(Brooklyn Center, MN) – The 2011 edition of Surly Darkness received label approval earlier this week.

Huzzah! Surly Darkness, among the world’s top 25 beers on RateBeer, is now in its fifth year. Each year, the brewery chooses a new local artist with which to work on the bottle label art. This year’s label, indeed, looks nasty thanks to the steady hand of Michael Bergland. Bergland works for MNFX, an agency based in Minneapolis.

Click the image above to zoom in and check out the labels from the prior years below.

Darkness Day is an annual event that has significantly grown in size over the years, thanks in large part, to the popularity of its namesake imperial stout. According to its calendar, Surly will celebrate the release of this year’s beer on October 22nd.

2010:

2009:

2008:

2007:

New beer labels, part uno….

UPDATE: Word out of GI is that cherry barrels will still be a project for a while so don’t expect bottles of this (for the time being at least – unsure about future).

Goose Island Bramble Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout: Stout aged in rye whiskey barrels with raspberries and blackberries. A keg label approval also came in for Cherry barrels as well though that has already been released at one point per RateBeer. Though the RateBeer one has cacao nibs and this other version doesn’t. It is difficult to tell whether the brewery is just getting label approval as a technicality or if they are actually going to release more of it. Email sent out to brewery…

UPDATE: From an Eater interview with then-Brewmaster, Greg Hall, back when the brewery was sold, “We have another Bourbon County Stout variation: Bramble Rye. It’s made with blackberies and aged in rye barrels; I think they’re from Heaven Hill. And we have a barrel-aged barley wine calling King Henry. My daughter Sofie got her beer when she turned 10 and my son Henry gets his beer when he turns 10 in May. We’ll have the beer toward the end of the year, so it’ll be more of a Christmas present for him.”

Others…

Red Brick Smoked Vanilla Gorilla: aged in oak barrels with vanilla beans
Weyerbacher Sierra
Cutters Empire Imperial Stout
Cutters Monon Wheat
Blue Hills Dunkelweizen
The Hideout Purple Gang American Pilsner
Prism ChemoSabe
City Steam Blonde on Blonde
Pennsylvania Harvest Rye PA
Little Mountain Santa’s Sleigh
Little Mountain Rampant Lion
Little Mountain No. 6

(Tampa, FL) – Cigar City Brewing announced details for the Barrel Aged Hunahpu‘s release

Per the brewery blog…

Saturday, September 24th we are selling three different bottled barrel-aged variations of Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout, only at the brewery.

The tasting room will open at 11am as always, but the sales for the bottles will start at 1:00PM.

(Placentia, CA) – The Bruery has released some details regarding this year’s Black Tuesday release.

Via Beerthursdays on Beer Advocate, here is the email sent out to Reserve Society members:

Hi everyone!

It’s time again for another Reserve Society allocation. The following beer will be available for order between August 12th and September 2nd at society.thebruery.com

Black Tuesday:
Our infamous Black Tuesday is an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels for over a year. Rich caramel, toasted malt, vanilla, burnt wood and anise are just a few of the many flavors in this rich, decadent imperial stout.

Learn more about Black Tuesday at www.thebruery.com/blacktuesday

• As a Reserve Society member, one (1) bottle of Black Tuesday has already been allocated to you as part of your initial membership fee. You may purchase a maximum of six (6) more bottle allocations for yourself. Each allocation is $30 before your 15% discount. Bottles will be released on or around Tuesday, October 25th. Official release details will be made known closer to the date.

• We will be holding a small release party on October 25th. Information and tickets for the party will be released in September.

• Remaining bottles of Black Tuesday will be sold to the general public through an online sale on October 25th. Bottles will be limited and we can not guarantee that you will be able to purchase a bottle during the general release sale.”

Not sure about this last part but BeerThursdays’ analysis…

Super excited for this, can’t believe they are doing 7 total bottles for members. That puts the number right around 5000 bottles, assuming 700 members.

(Press Release)

(Downingtown, PA) – A batch of Victory Brewing Company’s signature Storm King Stout is waiting in oak bourbon barrels, slowly aging and picking up flavors of bourbon, vanilla, oak and spices. Those aromas and tastes transform Storm King Stout into something so dark and intriguing, that’s what we named it – Dark Intrigue.

Dark Intrigue will continue to age in barrels from Jim Beam and Heaven Hill Distilleries until October, when the contents of 150 bourbon barrels will be blended together, packaged in 750 mL corked bottles and left to condition in the bottle until November. It will be released to the public on Wednesday, Nov. 23, a day we are calling Dark Wednesday.

“Having never delved into a bourbon barrel aged offering before, we were tentative with our beloved Storm King in terms of how much of it we subjected to the treatment,” Victory Brewing Company President and Co-Owner Bill Covaleski said. “Our audience clearly approved of this delicious creation last year so we have lots more in production now.”

Cases of Dark Intrigue sold out at our retail location in Downingtown last year in just 43 minutes. This year we expect to have 3000 cases for sale, which will be available at our retail shop and in limited quantities at distributors in the region.

Dark Intrigue is made up of a variety of malts, along with American centennial, cascade and Amarillo hops. It is 9.2% alcohol by volume.

(San Diego, CA) – AleSmith Brewing sent out a newsletter this evening with a few bits of information…

———————————————

We are excited to announce the bottling of single origin coffee versions of Speedway Stout. For those of you that might not know, single origin coffee referring to a coffee or cacao varietal with a single known geographical origin. Sometimes this is a single farm or a specific collection of beans from a single country.

While we’re not quite ready to announce all of the single origin beans that we plan to use, we will be bottling and distributing the first of these variations on our award winning Speedway Stout later this year. What we can tell you is that the very rare Kopi Luwak beans from Sumatra will be one of the first releases. We’ll keep you posted in future newsletters!

Summer YuleSmith Double IPA Release

Hop heads rejoice! Our latest seasonal, Summer YuleSmith Holiday Ale, is currently out and available for purchase. 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 bottle purchases.

(San Diego, CA) – AleSmith Brewing announced its next barrel-aged beer release.

From a newsletter sent within the past hour…

The long-awaited moment will soon be upon us: the newest batch of AleSmith barrel-aged beer is set for release this month on Wednesday, June 15th.

This edition of BA Speedway, barreled in ’09, is as good as ever. Excellent sweet boozey notes with accents of oak, vanilla, and pleasant oxidative aspects alongside the customary coffee and bitter chocolate roasted malt characteristics.

This has proved to be a very interesting edition of BA Decadence. The 2008 batch, an English-style barleywine aged in bourbon barrels, took on a pleasant sourness. Such quirks of nature can provide intriguing drinking experiences, like the many excellent wild ales being produced today. We think you’ll enjoy this delightfully unconventional offering.

There will be a purchase limit of (4) four bottles of ’09 Speedway Stout per person, and (1) one bottle of ’08 Decadence per person, pending turnout. We want to make sure that everyone has a great time and gets a chance to get some of this highly-anticipated beer, so we reserve the right to change the limit as the sale progresses. We will begin handing out numbers at 8:30 am and the bottle sale will begin at 12:00pm, allowing you time to leave and return if need be.

(Kansas City, MO) – Boulevard Brewing said today that it failed to tell consumers that a batch of its Smokestack Series Imperial Stout showed a form of bacteria presence of a wild yeast known as Brettanomyces before it was released.

…I’m not sure how an Imperial Stout shows traits of Brettanomyces without some kind of infection though it isn’t clearly spelled out in the brewery’s letter below. In any case, the brewery is offering a refund though this is not technically a recall because the wild yeast is not harmful. Here is the letter/instructions in full:

————————————

The 2011 Limited Release of Smokestack Series Imperial Stout has recently been the subject of some consumer comments and forum postings. We’d like to take this opportunity to explain what happened, and to offer monetary relief to any dissatisfied consumers.

Prior to the March release our tasting panel sampled several bottles of the new barrel aged beer. Some turned out as expected, while others displayed the unique characteristics of wild Brettanomyces yeast. We immediately posted tasting notes to our blog, announcing the deviation and noting the differences in flavor profiles. Because our tasting panel very much enjoyed both versions, we decided to proceed with the release as usual.

It is Batch #2 of the 2011 Imperial Stout that exhibits the Brettanomyces trait. In retrospect, we should have called attention to this Brett character on the label. Because we didn’t, and because some consumers got a beer that was different from the one they had a legitimate right to expect, we’re offering a refund to anybody who feels shortchanged, and who can reasonably demonstrate that they did in fact buy a bottle of Batch #2 of our 2011 Imperial Stout.

Batch information is located on the back label of the bottle, in the upper right-hand corner (click here to view image—batch number is indicated by the number “2” at the end of the top line.). To receive a full refund, please send us the name of the store where you purchased the beer, the purchase price, your name and mailing address, and one of the following:

• The actual front and back labels removed from a bottle of 2011 Imperial Stout, Batch #2
• A scan or photo of the front and back labels from a bottle of 2011 Imperial Stout, Batch #2

You can e-mail this information to refund@boulevard.com or mail it to “Imperial Stout Refund, Boulevard Brewing Company, 2501 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64108.” You should expect a check within 2-4 weeks of your submission.

We apologize for any confusion or dissatisfaction. Thanks to everyone who shared comments or concerns. We sincerely appreciate your support, and we pledge to learn from our mistakes. If you have any additional questions about this release, or any other Boulevard offering, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Your Friends at Boulevard Brewing Company

(Delmarva, DE) – Here is the info on two new releases coming from Evolution Craft Brewing Co..

This comes from Founder, Tom Knorr…

1. Menagerie No. 5: 5 month bourbon barrel aged Russian Imperial Stout. 10.5%abv 22ounce. 70 cases Brewery only for Menagerie.

2. Migration Spring 2011: 7 month Cruzan Rum Barrel aged Strong Golden Ale. 10%ABV. 750ml. Virginia, Delaware, DC, Maryland distribution. Only 100 cases.

(Escondido, CA) – Stone Brewing has received approval for Belgo Anise Imperial Russian Stout.

Perhaps more important than this approval is the fact that Imperial Russian Stout “Classic” has been delayed again. A post I put up recently for the original version mentioned that Imperial Russian Stout was scheduled to be released on May 2nd. The website now says May 31st. There is no release date listed for the Belgo Anise version.

A word of caution…the back label here notes that this beer screams “notes of anise.”

(Papillion, NE) – Nebraska Brewing Company is set to release one of its Reserve Series Beers, Black Betty.

Reserve Series Black Betty is made from our award winning American version of a Russian Imperial Stout which is further aged in Stranahan’s Whiskey Barrels for a 6 month period. The draft version won a Silver Medal in the 2009 US Open Beer Championships and the barrel aged version won Double Gold Medals at both the 2010 United States Open Beer Championship and the 2010 World Beer Championships.

Black Betty’s bottling capacity has been increased significantly for 2011 and will release over a 3 month window beginning in March of this year. Expect to see 3 shipments from Nebraska Brewing Company through May as our beer heads to bottle.

Black as night and every bit Imperial, this Stranahan’s Whiskey barrel aged version meshes the rich chocolates, the coffee-like aromatics with the sweet whiskey nose and drying character of the oak.

Slightly behind on the palate are the hops – held in restraint by the wonderfully full mouthfeel and broad flavors brought on by the perfect blend of so many malted barley varieties.

Paul Kavulak, President of Nebraska Brewing Company stated: “This release of Black Betty is a milestone for us. For the first time in our history, we now have enough aged product in our Reserve Series line to bottle monthly on a go-forward basis.” He noted further, “While still not large by any stretch of the imagination, we’re now able to supply our Reserve Series line to each of our 10 States in distribution.”

Kim Kavulak, Vice President & General Manager of Nebraska Brewing Company adds: “Black Betty has been one of our highly rated and sought after Reserve Series beers. The more aggressive production schedule gives us the ability to provide a more consistent supply to the market place.”

Nebraska Brewing Company has set the release date for Black Betty to be Friday, March 11th and will host a release party at 6PM in the brewpub on this date. Reserve Series Black Betty will be available in all markets where our beer is distributed and will arrive at intervals within the 3 month window noted above. A complete list of Nebraska Brewing Company brands can be found on our website, www.nebraskabrewingco.com.

Paul and Kim Kavulak co-founded Nebraska Brewing Company in November of 2007. Since that time, Nebraska Brewing Company has established itself as a Midwest Innovator of quality Craft Beers and artisanal Barrel-Aged Products. Building on a reputation for quality, flavor, and creativity – Nebraska Brewing Company strives to be a stand-out in an ever growing field.

Nebraska Brewing Company is proud to be a locally owned and locally operated brewpub in Papillion, Nebraska. Small, independent, and pushing the envelope.

(Tampa, FL) – A huge event takes place down in Tampa this Saturday.

Below are the beer details for this Saturday’s Hunaphu’s release. The beer list is impressive. For more on music, food and logistics, head over to Cigar City Brewing‘s blog.

Hunaphu Release Day Details

The first 750 people who receive a wristband will be able to buy Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout (up to 4 bottles) when it goes on sale at 6pm. If you are paying by credit card you will be able to pre-pay for your bottles immediately or throughout the day so that you can quickly get your bottles when they go on sale. If there are any bottles left after all 750 people have come to claim/buy their bottles OR 9pm (leaving a 3 hour window for you to claim your bottles if you have a wristband) the remaining bottles will go on sale to the public. Bottles will be for sale ONLY at the brewery. They will not go into distribution.

*Re-Entry is allowed throughout the day so you can come and get your wristband and come back later if you have something else to do, it is not required that you be here all day to claim your bottles at 6pm.

In addition to Hunaphu’s Imperial Stout, we will have other limited bottles for sale in the brewery:

Papaya IPA (Benefit beer for the Florida Brewer’s Guild)
Dirac Imperial Sweet Stout (Mikkeller Collab)
Bohr Imperial Sweet Stout (Mikkeller Collab)
Vuja De (St. Somewhere Collab)
Humidor IPA
Warmer Winter Winter Warmer
Guava Grove

Tap List-

(CC)
Jolly Guava 2011- Only 5 gallons of this one!
Bohr Imperial Sweet Stout – Conceived by Mikkeller, brewed at Cigar City with Wayne.
Dirac Imperial Sweet Stout – Conceived by Wayne, brewed at Cigar City with Mikkel of Mikkeller.
Nielsbohrium- A blend of the Collaboration beers we did with Mikkeller. This is the non barrel aged version, most of it went into Rum Barrels, except for this small amount. This non-rum barrel aged version will be released draft only and will only be available at Hunahpu Day.
Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout 2011
Vuja De’
Marshal Zhukov’s Imperial Stout 2010
Brandy Barrel Aged Zhukov 2010
Red Wine Barrel Aged Vuja De’
Papaya IPA
Peach IPA
Pilot Series Imperial Milk Stout
Grandma’s Funky Sour Berry
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Brown Ale
East India Dry Stout
East India Brown Ale
El Lector Dark Mild Ale
Jai-Alai IPA
Maduro Brown Ale
Cubano Espresso
Patio Tools Dry Irish Stout
Humidor IPA
More to come…

(Guest Taps)
Green Room Brewing- Head High IPA
Swamphead 10-10-10 Batch # 100 brewed with all Centennial hops
Swamphead Catherine’s Inspiration Imperial Stout
Funky Buddah Maple Bacon Coffee Porter
Dunedin Brewery Black Rye IPA
Shipyard Emporium TBD
St. Somewhere TBD
Sam Adam’s Revolutionary Rye
Everglades Pale Ale
Intuition Brewing Company King Street Stout
Bold City Chinook IPA
More to come…

Below is a list of special release growlers we will be pouring this Saturday during the event. Due to the crowds we expect, we will be pouring only the special release beers listed below in the brewery. Our regular offerings will be available on Friday and Sunday in the tasting room but we will not be filling growlers in the tasting room on Saturday.

Growler List:

Brandy Barrel Aged Zhukov
Red Wine Barrel Aged Vuja De’
Oak Barrel Aged Seabass
Oak Barrel Aged Vuja De’ – Only 5 gallons very limited.
More to come…

(Tampa, FL) – Cigar City Brewing and Mikkeller‘s recent collaborations were approved this week.

The difference between the two beers is not made clear from the labels. It looks like Shaun Hill from Hill Farmstead provided the inspiration for the names. Both will be sold in 750s.

Bohr Stout label copy:

“Neils Bohr was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1885. His contributions to our understanding of the physical world have made him one of Denmark’s most famous citizens and one of the 20th century’s most influential scientists. In 1922, Bohr was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics “for his services in the investigation of the structure of atoms and of the radiation emanating from them.” A prolific scientific collaborator, Bohr mentored many of the great scientific minds of the 20th century.

The recipe for this stout [10% ABV, brewed with raisins and spice] was conceived by Mikkeller and brewed in collaboration with Cigar City Brewing.”

Dirac Stout label copy:

“Born: 8-8-1902 Bristol, England. Died: 20-10-1984 Tallahassee, Florida. Paul Dirac was one of the founders of what became modern Quantum Mechanics and along with Erwin Schrodinger won the Nobel Prize in 1933.

The recipe for this stout [10% ABV, brewed with raisins and spice] was conceived by Wayne Wambles, Head Brewer at Cigar City Brewing and brewed in collaboration with Mikkeller.”

If I recall correctly some of this beer will be squirreled away in rum barrels.

(Meadville, PA) – Voodoo Big Black Voodoo Daddy has already arrived at some distributors.

The brewery’s Matt Allyn says on Facebook, “We are slowly releasing BBVDaddy for the next month or so.” Bella Vista Distributors reported that Allyn dropped some off to their warehouse last week. BBVD, a former member of Beer Advocate’s top 100 list, remains one of Pennsylvania’s more anticipated beer releases of the year.

Per the website, “This is our Imperial Stout that we age in conditioning tanks with oak staves. This adds a classic character of old world aging without the Bourbon tones. This black ale is about 12% alc. and very rich in roasted and chocolate malt tones. Velvety smooth and able to be aged for years.”

Apparently this beer is a bit behind schedule so what that holds for this month’s scheduled Voodoo Black Magick release is unknown.

(Hood River, OR) – For the past year bourbon barrels and time have been working their magic together deep in the cellar at the Full Sail Brewery. There are absolutely no shortcuts with this beer, as it all has been aging in rich bourbon barrels for twelve months. A 100% commitment to excellence results in a truly special beer – complex, elegant and supremely balanced. Now we’re finally able to taste the delicious results as the Full Sail crew releases Black Gold Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout 2011.

According to Jamie Emmerson, Full Sail’s Executive Brewmaster, the Imperial Stout was racked into 18 and 20 year old casks from Schenley Distillery back in January 2010. “This extended aging presents hints of vanilla and allows the Stout to pick up the flavors of the wood, bourbon and oak. The aging combined with the robust character of the Imperial Stout make for an extraordinary and wonderful taste experience. It has a strong roasted malt character and a full body. Chocolate and caramel nuances blend with the hops for a smooth Imperial Stout,” described Emmerson.

“Wood barrel aging is an art form. When done right, it’s a wonderful thing. Our barrel aged beers have been a Full Sail tradition since 1998 when we joyfully discovered what happens when you pair vintage barrels, dedication, and patience. Every year since, we’ve brewed an imperial style dark ale, filled roughly sixty oak bourbon barrel casks, and then aged them in our cellar for a year. We rack this special beer in small batches, available in only very limited quantities. It cellars well, so if you store a few bottles in a dark, cool place and be patient, you will be rewarded for your effort and restraint. You should get some while you can,” added Emmerson. To help the beer aficionados that have the self-discipline to cellar this beer, Full Sail marks the bottle label with the reserve year. Black Gold will be available in 22 oz bottles and on draught. (ABV 11.4%, IBU 37.5)

Full Sail is planning two special events to celebrate the release of Black Gold. The brewery will be offering a vertical tasting of three versions of Black Gold to highlight the flavor components of this special brew. “Since Black Gold is a blend of our Imperial Stout aged for a full year in both 18 and 20 year old bourbon barrels, we thought it would be interesting to try a bit of each before blending. We kegged off a very small stash from each vintage for the initial release. Join us to celebrate the unveiling of this very special beer and taste the nuances between the two vintage years and the final version,” added Emmerson. The special tastings will take place simultaneously at Full Sail’s Tasting Room and Pub in Hood River and at their Riverplace Brewery in Portland at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 1st. For more information call the Full Sail Riverplace brewery at 503-222-5343 or the Full Sail Tasting Room and Pub at 541-386-2247.

In the February issue of Men’s Journal, Black Gold was named one of “the best” barrel aged beers in the US. Previously Black Gold was awarded a silver medal at the 2009 World Beer Championships and at the 2006 Great American Beer Festival® (wood-aged strong beer category).

About Full Sail Brewing Company:
The independent and employee-owned Full Sail Brewery is perched on a bluff in Hood River, Oregon, overlooking the most epic wind and kite surfing spot in the world. At this very moment 47 specialists in the liquid refreshment arts are crafting barley and hops into your next beer. Among the company’s most popular brews are Full Sail Amber, IPA, Pale, LTD, Session and Session Black Premium lager. Founded in 1987, the Full Sail crew has been fermenting godlike nectar for 23 years. Committed to brewing great beer and sustainable practices their award winning brews are now available in 27 states. The Full Sail Tasting Room and Pub is open seven days a week. Swing by for a pint, grab a bite, tour the brewery, or just soak up the view. http://www.fullsailbrewing.com

(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.

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!

(Winston-Salem, NC) – First tapping, retail launch, and bottle price…see below.

Per this morning’s Foothills Brewing email newsletter:

Mark your calendars: Sexual Chocolate 2011 is nearly upon us. Try it on draft starting at 4 pm on Friday, January 28 and then (after a brief nap) get in line. Bottles go on sale at 11am on January 29.

Can’t make it to Winston-Salem for the release? All is not lost. Look for on-premise Sexual Chocolate draft releases all over North Carolina from February 1-4 and a Virginia debut on February 7 at Jack Brown’s Joint in Harrisonburg, VA. We’ll keep you posted on all the Sexual Chocolate releases as more information becomes available.

(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.

Courtesy of @zennie20 & @hoptopia on Twitter

(Woodbridge, CT) – Here it is…

I saw a few messages on Beer Advocate about the New England Imperial Stout Trooper label being particularly interesting this year and knew I had to find a picture of the label. Now that I’ve seen it posted up in multiple places, I’m sharing it here. Thanks to @zennie20 and @hoptopia on Twitter for contributing the label.

It started when LucasArts Entertainment asked New England Brewing to take the Imperial Storm Trooper off of the label due to intellectual property infringement. This is New England Brewing’s response to LucasArts. Fun stuff.

I’ve now seen a couple postings that this beer is available in stores in CT but I haven’t seen any reported sightings in MA yet.

(Escondido, CA) – …though it will get its way with the Belgo versions, too.

Looks like this commenter was right. I didn’t even think this was an option but apparently it is. Stone Brewing CEO, Greg Koch, announced today that the brewery will bring back the original versions of Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine and Stone Imperial Russian Stout after all.

The brewery created a controversy last week when it announced that it would release alternative versions of the two beers in the ‘odd years’ like 2011, 2013 and so on. These would be so-called “Belgo” versions of these beers, made with a Belgian yeast strain. The catch was that it would come at the cost of not releasing the original versions in those years. A poll taken on Beernews.org last week showed that 71% of readers wanted the original Imperial Russian Stout back and 60% wanted the original Old Guardian back.

In changing its plans, the brewery will still release the Belgo versions as well beginning with Old Guardian in February. Koch denied in his blog post that this was a publicity stunt.

(Austin, TX) – Jester King Craft Brewery is set to release their first ever seasonal beer – Black Metal Imperial Stout, a.k.a. Suds of Northern Darkness, a.k.a. Iron Sword, a.k.a. El Martillo del Muerte. Black Metal is a cruel and punishing beer fermented by the sheer force of its awesome will. We are pretty sure that Kreator wrote the song, “Impossible Brutality,” about this beer while drinking it during their Extreme Aggression Tour.

Black Metal is Jester King’s winter seasonal release. Weighing in at about 10% ABV, it’s filled with huge flavors of roast, chocolate, burnt malt and alcohol and carries a hint of leather. We encourage Black Metal to be enjoyed from a snifter at a serving temperature between 57 and 61 degrees Fahrenheit.

Black Metal is currently available only in kegs. It will be available in 750mL bottles later this winter. If you would like to have Black Metal at your establishment, please contact us at the phone number listed above.

Beer stats:

OG: 1.108
ABV: ~10%
IBU: 60
Optimal serving temp: 57-61 °F

Malt: Maris Otter, Caramalt, Extra Dark Crystal, Brown Malt, Black Malt, Roasted Barley
Hops: Magnum, East Kent Goldings
Water: Texas Hill Country Aquifer Water
Yeast: Dry English Ale

Black Metal Music played to beer during fermentation.

(Escondido, CA) – Changes are coming to two of Stone Brewing‘s special releases.

The feedback on the move is weighted towards the positive on Facebook and weighted towards the negative on Beer Advocate. Because the reaction is so mixed, I’ve created a poll on the right to see what you readers want them to do.

From yesterday’s brewery blog post:

Starting in 2011, we’re kicking-off a program we’ve dubbed “Odd Beers for Odd Years.” Translation: in odd numbered years (2011, 2013, 2015, etc…) we’ll be releasing new variations on Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine and Stone Imperial Russian Stout in place of the classic version. A radical redirection for two reliably wonderful beers, we know, but we think you’ll be pleased with the results.

The first Odd Beer for Odd Years release will be rocking your collective world in the form of Stone Old Guardian Belgo Barley Wine, which hits shelves in February.

The brewery will introduce Stone Belgo Imperial Russian Stout in April.

(Winston-Salem, NC) – Foothills Brewing bills this event as, “The return of a legend.”

Here is the scoop via today’s Foothills newsletter:

Let the eager anticipation begin: Sexual Chocolate 2011 is less than two months away. By far our most famous offering, the Sexual Chocolate will return on January 29, 2011 and will be offered both on draft and (for a very, very limited time) in bottles.

This is an event that beer connosieurs won’t want to miss. We’ll release more details as the date nears, so stay posted!

(Amherst, WI) – Central Waters Brewing has announced the date for its anniversary party and a few barrel-aged releases.

First off, Bourbon Cherry Stout and Bourbon Barrel Stout will be packaged this coming Monday according to the brewery’s Facebook page. Expect to see those two beers in stores by year’s end.

Additionally, here’s the anniversary party info as posted by a brewery representative on Beer Advocate:

It’s getting close to that time again – thought we’d get the news out as soon as possible.

Also – we are considering a shuttle this year to Stevens Point in case people want to get hotel rooms there – let me know if there is interest in this.

Also noteworthy, construction is nearly complete on a new warehouse to be used specifically for aging barrels.

(Southampton, NY) – Southampton Publick House has announced the date for its most highly-anticipated release of the season.

From Facebook:

Time: Saturday, January 29, 2011 · 11:30am – 2:30pm
Location: Southampton Publick House

Brewmaster Phil Markowski will be on hand all day long, so bring your copy of his book, Farmhouse Ales, to have him sign it. We will also have copies on hand to purchase.

(Press Release)

Left Hand Brewing releases beers to fight SADness (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

(Longmont, CO) – One hundred & twenty seven days of blackness. Three thousand and forty-eight hours before the clocks are switched again. Welcome to Fade to Black, Volume II. That time of year when the day seems to fade away. Drifting further into the darkness with each passing day.

Fade to Black ties into that time of year when we fall backwards an hour, this year from November 7th until March 13th. Creatively brewed to pair with shorter, darker days, Fade to Black, Volume II is a Smoked Baltic Porter that pours black as night with a mocha colored head. Sweet and toasty aromas are balanced by notes of licorice and black strap molasses, smoky phenols and minty hop notes. And like “some late visitor entreating entrance at your chamber door”, eight different malts and two different hop varieties impart roasted malt flavors of bitter chocolate, coffee, dark toffee and a hop bitterness that creates “darkness there, and nothing more.” Its 7.8% ABV gives way to a feeling of self loathing, burnt opportunities and smoked relationships.

Yet creeping into your bedroom & slipping into bed to hide from your own darkness won’t lessen the pain, as the shortest day of the year is quickly approaching. The night is long, but the morning does arrive. You’ve woken up dead. You’re in ruins. On the brink of catastrophe. But don’t be discouraged. You are ripe for a revolution! But like the Bolshevik Revolution of the early 1900’s, Wake Up Dead, our 10.2% ABV barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout doesn’t happen overnight. Patience is required. Wake Up Dead hibernates in our cellars for 12 months in Heaven Hill Brandy Barrels before being blended to woody perfection. Hints of raisins, cherry, licorice and toffee, followed by earthy, herbal hop notes rise up, joining you in your fight for the hope of a better life.

And as we eventually creep back to brighter days, leaving the shadowy hours behind, so too, will this year’s Fade to Black & Wake Up Dead. For each and every year Fade to Black will change, but the name will remain the same. So, for this year’s Smoked Baltic Porter, to quote the brewer, “Nevermore”.

More about Fade to Black, Volume II
Inspired by Pillage & Burn, our 2009 collaboration with (then-brewers) Shaun Hill & Anders Kissmeyer of Nørrebro Bryghus that was brewed & sold in Denmark exclusively, Fade to Black Volume II is the mischievous little brother to our other smoked beer, Smokejumper (2009 GABF Gold Medal winner – and don’t forget that Fade to Black, Volume I, which was a Foreign Stout, won Gold at this year’s GABF.). Anders even made the trek to the US in September to help brew a batch of this year’s Fade to Black. And since we’re smoke fiends, we don’t simply buy smoked malt – that would be too easy. We smoke our own malt (taking over 30 days!) over wood from a 100-year old hackberry tree from our head brewer’s family homestead in Nebraska. Available in 6 packs and kegs, and distributed throughout Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan (western only), Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Alaska, Washington, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and select European countries.

More about Barrel Aged Wake Up Dead
Part of our Big Mo Series of limited edition beers, Barrel Aged Wake Up Dead is brewed every 2 years, so it will re-appear in 2012 in oak barrels yet to be disclosed. It is very limited, as we only brewed 100 barrels. Non-barrel aged Wake Up Dead in 22oz bombers will be on shelves starting in 2011. Available in 22oz bombers and kegs, and distributed throughout Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan (western only), Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Washington, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina.

About Left Hand Brewing Company
Celebrating seventeen years of brewing a well-balanced portfolio of craft beers, Left Hand Brewing Company is located at 1265 Boston Avenue in Longmont, Colorado. The brewery has received 17 medals at the Great American Beer Festival and 8 medals at the World Beer Cup, and its beers are now available in 28 states. “Sometimes you’re not in the mood for what everyone else is having.”

(Truckee, CA) – FiftyFifty Brewing will brings back Barrel-Aged Eclipse Imperial Stout this week.

As always, FiftyFifty Brewmaster, Todd Ashman, is working with various barrels for this release. The beer is being bottled today and will be released on Thursday, December 2nd.

Per his post on Beer Advocate earlier this week, here are the bottle estimates:

Evan Williams Single Barrel – estimated 3,400
Four Roses Single Barrel – estimated 1,450
Heaven Hill (Rittenhouse Rye) – estimated 1,100
Brandy- estimated…less than 200 (only futures buyers will get this).

[...] There will be a generous [bottle] limit. Yet to be determined.

(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.

(Kinston, NC) – Mother Earth Brewing has a new release coming early next month.

Be on the lookout for Mother Earth Silent Night, a Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stout, in 750s during the first week of December. The brewery announced the release on Facebook yesterday.

Here’s more info from the brewery website:

Our Head Brewer Says… “Embellished with a hint of coffee and a touch of molasses, you’ll enjoy a bold, yet delightfully smooth brew. I pronounce this Barrel Aged Imperial Stout a sipper.”

Food Pairings: Easily overpowers most main dishes but stands up to Foie gras and smoked goose or game. Long aged Gouda, Chocolate raspberry mousse cake.

The video below shows the brewers filling the barrels. It’s worth watching for the music alone.

(Lakewood, CO) – A year-long collaborative effort in the Rockies concludes with a new release.

From the Mile High Wine and Spirits blog:

Last November, Chris, the owner of Mile High Wine and Spirits, rescued our current shop dog, a Weimaraner named Zeke. About the same time that he came into our lives, we got the idea to brew a beer exclusively for Mile High. Now we are celebrating the one year anniversary of Zeke’s adoption with the release of a special beer one year in the making: Zeke’s Belly Up Imperial Stout.

February finally rolled around and Jeff brewed a big batch of his Imperial Stout. He filled up our Bourbon barrel then sold the remaining beer on tap at the brewery. The beer sat in that barrel for 6 months, quietly penetrating deeper and deeper into the barrel, absorbing more and more of the Bourbon, gaining greater and greater complexity. I stopped by the brewery every few months to pull a sample from the barrel and see how things were going. In August, after 6 months of aging, Jeff and I decided it was time. The beer was moved from the barrel to a keg where it stayed until November when we were ready to bottle it. The wait finally over, I got to take home a bottle and give it a try.

Click over to the blog for the full tasting and cellaring notes.

(Bend, OR) – A big update from the PNW…

Per the Deschutes Brewery website:

The Dissident
Friday, November 19th
We are super excited to officially announce the release of The Dissident, our sour brown ale brewed with Washington cherries, that takes 18 plus months to reach near perfection. A limited amount of bottles will go on sale at both Brew Pubs and our Tasting Room on Friday, November 19th at 11 am. Fans will be able to pick up six bottles of this beloved brew at a time.

The Abyss
Wednesday, December 1st
The wait is finally over for the fifth release of The Abyss, our imperial stout brewed with molasses and licorice aged in bourbon and oak wine barrels. Join us at our Brew Pubs on December 1st as we tap the first kegs and make the 2010 bottles available for you to add to your collection.

…Also of note, here is information on those two beers and other upcoming releases as it was received this morning from a brewery representative…

The Dissident

When: End of November

What: Reserve Series (22-ounce wax-dipped bottles and draft)

Finally…. perfection.  After nearly two years aging in isolation, the 2010 Dissident has reached its pinnacle. Deschutes Brewery’s only wild yeast beer, brettanomyces and lactobacillus “critters” (a technical brewing term) create a distinctive Oud Bruin, Flanders-style sour brown ale, with a fruity aroma and flavor. To make things even more interesting, whole Central Washington cherries – pits, stems and all were also added to the mix. The result? A beer that’s anything but conventional.

Where: Very limited available in most states where Deschutes is sold

Beer Geek Information:

10.5% Alcohol by Volume (ABV)

The Abyss

When: Mid-December

What: Reserve Series (22-ounce wax-dipped bottles and draft)

The Abyss has immeasurable depth inviting you to explore and discover its rich, complex profile. Hints of molasses, licorice and other alluring flavors draw you in further and further with each sip. And at 11% alcohol by volume, you will want to slowly savor each and every ounce.

2010 marks the fifth release of this dark and mysterious imperial stout rated the 4^th best beer on planet earth by BeerAdvocate.com.

Where: Available in most states where Deschutes is sold

Beer Geek Information:

~11% Alcohol by Volume (ABV)

65 IBUs

Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale (NWPA)

When: January- May

What: Spring Seasonal (6-packs, 12-packs and draft)

The World’s Best Beer is back just in time to celebrate the New Year. That’s right, Red Chair cleaned house at this year’s World Beer Awards, winning: World’s Best Beer; World’s Best Ale; World’s Best Pale Ale; World’s Best Standard Pale Ale; and The America’s Best Standard Pale Ale. We’re not asking you to take their word for it though, we invite you to take a smooth ride on the Red Chair and enjoy its subtle aromatic seduction for yourself. Seven select European and domestic malts take a surprisingly plush, satin turn on the way to a citrusy hop kick.

Where: Available everywhere Deschutes is sold

Beer Geek Information:

6.2% Alcohol by Volume (ABV)

60 IBUs

Hop Henge Experimental Ale

When: January -April

What: Bond Street Series (22-ounce bottles and draft)

Deschutes Brewery’s Hop Henge Experimental IPA is an annual exercise in pure brewing creativity. Hop Henge uses several new hop processes and techniques to create a truly unique and unexpected beer. Several pounds of Centennial & Cascade hops are in each barrel with a heavy dry-hop presence to top it off. A blend of crystal, pale and caraston malts creates an overall biscuity characteristic that is dense and muscular, building the alcohol base to support the monstrous hop profile.

Where: Available everywhere Deschutes is sold

Beer Geek Information:

8.75% Alcohol by Volume (ABV)

95 IBUs

(Meadville, PA) – Voodoo Brewery will bring back its 15% ABV juggernaut in February.

It’s been a busy afternoon of Facebook reporting for Bella Vista Distributors of Pennsylvania who revealed that Voodoo Black Magick Imperial Stout will return early next year. Voodoo says it will be a February release.

Here is the beer description from Voodoo’s website:

“This is an Imperial Stout that is brewed to great strength and complexity. We then gently age that beer in Elijah Craig 13 1/2 year old Bourbon Barrels for one year and then primed and bottled to bottle condition for continued aging and celler life (to achieve cask-like) characteristics. Black Magick should be able to be aged up to about 5 years, to heighten the complexity and smooth nature of this beer. This beer should be opened to breath, pour into snifter and enjoy at 55-60 F.”

This seasonal is produced every two years according to the Voodoo website.

(Lake Mills, WI) – Excerpted from today’s newsletter update from Tyranena Brewing…

“Doubly Down ‘N Even Dirtier On Tap And Out The Door: Haven’t heard enough times what Doubly Down ‘N Even Dirtier is? Well, here is our government-mandated Statement of Composition: “DOUBLE STOUT BREWED WITH COCOA NIBS AND AGED IN BOURBON BARRELS WITH COCOA NIBS AND VANILLA BEANS.” All in capital letters so it meets the government-mandated size of 2 mm (although sometimes they require it to be in the same type size and typeface as the brand name… you just never know). I am looking forward to even more government-mandated things in the years to come. But I digress… Doubly Down ‘N Even Dirtier is now on tap in the Tasting Room… but not for very long. I believe we are out of 4-packs at the brewery.

Doubly Down has been shipped to everyone that has placed an order with a couple of exceptions. You should be able to find it in Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, Indiana and locally. Should be arriving in the Twin Cities near the end of the month. But it won’t be around for long… we had to ration our supply… and then lost quite a bit during bottling (I love the beer but really despise bottling beers with low carbonation as it is difficult to get the beer to foam over properly). As for the beer… you can really capture all of the major flavor components… the vanilla and cocoa stand out most… with the oakiness of the barrel and the roasted character of the malts following up. [...]

Shaggin’ In The Wood Now Aging In Bourbon Barrels: Now that we finally had some space in the cooler (after removing all of the bourbon barrels filled with Doubly Down ‘N Even Dirtier) we have bourbon barrels aging Sheep Shagger Scotch Ale. Should be available in a couple of months.”

Photo Credit: PhineasX at Flickr

(Chicago, IL) – It’s going to be a fun-filled winter at Half Acre Beer Co.

[11/30 Update: The brewery will release Big Hugs this Friday. "Growlers will $17 for refills & $21 if you need to purchase the growler, as well. 22oz bomber bottles will be $10.99 each." Tickets will also go on sale for On Photon that day.]

* First off, per Twitter, the brewery will release Thunder and Son Brown Ale in 22′s and on draft/for growler fills this Friday at 12pm.

* Per the blog, “Next out of the pipeline is a porter called The S.S Simon Short that we should be releasing next Friday. The S.S. is a porter with some base earthiness that shouts out to the Fuggles and Goldings we used to hop the beer. It’s still taking shape but we’re excited by what we’ve tasted so far.”

* The label artwork for the 2010 edition of Big Hugs Imperial Stout is completed as you can see above. That is one mean-looking kitty compared to last year’s label. The brewery hasn’t announced release details yet but dropped a huge hint on Twitter last week: “On Dec 18, 2010, there will be an event of magnitude hosted by Half Acre at our brewery. 300 tickets. Details will follow – you should come.” That falls on a Saturday.

* Finally, it looks like Over Ale is the next beer to appear in cans and that label artwork is wrapping up if it hasn’t already. You can view a fraction of the label here. Then take a peak at the detail going into those background tiles here. Stay tuned.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phineasx/5146565180/

(Bay City, MI) – From a Tri-City Brewing newsletter received last week…

“This week we have begun the final preparations for bottling our Bourbon Barrel Aged Giant Slayer Russian Imperial Stout. Available by the single bottle or six pack, this beer is more than a year old and will certainly take your breath away by what we are capable of doing! We will only be offering this beer to our loyal Saturday public customers. This beer will not be put on the market for stores and bars, but kept safe and secure under lock and key at the brewery and only sold direct to you the loyal customer. We will officially have this available next Saturday, November 13, but depending on how work progresses, we may even have a bottle or two available this Saturday.”

A Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout in 6-packs? You don’t see that everyday.

Tri-City Giant Slayer website description: “This Russian Imperial stout is just bursting with an abundance of character! Our biggest beer, coming in at 8.5% abv, is sure to be the new favorite of stout fans. Giant Slayer is an intense stout that presents itself with huge roasted, chocolate, and coffee malt flavors. Although well hopped, this beer is still very balanced. Giant Slayer provides a rich, full bodied drinking experience with dark hints of old world style. 8.5% ABV.”

(San Leandro, CA) – Here’s an excerpt from today’s Drake’s Brewing newsletter…

Besides our many regular offerings, we have a few specials available this month:

JOLLY RODGER 2010 – 8.0% ABV, 68 IBUs – Heeeee’s back! We brew a different style for Jolly Rodger every year. For the 21st edition of our winter seasonal, we made it an Imperial Red Ale. Be prepared for a big, malty beer with a huge hop aroma. We mashed in with plenty of two-row barley, carared and chocolate malt for body and flavor. Then we hopped it up with Columbus for bittering, then for flavor and aroma– lots of Chinook and Cascade. Finally, we dry hopped in the fermenter with loads more Chinook and Cascade. Enjoy!

* We will begin bottling Jolly Rodger on Wednesday (11/3) — look for more updates regarding the release party on Facebook and Twitter.

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, coming to a store near you in early 2011!

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!

And, due out in late November: Hop Salad, a specialty beer for hop-heads, brewed by Rodger Davis, as the second incarnation of his Hop Soup at our sister brewery Triple Rock in Berkeley.

(Chicago, IL) – An update on some Bourbon County Brand Stout events posted on Goose Island Beer Co.‘s website today…

From Brewmaster, Greg Hall, on Beer Advocate, “There has been a lot of anticipation for the release of the Rare and Vanilla versions of Bourbon County Stout. I tasted the beer last week and, at long last, they are ready to go. Bottling of both batches should take place over the next few weeks. [...] Expect to see bottles of Rare in retail shortly after Thanksgiving day.”

What follows are some events in which Rare, Vanilla and other BCS variations will be available for tasting. Click the links below for more info.

11/4 – BA First Thursday Gathering at Goose Island Clybourn

This monthly gathering and beer swap of Chicago area BeerAdvocate Members is held at Goose Island’s Clybourn Brewpub. Join BA and bring a brew of your own! Appetizers provided by Goose Island. Every month, Goose Island provide a limited release beer to sample at this event. This month Goose Island will be bringing a 1/6 bbl keg of the soon to be released Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout to share. Don’t miss it!

11/6 – 2010 Festival of Barrel Aged Beer in Chicago

Join The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild at to the Eighth Annual Festival of Wood and Barrel-aged Beer, spotlighting beer that has been aged in a wooden barrel or in contact with wood. Enjoy a sampling of a selection of beers, which may or may not be available commercially from breweries Coast-to-Coast. Here’s what Goose Island will have on tap:

Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout (Bosque Lya Blend)
Bourbon County Brand Ancho Stout
Bourbon County Brand Stout 2009
King Henry
Derby
Sweet Home
Dominique
Lolita
Madame Rose
Scully
Amara
Royal Tannin Bomb
Sour Grapes

11/26 – Rare Bourbon County Preview on Black Friday at Goose Island Clybourn

Join Goose Island on Black Friday for a special preview of the much anticipated Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout. The Goose Island Clybourn Brewpub will be tapping a few barrels of the Rare that morning at 10am. Once it’s gone, it’s gone and we expect it will sell out fast. Aside from this special tapping the only time you’ll see Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout on draft will be at select beer festivals and promotional Goose Island events in the future. Please note! There will be no bottles of Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout for sale at the pub on this day.

(Winston-Salem, NC) – Last year’s three-way collaboration makes its return.

The 2010 edition of Olde Rabbit’s Foot will go on sale next Saturday at 10am at Foothills Brewing. This is a collaborative effort between Foothills, Old Hickory Brewery and The Duck-Rabbit Brewery that began last year (the year when the beer was first released).

Per Duck-Rabbit’s Paul Philippon, “Bottle limit the same as last year (4). There will be more bottles than last year (but we don’t have the exact number yet).” The Foothills Brewing Twitter account says that there are projected to be 1,000 bottles and that the beer will probably go for $20 each.

The description for last year’s beer (and likely this year’s version) is a Bourbon-Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout brewed with honey and cocoa nibs and aged in 23-year old bourbon barrels.

Side note: from Olde Hickory’s Facebook page last Friday, “Kegged the second batch of Death by Hops today – should be heading out and about the region early next week. And Christmas Ale is just about ready – we expect it to be on tap at the Olde Hickory Tap Room and Amos Howards Brew Pub Nov. 1st.”

(Placentia, CA) – From today’s The Bruery newsletter…

For those who were unable to get tickets to the Black Tuesday release celebration, you have one more chance at picking up a bottle this year.

At 9am PST on Wednesday, October 27th, 2010, we will be putting the remaining bottles of Black Tuesday on sale on our website: store.thebruery.com

In an effort to spread the wealth, there will be a limit of ONE (1) bottle per person.

Bottles will NOT be shipped, they must be picked up from The Bruery Provisions on November 5th or later.

If you are not going to be able to pick up the beer yourself, you must put the name of whomever is picking up your beers in the SHIPPING ADDRESS box.

Some words of advice:

We are anticipating a high volume of traffic on our website for this, so to reduce the number of steps you must take to purchase the tickets, we recommend that you REGISTER on our eCommerce site, store.thebruery.com, BEFORE tickets go on sale. By doing so you’re creating an account that can be used at the time of purchase and will save you time and make it easier to process your transaction. PLEASE NOTE, UNTIL YOUR CHECKOUT IS COMPLETE, ITEMS IN YOUR SHOPPING CART ARE NOT GUARANTEED.

Also, be sure that the billing address you enter for your purchase matches the credit card with which you’re paying, and the shipping address corresponds with the person picking up the beer from The Bruery Provisions in Orange. IF THE SHIPPING NAME DOES NOT CORRESPOND TO THIS PERSON, THEY WILL BE UNABLE TO PICK UP THE BEER. If you’re buying and picking up, your name will go in both spaces. If you’re buying and someone else is picking up your beer, your name will go under BILLING, corresponding with the credit card billing address and the person picking up your beer will go under SHIPPING.