From Brooklyn Brewery‘s Garrett Oliver on Beer Advocate this week: “Well, I can tell you that the first batch of Black Ops is in cases, and the second batch is still in re-fermentation/aging; that will be out first week of January or so. Both batches are in the new bottle.

The new version, at 11%, is slightly stronger than last year’s in-house version. It was brewed in June, aged four months in the bourbon barrels, bottled flat, and re-fermented in the bottle with Champagne yeast. We are very happy with it and we hope everyone will enjoy it.”

From yesterday’s Alpine Beer Co newsletter: “We have released, for growler fills, “Nelson,” our golden rye IPA. The Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand are the primary hops used in this 7% ale. This is a particularly delicious batch which will be delivered to many of the better beer establishments around the county today, Friday.”

From the Cambridge Brewing Co. newsletter: ” [Last year] We bottled up the Blunderbuss Barleywine and gave every one of our guests an exclusive commemorative bottle to take with them as a special gift from us. It went over so well that we had to do it for you again this year [at the NYE party]. But this is most likely going to be the last time we do this.”

Check out the latest update on

Deschutes Brewing

at my new Twitter @beerpulse feed (also shown on the mid-lower left sidebar here). For those following me on there, don’t take offense if I don’t follow you back. I will be using that username to only follow breweries, pubs, stores, and other

craft beer

news services.

Lastly, the mega corporation that everybody loves, A-B Inbev, just lost its years-long trademark battle in the EU over Budweiser.