Every year, wildfires destroy hundreds of thousands of acres of wilderness—and, sometimes, residential areas—across Arizona. Sadly, the vast majority of these fires are caused by humans, and are usually the result of improperly extinguished campfires. In an effort to reduce the number of campfires that could lead to wildfires, Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. launched Dead Out, a smoked lager designed to teach campers to make sure their fires are fully extinguished.
“Wildfires burned more than 500,000 acres of nature in 2021, and nearly a million acres in 2020!” says Jon Buford, Arizona Wilderness’ co-founder. “The sad fact is that most of those fires were caused by humans and were completely avoidable. One little fire can grow into something that devastates the wilderness, so if this beer teaches even one person to fully put out their campfire, I’ll consider it a huge success.”
The name of the beer, “Dead Out,” is the term for when a campfire is completely extinguished. It means there is no heat coming from the fire, and no chance of it spreading to any nearby materials. The label on cans of Dead Out was designed to teach campers the three steps to ensuring a fire is completely extinguished:
- Drown: Drown the campfire ashes with lots of water
- Stir: Using a shovel, stir the fire so the water touches all ashes. Add more water and stir again, ensuring all burned material is out cold.
- Feel: Feel the campfire with your bare hand. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.
Dead Out is now available on draft and in cans at Arizona Wilderness’ locations in Gilbert and Downtown Phoenix.
Second Chance Brewing brings Frosty the Hazeman to life
Second Chance Beer Co. is releasing its Frosty the Hazeman Hazy IPA on draft and in cans on Friday for the third straight year. All four packs, cases, and kegs sold out just prior to the Christmas holiday the last two years.
“If the last two years is any indication, we expect Frosty to fly off the shelves faster than reindeer once again,” Co-Founder and CEO Virginia Morrison said. “It’s great tasting, fun at parties, and pairs well with your favorite holiday cookies.”
Frosty the Hazeman has a 6.5% ABV and includes Amarillo, Citric, and Mosaic hops. It has tastes of (Christmas) pine, (sugar) plums, and fig(gy pudding). The artwork was originally designed by Second Chance Operations Manager Andy Richards, and it was updated this year to include Frosty’s pup, Chuck. The winter-themed beer will be available at Second Chance’s Carmel Mountain and North Park tasting rooms, as well as all Total Wine & More locations throughout San Diego County.
Oskar Blues Brewery brews tribute to live music roots
Oskar Blues Brewery began in 1997 as a Cajun-inspired restaurant and blues-soaked music venue in Lyons, Colo. Live music remains a constant today at Oskar Blues taprooms in Colorado, North Carolina, and Texas, and its Hazy Blues Juicy IPA (7.0% ABV) is a nod to that history.
“Getting down to a funky jam while crushing a well-crafted beer at the end of a work week – that’s the vibe we grew out of,” said Oskar Blues Senior Marketing Manager Aaron Baker. “Foggy stages, clinking glassware, moving feet – Hazy Blues Juicy IPA is the beer for those times. It’s hopped-up and juicy enough to keep both the band and the crowd stoked.”
This a hopped-up, hazed-out homage to rowdy juke joints and jumping jive roadhouses features Citra, Galaxy, and Strata hops. Hazy Blues Juicy IPA is the haziest nationally distributed IPA Oskar Blues Brewery has produced to date. A trio of fruity and juicy hop varieties turn up the flavors of passionfruit, strawberries, citrus and peach. The pillowy mouthfeel in Hazy Blues is smooth and easy like the best rhythm sections allowing hops to take the lead.
Forecast calls for Tröegs’ Blizzard of Hops winter IPA
Tröegs Independent Brewing‘s Blizzard of Hops has been a mainstay of the Hershey, Pa., brewery’s Hop Cycle IPA series since its inception in 2014. Built on a foundation of pilsner malt and wheat, this cold-weather favorite clocks in at 6.4% ABV. Brimming with enlivening bitterness, Blizzard of Hops evokes notes of spruce tips, pineapple, and orange rind thanks to a combination of Centennial, Chinook, and El Dorado hops.
“It’s a nod to hop growers around the world, thanking them for another successful harvest,” says Tröegs brewmaster and co-founding brother John Trogner. “In the winter, people’s taste buds deaden down and they tend to eat richer and fattier foods. In my mind, there’s a need for bitterness on the beer side to balance that out.”
FlyteCo Brewing helping veterans become pilots via cream ale
Aviation-themed FlyteCo Brewing in Denver has a long history of helping empower young people, people of color and veterans get into aviation. Ten percent of their proceeds goes toward helping people become pilots, including sponsoring a number of veterans to get their pilot’s license.
They recently did a collaboration beer, Vets in Jets cream ale, with the Denver nonprofit Stripes to Bars, which enables veterans to become pilots and aid them in the transition from military to civilian life. Vets in Jets cream ale will be released on Veterans Day at FlyteCo’s original 38th location and at the new location in the old Stapleton Air Traffic Control Tower. FlyteCo Brewing has previously funded three Stripes to Bar scholarships. For the duration of the beer, $1 from each pint sold goes towards the nonprofit and providing aviation scholarships to veterans.
Fort Myers Brewing’s Spyk’d Hard Seltzer is the grand champ of 2022
Fort Myers Brewing Company is making its name in the hard seltzer category. Spyk’d Hard Seltzer has earned five medals and the prestigious title of “Grand National Champion” for the second consecutive year at the 2022 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championship in Oxford, Ohio. The 2022 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championship received nearly 250 entries from nearly 80 hard seltzer brewers across the country.
In addition, Fort Myers Brewing was awarded three gold and two bronze medals in this year’s competition. Golds were awarded for Fort Myers Brewing’s Spyk’d Blue Raspberry, Spyk’d Cherry Limeade and Spyk’d Lemon-Lime seltzers. Bronze medals were awarded for the brewery’s Spyk’d Lemonade and Spyk’d Pineapple seltzers.
Fort Myers Brewing’s Spyk’d Hard Seltzer is brewed naturally gluten free with all-natural flavorings, fermented just like Fort Myers Brewing’s other popular craft brews. The refreshing spiked beverage contains 5.0% alcohol with 90 calories, 0 carbs and 0 sugar per 12-ounce pour and comes in a variety of flavors.
“Brewing is a passion for our team, and to receive such high praise and the title of Grand National Champion for the second year in a row is an incredible honor,” said Rob Whyte, who co-founded Fort Myers Brewing in 2013 with his wife, Jen. “We are proud to share our craft with fellow seltzer-lovers and are thrilled for our Spyk’d Hard Seltzers to be recognized in this national competition.”
Atlas Brew Works unleashes seasonal fav Zombie Polar Bear DIPA
Atlas Brew Works‘ seasonal favorite Giant Flaming Zombie Polar Bear DIPA is back for purchase right now, but it’s not really back until the release event at the Half Street Brewery & Tap Room on Saturday, Nov. 5 (featuring bottomless Giant Flaming Zombie Polar Bear DIPA), and the ‘Bear Pong’ Tournament at the Ivy City Brewery & Tap Room on Saturday, Nov. 19.
During the Bear Pong tourney, guests battle it out on a larger beer pong table to win select prizes like cases of beer, merch, and other swag. This event is open to the public but the purchase of a pint of beer is the buy-in to play in the tournament.
Giant Flaming Zombie Polar Bear offers luscious citrus aromas created from a blend of Bravo, Mandarina Bavaria, Chinook, Centennial, and Cascade hops. A sturdy malt backbone balances the assertive hop bitterness and heavy citrus hop character, providing an overall flavor reminiscent of orange marmalade. The subtle heat on the finish reminds you that Giant Flaming Zombie Polar Bear DIPA sits at 9.4% ABV.
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