Beers. There are already a lot of them and more are created every day. But that’s not all! Craft breweries today are exploring beverage categories beyond beer, stuff like hard seltzers, spirits, ciders, kombuchas and so on. Whatever it is, we are here for it. Today we officially expand our Craft Beers to Know This Week post to include it all and whatever comes next. Hard milk? THC Squeeze-its? Thimbles of spiked rain water? Send ‘em all to [email protected] for possible inclusion.
VIVE is named Official Hard Seltzer for the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals fans will have plenty of reasons to get drunk this season, so they are going to need options. The organization just named VIVE its Official Hard Seltzer for the 2019 football season, and will be selling it at Paul Brown Stadium. In celebration of the partnership, and in support of the Bengals, the brand will unveil new ways to enjoy VIVE throughout the month, culminating in a major tailgate party this August.
Braxton Brewing Co. launched VIVE earlier this year in its footprint of Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Each can boasts 5% ALC/VOL, is gluten free, just 100 calories and two grams of carbs. As a lighter alternative to other alcoholic beverages, VIVE refuses to compromise, making it an ideal partner for the Bengals as they embark on the 2019 season.
Inside and outside Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium, consumers can find VIVE in four naturally flavored varieties; Mango, Lime, Dragonfruit and Grapefruit. The spiked sparkling drink tempts beer drinkers with a light delight, which Kroger shoppers can look for as a 12-count Variety Pack of 12 oz. slim cans, a six-count Mango Pack of 12 oz. slim cans and a six-count Lime Pack of 12 oz. slim cans.
Cascade Brewing releases its Sang du Chêne 2017 this weekend
Cascade Brewing will release its Sang du Chêne 2017 project in 500ml bottles and on draft this Friday, August 9. It will be available at the brewery’s two Portland-area pubs, as well as through its distribution channels.
Meaning “blood of the oak,” Sang du Chêne showcases sour blond and triple ales aged in three distinct oak vessels: toasted French and American oak puncheons, Cognac brandy hogsheads and aged wine foudres. Oak influences are the highlight, providing flavors of toasted sugars, vanillin and spice that are complemented by the bright acidity and fruity character of the base beers.
According to Kevin Martin, Cascade Director of Brewing Operations, “The 2017 Sang du Chêne captures the marriage of wood and beer at its finest.”
Dwinell Country Ales celebrates two years with some new beers
Dwinell Country Ales is a small brewery with a family-friendly tasting room on the dry side of the Cascades in downtown Goldendale, Wash. There, you’ll find a rotating tap list that showcases farmhouse-inspired, mixed-culture beers, delicately hopped rustic ales, and wild ales fermented with native yeast and local fruit. The brewery is celebrating its two-year anniversary next Friday and Saturday with a few new beers in 500 ml bottles along with several small batches of tasting room-only beers on draft. They will also feature live music and host a rotating selection of food trucks.
Those who visit Dwinell’s tasting room will have the opportunity to sample their newest bottle releases: “Afterglow,” a barrel-aged, dry-hopped sour ale; “Bramble Berry,” a pale lager conditioned in wine barrels with wild yeast and refermented on blackberries; and “Fever Dream,” an amber ale conditioned in whiskey barrels with a blend of wild yeast strains. All three beers will be available on draft and in 500 ml bottles.
Dwinell will also have several special small-batch beers rotating on tap over the weekend, including: “Wild Shrub,” a wild ale refermented over foraged huckleberries; and “Bud Break” a farmhouse ale spiced with rose hips and conditioned on local cherries.
Wild Leap is expanding into spirits with Wild Leap Vodka
In the last two years, Wild Leap Brew Co. has established itself as an industry leader in the Georgia craft beer scene. And now, Wild Leap is ready to give spirits a shot with the new Wild Leap Vodka. Available in select markets this fall, this will be the brewery’s first foray into liquors and spirits. Wild Leap Vodka will be eight times distilled for a velvety smooth taste. Made from 100% yellow corn and carbon-filtered, the vodka will be both gluten-free and contain zero sugar. For the near future Wild Leap Vodka will be distilled offsite with the help of a partner. However, there are exciting plans in the works for an expansion in LaGrange, Georgia before the end of the year.
Though the spirit will be a Wild Leap produced beverage, the vodka label features an illustration of a bear on the label instead of Wild Leap’s signature buffalo.
“We want our vodka to stand on its own, so we chose a new mark that still encapsulated the spirit of Wild Leap,” explains Rob Goldstein, CMO and co-founder. “A bear represents strength, confidence and a determination to overcome all hurdles. It’s about finding the courage to take chances – in your career, your personal life, or any other aspect of your life.”
Drake’s Brewing Co. releases Sizzle Fizz Double Brut IPA
Last summer, Drake’s Brewing Co. released Brightside Extra Brut IPA, its inaugural bottling of the new Brut IPA style of beer. Drake’s has played a pioneering role in the development of the Brut IPA style since it emerged at the beginning of 2018 in San Francisco. The pale, dry, highly-carbonated, Champagne-esque beer has quickly become an innovative platform for experimentation and hop appreciation.
The brewing team at Drake’s has continued to experiment with Brut IPAs over the past year and is excited to announce the release of Sizzle Fizz Double Brut IPA made with blood orange concentrate. The champagne quality of the beer lends itself well to the addition of orange flavors, mimicking the citrus fizz of a mimosa.
Sizzle Fizz Double Brut IPA is bright and crisp, with a medley of citric flavors ranging from grapefruit zest to straight-up orange juice. In keeping with the intrinsic characteristics of an IPA, the hops assert themselves in the aroma, but there is substantial hop bitterness in the back – a bitterness that is enhanced by the citrus pith from the blood orange concentrate. The overall effect is an impression of sweetness upfront and a crisp mouthfeel that comes from the combination of low residual sugars (amylase enzymes in Brut IPAs render the malt sugars totally fermentable), mixed with a higher carbonation and a bitter finish.
Grist House teams with local band for Pressure Pale Ale
Pittsburgh’s Grist House microbrewery is raising its glass to The Commonheart, the city’s very own 8-piece powerhouse led by firey frontman Clinton Clegg, with the release of the band’s Pressure Pale Ale. Pressure Pale Ale is a hazy, 5.5% ABV beer named after the band’s new album of the same name (8/16, Jullian Records), and is officially being canned the morning of release day. Wondering if you’re able to share the news about the local force’s collaboration?
Over the years, The Commonheart’s shared the stage with Gary Clark Jr. and performed with the likes of Willie Nelson, Van Morrison, Sturgill Simpson + more. The band’s new Grist House release joins an array of canned selections including an American IPA, citrus sour, imperial/double IPA and more.
Real Ale Brewing wants Firemans Light to be the ultimate light lager
Real Ale Brewing Company (RABC) is launching a light lager with only 110 Calories, 5.5 Carbs and 10 IBU – a unique recipe for a distinct balanced taste. Firemans Light gives consumers choice for a variety of drinking occasions. It also contributes to the growing cultural trend around the desire to drink quality beer without the high IBU, calories and alcohol content.
Brad Farbstein, Real Ale’s President, said: “For us it wasn’t about what we needed to take out to give the beer its light status, but what we could leave in from a quality standpoint to satisfy everyone: whether you’re a light beer drinker looking for a quality beer or a craft beer drinker looking for a light option. Our lofty goal was to create this beer specifically for everyone. Truly, a beer for all y’all. We think we’ve perfected the lighter side of craft, with a 110 calorie, easy-drinking, crisp, light bodied lager that delivers a clean, malt-driven finish.”
Firemans Light launches with an integrated marketing program showcasing the campaign tagline, ‘For All Y’all’. The premise is based around the inclusiveness of Firemans Light, just like the inclusiveness of the state it’s from. The integrated launch campaign includes an online film, animated videos, website, print ads, in-store signage, billboards and other out of home placements as well as targeted ads on social platforms.
In fact, for the online film, Partners in Crime crowd sourced a diverse group of Texas “non-influencers” to introduce this beer to the masses. By co-creating the film with regular folks from around the state, this idea of inclusivity and Texas pride is front and center in the film. The website RealLightBeer.com is a way for Firemans Light to demonstrate their commitment to regular Texans doing regular things. Users can dive into the social feeds of these non-influencers and invites others to be part of their non-influencer community.
Grist House says
@BraxtonBrewCo @RealAleBrewing @wildleap @cascadebrewing @CountryAles @DrakesBeer Cheers!
Pressure… https://t.co/jp7BxEAN6l