Many craft breweries are leading the charge to become B Corps — a designation that puts the business focus back on people and the planet. Jackson Hole’s Roadhouse Brewing Co. is celebrating / promoting its B Corp status (two years running) in its latest sustainable release, Cosmic Kush.
Roadhouse partnered with Athens, Ga.’s B Corp certified Creature Comforts Brewing on the first edition: Cosmic Kush, a 6% ABV hazy IPA brewed with malts from Mainstem Malt and B Corp certified hops from Roy Farms including Strata, El Dorado and Chinook. The result is heady and lush—great for anyone looking for an easily drinkable beer with a little bit of a kick.
Roadhouse has been committed to sustainable brewing practices since its inception, including practices like sharing kegs to reduce waste, recapturing and recycling the heat and CO2 produced during brewing; and installing solar panels that offset their power usage and feed power back to the Jackson town grid.
The Kush series was born in the Roadhouse pilot brewery using new and experimental hops creating some “incredibly resinous, dank and hop forward beers,” notes Brewmaster Max Shafer. They were some of their fastest moving beers, so the team decided to move them to a canned format. The series also focuses on Roadhouse’s industry relationships – with other brewers, hop vendors/dealers/growers, and maltsters.
Hopworks’ Carbon Farmer features sustainable Kernza grain
Just in time for Earth Day, longtime Portland-based partners and fellow B Corps New Seasons Market and Hopworks Brewery have collaborated on the release of Carbon Farmer, an organic hazy IPA crafted with Kernza, an ecologically beneficial, perennially grown grain.
“At Hopworks, we’ve always been very conscious of the impact that our brewery has on the environment,” said Christian Ettinger, founder of Hopworks Brewery. “No-till Kernza is a real-life carbon farmer, capturing CO2 in its long roots for decades and effectively stalling global warming in the process. Drinking beer that’s ‘rooted’ in regenerative agriculture and doing good is something we can all celebrate. Cheers to that!”
The Carbon Farmer Hazy IPA is bursting with aromas of peach and guava and flavors of grapefruit zest, with a fluffy maltiness that is washed away by a lingering bitter finish. At New Seasons Market, this certified organic beer is now available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans for $14.99, with a $12.99 special running from April 19 through 25. A portion of all proceeds will benefit Zero Foodprint, a non-profit organization working to reduce the environmental impact of food. Zero Foodprint connects eaters and food businesses with farmers to help them implement regenerative practices.
New Belgium celebrates Earth Day with snark and swag
New Belgium Brewing and the satirical Instagram account @SubparParks are wishing fans an Earth Day sweating with irony with the release of Subpar Pale Ale – a limited release beer with floral, citrus, and pine resin notes reminiscent of the “heavy-handed number of trees” you’ll find in our national parks. Subpar Parks, an illustration project from artist Amber Share that juxtaposes natural wonders around the world and the one-star reviews people have left online for them, has become a beloved following with more than 400,000 followers.
With the Instagram caption: “real bad reviews of parks: apparently America’s best idea wasn’t that great,” Amber created Subpar Parks in 2019 to poke fun at the idea that some people just miss the point when it comes to appreciating Earth’s natural wonders. New Belgium, knowing the same can be said for even its most beloved craft beers, saw an opportunity to collaborate with Subpar Parks on a special release that celebrates Earth Day by throwing shade at nature – and in turn, reminding consumers of the importance of standing up for our planet against threats from climate change.
In the lead up to Earth Day, New Belgium and @SubparParks will activate fans to get out and review their favorite local outdoor hangs – drawing on their most brutal critiques, of course. The partnership also includes a giveaway of a public lands pass, custom New Belgium bicycle, signed copy of Amber’s book, and additional @SubparParks and New Belgium swag.
“Our passion for brewing world class beer is equal to our dedication to inspiring environmental stewardship,” said Shaun Belongie, Chief Marketing Officer at New Belgium. “Collaborating with Subpar Parks for this year’s Earth Day release was a natural fit to promote the enjoyment of two National wonders, parks, and beer. We hope this collaboration reminds consumers, through a lens of irony, to pause and remember why we celebrate Earth Day.”
Subpar Pale Ale will be available for online orders through direct-to-consumer shipping in applicable states beginning April 20th.
Tröegs experiments with hops, reports findings in Field Study
For Field Study, Tröegs Independent Brewing found inspiration from its annual trip to the Pacific Northwest’s Yakima Valley.
“Field Study started with Scratch #327, when we first began tinkering with some new hopping techniques,” explains Tröegs brewmaster and co-founding brother John Trogner.
After several trials, the brewing team landed on a combination Citra, Mosaic and El Dorado to deliver the notes of ripe grapefruit, pear, and melon they were looking to achieve. For the grain bill, the Hershey, PA, brewery is keeping it local. In addition to pilsner, oat and wheat malts, Tröegs uses about 100,000 pounds of barley grown and harvested in its home state. Then just outside Philadelphia, Double Eagle Malt does the rest, turning the grains into Rustic Pale malt.
“Rustic Pale malt is kilned slightly higher than most pale malts to amplify the complex cereal and slightly nutty notes,” says Trogner.
Look for Field Study IPA in Tröegs’ new Canthology Volume 2 variety pack, available now, as well as the forthcoming Summer Better variety 15-pack, slated for an early May release.
Dust Bowl Brewing expands hard seltzer line
Dust Bowl Brewing Co. plans to release a new flavor each quarter in its Thirty Three Hard Seltzer series. Up this quarter is Blackberry Lime, now available in 19.2 oz cans and draft. The Thirty Three Hard Seltzer brand was first introduced by Dust Bowl Brewing Co. in 2022 as a nod to the company’s brand roots dating back to the Dust Bowl era when prohibition ended in 1933.
In keeping with the Thirty Three brand, Blackberry Lime comes in at a bold 8.3% ABV. Hard seltzer fans can expect a light and refreshing flavor profile from real fruit juices. The seltzer showcases a beautiful pink color.
“Blackberries present very well in the seltzer format,” shares long-time Dust Bowl Brewmaster, Don Oliver. “The hint of color adds to the appeal, as well as the refreshing character of the lime.”
Mango Strawberry is on deck for Q3 this year.
Listen up: 2 Towns Ciderhouse drops Hip Hops this month
The newest release in the 2023 Limited Release line from 2 Towns Ciderhouse — Hip Hops — is crafted with fresh-pressed Northwest apples, Talus hops, and rose hips. Bright and herbal, this amped-up cider has got its hands in the air and partying without a care.
“Hip Hops is the musical mashup of two unique ingredients,” said Dave Takush, head cider maker. “Talus hops was hand selected by our R&D team as the most expressive aromatic and delicious hop they could get their hands on. And rose hips add a delicate combination of stone fruit and rose aromas with a touch of acidity.”
Griffin Claw releases Ales for ALS beer
Griffin Claw Brewing‘s Ales for ALS this year is an IPA brewed with white wheat and oats, and features a unique blend of hops hand-picked for Ales for ALS by Yakima Chief Hops.
“Supporting ALS research is important to us, and we’re honored to be able to contribute through brewing a beer,” said Jacob Choate, head brewer at Griffin Claw, based inBirmingham and Rochester Hills, Michigan. “We’re excited to share this delicious IPA, which not only tastes great, but also supports a great cause.”
Griffin Claw Brewing Company says every beer sold will help support “Ales for ALS” and the ALS Therapy Development Institute through the Ales for ALS campaign. Since its inception in 2013, Ales for ALS has raised millions of dollars for ALS research, and the campaign has grown to include hundreds of breweries across the United States.
The hops used in this year’s beer deliver an explosion of citrus and tropical fruit flavors, along with subtle resinous pine that balances out the sweetness. This New England-style IPA is not only packed with flavor, but also helps raise funds and awareness for ALS research.
“For me, this beer is personal,” said Lilli Craig-Ewoniuk, brewing intern at Griffin Claw. “My grandfather had ALS, and I’m honored to work for a brewery that’s doing something to help find a cure. Every pint of Ales for ALS sold helps support ALS research, and we hope that people will come out to try it and support the cause.”
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