IPA

Midnight Sun Joins Canning Trend

Midnight Sun Brewing (Anchorage, AK) is expanding to cans.  2011 seems to be the year of the can.  A canning line is already in place at the brewery to start with Sockeye Red IPA.  Additional tanks were also purchased to Continue Reading →

Introducing Shmaltz Hop Manna

<UPDATE 4/29:> Hop Manna was made only for special brewclubs nationally & internal tastings.  Shmaltz doesn’t have the capacity/time to brew this for normal distribution.  Based on it’s success, you could see this beer go into distribution in 2012.

Shmaltz Brewing is Continue Reading →

Indiana Krunkles & The Bottle Of Beer

The next edition of Terrapin Brewing’s Side Project Series is about to ship.  Indiana Krunkles swings in soon.  Rumor has it, he still hates snakes.  Expect more Krunkles as a reoccurring character in the breweries works of beer.   Imagine an the malts Continue Reading →

Another Hatter From New Holland

New Holland Brewing going to be wearing a lot of hats this year. The Mad Hatter IPA series is increasing. Currently for your drinking pleasure you have Mad Hatter IPA, Imperial Mad Hatter, Rye Mad Hatter is back Continue Reading →

New Holland’s Rye Hatter

New Holland Brewing (SOME WHERE) is releasing the rye variation of of their popular “Mad Hatter” IPA again in May, 2011.  Released just once before last year – Rye Hatter is choc full of rye malt.

From New Holland:
This beer Continue Reading →

Posted in Coming Soon

Half Acre Announces A Meat Wave In May


Half Acre Brewing (Chicago, IL) is releasing some new beers in the coming weeks.  The first of what is sure to be some interesting brews celebrates Chicago Craft Beer Week 2011.  The week runs from May 19th-29th this year. The beer?  Meat Wave.  Half Acre talks suds:

We’re going to release a number of beers in the coming weeks, but for one we aimed at capturing the essence of what Chicago is and how it’s people do what they do. Clearly our city hosts all kinds of interests, but we combed the fabric of this town and came back with: Pigs. Chicago has been romancing pigs and their tasty bodies in ways like never before. Pigs are hot, totally trending, and part of what we do. Chicago popular culture is running rampant with our succulent friends, while our history is steeped in pork parts. What we’re saying, is that Chicago has been entrenched in the pig for ages and we’re about to climax. Meat Wave is an english-bent India Pale Ale that will be our Chicago Craft Beer Week beer. Earthy delicious, this meat centric offering is for you, Chicago.

Style: English IPA
Availability: 22 oz bombers, Draft. Chicago area only.
Arrival: Late May, 2011

T-shirts commemorating Meat Wave available too…

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Coming Soon, Midnight Sun Brewing

Midnight Sun Joins Canning Trend

Midnight Sun Brewing (Anchorage, AK) is expanding to cans.  2011 seems to be the year of the can.  A canning line is already in place at the brewery to start with Sockeye Red IPA.  Additional tanks were also purchased to help with the canning capacity.

About Sockeye:
Instinctively bold and determined, Sockeye Red IPA is a beautifully crafted Pacific Coast-style India Pale Ale with a real bite. Specialty malts impart a spawning red hue to its fresh, firm body but the predominant character of this incredible catch comes from outlandish hops. Cascade, Centennial and Simcoe hops join forces to infuse intense hop aroma and flavor, defining and proliferating Sockeye Red’s appeal. Snag some Sockeye Red IPA for your next gathering. Serve in pint glasses or goblets as an aperitif or to accompany fresh, flavorful cuisine that’s full of spice; full of life!

Style: American IPA

5.7 % ABV, 75 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Shmaltz Brewing

Introducing Shmaltz Hop Manna

<UPDATE 4/29:> Hop Manna was made only for special brewclubs nationally & internal tastings.  Shmaltz doesn’t have the capacity/time to brew this for normal distribution.  Based on it’s success, you could see this beer go into distribution in 2012.

Shmaltz Brewing is soon to release Hop Manna, an American IPA.  The label indicates this IPA is dry hopped with Cascade, Crystal, & Amarillo.  Of course Manna is certified Kosher.  What’s a Shmaltz label without Jeremy Cowan’s amazing writing:

In the book of Exodus, the ancient Hebrews survived 400 years of bondage before the ultimate supreme court dropped the 10 deadly Plagues on the land of the taskmasters and its head dictator, the Pharaoh.  Even then, only the begrudgingly, did he Let My People Go.  The freedom ride across, nay through the sea left a band of wandering nomads broke and suffering, no doubt with a mighty thirst and profound hunger.  Enter the Manna: a glorious gift to nourish body and soul.  Manna was said to combine the tastes of everything delicious to each person, depending on the desires of the one experiencing it.  And as the Good Book says, Each shall gather according to one’s need and shall enjoy a double portion to get through thy chosen day of rest.  Manna fed the entire tribe, but tradition suggests the righteous received manna ground in a heavenly mill, wile the wicked had to grind it below for themselves.  Perhaps we’ll let the brewers decide who’s been naughty or nice…

Hear o’Tribe of Shmaltz…Behold! A celebration of the flower of the craft beer revolution! A golden opportunity to feed your inner hop head and rejoice in Hop Manna, our newest delicacy of the modern He’brew Beer family.  L’Chaim!

Style: American IPA
Availability: 22oz bombers.

6.8% ABV
65 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Terrapin Beer Company

Indiana Krunkles & The Bottle Of Beer

The next edition of Terrapin Brewing’s Side Project Series is about to ship.  Indiana Krunkles swings in soon.  Rumor has it, he still hates snakes.  Expect more Krunkles as a reoccurring character in the breweries works of beer.   Imagine an the malts of a German hefeweizen, and the hop bill of an IPA and you have Indiana Krunkles.

About Indiana From Spike:
The Legend of Krunkles lives on with number 15 in our Side Project series of beers. “Indiana Krunkles” Wheat I.P.A. boasts all the hop adventure of an American I.P.A. while leading you on a quest for the malt and yeast found in a traditional Ger- man Hefeweizen. Explore all the unique flavor of this uncon- ventional wheat beverage while your senses take you on a journey into complete beer nirvana. We hope you enjoy this audacious brew!

Style: American IPA (Wheat base)
Hops: Bravo, Amarillo, Centennial. Falconer’s Flight (Dry Hop)
Malts: 2-Row Pale, Wheat, Munich, Victory, Crystal 24L, Acidulated

Availability: 22oz Bombers, Draft. 1 time Side Project Brew.

7.3% ABV
73 IBUS

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Brewdog, Cool Stuff

Brewdog Looks To Keep Things “UP” For Royal Wedding

All the buzz in the UK is about the upcoming royal wedding. So exciting that England based Castle Rock is releasing “Kiss Me Kate” to honor the occasion. Brewdog Brewing is getting into the spirit too with a special release for the happy couple dubbed “Royal Virility Performance.”  Limited to just 1,000 bottles, Virility is claiming to be full of plenty of performance enhancing additions.  If you get what I mean.  Brewdog’s take on the wedding hype:

A limited-edition beer containing Viagra to mark the forthcoming royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29th. Brewed using various well known aphrodisiacs, the limited edition artisanal beer will only be available to buy from the BrewDog.com website. According to the specially commissioned label, the Royal Virility Performance contains Viagra, chocolate, Horny Goat Weed and ‘a healthy dose of sarcasm’. The beer is a 7.5% ABV India Pale Ale and has been brewed at BrewDog’s brewery in Fraserburgh.

With this beer we want to take the wheels off the royal wedding bandwagon being jumped on by dozens of breweries; The Royal Virility Performance is the perfect antidote to all the hype. A beer should be brewed with a purpose, not just because some toffs are getting married, so we created something at our brewery that will undermine those special edition beers and other assorted seaside tat, whilst at the same time actually give the happy couple something extra on their big day.

Bottles are about $16 U.S. dollars and ship on April 28th, the day before the blessed event. <Brewdog>

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, New Holland Brewing

Another Hatter From New Holland

New Holland Brewing going to be wearing a lot of hats this year. The Mad Hatter IPA series is increasing. Currently for your drinking pleasure you have Mad Hatter IPA, Imperial Mad Hatter, Rye Mad Hatter is back for another year, Black Hatter shows up soon, and now Farmhouse Hatter.

Farmhouse Hatter is a Belgian rendition of the Mad Hatter IPA obviously funktified with Belgian yeast.  Label:

Fermentation character from Belgian-born yeast, envelopes bright hop character witha  spicy, tart farmhouse funk

Availability: 22oz bombers, draft.
Arrival: Early Summer, 2011
6.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Holland Brewing, Seasonal Return

New Holland’s Rye Hatter

New Holland Brewing (SOME WHERE) is releasing the rye variation of of their popular “Mad Hatter” IPA again in May, 2011.  Released just once before last year – Rye Hatter is choc full of rye malt.

From New Holland:
This beer showcases it’s grain-bill, made up of rye and barley malt. The rye adds a slight spiciness to the caramel-malt base, while also creating a creamy texture. Dry-hopping contributes a fresh citrus finish.

Availability: 22oz bombers. Draft. Vintage dated.  Late Spring seasonal.

Food Pairings: Blue cheese, blackened seafood, herb-roasted poultry.

Arrival: Late May, 2011.  (New Holland markets)

5.1% ABV
53 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay