Not too long ago, Allagash Brewing (Portland, ME) and Russian River Brewing (Santa Rosa, CA) created a very special collaboration with world renown Belgian brewery, Brasserie Cantillon.
Wild Friendship Blend, born in Belgium, is a three way blend of 3 year old Continue Reading →
Left Hand Brewing (Longmont, CO) currently has a coffee ale in select Old Chicago Restaurants across the United States. The beer debuted in early February.
Left Hand De’Nile Coffee Ale is a collaboration with Allegro Coffee, and the brewery’s Ro Guenzel. Continue Reading →
Back in October, Terrapin Beer Company’s co-founder and brewmaster “Spike” Buckowski traveled to New Belgium to create the first half of this new collaboration, Black is the New Wit. Weeks later, New Belgium’s Peter Bouckaert travelled to Terrapin’s Athens, Georgia home.
Over the weekend, Hi-Wire Brewing (Asheville, NC) released a new collaboration with Charlotte, North Carolina’s Birdsong Brewing – Bird on a Wire.
Back in February, Conor Robinson of Birdsong Brewing traveled to Hi-Wire. The team came up with a peated wee heavy ale, inspired by the smokey flavors of scotch whiskey. Peated malt that was dried over a peat flame, lends Bird on a Wire its tingle of smoke flavor.
Hi-Wire/Birdsong Bird on a Wire is available now in 22oz bottles at both breweries tap rooms, and bottle shops across North Carolina.
Style:Scotch Ale Availability: 22oz Bottles Release: March 13th, 2015
Wild Friendship Blend, born in Belgium, is a three way blend of 3 year old Cantillon Lambic, 2 1/2 year old Allagash Coolship, and 2 year old Russian River Sonambic.
Sure to be a very limited release, is Allagash’s version of Wild Friendship Blend, brewed/blended again with beer from Cantillon and Russian River. All the breweries agreed that this special collaboration would only be poured at special events.
On Saturday, May 9, 2015, Allagash will host Wild Friendship Celebration, where Wild Friendship Blend will finally be served. Attendees of the Wild Friendship Celebration will get to taste this small-batch brew of which only 1500 bottles were produced. No bottles will be sold. Additionally, three other rare beers from each brewery will be offered.
Brewery founders Jean Van Roy (Cantillon), Vinnie Cilurzo (Russian River), and Rob Tod (Allagash) will all be in attendance. “Full Plates Full Potential,” an initiative to end childhood hunger in Maine, will receive a portion of the proceeds from the Wild Friendship Celebration.
Tickets will be available at WildFriendshipBlend.com starting on March 16 through March 23. Those wishing to attend can submit their email address for the random ticket selection process – 350 addresses will be randomly chosen to purchase two tickets.
Details about the event:
The event is Saturday, May 9 at Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine. There will be two separate sessions: 1-4 pm and 5-8 pm.
Tickets for this event are $100 (plus ticket service fees) and include a souvenir glass from the event.
Attendees will receive 4 ounces of each of the 10 beers being poured at the event (including Wild Friendship Blend). Admission also includes food from 3 prominent local restaurants/caterers
350 tickets per session will be available, and sold through a random ticket selection process.
Ticket buyers and attendees must be 21 years of age. Proof of age and tickets must be presented at the door at time of entry to the event.
If you are selected to purchase a ticket, information on parking & transportation arrangements will be available at time of ticket purchase.
Left Hand Brewing (Longmont, CO) currently has a coffee ale in select Old Chicago Restaurants across the United States. The beer debuted in early February.
Left Hand De’Nile Coffee Ale is a collaboration with Allegro Coffee, and the brewery’s Ro Guenzel. The team selected Allegro’s Blue Nile Blend coffee to nuance Left Hand’s base beer, brewed with lactose.
First, Allegro’s Blue Nile BLEND coffee was hand-selected due to its intense berry and spice notes. Then, a unique recipe was created in order to best compliment the characteristics of the coffee. The result is a burnished, copper-colored brew with a white head that is the perfect equilibrium of maple, chocolate and coffee with a medium mouthfeel and a citrus aroma from Caliente and Amarillo hops.
Left Hand De’Nile Coffee Ale is available now at Old Chicago Restaurants (locator in new window) and the the brewery’s tap room.
Beer Street Journal Video: Terrapin & New Belgium Team Up
Back in October, Terrapin Beer Company’s co-founder and brewmaster “Spike” Buckowski traveled to New Belgium to create the first half of this new collaboration, Black is the New Wit. Weeks later, New Belgium’s Peter Bouckaert travelled to Terrapin’s Athens, Georgia home.
Peter Bouckaert and Spike have been wanting to collaborate for some time now. Their biggest issue wasn’t geographic distance, but style. After kicking around style ideas, the duo decided on an imperial witbier. This style is light bodied enough to allow the wood aging to shine through in the finish. Black is the New Wit is no exception.
“Peter and I have been wanting to do a collaboration for about three years now,” said Terrapin’s Brian “Spike” Buckowski. “We originally wanted to brew something with muscadine, but the timing didn’t line up right. We kicked around a couple of ideas like a Baltic porter that didn’t really have a dark color, but got its dark flavor from wood. From that popped out the idea of doing an imperial black wit brewed with rye and aged on cedar.”
There will be two editions of Black is the New Wit released. Both versions are essentially the same beer, but with each aged on different wood. New Belgium aged on cedar, Terrapin on sassafras.
In the Beer Street Journal exclusive video above, you can join Spike and Peter on brew day in Athens.
The weisse, aka “Florida Weisse” is loaded with prickly pear, brewed as a tribute to one of Tampa Bay’s biggest craft beer supporters, Sue Muntner. Sadly, Sue lost a hard fought battle with cancer in June of 2014.
This beer is dedicated to Sue Muntner, a wonderful friend and supporter of craft beer in Tampa Bay. We made this beer in a style she championed and loaded it with Prickly Pear. Please enjoy this Florida weisse in a snifter, the only appropriate glassware for toasting Sue.
A Beer Named Sue collaboration has not been officially announced by any of the breweries. Cigar City will handle the 22oz bottle packaging.
Terrapin & Mother Earth Brewing to Collaborate This Summer
Terrapin Beer Company (Athens, GA) is on the cusp of releasing a new collaboration with New Belgium, Black Is the New Wit.
This summer, Mother Earth Brewing (Kinston, NC) trek to Athens for a special new collab. Details on the brew, dates, styles, etc. are still being discussed.
Bookmark this page, as it will be updated on the information as it becomes available, along with inside pics and Beer Street Journal video of the brew day.
Terrapin co-founder “Spike” Buchowski is becoming known as the “Collaboration King.” The style hasn’t been decided yet. Brew day is scheduled for early fall, 2015.
Beer Street Journal will be on site filming the brew day. Bookmark this article as it will be updated with more information over time.
