Session Beers

New Holland Announces Carhartt Collaboration Brew

A little while back, New Holland Brewing (Holland, MI) announced a very special collaboration/partnership with work clothes producer Carhartt.

This fall, the collaboration comes together in a craft brew dubbed The Carhartt Woodsman. Woodsman is a session-strength pale ale, aged in Continue Reading →

Founders All Day IPA Coming to 15-Pack

Founders Brewing Co. will be replacing all their All Day IPA can 12 packs with 15 packs this March. The price will remain the same. 

“We are able to offer 15-pack cans due to production efficiencies from packaging cost savings,” said Continue Reading →

Firestone Walker Plans Session IPA

Firestone Walker (Paso Robles, CA) has hoppy session creation in the works. Much like Founders All Day IPA, and Boulevard Pop-Up Session IPA, the beer is designed to be lower in alcohol.

On average, American IPAs boast around 6%-7% ABV.  Firestone Continue Reading →

Posted in Ballast Point Brewing, New Beers

Ballast Point Even Keel Session IPA

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines, New Holland Brewing, New Releases

New Holland Announces Carhartt Collaboration Brew

A little while back, New Holland Brewing (Holland, MI) announced a very special collaboration/partnership with work clothes producer Carhartt.

This fall, the collaboration comes together in a craft brew dubbed The Carhartt Woodsman. Woodsman is a session-strength pale ale, aged in bourbon barrels.

This beer is not only a celebration of Carhartt’s 125th anniversary, it’s first and foremost a salute to hard-working men and women who deserve a refreshing reward after a long day’s work,” said Tony Ambroza, senior vice president of marketing at Carhartt. “A flavorful Carhartt ale from an authentic partner like New Holland is the perfect way to honor our consumers and the hard work they do each day.”

New Holland Carhartt Woodsman is brewed with Michigan Cascade hops that blend well with the barrel aging. Look for 12oz bottles of this offering in all of New Holland’s distribution states.

Style: Pale Ale (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Hops: Cascade

Availability: 12oz Bottles. All New Holland Markets
Arrival: October, 2014

4.5% ABV

Fun Fact: The Tin Woodsman, from The Wizard of Oz, was penned in Holland, Michigan by L. Frank Baum in 1899. Carhartt was already ten years old.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, Odell Brewing

Odell Launches New Year Round Session Ale

Odell Brewing Co (Fort Collins, CO) has upgraded a beer first found in the Montage Variety Pack last year – Loose Leaf American Session Ale. In honor of Session Beer Day on April 7th, Odell will launch this new lower abv ale.

…Loose Leaf is lighter in color, lower in alcohol content, yet flavorful and distinct. The final recipe is crisp and balanced with lower IBU’s and a bright hop aroma. The name “Loose Leaf” is a nod to the loose, whole flower hops used in the hop back that give the beer its unique hop character…

Look for Odell Loose Leaf American Session Ale in 12oz bottles, and draft.

Style: Blonde Ale
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Year-round.

4.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, Saint Arnold Brewing

Saint Arnold Launches New Year Round Offering

Saint Arnold (Houston, TX) has launched a new year round offering this week. Pucker up for Boiler Room Berliner Weisse.

Boiler Room started out of an accident. The brewery had started in on their summer seasonal Lawnmower, to find that half the malt had ended up on the floor instead of in the mill. That resulted in 136 barrels (4,216 gallons) of half strength wort (the sugary beer precursor.) That left the brewery with a decision to make.

Brewer Steven Rawlings poured off 10 gallons of the wort, pitched some funky yeast, and let it sour in the boiler room heat for a few days. Next step was to boil the beer, add hops, and ferment it. Saint Arnold Boiler Room Berliner Weisse was born.

“This is the most complicated beer we have ever made, yet it is very light and delicate,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “The result is an incredibly refreshing beer with the light sweetness of the malt balanced with the tartness from the sour wort. While intended to be enjoyed as is, I can also imagine it mixed with syrups or in a beer cocktail.”

This kind of beer is challenging for brewers. The bacteria that is needed to make Boiler Room Berliner Weisse isn’t bacteria you want accidentally getting into other beers. If you make a misstep, your other beers could “get sick,” to put it lightly. This new tart offering is the first new year rounder since Endeavor launched in February, 2012.

Style: Berliner Weisee
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft. Year round
Arrival: March 19, 2014

3.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, NoDa Brewing

Noda Launching New CAVU All Season Ale

NoDa Brewing Company (Charlotte, NC) has announced a new can to ship in the coming weeks. CAVU All Season Ale will debut this Friday.

CAVU is a flying acronym for Ceiling And Visibility Unlimited, or a perfect day to fly. A session ale is indeed a perfect beer to camp, hike, bike, or just plain sit outdoors with.

What it is: NoDa is calling this beer a “season ale.” A hybrid of pilsner and wheat beers. 20% of the malt bill is American wheat. The rest is pilsner malt.

It’s a session ale with a little wheat. Dry hopped w mosaic. Just enough to impart a slight tropical nose and taste.

CAVU hits the tap room this Friday, with 16 oz cans arriving mid-spring.

Style: Session Ale
Hops: Mosaic
Malts: American Wheat, Pilsner

Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft

4.6% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Founders Brewing, New Releases

Founders All Day IPA Coming to 15-Pack

Founders Brewing Co. will be replacing all their All Day IPA can 12 packs with 15 packs this March. The price will remain the same. 

“We are able to offer 15-pack cans due to production efficiencies from packaging cost savings,” said Co-Founder Mike Stevens. “We’re excited to pass the savings on to our customers as a way of saying thank you for their reception of All Day IPA.” 

All Day IPA is a 4.7% ABV session ale, brewed with Simcoe and Amarillo hops. This is the first time a major craft brewery has put out a 15-pack. Founders calls the new 15-pack a “Brewers Dozen.”

Style: IPA
Availability: 12oz Bottles, 12oz Cans, Draft. Year round.

4.7% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Firestone Walker Brewing, Headlines

Firestone Walker Plans Session IPA

Firestone Walker (Paso Robles, CA) has hoppy session creation in the works. Much like Founders All Day IPA, and Boulevard Pop-Up Session IPA, the beer is designed to be lower in alcohol.

On average, American IPAs boast around 6%-7% ABV.  Firestone Walker Easy Jack Summer Session IPA is a mere 4.5% ABV

As the name suggests, expect this sometime next year.

Style: IPA
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft
Arrival: TBA

4.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay