American Wild Ales

Upland Peach Sour debuts

Upland Peach Barrel-Aged Sour hits shelves this month. The Indiana based brewery has been teasing this release for a little while now.

In fall of 2016, Upland soured fresh peaches from Huber’s Orchard and Winery in nearby Starlight, Indiana. Whole peaches were Continue Reading →

Posted in Boulevard Brewing, New Releases

Boulevard Show Me Sour debuts in the “Show Me” State

Boulevard Show Me Sour debuts in the “Show Me” state this week. The first in a line of sessionable sours.

This beer first appeared in 2015 as a collaboration between Boulevard’s brewmaster Steven Pauwels and and Side Project’s Cory King. Both brewers are inspired by low alcohol, Belgian table beers.

Show Me Sour features 2 Row Pale, Maris Otter, and Amber 50 malt, plus Midnight Wheat. It is brewhouse soured, and after primary fermentation, was transferred into second use oak whiskey barrels. The final beer was blended back with fresh beer, resulting in a beer-y take on the whiskey sour cocktail.

Boulevard Show Me Sour is pleasantly puckering and an excellent choice alongside burnt ends, rum cake, salads with acidic dressings and soft cheeses. – Jeremy Danner, Ambassador Brewer

Boulevard Show Me Sour debuts this week in Kansas City. 12 ounce bottles can be found on shelves around the U.S. in the following weeks.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (Barrel Aged. Whiskey)
Availability: 12oz Bottles
Debut: March, 2017

4.3% ABV, 12 IBUs

PIC: Beer Street Journal

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Jester King Brewery, Fair Isle Brewing, New Releases

Jester King Fair Voyage, a collaboration with Fair Isle Brewing

Jester King Fair Voyage, a collaboration with Seattle, Washington’s Fair Isle Brewing, debuts Friday.

The American wild ale is brewed with Washington fireweed. Don’t worry, we’ve never heard of it either. It’s a perennial herbaceous plant that produces a unique spiced flavor. In Alaska it’s used for jellies, candies and ice creams. The fireweed was dried, and added to the wort at the end of the boil.

Besides fireweed, the beer was fermented with a blend of both Jester King and Fair Isle native yeasts and bacterias in stainless steel.

Interesting fact. Andrew Pogue of Fair Isle Brewing used to live in Jester King’s hometown of Austin, Texas. He used to assist the brewery with carpentry, photography, and more. When it came time to open Fair Isle, Jester King accepted a small stake in the brewery in exchange for guidance and business advice.

Jester King Fair Voyage will be available by the glass and bottles starting Friday, March 3rd at 4 pm.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Fireweed)
Availability: Bottles, Draft.
Debut: 3/3/17

4.9% ABV

Image: Jester King

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Avery Brewing, Coming Soon, Don't Miss This

Avery Tequilana is Barrel Aged Series #43

Avery Tequilana will be the 43rd release in the brewery’s Barrel Aged Series. If you are a tequila fan, you’re in for a treat.

Expect a light sour beer with a blast of tequila flavor, especially on the nose. The brewery has a close relationship with El Atlo, Mexico based Suerte Tequila. The brewery has been purchasing their barrels for years and now have nearly 200 on site.

READ MORE: Avery Barrel Aged Series

Avery Tequilana is a blend of both resposado and anejo tequila barrels, aged for seven months. Suerte barrels really give the final beer a very pronounced flavor, which is why the love affair has lasted so long.

“Tequilana,” said Rupp, “has a very pure and huge tequila character. Since this beer was aged in reposado and añejo tequila barrels for seven months, it’s really exciting to smell and taste oak character in the beer such as butterscotch, vanilla, and agave notes since they come simply from the barrels themselves.” – Travis Rupp, Avery’s R&D Manager

Agave tequilana, more commonly known as blue agave, is the naming inspiration for Avery Tequilana. Find it on draft at the brewery starting March 13th, and nationally in 12 ounce bottles.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (Barrel Aged. Tequila.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Limited Release.
Debut: 3/13/17

7.35% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Carolina Bauernhaus Ales, Coming Soon

Carolina Bauernhaus Source Series Opuntia debuts March 4th

Carolina Bauernhaus Source Series Opuntia is on deck from the Anderson, South Carolina sour and wild brewery.

In case the word “opuntia” brings you pause, it is actually the fruit of the prickly pear cactus. Brewery co-founder David Thorton is also the co-founder of SouthYeast Labs, what we call a “genus braintrust” of wild yeast wranglers. Carolina Bauernhaus’ house Lactobacillus bacteria was isolated by SouthYeast Labs from locally grown opuntia fruit.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, the brewery released “Muriel” featuring local muscadines.

This is our native fermented rye saison brewed with North Carolina grown heirloom Wrens Abruzzi rye malt and pilsner malt. The souring bacteria used in the beer is a strain of Lactobacillus isolated by SouthYeast Labs from opuntia fruit in La France, South Carolina. The beer was aged for 6 months in Cabernet barrels on the same opuntia fruit.

Carolina Bauernhaus Source Series Oputia will be available in 750 milliliter bottles at the brewery starting March 4th.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (w/ Opuntia Fruit. Wine Barrel Aged.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Debut: 3/4/17

6.2% ABV

 Image: Carolina Bauernhaus

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Upland Beer, New Releases

Upland Peach Sour debuts

Upland Peach Barrel-Aged Sour hits shelves this month. The Indiana based brewery has been teasing this release for a little while now.

In fall of 2016, Upland soured fresh peaches from Huber’s Orchard and Winery in nearby Starlight, Indiana. Whole peaches were added to the brewery’s sour ale, barrel-aged for three months.

Gold and straw colors shine upon pouring, with zesty amounts of carbonation. Fresh peach aromas meld with floral and wine-like notes. Wonderful peach flavors follow in the taste, accompanied by refreshing tartness. Finish is dry, with mouth-watering tanginess and peach flavor.

Interesting to note, peaches were the first fruit Upland chose when starting a sour program in 2006.

Upland Peach Barrel-Aged Sour Ale will be available in 750 milliliter bottles and draft in the near future.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (w/ Peaches. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles, Draft.
Debut: Mid-February, 2017

6% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, Wicked Weed Brewing Co

Attention lovers: Wicked Weed Chocolate Covered Black Angel is ready

Wicked Weed Chocolate Covered Black Angel first appeared as a last minute surprise when the Asheville, North Carolina brewery released Angel of Darkness in December of 2015. The beer was just a blip on the radar for many, as the release was extremely limited.

Good news. This bit of dessert beer goodness is back in action – on sale now at the brewery once again.

Chocolate Covered Black Angel is a spin on the brewery’s Black Angel, a bourbon barrel-aged dark sour/wild ale, featuring extra Montmorency cherries, plus 100 pounds of cocoa nibs from local chocolatier, French Broad.

Chocolate covered Black Angel is our sour aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels. After the beer rest in barrels, we then blend into steel tanks with over 2 pounds per gallon of tart Montmorency cherries and copious amounts of Honduran cacao nibs from French Broad chocolates.

Wicked Weed Chocolate Covered Black Angel is everything you love about Black Angel, plus the added richness of cocoa. When we say decadent, we mean it. Each sip finds vanilla bourbon oak dancing with the chocolatey flavors, finishing slightly tart, thanks to that hefty dose of cherries. Love poems n to included.

 

Those seeking Wicked Weed Chocolate Covered Black Angel will find 500 milliliter bottles waiting for you at the brewery in Asheville. Go now.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Cherries, Cocoa Nibs. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 500ml Bottles. Brewery only.
Latest Return: February, 2017

7.2% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Jester King Brewery, New Releases

Jester King Biere de Lenoir (with Texas grapes)

Jester King Biere de Lenoir, a barrel-aged sour ale, debuts on February 10th.

The base beer is a blend of barrel-aged beers, brewed with fresh and aged hops, and Blacklands Malt, and Jester King’s house mixed culture of yeast and bacteria. Biere de Lenoir has been maturing in oak barrels for a mix of 8 to 14 months before blending and re-fermentation with Texas Lenoir grapes.

Finally, Jester King Biere de Lenoir is 100% naturally re-fermented, unfiltered, and unpasteurized.

500 mililiter bottles will go on sale at the brewery on February 10th, 2017.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (w/ Grapes. Barrel-Aged.)
Availability: 500ml Bottles (3,000 available)
Debut: 2/10/17

6.9% ABV, 11 IBUs

Image: Jester King

by Reid Ramsay