Vanilla Beans

Posted in Lost Abbey, Seasonal Return

Lost Abbey Santo Ron Diego is back in rum filled action

Lost Abbey Santo Ron Diego is returning to the brewery’s lineup once again in December, with a few changes in tow.

The beer was a big hit when it was released in 2015, and Tomme Arthur and brewery crew knew it had to be brewed again. Lost Abbey Santo Ron Diego (2016) features a new twist – cherries, vanilla beans, and cacao nibs. It spent a full 14 months in rum barrels.

“We were really happy with last year’s version but we wanted to add a bit more complexity to help bring the rum notes out with this year’s batch.” – Tomme Arthur, co-founder, The Lost Abbey

In order to have more of Santo to go around, the Lost Abbey is making this release draft only. The big 13.5% rum barreled monster hits distribution in December. Happy hunting.

Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Vanilla Beans, Cherries, Cacao Nibs. Barrel Aged. Rum.)
Availability: Draft Only (2016 Release)
Latest Return: December, 2016

12.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Don't Miss This, Harpoon Brewing

Coffee meets vanilla: Harpoon UFO Winter Blonde Ale

Harpoon UFO Winter Blonde Ale is the newest addition to the Boston, Massachusetts based brewery’s seasonal lineup.

A blonde ale serves as the base for this beer, nuanced with vanilla beans and fresh cold brew coffee. As for the flavor – that is exactly what you get. A ridiculously easy drinking unfiltered blonde ale that doesn’t overwhelm you with vanilla or coffee. The dessert-like beer is soft, smooth,  and very easy drinking.

 

Whether skiing the snowy trails or enjoying a jovial game night, there’s nothing like capping off your winter adventures with this delightfully refreshing winter treat.

Harpoon UFO Winter Blonde Ale is available now through December, 2016 in 12 ounce bottles, cans and draft.

Style: Blonde Ale (Vanilla Bean Cold Brew Coffee.)
Availability: 12oz bottles and cans. Draft. Limited seasonal release.
Release: October, 2016

4.9% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Westbrook Brewing Co, Coming Soon, Headlines

Dessert beer: Westbrook 6th Anniversary Hazelnut Chocolate Imperial Stout

Westbrook 6th Anniversary Hazelnut Chocolate Imperial Stout is on the way. Another for the dessert beer category.

This release is pretty straight forward. The Mount Pleasant, South Carolina based brewery created an imperial stout brewed with hazelnuts, cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, and candi sugar. (We are assuming the candi sugar is just to boost the alcohol by volume.) Your dessert beer is served.

Birthdays beer is how famed Mexican Cake got its start. Brewed to celebrate a big milestone, only to become an annual release. (Now with barrel-aged variants.) Last year’s edition, 5th Anniversary Chocolate Raspberry Imperial Stout is a 10.5% alcohol by volume imperial stout featured raspberries, vanilla beans and cocoa nibs.

Our 6th Anniversary beer is a rich and chocolatey imperial stout matured on cocoa nibs, roasted hazelnuts and vanilla beans.

Westbrook 6th Anniversary Hazelnut Chocolate Imperial Stout will be a 22 ounce bottle release.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Vanilla Beans, Hazelnuts, Cocoa Nibs, Candi Syrup.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles
Debut: TBA

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Half Acre Brewing, Coming Soon

Half Acre Big Hugs with Coffee and Vanilla coming in December

Half Acre Big Hugs with Coffee and Vanilla will join the brewery’s lineup alongside the annual Big Hugs release.

2016 marks the 8th release of Big Hugs, an imperial stout brewed with Dark Matter Coffee. As an added treat, the Chicago based brewery will release an edition with extra vanilla – aka Half Acre Big Hugs with Coffee and Vanilla.

22 ounce bottles will be available at the brewery on December 11th, 2016. $14 per bottle.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Coffee, Vanilla Beans.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft. Brewery only.
Debut: 12/11/16

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Ballast Point Brewing, Seasonal Return

Ballast Point Peppermint Victory at Sea returns. Year 2.

Ballast Point Peppermint Victory at Sea, a variant on the popular imperial porter is hitting shelves.

Much like the original, Ballast Point Peppermint Victory at Sea features coffee and vanilla. The twist of course, is peppermint.

This Peppermint Victory at Sea is a festive take on our popular Imperial Porter. We took our trademark robust porter brewed with Caffe Calabria coffee and vanilla and added a dose of refreshing peppermint. The trio of flavors play perfectly on your palate – the brew’s sweet roastiness balances nicely with a cool, minty finish. You might even call it a breath of fresh beer.

Ballast Point Peppermint Victory at Sea is a 22 ounce bottle offering. The flavor is much like the tried and true regular edition of Victory at Sea, with hints of peppermint throughout. For some, strong peppermint can be a turn off. Unless the 2016 edition upped the minty-ness, this beer drinks like a seasonal dessert.

Style: Imperial Porter (w/ Coffee, Vanilla, Peppermint)
Availability: 22oz bottles, Draft
Latest Release: Late November, 2016

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Cigar City Brewing, Headlines

Dessert: Cigar City Vanilla Hazelnut Marshal Zhukov’s debuts this week

Cigar City Vanilla Hazelnut Marshal Zhukov debuts on November 23rd. Even this guy loves desserts.

If the Tampa, Florida based brewery is known for just two beers, they would be Hunaphu and Marshal Zhukov’s Imperial Stout. Both are imperial stouts. Both very different.

Zhukov is the Russian imperial stout. A big, chewy imperial stout that pours like 40 weight motor oil. Tastes like espresso and molasses. Tomorrow, the Marshal is being treated to dessert with the release of Cigar City Vanilla Hazelnut Marshal Zhukov’s Imperial Stout.

That big imperial stout has been spiked with hazelnut and vanilla beans, resulting in a dessert beer fitting for the coldest Russian winter. Or Florida.

22-ounce bottles of Cigar City Vanilla Hazelnut Marshal Zhukov’s will be available at the brewery’s Fermentorium, starting at 9 am. $20 each.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Hazelnuts, Vanilla Beans.)
Availablity: 22oz Bottles. Limited.
Debut: 11/23/16

11.5% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in The Bruery, Don't Miss This

The Bruery 9 Ladies Dancing, inspired by tiramisu debuts

The Bruery 9 Ladies Dancing is officially the 9th edition of the brewery’s on-going 12 Beers of Christmas.

Back in 2008, the Placentia, California based brewery launched the series with Partridge in a Pear Tree, a Belgian-style strong dark ale. If you try to buy that now, you might spend nearly $1,000 dollars trying to obtain it.

The idea is not only to celebrate Christmas, but also for the beers to be cellared until the completion of the series. Don’t let that stop you from drinking any of them now, though. Life is short.

The Bruery 9 Ladies Dancing is inspired by tiramisu dessert. The base imperial milk stout is brewed with cacao nibs, vanilla and coffee.

Here’s a pick me up for the latest verse in our “Twelve Days of Christmas” series. Inspired by flavors and ingredients found in tiramisu, including ladyfingers, 9 Ladies Dancing mimics the Italian dessert by whipping together flavor combinations and layers of its own. This includes notes of vanilla, chocolate and coffee – clearly the leading ladies in this rich, dessert-like beer.

The Bruery 9 Ladies Dancing will be a 750 milliliter bottle release staring in November, 2016.

Style: Imperial Milk Stout (w/ Vanilla Beans, Cacao Nibs, Coffee.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles, Draft. One-time Release.
Debut: November, 2016

11.3% ABV

by Reid Ramsay