New Releases

Posted in Firestone Walker Brewing, New Releases

Dunk your cookies in Firestone Walker Nitro Merlin Milk Stout

Firestone Walker Nitro Merlin Milk Stout has been canned for the first time this month.

Two years ago, Nitro Merlin Milk Stout debuted on draft. Since then, Firestone Walker’s brewmaster Matt Brynildson has been researching options to make it work in cans. Ultimately, the brewery accomplishes this without a nitrogen widget.

“We looked at widgets, but couldn’t find a way to use them without exceeding our specs for total dissolved oxygen in the beer, which ultimately affects freshness and shelf life, so we had to look elsewhere.” -Matt Brynildson

The brewery retrofitted the brewery’s canning line with a liquid nitrogen drip machine. A drop of liquid nitrogen is dropped into the can, which immediately turns into nitrogen gas. The can is filled and sealed, mixing the gas in both the liquid and trapped in the headspace. For best effect, use what Firestone Walker calls the “surge pour” by inverting the can three times and pouring hard.

Flavor. Nitro Merlin has been an incredible beer since its inception. Brynildson and his team ported the beer over to cans beautifully. The beer is smooth and creamy, with just a touch of lactose sweetness and hints of milk chocolate. If you’re into beer pairings, drop a few dollars and order Brown Butter Cookie Company’s “Original” cookies . The pairing is as heavenly as it is addictive. They compliment each other so well, you actually want to dip the cookies in the beer. (And fight your friend/lover/spouse for the last bite and sip.)

Firestone Walker Nitro Merlin Milk Stout is the brewery’s first packaged nitro beer, hitting shelves nationally in January 2018.

Style: Milk Stout (w/ Lactose. Nitrogen.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: January 2018

5.5% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Monday Night Brewing, New Releases

Batdorf & Bronson coffee makes an appearance in Monday Night Whirling Dervish

Monday Night Whirling Dervish is the newest seasonal release by the Atlanta, Georgia based brewery.

A dry Irish stout serves as the canvas for the Batdorf & Bronson coffee roasted especially for this release. Monday Night’s creative brewer Josh Johnson had cold winter nights in mind with designing this recipe. “We packed a lot of roasty and toasty flavor into this beer. It’s an everyday drinker on cold winter nights – or anytime you need a little coffee kick,” he says.

Ren Doughty with Batdorf & Bronson roasted the coffee beans darker in order to bring out notes of chocolate, molasses, toasted almond and orange zest. The resulting stout that will help you forget the almost single digit temperatures so many people are drinking through this winter.

This isn’t the first time the brewery has worked with Batdorf & Bronson. Bed Head (a coffee IPA), as well as award-winning milk stout Tears of My Enemies, make use of the talents of the local roaster.

Monday Night Whirling Dervish will be available in 12-ounce cans and draft starting January 20th.

Style: Irish Stout (w/ Coffee.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Seasonal Release.
Debut: 1/20/18

4.9% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Ommegang, New Releases

You don’t have to be a Game of Thrones fan. Drink Ommegang Winter is Here

While the world continues to wait on the sixth book in the Game of Thrones Series (The Winds of Winter), the brewers in Cooperstown have a new inspired release  – Ommegang Winter is Here.

This release marks the 9th Game of Thrones release the brewery has created with HBO. The beer is a double white ale brewed with sea salt and white pepper. The label depicts the Night King, a key piece in the sixth season (and book if we ever get it…)

Let’s be straightforward here. Winter is Here is nothing short of fantastic. Witbiers remind you of warmer days sipping a cold pint on a sun-drenched porch somewhere. However, if you are stuck drinking north of The Wall, with the army of the undead wandering around, you need something a little stronger. Each sip of this beer is better than the first – awash with notes of banana and clove, with just the slightest touch of white pepper and honey malt. Whether drinking Winter is Here on its own or with food, do not pass this beer up.

“In this next season, we celebrate the long-awaited arrival of winter with a beer fit for consumption north of The Wall. Winter is Here is a fortifying and delicious double white, brewed with sea salt and white pepper, sure to keep you warm in winter, no matter how long it lasts.” – Doug Campbell, President – Brewery Ommegang

Ommegang Winter is Here is available in 750-milliliter bottles, first released in October.

Style: Imperial White Ale (White Pepper. Sea Salt.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles

Debut: October 2017

8.3% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Creature Comforts, New Releases

Creature Comforts Mango, Orange & Lime Tritonia debuts January 19th

Creature Comforts Mango, Orange & Lime Tritonia debuts in the brewery’s taproom on Friday.

The Athens, Georgia based brewery hit a home run with their fans when they debuted Cucumber & Lime Tritonia on draft in 2015. Creature Comforts has been teasing new variants ever since.

This Friday look for a new variant hits cans – Creature Comforts Mango, Orange & Lime Tritonia. The tart wheat ale features a touch of coriander, and sea salt, plus fresh mangos, oranges and limes.

12-ounce cans of this Tritonia variant are on sale at the brewery on Friday, January 19th at 3 pm.

Style: Gose (w/ Mango. Oranges. Limes. Sea Salt. Coriander.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Brewery only.
Debut: 1/19/18

4.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Dogfish Head, Headlines, New Releases

Aged on wood & year-round: Dogfish Head Wood-Aged Bitches Brew

Dogfish Head Wood-Aged Bitches Brew is now available year-round. 

In 2010, Dogfish Head released Bitches Brew, a new imperial stout created to honor the epic Miles Davis album by the same name, released in 1970. The album, deemed unconventional by many at the time, is considered the progenitor of the jazz-rock genre.

Much like the album’s composition, the imperial stout blends carefully selected components in its creation. The original release was created out of threads of an imperial stout, and imperial stout brewed with gesho root and honey.

Dogfish Head Wood-Aged Bitches Brew adds a new element – wood. The beer has been aged and blended in the giant oak tanks that Dogfish Head uses to age their Pale Santo release. This “deeper cut” is a fusion of three threads of imperial stout aged on oak, and one of the Tej, an African honey beer, aged in the 10,000 gallon Palo Santo tanks.

Dogfish Head Wood-Aged Bitches Brew is available this month in new 12-ounce/6-packs year-round.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Honey)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Year-Round
Release: January 2018

9% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Terrapin Beer Company, New Releases

POG inspired Terrapin Luau Krunkles returns year-round

Terrapin Luau Krunkles, a tropically inspired India pale ale, will be offered year-round in 2018.

“Krunkles” is a fictitious character (perhaps real, depending on who you ask at the brewery) that travels the world looking for new India pale ales. The series has seen releases like Krunkles Down Under (all Aussie & New Zealand hops), Samurai Krunkles, and Dr. Krunkles.

Terrapin Luau Krunkles is inspired by a Hawaiian drink called POG. The beverage is brewed with passionfruit, orange, and guava. (Yes that same drink gave rise to the POG game of the 90’s.) In 2017 when the temperature started to rise, so did Luau Krunkles. The demand for POG is so high, the beer will be offered year-round this year.

Krunkles is back with another world renowned IPA inspired by this time spent on the Hawaiian Islands. Jam packed with tropical flavors of passionfruit, orange and guava, this “Hawaiian IPA” is brewed to accompany you to your next luau.

Terrapin Luau Krunkles is a 12 ounce can and draft release year-round, alongside Hopsecutioner (with new artwork), Hi-5, RecreationAle, Good to Gose, and Sound Czech Pilsner.

Style: IPA (w/ Passionfruit, Oranges, Guava)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: Fall, 2016.
Year Round: July, 2017

6.5% ABV

Ed Note: Luau Krunkles has already been available year-round in the brewery’s IPA Survival Kit

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in SweetWater Brewing, New Releases

SweetWater releases special crowlers for Georgia vs. Alabama Championship Game

SweetWater will release special crowlers at the brewery for Georgia vs. Alabama Championship Game.

The Georgia Bulldogs meet the Alabama Roll Tide in the National Championship Game at the new Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Just miles down the road, SweetWater is releasing limited edition 32-ounce crowlers, sporting the opposing school colors.

Guests can fill up with any beer on tap with the exception of Woodlands Ales and Second Helping IPA.

Crowlers will be on sale starting at 4:20 pm on Friday, January 5th.

Image: SweetWater Brewing Company

by Reid Ramsay