American Wild Ales

Lost Abbey’s Edition Of Mo Betta Bretta

Mo’ Betta Bretta has officially hit the streets starting in both California (Lost Abbey) and Colorado (New Belgium) where the collaboration was brewed.  This isn’t the first release of this collaboration beer either.  It was brewed by the Continue Reading →

Russian River on New Brux Collab

Natalie Cilruzo of Russian River post a few notes today on the impending release of Sierra Nevada/Russian River Brux collaboration arriving in July.

I’m sure many of you have heard about our collaboration with Sierra Nevada Brewing Company! This 2 year, Continue Reading →

Boulevard Love Child #2 Ships

Again, probably already hard to find.  Boulevard’s new Love Child #2 has found its wayinto the world. Love Child #2 is wild/sour ale aged in bourbon barrels.

Sour characteristics come to the fore in this release, foreshadowed by the tart, winey Continue Reading →

Mikkeller’s Funky E Star Finds Chardonnay

Mikkeller’s Funky E Star is getting a little funkier.  The Belgian strong pale ale is spending some time in a chardonnay barrel.  This edition of Funky is being billed as a wild ale to boot.

Style: Wild Ale (Wine barrel aged)
Availability: 12.7 Continue Reading →

Posted in New Beers, Trinity Brewing

Trinity Old Growth Wild Ale

Trinity Old Growth

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases

Sierra Nevada/ Russian River Collab “Brux” Arrives

Check your shelves. Russian River & Sierra Nevada  present to you their newest  collaboration “Brux.”  For many, this is the first time (and probably only) time you’ll see a Russian River beer in your state. The American wild ale was brewed in Chico, California at Sierra Nevada using Russian River’s wild yeast strain to referment in the bottle.

What began as mutual admiration between Sierra Nevada’s Grossman family and Russian River’s Cilurzos has grown and progressed into genuine friendship.  Brux began as an idea and has grown into something altogether different: 

The liquid manifestation of change over time.  

Refermented in the bottle with Brettanomyces bruxellensis, Brux will change and develop over time.  Copper-colored, dry and complex, with slightly tart notes of green grass, pear, spice and lemon — this ale will progress in the bottle for many years.  

Style: American Wild Ale
Availability: 750ml bottles, corked & caged.

8.3% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Lost Abbey, New Belgium

Lost Abbey’s Edition Of Mo Betta Bretta

Mo’ Betta Bretta has officially hit the streets starting in both California (Lost Abbey) and Colorado (New Belgium) where the collaboration was brewed.  This isn’t the first release of this collaboration beer either.  It was brewed by the pair once before, circa 2004. Notice the allusion to some pretty famous beer frogs of the past…

On the Imagination River live some very curious Bullfrogs.  Rumor has it they LOVE funky and wild beer.  But it wasn’t alway this way.  Like most her drinking frogs they started out drinking mass produced beer.  And for the most part, each was content drinking this her.  But then a new frog took up residence next door.  He embraced funk and his inner wild child.  

One day while lounging on the lily pads, he broke out a special bottle of Mo Betta Bretta a delicious blonde ale with a decidedly 100% wild fermentation carried out by Brettanomyces.  Everything changed that day.  Now when you get close to the reeds and listen you can hear them croaking in unison… Mo Betta Bretta.  And for that, we’re thankful these frogs have great taste in beer. 

Style: American Wild Ale
Availability: 12.7 oz bottles, corked & caged
Released: 6/16/12, at Lost Abbey

6.3% ABV 

Video on the collaboration…

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Russian River Brewing, Sierra Nevada

Russian River on New Brux Collab

Natalie Cilruzo of Russian River post a few notes today on the impending release of Sierra Nevada/Russian River Brux collaboration arriving in July.

I’m sure many of you have heard about our collaboration with Sierra Nevada Brewing Company! This 2 year, 2 brewery, 2 family project is about to hit the streets and hopefully make it to a bottle shop near you! Set for National Release in July (I bet you thought you would never hear me say something like that!), BRUX was brewed in Chico (at Sierra Nevada) and will go through their distribution channels, which will, of course, greatly increase your chances of getting a couple of bottles. BRUX is a “domesticated wild ale”, or an ale fermented with Belgian yeast, finished by a secondary bottle fermentation with Brettanomyces bruxellensis. It’s a little more than 8% alcohol, very dry, earthy, spicy, and tasty.

Through distribution, you’ll see 750 ml bottles.  The very little draft available will tap at Sierra Nevada & Russian River’s tap rooms during the month.  July 5th Brux taps at Russian River. On July 9th the beer will tap at Sierra Nevada.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Boulevard Brewing, New Releases

Boulevard Love Child #2 Ships

Boulevard Love Child #2

Again, probably already hard to find.  Boulevard’s new Love Child #2 has found its wayinto the world. Love Child #2 is wild/sour ale aged in bourbon barrels.

Sour characteristics come to the fore in this release, foreshadowed by the tart, winey aroma. Notes of cherry, chocolate, olive brine, and leather give way to a subtle hint of funk and a dry, clean finish.

Style: American Wild Ale (Barrel Aged)
Availability: 750 ml bottles

9.6% ABV 

Read More: Boulevard

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Mikkeller

Mikkeller Ages Funky E Star In Expensive Wine

Mikkeller is diversifying the Funky E Star lineup.  The Belgian strong pale looks to return as a wild ale (over the standard pale ale)  this time around, aged in Chardonnay.  Depicted above is the second in the series of new Funky Es, aged in Sauternes wine barrels.  Sauternes is a French sweet wine from the Satuernais region, near Bordeaux.  Sauternes wines are a blend of three grapes (Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, & Muscadelle) infected with noble rot.  (Remember the recent Dogfish Head beer?)

Yet another expensive ingredient going into a Mikkeller beer, as Sauternes wines are pretty pricey due to the high cost of production.  Other high price ingredients include black truffles, and Kopi Luwak coffee.

Style: Wild Ale (Wine barrel aged)
Availability: 12.7 oz bottles
Arrival: TBA

9.39% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Mikkeller

Mikkeller’s Funky E Star Finds Chardonnay

Mikkeller’s Funky E Star is getting a little funkier.  The Belgian strong pale ale is spending some time in a chardonnay barrel.  This edition of Funky is being billed as a wild ale to boot.

Style: Wild Ale (Wine barrel aged)
Availability: 12.7 oz bottles (Wine barrel aged)
Arrival: TBA

9.39% ABV

by Reid Ramsay