Passion Beer » News

Breckenridge Brewery mocks “Big Beer”

Shane — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:39:55 +0000

(Denver, CO) – Breckenridge Brewery gets witty with a handful of new commercial spots that will air “on Denver Fox affiliate KDVR during local news and Broncos football games,” says AdAge. These parody shorts take aim at the marketing points and techniques of the ‘big beer’ companies including stabs at coldness, hopping and more.

I’ve included one of the videos below, but to see all four of the videos, please check out the article on Beer News.

What are your thoughts? Will this be an effective marketing strategy – especially if more craft breweries joined in? Personally, I think they’re hilarious! Leave your comments below.

Ithaca to brew Phish-inspired Stash IPA

Shane — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 12:51:44 +0000

Ithaca Beer Company out of New York is set to brew a, you guessed it, Phish-inspired IPA called Stash. The beer is scheduled to be released in early June, as a special one-off production available on draft only in extremely limited distribution. The official press release from Ithaca Beer is after the break.

From Ithaca Beer Co.:

Stash will be a one-off India Pale Ale weighing in around 6.0% ABV. If your mouth is watering already, you’re about to become a drooling mess when we tell you Chief plans to pull the dankest hops from his “hophead stash” for this IPA.

Available in draft only and VERY limited in distribution. All Stash inquiries should be directed to our Director of Sales, Marc Schulz at Ithaca Beer - #(607) 273-0766. Closer to the date, a list of places you can find Stash will be made available.

To find out more about this “Sensational. Mind-blowing. Fantabulous” Super Ball 9, check out the official Phish website at www.phish.com …oh wait, we didn’t officially say that!

Excited for Stash? Drop us a line if you see it around your area!

Lost Abbey Red Poppy 2011 Release

Shane — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:03:20 +0000

Lost Abbey’s Red Poppy, a Flanders Red, is gearing up for its seasonal release. For the first time, Red Poppy will be entered into Lost Abbey’s full distribution network. More details from the brewery…

The Lost Abbey will issue the 2011 release of Red Poppy Ale on February 12, 2011.

An award-winning Flanders-style red ale made with sour cherries and aged in French Oak barrels for a year, this limited release is one a handful of beers to receive a 99 out 100 rating by Draft Magazine.

Release details are as follows:

Beer: Red Poppy – Flanders-style Red Ale

Packaging: 375ml cork-finished bottles

ABV: 5%

Price: $15 per bottle (six bottle maximum per person)

Availability: Bottles will go into our full distribution network. Draft availability will be limited to selected venues primarily here in San Diego, CA.

This is great news for the rest of the US for a chance to get your hands on the Red Poppy from a local distributor. I’m assuming, and hoping, this will show up in the Philadelphia area — so keep an eye out.

Weyerbacher to Revive Blasphemy this Spring

Shane — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:42:05 +0000

Weyerbacher Brewing Company, out of local Easton, PA, has announced plans to bring back their Quadrupel, Blasphemy this Spring. From a posting on Beer Advocate, Founder & President Dan Weirback explains their plans for a May 2011 release.

From Dan on Beer Advocate:

After the last few years of receiving countless emails we’ve decided to bring Blaspemy back as a seasonal in May of next year. This time around it will be available only in the 750 ml cork and caged bottles. As you know, these bottles are capable of holding more pressure than 12 oz. bottles, and thus we can bottle condition to a higher carbonation level than normal, bringing Blasphemy that fantastic effervescence you associate with many of the bottle conditioned Belgian styles. Blasphemy is our QUAD aged in bourbon barrels. The number of emails we received on this discontinued brew has been phenomonal, and we just want to say: At Weyerbacher we hear you beer fans!

On a side note we have about 15 cs of Riserva left for purchase at the brewery during Saturday tours. But they won’t last long.

Story & title photo courtesy of: Beernews.org

Victory recalls Helios batches

Shane — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:45:31 +0000

Victory Brewing Company out of Downingtown, PA have issued a recall on some 2009 batches of their Helios Ale. The recall was initiated by Victory yesterday after conducting tests on some bottle conditioned batches that have over-carbonated due to a self-proclaimed flaw in the bottle conditioning process.

After receiving reports starting Sunday, Victory is issuing a recall based upon the fact these bottles pose a danger even while sitting still. The Helios Ale itself is not unsafe, however the bottles they’re in can explode due to the over-carbonation. If you have any bottles with the following bottling dates, you can submit a replacement claim here.

Affected bottling dates

October 26, 2009
December 10, 2009

For the official release from Victory Brewing Company, please visit their blog at: http://www.victorybeerblog.com/beerblog/helios-recall.html

Sly Fox recalls Pikeland Pils batches

Shane — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:21:10 +0000

Sly Fox Brewing Company of Royersford, Pennsylvania, are recalling two batches of their acclaimed Pikeland Pils sent out in cans. The two affected batches can be identified by the stamping on the cans, or by the stamping on the cardboard suitcase packaging.

The affected batches are stamped:

Cans: 3468 BY 12/6/10 and 3578 BY 12/14/10
Suitcases: 6 DEC 2010 and 14 DEC 2010

Sly Fox is offering a full refund for the said batches, and encourages those with them to return it to Sly Fox Brewing Company or the distributor purchased from. For the full recall write-up by head brewer Brian O’Reilly, please visit the official Sly Fox recall page.

Story & title photo from: SlyFoxBeer.com

Sam Adams White Ale returns in Winter

Shane — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:53:06 +0000

According to our friends over at BeerNews.org, the Boston Beer Company is bringing back their seasonal ‘White Ale’ as part of a Winter variety pack this year. Earlier this year, they introduced their Noble Pils as the replacement for their Spring seasonal to the White Ale.

While the move didn’t please everyone, the Noble Pils was “harbinger for its growth in the first quarter.” Upon a recent unearthing on their website, the White Ale will return in the Winter variety this pack this year along with the Holiday Porter, Old Fezziweg and three other unknowns.

Story and title photo from: BeerNews.org

Terrapin Pumpkinfest available this fall

Shane — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:57:02 +0000

The Terrapin Beer Company has confirmed they’re releasing their Pumpkinfest this fall, for the third year in a row. Originally released in 2008 as part of their Side Project Series, it appears it has now made a place in it’s seasonal rotation as a fall beer. The availability will only run from September through November and marks a place for Terrapin in the popular Pumpkin-style beers.

From Terrapin’s website:

Too many beers… too little time. I have always wanted to brew a traditional Octoberfest for the Fall season, but it seems that these darn pumpkin beers are all the rage right now. So… keeping up with Terrapin’s out of the box brewing tradition, I have decided to brew a beer that combines both of these delicious brewing styles. “Pumpkinfest” is a traditional Octoberfest brewed with over 1 pound of pumpkin per barrel along with pumpkin spices. All of the malt of a German Fest beer and all the spice of Grandma’s pumpkin pie!

The Pumpkinfest is made with some delicious spices: cinnamon, ginger, all spice and cloves, as well as well as a plethora of malts: Munich, Vienna, Munich II, Catamunich II, Melanoiden. Coupled with Vanguard and Hallertau Hershrucker hops, this beer comes in at 6.10% ABV and will be perfect for the fall.

Story and title photo from: http://beernews.org

Short’s to release Strawberry Short’s Cake

Shane — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:39:37 +0000

Short’s Brewing Company, an eclectic beer company located in Northern Michigan, is bringing back one of their “summer” beers this year; Strawberry Short’s Cake. As enticing as it sounds, I’m grasping at straws here to decide whether this sounds like a good idea or not.

Straight from the mouth of Scott Newman-Bale from Short’s, the Strawberry Short’s Cake will be available in August and the new label is featured above in the title photo. From Short’s:

A golden ale brewed with loads of biscuit malts and milk sugar fermented with fresh strawberries. Sweet strawberries up front cushioned with biscuits and cream! Perfect for dessert.

You can bet I’ll be looking for this in August. I’m always willing and ready for something different. What do you think? Does it sound good, bad? We’ll know in August (unless you’ve had it already – please tell us!).

Story and title photo from: http://beernews.org

Dogfish Head Bitches Brew Unveiled

Shane — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:26:38 +0000

Miles Davis, arguably one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, is the focus of the latest Dogfish Head “Occasional Rarities” labeled “Bitches Brew.” This is all in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of his 1970 album by the same name. The bottle is also labeled with the original, iconic artwork of the album.

According to Sam Calagione, founder and president of Dogfish Head, the new ale is designed “as the ultimate partner for chili or spicy curry chicken” and best enjoyed “sipped cool, not cold, from a snifter or red wine glass while listening to the Bitches Brew album.”

The flavor profile of the Bitches Brew is “a bold, dark beer that’s a fusion of three threads imperial stout and one thread honey beer with gesho root,” according to Dogfish Head. And the profile of this beer tops off with 9.0% ABV and a mere 38 IBUs.

The Bitches Brew will be available only in 750ml bottles starting in late August 2010, for a limited time.