SIXPOINT HI-RES : Zoom In On Hops

Great stuff here from our friends at Sixpoint Brewery for their kick-ass 115 IBU, 10,5% ABV hop bomb Imperial IPA  they call Hi-Res.

"Exploring Hops in Hi-Res: Sixpoint Brewery talks with Particle Physicist Dr. Kyle Cranmer about the nature of the universe, and how very small particles can play an outsize role in our everyday experience. Whether looking through microscope or a telescope, see how zooming in can permanently alter your perception."

hi-res.sixpoint.com

Southern Prohibition Brewing Comes To Arkansas

Southern Prohibition Brewing, based in Hattiesburg, MS and launched in 2013, announced it will be entering Arkansas starting in February. Judging from the cool picture they posted on Instagram (see below), I'd guess we'll see Suzy B Blonde Ale, Devil’s Harvest Pale Ale, Jack the Sipper ESB and Mississippi Fire Ant Imperial Red Ale at the onset.

I've had these 4 beers a few times each and enjoyed them all. Here's some check-ins from Untappd where I talked a little about them (click the pics to blow them up). Of the 4, I like Jack The Sipper best and I'm not normally a big ESB fan. You can't go wrong with any of these though in my opinion.

Arkansas Untappd Check-Up

Well it really hasn't been too long since I did an Arkansas Untappd update (Nov 1st, 2015) but there have been some big changes to here it is! The biggest change? For the first time since I started doing this (Aug 16th, 2014) there's a change at the top. Way back then, no Arkansas brewery was over 10,000 check-ins and Diamond Bear was 3,500 in front of any other brewery in the state. Now Core leaps over them for #1, Ozark crosses the 10,000 check-in mark (the 3rd Arkansas brewery to do so) and Lost Forty has almost 1,000 check-ins for the last month.

Read on for more...

Brewery - Total (Monthly)

Core Brewery - 19,980 (737)
Diamond Bear - 19,975 (572)
Ozark Brew Co. - 10,681 (611)
Lost Forty Brewing - 9,622 (985)
Fossil Cove - 8,455 (326)
Saddlebock - 7,482 (144)
Apple Blossom - 6,946 (204)
Stone's Throw Brewing - 4,788 (211)
Bike Rack Brewing - 2,495 (211)
Vinos Brew Pub - 2,446 (38)
Superior Bathhouse - 2,000 (105)
West Mountain - 1,923 (15)
Moody Brews - 1,670 (52)
Blue Canoe Brewing Co - 1,658 (86)
Bentonville Brewing Co - 1,492 (225)
Columbus House - 951 (130)
Damgoode Brews - 808 (55)
Foster's Pint & Plate - 487 (43)
Flyway Brewing - 349 (172)
Black Apple Crossing - 341 (45)
Bubba Brew's - 264 (38)
Gravity Brew Works - 107 (2)
Brick Oven - 87 (8)

Big moves by Flyway, who just opened in December, and also Bentonville, who seems to have a large following of Untappd users.

Bike Rack passes the state's original brewery, Vino's, and West Mountain continues to slide down, with just 15 check-ins.

Lost Forty will probably surpass the 10,000 mark before the calendar changes to February.

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.

Victory’s Anniversary 20 Experimental IPA Packs a Party Punch

Victory’s Anniversary 20 Experimental IPA Packs a Party Punch with Hops from the Spud State

Downingtown, PA,January 13, 2016 - Victory Brewing Company (Victory), is taking fans back to the future with the release of its Anniversary 20 Experimental IPA. Keeping the keg full, party going and fans happy for two decades requires creativity, risk-taking and lots of hop-ingenuity all wrapped up nicely in a playfully good-natured package.

The label once again illustrates Victory Brewing Company’s two fearless founders, Ron Barchet and Bill Covaleski, partying with a raucous, craft beer loving crew like it’s 1996 adorned in the same color palette of the logo from where it all began. Anniversary 20 sets the stage for the big party next year, when Victory turns 21 and is finally “legal.”

The IPA is brewed with pilsner, carapils malts and a very rare, experimental hop. Idaho 7, a recently developed hop variety, takes center stage in this celebratory but sessionable liquid homage. Through two decades of global hop-trotting Victory has forged enduring relationships with hop growers and brokers that permits Downingtown's famous brewery to enjoy a leadership role in hop experimentation and implementation. Discovered in the third largest hop producing state in the country, Victory helps the hop make its east coast debut by utilizing twenty years of craft brewing knowledge to harness all of its juicy hop power into a 12 oz. bottle.  Part of the reason for Idaho 7's promising power lies in the location where it grows - a land formation dubbed the ‘shelf,’ in a remote area in Idaho. This extremely low mesa in western Idaho creates the ultimate soil and climatic conditions for growing hops.

Anniversary 20 Experimental IPA, boasts complex fruity aromas of orange and apricot with hints of mildly astringent black tea-like characters as well as a pleasantly fresh, slightly pine herbal bouquet.  At a reasonable ABV of 5.5%, Anniversary 20 Experimental IPA celebrates the brewery’s never-ending quest to share truly great beer with craft beer fans. Available on tap and on shelves from January to April throughout Victory’s 37-state footprint, Anniversary 20 Experimental IPA retails for approximately $9.99 for a six-pack, depending on location. 

“The ability to employ whole flower hops into our recipes was the main reason we chose to break free from our first brewery jobs and found Victory. From the initial success of the idea with HopDevil on through to Anniversary 20 Experimental IPA we are thrilled to witness the appreciation for our whole flower hopped creations,” said Victory’s President and Brewmaster, Bill Covaleski. “20 years down this flavor-filled road we plan to continue to seek and explore new flavors and utilize modern inspirations to share with our fans.”

Merry Christmas From Ozark Beer Co.

Here's a nice little video Christmas wish from some great folks at Ozark Beer Company, which just recently finally arrived on central Arkansas shelves. Rejoice! Praise Santa, you can now find cans of American Pale Ale, Belgian Golden and Cream Stout to the central Arkansas area.

Here's some interesting back story on the distribution deal as well.

Merry Christmas My Beer Friends!

Holiday Memories from Summit Brewing Company

I certainly drank plenty from Summit Brewing this year, as I do every year now that I think about it. Here's a nice holiday greeting from the Saint Paul, Minnesota brewery responsible for one of my favorite beers of the year, Unchained Make It So ESB, a killer herbal Earl Grey tea concoction. Cheers!

  "Summit staff share some of their favorite holiday traditions, foods and gifts.  Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from Summit!
Holiday shout-out to Cafe Accordian Orchestra for letting us use their great music for the video!"  

Victory Announces the Launch of its Blackboard Series

 Victory Brewing Company Introduces a Year of Inspired Craft Beer: 

2016 Series Brings Culinary Concepts from Blackboard to Bottle & Tap

Downingtown, PA,December 22, 2015- Victory Brewing Company (Victory) announces the launch of its Blackboard Series, four adventurous and deliciously distinctive beers brewed with fresh ingredients that are a creative craft riff on restaurant blackboard specials. The annual series includes a new creation every three months alternating between bottle and draft only releases. Much like restaurant blackboard specials are used to entice loyal patrons to veer off menu and try something interesting and new with market-fresh produce so does the Victory Blackboard Series.

The first special in the series, Agave IPA with Grapefruit, will be released on January 1, 2016 and is brewed with four variations of American hops that juxtapose strong and bitter aromas against agave and grapefruit additions to create a light, citric bite. The ale is fresh, crisp and bracing, reminiscent of a ripe, ruby red grapefruit. The sweet agave syrup provides a perfect foil to the tartness of the grapefruit resulting in a juicy winter fruit beer. Agave IPA with Grapefruit is available from January through March and can be purchased throughout Victory’s 37-state distribution footprint for a suggested retail price of $9.99 for a 4-pack of 12 oz. bottles. Pricing will vary slightly based upon location. Use Victory’s Beerfinder to discover a nearby location, or download the free Victory Mobile app for Android or iPhone.

As part of the series launch, all three Victory Brewpubs - Downingtown, Kennett Square and Parkesburg are fully ‘embracing the blackboard’ with culinary creations perfectly suited to, or using the ingredients found in, Agave IPA with Grapefruit to celebrate the launch of this series. While Victory will always serve their popular, hop-forward brands and equally delicious fare, it anticipates the alternating bottle and draft “beers du jour” will please and excite the palates of craft beer and brewpub fans alike.

The second beer of the series is certain to excite the funky and wild ambitions side of many craft beer fans. The Dry-Hopped Brett Pils will be available on draft from April to June 2016. The third offering, a Berliner Weisse with Elderflower, will be sold in 12 oz. bottles. The final introduction of the series is an Oatmeal Porter with Hazelnut in a draft format.

“We developed the idea for this series while witnessing the popularity of the daily menu additions in our brewpubs. Using super fresh, seasonal ingredients as the driving force of our Blackboard Series we welcome January and it's bounty of enticing grapefruits,” said Victory’s President and Brewmaster, Bill Covaleski. “The goal of the Blackboard Series is to be flexible, adaptable and diverse while maintaining our high standard for quality. Much like our talented chefs make menu changes, we followed suit to bring ‘specials’ to our fans from the blackboard to the bottle or tap.”

The Christmas BEER song - a.k.a. Happy Merry Christmas

Now this is how Christmas music should be done!

Check 'em out: http://www.Fridaynightmusicclub.com