Denver’s River North Brewery will conclude its month-long April celebration of barleywines with the much-anticipated release of Double Barrel Aged Father Time. Building on an ambitious double-barrel aging program that was launched last year, this year’s release of DBA Father Time represents the culmination of a highly curated barrel program, which could only be eclipsed by aging the beer, not once, but twice in locally sourced whiskey and bourbon barrels.
The release party will be held at both the Blake Street and Washington Street taprooms in Denver on Saturday, April 29, starting at 1 pm.
A rich, fruity, malt-forward barleywine with notes of almond, cordial cherry, and caramel, this limited-edition version of Father Time was aged first in a single malt whiskey barrel followed by a straight bourbon barrel, both coming directly from distilleries in Colorado. At 18.3% ABV, the beer sips like a fine cocktail or fortified cordial and should be savored as such. Bottles of the barleywine are wax-dipped by hand to enhance cellarability. Stored properly, bottles will improve in complexity for years to come.
Double Barrel Aged Father Time will be on tap and available in 375ml bottles at both Denver taprooms starting Saturday afternoon. For those that wish to secure their share of this highly limited batch prior to Saturday, pre-order bottles are available at the River North website at rivernorthbrewery.com. Pre-order pickups will be at the Washington Street taproom only. Both taprooms will also have bottles reserved for in-person sales on the day of the release.
Double Barrel Father Time is just the first installment in a five-part double-aged series for 2023, which will include all of the renowned high-gravity beers that make up its Vicennial Series, including crowd favorites, such as Dark Sorceress imperial porter and God Complex Belgian-style quadrupel. DBA Shadowman imperial stout, the next in the series, is scheduled for release in mid-May.
Bell’s updates the Lager FOR the Lakes, includes same great charitable focus
Lager for the Lakes – an all-new, easy-drinking American lager Bell’s Brewery that celebrates the Great Lakes — has little in common with its predecessor (Lager of the Lakes, a Bohemian Pilsner). Lager for the Lakes features a crisp mouthfeel and a clean finish. Replacing “of” with “for” is intentionally designed to inspire more people to get involved in protecting the lakes we love to enjoy.
“For the name, we added exactly one letter. But behind that small change is an entirely new beer we think will fill our summertime memories for years to come – as well as a far deeper story around protecting the lakes that give us so much,” said Carrie Yunker, Executive Vice President at Bell’s Brewery. “Bell’s has made major investments in clean water initiatives for years, but we still face big threats to human health, millions of jobs, and future generations’ ability to enjoy these vital resources. So consider this our highly drinkable invitation to Bell’s fans: Join us in taking action to protect the Great Lakes at the heart of this great place we call home!”
In honor of the launch, Bell’s will support Alliance for the Great Lakes – a nonpartisan nonprofit organization working across the region to protect the fresh water – with a $25,000 donation. In addition, drinkers can scan a QR code on every can of Lager for the Lakes to join in Bell’s’ longstanding commitment to protecting clean water resources by participating in the Alliance’s Adopt-A-Beach program, which enables organizations and individual volunteers to work together in preventing plastic waste from polluting the Great Lakes.
Together, Bell’s and Alliance for the Great Lakes will host two beach clean-up events this summer, both of which fans are encouraged to join. Details and registration instructions for these events will be released at a later date, on both the Alliance for the Great Lakes and Bell’s Brewery websites.
Saugatuck Brewing doubles down on newest products
Saugatuck Brewing Co. (SBC) is doubling down on its new product releases this year aimed at meeting the growing demands of its customers and the craft beer market. With the Rainbow Rodeo IPA, SBC has cast a line of citrus, tropical and piney notes with enough body to make a splash, yet maintain an easy drinking, great bucking IPA. This IPA follows the release earlier this year of Lake Street Lager, a light bodied crisp and clean American lager for any occasion that is making its way to everyone’s cooler for spring.
“We adapted techniques from brewing traditional Midwest IPAs and modern IPAs to create Rainbow Rodeo which embraces the best characteristics of each,” said Head Brewer Matt Alderink. “It is classic Midwest malt backbone with modern juicy mouthfeel and bitterness.”
Rainbow Rodeo IPA pays homage to its home state of Michigan’s reputation as a fly-fishing mecca for rainbow trout and rich heritage of farming. SBC’s brew masters baited Rainbow Rodeo IPA with malts of Two Row, Caramel 60, White Wheat and Flaked Oats coupled with Centennial, Simcoe, Cascade and Columbus hops. It weighs in at 7.0% ABV and 60 IBUs.
“Our Rainbow Rodeo IPA is produced to be a bright and easy-drinking American IPA, with a creative can that hooks you when you see it on the shelf. This new staple has been added to our mainstay lineup and our new variety pack, A Trip to the Art Coast, that includes other must-have styles. We see the Rainbow Rodeo artwork as a portal into a wild world of hops, where cowgirls wrangle in large rainbow trout, upending the idea that only men enjoy fishing and beer. You have to admit, she’s pretty badass, and so is what’s inside the can,” said Sara VanSplinter, Director of Marketing.
SBC’s new A Trip to the Art Coast Variety Pack includes the two new releases, Rainbow Rodeo IPA and Lake Street Lager, along with the Bonfire Brown and Vienna Lager. Vienna Lager is currently only available in the Variety Pack. The Variety Pack is available in 12-packs, with three 12 oz cans of each style.
Fibonacci brews first in line of chestnut-related beers
Fibonacci Brewing Co.‘s Castanea No.9 is the result of a collaborative effort between head brewer Alex Rhinehart and the Southern Ohio Chestnut Company. During a planting party hosted by the company, Rhinehart struck up a conversation with chestnut grower and Route 9 Chesnut Cooperative member Amy Miller. They discussed the rich history of brewing with chestnuts and the potential for a revival of chestnut beers.
With the support of Rural Action and the Appalachian Staple Food Collaborative, Miller and Rhinehart set out to develop a unique chestnut beer. Castanea No.9 is the first in a line of chestnut-related brewing experiments, and it promises to be a hit among craft beer enthusiasts.
This brown ale is a celebration of the chestnut tree, which has a long history of bringing people together and providing community sustenance.
Alex says, “Bringing Castanea No. 9 to life with Route 9 Chestnut Coop and their community action partners has been a wonderful project. Amy and I first discussed brewing with chestnuts several years ago, and it is fulfilling to see that conversation come full circle. This unique chestnut beer is a tribute to the rich culinary and brewing history of the chestnut and a testament to the power of community. We hope beer lovers and friends can join us in enjoying our first beer brewed with chestnuts.”
Castanea No.9 is now available for purchase at Fibonacci Brewing Company’s taproom, located at 1445 Compton Road in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Angry Orchard adds Blueberry Rosé Hard Cider
Angry Orchard, the leading U.S. cider maker, is turning up the fruit and flavor by launching a brand-new Blueberry Rosé Hard Cider. An evolution of the fan-favorite Angry Orchard Rosé Hard Cider, Blueberry Rosé breaks from the tried and true by combining the crisp, juicy flavors of Rosé with real blueberries to deliver a fruity twist on the classic.
Blueberry Rosé features a curated blend of 10 traditional bittersweet and culinary apples that are balanced with real blueberry juice to create a bright, apple-forward cider with subtle blueberry notes and a ruby red hue. At 6% ABV, this delicious divergence from the expected cider profile will have drinkers reaching for more Blueberry Rosé all summer long.
“As our trees start to bloom and the colors of Blueberry Rosé naturally begin to pop throughout the Orchard, reaching for something refreshing and fruit-forward just feels right,” said Joe Gaynor, Cider Maker for Angry Orchard. “An evolution of our Rosé that we first tested at the Orchard before taking it nationally years ago, Blueberry Rosé is another great example of a cider that started as a small innovation here at the Cider House then grew into something all Angry Orchard fans can pick up this summer.”
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