(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:

Seattleites can enjoy the first Fresh Hop of the season beginning September 2; a taste of fall is soon to follow with the release of Heart of Darkness CDA and Pumpkin Spice Ale

(Seattle, WA) – Claiming its spot as the first fresh hop style brew released in Seattle, Two Beers Brewing is proud to announce the arrival of its Fresh Hop 2011. Hop-enthusiasts can enjoy their first taste of this long-awaited beer beginning September 2 at the Two Beers Brewing tasting room, with Fresh Hop hitting shelves in 22-ounce bottles and appearing on tap across the Pacific Northwest beginning September 5. Accompanying Fresh Hop 2011 as Two Beers Brewing’s seasonal offerings are its Heart of Darkness Imperial CDA and Pumpkin Spice Ale.

“This is our favorite time of year,” said Joel VandenBrink, Two Beers Brewing founder and head brewer. “There’s nothing like the flavors of fall and what better way to welcome in the season than with a delicious, handcrafted local beer.”

First brewed in 2009, Fresh Hop enters its third season on the brewery’s fall lineup. This Northwest-inspired brew’s strong citrus aroma – featuring hints of grapefruit and passion fruit – can be attributed to the freshly picked, Yakima Valley-grown Centennial hops used to create it, harvested from Puterbaugh Farms, the family hop farm of Assistant Brewer Tyler Pickel. Copper in color with deep caramel malt tones, Fresh Hop 2011 settles in at 6.2 percent ABV resembling an aggressively dry-hopped mid-range IPA, but packing the punch only fresh hops can deliver. In addition to Centennial hops, this beer features locally grown Amarillo, Simcoe, Nugget and Columbus hops, helping this popular beer achieve its bright and delightfully bitter flavor.

“The creation of this beer is an annual tradition for the Two Beers Brewing team. We get a call that the hops are ready and by that night, we’re in the field pulling the vines down ourselves,” laughed VandenBrink. “We enjoy the work that goes into this beer, as well as the tribute it pays to Washington-grown hops and their important role in our industry.”
“This is an exciting time of year for consumers and pub owners because it’s when you get to experience beer at its best,” said Bob Brenlin, part-owner of Latona Pub, Fiddler’s Inn and Hopvine Pub, all known for their outstanding craft beer selection. “The aromas and flavors created by using freshly picked hops are like none other and the Two Beers Brewing Fresh Hop really delivers – so flavorful and aromatic, it’s as if there are hops just floating in your beer.”

Also joining the Two Beer Brewing tap list in September is the highly anticipated Heart of Darkness Imperial Cascadian Dark Ale (CDA). First brewed this spring as a limited release with help from the crew at LOT No. 3 – a Bellevue-based restaurant owned by the Heavy Restaurant Group – the Heart of Darkness Imperial CDA will be available on tap only at the Two Beers Brewing tasting room and in 22-ounce bottles at select retailers. An imperial version of the emerging “Black IPA” style, the Heart of Darkness Imperial CDA mixes dark roasted specialty malts with highly citrus and floral hops, and is then dry-hopped with Columbus hops for a smooth finish. Flavors of molasses, dark cherry, oak and chocolate will grace the palate of all those that enjoy this unique, handcrafted brew.

Last but not least is the brewery’s popular Pumpkin Spice Ale, expected to hit taps throughout the Northwest beginning October 1. This perfectly spiced, deep copper colored ale – brewed with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and allspice – was met with great interest for its complex flavors and aroma during its first run in fall of 2009. Malt forward with a nutmeg and clove aroma, drinkers of this fall-focused brew will enjoy cinnamon and ginger lingering on the tongue, with allspice rounding out the back end of the palate.

Two Beers Brewing will continue to distribute its five year-round offerings this fall, as well as a host of packaged products. In addition to Fresh Hop 2011 and Heart of Darkness Imperial CDA, craft beer enthusiasts can pick up Persnickety Pale Ale and Evo. IPA in 22-ounce bottles. Also available are Two Beers Brewing’s new 12-ounce cans – sold in six-packs at select retailers including Whole Foods and Central Markets – featuring Panorama Wheat, Evo. IPA and Trailhead ISA.

Offering twelve beers – including five year-round, seven seasonal and a host of intricate infusions – Two Beers Brewing also offers pints, growlers and kegs-to-go in its 4,800-square-foot SoDo brewery and tasting room, in addition to being available on tap in more than 300 restaurants and bars in Washington and Idaho. For more information, be sure to follow Two Beers Brewing on Facebook or visit www.twobeersbrewery.com.

About Two Beers Brewing Co.

Two Beers Brewing Co. – makers of Evolutionary IPA and a host of Northwest-inspired beers – began operations in a small Seattle basement in 2007. Today, Two Beers Brewing produces twelve unique beers including five year-round, seven seasonals and a host of intricate infusions in its 4,800-square-foot SoDo brewery. Two Beers Brewing distributes to Seattle-area bars and restaurants, with tastings kegs, and growler fill-ups available at their tasting room located at 4700 Ohio Ave. S. (Unit A) in SoDo, open weekly Wednesday – Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from noon – 4 p.m. (summer hours). Select brews can also be found in 22-ounce bottles and 12-ounce cans through local retailers. With a strong belief in supporting the local economy, Two Beers Brewing takes pride in using Washington ingredients to create all of its handcrafted beers. For more information, visit www.twobeersbrewery.com.

(Fort Collins, CO) – Hoptober Golden Ale, New Belgium Brewing’s fall seasonal, is ushering in the cooler fall months with its complex hop profile and depth of flavor. Hoptober, which New Belgium originally introduced in 2009, is a medium-bodied ale that brings five hops and four malts together to create a creamy mouthfeel.

Centennial, Cascade, Sterling, Willamette and Glacier hops form a bonfire of citrus notes, fruity cheers and a bold finale in this multifaceted fall seasonal, which also combines pale and wheat malt mashed with rye and oats.

“Hoptober embraces the shift to fall with an abundance of flavors,” said Bryan Simpson, New Belgium spokesperson. “The variety of hops make it a great fall beer, with the perfect balance to quench your thirst after a fall bike ride.”

Hoptober, with 40 IBUs and six percent ABV, is available through October in most states where New Belgium is sold. To locate Hoptober in your area using New Belgium’s Libation Locator or for suggested food pairings and additional information about Hoptober, visit www.newbelgium.com.

About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Amber Ale and other Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces eight year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit, Trippel and Ranger IPA, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

(Newport, OR) – Micro batch testing of the Rogue Floor Malting system at a SECRET LOCATION at 1001 SE 9th Ave, Portland, Oregon 97214 has concluded and the Floor Malted barley is being used to brew Chatoe Rogue’s Good Chit Pilsner.

Good Chit Pilsner is made with 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 hours a day. “Chit” refers to the start of the rootlets that emerge from the embryo of the kernel once steeping is complete and germination begins.

Floor-Malting is an extension of Rogue’s commitment to knowing and letting others know the Terroir, Province and Origin of its ingredients by Growing Your Own (GYO). Floor Malting in micro batches allows the Maltsters and Brewers to control variety, roast and complexion of their ingredients. The end creation is unlike anything available on store shelves.

Rogue is dedicated to saving the terroir of Oregon hops and barley, one acre at a time, by growing its own. The Rogue Grow Your Own (GYO) Micro Barley Farm is located in Oregon’s Tygh Valley Appellation and Rogue’s 42 acre Micro Hopyard is located in Oregon’s Wigrich Appellation.

Good Chit Pilsner will be on shelves on October 1st, 2011.

(Victor, ID) – Grand Teton Brewing Company, known throughout the West for their exceptional craft brews, will celebrate the release of Wake Up Call Imperial Coffee Porter at their pub in Victor, Idaho on Friday, August 26. Wake Up Call is the autumnal brew in their 2011 “Cellar Reserve” series of specialty beers.

Wake Up Call Imperial Coffee Porter has a distinct and robust coffee flavor that blends harmoniously with the roasted malts. Caramel, chocolate, and black malts give this ale its dark color and overtones of caramel and a cocoa-like sweetness. Only very gently hopped, the addition of coffee shines through, providing a delicious accent to this brew.

Grand Teton Brewing Company used well over a pound per barrel of Triple Certified Espresso beans from Caffe Ibis Coffee Roasting Company in Logan, Utah. This specialty dark roast has caramel sweetness with hints of dark chocolate and nuts and a smooth clean finish. While the focus has been on finding the perfect mate for this seasonal porter, it is no coincidence that the choice of beans also supports social justice and sustainable agriculture.

Caffe Ibis is a locally owned and operated 35-year-old award winning Green Business and custom roasting house. It specializes in Triple Certified, Organic, Fair Trade, and Smithsonian Shade Grown “Bird-Friendly” coffees from around the world. Reuter’s Triple Pundit called it “The World’s Most Sustainable Coffee.” Over the years Newsweek Magazine, The Wine Spectator, and Sunset Magazine have all added to the chorus singing praises to the remarkable cup quality of Caffe Ibis Coffee.

Porter was the first industrial beer, brewed for the laborers of England’s Industrial Revolution. Technological advances of the 18th century–such as the thermometer and hydrometer–allowed brewers to refine the brewing process. These changes allowed for brewers to create consistent batches of beer, and that beer was nearly always porter.

The addition of coffee to porter is an even more recent creation, with craft brewers of the past 30 years embracing the enhancement that coffee makes to the flavor and body of dark ales.

The coffee flavors in this ale pair exceptionally well with meaty entrees: drink this Imperial Porter with grilled steak, barbequed spare ribs, or portabella mushrooms sautéed with soy sauce. The toast and chocolate-like flavors of the dark malt complement sweet confections. Any dessert that you would take with coffee will be a fine accompaniment to this ale. We recommend tiramisu, hazelnut scones, and German chocolate cake.

If stored appropriately, this beer should stand up to the test of time. The roasted coffee and rich maltiness will mingle together and mellow with age; but at 7.5% alcohol by volume, we don’t recommend you cellar it for much more than a year.

The Cellar Reserve series of beers are unique, different even from other craft beers. Grand Teton Brewing Company’s Cellar Reserves are brewed with specialty hops and malts and unique strains of yeast. Most ales and lagers are produced in 2-4 weeks. However, up to 8 months are spent on each of the Cellar Reserve specialty brews. They are also bottle-conditioned, which produces natural carbonation that will blend and smooth the flavors with time. Proper aging of many of these bottles creates beers to be cherished.

Grand Teton Brewing Company will release three specialty brews in the Cellar Reserve line for 2011. The production quantity for each brew is very limited.

Wake Up Call Imperial Coffee Porter is available at select locations in California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming! Call the brewery at 1-888-899-1656 for information and availability on this exciting new product.

Grand Teton Brewing Company was founded in 1988 as the first modern “micro” brewery in the state of Wyoming. Today, Grand Teton Brewing Company is in the Brewer’s Association’s “Top 100 Craft Breweries in North America.” Their premium microbrews include the 9x gold-medal-winning Bitch Creek ESB, the 2009 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal Winner (American Pale Ale) Sweetgrass APA and the favorites of the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks; Old Faithful Ale (pale golden), Howling Wolf Weisse Bier (hefeweizen) and Teton Ale (amber.) From their production facility in Victor, Idaho, Grand Teton Brewing Company beers are hand-crafted from only the finest ingredients, including locally-grown grains and pure Teton mountain spring water.

Grand Teton Brewing Company is a green company utilizing environmentally conscious and sustainable practices whenever possible. Grand Teton Brewing Company is also the inventor of the modern glass growler, which is estimated to have saved over one billion bottles and cans from entering the ecosystem to date. Discriminating beer drinkers can find their favorite Grand Teton Brewing Company brews on tap and in bottles throughout California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

(Seattle, WA) – SBS Imports and the Seattle Beer Collective are pleased to announce the second annual edition of Cider Summit Seattle. The event will be on Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 11am-7pm at Discovery Center Park in South Lake Union near Westlake & Denny Way.

Last year’s inaugural Cider Summit was the area’s largest-ever tasting of artisanal ciders with over 50 elegantly crafted products from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, California, England, and France. “We received an enthusiastic response from both the producers and attendees,” noted SBC’s Ian Roberts. “We are very excited to be back for year two and reach an even wider audience of cider enthusiasts.”

The owners and cidermakers will be on hand to inform and guide guests through the samplings which will be available in 3-ounce and 6-ounce portions. Each featured cider is made from 100% pressed apples (or pears) and is made without concentrates or other additives. In addition to the superb range of ciders, the event will feature food from Brave Horse Tavern,ongoing demonstrations of apple pressing courtesy of Ryan’s Juice, live music, and even bottle sales to go.

“We believe we’ve created a unique event,” added event co-founder Alan Shapiro of SBS Imports. “The cider selection will be even more diverse this year and the vast majority will be available to taste at $2.00. It should be a great opportunity for attendees to sample many of the best ciders available in the United States if not the world.”

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 (cash only) at the door and are available online via Brown Paper tickets and at many of the area’s leading bottle shops. Admission includes a tasting glass and 10 drink tickets. From 11a-12n arriving guests will receive 2 additional “happy hour” tickets. Additional drink tickets will be available for sale onsite at $2 per ticket. The event is 21 and over only. Dogs will be allowed on event grounds. For more information including a list of participating ciders please visit www.cidersummitnw.com.

Cider Summit Seattle benefits Northwest Cider Association (www.nwcider.org) and The Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research (www.imbcr.org). The Northwest Cider Association promotes awareness of artisan produced ciders among the general public and fosters cooperation within the industry for all producers. IMBCR is one of the world’s leading independent research organizations developing effective therapies to increase the quality of life and longevity of myeloma patients. Cider Summit sponsors include Brave Horse Tavern, Click Distributing, Seattle Weekly, and KMTT.

(Portland, OR) – Fresh hop beer season is almost here.

Not one, not two, but three fresh hop beers from super regional breweries were approved this week. Fresh hop beers are a welcome addition to what is a fall season already jam-packed with traditional seasonals like pumpkin ales and Oktoberfest beers. Expect to start seeing them roll out early-mid September as some brewers are reporting having harvested their hops already.

Beer descriptions…

Deschutes Fresh Hop Mirror Pond Pale Ale

This noble, fresh hop version of our classic American Pale Ale arose from a single plot of heirloom Cascade hops, revived by our brewers from the original rootstock developed at Oregon State University, grown by Goshie Farms in Oregon. This very limited release is just for you. (Bond Street Series / 22 oz).

New Belgium Fresh Hop IPA

Fresh picking for some lip lickings, this beauty of a beer boasts a fresh crop of Cascade, Centennial and Amarillo hops. We’re talking from vine to brew within 24 hours fresh. Citrusy, soft fruit tones. Fresh hop IPA. (Lips of Faith Series / 22 oz).

Sierra Nevada Homegrown Ale

Here in the sun-drenched fields of California’s North Valley, the black soil is rich with promise. In winter, rows of barley seed are laid in the freshly tilled dirt. In spring, trellises are set for hops. From our fields comes a remarkable homegrown ale, made with organic wet hops and barley grown at our brewery here in Chico and one of the few estate-made ales produced anywhere in the world!

This Estate Ale is rish with the flavors of the valley – featuring hops with earthy, grapefruit-like flavors and layered spicy aromas and barley with mild sweetness and smooth, toasted flavors. Together, these crops grow alongside the brewery to make a truly unique brew. (2011 edition / 750ml).

(Fort Collins, CO) – When branding a beer after a culture with which you are not familiar goes horribly wrong…

When I posted the label and press release for Funkwerks Māori King Imperial Saison on August 8th, I did so without a second thought, being completely unfamiliar with the history of these indigenous people. Apparently, Funkwerks wasn’t familiar with them enough either…

According to Wikipedia, “The arrival of Europeans to New Zealand starting from the 17th century brought enormous change to the Māori way of life. Māori people gradually adopted many aspects of Western society and culture. Initial relations between Māori and Europeans were largely amicable, and with the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 the two cultures coexisted as part of a new British colony. However, rising tensions over disputed land sales led to conflict in the 1860s. Social upheaval, decades of conflict and epidemics of disease took a devastating toll on the Māori population. But by the start of the 20th century the Māori population had begun to recover, and efforts were made to increase their standing in wider New Zealand society. A marked Māori cultural revival gathered pace in the 1960s and is continuing.”

Within the last 24 hours, news has spread across New Zealand media outlets and Māori news websites about the beer’s existence and the Māori’s contention with use of their culture in the beer’s branding.

In short, they are outraged.

Over the past fifteen hours, Funkwerks’ Facebook page has been flooded with criticism. The image that I uploaded to Flickr gives you an idea of how many posts have been made on the FB page during that time. [Note: the original on my computer is 29,000px in height.]

As part of a formal statement to the Māori people, Funkwerks Co-Owner/Brewer, Gordon Schuck, writes, “There is a saying, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The Maori King name was meant as homage to the Maori people and their fight to have their own leaders. I don’t know the entire history of the Maori people but if it’s anything like the Native Americans, I’m sure they’ve gotten the short end of the stick. I’m very sympathetic to native people. My fiancé is part Native American. I never meant this name to be construed as an insult and for that I am deeply sorry.”

The brewery has not yet given an indication that it will change the branding for Māori King.

Mmmmm….baaaaacon.

Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Maple Bacon Porter: To be released in 750s. Made with maple syrup, apple-smoked bacon and vanilla beans. One thing that we’ve learned about maple bacon beers is that they are either a home run swing or bad miss. Goose Island Maple Bacon Stout apparently didn’t turn out that great while Funky Buddha Maple Bacon Porter has been one of the buzz beers of 2011.

Mother’s Foggy Notion Barleywine: Not quite English. Not quite American. Foggy Noggin is a big ole, 100% Ozarks-born barleywine ale. Boatloads of malt give this full-bodied beauty a deep-copper color and light brown sugar flavor. Six months of aging nurtures hints of oak and stone fruit, making Foggy Notion perfect for sharing or sipping alone.

Hopworks Bike Beer Kolsch Style Ale: Marking this fall’s bike events.

Others…

New Belgium Lips of Faith Ken’s Ale
De Molen Rook an Vuur Smoked Ale with Chili Peppers
Widmer Brothers Rosehipster
Mons Abbey Witte by Belgh Brasse Brewery
Ranger Creek Gulf Coast Imperial IPA
Golden Road Point the Way IPA
Viven Ale by Brouwerij van Viven
Viven Imperial IPA by Brouwerij van Viven
Cuee du Flor Ambree by Brasserie Artisanale du Flo
Hopdraeck by Brouwerij Troch

New beer labels…big batch for Tuesday.

Update: One more…Goose Island Raspberry Dominique (1/6 keg). Here is the RateBeer description for the original Dominique.

Bell’s This One Goes to 11 Ale: Label copy…”When you get to batch 10,000, where can you go? You go one louder. The deep amber color of this Imperial Red Ale is complimented with a robust, sweet, toasted malt character that finds balance with a bolder, pronounced hop flavor. In other words, it pushes over the cliff to 11.” Label approvals are not necessarily finalized, no additional info on this one at this time.

Widmer Brothers W12 Dark Saison: Already seeing label approval for next year’s Brewmasters’ Release Series. Keep in mind that WBB has been known to change their labels around a few times though this is probably a safe a bet to happen. Approved for both 12 oz. and 22 oz. bottles.

Redhook Nut Brown Ale: The Mudslinger name had a short run.

Mash Up: Recall the world’s largest collaborative beer, created by 44 breweries in New Zealand. Now it is going to be imported by The Shelton Brothers.

New Belgium Lips of Faith Fresh Hop IPA: The Trip IV was a fresh hop beer but, outside of that, I believe this is NBB’s first fresh hop effort.

Samuel Adams Griffin’s Bow Oaked Blonde Barleywine: 11.5% ABV, keg collar only for now

Sprecher Special Amber and Mai Bock: Not positive what is new on these though they are both approvals are for 16 oz bottles

Others…

Big Hurt Beer (< in case you missed it)

Marshall Wharf Toughcats Imperial Pale Ale
Black Husky Batch 100 Ale
Carolina Flagship IPA
Kaiser Schtopumfhromfhloppum German-style Kolsch
Odd Side Ales Fig Brewton

Batch two of today’s new beer labels…

Ovila Quad: Label copy…

A collaboration between Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and the monks at the Abbey of New Clairvaux, Ovila Abbey Quad brings the centuries-old monastery brewing tradition to America.

Ovila Abbey Quad is rich and complex with layers of flavor including notes of intense dark fruits, and caramel-like maltiness. Rich and complex, this ale should be shared among friends in the true spirit of the season.

A portion of proceeds from this ale goes toward the restoration of the historic Santa Maria de Ovila chapter house on the grounds of the Abbey of New Clairvaux. This medieval building stood for nearly eight centuries in Spain. William Randolph Hearst purchased the monastery in 1931 and planned to use the stones for a castle even grander than his famous San Simeon. Although Hearst’s plans crumbled, these historic stones will rise again in a California Cistercian abbey.

Others…

Laurelwood Stingy Pumpkin Ale
Steamworks Quince Anos Barleywine Ale (15th Anniversary)
Shiner Holiday Cheer (24 oz)
Cascade Lakes Slippery Slope Ale
Pismo Bolina Brown Ale
Pismo Roadster Red Ale
Pismo Pale Ale
Pismo Bootlegger Blonde Ale
Pismo India Pale Ale

(Portland, OR) – Profit was up big for Craft Brewers Alliance in the second quarter with the sale of its hefty stake in Goose Island but the real story is always in the barrels. Let us take a closer look…

Total shipments topped 191k barrels for the second quarter, up nearly 12% from the second quarter of 2010.

Remember when I hinted that Kona Brewing may actually pass RedHook Brewery as the second largest CBA member this year?

Well, it’s already happened. Through the first half, Kona shipped 90.6k barrels of beer to 89.5k Redhook’s barrels. Kona shipments grew 35% in the 2nd quarter and have grown 41% for the year so far. The majority of that growth is coming on the off-premise side.

Kona may even win the race to be the next small brewer to hit 200k barrels, passing Bell’s, Harpoon and Boulevard who were each around 150k barrels produced in 2010.

Solid all around for Kona once again…

How about the other two members of the Craft Brewers Alliance? The first quarter that we’d see some results from the mega re-branding efforts that launched early this past spring…

RedHook had an improved quarter, up 4.4%. Widmer Brothers was down 5.1%.

Off-premise growth for both breweries was steady, if not improved in the case of RedHook, but draft sales are declining. Widmer draft sales alarmingly sank 11% to just over 33,000 barrels. Recall that Widmer Brothers was a draft-only brewery through 1995. Draft sales are down to their lowest mark for Widmer Brothers since 1992 when it produced just shy of 30,000 barrels (Modern Brewery Age Year-in-Review 1993). Almost two decades.

All in all, some troubling numbers considering selling, general and administrative expenses rose 41% for the quarter.

On the bright side, CBA did trim cost of sales by nearly 5%.

As far as individual brands go, some recent Symphony IRI data (courtesy of Modern Brewery Age) breaks things down even a bit further.

Year-to-date through June 12, Kona Longboard Lager emerged as one of the nation’s top 100 brands in the food channel with 53% growth. Long Hammer IPA has been doing well for RedHook, up 5% in the same channel. On the flip side, sales of Widmer Brothers’ flagship brand, Hefeweizen, are down nearly 8% across all channels for the four weeks ending July 10.

The next plotline? It is not a matter of if but when does Kona overtake Widmer Brothers as the largest member of the Craft Brewers Alliance. If these second quarter numbers are any indication, 2012 isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

(Boulder, CO) – In recent years, residents of New Mexico have been refining their palates with an ever-increasing selection of craft beers. Greater demand for quality beer has helped to bolster the state’s own craft industry, as well as to open the door for distribution of product from other states.

In August of 2011, New Mexicans will be treated to yet another option from their neighbors to the North. Twisted Pine Brewing Company out of Boulder, Colorado is excited to begin distributing their award-winning ales in the land of enchantment. “The cultures in New Mexico and Colorado share so much. We’re very eager to extend our efforts to customers who will truly appreciate and enjoy them,” declares Jody Valenta, General Manager of Twisted Pine.

A little over a year and a half ago, few people outside the state of Colorado knew of Twisted Pine Brewing Company and the high-quality, hand-crafted beers produced there. Fewer still could brag of ever having tasted the skillfully brewed ales created by this small Boulder brewery. Since that time, Twisted Pine has plunged into the national craft beer picture, creating quite the ripple.

New Mexico marks the seventh state in which the Twisted ales can now be found. Distribution of Twisted Pine products will be handled by L&F Distributors based out of Roswell. Beer-loving New Mexicans should start noticing at least a half-dozen varieties on the shelves between the middle and end of August. Calle McCann, Sales Representative for the brewery and a former New Mexico resident herself, is especially enthusiastic about how one particular Twisted Pine offering will be received. “Our Billy’s Chilies will definitely find a lot of fans there,” predicts McCann. A wheat ale infused with 5 different types of peppers, Billy’s Chilies certainly appears to be the perfect fit in a state that is world-renowned for its cultivation of green chile, one of the ingredients used to flavor the unique ale.

Information on Twisted Pine, along with beer descriptions, can be found online at the brewery’s website, http://twistedpinebrewing.com.

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Based in Boulder, Colorado Twisted Pine Brewing Company has been handcrafting beer since 1995. They are the brewers of such favorites as “Hoppy Boy IPA,” “Raspberry Wheat Ale” and “Billy’s Chilies.” The Ale House is a very popular local hangout and boasts 17 taps, 5 rotating. Twisted Pine is active with local charitable organizations and a strong believer in sustainable business practices. You can find more information at www.twistedpinebrewing.com.

(Press Release)

Wisconsinites can raise a glass with Juneau’s “taste of Alaska” this Labor Day

(Juneau, AK) – Beer drinkers in Wisconsin will be able to celebrate the Labor Day holiday with brews from the state of 100,000 glaciers when Alaskan Brewing brings their bottled “taste of Alaska” to the Badger State this September. Alaskan Brewing Co. is partnering with six local distributors to help share the products throughout the state.

“We are thrilled to represent Alaskan Brewing Co’s award-winning beers in our markets,” says Mike Frank, President of Middleton’s Frank Beer Distributing, one of Alaskan’s Wisconsin partners.

With the addition of Wisconsin, Alaskan’s second new market entry since 2008, Alaskan beer will be available in a total of 12 states. Alaskan will be entering Wisconsin with their Gold Rush-era inspired Alaskan Amber. Alaskan IPA and White Ale will be available in mid-September, a number of their year-round and seasonal beers will be available in kegs and caseware in the state later this fall.

“Customers have been asking for it and we look forward to selling such great craft beers in our 30th year of business,” says Sussex-based Beer Capitol’s Ken Limas. Alaskan will also be partnering with Lee Beverage, Kay Beer Distributing, CJW Distributing and LaCrosse Beverage.

This year the Juneau-based Alaskan Brew Crew celebrates their 25th year of handcrafting award-winning beers brewed with the historic recipes and local ingredients of the Last Frontier.

“We are excited to celebrate our anniversary with a hop over the Mississippi to share our beers with Alaskan fans in Wisconsin,” says Alaskan Brewing Co-Founder Marcy Larson.

Alaskan Brewing will be posting news and announcements about launch events and activities at Facebook.com/AlaskanBrewingCoWI and AlaskanBeer.com as they get closer to the September release.

25th Anniversary Alaskan Perseverance Ale Releases September 1

Alaskan has been brewing in the remote coastal town of Juneau, Alaska for the last 25 incredible years. To celebrate this tradition, the Brew Crew created Alaskan Perseverance Ale; a Russian Imperial Stout brewed with Alaska birch syrup, fireweed honey and alder-smoked malt – a tribute to all that makes Alaskan beers truly Alaskan.

Learn more.

About Alaskan Brewing Co.
Alaskan Brewing Co. has been making award-winning beer in Juneau, Alaska, since 1986. The Alaskan Brew Crew bottles the unique character of the Last Frontier with historic recipes, local ingredients and glacier-fed water. Alaskan Brewing handcrafts Amber, Pale, White, IPA, Stout, Smoked Porter, Winter Ale, Summer Ale and a variety of limited edition beers in the Alaskan Pilot Series. Follow Alaskan at Facebook.com/AlaskanBrewingCo, Twitter.com/AlaskanBrewing and www.alaskanbeer.com.

(Fort Collins, CO) – Just got this brief in the mail from Funkwerks. Their first limited “specialty” bottle release since opening I reckon…

Funkwerks has released its Imperial Saison, Māori King in bottles. It has been wildly popular on tap, and we are pleased to be able to offer it to customers asking for it in bottles. Māori King bursts with fruity tropical characteristics of passion fruit, mango, and peach from New Zealand Rakau hops. Combined with the pepper and ginger flavors produced by our house yeast, it is a flavor extravaganza. 750 ml bottles of Māori King are now available in our Fort Collins tap room as well as various liquor stores in the Fort Collins area. Look for Māori King in Denver and Boulder liquor stores in the coming weeks.

Funkwerks focuses on producing unique Saison ales in the spirit of the farmhouse breweries of Wallonia. Our beers are individualistic and rustic, yet refined. We have eight Saison style beers on tap in our Fort Collins tap room, as well as bottles of our flagship Saison and White available at various locations in the Fort Collins, Denver, and Boulder areas. Please visit www.funkwerks.com for more information on our company and beers.

(Portland, OR) – Hair of the Dog Brewing‘s “Top Dog,” Alan Sprints, joined The Brewing Network last Sunday.

BLEND UPDATE: Per Deschutes Brewery’s Twitter feed, “Today we are determining the blend of Conflux No.1, a collage of Fred, Adam, The Dissident & The Stoic.”

Here is what Sprints teased about the Deschutes collaboration project, Conflux No. 01. Keep in mind that this project was first announced in late April, 2010…

I’m doing a project with Deschutes Brewing where we have some Cognac barrels and Sherry casks. It’s amazing how much nicer those beers taste than the ones in bourbon barrels.

Yeah, I think so. I’m actually heading to Deschutes in a couple weeks to do a blending/tasting of barrels. I don’t know if we will get a final blend at this tasting but it’s possible.

The word out of Deschutes earlier this summer was that the beer may not even be ready until 2012 but this sounds promising.

For reference, the interview took place on 7/31 so blending would take place in mid-August. Sprints also dishes out a lot of brewing knowledge and talks at length about his beers so the whole episode is well worth a listen. He comes on around the 50-55 minute mark and sticks around for about two hours.

(Portland, OR) – There is no rest for the weary in the craft beer world these days! After a busy and successful Oregon Craft Beer Month, Breakside Brewery (820 NE Dekum, Portland, Oregon) is taking on August with even greater gusto and will be releasing ten new brews over the course of the next four weeks.

To kick off the month, brewers Ben Edmunds and Sam Barber tapped a special version of their Gose, aged on Japanese salt plums. “Instead of adding salt to the finished beer, we pushed some of the beer over to a conditioning vessel filled with ume, or salt plums, which are intensely salty,” explains Barber. The finished beer has all of the saltiness of a gose with just an extra hint of brine and fruit character. Also on tap now is Breakside’s Ahtanum pale ale. This is the same beer that was chosen as the People’s Choice during Breakside’s Night of the Dry Hops back in April. Given Portlanders’ love of hops, this beer is likely to go quick.

Two barrel-aged beers will make their debut this month as well both on draught and in 750 ml Champagne-style bottles. Gin-Barrel Double Wit is a strong Belgian wheat ale that was aged in an Old Tom gin barrel inoculated with lactobacillus. This beer will debut this Saturday at Bailey’s Taproom’s Fourth Anniversary; it will go on draught during a bottle-release at the brewery on August 17 as well. And Bourbon-Barrel Aztec, debuting Aug 31, is a barrel-aged version of the brewery’s signature strong ale; the flavors of chocolate, coconut, vanilla, and chile marry beautifully in this complex brew. Draught of both these beers will be extremely limited; however a good quantity of the bottle-conditioned versions will be available at the pub for consumption on site or to go.

Though it’s still full on summer, three dark beers will make their way out of the Breakside cellar in August. Oude Noire is an American dark farmhouse ale with orange peel; Tony’s Oatmeal Stout is a velvety English-style stout brewed to celebrate owner Tony Petraglia’s wedding; and Breakside and Upright Brewing are teaming up to brew a collaborative Smoked Porter due out at the end of the month.

Variations on these dark beers will make a special appearance during Portland Beer Week on August 25th for Breakside’s Breakfast Beers Night. For one night only, the brewery will tap a Breakfast Stout with coffee and a Whiskey for Breakfast Porter. Additionally, Edmunds and Barber are planning a number of other experiments and surprises for the evening.

Finally, Breakside is planning a bottle release of its India malt liquor, which is exactly what it sounds like: a hopped up version of an American malt liquor. The beer will be available exclusively in 40 ounce bottles for sale at the brewery.

Nearly twenty new beer labels here…

Uinta Hyve Honey Ale
Stillwater Artisanal Mekong’s Phoson
Flying Fish Dublin Square Ale
Flying Fish Maxwell’s 35 Ale
Two Beers SoDo Brown Ale
Two Beers Immersion Amber Ale
Ventura’s Surf Surf Patrol Black IPA Style Ale
Piney River Missouri Mule IPA
Piney River McKinney Eddy Amber Ale
Crabtree Chunkin’ Pumpkin
Flat Rock Inclined Plane Ale
Frankenmuth Batch 69 IPA
Frankenmuth Red Sky
Frankenmuth American Blonde
Long Ireland Breakfast Stout
Little Mountain Hells Bells American Pale Ale
Little Mountain Mad Hornet American Pale Ale
Little Mountain Nine Tail Imperial IPA
Old Tom by Unicorn Brewery

A dozen new beer labels featured…western and international breweries here

Avery Immitis Barrel-Aged Sour Ale: No. 9 in the Barrel-aged Series… “Mercilessly and cruelly sour. A very dark and superb blend from 11 of our finest first use Zinfandel barrels. So yes, expect loads of barrel character to compliment the malt and acidity.” Brewed with Imported specialty Belgian malted barley, malted wheat, Saccharomyces yeast, Brettanomyces yeast, Lactobacillus and Pediococcus.

Capital Eternal Flame: Capital Square Series… “Welcome to our 25th anniversary beer. A big, lush malt eruption of a Doppelbock that is the ‘birth beer’ of a concept. The story of the Flame is to be a continually evolving creation over time.”

Hess Anno Unum: “Happy birthday to us! The beer you are holding, Anno Unum, represents a significant milestone – it is the first in what we expect to be a long line of Anno-series birthday celebration beers. We opened our doors one year ago as San Diego’s first production nano-brewery and now we’ve poured everything we have into this bottle. You hold in your hand a beer that honors the tradition of craft brewing and exemplifies the reputation we’ve worked hard to garner – a reputation for delicious, well-balanced craft brews.

Belgian-style IPA made with Pilsner, Rye and Munich malts. Chinook and Falconer’s Flight hops.”

To be released on August 13th in 750s.

Others…

Heretic Tafelbully Belgian-style Ale
Ventura’s Surf County Line Rye Pale Ale
Von Scheidt Otto Pilate
Klamath Basin Vanilla Porter
Anaheim 1888 California Lager
Anaheim Red
La Biere du Demon French Specialty Ale
Birra del Borgo Maledetta Saison IPA
Bink Bloesem (Belgian Ale with Pear Syrup and Honey)

(Longmont, CO & Athens, GA) – Another pull-out and some new brews…

News trickled out earlier this summer that Left Hand Brewing has pulled distribution from Nebraska. The brewery has withdrawn distribution from a number of markets over the past year as demand in core markets has soared.

Atlanta Beer Master reports that this year’s Fade to Black release will be Chili Porter, due out in November.

Collaboration time with Terrapin Beer Co…here is the latest from Terrapin’s newsletter:

“The magic between Terrapin and Left Hand began in 2008 after a beer festival, around midnight, when the two companies decided to do an annual collaborative brew. This July we are once again teaming up to create the next volume of the Midnight Project series. This year’s collaboration has an agricultural theme featuring a product both states are known for…peaches! The ‘Peaotch‘ is a peachy ale that is sure to please.

Terrapin hosted the crew from Left Hand in Georgia this month for the brewing of ‘Peaotch.’ Left Hand Brew Master, Ro Gunzel, and Spike commenced to brewing late one night and we’re looking forward to another amazing beer this year!”

Finally, Terrapin’s Reunion Ale collaboration just debuted this past weekend:

“Reunion Ale ’11- A Beer for Hope is almost ready! This collaboration with Shmaltz Brewing Company is a Dark Ale brewed with cocoa nibs (from Olive and Sinclair), vanilla and chili peppers! Support the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research July 29 & 30th with two percentage nights featuring the release of the 2011 Reunion Ale! This will be the first chance to try this year’s brew and a chance to help us support a great cause! Our friends at The Beer Experience documented the brew day. Watch for these 22oz bottles soon.”

(Newport Beach, CA) – In response to an overwhelming demand from its distributor and retail partners, Coast Brands Group, LLC has announced the creation of its Craft Beer Division. Coast Brands, known for its one-of-a-kind Distributor Network and retail authorization services, has already signed two brands to its Craft Beer Portfolio: Crazy Mountain Brewery, located in Vail, Colorado and Hardtail Brewery, the World’s first “Biker” Craft Beer.

Bob Groux, Founder & CEO of Coast Brands explains, “Craft Beers, like many of our non-alcoholic brands, face challenges with distribution and chain authorizations. Beer distributors represent the vast majority of our network so it was a natural fit for us to get into the beer business. The distributors we work with have been asking us to bring them high quality crafts; now the time is right, and Crazy Mountain and Hardtail are both excellent brews.”

Located in the heart of the beautiful Vail Valley, Crazy Mountain Brewing Company was founded by Kevin Selvy and Marisa Aguilar who combined their passion for craft beer to create Vail Valley’s first production brewery. Crazy Mountain’s year round craft beer styles include its flagship Amber Ale, Lava Lake Wit, Mountain Livin’ Pale Ale, Old Soul Strong Belgian Golden Ale, Hookiebobb IPA and Cara de Luna Black Ale. Available in draft and smartly packaged in 12 oz cans, each style of hand crafted beer offers the brewmaster’s unique take on the traditional styles. “Coast Brands is the perfect partner for us,” Kevin Selvy states. “The vast distribution and retail market knowledge that Coast provides gives our brand instant leverage with the largest and most reputable beer distributors in the Nation.”

Hardtail Brewery, based in Johnston, Colorado, has already established a large presence in Colorado and is now ready to expand to other states. Hence, their Coast Brands partnership was formed. Available in draft and 12 oz bottles, Hardtail Lager is an Amber American Lager that is fermented cold and lagered for 30 day thus providing the active Hardtail consumer a crisp full body drinkable beer, not too heavy, not too light, just right. “We are extremely excited for the expansion opportunities that Coast Brands brings to the table” says Jacob Unrein. “We are ready to enter additional markets”.

The initial focus for both craft beer brands will be California, Texas and Florida with the subsequent goal to distribute nationwide. Groux’s advice to his new craft beer clients is to expand strategically and slowly. “One of the issues that many breweries face is capacity. We want to ensure that our brands can handle the demand/volume in the target states before expanding further.” Hardtail and Crazy Mountain have both been very well received by major distributors in the Coast Brands Network in all three markets and shipments into California and Texas should begin next month.

About Coast Brands Group, LLC
Coast Brands Group, LLC, located in Newport Beach, California, is the leading brand representation provider for companies looking to establish or expand sales and distribution to key markets in the United States. Its DSD Network is approaching 100 distributors that together reach over 100,000 retail accounts in the West, Southeast, Midwest and Southwest. Coast Brands is unique in that it represents brands to DSD distributors as well as retailers. Its impressive list of brands/clients include New Leaf Teas & Lemonades, HER, Kronik Energy, Celsius and OhYeah!, ACTIVATE and, most recently, craft beer brands Crazy Mountain and Hardtail. For information please visit: www.coastbrands.com

(Fort Collins, CO) – Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project announced they will release their first two bottled beers, Pure Guava Petite Sour and Wild Wild Brett “Rouge” on Thursday August 11th.

UPDATE: From Brewer/Owner, Chad Yakobson, “We are awaiting shipping of the labels from the label company. Our labels were finished late last week and all design was done by graphic designer Travis Olsen.” Full beer descriptions have been attached below.

Here’s the run down…

750 ml bottles of Pure Guava Petite Sour and Wild Wild Brett “Rouge” will make their debut at the bottle release party held at funkwerks brewery tap room in Ft. Collins CO. starting at 6PM on Thursday, August 11th. This is the first of many bottle releases from Crooked Stave as we look to roll out with plenty more barrel-aged sour, specialty release and funky Brettanomyces beers. Also available on draft for the releases will be a single keg of Crooked Stave’s Good Glory, a beer brewed exclusively for Euclid Hall Bar and Kitchen in Denver, CO. as well as Wild Wild Brett and Petite Sour.

The bottles of Pure Guava Petite Sour have been quietly conditioning since May 23rd awaiting their release. This refreshingly tart, spontaneously soured, rustic wheat beer, brewed with the addition of oats and spiced with coriander and sumac, was fermented entirely in our distinct oak foeder. Pure Guava is an unfiltered, golden wild ale with tropical fruit aromas and bright citrus flavors created by a proprietary Brettanomyces strain. This will be the only time Pure Guava is released, as each Petite Sour will change to reflect the seasons it is brewed and the mischievous minds of our brewers.

The anxiously awaited first release from the Wild Wild Brett R&D series is over! Historically considered ”wild yeast”, Brett is responsible for 100% of the fermentation in each installment of the series, which looks to play off the colors of the color wheel for ingredients to match with the different strains of Brett. This first installment of the series, dubbed “Rouge”, incorporates hawthorn berry, rose hips and whole hibiscus flowers in an unfiltered, slightly tart wild ale. Rouge pours a reddish hue delivering soft floral aromas and tropical fruit flavors with a tart earthy finish.

With only a little over 100 cases of each bottled, we expect bottles won’t last too long. Not able to make it to the release? Never fear we have made sure to save away some cases for a few of our favorite liquor stores throughout the Denver metro and Colorado front range areas.

—————————————————

Pure Guava Petite Sour

Wild Ale brewed with spices
4.5% abv

Deviating from conventional brewing methods and inspired by historic brewing techniques, we created our Pure Guava Petite Sour. This refreshingly tart rustic wheat beer, brewed with the addition of oats and spiced with coriander and sumac, was fermented entirely in our distinct oak foeder. Pure Guava is an unfiltered, golden wild ale with tropical fruit aromas and bright citrus flavors created by a proprietary Brettanomyces strain. This beer is bottled with the natural yeast, if cellared in a cool dark place it will develop more complex Brett characteristics and evolve for years to come. Drink as you would a wheat beer, cloudy with the yeast in suspension. Please enjoy this unique offering in your favorite stemmed glassware and allow the beer to breathe and open up as you swirl it in your glass. Visit us on the web for more batch release details.

Thoroughly chill and open carefully, slowly degassing the excess CO2 built up from the active yeast.

Pure Guava Petite Sour is an unfiltered, golden wild ale, brewed with wheat and oats and spiced with coriander and sumac. A serious sourness greets you on the nose with lingering tropical fruit aromas and bright citrus flavors created by the Brettanomyces. The finish is dry with a subtle earthy, creamy mouthfeel.

Wild Wild Brett Rouge

Ale brewed with Hawthorn Berry, Rose Hips and Hibiscus
100% Brettanomyces Fermentation
5.2% abv

Wild Wild Brett is a series of beers created to showcase the versatility of Brettanomyces, a yeast found naturally all over the world. Historically considered ”wild yeast”, Brett is responsible for 100% of the fermentation in the bottle you hold. This first installment of the series, dubbed rouge, incorporates hawthorn berry, rose hips and whole hibiscus flowers in an unfiltered, slightly tart wild ale. Rouge pours a reddish hue delivering soft floral aromas and tropical fruit flavors with a tart earthy finish. This beer is bottled with the natural yeast, if aged in a cool dark place this beer will develop more complex Brett characteristics and evolve for years to come. Please enjoy this unique offering in your favorite stemmed glassware and allow the beer to breathe and open up as you swirl it in your glass. Visit us on the web for more batch release details.

Wild Wild Brett Rouge is an unfiltered, slightly tart wild ale, fermented entirely with Brettanomyces yeast. Brewed with hawthorn berry, rosehips, and whole hibiscus flowers, Rouge pours a reddish hue delivering soft floral aromas and tropical fruit flavors with a tart earthy finish.

Part II of today’s new beer label update…west and midwest-based breweries featured here.

Drake’s Aroma Coma: “Aroma Coma is our summer seasonal India Pale Ale. We’ve brewed it annually since 2009 for a local IPA festival, where it was selected one of the top three beers in the competition. The malt bill consists of almost all 2-row barley malt, with a touch of Caramalt for body – leaving you with a delightfully hop-forward experience. Generous amounts of Cascade, Chinook, CTZ and Citra hops create the citrus, pine and floral notes.”

Caldera Mogli Oak-Aged Imperial Porter: “Caldera’s Mogli was inspired by the loss of a dear friend. This is a chocolate, oak-aged Imperial Porter. Mogli is complex, sweet, chocolately big and full of unconditional love!”

Others…

Widmer Brothers Framboise Saison
Anderson Valley Mowkeef Saison
Crystal Springs Barrel Aged Black Saddle Imperial Stout
Redbud Cuvee Three Belgian-style Ale
Wind River Wyoming Pale Ale
Crabtree Orange Blossom Cezanne Saison
Toppling Goliath Golden Nugget IPA
Madison River Black Ghost Oatmeal Stout
Von Scheidt Dead-Line Stout
The Round Barn Grape Expectations

Here is part I of tonight’s beer notes update…

Update: For New Belgium Belgo IPA, “August 1 for six-packs and draft. It’s out in the next few weeks in Folly Packs (mixed 12-ers).

New Belgium: You may remember Belgo IPA when it debuted as part of the Lips of Faith Series last year. You might also remember seeing the new label above that came through in May. Well, that beer is making a comeback. Per the brewery blog, “This beer is going to be the newest offering in the Explore Series (sitting comfortably next to Abbey, Trippel. Mothership Wit and Ranger IPA), which means full time (all year), and 12oz bottles. Holy smokes! The new (non-22oz) package also means that the awesome Belgo IPA disco ball will be front and center.” Look for it “in the coming weeks.”

Hoppin’ Frog: Per the brewery blog, “We have calculated that Frog’s Hollow: Double Pumpkin Ale will be available for release to our distributors August 29. Think Ahead – Think Pumpkin – Think September – Think Frog’s Hollow: Double Pumpkin Ale – Gold Medal Winner at the 2010 G.A.B.F. – It will also be available for retail sales at the brewery that same day. 8.4% a/v | 76 OG (18.4 °P) | 7.3 IBU”

Stone Brewing: Congrats on reaching the 15 year mark. Per Facebook, “15 years ago today, Greg & Steve officially launched Stone Brewing Co.”

Invercargill Brewery / Yeastie Boys: More beer headed our way from down under (ten pallets worth). “Half the beer going to the US is from the North Island-based Yeastie Boys label, which was brewed at Invercargill Brewery, while the labels from Invercargill include Smokin’ Bishop and Boysenbeery.”

White Birch Brewing: Moving into a larger space at some point…

Bonus I: According to the Greenfield Reporter, “Louisiana’s flagship university is collaborating with a microbrewery to launch its own beer, with sales planned to start during the fall football season. The LSU-licensed blonde ale, produced by Baton Rouge-based Tin Roof Brewing Co., will be offered on draught and in cans and will be tied into a food science training program to teach students about fermentation.”

Bonus II: When stressful life situations make their way into beer reviews…

Bonus III: Disaster in the UK…”Beer sales slump by largest amount in 14 years – Britain is turning away from beer with 212 million fewer pints being sold in the last three months than the same period last year, new figures show.”

Bonus IV: Remember the devastating photos of Japan after the earthquake? One of those being a Kirin Brewery plant in Sendai… The brewery announced earlier this month that it will resume operations in September albeit only at 60% capacity as before the quake.

(Seattle, WA) – In response to customer feedback—Pyramid Hefeweizen will return to its roots and original name—officially dropping the name “Haywire” from its packaging.

“Moving away from the tradition that made us great was a mistake,” said Ryan Daley, brand manager for Pyramid. “Our consumers connected with our Pacific Northwest heritage and craft beer brewing tradition. When we changed our Pyramid Hefeweizen packaging and name, they felt disconnected. Our beer no longer reflected our rich history.”

Pyramid Hefeweizen was first introduced in 1993 as an authentic, unfiltered American-style hefeweizen. Brewed with pale barley, wheat and caramel malts and nugget and liberty hops, Pyramid Hefeweizen has a 5.2 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) and rates 18 on the international bittering units (IBU) scale. In 2004 and 2009, Pyramid Hefeweizen won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) and numerous international honors at the World Beer Cup.

In 2008, Pyramid Breweries added the name “Haywire” and changed its packaging to differentiate from other Hefeweizen brands and attract new beer drinkers. The beer remained the same.

“By moving away from our roots, people viewed us differently. It didn’t take us long to figure out that we needed to change,” added Daley. “Our consumers are at the heart of everything we do and we intend on listening moving forward.”
Pyramid Hefeweizen packaging also will get a facelift.

“We’ve made some minor packaging changes right away but we will be talking with beer drinkers and unveiling a new design later this year that is more reminiscent of the tradition and heritage of the Pyramid brand and the Pacific Northwest,” said Daley.

Pyramid Hefeweizen is available in six, 12 and 24-pack bottles, and 12-pack cans at grocery, convenience and drug stores throughout the country. In addition, it is also available in 22 ounce bottles, on draft and 12 ounce cans that hit store shelves this summer.

“Beer lovers have enjoyed the smooth flavor of Pyramid Hefeweizen since we first began brewing it in the early 90s,” said Simon Pesch, head brewer, Pyramid Breweries. “The guys at the brewery are lifting their glasses as we return to our roots and honor the heritage of Hefe.”

About Pyramid Brewing Co.
Based in the Pacific Northwest, Pyramid Breweries, Inc. began as Hart Brewing in 1984 and launched the flagship brand of Pyramid Ales. In 1996, the company was reborn as Pyramid Breweries and currently offers craft beers produced under the Pyramid family of ales and lagers. With breweries in Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, and Berkeley, CA, Pyramid also owns Alehouses at all three locations and two additional Alehouses in Walnut Creek and Sacramento, CA.

Pyramid brewers have earned 15 medals at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), including the honor of Mid-size Brewery of the Year in 2008. The brewery also has been awarded seven medals in international competition at the World Beer Cup.

Pyramid Breweries, Inc. is part of North American Breweries.

Partnerships with a rock band and Elysian Brewing result in artisanal beers

(Fort Collins, CO) – New Belgium Brewing (www.newbelgium.com) today announced two new releases in its Lips of Faith series, “Kick” and “Clutch.” Both are collaboration beers suitably named in honor of their collaborative counterparts and each offers something fine and rare in the Lips of Faith tradition. Lips of Faith beers are New Belgium’s more esoteric creations, delivering palate-elevating brews that are only available for a limited time.

New Belgium’s Founder and CEO, Kim Jordan, and Seattle-based Elysian Brewing Founder and Head Brewer, Dick Cantwell, are in cahoots again with Kick, a ruby-hued, slightly sour ale. The rich and tart pumpkin cranberry ale is blended with wood-aged beer to deliver a uniquely complex harvest season sour. Kick’s ABV is 8.5%. Elysian and New Belgium have a history of celebrated creations with past “collabeerations,” including eight beers in the Trip Series.

Clutch is the result of synchronicity with the Maryland-based hard rock band with the same name. The sour stout has a pronounced bass line of dark chocolate, coffee and black malts that bridge the sourness of the dark wood ale for a fluid riff. Clutch’s ABV is 9%.

“Clutch is one of my favorite bands and this collaboration derives from the perfect storm of random happenings,” said New Belgium brewer Eric Salazar. “The band made a stop in Ft. Collins to tour our brewery, but we were closed. That day, I happened to run into them at a Ft. Collins restaurant and we started talking. I offered them a tour and the next thing you know, we’ve produced a soulful beer together.”

Kick and Clutch are available August through October. Pricing varies by market.

To find New Belgium beers in your area, you can use the New Belgium Libation Location tool: http://www.newbelgium.com/beer.aspx. You can also follow New Belgium on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/newbelgium.

About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces seven year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

(Boulder, CO) – Twisted Pine Brewing Company unveiled Bough Breaker barleywine in front of a full house Saturday, July 16th at the brewery’s sixteenth anniversary party.

Following up on the success of last year’s birthday beer, Hoppy Knight, the brewers chose to commemorate their sweet sixteen with an even bigger, bolder ale. “We’ve worked hard to get to where we are and as we continue to grow we’re able to brew and bottle more and more unique and original beers, Bough Breaker being the next of this series,” imparts brewery owner, Bob Baile.

A true American-style barleywine, Bough Breaker pours a deep, rich red with aromas of citrus hops, dark fruit and light toffee. While delectable to drink the day it’s bottled, Bough Breaker will only become more enchanting with age and cellaring. “At 9% ABV and 120 IBU, this beer is the perfect candidate for a lengthy rest in any beer lover’s basement,” offers Baile, who adds “but with a beer this tasty, the temptation to drink it right away is often too great.”

While Twisted Pine has brewed other barleywines in the past, these were simply small batches destined for distribution solely at the brewery’s ale house. Bough Breaker enjoys the distinction of being the first of its style packaged by the brewery for release throughout Colorado and several other states.

Based in Boulder, Colorado Twisted Pine Brewing Company has been handcrafting beer since 1995. They are the brewers of such favorites as “Hoppy Boy IPA,” “Raspberry Wheat Ale” and “Billy’s Chilies.” The Ale House is a very popular local hangout and boasts 17 taps, 5 rotating. Twisted Pine is active with local charitable organizations and a strong believer in sustainable business practices. You can find more information at www.twistedpinebrewing.com.

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

(Bend, OR) – Deschutes Brewery, the 6th largest craft brewery in the nation, has released new packaging and label designs for four of its year-round brands. The new designs use original label artwork to highlight the landmarks around the region and places brew names in a banner for heightened readability. This new packaging design was tested last year on the brewery’s seasonals, Twilight Summer Ale and Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale, contributing to early sell-out of both brands.

“This project is really an evolution of our existing labels,” said Mark Hegedus, director of sales and marketing for the brewery. “It retains brand recognition, while also positioning our products better at the retail level. We were pleased with the response to our test labeling and packaging last year, which is why we have extended the redesign to our year-round brands.”

Deschutes Brewery’s distinctive oval shape was carried into the new designs, but it features a smaller border, allowing a larger window for highlighting each brand’s striking artwork. The brand name for each respective beer now stands out in a banner across the bottom of the oval window, rather than wrapping around the exterior of the oval, making it easier to read.

New labeling and packaging is currently rolling off of the bottling line for Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, Inversion IPA and Obsidian Stout. The new design template will soon carry forward to Green Lakes Organic Ale and future brands.

Deschutes Brewery’s last packaging overhaul was back in 2004, with some minor design changes in 2007, so they are very excited for this new packaging to hit the shelves in their 17 state distribution network. New artwork can be viewed online at http://www.flickr.com/photos/deschutesbrewery/.

About Deschutes Brewery
Located on the banks of the Deschutes River in beautiful Bend, Oregon, Deschutes Brewery is in the business of daring people to expect more from their beer. That’s why we started off back in 1988, selling Black Butte Porter at a time when others were sure a dark beer would never catch on. Our brewers love to buck convention, especially if it makes someone nervous. For us, however, the highest praise is a raised glass and a toast of “Bravely Done!” For more information about Deschutes Brewery and its courageously crafted beers, please visit www.DeschutesBrewery.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Deschutes.Brewery or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DeschutesBeer.

(Denver, CO) – Breckenridge Brewery of Colorado, LLC, announces momentous production growth of 39% in the first half of 2011 over the same period last year. Production of all brands is up – across main line, seasonal and small batch offerings.

Outstanding performers (based on year over year barrels through June) are:

SummerBright – up 118%
Agave Wheat – up 88%
Vanilla Porter – up 78%
Sampler Packs – up 59%
Lucky U – up 76%
471 IPA – up 67%

“We’ve invested more than ever in sales, production, and marketing in the last 18 months, and we’re seeing real results” says Todd Usry, Brewery Director and Brewmaster. “We expanded in the northeast this year, but we’re growing our existing markets as well.”

“We’ve seen a 35% increase in sales in Denver this year…that’s on top of double-digit growth in 2010,” says Scott Whitley, President of Coors Distributing Company, Breckenridge’s distributor for Denver, Colorado and surrounding areas. “Breckenridge will continue to grow this year, and its well-balanced portfolio of beers positions the brewery to keep growing at a steady pace for a long, long time. We are excited to have Breckenridge in our portfolio and to represent Breckenridge’s brands in its home market.”

Other traditionally strong markets for the brewery, like Texas, Ohio, and Illinois, are up over 50%. Todd Thibault, Director of Marketing for the brewery, has focused the marketing strategy on organic growth as much as new market growth. “Our recent series of short spoof commercials [found by searching “Breckenridge Brewery pokes fun” on www.youtube.com] were a ton of fun and got some attention. Those ads tied in nicely with our growing social media efforts, which are certainly contributing to our organic growth.”

The L. Knife and Sons Companies distribute into Breckenridge Brewery’s recently added northeast territory. “We are excited to be partnering with the Breckenridge team,” says Michael Brazel, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for The L. Knife and Sons Companies. “From the outset, the level of commitment and cooperation from the brewery has been as solid as we’ve experienced. As a result, our retail execution and sales results have exceeded our ambitious expectations. With that said, we still feel there remain enormous opportunities ahead for continued growth.”

To help manage its growth, the brewery is investing in infrastructure this summer and fall.

In partnership with Wynkoop Brewing Company, Breckenridge Brewery purchased the first automated canning line from Wild Goose Engineering of Boulder, Colorado. The new line, the first of its kind from a U.S. manufacturer, will dramatically boost the production of canned beer for both companies. Within weeks Breckenridge Brewery will begin shipping Avalanche Ale, Lucky U, and SummerBright cans in volume. On the horizon is a boost in availability of Wynkoop’s Rail Yard Ale and Silverback Pale Ale in cans.

Two new 300-barrel fermenters are scheduled to be installed later this month. An additional three 300-barrel fermenters are scheduled to be installed in October. The additional capacity, along with a ramped-up 7-day-a-week brewing schedule, will add 37,500 barrels to Breckenridge Brewery’s production capability.

“With these additions to our brewery, we can keep growing at an accelerated rate and still meet demand in our markets,” says Usry.

Breckenridge Brewery was founded in 1990 in Breckenridge, Colorado. In the past two decades Breckenridge Brewery has grown from a small 3,000-barrels-a-year brewpub to one of the most successful craft beer and restaurant companies in the nation. It now handcrafts well over 30,000 barrels of fresh beer annually and owns and operates five brewpubs and ales houses in the state of Colorado.

(Fort Collins, CO) – Some bullet points from today’s Fort Collins Brewery newsletter…

Colorado: We’ve partnered up with Elite Brands to better serve the state of Colorado. Elite will be representing FCB throughout our great (big) state while FCB will continue to service Fort Collins and Loveland.

Kentucky: Statewide distribution kicks off in July with Bryant Distributors. Bryant has come full circle with Red Banshee and Chocolate Stout, two brands they purchased back in the day from HC Berger!

General Distribution in Oregon comes on line with FCB to service a new franchisee called “The Rock”. The Rock has 10 locations in Washington and has chosen FCB as their central craft brewery as they plan to expand across the US in the next couple of years.

Louisiana: FCB is now represented by Jim Carey Distributing in addition to Baton Rouge Beer for even more availability in the Pelican State.

Our Brewers Lunchbox and Incredible Hop are California Dreamin’ as a truckload heads West this July.

(Juneau, AK) – Alaskan Brewing celebrated 25 years of independent brewing in Juneau, Alaska this Independence Day, and company managers stress they have every intention of continuing this tradition for many anniversaries to come.

Despite claims in a July 6 special edition of the Craft Brew News (CBN) that an acquisition deal was being discussed between North American Breweries (NAB) and Alaskan, the brewery unequivocally assures its many loyal customers that Alaskan is not in negotiations, nor do they plan to enter into negotiations with NAB or any other entity.

“We have no earthly clue where this rumor came from,” says Alaskan co-Founder Marcy Larson. “At first we thought it was a joke, that maybe someone had hacked into the CBN.”

The CBN also referenced Alaskan’s slower volume growth among other top 20 craft brewers, which Alaskan explains was the result of consciously limited distribution and a planned pricing decision.

“We have not engaged in the price wars or rapid expansion of other craft brewers and we have remained profitable,” said Brewery co-Founder Geoff Larson. “Over the last ten years, the price of oil, a cup of coffee and nearly everything else has gone up. Even the price of mass-produced beer has gone up, yet craft beer pricing remains at levels lower than those of a decade ago. In 2010, we chose a sustainable pricing strategy over the volume chase and are happy with where we ended up. We are proud to say that our growth has allowed us to issue profit sharing to our employees and investors for the last 15 years running and we are investing in state of the art brewing technology to help us remain a sustainable, profitable and independent brewery in Alaska for years to come.”

As a celebration of their 25th year of operation in Juneau, Alaskan is releasing a limited-edition Russian imperial stout brewed with alder-smoked malt, birch syrup and fireweed honey from Alaska. Named for the local mining history and the unique challenges of brewing award-winning craft beer from a remote Alaska town, Alaskan Perseverance Ale releases this September.

About Alaskan Brewing Co.

Alaskan Brewing Co. has been making award-winning beer in Juneau, Alaska, since 1986. The Alaskan Brew Crew bottles the unique character of the Last Frontier with historic recipes, local ingredients and glacier-fed water. Alaskan Brewing handcrafts Amber, Pale, White, IPA, Stout, Smoked Porter, Winter Ale, Summer Ale and a variety of limited edition beers in the Alaskan Pilot Series. Visit www.alaskanbeer.com.

(Portland, OR) – The Oregon Brewers Guild announced that Oregon’s breweries crafted 1,085,000 barrels (or roughly 270 million pints) of beer during 2010, a 3.5 percent increase from the previous year. Roughly 14.4 percent of the 2.7 million barrels of all beer – both bottled and draft – consumed in the state were made in Oregon. This is the highest for any state in the United States and was a 16 percent increase from 2009.

“Our industry made impressive gains in 2010 – especially in the amount of beer made in Oregon that was consumed in Oregon,” said Brian Butenschoen, Executive Director of the Oregon Brewers Guild. “The economic impact of the brewing industry is felt beyond just the breweries. A strong production year supports local businesses supplying the industry, including barley growers, hop farmers, yeast ranchers and glass producers.”

In addition, Oregon’s 81 brewing companies donated product and money equal to more than $1.23 million to local non-profits in 2010. Retail sales of Oregon-made beer sold in the state totaled approximately $235 million in 2010. In total, the brewing industry contributes $2.44 billion to the state’s economy. Despite overall weak employment figures for the year in Oregon, the state’s brewing companies added 200 jobs in 2010 and directly employed more than 4,900 people.

Portland, Oregon currently has 40 breweries within its city limits, more than any other city in the world. The state of Oregon has 91 brewing companies operating 121 brewing facilities in 50 cities.

About the Oregon Brewers Guild:
The Oregon Brewers Guild is Oregon’s non-profit trade association for the state’s independent breweries. The Guild, which receives no state funding, comprises 75 brewing companies, 40 associate or supplier members and more than 2,900 enthusiast members or S.N.O.B.s (Supporters

(Fort Collins, CO) – New Belgium Brewing is pleased to announce it is breaking ground on a 16,000 sq. foot can line addition to its bottling hall. The new system, manufactured by KHS, will increase New Belgium’s canning volume capacity six fold.

“Cans have been a great addition to the packaging portfolio for us,” said New Belgium spokesperson, Bryan Simpson. “We first introduced Fat Tire cans in 2008 and we’ve since added Sunshine Wheat and Ranger IPA. Sales have been ahead of projection and we’re fortunate to be able to accommodate demand.”

New Belgium’s current can line features a 9-head filler with a capacity of 60 cans per minute while the new system will feature a 40-head filler capable of filling 360 cans per minute. The system can package both 12-oz and 16-oz cans.

The addition itself will be constructed just east of New Belgium’s current bottling facility on the brewery’s fifty-acre campus in Fort Collins, CO. The building process should run through the end of the year with first beer off the line some time in January. Neenan Company of Fort Collins is contracted for construction.

About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces eight year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

(Tacoma, WA) – Sometimes those of us reporting the news have a heavy hand in creating it…

After fourteen years, Harmon Brewing is changing the branding of its annual Killer Brew fall seasonal according to General Manager, Bob Casey. The beer had previously been available only on draft but was going to be bottled for the first time this year. It will still be bottled, only with the label above, not the version shown below.

The project started out in the late 90s as little more than a play on words, combining the brewery’s name with that of Minnesota Twins Hall of Famer, Harmon Killebrew. Casey, who coincidentally shares the same of the late longtime Twins announcer, said that the brewery had permission when it first started out but that the Harmon Killebrew Foundation recently reached out asking that it cease using the name.

As heavily publicized, Killebrew passed away last month after a long battle with cancer.

How did the label scuffle come about?

On May 13th, Major League Baseball issued a press release from Killebrew’s camp:

It is with profound sadness that I share with you that my continued battle with esophageal cancer is coming to an end. With the continued love and support of my wife, Nita, I have exhausted all options with respect to controlling this awful disease. My illness has progressed beyond my doctors’ expectation of cure.

The following day, Harmon Brewing submitted an application requesting that the TTB approve the “Harmon Killer Brew” label for bottles. Casey said that the timing was just a coincidence.

Killebrew died a few days later.

A week after his death, the TTB green-lighted that label and I posted it up here on the 25th.

World Class Beverages District Manager, Mike Thilman, saw the post and sent it to CNBC Sports Reporter, Darren Rovell.

Rovell then sent out a pic of the label to his nearly 100,000 followers on Twitter with the caption, “Despite death, Harmon ‘Killer Brew’ coming out for 14th year. Killebrew didn’t endorse it.” The pic got nearly 2,000 views.

From there, it made its way to the Foundation and the rest is history.

Casey said that the Imperial Red Ale release will be coming up relatively soon.

Meanwhile, Anheuser-Busch will play host to Killebrew’s 75th birthday bash at Target Field’s Budweiser Roof Deck this coming Wednesday. Tickets are going for $150 each.

(Boulder, CO) – Here is the lowdown on the Avery Meretrix release.

Per a recent newsletter…

BREWERY ONLY RELEASE
She’s patiently awaited you for two years. Aging gracefully in beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon barrels and accompanied by sour cherries, your Meretrix is eager to serve.

Meretrix will make her debut at a bottle release party at the Avery Tap Room and Barrel-Aging Cellars at 5PM on Saturday, July 16th. We’ve instituted a number of new policies to ensure that all in attendance have a remarkably fun and positively memorable experience! Here goes:

Numerous Tap Room servers will be on hand to serve guests–in the line–as they wait. We’ll also have our 10-tap kegerator full of small-batch and barrel-aged oddities from the tap room like Eremita (our Tap Room only sour blend), Dry-Hopped IPA, Mai Rye Bock etc.

A DJ will be spinning an eclectic mix of tunes for the crowds.

Once a substantial line has formed, our staff will be giving tickets–each good for the purchase of 1 bottle of Meretrix–to those in line. The number of tickets we hand out will be EXACTLY the number of bottles that we have to sell. This way, if you show up late you will know immediately whether you are in time to get bottles.

Limit of 4 bottles per customer.

First come, first served.

CASH ONLY! CASH ONLY! We will have an ATM on site in case anyone forgets this advice. Note that the cash only rule will make the whole process MUCH faster for all involved!

55 cases for sale = 1320 bottles = 4 bottles per customer = 330 customers who get Meretrix (assuming all purchase the 4 bottle limit). Please plan accordingly.

The beers in our Barrel-Aged Series are a celebration of the passion and effort that our brewers put into Avery beers, and we want the release of these beers to be equally fun! Please show up ready to taste, socialize and share great beers with great friends! We hope to continue the party well into the night!

Meretrix Stats:
Barrel-Aged Sour Ale. Aged in Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels with sour cherries.
83 cases produced – 55 sold. 28 Hoarded.
9.62% abv
Bottled in June, 2011.

Part I of today’s beer notes…

7/2 Update: Updated with newly-approved label

Boulevard Brewing: The KC Beer Blog reports on a new Smokestack Series beer to debut late this summer or early this fall that will replace the Doppelbock… Beer description: “The Nommo are ancestral spirits worshipped by the Dogon tribe of the West African nation of Mali. The name is derived from a Dogon word mearning ‘to make one drink.’ No, really. Nommo, usually described as amphibious, hermaphroditic, fish-like creatures, were created by the sky god Amma, who caused them to multiply by splitting them into doubled sets of twins. Seeing a trend here? Maybe it’s farfetched, but we think the story of the Nommo makes this whole enterprise a little more fun and interesting.

Our Nommo has a brilliant deep amber color and a sweet caramel malt profile. This beer showcases the coriander, cinnamon, and star anise used in the kettle, complementing them with clove and banana notes contributed by the Belgian yeast. The rich complexity of Nommo’s flavor makes it a worthy partner to a variety of meats and game, as well as aged or aromatic cheeses.”

Rogue Ales: A labor issues publication has a report out about questionable working conditions at the brewery. The news has spread to multiple threads on Beer Advocate. It is the top beer story on Reddit right now. At least one notable beer blogger has picked up the story. Some have pointed out that it is a biased publication which has merit. The bigger story to me is why hasn’t Rogue made any kind of statement a week after it was published and nearly 48 hours after it has spread like wildfire? Too busy putting out important press notices it would appear…

Oakshire Brewing: Brewery blog… “With the North American Organic Brewers Festival tabbed for this weekend, our brewers created a 100% organic ingredient Belgian-style Pale Ale. This golden ale is light and effervescent with the signature Belgian yeast aromas and flavors. It has a sturdy hop balance from Organic German Tradition Hops. As they should, our brewers gave consideration to the “people, planet, profit” (TBL) when crafting this newest creation. Come try it today in the tasting room or around town. As always, Single Batch Series Beers are draft only and limited.”

Jester King Craft Brewery: Speaking out against Texas liquor laws…

Napa Smith Brewery: Paddington Brands LLC, owner of Napa Smith, just completed a merger with Pelican Brands.

Trinity Brewing: Per Facebook, Brain of the Turtle Petite Cerise, a sour ale aged on oaken barrels, cherry skins and almonds will debut in September (see label on Facebook)

Blackfoot River Brewing: Per a newsletter, on sale in 750s at the brewery yesterday…”For the 60th Celebration Bash, Blackfoot will release a special bottling of Blackfoot’s Belgian Strong Ale. This bottled conditioned ale was made with nine different types of malted barley, two types of Belgian candi sugar, Golden oats, malted wheat, and noble hops. The result is a rich, complex, smooth, and truly unique brew.”

Bonus I: Yuengling’s new spokesman (as of this past spring)? Darren Daulton

Bonus II: The New York Times is excited about homebrewing.

Bonus III: Been following the Wisconsin stuff? Per New Glarus’ Twitter account, “Good news Gov. Walker mentions the craft brewers regulations in the budget as a possible Veto in a press memo…” Haven’t seen this press memo though…

Part II of today’s group of new beer labels…featuring Deschutes, Rahr and a handful of others.

Deschutes The Stoic Belgian-styled Quad: The newest beer in Deschutes Brewery’s coveted Reserve Series, The Stoic’s journey from Belgian-style Tripel to American Quad is a remarkable one. A simple German Pilsner malt bill and a low-key profile of Hallartau, Czech Saaz, and Northern Brewer hops equip you for the more distinctive aromas and flavors that lay ahead. Ingredients like Belgian candy sugar, beet and date sugars, and pomegranate molasses impart a clean, tangy sweetness. Pinot Noir and rye whiskey barrel-aging suggest notes of spice, citrus, pepper, vanilla, and toasted caramel like offerings to the gods. Unraveling the intricacies of The Stoic is evidence of a life bravely done.

August 15th / wax-dipped 22 oz. bottles and draft / 10% ABV / Available in most of Deschutes’ markets

Rahr Visionary Brew Traditional German-style Bock: The Fort Worth Weekly’s Visionary Awards are a celebration of Tarrant County artists working in a diverse set of disciplines – visual arts, film, drama, performance art, literature, fashion and multimedia. At Rahr and Sons, we believe in passion and innovation, and we applaud those who are working to make Fort Worth a more beautiful place. We’re certainly doing our best to make it a tastier place.

This German-style bock has a robust malt character and a dark amber hue. Hop bitterness is assertive – just enough to balance the malt flavor. Enjoy one in celebration of Fort Worth’s true visiionaries. 22 oz. bottles

Other new labels…

Tin Roof Perfect Tin Amber Ale – 12 oz. cans

Tin Roof Voodoo Bengal Pale Ale – 12 oz. cans

Baying Hound Aleworks Long Snout Stout

Timmermans Oude Kriek (Imported by Belukus)

Abbaye Cistercienne Paix-Dieu by Brassier Caulier (Imported by Holiday Beverage)

Bon Secours Ambree (Imported by Holiday Beverage)

Bon Secours Blonde

Bon Secours Noel

Part I of today’s beer notes…

Laurelwood Brewing: Just in from this evening’s newsletter, “As many have heard Laurelwood Brewmaster Chad Kennedy is leaving to open his own brewery in Bend Oregon. Chad has been with Laurelwood for 8 years and has been a great asset to the company. With Chad’s at the helm Laurelwood has become recognized as one of the great craft breweries not only in the Northwest but in the country. We are sad that Chad is leaving, but very proud of his new adventure! Bend is very fortunate to have one of Oregon’s best brewers coming to their town to bring yet another great brewery to our state! We are very excited for him and wish him the best of luck!”

Kern River Brewing: Per today’s newsletter, “Our Citra Label was officially approved by the TTB. For those that don’t know, we have to go through a label approval process for all of our beers. The government wants to make sure we don’t do stuff like show babies drinking beer or talk about how drunk our beers will get you; of course some companies have fun with the process , Lagunitas’ Wilco Tango Foxtrot for example (you can’t put Whiskey on a beer that does not contain Whiskey). This is also one reason why we don’t bottle many of our seasonal beers, but after so much positive response to Citra, we decided to go ahead an get the label process going. Since our artist for our flagship beers has passed away, our newer labels have gone in a different direction. We plan on releasing Citra later this year and releasing it multiple times every year.”

Rockyard Brewing: Per Facebook, 1,700 bottles of Buddha Nuvo will be packaged next week. Per the Colorado Craft Beer Examiner, “Buddha Nuvo’s malt bill consists of a complex blend of Weyerman Pilsen, Vienna, Rye, and spelt for a golden color. Pumpkin is added during the boil for a smooth texture; several varieties of whole peppercorns are also added to reinforce this 12% ABV saison’s spiciness. During the fermentation process five distinct yeasts will be dropped in to create a spicy and fruity ester profile. After all is said and done the entire batch will be aged on American Oak Chardonnay barrels, six varieties of Brettanomyces, and the rare, alien-looking, fruit known as Buddha’s Hand.” H/T to The Beer Spot.

Port Brewing: Saturday July 16th beer release and party… “2011 Bourbon Barrel-aged Santa’s Little Helper – 22oz bottles; $12 ea; 6 bottle limit”

Great Divide Brewing: Debut of the Belgian Style Yeti takes place on July 1st

Notch Session Ale: Another Brewbound special… “Chris Lohring, the Founder of Notch Session, is releasing his newest beer in bottles since the launch of the brand at the beginning of March. For the first time ever, Notch will package a Saison in 22oz bottles. According to Lohring, he is using the 220z packaging as a market test to see how well recieved the beer is.”

Midnight Sun Brewing: Swan song for Good Mojo…”MON 11.11 – GOOD MOJO ONE DAY ONLY. Good Mojo Belgian Sour Brown Ale is over 10 years old. This IS the last keg of Good Mojo. It’s BTG only – no growlers, no 22s”

Bonus I: Wait, Deschutes sold beer in 40′s at one point?

Here’s Part 1 of a 2-Part Tuesday edition of beer notes…breweries west of the Mississippi in this one…

Port Brewing: Above, the story of the La Cruda Porter collaboration. Informative (though a bit long and with early 90s educational video music throughout).

Jester King Craft Brewery / Mikkeller: Per the blog, “Renowned gypsy brewer Mikkel Borg Bjergsø of Mikkeller is planning on visiting Jester King in November to brew a special Texas edition of Mikkeller’s Beer Geek Brunch, which will include the addition of smoked malt and chipotle peppers.”

Odell Brewing: The brewery advises drinkers about carbonation levels in Hiveranno and Woodcut No. 5. They are intentionally released with a low carbonation level and say to age the beers if you want to wait for bottle conditioning to raise the carbonation level.

Firestone Walker: Per The Full Pint, re: one of FW’s new sour projects, “Base beer is a close relative to Solace with 35% of the malt bill being made up of Wheat Malts. The bug blend will most likely be Brett/Lactic. The beer is being housed in French Oak Wine Barrels once home to Viognier. Olalliberries were added to specific barrels.”

Fulton Beer: Sounds like the brewhouse is set to arrive this Friday…

Saint Arnold Brewing: About to release Christmas Ale in July…

Harvester Brewing: The New School Beer Blog reports that Harvester Brewing will become the first American all gluten-free brewery. Colorado’s New Planet Beer has been gluten-free for a while but I’m not sure if they are 100% gluten-free?

Marshall Brewing: Per Facebook, “Announcing Arrowhead Pale Ale – Our first ever summer seasonal! Arrowhead Pale Ale aims to quench the thirst of hot summer afternoons and warm evenings. Arrowhead is an American Pale Ale crafted to provide refreshment as a lighter, highly quaffable ale complimented by unique aromatic citrus notes that both tickle the nose and enliven the palate. Complexity, balance, and softness make Arrowhead Pale Ale a ridiculously easy drinking summer seasonal. Available on draft and in six packs June 29th.”

Bonus I: Sam Calagione dressed as a cheerleader

Bonus II: Oregon Business talks craft beer growth.

Bonus III: More on what’s happening in Wisconsin

Bonus IV: Foster’s rejected a bid on its brand from SABMiller, reportedly over $10 Billion USD…wow.