Schlafly Beer released Hazed for Days, a canned hazy beer variety pack with three exclusive brews – Mighty Haze Double IPA, Lightly Hazed Lager, Wavy Hazy Citrus Wheat – plus the year-round beer Just a Bit Hazy IPA. Not only are IPAs featured, but hazy lagers and wheat beers round out the selection for the ultimate pack made for hazy-loving consumers.
Bonus: Each pack will include a QR code that will link to the giveaway drawing of Schlafly’s limited-edition “Batches Be Hazy” swag.
“This new variety pack represents the work we collectively do at Schlafly – from our beer ideation process, to our pilot system trial brews, to pub-only batches, to being part of our full distribution portfolio,” says Schlafly Head Brewer Jared Williamson. “All four beers traveled through our internal process before making their way into the Hazed For Days pack. Each step of the process is important, and it’s exciting to see what started out as obscure little beer ideas now all grown up and getting shipped out to all our various markets.”
Schlafly’s popular year-round IPA, with all its juicy hop flavor, gets turned up in Mighty Hazy Double IPA (ABV: 8.0%) with tropical aromatics that come from new-school American hops: Strata and Idaho 7, and the classic Chinook. This creates an even bigger hop-and-haze experience for the drinker.
Lightly Hazed Lager is a classic Keller Pils style brew that features Michigan-grown Grunegiest hops, which were first bred at the Hop Research Center in Hüll, Germany. Wavy Hazy Citrus Wheat is fermented with lemon purée which really gives it a bright and tart kick.
Just A Bit Hazy IPA is a top seller year-round and features a blend of Citra, Mosaic, Sabro, Amarillo, and Cascade. It’s all about the perfect blend of hops that gives this the right amount of haze, aroma, and juicy hop flavor.
Allagash Brewing’s Hop Reach makes official year-round debut
Announced last year, Allagash Brewing Co.’s Hop Reach IPA is joining the cadre of award-winning beers in the brewery’s core portfolio. Developed methodically and meticulously on Allagash’s pilot innovation system, Hop Reach (6.8% ABV) is a full-bodied and refreshing IPA, and the first to be released by the brewery on a year-round basis.
“One of the pillars of our brewing process is innovation – in brewing, in ingredients, and in approach. Within the IPA style in particular, there’s a lot of room to create interesting new flavors and experiences,” said Rob Tod, founder, Allagash. “We were excited to put our innovation process to work, creating an IPA with our own spin that appeals to established Allagash fans and curious beer drinkers alike. Hop Reach is our own, uniquely Allagash IPA and we can’t wait for people to enjoy it as much as we do.”
The process that led to this beer’s creation involved the entire company. Over the course of seven months, Allagash’s pilot team brewed trial after trial, all of which were put on tap for any employee to taste and review. They also held social events to taste and talk about the beers, garnering over 400 employee reviews, which they factored into each round of new brews. Through this iterative process, Allagash managed to marshal the creative energies of its entire brewery into Hop Reach–a balanced, citrusy, and tropical IPA, with a snap of bitterness.
“Like Allagash White, Hop Reach is made with balance in mind,” added Jason Perkins, brewmaster, Allagash. “That being said, it has big citrusy and tropical hop aromatics that we think will appeal to IPA fans of all stripes.”
Hop Reach will be available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans; 6-packs of 12 oz. cans; and 12-packs of 12 oz. cans, and will begin distributing everywhere Allagash is sold in January 2023.
Three Floyds pumps up Zombie Dust for Zombie Ice
Three Floyds Brewing says its newest double pale ale, Zombie Ice, is crafted with an unholy amount of Citra hops and comes in at 8.5% ABV and 55 IBU. It is a bolder spin on their award-winning Zombie Dust. Zombie Ice will also be featured in Three Floyds’ first variety pack, which includes three core brews and one rotating beer exclusive to the 12-pack.
“The beer is exactly what you’d think,” says Brewmaster Chris Boggess. “A bigger, punchier version of itself. Compared to Zombie Dust, the aroma has strong notes of orange marmalade and tropical citrus. The bitterness is firm, but it’s still very drinkable at 8.5%.”
The Zombie Ice can and package were designed with art from the Alpha King comic collection, a collaboration between Three Floyds’ founder Nick Floyd, writer Brian Azzarello, and artist Simon Bisley. The blacked-out packaging features the vibrant Zombie Ice logo and a skull with piercing blue eyes.
Avery Brewing debuts two new core IPAs (with more on the way)
Avery Brewing Co. stakes its claim as the first brewery to package an India Pale Ale in Colorado. Nearly 30 years later, the brewing continues to push boundaries in the Hop Freaks Exploration Series. Joining the company’s core lineup are two IPAs: Clear Horizons and Nomadic Dreamer, with additional releases planned for later in the year.
“Back when we developed Avery IPA in 1996, the India Pale Ale beer style was typically too bitter for many craft beer lovers. Times have certainly changed, and for the better,” said Adam Avery, Founder of Avery Brewing Co. “Using our new pilot system, we were able to experiment with new styles, unique hops, different yeast strains, and innovative brewing techniques to develop IPAs that are unlike any that we’ve brewed before. I’m very proud of where we’ve landed with these new IPAs, and we hope Avery fans agree.”
Clear Horizons is a crisp, bright IPA boasts brilliant clarity with a vibrant blend of tropical hop flavor. Prepare for a cascade of citrus hop aromas, and a balanced bitterness that delights the palate. The Nomadic Dreamer is a deeply hazy, New England-style IPA that is illuminated with the aromas and flavors of orange and mango. Expect waves of juicy hop flavor and a tranquil finish that will leave you wanting more.
“The Hop Freaks Exploration Series was a fun new challenge for the brewing team at Avery,” shared Josh Rapp, Brewing Manager at Avery Brewing Company. “We were very intentional in developing the recipes for these beers, and wanted this series to follow the mantra ‘Brewed by Hop Freaks, for Hop Freaks’. We’re excited to see how Clear Horizons, Nomadic Dreamer, and future releases resonate with our fans. Hop Freaks Unite.”
Oak Park and Peoples Beer celebrate Ray Charles
Oak Park Brewing Co. and Peoples Beer announced a new collaboration with The Ray Charles Foundation to release a limited edition Free Of Alcohol (FOA) brew celebrating the genius Ray Charles. This special edition brew will be available during a limited-time pop-up at Fixins Soul Kitchen, located at Downtown Los Angeles’ L.A. LIVE, from now until March 31.
The pop-up will include Ray Charles art and a playlist curated by The Ray Charles Foundation. The non-alcoholic beer was brewed with sweet orange peel and blood oranges to create a refreshing, enjoyable FOA beverage.
This special release is both a dedication to a legendary artist and an opportunity to educate people about his life and music. “To be affiliated in any way with Ray Charles is an honor, but to have our restaurant and brewery collaborate on a unique beer depicting Mr. Charles’ images on can labels is truly special. February 23rd will be a day to remember,” said Kevin Johnson of Fixins and Peoples Beer.
Oak Park Brewing Co. revived the Peoples Beer brand in 2020 to honor the legacy of Mr. Theodore Mack Sr., the first African American to own and operate a brewery in America. Mr. Mack picked cotton in the fields of Alabama and rose to become a civil rights giant who stood for economic empowerment and racial equity. In 1970, he purchased Peoples Brewing Co. in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to provide employment opportunities in minority communities. Mr. Mack’s historic achievements helped pave the way for people of color in the brewing industry.
2 Towns Ciderhouse debuts Pristine Peach
2 Towns Ciderhouse is now selling Pristine Peach, a clean and fruity hard cider, that is timed up perfectly for the sunnier days of March. Crafted from fresh-pressed Northwest apples, West coast peaches, apricots, and a hint of honey, this snappy cider is the third released in the 19.2 line, following Outcider and Strawberade.
Bursting with cheerful flavor, Pristine Peach invokes a smooth subtle flavor of peach combined with snappy apricot, making a great compliment to the touch of sweet honey.
“The balance of sunny stone fruit with that touch of sweet honey is magnificent,” said Dave Takush, head cider maker. “One taste of this cider and you will feel like you’ve reached the summit.”
Original 40 Brewing debuts limited-release OG NZ
San Diego’s Original 40 Brewing Co. is now selling OG NZ, a limited-release Double Dry Hopped West Coast IPA, on tap and in four packs of 16-oz cans. OG NZ is 6.3% alcohol by volume (ABV) and contains Nectaron, Southern Cross, and Mosaic incognito hops. It features tropical fruit aromas, a touch of dankness, and a clean and cooler fermentation to keep it crisp.
“I am most passionate about West Coast IPAs so adding OG NZ to our lineup of beers is extra gratifying,” said Head Brewer Zack Kaplan. “It doesn’t get more San Diego than enjoying a refreshing West Coast IPA in the craft beer hotbed of the North Park neighborhood.”
Original 40, which is named after the original 40-acre parcel of land that became modern-day North Park, is located at 3117 University Avenue.
“Zack is at it again with yet another wonderful West Coast IPA,” said Original 40 founder Steve Billings. “Since joining us last May he has worked tirelessly to provide thirst-quenching beer using all of his knowledge from his time brewing in Portland, Denver, and here locally.”
Modern Times Beer commits to double IPA innovation in 2023
Modern Times Beer released Pause for Effect Hazy Double India Pale Ale last week, the first in a series of a innovative double IPAs planned for 2023.
Pause for Effect took years to develop, using a process of estery Juice yeast, mid-fermentation dry hop, and secret mineral additions. Concentrated hop products including Mosaic Cryo and Citra Incognito add layers of citrus and tropical aromas that will continue to transform throughout the life of the beer.
“We wanted to create something that was as drinkable as it was boundary-pushing,” said Andrew Schwartz, Director of Product Innovation and Development. “Using the combination of cutting-edge hop products and time-tested techniques we were able to make something both alluring and high ABV, simple and aromatically boastful.”
Pause for Effect (8.0% ABV) is a limited release available on tap and in 4-pack cans to-go at Modern Times Beer locations in Point Loma, North Park, and Encinitas and at fine retailers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Washington.
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