Oskar Blues, Asheville Brewing colla-BEER-ation generates brand buzz

Collaborating with other brewers is a great way to build some additional excitement around your brand and become more involved in the craft beer industry. We’ve seen several announcements for unique collaboration beer and today we have yet another, as Oskar Blues Brewery and Asheville Brewing Co. teamed up to create a North Cackalacky colla-BEER-ation.

Oskar Blues Brewery Head Brewer Noah Tuttle and Asheville Brewing Co. Head Brewer Doug Riley during the creation of the Big BAMA Buzz.

What did the brewers come up with? Think Alabama/Southern roots — both Asheville Head Brewer Doug Riley and Oskar Blues Founder Dale Katechis hail from that Magnolia-strewn state. Think big, bold lightly-hopped nectar with a malty, steeped with Ethiopian-blend coffee, backbone. Think fun, tasty and a little outrageous. It’s their new Imperial Brown Ale, aka Big BAMA Buzz!

“This was a really fun recipe to come up with, and it’s a fun style of beer that will be smooth but pack a wallop. We’re amped to be working with Doug and Asheville Brewing Co.,” said Oskar Blues Head Brewer Noah Tuttle.

Dale and Doug have been talking about doing a colla-BEER-ation since Oskar Blues first announced that they would open a second brewery in Brevard in May 2012. The Alabama-bred boys attended rival high schools in Florence, Alabama, and share a love for great craft beer and all things Southern.

To build even more beer hype, the two brewers went to the public to name this special brew, running simultaneous “Name That Beer” contests on their brewery Facebook pages. Turns out there were two winners, so Asheville Brewing and Oskar Blues combined the two names entered by Matt Hazelton and Janice Freeman and came up with Big BAMA Buzz.

Big BAMA Buzz will be released at simultaneous parties at both breweries on Monday, April 8, from 4 to 8 p.m. (Oskar Blues Brewery taproom at 342 Mountain Industrial Dr. in Brevard and Asheville Brewing Co.’s brewery locale at 77 Coxe Avenue in Asheville). It will only be available on tap at the two breweries — while it lasts.

“We’re excited to collaborate with Oskar Blues, not just on the beer but by working together to benefit an important local nonprofit —Animal Compassion Network,” said Mike Rangel, Asheville Brewing Co. founder and president. “We also had fun playing on the Alabama connection.”

Proceeds from the sale of the beer will benefit ACN, the largest animal welfare organization in Western North Carolina. Because both breweries love them some hound dogs.

“We are honored to be chosen to benefit from this special small batch release by two of our local breweries,” said Lauren Weldishofer, ACN marketing coordinator. “A cold local brew and a rescue dog by your side is what I call a happy hour.”