“Unless you show me one redeeming quality, I am going to destroy humanity.” This is what the alien says to me after beaming into my living room on Monday. And sorry to say, this alien caught me at a bad time. Redeeming quality… redeeming quality? “I don’t know. With all of the hate mongering, victim blaming, economy worshiping and Red Sox-rooting going on these days, I’m kind of over humanity. Do what you gotta do.” I unpaused Monday Night Raw to squeeze in the main event before our reckoning arrived but the alien stayed, offering to spare me for my honesty. I told it I was actually cool dying in Armageddon — always wanted to go out that way really, on account of my FOMO — but I did want to have one last beer. So I cracked us both a Columbus Brewing Bodhi double IPA to toast humanity’s demise.
We ended up having a blast. Finished watching Raw, cracked open a few more Bodhis, started spinning some vinyl and just shot the shit about spaceships, the cosmos and that bizarre time Garth Brooks grew bangs and put out an album as an alter ego named Chris Gaines. WTF was that all about? Anyway, I don’t remember what time it finally left, and come to think of it, it never did end up destroying humanity. Hmm. Maybe the message here is sharing a good time over a craft beer is humanity’s one redeeming quality. Or, maybe the alien got arrested for an intergalactic DUI. Either way, you’re welcome. Here are five beers to know this week. If you have a beer to avert (or bring about!) humanity’s destruction next week, send it to [email protected].
Short’s Brewing, MadTree launch innovative Bonsai Project
Ohio’s MadTree Brewing Company and Michigan’s Short’s Brewing Company are launching The Bonsai Project collaboration this November. We like the play on words (short trees) and anything that makes us think of Karate Kid part 3. The story of the collaboration goes like this: Similar to a traditional black and tan, each brewery developed a recipe intended to be layered together resulting in the ultimate collaboration and gin and tonic experience.
MadTree is brewing and canning, OH, a gin-inspired specialty ale with lemon peel, juniper berry, hibiscus, and coriander with raspberry and peach added. Short’s is brewing and canning, MI, a tonic-inspired specialty ale with lemon, lime, and orange zest, allspice, cinchona bark, lemongrass, and cubeb pepper with lemon, lime, and orange juice added. When layered together, both are sure to make beer drinkers say, “oh my!”
Each six-pack will contain three cans of OH and three cans of MI in a carton-wrap package format. Best served layered, consumers can layer at home or get the full layering experience at MadTree and Short’s events at bars and restaurants across the Midwest. The breweries will provide each event location with a custom layering spoon to create the Bonsai Project on-site.
Call to Arms Brewing has something really really ridiculously good tasting via bottle conditioning
Denver-based Call to Arms Brewing Co. will tap and release Really Really Ridiculously Good Tasting, a farmhouse ale aged in Chardonnay barrels with Brett Claussennii, on Nov. 1 in their taproom. With naming inspired by the movie Zoolander, Really Really Ridiculously Good Tasting is a well-rounded beer with notes of cantaloupe, white grape, lemon zest and a smooth vanilla finish.
At 7.2 percent ABV (alcohol by volume), Really Really Ridiculously Good Tasting begins with primary fermentation using a traditional French Saison yeast, followed by an addition of Brett Claussennii to produce a slight barnyard funk. The beer is then packaged with champagne yeast and bottle conditioned, which results in a farmhouse ale reminiscent of a delicate Sauvignon Blanc aged in oak.
“It’s a blend of old school tradition with our modern day-to-day brewing techniques,” said Chris Bell of Call to Arms. “You’re adding 100 percent fermentable sugar to a beverage that is going to condition warm. If there is anything else in the bottle it will also grow, so you have to be extremely careful and intentional throughout the process.”
Weyerbacher Brewing adds Rico Guave to its fall lineup
We are suckers for a nontraditional fall seasonal. Weyerbacher Brewing‘s Rico Guave is a 9% ABV sour ale brewed with pineapple and guava that’s rich with the tropical notes of pineapple and fruitiness of guava. This pink hued brew is clean and refreshing with a touch of tartness.
“With people reaching their limit on everything pumpkin, we thought it would be a good time to give people a bright and refreshing anti-pumpkin beer,” said Josh Lampe. “This beer is a tropical punch to your talk hole, bringing a touch of tart with a bit of sweetness.”
Available in 16 oz. cans and on draft, Rico Guave will be released to the public on Friday, Oct. 19 at The Tap Room at Weyerbacher Brewing and throughout its distribution area.
Elevation Beer’s barrel-aged Quad returns
Elevation Beer Company’s barrel-aged Belgian-style Quad returns this year in 750 mL bombers for the season. This Quadrupel Ale aged in Buffalo Trace Bourbon barrels has been one of the brewery’s seasonal, large-format offerings since 2013.
Aromas of dark fruits, vanilla, and bourbon seep off False Summit’s milk chocolate head. As the beer warms, notes of caramel, oak and dark Belgian candi sugar come more prevalent. This barrel-aged Quadruple, like the final stretch of a mountain’s peak, is complex and rewarding— an experience to be shared with good company. This beauty weighs in at 11.1% ABV with 30 IBUs.
False Summit is available throughout Colorado and Wyoming, and on draft in limited volume seasonally while supplies last.
ATTENTION: The Bruery’s Reserve Society enrollment is open!
We put this last so that we could beat the rush: Orange County, Calif.’s The Bruery has announced open enrollment in its exclusive Reserve Society for a limited time only. The Reserve Society is the only way to get exclusive access to the Bruery’s most innovative and exciting barrel-aged and traditional foeder sour beers. Pickup is available in California and Washington D.C. Shipping available throughout California.
The Bruery launched the Reserve Society back in 2009 with the goal of sharing their most esoteric beers with a revered group of enthusiasts. This year’s membership offers exciting new formats like 16 oz cans and 375 ml bottles in addition to incredible members-only beers. The Reserve Society Membership costs $300 and includes:
- 14 750ml equivalent included bottles
- An annual value of $425 in beer
- Your choice of Barrel-Aged beers only, Sour beers only, or a mix both
- 15% off additional purchases online and in taprooms
- Access to Reserve Member taplist in the tasting rooms
- Access to members-only events like the Black Tuesday Release party
- Early Access to Offshoot Beer releases
- Included cellar use for purchased beers till 2.28.20
- First chance to renew for the following year.
The Reserve Society membership also includes access to incredible archive and cellar releases throughout the year. Some of this year’s planned included offerings are:
- Apfelsap (an Apple Brandy barrel-aged Wheat Wine co-fermented with McIntosh Apples)
- An amped up version of Chocolate Rain with more cacao and more vanilla
- Cherry Chocolate Rain
- Decadent Variants of So Happens Its Tuesday
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