Oskar Blues Brewery Behind The Beer – REEB RYE'd

Trail Boss Jeff Lenosky and Lyons Head Brewer, Juice Drapeau, talk beer at the original Oskar Blues Brew Barn, just next door to where REEB Cycles are built.

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).

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.

Oskar Blues Brings Back Death By Coconut Irish Porter

LONGMONT, CO, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 - Oskar Blues Brewery announces a cult classic comeback - Death by Coconut Irish Porter returns for winter 2018 with kickoff events in taprooms on October 5. The seasonal brew marries flavors of bittersweet cacao and creamy coconut; asserts that beer is the perfect dessert; and invites believers to join the Death by Coconut Irish Porter Cult this season. The 6.5% ABV porter will be nationally distributed in 4-packs of 12oz cans starting in early October.

Chocolate and coconut are perfectly intertwined in a recipe that pleases the beer gods. “No false advertising here – it’s as straightforward a chocolate-and-coconut beer as it gets,” said Juice Drapeau, Head Brewer at the Oskar Blues pilot brewery in Lyons. “The chocolate-y malt flavors and coconut aroma and flavor are nicely balanced, and it’s not as viscous as a stout, which makes it more palatable.”

Death by Coconut was originally brewed as a small batch collaboration with Shamrock Brewing in 2014 and went on to earn a silver medal at GABF in the chocolate beer category. At that point, increased demand challenged brewers to find innovative ways to accentuate the rich chocolate flavor while increasing consistency and stability for distribution of the cult favorite outside of the taproom. 

Boulder-based Cholaca provided the answer to the chocolate question. The product is made from three ingredients - water, cacao and coconut sugar - and allows brewers to give beer a rich, smooth chocolate flavor by adding liquid chocolate (cacao emulsified in water) rather than using cacao nibs or powders. Plus, the cacao is sourced directly from farmers and co-ops in Ecuador that utilize regenerative farming practices. “Now Cholaca is in over 700 breweries, in 50 states including Canada, in 15 countries, including Australia. That volume gives us the ability to import quality cacao. It helps us get the great stuff,” said Cholaca founder Ira Leibtag. “Without the great stuff, we end up with GMO and preservative-infiltrated product… and ruined rainforests.”

Cholaca’s bittersweet chocolate flavor comes together with raw, desiccated coconut and a malt bill based around Simpson’s Extra Dark Crystal. The result is a rich, dessert-y flavor with a light, approachable mouthfeel.

Folks interested in ritual beer-drinking, chocolate worship and coconut offerings are invited to join the Death by Coconut 2018 cult. The initiation happens on October 5. Check out party details here:

Austin, TX, Taproom
Longmont, CO, Taproom
Boulder, CO, Taproom
Brevard, NC, Taproom

Following taproom releases, Death by Coconut will be distributed nationally in 4-packs of 12oz cans. Use the beerfinder to find it on shelves near you.

Oskar Blues Announces Large Format (15-pack) Canundrum Mix-Pack

Oskar Blues Large Format Packages are up Over 100% From 2017

LONGMONT, CO, AUG 22, 2018 - The Oskar Blues Brewery CANundrum variety pack, previously presented as a 12-pack, is now available as a 15-er dream team of the brewery's best core offerings. Oskar Blues provides more diversity to the beer drinker with the new format, which will be distributed nationwide starting Sept. 1. Oskar Blues is one of only five craft breweries in the U.S. to release a mixed 15-pack.

Oskar Blues Brewery has crammed five straight-shooting brews into one box. So what’s inside?

•     Dale’s Pale Ale
•     Mama’s Little Yella Pils
•     Pinner Throwback IPA
•     Oskar Blues IPA
•     G’Knight Imperial Red IPA (in a mixed pack for the first time)

Dale’s Pale Ale, the voluminously hopped mutha and #2 selling craft six-pack in U.S. Grocery, plays centre. This pack’s power forward is Mama’s Little Yella Pils, a true-to-the-style, uncompromising pilsner brewed with pilsner malt and Saaz and Aramis hops. Pinner Throwback IPA rocks the small forward position with citrusy, tropical fruit notes and a biscuity finish at an incredibly crushable 4.9% ABV. Playing shooting guard is OB IPA, a metamodern IPA crafted from hand-selected Australian hops. Rounding out the lineup is G’Knight Imperial Red Ale at point guard.

The U.S. Open Beer Championship recently honored G’Knight Imperial Red IPA with a gold medal in the Imperial Red IPA category. Up 121% in 2018, this monstrously malted, sadistically smooth and well-balanced beer is America’s Velvet M-80. G’Knight is an OG Oskar Blues beer brewed and named in honor of a real life American hero, Gordon Knight. Knight was a Colorado craft beer legend, decorated Vietnam vet and Purple Heart recipient who lost his life in a helicopter crash while fighting a wildfire outside of Oskar Blues’ birthplace of Lyons, CO.

The 15-pack offers more of what today’s craft drinker demands – variety. That desire is demonstrated by 32.6% growth YTD in mixed can packs. Additionally, many of the “Impact Brands” identified by the BA in 2017 were mixed pack offerings, demonstrated by the success of the Oskar Blues shrink-wrapped CANundrum 24 multi-pack with packaging engineered by The Dow Chemical Company, which is up over 400% YTD.

Oskar Blues’ CANundrum is the choicest choice you don’t have to make. Why pick one Oskar Blues beer when you can have ‘em all? Play to win and find a 15-pack CANundrum near you using the beerfinder.

About Oskar Blues Brewery:
 
Founded over 20 years ago in Lyons, Colorado, Oskar Blues Brewery launched the craft beer-in-a-can apocalypse with their hand-canned flagship brew, Dale's Pale Ale. Today, Oskar Blues operates breweries in Colorado, North Carolina and Texas while reaching 200,000 barrels per year and featuring Dale’s Pale Ale as the nation's top-selling craft can six-pack at U.S. supermarkets. The makers of the Original Craft Beer in a Can continue to innovate with creations like The CROWLER, Hotbox Roasters, B. Stiff & Sons Old Fashioned Sodas, The Oak Room, Oskar Blues Fooderies, REEB Cycles and the cycling-inspired accommodations and event space at REEB Ranch in North Carolina. Oskar Blues is available in all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., parts of Canada, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, The U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Brazil, and South Korea. Along with Cigar City Brewing, Perrin Brewing, Squatters Craft Beers and Wasatch Brewery, Deep Ellum Brewing and Three Weavers Brewing, Oskar Blues Brewery belongs to a disruptive collective of like-minded craft brewers known as CANarchy, the largest canned craft beer supplier in the country.

To keep up with all things Oskar Blues, visit http://www.oskarblues.com/.

Oskar Blues Brewery Cold Brew Infused Hotbox Coffee Goes Year-Round In Fall 2018

Cold Brew-Crammed Porter Goes Year-Round and National

LONGMONT, CO, JULY 26, 2018 - Oskar Blues Brewery is stoked to announce the return of their cold brew-crammed beer, Hotbox Coffee Porter. In years past, this roasty, malty, wake-up-call of a porter was available only in the fall as a seasonal brew; however, the Beans-Plus-Beer Cult surrounding Hotbox Coffee Porter has grown. The people demand the right to mix their vices all year long - both in taprooms and nationwide, and Oskar Blues will appease the masses this fall starting with kick-off events on August 4.

What inspires this type of following? First, Oskar Blues brewed a hugely malty, medium-bodied porter. Hotbox Coffee Porter is based on a formidable malt bill, including seven varieties and led by Caraaroma - a nutty red-hued malt that’s drum-roasted from German barley. “The malt bill highlights chocolate, fig, plum, espresso, burnt sugar, caramel, and marshmallow,” said Head of Brewing Operations (HOBO) Tim Matthews. "It's designed to perfectly balance the coffee flavors so it's not too sweet."

Then they asked their neighbors at Hotbox Roasters to invent a bean bomb that would blast the beer apart and rearrange it into a coffee colossus. Hotbox Roasters formulated a blend of beans from South America (Columbia, Honduras and Guatemala), roasted them to highlight flavors of tobacco, chocolate, wood and earthiness, and brewed up a super-concentrated cold brew, which was added to the beer.

“We brew two pounds of coffee to one gallon of water and then steep it for 36 hours,” said Head Roaster Noe Lopez. “It adds massive coffee and chocolate flavor to the beer.” Hotbox Roasters donated the leftover Cold Brew to NASA to use as rocket fuel.

The Beans-Plus-Beer Cult believes that Hotbox Coffee Porter is drinkable all day... all week... now all YEAR.

Hotbox Coffee Porter’s kickoff events are going down in Austin, Brevard, Longmont, or Boulder on August 4.

6-packs of 12oz cans will be released nationwide beginning in August and can be located via the beerfinder.

About Oskar Blues Brewery:
Founded over 20 years ago in Lyons, Colorado, Oskar Blues Brewery launched the craft beer-in-a-can apocalypse with their hand-canned flagship brew, Dale's Pale Ale. Today, Oskar Blues operates breweries in Colorado, North Carolina and Texas while reaching 200,000 barrels per year and featuring Dale’s Pale Ale as the nation's top-selling craft can six-pack at U.S. supermarkets. The makers of the Original Craft Beer in a Can continue to innovate with creations like The CROWLER, Hotbox Roasters, B. Stiff & Sons Old Fashioned Sodas, The Oak Room, Oskar Blues Fooderies, REEB Cycles and the cycling-inspired accommodations and event space at REEB Ranch in North Carolina. Oskar Blues is available in all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., parts of Canada, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, The U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Brazil, and South Korea. Along with Cigar City Brewing, Perrin Brewing, Squatters Craft Beers and Wasatch Brewery, Deep Ellum Brewing and Three Weavers Brewing, Oskar Blues Brewery belongs to a disruptive collective of like-minded craft brewers known as CANarchy, the largest canned craft beer supplier in the country.

To keep up with all things Oskar Blues, visit http://www.oskarblues.com/.

More G'Knight Imperial Red IPA Bang For Your Buck

Oskar Blues Brewery Adjusts Pricing on G'Knight Imperial Red IPA

LONGMONT, Colo., - Feb. 7, 2018 - Say G’Day as G’Knight Imperial Red IPA joins Oskar Blues’ core priced line-up as the latest addition to reach the SRP of $8.99 to $9.99 six-pack pricing. This big, sticky imperial red IPA joins their array of beers now available at core pricing including the Original Craft Beer in a Can, Dale’s Pale Ale; along with Mama’s Little Yella Pils, Old Chub, Beerito, Pinner, and Oskar Blues IPA.

First canned in 2005, this behemoth of a beer pays liquid tribute to Gordon Knight, a Colorado craft beer pioneer and decorated Vietnam vet who died in 2002 fighting a massive wildfire outside of the brewery's hometown of Lyons, CO. Great American Beer Festival medal-winning G’Knight Imperial Red IPA (8.7% ABV, 60 IBUs) is a hefty, dry hopped imperial red IPA with a nose full of aroma, a sticky mouthfeel, a malty middle, and mighty hop flavors. It sports a surprisingly smooth finish for a beer of its size.

“Gordon inspired everyone with his passion for life and crafting challenging beer flavors that really pushed the limits of hops in those early days. I still remember the day I met him, riding my bike between jobs in Boulder I rolled past a storage unit Gordon was brewing beer in. It was the first time I realized people do this for a living and I knew this was what I wanted to do,” said Dale Katechis, Soul Founder of Oskar Blues Brewery.

In the early 1990’s, Knight created breweries that would help define and influence today’s robust Colorado craft beer scene, including High Country (which later became Estes Park), Twisted Pine, and Wolf Tongue. Knight won Great American Beer Festival gold medals at three breweries he started, including a gold for High Country Brewery’s Renegade Red IPA. Knight would’ve turned 68 on February 20th of this month.

“We want to get G’Knight & Gordon’s legacy into more craft beer drinkers’ hands while we hoist one back and celebrate a true craft beer pioneer,” Katechis said. As the can says, “If you knew the man behind this tribute, this dry-hopped ale needs no explanation. If you didn’t, we’re sorry.” Read more about the life and craft beer legacy of Gordon Knight here: www.N3978Y.com

Core priced G’Knight Imperial Red IPA is available in the iconic kelly green 12oz. six-pack cans and draft in national retail locations. Find Oskar Blues beer via https://www.oskarblues.com/beerfinder/.

About Oskar Blues Brewery:

Founded 20 years ago in Lyons, Colorado, Oskar Blues Brewery launched the craft beer-in-a-can apocalypse with their hand-canned, flagship brew Dale's Pale Ale. Today, Oskar Blues is one of the fastest growing breweries in the country and operates breweries in Colorado, North Carolina and Texas. Oskar Blues produced more than 200,000 barrels in 2016 and Dale’s Pale Ale earned the nation's top-selling craft can six-pack at U.S. supermarkets. The original craft beer canners continue to push innovation with creations like The CROWLER, Hotbox Coffee Roasters, B. Stiff & Sons Old Fashioned Sodas, The Oak Room, Oskar Blues Fooderies, REEB Cycles and the cycling-inspired accommodations and event space at REEB Ranch in North Carolina. Oskar Blues is available in all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., parts of Canada, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Brazil, and South Korea.

To keep up with all things Oskar Blues, visit http://www.oskarblues.com/.

Oskar Blues Brewery Launches Updated Packaging in 2018

LONGMONT, Colo., - Dec. 20, 2017 - Oskar Blues Brewery, instigators of the Original Craft Beer in a Can, has updated their full line of 12 and 16-packs with a bold yet classic new look. The fresh tone draws on the adventurous spirit of the iconic Dale’s Pale Ale 12-pack and spans the full line-up to include the rapidly growing-in-popularity CANUNDRUM Mixed 12-er.

Mama’s Little Yella Pils has had a facelift too, and is now available in 16-packs, alongside Beerito Amber Mexican Lager and Pinner Throwback IPA, which have seen success as 16-pack offerings.

Mama’s Little Yella Pils first rolled off the can-line in 2009 and is the #2 selling beer in the Oskar Blues line-up. Mama’s makeover highlights the bright, bold gold color of a classic lager and draws attention to the style, loudly stating PILS in the middle of the badge. No fine lines here. In addition to the updated 12oz can and the new 16-pack, Mama’s will also return with a 19.2oz single-serve “Stovepipe” can in 2018. Mama’s is an easy drinking, flavorful, classic pilsner with 4.7% ABV and 24 IBUs.

“Craft lagers, and Pilsners more specifically, are one of the fastest growing beer styles for craft breweries,” said Tim Matthews, head of brewery operations. “Unlike mass market Pilsners diluted with corn and rice, Mama’s is built with 100% Pilsner malt, specialty malts and Saaz and Aramis hops. We find it’s a ‘gateway beer’ for craft-curious drinkers who want to explore more challenging beer flavors."

The entire line of updated packaging will be introduced in retail locations to kick off 2018. Find Oskar Blues beer via https://www.oskarblues.com/beerfinder/

About Oskar Blues Brewery:

Founded 20 years ago in Lyons, Colorado, Oskar Blues Brewery launched the craft beer-in-a-can apocalypse with their hand-canned, flagship brew Dale's Pale Ale. Today, Oskar Blues is one of the fastest growing breweries in the country and operates breweries in Colorado, North Carolina and Texas. Oskar Blues produced more than 200,000 barrels in 2016 and Dale’s Pale Ale earned the nation's top-selling craft can six-pack at U.S supermarkets.

The original craft beer canners continue to push innovation with creations like The CROWLER, Hotbox Coffee Roasters, B. Stiff & Sons Old Fashioned Sodas, The Oak Room, Oskar Blues Fooderies, REEB Cycles and the cycling inspired accommodations and event space at REEB Ranch in North Carolina. Oskar Blues is available in all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., parts of Canada, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Brazil, and South Korea.

To keep up with all things Oskar Blues, visit http://www.oskarblues.com/

Dale's Pale Ale & McBess

Oskar Blues Brewery - In celebration of 15 years of the ORIGINAL craft beer in a can, we are launching new 16oz. Dale’s Pale Ale Draft Cans exclusively to bars and restaurants – an homage to our core belief that a keg is a can, is a keg, is a can, is a keg. As part of our continuous disregard for the status quo, we collaborated with avant-garde illustrator McBess (mcbess.com) to create a series of three limited-release cans that embody a shared enthusiasm for the outdoors, music and craft beer.

When all three cans are aligned side by side, they create a single larger image that depicts our unlikely and irreverent journey from mountain town brewpub to craft beer pioneer. The series starts where it all began, Lyons, Colorado, including a depiction of the original can of Dale’s Pale Ale, it then progresses to the mountain bike haven of Western North Carolina, and onto the live music capital of the world in Austin, Texas.

 Crack a can and dig in. The McBess series cranks up a canned craft beer session with a grip of illustrations to stare at while you enjoy the OG Dale’s Pale Ale and everything it stands for. 

 

Press Release: Oskar Blues Hotbox Coffee IPA

Oskar Blues Brewery Brings Odd Couple Together With Hotbox Coffee IPA

 

Longmont, CO, Brevard, NC & Austin, TX – Oskar Blues Brewery, the original innovators of craft beer in a can, are making strange bedfellows of uppers and downers again.

Hotbox Coffee IPA (7.2% ABV, 70 IBUs) combines a burst of pine, citrus and mango from simcoe hops and blends them with a cold brew extract from Hotbox Roasters' Ethiopian beans, which bring cream, blueberry and cocoa notes to the mix. The beans were sourced from a family farm in the East African nation exclusively for this beer.

Hops and coffee = the perfect odd couple.

“We believe the citrus and fruit aromatics of an IPA, derived from the intense hops, pair well with the fruit of the coffee to produce a great, flavor-packed beer,” said head of brewing operations Tim Matthews. “The combination of coffee and hops in the Hotbox IPA serve to compliment and reinforce the delicious flavors and aromas both offer in this match up.”

Since the in-house coffee roasters at Hotbox Roasters share a space in Oskar Blues Brewery’s Longmont facility, it was a no-brainer to go back to the mat and follow up on the fall seasonal, Hotbox Coffee Porter.

“Teaming up with Oskar Blues to make an IPA is a great opportunity to show off the versatility of Ethiopian coffee beans,” said Matt Herren of Hotbox Coffee Roasters.  “I had just 'cupped' this Ethiopian coffee and was blown away by the obvious aromas of fruit: bright cherry, blueberry, and citrus jumped right out of the cup.  Since Tim enjoys Ethiopian coffees I knew the fruit-forward qualities of this particular one would make an awesome IPA.”

Hotbox Coffee IPA will feature as Oskar Blues’ new spring seasonal in cans from March to May; replacing GUBNA Imperial IPA, which will shift to a limited, national draft-only release with 12 oz. cans only available for retail in the ColoRADo and North Carolina Tasty Weasel taprooms.

Oskar Blues’ three taprooms will each host simultaneous release parties to launch the Hotbox Coffee IPA.

    Friday, February 24, 2017 – Oskar Blues Brewery (Longmont, ColoRADo)
    Friday, February 24, 2017 – Oskar Blues Brewery North Carolina (Brevard, North Carolina)
    Friday, February 24, 2017 – Oskar Blues Brewery Austin (Austin, Texas)

Hotbox Coffee IPA will be available in all 50 states on draft and in 4-pack 12 oz. cans beginning in March. Beer drinkers looking for a unique mix of uppers and downers can hop on over to oskarblues.com/beerfinder to locate their nearest watering hole or store carrying the new brew.

Dale's Pale Ale Becomes Nation's #1 Selling Craft Can 6-Pack

Press Release (Jan 19th, 2017):

DALE'S PALE ALE BECOMES NATION'S BESTSELLING CRAFT CAN 6-PACK AS OSKAR BLUES BREWERY GROWS IN ALL DIRECTIONS IN 2016

 

 

Longmont, CO, Brevard, NC & Austin, TX - Oskar Blues Brewery, the innovators behind the craft beer-in-a-can apocalypse, finished 2016 strong eclipsing 200,000 barrels shipped with several significant milestones achieved throughout the year including the addition of a brewery in Austin, several new SKUs, expansion of its barrel-aging program and the completion of its U.S. footprint. Flagship brew Dale's Pale Ale became the bestselling craft can 6-pack in total U.S. Food.  

 

In August of 2016, Oskar Blues' brewery and live music venue opened its doors in Austin, TX while a 21,000 square foot expansion took place in its Brevard, NC brewery raising the potential capacity amongst all three breweries to 500,000 bbls and adding 43 jobs. The brand also completed its 50 state U.S. footprint with distribution in Montana and further expanded internationally with the addition of Australia, the Netherlands, and Belgium, totaling nine international markets.

 

Oskar Blues continued to push innovation through new beer offerings and packaging.  The Can gROWLER (CROWLER®) from Ball Corporation and Oskar Blues grew to over 1,000 installations to date.  Many of the last year's installations were due to new locations choosing aluminum over glass for their growler choice and many established locations discontinued offering glass growlers altogether.  CROWLER® has quickly shown how far cans have come and how beneficial the evolution of CROWLER® cans are to the growler customer.

 

The brewery launched four new SKUs, including year-round offerings BEERITO Amber Mexican Lager and Priscilla White Wit Wheat, while launching limited release cans of Passion Fruit Pinner IPA and Hotbox Coffee Porter. The expansion of its barrel-aging program resulted in national distribution of Barrel-aged Ten FIDY Imperial Stout in 19.2 ounce, single-serve cans and limited taproom-only releases of rum barrel-aged Death by Coconut, rum barrel-aged Ten FIDY and Java Ten FIDY. The team at Oskar Blues didn't stop there, recently launching Pinner Throwback IPA in new packaging - resulting in the first American craft beer 16-pack**.

 

Ancillary brands also saw growth, including four new flavors of B. Stiff & Sons Old Fashioned Soda Pop and the launch of new Oskar Blues Fooderies concepts in its home market of ColoRADo, which includes a CHUBurger/Hotbox Roasters Café brick and mortar location in the RiNo district of Denver.

Oskar Blues Holding Company, a strong group of craft brewers, including Wasatch Brewery, Squatters Brewery and Perrin Brewing furthered its mission to maintain symbiotic partnerships with like-minded craft brewers across the country with the addition of Tampa's Cigar City Brewing. While Dales Pale Ale is the bestselling craft can 6-pack in the U.S., Cigar City has the number two spot, with Jai Alai IPA.  Oskar Blues Holdings grew collectively to nearly 350,000 barrels and is the number two overall craft can vendor and number 15 overall in total U.S. Food.  That's a particularly good spot to be in, as craft cans have been up 55% over the last 52 weeks. 

Oskar Blues continued to spread do-goodery with its nonprofit arm, CAN'd Aid Foundation. In 2016 alone, the organization raised $768,000, built & donated nearly 600 bikes to underprivileged children, put 100 instruments in budding musician's hands, recycled 155,000 lbs. of waste through its #CrushItCrusade and donated 330,000 cans of drinking water to areas in need including Flint, Michigan during its water crisis. Soul-founder of Oskar Blues Dale Katechis founded CAN'd Aid in 2013 following the Colorado flooding that devastated Oskar Blues Brewery's hometown in Lyons, Colorado. To date, over $2.6 million has been raised to support its efforts.

 

As for 2017, Oskar Blues has already set its sights on further growth, celebrating the 20th year of what started as a funky little brewpub in Lyons, CO in 1997. International markets to launch distribution in include Brazil and Japan. The brew team, not to be outdone by 2016, has announced the limited release of Hotbox Coffee IPA cans in March as well as a CANspiracy rare beer club at the North Carolina and Colorado Tasty Weasel Taprooms.  The Oskar Blues Fooderies restaurant group has already announced a Colorado Springs, CO location that will expand its footprint to over nine locations in 2017.  - stay tuned for more details at  www.oskarblues.com.

 

**Data Source & Set IRI Data, 2016 52 WEEKS TTL US FOOD.

Oskar Blues Adds 16-Can Packs of Pinner

Longmont, CO - Continuing their tradition of packaging innovation Oskar Blues Brewery is adding four more pinnertrations to the existing PINNER Throwback IPA 12-packs. The new 16-can package will launch in the ColoRADo market just in time for the holiday season while national distribution will follow in early 2017.

Last year PINNER Throwback IPA was the #7 new brand launch in craft beer (according to Brewers Association) and quickly became Oskar Blues' number two hit behind Dale's Pale Ale. In February PINNER was added to the Oskar Blues CANundrum Mixed 12-Pack alongside Dale's Pale Ale, Mama's Little Yella Pils and Oskar Blues IPA.

PINNER is dry-hopped with several different heady hops, including a killer experimental variety, giving it a tropical, stoned fruit aroma with hints of pine and smooth malt in the flavor. The brewery expanded the strain by lighting up Passion Fruit PINNER for craft beer drinkers in the summer of 2016. The limited release sultry spinoff accentuated the passion fruit and citrus juice attributes of the original PINNER and cranks them up for the summer season. Look for Passion Fruit Pinner again May through August in 2017.

"Many things contribute to flavor in beer, and with Pinner it's a focus on hops and malt--with a considerable nod to the hops," said Oskar Blues ColoRADo head brewer Tim Matthews. "With the lower ABV, layers of flavor build on one another-- with one sip citrus, the next sip pineapple, next sip papaya, next sip passion fruit, next sip toasted bread--and then on to the next pint."

America's first craft beer 16-pack is a great grab-n-go package and at 4.9 percent ABV and a dry-hopped 35 IBUs, its easy to throw 'em back.

Find #PinnerIPA and #SipSipGive at your favorite watering hole or a beer shop near you with www.oskarblues.com/beerfinder.

To keep up with all things Oskar Blues, visit http://www.oskarblues.com.

New Release: Oskar Blues Brewery Hotbox Coffee Porter

Beer just got a caffeinated kick in the beans.

Oskar Blues Brewery and their in-house, coffee addiction-inspired Hotbox Roasters tag-team once again to pair roasted aromas, flavors and a frothy buzz together in Hotbox Coffee Porter.

Hotbox Coffee Porter (6.4% ABV/30 IBUs) has a malted base extracted from English and German roasted and caramel malts, and is comprised of flavors like roasted nuts, crème brûlée, cocoa and caramel. Hotbox Roasters then crashes the party and infuses potent, cold-extracted coffee from Burundian and Ethiopian beans and deals old flavors and aromas of dark plums, chocolate and hints of blueberry.

Video by Aspect 9 Design  

Press Release: Oskar Blues Launches Priscilla White Wit Wheat Nationwide

Long time draft offering now available in cans nationwide.

Longmont, CO & Brevard, NC & Austin, TX - Oskar Blues Brewery, the brewery that launched the craft beer-in-a-can apocalypse in 2002, announces the national launch of an AmeriCAN take on the Belgian Classic Wit, Priscilla White Wit Wheat. It's a Belgian White, Belgian Wit, Belgian Wheat...it's a White Wit Wheat (5.2% ABV, 20 IBUs).

The beer, which features orange peel and coriander spice, emanated from the basement blues music legacy Dave McIntyre (18 year Oskar Bluesologist) built at the original Oskar Blues Grill & Brew in Lyons, CO. On draft for over a decade, Priscilla's zesty citrus and light fresh baked bread aromas mix with spicy, fruity fermentation. Light bodied with a subtle savory spice accent and a dry, lightly tart finish you can nearly feel the flicker of the neon and sounds of the King. White Wit Wheat.

"Priscilla is a beer steeped in Oskar Blues' music history," said Chad Melis. "A longtime Oskar Blues favorite, we've decided its time to bring this amped up, electric brew from the basement and to the masses."

Oskar Blues, named "The hottest place to be on a Saturday night in Colorado" by Rolling Stone because of its roots in the Colorado music scene, will brew its first batch of Dale's Pale Ale at their new brewery and taproom in Austin, TX today. The brewery will continue its tradition of soul-savin' live music with a music venue as part of the Austin taproom.

Priscilla White Wit Wheat will launch throughout the month of June in all 50 states where Oskar Blues is sold and will be available in 12oz. 6-packs and draft. To learn more, visit www.oskarblues.com and always find Oskar Blues beer at https://www.oskarblues.com/beerFinder

#whitewitwheat #PriscillaWit

Press Release: Oskar Blues Now In All 50 States

OSKAR BLUES BREWERY GOES NATIONAL, NOW AVAILABLE IN 

ALL 50 STATES

 

 

Longmont, CO, Brevard, NC, Austin, TX - Oskar Blues Brewery, the brewery that launched the canned beer apocalypse, announced the addition of Montana, making the brew now available in all 50 states. Oskar Blues will partner with Summit Beverage Company in the Missoula and Butte markets and Bronken's Distributing in the Bozeman market to reach national distribution.

 

"When I first left my home state of Alabama, I was dead set on being a fly fishing guide in Wise River Montana. My wife and I never made it past Lyons, CO as the vibe of the surrounding mountains grabbed us and we put down roots. A few years later we started Oskar Blues." said Dale Katechis, soul-founder. "Now almost 20 years later, we're completing our trip to Montana bringing our journey full circle."

 

The craft brewery continues exponential growth in the first half of 2016 with the release of BEERITO Mexican Lager and the opening of a third brewery in Austin, TX. Oskar Blues has maintained its position as the largest American craft brewery to package beer exclusively in cans, with growth hailing from both its flagship Longmont brewery and location in Brevard, NC. The Austin brewery and music venue, as well as the completion of its U.S. distribution in Montana will continue to fuel explosive growth in 2016.

 

As Oskar Blues expands its efforts to get cans of Dale's Pale Ale and the rest of the portfolio in the hands of beer drinkers all around the globe, the brewery will be making its first foray into the Southern Hemisphere with the launch of the Australian market in June. OB will partner with Phoenix Beers and will initially sell the six core Oskar Blues brands - Dale's Pale Ale, Mama's Little Yella Pils, Pinner Throwback IPA, Oskar Blues IPA, Old Chub Scotch Ale and Beerito Mexican Lager. The brews will be available in cans and draft.

 

In addition to the new Austin brewery, Oskar Blues Brewery helped fuel the development of partner Perrin Brewing Company's expansion to Colorado and orchestrated the acquisition of Cigar City Brewing in Tampa, Florida. The collaborations brought years of large-scale growth and resources along with expansion expertise to help both breweries strengthen their future position within the craft beer community. Similarly to Oskar Blues, Perrin and Cigar City's award-winning brews are well known and respected within the craft community.

 

Oskar Blues has continued to strengthen its core offerings as well as its ancillary brands like Hotbox Roasters and REEB Cycles. B. Stiff & Sons Old Fashioned Sodas recently released four new flavors and expanded distribution to include CO, NC and VA in 2016. The Oskar Blues fooderies group is expanding with the summer opening of CHUBurger and Hotbox Roasters Café brick and mortar locations in the RiNo district of Denver.

 

To learn more about Oskar Blues, visit www.oskarblues.com.

Press Release: Oskar Blues Launches New Strain Of IPA CANundrum

Popular Mixed-up 12-pack Gets Update with Addition of Oskar Blues IPA

Longmont, CO & Brevard, NC - Oskar Blues Brewery is bringing more variety to the canned craft-beer world with the addition of Oskar Blues IPA (6.43 ABV, 65-80 IBUs) to its popular mixed up 12-pack, CANundrum. Old Chub Scottish Ale will pull out of the CANundrum to be replaced by OB IPA.

OB IPA joins the existing CANundrum staples, Mama's Little Yella Pils, Dale's Pale Ale and Pinner Throwback IPA. Oskar Blues IPA, released in 2015 and immediately becoming a brewery favorite, features a variety of hand-selected, southern-hemisphere hops creating sweet aromas of passion fruit, raspberries, pineapple and citrus paired with a clean backbone and mouth-feel.  

"Old Chub has been a steady staple, but with the popularity of OB IPA, we couldn't deny the introduction into CANundrum," said Tim Matthews, Oskar Blues' Head of Brewing Operations. "The flavor profile is a unique complement to the other brews in the lineup."

CANundrum launched in 2013 and has since become one of the brewery's top selling brands fueled by nearly 75% growth in 2015. CANundrum is an easy way to pick up four popular Oskar Blues brews for trips to the lake, trailside or at music festivals into one convenient pack.  

Grab a CANundrum wherever you shop in the 49 states in which Oskar Blues is sold.   

#CANUNDRUM

Deviant Dale's IPA Returns to Shelves in Limited Release in 2016

Deviant Dale's IPA Returns to Shelves in Limited Release in 2016

Seasonally Incarnated Brew Returns to Its Roots with Centennial Hops

 

 

 

Longmont, CO. and Brevard, N.C. - Oskar Blues Brewery is grabbing 2016 by the horns with the re-release of one of its core brews, Deviant Dale's IPA (8% ABV, 85 IBUs). Previously available year-round, this dry-hopped behemoth will now be available only seasonally and in limited release, so get it while you CAN.

The brew was the product of a happy accident in which the wrong bag of grain was used in a batch of flagship brew Dale's Pale Ale. From there, brewers dry hopped the IPA to perfection and made it more intense with each round of "testing" on a willing group of guinea pigs - regulars at Oskar Blues Grill & Brew in Lyons, CO.

The result is a devilish sidekick that boasts foreboding aromas - floral, derived from Centennial hops, and herbal from hedonistic Columbus dry-hopping. Deviant Dale's will storm onto shelves in a new 12 oz. can, just in time to warm the belly in spite of cooler temperatures. 

"The decision to make Deviant Dale's available seasonally came as a result of the limited supply of punchy, floral Centennial hops that are the keystone of the recipe," says Oskar Blues Head Brewer Tim Matthews. "We are now able to be selective and incorporate only the hops that are insanely fresh and will provide optimal flavor."

Fanatics of the hellish brew can celebrate with Oskar Blues' brewing masterminds themselves at release parties taking place at the Tasty Weasel taprooms in ColoRADo and North Carolina on January 15. 

ColoRADo's event (4:30-close) will feature Deviant Firkins (think Jamaican and pineapple), unfiltered Deviant Chowdah and BBQ from Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solids, and a station for your little devils to create their own Voodoo dolls.

At the North Carolina brewery's event from 5-close, the masters will be brewing four specialty batches in a Deviant flight, including Bloody Mary, Pineapple Habanero, Blood Orange, and Honey Cardamom. Attendees will also enjoy tasty specialties from the Oskar Blues CHUBwagon, live music from Tina & Her Pony, colossal Nintendo and Deviant merchandise galore. A trolley is available to take attendees from Asheville to the brewery.

Since its inception, Deviant Dale's has won a slew of awards, including a silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival in the American-style IPA category in 2011 and a score of 99 from Rate Beer. Check the Oskar Blues Brewery Beer Finder to locate Deviant Dale's IPA near you.

Beer of The Week: Oskar Blues IPA

When I heard Oskar Blues had a new IPA out I thought I knew exactly what to expect, but upon hitting it a few times I realized it was not what I expected at all and a pretty complex IPA. It's got a huge nose, light body, clocks in at 6.5% abv, big tropical fruit hop kick and I found it to just have incredible drinkability.

It uses all Australian hop varieties: Ella, which has spicy, floral notes, along with stone fruit flavors; Topaz, which has some of the piney, dank notes that American hops have; Vic Secret, an unusual hop that imparts earthy aromas, along with passion fruit and tropical notes; and Enigma, which offers raspberry and melon flavors and aromas.

And for good measure and since it wouldn't be an Oskar Blues beer without a pot reference, “Blue Dream” printed on the side of the can (a strain of marijuana). I wouldn't expect anything less.

 "Get the behind the scenes story of how #OBIPA came to life and find out everything you wanna know about this Australian hopped motha..."