Pre-beer murder face.
Have you ever gone ax throwing? I did this yesterday for the first time with a large group. Starting off, it was interesting, but mostly a lot of standing around watching people clanking wobbly axes off plywood until it was my turn to do the same. We started at about 11 a.m. and by 11:15, I was mostly thinking about lunch. Then, suddenly, a hero emerged, holding six-packs of Columbus Brewing IPA, Rhinegeist Truth and whatever else he could find at the nearest gas station. Ax throwing was now a montage of bullseyes, near-misses, cheers and high-fives. By 1 p.m. I felt cheated I didn’t get one more throw in my attempt to be the one true Lumber Lord. Moral of the story: Even something as seemingly thrilling as throwing large, sharp objects for sport isn’t really that great unless there is beer.
Guys, beer is the best. So great that I got too lazy after all that ax throwing to round up five beers. But one of these is a variety pack, so it evens out? Whatever. Oh! And if you’d like to look at some other beer photos, CBB Web Guru Sean Wright is road tripping the Midwest and tweeting out some good stuff along the way.
We have a new appreciation for the cream ale after trying some at @UrbanGrowlerMN. They really hit the spot on a hot day. Love seeing a brewery that makes a #CraftBeer style like this their specialty. pic.twitter.com/0vwYlIZpzs
— CraftBrewingBusiness (@CraftBrewingBiz) July 31, 2018
Here are a handful of beers to know about this week.
Bell’s Brewery adds Wheat IPA to year-round lineup
Starting early next year, Bell’s Official American Wheat IPA is entering the brewery’s year-round portfolio. Official brings pungent American hops and wheat malt together in the brewhouse. Double dry-hopped, Bell’s Official uses a combination of Mosaic, Citra, Azzaca, Amarillo and El Dorado hops. Beer fans will enjoy notes of peach, stone fruit and tropical hop characteristics with a dry finish and balanced bitterness; a refined beer for those who love hops and for those who prefer wheat beers. Development of this beer began in 2017 with the limited release of Titania and later, Larry’s Latest IPA. Both inspired this new beer and helped Bell’s Innovation and Brewing Teams refine the recipe for Bell’s Official.
“We do American IPAs really well. We also do wheat beers very well. Official brings the best of both and combines them in a way that is approachable and enjoyable no matter what you prefer,” said Larry Bell, Bell’s president and founder. “The name of the beer is simple, yet it makes a statement. This is our interpretation of what a hoppy wheat beer should taste like.”
This is the first in a series of new beer announcements that will highlight and showcase the continued innovation that we are known for, Bell hinted.
Ska Brewing to release its take on the Moscow Mule
Wow, it’s already been 23 years for Ska Brewing. In honor of this 23rd anniversary, the Durango, Colo., brewery released MoSka Mule in cans across its distribution footprint. Brewed with ginger and lime to create the flavors of a traditional Moscow Mule cocktail, this refreshing ale clocks in with a Total Acidity of 6.5 and an ABV of 6.12 percent. Oh, and this is the first of Ska’s anniversary beers to be canned and made available outside of Durango.
“Forget all the garnishments, they’re already in the can,” says Ska Founder Dave Thibodeau. “With this beer, we wanted to start celebrating our 23rd Anniversary early. By the way, there are still a few tickets available for the party on September 8th.”
This Funkwerks mixed 12 beer Snack Pack 12 sounds delicious
Funkwerks has a new mixed 12-pack out that includes Saison, Raspberry Provincial and two limited, seasonal offerings: White and Boysenberry Provincial. Winky’s Snack Pack was created to give beer lovers a taste of what Funkwerks is all about. In this case you get two sessionable, tart ales (Raspberry and Boysenberry) and two crisp, bright Belgian style ales (Saison and White). Winky’s Snack Packs are available at Funkwerks’ Fort Collins tasting room and at select liquor stores in Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.
The Boysenberry Provincial sour ale specifically caught our eye. This purple-hued beauty with its cross between raspberries and blackberries provides a sweet yet tart flavor with juicy aroma to this light, bright and tart sour ale. Boysenberry Provisional uses a hefty dose of fresh puree during fermentation to capture its juicy flavors and transport drinkers to a sunny day of berry picking on the farm. Winky’s Snack Packs are the only option for purchasing packaged Boysenberry Provincial— it is not available in six-packs.
White Lion Brewing brews a lager just for MGM Springfield
The MGM Springfield in Massachusetts said it wanted to establish strong relationships with Springfield-based businesses in preparation for the casino’s August 24 launch, and working with local White Lion Brewing Co. on a specially brewed lager for the casino floor is a good start. The bottled lager is appropriately named King of Hearts.
“This lager is brewed exclusively for MGM Springfield,” said White Lion Brewmaster Mike Yates. “It’s a classic German style lager, light amber in color with an ABV of 4.7 percent. It’s crisp and drinkable with subtle flavors, thanks to both German and American hops with a touch sweetness from German malts.”
