Seasonal Return

Posted in Allagash Brewing, Seasonal Return

Allagash James Bean (with bourbon & coffee) returns

Allagash James Bean has finally been bottled. The beer has been a draft-only offering in the past.

The base beer for Allagash James Bean is a Belgian-style strong ale with pure white cane sugar, that has been infused with cold pressed coffee after fermentation. The brewery chose Ethiopia Amaro Gayo beans for the brew, which boast flavors of blackberry and blueberry. The finishing touch on this big beer is the bourbon barrel aging.

Have you ever put bourbon in your coffee? If you do, drink this. If you don’t. Drink this. Coffee is bright and the bourbon a beautiful compliment to the boldness that James Bean is. Coffee, vanilla and bourbon dominate the aroma. Flavors of caramel, coffee, bourbon, and oak present themselves throughout this full-bodied beer. Think coffee, oak, caramel, and bourbon with a touch of berry. Start to finish.

Bean is further proof that coffee and bourbon work together (it’s been our breakfast of choice for years). Bourbon and coffee dominate this beer, but you can’t count out the Belgian-style golden ale base. Thats’s where the complexity really shines.

Allagash James Bean will be available 750 milliliter bottles debuted in early July at the brewery in Portland, Maine. Distribution has been slow and steady throughout the summer.

Style: Belgian-style Strong Ale (w/ Cane Sugar, Coffee. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Hops: Tettnang, Hallertau
Malts: Allagash 2-Row Malted Barley Blend

Availability: 750ml Bottles, Draft.
Bottle Debut: 7/2/16
Latest Return: April, 2017

10.4% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Seasonal Return

Hardywood Capital Trail Pale Ale returns with new recipe

Hardywood Capital Trail Pale Ale returns sporting a reformulated recipe on April 15th.

In celebration of the completion of the 52 mile walking and biking path known as the Virginia Capital Trail, Hardywood has opted to update the pale ale’s recipe. The updated formula features a New England IPA yeast strain (juicier character), golden oats (smoother mouthfeel), less caramel malt, and a 100% Falconer’s Flight dry hop.

We raise a can in honor of the hard work of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation and its volunteers, and your next adventure along one of America’s most bucolic and historically significant byways.

Hardywood Capital Trail Pale Ale will be available in 12 ounce cans and draft again starting April 15th.

Style: Pale Ale
Hops: Willamette, Mandarina Bavaria, Falconer’s Flight
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft.
Latest Return: 4/15/17

5.6% ABV, 55 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Dogfish Head, Seasonal Return

Hoppy Spring. Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA returns

Dogfish Head’s IPA lineup breaks down into 60 Minute, 61 Minute, 75 Minute, 90 Minute, and 120 Minute. “Dogfish 120” as it’s called, is the most boozy. (Seriously, don’t funnel this one.)

The 18+% ABV monster is hopped daily for a month, while aging on whole leaf hops. Almost all states that receive Dogfish Head will get 120 Minute bottles: DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, CA (Draft only), FL, TX, CT, MA, ME, IL, KY, MI, AZ, CO, NV, OR, WA, IN, RI, WI, D.C.

Those that don’t, thanks to restrictive (read: archaic and stupid) laws: Georgia, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Vermont, South Carolina, and Ohio.

The next round of Dogfish Head 120 Minute hits shelves in April, 2017.  If your state can’t sell it, call your local politician. He or she is killing your future beer buzz.

Style: Imperial IPA
Availability: 12oz bottles.
Latest Release: April, 2017

18.5% ABV 

Image via Dogfish Head

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Half Acre Brewing, Seasonal Return

Half Acre Vallejo IPA returns for warmer weather

Half Acre Vallejo IPA, the brewery’s spring and summer seasonal returns April 1st. The beer draws its name from talented artist, Boris Vallejo.

“Fresh pops of lemon and dried white grapes” is how Half Acre describes this India pale ale. Perfect for warmer temperatures.

An uncontested brewery favorite, Vallejo is soaking wet with beach driven pine and citrus, finishing as bitter and persistent as the sand in your shorts. Regardless of how you choose to consume it, this beer’s sole intent is to thrash its way into your good times.

Half Acre Vallejo IPA is available in 16 ounce cans and draft once again, starting Friday, March 31st.

Style: IPA
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft. Spring/Summer Seasonal
Latest Return: 3/31/17

6.7% ABV

More: Boris Vallejo Gallery

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Avery Brewing, Seasonal Return

Avery Perzik Saison returns for another sunny season

Avery Perzik Saison is back in cans ahead of the warmer weather.

“Perzik” is dutch for peach, and in this beer, the peach is the start. The Colorado brewery uses over 11 pounds of peaches per barrel, making this full of aroma and flavor.

This saison tastes like sitting in the hammock in your backyard during the summer. The peaches taste fresh, the beer finishes clean, and the esters of the yeast really compliment the whole package.

“We started making Perzik Saison two years ago, and we designed it to be a delicious, easy drinking, and sessionable beer. It has a massive amount of peaches, but our goal was to also stay true to the saison style. We ferment warm at 26 degrees Celsius, which builds a great yeast character that pairs well with the peaches.” – Fred Rizzo, Head Brewer

Avery Perzik Saison can be found nationally once again starting in April, 2017.

Style: Saison (w/ Peaches.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. April-August
Latest Return: 3/27/17

?? ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in The Hop Concept Brewing, Don't Miss This, Seasonal Return

The Hop Concept IPA Galaxy & Comet is back for another citrusy spring

The Hop Concept IPA Galaxy & Comet is back for a second time in March, 2017.

California’s Port/Lost Abbey launched a new line extension in 2015 dubbed, The Hop Concept. The Hop Freshener series featured some of the THC’s first beers, focusing on how hops change IPAs.

The Hop Concept India pale ales focus on the dry-hopping process, focusing on how the brewing technique changes smell and aroma. In this case, Galaxy and Comet hops.

This edition is all about the tropical fruit, and dank pine flavors. Galaxy boasts peach and passionfruit flavors, and Comet – even more citrus. If you love a bright IPAs with just a bit of bitterness, don’t sleep on this release. The brewery touched up the recipe a bit for this second release.

“We really liked the way Galaxy and Comet turned out last year, but we felt we could do better this year. Tweaking the recipe this year gave us a chance to really let these two hops shine much more in this years batch.”  Steve Burchill, Lead Brewer for The Hop Concept

The Hop Concept IPA Galaxy & Comet is a draft and 22 ounce bottle release.

Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Galaxy, Comet

Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Latest Return: March, 2017

8% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in The Rare Barrel, Seasonal Return

The Rare Barrel Apropos of Nothing bottles return March 18th

The Rare Barrel Apropos of Nothing will be available again at the Berkeley, California taproom again this weekend.

The base beer is a golden sour ale, aged in oak barrels with elderberries and lavender, and a blend of bacteria and wild yeast.

Apropos of Nothing is a golden sour beer aged in oak barrels with elderberries and lavender. Fermented with a unique mix of microorganisms, this sour beer displays floral aromas and flavors of fresh blueberries, honey, and lemon zest.

The Rare Barrel Apropos of Nothing is a 750 milliliter bottle offering. The brewery’s “Ambassador” members are encouraged to visit the allocations page for their bottles. On sale in the tap room on March 18th.

Style: American Sour/Wild Ale (w/ Lavender, Elderberries)
Yeast: Saison Blend, French Saison, Brettanomyces bruxellensis var. Drei, & Brettanomyces lambicus
Bacteria: Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus buchneri, & Pediococcus damnosus

Availability: 750ml Bottles
Latest Return: 3/18/17

5.8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay