Lakewood seals Three Fates with Grim Shearer

Image courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Co.

Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland has released Grim Shearer, the tenth individual release in the brewery's Legendary Series, and the third and final installment of its Three Fates miniseries.

Stylistically described as a rye wine, Grim Shearer (11.4% ABV) was aged over eight months in rye whiskey barrels. What's emerged from that time away is a beer featuring flavors of maple, toffee, sun-dried cherries and subtle rye spice.

“We’re excited to complete this story and series of beers, showcasing the amazing qualities that come with varying malt bills to complement different [types of] barrels," says Wim Bens, founder & president of Lakewood.

Grim Shearer follows previous entries in the Three Fates miniseries, Thread Spinner (a bourbon barrel-aged barleywine, released fall 2016) and Grand Allowance (a chardonnay barrel-aged wheat wine, released spring 2017). Originally slated to appear six months apart, the culmination of the trilogy comes 16 months after Thread Spinner was first placed on the market.

“We love seeing how the personality of each beer comes through, how the difference in age and cellar time influences each beer, and how they relate to each other when tried side-by-side,” added Bens. “It’s been a long project, but one we’ve really enjoyed.”

Look for Grim Shearer on tap and in 22-ounce bottles across North Texas.

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Label designs for the Three Fates series were created by Nathan Walker. See more of his work at All the Pretty Colors.

Lakewood allocates Grand Allowance

Image courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Co.

Lakewood Brewing Co. has released Grand Allowance, the ninth beer in the brewery's Legendary Series, and one which represents the second offering in The Trilogy, a miniseries of beers based on the legend of the Three Fates.

Grand Allowance (12.8% ABV) is a wheat wine aged in Chardonnay barrels. It's described as a full-bodied beer featuring fruity esters, honeysuckle aroma and a bready, sweet finish that complements soft oak notes imparted by the white wine barrels.

"We're excited to continue this story and series of beers, showcasing the amazing qualities that come with barrel aging," says Wim Bens, founder of the brewery. "We love seeing how these different malt bases and barrel aging techniques bring a unique spin to each release, especially how they relate to each other."

Within the confines of the legend of the Three Fates, Grand Allowance represents the story of Lachesis, one of three sisters who decided the fates of others through a thread of life. Lachesis measured threads spun by Clotho, and once she decided one was long enough, the thread was passed to Atropos to be cut. In that way, Lachesis determined the allowance for a certain being's time on earth.

As for the beer, a press release states that Grand Allowance will be available on tap and in 22-ounce bottles. Look for it in stores this week.

Get your Goatman: Lakewood's trash-tossing terror returns

The Goatman of White Rock Lake is said to be a seven-foot tall half-man, half-goat,
with a bad temper and  a tendency to throw trash at unsuspecting people (Lakewood Brewing Co.).

A legend is set to return, as Goatman (9.3% ABV) from Lakewood Brewing Co. will begin appearing on a regular basis as part of the brewery's year-round lineup starting February 27.

Originally brewed in the fall of 2013, Goatman is the first beer to be brought out of retirement from Lakewood's Legendary Series.

"From the moment we released Goatman, we knew we had a fan favorite on our hands", says Wim Bens, president and founder of Lakewood. "It was big, bold, aggressive and just the right amount of dank. This beast always held a special place in our hearts, and we couldn't be happier to release it to the public once again."

Goatman is described as a mash-up of two types of beer - one half being a Cascadian black IPA, with the other half being a schwarzbier. That, according to the brewery's creative director, Craig Bradley, means it can't really be pinned down into one stylistic category.

"It's a unique hybrid of beers, which we love," explains Bradley. "We dry-hop Goatman with 100% Simcoe, a unique hop that features earthy, aromatic pine and berry notes. With a pound per barrel, it adds a depth of bitterness that balances nicely with the roasted malt character."

Look for Goatman to be available on tap and in four-packs of 12-ounce bottles. Launch events, including pint nights with collectible glassware, will be announced in the coming days, with details to follow on Lakewood's social media channels (Facebook, Twitter).

* Click here for a review of Goatman, posted shortly after its debut in 2013.

Lakewood latest legends to make up new Trilogy

Image courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Co.

Lakewood Brewing Co. has announced the release of three new beers, which taken together will represent a miniseries within its popular Legendary line of brews.

Being called The Trilogy, the name of the series was chosen based on the famous legend of The Three Fates from Greek mythology. As it goes, the three sisters - Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos - determined the fates of both Gods and mortals alike with their infamous thread of life. One sister spun the thread (birth), one sister measured the thread (life), and one sister cut the thread (death).

“We’ve always been forward thinking at the brewery, and we came up with this Trilogy concept to create an experience and anticipation for our Legendary Series fans,” said Wim Bens, founder & president of Lakewood. “Three different wood-aged beers will be released six months apart, each reflecting their own unique, beautiful characteristics. The first is Thread Spinner, an American barleywine aged in freshly-emptied bourbon barrels from our friends at Witherspoon Distillery in Lewisville.”

According to Bens, Thread Spinner is a “beast of a beer” that's ready to drink now or it can be preserved to age with the other two beers coming out next spring and fall. Regarding those others, Grand Allowance will be a wine barrel-aged wheat wine slated for a spring release, while Grim Shearer will be a barrel-aged rye wine that comes out in the fall.

As for the artwork featured on the packaging, the brewery once again enlisted the artistic talents of illustrator Nathan Walker to create the visually dynamic bottle art for the series. Lakewood has previously used Walker’s illustrations for its Seduction Series and DFW collaboration brews.

“We want to capture someone’s attention immediately, and Nathan’s art is always phenomenal at doing just that,” stated Bens. “Once all three are released, you’ll be able to put the three bottles together for a beautiful, eye-catching triptych.”

According to a press release, Thread Spinner will be sold on draft and in 22-ounce bottles, with deliveries to begin the week of October 17.

Lakewood releasing Troll Toll, June 13

Images courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Co.

It's been fully one year since the last Legendary beer was put out by Lakewood Brewing Co., but the longest drought in the history of the series will end with the release of the brewery's first double IPA, Troll Toll.

Set to be delivered to retailers beginning on Monday, June 13, Troll Toll is a beer that features seven different hop varieties, including Simcoe, Amarillo, Citra, Chinook, Lemondrop and more. It's a combination that gives Troll Toll "a juicy, fruity, piney taste with a resinous bitter finish that hangs on the palate."

As the legend goes, "one sunny day, a beautiful princess fell for a boy, but their love would prove to be difficult. You

see, a greedy troll owned the boy's soul. And for anyone willing to pay his "Troll Toll," the boy's soul would be theirs.

An evil, cat-eyed man paid the toll, but the boy fought back with karate and prevailed over darkness, transforming

himself into the Champion of the Sun. Sadly, his bizarre coming of age took so long, the princess lost interest."

"We're super stoked Troll Toll is finally here," exclaimed Wim Bens, founder and president of the brewery. "We've had a lot of requests for a big IPA and we've been chomping at the bit to make one for all our fans. With 116 IBUs and an ABV of around 9.6%, the beer is a beast with all the big west coast hop flavors and aromas you'd expect from a double IPA. We took extra care to get it out of our tanks and on the shelf and into bars as quickly as possible, so that everyone can have the freshest IPA around."

According to a press release, Troll Toll will be offered both on draft and in 22-ounce bottles. And, as is the case with all Legendary brews, it's a one-off release that will only be available for a limited time.

Linden leads in Lakewood's Legendary Saint Dymphna

Image credit: Lakewood Brewing Company.

In the two-plus years since it instituted the Legendary Series, Lakewood Brewing Co. has played upon the inspiration of various apparitions and mythological characters, but the most recent release is devoted to a saint.

As reported here prior to the beer's release, Saint Dymphna, the person, was a seventh-century Christian martyr who devoted her life to the mentally ill. She's the patron saint of Geel, Belgium and it is there that the Chapel of Saint Dymphna sits next to a 500-year old linden tree. Lakewood founder and Belgian native Wim Bens played near that tree as a child, with the recollection of those days influencing the creation of this modern-day brew.

A Belgian-style tripel by design, Saint Dymphna is brewed with Belgian candi sugar and linden tree flowers. The resulting beer is clear with golden amber hues and an aroma which gives off a distinctive floral essence. Taking that one step further, while linden is a species of lime tree, if anything the blossom gives Saint Dymphna a subtle and tempered lemon character.

Image the property of Tenemu.com/Brian Brown.

Considering other flavors, the beer is malty with notes of dried fruit, bread yeast, spice and a light herbal element. There's a sweetness that lingers throughout the experience as well, balanced somewhat by a fairly firm bitterness in the finish. On the topic of feel, Saint Dymphna is medium-bodied and well-carbonated, though, the beer drinks lighter and with a softer palate than those descriptors, and an original gravity reading of 1.085, might imply. It's moderate in terms of strength, having a mid-range ABV of 8.6%, with little or no evidence of alcohol in either the aroma or taste.

As for an overall impression, from an objective point of view Saint Dymphna is exactly what you'd expect out of a tripel. It's a beer with a complex mix of fruit and spice built upon a sturdy malt foundation, and it has more than a little strength. For my own taste, I'd probably like the sweetness to be toned just a bit, and for the florals to be a little less forward, but it's understood the latter is a featured element of the beer based on its inspiration.

* Originally published on Tenemu.com.

Saint Dymphna is Lakewood's newest Legendary beer

All images the property of Lakewood Brewing Company.

It's been six months since Bokkenrijders rode into town as the fifth beer in the Lakewood Brewing Company's Legendary Series, but the drought is over (irony, given the recent rains locally) as the brewery has announced that the newest entry in that limited edition line will be called Saint Dymphna.

Saint Dymphna pays tribute to the patron saint of Geel, Belgium, the hometown of Lakewood founder Wim Bens. Knowing that, it's no surprise to learn that this Legendary release may be the one that Bens holds closer to his heart than any other.

As the legend goes:

"Saint Dymphna, known as the Lily of Ireland, had kindness and beauty that knew no match. In her youth, fleeing lecherous looks, she escaped to Geel, Belgium, where she devoted her life to helping the mentally ill. Unfortunately, her no-so-stable father tracked her down and insisted she return with him. She refused and was martyred instead, becoming the Belgian city's patron saint."

According to Bens, part of this history played out in what is now the backyard of his grandmother's home in Geel. The chapel of Saint Dymphna stands near an ancient linden tree where Bens played as a child. That nearly 500 year old tree influenced the addition of linden flowers to Saint Dymphna, the beer, which will be a Belgian-style tripel with an ABV of 8.6%. "The linden flowers add a slight tea-like lemony character to the beer which complements the Belgian yeast and Belgian candi sugar we use in the beer. It's strong, yet light and full of conviction, like the fair Saint Dymphna."

The chapel and ancient linden tree that inspired the beer.

"My grandmother 'ons Moeke' lived in Zammel near Geel right behind the St. Dimpnakapel. I spent a lot of time at my grandmother's place growing up and playing around the little chapel," Bens recalled in a recent story in Geel's local newspaper. "We would take daily walks to the big linden tree in front of the chapel and my grandmother would tell me stories about the saint."

As it turns out, the town of Geel puts on an event known as Ommegang (elaborately choreographed procession) honoring Saint Dymphna every five years. This year, it happened in early May, right around the time Lakewood began packaging the beer.

Commenting on how everything came together, Bens said, "Saint Dymphna is a legend I've always had on my mind since the beginning of the Legendary series. The release of this beer in conjunction with the Ommegang celebration is pretty special."

According to a press release, the beer will be rolled out to local bars and restaurants on June 1, with 22-ounce bottles arriving at retail in the days and weeks to follow. Prior to that, Saint Dymphna will be on tap at the brewery during taproom hours beginning on Saturday, May 30.

Creature feature: Gourdzilla and Goatman deliver the goods

You might say the theme of the day is mythological creatures. Except, the creatures in question aren't quite like those you've heard or read about in Greek mythology (i.e. centaurs and minotaurs). No, these are something else entirely.

One is half-man, half-goat and based on a local legend surrounding the Goatman of White Rock Lake. The other, a sort of glimpse into what might happen in a movie called Godzilla Meets the Gourd.

Individually, they represent limited edition brews from Lakewood and Deep Ellum, respectively. Together, we'll call them creatures of the craft beer kind.   

Gourdzilla from Deep Ellum

Image credit: Deep Ellum Brewing Company

I know that "spokesthing" isn't a word, but I'm not sure how else to refer to the pumpkin-headed reptile Deep Ellum has trotted out with their newest seasonal brew, Gourdzilla. Based on how the thing looks, and its antics in an introductory video, it would be only natural to expect Gourdzilla to be a beast of a beer. Ah, but looks can be deceiving.

Gourdzilla is the first beer from Deep Ellum's newly hired brewing team of Jeremy Hunt and David Hauptman. And the truth is it's actually pretty...nice. Delicate even. It's got wisps of smoke, pumpkin spice, earthy sweet potato and maybe a hint of tannic bitterness. Flavors are mild, well-balanced and the beer is about as easy drinking as it can be. Not what you expected to hear, is it? Imagine that, a pumpkin and spice beer that doesn't hit you over the head with pumpkin and spice.

Go go Gourdzilla!

    

Goatman from Lakewood

Image credit: Lakewood Brewing Company

Right about the time you raise your glass for that one last sip, it hits you. If Temptress had a long lost brother who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, he'd be a lot like Goatman. He's a little grittier, not as sweet, and he's obviously hopped up on something. Throw in the legend of him being an ill-tempered, trash-tossing terror, with the obvious "Beauty and the Beast" reference and it all just fits.

Strictly speaking, the only thing these siblings have in common is a taste of dark chocolate, as there are a handful of ingredients that set them apart. Lactose sugar makes Temptress sweeter, while Goatman brings more roasted malt to the fore (the grittier part, if you will) and is dry-hopped with Simcoe to give it a dank, resinous hop character. As for the chocolate, it's not nearly as intense in Goatman as it is in Temptress, but it's definitely there.

Goatman is the third release in Lakewood's Legendary Series, and is billed as a cross between an Imperial IPA and a schwarzbier. It's a lager, as opposed to an ale, but that shouldn't be construed to imply a lack of flavor. There may not be any esters, but there's enough of everything else that you probably won't even notice.

Look for both on tap and in 22 oz bottles.

Lakewood's new 'Lady'

Image credit:  Lakewood Brewing Company

It would appear as if the Lakewood Brewing Company has a way with the ladies.  The brewery, who first went out on the town with The Temptress, has been stepping out with someone new.

La Dame du Lac, the second release in Lakewood's Legendary Series, may have you thinking of a familiar Arthurian allurer, but this Lady of the Lake gets its backstory from a local Dallas legend.  The tale involves the ghostly vision of a woman appearing in search of a ride after an accident on White Rock Lake.  Obliging drivers report that upon delivering her to the requested address she vanishes, leaving her benefactors to discover that she allegedly drowned many years before.

The beer paying tribute to this story is a bière de garde, a French farmhouse ale whose definition leaves it open to interpretation.  It can be pale and effervescent, along the lines of a Lost Abbey Avant Garde (a beer that sadly isn't distributed here), or dark and smooth like the locally available Gavroche from La Brasserie de Saint-Sylvestre.  In all cases, such brews should be malt-forward, with hops playing little more than a supporting role.

Lakewood's version falls somewhere in the middle of the color wheel and virtually on point when it comes to style.  First impressions are of toasted malt, with a kind of cellar-like quality that in some ways reminds one of that "something in the air" feeling you get when you walk into someone's basement.  This is a good thing, mind you, as a farmhouse ale is supposed to be funky.  In terms of flavor, these elements surround a lingering sweetness, background esters and a light balancing bitterness.  Some may prefer a slightly drier finish, but this brew is not cloying and doesn't come across as being too heavy on the palate.

In terms of complexity, La Dame du Lac is certainly a beer that evolves, revealing more of itself as it approaches more moderate temperatures.  When cold, the funk tends to dominate and the beer has an almost vinous character.  Over time this fades, allowing the depth of the malt to come to the fore.  Neither taste nor aroma, however, will clue you in to the Lady's inner strength.  The label quotes an ABV of 7.5%, but the noticeable warming effect that creeps in makes it seem like a beer that drinks much bigger.

It's a worthy brew, whose "legendary" tagline has it begging for a bon mot (it's French, look it up).  The obvious one has been (or will be) done to death, so it's left it to you to try the beer and come up with something clever.  Seek out your muse on tap for a limited time at establishments that typically carry Lakewood's seasonal brews, or hold out for bottles once La Dame du Lac is packaged and allocated to retail.

Cheers!

* Originally published on Examiner.com.