Sunday, April 25, 2021

Soul Fire to revive Rabbit Hole original

Image credits: Soul Fire Brewing Co., Rabbit Hole Brewing.

A Rabbit Hole original is set to reappear for a limited time this week, as Soul Fire Brewing Co. of Roanoke will tap its take on a recipe from the former Justin-based brewery.

Rabbit Hole Brewing debuted Off With Your Red as a seasonal offering in September 2014, describing it as "an aggressively-hopped red IPA." From that point on, the beer recurred in Rabbit Hole's portfolio up until the brewery closed its doors in late 2019.

According to co-owner Aaron Bennett, the Soul Fire team worked with none other than Matt Morriss, co-founder and brewmaster at Rabbit Hole, to brew Off With Your Red for its return engagement.

As for availability, Soul Fire's rendition of Off With Your Red will be a draft-only release, with the beer expected to tap Thursday, April 29 at 6 p.m.

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Martin House, Fort Worth Zoo come together for elephant conservation

Image credit: Martin House Brewing Co.

Martin House Brewing Co. of Fort Worth has announced a new partnership with the Fort Worth Zoo, as the brewery will release a beer celebrating the zoo's newest exhibit, Elephant Springs.

The two entities first came together in the spring of 2018, when the zoo opened its African Savanna enclosure. In that instance, Martin House created a wheat beer with kiwano fruit called Into the Wild, which helped bring awareness to the plight of the endangered black rhino.

African Savanna also introduced the zoo's "A Wilder Vision" campaign, an initiative designed to create "new ways to observe, interact and learn about animals." Elephant Springs, which opened on April 15, represents phase two of that program, with the new area designed especially for Asian elephants and greater one-horned rhinos.

As for Elephant Springs (5.2% ABV), the beer, Martin House has taken one of its original recipes, River House Saison, and added a favorite treat of elephants - blueberries. And, if memories of River House are any indication (the beer was a stylistic favorite back in the day), this blueberry variant promises to be a light and refreshing springtime drinker.

A launch party for Elephant Springs will be held at the brewery on Saturday, May 1. Admission is free, with the beer to be available on tap and in packaged form. Can purchases (in singles or four-packs of 16-ounce tallboys) will help with elephant conservation efforts, as Martin House has pledged to donate 25% of all can sales to an elephant-centric charity of the zoo's choosing.

Friday, April 23, 2021

Lakewood goes darker with 2021 Double Chocolate Temptress

Image courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Co.0

Lakewood Brewing Co. (LBC) of Garland has teamed again with local chocolatier Yeli Marshall from Yelibelly Chocolates for the release of 2021 Double Chocolate Temptress.

“We really embraced the dark side of chocolate this year,” says Wim Bens, founder and president of LBC.

According to a press release, this year's edition of Double Chocolate Temptress is bigger and bolder in dark chocolate flavor. Copious amounts of single origin cocoa nibs and a healthy dose of dark cocoa were added to make the beer a dark chocolate lover’s dream. The resulting flavor profile is said to be full of dark chocolate flavor, with aromas of rich cacao, smoke and vanilla.

The brewery also took steps to make the 2021 edition of Double Chocolate Temptress even better than last year's by way of changes to its process.

 “Since we use all-natural ingredients as much as possible, last year’s Double Chocolate, while tasting amazing, had some of the chocolate oils separate in the bottle," explains Bens. "It’s always a challenge when you’re working with real ingredients. We knew we could do better, and we did.”

Double Chocolate Temptress is available in four-packs of 12-ounce bottles as of today in the Lakewood Taproom. Statewide distribution will begin the week of April 26.

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Lakewood launches new music-centric beer series

Image courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Co.

Lakewood Brewing Co. (LBC) of Garland is showcasing the brewery's love of live music with a new three-beer limited series called Lakewood Live.

“Who’s ready for some live music?!” says Wim Bens, founder and president of LBC. “We’re huge music fans at LBC and we’ve been yearning for some live music during the pandemic. That lead to us making a music-centric series celebrating all genres of beer and music.”

According to a press release, the Lakewood Live series will consist of three beers, with each celebrating a musical style. First to hit the stage, as it were, is Lakewood Live Vol. 1. This country and western-inspired imperial peach saison has a sun kissed peach hue, with sweet and tangy peach flavors and an 8% ABV "for a knee-slappin' good time."

Asked why a peach saison reminded him of country and western music, Bens said, “We Texans love our peaches! And a saison is a traditional countryside beer.”

Coming later this year, Lakewood Live Vol.2 will be an imperial rice lager with matcha tea, inspired by high-energy electronic dance music. Then, following that, Vol. 3 will be an imperial Norwegian stout, brewed to be as big and black as Norwegian black metal.

Each beer will have its own musical accompaniment in the form of a curated Spotify playlist featuring songs picked by LBC's staff. Click here to listen to "Live from Lakewood - Vol. 1."

As for Vol.1, the beer, it's out now and available statewide in four-packs of 12-ounce cans.