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Voo Doo Brewery –Specialty Barrel-Aged Beers Debut in Philly (Big Black Voodoo Daddy, Black Magick…)

2012-02-01T21:01:00.001-05:00

Great news coming from Voo Doo Brewery & Bella Vista Distributors…

Voodoo Brewing Co., LLC 215 ½ Arch Street, Meadville, PA 18335 Release for the press:

We here at Voodoo Brewing Company have taken over fifteen years of Matt's brewing experience and our quirky personalities and wrapped it up into a line of beers that we feel are fun, flavorful and thought--‐provoking. In that same mentality, we are extremely proud to announce a bevy of new variations of some of our favorite beers.

Gran Met, long a cult favorite, is seeing barrel treatment for the first time. This tripel has been delicately aging in two carefully selected barrels to not only enhance the beer's unique flavor profile, but also impart what we feel are interesting additions in flavor from the liquor aged oak. Two variations will be available, one aged in Laird's Apple Brandy barrels and the other in Buffalo Trace.

Big Black Voodoo Daddy, perhaps our most popular and widely acclaimed offering, is also resting in oak for the first time. We have selected Buffalo Trace and Pappy Van Winkle barrels to hold this sleeping imperial stout. Rich in notes of chocolate, roasted coffee, dark fruits, and vanilla, the oak and bourbon impart their own plethora of flavors to create an even more complex and robust profile.

Black Magick, the crowned jewel of imperial stouts, will also be seeing different barrel treatments for this year's release. After utilizing Elijah Craig barrels for the 2009 release and Buffalo Trace for the 2011 release, we have decided to expand the treatments to not only showcase the depth and diversity of this big, juicy, smooth stout, but to also spotlight what we feel are thoughtful considerations in the way the beer harmonizes with the different barrels treatments. We have selected Laird's Apple Brandy, Buffalo Trace, and Pappy Van Winkle barrels to hold this menacingly dark elixir.

These beers will not see distribution and will be released at two different locations. One release will take place in our new brewpub in Meadville. The other will take part in Eastern Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is one of our premier distribution locations and as a show of our appreciation for all your support in the community, in conjunction with Bella Vista Distributors, Philadelphia has been chosen as the second location.

When confronted with choosing a location to host the Philadelphia release of these new barrel aged beers, we wanted to ensure it was done in the fairest way possible and from that came the Philly Voodoo Barrel Aged Release Competition. All accounts located in the Bella Vista footprint with “R” and “E” licenses may participate. The competition is simple, whichever eligible location purchases and sells the most Voodoo product between January 1st and the end of Philly Beer Week 2012 will be declared the winner and will be announced at the commencement of Philly Beer Week.

There will be various amounts of each product available for the Philly release depending on our yield, but rest assured it will be worthwhile! The crew from Voodoo will be present on the big day and will work out all pricing and logistics with the winning venue. There’s still plenty of time to get involved in this event, so do not hesitate to get started. A large order of Big Black Voodoo Daddy was just shipped to Bella Vista, so an easy way to start out is by adding some cases to your next order! Thank you for your time, support and participation! You can always stay up to date all things Voodoo at www.voodoobrewery.com,
facebook.com/voodoobrewery, and twitter.com/voodoobrewery.

Cheers and Good Luck!
Voodoo Brewery

Russian River–Pliny The Younger Feb 3rd

2012-02-01T11:13:00.001-05:00

Yes that’s right. The much anticipated Russian River Pliny The Younger release will be held at the brewery on Feb 3rd at 11AM. At that time you can get 10oz pours but NO growlers and NO bottles. Good news is they will be allotting for each day to make the brew last for 14-days in the pub. Distribution to accounts that get Younger, will begin on Feb 6th so you MAY see it elsewhere.

For the full details an a peek at the new Russian River website….

Welcome to our NEW website! Still working out a few bugs (we don't mind a couple of bugs around here!) but it is fully functional and much improved. We hope you enjoy browsing around!

Pliny the Younger is still scheduled for release at our brewpub on Friday, February 3rd! Here is the scoop: the pub opens at 11am at which time we will be seating everyone in an orderly and civilized fashion. We are reserving the dining room and board room for folks who are eating, but there is plenty of space at the bar for those interested in just imbibing. Younger will be served in a 10 ounce glass for the same price as last year and the year before- still a good deal! As you probably already know, there will be no growlers or bottles, as usual. We want you to enjoy Younger from the source at its absolute best! Like all fresh food products, this beer has a very short “shelf” life and is meant to be consumed only when in season (February, early March)! There will be a certain number of kegs allotted each day for 14 days, wrapping up 2 weeks of Younger on February 16^th.

We will begin distribution to our local (Bay Area) accounts on February 6th. Our distributors (all 7 of them) will begin picking up their allocation that week and the following week. If you live in one of the few markets where we distribute, they should be getting their Younger within that time frame. One note- we do not dictate where our distributors choose to send Pliny the Younger. That is completely up to them and we trust their decisions!

What can you expect if you come to our brewpub? Last year we had a line out front everyday for 2 solid weeks, rain or shine! On the weekends (particularly the first weekend) the wait was up to 3 hours. And sometimes you could walk right in. We will be queuing up at the 4th Street entrance so we can count bodies as they enter. This city is rather strict about occupancy and I'm sure they will be visiting us a few times during those 2 weeks. There are 2 notable differences this year: 1. SF Beer Week launches on the 10^th, one week after we release Younger (it was the same day we released Younger last year). 2. We were able to make a little more for the pub, meaning we hope to run out later each day. Last year there were a couple of days we did not run out at all! You can also expect to have about 17 other beers on tap, most of which are available by the bottle or in growlers to go. And it's quite the line-up of some of the old standards and new and exciting brews!

We are looking forward to your visit to our newly and beautifully remodeled pub! If you can’t make it to the pub, we do hope you can at least enjoy our new website.

Cheers!

Natalie, Vinnie, and the Crew

Friday BeerBuzz – The Teaser 3 Feb 2011

2012-02-01T10:30:00.000-05:00

Last week we had a great time waking up Mattson Davis at 3:30AM. We felt a little less guilty that Kona Brewery CEO & President was waking up early in Hawaii, but we still thank him for going above & beyond the call of craft beer duty to join us live from Hawaii to sample Kona Koko Brown. Thanks again Mattson.

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: This week we have yet another brewery President joining us….and he too is JUST about to enter the PA craft-beer market!

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together. (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

Victory - Terroir des Tettnangs Braumeister Pils & DIPA Coming

2012-02-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

Looks like Victory Brewing will be producing Five different batches of their Braumeister Pils, each using Tettnang hops BUT each uses a specific the same hop from a different farm field in the Tettnang region of Germany. This series of beers celebrates the Terrior or land and how that land imparts unique flavors into the hops. Beginning today (2/1) Victory will have all 5 Braumeister Pils on draft at the brewpub and plans are underway for a Rottenburger version AND a Double-IPA experiment as well.

For the full details….

The term Terroir comes from the French word terre, meaning “land.” The brewery here in Downingtown, has become a land of creativity and experimentation as we create the beers you know and love. In fact, you might consider the brewery to be a “Terroir” of Innovation.

Why are we providing you with a vocabulary lesson today? Well, the term has been floating around our offices for a few months now as we crafted a some distinctive batches of beers and planned a rare event: Terroir des Tettnangs. This concept featured variations of our Braumeister Pils recipe, brewed with the Tettnang hop variety, all grown in the German district of Tettnang. The only variable between each of the 5 Braumesiter Pils brewed in this experiment was the specific field in which the hops were grown. Terroir des Tettnangs: the geography of Tettnang.

Brewmaster, Ron Barchet, travels to Germany every year for the hop harvest. There, working with family farmers, he selects the very best whole flower hops for our beers. This year, during his trip to Tettnang, he noticed some variation in the aroma hops from field to field. He wanted to see what impact that slight variation would have on a recipe. So he created an experiment. That experiment came to fruition in the Terroir des Tettnangs.

If you were lucky enough to join us last night for our sold-out event and tasting, you got a chance to discover the differences first-hand and meet the German farmers who grew the flavorful hops. But for those of you who couldn’t make your way here on a random Tuesday night, never fear – our Terroir of Innovation will continue!

We’ve been experimenting with recipes and ingredients for years. In fact, our Braumeister series has been an on-going experiment since 2001, where we source rare hops like French Strissel Spalt, to impact our luscious pilsner recipe. Right now, we have a Braumeister Pils version in the tanks that was brewed with a hop that, until just a few months ago, was considered extinct – Rottenburger

Today, we have five varieties of our Tettnang Braumeister Pils available here in the brewpub. And in the coming months you’ll be able to sample the Rottenburger version. The great news is that this innovative brewing concept is not solely available to our Downingtown neighbors. You can find the latest Braumeister Pils near you using our beerfinder.

As we approach our 16^th birthday, creativity in brewing still gets us going. Playing around with hops in the Braumeister Pils series is just one way that we get to experiment and create unique products.

Stay tuned for a similar project involving a double IPA recipe and different hop varieties.

Hopslam Has Arrived @ Westy’s

2012-02-01T08:36:00.000-05:00

Don’t delay…according to their Facebook Page, Bell’s Hopslam just arrived at Westy’s in Camp Hill, PA.

Samuel Adams – Verloren Gose & 22oz Boston Lager

2012-02-01T07:55:00.001-05:00

Here’s the next brew in the Samuel Adams Single Batch Series….and it’s called Verloren Gose. For those asking Verloren loosely means “lost” in and the label does indicate this is the “lost” beer. I suspect our pal Jim Koch is talking about the lost style of Gose…a style that used partial wheat malt, salt and Coriander, and therefore didn’t meet the German Beer Purity laws. This 6% ABV will be packaged in 22oz bottles and use Saaz noble hops.

As a bonus, I’ve included the new 22oz Boston Lager label.

Cigar City - El Murcielago Double Cream Ale in Tequila Barrels & Nitro Patio Tools

2012-02-01T07:45:00.000-05:00

Here’s a new one from Cigar City Brewing called El Murcielago double cream ale with cumin & lime peel added & aged in tequila Barrels…yep Tequila! Look for 750ml bottles. Turns out El Murcielago means “the bat”…an animal responsible for the pollination of the Blue Agave, which is the plant used to make Tequila. Apparently 2011-2012 has also been designated at the Year of the Bat by the United Nations so the timing is perfect. No exact word on ABV but they do mention it starting with a High Gravity double cream ale. I’ve also included the keg label for Cigar City Nitro Patio Tools Dry Irish Style Stout.

Westvleteren XII 11.2oz Shelton Brothers

2012-02-01T06:11:00.000-05:00

We brought you the gift pack label from Westvleteren back in Nov and today we have the 11.2oz Shelton brothers bottle label. Still the same 10.2% ABV Trappist Ale, but this appears to be the normal bottle label.

Goose Island Joel, Keith & Claudia’s En Passant

2012-02-01T04:17:00.000-05:00

Here’s a new keg-only label from Goose Island called Joel, Keith & Claudia’s En Passant ale brewed with Orange Juice & Orange Peel. En Passant translates to “in passing” and it’s actually a chess move…

Goose Island Bramble Rye Bourbon Co-The Video

2012-02-01T01:54:00.000-05:00

Bud Light Declares Super Bowl 2012 Winner!

2012-02-01T01:14:00.000-05:00

Looks like Bud Light is hedging it’s bets and declaring the Super Bowl 2012 winner to be the NY Giants…..OR maybe the New England Patriots. I’ll bet if a few cans of the losing team sneak out the door by accident they’ll be worth more than the winning can.

Otto’s Pallet Jack Pale Ale & Full Pint Industry Copper

2012-02-01T00:21:00.000-05:00

Today we have two PA brewery keg labels….Otto’s Pub & Brewery Pallet Jack Pale Ale & Full Pint Brewing Industry Copper Ale.

Hoof Hearted Brewing–Musk of the Minotaur

2012-02-01T00:03:00.000-05:00

Today I couldn’t resist posting this label…just say the name….go ahead…I’ll wait…..say “Hoof Hearted.” Did you get it yet? Did you? If not click HERE. Now that you’re done giggling, today we have the Hoof Hearted Brewing keg release of Musk of the Minotaur (7.2% ABV IPA). Base don the keg label I suspect we will also see Calibos, Skid Mark (YES it’s a Brown Ale), Permafrost, Ryborg, Voltan, TRW5 & South of Eleven….no go ahead…say it one more time!

Oldest Beer Joke in History–1500 B.C.

2012-02-01T00:01:00.002-05:00

I’ve heard some good ones, but this one is a little lost in translation. Sometime around 1500 B.C. a table in Babylon was inscribed and not found until 1976. Jump ahead to 2012 and they’re finally getting around to translating the tablet and it’s a BEER JOKE! And it goes like this…

In your mouth and your teeth, constantly stared at you, the measuring vessel of your lord. What is it?

Beer.

Another Beer-Based Super-Bowl Bet

2012-02-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

We brought you details of the Brooklyn Brewery vs Harpoon Super Bowl bet…and today comes word that NY Senator Charles Schumer will buy Smuttynose beer for every member of the Senate if the Patriots win and Senator Jeanne Shaheen must buy her fellow senators beer from Browns, Brooklyn, Blue Point Saranac Captain Lawrence or Ithaca if the Giants win. Apparently Schumer is pushing an “I Love NY Brew campaign” and this fits in nicely.

Beck’s Beer–Art Labels

2012-02-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

Coming from our friends at Anheuser-Busch / Beck’s Beer are a new series of art labels. We brought you the Beck’s Warhol labels here and here…and today we have art labels from artists like Bert Rodriguez, Freegums, Geoff McFetridge, Willy Chyr, & M.I.A.

Troegs–Trade Our Cymbals for Splinter Black

2012-01-31T20:49:00.001-05:00

Looks like a set of cymbals belonging to Chris & John Trogner’s grandfather were “lost” at the brewery on 1/28…This from Chris & John…

FOR TRADE: SPLINTER BLACK AND GOOD KARMA
A set of hi-hat cymbals was “borrowed” from Troegs Brewery sometime over the weekend of January 28. These cymbals belonged to our grandfather have sentimental value far greater than their monetary value. We will ask no questions upon their return and will offer the returnee two bottles of SPLINTER BLACK and a healthy dose of good karma. Thanks for your help.
Cheers - Chris & John Trogner

Sly Fox Pottstown Progresses–Grist Case

2012-01-31T20:22:00.001-05:00

Just a quick peek courtesy of Sly Fox’s Facebook page at the new grist case being installed at their new Pottstown, PA brewery. You can check out THIS or THIS if you want to see some of the other photos from the brewhouse install.

Captain Lawrence Moves from Pleasantville to Elmsford

2012-01-31T09:44:00.000-05:00

Looks like Captain Lawrence Brewing has celebrated their final party at their Pleasantville facility and completed the move to Elmsford today. Look for the grand opening of the Elmsford brewery to be held on Feb 4th. The new brewery almost doubles the space available for the brewery & pub and increases their brewing capacity five fold. Captain Lawrence produced 8900 barrels in 2011 and simply outgrew the facility they had been in since 2005. Looks like they will be starting with all new equipment in Elmsford and the old brewing equipment is heading west to California.

Bell’s - Kalamazoo Stout New Label

2012-01-31T07:43:00.001-05:00

Here’s the latest updated label from Bell’s Brewing for their Kalamazoo Stout (Stout brewed with brewer’s licorice). This is a new figure on the 12oz bottle and I ;love the backing script, “Here’s where we tell you about this full-bodied stout’s delicious roast flavor. But really, you’ve already got the bottle in your hand so why not find out for yourself?” I can’t say I know show the now person on the label is, but I’m not sure I knew who the former guy was…so stay tuned. I DO know this is from a series of portraits by a local artists, but not sure who these guys are.

Bell’s to Feature Experimental Hops & Also Renews Title Sponsorship of Yacht Race

2012-01-31T06:23:00.000-05:00

According to Bell’s Brewery (on their blog), the brewery will be featuring experimental hops in seven different beers in their Eccentric café. The first hop named EXP Hop 2011-1 (aka Zythos) and this work done with hop growers led to this hop being used commercially this year. Stay tubed for Type-366, Type-509, Type-423, Type-556, Type 998-13-1 & Type 291 (descriptions below).

for the full details on the experimental hops & Yacht race….

KALAMAZOO - If you’ve visited the Eccentric Café or checked the tap cam recently, you may have noticed an odd name on the big board above the bar.

Beside more familiar names like Two Hearted Ale, Amber Ale and Kalamazoo Stout was something more formal – EXP Hop 2011-1. This experimental beer was just the beginning of a series of brews that will only be available at our pub in downtown Kalamazoo.

This experimental hop series will continue with six additional beers, each brewed using a different type of hop and released over the next few months. The overall goal is to explore the aromatic qualities of each and assess their potential for future brewing.

“This is a series of beers where we are actually working hand in hand with hop growers. Just like brewers, hop growers are also looking to expand the flavor profiles available to craft beer drinkers and we are very fortunate to have this kind of unique access,” said Andy Farrell, one of Bell’s brewers working on the project.

The series started with a newly developed hop now named Zythos, which is in its first year of commercial use. The rest of the series will feature hop varietals coming straight from the growers’ trial plots; these have yet to been formally named and are still designated with numbers. They are very limited both in quantity and availability, arriving as single bales or even mini-bales.

While a few of the beers in this series have been brewed, most are still in the planning stages. Rather than brewing multiple variations of a basic pale ale, this project will match each hop to a different style aimed to showcase the varietal’s range & versatility. Below is a brief rundown of which hops we will be using in this series, along with aroma descriptions from our bale assessments to get you acquainted.

We’re tremendously excited about this opportunity to work with hop growers from the Pacific Northwest in evaluating these new varietals, and we think you’ll enjoy this window into the future of American hops. Look for more information about each here on our blog and on our social media sites (Facebook, Twitter and Google+) as we go forward.

The hops used in this series:

EXP Hop 2011-1: Zythos – Citrusy, with a bright grapefruit note and apricot & pine aromas in the background

EXP Hop 2011-2: Type 366 – Tropical fruit notes and piney, reminiscent of Simcoe hops

EXP Hop 2011-3: Type 509 – Floral, with an interesting herbal note

EXP Hop 2012-1: Type 423 – Very pungent fruity & floral aroma, with pine as a secondary note

EXP Hop 2012-2: Type 556 – Intense floral character with fruity undertones

EXP Hop 2012-3: Type 998-13-1 – Distinctive lemon notes

EXP Hop 2012-4: Type 291 – Citrus & pine notes, very pungent

============================================
Details from bymnews

Bell’s Beer extends Title Sponsorship of Bayview Yacht Mackinac Race though 2014

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Newly installed Commodore Jeff Henderson confirms addition of all new Charity Preview Party planned for June 30

Detroit's Bayview Yacht Club, one of the most storied and historical sailing clubs in the world, announced today that Bell's Brewery - a major beer producer and the largest based in Michigan -- has extended its title sponsorship of the Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race an additional three years. The sponsorship will run through the 2014 race.

The Port Huron to Mackinac race is officially titled "Bell's Beer Bayview Mackinac Race" and sets sail on Saturday, July 14, 2012, in Southern Lake Huron, just north of the Blue Water Bridge.
“As a company with strong Michigan-based roots, we are proud to lend our support to a world-class event as the Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race,” Larry Bell, owner of Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Bell's Brewery Inc. “By extending our sponsorship three more years, we’ll be able to continue to showcase our great state and continue to build awareness of this summer tradition.”

“Last year proved what a valuable partner Bell’s Beer was to the race and Bayview Yacht Club, so we are proud to have this growing Michigan based company as our title sponsor for three additional years,” said Jeff Henderson, incoming Bayview Yacht Club Commodore. “I believe both sailors and spectators who will benefit the most by this deal.”

In addition to announcing the continuation of its partnership with Bell’s Beer, Henderson announced the addition of its first ever Charity Preview Party associated with the race on June 30, 2012. The Charity Preview Party will take place at Bayview located at 100 Clairpointe in Detroit.

Henderson continued, “Having this three year deal with Bell’s Beer gives us an opportunity to add events surrounding the race and grow community spirit. Our first ever Charity Preview Party is going to be a lot of fun for our members and a great win for the community, benefiting numerous non-profits including Autism Speaks, Gleaners, Rose Hill, Matrix Human Services, The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and others.

The Charity Preview Party will feature an evening of good food and drink, live musical performances and a display of sail boats against the spectacular evening back drop of the Detroit River. Information on tickets sales will be announce in the coming months.

This year will mark 88 consecutive years for the world-class event. Some 200 plus sailboats and 2,500 sailors are expected take part in the annual regatta with an estimated 100,000 sailing fans and families attending the festive activities in Port Huron leading to the Saturday start.

The economic value of the race is approximated between $30 and $59 million, depending on weather conditions, making it one of the premier events hosted in the State of Michigan, and one with major economic impact to a host of local Michigan Businesses, especially in Tourism.

For the fourth time, sailing fans around the world will be able to follow individual boats or the entire fleet on the Bell's Brewery and Bayview Yacht Club websites as Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices will be placed on all participating sailboats. In 2011, more than four million hits and 400,000 page views were tracked on the web site during the race.

Bell's, the largest brewery in Michigan, is well known for its famed summer "Oberon" wheat ale and "Two-Hearted Ale" among many other premium and specialty brands. Bell's has been a Bayview Mackinac Race sponsor since 2009.

The Bayview Yacht Club web site, www.byc.com, generally draws one million page views for the race and up to 10 million page views are expected to hit the www.bellsbeer.com site where the GPS tracking link for the 2012 race will be located.
"GPS race tracking technology has been a hit with fans and spectators across the globe that are now able to follow the race from start to finish on their computer or mobile device," said Henderson.

From its traditional start in Southern Lake Huron, the fleet will head North on one of two courses. The shorter course, called the "Shore Course," covers 204 nautical miles (252 statute miles) along the Michigan shoreline before heading west to Mackinac Island Bell's Beer finish line. The longer "Cove Island Course" is 259 nautical miles (298 statute miles) and takes sailors around a buoy off the tip of the Bruce Peninsula in Canadian waters before heading West toward the Bell's Beer finish line at Mackinac Island.
Commodore Henderson, a nine-time winner of the Bell's Beer Bayview Mackinac Race competition, said, “This Jewel of July is steeped in generations of tradition and sportsmanship and it is time for the race to grow nationally and internationally.”

This year five Divisions will be offered: Cove Island Racing; Shore Course Racing; Shore Course Cruising; Multi-Hull; and Double-Handed. All competitors will be handicapped using Performance Handicap Racing Fleet system.

"This race has always been about the sailors getting on the water and racing. None of it would be possible without the diligent work and support of the racer’s families, friends and the staff of Bayview. I congratulate the Mackinac 2012 Race Chairman, Commodore Gregory I. Thomas, for an

exceptional job in getting this race organized and setting the stage for a safe race on two courses," said Commodore Henderson.
An estimated 100,000 fans on both the U.S. and Canadian shores will cheer the sailboats as they make their way up the St. Clair River from Port Huron- with flags and pennants flying - in a spectacular nautical parade to the starting area that takes place about five miles from the Blue Water Bridge.

Bayview Yacht Club, founded in 1915, is widely regarded as the premier sailing club in Michigan and the Midwest. It has been hosting the Bayview Mackinac Race since 1925. The private club is located on the Detroit River near the mouth of Lake St. Clair and has more than 1,000 members.

Sly Fox - Slacker Bock, Helles Bock, Saison Brune & Dunkel Weisse

2012-01-31T05:57:00.000-05:00

Here are a few new keg labels coming out of Sly Fox Royersford, PA. No real details yet, but today we have Slacker Bock, Helles Bock, Saison Brune & Dunkel Weisse.

Brooklyn Mary’s Maple Porter The Video

2012-01-31T05:39:00.000-05:00

Here’s a new brew coming to Brooklyn Brewery called Mary’s Maple Porter. This will be a draft-only release coming in Feb 2012 and it will be available thru April.

For the full details from Brooklyn…

Mary Wiles joined our brewery team after spending 30 years brewing and doing quality control for a Very, Very Big Brewer. Mary evolved into a craft beer brewer, and now she’s doing our quality control, having fun while helping us make sure that Brooklyn beers are tasting great and ready to make you happy. But Mary has a bright thing lurking in her past, present and future – Mary has maple trees. A lot of maple trees. Actually, a ridiculous number of maple trees, acres of them, right northwest of us in upstate New York. And her family farm makes 100% real New York State maple syrup.

Real maple syrup tastes great on pancakes and waffles, but it’s awfully good in beer too. Porter is a classic British ale style that traveled to the United States, sustained George Washington during the Revolution, and later built London’s great breweries. Mary’s Maple Porter is a rich, dark ale featuring a large portion of her maple syrup in the kettle. After fermentation by our house ale yeast, the syrup is no longer sweet (yeast likes to eat maple syrup too), but the maple flavor shows through in a complex interplay with caramel, chocolate, and cof fee flavors from our blend of roasted malts. An earthy hop note rounds it all out.

For more information on Mary's syrup, visit the Cedarvale Vale Maple Syrup Co.

Spec Sheet

Style: Maple Porter
Malts: English two–row pale malt and crystal malt, American roasted malts
Additions: Grade A Light Amber and Grade A Dark Amber from Mary and Karl Wiles’ Cedarvale Maple Syrup Company, Onondaga, NY
Hops: Willamette, East Kent Golding
Yeast: Our House Ale Yeast
Alcohol by Volume: 7.5%
IBUs: n/a
Original Gravity: 18.5° Plato
Calories: n/a
Food Pairings: Roast meats, steak, bacon, pancakes and waffles.
Availability: February, 2011 - April, 2011
Format: Draft only

New Belgium Dig Released NOW

2012-01-31T03:40:00.000-05:00

Back in Nov we brought you the first look at New Belgium Brewing Dig spring seasonal…and now it’s beer released (Here’s the press release):

(Fort Collins, CO) – New Belgium Brewing (www.newbelgium.com) today announced the arrival of its 2012 spring seasonal, Dig Pale Ale. Dig offers a robust line-up of hops, opening with the Sorachi Ace strain, which provides a fresh citric snap. Nelson Sauvin hops follow with bursts of passion fruit, mango and peach. Cascade and Centennial hops round out this crisp pale ale. Dig is available in most New Belgium markets through April and ABV is 5.6 percent.

With a nod to community-supported agriculture, Dig’s label, name and local promotions will focus on sustainable farming. Keep an eye on New Belgium’s Facebook page and your local Ranger Facebook page to learn more about agriculture-focused events and organizations in your neck of the woods.

“Dig celebrates the medley of ingredients and hard work necessary to yield the beer and food we love,” said New Belgium brewer Grady Hull. “With Dig in hand, we’d like to toast the farmers and land which make what we do possible.”

To find Dig and other 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.

Odell Foot Print–Hits the Street Feb 11th

2012-01-31T03:33:00.000-05:00

We brought you the first peek at Odell Foot Print Regionale…and now here’s the press release for it’s Feb 10th Release…

(Fort Collins, CO) – On February 11, 2012, Odell Brewing will release its first single serve brew of the New Year. A uniquely collaborative project, Footprint RegionAle pays tribute to the brewery’s regional distribution.

This artful ale is a nod to the ten states that make up what Odell Brewing calls its “distribution footprint.” The brewery sourced select ingredients from each of these ten states & crafted a myriad of small batch brews that were then blended into one larger brew. Guest brewers comprised of distributor partners, retailers, co-workers and friends from each state were invited to Odell Brewing to help with the brews.

“I had the pleasure of making the trip to Odell Brewing Co to brew the Minnesota component of Footprint; we had the challenge of brewing with sticky Minnesota grown wild rice,” said Mike Illig, Craft Beer manager for C&L Distributing in St. Cloud, MN. “The whole concept of the brew is a great idea, and I am glad to be a part of such an interesting collaboration.”

Footprint includes hops and barley from Colorado and Idaho, wheat from Kansas and Wyoming, Arizona prickly pear, Minnesota wild rice, Nebraska corn, New Mexico green chilies, South Dakota honey, and oak barrels from Missouri. The final blend boasts a rich golden hue and an oaky stone-fruit nose, and a delicate sweetness from the wheat and honey that is balanced by a subtle spicy dry finish.

Odell Brewing will celebrate the release of Footprint on Saturday February 11th in the brewery’s Tap Room from 4-6pm. The event will feature samples of the beer, local food, and live music by The Constant Tourist. Footprint RegionAle is available in 750mL cork and cage finished bottles throughout the brewery’s ten state distribution.

Samuel Smith - The Pint Controversy

2012-01-31T03:11:00.000-05:00

If you haven’t followed along, there’s a controversy going on in the UK with Samuel Smith. Oddly enough the controversy involves Samuel Smith pubs serving pints that are “too full” and believe it or not the brewery is claiming the “topping” off of beers is costing them money and they are actually shutting down pubs over the issue. Here’s a little video about the power of Samuel Smith Brewery.

Foothills Brewing Sexual Chocolate–The Video

2012-01-31T03:00:00.000-05:00

We had a great time talking to Jamie Bartholomaus from Foothills Brewing a few weeks ago, so I thought you’d want to see a video shot by wtsp:

Straight to Ale Sympathy, Paramecium, Zombie Freak & Rocket City Red

2012-01-31T02:46:00.000-05:00

Here are 4 new keg labels from Straight to Ale Brewing…Sympathy Flanders Ale (6.1%), Paramecium Belgian Ale (10% ABV), Zombie Freak Belgian Ale (9% ABV) and Rocket City Red Irish Style Red Ale (5% ABV).

Shock Top Wheat IPA Now Year-Round

2012-01-31T01:45:00.000-05:00

We brought you the first peek at the label back in Nov but the official word is out today from AB. This will be the latest full-time addition to the Shock Top family.

For the press release and full details…

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- As the Shock Top family continues to grow in popularity, so does its line-up of offerings, beginning the year with Shock Top Wheat IPA, which hits store shelves Feb. 6.

The newest full-time addition to the Shock Top family, Shock Top Wheat IPA is a unique hybrid style that brings the refreshment and smoothness of a wheat beer and marries it with the crisp, hoppy bitterness of an India Pale Ale (IPA).

To create the new beer, brewmasters started with Shock Top's signature recipe, adding citrusy Cascade and Magnum hops and dry hopping the beer for several days to give Wheat IPA the rich, hoppy aroma that is the signature of IPAs. Containing 5.8% alcohol by volume (ABV), Shock Top Wheat IPA will be sold nationwide in six- and 24-packs of 12-ounce bottles and on draught.

"Wheat beers and IPAs are among the fastest growing styles of beer, and as we look to build the Shock Top family, we wanted to try our hand at developing a hybrid of these two styles and make it available to beer drinkers across the country," said Jill Vaughn, brewmaster for Shock Top. "Shock Top's smooth, wheat malt base provides great balance of flavor to the citrusy hops - giving Wheat IPA a rich, hoppy flavor that's very drinkable and refreshing."

Shock Top Wheat IPA will join Shock Top Belgian White and Shock Top Raspberry Wheat in the brand's latest sampler pack, in stores March 19. The 12- and 24-pack samplers will be available year round.

The launch of Shock Top Wheat IPA marks the first this year for the brand. In 2011, Shock Top rolled out its first year-round line extension with Shock Top Raspberry Wheat, and its first seasonal with Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat. Shock Top Belgian White also introduced 12-ounce aluminum cans and 22-ounce bottles to its packaging line-up last year, to provide even more options for Shock Top fans to enjoy their favorite Belgian-style wheat ale, whatever the occasion.

Shock Top Belgian White is an award-winning Belgian-style unfiltered wheat ale, with a naturally cloudy and light golden color. Shock Top is brewed with orange, lemon and lime peels and coriander, giving it a refreshing, smooth taste and a citrusy aroma.

Visit www.shocktopbeer.com or www.facebook.com/ShockTop for more information.

For more information, contact:Lindsay Ryan, Anheuser-Buschlindsay.ryan@anheuser-busch.com(314) 577-2579 office

Helltown 1/2-Gallon Containers

2012-01-31T01:14:00.000-05:00

Looks like the guys at Helltown Brewing (Mount Pleasant, PA) are going to be packaging their beers in 1/2-gallon bottles. They were previously only receiving keg-label approval and this appears to be a generic label for no specific beer.

Geary’s - Cooledge Oatmeal Stout

2012-01-31T00:05:00.000-05:00

Here’s a new one from D.L. Geary’s called Cooledge Oatmeal Stout. This limited edition brew will be package din 12oz bottles This was previously Geary’s 25th Anniversary brew and it is named after Sean P Cooledge a long-time brewer @ Geary’s.

Brooklyn Brewery vs. Anchor Brewing–Paying Off the NFL Bet !

2012-01-30T17:58:00.001-05:00

Remember the bet made between Brooklyn Brewery and Anchor Brewing over the NFL Giants vs. 49ers game? Well the Giants won and Anchor Brewing had to pay off today by wearing NY Giant’s attire and serving Brooklyn Sorachi Ace at their Brewpub today through Feb 3rd….and here are the photos to prove it. Yep that’s Anchor Brewing President John Dannerbeck in the big photo. I don’t see a lot of smiles in San Francisco! For the full set of photos click HERE and for the latest bet with Harpoon over the Super Bowl…click HERE.

New Belgium Brewing Delays Decision on East-Coast Brewery (Philly Still IN the Game)

2012-01-30T17:48:00.000-05:00

Nothing terribly earth-shattering here, but the Coloradoan is reporting that N ew Belgium brewing will delay it’s decision on a location for it’s east-coast facility until at least march or April 2012….and they do confirm that it has NOTHING to di with Sierra Nevada’s recent decision to open in Mills River, NC.

Excerpts from the Coloradoan:
New Belgium Brewing Co. is looking to expand its production along the East Coast with a new facility. Simpson has confirmed they have narrowed the list of possible cities to four, including Asheville and Philadelphia, Pa., which were leaked by officials in those communities.

Originally New Belgium had planned to make an announcement by 2012 before pushing that to January or February. Simpson said now they are planning to make a decision by late March or April.

Simpson said the new timeline has nothing to do with Sierra Nevada, but rather is a matter of the brewery taking its time on a big commitment.

Lost Abbey Enters New Jersey Markets

2012-01-30T16:50:00.000-05:00

Bear Republic - Racer X DIPA Release

2012-01-30T16:25:00.000-05:00

Looks like Bear Republic will release their Racer X Double IPA in 22oz bottles during San Francisco Beer Week 2/10-2/19….and to the rest of their markets in Oct 2012. Details from their Facebook event.

Bear Republic Brewing Company announces the elusive Racer X™ Double IPA will be released in 22oz. bottles during San Francisco Beer Week, 2/10 – 2/19. The beer will be available exclusively @ Bear Republic’s brewpub, followed by a limited Bay Area only release. Racer X™ will be released nationally in October 2012.

CLOVERDALE, CA (Jan 2012) - Bear Republic is excited to debut a new 22oz. seasonal product, the elusive Racer X™ Double India Pale Ale. Racer X™ is the first in a series of Bear Republic's seasonal 22oz bottles scheduled for release in 2012 & will be available in the San Francisco Bay Area during SF Craft Beer Week, February 10th - 19th.

The recipe for Racer X™ was originally created over 10 years ago by our Brew Master/Owner, Richard "Ricardo" G. Norgrove, and has been released in kegs annually with limited availability nationwide...until now!

Like our other packages, the Racer X™ artwork is the hand drawn creation of our Brew Master, Ricardo, and offers subtle hints towards his inspirations....do you see the "5"?

Join the brew crew at the pub on Friday, February 10th from 11:30am-1:30pm for this special release and have your bottle signed by Ricardo (Artist, Brew Master, Owner, Driver, COO...we could go on...).

Racer X™ 22oz bottles will be available exclusively at Bear Republic Brewing Company's Pub & Restaurant in Healdsburg, CA on February 10-14th. If you miss it at the pub, look for Racer X™ 22oz limited release bottles throughout Sonoma County and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Chatoe Rogue Continues to Fight the Flooding.

2012-01-30T16:17:00.000-05:00

In case you missed THE STORY….here’s the latest….and our thoughts are with everyone at Chatoe Rogue.

Goose Island Bourbon County Coffee Stout 2011–The Video

2012-01-30T15:24:00.001-05:00

Flying Fish - ESB Amber Ale New Label

2012-01-30T09:48:00.000-05:00

Lets ease into Monday with a new label for Flying Fish ESB Amber Ale. ESB Amber is an existing beer, with an updated label from Flying Fish. It’s still a 12oz bottle but the colors have been boosted quite a bit. That is all….continue with your Monday.

Long Trail - Legends Brown Ale

2012-01-30T09:42:00.000-05:00

Not a lot of detail on this Long Trail Brewing Legends Brown Ale keg label. Not sure if this is a contract brew or a house-only beer so stay tuned.

Dogfish Head–Who’s Jeans Do You Want to Get Into

2012-01-30T05:09:00.000-05:00

I thought I’d start off Monday with a photo of some jeans Sam Calagione painted that still hang in the brewery at Dogfish Head. Happy Monday!

Sierra Nevada’s Mills River NC–Full Site Details

2012-01-29T12:53:00.001-05:00

Just thought you’d want to get the full details on the site where Sierra Nevada Brewing will be building their new east coast facility in Mill’s River, NC. Based on he photo above I’m excited to hear that SN is going to great lengths to minimize their environmental impact. Prior to the purchase several environmental, historical and wildlife impact studies were done by Henderson County, and this was a prime reason for SN’s choice of the Ferncliff Industrial Park. SN will be the first occupant in the park & pull it’s water source form Asheville’s water system…another important part of the decision given Sierra Nevada will use over 77,000 gallons of water a day! NCDOT will also play an important role with new roads to separate industrial traffic from visit traffic and provide good access to distribute SN beer. For the full article, check out Blueridgenow.com (They did a great job!)…and for their photos check out this page.

Stone Brewing to Improve Kit Carson Park & Become Exclusive Concession

2012-01-29T12:38:00.001-05:00

It’s still only in the proposal phase, but Stone Brewing has offered to pay for improvements in Escondido’s Kit Carson Park in exchange for the exclusive concession rights in three different venues at the park. Yes “concession” included beer, and this seems to be the only sticking point. Apparently despite there already being a On The Border restaurant near the park’s softball fields that already serves alcohol, some residents are objecting to beer being served near where there are children’s activities. With San Diego’s Sea World & Zoo Safari Park already serving alcohol, and with support from the Escondido City Council, it is likely the proposal made recently by CEO Greg Koch will succeed but stay tuned for further details.

Stoudt’s - Amber 25 Anniversary Beer

2012-01-29T00:15:00.001-05:00

It looks like Brett Kintzer is celebrating an anniversary…at Stoudt’s Brewing (Adamstown, PA)…today we have Amber 25 Anniversary Beer and it will be packaged in 12oz bottles.

Two Brothers - Outlaw IPA CANS (The Label)!

2012-01-28T12:54:00.000-05:00

We brought you news and mock-ups from Two Brothers Brewing for their Outlaw IPA…aka the first beer they’ll be canning…but today we have the real label. Looks like it will come in at 6.3% ABV and 60 IBU and be packaged in 12oz cans.

Magic Hat - Artifactory Series Honey Wheat IPA

2012-01-28T00:29:00.000-05:00

No real details beyond the keg-label….Magic Hat Artifactory Series Honey Wheat IPA….6.6% ABV…and a wheat IPA….interesting.

Russian River / Sierra Nevada - BRUX Domesticated Wild Ale

2012-01-28T00:21:00.001-05:00

So it’s all about Sierra Nevada with label approvals tonight, but mix in Russian River & you have an interesting new brew. Here’s a crazy new one called BRUX Domesticated Wild Ale. According to the label it’s a “dry & complex Belgian-style ale refermented in the bottle with Brettanomyces bruxellensis.” BRUX will be brewed & packaged in 750ml bottles at Sierra Nevada and come in at 8.3% ABV. This one is so special I thought I’d add in the backing label. This beer is scheduled for release in Summer 2012.

Sierra Nevada - Hoptimum 2012 12oz Bottles & Ovila Dubbel in 12.7oz Bottles!

2012-01-28T00:12:00.001-05:00

You may be asking what’s different about Sierra Nevada Hoptimum 2012…it’s the size. Look for 12oz bottles of this great whole-cone hop beer instead of last year’s 24oz.. Good news is that it’s still 10.4% ABV! As a bonus it looks like Ovila Dubbel will also come in a smaller package (12.7oz bottles)

Cigar City 31st Annual Tropical Heatwave Wheat Ale

2012-01-28T00:05:00.000-05:00

Looks like Cigar City Brewing is planning ahead with it’s 31st annual Tropical heatwave Wheat Ale for May 12th 2012….it’s 750ml & 5.2% ABV. This beer is brewed for listener-supported community radio station WMNF (88.5FM) in Tampa, FL….celebrating it’s 31st anniversary. This American wheat also uses Kohatu hops (from New Zealand) so it should be an interesting combination.

The Taming of The Brew 2012–April 14th

2012-01-28T00:04:00.002-05:00

Perhaps one of the most coveted beer-event tickets in NEPA, The Taming of The Brew will be held Saturday April 14th from 7-11PM. This annual fundraiser foe the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble is held every year at the Caldwell Consistory. You may ask yourself why I’m mentioning it today…well the answer is simple. Ticket sales begin (and end) on Wed Feb 1st at 6PM…and they don’t last very long. Ticket sales are very limited so if you’re interested be sure to create your ticket buying account IN ADVANCE of the sale date/time and be ready to hit the ticket purchase website promptly at 6PM. More details can be found here, but if you snooze, you loose.

Pennsylvania Brewing - Overlook IPA

2012-01-28T00:04:00.001-05:00

Here’s a new and exciting curve-ball coming out of Pennsylvania Brewing called Overlook IPA. I’ll admit I’m surprised to see a decidedly American IPA (ale) coming from our pal Andy Rich but it looks great. It will be packaged in 12oz bottles and use Zeus hops….can’t wait to try this one….

Goose Island–Scarlett Ale Aged in Wine Barrels

2012-01-28T00:04:00.000-05:00

Here’s yet another interesting new keg label approval from Goose Island….Scarlett ale age din wine barrels with raspberries added. No real detail on this one yet, but I can tell you it’s 7.8% ABV…stay tuned.

Old Forge Brewing Enters Philadelphia Market

2012-01-28T00:03:00.001-05:00

With their production brewery in full swing and the canning line up and running, our pal Damien Malfara will be shipping his T-Rail Pale Ale & Endless Summer cans into the Philly market. This is exciting news for everyone at OFBC and in Philly. Here are the details from Damien…

We are celebrating our launch in the Philly market starting Feb. 1st...which is next week (unbelievable how time flies)!

I'll be down in Philly the whole week promoting the beer and the schedule is listed below.

If any of you want to come out to any of the bars/restaurants/beer stores to hang out and sample some fresh Old Forge beer, please take a look at the schedule below.

We are entering the market with our two flagship brands, the hoppy T-Rail Pale Ale and the easy drinking Endless Summer Ale, both in kegs and 16 oz. cans. But for our launch party, we brought down special beers that are not available anywhere else except our pub in Danville. We even filled a firkin of our Bellows Brown Ale aged in a bourbon barrel for Standard Tap! And if you are into barrel-aged beers, we also brought our Quad and Hank the Belgian Stout, both aged in bourbon barrels for 7 weeks!

So I hope to see some of you sometime next week to catch up, have a beer, and celebrate Old Forge coming to Philly!

Cheers!

Damien

Wed 2/1/12
Standard Tap- 7pm- ?? (Launch of Old Forge in Philly!)

2nd & Poplar Streets in Northern Liberties 215-238-0630

http://maps.google.com/maps?um=1&hq=&gl=us&resnum=1&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&cid=0,0,12586758701372871398&fb=1&hq=standard+tap&hnear=philadelphia,+pa+19123&gl=us&daddr=901+N+2nd+St,+Philadelphia,+PA+19123-2301&geocode=18285148044863832472,39.964151,-75.140610&ei=rxjfSt7FKtng8AaP8_Fu&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=directions-to&resnum=1&ved=0CA8QngIwAA

Old Forge beers on tap:

Bourbon Barrel Aged Brown Ale Firkin
T-Rail
Endless Summer
Ludwig's Lager
Bourbon Barrel Quad
Bourbon Barrel Aged Hank The Belgian Stout
Ol' Smithy Spiced Winter Ale
Underbite IPA
Slack Tub Stout (Nitro)

_______________________________________________

Thurs 2/2/12
Whole Foods - 6 pm to 8 pm

500 W. Germantown Pike
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
Phone: 610.832.0010

http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/store-locations/?storeabbr=PLM

Can Sampling & Bar tasting
-Cans of
T-Rail
Endless Summer

On Tap
Underbite IPA
Endless Summer
_________________________________________________

Friday 2/3/12
Perch Pub 12PM-2PM (Lunch Meet the Brewer)

1345 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Northeast corner of Broad and Locust Streets
215-546-4090
http://www.perchpub.com/index.php

Draft
Underbite IPA
Endless Summer

---

Percy St BBQ 5-6pm (meet the brewer)

900 South Street at Percy Street (between 9th and 10th)

http://percystreet.com/
cans- T-Rail and Endless
draft: Ludwig's Lager

---
Beer Heaven 6-8pm (wet sampling)

1100 S Columbus Blvd
Ste 23
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Neighborhood: Pennsport

(215) 271-5248
both styles of cans
______________________________________________________

Saturday 2/4/12
The Beer Store 2PM-4PM

488 Second Street Pike
Southampton, Pa 18966 - 215-355-7373

http://www.thebeerstorebuckscounty.com
/

Wet Sampling and draft

Both Cans
Bourbon Barrel Quad
Underbite IPA

---
The Blind Pig 6pm-???

702 N. 2nd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19123

267-639-4565
www.blindpigphilly.com

Lion Brewery–Sugar Daddy Lager, Pocono Brewing Ale & Other Woman IPA

2012-01-28T00:03:00.000-05:00

These are keg only so far, but here are three new keg label approvals from our very own Lion Brewery……Sugar Daddy Lager, Pocono Brewing Ale & Other Woman IPA. Nope it’s not my beloved Caramel Porter and it doesn’t read like honeysuckle, but they are new & interesting so stay tuned.

Goose Island - Lazrus

2012-01-28T00:01:00.001-05:00

here’s the keg label for Goose Island Lazrus…8.1% ABV!

Miller 64

2012-01-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

Here’s the new label for MillerCoors 64. 12oz, 64-calories….need I say more?

St Boniface Hegemony Stout, 3LB IPA, ESB & Libation DIPA Bottles!

2012-01-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

I’ll admit this one snuck up on me…I didn’t realize St Boniface Craft Brewing (Ephrata PA) was doing bottles….but here they are. All are 12oz with similar designs…so today we have Hegemony Stout (8% ABV), 3LB IPA (6% ABV), ESB (4.5% ABV) & Libation DIPA (8.5% ABV). Stay tuned for more.

Coronado Brewing - Dumb Blonde Golden Ale

2012-01-27T13:00:00.000-05:00

I’ll admit that sometimes it’s just fun to show off some of the great beer labels coming out every morning. So when I saw Coronado Brewing Dumb Blonde Golden Ale I couldn’t resist. It’s 4.9% ABV and keg-only so far.

Troegs Nugget Nectar Brewing TODAY!

2012-01-27T10:46:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of Troegs Facebook page, they are working on three batches of Nugget Nectar TODAY (beginning at 7AM) and they are still on track for a mid-February release….and yes those are Nugget hops being weighed. Below is batch # 1 today going through the hop doser for it’s second hop addition.

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–27 Jan 2012 Kona Koko Brown Ale w/Mattson Davis

2012-01-27T09:29:00.000-05:00

Craft beer people are an amazing bunch. The passion we all share for great beer, and the craft beer camaraderie that I find as I meet brewery, CEO’s, master brewers and Presidents shines through in what they do…but today we reached a new craft-beer-passion height.

It’s clear to me when I spoke with our guest today that he is successful for a reason. Mattson Davis is energetic, but I give him even more credit that this energy and passion for craft beer even managed to shine through at 3AM! Yes that’s right…Mattson Davis was nice enough to join us LIVE from Hawaii at 3:30AM their time.

Just a few weeks ago, Kona sent out a press release announcing they would soon be distributing their beer in PA beginning Jan 17th, so the timing was perfect to talk to Mattson. Kona will be bringing us Longboard Island Lager, Fire Rock Pale Ale and even the first beer from their Aloha Series, Koko Brown. Also look for the new canned version of Longboard Island Lager, a package that I think is perfect for this beer.

Mattson was also nice enough to join us in sampling Kona Aloha Series Koko Brown. If you haven’t had the opportunity to try any of the Kona brews in the past, you’re in for a treat. Koko Brown is an easy drinking, nut brown ale made with coconut. As the label says it is the first beer in their Aloha Series of seasonal ales and I think this will be a very successful beer in PA….especially with an easy-drinking 5.5% ABV. This is a great beer and I suspect it will gain a strong following in our area. The caramel & toffee flavors, have a gentle backbone of nutty aroma and the wonderful balance of the coconut flavors, especially in the first few tastes.

We were also very excited to sample Kona’s flagship Longboard Island Lager. This crisp, clean easy drinking lager is perfect for anytime, but the new can packaging coming soon will also make it a great summer beer.

Be sure to watch for Kona Brewing beers as they hit Northeastern PA and try them for yourself.

Thank you to Mattson Davis from Kona Brewery

, Nancy, John, & Joe for yet another fun Friday.

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together.

As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.

Ommegang - Art of Darkness

2012-01-27T06:59:00.001-05:00

We knew it was coming base don yesterday’s keg label and here it is…Brewery Ommegang Art of Darkness. This limited edition beer is “a spellbinding homage to brewing dark arts” and it will be packaged in 750ml bottles. This big 8.7% ABV brew uses classic ingredients to create a classic Belgian dark ale..

Anchor Brewing Zymaster Series No 1 California Lager

2012-01-27T06:13:00.000-05:00

We brought you the details of the Zymaster Series coming our pal Mark Carpenter @ Anchor Brewing….so I thought you’d want to see the official keg label.

Widmer Brothers Reserve - Kill Devil Brown Ale

2012-01-27T05:50:00.000-05:00

Here’s a new beer from the Widmer Brothers Reserve Series called Kill Devil Brown Ale. This is their 6th brew in the limited edition series, it will be out in Spring 2012 in 22oz bottles. This big 9.5% ABV brew is 90% ale brewed with palm sugar & molasses (Barbados & Blackstrap) & aged in Puerto Rican rum barrels (the other 10% is brown ale) with Calypso hops….and it sounds great.

Pizza Port Brewing - Monster Porter, 547 Haight, Good Grief Brown, Revelations, Great American Brown & Twerp

2012-01-27T01:47:00.000-05:00

Just thought you’d want a peek at the new keg labels coming out of Pizza Port Brewing for Monster Porter, 547 Haight, Good Grief Brown, Revelations, Great American Brown & Twerp. I’m excited to see more and more Port Brewing beers and I can only hope they make it our way.

Deschutes - Festivus Ale

2012-01-27T01:04:00.000-05:00

Maybe I’m getting excited for my upcoming trip out west…and no real details beyond the 5% ABV, but I thought you’d want to see the keg label for Deschutes Festivus Ale.

Main Beer Co–MO (aka Madeline & Oliver) Pale Ale

2012-01-27T01:02:00.000-05:00

Maine Beer Co is new to our area, so it’s interesting to see this new 750ml bottle packaged for a beer called MO (aka Madeline & Oliver). This 5.5% ABV Pale Ale is bottle conditioned and it is devoted to the the brewer (Daniel Kleban) who had twins while starting the brewery (Madeline & Oliver). A great story and an interesting beer for sure.

Bud Light Platinum Super Bowl Commercials-Including Shazam App!

2012-01-27T00:12:00.000-05:00

Some interesting details from Adage relative to the upcoming Super bowl commercials from AB’s new Bu Light Platinum

For the full details from AdAge…

How much are spirits marketers getting under the skin of big beer brands? So much that the nation's biggest brewer is using a big chunk of its expensive Super Bowl ad time to fight back.

Anheuser-Busch, the game's exclusive beer advertiser, is dedicating the first two of its six Super Bowl ads to Bud Light Platinum, a new higher alcohol line extension aimed at younger, urban drinkers who have abandoned beer for spirits. The two 30-second spots, which will air in the first quarter, eschew the usual slapstick humor Bud Light is known for in favor of a more serious and stylish tone while touting "triple-filtered, smooth finish, top-shelf taste."

The ads are the debut work for AB by Translation, which won the Platinum account in December. If the phrase "top shelf" seems more descriptive of a premium spirits brand, well, that seems to be the point. "We're going after the consumers who have switched to hard liquor," VP-Marketing Paul Chibe said bluntly. With Platinum, "we feel like we can come up with compelling propositions that can compete on image and that can compete on taste and have these people come back to beer and stay in beer."

The rest of AB's Super Bowl lineup looks a little more familiar, but still has the marks of a more upscale approach that Mr. Chibe, who joined the brewer last summer, seems to favor. Regular Bud Light will get two ads: one 60-second spot by the brand's new lead agency, McGarryBowen, and a 30-second ad by longtime roster shop Cannonball. Budweiser, meantime, will be plugged with two 60-second ads by brand agency Anomaly that include references to the post-Prohibition era.

Those looking for a new look and feel for Bud Light under McGarryBowen will have to wait a little longer. The agency's lone ad, which will run in the fourth quarter, keeps the usual "Here We Go" tagline. The spot features a scrawny rescue dog named "Weego" who responds to his name being called -- "Here Weego" -- by fetching Bud Lights from the fridge. McGarryBowen has only been on the account since December. As such, the Super Bowl ad and a longer term strategy shift for the brand were kept separate, Mr. Chibe said.

Paul Chibe

Even so, the ad carries clues about the brand's creative direction under Mr. Chibe and his new agency. For one, it does not make drinkers the butt of the joke, as some previous Bud Light ads have done. "The consumer is along for the humor. It isn't the person being made fun of," Mr. Chibe said. He added: "We want to have a relationship with [the consumer]. We want to respect [their] intelligence and elevate the category not constantly bring the category down."

The second Bud Light ad will air right before halftime. It will insturct viewers to use song-identifying app Shazam later in the game broadcast to download a song. AB declined to name the song or artist, other than to say the ad will have "starpower."

The Budweiser ads, meanwhile, make an emotional appeal with nostalgia. The first one airing in the second quarter recalls the end of Prohibition. Townspeople cheer the end of dry times as the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales -- a Super Bowl staple -- charge in to deliver the first cases of beer. The second spot, in the third quarter, begins where that tale ends and then marches through history, with people enjoying Buds along the way. Scenes include the end of World War II, the moon landing, the 1980 Team USA Olympic hockey victory and more. Mr. Chibe said the spots are meant to portray optimism. "There been tough times and America has gotten through it. We're in a tough time now [but] Bud is [an] optimist about America."

These are also tough times for AB, which like all big brewers continues to lose share as jobless blue collar drinkers spend less and younger drinkers gravitate to spirits. Platinum is squarely aimed at what Mr. Chibe called "urban, well-educated sophisticated" consumers. One of the Super Bowl spots shows the brand being concocted in a new-age looking factory, while the other one features young professionals enjoying Platinum at the office, post work hours. The brew, which will roll out nationally on Jan. 30, has 6% alcohol by volume compared with 4.2% ABV for regular Bud Light. The line extension is an unorthodox play in the light beer category, where brands have traditionally been pushed for their refreshment and "sessionability" -- the idea that you can down more than a few and not be stumbling drunk.

The rollout comes as the brewer continues to experience turnover in its executive ranks under owner InBev of Belgium, which acquired AB three years ago, renaming the global company Anheuser-Busch InBev. The latest departure came just days ago when the company's U.S. president and longtime employee Dave Peacock resigned. His duties were absorbed by Luiz Edmund, the brewer's North American zone president. The changes could mean more power for Mr. Chibe, who was named to a special North American zone management committee.

Bell’s Hopslam 2012 Updates…

2012-01-27T00:02:00.000-05:00

We’ve been talking about it for months, we’ve been hearing it’s close…and yes it’s finally here…but it’s not all good news. Bell’s Hopslam 2012 hit our region in bottles & kegs earlier this week and first reports of it’s arrival into NEPA started today. I’ll update reports of NEPA Sightings as they come in…although keep in mind most people don’t report it until after they’ve purchased it and there is VERY LITTLE so far. All sources are telling me the first allocations are small so it will be very difficult to find.

NEPA Reports So Far:
The Beer Stop in Hazleton
Krugel’s Georgetown Deli (arriving today 1/27)

Sabatini’s (arriving today 1/27)

Chatoe Rogue Hopyard Declared Flood Disaster

2012-01-26T20:32:00.001-05:00

I am incredibly sad to report the following news coming out of Chatoe Rogue:

The Chatoe Rogue Hopyard has been declared a Disaster Area after widespread flooding.

The Chatoe Rogue Hopyard is located in Oregon’s Wigrich Appellation near the small, historic hop-growing town of Independence.

The Hopyard borders the Willamette River, which has slowly begun to recede since cresting over the banks early Saturday. Accompanied by heavy rainfall, melting snow and flooding creeks, the water has inundated the roads leading to the Farm, stranding Rogue Farmhand, Natascha Cronin, and Farmstead Brewer, Josh Cronin.

The Cronin’s continue to keep a tight watch on the Farm, which grows a variety of GYO Certified Hops, Rye, Pumpkins, Sweet Woodruff, Berries, Honey and Experimental Barley, as well as 23 Free-Range Chickens, Turkeys and two Pot-Bellied Piglets.

Farming and growing your own ingredients has its disadvantages – you are always at the mercy of Mother Nature.

Your Craft Brewing 2012 Itinerary, According to Stone…

2012-01-26T19:15:00.000-05:00

Stone

Mitch Steele

A few weeks ago we took a walk down memory lane, recounting for you the many accolades and accomplishments Stone achieved over the course of 2011. We are not content, however, to rest on our laurels. We’ve now turned our sights to the future and all the amazing things we have in store for you in 2012. Dates have been set for our annual special releases as well as all of our epic beer fests. So read on and prepare yourself for a whole year of beer-tastic-ness. Ale-mazement? You get the idea…

The Calm Before the Storm / Stone Winter Storm

Sunday, February 5th

Be the first to sample the rare and vintage Stone brews we’ll be pouring all week for Stone Winter Storm. Your ticket gets you an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet (prepared lovingly by the culinary geniuses at the Stone World Bistro & Gardens) and a wristband entitling you to ten 4oz samples of bottled and draft beer.

BUY TICKETS
Full details,…

Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Vintage Celebration and Bottle Release
Sunday, February 12th & Monday, February 13th

Bottles of this year’s release will be available for purchase on the 13^th, but you can try it a day earlier at the Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Vintage Celebration. We’ll have 13 vintages of this perennial favorite on draft and in bottles at the Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens. And at 11am, we’ll be popping the tops on our VERY LAST CASE of the 1999 release, so don’t be late!

Stone 2012 March Madness Homebrew Competition and AHA Rally
Sunday, March 10

Who will be the next talented homebrewer to have their beer made into a Stone Collaboration? Come taste from among 40 different entries and help us decide the winner, all while supporting the American Homebrewers Association. RSVPs are a must! Check out all the details on the official March Madness page!

Stone Imperial Russian Stout Release
Monday, April 16th

Bottles of our beloved Stone Imperial Russian Stout will be available for purchase on this date. Experience the ultimate heights of malt-richness and hop-bitterness—and then brag about it to your friends. Finally, something IRS-related you can be excited about in mid April!

Stone Oakquinox
Sunday, April 22nd

Savor the woody goodness of barrel-aged beers while relaxing in our gorgeous, sustainable gardens. Your ticket gets you a commemorative tasting glass and fifteen 3oz samples. There will be over 100 barrel-aged beers to choose from!

BUY TICKETS

Stone Late Night Movies Begin!
Wednesday, June 6th

Every Wednesday until the end of August, we’ll host free movies in our gardens. Bring a blanket for lounging on the grass and arrive early, as space is limited. And don’t forget to visit our concession stand for fresh draft beers and treats from the Bistro! (BBQ Duck Burrito, anyone?) Movie list coming soon; in the meantime, check out last year’s lineup for a taste of what’s in store, and be sure to follow @StoneMovies on Twitter for periodic updates.

Stone Sour Fest
Sunday, July 8th

Pucker up! For the sixth consecutive year Stone plays host to dozens of deliciously tart beers from world-renowned breweries. If you’ve got a soft-spot for sours, a penchant for the piquant, a bias toward Brett, then this is the event for you!

BUY TICKETS

Stone 16th Anniversary Ale
Monday, August 13th

We can’t tell you what style it is just yet; our brewers are still toiling away to perfect this year’s brew. But we can tell you that it will be awesome, so mark your calendars now.

Stone 16th Anniversary Brewer’s Reception
Friday, August 17th

Enjoy live music, food catered by many of San Diego’s finest culinary minds, and dozens of beers in a special commemorative glass, all while hob-knobbing and elbow-rubbing with the brewers who will be pouring their finest ales at our Anniversary Celebration the next day. Tickets will be on sale very soon; this is an event not to be missed.

Stone 16th Anniversary Celebration & Invitational Beer Festival
Saturday, August 18th

Come celebrate 16 years of San Diego’s most aggressive beers. Once again, Stone Brewing Co. takes over the Cal State San Marcos campus and invites over 40 breweries to join us for one of So Cal’s most epic beer fests. And did we mention that ALL proceeds benefit local charities? Well, they do. In 2011 we raised a record $240,000. Let’s see if we can top that this year! Tickets will be on sale very soon. And, we’ll also be organizing the Stone Dye-Hards for Charity event—stay tuned for details!

Stone Pour It Black Festival
Sunday, October 7th

The newest addition to Stone’s line up of in-house beer festivals, Pour It Black celebrates the dark side of brewing. Dozens of stouts, porters, and even some black IPAs are on hand to please your palate. A ticket gets you a commemorative tasting glass and fifteen 3oz samples.

BUY TICKETS

Double Bastard Ale Release
Monday, October 29th

Everyone’s favorite strong ale is back for its 14th year. Trust me, you’ll want to get your hands on a bottle or two (or twelve—hey, you’ve got to save at least a couple to cellar. Man, does this beer age well!). Are you worthy?

San Diego Beer Week
Friday, November 2nd - Sunday, November 11th

Stay tuned for a complete list of this year’s offerings. As usual, we’ll kick it all off with our Stone Rare Beer Breakfast: decadent breakfast dishes of both the sweet and savory variety, served alongside dozens of hard-to-find brews. Other events will include appearances by celebrity brewers and special tappings all around San Diego.

Stone 12.12.12 Vertical Epic Ale
Monday, December 10th

Join us at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens to celebrate the release of the final installment in our Stone Vertical Epic Ale Series. We still have eleven months to work out the details, but I assure you it will be worth the wait.

Stone New Year’s Eve Celebration
Monday, December 31st

Come ring 2013 in with style. Amazing food and desserts, awesome beer and wine, as well as some rare and vintage Stone ales—this is a night that you’ll undoubtedly remember well into the new year! Check out pictures and videos of last

Portsmouth Kate the Great Day 2012

2012-01-26T15:47:00.000-05:00

Full details from Peter Egelston @ Portsmouth:

Good afternoon,
Most of you know by now that Kate Day, the day we release our highly regarded Russian Imperial Stout, will take place at the Portsmouth Brewery on Monday, March 5, 2012. Up till now we haven't posted many details because, frankly, we hadn't worked them all out. I'm writing today to provide more information about this popular annual gathering, pointing out similarities and differences between the upcoming Kate Day and previous years' events. As in the past, I'll use a Q&A format (which will allow me to cut and paste shamelessly from my last year's post):
For the full details…

• When will Kate Day take Place in 2012?
Kate Day will take place on Monday, March 5, 2012.
• How much Kate the Great will be brewed?
Tod and Brian have brewed a somewhat larger batch than in years past: fourteen barrels, divided more or less equally between draught and bottles.
• I heard a rumor that you’ll be using different bottles this year. Is that true?
You heard right. We have decided to abandon the familiar 22-ounce “bomber” bottle and have chosen instead to use the classic “Steini,” a bottle most commonly associated these days with beers such as Duvel and Piraat.
• But don't Steini bottles hold less beer than bombers?
I'm glad you asked. Yes they do - 11.16 ounces versus 22, to be precise.
• Does that mean you’ll be offering more bottles for sale?
Another great question! Yes. This year we will make 2,000 bottles available for sale. More than double the number from years past. (Yes, sometimes less truly is more.)
• How much will these new, smaller bottles of Kate cost?
Last year we raised the price of 22 ounce bottles to $15. This year we have pro-rated the price to account for the smaller bottle and will charge $8 apiece.
• Will growlers of Kate be available?
No.
• Last year you switched from using calendar pages to a lottery system using scratch tickets as a means of distributing bottled Kate. Do you plan to use scratch tickets again this year?
Understanding that no system is perfect, we really like the way the scratch tickets worked last year. It is an equitable way to distribute a limited number of bottles where demand greatly exceeds supply; it reduces the crowds forming on our doorstep and down the block on Kate Day, which keeps our neighbors and the local constabulary happy; and it enables us to raise a significant amount of money for local non-profits. Consequently, we WILL be using scratch tickets this year, as well. Here's how it will work:
- 15,000 tickets will be available, with 2,000 “winners” mixed randomly among them.
- These tickets will be sold at the Portsmouth Brewery for $2 apiece starting ABOUT three weeks prior to Kate Day, until they run out.
- 100% of the revenue generated by the sale of these scratch tickets will benefit five non-profits, including the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire. (For the curious, the Portsmouth Brewery does not take a tax deduction for these funds.)
- Sale of scratch tickets will be limited to ten per person per day.
- Scratch tickets must be purchased in person at the Brewery. None will be sold by mail.
• If I don’t live near Portsmouth, how will I be able to purchase a ticket?
This is where you become resourceful and ask your Aunt Tillie in Kittery or your BA trading partners to help out and buy tickets for you.
• So I've got a winning scratch ticket, now what to I do?
A WINNING SCRATCH TICKET HAS NO CASH VALUE - it merely entitles the bearer to purchase a single bottle of Kate at his or her convenience any time from March 5 through April 15, 2012. An individual can purchase as many bottles of Kate as he or she has winning scratch tickets. Winning scratch tickets become invalid after April 15, 2012. Any bottles of Kate remaining unsold after that date will be made available to the general public in our retail store.
• When and how will people be notified when scratch tickets go on sale?
We'll post on our Facebook page and send out a tweet the morning they go on sale, ABOUT three weeks before Kate Day.
• How is draft Kate going to be released?
We plan to use the system we employed last year: the Portsmouth Brewery will open its doors for business at 11:00 am on Kate Day. We will let people into the building in groups of 50, spaced 15 minutes apart, until the restaurant is fully seated. This is to assure that service (and beer) flows smoothly, enabling us to provide the best hospitality throughout the day. The official tapping of Kate will take place around 11:30 am.
• If I come with a large group of friends, will we all be able to sit together?
We'll do our very best to accommodate groups of all sizes on Kate Day, but we can't make any promises.
• Will we be seated with people we don’t know?
Perhaps. In order to make sure that all of our guests are seated and served as expeditiously as possible, a certain amount of communal seating is required. Kate Day is probably not ideally suited for a romantic date, but it is a great opportunity to make new friends!
We will provide more details over the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
Please keep in mind, the purpose of Kate Day is to have fun, to celebrate good beer and gather with friends, old and new. At the Brewery we try to do our best to deliver on that. We look forward to serving you.
Cheers,
Peter Egelston
Proprietor

Goose Island - 2012 Juliet Bottled Today & Bramble Rye Ships 2/1

2012-01-26T15:42:00.000-05:00

From Goose Island’s Facebook Page:

Exciting happenings at the brewery today, we're bottling 2012 Juliet! There will be a post here when the first cases leave the brewery.

and from their twitter account:
If you've been waiting for Bramble Rye, the plan is for it to leave the brewery on Feb. 1st.

Weyerbacher - Brewers Select UNIFORM

2012-01-26T07:35:00.001-05:00

We’ve been following along as our friend Chris Wilson has worked his way through the phonetic alphabet with the Weyerbacher Brewers Select series…and now we up to UNIFORM. No real details yet other than it will continue to be packaged in 12oz bottles…so stay tuned. This will likely be the last in the series that uses the old Jester Logo as the new one will be debuting on Feb 10th.

Ommegang Art of Darkness Belgian-Style Dark

2012-01-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here’s a new keg-only (so far) label from our pal Phil Leinhart at Brewery Ommegang called Art of Darkness Belgian-Style Dark Ale. Other than 9% ABV, no real details yet so stay tuned.

Kona - Fire Rock, Big Wave, Longboard

2012-01-26T06:41:00.000-05:00

Kona Brewing released updated labels for Fire Rock Pale Ale, Big Wave Golden Ale & Longboard Island Lager (not shown). While these initially appear to be related to Kona’s upcoming release of canned beer, the big change here is the labeling change to indicate Kona’s use of Craft Brew Alliance brewing facilities in Portland, OR, Woodinville WA & Portsmouth, NH. These are all 12oz & keg label updated.

Redhook - Blueline Series No Equal Amber Lager

2012-01-26T06:35:00.000-05:00

Here’s the latest release from Redhook’s Blueline Series called No Equal Amber Lager. I’ve included two labels for this 5.2% Amber Lager, that include the Craft Brew Alliance breweries of Woodinville, WA, Portsmouth, NH & Portland OR. Watch for a bottle label coming soon.

Brooklyn - Summer Ale 12oz Cans

2012-01-26T05:55:00.000-05:00

Here’s your first look at the official label for Brooklyn Brewery Summer Ale in 12oz Cans. We’re been talking about this for a few months so it’s cool to see the actual label. These also appear to be coming out of the Utica NY Post Road Brewing facility.

Dogfish Head Noble Rot Beer/Wine Hybrid The Video (S)

2012-01-26T05:11:00.000-05:00

Uinta Brewing–19th Birthday Suit Sour Cherry Ale

2012-01-26T04:30:00.000-05:00

We’ve seen quite a few new Uinta Brewing beers in the PA market lately, so I was excited to see this unique release coming out of the Salt Lake City, UT brewery. Today we have 19th Birthday Suit Sour Cherry Ale (ale brewed with cherries) brewed to celebrate the 19th birthday of Uinta Brewing. This special bottle conditioned brew will come in at 5.7% ABV and be packed in 750ml bottles.

DuClaw - Anti Venom Pale Ale Green Bullet Single Hop

2012-01-26T04:23:00.000-05:00

We brought you Venom from DuClaw Brewing back in Feb 2011, so it’s no shock today that we have DuClaw Anti Venom Pale Ale. This beer starts with Venom Pale Ale and uses a single hop (New Zealand Green Bullet.) This beer will come in at 5.6% ABV and be package din 22oz bottles….and watch for more single-hop beers from DuClaw.

Telegraph Brewing - Obscura Cacao w/Twenty-Four Blackbirds Chocolate

2012-01-26T02:39:00.000-05:00

Here’s a new label from Telegraph Brewing called Obscura Cacao ale brewed with cocoa beans & with cocoa beans added….and not just any cocoa beans, Dominican cocoa beans from twenty-four blackbirds chocolate. This 7.3% ABV brew will be packaged in 750ml bottles and I suspect it will be a limited/low batch brew.

It’s Official….Sierra Nevada Chooses Mills River NC (95 Jobs & $107Million) w/Photos

2012-01-25T14:05:00.000-05:00

News just coming out now that it is official….Sierra Nevada Brewing has chosen Mills River North Carolina (Henderson Co near Asheville) for their east coast brewing facility. We pretty much had the details yesterday and this from Sierra Nevada’s Twitter account just minutes ago…

We are excited to announce that we’ve chosen the town of Mills River just adjacent to Asheville, North Carolina

SN Will invest $107.5 Million in the next 5 years, & create 95 full-time jobs and be operating by early 2014….Here’s the Press Release from Gov Perdue’s Office & from Ken Grossman & Sierra Nevada & Photos HERE:

Press Release:

(Mills River, NC) – Gov. Bev Perdue today joined executives from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., an independent, family-owned pioneer in craft brewing, in announcing that they will locate a brewing facility for the East Coast in Mills River as well as an onsite restaurant. The project was made possible in part by a $1.025 million grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

Gov. Perdue was joined by Sierra Nevada CEO Ken Grossman and other locals officials for the announcement in Henderson County.

The company plans to create 95 full-time jobs as part of the grant and invest $107.5 million during the next five years in Henderson County. In addition the company expects to hire another 80 part-time employees and expects to create about 60 construction and mechanical jobs during its 24-month building phase. These jobs will be created in gradual phases starting in mid to late 2012 and continuing through 2013.

“We are proud that Sierra Nevada, with its tradition of innovation, stewardship and quality, chose to tap all the great things North Carolina had to offer,” said Gov. Perdue. “This announcement enhances a burgeoning craft beer industry in our state. The investment, jobs and brand recognition Sierra Nevada brings will be a boon to this region and help confirm North Carolina as a destination for innovation.”

North Carolina is home to more craft breweries than any Southern state – 21 brewpubs and 28 production breweries – with western North Carolina being particularly strong. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is one of America’s first craft breweries and helped to popularize the bold and flavorful beers that are the hallmarks of the craft beer industry. Founded in 1980, Sierra Nevada continues to be recognized for the use of only whole-cone hops and for the quality and craftsmanship of their products. Sierra Nevada currently employs in excess of 500 dedicated employees and is the second largest privately held brewery in the United States.

“After carefully looking at more than 200 sites east of the Mississippi, Sierra Nevada is pleased to locate our second brewery in Henderson County,” said Grossman. “We are very grateful to the officials in Mills River, Henderson County and the State of North Carolina whose time, effort and commitment were instrumental in making this happen. We are proud to be associated with the many fine breweries that call North Carolina home.”

According to Grossman, an expansion to the East Coast was a responsible decision. “The original brewery in Chico is reaching capacity, and the demand for our beer continues to increase,” he explained. “We felt the most responsible thing to do was to build a brewery on the other side of the country, to lessen our impact on the environment while continuing to place great craft beer into the hands of our consumers.”

Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $41,526 plus benefits. The Henderson County average annual wage is $32,240.

The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.

“Sierra Nevada knows that North Carolina is a place where the business climate will help them grow and thrive,” said Sen. Tom Apodaca, of Hendersonville. “I’m sure my sons are looking forward to buying some of the first bottles brewed here.”

“This terrific news is a perfect example of leaders at the state and local level, and from different political parties, working together to bring jobs to the people of North Carolina,” said Rep. Chuck McGrady of Hendersonville.

North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.

Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 60,000 jobs and $11 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, N. C. Department of Transportation, Henderson County, the Town of Mills River, Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development and the Golden LEAF Foundation.

After a long and comprehensive search, I’m excited to announce our location for a second brewery, in the Henderson County town of Mills River, North Carolina.

Throughout the last 31 years, we have had the privilege to make bold, flavorful, and hop-forward beers — the kind of beer we have always loved to drink. Luckily, we’re not the only ones who drank it, and for most of the time we’ve been in existence, we have been scrambling to keep up with demand. For years, we’ve considered a second brewing location. The recent growth of craft beer in the eastern USA, combined with the environmental impact of shipping all the way across the country, made a
second brewing location the most sustainable solution for us moving forward.

For the past several years, we’ve reviewed over 200 sites with painstaking detail and an
exhaustive list of qualitative and quantitative considerations. In North Carolina, we were humbled by the community, its values and the outstanding craft beer culture in the area. Much of Sierra Nevada’s success stems from the hard work and dedication of our staff, along with the brewery culture that has grown up alongside the physical brewery. While we were making this decision, it was important for us to choose a location similar to our home in Chico, CA. Mills River and the Asheville area feel like a great fit for us; a close-knit community with outstanding quality of life, shared values and access to the outdoors.

Much like Chico, with its close proximity to many creeks, rivers and the Sierras, the location for our new brewery in North Carolina will be situated on property that borders the French Broad River, with the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop. Of course, building a new brewery from the ground up is no small task, and we anticipate the construction to take between 18 and 24 months. Our East Coast brewery will be built with a sustainable and mindful approach and maintain the integrity of the property and beauty of the natural landscape.

Construction will take approximately two years, and when completed, we anticipate the new brewery to be close to 200,000 square feet, with an on-site pub & restaurant.
My son, Brian Grossman, and Stan Cooper will be leading operations of the North Carolina location, and a few key Chico staff will also be relocating to the new facility.

We thank you for sharing this adventure.

Cheers!
Ken Grossman

NEW Grain Silo Arrives @ Weyerbacher Today

2012-01-25T13:22:00.000-05:00

Brooklyn vs. Harpoon–A Super Bowl Bet

2012-01-25T12:32:00.000-05:00

Fresh off their win against Anchor Brewing. our friends at Brooklyn Brewery have entered a new bet on the Super Bowl. While it will be the NY Giants versus the New England Patriots on the field, it will be Brooklyn Brewery versus Harpoon Brewery in their respective tasting rooms. Losing brewery/team has to pour the other brewery’s beer AND wear the other brewery’s clothing in their own tasting room….so stay tuned.

Here are the details from Dan D'Ippolito @ Brooklyn Brewery:

Harpoon Brewery Bet “The Honor Of The House” On Giants-Patriots Super Bowl

(JAN 25)—Harpoon Brewery President Dan Kenary and Brooklyn Brewery President Steve Hindy are betting that their home team will prevail in the Feb 5 Super Bowl in Indianapolis.

If the New York Giants win, as they did in the 2008 Super Bowl against New England, Harpoon will pour Brooklyn Lager in their tasting room and their brewery tour staff will wear Giants jerseys for a week this winter. If the Patriots win, Brooklyn will pour Harpoon IPA in their pub for a week, and the Brooklyn staff will wear Patriots jerseys.

“We are very confident that the Patriots will carry the day, and avenge the 2008 loss to the Giants,” said Kenary, who still cringes when he thinks back to pouring Brooklyn Lager four years ago.

“We know the Patriots had a better season record than the Giants. They are a great team,” said Hindy, clearly concerned about appearing over confident. “But the Giants have come together in the post-season. Eli Manning and his team have to keep it together for one more game.”

Hindy noted that the Anchor Brewery in San Francisco lost a similar bet to Brooklyn last Sunday when the Giants beat the 49ers on a last minute field goal. Anchor’s tour guides will be wearing Giants jerseys and pouring Brooklyn Sorachi Ace for their guests in the coming week.

“It is difficult to calculate the shame that accrues to a brewery that must pour its competitor’s flagship beer through its home taps,” said Hindy. “And wearing the opposition’s jerseys—you take your life in your hands when you wear a Boston jersey here in New York.”

mybeerbuzz.com NEPA’s Best Craft Beer Resource

2012-01-25T10:50:00.000-05:00

If you’ve followed along and played the home version of mybeerbuzz.com over the last year, you'll notice we’ve grown. We cover national and international breaking beers news as well as giving you the first look at hundreds of new beers….BUT…we remain committed to serving Northeastern PA’s craft beer community. In the name of that, we’ve made a change to the main top menu bar. You’ll now see a “NEPA” button. Click on that button & you’ll see ONLY content relevant to NEPA. Go ahead and try it!

Dogfish Head–New Embossed 750ml Bottles

2012-01-25T09:59:00.000-05:00

Dogfish Head gave us a peek yesterday on their twitter account of their new embossed 750ml bottles. Looks like 75-Min IPA will be the first to see the new glass.

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser 27 Jan 2012

2012-01-25T09:55:00.000-05:00

Last week we welcomes Jamie Bartholomaus from Foothills Brewing to sample Sexual Chocolate. This is a fantastic beer, and I now understand why many people drive down to Winston-Salem, NC for the bottle release. If you’re thinking about doing that GO NOW. The bottle release is this Saturday 1/27….it will be well worth the ride.

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: This week we have another brewery President joining us to sample his beer….the beer is NEW to PA and he’s our all time earliest guest!

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together. (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

Port Brewing Hop 15 or Skip It for More Mongo IPA? Reader Poll Hop-15 WINS!

2012-01-25T09:06:00.000-05:00

This from Lost Abbey Scribe…

To Date Hop-15 IS Winning by over 70%

We have a quandary of sorts.

Hop 15 or Not?

As you may know, we’re supposed to brew and release our epic double IPA, Hop 15, a couple of times a year — August and February. Well it’s almost February now, but we’re doing so well with our other double IPA, Mongo, that’s it a little difficult to justify tying up major tank time to brew a batch of an IPA that is, uhhh… let’s just say not for the faint of tongue. So there’s some back and forth going on behind the scenes as to what we should do.

Some of the crew says “Mongo be damned, we need to brew a big, fat batch of Hop 15 and get that hop monster out to our customers far and wide.” Another faction says “we can’t go without Mongo, let’s skip Hop 15 this time and maybe we’ll brew it in the summer.”

And then there’s a third, middle of the road group, that thinks brewing a smaller batch and sending it into limited (read: no bottles and who knows who will get it) distribution is the best solution.

Needless to say, we’re kind of at an impasse. So we’re kicking it to you, the consumer and asking what you think. Should we go whole-hop, half-hop or skip it altogether? Vote in the poll below and let us know.

Click HERE to Vote!

Lagunitas to Brew Their IPA @ Anchor Brewing

2012-01-25T08:19:00.000-05:00

Coming on the heels of their new Brewhouse being damaged on a ship, Lagunitas Brewing will be brewing their IPA at Anchor Brewing. Kudo’s to our pal Mark Carpenter @ Anchor for helping out. It’s been a story told mostly on Twitter @LagunitasT but the latest from Lagunitas is…”....that Anchor is willing to help us through this two-month hump. It is great to have such friends on this crazy competitive left-coast!” Preceded by:

Flying Dog - Snake Dog IPA in 12oz Cans!

2012-01-25T07:57:00.001-05:00

Today we have Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA. This 7.1% ABV carries another great Steadman label and it will be be 2nd beer (Following Under Dog) to be packaged in 12oz cans. This new can also carries a quote by Anna Steadman, “It snakes down your throat like a faithful friend.”

Harpoon - Rich & Dan’s Rye IPA (100-Barrel #37) Year-Round

2012-01-25T07:12:00.000-05:00

Here’s a new 12oz bottle package coming from Harpoon Brewery called Rich & Dan’s Rye IPA. This was previously #37 in their 100-Barrel Series named after founders Rich Doyle & Dan Kenary to celebrate Harpoon’s 25th Anniversary….and now it looks to be a regular release. It’s 6.9% ABV and appears to be the same recipe as the original.

Goose Island Bourbon County Coffee Stout Hits the Streets This Week

2012-01-25T06:33:00.000-05:00

Look for Goose Island Bourbon County Coffee Stout to come out this week and Bramble Rye to follow in Feb….This

Details coming out of the Chicago Tribune….

Beer lovers have been clamoring for release dates on the two latest entries in the Goose Island Bourbon County stout series, and we finally have them. Sort of.

Cases of 2011 Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout — a stout brewed with Intelligentsia coffee and aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels — started leaving the brewery late Monday, which means drinkers can expect them on Chicago-area shelves Thursday or Friday, I'm told. Interest will be fierce, so to make yourself and your favorite beer store less agitated, I suggest calling first.

As for the other BCS beer — Bramble Rye, a stout aged in Heaven Hill rye whiskey barrels with raspberries and blackberries — still no word on a release date, but sometime in February remains the estimate. More information will be provided here when we get it. Also coming about the same time will be the 2011 vintage of regular Bourbon County Brand Stout, which will be released in four-packs (the others come in 22 ounce bottles).

More info HERE

Saranac High Peaks Chocolate Orange Porter

2012-01-25T06:01:00.000-05:00

We brought you the first High Peaks beer from Saranac back in Sept, and now here’s the 2nd in the series…Chocolate Orange Robust Porter. This big 9% ABV porter is brewed with blood oranges & cocoa nibs and will be packaged in 22oz bottles. What is perhaps most interesting here are two things: 1) The label now carries avatars for Facebook & Twitter and 2) This beer is actually licensed by Matt Brewing Co and brewed @ Harpoon Brewery in Boston.

Captain Lawrence - Liquid Gold

2012-01-25T05:22:00.000-05:00

Here’s a new package for an existing beer from Captain Lawrence called Liquid Gold. This Belgian-style ale brewed with spice will be packaged in 12oz bottles and use Crystal, Sterling & Cascade hops.

Round Guys - Berlinerweister Weisterberliner Sour Ale

2012-01-25T04:29:00.000-05:00

We brought you Round Guys Brewing (Lansdale, PA) Berlinerweister Weisterberliner Sour Ale in keg form a week or two ago and I want to thank everyone at Round Guys for making me type out this title a 2nd time! We should make note that Round Guys Brewing DID receive their final approvals yesterday so they are all set to release their beers. Look for this Wild Eyed Series release in 12oz bottles and it will come in at an easy drinking 4% ABV. This brew uses wild yeasts and is brewed in the traditions of a German Berliner weisse.

Great Lakes Medals @ World Beer Championship

2012-01-24T14:05:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to say congratulations to Great Lakes Brewing for their recent WBC Medals. From GLBC:

Two Golds and a Silver

We're proud to announce that our Blackout Stout, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter and Christmas Ale scored medals in their individual categories at the 2012 World Beer Championships conducted by the Beverage Testing Institute of Chicago.

Blackout Stout, a seasonal, scored 94 Points for a rating of "Exceptional" and a gold medal in its category "Imperial Stout". Edmund Fitzgerald, available year-round, scored 93 Points for a rating of "Exceptional" and a gold medal in its category "Porter". Christmas Ale, a seasonal favorite, scored 89 Points for a rating of "Highly Recommended" and a silver medal in the "Winter Ale" category.

Sierra Nevada Chooses Henderson Co, NC / Asheville for East Coast Brewery

2012-01-24T10:49:00.001-05:00

The Times/News On-line is reporting this morning that Sierra Nevada has chosen Henderson Co, NC as the location for their new east-coast facility. The 220-acre location is at “Old Fanning Bridge Rd between Broadpoint Industrial Park & Asheville Regional Airport on the east side of the French Broad River.” The announcement is expected to come this week from Sierra Nevada. More details can be found HERE.

I’m also hearing that the Governor Beverly Perdue of NC will make the announcement tomorrow (1/25) at the site

Weyerbacher Riserva Release Event Feb 10th–New Jester Logo Too!

2012-01-24T10:28:00.000-05:00

Our pal Chris Wilson from Weyerbacher brewing will be releasing Riserva 2011 on Friday Feb 10th 2012 from 4:30-8:00PM at the brewery. Samples of this 11.7% ABV specialty raspberry brew will be available and Weyerbacher is calling this the BEST Riserva yet.

Weyerbacher will also be releasing the final 25 cases of Rapture at this even (3-bottle max per person) as well as 2012 Insanity.

As a bonus Weyerbacher will be debuting it’s new SSMCreative-designed Jester Logo at the event as well. According to Dan Weirback, “"We're really proud of the new identity. It's really representative of the bold inventiveness that is a part of our beers and we're really excited about having our visual identity catch up with the great quality beer that we make."”

Pyramid Dunkel, Wheaten IPA, Wit Beer, Pale Ale & Curve Ball

2012-01-24T10:27:00.001-05:00

Here’s your first look at the new packaging and beers from Pyramid Brewing. These are all 12oz bottles and each includes the new “Seattle – Berkley – Portland” brewery locations. Dunkel is a Dark Wheat Ale (5.6% ANB), Wheaten IPA Dry-hopped wheat IPA (6.5% ABV), Wit Beer Belgian-Style White Ale (5.1% ABV) and Pale Ale (Pyramid’s First Brew—5.4% ABV). Stay tuned for details on the release & configuration of these new packages.

As expected, Pyramid Curve Ball (22oz 5% ABV) cold-conditioned Blonde Ale has also been updated to the new label design to include Seattle, Berkley & Portland on the label and I love the baseball flying out from behind the pyramid.

SweetWater - 15 Years of Heady Beers

2012-01-24T09:36:00.000-05:00

Up today we have a special 15th Anniversary package from SweetWater Brewing called 15-years of Heady Beers (1997-2012). This is SweetWater’s first ever Anniversary Beer and it will be a big 10% ABV, 70 IBU ESB-based brew using hand-roasted malts and 5 different hops. This beer will be release in 22oz bottles this spring.

New Belgium Cocoa Mole & Bier de Mars 1st in 2012 Lips Of Fail Series

2012-01-24T08:50:00.000-05:00

This from New Belgium Brewing:

Ft. Collins, CO, January 24, 2012 – New Belgium Brewing today announced the first two beers in its 2012 Lips of Faith series…Biere de Mars and Cocoa Molé. Lips of Faith beers offer limited edition selections that showcase New Belgium’s more esoteric & palate-elevating creations.

For the full press release…

New Belgium’s Biere de Mars evokes earthy tones of ripe mango and lemon verbena that reflect the hearty character of the southern Belgian and northern French countryside's. Brewed with barley, oats and wheat malts, Biere de Mars’ celestial orange hue inspired the planetary play on words. A wild yeast strain is added for bottle conditioning, which creates a refreshingly sour flash across the palate. Lemon peel coupled with the lemon verbena imparts a citrusy finish. Biere de Mars is available on draft and in 22-ounce bombers. Alcohol by volume is 6.2 percent.

Cocoa Molé combines chocolate, cinnamon and plentiful ancho, guajillo and chipotle chilies for a sweet and spicy burst of flavor. Brewed with pale, caramel-80, chocolate, dark chocolate malts and a healthy dash of chocolate rye, Cocoa Molé presents midnight dark with a subtle reddish hue, lifting a pillowy, burnished head. It starts on the tongue with a swirl of chocolate malt that dissolves into the warm embers of a peppery heat. Alcohol by volume is nine percent and it will be available on draft and in 22-ounce bombers.

“This first round of Lips of Faith offers spice, heat and a touch of sweet,” said New Belgium brewer Grady Hull. “It’s a bold one-two punch to start the 2012 Lips of Faith series off right.”

Beire de Mars and Cocoa Molé are available now through April in select markets while supplies last. 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.