Despite some tough competition [nine other brewers], Pike Brewing Company’s "Pike Space Needle Golden Anniversary IPA" won the honor, beating out nine other breweries. The winning IPA will be featured at the Sky City Restaurant at the Space Needle starting in April.

via KING 5.

Photo Credit: Alan Newman via pdbreen on Flickr (via Creative Commons)

(Burlington, VT) – The Burlington Free Press has an interview up with Magic Hat Brewing founder and Alchemy and Science (Boston Beer Co. subsidiary) chief, Alan Newman. This quote, piggy-backing on recent discussions around criticism of large craft brewers, grabbed my attention.

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BFP: In your book you say that beer geeks are “one of the industry problems these days.” Can you explain that?

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Thoughts?

Beertickers: Beyond the Ale is described as a “documentary film about a strange hobby, a British tradition, curiosity, collecting, obession, and drinking good old real ale.”

Jan 19-20 Chicago
Feb 1-3 Texas
Feb 9-10 Boston
Feb 16-17 Phoenix
Mar 1-2 Atlanta
Mar 8-9 Cleveland
Mar 22-23 NYC

via Facebook | Left Hand Brewing.

In the beginning, cherry trees shaded the beer garden. Resisting temptation no longer they picked the fruit and let it ferment in to a pleasingly sour and subtly sweet ale. A sinful pleasure for the experienced and adventurous palate.

via Utah Beer Blog.

(Denver, CO) – Breckenridge Brewery made noise last year with a campaign called “Truth in Beervertising.” The ad campaign mocking big brewers even landed the videos into the top five stories of 2011 on Beernews.org.

Well, Breckenridge Brewery is back with a couple more videos. These ones mock Corona and Dos Equis. Enjoy.

Another brewery jumps into the premium video market. Get to know the folks behind Founders Brewing.

via Vimeo | Founders Brewing.

Sales start today and in two weeks, the kegs will be dry.

Russian River made about 30 percent more Pliny the Younger this year using the production facility off Corgan Avenue, Cilurzo said.

On Thursday, Gorton was in the process of filling 307 kegs. “The younger makes me older very quick,” the brewer quipped.

Here is a pic of the line via New Brew Thursday this morning.

via PressDemocrat.com.

Today in the tasting room we will be releasing a small batch of Rugged Trail Nut Brown Ale on tap around 2-3pm. It was brewed on the scratch system and will not be bottled. The Chocolate Berry Weizenbock Scratch beer will be packaged early in the week of February 6th. The Triple Mango IPA is scheduled to be released around March 1st.

In Nugget Nectar news…our wholesalers will receive drops between February 16th and February 24th. You should begin seeing it in stores after that. We hope to have it on tap in the tasting room on February 20th.

via Facebook | Tröegs Brewing.

via The Brewing Network.

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Modelo Especial was up nearly 20 percent in 2011. The storied brand delivered 13 million cases in 2011, the highest volume of absolute case growth of any Import brand – over 2 million in total*.

How did Modelo Especial stack up against its competition? Modelo Especial enjoyed the second largest overall share gain in 2011, right behind Coors Light. Modelo’s ‘model year’ was the result of strong performances both on and off-premise. The brand closed 2011 on-premise up 13 percent, 15.5 percentage points better than the total beer industry**. Modelo’s off-premise numbers followed suit, finishing the year up nearly 14 percent**. While other brands fell victim to the sluggish beer market, Modelo Especial solidified its position as the number three bestselling Import brand, while establishing itself as the 14 largest beer brand in SIG rankings. The success of Modelo Especial played a key role in Crown Imports success as a supplier in 2011. According to a January report in Beer Business Daily, Crown’s cases were up 7.2 percent and their dollars were up 8.3 percent.

Crown Imports credits Modelo Especial’s exponential sales growth to the increased focus on General and Hispanic Marketing campaigns. The campaigns resonated well with both the General and Hispanic market, contributing to increased brand recognition and sales.

The brewery recently installed an additional 85 Barrel brewing system, which increased its capacity to 200,000 barrels per year and expects to produce 75,000 barrels in 2012. Locally, these beers can be found in Virginia and Washington D.C., with expansion into Maryland expected early this year.

Another interesting side note…Centennial IPA and Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale are the top two sellers for the brewery, accounting for 40% of sales.

H/T to DC Beer.

via Gazette.Net.

Press Release:

(Pilsen, CZECH REPUBLIC) – In 2011, Plzeňský Prazdroj exported 889 thousand hl of beer, which presents an increase of more than 6% on prior year, and a historical record. Despite difficult economic conditions, sales did well in established markets such as Great Britain, Slovakia, Germany and Hungary. We have also seen an interesting increase in Asia. Pilsner Urquell, which is a traditional export brand, was newly introduced also in Brazil, Macedonia, the Netherlands Antilles and Taiwan.

Despite adverse conditions in various parts of the world, the exports of the Pilsner Urquell brand marked historic record of 685 thousand hl. Export growth was underpinned by good performance in countries with traditionally higher sales such as Slovakia, Canada or Hungary, where the sales volume went up by more than higher single digit percent compared to prior year. Exports to Australia were up by close to 40% on prior year. Also exports to Israel, Vietnam or Korea saw an increase of tens of percent.

“We are happy to see the growing interest in Pilsner Urquell, which only proves that its unique flavour is gaining an increasing number of fans in the world. We are glad that the Pilsner lager is more in demand not only in Europe, but also in the Far East and Australia,” said Doug Brodman, CEO of Plzeňský Prazdroj.

The export of the Pilsner Urquell lager, which is exported to more than 50 countries, is also supported by the growing reputation of the international Pilsner Urquell Master Bartender competition. In six years of its existence, about 16 thousands contestants from 23 countries participated in this competition. Pilsner beer is also successfully promoted by a chain of nine Pilsner Urquell Original Restaurants abroad. You can now find Pilsner beer on tap even in Hanoi, Vietnam, where the first PUOR in Asia was opened in August last year.

Also other brands of Plzeňský Prazdroj did well abroad in 2011. In South Korea, we saw an increase not only in the sales of Pilsner Urquell, but also Gambrinus. The Gambrinus brand was first introduced to the Azerbaijan market, Velkopopovický Kozel to Cyprus, and the Master craft beer to Norway, the Ukraine and the neighboring Slovakia.

The growing sales in Asian countries like Vietnam, South Korea or Taiwan are also benefiting a number of visitors from those countries in the Pilsner brewery. For several years in a row, tourists from Taiwan have been the third largest nationality that comes to visit the brewery, following the Czechs and Germans. The interest in the brand transcends the Czech borders; for example, in Seoul, South Korea, Pilsner Urquell Fest was held last year.

A beer called Top Totty by a Stafford-based brewer has been banned from a parliamentary bar because its pump plate featuring a half-naked lady caused offence.

The shadow equalities minister, Kate Green, was left "disturbed" after seeing the 4% ale’s advertising in a popular Westminster watering hole and demanded bar staff remove it from sale.

via The Guardian.

(Lexington, MA) – Clown Shoes Beer updated its blog readers on some brewery news this week.

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Today we brew Chocolate Sombrero, formerly known as Cocoa Powder, Cocoa Monster, Cocoloco, and Cocoa Sombrero. This Mexican Imperial Stout features Ancho Chile powder, cinnamon, and organic vanilla extract. The chocolate comes from dark and chocolate malts, as we feel we can get a more complex chocolate flavor this way.

Other markets will open later in the year, after Mercury completes construction on the new facility.

Facebook | Intuition Ale Works.

(Bellaire, MI) – A bunch of Shorts Brewing updates via their Facebook page…

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You asked for it and you got it! Last year’s experimental IPA, Raisin Apollo, is being released in bottles! This is an extremely limited release that should make it to some stores within a couple weeks. Raisin Apollo – a double IPA fermented with golden raisins. A creation of Short’s Brewer Curt Guntzviller, his likeness — modestly covered by a hop leaf — graces the label.

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We’re not sure what the groundhog will say about the onset of spring, but we brewed our spring seasonal, ControversiALE, for the first time today. ControversiALE, formerly Hangin’ Frank, will hit stores at the end of March.

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The main part of batch 1000 of Huma Lupa Licious, a/k/a “AwwJeah” is going to be one of the most awesome Short’s Brews ever. It’s mutant cousin, “Mmkay” (also part of batch 1000), is also turning out amazingly. Lots of fun stuff to look forward to! We’re anticipating that we’ll release these sometime this spring. Cheers to your 1000th batch, Huma!

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Another brand new beer is going on tap at our Pub. Juicy Tree~ An experimental IPA made with blue spruce tips, juniper berries, and cranberries. Piney evergreen and sweet berries tingle the senses. After some slightly tart and tangy flavors up front, a harmonious balance between pleasant fruit sweetness and bitter pine is reached. A sizable malt bill, ample hop additions, and the floral fruity qualities of American Ale yeast all contribute to symmetry of this beer. The finish is laced with a resiny stickiness that flows naturally into a lasting bitterness. 7.5% ABV

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Now on tap: Wintertime Fun Ale – an English Strong Ale brewed with milk chocolate, marshmallow, cinnamon, and peppermint. Flavors of whipped creamy chocolate and marshmallow are prevalent, but it’s the lingering spiciness from the peppermint that steals the show. 8.5% ABV

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Alpha Analytics in Washington State just tested our beers for IBUs using the most advanced technology available. Huma Lupa Licious pulled in an IBU count of 92! The Liberator scored 116

In July, Wilcox opened The Local Pub and Brewery at the former location of Zigs Kettle & Brew, which closed in 2003.

"I’d like to thank my customers and employees," Wilcox said. "It was a good run. I wish we could have been supported more financially."

Seven months is a good run? Blaming the community for not supporting you enough? Hmm…

via MLive.com.

Copyright Brewers Association

For some context, Beernews.org reported upcoming Craft Brewers Conference destinations in March of last year:

Brewers Association Director, Paul Gatza, revealed the following on Beer Sessions Radio…

Gatza lamented that they hadn’t held the conference in Portland, Oregon, since 2001 so that could be a prime target for 2015. He also said that New York City is unlikely because room rates are too high for attendees.

Well, they may sing a different tune around NYC in 2013…sorta. DC Beer reports via the Brewers’ Association’s Julia Herz:

In 2012, the Brewers Association (BA) is looking forward to the fifth consecutive year of holding SAVOR in Washington, D.C. Part of our mission as a national, not-for-profit trade association is to promote small and independent craft brewers and their craft brewed beers to audiences around the country. As such, the BA Board of Directors has directed staff to investigate the possibility of New York City as a potential location for 2013. These investigations are very preliminary, and nothing has been finalized regarding the location of SAVOR in 2013.

The Brewers Association describes SAVOR as, “A must-attend for craft beer aficionados and foodies alike, SAVOR offers a memorable craft beer and food experience to a limited number of attendees in Washington, D.C.’s beautiful National Building Museum.”

The 2012 event takes place in D.C. in June.

February is upon us, bringing our annual My Bloody Valentine release. It’s deep red color, caramel malt richness and abundant hops are the signatures of this unique ale.

We brew a single batch of this tasty brew at the beginning of each new year so we’ll have it ready in time for Valentine’s Day. Samples and growler fills are available at the brewery during our retail hours. Look for My Bloody Valentine on draft and from the cask around town at San Diego premier beer bars and restaurants in the month of February!

via AleSmith Brewing newsletter.

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The wait is over! AleSmith Decadence 2011 has been brewed, bottled and will be released at the brewery on Wednesday, February 29th, 2012.

AleSmith Decadence Anniversary Ale was originally brewed in 2005 to celebrate our first decade in business. Our brewers had such a great time concocting AleSmith Decadence that they decided to make it an annual event and brew a new style each year to commemorate our Anniversary.

AleSmith Decadence 2011 was brewed to combine two styles, smoked beer and barleywine to create our unique homebrew-inspired Maple Smoked Barleywine. Containing a pleasant Bamburg smoked-malt character that richly compliments the pure Vermont Maple Syrup, AleSmith Decadence 2011 is sure to deliver a memorable drinking experience!

The bottles will go on sale at 2pm on Wednesday, February 29th in the tasting room ($13.00 per bottle, six bottle limit) and will be available at better bottle shops and select retail accounts in the following weeks. There is a very limited amount of draft of this beer and we will only be offering tasters of the beer in the tasting room (no growler fills).

Hood County beer? It’s coming. “People’s interest in craft beer is exploding in Texas,” according to master brewer Grant Wood of Revolver Brewing. Rhett Keisler has established Revolver Brewing LLC — a production brewery — right here in Hood County. Revolver Brewing officials hope to have the facility up and running by July. Revolver won’t be licensed to sell beer to the public — the “full-flavored craft-style beer” will be distributed to retailers. Revolver Brewing LLC is located at 5600 Matlock Road.

More info on Facebook. Here’s a video of Wood talking about brewing from December.

via Hood County News.

UPDATE: Was given a tip that Wood actually left Boston Beer Co. last month and is opening a new brewery, Revolver Brewing, in Texas.

Video description: Grant Wood, the Senior Brew Master at Boston’s Sam Adams brewery takes us on a quick tour of their world famous facility and gives a chemical explanation of the traditional four vessel beer brewing process. It’s about time all you home brewers out there get up to speed on your chemistry! [Note: At Sam Adams' Boston location, the mash tun is used as a substitute for the brew kettle because of the small size of the brewery.]

via ByteSizeScience on Youtube.

Press Release:

(Brooklyn, NY) – Hop-heads can rejoice in a new beer from Brooklyn-based Sixpoint Brewery called “Resin.” This beer, which celebrates the bittering resin secreted from the lupulin glands of the hop cone, is a strong ale with an abundance of American hop flavor. Resin could loosely be described as a “double IPA,” but rarely do any of Sixpoint’s beers neatly fit within a particular style guideline. Resin will be the first craft beer available in a 12-ounce “sleek” can and will be sold year-round. Especially eager fans can purchase Resin cans beginning this Friday at special sampling events at the Whole Foods Market Bowery and Columbus Circle locations.

Often enjoyed on draft and served in smaller glasses, double IPA beers are naturally strong and strikingly hoppy. They are brewed with roughly twice the amount of hops in the average IPA, and have a considerably higher alcohol content. The hops’ essence is produced within hop cones at peak maturity, when their cores swell up with a sticky golden secretion — or resin. This bounty of natural fresh flavor is the simple inspiration for Resin. To conjure the green petals of the cones, Resin cans are designed with a lush green background and golden-bronze accents to symbolize the precious resin inside each cone.

For such a distinct beer, Sixpoint Brewery has chosen to offer them in unique 12-ounce can four-packs as well as on draft. The cans are identical in height to the rest of the year-round canned offerings from the brewery (Sweet Action, Bengali Tiger, Righteous Ale and The Crisp) as well as seasonal releases (Diesel and Autumnation thus far). However, their “sleek” shape contributes to smaller four-can packages. Resin will be sold at the same retail price as its other canned offerings, delivering value for fans of specialty craft beers.

“Sixpoint Resin was one of the most exciting projects we’ve undertaken recently, and I’m thrilled to share it with our customers,” remarked Shane Welch, the company’s Founder and President. “People are quickly waking up to the wonders of IPA and the pleasant taste sensation of bitterness. We wanted to deliver a story about the organic chemical responsible for these flavor sensations everyone is enjoying. This was a very extensive project where we anatomically analyzed the various features of the hop cone, and explored the botanical feature that makes it all happen — sticky resin oozing from the interior!”

Sixpoint Braumeister Jan Matysiak, who joined the brewery as of late last year, was instrumental in the recipe and brewing procedures for Resin.

“Brewing a ‘big beer’ is always a lot of fun, and an opportunity to push one’s own creativity to the next level,” said Jan. “I am very happy with the outcome of Resin and look forward to sharing this extraordinary beer with Sixpoint fans and all beer connoisseurs.”

Resin has an ABV of 9.1% and an IBU rating (International Bittering Units) of 103 — a landmark for canned craft beer. It will be sold in stores and bars at select locations where Sixpoint is distributed (see wholesaler list below).

About Sixpoint Brewery:

Sixpoint Brewery was born out of an 800 square foot garage in Brooklyn, New York City in 2004 by homebrewer Shane Welch, who had amassed over 1000 individual homebrew recipes. The brewery’s name is derived from the ancient six-pointed brewers’ star, which had symbolically adorned the walls and equipment of ancient breweries since at least the Medieval period. Sixpoint’s motto is “Beer is Culture” to highlight the human trajectory — the earliest human civilizations were founded upon the cultivation of cereal grains for making beer. Sixpoint aims to perpetually inspire the art, creativity, and community generated through beer by acknowledging the history of the craft, while forging ahead to inspire culture in a modern setting.

http://sixpoint.com

http://facebook.com/sixpoint

http://twitter.com/sixpoint

http://flickr.com/photos/-sixpoint

http://youtube.com/sixpointvision

Sixpoint Wholesalers:

NYC – Long Island – Westchester – Union Beer Distributors – (718) 497-2407
Upstate NY – TJ Sheehan Distributors – (315) 451-7250
Hudson Valley – Tri-Valley Beverage – (315) 853-3955
New Jersey – Hunterdon Brewing Company – (908) 454-7445
Massachusetts – Craft Brewers Guild – (978) 777-5525
Philadelphia – 5 counties – Origlio Beverage – (215) 698-9500
Rhode Island – Craft Beer Guild of Rhode Island – (401) 305-3838
New Hampshire – Craft Beer Guild of New Hampshire – (603) 319-8508
Pittsburgh & Western PA – Vecenie’s Distributing Co. – (412) 821-4618
Lancaster, York, & South Central PA – Ace Beer Distributor – (717) 755-0774
Harrisburg & Vicinity, PA – Westy Beer Distributor – (717) 737-2621
Allentown & Eastern PA – Shangy’s Beer Distributor – (610) 967-6793
St Marys & Vicinity, PA – St Marys Beverage – (814) 781-1968
Maryland & Washington DC – Legends Ltd – (410) 918-2537
Virginia – Specialty Beverage of Virginia – (804) 749-8016
Vermont – Craft Beer Guild of Vermont – (802)-861-3014
Indiana – Cavalier Distributors – (317) 358-1970

Drake’s is releasing [...] Hopocalypse Double IPA, 9.3% ABV, 100+ IBUs, on draft and in bottles.

Also, we will have in limited quantities our brand new Hopocalypse Black Label Triple IPA, 12.5% ABV, 100+ IBUs, in 22 oz. bottles to be sold exclusively at Drake’s Barrel House.

Bottle Limits: 2 bottles per person for the Hopocalypse Black Label and 3 bottles per person of the Hopocalypse.

Full deets >> Drake’s Barrel House.

(Boston, MA) – The Harpoon Brewery has released the latest installment of their 100 Barrel Series, Black IPA. This is the 40th offering from Harpoon’s 100 Barrel Series, the brewery’s line of unique, handcrafted limited batch beers.

Harpoon brewer Matt DeLuca took over the brewhouse to create this Black IPA. Brewed with a new specialty malt from Briess called Midnight Wheat, this beer has an almost stout-like appearance, without the overly roasty attributes often associated with traditional dark malts. Flaked barley was also used in the malt bill for head retention.

“I wanted this Black IPA to be a very hop-forward beer; having a huge, hoppy nose was important to me,” says Matt. On top of the Chinook, Simcoe, Cascade, and Citra hops is an ample addition of Ahtanum hops that provides a fruity aroma to complement the earthy, spicy bitterness of this dark ale. This intense, diverse hop addition yields a well-balanced offering.

The Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Black IPA is now available in 22 oz. bottles with limited draft availability. A video featuring Matt talking about the beer can be viewed at www.harpoonbrewery.com/blackipa.

Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Black IPA Beer Specifications:
ABV: 7%
O.G.: 18
IBUs: 67

Harpoon introduced the 100 Barrel Series in 2003 to showcase the individual brewing talents of their brewers. Every couple months, a different Harpoon brewer is invited to choose a style of beer, formulate the recipe, and brew the beer. That brewer’s signature can be found on the bottle label. The beers in the series are one-offs; they are brewed in limited batches and are available only until the batch sells out. Since the series began in May of 2003, 40 different styles of beer have been brewed. For a complete list of beers that have been released as part of the 100 Barrel Series, visit www.harpoonbrewery.com.

About the Harpoon Brewery:
The Harpoon Brewery was founded by beers lovers, Rich Doyle and Dan Kenary. In 1986 Harpoon was issued Brewing Permit #001 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, since it was the first brewery to brew commercially in the state after a dormant period of about 25 years. Harpoon’s line of craft beer features its award-winning IPA and UFO Hefeweizen beers, along with four special seasonal selections. In 2000 Harpoon purchased a second brewery in Windsor, VT, making Harpoon the 9th largest craft brewer in the US. Harpoon has since introduced two lines of limited edition beers, the 100 Barrel Series and the Leviathan Series, as well as the all-natural Harpoon Cider made from freshly pressed, local apples. For more information about Harpoon beers and visiting the breweries, visit www.harpoonbrewery.com.

Editor Disclaimer: Beers sometimes appear before the date stated in the press release sent from the brewery. Don’t shoot me. Just the messenger. Thanks!

Press Release:

(New Orleans, LA) The Abita Brewing Company is pleased to announce the debut of three of its flagship brews in cans: Amber, Purple Haze® and Jockamo I.P.A.®. The Abita cans will appear in stores, restaurants and bars in the New Orleans area Monday, February 6 and with wider distribution across the region and the nation to follow.

Consumers can get a sneak peek at the new Abita cans at a Pub Crawl scheduled for Friday, February 3 at 6P.M. in New Orleans. Participation in the Pub Crawl is free, but registration is required. Abita fans can get all the details and pre-register online at abita.com

Abita Goes Where You Go

“We’re very excited about this launch. Now our customers can take Abita to the places we love in Louisiana where glass might not be convenient or allowed…parades, fishing, tubing, golfing or the beach,” said David Blossman, Abita Brewing Company President . “We’ve made it even easier to bring Abita to the party, wherever it’s happening.”

“For many years people associated craft beer with glass bottles only, but the perception and the technology of the aluminum beverage can has really changed. We feel confident that today’s cans are a quality solution that will preserve and protect the flavor of Abita,” said Blossman.

The new Abita cans will be coated with a special water-based lining to protect and preserve the great taste of the beer. This lining insulates the beer from the can’s interior surface. Canning also limits exposure to UV light and oxygen, two elements that can damage the taste of beer.

Abita will continue packaging in glass just as they have since they began brewing in 1986.

About The Abita Brewing Company

The Abita Brewing Company was founded in Abita Springs, Louisiana in 1986 and is the
oldest and largest craft brewer in the southeast. Abita is the 30th largest commercial brewer by production volume in the nation and the 17th largest craft brewer in the United States. Sales for the brewery were 125,400 barrels last year.

Abita Brewing Company produces seven flagship brews year-round: Abita Amber, Golden, Light, Turbodog®, Purple Haze®, Jockamo I.P.A.® and Restoration Pale Ale®. Abita also offers five seasonal beers, three Harvest brews, three Big Beers and a draft-only series of Select beers.

Editor Disclaimer: Beers sometimes appear before the date stated in the press release sent from the brewery. Don’t shoot me. Just the messenger. Thanks!

Press Release:

(Milton, DE) – Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and Deltron 3030′s Dan the Automator have teamed up to create Positive Contact, a hybrid of beer and cider based on Dan’s favorite ingredients and Dogfish Head’s innovative brewing practices.

Deltron 3030 is an adventurous hip-hop collaboration between Dan and Del the Funkee Homosapien. Deltron’s self-titled debut album, released in 2000, was an instant classic and is included on many hip-hop best-of lists. It got an 8/10 rating on NME, which called it “a crazed sci-fi journey to Planet B.S. that takes myriad detours around the galaxy. The most purely enjoyable hip-hop album of 2000.”

Over a decade in the making, the new Deltron 3030 album is set to drop this spring, and Positive Contact was brewed to celebrate the release.

Named after a key track on the first album, Positive Contact is a 9% ABV hybrid of beer and cider brewed with wood-pressed Fuji apples, roasted farro, a handful of cayenne peppers and a late dose of fresh cilantro. This sweet-and-sour Belgian-ish brew is a light straw color with fruity, cider-like notes. The cayenne and alcohol give it a warming finish.

The beer will be released in a dynamic box set of six 750-ml champagne bottles, with a 10-inch vinyl EP of four new Deltron 3030 remixes created exclusively for this project, and a list of Deltron 3030-inspired recipes from a small group of renowned chefs (see below). Invite some friends over, rock the album, drink the beer and whip up a multi-course meal. It’s a house party in a box.

Positive Contact box sets will be released in May throughout Dogfish Head’s distribution network, in accordance with local and state laws. Stay tuned.

Video description: Kyle Poissonnier of Elykssor Clothing interviews Baxter Brewing’s founder Luke Livingston. Baxter is the first craft beer in a can and the company shattered first year records for barrels of beer brewed in it’s first year. Luke Livingston was also featured in Forbes Magazine’s “top 30 under 30″ for food and beverage. Elykssor and Baxter will TEAM UP in the spring for a concert to support charity and celebrate Elykssor’s 4 year anniversary.

via Elykssor on Youtube.

"His beer tasted awful and he wiped off what looked like dirt from the bottle cap," the woman said in a post on viral news site reddit, under the username Seenbean.

"We go into the kitchen, pour the beer down the sink and something slipped out. I turned it over and it kind of looked like a mushroom and smelled a whole lot like s—."

A Reddit user referred to the glob as the result of a likely pasteurization failure. A “beer oyster.” I then searched Google and came up with nothing about beer oysters.

via Sydney man finds 'mushroom-like' glob in beer.

Sponsored Post:

CONTEST: Retweet this post, share/like it on Facebook or follow Julio’s Beer updates using the links in the bottom half of the post. Three winners in the U.S. will be randomly selected to each win a Julio’s t-shirt. Deadline for entry is Friday, February 3rd at 12pm EST.

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Heading into Boston for a certain beer festival this weekend? You may want to stop into Julio’s Liquors and see what they have to offer. Here are 5 reasons why…

1) See the amazing selection of over 1,500 beers firsthand. Recent beer arrivals include North Coast Bourbon-Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin, Ommegang Seduction and Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Leftovers Ale. Julio’s is a beer and wine lover’s toy store with a solid selection of hot sauces and cigars as well.

2) Take advantage of the “Mix a Six” 15% off discount. Buy six single beers (any 12 oz/ 22 oz /750 oz) and receive a 15% discount and a card punch. Every sixth card punch, you get a gift. Some stores hate the “Mix a Six” but it remains the best way to sample a number of beers at home. Julio’s encourages it.

3) Try the local flavor. There has been an increase in limited bottles from local Boston-area breweries like Cambridge Brewing, Backlash Beer and Slumbrew since the last big beer fest. You can’t get a lot of these niche local brewers’ beers outside of the state.

4) Speaking of local beers, there is still time to grab some Smuttynose Rye(a)n Ale. Beernews.org featured this one about a month ago and there are only a handful of cases left.

5) Stock up for your Super Bowl party with some 12-packs. 12-packs on sale for $11.99 include Samuel Adams, Harpoon, Wachusett and Smuttynose. Also, Mayflower 6-packs are on sale for $7.99.

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Best ways to follow Julio’s for further updates…

Sign Up for the Newsletter

Follow @juliosbeer

Per The Lost Abbey website…

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Saturday, January 21, 2012 [marked] the release of the first track in our ultimate Box Set, kicking off a year-long series of super-limited beer releases inspired by those great anthem rock tunes of our youth. (Feel free to wave your lighters in the air… for you younger kids that’s what we waved at the concert before cell phones with big screens.)

Because the Box Set beers are so limited, the release process will be different than the usual, so we’ve posted everything you need to know on the Box Set page here.

On the same page you’ll also find details on Track 1, (aka Runnin’ With the Devil), which is one of the “Fresh Tracks“. It’s aged in wine barrels and spiked with Cab Sauvignon grapes and our own Brett cultures. Definitely a devilish brew…

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Stay tuned for details on Track 2.

(San Diego, CA) – Ballast Point Brewing made a couple announcements via newsletter over the past week or so…

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Thursday January 26th was the first bottling date of our 2012 Sea Monster Imperial Stout. Bottles hit the shelves of your local bottle shop early this week.

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You may have noticed the proliferation of Sculpin IPA tap handles and six packs popping up around town lately. For far too long we have been unable to even come close to filling the demand for this tasty IPA. Well, we are getting closer. Close enough that we couldn’t live with ourselves keeping it off limits to our loyal San Diego beer drinkers for another “holiday.”

Starting Friday 2/3/12, Sculpin 5 gallon kegs will be available for purchase at both of our brewery locations for $99 + keg deposit.

Press Release:

(Meadville, PA) – We here at Voodoo Brewing Company have taken over fifteen years of Matt’s brewing experience and our quirky personalities and wrapped it up into a line of beers that we feel are fun, flavorful and thought-provoking. In that same mentality, we are extremely proud to announce a bevy of new variations of some of our favorite beers.

Gran Met, long a cult favorite, is seeing barrel treatment for the first time. This tripel has been delicately aging in two carefully selected barrels to not only enhance the beer’s unique flavor profile, but also impart what we feel are interesting additions in flavor from the liquor aged oak. Two variations will be available, one aged in Laird’s Apple Brandy barrels and the other in Buffalo Trace.

Big Black Voodoo Daddy, perhaps our most popular and widely acclaimed offering, is also resting in oak for the first time. We have selected Buffalo Trace and Pappy Van Winkle barrels to hold this sleeping imperial stout. Rich in notes of chocolate, roasted coffee, dark fruits, and vanilla, the oak and bourbon impart their own plethora of flavors to create an even more complex and robust profile.

Black Magick, the crowned jewel of imperial stouts, will also be seeing different barrel treatments for this year’s release. After utilizing Elijah Craig barrels for the 2009 release and Buffalo Trace for the 2011 release, we have decided to expand the treatments to not only showcase the depth and diversity of this big, juicy, smooth stout, but to also spotlight what we feel are thoughtful considerations in the way the beer harmonizes with the different barrels treatments. We have selected Laird’s Apple Brandy, Buffalo Trace, and Pappy Van Winkle barrels to hold this menacingly dark elixir.

These beers will not see distribution and will be released at two different locations. One release will take place in our new brewpub in Meadville. The other will take part in Eastern Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is one of our premier distribution locations and as a show of our appreciation for all your support in the community, in conjunction with Bella Vista Distributors, Philadelphia has been chosen as the second location.

When confronted with choosing a location to host the Philadelphia release of these new barrel aged beers, we wanted to ensure it was done in the fairest way possible and from that came the Philly Voodoo Barrel Aged Release Competition. All accounts located in the Bella Vista footprint with “R” and “E” licenses may participate. The competition is simple, whichever eligible location purchases and sells the most Voodoo product between January 1st and the end of Philly Beer Week 2012 will be declared the winner and will be announced at the commencement of Philly Beer Week.

There will be various amounts of each product available for the Philly release depending on our yield, but rest assured it will be worthwhile! The crew from Voodoo will be present on the big day and will work out all pricing and logistics with the winning venue. There’s still plenty of time to get involved in this event, so do not hesitate to get started. A large order of Big Black Voodoo Daddy was just shipped to Bella Vista, so an easy way to start out is by adding some cases to your next order! Thank you for your time, support and participation! You can always stay up to date all things Voodoo at www.voodoobrewery.com, facebook.com/voodoobrewery, and twitter.com/voodoobrewery.

(Ketchum, ID) – Beer Hunter: The Movie completed a successful round of fundraising this week using Kickstarter. Filmmaker, John Richards, set a goal of $30k but grabbed 577 backers on the way to raising nearly $45,000. Richards followed famous beer writer, Michael Jackson, around from 2004 to 2006. The film features footage from those years. Jackson passed away in August of 2007 from a heart attack.

The success of the campaign came, in part, thanks to virality in social media channels. The Kickstarter link got passed around nearly 1,800 times on Facebook and over 600 times on Twitter.

Below is an excerpt from the movie’s Kickstarter page.

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Beer Hunter: The Movie is a documentary film about the British journalist and author Michael Jackson, who’s books and television series about beer inspired the global phenomenon that is the craft brewing renaissance. An intimate portrait based on over 60 hours of rare, recent video footage, Beer Hunter sheds insight into the life and contributions of this brilliant and beloved man, who, while quietly battling Parkinson’s, became the leading voice and inspiration behind the craft brewing movement. For those who had ever met Michael Jackson, or were deeply inspired by his work, it’s hard to imagine that he is no longer with us.

Based on the huge success of his books and magazine articles about beer, Michael wrote and starred in a six-part television series, called The Beer Hunter, which was released in 1989 by Channel 4 in the UK, and aired in the early 90′s on the Discovery Channel in the U.S. While the show became an instant classic and has since aired in over 30 different countries, Michael was never able to get another episode produced before he passed away suddenly in 2007. Now, with the help of the international craft beer community, we can produce another beer hunting adventure in his honor.

Beer Hunter: The Movie is our attempt to follow up the original Beer Hunter series with a rare library of more recent footage, showing Michael on – and “off” camera throughout the great beer cities, breweries, and pubs of Europe and the United States. The footage will form the basis of a movie about Michael’s life, with the remaining footage edited into a series to be released as an open-source public resource. The unprecedented growth and popularity of craft brewing and distilling, and the ever-expanding field of beer and whisky writing, would never have been possible without Michael’s ground-breaking efforts and uniquely engaging voice. It’s important that we tell his story and recognize his contributions before his memory fades.

Press Release:

(Boulder, CO) – Avery Brewing Company’s newest additions to its Barrel-Aged Series test new waters in craft beer. On Saturday, February 11th, 2012, the brewery will release 2 different beers from its barrel-aging cellar at the Avery Tap Room in Boulder, CO. The two ales will give a new look at the incorporation of grapes and wild fermentation into barrel-aged brewing, and each offers a taste of what’s possible from two ends of the grape spectrum.

For Muscat d’Amour, 150 gallons of Muscat Blanc grape must provided 25% of the beer’s fermentables, and malted barley provided the rest. After Avery’s house Belgian and Brettanomyces yeast strains did their job, and 14 months in fresh Chardonnay barrels, brewers were left with a 10.78% ABV light golden ale imparting suggestions of dry white wine, soft malt, and savory earthiness.

Avery’s chief Barrel Herder Andy Parker took a similar tack with the Récolte Sauvage, taking advantage of 150 gallons of Cabernet Sauvignon grape must for a quarter of the fermentables. After naturally occurring wild yeasts from the harvested grape skins took care of fermentation, the beer spent 14 months aging in fresh Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. With a quick nod to red wine, this 11.03% ABV red ale presents tastes of cherries, rich grapes and oak tannins. Parker looked to Bookcliff Vineyards on Colorado’s western slope for the grapes in both beers. “No sulfites were used on the grapes,” he said, “which means that wild yeasts living on the grapes were allowed to help on the primary fermentations.”

The Avery Tap Room in Boulder, CO, will host the simultaneous release of these exclusive ales the weekend before Valentine’s Day, starting sales at 5pm on Saturday, February 11th, 2012. Fans will be limited to 6 bottles of each for $8 per 12 oz. bottle. Due to extremely limited quantities, the beers will only be released in the state of Colorado. For more information, beer connoisseurs can check www.averybrewing.com.

(Seattle, WA) – Excerpts from today’s Elysian Brewing newsletter…

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As much as we’d like to enjoy the Nibiru aftermath, the RAPTURE will soon be upon us! The second in the Elysian/Fantagraphics 12 Beers of the Apocalypse Series is Rapture Heather Ale -a beer of opulent proportions brewed with high country heather tips.

Our NEXT APOCALYPSE EVENT / RAPTURE BEER RELEASE will be Tuesday, 02.21.12 from 6-9PM at Elysian Capitol Hill. The second Apocalypse Survival Guide item is a MED KIT, so make sure to bring your book back to get stamped (If you missed the first event you can still pick a Guide up at this party). Be assured there will be another entertaining SURVIVAL DEMO from Bryan and Co. as well as delicious beer and other amusements.

After a little hiatus due to difficulties securing quality jasmine flowers, one of our favorites AVATAR JASMINE IPA will soon be returning to taps and shelves. We are excited to have a new label to spruce up the face of Avatar which is tasting better than ever!!

LAGERS are making a comeback! In the next 2-4 weeks, look for Loki Lager returning to Elysian taps. Following this, we will be brewing other old faves including Zephyrus Pilsner, Ambrosia Maibock, Pandora’s Bock, and Foster Child. From Loki on out, we’re making it a goal to keep a lager available at all times. Stay tuned!

(Seattle, WA) – Elysian Brewing actually sent this note out last week (oops) but better late than never.

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Elysian Brewing Company is kicking its Manic IPA Series in February of 2012 with Idiot Sauvin, an IPA both fiercely fruity and floral, made with New Zealand Nelson Sauvin hops. The beer has appeared before only at Elysian’s pubs, and will be issued in both 22 oz bottles and draft.

Then in June will come Prometheus, an aggressively aromatic blend of Northwest classic Chinook, Cascade, Centennial and Amarillo hops fondly familiar to Elysian regulars.

Rounding out the year will be Valhalla, a reddish fall-into-holiday IPA using Sorachi Ace and Citra hops, scheduled for release in October. Too many IPAs? Bah, humbug!

- Dick Cantwell

Manic Release Summary:
Idiot Sauvin :: FEB – APR
Prometheus :: MAY – AUG
Valhalla :: SEPT – DEC

(Brooklyn, NY) – Brooklyn Brewery announced this week the next beer in its Brewmaster’s Reserve Series, Brooklyn Mary’s Maple Porter. In doing so, the company also launched its new Youtube page.

Beer description: “A little over a year ago, after she’d spent a 30-year career at a ginormous brewery, we rescued Mary Wiles and made her our quality control director. She’s doing a great job, but we never told her the truth….we really wanted her for the syrup. She and her husband have a family business — they’ve got acres and acres of sugar maple trees in upstate New York and they make real maple syrup. Every batch of Mary’s Maple Porter has 50 gallons (!) of maple syrup added to the kettle. It’s really tasty, especially with bacon. Mary’s Maple Porter is available Feb-April 2012, draft-only.”