Topic Archives: American Strong Ales
Spotlight: Dogfish Head Higher Math, celebrating 20 years
Dogfish Head (Milton, DE) celebrates 20 years of brewing this year. They are celebrating off-centered, and accordingly. Dogfish Head Higher Math has arrived.
The base beer is a golden ale, fermented with cherries on cocoa nibs, finishing at a bold 17% alcohol by volume. (Our initial post mentioned it was going for 20%.) Still one of the strongest beer in the the brewery’s history.
Due to it’s high ABV, that eliminates a small list of states that Dogfish Head currently distributes to from getting the the anniversary offering. Good rule of thumb for figuring this out – if you don’t currently receive Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA, then you won’t see Dogfish Head Higher Math on your shelves.
Tasting this bold beer, the alcohol is present, along with the sour cherry juice. It is deceptively sweet which makes it easy to down 12 ounces of 17% beer. Share it, or wear a helmet when consuming.
Dogfish Head Higher Math in on shelves now in 12 ounce bottles. Happy 20th Dogfish Head. Can’t wait for 20 more years of what you put in our glasses.
Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Cherries, Cocoa Nibs)
Availability:
Release: October, 2015
20% ABV
Below, pics of the test batches from Summer, 2015.
Sierra Nevada 35th Anniversary Our Brewer’s Reserve
35 years of craft brewing is reason to celebrate. Meet Sierra Nevada 35th Anniversary Our Brewer’s Reserve.
The story is one I’m sure you’ve heard before, Ken Grossman, a young home brewer, took that passion and opened a beer supply store. By 1979 he had started work on brewery using recycled dairy equipment. In 1980, Sierra Nevada opened.
Sierra Nevada 35th Anniversary Our Brewer’s Reserve celebrates decades of craft brewing, with a strong ale partially aged in bourbon barrels. Available in 25.4 ounce bottles.
Style: American Strong Ale (Partially Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 25.4 oz Bottles
Release: Brewery only
8% ABV
Stone Depth-Charged Double Bastard joins Bastard Box
Stone Depth-Charged Double Bastard (ok, Arrogant Bastard Brewing’s) version of the American strong ale, with espresso beans is now available.
Pretty straight forward right? In true arrogant fashion, the bastard calls out your Starbucks laptop habits.
So, your knowledge of caffe is such that you have correctly determined that the term “depth-charged” refers tot he addition of espresso-roasted coffee beans. Well, bully for you For all I know, you picked that up hanging out at some coffee megachain amid a microcosmic mishmash of vapid layabouts, metro—hipsters, and laptop—sporting exhibitionists trying to convince the world (and themselves) that they’re click—clacking out the great American—novel—cum—screenplay for a future summer blockbuster. I could surely teach you a they or two were I inclined…which For I’m NOT. Perhaps you’re eyeing my backside because you’re really into coffee. Nothing wrong there, but if you’ve come to me expecting some beery incarnation of your security blanket “me time” soyfrappelatti or similarly deity concoction, you’re in for some granite—sized disappointment. I do not exist to provide merely a comforting mode of conveyance for your jittery, caffeiuted futasies. Nothing about me is smooth, subtle or hat for comfort Those who should he holding this bottle (el route to opening and indulging in what awaits within) are really into NE. Get your cionanmenrochaccino fix elsewhere. This hue’s strictly for adult mm and women who don’t require the culinary crutch of added fat and sweeteners. My motto. Bold and brave or lot at all.
Stone Depth-Charged Double Bastard will be a 22 ounce bottle offering, found in the Arrogant Bastard Box, on shelves in late October/November, 2015. The Bastard Box includes 2015 Double Bastard, Oaked Arrogant Bastard, Arrogant Bastard, and the above coffee infused edition.
Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Espresso Coffee)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Release: November, 2015
11.2% ABV
Anchor Barrel Ale, a Tribute to Fritz Maytag [Released]
Fritz Maytag saw an opportunity in 1965 and took it. Anchor Brewing, whose roots date back to 1849, was in danger of closing. For a few thousand dollars, Maytag purchased 51% of the brewery, starting what would be a craft brewing revolution in America.
Anchor Steam was bottled in 1971, and by 1975, Anchor Porter, Liberty Ale and Old Foghorn Barleywine had joined the lineup.
In 1977, Maytag purchased an old coffee roastery on Old Potrero Hill, where the brewery still resides today. Anchor Distilling produces Old Potrero Rye Whiskey (named for the hill), which is a great seque into Anchor Barrel Ale.
Anchor Barrel Ale, a tribute to Fritz Maytag, is a blend of four different Anchor beers, aged separately in Old Potrero Rye Whiskey barrels. The resulting barrel-aged beers are then blended together.
In 1965, Fritz Maytag’s first of 45 years at the helm, we sold 882 barrels of one beer. Seven years later, as we prepared to launch a second brew, Anchor Porter, new-hire Mark Carpenter asked him why. “I want us to be known for much more than making Anchor Steam,” Fritz replied with a grand gesture. “Because one day there will be hundreds of little breweries like ours all over America.” Mark was incredulous. And ultimately, of course, it would be thousands not hundreds. but Fritz saw what no one else did, igniting a revolution in brewing that originated today’s craft-beer movement. Anchor Barrel Ale – aged in our used Old Potrero Rye Whiskey barrels and on their staves – is Anchor’s tribute to pioneer brewer, trailblazing distiller, and visionary Fritz Maytag. Cheers!
Anchor Barrel Ale is now available in 12 ounce bottles and draft, a part of the brewery’s Argonaut Collection.
Style: American Strong Ale (Barrel Aged. Rye Whiskey)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Release: Late October/November, 2015
6.3% ABV
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- Anchor Barrel Ale Bottle
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- Anchor Barrel Ale Label
Firestone Walker XIX Anniversary Ale blend is just 4 beers this year
Firestone Walker XIX Anniversary Ale releases on November 1st this year. As usual, the brewery has teamed up with some all-star wine blenders to create this one of a kind beer.
“We went back to the basics this year,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “We offered the winemakers a smaller number of barrel-aged beers to work with, and we eliminated the option of blending in our hoppy stainless steel finished beers. They were surprised at first, but it resulted in a rich and complex beer that is centered on barrel-aged flavors.”
The past few years, Firestone Walker XIX Anniversary Ale has comprised of as many as 9 different beers. 2015 has just 4: Parabola, Stickee Monkee, Bravo, and Velvet Merkin. This blend eliminates the happier beers that have been a part of the blend in the past.
The winning blend came from Sherman Thacher and Daniel Callan of Thacher Winery, which you will soon taste as Firestone Walker XIX Anniversary Ale. Available in 22 ounce bottles and limited draft. D
Style: American Strong Ale (Barrel Aged)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Release: 10/31/15
13.8% ABV
River Rat Sour Cherry Sucker Punch Arrives in September
River Rat Sour Cherry Sucker Punch will release in September
Don’t let the name fool you, this is bold American strong ale, brewed with tart cherries, cranberries, and blackstrap molasses.
Our Sour Cherry Sucker Punch is aged with real tart cherries and cranberries giving you a refreshing tart flavor – not to be mistaken for a sour beer – along with black strap molasses. This ale pairs well with any meats, particularly red meats, BBQ or Asian foods as well. It’s a hearty beer to say the least.
River Rat Sour Cherry Sucker Punch is a 22 ounce bottle offering. The brewery tells Beer Street Journal it will release in September, just no exact date yet.
Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Cranberries, Cherries, Blackstrap Molasses)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Release: September, 2015
10.5% ABV
Stone Double Bastard in the Rye, a Southern Charred Relative
Stone Double Bastard in the Rye looks to join the brewery’s 500ml series in the near future. Stone Bastard in the Rye has previously been bottled.
Stone Double Bastard in the Rye is aged Templeton Rye Whiskey barrels, from the distillery in Templeton, Iowa.
Much like the lacerative muther of a beer that is Double Bastard Ale, rye whiskey is not for everyone. Not remotely. Most are not emotionally or otherwise equipped to appreciate its unbridled intensity. So to sequester Double Bastard Ale in rye whiskey barrels is to conceive an experience that no doubt will be treasured by only a select few. It takes a special breed of exceptional depth to thrive under such demanding conditions and emerge with such stunning vibrency. Something this sublime should never be squandered, however. Those plagued by even a smidge of self-doubt should look elsewhere. This rare treasure is strictly for those possessing the capacity to appreciate what many just like me.
Stone Double Bastard in the Rye is touted as a close relative of Stone Southern Charred, which is Stone Double Bastard aged for 5 months in Kentucky bourbon barrels. The brewery mentions this release has more spice and vanilla from the barrel.
Style: American Strong Ale (Barrel Aged. Rye Whiskey.)
Availability: 500ml Bottles.
Release: TBA
14% ABV
