Yup, more new beer labels comin’ right up…

Boogoop Buckwheat Wine by Mikkeller, Three Floyds: 10.4% ABV / 22 oz. Hat tip to Beerticker.dk for scooping this back in May. This is their third fourth collaboration to hit bottles (no release info known yet) after Hvedegoop, Ruggoop and Oatgoop.

Chatoe Rogue Fresh Pumpkin Ale (First Growth): Label copy…”Created with pumpkins grown on Rogue’s Micro hop and pumpkin yard in Independence, Oregon. Fresh pumpkins are picked, loaded into our truck, driven immediately 77 miles to our brewery in Newport, Oregon, quickly roasted, and pitched into the brew kettle.”

Others…

Flat Tail Tailgater Kolsch Style Ale

The Brew Kettle Spalt Bomb Pils

New batch o’ beer labels…

Bitch Please: Finally! Label approval that green lights this collaboration between BrewDog and Three Floyds being imported to the States. More on Bitch Please…

Chatoe Rogue Good Chit Pilsner (First Growth): Label copy… “Good Chit Pilsner is made with 100% Rogue Farm barley that we Floor-Malted in small batches. Floor malting is an old fashioned, 8 day process that includes steeping, germination, raking, roasting, bagging and hands on love 24 hour a day. “Chit” refers to the start of the rootlets that emerge from the embryo of the kernal once steeping is complete and germination begins.”

Others…

Evil Twin Hop Flood
Evil Twin Ron and the Beast Ryan
Saint Arnold Centenni-Ale Blonde Ale (Rice University 100th anniversary)
Saint Arnold Centenni-Ale Dark Ale
Sixpoint The Catch and Brass Ale
Speakeasy Butchertown Black Ale
Blind Bat Eye Chart Ale
Ancient Lakes Fossilhead Hefeweizen

Part II of today’s beer label update…

Deschutes Hop Trip: First bond Street Series beer to hit 6-packs

Driftwood Old Cellar Dweller Barleywine: 100 IBUs, 11.8% ABV…that’s a big beer. Imported by Beverage Traders.

Others…

Heretic Evil Cousin
Anaheim Hefeweizen
Verde Canyon Railroad Copper Rail Ale
Verde Canyon Railroad Tunnel Down Brown Ale
Verde Canyon Pullman Pale Ale
Little Mountain Octoberfest Lager
Julebrygg (7%) by Ægir Bryggeri (Imported by Shelton Brothers)
Wells and Young’s Courage Russian Imperial Stout (Imported by Belukus)
Quimera Imperial Stout (From Chile! Imported by Ecovalley)
Quimera Amber Ale
Quimera Stout
Vicaris by Brouwerij Dilewyns (Imported by Vanberg and DeWulf)

(Harrisburg, PA) – When it comes to “beach beers,” Corona has the sleepy, laid-back approach down to a science. That’s fine if your idea of a good time is a beach chair and a good book, but the brewers behind Carib – a leading brand on its home island of Trinidad and the Caribbean’s most widely distributed brand – have other plans.

Brewed since 1950, Carib has enjoyed huge success in the Caribbean and in recent years has begun focusing more attention on the American beer market, beginning with Florida and later in New York. Florida was a market that seemed like an ideal launching pad and a natural fit for a beer that prides itself on embracing the outgoing, high-energy Caribbean lifestyle. To help speed the transition from homeland beer of choice to mainland import, Carib has partnered with food and beverage marketing agency Pavone.

The main objective for Pavone: Make a bigger splash in Florida and then introduce the original island favorite to beer drinkers beyond the Sunshine State. As the current buzz surrounding Carib continues, that introduction should come easily. A recent FoxNews.com review called it “the quintessential beach beer” and “confident it’ll beat Corona every day of the week and twice on Sundays.”

“Carib is a household name in Trinidad and throughout the Caribbean, but that recognition took many years to develop,” said Carib Beer USA President Jean Theuvenin. “We don’t expect to duplicate that success overnight here in the United States, but the time is definitely right for us to grow the Carib brand in America.”
The Pavone marketing campaign will include on-premise promotions and events, traditional advertising, and supply channel outreach with distributors.

The campaign kicks off this summer and is focused on the test market of South Florida. The Pavone team created a campaign for Carib based on what the Caribbean is all about – adventure and excitement. The region is credited as the originators of carnival, a festive period of costumes, dance, music, street parties and parades which has been adapted by cities around the world.

“Despite what other beer brands might want you to believe, the Caribbean is much more than just relaxation and quiet beaches,” said Pavone President Michael Pavone. “It’s a very active and outgoing culture, and this campaign will bring that culture to life and give American beer drinkers a taste of an authentic Caribbean experience.”

Carib is truly Caribbean with breweries in Trinidad, St. Kitts and Grenada, producing a variety of lagers, stouts and its flagship brand, Carib.

ABOUT PAVONE:

Pavone, a full-service marketing agency specializing in food and beverages, creates award-winning campaigns using a variety of disciplines including advertising, digital media, promotions and public relations. Our food and beverage strategists develop an annual food trends study that is presented to global food brands and at national marketing conferences throughout the year. Pavone works with national and international clientele including Turkey Hill Dairy, Campbell’s Soup Company, Pennsylvania Winery Association, The Hershey Company, The Apure Foods Company, Utz Quality Foods, D.G. Yuengling & Son and the National Watermelon Promotion Board. To learn more about Pavone’s food and beverage experience, please visit pavonefood.com.

ABOUT CARIB:

Carib Lager is the authentic, original, unique and defining icon of being young, modern and fashionable in Trinidad and Tobago. Launched on May 16th , 1950, this full bodied, clear and refreshing lager with 5.2% ABV is the flagship brand of Carib Brewery and the preferred brew of Trinidad and Tobago. Carib Lager is deeply rooted in the way of life of the Caribbean people, the environment, and the distinctive and refreshing culture associated with the region – its Carnivals, music and sporting events. The brand is fashionable and youthful and very today, just like the people it represents, a people with vision for and of the future. This brand has stood the test of time and has grown from strength to strength both in the Caribbean region and internationally. Carib’s vision is to become the most sought after Caribbean beer in the international market place. This will serve as a platform for achieving brand internationalization

(Copenhagen, DENMARK) – Mikkeller has a couple new releases coming this fall.

Before we go any further, please note that these labels are not yet finalized or approved by the TTB. Sentence Beer was actually the first to reveal them earlier this week and I contacted Mikkeller artist, Keith Shore, to get more information about them.

Swinging Harry Tropical Quad:

“The Quad is a Belgian-Style Ale made in collaboration with Cigar City Brewing. It was brewed with Citra and Simcoe hops and aged in Grand Marnier barrels with papaya, mango and Brettanomyces claussenii. It will be released in 500 ML bottles.” The beer was brewed at Amager Bryghus in Denmark.

Mikkeller Happy Lovin’ Christmas:

“The Holiday IPA will be released in 750 ML bottles with a cork and foil top and is brewed with Ginger and Pine.”

These will both be released in the US and Europe. They will be imported to the U.S. by the Shelton Brothers.

Saturday edition of new beer labels.

Just listing them out today…

Evil Twin Disco Beer (brewed at De Molen / imported by Twelve Percent)
Blue Point No Apologies IPA
Boxcar Community Supported Beer
Mateveza Gaucho Grande IPA
Brewer’s Alley Humulus Lupulus Rex Ale
Double Take IPA
Double Take Amber Ale
Lumina Marzen Festbier
Lumina Munich Helles
Wee Beast by Isle of Skye Brewing (Imported by Shelton Brothers)

Part II of today’s new beer labels…

Stillwater Debauched: No. 5 in Import Series, a Scandanavian Farmhouse Ale / 500ml

Rauchstar by Stillwater Ales and Mikkeller: Nomadic collaboration! (remember that neither brewer has their own brewery) / Scandanavian Smoked Ale brewed at Fano Bryghus / 500ml

St. Feuillien Speciale: Not necessarily a “holiday” beer but a “festive” ale that will be available around the holidays

Other labels…

New Belgium Snow Day
Iron Fist Off Hand Belgian Style Saison
Central Waters Belgian Style Blonde Ale
Backlash Groundswell Belgian Style Blond Ale
Red Lodge Helio Hefeweizen
Florida Beer Key West Sunset Ale
Florida Beer Key West Southernmost Wheat
Custom Brewcrafters MacBubba Scotch Ale
Minhas Oktoberfest
Westoek XX Flemish Triple Ale

Batch two of today’s new beer labels…

Uinta Wyld (looks like Four + branding is going away)

Uinta Monkshine

White Birch Colonial Ale (Apprentice Series)

Evil Twin Monk Suffers Serious Sugar Rush on Barbados

Riverside Resort Light Beer

(Tadcaster, UNITED KINGDOM) – Merchant du Vin and Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery are proud to announce the third U.S. annual release of Samuel Smith’s Yorkshire Stingo.

This barrel-aged, bottle-conditioned strong ale expresses the elegant refinement of every Samuel Smith’s beer, but with depth, length and power found in no other beer. This is a must-try beer: Extreme meets over 250 years of brewing experience. In November 2010, DRAFT Magazine awarded Stingo a perfect 100-point review: “Perfection in a glass.”

Vintage dated, Stingo is available nationally each year on England’s “Yorkshire Day,” August first. Annual releases do vary – this year, Stingo fermented to 8.0% ABV. Production of this fine ale is extremely limited.

A traditional strong ale that originated in the north of England, “Stingo” is mentioned in literature before 1700. Samuel Smith’s Stingo melds the signature elegance of the brewery’s ales with a long historical tradition. Brewed from British malts and multiple hop varieties, Stingo is fermented in open-topped stone Yorkshire Squares, then aged over a year in oak barrels that previously held cask-conditioned ale, gaining subtle complexity from the wood. Some of the barrels at Samuel Smith’s are over a century old – if a cask is damaged, the coopers carefully replace broken staves and put the cask back into service.

Samuel Smith’s Stingo shows rich, superb flavors of toffee, raisin, dried fruit, and caramel; waves of flavor ascend and ebb leaving soft oak notes. Hops add a perfect enhancement to dramatic malt and fermentation flavors, but without pushing bitterness past the point of balance. Bottle conditioning – that is, including live yeast in each bottle – produces soft carbonation, a fruity aroma and finish, and allows Stingo to age and develop in the bottle.

New batch of labels is in…part 1 of 2.

Chouffe Biere du Soleil: Per RateBeer, this was a summer seasonal that was produced a long time ago that is apparently making a comeback. Some of the vintages cited in recent ratings date back to the turn of the millennium. The more important question: why are people aging 4.5% ABV summer beers for an entire decade?

DuClaw Oak Aged Black Jack Stout: Aged for two months in Whiskey barrels / 22 oz.

DuClaw Oak Aged Double Black Lightning: Aged for two months in charred oak barrels / 22 oz.

Bridge Brew Works Old Burly Barleywine: 750ml bottles

Other labels…

Jandrain VI Wheat
Brasserie Du Mont Blanc La Blanche
Flying Bison Bisonfest Oktoberfest Lager
The Round Barn Bob’s Your Uncle Premium Bitter

New batch o’ beer labels…

Cigar City Marshal Zhukov’s Imperial Stout (new label)

3 Fonteinen Zwet.be (Imported by Shelton Brothers)

American Breakaway IPA

American Blonde Ale

Yakima Summer Snow IPA

Manneken Pils

Millstream Dark Night Belgian-style Rye Ale

Tri-City Scotch Ale

Buckeye Hipster

Appalachian Bonfatto’s Bellfonte Wheat Ale

Roanoke Railhouse Caboose Imperial Lager

High and Mighty Pas de Dieux

Stoke by the McCashin Family AMBER (Imported by Shelton Brothers)

Stoke by the McCashin Family DARK

Stoke by the McCashin Family GOLD

Kissmeyer Honey Porter (Imported by Shelton Brothers)

A bunch of new beer label approvals are in after the long holiday weekend…

Uinta JACKED Imperial Pumpkin Ale: Ale brewed with pumpkin and spices, aged in oak barrels. 750 ml bottles.

St. Feuillien Blonde degustation: 11.2 oz. bottles, imported by Artisanal Imports

Birrificio L’Olmaia PVK: 750 ml bottles, imported by B. United International

Two Beers Trailhead India Style Session Ale: 12 oz. cans

Big Sky Slow Elk Oatmeal Stout: This beer is marked as a “limited edition” release on the brewery website. (Not sure whether any changes are coming).

Dugges Hiphophooray! American-style Pale Ale: Previously approved under the name, “Celebration!” Sierra Nevada Brewing has a registered mark for Celebration so here’s the new name for the U.S..

Rahr Visionary Brew: Keg approval only at the moment

Others…

Shades of Pale Perfect Stranger Kolsch
Weston West Indian-style Amber Lager
De Garve Za Bier (South Africa! Imported by Amara Imports)

Only future imported beers featured in this update…

Imported by Global Beer

Camaraderie by Brouwerij Bavik and BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery: Label copy…

“Camaraderie represents the first collaboration beer ever brewed by the brewers at Bavik or BJ’s. The planning began nearly a year before brewing this beer together at Bavik. The common goal was to create a unique blend of classic Belgian and American beer styles. BJ’s brewers were envious of Bavik’s expertise in traditional Flemish sour beers and classic Belgian styles like Tripel. Bavik’s brewers had never brewed with American hops and were eager to do so. It didn’t take long before both brewing teams saw eye to eye on the formula for their collaboration. The camaraderie between all the brewers made this beer as much fun to create as it is to drink. We hope you agree that the end result of this Belgian-American collaboration is a unique and exceptional beer.”

Will be available in 750s and kegs

Oude Zuipers Belgian Tripel
Hommel Harvest IPA

Imported by Twelve Percent Imports, LLC

Old Gueuze Tilquin: Beer of spontaneous fermentation, the Old Gueuze Tilquin is made from the blending of 1, 2 and 3 years old lambics.

Manchester Vuur & Vlam (De Molen has already imported beer of the same name but they’ll be OK with this…trust me)
Manchester Dubbel

Imported by Brandamental Imports of San Antonio…

Vroentestraat Pierre’s Grand Cru
Vroentestraat Pierre’s Poorter
Vroentestraat Pierre’s IPA

(White Plains, NY) – Newcastle Brown Ale, brewer of the legendary “One & Only,” today announced the debut of four distinct Newcastle Limited Edition brews, which will be available for a limited time at select neighborhood pubs or stores throughout 2011.

This Limited Edition offering represents the collaboration of two great bastions of British brewing, Newcastle Breweries in England and Caledonian Brewery in Scotland. Built in 1869, Caledonian Brewery today operates as a fully functioning brewery museum, using rare direct-fired open coppers to brew all ales. The combination of Scottish brewing authenticity and creativity, partnered with the drinkability you expect from a Newcastle, results in a series of custom Limited Edition ales that can’t help but taste great.

For those yearning for the return of summer’s sunny blue skies and relaxing moments, Newcastle Summer Ale arrives just in time to toast the warmer days. Since 2009, Newcastle Summer Ale’s bold, crisp and refreshing taste has offered the perfect complement to summer gatherings with friends and family.

As the air gets chilly and the leaves begin to change colors, Newcastle Werewolf arrives with a definitive bite of bitterness and a distinct autumn taste. This “blood red” ale has escaped from Britain and is poised to make the perfect fall companion.
Newcastle Winter IPA is a surprising take on winter ale with its zesty, full-bodied taste and authentic malt flavors. This wintery delight will keep your holiday party guests happy all season long.

Finally, Newcastle Founder’s Ale celebrates spring with a traditional English semi-bitter taste and hoppy aroma that tips its hat to the heritage of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne’s five founding breweries.

“Distinctive and innovative, Newcastle’s Limited Edition brews deliver a new, refreshing taste to be enjoyed throughout the year,” said Charles van Es, Brand Director Newcastle Brown Ale. “By adopting a wide array of flavors—everything from red ales to distinct India pale ales—we’re providing a uniquely interesting combination of Newcastle heritage, real ingredients and drinkability to our loyal fans.”

About Newcastle’s Limited Edition Ales:

Newcastle Summer Ale: Refreshing and light, this golden beer offers a subtle citrus hop aroma and a clean, refreshing flavor with a dry finish

Newcastle Werewolf: Naturally blood red in color, this distinct tasting fall ale produces a combination of sweet berry overtones and a sudden bite of bitterness

Newcastle Winter IPA: Zesty in character and jam-packed with a creamy finish, the Newcastle Winter IPA is full-bodied and hoppy, delivering unique and authentic malt flavors for the cold season and snowy matchdays

Newcastle Founder’s Ale: A rich ode to the heritage and the work of five of the best brewers in the city coming together to show off their craft, Founder’s Ale offers a full-bodied ale with a sweet and dry finish

The Newcastle Limited Edition brews will be available nationwide in 6-pack and 12-pack bottles, as well as draught.

About Newcastle Brown Ale
In 1927, in the Northeast of England, Colonel Jim Porter created uniquely crafted ale with its own distinct golden brown color, lightly hopped taste and character that quickly became a local favorite. Best served cool, Newcastle Brown Ale has since become a world favorite as a dark beer that’s easy to drink. Newcastle Brown Ale is imported by the nation’s premier beer importer, Heineken USA, headquartered in White Plains, New York. For more information, please visit NewcastleBrown.com.

About Heineken USA
Heineken USA Inc., the nation’s premier beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken International BV, which is the world’s most international brewer. Brands imported into the U.S. include: Heineken Lager, the world’s most international beer brand; Heineken Light; Amstel Light, a leading imported light beer brand; Newcastle Brown Ale, the leading imported ale in the United States; and Buckler non-alcoholic brew. Heineken USA is also the exclusive USA importer for the Tecate, Tecate Light, Dos Equis, Sol, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands from FEMSA Cerveza of Mexico. For a safe ride home, download the Heineken USA-sponsored Taxi Magic™ application from your smartphone. Please visit www.EnjoyHeinekenResponsibly.com.

(Mölndal, SWEDEN) – Dugges Ale appears to be sending a few more beers over our way in the future.

Around the end of last year, we saw Never Mind the Bollox and 1/2 Idjit Imperial Porter arrive on U.S. shores.

Sales must be going ok because three more beers from Dugges’ line were just approved for import:

Dugges Idjit Imperial Stout
Dugges High Five IPA
Dugges Celebration Pale Ale

All three beers rank quite highly in their respective styles on RateBeer.

(Copenhagen, DENMARK) – Truth is we are long overdue for new Mikkeller labels.

Per Mikkeller’s website, “The next Mikkeller beer in line is a porter called Porter. It is brewed at Amager Bryghus, bottled in half liter bottles and adorned with another label by American artist Keith Shore.” It goes on sale May 1st but it may be a while before it is shipped over here. 8% ABV in 500ml bottles.

Drink’in the Sun is an American wheat-beer with “lots of Amarillo hops.” The most interesting thing about this one is the ABV: a measly 2.4%. Will the American craft beer consumer pay a premium for a single bottle of a very low alcohol beer? 330 ml bottles. Update: RateBeer says this one was 3.9% ABV in the past so it’s possible that 2.4 is a mistake.

Both beers will be imported by The Shelton Brothers.

Here’s a second post about some new Vanberg and Dewulf imports hitting the U.S. this year.

You may have seen this morning’s post about Brasserie Dupont. Here are a few more brews coming soon:

LAMBICKX

Lambics are truly the “wines” of the beer world. With wine one speaks of “gout de Terroir” because the land so influences a wine’s flavor. With Lambics, one must speak of “gout de Tonneau” because each cask (tonneau) produces a lambic that matures and tastes different. Blending these Tonneau is such an art that there exist independent Geuzestekkerij (blenders) who buy young Lambic then age and bottle it under theirown name.

Lambickx™ is Vanberg & Famille’s brand of hand-selected and blended lambics. Every Lambic with the Lambickx™ name is made from casks personally tasted and chosen by Don Feinberg, one of the first importers of Belgian beer to America and founder of the first Belgian-only brewery in the U.S. Don chooses his Lambics for their complexity, brilliance and drinking excellence both by themselves and as exquisite accompaniments to food.

FORMATS: Case, 6 x 75 cl (25.4 fl oz) / Keg, 20 liter

SCALDIS CUVÉE DES TROLLS by BRASSERIE DUBUISSON

Cuvée des Trolls was introduced in Belgium in 2000 and to the U.S. in 2010. Trolls is Dubuisson’s fastest growing beer. For Dubuisson it weighs in at a relatively modest 7% alcohol by volume. Made with all blond malts and a touch of orange peel, Trolls is hazy blond, with a lovely, doughy, fresh malt aroma. It’s has a light but distinctly malty body with bright orange notes. It finishes clean with a nice hop bite typical of this brewery’s distinctive beers. A quaffable delight! It is has been very popular and, dare we say helpful, with customers seeking a true Belgian beer experience but prefer a less alcoholic and aggressively aromatic profile.

FORMATS: Case, 6 x 75 cl (25.4 fl oz) / Keg, 20 liter

WITKAP PATER: Coming to 750ml bottles (currently 330ml bottles)

(Tourpes-Leuze, BELGIUM) – When most American craft beer drinkers think of Brasserie Dupont, they think of the brewery’s work within the Saison style. That may change in 2011 as the brewery will show the U.S. market what it can do with other styles.

To date, there are seven beers available from Brasserie Dupont here in the U.S.. Five of those are Saisons and then there is Moinette Blond and Brune. Here is a summary of five Dupont beers that Vanberg and Dewulf will import before the end of 2011:

MONK’S STOUT

According to Chuck Cook, this debuted in Belgium late last year. Label approval hasn’t come in yet and it appears to be on the schedule for later in the year. “As Dupont has extra fermentation capacity now, Olivier has the luxury of crafting some new brews, or re-creating some old specialties. Brasserie Dupont Brewmaster/Director Olivier Dedeycker told me on my June 2 visit to the brewery that the next new brew on his agenda would be Monk’s Stout. This is a beer his grandfather brewed in the 1950′s. There are two versions of Monk’s Stout. Both are 5.2% abv. One is dry and roasty, and another is said to be a little more rounded.”

REDOR PILS

Considered by many the finest traditional Belgian Pils brewed in Belgium today, REDOR is made from 100% barley malt, Styrian and Golding hops, proprietary Dupont yeast, pure well water, untreated with added salts or minerals, lagered for minimum 2 months, 5% ABV, and UNPASTEURIZED.

Debuts on draft in U.S. in May [Ed. note: not sure about bottle availability]

LA BIÈRE DE BELOEIL

One of Belgium’s most historic castles is a few miles from Dupont. It merits a visit next time you are in Hainaut. Dupont brews a special beer for the chateau. Beloeil once housed a brewery on site and made a beer called Saison Roland.

Beloeil has a rich white meringue head and a beautiful hazy amber red color. The funky Dupont yeast announces itself but is laced with herbs, nectarine, and a mineral edge. The warming finish has notes of wood and spice. Bottle conditioned.

FORMATS: Case, 12 x 75 cl (25.4 fl oz), cork finished / Keg, 20 liter

POSCA RUSTICA (sold in Belgium as Cervesia)

Since 1983, Dupont has produced a beer especially for a Gallo-Roman site near the brewery where Iron Age life is interpreted.

Inspired by research into drinks of the Gallo Roman era, Posca Rustica is surely one of the Dupont’s most exotic beers. It is a “Cervoise” beer spiced with a gruit (an old-fashioned herb mixture used to bitter and flavor beer, that was popular before hops came to predominate). Sweet woodruff (known as Galium odoratum or wild baby’s breath) and bog myrtle are just two of a dozen different spices used.

Posca Rustica has a unique, aromatic and spicy character and certainly is the sweetest beer from this brewery famous for its fully attenuated, dry beers. Altogether beguiling. Bottle conditioned.

FORMATS: Case, 12 x 75 cl (25.4 fl oz), cork finished / Keg, 20 liter

FORET BLANCHE

Another great beer from the endlessly inventive Dupont. We are so happy to once again have a wheat beer in our portfolio. Foret Blanche is 5.5% ABV. The color is a foggy golden honeycomb color. In the Dupont fashion, it is drier than most witbiers, with a more yeasty, tart profile. A rare and delicious interpretation of the wheat beer style from the champion of organic beers in Belgium.

Estimated arrival Spring 2011

FORMATS: Case, 12 x 75 cl / Keg, 20 liter

(New York, NY) – Twelve Percent Imports proudly announces the arrival of Evil Twin Brewing to the United States. The launch is slated for release on Monday, April 18th, when the beers will be officially debuted during a five-course beer dinner at Beer Table in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The Evil Twin himself, Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø, will be on-hand to present his beers for the first time on U.S. soil. Tickets to the dinner can be procured here: http://beertable.com/events/.

Tuesday, April 19th, will feature the official retail release of the first five Evil Twin beers.

The beers:
- Before, During, & After Xmas
- Soft DK
- Disco Beer
- Yin
- Yang

Where to get the beer on 4/19:
- Bierkraft, Park Slope, Brooklyn
- Brooklyn Larder, Park Slope, Brooklyn
- Spuyten Duyvil Grocery, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
- Whole Foods Bowery, NYC

Other Evil Twin events slated during the launch week:
- On Tuesday evening, 4/19 Meet-the-Brewer Event and Philadelphia Debut at Farmer’s Cabinet in Center City, Philadelphia.
- On Wednesday evening, 4/20 Meet-the-Brewer Draft Night at Rattle N Hum, NYC. – On Sunday afernoon, 4/24, Full Evil Twin Draft Lineup at Blind Tiger Alehouse.

Also, during this first week, Evil Twin beers will be shipping throughout the States, and should appear on the shelves & in bars at many, many fine locales by late April/early May. More events on the launch tour across the U.S. to follow. The next beer revolution begins…

About The Evil Twin: Evil Twin Brewing is the brainchild of Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø. An avid beer geek since 1997, Jeppe began home-brewing in Copenhagen, Denmark in June/’03. His first foray into the commercial craft beer scene commenced in September/’05, when he opened the now world-famous bottle shop Ølbutikken in Copenhagen. The reputation of Jeppe & his shop grew quickly, and myriad side projects began (including his collaboration with Cantillon on the Blåbær Lambik – one of this most highly regarded, highly sough-after lambics in the world). Evil Twin Brewing is Jeppe’s latest venture, and is the culmination of the vast knowledge, experiences, and relationships he’s built over the years.

About Twelve Percent: 12% Imports is a Brooklyn, NY-based importer and distributor of small, artisanal breweries from Europe and North America. They commenced operations in late 2007 by self-distributing a few obscure, yet artfully crafted rareties from Belgium out of the back of a Prius. Since then, Twelve Percent has helped introduce and grow some of the most unique and exciting small breweries on the scene. The Twelve Percent portfolio can now be found throughout much of the United States. They also now own a proper delivery vehicle.

New labels…

Laurelwood Brewery will releasing two new ones on March 18th for its anniversary party, the limited edition Imperial Workhorse Double IPA shown above and a new year-round offering called The Big “O” Organic Pale Ale. I haven’t seen a label yet for the latter. Perhaps the TTB is claiming that the name gives perceived medical benefits and won’t approve it? Brewpublic has more details on the party.

Rivertown Brewery is releasing a Lambic in 750s this year. The back label notes, “The beer is produced by exposing it to the wild yeasts and bacteria that are native to the Senne Valley of Brussels, Belgium.”

Two Brothers Brewing‘s next new Artisan Series release will be Reprieve Schwarzbier. Released in 22′s.

Innis & Gunn Highland Cask will be imported to the U.S. though the beer is getting some mixed reviews elsewhere where it’s currently available.

New labels from overseas…

BrewDog Bramling X (the X is pronounced “Cross” in this case) will be included as part of a single hop 4-pack known as IPA is Dead. The set should be shipping to the U.S. soon. Other hops to be featured in the 4-pack are: Nelson Sauvin, Citra and Sorachi Ace. Stats: 11.2 oz, 7.5% ABV, 75 IBUs. Imported by Preiss Imports.

First Frontier IPA is the second beer to get TTB approval from a Danish brewery known as To Øl. The typography reminds me a bit of some of the old Stanley Kubrick film posters.

Finally, New Zealand-based 8 Wired has a 10% ABV Imperial Stout coming called iStout. Both First Frontier and iStout will be imported by the Shelton Brothers.

(Lochristi, BELGIUM) – The next beer in the Brewmaster’s Collaboration series has been approved.

Broederlijke Liefde Saison label copy:

Brian O’Reilly of Sly Fox Brewing Company joins Dirk Naudts to create the fifth brew in the De Proef Brewmaster’s Collaboration series. This year’s collaboration celebrates the great brewing cultures of both Philadelphia and Gent.

Broederlijke Liefde if the official Belgian collaboration ale of Philly Beer Week 2011. If you can’t join us in Philadelphia for our annual celebration in June please enjoy this creation in your own celebration of the international brewing community.

Philly Beer Week begins on June 3rd.

(Edinburgh, UNITED KINGDOM) – Newcastle readies new labels for 2011.

99% of the people reading this blog have heard of Newcastle Brown Ale. Some may have even heard of Newcastle Summer Ale, which was introduced in 2010. This year, the brewery is complimenting those beers with two more, filling out what is the brewery’s first ‘seasonal rotation.’ Newcastle Werewolf is slated for fall and Newcastle Winter Ale is likely to be released by the end of the year. The brewery hasn’t made any announcements yet.

Here are the label copies:

The ‘Hoppings’, reputedly the largest travelling fair in Europe, takes place on Newcastle Town Moor every June. Several origins have been suggested for the name. It may derive from the word ‘Hoppen, an old English word for dancing or funfair. It has even been suggested that people ‘hopped’ about itching due to fleas caught from animals that travelled with the fair. However, we’d like to think it may relate to the quality of hops used in the brewing of our famous beer. Enjoy Newcastle Summer Ale at the fair or wherever you are this summer.

What better way to toast the fall than to have a bottle of this formidable, dual character brew. At first, smooth with mellow overtones of sweet berry fruit, a bite of bitterness suddenly cuts through, long, deep and lingering. Brewed with rye malt, it is naturally ‘blood red’ in colour. Unlike te mythical wolf-like creature said to roam the bleak moorland surrounding Newcastle, this is real, so consider yourself warned!

We aim to pleasantly surprise with our take on a Winter Ale. This is not the usually expected dark and overly rich flavoured brew. Burnished copper in appearance, full-bodied and heavily hopped to give a zesty character with a long delicious aftertaste. Subtle seductive malt flavour, with hints of caramel and roast. Our inspiration for this deviation from the norm? Well we simply long for the return of lighter days during our long and dark British winters.

(Copenhagen, DENMARK) – More approvals from Mikkeller…

Here are more Single Hop beers from Mikkeller. I believe we are close to 15 now.

More labels from the New England area…

Boston Beer Co. has done a number of Samuel Adams Lager labels over the years and here is yet another version. Not sure what the occasion is but the filename for this approval says “Q2″ so perhaps we will see late this winter or this spring.

Massachusetts-based Shelton Brothers will import another new offering from Denmark-based Beer Here called Nordic Rye Ale, a farmhouse ale. It looks like this is brand-new…that or the brewery is re-releasing a beer under an “Americanized” name.

According to the label, proceeds from sales of Rock Art Pete’s Greens Barn Raising Brown Ale will go to helping rebuild Pete’s Greens, which burned down last month.

Finally, Geary’s Summer Ale has a new label for 2011. The beer label changes each year because Geary’s does something very cool..they award $5,000 and a year’s supply of beer to a Maine College of Art student who does the best job designing a label. Congrats to this year’s winner, Megan McAllister DiPietro, who beat out around 60 entries. Not a bad idea to think about for a new brewery wanting to get some ideas on its image and branding: sponsor a contest.

(Copenhagen, DENMARK) – More Mikkeller Single Hop labels re-done…

Not to mention, Mikkeller Challenger looks new. Expect to see more of these in the coming days and weeks as all these beers are supposedly being brewed around the same time frame.

(Oostvleteren, BELGIUM) – A preview of what a limited number of drinkers in the U.S. will get to try later this year.

Here is Portsmouth Brewery Brewmaster, Tod Mott, on his recent trip to Belgium.

Looks like a lot has “gone down” in the 7 days I was away visiting the Struise brewers in West Flanders, Belgium. I had the unique opportunity to brew with one of the best brewers in Belgium, Urbain Coutteau of the Struise Brouwers. The brewery they use, Deca, pre-dates World War 1 and yet these guys finesse some of the most sought after beers in the world. Pannepot is perhaps the most well know but they produce many styles including Black Albert, a Belgian Royal Stout at 13% abv!!

I brought my Kate the Great recipe over and with a little tweaking we brewed a batch of KtG at Deca. The brewery has a mash tun made of cast iron, copper and stainless with an antique rake/mixing system equipment (to say the least). I have some video which I will try to edit and post this week so you can see what the Struise brewers are dealing with. Back to the brew with Kate…. the extract came out of the mash tun well and the boil, also, went well. We had to substitute some European hops for American varieties as Urbain does not use many American hops, so Kate is going to be a little different than what we make here. We used a “Chico” style yeast as well as some “Fullers” style yeast. Soon Urbain will pitch some of the Struise house strain to give KtG a bit of Belgium character. Kate was quite lonely sitting in Fermentation vat #1 all alone so Urbain was kind enough to brew a batch of Albert the following day to keep Kate company in Fermentation vat#2. Who knows what might happen next!!? Kabert perhaps? We’ll have to wait a few months to see the outcome of maturation.

Struise said on Facebook, “Have patience until next September. This beer will be imported officially in the USA, also present on the web-shop, shop and different Belgian distributors. We’ll keep you informed.”

As for Outblack, the collaboration with Stillwater Artisanal, will be available March 3rd in Belgium but Stillwater’s Brian Strumke said that this beer and Jaded won’t be imported through Twelve Percent Imports until this summer. Both should be featured at American Craft Beer Fest.

(Copenhagen, DENMARK) – Mikkeller has two more coming to the U.S. this year.

Mikkeller will release another version of Barrel-Aged Black Hole in 2011, this time in tequila barrels. The beer is brewed coffee, vanilla and honey. It will be imported in 12.7 ml bottles.

Next, Mikkel has teamed up with a fellow brewer from Copenhagen. Per To Øl‘s website, “‘To Øl’ (or “Tool” if you prefer) is a danish brewery based in Copenhagen. Within its short history (of commercial brewing!) To Øl has received an amazing amount of positive feedback for its challenging and ‘no compromises made with the taste or quality’ brewing style [...]” Øl translates to beer in Danish.

The beer is called Overall IPA and the brewery has some “interesting” clips promoting the beer. Overall, in this case, refers to overalls.

Overall IPA beer stats:

Ingredients: Water, Malt, Oats, Hops (Simcoe, Amarillo, Centennial) and yeast.
Alc: 10.5% Contents: 330 ml (11.2 oz)
Brewed at The Proef Brouwerij, Lochristi-Hijfte, Belgium.

(Copenhagen, DENMARK) – Beer Here got two more beers approved for the U.S.

Beer Here Kremlin Crude Oil – A decadent stout inspired by the special British ales exported to the Russian Court during the 18th century. It is black and viscous like crude oil from the oil fields in the Caspian Sea and dominated by dark notes of burnt sugar, spicy hops and powerful smokiness from Scottish whiskey malt. 11% ABV.

Beer Here SoD Baltic Porter – no description on label, 8% ABV.

Both beers were brewed at Nøgne ø and will be available in 500ml bottles through the Shelton Brothers. Note: approved imports don’t always end up making it to the U.S.

Beer Here was recently named the 44th ranked brewery on RateBeer.

(Copenhagen, DENMARK) – Who has had the largest variety of bottled beers available in the U.S.? It’s probably this guy.

Three more approvals…

Mikkeller Bravo – 11.2 oz. bottle – Mikkel claims on the label that are now 18 single hop beers in his program and that all are being brewed in the same week in order to make comparisons of them more meaningful.

Mikkeller Barrel-Aged Santa’s Little Helper – 12.7 oz bottle – This a Belgian Strong Ale brewed with spices and aged in Rum Barrels

Mikkeller Barrel-Aged From Via To – 12.7 oz. bottle – This is an Imperial Porter aged in bourbon barrels.

St. Killian Importing of Kingston, Massachusetts is ringing in the new year with an exciting resolution for beer lovers. This high end beer importer will continue providing America’s beer fans with some of the most coveted beers from around the world with fine selections from Brouwerij Corsendonk of Belgium and Broughton Ales of the United Kingdom.

“Our team at St. Killian Importing is very excited to include the highly regarded and history-rich Brouwerij Corsendonk and Broughton Ales to its portfolio,” states Roman Dombrowski of St. Killian Importing. “We would like to thank Pat and George Saxon of Phoenix Imports for their years of dedicated brand building and are looking forward to growing the brands on this strong foundation,” adds Dombrowski.

Brouwerij Corsendonk, founded in 1980 through the munificence of Maria van Gelre, youngest daughter of Jan III, Duke of Brabant, brews a lineup of traditional and innovative Belgian ales that adds a new depth to St. Killian’s portfolio, with blond and brown abbey-style ales as their flagships. Broughton Ales, situated in the village of Broughton in the Scottish Borders was also founded in 1980. Their traditional ales and lagers offer a nod to Scottish lore, with Black Douglas Ale, Merlin’s Ale, and Kinmount Willie Oatmeal Stout among their unique lineup.

Founded in 1983, St. Killian Importing has always remained true to its belief that America’s beer consumers have always deserved to enjoy the finest beers on the planet, and have made it their mission to make their unique, global portfolio available stateside. St. Killian Importing is a subsidiary of the L. Knife & Son Companies, a group of beer distributors which were recognized as Beverage World Magazine’s 2010 Beverage Wholesaler of the Year for their dedication to innovation and outstanding service.

(Copenhagen, DENMARK) – Two more approvals from Mikkeller…

[1/3 Update: Barrel-Aged Monk's should ship in February according to Mikkel. Label pic for Two Gypsies can be found here.]

The first is a red wine barrel-aged version of Monk’s Brew (a.k.a. Monk’s Elixir). Here is the description on the base beer via RateBeer:

Monk’s Elixir is a heavy dark Belgian ale inspired by the Trappist monasteries of Rochefort and Westvleteren. The beer style, characterized by its high content of alcohol, distinguishes itself by its dominant yeast character, delicious malt background and balanced hop notes.

Look for Barrel-Aged Monk’s Brew in 330ml bottles next year. In addition to that one, a beer called, “Two Gypsies: Our Side Ale” got draft approval. The beer is a collaboration with fellow gypsy brewery, Stillwater Artisanal Ales. Both breweries were featured in The Atlantic in October for their increasingly common business model of an alternating proprietorship. Two Gypsies was brewed in the U.S.

(Aberdeen, SCOTLAND) – BrewDog ranks among the fastest-growing breweries in the western world.

Production went from 8,700 to 14,500 hectoliters according to a new report released by the brewery on Monday. In the English system, that translates to 12,356 barrels, 13% of which was exported to the American market says Managing Director, James Watt. The increase of 67% is surpassed only by a handful of small U.S. breweries (above 7,500 barrels): Ninkasi, Oskar Blues, Founders, Starr Hill, Surly, Sixpoint and Lazy Magnolia. As a result of the production increase, duty (tax) will rise on the brewery’s products and prices are expected to increase accordingly.

With respect to BrewDog’s 2011 offerings, Watt says we’ll see four new BrewDog offerings:

1) IPA is Dead 4-pack: a mixed pack of single hop beers…the hops for these beers may not be set in stone though promotional materials show that the 4-pack includes Bramling X, Nelson Sauvin, Simcoe and Sorachi Ace bottles – Q1 (February?)

2) Paradox Jura: A 13% Imperial Stout aged in Jura single malt whisky casks. (Available in bottle and keg) – April

3) Black Tokyo* Horizon: collaboration with Mikkeller, Nogne O (Watt says that the amount shipped may be as little as 1,000 bottles) – May

4) Bitch Please: Collaboration with Three Floyds (April – perhaps just in time for a Dark Lord Day release?)

There will be additional releases available in 2011 for ordering on the BrewDog’s websites with the upcoming AB:06 among them. Tactical Nuclear Penguin and Sink the Bismarck! will return next year. Punk IPA cans will debut as well though the report does not mention a U.S. contract for them (yet?).

In other news…

…surprisingly, the top three customers for 2010 do not include a UK retail shop: BrewDog’s website leads the way with Cask Sweden (Sweden importer) and Preiss Imports (U.S. importer) close behind

…the brewery is aiming to produce 30,000 hectoliters (25,565 barrels) in 2011

…plans are to open three new bars in 2011 in addition to the one in Aberdeen: Glasgow, Edinburgh and another to-be-determined location

…as seen above, it appears as though the BrewDog team is exploring the idea of a Tactical Nuclear Penguin game

(Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS) – 12/1/10 – Heineken announced today the global roll-out of the new iconic Heineken bottle, completing the redesign of its global brand packaging range. The restyling aims to streamline the visual identity and make the brand even more consistent and recognizable in all 170 markets worldwide where Heineken® can be enjoyed. The new bottle will come in five different volume sizes and will be available in Western Europe at the beginning of 2011 and across the rest of the world by 2012.

Mark van Iterson, Manager Global Heineken Design & Concept, said: “We believe that with one recognizable bottle the global Heineken brand will be further strengthened. With uniformity comes even greater impact.”
He continued: “The bottle will reinforce the new packaging visual identity which has already been applied to the contemporary tactile can and embossed glasses that were introduced in selected markets earlier this year. As the market leader we pride ourselves on being progressive in design as well as taste.”

The Heineken brand’s redesign project was led by a cross functional team consisting of global marketing, supply chain and the participation of a number of markets. It ensured the smooth transition from fifteen to five bottles sizes, while at the same time achieving greater efficiencies in the supply chain.

Van Iterson added: “Our consumer focuses on details. This is why Heineken has dedicated time and resources to this design update, making sure every single element was taken into consideration. We have looked at each and every packaging detail to ensure our sophisticated consumers feel a subtle but significant difference. Consumer response has been excellent. They see the new design to be modern, appealing and innovative.”

Unique packaging features
The new bottle, replacing the XLN (extra long neck) and Heineken shortneck packaging, is introduced in two versions: embossed and standard. The new design features a unique curved embossment on the neck and back, which not only looks good, but also adds a pleasing to-the-touch feel, whilst a distinctive embossed mark acts as a stamp of quality and authenticity. Additionally, the new shape makes it look proud while enhancing the premium positioning of the bottle.

In addition to the specific packaging changes, the new packaging visual identity includes updates to key brand elements including an ellipse curve, derived from Heineken’s iconic racetrack logo. Additionally, Heineken’s trademark refreshing green colour has been enriched and its iconic red star emblem, the world’s most recognizable beer symbol, has been raised above its logo.

New visual identity on glasses and cans.
The new bottle reinforces the visual identity packaging that is already in use on cans and glasses introduced in the beginning of 2010. The progressive packaging introduces sensory elements such as embossments, strategically placed indents and tactile ink, offering consumers aesthetic improvements, adding to the overall drinking experience.

Heineken’s commitment to innovation is evident in the new can design which is the first of its kind to feature tactile ink and be introduced across the world. This revolutionary ink, created by a series of small raised dots on the surface of the can, gives the consumer a better feeling in the hand, enhanced grip and allows the brand to appear more refreshing and recognizable.

The latest glass features an embossed curve on the side, adding a pleasant feeling when held. It also helps bar staff by providing a guidance point for how it should be held at the draught column, helping staff to create the ‘perfect pour’. The new slender shape has also been proven to respond better to the temperature, meaning it will stay cool longer.

(Aberdeen, SCOTLAND) – It hadn’t even occurred to me…

When I posted the labels for Old World IPA and Old World Imperial Stout last month, it didn’t hit me that the BrewDog name wasn’t even on them. Just the signatures of the two fellows from Aberdeen and the following: “Brewed and bottled by JBW 77.” What is JBW 77? I have no idea and failed to ask Managing Director, James Watt, when checking in on these new labels. All I know is that the company was incorporated in 2005, long before BrewDog made its first commercial beer.

The name Ocean 77 appears to be based on that company, located at “Ocean View” in Aberdeenshire. Watt says that these two beers, Ocean 77 IPA and Ocean 77 Stout, will be sold exclusively at “a key retail partner who will also be stocking the BrewDog range.” Unless Watt misspoke, the key word there is “will.” Watt says he can’t reveal the mystery U.S. chain just yet but I’m hard-pressed to think of a large beverage retailer that doesn’t already carry BrewDog. It must be one of the supermarket chains on this list, right?

Retailer-exclusives aren’t all that uncommon. BrewDog’s Old World beers linked above will be exclusive to Total Wine and More. Firestone Walker and Unibroue brew beers exclusively for Trader Joe’s. Small retailers are also in the game. Captain Lawrence Brewing has brewed one for DeCicco’s Market in New York and Schlafly brewed one for Culinaria in St. Louis.

There could be any number of reasons as to why a brewery will enter into such a deal. Imagine being a buyer for a chain and being on the fence about taking in a new product. Now a manufacturer asks, “Well, what if we make you something that will be exclusively sold here and nowhere else?” That makes their case a bit more compelling. The retailer may also be the one that approaches the brewery about a deal. In some situations, if a product is already carried by a store, an exclusive is just a creative way to thank the store for its support.

In any event, look for BrewDog to expand its reach here in the U.S. next year.

(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.

(Woesten-Vleteren, BELGIUM) – A new beer ships from Belgium this winter.

At first glance, this looks like a Struise label without a Shelton Brothers stamp on it. Hmmm….but John Vanloo of San Francisco-based Waterloo Beverages LLC clears that up:

“We gave the assignment to develop & manufacture their Westoek Ale – 6% ABV at the Deca Brewery. As this was a very complex recipe to deal with, Deca asked Urbain Coutteau, world-renown brew master at Struise to collaborate on this project.

Our first batch, which is very limited, will arrive in January next year. It will be 20l kegs and 11oz bottles.”

Courtesy of EpicBeer.com

(Milton, DE) – Some collaboration news from down undah, mates…

Thanks to those who rated this past week’s episode, “Bitches Brew.” After nearly 500 votes, you collectively gave it a 7.4 out of 10. Tonight, Discovery Channel will air the second episode in the Brew Masters series, “Chicha.” Much to my chagrin, the network has not put up preview clips of the episode on Youtube so I don’t have anything to embed here. I’ll pass on posting the 30 second preview. Give me something better than that, Discovery.

Instead, I will preview the fourth episode, “Punkin and Tomatoes,” which will air on December 12th. New Zealand-based Epic Beer reports that the beer that it co-created with Dogfish Head called Portamarillo is now available in New Zealand and will soon be available in Australia. More importantly, Epic’s Luke Nicholas leaves it open that the beer could ship to the U.S. sometime next year.

The beer is described as “a collaboration, a Festive brew and the world’s first tree tomato beer. A sorta-Porter fermented with New Zealand-grown Tamarillos, which were smoked using wood chips from the sacred Pohutakawa tree (also known as the NZ Christmas tree).”

Check out the Portamarillo website here. Here’s a review of the beer via Brewnation. In the video below from August, Nicholas and DFH’s Sam Calagione discuss the beer.

An international collaboration, another Black IPA, a Smoked Porter and a Yuletide favorite…

It’s official. Black Tokyo* Horizon, the collaboration between BrewDog, Nogne O and Mikkeller is expected to be shipped (or even released) to the U.S. come March of next year. Check out the brewday pics on the BrewDog blog here. The 16% ABV beer will be packaged in 22.5 oz. bottles which seems peculiar unless the label is a typo. *I believe the U.S. label will actually say Tokio because of TTB issues.

Heavy Seas Beer announced the release of a new seasonal today. Heavy Seas Black Cannon Black IPA will be launched in January and available through March.

Epic Brewing of Utah announced that it is coming out with Smoked Porter soon. A newsletter from earlier this month said that the beer is currently in the tanks. It will join the Exponential Series in 22 oz. bottles soon.

Finally, Marin Brewing announced the release of Hoppy Holidaze in 22s in its newsletter yesterday.

Per its website, the beer is brewed with “Pale, Wheat, Caramalt and Munich malts and hopped with Sterling and Styrian Goldings hop varieties. Spices include Nutmeg, Mace, Cinnamon, Vanilla and Orange Peel.”

(Escondido, CA) – Stone Brewing CEO, Greg Koch, does his best Twisted Sister impression.

Stone beers are being shipped to countries where Stone doesn’t officially distribute and Koch is not gonna take it. Australian Brews News reports that Stone beers are illegally (may just be breach of contract) being imported to Australia along with beers from Sierra Nevada Brewing and Flagstaff Brewing. Quite different from trading with an overseas buddy, these beers are actually available for sale on shelves without an importer’s stamp on them. A U.S. distributor (or multiple distributors) is likely either a) disposing of old product the easy way to a region starved for American-made craft beers that, otherwise, can’t get them or b) are making a quick profit by charging importers in other countries a premium for them….or some combination of both.

Some in Australia are applauding those distributors and retailers partaking in this “grey market” as Robin Hood-like saviors but the breweries aren’t happy about it. Koch is stern about the damage this causes for his brand in the video above and Sierra Nevada stands issues a decisive statement on the matter in that post on ABN. Where possible, small brewers are increasingly moving toward all-refrigerated distribution as a way of upholding the quality of their beer during long periods of travel to the point of sale. It would seem that Stone and Sierra Nevada aren’t big on the idea of legal exporting either. Stone is even going to the lengths of looking into opening a European brewery rather than ship beer there.

On the other hand, there are many small brewers who view *legal* exporting as perfectly fine. In fact, the Brewers Association has been heavily pushing its export development program and has another shipment going to the UK through Vertical Drinks sometime this winter. One of the leaders in the craft beer export program, Rogue Ales is even available legally in Australia and as far as Asia. But it makes one wonder…how do the quality of these exported beers compare to the same brews available on shelves here?

The shady practice of distributors sending around bootleg brews isn’t exactly a new one. A New York City bar was caught with 50 cases of New Glarus Spotted Cow at this time last year. This past summer, New Belgium Fat Tire meandered into another New York City bar somehow…despite not being distributed in New York.

Then there are the stories about people hand-bottling beers from bars for their friends. A Google search for “hand bottle” on the two largest beer sites on the internet, Beer Advocate and RateBeer, yields around 4,000 results. Most brewers would probably contend that they don’t want their beer reviewed at all if not served directly on tap or from one of their own bottles.

The issue came to somewhat of a head in 2008 when a 3L bottle of one of the top-rated beers in the world at the time, Struise Black Albert, was shared at a tasting party. The bottle did not travel well and some of those who tasted the beer posted poor ratings online. The issue caused much strife as it affected Struise’s reputation as a beermaker.

No matter where you stand on these issues, it serves as a reminder of just how much selection many of us craft beer drinkers have here in the U.S. in 2010. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, that is something for which to be very thankful.