In this week’s “Beers to Know,” beer brands donate profits to Children’s Zoos and Pink Boots, a boozy Arnold Palmer gets even boozier, a Northeastern Blueberry Ale goes year-round, and a Cali music festival selects its official IPA.
Lincoln, Nebraska’s Empyrean Brewing Co. derives its name from the adventurous spirit of ancient civilizations and uses that philosophy to guide its new offerings. Empyrean is also a big supporter of the the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. This month, Empryean’s Zookeeper Lemon Kolsch is hitting store shelves — and $1 per case from all sales at all retailers will be donated to the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. Last year, $2,723 was raised for the over 400 animals that live in the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.
This year marks the 6th year of the partnership, which first started in 2018. The Kolsch-style ale packs refreshing flavor at 5% alc/vol, making it a great, easy-sipping summer beer. The sunny summer beer celebrates the zoo’s animals with a playful giraffe-themed packaging.
Jim Engelbart, operations manager at Empyrean Brewing Co. said, “This is one of our more challenging brews due to the large amount of lemon we use, but it’s so fun to execute and worth the effort. The lemon puree really gives it that zesty, fresh flavor you just can’t fabricate. Even better when it’s brewed for a great cause. Given the overwhelming popularity of this laid-back Kolsch style, we decided to keep a good thing going.”
As home to over 400 animals—40 of which are endangered, the Lincoln Children’s Zoo serves as a place for Nebraska’s youth to learn about animals and the importance of their conservation. Donations are always appreciated to support its ongoing education, conservation and animal care programs.
The giving doesn’t end there. Super Saver and Russ’s Market have also pledged to match $1 for every Zookeeper Lemon Kolsch case sold. In addition to the financial support, the Lincoln Children’s Zoo receives donations of fresh lettuce cultivated by Avert™ Vertical Cultivations, a hydroponics farm under the umbrella of Telesis, Inc., the parent company of Empyrean Brewing Co.
10 Barrel releases the booziest Arnold Palmer ever?
10 Barrel’s Golf Tea—the boozier version of the classic Arnold Palmer drink—just got an ABV boost in time for summer. Upgraded from 7% ABV to a whopping 10% ABV, Golf Tea now offers more buzz for your buck. Made with all-natural ingredients, real fruit and booze (like all 10 Barrel RTDs), Golf Tea is made with house-made lemonade, craft iced tea and a sploosh (or three) of premium vodka. Golf Tea balances crisp black tea notes with citrus and a kick you’ll barely notice.
Joining Disco Lemonade and AMF, Golf Tea completes 10 Barrel’s trinity of party cocktails this summer — which also come with higher ABVs.
- Disco Lemonade (13.9%) is a refreshingly potent nectar made with vodka, real lemons and huckleberry—enough to get any love train rolling.
- Reminiscent of your college dive bar, AMF (Adios Mother F***er) combines vodka, rum, gin and tequila for a 13.9% ABV that is sweet, citrusy and slightly tart.
Wicked Maine Blueberry Ale
Orono Brewing Co. and Wyman’s have collaborated on Wicked Maine Blueberry Ale, which they say will be a year-round delight instead of a seasonal.
The wild blueberry has been synonymous with Maine for more than a century. Brewed using Wyman’s wild blueberries and brewed with a light malt and hop recipe, Wicked highlights the delicious flavor of Maine’s official state fruit and offers a refreshing taste at every sip, even pairing well with a lobster roll.
“My first earned dollar came from raking wild blueberries in downeast Maine,” said Abe Furth, co-owner of Orono Brewing Company. “Crafting Wicked allows us to pay homage to my deep Maine roots, and to share that heritage with beer lovers across the state.”
“Wicked is quickly becoming our second-best seller behind Tubular,” said Furth. “Restaurants, bars and stores are excited to feature Wicked because it combines the best Maine ingredients to make a superior blueberry beer.”
Tröegs gets Freaky
Tröegs Independent Brewing announced the release of Freaky Squeeze, a new line of alcoholic drinks made with real fruit. The independent, family-owned brewery is leading with two flavors, Black Cherry Limeade and Peach Orangeade, both clocking in at 5.5% ABV.
“Freaky Squeeze is what happens when you’ve got a team obsessed with finding delicious flavor combinations,” explains Tröegs co-founding brother and brewmaster John Trogner. “As with everything we make, we’re proud to use exceptional ingredients and innovative techniques in these two beverages.”
Freaky Squeeze uses cane sugar and malted barley fermentation combined with real fruit to create a juicy, bright, and refreshing beverage. Unlike seltzers, Freaky Squeeze boasts a much fuller, authentic fruit flavor with softer carbonation, hint of tartness, and beautiful color.
“The drive to create is behind everything we do here,” says Trogner. “We let our curiosity run wild with Freaky Squeeze, because Tröegs is more than just beer. It’s adventure, creativity, and like-minded people.”
Mai Tai P.A. the official beer of Cali Roots
Alvarado Street Brewery and Good Vibez Presents announced that Mai Tai P.A. is the Official Beer of Cali Roots 2024. Mai Tai P.A. (Tropical IPA — 6.5% ABV) is brewed with 100% Mosaic hops, lending intensely dank aromas of passion fruit, guava, and lychee. Finishes dry, in true West Coast-style fashion.
What is Cali Roots, you ask? Well, don’t call it a music festival — Cali Roots is “a multi-layered experience, curated for music lovers who want to bring more than just stage performance memories home.” Together, as a community of music enthusiasts who gather once a year for a big musical family reunion, Cali Roots festival attendees will now be able to enjoy Mai Tai P.A. in limited-edition 16 oz. cans (as well as Alvarado Street’s Monterey Beer in 16 oz. cans) all throughout the festival across its beautiful onsite grounds.
“At Cali Roots, we want there to be an Alvarado Street beer for everyone,” says Brock Bill (Director of Marketing, Alvarado Street Brewery). “Working alongside the amazing team at Good Vibez Presents over the years has been such a pleasure and now with our beloved Mai Tai being the Official Beer of Cali Roots 2024, the feeling is pretty sublime. It is an obvious drink of choice for a festival such as this with its great drinkability and tropical hop flavor.”
“Mai Tai P.A. is one of the best IPAs in the world,” adds Dan Sheehan (CEO/Owner, California Roots). “Alvarado Street Brewery is so highly respected in the national beer scene and they’ve also had impressive growth throughout the Monterey and Salians region with their restaurants and production brewery taproom. It’s such a natural fit for them to have a big presence at Cali Roots.”
Saint Arnold debuts new recipe for Pink Caddy (same great cause)
This year’s version of Saint Arnold’s Pink Caddy is a brand new recipe and profits will be donated directly to the Houston chapter of Pink Boots Society — an international 501c3 nonprofit with chapters around the world. They offer education and networking to women and non-binary individuals in the beer industry in the form of scholarships, educational opportunities, and a supportive community in which to grow.
“2024 marks our fifth year participating with Pink Boots Society in their Collaboration Brew Day to celebrate International Women’s Day,” the Texas-based brewery says. “This year, we brewed a hazy IPA and generously dry hopped with the special Pink Boots Blend from Yakima Chief Hops which includes Ahtanum®, El Dorado®, HBC 638, Idaho 7® hops.”
The aroma of this 7.2% ABV beer bursts with notes of berries, citrus zest and rind, tropical fruit, and a little bit of bubblegum. The flavor consists of a soft mouthfeel with a light, bitter finish. This special draft-only release is now available at the Beer Garden & Restaurant while supplies last.
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