Tap Time Radio January 30th, 2019

Check out last night's edition of Tap Time on 103.7 The Buzz with Andrew Blann from Fossil Cove calling in with all the deets on this coming weekend's Frost Fest in Fayetteville plus the guys from Toppling Goliath, who are just beginning Arkansas distribution.

 

Sex Sells -- History of Using Sex to Sell Beer

Good stuff from the Beer By The Number Youtube page:

 

"Sex sells. At least that's how the old marketing adage goes. Brewers haven't been afraid to embrace the sexier side of marketing for the last hundred years. Most people assume that beer marketing is a non stop parade of flesh, but the history is actually much more nuanced.

The use of sexual imagery in beer marketing ebbs and flows within a greater cultural context. So today we're turning back the clock to watch how sexy beer ads have evolved over the years, and we'll even try to predict what they'll look like in the future. Cheers!"

Beer by the Numbers Facebook

 

Oskar Blues Launches New Rotating IPA Series

Series Kicks Off With Launch of Can-O-Bliss Tropical IPA in Taprooms January 26

Longmont, Colo., January 24, 2019 - Oskar Blues Brewery is introducing a fresh new line-up of rotating IPAs with the Can-O-Bliss IPA Series. Can-O-Bliss Tropical IPA has now launched in 12oz cans, to be celebrated with kick-off parties in Oskar Blues Brewery taprooms on January 26. Can-O-Bliss Hazy IPA and Citrus IPA will follow throughout the year. Each IPA in the series showcases an all-star cast of hops including innovative combinations of new and experimental hop varietals from around the world. All Can-O-Bliss IPA Series beers will be distributed nationally on draft and in 6-pack and 12-pack cans following their respective releases, plus it will appear in the CANundrum mix 15-pack.

“The Can-O-Bliss Series is a way for us to celebrate hops all year long,” said Oskar Blues Head of Brewing Operations Tim Matthews. “We’re bringing unprecedented combinations of hops to the table to create three unique IPA experiences with very different flavor profiles. IPA lovers will want to follow along with the series to see what happens next.”

The brewery recently added new centrifuge equipment, to whisk away solids including yeast and hop material, while retaining hop oil in the beer. The investment allows brewers at all three locations (Longmont, CO, Brevard, NC and Austin, TX) to maximize hop flavor in the Can-O-Bliss IPAs.

The first release, Can-O-Bliss Tropical IPA, 7.2% ABV, is a juicy, sunset-hued rogue wave of tropical fruit flavors featuring clean, complex Mosaic, citrusy Azacca, fruity Galaxy, aromatic El Dorado and pungent Idaho 7 hops. Click here for an in-depth Tropical IPA hop safari via the Oskar Blues Blog.

On deck is Can-O-Bliss Hazy IPA, a hazed-out and hopped-up IPA packed with flavors of stone fruit, melon and peach. Just like Oskar Blues, this beer is unfiltered, uncommon and unrestrained.

Oskar Blues will round out the 2019 series by introducing Can-O-Bliss Citrus IPA, an intensely citrus-y and aromatic brew that will put zest to the test.

The Can-O-Bliss IPA Series will offer beer drinkers a variety of innovative IPA flavors throughout the year. On January 26, Oskar Blues taproom locations in Boulder, CO, Longmont, CO, Brevard, NC and Austin, TX, will host launch parties for Can-O-Bliss Tropical IPA. Click here for individual taproom party details, or check out the beerfinder to find a Can-O-Bliss near you, available in 6-Packs ($8.99-$9.99 MSRP), 12-Packs ($16.99-$17.99), draft and in the Oskar Blues CANundrum Mixed 15-pack ($16.99-$17.99).

Tap Time Radio January 16th, 2019

Here's last night's edition of Tap Time on 103.7 The Buzz with our guest Randy Bressner from Stone Brewing calling in to tell us about their new Metallica collaboration pilsner "Enter Night" and also the guys from CutWater Spirits in the studio sharing plenty of their amazing canned drinks.    Check it out below!  

 

The Story of Enter Night Pilsner

Metallica x Arrogant Consortia: Enter Night Pilsner. The cataclysmic collision of two uncompromising supernatural forces.

bit.ly/EnterNightPilsner

 

PRESS RELEASE: Oskar Blues Brewery and Cigar City Brewing Release Bamburana

Bamburana is an Imperial Stout Aged in Whiskey and Brandy Barrels With Amburana Wood Spirals and Fig and Date Flavors

 

Longmont, Colo., January 9, 2019 - Oskar Blues Brewery and Cigar City Brewing are stoked to announce the release of their innovative new collaboration beer, Bamburana. The imperial stout, brewed with figs and dates, is double barrel-aged - in both whiskey and brandy barrels - and aged once more in tanks with Amburana wood spirals. Bamburana is the first nationally distributed collaboration between the two breweries - a big, sticky, complex 12.2% ABV beer that will be released in 12oz cans in mid-January.

Bamburana is the co-creation of two giant craft beer personalities - Oskar Blues Brewery’s Head of Brewing Operations, Tim Matthews, and Cigar City Brewing’s Brewmaster Wayne Wambles. Their goal was to craft a brew that would marry the flavors of double-barrel aged imperial stout and Amburana wood. Amburana wood is an indigenous South American wood that imparts unique warm and savory flavors and aroma.

"We were excited to see the results of infusing Amburana wood into a big, barrel-aged imperial stout,” said Wambles. “We were pleasantly surprised with the vanilla and gingerbread spice nuances this South American wood contributed into the finished beer and look forward to putting this delicious beer in front of folks!”

“We’re both known for barrel-aging big, malty, dark beers,” added Matthews. “The culinary goal of this project was to match the flavors of a rich candy cookie with fig filling and gingerbread spice. We spent a bunch of time selecting the right figs and dates to hit exactly the right flavor notes, lend a slight stickiness and cut into the rowdiness of the Amburana wood.”

Bamburana unfolds on the palate with forward-facing roasted malt flavors that branch out against a dark fruit backdrop of figs and dates. Then, brandy and whiskey accents make themselves known with complex boozy-and-sweet flavors, complementing the warmth and spice of Amburana wood.

Bamburana will be available nationwide in mid-January in 4-packs of 12oz cans.

Outta Line IPA | Penguin Bungee Jump

Rogue Ales & Spirits -We sent a group of brave Rogue Employees dressed in their finest penguin suits to step outside their comfort zones and plummet off America's tallest bungee jump bridge. These are the results. Do you have the courage to step outta line? 

At the very core of Rogue is the idea of getting outta line. That is to say you don’t need to follow the plan laid out in front of you, you don’t have to fit in and you don’t have to follow the crowd. We brewed this IPA as a reminder that there is no limit when you have the courage to stand out. Available year round, Outta Line IPA is a bright honey-colored West Coast IPA with an enticing fruit aroma.

Find some near you at https://www.bit.ly/findrogueouttaline

   

Founders: Chase Your What If

  Curious? Head to http://chaseyourwhatif.com    

Dogfish Head Quick Sip Clip: American Beauty Pale Ale

Dogfish Head: American Beauty, a pale ale inspired by the Grateful Dead, captures the spirit of the band's 30 years of touring and recording. Dogfish Head and the Dead both built their followings by connecting directly with beer lovers and music lovers, so when we first started this collaboration (back in 2013), we asked those loyal fans to help drive the recipe. 

 

After receiving more than 1,500 ingredient suggestions, granola was tops. It was the main course in millions of parking lot meals and is a sweet and toasty complement to the barley, succulent wildflower honey and all-American hops. 

 

Now in 2019 - and after three previous 750 mL releases - we're getting the band back together, releasing American Beauty in 12 oz. 6-packs for the first time ever! And we promise, once you taste it ... there's nothin' left to do but smile, smile, smile.

 

Favorite Beer Experiences of 2018

One of my favorite posts of last year was "Favorite Beer Experiences of 2017" I think, because drinking beer to me is more about the experience than anything else. I don't want to do a normal "best of" list or anything like that, I love tons of beers from a lot of breweries and I hate to pick the top ones. However, every year I seek out awesome experiences related to beer. Here's this years, in no particular order...

Jester King Reposé

A bucket list brewery for my wife and I has always been Jester King and we finally got to go this year back in February. It was everything I'd hoped for and more. This brandy barrel-aged Bière de Garde was a highlight as we walked around the grounds and soaked in an awesome farm/brewery. Will go back for sure.

Sierra Nevada BFD

My wife and I enjoy Ed Sheeran together and we got a chance to go see him with some best friends in Nashville at Nissan Stadium. It was a great show and I had this tasty hoppy blonde while enjoying it. Great memory.

New Belgium Paonia Peach

On a trip to Asheville we visited New Belgium Brewery and got a private tour and everything about it was amazing. The brewery is state of the art, the people were fantastic and views of the river on the deck made a wonderful atmosphere and a memorable experience.This very nice tart peach beer was a perfect addition.

 

Sweetwater Tropical Berliner

This beer was released and debuted while I was at 420Fest in Atlanta having a blast. Lots of great music, tons of people and SO MUCH BEER. I drank a lot of Sweetwater, got to visit not only the brewery but their Woodlands barrel-aging facility and just had a damn good time. This fruity tart berliner may or may not have been pouring down my throat as early as 9am one morning.

Rebel Kettle Black Reign

Rebel Kettle's anniversary party in early April, so in Arkansas that's typically going to be pretty warm. Not this year. Damn cold. And it's outdoors (mostly). But boy did we still have fun. We drank some great beers, including this ass-kicking bourbon barrel-aged Russian imperial stout, and watched Drivin' N' Cryin' while freezing our butts off. It was glorious.

White River C-Street Pale Ale

For my birthday this year, the wife and I went to one of my favorite regional cities, Springfield, MO, and had some great beer at one of my favorite breweries, Mother's Brewing. We also ate, wandered around and basically celebrated me surviving another year. A highlight was going to see the Springfield Cardinals play at Hammonds Field as I hadn't been there in years. Had this very nice pale while enjoying the boys of summer doing what they do.

Independence Stash IPA

Back in February we went to UFC Fight Night 126 in Austin and saw one of my favorite fighters, Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone, knock out Yancy Medeiros in the 1st round. So yeah, that was awesome. Also saw Derrick Lewis, James Vick, Thiago Alves, Sage Northcutt and more... Just a great night. This IPA from one of my favorite Austin breweries made it even better.

Hawk Moth Black IPA

It was good to see a friend of mine get his new brewery and tap room open up in Rogers, AR and we stopped in for a visit passing though one day. Love Hawk Moth facility, love the beers, love the folks. I wish them well and will be getting by there as often as possible. I mainly got beer to go, but while getting a personalized tour from the owner, I had a delicious Black IPA. Why more people don't make this style I'll never know. I always love finding a good one.

Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing

Location, location, location... I had a delicious can of this heavenly liquid sitting in a rocking chair several stories up at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville where we watched the sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Breathtaking.

Urban South Lime Cucumber Gose

While in New Orleans, one of my favorite cites, over Easter weekend we did a brewery crawl and walked a few miles while hitting 4 breweries and eating/shopping/laughing etc. Urban South was on the trail and our day was made even better by this delicious gose and a gigantic anniversary party they were having with tons of crawfish. Probably just a normal day in NOLA.

Real Ale Four Horsemen (Mysterium Verum)

At the end of our Austin trip, on the final night, we decided on just one more beer at Easy Tiger as we walked back to the hotel. My final choice of a killer beer weekend was this black quad aged in American oak spirit barrels with lots of vanilla with nice big hints of booziness This is how to end a trip. I still remember sitting there with my wife, soaking up the feeling.

Guinness

I can never do my yearly best of without mentioning the awesome weekend we have in Tulsa every year for the McNellie's Pub Run. We love to run, we love to drink beer, and we love the friends we join over there every year. Ever chugged several Guinness while running 4 miles? You should try it. Delicious.

Prairie Now Now

Just to sort of pick one beer from an incredible weekend in Oklahoma City, this straight up creamy strawberry vanilla milkshake IPA from Prairie's OKC brewery is totally worthy. We visited the taproom both days and had great beer not only there but other OKC breweries like Anthem, Roughtail, Twisted Spike and Coop. We're going to need to explore this city again. Soon.

Lagunitas Sumpin' Easy

And finally, no list of my favorite beer moments of the year, any year, could possibly be complete without me sitting at Dickey-Stephens Park watching our AA farm club of the Seattle Mariners, the Arkansas Travelers, play baseball. I did it a lot. I drank this beer a lot. I'll do it again this coming year too.