Where did the summer go? That’s a thing people usually say right before I punch them, but this year I agree. Time lost all meaning in 2020. Every day the same, weeks and months flying by. Here I was hiding eggs around the house, but come to find out it was Labor Day. Oh well. Jump start on next year. Whatever day it is where you are, make it a holiday and crack open a beer. Right now. Here are our favorites this week.
Be jealous: Ale Asylum collaborates with freaking Motörhead
UK craft brewery Camerons teamed up with Motörhead to launch a Röad Crew brew in 2015. After being placed in over 1200 locations within the first year, it has gone on to be exported to 22 countries. Brew Pipeline, a turnkey national distribution platform, noted the demand in the U.S. and teamed up with Motörhead, Global and Wisconsin’s Ale Asylum to create this new collaboration beer for fans on this side of the pond in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Ace of Spades.
Band members Mikkey Dee & Phil Campbell have contributed to the development of the beer, influencing the flavor profile and ensuring a drinkable brew that can be enjoyed while listening to their music. The team at Ale Asylum has been fans of the band for years and was a natural fit for bringing this rock-inspired beer to life.
“We haven’t rushed our entry into the U.S. market because the partner had to be right, and in Brew Pipeline and Ale Asylum of Wisconsin, we’ve found a great U.S. home for our APA,” says Todd Singerman, manager of Motörhead. “Lem’s insistence that standards be maintained continue to drive everything we do, and this U.S. Röad Crew APA proves that point even further.”
Hopworks Urban Brewery with three Salmon-safe fresh hop beers
Hopworks Urban Brewery has released three new fresh hop beers this season: Fresh Hop Abominable Winter Ale, Fresh Hop Ace of Spades Imperial IPA, and Fresh Hop Singing Bird Hazy IPA. Perfectly planned for the changing seasons, Fresh Hop Abominable stays true to its namesake, but with an addition of dry hopped fresh Centennial hops, juicy notes of pine permeate to create a perfect PNW fresh hop ale. Fresh Hop Ace of Spades and Singing Bird are brewed with fresh Strata hops, lending these beers beautiful, dank citrus notes. With each beer being made with Salmon-Safe hops, it’s a fresh hop season that consumers can feel good about every time they crack open another can.
Partnering with Goschie Farms, which grows Salmon-Safe hops, Hopworks also produced a short video that can be viewed on YouTube, entitled “The Abominable Fresh Hop,” exploring the fresh hop phenomenon and the beers produced for this year’s season.
MadTree Brewing has a new year-round IPA
Ohio’s MadTree Brewing says Phantom Forest, a juicy imperial IPA, will be its next year-round beer starting now, with this awesome can design. It highlights Mosaic hops and pours a beautiful orange hue with medium haze. Notes of stone fruit, berry medley and tropical hop flavors come together for a juicy taste and smooth finish.
“The design depicts an enchanting forest at dusk made up of small, mosaic fractal patterns,” said co-owner Brady Duncan. “It’s an artfully crafted beer and the imagery on the can reflects that while also setting up the environment this beer thrives in.” For example, as the sun goes down, the violet, orange and yellow colors of the can cross paths with the evening sky creating a magical opportunity to enjoy the moment.
Also cool: Any new beer new or old from MadTree proudly displays the 1% for the Planet logo, an organization the brewery joined earlier this year to commit donating 1% of sales to non-profits focused on environmental sustainability like Cincinnati Parks, Wasson Way and the Cincinnati Zoo.
Ninkasi pairs new IPA with customer art competition
Eugene, Ore.’s Ninkasi Brewing Company launched Steady Orbit Grounded IPA as the latest addition to its year-round beer line-up. A lower ABV beer at 4.5% ABV, Steady Orbit is available in 12oz. cans and draft now throughout Ninkasi’s distribution footprint.
Accompanying the Steady Orbit launch, Ninkasi Brewing has initiated a Star Maker Competition to encourage their beer community to find their own steady orbit by creating in whatever medium they desire. The competition is open through October 31. Three prizes will be awarded, with the grand prize winner awarded a $1,000 shopping spree to the craft, hobby, or DIY store of his/her choosing. Pretty cool. There’s also an online activity center with crossword puzzles, word searches, coloring sheets, and more.
Urban South is on its second batch of Black is Beautiful
Urban South – HTX is releasing a second batch of its take on Black is Beautiful, a global beer collaboration created by Weathered Souls Brewing Co. to bring awareness to the injustices that many people of color face daily. The Houston brewery released its first batch of Black is Beautiful on July 10 and decided to brew a second batch based on overwhelming support from the community.
“We received such an amazing response from the Houston community when we first released our version of Black is Beautiful that we decided to continue brewing in order to keep raising funds and awareness,” said Dave Ohmer, General Manager of Urban South – HTX. “Our team feels that it is our duty to speak up and continue to push for change. We stand in solidarity with our Black Houston community and are excited to contribute in the best way we know how.”
Urban South’s version of Black is Beautiful is a bold stout conditioned on coconut, vanilla beans and two types of chocolate cookies. 100 percent of the proceeds from beer sales will be donated to the Greater Houston Black Chamber Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to raising funds to advance, educate, equip and empower minority business entrepreneurs, professionals and students.
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