Canned Craft Beer

New to cans: Birdsong Paradise City

Birdsong Paradise City debuts in cans April 1st. The first year-round beer to join the brewery’s lineup since 2012.

Billed as a “session IPA”, Paradise City features Cascade, Chinook, Amarillo and Idaho 7 hops. The IPA is on the lower side Continue Reading →

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 Old Bust Head Brewing, New Releases

Old Bust Head Graffiti House upgraded to 16oz cans

Old Bust Head Graffiti House the brewery’s west coast style IPA debuts in cans for the first time this weekend.

The Vint Hill, Virginia based brewery is making their first foray into aluminum with their year-round Graffiti House IPA. The tropical hop forward beer features Mosaic, Cascade, and CTZ hops.

From Civil War scrawls on the walls of Graffiti House to illicit aerosol artistry we all endeavor to leave our mark.  Our Graffiti House West Coast Style IPA asserts its presence with a potent aroma of passion fruit, mango, guava, and citrus.  The bold and juicy tropical body is a unique signature of the Mosaic hops, while Cascade hops contribute to a clean citrus finish for a flavor so singular it leaves its own indelible impression.

Old Bust Head Graffiti House debuts in 16 ounce cans starting Friday, March 31st.

Style: IPA
Hops: Mosaic, Cascade, CTZ
Malts: 2-Row, Cara-Pils, Caramel 10L, Special Roast

Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft. Year-round.
Debut (Cans): 3/31/17

7.5% ABV, 75 IBUs

Image: Old Bust Head

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Slumbrew, New Releases

Their first New England IPA: Slumbrew Big Kid’s Table

Slumbrew Big Kid’s Table debuts on Friday, March 31st.

Somerville Brewing, makers of Slumbers and incidentally based in Somerville, Massachusetts, its finally releasing a New England style IPA. The beer is intentionally left hazy, resulting in juicy and slightly creamy India pale ale.

Finally jumping on board the haze train, Slumbrew Big Kid’s Table will join the brewery’s lineup on March 31st.

Style: Imperial IPA
Availability: 16oz Cans
Debut: 3/31/17

8.8% ABV

Image: Somerville Brewing Company

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in The Unknown Brewing Co., Don't Miss This

Big on aromatics. Unknown Brewing Scratch n Sniff, a session IPA

Unknown Brewing Scratch n Sniff hits shelves just as spring begins.

Subtitled “Aromatic IPA,” the beer’s name is truly fitting. Unknown uses a technique called “hop bursting,” where a massive (read: unreasonable) amount of hops are added at the end of the beer’s boil and whirlpool stages. The result is a beer that is low on bitterness and big on hop aromas. The Unknown Brewing team uses a seven hop blend, bringing a real burst of flavor to the table.

The hop bursting technique is really evident in Scratch n Sniff. There is so much hop aroma in a 4.8% session IPA. It’s hopped like an imperial IPA, but won’t put you under the table nearly as fast.

This aromatic IPA is made with 7 hop additions. All those hops are thrown in at special timed editions to create flavor, a nose full of goodness, and light bitterness.

Unknown Brewing Scratch n Sniff is available in 12 ounce cans and draft as a spring seasonal.

Style: IPA
Availability: 12oz Can, Draft. Seasonal release.
Latest Return: March, 2017

4.7% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Birdsong Brewing Co., New Releases

New to cans: Birdsong Paradise City

Birdsong Paradise City debuts in cans April 1st. The first year-round beer to join the brewery’s lineup since 2012.

Billed as a “session IPA”, Paradise City features Cascade, Chinook, Amarillo and Idaho 7 hops. The IPA is on the lower side of the boozy spectrum, just 4.8% alcohol by volume, and big on citrusy flavors.

Paradise City is a medium body, crisp IPA with lots of upfront hop aromas. It’s forward on the tangerine & citrusy side with a little hint of more complex piney notes.

Assistant brewer Jeff Bowman designed the recipe for Birdsong Paradise City. Available in 16 ounce cans starting Saturday.

Style: IPA
Hops: Cascade, Chinook, Amarillo, Idaho 7
Malts: Carapils, Wheat, C40, Oats

Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: 4/1/17

4.8% ABV, 45 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in The Veil Brewing, New Releases

The Veil Brewing Old Lions makes another appearance

The Veil Brewing Old Lions Imperial IPA is back in action today.

This “hopped to heck” imperial India pale ale features Amarillo, Simcoe, and Motueka hops. The last canning of this hop bomb was in December, 2016.

16 ounce cans will be available when the brewery opens on Tuesday, March 28th for a limited time, alongside a new gose brewed with Hawaiian Punch.

Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Amarillo, Simcoe, Motueka
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft
Latest Return: 3/28/17

8.6% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in The Veil Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases

The Veil Brewing brews with Hawaiian Punch in ‘Never Aloha’

Think tropical. Think about that impossibly red kids drink that stained everything and got the entire kindergarten class wired. The Veil Brewing Never Aloha, a new gose might come close.

This beer is all bout Hawaii. The Richmond, Virginia brewer used the Hawaiian sea salt, a necessary ingredient in gose as a part of the base beer. Not tropical enough for you? Next is hundreds of pounds of of passionfruit, pineapple, mango, blood orange, and cherry purée.

READ MORE: The Veil Brewing

The finishing move: a touch of Hawaiian Punch drink mix. Yeah, they’ve gone there. Over the top trop(ical).

The Veil Brewing Never Aloha debuts today at the brewery in 16 ounce cans. Just don’t wear a white shirt when cracking the can.

Style: Gose (w/ Passionfruit, Pineapple, Mango, Blood Orange, Cherries. Hawaiian Punch.)
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: 3/28/17

4.9% ABV

Image: The Veil Brewing 

by Reid Ramsay