Collaborations

Posted in Carolina Bauernhaus Ales, New Releases

Carolina Bauernhaus Freehaus Jupiter Gold, a Freehouse collab debuts

Carolina Bauernhaus Freehaus Jupiter Gold will be available starting January 14th, 2017.

Anderson, South Carolina based Carolina Bauernhaus has teamed up with their coastal neighbors, Freehouse Brewery. The two breweries share barrels, yeast and recipes already, so a collaboration was long overdue.

Carolina Bauernhaus Freehaus Jupiter Gold uses Freehouse mixed culture from their sour tanks, plus Carolina’s house blend. The golden sour was matured for nearly a year in three different Cabernet barrels, then blended with 200 pounds of upstate South Carolina Jupiter grapes.

Jupiter Gold has a beguiling fruit notes and a bracing acidity coupled with a dry refreshing finish.

Carolina Bauernhaus Freehaus Jupiter Gold will be available in 750 milliliter bottles at the Anderson brewery on January 14th.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Jupiter Grapes. Red Wine Barrel Aged.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Debut: 1/14/17

6.4% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Flat 12 Bierwerks

Coffee Collab: Flat 12 Downtown Tinker Brown

Buzz beer might be the perfect term for Flat 12 Downtown Tinker Brown. The Indianapolis, Indiana based brewery has a coffee laden seasonal headed to shelves.

It may be too early to think about spring seasonals, but you’ll be able to enjoy this one until it feels warmer. Sean Lewis, Flat 12’s head brewer, created a brown ale brewed with milk sugar, and single-origin Colombian coffee beans roasted to by the experts at Tinker Coffee.

“We met the guys at Tinker Coffee through mutual friends around their opening November 2014. We really liked their coffee so we paid them a visit and proposed trading for beer. That led to talks about creating some beers together. It’s cool to be able to work with friends in different local industries and we’re really looking forward to our first can release.” – Head Brewer Sean Lewis

This is the first time the duo have created a full scale collaboration. Last year, Tinker Coffee provided beans for a variant of Flat 12’s Pinko Russian Imperial Stout.

Flat 12 Downtown Tinker Brown is now available in 12 ounce cans and draft, as a spring 2017 seasonal.

Style: Brown Ale (w/ Coffee. Lactose.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Spring Seasonal.
Debut: 1/6/17

6% ABV, 28 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Creature Comforts, Coming Soon, Jester King Brewery

Creature Comforts Curious 10 to debut on sold out tour

Creature Comforts Curious 10 will be available on a special brewery tour on January 21st.

This 10th iteration in the Curious Series partners Creature Comforts once again with Austin, Texas based Jester King Brewery. ((Last summer, the duo released another collaboration, Mutualism.) This mixed fermentation beer is made with grits from local Dayspring Farms, and grape skins from Yonah Mountain Vineyards (Cleveland, GA).

Creature Comforts Curious 10 underwent four separate fermentations in oak barrels over the past 18 months.

The beer pours with a transparent rose hue and quickly dissipating white foam. The aroma and flavor are that of a delicate floral and the beer softly expresses strawberry, hibiscus, nectarine, pear, and lemon with a crisp, light mouthfeel and very clean finish.

Creature Comforts Curious 10 will be available in 16.9 ounce bottles, on a now sold-out tour.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Grits, Grape Skins. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 16.9oz Bottles. Extremely Limited.
Debut: 1/21/17

6.1% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Creature Comforts, Seasonal Return, Seventh Sun Brewing

Creature Comforts Southerly Love collaboration returns this month

In summer 2014,  Creature Comforts (Athens, GA) collaborated with 7venth Sun Brewery (Dunedin, FL). The result of that (very warm) brewday party was Creature Comforts Southerly Love.

Southerly Love is an American wild ale, slightly kettle soured with lactobacillus and fermented with the house brettanomyces yeast blend. This January, Creature Comforts Southerly Love returns briefly to the brewery’s lineup. The 2017 edition features Idaho 7, Cascade, and Crystal hops.

“We used a solid dose of funky, tropical and aromatic hops, both in the brewhouse and as a dry hop, to add complexity and intrigue to the beer. The result was a synthesis of yeast and hop flavors, melded into a balanced, cohesive and just plain delicious beer.” – Co-Founder and Brewmaster Adam Beauchamp

The new label was designed by University of Georgia Scientific Illustration Student Katie Schmidt.

Creature Comforts Southerly Love will be available in 750ml bottles and draft at the brewery in Athens, Georgia on January 17th.

Style: American Wild Ale
Hops: Idaho 7, Cascade Crystal
Availability: 750ml bottles, Draft.
Latest Return: January, 2017

6.4% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Maui Brewing Company, Seasonal Return, The Lost Abbey

Maui Brewing Lemongrass Saison, brewed with Lost Abbey

What started as a collaboration in 2013 with Lost Abbey is head to shelves again this month – Maui Brewing Lemongrass Saison.

Lost Abbey’s Tomme Arthur mentions that a simple saison with lemongrass was a recipe he always wanted to create, but honestly, never got around to making. Hawaii’s Maui Brewing stepped in and helped make this beer a reality.

RELATED: Maui releases POG IPA

Simple recipe it may be, but neither of these breweries skimp on flavor. The Belgian-style saison uses 200 pounds of locally grown lemongrass.

Our original batch of this beer was the culmination of that vision; and Maui Brewing’s skillful use of this amazing flavor makes me truly wish it was available more often. In revisiting this recipe, my wishes are coming true,”

Maui Brewing Lemongrass Saison is back in action starting Friday, January 6th, in 12 ounce cans and draft.

Style: Saison (w/ Lemongrass)
Hops: El Dorado, Cascade
Malts: Oats, Pilsner

Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft.
Latest Return: January, 2017

5.2% ABV 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Mikkeller, Don't Miss This, Mikkeller Brewing San Diego

Never gonna give you up. Rick Astley is creating his own beer

Even if you are too young to have experienced Rick Astley’s hit, “Never Gonna Give You Up”, the chances you haven’t heard the song are slim. The 1987 single rocketed him to fame, topping the charts in 25 countries. The internet brought the the song back into popularity again in 2008, thanks to the now infamous “rickrolling” prank. Google that.

His next hit? Beer.

Danish brewer Mikkeller has reportedly partnered with Rick Astley, on a new lager. The beer has yet to be named.

No word on if the U.S. will see Rick Astley’s beer, however it is important to note that Mikkeller started brewing stateside in 2016 at their new San Diego facility.

Prediction. Rickrolling will soon evolve to be chugging this beer. Think Smirnoff Ice and “icing” someone. Singing will have to be involved.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Evil Twin Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases, Westbrook Brewing Co

Ultimately pretty epic. Evil Twin Imperial Mexican Biscotti Cake Break

Evil Twin Imperial Mexican Biscotti Cake Break. Meet the mashup of two highly sought after beers that is sure to instill panic in the beer geeks. Let the sweating commence.

Evil Twin, who is building a brewery on their own in New York, has been contract brewing for years at Westbrook Brewing in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina – the birthplace of Westbrook’s Mexican Cake. “Cake” started out as a way to mark the brewery’s anniversary. Morgan and Edward Westbrook brewed an imperial stout with cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, and fresh habanero peppers. Since then, the beer has become a hot commodity, selling in the secondary market for hundreds of dollars. Don’t even ask how much beer traders are asking for barrel-aged variants.

Then there’s Evil Twin Biscotti Break. As the name suggests, this imperial stout mimics the coffee shop dessert, brewed with vanilla and almond, and coffee.

Evil Twin Imperial Mexican Biscotti Cake Break slams together the best of both those beers. An imperial stout brewed with coffee, cinnamon, almonds, cocoa nibs, vanilla and habanero peppers. Both beers are awesome treats.

The result? An even bigger beer. Two dessert beers meeting in one glass could be overwhelming. Not in this case. As the beer warms, cinnamon chocolate and vanilla start to pop. Subtle elements of the two beer threads are far from a challenge to find in each sip. The only thing subtle here are the peppers. Two epic beers in one bottle. We thought only shampoo and conditioner could pull that off.

Evil Twin Imperial Mexican Biscotti Cake Break is a 22 ounce limited release.

Style: Imperial Stout (Coffee, Cinnamon, Almonds, Cocoa Nibs, Habanero Peppers.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles
Debut: Late November/December, 2016

10.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay