Imperial IPA

Martin House Kafkaesque, An Ambitious Beer

Martin House Brewing Co. is releasing a new seasonal that they have dubbed the “most ambitious and confounding beer” they’ve ever produced. This is Martin House Kafkaesque.

To make sense of the beer, you need to understand Franz Kafka. Most well known for Continue Reading →

Stone Enjoy By 2.14.15 Ready

Stone Brewing Co.’s next Enjoy By IPA 02.14.15 (Valentine’s Day) has a pretty wide distribution. The imperial IPA is meant to be shipped, bought, and consumed by the date on the bottle. For each release the beer is the same, but distribution varies.

You have Continue Reading →

Champion Brewing Fruitbasket Released

Champion Brewing (Charlottesville, VA) released Fruitbasket Double IPA today.

Fruitbasket is brewed with grapefruit, blood orange, plus Mosaic hops. The beer was released today in 22oz, waxed bombers, and limited draft.

Style: Imperial IPA (w/ Starfruit, Blood Oranges, Grapefruit)
Hops: Mosaic

Availability: 22oz Bombers, Continue Reading →

Posted in Half Acre Brewing, Seasonal Return

Half Acre’s Navaja Returns Today

Half Acre Brewing  Navaja, a double IPA goes on sale today again at the brewery. The imperial IPA made a bottle debut in January, 2014.

Navaja circles back like a white shark with one of your legs in his mouth.  Big weight and groping, exotic hop fingers twist on you. Delicate quit the team and it’s all dog piles. Let it take you.

The beer’s base is Golden Promise malt (the brewery calls it nature’s almond butter.) Finished with a healthy does of hops, and this imperial IPA is complete.

Half Acre Navaja is available in 22oz bottles and draft.

Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Mosaic, Columbus, Hallertau Blanc

Availability: 22oz Bombers, Draft
Release: 1/16/15

9.5% ABV

Read more: Half Acre Brewing

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, Ishii Brewing, New Releases, Stone Brewing Co.

Baird/Ishii/Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA Returns

Back by popular demand is Baird/Ishii/Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA. The collaboration first debuted back in 2011.

The collaboration spans three countries, and Baird is based in Japan, Ishii Brewing in Guam, and Stone Brewing Co. in California. The trio created an IPA brewed with Japanese Sencha Green Tea, plus five different hops. Japanese Green Tea IPA actually was brewed in response to the 2011 Japan earthquake and Tsunami. It raised $64,000 toward relief efforts.

“This beer was beloved when it was first released, but due to the hop availabilities and creative nature of collaborations, we decided to swap out the original beer’s now very rare Pacifica hops from New Zealand for Helga hops from Australia,” explains Steele. “We brewed exactly the same recipe, targeting the same original gravity; however, since we’ve improved our brewing and fermentation processes, the alcohol by volume rose from 9.2 percent to 10.1 percent. The result is a heftier beer that perfectly highlights the earthy spice flavors that the Japanese green tea provides.”

Baird/Ishii/Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA is available again in 22oz bottles and draft.

Style: Imperial IPA (w/ Green Tea)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.

Distribution: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA and Puerto Rico
International Distribution: Alberta and British Columbia, Canada; United Kingdom; Japan; and Singapore.

10.1% ABV, 75 IBUs

Read more: Stone Collaboration Series

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

Martin House Kafkaesque, An Ambitious Beer

Martin House Brewing Co. is releasing a new seasonal that they have dubbed the “most ambitious and confounding beer” they’ve ever produced. This is Martin House Kafkaesque.

To make sense of the beer, you need to understand Franz Kafka. Most well known for works like Metamorphosis, and The Trial, a lot of his works carry themes of alienation, and psychological brutality. The existential writer’s stories are chaotic, and sometimes takes a few readings to really understand his approach. Makes a bit of sense when you under Martin House’s new beer.

Kafkaesque is Imperial, Smoked, Black, Rye, Oaked, Raspberry IPA. Surreal, detached, confusing. Franz wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Martin House Kafkaesque will be available on January 15th, at The Pour House in Fort Worth, Texas. First tasters get the unique glass below.

Martin House Kafka Glasses

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

Stone Enjoy By 2.14.15 Ready

Stone Brewing Co.’s next Enjoy By IPA 02.14.15 (Valentine’s Day) has a pretty wide distribution. The imperial IPA is meant to be shipped, bought, and consumed by the date on the bottle. For each release the beer is the same, but distribution varies.

You have in your hands a devastatingly desirable double IPA. While freshness is a key component of many beers – especially big, citrusy, floral IPAs – we’ve taken it further, a lot further, in this IPA. You see, we specifically brewed it NOT to last. We’ve not only gone to extensive lengths to ensure that you’re getting this beer in your hands within an extraordinarily short window, we made sure that the Enjoy By date isn’t randomly etched in tiny text somewhere on the label, to be overlooked by all but the most attentive of retailers and consumers. Instead, we’ve sent a clear message with the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right now to enjoy this IPA.

Stone Enjoy By IPA 02.14.15 is being bottled on 1/9/15 and hits the markets below as soon as possible. The IPA is brewed year round, but markets vary each release.

Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Calypso, Super Galena, Simcoe, Delta, Target, Amarillo, Motueka, Citra, Cascade, New Zealand Nelson Sauvin, and Australian Galaxy

Availability: 22oz Bottles and Draft.
Markets: AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, ID, IA, IN, KA, KY, PA, RI, OH, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OR, NV, TN, SC, VT, WA

9.4% ABV, IBUs 88

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Bell's Brewing, Headlines, Seasonal Return

Bell’s Hopslam Ships The Month. The Brewery Answers Questions

Bell’s Hopslam is nearly ready to be released. The brewery has reached out to answer a few questions ahead of launch.

Q: Is there more this year?

A: We try to brew more every year, although it will still be limited.

Q: When/where will Hopslam be available?

A: As with all of our beers, that too will also depend on when our distributors from each area are able to pick it up at our brewery, then deliver it to its final destination. Hopslam will make its way to all states we currently distribute to including southern California (but only in Imperial and San Diego counties this year).

Here is how shipping schedules breakdown by state (please note, this is when shipping begins).

Week of Jan. 12: Michigan and Missouri

Week of Jan. 19: Virginia, Washington DC, North Carolina, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Pennsylvania and California

Week of Jan. 26: Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio, New York, Puerto Rico and Arizona

Week of Feb. 2: Minnesota, North Dakota and Indiana

Other ways to get this year’s Hopslam –  

• Check our website’s Event Calendar for Hopslam events (we will be adding them as details are finalized).

• Our Beer Finder: Please keep in mind, the beer will have to travel first to our distributors and then make its way to bars, restaurants and retailers. Please be patient when checking with your local establishment and remember to call ahead before heading out the door.

Q: When will it be available at the Eccentric Café/Bell’s General Store in downtown Kalamazoo?

A: You can keep an eye on our Draft Cam as well as the Café’s Facebook page.

Q: Will there be Hopslam mini-kegs?

A: Sorry, no mini-kegs this year.

Q: Can I buy a keg for my home bar/kegerator?

A: (Again) Sorry, no. As in past years, all kegs are reserved for bars and restaurants. We want to be able to spread as much of this beer to as many people as possible.

Q: Can I save or cellar this beer for later/when a friend from out of town visits/other special occasion?

A: There are some beers that we brew that are meant to be cellared, Expedition Stout and Third Coast Old Ale for instance. Hopslam is not one of those.

Hopslam is meant to be enjoyed as fresh as possible. Please drink it.

Image via Bell’s Brewery

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Champion Brewing, New Releases

Champion Brewing Fruitbasket Released

Champion Brewing (Charlottesville, VA) released Fruitbasket Double IPA today.

Fruitbasket is brewed with grapefruit, blood orange, plus Mosaic hops. The beer was released today in 22oz, waxed bombers, and limited draft.

Style: Imperial IPA (w/ Starfruit, Blood Oranges, Grapefruit)
Hops: Mosaic

Availability: 22oz Bombers, Wax capped.

8% ABV, 70 IBUs

Image via Champion Brewery

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Maui Brewing Company, Seasonal Return

Maui Lorenzini Double IPA Released in Cans

Maui Lorenzini Double IPA releases today in cans. 

The IPA is brewed with tangerine and blood orange juice and Maui cane sugar. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the Shark Research Group at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology.

Maui Lorenzini Double IPA is a limited winter seasonal. A launch party is scheduled for 6 pm today (1/2/15) at the brewery.

Style: Imperial IPA (w/ Blood Orange, Tangerines, Cane Sugar.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Limited Release.

7.6% ABV

by Reid Ramsay