Too much going on in this edition of Beer Notes but trying to pump out content before the holiday arrives. We cover seven breweries from all over here so let’s get started…
North Coast Barrel-aged Old Rasputin XII
The brewery will release Bourbon-Barrel Old Rasputin XII in late June. Both the barrel-aged and regular versions have earned A’s at Beer Advocate. The good news this time is that it won’t be brewery-only. North Coast is finally putting this one into distribution to the tune of 2,000+ cases. Many of those are already spoken for though so if you want some, call up the brewery.
Three Floyds Brewing
The scalpers are out! Amidst a tough economy, a bunch of Dark Lord Day tickets are popping up on eBay and Craigslist. Three Floyds issued a message on its website and the Chicago Reader posted up a story on it as well. Some saboteurs sent up bidding on one listing to $15k.
Two Brothers Brewing
From the Warrenville, IL brewery’s Wednesday posting: “We are getting ready to brew the 2009 release of Hop Juice and are planning a huge release party for it on June 6th here at the Two Brothers Tap House. We will have live bands, games, events, special beer tappings, and, of course, Hop Juice.” You can read more news on their other brews as well.
Sacramento Brewing
From Brewmaster Peter Hoey, “Keep an eye out for Rorie’s Ale to be released in April. Belgian style quadruple brewed in March 2008 and aged in port barrels with tart cherries.” Not sure if it is still on tap but they recently had a “Barrel Aged Imperial Red Ale: 2008 Smokey’s Imperial Red aged in barrel for 8 months.” Their barrel-aging program is in full swing.
Laurelwood Brewpub
Fans of the award-winning group of brewpubs living further north will be pleased to know that another location is opening up in Battle Ground, WA, with the expected date being mid-July. “About 135 seats inside, and weather permitting about 40-50 seats outside.”
Manchester Brewing
New Hampshire’s newest brewery has some new beers: Alt Ctrl Delete, John Thomas Red, and Conspiracy Theory Oatmeal Stout. All the info, labels are at the new website.
Portsmouth Brewery
Nearby Portsmouth Brewery just put on its Wheat Wine which is a GABF medalist. I don’t know whether they have ever sent Kate the Great to ‘The Show’ but it would be interesting to see how it would fare.
I sincerely doubt Portsmouth would send KtG to any competition – nothing to gain. As it is, it’s put up on a pedestal as one of the best Imperial Stouts around, and hyped to a degree that only a handful of other Imperial Stouts can match. Winning a gold against any competition that isn’t Dark Lord/Darkness/Abyss/etc. would be pretty meaningless, and NOT winning an award could be a big blow to the hype surrounding KtG currently.
That 15k was my ebay auction. I took it off. I do not want to make a huge profit like this. I wanted to go to the event but a sad event happened in my life and I needed to sell them.
Right on. I’m just wondering whether Portsmouth ever sent any before the Beer Advocate crowd went wild. He’s (Tod Mott) made it for several years.
I was at Sacramento Brewing last night and the Barrel Aged Imperial Red Ale is still on tap.