Saturday, January 26, 2013

Allagash Brewery Expantion

 Our friends at Allagash build a new brewhouse.... in 2 mins?




Sunday, January 20, 2013

Victory Hop Wallop Ale

 As beer lore will have it....

 Horace ‘Hop’ Wallop headed West a broken man. For in the City of Blues it was one Miss LuLubelle Lager that had left him, thirsting for more. Drawn by wild tales of the riches of the gold mines, Hop pressed on westward. His last nickel spent on a prospecting pan, Hop’s hunger and thirst got the best of him. Two fistfuls o’ barley and three of some wild and wayward hops tossed in the pan with some clear water was to be his meal. But sleep overcame him and he woke to a bubbling, cacophonous concoction. Overjoyed with the beautiful ale that he had made, Hop realized the secret of the ’green gold’ he had discovered in those fresh hops. Celebrated far and wide, Hop Wallop lives on in this vivid ale with his words, "hoppiness is happiness." 

For as magical as this tale is, so is this ale. Victory Brewing's "Hop Wallop Ale" is a grandiose hop filled Double IPA born from Victory's faithful fans who demanded "MORE HOPS!". Wallop pours a mild hazy yellow gold with a frothy white head. It's aroma is piney with a wonderful contrast of fruity citrus notes. This beers light malt canvas is accentuated by a resinous stickiness which can likely be attributed to the massive amounts of hops used to produce Wallop. As with all of Victory's beers, whole leaf hops are used to derive the maximum amount of "hop love". And in this beer, that's enough to capture any hophead's heart. Try as I may, I couldn't find any information on the hops used to make this beer. Very likely a calculated strategy on the part of Victory's founding fathers Ron Barchet and Bill Covaleski. So folks, the best I can tell ya is: American whole flowers paired with imported German malts. Drink with caution my friends as this one tops the charts at 8.5% ABV, which is a Wallop in itself. Originally a seasonal release, Hop Wallop was such a hit that it's now one of Victory's year round offerings. Grab it if you can and demand it if you can't. Cheers!

For more Victory info visit: Victory Brewing Co.
   

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Sixpoint Announces the Release of 3BEANS


Fans of Beerattitude know of our fond affection for Sixpoint Brewery, so we were stoked to find today's facebook announcement on their latest offering  "3BEANS".....

"Its Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (or perhaps dessert). Made with Stumptown Coffee Roasters cold brew, Mast Brothers Chocolate Cacao, and Romano Beans. Based upon an old Baltic recipe but with a Mad Scientists twist. Goes out for deliveries tomorrow..."



So in our search for more info on this rather interesting brew we dug this up..(okay we found it on their website)..


3BEANS is Coming


Collaboration is essential, innovation paramount and formulations infinite.
The Mast Brothers, world class chocolatiers, provide cocoa husks. Stumptown Coffee Roasters’ legendary cold-press coffee is infused post-fermentation. Romano beans, packed with rich proteins, are added to the mash. Folklore, legend, history and intrepid invention combine to form 3Beans—the biggest, baddest beer Sixpoint has ever canned. Beans and barleymalt, cocoa and coffee coalesce into a brew of luxurious depth… an elixir the likes of which this world has never seen. On shelves late next week.




Can't wait to get our hands on this one.. Cheers!


Saturday, January 12, 2013

Terrapin Side Project #18 Liquid Bliss


 Liquid Bliss is the 18th installment in Terrapin's "Side Project" line. Side Project is series of limited single batch beers which showcase Terrapin founder Spike's creativity and desire to push the boundaries of brewing. Liquid Bliss is a wonderfully interesting concoction of chocolate and peanut-butter set to a classic Porter canvas. The beer pours that traditional Porter black with a rich light tan head. The aroma is that of roasted chocolate malt and the nutty overtones often found in popular nut brown ales. Liquid Bliss is quite the flavor explosion, presenting both sweet and salty characters with more of a "milk chocolate" taste as opposed to "bitter-sweet" often found in Porters and Stouts. The beer is brewed with both peanut butter and brewery-boiled green peanuts. Terrapin has once again opted for their "go-to" source for chocolate, Olive & Sinclair Cocoa Nibs. Hops are US Golding and the malts are 2-Row, Wheat, Crystal 85, Crystal 120, Chocolate Wheat, Chocolate and  Black Malt. The ABV is modest at 6.7%, ad as is with most Porters the I.B.U.'s are low at 23.  I highly recommend Terrapin's Side Project #18 "Liquid Bliss", so get it now or may be stuck with buying a lonely Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Cheers!

For more info on Side Project visit: Terrapin Beer Co.



Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Craft vs. Crafty: The On-Going Debate


 By now I'm sure you've all read, seen or heard about the Brewers Association statement published Dec 13, 2012, entitled "Craft vs.Crafty: A Statement from the Brewers Association" . This "statement" has aroused quite a stir among the craft brewing, and beer drinking communities. Social media outlets and online news publications have all chimed in with their perspective and or opinion, on the subject of what actually constitutes a "craft brewery". As  the industry experts choose up sides and take a passionate stand for whichever position they favor (be it craft or crafty), the fact still remains that, in my opinion, the Brewers Association's only intent was to clarify the definition and criteria of a "Craft Brewer".

 The Brewers Association originally began as The Small Brewers Committee, a precursor to the Brewers Association of America, in 1942. It wasn't until 2005 that the Brewers Association was established in a merger of the Association of Brewers and the Brewers' Association of America. "Our goal is to unify the combined 94-year history of service and to promote and protect the U.S. craft brewing community's interest. This merger of trade groups will allow the craft brewing community to speak with one voice on legislative and regulatory matters and with the media.".

As the organization evolved into what is now the Brewers Association they sought to define their organization like this.. 

Courtesy of the BrewersAssociation.org

History:
The Brewers Association is an organization of brewers, for brewers and by brewers. More than 1,500 US brewery members and 34,000 members of the American Homebrewers Association are joined by members of the allied trade, beer wholesalers, individuals, other associate members and the Brewers Association staff to make up the Brewers Association.

Purpose:
To promote and protect small and independent American brewers, their craft beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts.

Because the BA is solely comprised of members of the craft and home brewing community, they have an obligation to their constituents to not only protect their livelihood but to protect the integrity and image of the great beer which they produce. In doing so they have defined the criteria for what is the "Craft Brewer".


Craft Brewer Defined

An American craft brewer is small, independent and traditional.
 
Small: Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition.

Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer.

Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewers brands) or has at least 50% of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.
The following are some concepts related to craft beer and craft brewers:

  • Craft brewers are small brewers.
  • The hallmark of craft beer and craft brewers is innovation. Craft brewers interpret historic styles with unique twists and develop new styles that have no precedent.
  • Craft beer is generally made with traditional ingredients like malted barley; interesting and sometimes non-traditional ingredients are often added for distinctiveness.
  • Craft brewers tend to be very involved in their communities through philanthropy, product donations, volunteerism, and sponsorship of events.
  • Craft brewers have distinctive, individualistic approaches to connecting with their customers.
  • Craft brewers maintain integrity by what they brew and their general independence, free from a substantial interest by a non-craft brewer.
  • The majority of Americans live within ten miles of a craft brewer.
   



Having clearly defined the three integral  characteristics of the "craft brewer", the BA in their "Craft vs. Crafty" statement simply point out those breweries who choose to call themselves craft brewers but clearly don't meet the BA's guidelines for such. I don't believe Brewers Association was in anyway attacking those Macro and Adjunct breweries for jumping on the Craft Beer Bandwagon by producing beers of a "craft style". I believe what the Brewers Association has done, is tried better educate beer drinkers on what really constitutes a Craft Brewer.

I strongly encourage everyone to visit the Brewers Association website for more information. Cheers!