La Piccola A Collaborative Dark Saison To Debut at The Firestone Walker Invitaional Beer Fest

Courtesy of Firestone Walker Brewing Co

VIVA “LA PICCOLA”

Collaborative Cross-Continental Dark Saison to Debut at

Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Paso Robles, CA: Multiple versions of the same collaborative dark saison wild ale—called La Piccola—will be unveiled at the 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest on May 30, capping off a year of cross-continental brewing hijinks between brewmasters Agostino Arioli of Birrificio Italiano and Matt Brynildson of Firestone Walker Brewing Company.

“With most collaborations, you start the beer together at one brewery, and it gets finished there, resulting in one beer,” Brynildson said. “Agostino and I decided to do something different. We sat down and designed the recipe together, then went back to our respective breweries to brew them on our own. We’ve been emailing back and forth for a year now, trying to replicate what the other was doing.”

It all started at last year’s beer fest, when Arioli and Brynildson hatched their plan to brew a dark saison that would be made with debittered black malt, then soured via secondary fermentation and aged in barrels—and also spiced up with an unlikely twist.

“Like many Italians, Agostino is a true gourmet, and he takes a chef’s approach to brewing,” Brynildson said. “He’s really into exotic spices and he wanted to play around with these Sichuan peppercorns, which are really weird and unique. We had to contact a spice hunter in Italy to get our hands on them.”

After Brynildson brewed his base version of La Piccola, he sent it down to barrelmeisters Jeffers Richardson and Jim Crooks at Firestone Walker’s Barrelworks wild ale facility, where they initiated secondary fermentation and maturation for 12 months in French oak barrels.

In the end, they decided to create one version with the peppercorns (La Piccola Pepe Di Sichuan) and one without (La Piccola Virtuosa). Meanwhile, Arioli is finishing up his own La Piccola made with the peppercorns. All three beers will be first presented at the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest on May 30 in Paso Robles. Bottles of the California-brewed beers are limited to 250 cases each, and two-packs will be available for purchase at the Paso Robles brewery and Barrelworks in Buellton starting at 3 p.m. on May 30.

The base beer was brewed with the same Belgian yeast used to make Firestone Walker’s Opal saison, giving it classic fruit and spice notes. The debittered black malt provided dark color without assertive bitterness. The souring and barrel aging layered in just the right amount of earthy funk. And the peppercorn version presents its own distinctive qualities.

“The Sichuan peppercorns are pretty intense,” Brynildson said. “If you pop one in your mouth, your face goes numb. In the beer, it adds black pepper and lemon zest notes, and it also gives this subtle tingle on the tongue.”

He added, “I can’t wait to try Agostino’s version. It will be fascinating to compare and contrast the final results between the same beer made separately in California and Italy.”

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LeftHand Brewing Brings Back Twin Sisters Double IPA and Homefront IPA

 Left Hand Brewing releases 3x IPAs for May

LHBC releases Twin Sisters Double IPA, Homefront IPA, & Introvert Session IPA

  

Courtesy of Left Hand Brewing Co

LONGMONT, CO • May 21, 2015 - This May, Left Hand Brewing Co. is all about the IPA! Fresh off their release of their new Introvert Session IPA, Left Hand brings back the return of their biennial Twin Sisters Double IPA and military brewing collaboration Homefront IPA, just in time for summer 2015!  Both beers will be released in 22oz. bombers alongside Introvert sixpacks, offering fans an IPA adventure from double hop intensity to a laid back session. 

Courtesy of Left Hand Brewing Co

Left Hand’s Double IPA offering is an expression of duality, showcasing the complexity of the ingredients, yet harmonious balance of the hops & malts. Twin Sisters grabs your nose upfront with its sweet pine and citrusy aromas. Flinty hop flavors take you from dreaming about wildflower honey to the tongue awakening Earthy, bitter hop resins that swirl in to finish. Balanced with a robust, earthy backbone, Twin Sisters is incredibly drinkable and approachable for a double IPA – a signature of Left Hand Brewing Company’s style. 

Courtesy of Left Hand Brewing Co

Homefront IPA has been released just in time for Memorial Day! Homefront is an American IPA with biscuit, honey, and grapefruit pith notes, followed by a memorable dry, bitter finish. The beer is a collaboration produced by Hops for Heroes - ten U.S. breweries working together to raise funds and say "thank you" to all of the men and women who dedicate themselves to protecting our safety and our way of life.  This year, Homefront IPA will benefit Soldiers' Angels, an organization whose mission is to ensure that "No soldier goes unloved." Soldiers' Angels provides aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, their families, and a growing veteran population. All proceeds from the sale of Homefront IPA will go directly to the cause. Left Hand’s Homefront offering has raised over $39K for military causes in its first two years of participation. 

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Samuel Adams and Webber Grills Join togethor To Combine Craft Beer And Grilling

Courtsey of Boston Beer Co

SAMUEL ADAMS AND WEBER GRILLS ELEVATE THE SUMMER BEER-B-Q EXPERIENCE WITH

BEER-SOAKED WOOD CHIPS AND CRAFT BEER-INFUSED RECIPES

BOSTON, May 20, 2015 – The brewers at Samuel Adams have teamed up with the experts at Weber Grills to combine two of America’s favorite summer traditions, grilling and craft beer. Together, they have created the ultimate DIY activity for craft beer-loving, backyard pit-masters: Samuel Adams Summer Ale-soaked wood chips, designed to turn any gas or charcoal grill into a flavorful smoker. A recent survey found that half of American adults have never smoked meat on a grill, but almost 70% believe that grilling with beer would take their grilling to the next level. All the more reason to test-drive this simple smoking method that infuses grilled food with the delicious flavors of Samuel Adams beer.

When Samuel Adams Brewer and Director of Brewery Programs Jennifer Glanville got behind the grill with Weber Grill Master Kevin Kolman, they quickly discovered that soaking wood chips in Samuel Adams beer would add a new element to smoking on the grill. When placed on the hot coals of a charcoal grill or in a smoker tray on a gas grill, Weber Apple Wood Chips soaked in Samuel Adams Summer Ale infuse flavor into grilled food including a slightly sweet and citrusy note imparted by the lemon peel in Summer Ale to a subtle peppery flavor from Grains of Paradise used as a spice in the brew.

“As a brewer and self-proclaimed foodie, I’m constantly trying new ways to incorporate beer into my recipes,” said Glanville. “Kevin and I first started experimenting with wood chips soaked in beer last summer. We were amazed by their aroma on the grill, but then when we tasted food smoked with Weber’s Wood Chips soaked in Samuel Adams Summer Ale, we were blown away by the even bigger punch of flavor this method added to our recipes. This year, we developed an easy yet impactful DIY activity for beer-soaked wood chips that any backyard griller can use to impress family and friends while enjoying a Summer Ale.”

More than half (52%) of American adults have incorporated beer into their grilling recipes, and Weber Grill Master Kevin Kolman is one of them. “Smoking is one of my favorite grilling techniques, but adding Samuel Adams beer into the equation truly takes it to the next level,” says Kolman. “The flavors you can introduce by smoking with beer-soaked wood chips can’t be replicated by any other cooking technique. For best results, be sure to keep your grill lid closed to ensure the smoke permeates the food. It’s simple, delicious and combines the two flavorful worlds of grilling and craft beer.”

Samuel Adams Summer Ale-Soaked Wood Chips

Method developed by Kevin Kolman, Weber Grills:

• To maximize the flavors and aromas of Samuel Adams Summer Ale, soak the wood chips for at least 30 minutes. The wood chips can be soaked by placing them in a bucket and covering them fully with Samuel Adams Summer Ale.
• After soaking, remove the chips and drain excess beer. The wood chips should be damp, not dripping wet when placed in the grill to help prolong their ability to smolder, rather than burn, and add more beer flavor to the food. We recommend using Weber’s Apple Wood Chips.

Tips for Smoking on a Charcoal Grill:

• Light a pile of charcoal briquettes on the grill grate, or for best results use a chimney starter to light your coals.
• Sprinkle a handful of damp wood chips directly onto the coals once they are covered in white ash and place the lid on the grill. As smoke begins to pour out of the grill, place your food on top of the grill grate and re-cover. Be sure to position the vent on the opposite side of the charcoal to draw heat and smoke over the food as it leaves the grill.
• Begin grilling the food, and add coals as necessary to maintain heat.

Tips for Smoking on a Gas Grill:

Some gas grills come with a built-in smoker box, which can simply be filled with the wood chips soaked in Summer Ale. If your grill doesn’t have a built-in smoker box, follow these simple steps:

• Use the Weber Firespice Apple Smoker Tray which is pre-filled with the Apple Wood Chips.
• The wood chips can be soaked by placing the entire pre-made tin in a bucket and covering it fully with Samuel Adams Summer Ale. Soak for at least 30 minutes to maximize flavor and allow the wood to fully absorb the beer.
• When ready to grill, take the Weber Firespice Apple Smoker Tray out of the liquid using tongs and place directly on the heated grill grates (not under the grates).

Samuel Adams Summer Ale Grilled BBQ Shrimp Skewers

Recipe by Kevin Kolman, Weber Grills

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:

1-1½ pounds of extra-large shrimp, 16/20 count, (peeled and deveined), tails left on

½ tbsp. olive oil

½ cup light brown sugar

1 tbsp. granulated garlic

1 tbsp. granulated onion

1 tbsp. ground black pepper

1 tbsp. salt

1 tbsp. paprika

½ tsp. cayenne pepper

½ tsp. cumin

2 bottles Samuel Adams Summer Ale

For the soaked wood chips:

2 large handfuls of Weber Firespice® Apple Wood Chips (for charcoal grill) or Weber Apple Smoker Tray

1 bottle Samuel Adams Summer Ale

Special equipment:

Metal or bamboo skewers

*If using bamboo skewers, soak in Samuel Adams Summer Ale for at least 30 minutes prior to grilling. Soaking them ensures they will not break and, as a bonus, infuses skewered food with the flavors of Summer Ale.

Soaked Wood Chips Method:

When ready to begin cooking, brush clean the cooking grates on your grill. Add two handfuls of the soaked, drained wood chips to the smoker box in your gas grill, or place directly on the ashed-over charcoal in your charcoal grill. Close the lid of the grill. Begin cooking when smoke appears from your grill.

*See full details above for wood chip soaking tips and methods for smoking on gas and charcoal grills.

Cooking Method:

Marinate shrimp with 2 bottles of Samuel Adams Summer Ale for 30 minutes. Prepare the grill for direct cooking over high heat (450° to 550° F). In a medium-sized bowl combine all ingredients except the shrimp and olive oil. This will serve as a rub. Thread the shrimp onto the skewers, brush them with the olive oil, and sprinkle the rub over both sides.  When smoke appears from your grill after the wood chips have been added, grill the shrimp skewers over direct high heat, with the lid closed, until the shrimp are firm to the touch and opaque in the center, 3 to 5 minutes, turning once or twice. Once cooked, remove from the grill and enjoy with Samuel Adams Summer Ale.

Samuel Adams Summer Ale Grilled BBQ Shrimp Skewers Tasting Notes from Brewer Jennifer Glanville

Marinating shrimp in Summer Ale adds a subtle spice to the shrimp and soaking skewers in Summer Ale is an easy way to add more flavor to the shrimp. The subtle char from the grill balanced by the spices in the marinade emphasize the sweet, citrusy flavors of the Apple Wood Chips soaked in Summer Ale.

Courtesy of Boston Beer Co

Where to find Samuel Adams for your next BBQ:

• Samuel Adams Summer Ale will be available nationwide from March through July in six-packs for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $7.99-$9.99, 12-packs (bottles and cans) for a SRP of $14.99-$17.99, 16 oz. single serve cans for a SRP of $1.99-$2.49 and on draft. It is also available in the Samuel Adams Beers of Summer Variety 12-Pack which also includes Boston Lager, Rebel Rider Session IPA and new brew, Downtime Pilsner, for a suggested retail price of $14.99-$17.99. (All prices vary by market.)
• To find where Samuel Adams brews are sold near you, visit http://www.samueladams.com/find-a-sam
• Additional recipes and DIY tips available at http://blog.samueladams.com/summer-grilling
• Show us your grilling skills #CookingWithSamAdams @SamuelAdamsBeers!

Where to find Weber Wood Chips:

·         Samuel Adams Summer Grilling Bucket will be available on the Samuel Adams e-store:  http://www.samueladamsstore.com/. The Summer Grilling Bucket will include a Samuel Adams metal bucket for soaking chips, Weber Apple Wood chips, two Samuel Adams glasses and a special Samuel Adams spatula for $29.99 (plus shipping). Or, Weber Wood Chips and the Weber Firespice Apple Smoker Tray are available at home improvement and hardware stores nationwide, or at www.weber.com.

 *Survey conducted by Wakefield Research, an independent research provider. Respondents were American adults 21+ years of age.

ABOUT THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY:

The Boston Beer Company began in 1984 with a generations-old family recipe that Founder and Brewer Jim Koch uncovered in his father’s attic. Inspired and unafraid to challenge conventional thinking about beer, Jim brought the recipe to life in his kitchen. Pleased with the results of his work, Jim decided to sample his beer with bars in Boston in the hopes that drinkers would appreciate the complex, full-flavored beer he brewed fresh in America. That beer was aptly named Samuel Adams Boston Lager, in recognition of one of our nation's great founding fathers, a man of independent mind and spirit. Little did Jim know at the time, Samuel Adams Boston Lager would soon become a catalyst of the American craft beer revolution.

Today, The Boston Beer Company brews more than 60 styles of beer. It relentlessly pursues the development of new styles and the perfection of classic beers by searching the world for the finest ingredients. Using the traditional four vessel brewing process, the Company often takes extra steps like dry-hopping, barrel-aging and a secondary fermentation known as krausening. The Company has also pioneered another revolution, the 'extreme beer' movement, where it seeks to challenge drinker's perceptions of what beer can be. The Boston Beer Company has been committed to elevating the image of American craft beer by entering festivals and competitions around the globe, and is one of world’s most awarded breweries at international beer competitions. As an independent company, brewing quality beer remains its single focus. Although Samuel Adams beer is America's leading craft beer, it accounts for only one percent of the U.S. beer market. The Boston Beer Company will continue its independently-minded quest to brew great beer and to advocate for the growth of craft beer across America. For more information, please visit www.samueladams.com.

ABOUT WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLC:

Weber-Stephen Products LLC, headquartered in Palatine, Ill., is the world’s premier manufacturer of charcoal, gas and electric grills, grilling accessories and award-winning cookbooks and mobile applications. In 1952, founder George Stephen sparked a backyard revolution with his invention of the Weber^® kettle. More than 60 years later, the privately-held company’s products are sold worldwide at select national home centers, specialty hardware stores, patio stores and other retail outlets. Weber has the strongest customer support program in the industry with its Weber Grill-Line^SM (1-800-GRILL-OUT^®).  Weber can also be followed on Facebook (www.facebook.com/weberbbq) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/webergrills). Visit www.weber.com for more information. 

Hopworks Urban Brewery Announces The Release of HUB Hard Cider

Courtesy of HopWorks Urban Brewery

 Hopworks Urban Brewery Expands Its Core Line With Release of HUB Hard Cider

Portland, Ore - May 20, 2015 - Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) today announced the release of HUB Hard Cider in 16 oz. cans and on draft. Beginning June 1, the cider can be found throughout HUB’s distribution networks in Oregon and Washington, with a wider distribution beginning in the summer. In Portland, the release of the cider is celebrated with three release parties at local taprooms.

Nearly two years in the making, HUB Hard Cider represents HUB’s first packaged departure from beer. Receiving a winery license in August of 2014, HUB immediately began honing in recipes and testing them at both Hopworks’ brewpubs.

Courtesy of Hopworks Urban Brewery

“As brewers we have had a lot of fun crafting this delicious cider with the local bounty of the Pacific Northwest,”  said HUB Brewmaster and Founder, Christian Ettinger. “We use our beer brewing experience and knowledge to bring a fresh approach to cider making. Our cider is simple and delicious and we are proud to serve it alongside our organic beer.”

With a goal of making a year round cider with high-organic content, HUB Hard Cider is proudly made from 60% organic apple juice concentrate and 40% fresh pressed apple juice. The cider juice is sourced entirely from the Northwest.

HUB Hard Cider is a semi-dry hard apple cider, straw colored with fresh apple aromas. Slightly tart with a Champagne-like acidity, HUB Hard Cider finishes slightly sweet and fruit-forward. The cider is naturally gluten-free and is 6.8% ABV. HUB will also offer HUB Hard Cider in 22 oz. bottles this summer.

Courtesy of Hop Works Urban Brewery

HUB Hard Cider Release Parties

To celebrate the release of HUB Hard Cider in cans, Hopworks is throwing three release parties in Portland. Each party will have games, giveaways, and cider on tap.

• Mon. June 1, 5:00pm - 9:00pm, at Produce Row Cafe - 204 SE Oak St., Portland
• Wed. June 3, 5:00pm - 9:00pm, at Roscoe’s - 8105 SE Stark St., Portland
• Tues. June 9, 5:00pm - 9:00pm, at Hop & Vine - 1914 N. Killingsworth St., Portland

About Hopworks Urban Brewery

Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB), a certified B Corporation, strives to revolutionize and inspire the brewing industry with practices that drive quality, protect the environment and improve the community we live in. Utilizing organic malts and a combination of locally-sourced organic and Salmon Safe hops, the company’s 20-barrel brewery produces 16,000 barrels of beer a year for HUB’s two brewpubs and for distribution throughout the Northwest. In 2015 Hopworks expanded its range of sustainably-made offerings with HUB Hard Cider and will open its third pub at the Pine St. Marketplace in Downtown Portland. HUB is 100% renewably powered and “cradle to gate” carbon neutral. Visit Hopworks online at hopworksbeer.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Annual Sasquatch Brew Fest June 6th at Hop Valley

ANNUAL SASQUATCH BREW FEST BACK OUTDOORS IN THE WHITEAKER NEIGHBORHOOD

FEATURING CRAFT-BREWED BEER, FOOD BOOTHS, SILENT AUCTION AND LIVE MUSIC

Eugene, Ore. – The annual Sasquatch Brew Fest will offer a select batch of unique beers to taste on Saturday, June 6, 2015 in the Hop Valley parking lot, located at 990 W 1st Ave. in Eugene, outdoors in the Whiteaker Neighborhood.

Tickets to the Sasquatch Brew Fest will be available when the gates open at 12 p.m. for $10.  Entrance includes a commemorative glass, two taste tickets and live music.  Additional taste tickets will be available for purchase throughout the festival grounds for a dollar.  The beer festival is open to everyone 21 years of age and older.  Last call will be announced at 10:30 p.m.

The craft-beer festival will feature live music by The Sugarbeets, Mexican Gunfight, Halie Loren Quintet, and the Douglas County Daughters.

“We love hosting the festival outdoors again,” said Steve Ditmar, an event organizer and president of the Northwest Legends Foundation, the nonprofit foundation that produces the annual beer bash.

“The festival revolves around the beer, music, and bonding with a community of revelers with cheers to an awesome gentleman, Glen Falconer, who made us all aware that ‘beer is love,’” Ditmar said.

Besides featuring an opportunity to taste unique, craft-brewed beer, some batches brewed specifically for the festival, the Sasquatch Brew Fest will also feature food booths, a silent auction, raffles, a beer dinner, and a home brew contest administered by the Cascade Brewer’s Society and sanctioned by the American Homebrewer’s Association and the Beer Judge Certification Program.  Winner of Best of Show will be announced during the Sasquatch Brew Fest.

For more information about the Sasquatch Brew Fest and the Northwest Legends Foundation, please visit http://www.northwestlegendsfoundation.org.  

Produced by the Northwest Legends Foundation, the Sasquatch Brew Fest is dedicated to the memory of Glen Hay Falconer.   Born during a celebration of life of Falconer, a popular and leading Pacific Northwest professional brewer, the Sasquatch Brew Fest is dedicated to Falconer’s love of the rich beer and brewing culture in the Pacific Northwest.  Falconer was the skilled head brewer at the now-closed Wild Duck Brewery in Eugene as well as a mentor and resource for home brewers and professional brewers until his untimely passing in 2002.

Proceeds will benefit the Northwest Legends Foundation, a non-profit organization designed to produce the annual festival, as well as area non-profits dear to Glen Falconer, and the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation, a non-profit organization set up and maintained by Glen’s brother, Quentin Falconer.  The Glen Hay Falconer Foundation provides opportunities for professional and aspiring brewers to further their knowledge and expertise in the field by awarding brewing school scholarships to worthy candidates each chosen by a committee.

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Craft Beer Sips for the Sunny Season

CraftBeer.com Shares Summer Seasonals

Boulder, CO • May 20, 2015—Summer is almost here which means cookouts, baseball games and family beach trips are upon us. To help keep cool at your summer activities, small and independent craft brewers have a selection of refreshing craft beers. Showcasing the ingenuity of craft brewers, CraftBeer.com—the Brewers Association (BA) website for beer lovers—released its list of summer seasonal craft beers produced by BA members.

Year to date 2015, seasonals are the second largest craft style category, accounting for 13.5% of volume in scan data (source: IRI Group). Seasonals’ share often climbs during the summer, typically the second most popular category behind fall.

“Small and independent craft brewers have once again taken advantage of the season and produced creative and satisfying summer craft beers,” said Julia Herz, publisher of CraftBeer.com and the Brewers Association craft beer program director. “Summer seasonals are a must for those craving some of the most refreshing and flavorful offerings the beer world has to offer.”

Many of the summer seasonal craft beers featured on CraftBeer.com include crisp, revitalizing ingredients such as tangerine, orange, pear, wheat and innovative hops that make for a perfect summer thirst-quencher.

Cool off with some of these fresh offerings:

·         4 Hands Brewing Company | Send Help | St. Louis, MO

·         Atwater Brewery | Summertime Ale | Detroit, MI

·         Brewery Ommegang | Fleur de Houblon | Cooperstown, NY

·         Cape May Brewing Company | The Bog | Cape May, NJ

·         Grand Teton Brewing | Snarling Badger | Victor, ID

·         High Water Brewing Company | Blondes Have More Fun | Chico, CA

·         Islamorada Beer Company | Islamorada Ale | Islamorada, Fl

·         Little Harpeth Brewing | Iris I.P.L. | Nashville, TN

·         Maui Brewing Company | Kihei Kölsch | Kihei, HI

·         Santa Fe Brewing Company | Freestyle Pilsner | Santa Fe, NM​

·         Ska Brewing | Estival Cream Stout | Durango, CO

·         Standing Stone Brewing Company | Commuter Gold | Ashland, OR

·         Triton Brewing Company | Wit or Witout You | Indianapolis, IN

·         Two Roads Brewing | Road Jam Raspberry Wheat | Stratford, CT

·         Tyranena Brewing Company | Fargo Brothers | Lake Mills, WI

Read CraftBeer.com’s “Craft Beer Summer Seasonals” for craft beer summer seasonal selections and descriptions, and to round out the experience consider a tour at your local craft brewery.

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About the Brewers Association

The Brewers Association is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The Brewers Association (BA) represents more than 70 percent of the brewing industry, and its members make more than 99 percent of the beer brewed in the U.S. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup^®, Great American Beer Festival^®, Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America^®, SAVOR℠: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, AHA National Homebrewers Conference, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week^®. The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine and its Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association. Follow us on Twitter.

Victory Brewing Releasing Summer Love Ale In Cans

Courtesy of Victory Brewing Co

Downingtown, PA, May 18, 2015– Victory Brewing Company (Victory) announces another first with the introduction of their popular summer brand, Summer Love Ale, in convenient 12 oz. cans. The cans, which depict the same Philadelphia icons as the 12 oz. bottles, represent the freshness, fun and great summer memories everywhere summer is celebrated, especially in the brewery’s home market of The City of Brotherly Love.

Now in its fifth year, Summer Love Ale is one of craft beer’s most popular and anticipated seasonal beers, brewed with whole flower Tettnang, Simcoe and Citra hops. With its golden color and cool, crisp flavor profile, Summer Love Ale captures the essence and fun of summer. Summer Love Ale, at 5.2% alcohol by volume, promises the refreshing familiarity of a crisp brew backed by fresh, clean German malts and a surprising burst of lemony refreshment from fistfuls of American whole flower hops at its finish.

Available in cans and bottles through September, Summer Love Ale can be found in major grocery stores, bottle shops and beer distributors, as well as many craft beer bars throughout the brewery’s 36-state footprint. Use Victory’s Beerfinder to locate Summer Love Ale near you.

“Summer is the season for the beach, hiking and all things outdoors,” said Victory’s President and Brewmaster, Bill Covaleski. “Summer Love is the perfect beer for us to bring to cans, to provide our fans with portable pleasure where bottles can’t travel. With the addition of cans to our product line-up, it’s a Victory for all!”

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2015 PDX Beer Week Events

The 5th annual Portland Beer week is coming up quickly and takes place over 11 days, from June 11th-21st. This years Portland Beer Week has just about everything PDX beer related you could want....Fruit Beer Fest, Rye Beer Fest, Beer & Cheese Fest, Block Party, Pig Roast.....you get the idea. Check the details/events below for this years Portland Beer Week.

Courtesy of Portland Beer Week

5th annual Portland Beer Week

June 11-21st, 2015 with events city-wide 

The 5th annual Portland Beer Week is presented by Whole Foods Market, Columbia Distributing, Curb and Portland Mercury with this years 11 day celebration taking place June 11-21st, 2015 with events city-wide. Highlights include an official beer by Breakside Brewery & Fremont Brewing and extends outside of beer to a sandwich special from Bunk Sandwiches, beer ice cream from Salt & Straw. Attendees also get a free coupon credit for $15 towards your Curb taxi app rides during Portland Beer Week.

Returning this year are classics like the Portland Fruit Beer Festival, Rye Beer Fest, Sour and Barrel-Aged Beer Seminars and the Portland Beer and Cheese Fest. Some of the new events worth looking forward to are the Whole Foods Pearl Block Party on Saturday June 20th and the combined Fruit Beer Fest and Beer Week Kickoff Party & Pig Roast on June 11th!

Official Beer of Portland Beer Week
Introducing the 2015 Portland Beer Week collaboration beer "Back to the Future IPA" a multi-city beer week and brewery project between Seattle's Fremont Brewing Co. and Portland's Breakside Brewery. Check the calendar for bottle release parties and tappings of this highly limited edition beer.

Description:

 

Courtesy of Breakside Brewing co

This IPA is a cross-border collaboration with Seattle's Fremont Brewing. We planned the beer together and each brewed a batch of it for our cities' respective Beer Weeks. When we set out to do this beer together, we knew that we wanted to make a big IPA and showcase some fun hop varietals that don't get much attention...yet. 

We specifically chose new varietals that we think have a lot of promise, and it's named after the futuristic hops used in each version: Jarrylo and Equinox in Fremont's, and Azacca and Ella in ours. These beers very might well introduce you to new hop varietals that will be front and center in many IPAs to come.
ABV: 7%  IBU: 68  Malts: Two Row, Light Crystal  Hops: Chinook, Ella, Azacca

Beer Week Sandwich
Bunk Sandwiches has honored us with an official Portland Beer Week Sandwich available at Bunk Bar SE Water and a special Queso available only at Bunk Bar Wonder, both for the entirety of the beer week June 11-21, 2015.

*Beer Braised Brisket & Gravy Po Boy with Bitter Green Slaw and Herb Salad (Made with Good Life Pass Stout) - $11 (Available at Bunk Bar Water and Wonder)

*Deluxe Queso Dip with Beer Braised Brisket (Made with Good Life Pass Stout) - $8.50 (Available only at Bunk Bar Wonder)

Beer Ice Cream

Salt & Straw Ice Cream, our long time collaborators and partners once again grace us with a brand new Beer Ice Cream flavor this year made with an all-Citra hopped new IPA from Breakside Brewery and specked with actual Citra hop flakes. Available at special Portland Beer Week parties only. 

Curb Transportation Special
Presenting Transportation Sponsor Curb is offering a $15 discount on rides for Portland Beer Week attendees. Request your Curb ride in seconds and watch your trained driver arrive in minutes. Curb drivers are always available and ready to pick you up. Curb works only with professional taxi and for-hire drivers. Every time you ride with Curb you’ll ride with a fully licensed, insured driver. No exceptions. Curb offers vehicle and payment choices to fit your needs. Easily book a taxi or for-hire car* and pay seamlessly with a credit card in the app or with cash in the car. *In select markets

Code: PDXBEER

Exp: 8/4/15

*only valid when booking and paying through the Curb app 

Patio Drinking
Bar Vivant/Pix Patisserie opens their brand new Beer & Cider Garden just in time for early summer drinking and is our featured outdoor drinking spot. Throughout the week Pix & Bar Vivant will be offering free beers to Fruit Beer Fest attendees, featured brewer, beer and cider tappings, a pFriem tap takeover and week-long pFriem Beer Floats!
  
Mississippi & Williams Pub Crawl
Saturday June 20th Noon-8pm $5

Courtsey of PDX Beer Week

Back for it’s 2nd year the popular N. Mississippi and Williams Pub Crawl promises a day full of day and evening drinking with guaranteed discounts, special drinks, rare beer tappings and food at 9 locations along Mississippi and Williams with more venues and specials still being added.
Pick up a wristband for $5 at any participating location beginning May 7th or order in advance to be mailed to you (minimum 2 wristbands for mail order). Guaranteed $1 off drinks at every location from Noon to 8pm on Saturday June 20th.
Ecliptic Brewing 825 N Cook St, Portland, OR 97227
$3.75 pints, your choice
$7.00 Sweet and Spicy Drumsticks
Stormbreaker Brewing, 832 N Beech St, Portland, OR 97227
$1 off beers, more TBA
Bridgetown Beerhouse, 915 N Shaver St, Portland, OR 97227
$1 off pints
Beer City Bottle Shop, 4214 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97217
$1 off beers, special tappings
Interurban, 4057 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227
$1 off beers
Prost! 4237 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97217
$1 off beers
Lardo North, 4090 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227
$1 off beers, sandwich special TBA
Lompoc 5th Quadrant & SideBar, 3901 N Williams Ave Portland, OR
$1 off beers, special rare beer tappings
Tin Bucket, 3520 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227
$1 off beers

 Portland Beer and Cheese Fest

Courtesy of PDX Beer Week

Sunday June 21st Noon-5pm $35

The 4th annual Portland Beer and Cheese Festival returns to The Commons Brewery and their wonderful new space on 7th and East Belmont. Sample 10 lovingly paired craft beers and cheeses by Steve Jones of Cheese Bar and 10 different breweries. Enjoy complimentary free charcuterie from Olympia Provisions. And new this year we will have complimentary chocolate from local makers Woodblock Chocolate.
Tickets are on sale now for this great 21+ Father’s Day event. Each ticket gets you a punch card for all 10 beer and cheese pairings, a 4oz pour of each beer and 1-2oz slice of each cheese, also a collectible branded glass and complimentary charcuterie and chocolate while it lasts. Warning, this event usually sells out in advance so get your tickets now here. Check back in June for the full beer and brewery list.

First Half of Beer Week Events

Courtesy of PDX Beer Week

• 6/11 Kickoff Party & Pre-Fruit Beer Festival Pig Roast @ The EastBurn

• 6/12 Official Portland Beer Week Breakside/Fremont "Back to the Future IPA" bottle release @ Whole Foods Pearl
• 6/12 Rye Beer Fest @ The EastBurn
• 6/12 Southern Washington Staycation @ Saraveza
• 6/12-6/14 Portland Fruit Beer Festival
• 6/13-6/14 Washington Beer Invasion @ Civic Taproom
• 6/13 Breakside/Fremont Tap Takeover & Draft Beer Release @ Belmont Station
• 6/14 The Rural Brewer @ Hawthorne Hophouse
• 6/14 Battle of the Belgians @ Bazi
• 6/15 New School's New Breweries Showcase @ Bailey's Taproom
• 6/15-6/20 All Day Happy Hour Specials @ Portland Brewing

And many, many, many more events are being added to the calendar at http://pdxbeerweek.com/event/kickoff-party/

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Fremont Brewing Releasing Homefront IPA on Memorial Day

Fremont Brewing will be hosting a release of Homefront IPA on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th from 11am-3pm. 10 Breweries from across the country are brewing the 100%  to charity Homefront IPA to honor and support the men and women of the Armed Forces. All proceeds from the sale of Homefront IPA this year will benefit Soldiers’ Angels. Below are details from Fremont Brewing on the event and Homefront IPA.

Courtesy of Fremont Brewing

EVENT

When: Monday, May 25th, 11am-3pm

Where: Urban Beer Garden (1050 N 34th St, Seattle, WA)

What: 

• Homefront IPA on tap and available in 6-packs
• Representatives from Soldiers’ Angels
• Representatives from Joint Base Lewis-McChord
• $1 Raffle Tickets for sale to win one of the 5 Louisville Slugger bats

Johnny Fitzpatrick (Fremont Brewer) adding orange peel to the brew-Courtesy of Fremont Brewing Co

HOMEFRONT IPA

Description: Homefront IPA was created in 2011 by craft brewers with one goal in mind: to honor and support the men and women of America’s armed forces. Homefront is aged on donated Louisville Slugger maple bats, brewed with donated hops from Yakima’s Puterbaugh Farms and donated grain from Cargill, and packaged in donated cans from Crown. Released every year around Memorial Day, 2015’s Homefront IPA team is: 21st Amendment, Center of the Universe, Cigar City, Fremont, Left Hand, Maui, Palmetto, Perennial Artisan, Revolution, and Stone Brewing. All proceeds from the sale of Homefront IPA are donated to military-based charities. For more information on this effort, please visit www.HopsForHeroes.com

ABV: 6.2%

IBU: 65

Down & Dirty: Pilsner and Carafa malts with Chinook and Mosaic hops.

Availability: Limited. For sale at better beer retailers throughout Washington.

 Adding the Louisville Slugger bats to the beer - Courtesy of Fremont Brewing

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Stone Brewing Releasing Stochasticity Project HiFi+LoFi Mixtape Today

Courtesy of Stone Brewing

— BEGIN TRANSMISSION — 
 

DATELINE:           May 18, 2015
LOCATION:          Escondido, CA
 

The latest experimental offering from the Stochasticity Project looks to traditional, English-style stock ales for inspiration, while incorporating modern-day ingredients and brewing techniques. A creation cleverly dubbed Stochasticity Project HiFi+LoFi Mixtape, the final beer is composed of 80 percent fresh English Ale (LoFi) blended with a higher-ABV version (HiFi) of the same beer that was aged for several months in red wine-infused oak tanks (referred to as “foudres"). Starting today, the historically-inspired release will begin arriving in 22-ounce bottles and on draft at select retailers nationwide.

Courtesy of Stone Brewing Co

Stock ales were mainstays at British public houses in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Known as “beers for holding,” they were stored in oak casks at the breweries or pubs. Because they were typically higher in alcohol than the majority of English beers, they could be aged for prolonged periods of time, during which their flavors would become rounder and more mellow. Rather than serve the stock ales straight up, pub owners would blend the matured stock ale with fresh ales, to help smooth out the latter's rough edges. Brewmaster Mitch Steele aimed to recreate this blended style of beer with Stochasticity Project HiFi+LoFi Mixtape.

“While I was conducting research for my book IPA: Brewing Techniques, Recipes and the Evolutions of India Pale Ale, I learned a lot about the story behind traditional stock ales and the blending process that was done by British publicans,” explains Steele. “This is a brewing style I have wanted to explore and experiment with for quite some time, and I felt that the Stochasiticty Project would be a great platform for doing our own interpretation of this historical technique.”

By blending an extremely fresh, low-alcohol version with a higher-alcohol version of the same ale, the result is a one-of-a-kind, multi-layered beer bringing forth a variety of flavors ranging from toasted malt and light berry nuances to English grains and yeast. Woody, earthy bitterness is present and made possibly thanks to English hop varietals—Fuggle and Target. Tannic grape flavors and aromas are also present thanks to the stock ale's time spent maturing in foudres, previously used to age Northern Californian red wine. This is the first beer from the Stochasticity Project to utilize such artisanal storage vessels.

Stochasticity Project HiFi+LoFi Mixtape is a one-time, limited release that should be enjoyed fresh.
 

— END TRANSMISSION — 

Courtesy of Stone Brewing Co

Stochasticity Project HiFi+LoFi Mixtape Data & Vital Statistics:

URL: Stochasticity.com/beers/hifilofi-mixtape
Alcohol/Volume: 8.8%
Bitterness: 70 IBUs
Hops: Willamette (aka “Fuggle”), Apollo, Target
Malts: English Pale, English Mild Ale, English Amber
Blend: 80% LoFi brewed to 18° Plato (8.3% ABV) / 20% HiFi brewed to 24° Plato (10.5% ABV) and aged four months in first-use California red wine French and Hungarian oak foudres
U.S. 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: Australia; Alberta and British Columbia, Canada; Japan; Singapore and United Kingdom 

 

About Stone Brewing Co.

Founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996, San Diego-based Stone Brewing Co. is the 9th largest craft brewer in the United States. Stone has been listed on the Inc. 500 | 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list 10 times, and has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice. The multifaceted company will be the first American craft brewer to own and operate its own brewery in Europe, and is also building a production brewery and destination restaurant in Richmond, Virginia. Brewing at both locations is anticipated to begin late 2015. Known for its bold, flavorful and largely hop-centric beers, Stone has earned a reputation for brewing outstanding, unique beers while maintaining an unwavering commitment to sustainability, business ethics, philanthropy and the art of brewing. For more information on Stone Brewing Co., please visit stonebrewing.com or the company’s social media sites: Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and The Stone Blog.