Is life destined or a series of random unconnected choices and outcomes? I am wondering this because it is 8:26 a.m., and I am listening to “Butterfly” by Crazytown. What led me to this moment? There is a cutout of Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers on my cubicle wall, and I thought it looked like the guy from Crazytown. There’s a cutout of Flea on my wall because I had fleas in my house and as a joke a co-worker taped up pictures of Flea all around my desk. I had fleas in my house because a raccoon was living in my chimney. Basically, if I had just put a cap on my chimney before a raccoon started living in it, I’d be living another day forgetting Crazytown existed.
But it’s not that easy, is it? Being the type of forward thinker who would cap their chimney probably means I would have made a series of better life choices prior to that too. Instead of some stoner listening to Crazytown in a cubicle on a Thursday morning, I might be a physicist living in the Netherlands, listening to Beethoven and solving string theory. I don’t know. Could be worse. I could have YouTube’d “Toxic” instead. Here are your five beers to know this week, sugar, baby. Send in your own beer news or terrible music recommendations to [email protected].
Braxton is the beer of the Breeders’ Cup
Breeders’ Cup, one of Thoroughbred horse racing’s most prestigious international events, announced that Kentucky-based Braxton Brewing Co. is the official beer partner for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, taking place on November 2 and 3 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Braxton Brewing Co. is creating a limited-time, specialty brew inspired by the passion, energy and determination of the talented Thoroughbreds competing in the 2018 event that will be served throughout Breeders’ Cup weekend and at select events in the weeks leading up to the World Championships. Breeders’ Cup Golden Ale, locally brewed and canned in Covington, Kentucky, will be crisp, clean, and refreshing.
“We are always looking to work with local partners who share our commitment to developing authentic and elevated experiences, and Braxton’s deep Kentucky roots and strong reputation made them the clear choice for this collaboration,” Craig Fravel, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO.
Great Divide Brewing makes a Chai Yeti for the season
Great Divide Brewing Co. released a bunch of fall and winter seasonal news this week: Fresh Hop Pale Ale, Hibernation Ale, Barrel Aged Yeti and the Pack of Yetis will return in the coming months for the fall and winter seasons. The Himalayan-inspired Chai Yeti caught our eye. At 9.5 percent ABV, and back for a second year, this beer has traditional Chai spices of cinnamon, green cardamom, black pepper, ginger, nutmeg, and vanilla blend seamlessly with Yeti’s rich, roasted malt backbone for a spicy beast fit to tackle Everest. This limited release is available September to December in 22-oz bottles at both Great Divide locations as well as within the brewery’s distribution footprint.
“Chai Yeti pays homage to the birthplace of the Yeti mythology,” said Brian Dunn of Great Divide. “You’ll notice that the chai spices really come through making it the perfect winter warmer for the colder months ahead.”
Carolina Brewing helps light up this Garden exhibit
For seven-nights in November, the magical lighting exhibition Moonlight in the Garden will illuminate and showcase JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University. On preview night, Nov. 6, attendees will be treated to Flamethrower Scotch Ale –named after the Flamethrower redbud tree at JC Raulston Arboretum — made for the occasion by Carolina Brewing Company.
“This was specifically made with them and for the Arboretum,” said Joe Zonin, co-founder of Carolina Brewing Company. “We sat down with some of the people at the Arboretum and talked about what style of beer they were interested in with the new plant that’s coming out.”
Sponsored by the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation and presented by Southern Lights of Raleigh, the exhibition is a once-per-year occasion to see the botanical gardens and Arboretum at night. Flamethrower Scotch Ale is a nice malty, fall beer — a lot more body than your average beer with a nice reddish golden color to it.
Lompoc Brewing celebrates GABF win with Lomporter Lomparty
When you win gold at the GABF, celebration is in order. Lompoc Brewing recently took home a Gold Medal for its Lomporter Premium Northwest Porter and is celebrating with a Lomporter Lomparty on Oct. 26, at its barrel tasting room. Lomporter is a classic robust porter that offers a creamy taste of dark chocolate complemented by dark cherry and hints of coffee. Brewed with dark wheat, rauch, and chocolate malts, this beer strikes a fine balance between heavy and light. It’s robust enough to sip, but smooth enough to have another. It comes in at 6.4 percent ABV and is available in 12-oz. cans and on draft.
The Lomporter Lomparty will feature a Dark Beer Taster Tray for $16 that will include its award-winning Lomporter, as well as 2009 Bourbon Barrel Aged Monster Mash, 2010 Batch 69 Baltic Porter, 2012 Black Mamba Sour Stout, 2016 8 Malty Nights, and 2018 Monster Mash Imperial Porter. Guests who wear black in honor of the occasion will receive a gratis raffle ticket; there will be several drawings for a number of Lompoc prizes.
Love this Voodoo Ranger Imperial Black IPA packaging
New Belgium Brewing is bringing back a few portfolio favorites to help make the fall transition all the more delightful. Returning to tantalize taste buds across the nation are Voodoo Ranger Imperial Black IPA, a big 10% ABV special release with warming hop blasts; Accumulation White IPA, one of New Belgium’s most popular winter seasonal offerings; and a Winter Variety Pack featuring the hard-to-find Mary Jane Ale and beloved throwback beer, Snow Day Black IPA. The Voodoo Ranger Imperial Black IPA has us most excited. With a smoky, herbal aroma, balanced sweetness and lingering bitterness, this 10% ABV Imperial Black IPA is Voodoo Ranger’s biggest, boldest IPA yet. Featured hops include Azacca, Centennial, Columbus. Malts are Pale, Weyerman Carafa 3.
“This was a fun one to make,” said Ross Koenigs, Research and Development Brewer at New Belgium. “We added the Carafa malt later in the brew process to deemphasize its roasty flavors while still getting that dark-as-night color. Combine that with Centennial and Columbus – two old school hops – and newer-to-the-scene Azacca, this is a black IPA more complex than most.”
Secret Hopper says
Sugar!