New Releases

Posted in Odell Brewing, New Releases

A special hop grinding process creates Odell Rupture

As the summer of 2017 winds down, a new beer is emerging in Fort Collins, Colorado – Odell Rupture.

A special flourish in the brewing process is what makes Odell Rupture so unique. Sure, you’ve heard of whole flower hops added to the boil, or used in dry-hopping. Odell does something a little different in this brewing process by grinding the whole flower hops minutes before meeting beer.

The brewery actually uses a mix of pellets and whole flower hops in their brewing processes. The biggest hop aromas came “rupturing” the lupulin in the whole flower hops in a grinding process. The brewery loved the result so much, they installed a hammer mill to aid in the process.

“By grinding the hops, we unlock an unparalleled amount of hop aroma. We built the recipe around highlighting that aroma, letting the hops take center stage without overwhelming bitterness.” – Brendan McGivney, COO

Odell Rupture is now available year-round in 12-ounce cans and draft.

Style: IPA
Availability: 12oz Cans. Draft. Year-round
Debut: Late August 2017

6% ABV

Image: Odell Brewing

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Madtree Brewing Co., New Releases

MadTree Dreamsicle has finally been canned, no longer a joke

From April Fool’s joke to real release, MadTree Dreamsicle is debuting in cans.

MadTree Dreamsicle has been a tap room offering for years. A light kolsch is infused with orange and vanilla flavors, creating an orange “creamsicle” flavor. Incidentally, Dreamsicle is a taproom best seller.

In 2016 the brewery released a rendering of the can as an April Fool’s joke. The artwork featured an octopus holding an ice cream cone in its tentacle. As MadTree puts it – “the fans went nuts”. When the rendering was revealed as a joke, fans weren’t laughing.

We thought it would be a funny April Fool’s Day prank to act like we were going to can it, so I came up with what I thought was a ridiculous octopus eating an ice cream cone design. The response was a bit overwhelming, to say the least, so we decided to roll with the now famous octopus. – Nicki Logsdon, MadTree graphic designer.

After hundreds of social media messages, phone calls, and even an online petition, the brewery knew Dreamsicle had to be canned. That day has come.

MadTree Dreamsicle debuts in the Cincinnati, Ohio taproom on August 31st. Limited distribution to follow.

Style: Kolsch (w/ Orange. Vanilla.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft.
Debut (Cans): 8/31/17

?? ABV

Image: MadTree Brewing

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in 21st Amendment Brewing, New Releases

Lupulin powder heavy 21st Amendment Tasty IPA debuts in September

21st Amendment Tasty IPA debuts nationwide in September; a collaboration with a local homebrewer.

Mike “Tasty” McDole, an award winning homebrewer partnered with 21st Amendment on this “tasty” release. The 6.8% alcohol by volume India pale ale features Citra and Mosaic lupulin powder, along with Eukanot hops. This commercial recipe was spawned from McDole’s own homebrew test batches.

If you’ve seen the movie American Beauty, substitute the girl on the cover for McDole, hops for rose petals, and you have the can art. Incidentally, the design was drawn by Mark McDole, Tasty’s son.

“If you like hops, and you love IPA, you’ll definitely enjoy this beer… even in spite of the naked guy swimming in hops on the front of the can. In all seriousness, this beer is delicious. The lupulin powder is made from the “heart of the hop,” where the hop resins and oils reside, giving this beer bright, fresh flavors and aromas of tropical stone fruits and pine, with a hint of spiciness.” – Shaun O’Sullivan, co-founder, and Brewmaster

21st Amendment Tasty IPA will be available in 12-ounce cans and draft as a limited release.

Style: IPA
Hops: Eukanot
Lupulin Powder: Citra, Mosaic

Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft.
Distribution: AK, CA, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, MA, MD, ME, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, VA, VT, WA, Washington D.C.
Debut: September 2017

6.8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Boulevard Brewing, Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co., Creature Comforts, New Releases

Boulevard Collaboration 7, created with Creature Comforts & Arizona Wilderness

Boulevard Collaboration 7 has officially debuted, a collaboration with Athens, Georgia based Creature Comforts and Gilbert, Arizona’s Arizona Wilderness.

This collaborator series has paired seen the likes of Deschutes Brewery, Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project, Firestone Walker, Cigar City, Ommegang, and Orval. Boulevard Collaboration 7 is the first time a two breweries have been a part of the project at the same time.

The trio is creating a “juicy” lager for this seventh iteration, aged briefly on virgin oak. Juicy is an understating term, thanks to peach puree, lemon zest and riesling chosen to compliment carefully selected Nelson Sauvin, Lemondrop and Hallertau Blanc hops. The malt bill is quite complex too, brewed with pale malt, Sonoran White Wheat, Missouri wheat, honey malt and corn grits.

The finished beer is bottle conditioned with champagne yeast, producing an effervescent golden lager perfect for the late summer heat. Last year, Arizona Wilderness and Creature Comforts partnered on “Transmission“, a citrus saison.

Boulevard Collaboration 7 is now available in 12 ounce bottles and draft for a limited time.

Style: Lager (w/ Riesling Juice, Peach Puree, Lemon Zest. Oak Aged.)
Hops: Nelson Sauvin, Lemondrop, Hallertau Blanc
Malts: Pale Malt, Sonoran White Wheat, Missouri Wheat, Honey Malt, Corn Grits

Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: August, 2017

6% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Left Hand Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Finally. Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro cans are here

Left Hand Brewing made headlines a few years ago when they debuted their milk stout in bottles. At the time they were the first craft brewery to transition to nitro packaging. With the addition of cans to their lineup, many fans thought the lack of milk stout was an oversight. Not anymore Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro cans will debut this year.

RELATED: Left Hand A Blessing & A Curse

One of the most recognizable milk stouts in the world is finally getting the can treatment. The smooth and creamy (and chocolatey) milk stout will soon go everywhere you go, with no glass limitations. The best part of this news? These babies are a full 16 ounces. While the bottles are nitrogen injected, each for the cans have a nitro “widget” that’s stuck to the bottom of the can. Nitrogen gas rushes upward through beer upon opening. No glass needed.

While a glass is always recommended for the perfect pint, especially when you #PourHard a Nitro bottle, cans bring a greater drinking versatility, and bring Milk Stout Nitro to your lips with the crack of a can.

Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro cans will be available across the brewery’s 40 state reach starting in August.

Style: Milk Stout (w/ Lactose.)
Hops: Magnum, U.S. Goldings
Malts: Pale 2-row, Crystal, Munich, Roasted Barley, Flaked Oats, Flaked Barley and Chocolate
Availability: 12oz Bottles, 16oz Cans, Draft.
Debut (Cans): August 2017

6% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Hopworks, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Oregon’s HUB will be picking hops during the solar eclipse

It’s been 38 years since the last mainland U.S. solar eclipse. The path of totality begins on the Oregonian coast and heads east on August 21st. In honor of this occasion, and since hop harvest has already begun, one brewery is commemorating the eclipse in a special way.

Portland,Oregon based Hopworks Urban Brewery will be harvesting fresh hops during the solar event, on Goschie Farms in the Willamette Valley. The hops pulled from the vine during totality will be trucked over to the brewery and added to the brite tank in just hours.

This coming Friday, the brewery will release HUB Total Blackout, an imperial cascadian dark ale (think black IPA) in 22-ounce bottles. The eclipse may not have any effect on the hops, but you can still enjoy a bit of the astronomical magic in a bottle.

HUB Total Blackout will be available at the brewery’s Powell location starting August 25th.

Style: Black IPA
Hops: Centennial

Availability: 22oz Bottles
Debut: 8/25/17

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Boulevard Brewing

Boulevard Berliner Weisse joins the brewery’s seasonal lineup

Boulevard Berliner Weisse is now available, a part of the brewery’s fall seasonal lineup.

RELATED: Bouelvard releases ‘Tough Kitty’ Milk Stout

Few beer styles can match the delicate, sparkling character of the classic Berliner Weisse, with its light body and tart palate. It’s said that Napoleon’s troops referred to it as “The Champagne of the North,” high praise for beer, coming from Frenchmen. With Berliner Weisse, we pay tribute to the style, while giving it a distinctively American twist. Bright and thirst-quenching, the beer is enlivened by soft lactic notes.

Boulevard Berliner Weisse is available in 12-ounce bottles and draft, from August to October, 2017.

Style: Berliner Weisse
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Aug-Oct
Debut: August 2017

4.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay