There are a lot of beers released every week. It’s impossible to keep up with them all, but here are some of the most notable that were sent our way this week. Brewers, if you are annoyed your latest creation wasn’t included, you can only blame yourself. Send your beer and brewery news to [email protected] for possible inclusion. If it’s still not on the site, then OK, you can blame us.
Cascade Brewing’s new sour red ale blend
Cascade Brewing released Sang Rouge 2015 in 750-ml bottles and on draft this week. It will be made available through Cascade Brewing’s worldwide distribution channels, as well as at its two Portland pubs. This is exciting because it’s returning to the market after three years away and coming back with double the draft output.
Sang Rouge is a blend of sour red ales aged in select red wine barrels and oak puncheons for up to 24 months, highlighting the depth and complexity of Cascade’s base red ale without the influence of additional fruits or spices. This rare project features notes of roasted malts, dried currants, aged red wine and toasted oak. It’s ABV is 7.8 percent.
Sang Rouge, which serves as the foundation of Cascade Brewing’s Sang series, was last released in March of 2015, nearly three years ago. The 2015 project designation is due to the fact that this beer has been aging in oak casks on average of 24 months, with some barrels exceeding 30 months.
Iron Hill showing off new cans, with Rising Sun IPA leading the way
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant ushers in 2018 with the release of three canned offerings within a few months, all vividly designed and creatively packaged in 16-oz cans, bringing ever more of the scratch brewery’s popular beers and expanding portfolio into conveniently portable packaging. The winter 2018 lineup rolls out this week with the release of cult favorite, Rising Sun: a single-hopped IPA with the intensely tropical Sorachi Ace.
For the first time in the brewery’s 21-year history, Iron Hill will place year-round emphasis on their canning program by releasing at least one canned beer every month. Rising Sun will be the first canned offering in 2018, followed by Bedotter (February 8) and Ore House IPA (February 22), with more fresh beer coming out throughout the year.
All three cans will feature fun new designs from Pittsburgh’s Smith Brothers Agency, the latest in an ongoing series of collaborations between the brewery and the firm, including other favorites such as Crusher, Mahalo, Apollo!, Vienna Red Lager, Pig Iron Porter, Pumpkin Ale and Oktoberfest. The Rising Sun can embraces the Japanese Sorachi Ace recipe and was inspired by the iconic Japanese woodblock prints from the 1800s. The sun evokes the lightness of the liquid inside, with the crashing wave representing a slight hop kick. Together, the symbols show how perfectly balanced the beer is.
Braxton Labs coming out with its first barrel-aged beer in bottles, showcases Northern Kentucky
On Saturday, Jan. 20, Braxton Labs will release a Bourbon Barrel Aged Oatmeal Stout, its first barrel-aged beer in bottles, infused with Carabello Coffee Tandem Espresso. The 11.7-percent ABV beer will be available in 500-ml bottles beginning at 11 a.m.
This project was intended to highlight the collaborative environment in Braxton’s local Northern Kentucky community. The beer spent six months aging in freshly dumped New Riff OKI Bourbon barrels. New Riff is Braxton Labs neighbor in Newport, Ky. Opened in 2014, New Riff’s story is a new take on the old, bringing new energy and influence to the Kentucky bourbon landscape.
After aging in the OKI Bourbon Barrels, the beer continued its local journey by being infused with 2 lbs per barrel of Carabello Coffee Tandem Espresso beans. The bold coffee flavor complements the notes of vanilla, chocolate and oak. The Espresso beans were sourced and roasted by Carabello Coffee in Newport, Ky.
Monday Night Brewing partners with Batdorf & Bronson on seasonal Irish coffee stout
Whirling Dervish, Monday Night Brewing’s newest seasonal release, is a classic dry Irish Stout with coffee roasted from long-time local partners Batdorf & Bronson. It clocks in at 4.9-percent ABV.
“We went through several different blends of our coffee with the brewers, and we kept coming back to our Whirling Dervish blend,” Ren Doughty, Outreach and Customer Support Manager at Batdorf & Bronson, said. “Darkly roasted, Whirling Dervish exhibits an uncommon balance of velvety body and delicate acidity. The flavor notes of chocolate, molasses, toasted almond and orange zest work so well with the beer.”
Whirling Dervish can be enjoyed on its own, but as a dry Irish stout, it pairs well with oysters, beef stew, grilled meats … and even vanilla ice cream. Look for Whirling Dervish in Georgia and Alabama markets by the end of January.
Schlafly kicks off 2018 Hop Allocation Series
Schlafly Beer just released Northeast India Pale Ale, the first beer in its 2018’s Hop Allocation Series, which we are super excited about. Part of the collection that features different hop-forward beers throughout the year, the Northeast IPA (8 percent, 35 IBUs) is a new brew for the line. Schlafly Beer’s take on the ever-growing popular style is a fresh, bold, unfiltered beer. Its bouquet of hops forges a true, welcoming flavor to the beer’s fruity aroma and juicy finish.
“The Hop Allocation Series gives us a chance to show how different brewing techniques and combinations of hops can offer a distinct IPA experience with each new release,” said Founding Brewer Stephen Hale. “We utilize kettle boiling and the process of fermented dry-hopping to create this Northeast IPA. We’ve had a lot of requests for this style, so we’re excited to see how our consumer responds to the release.”
Schlafly’s Northeast IPA can be purchased on draft or in six-packs of bottles at the Bottleworks or Tap Room locations. The six-packs will also be available across Schlafly’s distribution region ($9.99) as well as on draft at select on-premise locations.
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