Collaboration for trauma survivors and more beers to know this week

In this week’s “Beers to Know,” we’ve got a collaborative beer for trauma survivors, an AI creation in Asbury Park, a 40th anniversary celebration, and a first time variant from Kentucky Bourbon Barrel.

The Trauma Survivor Foundation and Delaware-based Bellefonte Brewing Co. will introduce an impactful first collaborative beer called Beyond The Call Pilsner on June 27 with a celebration at the taproom from 6-9 p.m. 

“This has been a dream to make this beer,” says Trauma Survivor Foundation CEO Dennis Carradin Jr. “Bellefonte Brewing has been a partner of the TSF for many years and the idea to create our own beer has been something we have always wanted to do, and we are thrilled to finally bring it to fruition.” 

The mission of the Trauma Survivors Foundation is to provide resources, education, and training necessary to serve those affected by trauma. As a foundation, they acknowledge and support the hard work put forth, sacrifices made, and acts of selflessness displayed by first responders. The Foundation is proud to offer scholarships for college-bound or current college students who are children of Volunteer Fire Fighters or Police Officers, to show their support and sincere gratitude for their parents’ services. 

The money raised through donations from caring individuals goes directly to providing trained therapists for emergency response during and after traumatic events, training to expand the network of responders and scholarships to those that want to become certified and help carry out their mission. All their services are offered at a national level.

Beyond The Call Pilsner is a German-style pilsner with a unique American twist, featuring Mittelfrau hops and Mosaic dry-hopping for a distinctive flavor profile.

During the beer launch party, there will be live music from The Wilks 4 Band, food provided by KOI On The Go, and the chance to win tickets to the upcoming 2024 Delaware State Beer Festival in October as well as additional prizes, including free beer, swag from Bellefonte Brewing Company, and more.

AI beer in Asbury Park

 Asbury Park Brewery used AI to create the recipe for its latest beer called “AI-IPA.” The new beer was created by Chris Vaughn, Head Brewer at Asbury Park Brewery who created the recipe with AI. The creation came along when Chris asked AI on his new computer to create the best hazy IPA recipe. He made a few tweaks and the recipe for AI-IPA was finalized. He was impressed by how well it turned out and now, customers can enjoy the beer at the brewery’s new tasting room, located at 614 Cookman Ave, Asbury Park, NJ. AI-IPA has 6% ABV and has hop notes of citrus, mango and pine. This is the brewery’s first AI-generated beer recipe. Its previous human-made creations including the Sea Dragon, Watermelon Summer.

40th Anniversary beer on tap via Icarus Brewing

Princeton, N.J.’s Winberie’s Restaurant & Bar partnered with Icarus Brewing Co. for a limited-edition brew in honor of the establishment’s 40th Anniversary. The “WinbIcarus” blend is a Hazy Double IPA crafted with a heavy dose of wheat and oats to smooth out the hop bitterness and add a subtle sweetness. Beer enthusiasts will enjoy the hint of pine, complemented by notes of tropical citrus, cantaloupe and mango. 

“For the last 40 years, Winberie’s has been a place where people gather for good food, good beer and good memories,” said David Vocal, dining room manager for Winberie’s Restaurant & Bar. “Our friends at Icarus Brewing Company have created a blend that captures this unique history as a Princeton community staple with modern flavors perfect for summer.”  

In line with Winberie’s rich 40-year history, the inspiration behind the anniversary brew stems from the restaurant’s first Hazy Double IPA keg from Icarus Brewing Company. Launched on-site in 2021 and created in 2018, the “Drinking Crayons” blend was the fastest to sell out in the history of Winberie’s–kicking within a single day of being tapped.   

The collaboration coincides with Icarus Brewing Company’s “last call” at their original location as they transition to their new Brick Township location. In the interim, Winberie’s Restaurant & Bar will serve as a Mercer County home base for Icarus Brewing Company.  

Kentucky Bourbon works with cherries for first time

Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co., the only brewery and distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, announced its newest seasonal beer release this week: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Tart Cherry Wheat (8.0% ABV)

Fruit and beer have been synonymous for years, and Lexington is no stranger to this space, with several past summer seasonals having included strawberries, blueberries, and even blackberries—but never cherries.

“Our goal here was to produce a beer that balanced the tart with the sweet,” according to Managing Director Robert Krass. The focus on tart cherries balances what will come from within the barrel during aging—the sweetness of vanilla, oak, and, of course, bourbon.

“We are always looking for areas where spirits can intersect with beer to blur lines, and our bourbon has lots of orchard and stone fruit qualities, with cherry being one of the more prominent flavors. Plus, wheat is something that we are pursuing in our distilling operations, so be on the lookout for a few new things coming from Town Branch soon.”