Monthly Archives: June 2008

Brewdog brings craft beer from Scotland to the States

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Brewdog Paradox Glen Grant(Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland) – Right near the tippity top of Scotland lies a craft brewery just over a year old. Still, in just a short time, Brewdog has earned a reputation for making some pretty damn good ales including the top-rated beer in Scotland, Brewdog Paradox Grain (Batch 002), according to RateBeer. Lucky for Americans, Preiss Imports has brought these beers to the U.S. over the last few months, and they are now making their way across the country to select locations.

Last week, there were reports that the beer is now available in St. Louis and parts of Pennsylvania. However, label approvals began filtering in late last year and the beers have been available in California among other places on a limited basis for quite some time. So what is the brewery offering to U.S. consumers?

Most notable of the new imports are the Brewdog Paradox Series beers, a group limited release imperial stouts aged in Scottish single malt whiskey casks, all of which have been earning considerable acclaim in recent beer ratings. The Paradox Series uses casks from two regions, Islay and Speyside. The Islay versions of the beer have accents of ‘peat and smoke’ while the Speyside brews, according to the sell sheet [pdf] read, “All fudge, spice and citrus fruits on the nose[...]” The brewery has also brought over another Imperial Stout called Riptide which won at the 2007 World Beer Awards. [ed: Surprisingly, I haven't heard of these awards?]

Approval just came through last week for Paradox Glen Grant, aged in 1972 casks. Additionally, the brewery got approval in early March for the aforementioned Brewdog Paradox Grain though it isn’t clear as to whether this beer has actually made its way to the States yet. Some of the others now distributed in the U.S. include an IPA, a double IPA, and an award-winner amber ale.

A visit to the site shows some other interesting details such as one of the most expensive non-auction beers we’ve ever seen and a feud with a UK social organization dedicated to the issues surrounding alcohol consumption. You have to read it to believe it:

PIPC considered Rip Tide to be in potential breach of Code rule 3.2b for the following reason:“The product is described as a “twisted merciless stout” associating its consumption with anti-social behaviour”

PIPC considered Hop Rocker to be in potential breach of Code rule 3.2j for the following reason “Description of the product includes “nourishing foodstuff” and “magic is still there to be extracted from this drink” implying it could enhance mental or physical capabilities”

PIPC considered Punk IPA to be in potential breach of Code rule 3.2b for the following reason:“This product is described as an “aggressive beer” thus associating its consumption with anti-social behaviour”

Southern Tier Cuvee Series to debut this fall

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Southern Tier Cuvee 1(Lakewood, NY) – Certain breweries make it a habit of staying in the headlines and Southern Tier is no exception. The brewery hasn’t even released its much-anticipated Creme Brulee stout yet though we’ve already got news to share about a new batch of brews coming out later this fall. Southern Tier Cuvee 1 will become the first beer in a set of three to be launched over the course of 2008 and 2009 when it is released late this fall.

According to Head Brewer, Paul Cain, Cuvee #1 is in formulation. “Expect it to be Golden and around 7% ABV. All the beers will use different oak varieties and at least two different yeast strains.” And what brought about the new beers? Says Cain, “The Cuvee series stems from the recent release of the Oak Aged Cherry Saison. We found the french oak staves very effective and enjoyed using them to impart the oak flavors into the Saison. We also used multiple yeast strains/fermentations to produce that beer.”

The series marks a change in paradigm for the brewery, one that has established itself as a leader on the East Coast with a portfolio of formidable American-style hoppy ales and heavy stouts. It won’t be leaving those styles anytime soon, but with Cherry Saison and these new offerings, Southern Tier is clearly experimenting with Belgian-style brewing more than it ever has before. [If you look around, you might just notice some other American breweries doing the same.]

Judging by the labels, these will released in regular bomber bottles as opposed to ‘cork n cage’ style.  Their releases will be spread out a few months apart.

Beer Notes: Troegs Scratch #12, Ithaca Brute, Russian River Happy Hops

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The Drafting Room 14th Anniversary AleTroegs Brewing will showcase its next release in the Scratch Beer Series on June 21. Troegs Scratch #12 is a 6.5% IPA that features a hop profile of Amarillo, Warrior, and Mt. Hood. The beer is also The Drafting Room’s 14th Anniversary Ale and a firkin of it will be tapped a little early at both bar locations on Tuesday, June 19, prior to the bottle release.

Courtesy of a tip from reader, BeerTruth, the Brewing News reported that Ithaca Beer Co.’s fourth beer in the Excelsior! Series will be called Brute, a sour ale aged in French oak barrels. The new beer will join Ithaca TEN, White Gold, and IPAbbey as the fourth installment in the set of special release beers, each of which are among the brewery’s highest rated beers to date. Ithaca Brute will be available for two summer events, American Craft Beer Fest and Belgium Comes to Coopertown, before being released in bottles in August.

Finally, Russian River Brewing appears to have brewed up a new beer though it appears as though it will only be available at the brewpub. Russian River Happy Hops Ale has an ABV of 5.46%. We’re presuming it is an IPA based on the name. If we find out it is going to be bottled, we’ll post an update.

Beer Advocate’s American Craft Beer Fest 2008: Top 10 Beer Picks

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American Craft Beer Fest 2008 - Courtesy of Beer Advocate(Boston, MA) – Don’t know what this is? Here’s a link to the official website for the June 20-21 event which also contains the full beer list (a few may be added in the next two weeks). Go there to find out all the info like where to buy tickets, who is speaking, etc.

This is not the same as an “Extreme Beer” fest like Beer Advocate has run in the past. There will be a lot of beers there for those getting acquainted with craft beer for the first time which makes it all the more important to separate out those rare beers that will be the most interesting options for beer connoisseurs in attendance.

This top 10 list focuses on beers that are retired, rare finds, have limited store availability, or are just lesser known. So, despite great ratings, you won’t see Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA or Oskar Blues Ten Fidy on here. Apologies to those that didn’t make this very short list; there are literally dozens of beers from which to pick. Disagreement with the list? Think I missed a great beer? Leave a comment (link below the article title above). Without further ado…

10. Harpoon Leviathan Triticus – [6/17 Update: Press release on the new version can be found here] Assuming this is the same beer that was brewed by Todd and Jason Alstrom at Harpoon Brewery and released in 2005, it has been long retired. It is a Wheat Wine that was part of Harpoon’s 100 Barrel Series, a batch of limited release beers that is nearly two dozen strong now. Harpoon lists it as 11.5% yet Beer Advocate lists it as 14% (possibly the heaviest hitter on the whole list). Maybe this is a different version?

9. Lagunitas Sonoma Farmhouse Hop Stoopid – Can’t seem to find anything at the Lagunitas site on this beer so I’ll turn you over to John Foyston’s The Beer Here blog for some information. It is the brewery’s highest-rated beer ever. You can also catch some Lucky #13 at the fest.

8. Terrapin Oak-Aged Rye Squared – This barrel-aged version of the brewery’s regular IPA was recently available on tap down in Athens, GA. From RateBeer: “Spike has added over 20 French oak spirals into a 50 barrel batch of Rye Squared and the result is an even more delicious, woody, vanilla version of this already tasty brew.” The South is not yet known for its breweries but Terrapin is doing some great things down there, helping lead the way.

7. Ithaca TEN – Ithaca Beer Co. was recently dubbed the best craft brewery in New York at the TAP NY Fest in April. TEN is a double IPA in the Excelsior Series and marked the brewery’s tenth anniversary. Again, ACBF is featuring this brewery’s top-rated beer.

6. Brooklyn BLAST! – Does anyone know anything about this beer? It’s a mystery though I haven’t dug into it yet. [6/17 update: This has been listed on Beer Advocate for a while and still appears to be a rare find on tap.] The site lists it as a San Diego Ale at 8.2% ABV and is apparently a pale ale per above link. so I’m assuming it is a Double IPA. If this one doesn’t suit your fancy, Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfenweisse, the recent wheatbock collaboration with the famed German brewery, should be pouring at the same table.

5. Port Brewing 2nd Anniversary Ale – From the GABF 2007 and World Beer Cup 2008 “Best Small Brewing Company”…this hoppy ale is seeing more distribution than we initially expected and is even coming to Massachusetts very soon according to an Atlantic rep. Another double IPA, this beer weighs in at 10%. Hop-15 is another DIPA that the brewery will showcase at the event.

4. Stone Double Bastard Ale on French Oak Chips – Double Bastard is one of the brewery’s most notable offerings and has been tried by many. The oaked version, however, has been tired by few. The brewery will also be pouring Stone Chipotle Smoked Porter, Stone Imperial Russian Stout, and GABF 2007 Gold Medalist, Stone Levitation Amber.

3. Ommegang Biere de Mars – A super-rare find. Description calls it a “Funkhouse Amber Ale.” Veteran RateBeerian, Beerbuzzmontreal, says, “Amazing flavor of brett, fruits and spices, it’s well balanced and attenuated[...]” Looks like it is only available at certain festivals. Ommegang Abbey Ale and Three Philosophers will also be pouring.

Cambridge Brewing Company2. Cambridge Kriek du Cambridge – Another Belgian and just as rare as the previous beer, this one is a “spontaneously Barrel-Fermented American “Double-Lambic” Sour Beer.” From RateBeer, “Belgian-influenced base beer of pilsner malt and local organic honey. Whole fresh cherries are added to the beer in French oak chardonnay barrels, where another unique blend of organisms goes to work for nearly two years.” Cambridge Brewing is also pouring another sour, Cerise Cassée. Another one where this may be your only shot to try it.

1. The Livery Trippel Weizenbock – This is actually the barrel-aged version of the German that few know about (or many know about but few can get their hands on!). Per The Livery site: “Flavors of leather, fig, raisin, and a sweet finish from 33% wheat malt co-mingle with warm alcohol and noble hops for a truly unique beer experience!” I haven’t confirmed but this looks like the same beer that is currently listed as the #1 German and #29 overall beer in the world at RateBeer. Generally only on tap in Michigan, this beer is making an extra special trip to the East Coast for this festival.

Left Hand Brewing to collaborate with Terrapin on “Midnight Project” Series

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Left Hand Terra Rye\'zd - courtesy of Terrapin and Left Hand Brewing(Athens, GA/Longmont, CO) – A Georgia brewery and a Colorado brewery working together? According to Dustin Watts, VP of Marketing & Sales for Terrapin Beer Company, that is the case as the two breweries are set to collaborate on a series of one-off beers with the first one to be released at the Great American Beer Festival in October. After getting label approval earlier this week, Left Hand Terra-Rye’zd will become the first beer in the Midnight Project Series.

Watts has been working with Chris Lennert, Director of Sales & Marketing for Left Hand Brewing, in moving the project forward. Watts: “The project really started out when Chris and I were joking around late one night. Then we decided to actually do it. I think both breweries share the quality of balance in the beer we each brew. Left Hand leans on the malt side and Terrapin leans on the hop side. Combining the two seems perfect.”

The first beer is a black rye lager and will be a limited release. Watts expects that the beers will be available in both breweries’ local markets.

Allagash Update: Fluxus 08, Les Deux Brasseurs, Isabelle Proximus, Lambic project

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Allagash De Proef Les Deux Brasseurs(Portland, ME) – Recently sent a note to Allagash Brewmaster, Jason Perkins, hoping to get updates on a few things seeing as how the brewery has been so busy! First things first, the brewery will be releasing a new beer later this month, Allagash Fluxus 08 (Double White spiced with Ginger). Bottling takes place this week.

Allagash also has its Signature Series collaboration with De Proef Brouwerij of Belgium, known for working with Tomme Arthur among others, coming out late this summer. Les Deux Brasseurs will initially be released as the Michael Jackson Rare Beer Club pick for August (outside shot at July?) and hit the market later that month.

As many know, Allagash was one of five contributors to the Lost Abbey Isabelle Proximus project. Each brewery involved was to contribute a few empty barrels in which the base beer would age. Certain flavor profiles from each brewery’s beers were chosen and the specific barrels were then provided. So what did Allgash throw into the mix? Interlude barrels. Allagash Interlude, a Belgian strong ale, has been one of the most sought-after beers in the state of Maine for years. Perkins noted that he didn’t think any Isabelle would make it to the Portland market which, if it wasn’t known already, essentially confirms our suspensions that this will be a (Lost Abbey) brewery-only release. The beer is supposed to be released at the very end of this month.

Finally, Allagash has that little Belgian Lambic-style brewing project about which you may have heard. The beer, which was first thrown into the coolship late last year, will not be ready for a long time, but we should be getting a more detailed progress report eventually. Says Perkins, “Release dates and updates to come on Coolship 1-4. We have now brewed into the coolship 4 times. We will likely brew several more in the fall. Beer is progressing well, but will be a year at least before we even consider releasing it.”

Captain Lawrence Brewing to release its second sour: Rosso e Marrone

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Captain Rosso e Marrone - courtesy of Captain Lawrence Brewing

(Pleasantville, NY) – Captain Lawrence Brewing will release a new sour in 375 mL bottles, possibly in 2008. The brewery’s first sour, Cuvee de Castleton, established itself as one of the top 75 beers in the world at RateBeer. Captain Lawrence Rosso e Marrone is billed as an American Sour Ale “fermented with grapes and aged in oak barrels.” Here is the rest of the label:

This beer sat quietly, aging in our barrel room for over a year before we decided it was time – time to blend in some beautiful ripe red grapes, Brettanomyces, freshly emptied wine barrels and time, this beer is infinitely complex and a challenge to the perception of what beer can be. This beer is re-fermented in the bottle and will age for years to come. Straight from the Captain’s cellar to yours, we hope you enjoy.

On a side note, Owner, Scott Vaccaro recently sent out a plea in his newsletter regarding legislation in the state of New York. Here is a link with more information.

Alesmith to release Barrel-Aged Speedway Stout 2003 on June 13

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Alesmith Speedway Stout 2003 - courtesy of MontageMan on Flickr(San Diego, CA) – The news is about four hours old but we feel obligated. Alesmith Brewing announced in its newsletter today that it will be releasing batches of Barrel-Aged Speedway Stout from 2003 and 2006 in less than two weeks. Among the top 10 beers in the world according to RateBeer, they will be released at the brewery on Friday morning, June 13 before the Pizza Port Real Ale Festival begins. Alesmith will send a cask of Double Coffee Speedway Stout for the VIP session and two unique versions of Alesmith X, the brewery’s famed IPA, to this year’s fest.

The 2008 batch of Alesmith Summer Yulesmith returns on July 3.

Beer notes: Toronado Russian River Night, Surly CynicAle, Rogue beers

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Toronado PubToronado Pub in San Francisco will be hosting a Russian River Brewing Night this coming Wednesday at 6pm. The pub will celebrate the very experimental La Fleurette, featuring it on tap. Additionally on tap: Pliny the Elder, Supplication, Temptation, Beatification, Damnation, and Blind Pig.

Surly Brewing will launch CynicAle once again with a party tonight, June 2, at the C.C. Club in Uptown, MN. There will also be a party in Chicago on June 18 at the Small Bar – Division. CynicAle cans will filter out into the stores beginning next week according to the brewery’s latest newsletter. On a side note, the brewery is sending 15 kegs of Surly Coffee Bender to the Oregon Brewers Festival taking place next month.

Finally, Rogue Brewing just sent out some press releases on its newest beers. Rogue Imperial Younger’s Special Bitter and Imperial Porter, part of the XS line, will hit stores on July 1 while Brewer’s Ale 2008 should be on some store shelves already and is still being shipped out this month. The news has brought about another opportunity for the beer communities to chime in on what they perceive to be some of the highest retail prices in the industry.

Just wait until they see what the new Foster’s craft beer is going for…