American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
So many beers, So little time…In spite of last week’s snows in the east, it feels like things are finally beginning to warm up. Spring is just around the corner, and spring releases are already in stores – and we’ve a number of interesting seasonals for you. Plus we’ve also got some new releases from Bridgeport and Firestone Walker that you’ll need to get your sweaty little hands on.
Cultish (Hershey, PA) – Tröegs Brewing has just returned their spring seasonal and it’s being released in cans as well as bottles this time around. Tröegs Cultivator is a Helles Lager, a 6.9% ABV spring bock that’s arriving just in time for the changing seasons.
Easy Jack’s Back (Paso Robles, CA) – When Firestone Walker launched their new session IPA last year, it was an immediate success and that’s when they ran into problems. You see, Easy Jack IPA was brewed with a rare selection of hops – and two of them (grown only in the Hallertau region in Germany) ran out by mid-summer – spelling an early end for the popular beer. So brewmaster Matt Brynildson made the trek over to Germany himself in hopes of securing these rare hops that were so essential to Easy Jack’s flavor profile. Luckily, he got it done and then some. In fact, Matt came back so flush with the rare Mandarina and Hull Melon varieties that they will now be brewing this 4.7% ABV hop-forward beauty all year round!
An Unrepentant Tart (Portland, OR) – Bridgeport Brewing is returning its tart ale and every year they brew it with a different berry. Stumptown Tart 2015 is a 7.7% ABV Belgian-style ale and this year, they brewed it with raspberries. Look for this tart, with its new pin-up girl label, to begin rolling out soon in 22 oz. bombers.
Breckenridge goesShakespearean (Denver, CO) – Breckenridge Brewery has returned a popular early spring seasonal. Like its namesake from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia Hoppy Wheat Ale is a sweet and innocent 5% ABV wheat beer with a season’s changing crispness. And unlike Shakespeare’s Ophelia, there’s no tragic ending with this beer.
Backstage Access (Grand Rapids, MI) – Founders Brewing has brought back a memorable Backstage Series release that’s not been seen since July 2011. Founders Bushing Monk is a 9.2% ABV Belgian-style Ale that’s also brewed with raspberries. It’s out there now – but it won’t be for long – so you know what to do.
