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| Courtesy of Ninkasi Brewing CO |
Available in 22oz. Bottles, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Ground Control Hits the Shelf April 12, 2016
EUGENE, Ore.—March 29, 2016— In 2014,
Ninkasi Brewing Company, an independent craft brewery based in Eugene, Oregon, embarked on a
journey that took its beer to new heights—77.3 miles above Earth to be exact. The
Ninkasi Space Program
(NSP), was an initiative with one goal in mind: send brewer’s yeast to
space, return it to Earth to brew delicious beer. In October 2014,
Ninkasi sent six vials of brewer’s yeast to space aboard a rocket
launched from
Spaceport America
and later, released its first “space beer” in 2015, Ground Control. This year, the beer returns with its sequel—Bourbon Barrel-Aged Ground Control.
Brewed with Oregon hazelnuts, star anise and cocoa nibs, this Imperial
Stout is fermented with an Ale yeast that survived a trip to space,
barrel-aged for four months and blended. Bourbon Barrel-Aged Ground
Control can be found in limited-edition 22-ounce
bottles starting April 12, 2016 throughout Ninkasi’s distribution territory.
“Ground
Control lives on; first with yeast into space and now into barrels, we
are thrilled to carry on the excitement of space and brewing
exploration,” says
Nikos Ridge, Ninkasi co-founder and CEO. “The frenzy around Ground
Control’s first release extended beyond our expectations; we look
forward to bringing another iteration to more beer and science lovers.”
The story behind Ground Control’s creation began in July 2014 with Mission One of NSP. In partnership with the
Civilian Space eXploration Team (CSXT) and
Team Hybriddyne,
Ninkasi loaded a rocket with 16 vials of brewer’s yeast. A series of
unexpected
circumstances led to tracking issues, leaving the payload lost on the
floor of the Black Rock Desert for 27 days. Due to the extreme desert
heat, the yeast was not viable for brewing. An opportunity for Mission
Two presented itself with
UP Aerospace Inc., a private spaceflight corporation, and in October 2014, six vials of brewer’s
yeast traveled above Earth’s atmosphere from Spaceport America
on an SL-9 rocket. The yeast returned to Earth, and was immediately
transported back to Ninkasi’s lab to begin propagation and brewing.
“Barrel
aging Ground Control brings the flavors together in a fantastic way,”
explains Ninkasi founding brewer and co-founder, Jamie Floyd. “The wood
itself imparts
subtle vanilla flavors while the Bourbon notes enhance the rich flavors
of the cocoa nibs and hazelnuts without overshadowing the star anise.”
Smooth, flavorful, robust and spirited, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Ground
Control marks another step for Ninkasi and its
quest to push the brewing industry forward.
Available April 12, 2016,
each 22-ounce bottle of Ground Control features a collectible outer-box
illustrated by Eugene-based gig poster artist and illustrator,
Neal Williams.
In a partnership between Ninkasi’s in-house art department and
Williams,
the beer’s artworks features a psychedelic view of space with floating
astronauts and barrels. Williams’ artwork can also be found on limited
edition merchandise celebrating the release of Ground Control available
at
nsp.ninkasibrewing.com.
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| Courtesy of Ninkasi Brewing CO |
Ground Control Stats
Ground Control boldly combines local and out-of-this-world ingredients. This rich, complex Imperial Stout is brewed with Oregon hazelnuts, star anise and cocoa nibs, and is fermented with an Ale yeast that survived a trip to space and back. This second-edition brew has been aged in Old Forester Bourbon barrels for four months.
Ground Control boldly combines local and out-of-this-world ingredients. This rich, complex Imperial Stout is brewed with Oregon hazelnuts, star anise and cocoa nibs, and is fermented with an Ale yeast that survived a trip to space and back. This second-edition brew has been aged in Old Forester Bourbon barrels for four months.
Style:
Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout Brewed with Oregon Hazelnuts, Star Anise, Cocoa Nibs, and Ale Yeast Sent Into Space
Available:
April 12, 2016
ABV:
10%
IBU:
80
OG:
1100
Malt:
2-Row Pale, Black, Chocolate, Munich, Crystal, Honey, Special Roast, Peated
Hops:
Apollo, Bravo, Comet
Packaging:
22oz. Bottles
Distribution: Alaska; Alberta; Arizona; California; D.C.; Colorado; Idaho; Maryland; Nevada; New York; Oregon; Texas;
Utah; Washington; Vancouver, British Columbia; and select retailers across the country.
Stay informed about the release of Ground Control by visiting
nsp.ninkasibrewing.com or following
@NinkasiInSpace on Twitter.
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| Courtesy of Ninkasi Brewing CO |
About Ninkasi Brewing Company
Founded in 2006 by Jamie Floyd and Nikos Ridge, Ninkasi Brewing Company continues to grow from its first batch of Total Domination IPA, to two brewhouses, a 55-barrel and a 90-barrel brewhouse, located in Eugene, Ore. Ninkasi’s Flagship beers—Total Domination IPA, Tricerahops Double IPA, Dawn of the Red IRA, Easy Way IPA, Helles Belles Helles Lager, Oatis Oatmeal Stout, and Vanilla Oatis Oatmeal Stout—are sold throughout Alaska; Alberta; Arizona; California; D.C.; Colorado; Idaho; Maryland; Nevada; New York; Oregon; Texas; Utah; Washington; and Vancouver, British Columbia. The brewery remains privately-owned and is committed to community support and giving. Ninkasi’s Beer Is Love program offers in-kind donations and support for organizations throughout its footprint.
Founded in 2006 by Jamie Floyd and Nikos Ridge, Ninkasi Brewing Company continues to grow from its first batch of Total Domination IPA, to two brewhouses, a 55-barrel and a 90-barrel brewhouse, located in Eugene, Ore. Ninkasi’s Flagship beers—Total Domination IPA, Tricerahops Double IPA, Dawn of the Red IRA, Easy Way IPA, Helles Belles Helles Lager, Oatis Oatmeal Stout, and Vanilla Oatis Oatmeal Stout—are sold throughout Alaska; Alberta; Arizona; California; D.C.; Colorado; Idaho; Maryland; Nevada; New York; Oregon; Texas; Utah; Washington; and Vancouver, British Columbia. The brewery remains privately-owned and is committed to community support and giving. Ninkasi’s Beer Is Love program offers in-kind donations and support for organizations throughout its footprint.
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