% ABV.   Backwards Bastard is essentially the Dirty Bastard that has been aged in oak bourbon barrels.   Aromas of single malt scotch, smoke, sweet caramel, and roasted malts.  Love that vanilla flavor you get from bourbon aged beers?  You’ll find it here.  Tiny hints of dark cherries.

Coming Soon – Double Trouble – Imperial IPA.  Pungent aroma hops. Bittering hops for the finish.  Nice malt balance.  9.4% ABV.

Updated price list and who is carrying it to be posted soon.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Founders Brewing, New Launches

Founder’s Brewing to Launch in Atlanta!

Founders Brewing is coming to Georgia.  ETA? January.    Founders  hails from Grand Rapids, Michigan — founded in 1997.

It all started in a beat up college rental house in chilly Michigan back in 1990.   Mike Stevens & Dave Engbers were self involved in the search for what to do with their lives after graduation.   Inevitably, the idea to start a brewery came up.  Even though Mike & Dave ended up with full time jobs after college, they took up home brewing as a hobby.

The next step was an obvious one.  Neither Mike nor Dave were very fulfilled with their work situations.  (Been there, done that.)  Realizing their passion for beer, the foray into brewing began.  It wasn’t easy to begin, especially because neither individual had ever taken a business class.

First step of course was finding a location — A beat up, vandalized old building that had been vacant for many years.   It took a year’s worth of construction to make the building inhabitable, and shortly after, brewing commenced.   The first few years were rough.  They struggled, and nearly went under.  As Founder’s describes it — “The initial beers were well balanced, but unremarkable. “  A decision had to be made, push forward or fold.

Obviously they pushed forward, and this time around decided to push the envelope a bit more with their brews.  That meant increased complexity, and fuller, bigger, bolder flavors.  Traditional brewing was soon behind them, and the challenge to the main stream brewing was extended.  Each brew pushed the pushing further than the one before.

In 2007, a new facility was constructed near the original.  The new facility allows for expansion and growth as the Founder’s fan base grows.  Thus, allowing them to expand into Atlanta.   Founders Brewing has a great lineup of brews — one of the more popular (and very tasty) is the Breakfast Stout.

A full lineup of launch beers with descriptions will be posted once the final list is decided.  In the meantime, get exciting for Breakfast Stout — a personal favorite.

WELCOME TO ATLANTA FOUNDERS BREWING!!

Founder’s Brewing  – www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter – @foundersbrewing

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Launches, Terrapin Beer Company

Terrapin’s Side Project #9 – Dark Side

Dark SideFans of the Terrapin’s side project series, your wait for a new release is over.  The follow up to # 8 — Pumpkinfest is shipping now.   Dark Side is what #9 has been dubbed, and is the last side project release for 2009.

Dark Side is a Belgian Imperial Stout.  While not officially a “style” of beer per say, Dark is born out of a trip to Belgium.   Brewer Spike Buckowski of Terrapin, recently took a trip over to Belgium, land of great beer.  While there, he got to tour Westmalle — one of very few Trappist Breweries in the world.  Spike was fascinated with the yeast havesting.  The idea to brew a trappist yeast based beer was born.  (Want to know more about Trappist?  Click here .)

Thus, here comes Dark Side.  Described by Spike as Darth Vader meets Pink Floyd.  This Belgian Imperial Stout has Belgian chocolate in the flavor, roasted grains, with hints of smokiness in the finish.   Bold malt and yeast are a goal here, with hops added but intentionally subtle.

Ingredients include-

Malts — Two Row, Crystal, Chocolate, Black, Roasted Barley.

Hops — Pilgrim, Golding

ABV — 8.5%

These 22oz bottles are en route to the distributor, and will be available by the end of the week.

First taste in Atlanta will occur TONIGHT at Octane Coffee on Marietta Street (5:30 pm) thanks to Hop City.   Tasting is free, and includes Terrapin’s Dark Side, Wake & Bake ’09, and Hopsecutioner.

Bottle and Tap Sightings soon!

by Reid Ramsay