Rollertown breaking out The Cypher for upcoming B-Boy Battle

Image courtesy of Rollertown Beeworks.

Rollertown Beerworks of Celina has teamed with Battle Grounds, a community-based group rooted in hip hop culture, for the Second Annual Rollertown B-Boy Battle, an incredibly unique, high-energy event taking place at the brewery on Friday, October 20 at 6 p.m.

According to a press release, organizers are looking to elevate the experience by building off the success of the inaugural event last year while celebrating breaking’s inclusion in the 2024 Olympics. Attendees can expect incredible dance-offs, world-class technique, and one-of-a-kind performances by talented breakers from across the state. The event will take place outside under a large tent to increase visibility for spectators, and there will be a 3 vs. 3 competition with a larger grand prize of $1,500.

“This event embodies why we wanted to start Rollertown in the first place,” says Jeff "Skin" Wade, co-founder of Rollertown. “We have a long history of fusing together things we’re passionate about. And providing our guests with the essence of true Hip-Hop culture fills us with so much pride and excitement.”

To commemorate the event, Rollertown will release a new beer called The Cypher (10% ABV) as part of its Back to the Lab Experimental IPA Series. This imperial hazy IPA is made with copious amounts of wheat and oats, a clean American pilsner base malt and a mix of Bru-1, Citra and HBC-586 hops. The result is said to present with a velvety body and powerful hints of pineapple, mango and lychee.

Appropriately, the beer is named as a tribute to a "cypher," an open-circle warmup prior to the battle where the group communes while people take turns executing freestyle moves. The cypher (or cipher) has deep cultural roots in hip hop culture and beyond.

Leo J, a prominent figure in the breaking community who will perform at the event, also expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming festivities.

"After the huge success of last year's event, I am happy to partner with Rollertown for a second year in a row," adds Leo J. "With breaking making its debut in the 2024 Olympics, it makes events like these even more important for the breaking community as fans of the culture can get an up close and personal view of the artform."

The B-Boy Battle is free for attendees. Apart from breaking and music from DJ Leo J, there will be food from Cane Rosso and Cheddr Wheel, and pop-ups from Josey Records, DFW Vintage Swap Meet and more. Rollertown encourages early arrival to ensure a good viewing spot, as the event is expected to draw a very large crowd again this year.

Railport taps community input for new TxIPA

Image credit: Railport Brewing Co.

Railport Brewing Co. of Waxahachie recently took a crowdsourcing approach in creating a new house beer especially for Union 28, a bar & grill/live music venue in Midlothian.

For this project, Railport held a series of tasting events at Union 28. Patrons were asked to try a number of different beers, picking their favorites from among the sample groups. This helped the brewery zero in the general preferences of Union 28 customers, according to Railport's head brewer, Jacoby Womack.

"It was about establishing a consistency as far as what the patrons are drinking [at Union 28]," says Womack, " which is a drinkable light beer with flavor, but also with a mouthfeel similar to what they drink regularly."

The problem with most light beers, of course, is how the bland and generic nature leaves you wanting more. So, with that in mind, Railport worked to develop a craft ale that drinks like a macro light lager.

Introduced as the brewery's TxIPA, the beer features a mix of Citra and Galena hops. Think session IPA, but even lighter, with a hop-forward presentation and less malt character than an American-style pale ale. 

"It's light, it's clear, and it has the perfect amount of bitterness for people to drink it and say it has flavor, but drinks like a Miller Lite or Bud Light!" says Womack.

And, as the graphic says, you're invited to "Come and Drink It!", whether that be at Union 28 or the Railport taproom, where TxIPA is on tap and available now.

Big D rotator now regular offering at Lakewood

The beer’s label features the "Big D Robot," a nod to Dallas' iconic Traveling Man
taking Big Tex and the Fair Park ferris wheel for a stroll (Lakewood Brewing Co.)

Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland has announced the release of Big D Double IPA, a permanent iteration of its popular rotating IPA series of 2021 that effectively served as a testing ground for this new year-round offering.

“Last year’s Big D series was a lot of fun for us and a way to experiment with what makes great IPAs,” says Wim Bens, president and founder of Lakewood. “The IPA landscape is always changing, but we think that balance is key to making an IPA that people want to keep coming back to. So, we created a wonderful balance of strength, hoppiness, flavor and aroma.”

According to a press release, Lakewood used copious amounts of a unique blend of hops, imparting big West Coast IPA hop character with a punch of tropical aroma. The resulting notes of orange, peach, and mango are said to ride a wave of balanced bitterness to create a surprisingly drinkable 8% ABV double IPA.

The beer is one of many new and limited releases to come from Lakewood, as the brewery celebrates its 10th year in business during 2022.

“I might be biased, but this is the best IPA we’ve come out with so far and it’s a perfect way to start celebrating our 10 years in beer!" adds Bens. "We have a lot us surprises in store for this year. I can’t wait!”

Big-D Double IPA is available now on draft and in six-packs of 12-ounce cans at the Lakewood taproom, with statewide distribution rolling out in the days ahead.

Lakewood releases Big D IPA #003

Image courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Co.

Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland has begun shipping the latest in its limited "Big D" line of double dry-hopped IPAs. 

According to a press release, Big D IPA #003 (8.5% ABV) is a fresh take on the series "that delicately merges bold citrus and stone fruit flavors with a semi-sweet body to provide a crisp, succulent sip."

“As we’ve been making IPAs over the years, I’ve looked for new ways to utilize hops to really amplify their unmistakable character,” says Justin Hatley, innovation brewer at Lakewood. “Today we benefit from some of the best and most thorough hop research in generations, courtesy of the very growers themselves. So, when Hopsteiner, one of the best suppliers around, tells me they have a new, bold blend of hops called Trident designed to impart some of the fruitiest flavors possible, I had to try them!”

Using copious amounts of this blend, Lakewood imparted its unique floral bitterness into Big D IPA #003, along with notes of orange, mango, and kiwi.

"Using old homebrew hopping techniques and a healthy dry hop dose of the Trident hop blend, I think Big D #3 is my favorite in the series thus far," adds Hatley. "Big, juicy, fruity flavors with just enough bitterness for my old-school IPA palate. Give it a go, trust me, I’m sure this’ll put hop heads over the top!”

Big D IPA #003 is currently available statewide on draft and in four-packs of 12-ounce cans.

Deep Ellum delivers new IPA Variety 12-Pack

Image credit: Deep Ellum Brewing Co.

Deep Ellum Brewing Co. of Dallas has announced the release of a new IPA Variety 12-Pack featuring four of the brewery's hoppiest offerings.

With a product mix including cans of Deep Ellum IPA, Easy Peasy Session IPA, Manic Confidence Hazy Enough IPA and the current rotator from the all-new Hop Seeker series, the pack is described as "an eclectic, hop-forward compilation of India Pale Ales crafted in the Deep Ellum neighborhood of Dallas."

The Deep Ellum IPA Variety 12-Pack is available now all across Texas.

Deep Ellum introduces Hop Seeker rotating IPA series

Image credits: CANarchy/Deep Ellum Brewing Co.

Deep Ellum Brewing Co. of Dallas is embarking on a quest to track down the world's finest hops for inclusion in recipes designed for its new Hop Seeker rotating IPA series.

The first release in this line of beers is Hop Seeker West Coast IPA (7.3% ABV, 40 IBU). "Brewed for the hop-huggers, the lupulin lovers, and hopsplorers of every sort," Hop Seeker features Mosaic hops sourced from the Pacific Northwest. According to a press release, the resulting beer is said to start off gentle with fruity aromas, while finishing with piney bite.

“For this initial release we pulled inspiration from some of our favorite breweries on the west coast that are making huge waves with IPAs," says Brian Morris, head brewer at Deep Ellum. "Consider this a tribute to everything we love about the modern revival of the west coast IPA. Clear, crisp, and packed with some of our favorite hops.”

Hop Seeker West Coast IPA is available now on draft and in six-packs of 12-ounce cans all across Texas.

Lakewood drops Big D IPA #002

Images courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Co.

In February, Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland introduced a new line of double dry-hopped IPAs dubbed "Big D." Now, the Big D IPA series is back with its second installment, Big D IPA #002.

According to a press release, Big D IPA #002 (8% ABV) is dry-hopped with a mix of Lotus, Azacca and Sultana hops. This is said to result in a "remarkably refreshing and quaffable" beer with notes of orange zest, caramelized pineapple, and fresh vanilla.

“My goal was to brew a beer for, honestly, me!” says Justin Hatley, innovation brewer at Lakewood. “As a huge fan, I wanted to find the best of both worlds when it comes to IPAs, bridging the gap from the traditional New-England style hazy with its strong fruit forward flavor, and the West-Coast tradition of crisp, bitter dankness. Big D IPA#002 is the perfect marriage of both, complimenting instead of compromising on the vision of each!”

Big D IPA #002 is currently available statewide on draft and in four-packs of 12-ounce cans.

Tupps ringing in the new year with R.I.P. 2020

Image courtesy of Tupps Brewery.

With its latest release, Tupps Brewery of McKinney wants to give everyone a reason to celebrate the start of a new year, so the company is telling 2020 to R.I.P and never come back!

That sentiment is front and center on the label of R.I.P. 2020, a double dry-hopped IPA, along with a variety other graphics representing things we've all endured during 2020 - the pandemic, murder hornets, natural disasters, toilet paper shortages and more.

“This year has been a roller coaster," says Keith Lewis, founder and president of Tupps. "We have had to shift our business plan multiple times, close the taproom, amp up our beer-to-go process and the list goes on. This year has been a tough one for everyone. We wanted to create a beer that everyone can relate to and a beer that tastes top notch so we can end this year on a good note and celebrate.”

As for the beer itself, the recipe for R.I.P 2020 features a wide range of Tupps' favorite hop varieties, including Citra, Galaxy, Nelson, Sultana, Ella, Vic Secret, El Dorado, Azacca, Cryo Citra, Cryo Mosaic, Sabro, and Idaho-7. 

“We have great relationships with our hop suppliers, and have solid hop contacts with them," says Chris Lewis, head brewer at Tupps. "We packed this beer with our favorite hops making this IPA super hazy, juicy and drinkable.”

R.I.P. 2020 will be available on tap and in six-packs of 12-ounce cans beginning this week. Consumers in Dallas-Fort Worth can purchase R.I.P. 2020 to-go at Tupps taproom in McKinney, or pick it up at Kroger, Market Street, Total Wine, Spec's, Goody Goody, Whole Foods, Central Market and other local craft beer and wine stores. The beer will also be sold at major retailers in Austin, San Antonio and Oklahoma.

Lakewood reaches final level of IPA series with Boss Fight

Image courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Co.

Advancing to the final stage of its yearlong IPA series inspired by retro gaming and the almighty hop, Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland urges consumers to get their game face on in preparation for the Boss Fight!

A monster double dry-hopped imperial hazy IPA, Level 4: Boss Fight features a blend of choice hops from New Zealand, including Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, Sunrise and Riwaka varieties. According to the brewery, this mix creates an aroma with notes of tropical fruit, citrus and stone fruit. As for Boss Fight's finish and feel, Lakewood describes Boss Fight as well-balanced with a reserved bitterness.

“We’re at the end of our year-long DDH series and it’s been a blast, but before we kiss 2020 goodbye we gotta fight the Boss!” says Wim Bens, founder and president of Lakewood. “This series has been a bright spot in a year that’s been anything but in the beer industry. It’s been a welcome distraction and has made us better brewers for lots of new innovation to come in 2021.”

Level 4: Boss Fight will be available in four-packs of 12-ounce cans beginning the first week of December. Look for it at select retailers, or head to Lakewood's Drive-Thru to pick it up to-go.

Turning Point to tap its take on Etzel IPA recipe

Image credit: Turning Point Beer.

Thus far, Tarrant County breweries have covered a variety of different styles while brewing beers in honor of Fort Worth homebrewer, Greg Etzel. However, an IPA recipe sourced from Etzel's archives has yet to be explored. That changes this week, as Turning Point Beer will release KevIKE the Crusher, its take on an IPA by Etzel featuring a strain of Norwegian kveik yeast.

Turning Point, of course, is known for its ability to harness the hop, so it's not surprising to learn that series organizer Nigel Curtis had the Bedford brewery in mind when it came to deciding who'd be asked to re-create an Etzel IPA.

"We're a hazy IPA brewery, and Nigel though we could execute it best," says James Herrington, production manager at Turning Point. "We brewed it using all the ingredients Greg used, but we brewed it to our process."

As for Herrington and the Turning Point team's connection to Greg, it's another story of bonds being formed through the local homebrewing community.

"I knew Greg through Cap and Hare Homebrew Club when I first started homebrewing about nine years ago, and everyone at the brewery knew Greg from Texas Brewing, Inc.," explains Herrington. "Greg was a genuinely great person who helped everybody. We all loved him and just want to return all the help he gave us."

KevIKE the Crusher will be available at Turning Point beginning on Wednesday, December 2, with 100% of proceeds from sales benefiting charities chosen by the Etzel family.

Lakewood's latest IPA promises level-up big hazy experience

Image credit: Lakewood Brewing Co.

Now reaching level three of its yearlong IPA series inspired by retro gaming and the almighty hop, Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland has announced the release of Level3: Dungeon Escape.

Billed as a double dry-hopped imperial hazy IPA, Level3: Dungeon Escape was brewed with Denali, Citra and Cashmere Cryo hops to create a "level-up big hazy experience." According to a press release, the beer has a big, dank and fruity aroma with tropical notes of pineapple and papaya.

“We’re gearing up for the boss fight and need all our IPA points for the win!” says Wim Bens, founder and president of Lakewood. “This series has been so much fun and the beers keep getting bigger and bolder. Level 3 certainly delivers for the hop haze craze.”

Level3: Dungeon Escape will be available in four-packs of 12-ounce cans beginning Friday, October 2. Look for it at select retailers, or visit the Lakewood Drive-Thru to pick up beer to-go.

Lakewood launches next level line of IPAs

Image courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Co.

Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland is going full-tilt with its 2020 Small Batch Can Series, drawing inspiration from retro games in the design of a line of IPAs that will "level up" with each release.

This first of these, Level 1: Jungle Run (6.5% ABV), is an unfiltered IPA brewed with a variety of tropical fruits including soursop, mango, pineapple and pink guava. The beer has also been dry-hopped with generous amounts of Citra, Meridian and Amarillo hops.

“We had so much fun with last year’s [small batch] releases," says Wim Bens, founder and president of Lakewood. "This year it’s all about the IPA and retro games. We’re releasing four seriously fun beers and every release will see the alcohol go up as well as the hop intensity."

Subsequent beers in the series will release quarterly and be called Level 2: Temple Hop, Level 3: Dragon Escape and Level 4: Boss Fight. Artwork on the cans will transition from one release to the next, creating a collectible set.

"For the artwork, we partnered with the incredibly talented Jay Roeder (www.jayroeder.com) to bring the retro-gaming inspired look to life," adds Bens.

Look for Level 1: Jungle Run on draft and in four-packs of 12-ounce cans throughout Texas and at the Lakewood taproom.

Deep Ellum has 'Confidence' in new IPA

Image courtesy of Deep Ellum Brewing Co.

Deep Ellum Brewing Co. of Dallas has announced a new IPA it believes is hazy enough to satisfy your craze for haze.

Manic Confidence (6.5% ABV, 15 IBUs) is described as a "a hot tropical island vacation dissected and reconstructed in the form of a refreshingly juicy craft brew." Crafted with a mix of Galaxy, Enigma, Comet, Strata, Citra and Idaho 7 hops, Manic Confidence is said to deliver a maniacal amount of hop flavor and complexity that floods the taste receptors, resulting in a salivating joy that leaves you craving more.

“When building Manic Confidence, we knew we had to go into it with two things in mind - embodying the mentality that has gotten us to where we’re at as a brewery, and using waaaaay more hops in a beer than we ever have," says Deep Ellum's Innovation Brewer, Brian Morris. "You can even see our manic nature as a brewery in the hops that we featured in this beer. Manic Confidence has an incredible tropical fruit profile of aromas and flavors including pineapple, mango, starburst candy and white gummy bear.”

About that mentality, Deep Ellum Marketing Manager Maegan Eason explained where the beer’s name originated: “In a brewery meeting, someone referred to the Deep Ellum brand as ‘cocky,’ and our founder, John Reardon, said, ‘we’re not cocky. We’re manic confident.’”

Look for Manic Confidence in six-packs of 12-ounce cans starting March 1. The beer is also on tap now at the original Deep Ellum Dallas Taproom and the Funkytown Fermatorium in Fort Worth.

Lakewood gets a little hazy with Melon Baller

Image courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Co.

Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland is set to join the haze craze with the late-summer debut of Melon Baller Hazy IPA.

Taking its place as the third beer in the brewery's Limited Can Series line, Mellon Baller (6.9% AB) is brewed with fresh cantaloupe, along with a blend of Loral, Citra, Bravo and Huell Melon hop varieties. The new beer follows Earthly Highs and Muy Importante in the small-batch series, which the company says has been well-received by fans, not only for its inventive brews, but also for the "kick-ass can designs" created by artist Cory Say.

“We’ve been toying around with some recipes and are finally ready to embrace the haze." says Wim Bens, founder and president of Lakewood. "We wanted to make a hazy IPA but make it a little more fun by brewing it with two types of ‘melon’ - Huell Melon hops that add ripe melon and bright fruit aromas, plus fresh cantaloupe to boost the fruit-forward hop profile and create a soft palate."

Look for Melon Baller to be available on tap and in four-packs of 12-ounce cans beginning in early August.

Local breweries pitching in for Camp Fire relief

Image credit: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

In honor of Giving Tuesday, multiple North Texas breweries are manning the kettles as we speak, all of them working to brew a beer to help communities devastated by Camp Fire in Butte County, California.

It's part of a collaborative endeavor put together by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. of Chico, California. Earlier this month, the company announced the upcoming release of Resilience Butte County Proud IPA, a beer created as a way to raise funds for those affected by the tragedy. In addition, Sierra Nevada pledged that 100% of proceeds from the sale of Resilience will be donated to the Camp Fire Relief Fund.

To expand the effort, Sierra Nevada asked brewers across the country to assist as well, with over 1000 breweries now having answered the call. As for who has signed on from around North Texas, known participants are listed below.

Backstory Brewery, Sulphur Springs
BrainDead Brewing, Dallas
Community Beer Co., Dallas
Cowtown Brewing Co., Fort Worth
Denton County Brewing Co., Denton
Dirty Job Brewing, Mansfield
Legal Draft Beer Co., Arlington
Martin House Brewing Co., Fort Worth
New Main Brewing Co., Pantego
Rabbit Hole Brewing, Justin
Steam Theory Brewing Co., Dallas
The Collective Brewing Project, Fort Worth
Tupps Brewery, McKinney
Unlawful Assembly Brewing Co., Plano
Wild Acre Brewing Co., Fort Worth

Sierra Nevada is providing the recipe for the beer to these (and likely other) area breweries, and in some cases ingredients have been donated from national and local suppliers (i.e. Texas Brewing, Inc. of Haltom City).

Keep tabs on social media to find out when Resilience Butte County Proud IPA will be on tap at these locales in the coming weeks, and be sure to stop in for a pint to aid the cause. You can also donate directly, with instructions on how to do so found by clicking here.

Brewers weigh in on the next phase of hazy IPAs

Alex Knight of Turning Point and Matt Reynolds of Celestial Beerworks brewing a batch
of #juicebros, a collaborative double IPA with blueberries released in July (Turning Point Beer).

The juice is loose, not just in North Texas, but across the country as juicy and hazy IPAs are making a play for the title of craft beer's most popular style.

Earlier this year, the Brewers Association added three "juicy or hazy" styles to its competition guidelines, and one of those ended up being the most-entered category at the 2018 Great American Beer Festival. "Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale" wrested the top spot from "American-Style India Pale Ale," ending a reign that began in 2002.

Once considered a fad by some, hazy and juicy beers now enjoy a level of legitimacy with the establishment of formal descriptions and the quick ascendancy to the top of the competition ranks. The question now: Where do brewers go from here in terms of the evolution of these highly sought-after styles?

According to Matt Reynolds, owner and head brewer at Celestial Beerworks in Dallas, a first step may be to spend time improving on what's already out there.

"I feel like consistency and quality are something that lacks with these styles," says Reynolds. "We hope to dial in our system and show that these beers can be delicate and well-executed like some of the other popular styles out there."

Optimizing aspects of production is also a focus for Alex Knight, co-founder and director of brewing operations at Turning Point Beer of Bedford.

"We're working to get better extraction and higher volume, as well as trying to get more juicy characteristics into our beers, says Knight. "Another thing is seeing how to push the limits with more hops, while maybe increasing the malt and making more balanced beers."

From there, the sky is seemingly the limit, especially considering the open-ended nature of the newly-minted definitions. Baseline characteristics only call for beers to be hazy, with low bitterness, a softer texture and high hop content. Hops can be of any variety, which opens the door to a direction Reynolds is looking to explore.

"We plan to focus heavily on new or underutilized hop varieties to showcase different flavor profiles than what typically is associated with these types of beers," says Reynolds. "I love Australian hops, so we will be using those a lot in our juicy/hazy recipes."

Knight believes mash-ups of existing styles are also a possibility, with brewers bringing together elements from different types of beers to form a new breed of IPA.

"One thing that pops into my mind is the brut IPA," says Knight. "We've been tinkering with ideas that combine the dryness and drinkability of a brut IPA with the adjuncts and high hopping rates from juicy IPAs."

Of course, brewers have already expanded on the category by adding lactose to create milkshake IPAs, while oat and wheat cream IPAs are also being made at breweries around the country. As for what is destined to be the next big thing in juicy and hazy styles, that revelation is likely to come from brewers choosing to delve into uncharted territory.

Here in North Texas, breweries like Celestial and Turning Point are already operating in that realm, working to stay a step ahead as the haze craze enters a new phase.

---

Originally published as part of a special section on NTX Beer Week in the November 1, 2018 edition of the Dallas Observer. An online copy of the complete newspaper is available by clicking here.

Books on beer: Exploring the realm of Eclectic IPA

Image courtesy of Brewers Publications.

Dick Cantwell likes to say every beer has a story. So here, in his fourth book for Brewers Publications, is the story of Eclectic IPA. Though, truth be told, it's not so much a narrative as it is an idea book, focusing less on the "how to" and more on the "what to try" when pushing the boundaries of the IPA.

Calling it an idea book has to do with style specifics and Cantwell's repeated reminders to not worry about taxonomy. Eclectic IPAs, incorporating the flavors of fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, or coffee and chocolate, don't meet a defined style guideline. Well, other than the fact that they are all just American IPAs - albeit with a bit of augmentation. In other words, there isn't just one way to do things when working in this medium. Moreover, when crafting this type of beer, it doesn't matter what a recipe ingredient is called or how you classify it...what matters is whether you have the makings of a delicious IPA.

Now, that's not to say you should throw caution to the wind with regards to eclectic IPAs and their ingredients. Naturally, there are things to consider. For example, is that exotic herb you've discovered safe and palatable? Or, worse yet, will it be a key ingredient in your new hemlock IPA?

Indeed, the choice of ingredients is one thing, but deciding how (e.g. raw versus cooked, whole versus processed) and when to use them (e.g. hot side or cold side) is quite another. Oh, and let's not forget about balance, and how it's best not to approach flavor presence "through the metaphoric use of a Tom & Jerry mallet."

Those topics and more are examined in the book, as Cantwell offers a wide range of ideas in both text and tabular form that encourage experimentation. Of course, there are an abundance of recipes as well, which serve as a jumping-off point to kick-start your explorations.

As for going beyond that, Cantwell says it's entirely up to you. His ideas are just that, and Eclectic IPA is a book that's meant to be built on. For it's you, the reader/brewer, that will assume the role of "interpretive opportunist," as you seek to add your own personal touch to craft beer's most popular style.

---

Eclectic IPA is published by Brewers Publications (pre-release copy provided for review). It's available for purchase now on the publisher's website, with copies expected to be on sale at retail in early June.

Dick Cantwell co-founded Elysian Brewing Co. of Seattle, Washington, in 1996. He is currently the director of brewing operations at Magnolia Brewing Co. in San Francisco, California. His writing credits include Barley Wine: History, Brewing Techniques, Recipes (1998), The Brewers Association's Guide to Staring Your Own Brewery, Second Edition (2013) and Wood & Beer: A Brewers Guide (2016).

All aboard for Armadillo's new Land Yacht IPA

Image courtesty of Armadillo Ale Works.

After more than four years of being one of the few North Texas brewing operations to eschew the IPA, Armadillo Ale Works of Denton has altered course to produce a version of craft beer's most popular style.

Land Yacht IPA (7.3% ABV, 75 IBU) is set to embark on an introductory tour of the Metroplex, after which it will join Armadillo's core lineup alongside Honey Please, Royal Champ and Greenbelt Farmhouse Wheat. The beer is an American IPA that's been brewed to style, featuring a copious amount of Azacca, Mosaic, Citra, Columbus, and Centennial hops.

But why, you may ask, would a company that's known for its uniqueness decide to release a stylistic IPA at this point in its evolution? According to co-founder Yianni Arestis, it's all about doing the unexpected, which up to now has been a hallmark of Armadillo's approach.

"Normally, we cross style boundaries and use special ingredients in our beers to offer the consumer something tasty, interesting and truly different," says Arestis. "After coming out with seven beers like that, though, we felt it would be cool to show people we can brew to style with the best of them."

Special Land Yacht IPA glassware will be available at launch events occurring this weekend (Armadillo Ale Works).

Along those lines, you won't find any additives in Land Yacht IPA. With so many different takes on the IPA in the market these days, many falling in line with the current trend of adding fruit infusions, Arestis and co-founder Bobby Mullins chose to go against the grain in sticking to style. Accordingly, their first IPA foray is all about the hops, a characteristic that's been subtly built into the Land Yacht name.

"We wanted a name that hinted at the beer using 'a boatload of hops,' as well as something that alluded to going on a 'tropical flavor trip,'" says Arestis. "Since it's an American IPA, we figured a big, classic American car, a land yacht if you will, would make sense. Plus, the longhorns on the hood are an obvious tie-in to our Texas roots."

As for how it turned out, an early sample of Land Yacht IPA shows it to be a beer that gives off notes of sharp citrus and pine initially, with a ripe pineapple and tropical fruit character developing as it opens up. It's a little dank and a little musky with not a lot of bitterness, the latter meaning more emphasis was put on highlighting hop flavor and aroma. The beer is neither east coast or west in terms of a regional designation, but rather something that falls somewhere in the middle. Given that, instead of trying to pin it down, maybe just call Land Yacht IPA what it is...a really good, easy-drinking Armadillo-style IPA.

Land Yacht IPA will be available as a draft-only offering. Look for it on tap beginning this weekend at launch parties planned at the following locations.


Friday, June 30

• East Side, Denton: 7-10 p.m.

Saturday, July 1

• Lakewood Growler, Dallas: 4-7 p.m.
• Brewed, Fort Worth: 6-9 p.m.

Revolver releases Full-Tang for the first time in bottles

Image credit: Revolver Brewing.

After first appearing on the scene last summer as a draft-only offering, Full-Tang IPA from Revolver Brewing is out this week for the first time in bottles, and it's likely already resting on a retail shelf near you.

Full-Tang (7.2% ABV, 50 IBU) is an IPA that's brewed with tangerine peel, along with four different hop varieties (Saphir, Mandarina, Apollo and Citra), to fulfill the brewery's "tangerine-fueled" quest to design a stellar IPA.

In fact, two of the hop varieties used - Mandarina and Saphir - are noted for their tangerine qualities, with Mandarina sometimes being described as a "tangerine machine." Brought together with flavors imparted by the addition of Apollo and Citra hops, the resulting brew features a mix of tropical and citrus fruit flavors backed by an engaging floral essence.

Packaged in six-packs of 12-ounce bottles, Full-Tang IPA's official release date was May 8, with availability forecasted to last through July. After that, expect to see Redshift Spiced Red Ale to land on local shelves, with bottles of that beer slated to hit the market during the first week of August. For more on that and other products to come later this year, check out Revolver's complete 2017 release schedule on the brewery's website.

Rahr & Sons rolls out redesigned packaging, preps Dadgum IPA

Image courtesy of Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.

Calling it the next natural step in an ongoing effort to shift the company's packaging focus from bottles to cans, Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. of Fort Worth has revealed an updated look for its year-round beers and select seasonal offerings.

The new design will be familiar to fans of the brewery, since it was first used on cans of Pride of Texas Pale Ale. The packaging for that beer, which was initially released in 2014, features a shield as the primary graphic.

In crafting the design, Rahr & Sons' creative director Jeff Wood drew inspiration from classic can designs of the '60s and '70s to create a crisp, clean and eye-catching design that would help streamline the company's branding. He kept each beer's signature color so the transition from bottles to cans would be as seamless as possible for consumers.

"The nice thing about designing cans over bottles is the full 360-degree template. You can wrap the entire package into your design," says Wood. "I also like the way the ink pops off the curved, metallic aluminum surface of cans, making them jump off the shelf."

Iron Thistle, the brewery's seasonal Scotch ale is already sporting the new design, and it won't be long before it appears on the brewery's newest product, Dadgum IPA. Coming in April, Dadgum IPA will be the brewery's first commercial release of a West Coast-inspired IPA. Brewed with Citra and Lemondrop hops, a press release describes the beer as having a "lively bitterness, with intense notes of fresh-cut pine and tropical fruit."