(San Diego, CA) – A bunch of new labels from Green Flash Brewing…

Palate Wrecker Double IPA has label approval for 12 oz. bottles. Here is the website description:

“Chuck came up with a new method to make a Double IPA by performing a double brew to make a single beer. First there is a single infusion mash and subsequent boil at 65 IBU with Columbus and Centennial hops. Then a second duplicate mash using the 65 IBU wort instead of water and a second 65 IBU boil using the same hop schedule. The result is a higher gravity beer with kettle caramelizing in place of crystal malts and an elevated hop flavor and bitterness that might not be achieved with the same amount of ingredients in a single brew. Hop Heads, this beer is for you! ABV: 9.2%.”

Green Flash is also introducing a Belgian-style Pale Ale it calls Rayon Vert. It has approval for both 12 oz. and 22 oz. bottles. Label copy:

“If Green Flash were founded in historical Belgium, Rayon Vert would have been our flagship brew. A bold, layering of hops finds balance from traditional malts. Bottle conditioning with fresh ale yeast and Brettanomyces finishes the beer, adding a delightful effervescence, dryness and continuously evolving character. Rayon Vert is Green Flash.”

Also of note, there are a couple changes coming to branding. The Belgian-style beers will be adopting the same traditional look as the other beers in the portfolio. In addition, the Barleywine will be called, “Shaggy.”

(Salt Lake City, UT) – Introducing the newest addition to Uinta Brewing Company’s lineup, Dubhe (pronounced Doo-bee), an Imperial Black IPA.

Dubhe was named after Utah’s Centennial Star, a star classified as a Red Giant. Dubhe, the star, appears orange in color, and is found at the top end of the big dipper’s spoon. The name “Dubhe” continues Uinta’s tradition of celebrating the great state of Utah, however, “Dubhe” is a fitting name for more than that reason: this beer is as black as the night sky and is brewed with an astronomical amount of hops.

Dubhe is comprised of five hop varieties, a hop profile bold enough to shine through the roasted, dark malt character of this beer. A citrusy hop aroma, achieved by dry hopping with a proprietary blend of extreme Northwest hops, balanced with notes of mild dark chocolate and a hint of sweet licorice. Smooth from start to finish, Dubhe’s layered flavor profile emerges with rich and rounded toasted malt flavors, and is followed by a lively hop bitterness. At over 5 pounds of hops per barrel, Dubhe is the most hop-laden beer Uinta has ever produced.

This shinning new addition is brewed with hemp seed (A play on the name, perhaps?), and has a far-out ABV of 9.2%.

Uinta Brewing Company

Uinta Brewing Company embarked upon its mission of brewing world class, full-flavored, craft-brewed beer in the winter of 1993. Uinta Brewing is named after an east-west mountain range located in northeastern Utah. Many of Uinta’s beer names are inspired by Utah’s diverse landscapes or have historical significance. Uinta has broadened its market and can be found in 22 states from coast-to-coast, and has even ventured to other countries around the world. Uinta is committed to brewing world-class beer using the best practices and ingredients. Since 2001 Uinta Brewing has used 100% wind-powered energy, becoming the first Utah business to reach this mark.

Brewery Introduces New Four Pack

(Fort Collins, CO) – On February 26, 2011, Odell Brewing will unleash its Myrcenary Double IPA. The hoppy delight is a new year-round four pack offering.

Named for Myrcene, a component of the essential oils found in a hop flower, Myrcenary Double IPA is brewed with a blend of hops containing the highest levels of Myrcene. Nearly six pounds of seven different American hop varieties were used in each barrel. At 9.3% ABV, this double IPA prevails with a tropical citrus flavor, a pungent floral aroma, and a clean getaway.

Odell Brewing has partnered with Old Chicago’s to feature Myrcenary, which will be on draft exclusively at most Old Chicago locations within the brewery’s nine state distributor region beginning February 23rd.

“Our partnership with Old Chicago’s started with our opening night in 1989,” said Doug Odell, brewery founder. “They were our first account, and we’re very excited that they will be featuring our newest creation.”

Odell Brewing will celebrate the launch of Myrcenary Double IPA on February 26th from 4-6 pm in the brewery’s Tap Room. Guests can enjoy samples of the beer as well as live music from The Band of Pirates.

Founded in 1989, Odell Brewing was started by Doug Odell, his wife Wynne, and his sister Corkie. Twenty-one years later, the culture of family and collaboration still thrives fostering a brewery full of beer-centric people. It is this passion for beer that inspires Odell Brewing to create quality, hand-crafted, innovative brews. In 2010 the brewery completed its fourth expansion, adding a wood-aging cellar, a 750 ml bottling line, and a 76 kilowatt photovoltaic system capable of providing 39% of the brewery’s peak energy demand. As a regional craft brewery, Odell Brewing is committed to serving the communities in which it distributes by sourcing local raw materials, and through its charitable giving program known as Odell Outreach. Odell Brewing was recently named a “Top Company of 2010” by ColoradoBiz Magazine and is an award winning brewery, nationally and internationally: 2010 North American Beer Awards – gold medal for Woodcut No. 3. 2009 BrewNZ Awards – gold for 5 Barrel Pale Ale. 2008 World Beer Cup® – gold for IPA. 2007 Great American Beer Festival® – gold medal for IPA.

(Santa Rosa, CA) – A few kegs have hit the streets already.

You can still pick up Pliny the Younger at Russian River Brewing‘s pub in Santa Rosa for another week or so as they release a certain amount each day (get there before evening!). There are also some kegs beginning to float out there through the craft beer ecosystem. Wherever it lands, there is a possibility that it lasts for 15 minutes or something similarly absurd and there are often long lines for announced tappings. What else would you expect for a beer that is rated top 3 in the world on both Beer Advocate and RateBeer?

Last year, I was researching Twitter as a tool to gather information. I tested how easy it would be to gather a list of bars that had Pliny the Younger on tap and I was able to come up with an incomplete list of over 60 locations (I’m guessing it’s 98% accurate but again, not a complete list). This doesn’t mean that those same locations will get Pliny this year but use it as a guide. Through Twitter, Beer Advocate, Untappd, Taphunter and blogs, it is easier than ever to compile a list of spots where a beer like PtY will be tapped, more importantly, in advance.

Still, there are enough inefficiencies in compiling and disseminating that information that bars are still fielding lots of calls about the beer, perhaps more than ever before. The Falling Rock Taphouse in Denver reportedly gets 3-4 dozen calls a day about the beer and sent out an email to its newsletter subscribers requesting that they stop calling. It might be worth it for other bars to follow suit or maybe even put in a message about Pliny into the phone system before calls come through.

As for the latest, here’s the information that is out there:

Toronado San Diego and the Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens appear to be the first bars outside of Russian River’s own taproom to release some (last night). Hopyard in Pleasanton also reportedly tapped it.

Both the SD Beer Blog and ThinkBrew are tracking Southern California release dates. WineHouse LA is among those locations getting the beer soon. TapHunter has its own short list of locations on the home page that are getting the beer in the area.

Closer to the Bay Area, there is a short thread on Chow. EJ Phair in Pittsburg will be tapping the beer on Monday at 5pm. Bobby G’s Pizzeria in Berkeley will be tapping on Tuesday at 3pm according to a Twitter post.

Soon, the beer will also make its way to Oregon (Portland thread), Washington, Colorado and Pennsylvania. Seattle Beer News says that the beer is still at least two weeks out from release in their area.

(Frederick, MD) – Flying Dog Brewery has another new beer coming to shelves in the future.

Here’s the label copy for Flying Dog Simcoe Single Hop Imperial IPA:

“While that damn Dionysus was taking all the glory, Simcoe, Greek God of Beer and Relaxation, was out, diligently developing tools for man to brew- fresh grain and hops, active yeast, and bountiful water. With its golden glow and sharp hop bite, our Imperial Single Hop IPA is a tribute to this lesser-known God (and as temple-worthy as its namesake).”

10% ABV, 70 IBU (and likely headed to 4-packs though unconfirmed)…release date not yet available.

Baltimore Beer Guy has more info on two draft-only beers coming this month: Lucky SOB and Single Hop El Dorado. El Dorado is the second beer in the Single Hop Series after Simcoe, which was introduced as the first this past fall when it was only available on draft.

(San Leandro, CA) – Two more approvals for Drake’s Brewing Company…

Drakonic is supposed to be released this month according to a recent newsletter. Beer descriptions courtesy of the website:

Drake’s Drakonic Imperial Stout – 8.75% ABV
Drake’s Imperial Stout includes Crystal Malt, Chocolate Malt, and Roasted Barley. It is balanced with Chinook hops, to create an incredibly smooth stout. At 8.75% alcohol, people comment on its bourbon-like (or boozy) character.

Drake’s Hopocalypse Ale – 9.3% ABV, 80 IBUs
Drake’s late winter offering is a deep orange monster that is loosely filtered to keep the integrity of the malt & hops intact. Equal amounts of American two row and English pale are combined with two types of Munich malt, and balanced with Chinook, Cascade & Amarillo hops. Enjoy the massive aroma and flavor of this beer.

(Seattle, WA) – The Pike Brewing Company celebrates the New Year with the early release of their Spring seasonal, Pike Double IPA.

Originally brewed to commemorate the 1st Annual Seattle Beer Week in May 2009, Pike Double IPA is a reflection of Washington State terroir. Our state is a veritable “hop nirvana”; we are the World’s second largest hop producer.

In 1991, Pike was among the first breweries in America to brew an India Pale Ale. Hopped at 60 IBUs, our IPA reflected the hopping levels of the 18th Century. At the time it was a palate shocker! In his book “300 Beers to Try Before You Die,” Roger Protz, the noted British beer writer, chose it as a classic example of the Northwest style.

When we introduced Pike Double IPA, it was our answer to the Northwest’s trend to test the limits at even higher levels of bitterness. At 80 International Bittering Units, it is hopped with Yakima Valley Columbus, Centennial, Chinook, and Cascade, and dry hopped with Washington Amarillo and Palisades. It delivers a rich bouquet of herbal flowers followed by the dry, crisp, evergreen and citrus character of humulus lupulus (hops) on the palate. This hop elixir is balanced with a smooth, biscuity, earthy malt flavor from a variety of five different malts.

Technical Details:
OG = original gravity = 1.076
TG = terminal gravity = 1.016
Alc./Vol 8%
Target IBUs 80

Like other Pike beers our Double IPA is food-friendly with just the right balance of floral hop and biscuity malt. It is unfiltered to preserve all the wonderful hop character and aroma.

Charles and Rose Ann Finkel founded the Pike Brewing Company in 1989 in the La Salle Hotel in the Pike Place Public Market. In 1996 they moved Pike to its current location on First Avenue between Pike and Union and opened the Pike Pub. The Pub features local, sustainable pub fare. Housed within the Pub is the Pike Microbrewery Museum.

# # #

Pike Double IPA is a registered trademark of the Pike Brewing Company. All Rights Reserved.

HOPOCALYPSE IIPA – 9.3% ABV – Large amounts of American two-row malt and English pale malt are combined with Vienna, Rye & Crystal malts, then balanced with German magnum, Simcoe and Chinook hops. Then, of course, more hops! — as we dry hop it with additional Simcoe and Chinook. Finally, this deep orange monster is loosely filtered to keep the integrity of the malt and hops in tact. Enjoy the massive aromatic revelation and prophetic hop flavor of this beer, now and forever after.

HOP SALAD – 8% ABV – Hop Salad is an aggressively hopped Double IPA that is fruit forward with a salad of pine, citrus, and floral aromas and bitterness. Medium carbonation levels with a slightly yellow head. Don’t expect to get by putting a small amount on your plate (…your palate), this one’s an all-you-can-eat buffet of liquid alpha goodness (we used loads of Magnum, Simcoe, & Summit hops). Loads of two-row barley and a small amount of Caramalt make up the grain bill. I’ll keep you updated on when this beer will be out and ready for a lunch date!

DRAKONIAN IMPERIAL STOUT – 8.75% ABV, 40 IBUs – A big, malty beast of a beer, with an abundance of two-row malt blended with Chocolate malt, roasted barley and dark Crystal malt. Only one hop addition for bittering is added so that the malt can shine through this beer.

* Stay tuned for information on 22oz bottles of Imperial Stout, coming out in late January 2011!

JOLLY RODGER 2010 – 8.0% ABV, 68 IBUs – Heeeee’s almost gone! The Jolly Rodger is on his way out, and won’t be back til next year- get your Jolly bottles before they run out!

CHINOOKIAN DARK ALE – 7.5% ABV – The tale of this beer comes straight out of the Northwest, where the legendary Cascadian Dark Ale (and controversy) was born back in the 1990s. Some call it a Dark IPA, others a Black IPA- you decide for yourself. We used two-row barley, Honey malt, caramalt, crystal malt for the base, and a combination of chocolate rye and chocolate malt for the color and roastiness. The hops are German Magnum, Cascade, and a ton of Chinook. The flavor and mouthfeel is definitely a roasty to sweet maltiness, with a noticeable hop bitterness reminiscent of an IPA. Medium carbonation & brownish white head with a slight opalescent black color.

ALPHA SESSION- An American Session Ale – 3.8% ABV, 80 IBUs – Session beers originated in Britain during the First World War when factory workers (in need of a beer) were required to work long periods of time. The “sessions” were periods of time during the day that they were allowed to drink a beer that contained less than 4.0% ABV (so the story goes…). Our session beer is 3.8% ABV, but packed with as much hops as we use in our double IPA’s (Citra, Simcoe & German Magnum). All very high in alpha-acids, giving the beer great flavor and aroma. Have an Alpha Session today!

Early Jan. – XXX Oak-Aged Black Double IPA

This special version of XXX Black Double IPA was aged in red wine oak barrels from Milbrant Vineyards in Eastern Washington’s Columbia Valley.

Sometimes XXX just means 30.

FRI 01.21 – RondyBrew2011 – This year’s RB is a Dortmunder lager that we’re calling WINTERFEST LAGER. Draft + 22′s.

The official beer of Fur Rondy™ 2011 is yet another great brew from Anchorage’s Midnight Sun Brewing Company. RondyBrew™ 2011 is a Winterfest Lager, offering rich, smooth malt refreshment to enjoy during the cold dark days of winter that bring us together. Celebrate Alaska’s frontier spirit with RondyBrew™ which is available on draft and in 22-oz bottles throughout the state.

Midnight Sun, Anchorage’s oldest and boldest brewery, is proud to design and produce RondyBrew™ in support of Fur Rendezvous™ – one of North America’s longest running winter festivals. Midnight Sun Brewing Company and Specialty Imports Distributing are donating 5% of case sales to the Fur Rondy™ Committeee. Let’s Rondy!

MON 03.21 – GOOD MOJO ONE DAY ONLY – Good Mojo Belgian Sour Brown Ale is almost 9 years old. With very limited draft. This may be the last keg of Good Mojo. It’s BTG only – no growlers, no 22.

It’s also Alaska Beer Week.

(New Albanian, IN) – Look for some new bottles in the Hoosier State coming early next year.

From New Albanian Brewing Owner, Roger Baylor, on Twitter:

Feb 1 for Hoptimus, Elector, maybe Elsa. Others to follow. Limited to metro Louisville to start, self-dist in IN; then remainder IN and KY; wider after that (to be determined).

As you can see below, Thunderfoot Cherry Imperial Stout is among the “others” slated for bottles. The last pic is for C2 Smoked Belgian Dark Strong Ale, a draft-only offering for which the release date hasn’t been announced. All images are courtesy of Baylor’s blog.

(Paso Robles, CA) – Firestone Walker formally announces the release of Double Jack Imperial IPA.

The release of Firestone Walker Brewing Company’s Imperial IPA, Double Jack, is a renewed commitment to providing exemplary examples of ales, true to style. Double Jack brings all the hoppiness you expect from a California double but with a Central Coast sensibility of balance and easy finish.

The Double Jack recipe takes its inspiration of our two-time Great American Beer Festival gold medal winning Union Jack. By using more of the same ingredients that comprise Union Jack gives Double Jack the familiar flavor of its little brother with more malt flavor and alcohol. This beer rewards drinking in moderation and sharing with friends.

Double Jack will be available in a wider distribution than any other Firestone Walker beer release before. It will be available all along the West Coast in California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona. It will also be making its way across the country with beer coming to New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Chicago and Virginia on the first of the year. It will also be in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Missouri and Kansas later in the year.

Double Jack is part of Firestone Walker’s Proprietor Reserve Series, which is bringing the most unique and interesting beers the brewery has to offer to the country.

(Santa Rosa, CA) – Here are the long-awaited details on next year’s Russian River Pliny the Younger release.

Per the RRB blog:

We are releasing Younger at our pub in Santa Rosa on February 4th. When the pub receives it’s allocation, those kegs will be allocated to last for exactly 2 weeks. Therefore, we may run out at the pub each day, but will have more the following day for 2 weeks. It will be available in 10 oz. glasses only- no growlers or bottles to go. This will allow more beer enthusiasts like you, as well as our regular customers, to enjoy some Younger this year! And we won’t see it on Ebay!

San Francisco
East Bay
North Bay
Southern California
Seattle, WA
Portland, OR
Colorado
Philadelphia, PA

(Fort Collins, CO) – Odell Brewing plans to release a new Double IPA.

[12/17 Update: Per Odell's Amanda Johnson, "We plan to release Myrcenary Double IPA in the late spring. It will be in a 4 pack. The exact release date is contingent on final development of the recipe and the installation of our new centrifuge."]

Odell Myrcenary Double IPA has been available previously at the pub and at the Great American Beer Festival this past fall. There are a few reviews online to prove it. The brewery also released another Double IPA on tap a while back.

Label copy: “Named for Myrcene, a component of essential oils in the hop flower, Myrcenary Double IPA is our tribute to those who revere the illustrious hop, and their unyielding exploit to craft hop forward beers. Brewed with a blend of hops containing the highest levels of Myrcene, this double IPA prevails with a tropical fruit-like flavor, a pungent floral aroma, and a clean getaway.”

This one hits 9.3% on the ABV scale and 12 oz. bottles will be released in 4-pks.

(Juneau, AK) – Alaskan Brewing will release an Imperial IPA next year.

[12/17 Update: From Alaskan's Ashley Johnston, "Alaskan Imperial IPA is slated for release in our Pilot Series on March 1, 2011. Like our other Pilot Series releases, this beer proved its mettle through several draft releases in Alaska as part of our Rough Draft program – though then it was known as 'Alaskan XTRATUF IPA.'” Further specs have been included below.]

The brewery’s first Imperial IPA appears to be next in the cards for the Pilot Series, a limited release 22 oz. bottle program that began last year. This one weighs in at 8.5% ABV. Hop profile and release date not yet known…

From the Juneau Empire:

This month marks the 24th anniversary for Alaskan Brewing Company. Communications manager Ashley Johnston said there are several local events being put together as the company goes into its 25th year, including a special anniversary beer scheduled for release next September. She said big events are being planned for its quarter-century anniversary next year.

Alaskan Amber bottles were the first that the brewery released back in December, 1986, according to the recent Alaskan Barley Wine press release.

12/17 Update:

The story behind the label: Known as the “Alaska Sneaker” or simply “’tufs,” these knee-high brown and yellow rubber boots are an icon in the coastal communities of Alaska, and in brewhouses across the country. In Alaska, these all-purpose kicks are somehow equally appropriate everywhere from whale watching to keg cleaning to walking down the aisle. Because brewing is a water-intensive process and Juneau, with around 90 inches of rainfall each year, a rain-intensive city, Juneauites and brewers alike rely on the durability and versatility of these simple, sturdy boots.

Beer stats:

Original Gravity: 1.079
ABV: 8.5%
Bitterness: 70 IBU
Color: 16 SRM
Hops: Chinook, Amarillo and Centennial
Pairing suggestions: Thai food, gourmet pizzas or sharp cheddar cheese, creamy dishes/textures like King Crab bisque or gorgonzola cheese.

Packaging: 22 oz. bottles, 15.5 and 5.17 gallon Sankey kegs

(Salt Lake City, UT) – Big news for those in the Beehive State.

From today’s Epic Brewing newsletter:

Head Brewmaster Kevin Crompton has been hard at work. Epic is on the verge of releasing 4 new beers. Straight Up Saison is a hoppy, farmhouse saison with no fruit on this one. Mid Mountain Mild is on the lighter side of Epic’s spectrum. It’s a clean easy drinking beer with a mild hop profile. Barley Wine is a huge malty hoppy strong beer set to release for the New Year. And get ready for Epic’s super hop bomb the Imperial IPA. According to Kevin, it may be “the hoppiest beer that has ever been brewed in Utah.”

(Chico, CA) – “The ultimate whole-cone hop experience.”

Just got a sell sheet for Sierra Nevada Hoptimum tipped my way. The beer will be released on a very limited basis beginning New Year’s Day.

A group of hop-heads and publicans challenegd our Beer Camp brewers to push the extremes of whole-cone hop brewing. The result is this: a 100 IBU, whole-cone hurrican of flavor. Simply put- Hoptimum: the biggest whole-cone IPA we have ever produced. Aggressively hopped, dry-hopped and torpedoed with our exclusive new hop varieties for ultra-intense flavors and aromas.

ABV: 10.4%
Original Gravity: 22.8 Plato
Final Gravity: 4.5 Plato
Bitterness Units: 100 IBU
Color: Orange Amber
Bittering Hops: German Magnum
Aroma Hops: Simcoe & New Proprietary Variety
Dry Hops: Simcoe & New Proprietary Variety
Topedo Hops: Citra & Chinook
Malts: Two-row Pale, Golden Promise, Munich & Wheat
Yeast: Ale

(Grimstad, NORWAY) – Kegs are already available in the States though bottles will sail over as well in Q1.

Nogne O Two Captains is an 8.5% ABV Double IPA with 100 IBUs. It is already on tap in some select U.S. locations but the beer recently received bottle label approval as well.

According to Sales Manager, Scott Larrick, “Yes, we have sent draft to the US, but not bottles yet. We have some bottles ready to send, but [importer, the Shelton Brothers] actually wanted more than we had available in the second batch so we plan to do a third batch. I do not expect a container to leave here until January, so bottles will probably not be on shelves in the US until around March.”

Per the label, “Jan Halvor Fjeld, winner of the 2010 Norwegian homebrewing championship, brewed his champion Imperial IPA at Nogne O. We at Nogne O are of course proud to be with him in making this happen.”

Larrick notes, “The story with Two Captains name is the the homebrewer who won the competition is coincidentally an SAS pilot like Kjetil, our founder. (Kjetil was not involved at the competition at all).”

Watch for this one next year.

(Portland, OR) – Per today’s Laurelwood Brewery newsletter…

The 2010 Laurelwood Limited Editon 1 liter beer will be Green Mammoth Organic Imperial IPA!

10% ABV / 85 IBUs / O.G. 19 º Plato

Note: the above label approval says 750ml, not 1 liter as the email says.

(Knoxville, IA) – Some news from Peace Tree Brewing…

First off, Peace Tree Double IPA, part of the Brewer’s Special Release Series, was released a couple weeks ago. The brewery posted a blog entry with details as to where to find the beer; it may or may not be sold out in some of those locations. It’s a 9% ABV IPA brewed with a Belgian yeast strain.

Next up will be Black River Gumbo Stout. It’s expected to be available beginning mid-late December according to the brewery’s Facebook page.

Label description: “This dark deliciousness is named after the gumbo dirt of the Des Moines River bottom which nourished our Peace Tree and is now used as the surface for Knoxville’s famous Sprint Car trick. Instead of using traditional ale yeast required of a stout, a Belgian yeast was used to add complexity. This stout is brewed with high quality pale malt, three roasted malts and two caramel malts. The dark roasted caramel malts contribute to the chocolate and toffee characteristics. Three varieties of hops contribute to the bitterness and aromas of this beer.”

Finally, be on the lookout for Peace Tree Imperial Stout, another Brewer’s Special Release beer, down the road.

(San Marcos, CA) – Some news for the hopheads…

There’s a shake-up! Port Brewing Mongo Double IPA is going year-round. The beer was introduced only on tap early this year but will make its first appearance in bottles sometime early next year. The move means that Hop-15 will no longer be available year-round, only occasionally.

Says Port Brewing Spokesman, Sage Osterfeld, “The yield on Hop 15 is very low — 15 hoppings at 15 minute increments results in about 35% loss during the boil making it a very expensive beer to produce. Hop 15 will become a seasonal beer to balance out our other two seasonal IPAs, Anniversary and High Tide.”

Mongo has proven to be quite popular with locals since its debut as what was, at the time, a one-off beer. It has an interesting little story behind it as well:

“We have brew cats — two: Amarillo and Cascade. A couple years ago, Cascade had five kittens. Four went off to good homes and one — a giant of a kitten — stayed. The cat’s name was Columbus (aka “CBus”) and he was nearly twice the size of his mother in just four months. He was also quite obnoxious. Jumped up on everything. Ate people’s food, drank patron’s beers, etc. So the brewhouse boys started calling him ‘Mongo’ because whatever ‘Mongo Like, Mongo Did.’ He was a real pain.

Vince came in the day after Thanksgiving and found him dead in the parking lot. No obvious injuries or anything, just dead. As irritating as he was, people really missed him. So Mike, our head brewer, decided to brew a beer in honor of him. A big DIPA made with Columbus and Cascade hops.”

The other story is that the beer originally known as Moon Lit Sessions is undergoing a name change. Osterfeld notes, “It was originally called Moon Lit Sessions after Moonlight Beach, a popular night surfing spot here in San Diego. However, it was changed to avoid confusion with Moonlight Brewing.” The brewery then called it Midnight Sessions and that stuck for a while. The new name will be Midnight Expression; the change is a courtesy to Full Sail Brewing who has trademarked the name “Session.”

(Waterbury, VT) – The Alchemist made a major beer release announcement.

I say ‘major’ because the release of The Alchemist Heady Topper Double IPA is sure to draw interest from coast to coast. The beer has a 4.62 average after 40+ reviews on Beer Advocate.

Per the brewery blog:

We will be hand bottling a run of Heady Topper in 22 ounce bottles.

This double IPA is sitting on its dry hops as you read this, and it will be presented in the freshest condition possible. We’ve never done anything like this before, so we have no idea what to expect. We only ask that you have patience as we learn. We will be prepared for a line of people, but again, we’ll see…

Make sure to visit The Alchemist website if attending the release as there are some important rules and considerations related to the event.

(Kent, WA) – Celebrating the bitter women of the air who refuse to retire, Airways Brewing Company, Kent’s Microbrewery, is proud to announce the official release of Sky Hag IPA™ as the newest addition to its regular roster of beers. This is the first Double / Imperial IPA to come from the brewery and the first change in its standard lineup since opening in March of this year.

“With this beer, we set out to celebrate a true American icon of aviation. One that I feel we’re all united in knowing, the Sky Hag,” says Airways Brewing Company founder and brewer, Alex Dittmar. “With a 7.8% alcohol level and bitterness of over 99 IBUs, this beer is definitely as bitter as she is.”

Sky Hag IPA is made with Pacific Northwest grown malted barley and all Columbus Hops from start to finish. A generous dose of “dry hops” give the beer its distinctive citrus aroma.

“We released this beer as a test batch during the summer in our tap room, and our customers loved it,” says Dittmar. “I’m thrilled to be able to add Sky Hag IPA to our regular tap room lineup, and to be able to distribute it as well.”

To celebrate the beer’s release, the Airways tap room in Kent will feature Sky Hag IPA on tap, on cask, and a special oaked version Thursday, October 28, 2010.

Founded in spring of 2010, Airways Brewing Company is Kent, Washington’s microbrewery. The brewery produces five standard beers, Starliner Stout, First Class IPA, Jet City ESB, Sky Hag IPA, and T-Tail Blonde, and features casks and special-edition beers in its Kent tap room. Airways distributes its beer to fine microbrew specialty bars and taverns in the greater Seattle/Tacoma area.

(San Diego, CA) – An old friend is back and some labels get approval…

Ballast Point Brewing sent out a Dorado Double IPA update on Thursday: “It has been too long since this 10% ABV hop monster has been available. Tank space and the popularity of our Sculpin IPA have kept us from bringing it to you, but the wait is over. Beginning Friday at both of our brewery taster bars you can reconnect with your old pal!” Apparently, growler fills were only allowed on Friday (d’oh!). There is no word yet on when the beer will be bottled.

Meanwhile, new labels also came in for Tongue Buckler and Sea Monster. All three are for 22 oz. bombers.

(Fort Collins, CO) – Odell Brewing will bring back Mountain Standard in a new way this fall.

The beer debuted last year as a Deep Mahogany Ale but will be changed up to a Black IPA this year.

Label copy: “As the Colorado hop growers prove they can produce world class hops, we as a Colorado craft brewer want to showcase what our state can offer, not only with the ingredients used in crafting them. Mountain Standard Double Black IPA showcases the homegrown hops our brewers helped pick from farms along Colorado’s western slope. MST pours committingly dark with a light brown head and a slightly roasted hoppy nose. An ephemeral bitterness, the result of combining roasted malts with an assertive American hop profile, contributes to MST’s act of balance and harmony within nature or your glass. As the season’s darkness sets in why shouldn’t your beer become darker as well?” 9.5% ABV and available as part of the Odell Single Serve Series.

The Odell team wrote about its hop voyage in late August, one that ended in the brewery selecting Cascade and Chinook hops for this brew.

A brewery representative said that the ideal release timing would be in early November to coincide with the end of Daylight Savings Time (which plays off of the “dark” theme) though nothing is official yet. Last year’s edition was also released around the clock change.

(Chico, CA) – More news and notes compiled from around the web.

What a whirlwind two years it has been for Sierra Nevada Brewing. Since its modest performance in 2008 (1% growth), the brewery has re-invented itself:

* new year-round beers
* new seasonals
* working with Dogfish Head and several craft beer pioneers on collaboration projects as part of its 30th Anniversary
* increased engagement with the beer community through the Beer Camp program

The changes have grabbed the attention of consumers to the tune of 8% growth in 2009 and Brewmaster, Steve Dresler, recently told The Brewing Network that Sierra Nevada is on pace to sell 800,000 barrels this year (up 10% from 2009). It’s looking more and more like one million barrels in 2012 is an achievement that could be within reach.

What’s the latest for Ken Grossman and Co.?

* New bottles! Courtesy of Beer Business Daily and as shared by Jack Curtin: “[...] they will be rolling out, on allocation, a new [Double IPA] called Hoptimum in 24oz bottles and 5 gallon kegs in January 2011. Also possibly look for a new Lime and Limb collaboration with Sam Calagione.” That’s not a typo; the article heading reads “Midas Touch Lime?” Per RateBeer, “Hoptimum is a double-dry-hopped and torpedoed DIPA (~10%) made at Sierra Nevada Beer Camp for SF Beer Week 2010.”

* Sierra Nevada Torpedo was on a torrid pace during the first half of 2010, cruising into the top 10 craft beer brands sold nationally per IRI data. Introduced in early 2009, it is already the #1 top-selling IPA in the USA. Over the next year, Dresler expects that Torpedo will be sold in 12-packs in new markets and that the brewery will push more of it out to on-premise accounts. The brewery has also been discussing pushing more Sierra Nevada Kellerweis on draft as well.

* As reported yesterday, Sierra Nevada Estate Homegrown Ale, coming next month, is the brewery’s first USDA-certified organic beer. [Ed. note: Just noticed this today but the beer will be packaged in 750ml (green) wax-sealed bottles. At 800-850 barrels produced last year, that could make this the largest production beer to be packaged with wax sealing but I could be wrong.]

* Sierra Nevada Tumbler is the brewery’s new seasonal which started hitting markets within the last month is rolling out to others this month. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s probably because your local distributor still has some Sierra Nevada Summerfest to sell.

* Sierra Nevada Jack and Ken’s Ale is currently available. The brewery recently posted up a video on the collaboration for this beer on the Sierra30.com website.

* Also recently announced: the brewery is partnering up with Trappist-Cistercian Abbey of New Clairvaux next year.

* During The Brewing Network interview, Dresler mentioned that the brewery is playing with the idea of putting in a floor or
drum malting facility in the next couple years to get fresh roasted malts into some of the brewery’s specialty beers.

(Juneau, AK) – (August 17, 2010) – The fireweed is blooming and the leaves are starting to fall in Alaska, and on September 1, Alaskan Brewing Co. will release Alaskan Double Black IPA – a versatile and powerful brew built to face the coming season head on.

“It looks like a porter, drinks like an IPA and has the kick of an imperial stout,” says Alaskan Production Manager Dave Wilson. “We always challenge ourselves to showcase balance in our beers, and with so many big and bold flavors, this beer took that challenge to a new level.”

Alaskan Double Black IPA is the latest in the Brewery’s Pilot Series of limited-edition specialty beers. The new brew features a combination of beer styles, with a flavor profile most similar to an Imperial IPA and the dark black color and rich flavors usually found in heartier stouts and porters. Brewed with an array of dark malts, Alaskan Double Black IPA features the distinctive flavors of coffee and bitter chocolate with a subtle toasted sweetness. Large Cascade and Centennial hop additions late in the boil, and dry-hopping after fermentation, lighten and refresh the overall perception and flavor of the beer. It finishes with a dry palate and lingering citrus bitterness.

There has been a lot of discussion as to what to call this emerging beer style – “Cascadian Dark Ale,” “Black IPA,” and “American-style India Black Ale” are just a few of the names being used. “We’re not sure where it fits within traditional beer styles,” says Wilson, “Or if it fits at all, but it’s dark and hoppy and unexpectedly smooth.”

Alaskan first released their Double Black IPA as a “Rough Draft” for the 2009 Great Alaska Beer & Barley Wine Festival in Anchorage. “We didn’t really know what to think of it then, but we knew we really wanted to have it again.”

Alaskan Double Black IPA is the second release in the Brewery’s “Pilot Series,” a rotating collection of distinctive brews packaged in 22 oz bottles that has included Alaskan Baltic Porter, Alaskan Raspberry Wheat and will include a new release of Alaskan’s World Beer Cup-winning Barley Wine in December 2010. These and all of Alaskan’s specialty release beers are available in limited quantities throughout the western states. Stay tuned to AlaskanBeer.com and facebook.com/AlaskanBeer for updates and information about new releases and what is happening with the Alaskan Brew Crew.

(Longmont, CO) – July 29th – Oskar Blues Brewery has announced its’ final of three planned expansions during a three month period. The status-quo-crushing brewery has increased its internal investments with two more massive 200-barrel fermenters to its ever-expanding arsenal. The new tanks will allow Oskar Blues’ most recent canned monstrosity, a 100 IBU and ten percent ABV Imperial IPA hop grenade, dubbed GUBNA, to go from seasonal to year-round status.

“It’s always been about pushing boundaries and providing the best possible beer experience” says founder Dale Katechis. The intense demand for GUBNA has led Oskar Blues to expand its offering from a seasonal brew to a year round go-to IPA. “We’re driven to continue to destroy the barriers of what folks expect from a canned beer,” says Oskar Blues head brewer Dave Chichura. “GUBNA’s intense demand is due to its unique take on the style and is no doubt the hoppiest beer in a can. GUBNA celebrates the simple complexity of each ingredient with a distinctly smooth mouth feel and crisp hop aroma.”

GUBNA emphasizes that complexity of character can arise from simple elements. This ale is made with three malts and one hop. Its light amber color and spicy malt character are derived from the use of German dark Munich malt and rye malt respectively. The GUBNA Imperial IPA greets beer drinkers with a pungent citrus blast, provides a spicy, yet round middle, and finishes with a brisk, clean bitterness. Charlie Papazian waxes poetic about GUBNA Imperial IPA: “Profound & Complex hop character engages philosophic and woozy reminders of the life’s joys.”

Check out the GUBNA Launch Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMAtze-BAfM

Today’s expansion follows May and June’s, bringing the Oskar Blues tally to seven 200-barrel tanks in the last 60 days. Each 200-barrel fermenter adds 400 barrels of capacity per month and brings their current capacity to 5,500 barrels per month.

The additional infrastructure will enable Oskar Blues to continue its extreme growth trajectory that has crushed strong industry trends. 2010 production is anticipated to come in at 44,000 barrels, a whopping increase over the company’s 2009 production of 29,500 barrels.

Set in the heart of Colorado craft beer country, Oskar Blues Brewery in Lyons began canning its beers in November of 2002 with a hand-canning line in the 60- year-old barn next door to their funky little brewpub. Although it’s now a full- throttle canning operation that is quickly expanding its cult-like following across the nation, Oskar Blues remains true to its original mission of simply blowing minds with what can come out of a can of beer.

(Brooklyn, NY) – As the Brooklyn Buzz Bomb supply starts to dry up over the next few weeks, here’s a peak at what’s coming next.

Brooklyn Detonation Ale should ship during the second week of August. Each beer in the Brewmaster’s Reserve Series is draft-only and available on tap for about two months (approximate).

Beer Description: “For about eight years now, we’ve brewed a Brooklyn-style hop monster called BLAST! It’s a robust IPA using both British and Pacific Northwest hops. We haven’t had enough space to brew much of it, but we hear that people really enjoy BLAST! when it shows up. And it’s one of our favorite beers here at the brewery. Well, now we’d like more of you to see our hoppier side. Meet BLAST!’s big brother, Brooklyn Detonation Ale.

It’s a copper-colored pale ale with British malt character, American hop ebullience, Brooklyn attitude and disturbing drinkability. British caramel malts lend richness and depth, while a blend of American hops give the beer a minerally backbone and explosive aromatics (with a special guest appearance by our pal East Kent Golding as ‘The English Aristocrat’).

Brooklyn Detonation Ale is mighty tasty. It probably even gives you fresher breath and whiter teeth, but we can’t prove that part. Nor can we support the claim that it concentrates the mind on life’s better aspects. However, we can guarantee that it’s terrific with pork tacos, Thai food, Indian dishes, burgers, and sharp cheeses. So have yourself some Brooklyn Detonation Ale – after all, isn’t it about time you blew up?”

Beer Stats:

Malts: British floor malted Maris Otter, German pilsner malt, British crystal malt
Other sugars: First pressing Demerara sugar, Mauritius
Hops: Willamette, Amarillo, Palisade, Sorachi Ace, Simcoe, Cascade and East Kent Golding
O.G.: 21.5 Plato
ABV: 9.2%

(Aberdeen, SCOTLAND) – Mikkeller and BrewDog continue their collaborations . . .

[7/22 Update: The beer label has received approval for importation to the U.S. in its original form.]

In 2008, the two sides first joined forces to create Devine Rebel, a big Barley Wine that was re-released earlier this year. The beer earned a 97 on RateBeer.

Now BrewDog is announcing that another collaboration, a Double IPA that hits 9.5% ABV and will be packaged in 11.2 oz. singles. Per the brewery blog:

“Question: What do you get if you blend Hardcore IPA and I Beat You together and then add even more dry hops?

Answer: I Hardcore You. Introducing a new type of collaboration. Coming Soon from Mikkeller and BrewDog.”

No word on whether this will be shipped to the States but it sounds like a beer that is geared toward the American HopHead market. The TTB has shown inconsistency with what it will let by in terms of label images so it would be interesting to see whether this label would have to be tweaked.

(Grimstad, NORWAY) – Nøgne Ø received label approval for a new beer to hit the U.S.

Nøgne Ø recently brewed batch #500, an Imperial IPA, which is now on tap back home. Fortunately, the brewery is bottling some of it and some of that’s going to be sent over the Atlantic. General Manager, Scott Larrick, said that it won’t be shipped before August (tentative). Approximately two pallets, or 180 cases, of the first batch will be shipped to the U.S. and more batches of this recipe will be brewed later.

Label description: “Nothing is like celebrating your own milestones. This is a celebration of our 500th batch of beer. It was brewed with joy and splendor; the brewer wore a suit, and a TV station filmed the event. As a base for this, we have elected to play with numbers: five hops, 100 IBUs, 10% ABV. Indeed it is an Imperial India Pale Ale. Big and bold.” 10% ABV, 100 IBUs.

Ingredients: Malted barley, malted Wheat, Malted Rye, Malted Oats, Chinook, Simcoe, Centennial, Pacific Gem and Nelson Sauvin hops and English ale yeast

Nøgne Ø is imported exclusively through the Shelton Brothers.

(Juneau, AK) – Here are the first details for the next brew in Alaskan Brewing’s Pilot Series.

Alaskan Double Black IPA will make its debut on draft and in 22 oz. bottles beginning on September 1st. It will be the second release to don Pilot Series packaging after Alaskan Raspberry Wheat did so back in May. The website now lists Baltic Porter and Barley Wine as Pilot Series beers as well so those may see new packaging in the future (unconfirmed).

A little background on the Pilot Series courtesy of Communications Manager, Ashley Johnston: “As with our first Pilot Series release, Alaskan Raspberry Wheat, Alaskan Double Black IPA was developed and perfected through our ‘Rough Draft’ program of experimental brews created on our original 10 barrel system and released on draft only in Alaska. Any member of the Alaskan Brew Crew, from accounting to maintenance to packaging, can team up with a brewer to develop and create a recipe on our 1 barrel system that then goes on tap in our break room. We don’t have a brewpub, but if word spreads amongst the crew that there’s something good on tap in the break room – in other words, it’s not on tap for very long – there’s a good chance we will scale it up to our 10 barrel brewhouse the next year and share it on tap throughout Alaska. The Rough Draft program is responsible for everything from our bottled Alaskan Summer Ale and Baltic Porter to the Ginger Shandy and XTRA TUF Imperial IPA we currently have on draft.”

Per the website, “The specialty beers in our Pilot Series are available in limited quantities throughout the 10 western states where Alaskan beers are sold.”

For more on Double Black IPA, see below (from the product sheet):

Style
Alaskan Double Black IPA is a combination of traditional beer styles, with a flavor profile most similar to an Imperial IPA and the dark black color, rich flavor and light chocolate head usually found in heartier stouts and porters.

Flavor Profile
The aroma of Alaskan Double Black IPA consists of fresh, citrus notes from Northwest hops and the heavy, dry bouquet of roasted grains. Brewed with an array of dark malts, Alaskan Double Black IPA features the distinctive flavors of coffee and bitter chocolate with a subtle toasted sweetness. Large hop additions late in the boil, and dry-hopping after fermentation, lighten and refresh the overall perception and flavor of the beer. It finishes with a dry palate and lingering warmth and bitterness.

History
The Black IPA, also called “Cascadian Dark Ale” or “American-style India Black Ale,” is a relative newcomer to the craft beer world. We may not know what to call it yet, but we do know it’s dark and it’s hoppy and we can’t get enough of it.

Ingredients
This limited edition batch of Alaskan Double Black IPA is made from glacier fed water, the finest two-row barley, wheat and dark specialty malts and premium quality Pacific Northwest hop varieties.

Recommendations
The balance of dark malt flavors and big citrus hop characters make Alaskan Double Black IPA an outstanding pairing beer for everything from savory black beans to spicy, blackened salmon or black cod.

Specifications
Original Gravity: 1.087, ABV 8.5%, Bitterness: 70 IBU, Color: 102 SRM, Hops: Cascade, Centennial

Packaging
15.5 and 5.17 gallon Sankey kegs and the caseware packages with UPC bar codes shown here.

The Story Behind the Label
Found in creation myths and folklore from all over the world, ravens are woven into the history and culture of Alaska. Seemingly impermeable to both blistering heat and blinding cold, ravens are comfortable everywhere from the rainforests of southeast Alaska to the dry extremes of the northern latitudes, making them the most versatile songbird in the Northern Hemisphere. Big, loud, and powerful, the resilient raven is not too unlike our big, bold and boundary-challenging Double Black IPA.

(Denver, CO) – With the great expansion of 2010 now complete, Great Divide Brewing has more capacity to play around and is already planning to introduce a new brand.

[Update: Release Party details ~> Friday August 6th from 6-9pm in the brewhouse. $15 admission includes 4 drink tickets and 2 food tickets.]

Great Divide just completed installation of three large fermentation tanks outside the brewery. Each tank holds the equivalent of approximately 600 kegs or 4,000 cases. What does that mean in the grand scheme? From last month’s press release, “the expansion project (carried out with a $600,000 budget) will increase the brewer’s capacity by a hefty 50% from 16,000 barrels per year to 24,000 barrels per year.” Another tank is scheduled for installation in September.

Great Divide’s core products will probably reside in the new tanks most of the time where the brewery was previously at capacity but at least one new brand is coming in the near future: Great Divide Rumble Oak-Aged IPA.

Though the descriptions are similar, Tap Room Manager, Patrick Langlois, confirmed that this is not the same beer as the Wood-Aged 15th and 16th Anniversary beers recently released. This one comes in at 7.1% ABV whereas the anniversary beers are around 10% ABV. Instead of 22 oz. bombers, this beer will be available in 6-packs (and on draft) beginning in August.

Commercial description: “Rumble IPA is an American IPA with subtle nuance. Brewed with heavy-handed additions of Pacific Northwest hops, this beer is gently aged on French and American oak resulting in a wonderful balance of bitterness, caramel sweetness, vanilla, and undertones of pine and citrus.”

(Munster, IN) – Three Floyds Brewing just announced its second seasonal release in as many days.

RateBeer‘s top-ranked brewery has put another seasonal on tap as of today. Apocalypse Cow is now available at the pub and bottles are expected soon according to Three Floyds’ Twitter account.

Beer description: “This complex Double India Pale Ale has an intense citrus and floral hop aroma balanced by a velvety malt body which has been augmented with lactose milk sugar.” 11% ABV, 100 IBUs.

The brewery announced yesterday that Three Floyds Gorch Fock bottles are available. Half Acre – Three Floyds Shewolf is slated for release this Friday in Chicago as well. It’s a good time to be a Three Floyds fan.

The pic above is actually from a listing of screen prints available for sale online. At $20 apiece, only three are available as of this posting though Three Floyds tweeted that there are also screen prints available at the pub.

(Escondido, CA) – Stone Brewing has released its 14th Anniversary beer, Emperial IPA. This 8.9% ABV Double IPA is currently available in parts of California and should roll out into Stone’s distribution market before long. More details and video here. Back label attached below…

(Anchorage, AK) – A new seasonal brew is on the way from Midnight Sun Brewing.

The king of Double IPAs is back with another one. Midnight Sun Hop Dog Double Wheat IPA will debut in bottles and on draft in July. Given that brew day was on June 4th, I’m guessing this will be released earlier in the month. Midnight Sun has at least 16 Double IPAs under its belt according to Beer Advocate.

Availability:
AK – 22-oz bottles and draft (JUL thru SEP)
WA, OR, CA – 22-oz bottles (JUL thru SEP)

Beer Stats:
ABV: 8%
IBUs: 100
Hops: Columbus, Amarillo, Simcoe
Malts: Pilsner, Malted Wheat

(Cleveland, OH) – Two more bottles are on the way from Ohio-based Buckeye Brewing.

Per the brewery blog:

“Federal label approval is complete. We are waiting on State label approval. These are both strong brews that of course are short runs. As if you haven’t heard that one before. Really though. 100 and or so cases per brand.

ZATEK 2010 will be in a 22oz silk-screened bottle. Aquarius will be in a 22oz bottle with a full color label. ZATEK 2010 is silky, smooth, and layered in flavor. The alcohol (10+) is extremely well hidden. We tend to think of it as and English-style Imperial Stout. It doesn’t have any piny or citrus hop flavor as typical American versions do.

Aquarius, on the other hand, fits perfectly into that ‘balls to the wall’ classic American hop flavor and aroma. It is 9+ ABV. The hop charge throughout is SUMMIT and Amarillo. The Aquarius is something I’m certain Buckeye will release again. It is by far the most resiny peep in our fleet. We want to give a special thanks to ‘Quasar’, ‘Bling Bling’, and ‘ZATEK’ for helping brew Aquarius. As soon as we get the green light we will let you know. Look for them at boutique ‘bottle shops’ throughout Ohio.”

Aquarius Stats:
9.6% ABV
Imperial IPA mashed with Pale and Honey malt
Boiled and dry-hopped with Summit and Amarillo hops
Fermented with classic American Ale yeast

ZATEK 2010 Stats:
10.4% ABV
Imperial Stout mashed with Roasted Barley, Chocolate malt
CTZ & Target hops
London-type yeast strain

(San Leandro, CA) – Drake’s Brewing dropped an interesting nugget in its latest newsletter.

The brewery announced that it is now able to bottle 22 oz. bombers and is starting things off very soon with a heavy hitting favorite, Drake’s Denogginizer Double IPA.

“Silver medal winner, Imperial India Pale Ale, 2009 Great American Beer Festival. A Double IPA, Denogginizer is a big bold beer hopped with an abundant amount of Simcoe and Columbus, with a touch of Amarillo and Cascade. Mashed with Munich and Crystal malt for color and flavor . . . and to balance out the hop assault.

Drake’s ales are urban-brewed at the former Caterpillar powerhouse in industrial San Leandro, California. Our brewery is more gritty than pretty, but with great hops and barley malt, our talented brewers have been turning out unique and delicious beers here for over 20 years.” 9.75% ABV. 90 IBUs.

A medal winner coming to bottles . . . great! But wait just a minute. The site’s current beer description reads: “Denogginizer is a big bold beer hopped with an abundant amount of Simcoe and Amarillo with a touch of Ahtanum and Chinook. Mashed with Crystal malt and Caramalt for color and flavor to help balance out the hop assault.”

There is such a thing as substituting similar ingredients but it looks like there have been wholesale changes made to this recipe. It begs the question as to whether this is really the same beer that won the brewery a GABF medal.

In any case, watch for 22 oz. bottles to arrive at the brewery and NorCal retail shops at the end of the month.

Hop heads rejoice! Our latest seasonal, Summer YuleSmith Holiday Ale, is scheduled for release in late June. Packaged in a red and blue 22 oz. bottle, Summer YuleSmith is a bold and flavorful Double IPA. An abundance of American varietal hops gives this beer its’ signature flavor and aroma profile, full of citrus, pine, and grapefruit-like characteristics. The hops also lend balance to the malty sweetness, adding to the overall smoothness of the body and mouthfeel.

Look for AleSmith YuleSmith Holiday Ale this summer at finer stores, bars, and restaurants. You can also visit the brewery during our retail hours for Summer Yule growler fills and bottle purchases near the end of the month.

In 2005, AleSmith celebrated its 10 year anniversary by introducing a new beer to our line-up: AleSmith Decadence Anniversary Ale. We decided to brew Decadence once a year, each time changing the style. The 2005 version of AleSmith Decadence was an English-style Old Ale, that went on to earn Gold Medals at both The Great American Beer Festival and The World Beer Cup in 2008.

For 2010, we revisit this classic recipe and will soon release AleSmith Decadence 2010, English-style Old Ale. We used an abundance of specialty malts and various sugars to produce a wonderfully rich and malty beer. English varietal hops lend the perfect balance and the four different yeast strains add complexity that is sure to increase as the beer ages. AleSmith Decadence 2010 will be on store shelves in late June/early July, as well as available directly from the brewery during our retail hours.

(Longmont, CO) – Above is the new label for Left Hand Twin Sisters Double IPA.

Click here for a larger image. Click here for more of Left Hand’s new labels.

A brewery newsletter from earlier this year said the following:

“Also back from a 2-year absence, Twin Sisters comes back with a vengeance & a new logo. Named after the Twin Sisters peaks in nearby Rocky Mountain National Park, Twin Sisters Double IPA is a double IPA Left Hand-style – double the hops also means double the malt in our book. The sisters grab your nose up front with its sweet piney and citrusy aromas. An assertive attack of sharp, flinty hop flavors takes you from dreaming about wildflower honey to the tongue awakening earthy, bitter hop resins that swirl in to finish. Balanced with a robust, malty backbone, Twin Sisters is incredibly drinkable. Full bodied, orange copper in color, with 9.6% ABV and 87 IBU’s.”

Also of note, Left Hand Brewing, will be hosting Spike from Terrapin Beer Co. where they will be brewing the next Midnight Project Series beer. This year’s version will be a German-style Lager hopped like an IPA that will feature all-German ingredients.

(Denver, CO) – Great Divide Brewing reaches its Sweet Sixteen next month.

Here are the party details via Facebook: “Great Divide 16th Anniversary Party! Saturday June 12th 2-7pm Live Music from The Swayback, Dressy Bessy and Paper Bird! Special Release Beers, BBQ, Outdoors. A portion of the proceeds go to Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver $25 per person.”

Per Great Divide’s Patrick Langlois, a release date is not set in stone for Great Divide 16th Anniversary Wood Aged Double IPA though the plan is to release it “sometime that week.” It is virtually the same beer as last year’s 15th, says Langlois.

Label information:
“Based on our most award-winning beer, Denver Pale Ale, this copper-hued treat is a celebration of everything Great Divide does best. Plenty of malty sweetness provides a backdrop for earthy English and American hops, while French and American oak round off the edges and provide a touch of vanilla.”

Available in 22 oz. bottles. 10% ABV.
Suggested Food Pairings: Bacon and blue cheese hamburger, barbecue ribs, Point Reyes blue cheese, sticky toffee pudding, caramel cheesecake