(Lakewood, NY) – BeerPulse was tipped off to some changes in Southern Tier Brewing‘s portfolio for 2012. Here are the ten changes…
—
1. Raspberry Wheat Ale has disappeared from the year-round portfolio.
2. Pale Ale has disappeared from the year-round portfolio and has been replaced altogether by 422 Pale Wheat Ale. It has also been removed from the 2012 “Pack of Pales” variety pack.
3. 2X Stout is new to the year-round mix (and has been out for a while now)
4. Eurotrash Pilz is a new seasonal this year (and has been out for a while now). There was no spring seasonal in 2011.
5. There is no mention of Chautauqua Brew this year
6. Imperials: no mention of Hoppe or Big Red this year
7. Matador Imperial Weizenbock replaces Farmer’s Tan in the Imperials spring seasonal slot. Street date was initially March but it looks like the release will be pushed back a bit.
Description: “¿que pasa con el chivo? – In the ring, the matador’s red cape allures the beast, and in this way our bock will tempt you with its rich ruby color. Both an artist and an athlete, with great agility, grace and coordination, a matador goes where most fear to tread. They are performers of life and are revered. As an imperial weizenbock, our Matador is as close as you may ever get to being in the ring with a beast that is at once elegant and powerful. One sip of Matador will confirm this as an homage to an old world ale. 8.0% abv • 15º L • Imperial Weizenbock Ale • 22 oz / 1/2 keg / 1/6 keg.”
8. An unnamed Imperial Sparkling Summer Ale will replace Heavy Weizen in the Imperials summer seasonal slot.
9. Meet the new SuperPack variety pack (12 x 12 oz. bottles): “Now for the first time, and only in this box, our 9.5% abv smash hit Unearthly is available in a 12 oz bottle. Add to that Iniquity, our Imperial Black Ale (9.0% abv and never before available in 12 oz bottles), and our top-selling Double India Pale Ale, 2XIPA (8.2% abv). With an average of nearly 9.0% abv, this is not a box of session ales. But it is an impressive collection of some of our bigger beers, only in smaller bottles.” No idea on street date.
10. The Cuvee Series will not return this year
I’d recommend contacting the brewery directly. The Matador, Sparkling Ale, and Superpack have all been cancelled to focus on the core brands, such as the new, successful 2X Stout. The last time I contacted the brewery directly (late February), I was told they would reflect these changes on the beer page of their website by the end of March. I guess they’re still behind on updating.
In addition, the Backburner Barleywine is oak-aged for the first time this year.
Pingback: Southern Tier Matador and nine other changes to the brewery’s 2012 portfolio | Beerpulse.com « 423beergeek
I think dean is correct. Southern Tier has removed the 2012 sales guide from their website and all the information associated with Matador and the Superpack. I’m not sure if that means that Matador is completely cancelled, or just delayed until later this year.