Dogfish Head collaborates with Norrebro Bryghus on Old Odense Ale

Posted on July 31, 2008 by Adam Nason

(København, Denmark) – Delaware-based Dogfish Head posted a press release yesterday on its website detailing a new beer to come out on which it collaborated with Danish brewers, Norrebro Bryghus. According to the release, the brew is based on a “15th century pre-hop era gruit ale recipe from the town of Odense [...] a delicate sweetness that balances the sour tartness, making it far more accessible than a Belgian lambic.” Dogfish Head notes that Old Odense Ale is being imported to the states Continue reading →

Ithaca Brute: Exclusive look at new Excelsior! Series Sour Ale

Posted on July 29, 2008 by Adam Nason

(Ithaca, NY) – Jeff O’Neil, Executive Brewmaster at Ithaca Beer Co., just confirmed on his brewer’s blog a quiet rumor that Ithaca Brute, the newest installment in the Excelsior! Series, will be released in stores this Friday. O’Neil reports that 250 cases of the sour ale will be available. Additionally, the brew will be featured at this weekend’s Belgium Comes to Cooperstown Festival along with a few other Ithaca “special treats.”

As we reported back in early June, Brute is the fourth rendition in the limited edition series of beers. For this one, Brettanomyces festered for nine months before a finish of three Champagne yeasts. The coin pictured is one in Rome to commemorate the death of Julius Caesar by Marcus Brutus. The name is also a play on “brut” champagne.

Though imperial porters looked strong early on, 2008 continues to be the year of the sour ale without a doubt. And for those unfamiliar with Ithaca Brewing, the brewery was crowned “Best Craft Beer Brewery in New York State” earlier this spring at the Tap New York Festival.

Beer notes: Struise Black Albert in NC, Saint Arnold Divine Reserve 7, Brewdog Speedball

Posted on July 29, 2008 by Adam Nason

Struise Black Albert is due to ship over in mid-August according to the schedule noted on Struise’ official website. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the beers will be available on shelves in August. What we do have now is the first confirmation from a retailer that will be getting it. Bruisin’ Ales in Asheville, North Carolina will be getting 10 cases according to the latest blog post. We don’t know whether they will be shipping that beer when it arrives. It leaves approximately 590 cases leftover for the rest of the U.S. Should be interesting to see where these go. Looks like Canada got a shipment already through Horizon Wines, Inc. (unconfirmed, no web site either). It also looks like Roland and Russell, a distributor in Burlington, Ontario, is now offering Struise Pannepot Grand Reserva through Continue reading →

Beer notes: Pumpkin ales arrive early, new beers coming to Mass

Posted on July 28, 2008 by Adam Nason

The trend of beers coming out well before their season seems to be taking on a whole new meaning with some Pumpkin ales hitting store shelves now, more than three months before Halloween. But we’re wondering..are all of these really from this year’s batch or may these just not have sold last year and are coming back out?

There have been reports of the aptly named Southern Tier Pumking Continue reading →

Weekend wrap-up: OBF and Michigan fests, Cuvee and Ne Goeien releases,Pliny in Oregon

Posted on July 28, 2008 by Adam Nason

[The photo above is of the Oregon Brewers Dinner late last week. Comes from Portlandbeer.org, one of the best regional beer-centric sites out there. They have more stunning shots featured on their Flickr PhotoStream.]

There is a smorgasboard of updates since the weekend was bogged down with studying for a certification exam. Here’s what is new:

MLive’s Kalamabrew posted a trio of updates from the Michigan Summer Beer Fest over the weekend. Sounds like it was another record-breaking beer fest. Pics and video included in the link.

John Foyston of Oregon Live’s The Beer Here has photos and parade Continue reading →

Lost Abbey Ne Goeien Saison goes on sale July 26, Witch’s Wit in August

Posted on July 25, 2008 by Adam Nason

[8/24 Update: Looks like both beers begin to hit stores this weekend.]

Pictured above is the first look at Port Ne Goeien Saison Ale, a collaboration brewed with Hildegard van Ostedan from Brouwerij Leyerth (or Urthel). This year will mark the first time this beer has been released. That will take place tomorrow, July 26 at noon at the brewery. Another brand new one, Lost Abbey Witch’s Wit, will go on sale in early-mid August. Both will be released in 750′s at Continue reading →

RateBeer Goes Down: User feedback on alternative suggestions?

Posted on July 24, 2008 by Adam Nason

[Just to clarify, RateBeer is not down for good. They're just having server issues. The home page is down for now (good riddance to that homepage!) but the forums appear to be up!!! Woohoo!]

The big beer news of the day is that this juggernaut has been down all day (I presume, because I started seeing ‘ratebeer down’ searches coming to this site early this morning). No, this is not a ‘Quit RateBeer’ post though. It’s one of a formidable top two sites out there right now for good reason. That said, with only two major sites like this so far, where else have you gone today while RateBeer has been down? We want to know! Spent more time on Beer Advocate? Hit up some other beer sites? If so, what can you recommend? Perhaps you have taken more time to spend with family or friends? Maybe -gasp- gone to the bar?!

Here are some alternative suggestions while RateBeer is down:

1. The Beer Spot – These guys have been working real hard on a beer reviews-centric site for the past several months. It is currently up in public beta and I estimate that the forums have been, perhaps, the 3rd most active beer-focused board behind BA and RB (not including all of the homebrewing boards out there). I expect good things in the coming months. The chatroom gets busier than the RateBeer one, too, though it’s no holds barred in there! And there are people in there tonight on a Thursday!!

2. Read a beer blog at RSBS. Jonathan from Beermapping.com and Beerinator.com, two other great sites, manages the best beer blog aggregator out there for anyone who wants access to dozens of beer blogs at once. It even has a search feature so you can see if anyone has been blogging about a particular beer.

3. Visit my beer-centric facebook page, myspace page, and twitter pages. I will be dedicating a story to ‘beer on facebook’ very soon. In the meantime, those who are members of any of these services, can feel free to add me as a friend. I encourage it! I have a ton of links to other beer things/beer people/breweries on those sites as well.

4. I know you guys are stats freaks like me. Here are a couple of suggestions. One is the Brewers Association’s Craft Brewing Industry Stats. Beer Serves America shows an interesting look at how the beer industry impacts the economy state-by-state.

5. Watch beer tv. Talley on Tap looks like it will be great. And then there’s Beer Nutz on Hulu. Sure, some think the show is terrible because of the hosts but they don’t bother me. I just think it’s great to see someone like Alan Sprints from Hair of the Dog on camera talking about his beer.

6. Visit local brewery web sites, local bar web sites, and search for local beer associations. We recommend the Stone web site. You may not get it at first but it is the ultimate library of anything Stone. I wish more breweries had a website like it!

Again, let us know if you have another good site in mind…

Digging into the vault: the new beer index

Posted on July 24, 2008 by Adam Nason

Until now, it’s been somewhat difficult to go back into the past and look at the beers we’ve blogged about or broke the news on. That becomes much easier now with our index, something just about any blog should have:

BEER INDEX

This weekend should bring a new online beer buying guide resource and a long-awaited update to the release date calendar so stay tuned for that.

Note that the actual date of release may not be reflected in some of the older articles featured below. But without further ado, here are the top ten posts from way back that you may have missed:

Listermann Brewing Supply expands into craft brewing

Posted on July 23, 2008 by Adam Nason

(Evanston, OH) – The Ohio-based homebrewing supplier has earned an A+ rating on Beer Advocate for its services after over fifteen years in business. Now, Listermann Brewing Supply is stepping into a different kind of game. It will still be selling supplies to its homebrewing customers but will now also launch its own brand of beers to the market for the first time. Listermann Wild Mild is the first release in a series of small batch Continue reading →

Michigan Summer Beer Festival and Oregon Brewers Festival 2008 kick off this week

Posted on July 23, 2008 by Adam Nason

(Ypsilanti, MI and Portland, OR) – Two of the biggest beer fests of the summer will be happening this week. The Oregon Brewers Festival kicks off tonight with the Oregon Brewers Dinner (sold out) and tomorrow morning with brunch (sold out) and a parade. The three-day event will then feature over 75 beers. The Michigan fest takes place Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. Fests are all about camaraderie with other beer drinkers but it doesn’t hurt to know what great beer is available so we’ve got our top picks below.
Continue reading →

Beer notes: 21st Amendment, Lagunitas, Saint Arnold, Barley Johns, Midnight Sun

Posted on July 22, 2008 by Adam Nason

The 21st Amendment Brewery’s cans debut on store shelves today in San Francisco and BevMo stores around California. The two beers, Brew Free or Die IPA and Hell or High Watermelon Wheat, are the first to be distributed by the San Francisco landmark. There will be a release party tonight at 6pm at the Toronado Pub (SF). Continue reading →

A new look for Snoqualmie Falls Brewing labels

Posted on July 21, 2008 by Adam Nason

(Snoqualmie, WA) – Snoqualmie Falls will get a new look later this year with an all-new theme for its beer labels. President, Pat Anderson, notes that the labels are not yet in production but that he expects them to be soon. The rest of the labels (virtually full screen shots, too) can be viewed at the Snoqualmie Falls Brewing site.

Pictured above is Snoqualmie Falls Wildcat IPA, just one of nine. What few probably realize, and maybe even some at the brewery itself don’t realize, is that the Wildcat IPA sits just outside of the top ten American IPAs in the world on Beer Advocate. It is the 11th ranked IPA with at least 50 reviews under its belt. If you like Columbus hops, this is your beer.

On a side note, the Haystack Hefeweizen will be released in the future as part of the new bomber labels as well.

Beer notes: Pennichuck The Big O, Bridgeport Hop Czar, The Bruery BA Levud’s

Posted on July 21, 2008 by Adam Nason

New Hampshire-based Pennichuck Brewing will be releasing for the first time in bombers its award-winning The Big O Oktoberfest Lager later this year. The beer has a very light (imported) hop profile: Czech Saaz, Hallertau-Hersbrucker, Nugget and Tettnanger and features Vienna and caramel malt. The Big O won silver last year and bronze the prior year at Continue reading →

East End Gratitude 2007 to be released on Saturday, August 9

Posted on July 20, 2008 by Adam Nason

(Pittsburgh, PA) – Pennsylvania-based East End Brewing will release its top-rated beer, East End Gratitude, again on Saturday, August 9, at 12pm at the brewery. East End Gratitude 2007 is the latest rendition in a series of annual Barleywine releases. 1500 bottles have been produced and individually numbered. The brewery will also be releasing a vertical package which includes the previous 05 and 06 releases.

The beers, which have previously earned A- or better at Beer Advocate, Continue reading →

General Lafayette bottles make their debut

Posted on July 20, 2008 by Adam Nason

(Lafayette Hill, PA) – Made under the moniker of Barren Hill Brewing, two beers debuted in bottles this weekend: General Lafayette Chocolate Thunder Porter and Abbey Blonde. The beers are part of the brewery’s Small Batch Series. They will soon be joined by Abbey Brune, Continue reading →

Stone Sour Fest 2008 happens this Sunday!

Posted on July 19, 2008 by Adam Nason

(Escondido, CA) – Stone Brewing will host the second annual Stone Sour Fest tomorrow, July 20, from 11am-9pm at its brewery in Escondido. I have been tracking the late additions, and this week, Lost Abbey was added to the mix (2008 Sinners, Isabelle Proximus, and Red Poppy) as well as some rare treats from Valley Brew up in Stockton. I would attempt to do a top 10 but it would be futile with this list. Over 30 draft selections and around 40 different beers in bottles. $30 gets you ten taster tickets though a few rare selections might cost two tickets. More info including full beer list here.

Sierra Nevada Chico Estate joins Harvest Ale Series next month

Posted on July 19, 2008 by Adam Nason

(Chico, CA) – Sierra Nevada Chico Estate Harvest Ale will become the latest to be bottled as part of the brewery’s Harvest Ale Series, a batch of beers known for the inclusion of wet hops. This one will feature hops grown at Sierra Nevada’s Chico Estate. The beer should be available toward the end of August though its distribution will be more limited than that of the recent Southern Hemisphere release.

According to the press release on Beer Advocate, the beer was previously only available on draft as “‘20th Street Ale.’” That now changes as Bill Manley, Sierra Nevada Brewing Communications Coordinator, notes that the brewers estimate total production of 200 bbl’s, still enough to hit most or possibly all markets but with little depth.

Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale, a re-release, should be hitting stores now. The beer was released for the first time in bottles last year. Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale, another annual release with fresh hops, should be out in late September, climate-permitting.

Jolly Pumpkin Perseguidor Batch 3 to be released on August 1

Posted on July 17, 2008 by Adam Nason

[7/20 Update: Perseguidor Batch 3 and Weizen Bam will be among the beers available at the Michigan Summer Beer Fest this coming week.]

(Dexter, MI) – More sour madness. Rumors are swirling on BA that Jolly Pumpkin Ales will soon release the third batch of its sour ale blend. Apparently the release date is set for Friday, August 1, at noon with an extremely limited number of cases at play, presumably in the single digits. The 750 mL bottles should go for $16 a pop.

The Jolly Pumpkin Perseguidor releases are among the brewery’s top-rated beers. Each blend is unique as different beers are used each time. The common thread is that each blend is aged for six months or more. Batch 1 was a blend of La Roja and Bam Biere. Batch 2 was a blend of Oro de Calabaza and Bam Biere. No word yet on what has been blended for Batch 3 but we’ll keep you posted if we learn of it before the release date.

North Carolina beer shops get OK to ship

Posted on July 17, 2008 by Adam Nason

(Asheville, NC) – Word came last night from Julie Atallah, owner of the #2 rated retailer in the world according to RateBeer, Bruisin’ Ales, that North Carolina beer stores will soon be able to ship beer out of state. Atallah says that her Asheville beer shop got its FedEx permit and is awaiting finalization of the states to which she can ship.

Let’s break down what this could mean to beer people around the U.S. Continue reading →

Captain Lawrence Cuvee de Castleton to be released July 26

Posted on July 16, 2008 by Adam Nason

(Pleasantville, NY) – Captain Lawrence Brewing will release its top-rated beer, Cuvee de Castleton, on Saturday, July 26 at 12pm ONLY at the brewery. According to an e-mail sent out to Captain Lawrence fans on Wednesday morning, 90 cases have been produced and the bottle limit will be four per person at $15/750mL bottle.

Captain Lawrence Cuvee de Castleton is a “Golden Ale that has been aged in French and American oak barrels with both Brettanomyces (wild yeast) and Muscat Grapes, for over a year.”

It won gold in the Sour Ale category at the Great American Beer Festival in 2007 and is currently listed as one of the top 100 beers in the world on RateBeer.

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Monthly Archives: July 2008