Awesome news for Hopslammers

MORE news about Hopslam from Bell’s Brewery. Sounds like it will be more plentiful this year. This is from President Larry Bell:

“Recently, Bell’s issued a press release announcing “release dates” for our Hopslam Ale. Although posted in good faith, the Hopslam press release had some erroneous information. Because of the potential impact of our expansion-related construction & the holiday season on our brewing schedule, we had initially created a relatively conservative release program that focused on a set of specific roll-out dates. Fortunately, we haven’t experienced many of the timing conflicts that we had anticipated in the brewing schedule, and we’re reasonably close to matching the release calendar of prior years. Unfortunately, the newly updated & finalized roll-out timing wasn’t passed on to everyone during all the activity here at the brewery, and I only realized the error after we published the release dates from the previous plan.”

Be sure to check out the rest of the article here.

White Castle to test beer sales

Via huffingtonpost.com:

White Castle is the latest fast food establishment that is toying around with the idea of selling beer and wine in order to boost business. According to the Columbus Dispatch, White Castle is testing beer and wine sales at its Lafayette, In. location. The site hosts not only a White Castle but also a Blaze Modern BBQ. Blaze Modern BBQ is one of the three new concepts that White Castle is experimenting with — Laughing Noodle, an Asian concept in Springfield, Oh. and Deckers, which sells grilled sandwiches in Lebanon, Tn., and are also new ventures for White Castle as of last summer.

At the Lafayette location, a glass of wine costs $4.50 and a domestic beer is $3. This test — which the company hasn’t determined if it will launch nation-wide — falls in line with many other fast food chains. A handful of other chains, such as Sonic and Starbucks have also been trying out alcohol this year.

Chains like Chipotle and the ever-growing Shake Shack already serve alcohol. With all of the fierce competition between fast food restaurants (see here, here and here, for starters), it’s no surprise that chains want to find other ways to make a profit and stand out. But it seems like if one finds success in the alcohol game, others will likely follow suit.

Oskar Blues Hoppy Deviant!

Oskar Blues (Lyon, CO) will be bringing Deviant Dale’s Pale Ale to 16oz tallboys in 2012.  This hopped up offering launched last January on tap at Colorado Old Chicago restaurants.  It was the first collaboration on a exclusive brew that was intended for OB’s tap rooms.

What’s Deviant Dale’s?

It’s a double edition fo the perennial favorite – Dales’s Pale Ale.  The brewery describes it as “a sensory assault for Hop Lovers.”   There are 4 hop editions during the hop process, and final massive dry hop of Columbus hops. Hops, hops and more hops.  Not just for tap handles anymore.  We’re talking tallboys baby!

Style: IPA
Availability: Draft, & soon 16oz tallboy cans
Arrival: TBA

7.5% ABV 

Dogfish Head releases gluten free ale

You’ll never catch us consulting a focus group here at Dogfish, but if you drop by you’ll probably catch us chatting with our regulars and listening to their requests.

The No. 1 thing Dogfish lovers ask for at our pub, in our brewery and on our website? Gluten-free beer, by far. But not just any gluten-free beer — they want gluten-free with gusto.

“It seems as if lots of folks who have gluten- tolerance issues are pining for an interesting beer,” says Dogfish founder and president Sam Calagione. “While there are a few well-made examples that mirror traditional beer styles, there aren’t any off-centered offerings.”

Enter Dogfish’s fruit-forward Tweason’ale.

For our first new 12-ounce 4-packs in nearly half a decade, we replaced the classic barley foundation of beer with a mild sorghum base. The hints of molasses and pit-fruit are balanced by vibrant strawberry notes and a unique complexity that comes with the addition of a malty buckwheat honey.

We believe health-conscious beer drinkers and the millions of Americans who suffer from Celiac disease can cut back on gluten while relishing the distinction and drinkability of this very special brew.

Tweason’ale is a seasonal for between the seasons. It will first hit shelves in late January 2012 and will be released four times a year through our national network of distributors.

New Belgium’s Mothership Wit on hiatus in 2012

Apparently, New Belgium’s Mothership Wit has been out of stock at most retailers. Turns out that the brewery has put it on an indefinite hiatus. But do not fret for New Belgium has PLENTY of new brews coming your way to keep you happy. The breweries next release will be a session lager called Shift. It will be sold in 16oz four packs.

Hopslam release date!

Via Bells website:

Many of you have asked on a variety of platforms (Facebook, Twitter,Google+ and via email) when Hopslam will be available. Until now, we could only say January, as important packaging and logistic issues were still being finalized.

Today, we have more details for you – actual release dates.

Please know that we have been working very hard for months to ensure this beer gets to as many of you, our fans, as soon as possible.

To make that happen, there were a number of important factors to consider.  One is the dry hopping process, which like Two Hearted Ale, limits how much we can produce at one time.  Another very important factor is the $52 million construction and expansion project that is ongoing here in Michigan.

Because of these and other factors, Hopslam will be available a little later than in the past.

Here are the release dates for Hopslam in 2012.

Hopslam on draft: Jan. 25

Hopslam in bottles: Feb. 8

We appreciate everyone’s continued support and patience as we transition into our new brewhouse and look forward to completing this project in 2012.

For more information on where Hopslam will be available in your area, please consult our Beer Finder and contact the distributor for your county. You can also contact your favorite bar, retailer or restaurant to inquire if and when they will have it as well.

[BellsBeer]

A few quickies

Woodchuck Hard Cider has released the first in its new Farmhouse Select Series called Original 91. It’s a throwback to their inception in 1991. Sold in corked 750-ml bottles. Made with Vermont apples using Belgian yeast strain. Hopefully they will leave unnatural ingredients out of this one…

 

21st Amendment has two new releases- Fireside Chat and Allies Win the War. Fireside (described as a kick in the butt and a big hug at the same time) is a 7.9% winter ale brewed with spices and cocoa nibs. Allies Win the War is a collaboration between 21st and Ninkasi. Malty and hoppy brown ale brewed with California dates.

 

Samuel Adams– New side projects from some of the brewers. Griffin’s Bow– is a rich, 11.5% oak aged blond barley wine. Tasman Red is a 6.75% red IPA, Third Voyage is a 8% citrusy, double IPA using British, New Zealand, and US Cascade hops. The Vixen is 8.6% chocolate chili bock. These are available in 22oz bottles somewhere near you.

 

American brewers took home a combined 37 awards during the recent Stockholm Beer and Whiskey Festival and the European Beer Star Competition.

 

Don’t know too much info about this one but Magic Hat founder, Alan Newman and his long time business associate; Stacey Steinmetz will launch Alchemy & Science. Alchemy & Science is a craft brew incubator in Burlington, VT that will be funded by the Boston Beer Company.

 

Brooklyn Brewery released a special boxed set. Contains newly released Oxford Companion to Beer, with a 750-ml bottled conditioned wheat wine called The Companion. The box set retails at $80 at the brewery, so if you can’t score it there like myself, just pick up the book!

 

beerjobber.com – Here comes a new website that is partnering with breweries to cut out retailers and get fresh beer directly from the brewery directly to the customers. They have added a social networking component to the site where customers can share recommendations based on members taste, past purchases, ratings, and rankings. That is great and all…unless you work at a retailer. Check it out for yourself, or don’t…I don’t care.

 

Beer Trends – barrel aging, canning, brettanomyces, etc….what about Chile Pepper Beer? Rogue Chipotle Ale was the first widely distributed Chile Pepper beer. Here are a few others:

New Holland’s El Mole Ocho– 8.4%. Created after mexico’s national dish. including ancho, pasilla, chipotle, and mulatto peppers as well as cinnamon, coriander, anise, seed, coffee, and cocoa nibs. Fermented with German weizen yeast. Mikkeller Chipotle Porter (6.6%) CCB Hunahpus Imperial Stout (11.5%), brewed with cocoa nibs, pasilla, ancho chiles, cinnamon, and vanilla beans. Horseheads Hot-Jala-Heim (6.5%) brewed with jalapeno and anaheim peppers. Sam Adams Chocolate Chili Pepper Bock (8.5%) called the Vixen, brewed with Ancho and chipotle ppers, cocoa nibs, and cinnamon.  Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti (9.5%) cocoa nibs and a dash of cayenne pepper. DFH Theobrama (10%) brewed with cocoa powder, nibs, honey, annatto, and chilies. Stone Vertical Epic 2011 (9.4%) belgian golden ale brewed with green chiles from the hatch valley in new mexico and cinnamon sticks. Left Hand Fade to Black #3 Pepper Porter (7.5%), brewed with smoked and dried Serrano, ancho, and chipotle peppers. Terrapin/Shmaltz reunion is a collaboration using Cocoa nibs, chile peppers, and vanilla.

 

 

 

Green Man Brewing Expanding!

 

Stopped by their tasting room yesterday for a cask IPA. It was delicious! I could see myself stopping by very often for a pint, as this small, but cozy brewpub is very inviting if you don’t want the loud noise of a boat load of people. They all about some excellent beer, soccer, and pretzels!

Green Man Brewing was founded in 1997, they have grown to a 2,000 barrel a year brewery. They have started building a new location on Swannanoa Road to be able to keep up with their demand which should be completed summer of 2012.

Bell’s Brewing sues over “Copper Bell”

Bell’s Brewing is seeking a court order preventing Winery Exchange Inc (Novato, CA) to win a trademark over “Copper BELL” beer name.  Bell’s is also seeking a financial settlement.

Bell’s sent a “cease and desist letter” to Winery Exchange over the summer, asking for them to no longer use the “Bells” mark as it’s using creates brand confusion.

According to the suit the use of Bell’s on the cans:

...intended to and is likely to cause confusion, mistake or deception of the trade and public, and to cause the trade and the public to believe that such products are the same as Bell’s products or are authorized,”

The Bell’s logo by the Michigan brewery has been in use since 1985.

Sweetwater Expansion clip