New Belgium Releases Blackberry Barley Wine

Courtesy of New Belgium Brewing Co

Ft. Collins, Colo., December 8, 2015 – New Belgium Brewing is going into uncharted territory. Blackberry Barley Wine is the brewery's latest Lips of Faith offering and New Belgium’s first foray into the barley wine category. The imaginative brewers at New Belgium bring the elegant spirit of a classic English barley wine to the 21st century with this ale brewed with fresh blackberries.

This full body beer pours with a berry-kissed mahogany, with a slight sheen and billowy head, perfect for snifters beside a crackling fireplace. A deep wash of caramelized sugar and toasted bread, along with subtle laces of floral, fruity berries gives this barley wine a big start that finishes dry, smooth and warm. It incorporates Munich, Caramunich and whole oats to round out the malt bill, with Nugget hops to add bitterness.

“We’ve injected a little New Belgium flair into the classic barley wine recipe,” said Lauren Salazar, New Belgium’s Wood Cellar Blender and Specialty Brand Manager. “By adding blackberries at the end of fermentation, the blackberry subtly emerges in the aroma and flavor without overwhelming the senses. It's more of a complementary note, so a kiss of blackberry to elevate it beyond convention.”

At 10 percent ABV and 50 IBUs, Blackberry Barley Wine is the perfect beer to warm your belly during the long winter months. It is now available in 22 oz. bombers and on draft. Pricing varies by location.

To find Blackberry Barley Wine Ale near you, use the New Belgium Libation Location tool: NewBelgium.com/Beer/Finder.

For more information about New Belgium Brewing, visit NewBelgium.com. You can also follow New Belgium on Facebook at Facebook.com/NewBelgium.com and Twitter @NewBelgium.

Courtesy of New Belgium Brewing Co

About New Belgium Brewing Company 

New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, is recognized as one of Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work and one of the Wall Street Journal’s Best Small Businesses. The 100% employee-owned brewery is a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business as designated by the League of American Bicyclists, one of World Blu’s Most Freedom-Centered Workplaces, and a Certified B Corp. In addition to Fat Tire, New Belgium brews ten year-round beers; Ranger IPA, Rampant Imperial IPA, Shift Pale Lager, Slow Ride Session IPA, Snapshot Wheat, Sunshine Wheat, 1554 Black Lager, Blue Paddle Pilsner, Abbey Belgian Ale and Trippel. Learn more at NewBelgium.com.

Stone Brewing Releases Collaboration with Sierra Nevada Brewing

Courtesy of Stone Brewing CO

Stone Brewing Co. Releases Collaboration with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
North and south converge to create Stone & Sierra Nevada NxS IPA

 

ESCONDIDO, CA (Dec. 7, 2015) — For many, California has been the epicenter of craft brewing innovation for the last few decades, especially where hop-centric beers are concerned. So in an effort that spans the state and is decades in the making, Stone Brewing Co. has joined forces with the iconic, Northern California-based Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., which together have a combined 50+ years of brewing experience. The result: Stone & Sierra Nevada NxS IPA (NxS = North by South). Beginning today, the latest Stone Collaboration beer—a barrel-aged IPA blended with a fresh, dry-hopped batch of the same IPA—will begin rolling out in 22-ounce bottles and on draft to select retailers in markets where Stone beer is sold. 

 

To create this significant collaboration, batches of an IPA were brewed and bittered with Magnum hops before providing the backdrop for a three-way late-kettle addition involving Amarillo, Chinook and Cascade. Given that whole flower Cascade hops have been a mainstay in Sierra Nevada’s beer portfolio, the classic hop varietal was necessary for this creation. The first batch, created months earlier, was split down the middle, with 50 percent being aged in gin-infused bourbon barrels and the other half making its way into rye whiskey barrels. The aged portions were then blended with a new, fresh batch of IPA, which was generously dry-hopped to impart rich hop aromas to accompany the citrusy, piney, woody, spice flavors of this multilayered collaboration.

 

To experience the extra dose of hops blended with oak and spirit flavors, the beer should be enjoyed fresh. Over time, the hop qualities will subside, allowing for more prevalent spicy notes of spirits and oaky vanilla character to shine through. Stone & Sierra Nevada NxS IPA is a meaningful representation of two renowned breweries embracing craft beer camaraderie and showcasing their brewing prowess. 

 

Quick Facts
Stone & Sierra Nevada NxS IPA

Name: Stone & Sierra Nevada NxS IPA
URL: stonebrewing.com/collab/nxs
Alcohol/Volume: 8.2%, 70 IBUs
Availability: Limited 22-ounce bottles and draft, beginning December 7
Hops: Magnum, Amarillo, Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, Mosaic
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 and WA
International Distribution: Australia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand and United Kingdom
Find Beer: stonebrewing.com/collab/nxs#extra

 

Courtesy of Stone Brewing CO

 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 11 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 in spring 2016. 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.

 

Deschutes Brewery’s Street Pub Makes Giant Impact in Seven Communities!

Courtesy of Deschutes Brewery

Bend, Oregon brewery’s “Street Pub” raised $400,000 for charity in its first year

Bend, Oregon– 07 December 2015 – Crafted for Community, the Deschutes Brewery Street Pub kicked off its first year with a bang, raising a total of nearly $400,000 for charity in seven cities. At each stop, the brewery partnered with a local charity and donated 100 percent of proceeds to help that charity achieve its mission. With an estimated 60,000 beer fans who turned out to drink 892 kegs of damn tasty beer, the Street Pub is collectively one of the largest beer parties of the year.

“When we dreamed up this new program, we knew it would be big – after all the Street Pub itself is over 400 feet long -- but the support of communities across the nation and the turnout of beer fans to support their local charities surpassed our expectations,” said Joey Pleich, field marketing manager for the brewery who runs the Street Pub initiative. “Being able to give back in this way, in communities where we sell our beer and in places that we love, is incredibly gratifying.”

Here’s a look at how Deschutes Brewery’s Street Pub assisted the nonprofits it partnered with in each city:

• Bend, OR (soft launch) : $7,500 donation to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bend to help fund the local Girls on the Run Program.
• Philadelphia, PA: $38,000 donation to the Vetri Community Partnership to cover costs for preparing healthy meals in public schools all over the Philly area.
• Cleveland, OH: $47,000 donation to the Western Reserve Land Conservancy to reforest Cleveland by planting over 100 community cornerstone trees.
• Chicago, IL: $69,762 to Alliance for the Great Lakes to provide 45 new classes giving students hands-on experience in restoration activities in the region.
• Minneapolis, MN: $79,700 to Second Harvest Heartland to provide nearly a quarter million meals for needy families in Minnesota.
• Denver, CO: $56,000 to Bicycle Colorado, to encourage and promote bicycling safety & education, improve road conditions and provide a voice for bicyclists in Colorado.
• Sacramento, CA: $99,741 to Runnin’ for Rhett to fund nearly 4,000 children to participate in after school youth fitness programs.

The charitable giving from the Street Pub program is in addition to the brewery’s ongoing annual $1 per barrel commitment to give back in order to build strong, healthful communities. In 2015, this giving commitment equaled $335,000.
The Street Pub program received Brewbound’s 2015 Award for “Cause of the Year” at its San Diego conference last week. The Street Pub tour dates and locations for 2016 will be announced soon.

About Deschutes BreweryNamed as OUTSIDE’s Best Places to Work for three years in a row (2013-2015), Deschutes Brewery was founded in 1988 as a brew pub in Bend, Oregon. Family and employee-owned, the brewery is known for brewing a diverse line-up of award-winning beers including the popular Black Butte Porter, Mirror Pond Pale Ale, and Fresh Squeezed IPA. From the beginning, the focus has been on crafting the best beer and cuisine using only the finest ingredients.  In 2008, the brewery opened a second pub in Portland’s Pearl District. Deschutes Brewery now ships beer to 28 states, the District of Columbia, and around the world from its main brewing facility located on the banks of the Deschutes River.  To find out more, visit www.DeschutesBrewery.com.

Speakeasy Ales & Lagers Releases Syndicate No. 03: Rare Barrel-Aged Blend

Courtesy of Speakeasy Ale & Lagers

San Francisco, CA - (December 7, 2015) 

Powerful, decadent, united by barrels and graceful age, Syndicate No. 03 is ready to break from the shadows. This long awaited beer by Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, the third installment of the Syndicate Series, features a blend of strong ales aged in American spirits barrels for no less than twelve months. Syndicate No. 03 will be released in a limited number of 22 oz. bottles and kegs beginning December 11th in their Tap Room.

Syndicate No. 03 is a blend of seven different strong beers matured between 13-37 months in bourbon barrels. Every barrel in Speakeasy’s collection was sampled and carefully considered to create the final blend. Together they form an elegant, delicious, and complex brew, that won’t be repeated.  

Blend:
Scarface Imperial Stout, aged 13 months (46%)
Imperial Black Hand, aged 37 months (18%)    
Experimental Stout II, aged 20 months (12%)      
Experimental Stout III, aged 19 months (11%)
Imperial Payback Porter, aged 19 months (10%)
Scarface Imperial Stout with Philz Coffee, aged 13 months (2%)
Joe’s Ale of Strength, aged 18 months (1%)

The beer pours black as night with a golden brown head. Aromas of vanilla, coffee, oak, molasses, licorice, dark chocolate, and toffee, rise from the glass. Upon first sip, chocolate and coffee flavors continue to build, coalescing with raisins, dates, currants, a touch of black pepper, and tobacco. This beer is dessert, reminiscent of rum cake and tiramisu, but it’s not overly sweet. It’s balanced, creamy, medium to full bodied, with a toasty finish at 10.5% ABV.   

Syndicate No. 03 will be released for the first time on draft and in bottles at Speakeasy’s Tap Room on Friday, December 11, at 1pm. It will start arriving in stores the following week, first in the San Francisco Bay Area, then throughout a select number of U.S. states. Speakeasy recommends aging Syndicate No. 03 for at least six months. It will reveal new flavors and complexity over time. Serve the beer at 50-55° to enjoy its full character.

About the Syndicate Series

Each Syndicate Series release is a blend of strong ales that have been aged in American spirits barrels for no less than twelve months. Each year the blend is unique and will never be repeated. The Series was launched in 2013 with the creation of Syndicate No. 01.

Quick Facts

Name: Syndicate No. 03
URL: http://www.goodbeer.com/syndicate-series/
ABV: 10.5%
Style: Barrel-Aged Vintage Ale
Availability: 22oz. bottles
Blended: Nov 19, 2015
Distribution: AZ, CA, DE, IL, MA, NH, NY, NJ, NV, RI, VA,

Courtesy of Speakeasy Ale & Lagers

About Speakeasy Ales & Lagers

In 1997 a wily band of bootleggers led by homebrewer Forest Gray were inspired to bring their exceptional brews from the underground to the masses, defiantly producing small batches of beer in a secret warehouse in San Francisco. Starting with a single, iconic beer, Prohibition Ale, Speakeasy now brews a wide array of acclaimed beers including Big Daddy IPA, Payback Porter, Double Daddy, Scarface Imperial Stout and many more, which are distributed across the entire West Coast and other major U.S. markets.

Breakside Brewery Releases A New Winter Seasonal Called Vienna Coffee Beer

Courtesy of Breakside Brewing

Portland & Milwaukie, Oregon - 

Breakside Brewery is introducing a new draft only winter seasonal called Vienna Coffee Beer in two different versions while celebrating with a Bicycle Pub Crawl, free Donuts, Pints and Live Music this Saturday, December 12th from 10am - 3pm at Velo Cult in Portland.

Breakside is releasing two versions of Vienna Coffee Beer simultaneously, each with a different cold brew concentrate from Stumptown. Both versions will be draft-only and be available through December. Each has it's own distinct coffee flavor and it's encouraged to try them side-by-side. The two versions are Vienna Coffee Beer with:

• Ethiopian Nano Challa Coffee - experimental coffee beer made with European kilned malts, fermented at cool temperatures, and dosed with cold Ethiopian Nano Challa toddy from Stumptown Coffee.
• OG Cold Brew - Classic blend of Latin America beans that Stumptown uses in their super popular bottled Cold Brew Coffee.

Courtesy Breakside Brewing

Vienna Coffee Beer Release Party 

presented by Velo Cult, Hammer Velo and Bullets & Belles

Saturday, December 12th 10am-3pm @ Velo Cult

1969 NE 42nd Ave, Portland, OR 97213

http://velocult.com

To celebrate this caffeinated release to warm your bones and get your blood pumping we will be holding a release party at Velo Cult bike bar that begins with coffee, beer and FREE DONUTS (while they last) from Coco Donuts! After enjoying both versions of the beer (pints will be $5) and getting some sugar and carbs in we will head out on a leisurely morning ride to Breakside's Dekum brewpub at 10:30am. 

Breakside's flagship woodlawn brewpub will have $1 off pints of both versions of Vienna Coffee Beer when the bike ride arrives. At about Noon we will gather the riders back up to leave Breakside's pub on NE Dekum to circle back to Velo Cult for lunch at 1pm with more beers and music from Bullets & Belles!

• 10am Beer & Donuts @ Velo Cult
• 1030am Morning Bike Ride to Breakside Brewpub
• 11pm $1 off Vienna Coffee Beer pints at Breakside
• 1pm Party back at Velo Cult with live music from Bullets & Belles

Vienna Coffee Beer description:

A Style-Defying Coffee Beer Brewed with Our Friends at Stumptown Coffee

A few years ago, we set out to create a new kind of coffee beer--instead of a stout or porter with coffee, we wanted to create a light colored, malt-forward, rich base beer which would dovetail into the nutty, chocolatey, and fruity flavors of a lightly roasted coffee.

Our Vienna Coffee Beer is the delicious result of this effort, achieved after numerous trial batches. We use three of our favorite 'character malts' -- sweet Vienna, toasty Melanoidin and Hazelnut-like CaraMunich -- Along with a rich base of English Golden Promise to create a base beer that doesn't fit into any style category, but it matches perfectly with the lightly roasted cold brew provided to us with our friends at Stumptown Coffee. A cool fermentation and soft water profile allow the malt and coffee flavors to shine; we hope that you find this coffee beer to be as inventive and refreshing as we do. Cheers!

6.3% ABV

30 IBU

Malts: Two-Row, Golden Promise, Vienna, Malanoidin, Caramunich

Hops: Hallertau Blanc

Package Type:

50l, 1/2 bbl and 1/6bbl Draft Only.

Courtesy of Breakside Brewing

Top Rung Brewing Releasing 2015 Pyrolysis Imperial Stout December 12th

Courtesy of Top Rung Brewing CO

Lacy,WA - Now that winter is upon us with the cold dark days consuming us, Top Rung Brewing is releasing the 2015 - Pyrolysis Imperial Stout which is dark as our nights, rich with malt flavor and enough alcohol to warm you inside.   That is why we called this beer which is our thickest and highest alcohol beer to date - Pyrolysis, which is the thermochemical breakdown of organic material at elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen. The beer will be released on Saturday, December 12^th in the tap room and then will be available in draft.
 

Courtesy of Top Rung Brewing CO

Top Rung Brewing is a 10 barrel production brewery with tasting room at the brewery. Top Rung Brewing is a destination for craft beer drinkers to enjoy their beverage and view a production brewery facility.  Our tasting room is family friendly and while we will only offer snacks, we partner with local food vendors and food trucks as well as allow patrons to bring in their own food of their choice or have it delivered.  The tap room is open on Thursdays 4-9, Friday and Saturdays 2-9, and Sundays 12-5.