Press Releases

Firestone Walker Announces Pre GABF Dinner (PR)

PASO ROBLES, CA – You might call it “Firestone Walker unplugged”–a rare night of food, barrel-aged beers and brewery banter coming to Denver’s Mile High Station on October 10 as Firestone Walker Brewing Company partners with Chef Hosea Rosenberg to host Continue Reading →

Alaskan Brewing Announces Baltic Porter (PR)

(Juneau, AK) — Alaska has experienced a surprisingly cold summer season, despite record highs in the rest of the country, and Alaskan Brewing is welcoming the even cooler weather this fall with the next addition to the Pilot Series — Alaskan Baltic Porter.

“This Continue Reading →

Stone Enjoy By 09.21.12 IPA (PR)

STONE ENJOY BY 09.21.12 IPA RELEASED AUGUST 17

ESCONDIDO, Calif. (August 20, 2012) — Stone Enjoy By 09.21.12 IPA is devastatingly fresh. Yes, devastatingly. Why? It’s specifically brewed NOT to last. Imagine a beer that MUST be consumed by the date prominently featured on Continue Reading →

SweetWater Announces Florida Expansion (PR)

SWEETWATER BREWING COMPANY ANNOUNCES 2012 FLORIDA EXPANSION

The South’s second largest craft brewery rolling into Tampa and Orlando this fall

ATLANTA (August 21, 2012) — SweetWater Brewing Company is excited to announce their expansion into Tampa and Orlando this fall. Known Continue Reading →

New Belgium Enters Michigan Aug 27 (PR)

Ft. Collins, CO, August 15, 2012 — After months of anticipation, select beers from New Belgium Brewing will be available in Michigan beginning August 27. New Belgium will initially roll out 22-ounce bottles of Fat Tire, Ranger IPA, Trippel, Shift and Continue Reading →

Heineken Adds Strongbow (PR)

White Plains, NY) — Heineken USA today announced the addition of Strongbow Cider to its portfolio beginning January 1, 2013. HEINEKEN N.V. is the global leader in cider with nearly 25% market share and products available in 20 markets.  The Strongbow brand will further complement Continue Reading →

Redhook Pumpkin Porter Hits Backyard (PR)

(Portsmouth, NH) — It’s true, summer is nearly over, which means that fall is about to begin. To ensure there’s good beer for every important fall occasion: watching football with buddies; gorging yourself on turkey and pumpkin pie; or celebrating Continue Reading →

Posted in Firestone Walker Brewing, Press Releases

Firestone Walker Announces Pre GABF Dinner (PR)

PASO ROBLES, CA – You might call it “Firestone Walker unplugged”–a rare night of food, barrel-aged beers and brewery banter coming to Denver’s Mile High Station on October 10 as Firestone Walker Brewing Company partners with Chef Hosea Rosenberg to host “The Lion, The Bear & The Brewmaster.”

Arriving on the eve of the Great American Beer Festival® in Denver, this event will feature a vertical tasting of barrel-aged anniversary ales from the Firestone Walker library, specifically rare sold-out vintages from the previous four years: XII, XIII, XIV and XV.
Rosenberg will present a bold menu of small plates created to complement each beer.

Along the way, brewery proprietors Adam Firestone (a.k.a. the bear) and David Walker (a.k.a. the lion) and Brewmaster Matt Brynildson will share stories and scuttle from inside the brewery. The conversation will be moderated by Justin Crossley of The Brewing Network.

“I have no idea what these guys will say; I hope they behave themselves,” said Jamie Smith, the brewery’s marketing guru. “Adam, David and Matt will introduce each anniversary beer and go from there. There’s no script. And if there are any skeletons in the closet, they’ll probably come out.”

The festivities will conclude with an exclusive unveiling of Firestone Walker’s newest anniversary bottling: XVI.

Rosenberg is the proprietor of Blackbelly Catering and the winner of season five of the popular Bravo network television series Top Chef. “Chef Hosea’s talent and creativity will bring the best out of each beer,” Smith said. “The pairings will be unique.”

Firestone Walker’s annual vintage anniversary ales are among the most renowned and anticipated barrel-aged beers in the craft beer industry. Each anniversary ale is composed of multiple components, drawing on a diverse selection of brews aged in retired bourbon barrels. Each year, Brynildson enlists numerous friends in the Paso Robles winemaking community to assist with selecting the final blend. The 2012 release, XVI, will be the seventh release in the series.

The Lion, The Bear & The Brewmaster will take place on October 10, 2012, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Mile High Station. The cost is $75 per person, inclusive of food, anniversary beer samples and a Firestone Walker snifter glass. Availability is limited. For tickets, visit FirestoneBeer.com.

About:

Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a pioneering regional craft brewery founded in 1996 and located in the Paso Robles wine country on California’s Central Coast. The brewery specializes in iconic pale ales and vintage barrel-aged beers. Firestone Walker Brewing Company was awarded Mid-Sized Brewery of The Year honors at the 2003, 2007 and 2011 Great American Beer Festivals® as well as Champion Mid-Sized Brewery honors at the 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2012 World Beer Cup® competitions. 

About Blackbelly Catering: Our mission is simple: we will bring our kitchen to your house or backyard, and give our guests the gastronomical experience of their lifetime! Blackbelly Catering will deliver the highest customer experience with passion, integrity, knowledge and hands on interaction with our guests. We provide true farm to table dinners from award winning chef, Hosea Rosenberg and amazing specialty cocktails and wine pairings. With our customized mobile catering kitchen, we can provide a five star restaurant quality experience anywhere you desire

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Alaskan Brewing Company, Press Releases

Alaskan Brewing Announces Baltic Porter (PR)

(Juneau, AK) — Alaska has experienced a surprisingly cold summer season, despite record highs in the rest of the country, and Alaskan Brewing is welcoming the even cooler weather this fall with the next addition to the Pilot Series — Alaskan Baltic Porter.

“This beer is all about the ingredients,” says Alaskan brewer Michael King. “We hand-scraped and seeded several thousand whole gourmet vanilla beans, so that the vanilla flavors are fresh and full-bodied. We added hundreds of pounds of dark cherries during fermentation along with even more vanilla beans, and then finished it off by aging on toasted French oak chips for another level of flavor and complexity.”

Alaskan’s Baltic Porter is full bodied and jet-black in color with garnet highlights and a dense tan head, characteristics similar to a Russian Imperial Stout. Raisin and licorice notes accentuate the smooth, deep maltiness of Alaskan’s Baltic Porter, and balance the chocolate and mild coffee characters. Oak brings hints of bourbon and hot toffee to the warmth of this richly flavorful beer.

Like Alaskan’s award-winning Smoked Porter, the Baltic Porter can be enjoyed fresh or aged like a fine wine. The vanilla characteristics are more apparent in fresher vintages while the malty and complex dark fruit flavors become more dominant with age.

Alaskan Baltic Porter is a proud member of Alaskan’s growing list of rotating specialty recipes released in the brewery’s limited-edition Pilot Series. Last released via the Pilot Series in 2009, Baltic Porter fans have been calling for its return ever since. They will get their wish this September when this bold and complex specialty brew releases in 22 oz bottles and on draft in select locations throughout Alaska and the western states where Alaskan beers are sold.

Learn more about where to find Alaskan Brewing products at http://www.alaskanbeer.com/our-brew/find-our-beer.html.

About Alaskan Brewing Co.
Alaskan Brewing Co. has been making award-winning beer in Juneau, Alaska, since 1986. The Alaskan Brew Crew bottles the unique character of the Last Frontier with historic recipes, local ingredients and glacier-fed water. Alaskan Brewing handcrafts Amber, Pale, White, IPA, Stout, Smoked Porter, Winter Ale, Summer Ale and a variety of limited edition beers in the Alaskan Pilot Series. Visit www.alaskanbeer.com.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Press Releases, Stone Brewing Co.

Stone Enjoy By 09.21.12 IPA (PR)

STONE ENJOY BY 09.21.12 IPA RELEASED AUGUST 17

ESCONDIDO, Calif. (August 20, 2012) — Stone Enjoy By 09.21.12 IPA is devastatingly fresh. Yes, devastatingly. Why? It’s specifically brewed NOT to last. Imagine a beer that MUST be consumed by the date prominently featured on the front in order to preserve its hoppy goodness. Well Stone fans, imagine no more. Stone Brewing Co. is unleashing said beer in Chicago, New Jersey and Southern California, enter “Stone Enjoy By 09.21.12 IPA.” This amazingly fresh double IPA is loaded with hops–11 different varieties to be exact, giving the beer a massive hop profile and a balanced palate of bitterness and dryness.

“At Stone we take freshness seriously, so much so that we laser-etch the Enjoy By date on each bottle,” Greg Koch, Stone Brewing Co. CEO and co-founder stated. “However, Stone Enjoy By IPA is a project that takes freshness to an entirely new level.”

The “Enjoy By” date printed on each bottle is reflective of a 35-day package-to-drink cycle, meaning to fully maximize the beer’s hop glory, it must be consumed before or by the end of the 35-day cycle. And Stone is making sure it will be; on September 22, if any beer remains on the shelf it will be immediately removed. This is an unprecedented feat of coordination by Stone…but this beer is worth it. How can you locate one of these awesomely fresh bottles? Visit www.stonebrewing.com/enjoyby/ and use the interactive map to find exactly which retailers, restaurants and bars are carrying the beer, either in bottles or on draft. If it looks like Stone Enjoy By 09.21.12 IPA isn’t at a location near you don’t fret, we will unleash this beer to other markets in the future!

Since Stone Enjoy By 09.21.12 IPA is a very limited release, Stone Brewing Co. will measure “buzz” for the beer through the company’s social media platforms: Facebook,Twitter, Instagram (StoneBrewingCo) and the Enjoy By IPA website. Fans of the beer will be able to express their desire to get Stone Enjoy By IPA back in their city by using any or all of these. Hopheads are encouraged to comment, tweet, Instagram, and share with fellow hop enthusiasts in real time, all in one place….ohh, did we mention go towww.stonebrewing.com/enjoyby/?

Stone Enjoy By 09.21.12 IPA social media mavens are encouraged to use the following hashtags on Twitter and Instagram to plead for the beer’s return to their city, or just preach the sheer awesomeness of this IPA:

Southern California fans: #EnjoyBy #SoCal
Chicago fans: #EnjoyBy #Chi
New Jersey fans: #EnjoyBy #NJ

Stone Enjoy By 09.21.12 IPA

URL: http://www.stonebrewing.com/enjoyby/
Blog Post: http://blog.stonebrew.com/index.php/stone-enjoy-by-ipa

Stats: 9.4% abv, 88 IBUs
Availability: Limited 22-ounce bottles and draft, beginning August 17
Hops bill: Calypso, Super Galena, Simcoe, Delta, Target, Amarillo, Motueka, Citra, Cascade, New Zealand Nelson Sauvin, and Australian Galaxy
Distribution: Southern California, Chicago and New Jersey

Mitch Steele

Tasting Notes, provided by Brewmaster Mitch Steele

Appearance: Golden with a creamy white head
Aroma: Intense dank hoppiness, resin, peaches, and hints of tropical fruit are all evident in the aroma.
Taste: Smooth malt upfront, quickly dissipating into a massive onslaught of hops.  The dankness and peach come through strongly.
Palate: Smooth, hints of alcohol, and a perfect balance of bitterness and dryness on the back end.
Overall: We took the opportunity with this beer to use several interesting techniques we’ve learned during our many years of brewing great Double IPAs.  The result is an intense dry beer with very little malt sweetness, but with plenty of malt flavor to provide a background to the enormous…or shall I say “ginormous” hop character.

 

Hopping, as might be expected, was over the top. First, the brew was mash-hopped with Calypso, a beautiful fruity hop that we also used in our Stone 16th Anniversary IPA, after which we kettle-hopped with a very small dose of Super Galena hop extract for bittering. Then, using a technique known in homebrew circles as “hop bursting,” we loaded up very heavily on the flavor hops at the end of the boil and in the whirlpool. Simcoe, Delta, Target and Amarillo were used in the late kettle hop. Motueka, Citra, and Cascade were used for the whirlpool hop. As you can clearly tell, this beer was super hoppy even before we dry-hopped it, but then we went for it…dry-hopping with one pound per barrel EACH of New Zealand Nelson Sauvin and Australian Galaxy. Drink extra-super-dank-and-tasty Stone Enjoy By 09.21.12 IPA well before its 35-day shelf life to maximize the pungent glory that this beautiful, intense hop profile provides.

"Dr." Bill Sysak

Suggested food pairings, provided by “Dr.” Bill Sysak

Appetizers: Guacamole, kimchi, salt and pepper shrimp (or tofu), sausage-stuffed jalapeños 
Main course: Chicken-fried steak, Merguez sausage, gumbo, chile relleno, Thai drunken noodles
Dessert: Carrot cake, peach cobbler, ginger spice cake, pumpkin cheesecake
Cheeses: Parmigiano-Reggiano, extra aged Cheddar, Rogue Creamery Caveman Blue, Mimolette
Cigars: Alec Bradley Trilogy Authentic Corojo, Altadis U.S.A Edición Limitada, Camacho Select

ABOUT STONE BREWING CO.

Stone Brewing Co. was founded in 1996 by Steve Wagner and Greg Koch in North County San Diego. It is the 11th largest craft brewery in the United States and has been named “All-Time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine – TWICE! The brewery recently announced more than $50 million in expansion plans that includes Stone Packaging Hall, Stone World Bistro & Gardens — Liberty Station, and the future Stone Hotel among other lofty ventures. For more information, please visitwww.stonebrewing.com, follow on Twitter www.twitter.com/StoneBrewingCo or “like” onFacebook www.facebook.com/StoneBrewingCo.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Press Releases, SweetWater Brewing

SweetWater Announces Florida Expansion (PR)

SWEETWATER BREWING COMPANY ANNOUNCES 2012 FLORIDA EXPANSION

The South’s second largest craft brewery rolling into Tampa and Orlando this fall

ATLANTA (August 21, 2012) — SweetWater Brewing Company is excited to announce their expansion into Tampa and Orlando this fall. Known for their West Coast style of hoppy, aggressive,incredibly fresh and unpasteurized ales, SweetWater will be kicking off their arrival with their flagship pale ale — SweetWater 420 — on draft at select bars, pubs and restaurants throughout the area.

The brewery’s iconic rainbow trout tap handles will begin appearing in Tampa late this October and then make their way into Orlando in late November, but no decisions have been made yet on distribution partners in either market. Following its launch of 420 on draft, SweetWater will roll out more tasty brews from its award-winning lineup including IPA and Blue to join 420 in six-packs.

“With the installation of our new 250-barrel brew house and the addition of a slew of fermentation tanks, we will finally be able to make enough beer so that we can sell it a little further south into Florida,” said Freddy Bensch, founder and Big Kahuna of SweetWater Brewing Company. “I’m personally looking forward to getting down there to see if the fishing is as good as I’ve heard!”

More details to be released closer to the brew’s arrival in market. To learn more about SweetWater Brewing Company and its annual lineup, visit www.sweetwaterbrew.com.

###

* Photo courtesy of SweetWater Brewing Company. High-res copies available upon request.  

MEDIA CONTACT:

Francesca Zeifman | Communications Manager | (404) 691-2537 ext. 227 | [email protected]    

ABOUT SWEETWATER BREWING COMPANY:

SweetWater Brewing Company is an Atlanta‐based craft brewery specializing in aggressive West Coast style beers. SweetWater’s brews are unpasteurized and designed to be consumed fresh so distribution is limited to the Southeast. The award‐winning lineup of year‐round brews includes SweetWater 420, IPA, Exodus Porter, Blue, LowRYEder and Georgia Brown. SweetWater also features a Catch and Release series of beers available on a limited basis throughout the year, and an experimental, one‐time‐only Dank Tank series. The SweetWater Brewery, open for tours every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 5:30‐7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 2:30‐4:30 p.m., is located at 195 Ottley Dr NE, Atlanta GA 30324. For more information about SweetWater Brewing Company, please visitwww.sweetwaterbrew.com. For more of a social relationship with SweetWater Brewing Company follow @sweetwaterbrew on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sweetwaterbrew.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Belgium, Press Releases

New Belgium Enters Michigan Aug 27 (PR)

Ft. Collins, CO, August 15, 2012 — After months of anticipation, select beers from New Belgium Brewing will be available in Michigan beginning August 27. New Belgium will initially roll out 22-ounce bottles of Fat Tire, Ranger IPA, Trippel, Shift and Red Hoptober, as well as Lips of Faith offerings Super IPA (with Alpine Brewing) and Biere de Mars; draft will follow in October. With the addition of Michigan, the Fort Collins-based brewery and maker of Fat Tire Amber Ale will be in 29 states and the District of Columbia.

To coincide with entering the Great Lakes State, New Belgium Brewing and Michigan-based Brewery Vivant are launching the first of two collaborative beers. The first, called “Escoffier”, is being brewed in Grand Rapids and will be distributed through Brewery Vivant’s network. The beer is named after the French master chef of the same name, and crafted to go hand in hand with the food-beer experience. It’s deep amber in color and uses one of Brewery Vivant’s house Belgian yeast strains, as well as wild yeast from New Belgium called Brettanomyces Bruxellensis.

A release party is scheduled at Brewery Vivant on August 27, followed by a Michigan release of draft and signature 16-ounce cans. The beer will also be available in Chicago when Vivant begins distribution there in October.

A second beer will be brewed in Fort Collins and released through New Belgium Brewing’s national network. It will be part of the Lips of Faith series, available in 22-ounce bombers and draft in November.

“Michigan has already been a great partner with a broad network of breweries, distributors and beer lovers,” said Bryan Simpson, New Belgium’s spokesman. “Working with Brewery Vivant has been a great way to meet and work with local brewers while making something new and unique for both breweries.”

New Belgium is working with 22 Michigan distributors to distribute its beer.

About New Belgium Brewing Company 
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces nine year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sunshine Wheat, Ranger IPA, Belgo IPA, Shift Pale Lager, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases.  In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship.  For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Heineken NV, Press Releases

Heineken Adds Strongbow (PR)

White Plains, NY) — Heineken USA today announced the addition of Strongbow Cider to its portfolio beginning January 1, 2013. HEINEKEN N.V. is the global leader in cider with nearly 25% market share and products available in 20 markets.  The Strongbow brand will further complement the leading upscale beer company’s already diverse product portfolio, which includes Heineken, Dos Equis, Newcastle, Amstel Light, and more.

Strongbow — the second-bestselling cider brand in the U.S. — is a crisp premium imported cider from the UK and the leading cider brand globally. For almost a decade, HEINEKEN N.V. has partnered with the Vermont Hard Cider Company to distribute Strongbow in the rapidly growing U.S. cider market, which grew 10%[1] in 2010 and 20%[2] in 2011.

“There is tremendous opportunity to build on the momentum that the Vermont Hard Cider team created over the last nine years. We see this as a pivotal moment to further accelerate Strongbow’s growth by supporting the brand with the full weight of HEINEKEN USA’s resources and capabilities,” said Dolf van den Brink, President and CEO, HEINEKEN USA. “By growing our core and investing in innovation, we will continue to enhance our position as the industry’s leading upscale importer.”

HEINEKEN USA will position Strongbow as the leading upscale cider brand, offering both male and female consumers an alternative alcoholic beverage option. The company will finalize its distribution strategy and marketing plans in the coming months ahead of the January 2013 kickoff.

Since 2011, HEINEKEN USA has added several new brands to its portfolio in addition to Strongbow, including the Newcastle Limited Editions, Amstel Wheat, Indio, and the forthcoming Tecate Michelada.

About HEINEKEN USA 
HEINEKEN USA  Inc., the nation’s premier beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken International BV, which is the world’s most international brewer. European brands imported into the U.S. include Heineken Lager, the world’s most international beer brand; Heineken Light; Amstel Light, a leading imported light beer brand; Newcastle Brown Ale, the leading imported ale in the United States; and Buckler non-alcoholic brew. HEINEKEN USA is also the exclusive USA importer for the Tecate, Tecate Light, Dos Equis, Sol, Indio, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands from Mexico. For a safe ride home, download the HEINEKEN USA -sponsored Taxi Magicâ„¢ application from your smartphone at taximagic.heineken.com. Please visit www.EnjoyHeinekenResponsibly.com.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Press Releases, Redhook

Redhook Pumpkin Porter Hits Backyard (PR)

(Portsmouth, NH) — It’s true, summer is nearly over, which means that fall is about to begin. To ensure there’s good beer for every important fall occasion: watching football with buddies; gorging yourself on turkey and pumpkin pie; or celebrating the greatest holiday ever — when everyday women compete to be the sexiest nurses, cats, pirates or police officers —Redhook is releasing Pumpkin Porter.

Redhook’s Pumpkin Porter pays tribute to the season and he’s stoked to release it as the fifth beer in his Brewery Backyard Series.

The dark chestnut brown beer is made with pureed pumpkin, along with light chocolate, Munich, and caramel malts, roasted wheat, oats, and locally malted barley. Cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger are also added during the brewing process, and maple syrup is added to the brew during fermentation.

“We had a lot of fun with this brew,” said Alex Kopf, Redhook senior brewer. “We wanted to make a great porter and added traditional fall flavors — pumpkin, chocolate, maple syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg — to put a little Redhook twist on the style. Lightly hopped with Northern Brewer hops, Pumpkin Porter is a full-bodied, rich and roasty porter perfect for all things fall — eating turkey, watching football or drinking with your buddies around a bonfire.”

Pumpkin Porter is available for a limited time on draught only in the brewery’s Cataqua Pub in Portsmouth, N.H. and in a handful of bars and beer-centric restaurants in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. The beer is 5.8% ABV and 20 IBU.

About Brewery Backyard Series
Redhook’s brewers are a creative bunch and are always cooking up new ideas for beers outside the standard lineup. While not all make it into production, several times a year the brewers’ favorite beers are brewed and released under Redhook’s Brewery Backyard Series. These limited release brews are only available on draught in our Cataqua Pub and in a handful of bars and beer-centric restaurants in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

About Redhook
Redhook was born out of the energy and spirit of the early 80s in the heart of Seattle. While the term didn’t exist at the time, Redhook became one of America’s first “craft” breweries. From a modest start in a former transmission shop in the Seattle neighborhood of Ballard, to the current breweries in Woodinville, Wash., and Portsmouth, N.H., Redhook has become one of America’s most recognized craft breweries. While Redhook has “grown up” during the past 30 years, one thing has never changed — Redhook is still brewing great beers like ESB, IPA, Copperhook, Pilsner and seasonal brews. Most importantly, Redhook makes sure to have fun doing it. Redhook’s beers are available both on draught and in bottles around the country. For more information, visit www.redhook.com.

by Reid Ramsay