Canned Craft Beer

Founders Mosaic Promise will be canned in 2017

Founders Mosaic Promise will be promoted to a canned offering in 2017. The beer was originally an ArtPrize series offering in 2014. ArtPrize is the largest art competition in the world that is held in Grand Rapids, Michigan,

Mosaic Promise is brewed with a just one Continue Reading →

Port Brewing Mongo debuts in cans

Port Brewing Mongo, the brewery’s flagship imperial IPA, is now available in 16 ounce cans.

At this point there is very little need to reiterate how popular the trend is for breweries to transition into cans. Port had earmarked both Mongo Continue Reading →

Posted in Modern Times Beer, New Releases

Nitro coconut, coffee & chocolate for Modern Times

Kicking off 2017 in smooth fashion – Modern Times Nitro Black House with Coffee, Coconut, & Cocoa.

The base beer is Black House, the brewery’s year-round oatmeal coffee stout, brewed with Ethiopian Hambela and Sumatran coffee. This special January 2017 release is not only nice and creamy thanks to the nitrogen, but also features coconut and cocoa.

This beer turned out absolutely outstanding, with a decadent mélange of chocolaty, coffee-laden radness laced with delicious notes of coconut, all wrapped up in a package so smooth and velvety, you’ll say, “Damn…that is extremely smooth and velvety.

Modern Times Nitro Black House with Coffee, Coconut, & Cocoa will be available across the brewery’s entire distribution area in early January.

Style: Oatmeal Stout (w/ Cocoa, Coconut, Coffee) Nitro Pour
Hops:
Malts: 2 Row, Oats, Crystal 60, Munich, Roasted Barley, Chocolate, Midnight Wheat, Carapils

Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft. Limited Release.
Debut: January, 2017

?? ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Left Hand Brewing, Headlines

Left Hand is introducing new “Les Quatre” saison series in 2017

Colorado based Left Hand Brewing is introducing a new saison series dubbed “Les Quatre” in 2017.

This fall, the brewery introduced 12 ounce cans for the first time, starting with Milk Stout, Fade to Black and Extrovert IPA. Next year, the brewery will add 16 ounce cans to the lineup, as well as a new series of seasonal saisons.

Each release will debut with the turning the season, brewed with local Colorado ingredients. Saison au Miel, brewed with wildflower honey will be first.

Other saisons will include Saison au Bledeminuit (brewed with midnight wheat), Saison Au Genievre (with juniper berries), and Saison Aux Baies Ameres (with chokeberries). Chokeberries, often called aronia berries, are very distinct in flavor, often described as sour and slightly bitter. The result will most likely be quite a memorable saison.

Expect the first Left Hand Les Quatre Series release to debut in March, 2017 in 16 ounce cans (4 packs).

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Founders Brewing, Coming Soon

Founders Mosaic Promise will be canned in 2017

Founders Mosaic Promise will be promoted to a canned offering in 2017. The beer was originally an ArtPrize series offering in 2014. ArtPrize is the largest art competition in the world that is held in Grand Rapids, Michigan,

Mosaic Promise is brewed with a just one malt (Golden Promise), and  a single hop (Mosaic).

Mosaic Promise showcases two unique ingredients: Mosaic hops and Golden Promise malt. The versatility of the hop’s pleasing aroma and flavor characteristics and the traditional barley’s depth of flavor comprise this clean, rich, golden beer. We can brew complex beers with the best of them, but we recognize that there is also beauty in simplicity.

Founders Mosaic Promise is once again available in 12 ounce bottles and draft until September, 2016.

Style: Pale Ale
Hops: Mosaic
Malts: Golden Promise

Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Seasonal release.
Can Debut: Fall, 2017

5.5% ABV, 50 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Belgium, Headlines

New Belgium 8 Hop Pale Ale, a brand new year-rounder

New Belgium 8 Hop Pale Ale debuts this month. An all-new beer and a part of the brewery’s Voodoo Ranger Series.

As the name suggests, New Belgium 8 Hop Pale Ale features a blend of eight hops. Which eight you might ask? The lineup is Nugget, Cascade, Centennial, Nelson Sauvin, Amarillo, Mosaic, Simcoe, and Citra.

A brilliantly balanced pale ale packed with citrus and tropical fruit flavors from eight different hops.

New Belgium 8 Hop Pale Ale will join a newly re-branded series you come to know as Voodoo Ranger. The series includes Voodoo Ranger IPA, Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA, and 8 Hop Pale Ale.

This year-round offering will be available in 12 ounce bottles, cans, and draft.

Style: Pale Ale
Hops: Nugget, Cascade, Centennial, Nelson Sauvin, Amarillo, Mosaic, Simcoe, Citra

Availability: 12oz Bottles, Cans, Draft. Year-Round.
Debut: December, 2016

5.5% ABV, 35 IBUs.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines, Seasonal Return, SweetWater Brewing

SweetWater Pulled Porter (tastes like bacon) returns in cans

SweetWater Pulled Porter is returning the Atlanta, Georgia brewery’s lineup this week. The beer debuted a year ago as a part of the “Dank Tank” Series.

Pulled Porter unites SweetWater and Atlanta food icon Fox Brothers BBQ into one neat little pint. Sure, you could order some German smoked malt and brew up a rauchbier. That’s the easy way. The brewery is based in The South, land of barbecue. SweetWater’s head brewer Nick Nock took some of Pulled’s base grain to Fox Brothers and had them smoke the malt the same way they smoke their highly sought after pork and brisket. (See images below.)

While smoke beers might not be your style, Pulled Porter might just change your mind. The smokey flavor is very savory; reminiscent to flavors of cooked bacon, and less like a hot house fire. The remaining unsmoked malt gives this beer a touch of chocolate. Basically, a backyard BBQ beer that doesn’t get your hands sticky.

Not only is Pulled Porter back in action once starting this week, it is available in 16 ounce cans for the first time.

On the farm way too long, ol’ McDanko began showing some worrisome tendencies. Following a solid session in the hot box smoking malt, he was overcome by a methane cloud emoted from the herd. Ya heard? Reaching for the hops, he goofed and grabbed porky by the e-i-e-i-oh and plopped her in the brew kettle slow and low —that is the tempo. Knock knock —who’s them? It’s McDanko’s inbred neighbor, Geri Reynolds, swinging by delivering his deliverance with some fat back hem and some fat back them. Stepping out past some Foxy brothers picking a banjo on the porch to sample his wares, McDanko, doubled over the chopping block and squealed like a pig – wieii wieii — proclaiming this to be the most bodacious bacon beer brewed this side of the Chattoog-a!

Important to note, meant was not used during the brewing process. However, some of the malt was smoked in commercial smokers which IS home to  meat for hours every day.

SweetWater Pulled Porter can be found on tap and 16 ounce cans. Expect cans on shelves across the brewery’s lineup sometime in December.

Style: Smoked Porter
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft.
Latest Return: December, 2016

7.7% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Port Brewing Company, Don't Miss This

Port Brewing Mongo debuts in cans

Port Brewing Mongo, the brewery’s flagship imperial IPA, is now available in 16 ounce cans.

At this point there is very little need to reiterate how popular the trend is for breweries to transition into cans. Port had earmarked both Mongo and High Tide to be canned releases in 2016.

Port Brewing Mongo features Columbus, Centennial, Cascade and Simcoe hops. Those that crave a resiny burst of hops will love having Mongo by their side.

Mongo begins with a massive resinous aroma created by the judicious use of Columbus, Amarillo and Cascade hops. The initial taste reveals notes of Orange, Mango and citrus fruits with a piney bitterness and hoppy spice with some mild malt flavors on the finish.

Port Brewing Mongo is available in 16 ounce cans in California first. National distribution will continue in 2017.

Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Columbus, Centennial, Cascade and Simcoe
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft. Year-round.

Debut (Cans): December, 2016

8.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Maui Brewing Company, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Passionfruit, orange, & guava highlight Maui Brewing POG IPA

Maui Brewing POG IPA is the latest release by the Hawaii based brewery, based on very popular juice drink.

Let’s start with POG. The acronym stands for the the juices ingredients- Passionfruit, Orange and Guava that got its start back in 1971. A woman named Mary Soon is accredited with the creation, who worked of the Haleakala Dairy on Maui. Interestingly, those same POG caps gave rise to a 1990’s game by the same name – POGS. (IF you don’t know what we are talking about, Google it.)

Maui Brewing POG IPA is an India pale ale brewed with Enigma, El Dorado, Jerrylo, and Citra hops, plus fresh Passionfruit, orange and guava. As you can imagine, the end result is hoppy, juicy, and full of tropical flavor.

Sourcing enough of the three fruit varieties is the biggest challenge. On top of that, guava has a really short shelf life once picked. It really makes brewing this beer exciting, because all of a sudden when the farmer has the yield we need, it’s GO time!” – Matt Ponichtera, Maui Brewing Supervisor

Maui Brewing POG IPA is available in 12 ounce cans across the brewery’s entire footprint for a limited time.

Style: IPA (w/ Passionfruit, Oranges, Guava)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: December, 2016

7.1% ABV, 58 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay