(San Antonio, TX) – Here’s the latest from Freetail Brewing via last week’s newsletter…
Old Bat Rastard, Barrel Aged Old Bat Rastard & Fortuna Roja Bottle Release: Saturday February 5
Every New Year the Old Bat Rastard unfurls his withered wings and stretches, feeling for any sign of the sun warming his would-be thumb. If there is no warmth, he’s in for a long winter; if however he feels a sunrays’ warmth, he folds his leathery appendages back, content to know spring is not far.
The familiar curmudgeon made a friendly return to the taps in time to celebrate the turning of the page on 2011 while a part of him sits aging in a Four Roses Distillery Whiskey Barrel, grumpily awaiting his release.
On Saturday February 5, both versions will be available in 22 oz bombers (not in two-packs this year, so you can buy one or the other as you please); our latest Texas Wild Ale creation, Fortuna Roja: a blend of wild ales aged in a wine barrel on native Texas Prickly Pears.
22 oz bombers of all three beers will go on sale at 11:30am on the 5th. There will only be approximately 200 bottles of each (give or take a few) produced, so an initial limit of two bottles per beer per person will be enforced (as we’ve done in the past, we may lift this limit subject to demand).
What’s Up With Us in 2011
We mentioned a lot of beer-related projects we’ve been thinking about for 2011, so what exactly is in store for the coming year? Here are just a few of the many ideas bouncing around our heads
· The expansion of our barrel aging & Texas Wild Ale program. In December we more than doubled our barrel aging capacity, and will be doubling it again by the end of the month. That means more Wild Ales, more experimentation with our Solera program, and plans for a full-sized batch of Ananke (the last one was 53 gallons – this one would be approximately 400 gallons). From that giant batch of Ananke, we’ll be able to play with different versions using various fruits and spices.
· Hopothesis D (and likely E and F). As folks continue to drink more beer, we’ll continue to evolve the Hopothetical series. We brew the Hopothesis every 50 batches, each time with a different take. D stands for Dark this time around, so look for this huge, hoppy, black monstrosity in mid March.
· Self eSteem. No this isn’t a program designed to make us feel better about ourselves; it’s our take on a classic west coast style–done the Freetail way–to create Texas Uncommon beer, a hybrid ale/lager style. Should be hitting the taps in the March time frame.
· Saisons. Primavera Prematura returns on the vernal equinox after a two year hiatus. We are committed to making all four saisons this year—expect each of them on their respective solstice or equinox.
· More IPA! The people have spoken—our New Year’s resolution is to keep IPA on at all times. To that end, expect a new Tadarida Oscura Dark IPA next week as well as the return of Buffalo Hump and EXXXtra Pale IPA as the season wears on. Right now you can try our newly released Soul Doubt IPA—an all-American IPA by Assistant Brewer John Lee.
· More new beers. We wouldn’t be Freetail without more new beers on the way including (but not limited to) Pumpernickel Interloper—a hoppy rye stout; and spring time will usher in a bevy of new wheat beers of from a gose to Schwarz weizen.
· Old favorites. Of course, we won’t leave folks hanging without their old faves! Danny Mijo will be back on St. Patrick’s Day—along with ample supply of Spirulina Wit—while Morning Wit will lead the way for our wheat beer extravaganza; and you can count on the returns of 3Tail, Outlaw McCaw, Witicus, Broken Treaty, Broken Promise and Tail Yanker in due course…Salud!