(Aberdeen, SCOTLAND) – They’re keeping busy over there in Aberdeen…
[Note: click the two labels to zoom.]
The opening of BrewDog Aberdeen apparently hasn’t slowed the brewery down at all and they’re still pushing out new beers to the United States. Case in point: Old World India Pale Ale and Old World Russian Imperial Stout are set to launch in the U.S. in early 2011, according to Managing Director, James Watt. Says Watt about the project:
Old World India Pale Ale and Old World Russian Imperial Stout are beers and brands designed exclusively for Total Wine and More to sell nationally in the USA.
The labels are stunning – custom hand-drawn labels from young Scottish Illustrator Johanna Basford. She has also done some other special beers for us.
The beers themselves are pretty special, too. The IPA is very much a tribute to the original IPAs and focuses on only English hops and predominantly Bramling Cross – the idea was to make an ‘Old World’ IPA as opposed to a West Coast American IPA.
Watt says that the brewery will ship around 500 cases of each and is hopeful that they land in March.
I’m not too familiar with Bramling Cross; I don’t recall ever reading about it being used in an American-made beer. It’s obviously much more prominent in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. Struise, for one, has used it in a few of their beers. From Homebrewtalk’s wiki:
Started in 1927 from a cross between a wild Manitoban male hop and a female Bramling hop, a variety of Golding. Used as a general-purpose bittering hop, lately this easy-growing hop has been used to provide a unique fruity, blackcurrant and lemon notes in traditional ales, especially in Christmas ales and cask-conditioned ales. Dry hopping can produce a very interesting effect. Bramling Cross is an under-appreciated hop.
Old World India Pale Ale label copy: “This bottle contains an India Pale Ale from a bygone era. An era of towering sailing ships, burgeoning empires and world shaping beers. This is an ale hand-crafted with British malts and English hops to recreate epic IPAs that were sent on monumental ocean voyages from England to India by sea in the 1800s. Our World IPA is an attempt by punk post modern Scottish brewers to pay tribute to a 200 year old odyssey and heritage with a healthy dose of swash-buckling adventure.”
Old World Russian Imperial Stout label copy: “Gently crafted by hand in Scotland. This Old World Stout perfectly recreates the imperial beers of years gone by; brewed to the traditional percentage of alc. 8.2% by vol. to avoid freezing during its journey across the baltic sea to snowy Moscow. All full-bodied taste, this opulent whirl of hops and malt even rivals the most colorful of imperial Fabergé eggs. Originally created to celebrate the Russian royal family. This beer is a fitting tribute with which to toast your own empire.”
The “Old World IPA” label looks a bit like the Atlantic IPA label:
http://www.brewdog.com/blog-article.php?id=119
Daniel
Ah yes, noticed that too and meant to link. Much thanks!
What a shame the “punk” brewers would go for an exclusive deal with a giant profit driven corporation. No better than signing with Wal-Mart.
Money talks and bullshit walks, Mark. That’s not meant to say that there is anything wrong (or right) at all with the exclusive deal itself though. Total Wine is also the importer for Samuel Adams Infinium I believe? BrewDog is also in a different position than most small brewers after having publicly offered its shares.
Mark
Any store selling beer is “profit driven”. Glad to be able to purchase it, regardless of who is selling it. Good beer is good beer.
I agree 100% with Mark. It’s a complete sellout tactic from someone who’s supposed to be an “Edgy” brewery. “Our beers are in no way commercial or mainstream.” -Directly from the Brewdog site.
Instead they choose a time when craft beer is growing faster than ever, and pick sides with a corporate giant who doesn’t give a damn about the labels they carry. If you don’t believe me, look at their pricing structure and “loss leaders.” They will destroy a brand’s market presence just to make a buck. But I guess that’s just my opinion.
Stop hating on Total Wine. It says these beers were made for TW. If it wasn’t for them making the deal, the beers would not exist. If you don’t want to buy for some stupid cause, don’t and stop acting like a baby. Total Wine will not miss your business. They do just fine not serving the ignorant and stupid.
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