New Releases

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 Trillium Brewing, New Releases

Celebrating 5 years, Trillium throws peanut butter into their imperial stout

Trillium Peanut Butter PM Dawn is now on sale at the brewery in Boston.

This decadent adventure starts as an American stout brewed with cold brewed coffee from Barrington Roasters in Lee, Massachusetts. Celebrating the brewery’s fifth anniversary, Trillium has thrown in peanut butter. The line forms to the left.

The brewery scaled back the cold brew for this edition to make room for a heavy dose of America’s favorite nut butter.

Trillium Peanut Butter PM Dawn presents an opaque black with brown head and lacing. A strong nose of freshly ground peanuts, chocolate peanut butter milkshake and hints of dark plum from the coffee, is followed by a full-bodied palate, rich with complementary flavors of roasty coffee, swirling dark chocolate/cocoa and finishes with delicious peanut butter.

If you find yourself close to the brewery, now is the time to snag this beer. Peanut Butter PM Dawn is available in 16-ounce cans right….now.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Coffee. Peanut Butter.)
Hops: Columbus
Malts: American 2-row Barley, Caramunich, C-60, C-120, Dextrine, Black (Patent), Roasted Barley, Special B, Chocolate Malt,

Availability: 16oz Cans. Limited Release.
Debut: 8/22/18

10.1% ABV

Image: Trillium Brewing

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Founders Brewing, New Releases

Founders Solid Gold Lager is about to get bigger

Founders Solid Gold Lager debuted nationally on March 1st of this year. Soon, this “Solid” addition to the brewery’s lineup is going to get bigger. 19.2 ounces bigger. The big cans are coming soon. The release date for these larger cans hasn’t been announced. We assume before the end of the year.

Original release info below.

Over the past few months now, we’ve said 2018 will be a big year for lagers and Pilsners. Let’s offer this new release from Founders as more evidence. Solid Gold Lager got its start in the Founders taproom in Grand Rapids, Michigan years ago. Their brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki has completely overhauled the recipe ahead of this forthcoming national launch.

Founders Solid Gold is a beautifully crisp, clean lager. There’s a touch of lemony citrus aroma that fills the glass and lingers in the smooth, grainy finish. Has Founders challenged the concept of a lager? If nothing else, they have succeeded in making it stand out a bit. The use of Lemondrop hops definitely puts a subtle lemon zesty elegance what some might call a “simple beer”. Solid Gold is beautiful – from pour to finish. If you aren’t convinced yet, hopefully, the pricing will. 6-packs should retail around $7.99, while 15-packs will run $14.99. That’s about a dollar per can, making it one of the most competitively priced lagers on shelves.

Founders Solid Gold Lager is the first year-round beer by the brewery to launch exclusively in cans. Look for it nationally starting March 1st.

Style: Lager
Hops: Lemondrop

Availability: 12oz Cans. 19.2oz Cans (COMING SOON). Year-Round
Debut: 3/1/18

4.4% ABV, 20 IBUs

Founders Solid Gold 19.2oz Cans will join the lineup in the near future.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Mother's Brewing Company, New Releases

“Hands Down” this is Mother’s Brewing’s favorite pale ale

Springfield, Missouri’s Mother’s Brewing Hands Down Pale Ale hits shelves this week; a new year-round release.

“A supremely drinkable pale ale that doesn’t skimp on hop flavor” is how Mother’s describes this new beer. This hazy, New England Style pale ale is heavily dry-hopped for a burst of hop flavor, while maintaining a low finishing bitterness.

Intensive dry-hopping provides juicy citrus and berry hop flavor with restrained bitterness. Light, bright, and crisp, this is Hands Down your Mother’s favorite pale ale.

Mother’s suggests drinking Hands Down with smoked ribs with potato salad, spicy pad thai, salmon and mango salsa, and key lime pie. Or if you’re like us a Beer Street Journal – anything you have in the pantry.

Mother’s Brewing Hand’s Down Pale Ale is available year-round in 12-ounce bottles and draft.

Style: Pale Ale
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: Late August 2018

5.2% ABV

Image: Mothers Brewing

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Southbound Brewing Co, New Releases

Southbound Brewing’s new IPA ‘Disco Kid’ rounds out August

Savannah, Georgia is going to be home a new citrusy IPA in the near future. Southbound Brewing Disco Kid is ready for launch.

The new beer was brewed in July, described as “A juicy, ripe, IPA with notes of passionfruit, lemon and lime from our Citra, Amarillo, Cascade and Southern Cross hops.”

Southbound Brewing Disco Kid will be available in 12-ounce cans and draft starting August 25th

Style: IPA
Hops: Citra, Amarillo, Cascade, Southern Cross

Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: Late August 2018

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in J Wakefield Brewing, New Releases

New J. Wakefield sour ‘I’m Your Huckleberry’ debuts today

J. Wakefield I’m Your Huckleberry debuts today in the brewery’s Miami taproom.

The sour ale has been infused with over 750 pounds of Pacific Northwest huckleberries. (Incidentally the state fruit of Idaho.)

This Tombstone movie named beer is available at 12 pm in 750-milliliter bottles. Limit of 4 bottles per person.

Style: Sour/Wild Ale (w/ Huckleberries)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Debut: 8/15/18

6% ABV

Image: J. Wakefield

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Creature Comforts, New Releases

Hoppier “Trop” is coming. Creature Comforts Double Dry Hopped Trop drops Friday

Creature Comforts Double Dry Hopped Trop debuts in the Athens, Georgia based brewery’s taproom on Friday. 

The brewery’s Tropicalia India Pale Ale is nothing short of a phenomenon in the southeast. That pretty much assures that a double dry-hopped edition of Tropicalia will incite a beer geek rush on the brewery this Friday.

Creature Comforts Double Dry Hopped Trop is brewed just like its year-round sibling, but with a second dry-hop of the beer’s superstar hop, Galaxy. Available starting Friday, August 17th at 3 pm.

Style: IPA
Availability: 16oz Cans. Limited Release.
Debut: 8/17/18

6.6% ABV

by Reid Ramsay