IPA

4 Styles, 100% Real Fruit. Schlafly Frugi-Four ships

Saint Louis, Missouri’s Schlafly Beer has released new Frugi-Four Sampler Pack.

The fruit-forward mixed case showcases the brewery’s commitment to using real fruit. Four different styles have been selected to ring in the warmer weather: Passionfruit Saison, Pineapple IPA, Tangerine Lager, Continue Reading →

Posted in Against the Grain, Headlines, Jack's Abby Brewing

Challenging the hoppy haze craze, the “clear IPA” is officially here

“The haze craze” has taken the beer industry by storm. The turbid, cloudy, New England IPA, powered by social media, is now being brewed coast to coast and even abroad. The Brewers Association has even added the hazy IPA as an official style.

Over the winter, Massachusetts based Jack’s Abby crossed paths with Against The Grain Brewery from Kentucky. Like damn near everyone else in the beer industry right now, the hazy IPA/New England IPA came up in conversation.

It started as a joke, and now it’s very real. Meet the “clear IPA”.

RED BRICK BREWING CREATES A “MYRTLE BEACH IPA”

Against The Grain teamed up with Springdale Beer, the experimental wing of Jack’s Abby, to create the antithesis of the hazy IPA trend – an IPA that pours nearly as clear as water. No murky glasses of beer that resemble orange juice found here. Why not, right? After all, Crystal Pepsi is a real thing.

How the brewing teams did it is still a secret. However, the result (pardon the pun) is clear. The opposite of the hazy IPA now exists in the world, and it’s called Any IPA.

Incidentally, Any IPA is the first canned collaboration for Springdale. The clear IPA is on tap now at both Against the Grain and Springdale breweries, as well as their distribution areas.

Image: Springdale Beer

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Iron Hill Brewing, New Releases

Brewed with fresh oranges, Iron Hill Hopicana is here for summer

Iron Hill Hopicana brings the “juice” ahead of summer.

The multi-state based brewpub created Iron Hill Hopicana (a west-coast India Pale Ale) to taste like fresh picked orange juice in beer form. So much so, they used fresh oranges.

Hopicana is a hop-forward IPA brewed with real oranges for refreshing, juicy flavor. It’s a West Coast-style IPA that drinks like a cold glass of fresh-squeezed OJ.

The label is inspired by commercial food labels from the 30’s and 40’s.

Iron Hill Hopicana will be available on May 10th in 16-ounce cans and draft.

Style: IPA (w/ Oranges)
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft. Summer Seasonal.
Debut: 5/10/18

6.6% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Schlafly Brewing, New Releases

4 Styles, 100% Real Fruit. Schlafly Frugi-Four ships

Saint Louis, Missouri’s Schlafly Beer has released new Frugi-Four Sampler Pack.

The fruit-forward mixed case showcases the brewery’s commitment to using real fruit. Four different styles have been selected to ring in the warmer weather: Passionfruit Saison, Pineapple IPA, Tangerine Lager, and a revival of last April’s Coconut Creme Ale.

“From our seasonal Raspberry Hefeweizen to our fall seasonal Pumpkin Ale, we’re proud of our expertise in brewing with real ingredients. This pack captures the spirit of a frugivore, a fruit-eating mammal that depends on the nutritional value of fruit. These fun, bright flavors for summer showcase how fruit beer can fit any style from Saisons to IPAs.” – Stephan Hale, Founding Brewer

The Schlafly Frugi-Four Sampler Pack features three 12-ounce bottles of each style, available in distribution starting April 23rd.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Belgium, Headlines

Truly a dank IPA? New Belgium The Hemperor ships in April, brewed with hemp

New Belgium The Hemperor, an India pale ale brewed with hemp, debuts in April.

India pale ales have always been hot in craft beer, but lately, their popularity has skyrocketed. You can thank new strains of dank hops, the New England IPA trend, even cheaper ways for small breweries to can their lineup. New Belgium is always experimenting with the green hop-star, but this time the green is a little different.

New Belgium got started in Colorado, known for scenic mountains, breweries and most recently – legal weed. That legal green has given New Belgium the inspiration for what they believe is a new style of IPA, brewed with hemp.

The brewery has developed a way to recreate the terpene flavors in hemp seeds. Terpenes are hydrocarbons derived from the essential oils of the hemp plants. They are major components of resin. Terpenes give plants their aroma, taste and even color. Those potent hemp seed flavors, plus hand-selected hop varieties, promise a truly new and unique “HPA” (hemp IPA).

You’ve probably heard weed referred to as “dank”. You most certainly have heard that term used to describe hops. New Belgium is fusing the two flavors and aromas into one “dank” beer.  It is important to note, hemp seeds and other products are not legally allowed to contain the cannabinoid known as THC (Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol) in them. Any trace of this would be so small it would take an exorbitant amount of consumption to even remotely show up on drug tests, etc. The Hemperor uses the terpenes or essence of hemp, not the cannabinoid THC.

…we found a unique way to recreate hemp terpene flavors in a beer, which complement the inclusion of hop flavors and hemp hearts (seeds) in a brand new, delicious way—not to mention this beer is extremely dank! The flavors and aromas are so unique that it’s a style unto itself, hence HPA®.

New Belgium The Hemperor will start shipping in April, in 12-ounce bottles and draft.

Style: IPA (w/ Hemp)
Hops: Nugget, Cascade, HBC 522, Simcoe
Malts: Pale, White Wheat, Midnight Wheat
Yeast: Ale

Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: April 2018

7% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Burial Beer Co, Seasonal Return

Burial Own Benefactor returns this weekend, a collab with Carton Brewing

This weekend Burial Own Benefactor, a collaboration with New Jersey’s Carton Brewing, returns this weekend.

This release is an interesting blend of each of the brewery’s favorite house beers, merged into India pale ale form. Own Benefactor is brewed with 9 different hops and fermented with a Kolsch yeast. Weird? Yes. Worth it? If it’s anything like the last release – yes.

Burial Own Benefactor will be available in 16-ounce cans at the brewery in Asheville. Potential distribution to follow.

Style: IPA
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: 8/26/17
Latest Return: 3/24/18

6.4% ABV, 50 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Port Brewing Company, New Releases

Nude surfing spot inspires Port Brewing Nelson the Greeter

Port Brewing Nelson the Greeter is the latest hoppy offering by the San Marcos, California based brewery.

Apparently named for a well-known clothing optional surf spot, Port Brewing Nelson The Greeter features Denali, Lemondrop, Mosaic and of course – Nelson Sauvin hops. In 2017, the brewery added Nelson into the recipe and loved the bold tropical fruit flavors it produced, prompting a second release of this beer.

Notes of Gooseberry and passion fruit dominate the nose with clean tangerine and freshly cut stone fruit notes leading to a smooth bitter citrus finish.

Port Brewing Nelson The Greeter is available both at the brewery and across Port’s distribution network in late March 2018.

Style: IPA
Hops: Denali, Lemondrop, Nelson Sauvin, Mosaic

Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft
Debut: Mid-March 2018

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Reformation Brewery, New Releases

Reformation Brewery Nolan The Wander a new rotating year-round IPA

Reformation Brewery Nolan The Wander debuts in April, a new rotating IPA series. 

The Woodstock, Georgia based brewery has partnered with lifestyle company Wander North Georgia for this new release. CEO and co-founder Spencer Nix has a passion for beautiful North Georgia and hopes this release inspires others to explore the area. Nolan the Wanderer is inspired by the quote “Not All Who Wander Are Lost” – a line from J. R. R. Tolkien.

This inaugural release (aka Adventure #001) is a Simcoe dry-hopped American IPA, sporting a 7.2% alcohol by volume.

“We are thrilled to partner with Wander North Georgia and have their authentic, wandering spirit along for this journey. We both share a love for North Georgia and passion to have a lasting value in our community that goes beyond our day-to-day business and this co-branded beer is just the beginning of bringing our community a taste of that very real commitment.” – Spencer Nix, CEO, and co-founder of Reformation Brewery

Reformation Brewery Nolan the Wanderer replaces Atlas as the brewery’s year-round IPA.

Style: IPA
Hops: Simcoe

Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Rotating Recipe
Debut: April 2018

7.2% ABV

Image: Reformation Brewery

by Reid Ramsay