Press Releases

Highland Releasing Razor Wit (PR)

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — This summer brings Highland’s twist on a wit: complexity created with ginger, grains of paradise, and cumin, in addition to the traditional coriander and orange peel.

“I love the ginger,” said head brewer Joey Justice. “Ginger can dry the Continue Reading →

Redhook Releases Beer For Soccer Fans

Woodinville, WA – Redhook fans and Emerald City Supporters (ECS) will soon have their very own beer: No Equal Amber Lager.  Redhook, the official craft beer sponsor of the Seattle Sounders, knew from the moment he heard the ECS chant “We came to drink” Continue Reading →

New Belgium Shift Lager Release

Ft. Collins, CO, March 7, 2012 — New Belgium Brewing (www.newbelgium.com) is pleased to announce that its newest year-round offering, Shift Pale Lager, will roll into markets on April 2. Capitalizing on New Belgium’s recently expanded can line, Shift will be Continue Reading →

SweetWater Road Trip 2012 Returns

SWEETWATER BREWERY’S CATCH & RELEASE SEASONAL “ROAD TRIP” RETURNS TO SHELVES

 ATLANTA (March 5, 2012) — Just in time for spring, SweetWater Brewing Company is bringing back their fiery pilsner style ale, Road Trip, to hit shelves this week. Road Trip Continue Reading →

Posted in Press Releases

Odell Brewing Releases Shenanigans Oak Aged Crimson Ale

Fort Collins, CO. — On March 24, 2012, Odell Brewing will release Shenanigans Oak Aged Crimson Ale, the brewery’s latest Big Bottle offering.

Shenanigans is a ruby colored brew that was aged in oak barrels with just a touch of Brettanomyces. The subtle Brett character offers a hint of tartness to complement the rich malts. Toasted oak and vanilla fill the nose, and a touch of dried cherry plays with the light citrus hop flavor.

“When we develop a new beer, we experiment with a variety of recipes and test batches on our five barrel Pilot Brewing system,” said pilot & barrel aged beer manager, Brent Cordle. “Sometimes, these recipes take on a life of their own becoming a new project. Shenanigans was one such brew, and we all agreed it needed to be shared.”

A tribute to the “happy accident,” the brew boasts a limerick on its label: There once was a mischievous brew, with a beautiful crimson like hue. We had one and had one again, and we called it Shenanigans. Then we brewed a batch up just for you. Odell Brewing will kick off the release with a Tap Room celebration on March 24th featuring samples of the beer, local food, live music, and a limerick con

Shenanigans is available in 750ml cork and cage finished bottles and will be distributed throughout the brewery’s ten state distributor region.

Founded in 1989, Odell Brewing was started by Doug Odell, his wife Wynne, and his sister Corkie. Twenty-three years later, the culture of family and collaboration still thrives fostering a brewery full of beer-centric people. It is this passion for beer that inspires Odell Brewing to create quality, hand-crafted, innovative brews. As a regional craft brewery, Odell Brewing is committed to serving the communities in which it distributes by sourcing local raw materials, and through its charitable giving program known as Odell Outreach. Odell Brewing was recently named a “Top Company of 2010” by ColoradoBiz Magazine and is an award winning brewery, nationally and internationally: 2011 Great American Beer Festival® – gold medal for Friek. 2010 North American Beer Awards — gold medal for Woodcut No. 3. 2009 BrewNZ Awards — gold for 5 Barrel Pale Ale. 2008 World Beer Cup® — gold for IPA. 2007 Great American Beer Festival® — gold medal for IPA.

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Press Releases

Highland Releasing Razor Wit (PR)

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — This summer brings Highland’s twist on a wit: complexity created with ginger, grains of paradise, and cumin, in addition to the traditional coriander and orange peel.

“I love the ginger,” said head brewer Joey Justice. “Ginger can dry the beer out, and grains of paradise are sort of hot, so we started with a slightly sweeter base and more body to compensate for the spices.”

Trying to find the balance of flavors was a fun challenge with Razor Wit.

“We ground the spices, heated them in water to simulate what would happen in the boiling process, and dosed each one in a neutral beer,” said Justice. “We identified the flavors we got from each spice… and talked about how they would work together.”

Several combinations in varying proportions were tested. No single ingredient or flavor was to dominate.

“There’s a lot of talk about ‘creativity’ meaning the hottest hot sauce or the strongest coffee, but we look for a way to find balance. There’s a lot to be said for subtlety in being creative,” said Justice.

This “Moorish” style wit is refreshing with a savory, not sweet, blend of flavors, and a clean finish. Razor Wit will replace Cattail Peak Wheat in May and will be available through August.

Like Little Hump, Cold Mountain, and all other Highland seasonals, Razor Wit is named after a prominent North Carolina mountain peak. Every seasonal release is combined with a presentation in the brewery tasting room and a hike to, or near, the named peak (with the appropriate beer served at the top).

For all seasonal events and hikes, Highland partners with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC). They work to protect the NC and TN Appalachians — the world’s oldest mountains — including their unique plant and animal habitat, water, farmland and scenic beauty that is vital to Highland and the Asheville area.

All are welcome! Please sign up on the SAHC site, under News and Events/Group Hikes.

For more on Highland Brewing: www.highlandbrewing.com

For more on SAHC: www.appalachian.org

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Press Releases

Redhook Releases Beer For Soccer Fans

Woodinville, WA – Redhook fans and Emerald City Supporters (ECS) will soon have their very own beer: No Equal Amber Lager.  Redhook, the official craft beer sponsor of the Seattle Sounders, knew from the moment he heard the ECS chant “We came to drink” that he was in good company.

Responding to their call, Redhook teamed up with the loudest and proudest of Seattle Sounders fans to express their mutual adoration of sport, beer and the Emerald City. Available in 22-ounce bottles and on tap throughout the Pacific Northwest beginning March 2nd, No Equal Amber Lager is a sessionable beer brewed specifically for Seattle Sounders fans.

“Seattle has become the soccer mecca of the U.S. There is no equal to the passion ECS show for the Sounders, and as Seattle’s first craft brewery, we are thrilled to team up with them to release No Equal Amber Lager,” said Jen Talley, Redhook’s brewing operations manager in Woodinville, Wash. “No Equal is a great beer. It’s smooth and full of flavor but so drinkable that it can be enjoyed throughout the game.”

“The creation of No Equal Amber Lager was a partnership from start to finish,” continued Talley. “From selecting the final recipe to designing the label, the ECS was involved every step of the way, ensuring this beer would turn out just right for its supporters.”

Keith Hodo, ECS Co-President added “we were looking for a sessionable craft beer to drink before, during and after the game and we’re very excited about the beer Redhook and Jen created for us.”

Released under Redhook’s Blueline series, a limited release series brewed specifically for local distribution, No Equal Amber Lager, which comes in at 5.2% ABV and 30 IBUs, is a well-balanced beer with the perfect combination of rich malts and hop bitterness. The beer’s color comes from the generous use of Munich and Caramel malt, while its medium bitterness comes from the addition of noble hops.

About the Blueline Series:

Originally launched in 1993, the Redhook Blueline Series is named for the streetcar line that once ran to the Redhook’s former brewery location in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, which was formerly a trolley barn.  Redhook’s brewers are a creative bunch and are always cooking up new ideas for beers outside the standard lineup.  Several times a year, the best and most interesting of these ideas are brewed and released under the Blueline Series.  These special brews are only available for a limited time in 22-ounce bottles and on draft in Redhook’s backyard markets.

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 — it’s still brewing great beers like ESB, IPA, Pilsner, Copperhook and seasonal brews. Most importantly, Redhook makes sure it has fun doing it. Redhook’s beers are available on draft and in bottles, and are distributed nationally through a network of wholesale distributors. For more information, visit www.redhook.com.

About Emerald City Supporters:

Founded in 2005, Emerald City Supporters (ECS) are an independent supporters group of Seattle Sounders FC whose aim is to support their beloved Sounders and continue to create the best atmosphere in Major League Soccer. The ECS focuses on uniting supporters based on their love of the Sounders, but also acts as an umbrella organization that incorporates supporter subgroups of all persuasions — just as long as they are supporters of the Sounders.  For more information, visit www.weareecs.com

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Press Releases

New Belgium Shift Lager Release

Ft. Collins, CO, March 7, 2012 — New Belgium Brewing (www.newbelgium.com) is pleased to announce that its newest year-round offering, Shift Pale Lager, will roll into markets on April 2. Capitalizing on New Belgium’s recently expanded can line, Shift will be available in 16-ounce cans only. In addition, the four-pack cartons are 100 percent recycled content. The beer’s name evokes New Belgium’s tradition of sharing a shift beer at the end of the day to celebrate a job well done.

Shift Pale Lager features the newly developed Nelson Sauvin hop, which brings forth elements of citrus and soft fruit alongside specialty malts and lager yeast. Easy to drink, crisp and congratulatory, Shift is ready for a responsible session in the backyard and beyond. Alcohol by volume is 5 percent.

“We’re excited to put a New Belgium twist on pale lager,” said New Belgium spokesperson Bryan Simpson. “The 16-ounce can is the perfect delivery system for this beer and it travels well.”

New Belgium has created a downloadable app that allows users to set a Shift Beer time and announce a clock-out to friends on Facebook and Twitter. The “NewBelgium” app is available for Android and iPhones and will continue to offer fresh content. New Belgium’s Facebook fans can also invite friends to have a Shift Beer and win weekly gear or a local Shift party (www.facebook.com/NewBelgium). 

Shift will be available in most New Belgium distribution areas; pricing varies by market. To find New Belgium beers in your neighborhood, use the New Belgium Libation Location tool: http://www.newbelgium.com/beer/finder.aspx.

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 Press Releases

New Belgium’s 16,000 Square Foot Canning Line Starts Up

(Fort Collins, CO) — New Belgium Brewing today announced that its 16,000 square foot canning line is complete and in full production. The system increases New Belgium’s canning volume capacity six-fold and has the capability to package both 12-ounce and 16-ounce cans.

“People are loving craft beer in a can so we decided to increase production to keep up with demand,” said Bryan Simpson, New Belgium spokesperson. “We first rolled out cans in 2008 as an outdoor-friendly, light for transport and readily recyclable vessel. Our fans enjoy that cans can travel to places where glass is not an option and now tallboys can come along, too.”

The new canning system, manufactured by KHS, features a 40-head filler capable of filling 360 cans per minute; the previous canning line filled 60 cans per minute.

Fat Tire and Ranger IPA are now available in 16-ounce can four-packs. New Belgium’s latest beer, Shift Pale Lager, debuts April 2 and will only be available in 16-ounce cans.

The canning line resides just east of New Belgium’s bottling facility on the brewery’s fifty-acre campus in Fort Collins, CO. New Belgium contracted Neenan Company of Fort Collins for construction. The canning line and facility cost nearly $8 million to build.

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, Ranger IPA, Shift Pale Lager, Belgo IPA, Sunshine Wheat, 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 Press Releases

SweetWater Road Trip 2012 Returns

SWEETWATER BREWERY’S CATCH & RELEASE SEASONAL “ROAD TRIP” RETURNS TO SHELVES

 ATLANTA (March 5, 2012) — Just in time for spring, SweetWater Brewing Company is bringing back their fiery pilsner style ale, Road Trip, to hit shelves this week. Road Trip is a part of the brewery’s Catch & Release seasonal lineup featured for a limited-time every March through May.

Produced from Pilsner and Vienna Malt, this brew rings in at 5.2% alcohol by volume (ABV). Road Trip is brewed with Cascade, Sterling and US Golding hops yielding hints of citrus and herbal hoppy notes. Unique for most pilsners, Road Trip is actually fermented at warmer ale temperatures giving this craft beer fuller flavor capped with an intense spicy hop finish.

Hitting shelves in the midst of “bikini season,” as deemed by the SweetWater crew, this pilsner goes down easy with a crisp pilsner taste up front and a spicy hop profile to finish.

“To me the Road Trip is a perfect springtime beer, great for outdoor activities like sitting by the pool or even mowing the lawn,” says SweetWater’s head brewer Nick Nock. “This is our version of a pilsner so it has a light, crisp body with a great hop character, giving it a zing of spiciness and even a hint of lemon.”

Road trip will start hitting shelves this week and will be available in six-packs of 12-ounce bottles, plus found in SweetWater’s Tackle Box Variety 12-pack. The brew will also be available on tap at participating SweetWater restaurants and retailers. Get it while the gettin’s good, because on this Road Trip, nobody rides for free!

More SweetWater News Here  https://beerstreetjournal.com/category/breweries/sweetwater-brewing/

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Press Releases

Atwater Brewery Announces 2 Year Expansion Plan

DETROIT, MI – Atwater Brewery, Detroit’s hometown craft beer brewery, has experienced exponential growth over the past several years and is investing in people and equipment to meet even stronger demand in the future.

From its location in a 1919 warehouse in Detroit’s Rivertown district, Atwater now produces more than a dozen styles of beer that meet the brewer’s singular focus to produce the highest quality craft beers on the market.

In 2011, Atwater’s award winning brews achieved record production of 7,500 barrels, and Atwater expects to double production to 15,000 barrels in 2012 and double again to 30,000 barrels in 2013.

In January, Atwater took delivery of four new tanks that will enable it to significantly boost production to meet the sharply rising demand. Atwater has added 12 new Detroit-based employees, and hopes to add up to 25 more employees through 2015.

“We’re ecstatic that our Atwater family of craft beers is winning new customers and being invited to the best parties,” said Mark Rieth, the Michigander at the helm of the company since 2005. “In 2011, we weren’t able to meet 50% of the orders we received. Now, we have the people, the facilities and the partnerships in place to meet demand and help put Detroit back on the national brewery map.”

In the 1850s, Detroit had more production breweries than anywhere else in the country.

Brew Process:

In explaining Atwater’s recent growth, Rieth points to Atwater’s commitment to using the finest ingredients, brewed in industry-best equipment and managed by many of the best people in the business. Craft brewing, especially German Lagers, has long been a passion for Rieth. He first invested in the Atwater Brewery in 2002 and bought it out in 2005 with a renewed focus on brewing and distribution.

Atwater’s four new tanks are expected to increase output by 400% over the 2011 levels. The new tanks join Atwater’s existing equipment by Kaspar Schultz, a German company that is recognized as the world’s best manufacturer of brewing equipment since 1677. Only four such machines are currently operating in North America. The Atwater brewery runs as much as 18 hours a day, six or seven days a week, producing award winning beer.

The best way to sample Atwater’s distinctly fresh and flavorful brews locally is by visiting Atwater’s tap room in the production facility itself. There, just a few feet from the brewing tanks, customers can taste Atwater’s wide variety of beers, including its biggest seller, Dirty Blond, as well as its other lager, stout, ale, pilsner, porter, and specialty beer flavors that round out the product line.

How to put Atwater beer in your fridge:

Atwater brands are sold at Michigan retailers throughout the state. As the brands grow in popularity, Atwater has formed distribution agreements with select national chains and regional distributors. Through these relationships, and beyond the 60% of its product sold state-wide in Michigan, Atwater is finding customers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and New England.

Most of the Atwater beers are available in cans. “Cans are considered by many to be the preferred vessel for beer since they limit the access of air and light, both of which are detrimental to the precious liquid,” said Rieth. “Cans also help us meet our environmental goals. They require less energy to produce and ship and also are more favorable from a recycling standpoint.”

Resurrecting Detroit’s Relevance as a brew town:

“We use a time tested German brewing process, but we strive to be authentically Detroit in both our flavors and approach. We are constantly perfecting our beer styles to reflect this heritage,” said Rieth.

With its current facility humming, Atwater is planning to build a new, full-scale brewery in 2014. “We’d love to be in the same area [on Jos Campau in the Rivertown District], but whatever we do and wherever we are, we’ll certainly keep our production and jobs here in Detroit,” said Rieth.

by Reid Ramsay