Press Releases

New Belgium Declares A Snow Day

Ft. Collins, CO, November 1, 2011 — New Belgium Brewing (www.newbelgium.com) declares a snow day for everyone! This joyful phrase conjures universal meaning: forget work and enjoy. Snow Day Ale replaces 2ºBelow as New Belgium’s winter seasonal, bringing warmth and Continue Reading →

Announcing Blatant Brewery

BLATANT Brewery is a beer production company. Founded by Matthew Steinberg.

Founded in 2010, BLATANT Brewery, LLC is an exciting new beer company offering local and regional markets an exceptional selection of beers. BLATANT beers are forceful but never forced. Like Continue Reading →

Tallgrass Brewing Releases Velvet Rooster

Craft Beer’s First Belgian-Style Tripel in a Can: Velvet Rooster

Manhattan, Kansas –  Tallgrass Brewing Company is releasing the industry’s first canned Belgian-style Tripel under the auspicious name of “Velvet Rooster.” Velvet Rooster began shipping this week in 4-packs of 16-ounce cans and Continue Reading →

Press Release: Firestone Walker XV

(Paso Robles, CA) – The result of one of the most unique and intriguing beer projects in the world will be released the beginning of November. “XV”, Firestone Walker’s 15th Anniversary Ale, celebrates the founding of the brewery as well as Continue Reading →

Abita Release Oyster Stout

(Abita Springs, LA) — Abita is proud to introduce their newest Select brew, made with real Louisiana oysters. Last year the Abita Brewing Company sponsored a home brew competition and offered the winning brewer a unique prize, a chance for their beer Continue Reading →

Kirin Makes 0% “Beer”

Torrance, CA) — Creating an entirely new beverage category, high-end beer brewer, Kirin Brewery of America LLC (Kirin), today announced it is introducing Kirin Free, the world’s first 0.00% alcohol content beertaste malt beverage to the United States, with the initial launch in Continue Reading →

Jester King Sues TABC

Austin, TX – Jester King Craft brewery, maker of artisan farmhouse ales in the beautiful Texas Hill Country on the outskirts of Austin, has filed suit against the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). On Wednesday, attorneys representing Jester King Craft Continue Reading →

Posted in New Belgium, Press Releases

New Belgium Declares A Snow Day

Ft. Collins, CO, November 1, 2011 — New Belgium Brewing (www.newbelgium.com) declares a snow day for everyone! This joyful phrase conjures universal meaning: forget work and enjoy. Snow Day Ale replaces 2ºBelow as New Belgium’s winter seasonal, bringing warmth and relaxation to cold winter days.

Snow Day carries the subtle chocolate and caramel flavors of the newly developed Midnight Wheat malt. Pleasantly hoppy, the Styrian Golding, Centennial and Cascade hops bring a bright note to complement roasty undertones. Snow Day is the deep garnet of roasted walnut and presents a creamy tan head.

“With its layered hops, Snow Day delivers the depth people crave in a winter beer but it’s very drinkable,” said Grady Hull, assistant brewmaster at New Belgium Brewing. “We intentionally created a beer that could carry its weight without weighing you down.”

Snow Day has 6.25 percent ABV and 55 IBUs. It’s available in most New Belgium markets and pricing may vary.

To find New Belgium beers in your area, you can use the New Belgium Libation Location tool:  http://www.newbelgium.com/beer.aspx  . You can also follow New Belgium on Facebook at  http://www.facebook.com/newbelgium

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, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit, Ranger, Belgo IPA 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  http://www.newbelgium.com

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Posted in Press Releases

Announcing Blatant Brewery

BLATANT Brewery is a beer production company. Founded by Matthew Steinberg.

Founded in 2010, BLATANT Brewery, LLC is an exciting new beer company offering local and regional markets an exceptional selection of beers. BLATANT beers are forceful but never forced. Like our people and company, these beers are dynamic and creative. We work with the beer on its terms, nurturing and developing its unique personality and taste. We are true artisans and we craft a flavorful and vibrant drinking experience for not only the fanatical beer geek, but the everyday beer drinker as well.

Only a true artisan can craft a flavorful and vibrant drinking experience.
No shortcuts. We pay extra attention to what goes in.
We smell, taste and study each of our choice ingredients.

Blatant is new. We aren’t.

We have been in the brewing business for many years–this experience, time and energy spent has earned us a reputation that is highly regarded in the craft beer industry.

These days all the BLATANT beers are brewed exclusively by Matthew at Just Beer, Inc. in Westport, MA. We are very proud to be brewing our beers at such an amazing facility. Some call this contract brewing, some call it a beer marketing company, and some folks have called it gypsy brewing. Not sure I want to be called a gypsy, so we call it brewing beer at a host brewery. Kind of like the sound of that, don’t ya? Well… so do we.

Matthew has been brewing craft beer for 15 years. He has worked in many sectors of the industry, including small brewpubs, a large brewpub chain, a large craft brewer, a contract brewery, and most recently a start-up craft brewery. Matthew has received numerous accolades, several beer industry medals, and has earned a reputation for creating high quality and remarkable beers.

While working as head brewer at Offshore Ale Company on Martha’s Vineyard (‘03-‘07), Matthew designed and brewed many world class beers, earning him a reputation as a creative and innovative brewer. He also designed and managed the production and sales of two bottled products for Offshore Ale Co., which were brewed at Casco Bay Brewing Company in Portland, Maine. During his tenure, production of the bottled beer increased from 2000 cases in year one to over 20,000 by year three.

As the Director of Operations for a start-up craft brewery, Mayflower Brewing Company (’07-’10), Matthew designed and introduced four new year round beers to the Massachusetts market plus 2 seasonal offerings. He was instrumental in the design and installation of the entire brewing system, packaging and distribution departments. Mayflower’s beers have been well received by both industry professionals and consumers, earning medals at the Great International Beer Festival and the Great British Beer Festival.

Yes, our beers are handcrafted.
Yes, we are brew artisans.
And yes, we’ve got well over 15 years of experience in every keg, bottle, and (someday)can. But let’s face it: In the end, all that matters is the taste.
Be Blatant!

TWO BEERS for now…

BLATANT IPA — 6.5% ABV — 65 IBU
crisp dry aromatic — hazy golden — heavily hopped
“Obviously Hoppy — Definitively Blatant”

Hoppy… obviously. BLATANT INDIA PALE ALE (IPA) is reminiscent of the hop profiles of those beers brewed by our West Coast friends, but represents the enormous pride of our East Coast roots. Full of hops and a subtle cereal grain backbone, this definitively BLATANT brew will demand the attention of the senses: the aroma, the flavor, the finish. Don’t look any further, this is your new favorite. BE BLATANT!

BLATANT SESSION ALE — 3.9 % ABV — 22 IBU
smooth balanced — pale amber — malt sweetness noble hops
“Our Legendary Session”

So Drinkable. BLATANT SESSION ALE offers an amazing array of barley and hop selections resulting in a smooth, balanced session-able ale that finishes dry and clean. The subtle hop aroma from whole leaf Tettnang and Mount Hood hops, combined with the toasted malt, sweet caramel, and grainy cereal flavors makes SESSION ALE a legend in its own time. This is our legendary session— Tell us about yours.

Posted in Press Releases

Tallgrass Brewing Releases Velvet Rooster

Craft Beer’s First Belgian-Style Tripel in a Can: Velvet Rooster

Manhattan, Kansas –  Tallgrass Brewing Company is releasing the industry’s first canned Belgian-style Tripel under the auspicious name of “Velvet Rooster.” Velvet Rooster began shipping this week in 4-packs of 16-ounce cans and in kegs.

“Andrew Hood, our head brewer, put together this amazing brew as his first test batch when he came to Tallgrass. I tasted it and wanted to can it that day,” said Tallgrass founder Jeff Gill. “Traditionally, Belgian-style Tripels take themselves very seriously, but we just couldn’t do that. We had to give it our Tallgrass-twist, and Velvet Rooster was born.”

Velvet Rooster being canned

Velvet Rooster is in the Trappist tradition of Belgian Tripels with sweet tones gently hiding its strong alcohol bite (8.5% ABV). The beer pours a golden straw color and is topped with a lofty pure white head that unveils the beer’s strong floral and fruit aromas.

“Velvet Rooster is in the Trappist tradition of Belgian Tripels with sweet tones gently hiding its strong alcohol bite (8.5% ABV). The beer pours a golden straw color and is topped with a lofty pure white head that unveils the beer’s strong floral and fruit aromas.”

The taste is clean but complex, starting with hints of fruit and sweet malt, with just a touch of candy sweetness at the end. The beer’s Champagne-like effervescence provides a crisp offset to its sweet finish.

According to www.craftcans.com, a website dedicated to promoting craft beer in cans, Velvet Rooster is the first of its kind. “As far as I know, Tallgrass’s Velvet Rooster is the first canned Tripel in the world,” said Craftcans.com co-founder Russ Phillips. “Tripels are usually in serious looking bottles with stuffy names. I wonder what the Trappist Monks would think of their heritage in a 16-ounce can with a psychedelic rooster on it?”

The first cans of Velvet Rooster were shipped this week

The Tallgrass website playfully says of their latest creation,”It is smooth and carefully crafted, like a fine velvet painting.”

In association with National Craft Beer Week in May, Tallgrass gave the public a limited preview of the brew. Velvet Rooster was a featured craft beer at select Old Chicago Restaurants in the Midwest. This small sampling left many people asking when they could take home a can of this amazing brew. The answer is now.

Tallgrass Brewing Company was started in Manhattan, Kansas, in 2007, by homebrewer/ex-geologist Jeff Gill and his wife Tricia. Tallgrass’s products include Velvet Rooster, Ale, IPA, Buffalo Sweat Stout, Halcyon Unfiltered Wheat, and Oasis. Tallgrass declared its “Canifesto” in May of 2010 and began exclusively using cans for its non-draft product. Tallgrass is now distributed in 15 states.

Posted in Press Releases

Press Release: Firestone Walker XV

(Paso Robles, CA) – The result of one of the most unique and intriguing beer projects in the world will be released the beginning of November. “XV”, Firestone Walker’s 15th Anniversary Ale, celebrates the founding of the brewery as well as pushing the boundaries of what beer can be.

The anticipation and reputation of XV precedes this beer. XV is the culmination of intense blending sessions by local Paso Robles area winemakers to create a complex yet balanced ale. Eight beers were artfully blended together to create this masterpiece.

“I really like what the winemakers bring to the process, they usually go for blends and flavor profiles that brewers never think of,” said Firestone Walker’s Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “That’s why I like bringing them in, it pushes the boundaries of our taste and that’s exciting.”

Past year’s anniversary ales from Firestone have changed the perception of beer. These higher alcohol complex blends are more akin to wine than beer. Like wine, the anniversary beers are vintage releases that can be laid down and aged for years with the flavor profile slowly changing. The secondary market for these beers is similar to wine, with bottles that originally sold for around $20 now fetching upwards of $100 each.

“Who’d have thought a bottle of beer would be valued at $100 plus. It is an affirmation that there is real passion for beer out there,” said David Walker, Co-Owner of Firestone Walker.

Firestone XV will go on sale for the first time on Saturday, November 5 at the Firestone Walker Brewery in Paso Robles. Patrons who purchase 3 bottles or more of this amazing beer will gain access to the brewery’s anniversary party featuring complimentary beer and food tastings, music and more.

“XV” will make its debut across all markets where Firestone beers are sold this fall in limited amounts in 22oz bottles. It will also be made available on draft in select accounts.

Firestone Walker Brewing Company was founded in 1996 and is located in Paso Robles, Ca. The brewery prides itself in producing the world’s finest pale ales to a regional market. Firestone is the only brewery to be awarded Best Mid-sized Brewery honors three times at the 2003, 2007 and 2011 Great American Beer Festivals as well as World Beer Cup Champion for a Mid-sized Brewery at the 2004, 2006 and 2010 World Beer Cup competitions.

Posted in Abita Brewing, Press Releases

Abita Release Oyster Stout

(Abita Springs, LA) — Abita is proud to introduce their newest Select brew, made with real Louisiana oysters. Last year the Abita Brewing Company sponsored a home brew competition and offered the winning brewer a unique prize, a chance for their beer to be brewed by Abita and distributed as an Abita Select offering. The winning home brewer is Kerry Dale Yoes of Zachary, with Imperial Louisiana Oyster Stout. Home brewers from around the region gathered in March of last year at the Abita Brewery to compete. Yoes’ beer was the judges’ favorite and earned him the “Andy Award.” The award was named in honor of Abita’s first home brew contest winner, Andy Thomas who created the base recipe for Abita Andygator many years ago.

Abita Celebrates Louisiana Seafood

“We are especially pleased to offer this new Select because it contains real Louisiana oysters,” said David Blossman, President of Abita Beer. “We want the world to know that seafood fresh from Louisiana is ready and waiting for them to enjoy in so many ways…including as an ingredient in craft beer. Using Louisiana ingredients in our brews, from strawberries and satsumas to pecans and oysters, is just another way Abita Beer keeps their promise to always stay Louisiana True.”

Abita’s Imperial Louisiana Oyster Stout is made with pale, caramel, roasted and chocolate malts. Oats are also added to give the beer a fuller and sweeter taste. The roasted malts give the beer its dark color, as well as its intense flavor and aroma. The flavors of toffee and chocolate are prevalent but not overpowering. The beer is hopped with Willamette hops. Since the beer gets so much flavor from the malts there is not a lot of hop flavor. There is just enough bitterness to complement the sweetness of the malt. Finally, freshly shucked Louisiana oysters are added to the boil. The salt from the oysters gives the beer a more intense aroma and mouthfeel.

Abita Select is an exclusive premium draft product line from Abita that features a new style every few months. These specialty brews can be found only on tap and only at certain restaurants and bars. Consumers can locate Abita Select by using the beer finder on the Abita website or downloading the free Abita iPhone app.

About the Abita Brewing Company

The Abita Brewing Company was founded in Abita Springs, La., in 1986 and is the oldest and largest craft brewer in the southeast. Abita is the 24th largest commercial brewer by production volume in the nation and the 15th largest craft brewer in the United States. Sales for the company should exceed 130,000 barrels this year. Abita Brewing Company produces seven flagship brews year-round: Abita Amber, Golden, Light, Turbodog, Purple Haze, Jockamo I.P.A. and Restoration Pale Ale. Abita also offers five seasonal beers, three Harvest brews, four Big Beers and a draft-only series of Select beers.

Posted in Press Releases

Kirin Makes 0% “Beer”

Torrance, CA) — Creating an entirely new beverage category, high-end beer brewer, Kirin Brewery of America LLC (Kirin), today announced it is introducing Kirin Free, the world’s first 0.00% alcohol content beertaste malt beverage to the United States, with the initial launch in three select Southern California counties — Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego.

“We are excited to bring this new beverage to the U.S. and are looking forward to receiving feedback from consumers.”
Previously introduced and on the market in Japan, the new malt beverage is already a top seller in the country. Kirin Free’s unique 0.00% alcohol profile is set to revolutionize the way people can enjoy a malt beverage.

“Anyone who desires a malt beverage, but doesn’t want the affects of any alcohol at all can enjoy Kirin Free. It’s refreshing yet very flavorful, and goes well with all kinds of food,” said Randy Higa, president, Kirin Brewery of America. “We are excited to bring this new beverage to the U.S. and are looking forward to receiving feedback from consumers.”

Kirin Free’s innovative yeast-free brewing process results in a completely alcohol-free, yet delicious beertaste beverage. Kirin Free boasts only 60 calories per 11.3-ounce serving.

Higa continued, “the success of Kirin Free in Japan is something that we’ll strive to build upon in the U.S., and we’re hopeful that consumers here will respond favorably to its 0.00% alcohol content and great taste.”

Kirin currently has two beer brands — Kirin Ichiban and Kirin Light — which are sold in the United States primarily at Japanese restaurants and high-end liquor and grocery stores. Kirin Free will initially be available in 11.3-ounce bottles at select locations in Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties) in early October 2011, and distributed through Anheuser-Busch wholesalers and Mutual Trading Company, a leading purveyor of Japanese foods.

Kirin Free is intended for consumers of legal drinking age and over, and will be sold and marketed as such.

For more information, visit www.kirin.com, facebook.com/kirin, or follow us on twitter.

About Kirin Brewery of America LLC

Kirin Brewery of America is headquartered in Torrance, CA and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kirin Brewery Company, Ltd., Tokyo. In conjunction with its U.S. licensing partner Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Kirin Brewery of America provides sales support for Kirin Ichiban and Kirin Light beers, available in nearly every major metro area of the U.S. Kirin Ichiban made a splash in the world of super premium beers when it debuted in 1990, and was recently reformulated to be 100% malt, becoming the world’s only first-press, all-malt beer. Kirin Light is a full-bodied light beer with only 95 calories per 12oz serving, and is currently the best-selling Japanese and Asian light beer in the U.S.

Posted in Press Releases

Jester King Sues TABC

Austin, TX – Jester King Craft brewery, maker of artisan farmhouse ales in the beautiful Texas Hill Country on the outskirts of Austin, has filed suit against the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). On Wednesday, attorneys representing Jester King Craft Brewery and two other co-plaintiffs filed a motion for summary judgment in federal court asking that the case be decided in our favor.

We have sued the TABC because we believe that its Code violates our rights under the 1st and 14th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States. Under the Code, we are not allowed to tell the beer drinking public where our beer is sold. We are also not permitted to use accurate terms to describe our beers. We are often forced to choose either to label them inaccurately or not to make beers that we would like to brew. Under the bizarre, antiquated naming system mandated by the TABC Code, we have to call everything we brew over 4% alcohol by weight (ABW) “Ale” or “Malt Liquor” and everything we brew at or below 4% ABW “beer”. This results in nonsensical and somewhat comical situations where we have to call pale ale at or below 4% ABW “pale beer” and lager that is over 4% ABW “ale”. The State has arrogantly and autocratically cast aside centuries of rich brewing tradition by taking it upon itself to redefine terms that reference flavor and production method as a simple shorthand for alcoholic strength.

At the same time, the State prohibits breweries from using other terms that accurately reference alcoholic strength like “strong” or “low alcohol”. That means you will not be seeing any Belgian or American Strong Ale in Texas. Further, the State restricts the context in which we can communicate the actual alcohol content of our beers. We are not allowed to put the alcoholic content on anything the State considers advertising, which includes our website and social media. We are simply seeking to exercise free and truthful speech about the beer we make and strongly believe that the State has no interest in keeping you from knowing the type of beer we make, how strong it is, or where it is sold.

Our claim under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, maintains that breweries, like wineries, should be able to sell their products directly to the public. Right now in Texas, we cannot sell our beer at our brewery. We can only sell beer through a retailer or distributor. When people visit Jester King and ask to buy our beer, we have to tell them, “Sorry, that’s illegal.” Brewpubs are faced with an equal and opposite restriction. They can sell beer on-site, but cannot sell beer through a retailer or distributor. Texas wineries on the other hand are allowed to sell on-site and through retailers and distributors. We are suing because the State has no rational interest in maintaining special restrictions aimed at limiting the sale of beer.

Finally, the lawsuit challenges the State’s requirement that every foreign brewery wishing to sell beer in Texas obtain its own separate license. Foreign wineries and distilleries are not burdened by this requirement. They may simply sell their products in Texas through an importer that has one license for all the wine and spirits it brings into our state. The result is that small, artisan beer makers often have their beer kept out of Texas by unduly burdensome fees.

When we started Jester King, part of our plan was to help other small, artisan brewers, from both the United States and abroad, sell their products in Texas. This is something that we remain interested in doing at some point, which is where our material interest in this part of the case comes into play. Our much larger interest, however, is in allowing Texas beer drinkers to have access to the beers that helped shape our desire to build an authentic farmhouse brewery in the Texas Hill Country and that have had a direct influence on the type of beers that we have set out to brew. Many of these beers are from small overseas breweries whose products are currently being sold elsewhere in the U.S., but not in Texas because of exorbitant licensing fees. We would like to have the ability to purchase these beers in our local market and would like for all Texas beer drinkers to be able to do the same.

We have chosen to pursue these matters in federal court after witnessing the lack of progress that has resulted from previous attempts to address the inequities of the TABC Code legislatively. During the last legislative session, there were bills aimed at giving breweries and brewpubs similar rights to Texas wineries, but these bills never even made it out of committee.

We cannot say how likely we are to succeed in this lawsuit. The State has only to show a rational basis for restricting our freedom and the freedom of beer drinkers in this matter. However, as long as there is a TABC Code in Texas that discriminates against and puts undue burdens on breweries both home and abroad, we will continue to do everything in our power to fight for a more just and free system for us and for beer drinkers in