American Strong Ales

Cigar City Cheers!

Cigar City Brewing’s Cheers.  Pure speculation:  Breweries will make a special brew to give to key accounts, distributors, & bars for supporting their brand throughout the year.

Cigar City has a lot to celebrate too, as the year comes Continue Reading →

Boulevard Chocolate Ale Bottled

Boulevard Brewing has bottled Chocolate Ale.  Release is looming.  A little something for you to drool over.  This will be Boulevard’s 2nd release of this chocolately offering.

More than a mere flavoring, the chocolate – in the form of nibs, or Continue Reading →

Boulevard Choco Ale Brewing In Progress

Boulevard Brewing is brewing the 2012 release of Chocolate Ale today.  The first release of Chocolate sold extremely well, (and quite fast.)

Chocolate Ale is brewed a rare variety of cocoa nib from the Dominican Republic, recommended by chocolatier Christopher Elbow.   484 pounds of Continue Reading →

Lost Abbey Cuvee De Tomme 2011, 12/24

UPDATE 12/14:  Cuvee de Tomme 2011 releases on 12/24. It’s Lost Abbey’s bourbon barrel-aged aged strong ale with sour cherries.

Release Details:

Style: Cuvee de Tomme 2011
Format: 375ml cork-stoppered bottles
Price: $15 per bottle
Limits: 6 bottles per person

Supplies of this beer are extremely limited. Bottle sales will Continue Reading →

Posted in Cigar City Brewing, Coming Soon

Cigar City Cheers!

Cigar City CheersCigar City Brewing’s Cheers.  Pure speculation:  Breweries will make a special brew to give to key accounts, distributors, & bars for supporting their brand throughout the year.

Cigar City has a lot to celebrate too, as the year comes to a close.  They are currently expanding the brewhouse, adding a canning line, have a new restaurant going in at the Tampa Airport, and just couple of years in – already have beers on the the Top 100 List.  2012 should be an amazing year for them.   Cheers! is a strong ale aged in cognac barrels.

Style: American Strong Ale (Barrel Aged)

Availability: 12oz bottles.  Limited.  Most likely not for sale publicly.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Boulevard Brewing, Coming Soon

Boulevard Chocolate Ale Bottled

Boulevard Brewing has bottled Chocolate Ale.  Release is looming.  A little something for you to drool over.  This will be Boulevard’s 2nd release of this chocolately offering.

More than a mere flavoring, the chocolate – in the form of nibs, or crushed, roasted beans — was incorporated into the brewing process itself.

 

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Bell's Brewing, Seasonal Return

Bell’s Eccentric Day: December 9th. Don’t Dress Normal

Bell’s Brewing’s Eccentric Ale release is 4 days away.  It goes on sale at the Eccentric Cafe at 9 am.  You dress “non eccentrically?” No beer for you..  From Bell’s:

Bell’s 13th annual Eccentric Day is one week from today. Here is what you need to know.

– Doors will open at 9 a.m. on Dec. 9.

– Eccentric attire is required
— come as you aren’t. If you are not dressed for the occasion, you will be turned away at the door.

– There is no cover.

– There will be eccentric food.

– DJ Bowser will provide the tunes.

– Both the front and back bar will be open.

35 beers will be on tap plus a firkin of Special Double Cream Stout. Here’s the lineup:

– Two Hearted Ale

– Kalamazoo Stout

– Porter

– Special Double Cream Stout

– Amber Ale

– Java Stout

– Pale Ale

– Cherry Stout

– Winter White Ale

– Expedition Stout

– Christmas Ale

– Rye Stout

– Best Brown Ale

– Oatmeal Stout

– Third Coast Beer

– Smoked Stout

– Third Coast Old Ale

– Harry Magill’s Spiced Stout

– Oarsman Ale

– Sweet Potato Stout

– Bell’s Lager Beer

– Trumpeters Stout

– Hell Hath No Fury … Ale

– Milk Stout

– Sparkling Ale

– Dagger Stout

– The Oracle DIPA

– Black Note Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout

– Hopsoulution

– Eccentric Ale (bottles will also be available for sale at the Bell’s General Store)

– Golden Rye

– Exp Hop 2011-1 (an IPA brewed with experimental hops)

– Rye-ghteous Ale

– Harvest Ale

– Raspberry Ale

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Boulevard Brewing, Coming Soon

Boulevard Choco Ale Brewing In Progress

Boulevard Brewing is brewing the 2012 release of Chocolate Ale today.  The first release of Chocolate sold extremely well, (and quite fast.)

Chocolate Ale is brewed a rare variety of cocoa nib from the Dominican Republic, recommended by chocolatier Christopher Elbow.   484 pounds of cocoa nibs are being used in this next batch, put in a nylon bag and hung in the tank.

Style: American Strong Ale
Availability: 750ml bottles, Corked & Caged.
Release: Early 2012

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, The Bruery

Bruery Melange #3, A 3 Barrel Aged Beer Blend

The Bruery Melange 1

Tomorrow, The Bruery releases Melange #3 (Yeah the pic above is #1.)  Melange #3 is a blend of 3 bourbon barrel aged strong ales: White Oak Sap (Wheat Wine), Anniversary Old Ale, and Black Tuesday.

Flavor? Per The Bruery: Chocolate, dark fruits, oaky vanilla and rich toffee-like character reach through the bourbon veneer for an intensely satisfying quaff.

Style: Strong Ale
Availability: 750ml bottles.  $30. No Limit. Tap room only.
Release Date: 11/29/11

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Shmaltz Brewing

He’Brew Holiday Gift Pack Returning With New Lineup

He'Brew Vertical JewbelationShmaltz Brewing will be releasing the Holiday Gift Pack again this year, with a next of characters.   Last years edition contained 8 bottles, one of each of the Vertical Jewbelation beers 8-14, with a rye bourbon aged blend for that 8th crazy night.

This year, the new pack lineup will include: : Genesis Ale, Messiah Bold, Origin, Jewbelation 15, Reunion Ale ’11, Bittersweet Lenny’s RIPA, Hop Manna, and a surprise bottle of Jewbelation (one vintage selection from Jewbelations 8 – 14).  Each box will have a He’Brew glass, Chanukah candles, and Menorah building instructions. Just like last year, there will be a 2nd Annual Beer Menorah Photo Contest, with rewards for the best ones.  Full release dates for the gift packs to follow soon. This year, Hanukkah begins at sunset on Tuesday, December 20 and ends at sundown on Wednesday, December 28th. (Artwork above is last years set.)

I couldn’t resist… 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Lost Abbey

Lost Abbey Cuvee De Tomme 2011, 12/24

UPDATE 12/14:  Cuvee de Tomme 2011 releases on 12/24. It’s Lost Abbey’s bourbon barrel-aged aged strong ale with sour cherries.

Release Details:

  • Style: Cuvee de Tomme 2011
  • Format: 375ml cork-stoppered bottles
  • Price: $15 per bottle
  • Limits: 6 bottles per person

Supplies of this beer are extremely limited. Bottle sales will be brewery only, but a select quantity of draft will be available in the Southern California region.

Because we expect this beer to sell out quickly, we’ll open our doors at 11am for registration; bottle sales will begin at 12pm.

Standard disclaimer: This is a barrel-aged beer. As such release dates are subject to change based on the whims of the barrels.

by Reid Ramsay