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.

Rabbit Hole ending its run in Justin

Image credit: Rabbit Hole Brewing.

After more than five years in business, Rabbit Hole Brewing has announced it will close its doors in Justin.

Rabbit Hole debuted in December 2013, bringing with it a unique branding approach centered on author Lewis Carroll and his book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Beer names like Dark Snark, JabberBock, JubJub, and Off With Your Red played up the theme, drawing inspiration from Alice  and Carroll's other works, Jabberwocky and The Hunting of the Snark.

The company was also well-known for its partnership with hockey Hall of Famer and former Dallas Star, Mike Modano. One of Rabbit Hole's original beers, Mike Modano's 561 Kölsch-style beer, paid tribute to Modano's career goal total, a number which stands as the current record for American-born players in the National Hockey League (NHL).

As for your chance to raise a final toast to Rabbit Hole, a message on the brewery's website indicates it will remain open through the next two weekends, with taproom hours September 6-7 and September 13-14.

Peticolas named top brewery as North Texas shines at 2018 U.S. Open

Image credit: 2018 U.S. Open Beer Championship.

Winners from the 2018 U.S. Open Beer Championship were announced last night, with North Texas brewers literally one-upping last year's performance at the event. This year locals landed 14 medals, which represents a gain of one compared to the 13 prizes awarded to area breweries in 2017.

More than 6300 beers were judged at the 2018 competition, with entries split into 117 different categories. From that pool, eight local breweries were recognized for their beers, including one which garnered the U.S. Open's top overall prize. That accolade went to Peticolas Brewing Co. of Dallas, who brought home the title of Grand National Champion, a.k.a. Top Brewery of 2018, after winning a total of five medals (three gold, two silver).

A summary of all North Texas honorees is provided below, with a complete list of medalists to be found by clicking here.


903 Brewers

• Silver for Sasquatch in the American Imperial Stout Non-Traditional (coffee, maple, chocolate, etc.) category.

HopFusion Ale Works

• Silver for Feisty Blonde in the Specialty/Anything Goes category.

Lakewood Brewing Co.

• Silver for Sin Mint Temptress in the Experimental Beer category.
• Bronze for Lion's Share IV in the Wood/Barrel-Aged Quad category.

Martin House Brewing Co.

• Bronze for True Love in the Fruit Gose category.

Oak Highlands Brewery

• Gold for Tejano Pecano in the Specialty/Anything Goes category.
• Silver for Freaky Deaky in the Belgian Tripel category.

Peticolas Brewing Co.

• Gold for Black Curtains in the American Imperial Stout category.
• Gold for Great Scot in the Scottish Ale category.
• Gold for Velvet Hammer in the Imperial Red Ale category.
• Silver for Royal Scandal in the English Pale Ale category.
• Silver for Sledge Hammer in the American Barley Wine category.

Rabbit Hole Brewing

• Bronze for 10/6 in the English Pale Ale category. 

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.

• Gold for Iron Joe in the Coffee Beer category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

JubJub taking roost at Rabbit Hole

Images courtesy of Rabbit Hole Brewing.

Soon, a couple of odd birds will take roost at Rabbit Hole, as the Justin-based brewery releases two new beers for summer.

The first of these is JubJub, a classic German hefeweizen that's said to shine as bright as its namesake. The namesake, in this case, being the Jubjub bird from the world of Lewis Carroll. Yet, while the Jubjub was a creature to be wary of in Carroll's work (appearing in Jabberwocky  and The Hunting of the Snark), a pre-release note promises the beer will be something to savor.

"There is little reason to fear this JubJub, as it is the perfect summer quaff.  Cloudy by design, the soft malted wheat flavor is perfectly complimented by a bold finish of banana and clove derived from the beer's signature yeast still in suspension."

Also in the works is a variation of JubJub infused with a touch of tangerine.

"By adding a dash of whimsy and a hint of folly to JubJub, the complex aroma and flavor of JubJub Tangerine was created.  The strong, sweet citrus note of tangerine expands the already bold clove and banana flavors of the classic hefeweizen to a realm that is all its own."

So, when can consumers expect to have these birds in the hand?

Look for JubJub to be available on draft beginning May 22, with a taproom debut set to occur during Rabbit Hole's annual Summer in Wonderland celebration on Saturday, May 26 (click here to purchase tickets for the event).

As for JubJub Tangerine, look for that bird to land in early June.

May the schwarzbier with you: Rabbit Hole releasing latest Bluebonnet brew

Image credit: Rabbit Hole Brewing.

Continuing a tradition started in 2016, Rabbit Hole Brewing of Justin will again release a commercial batch of an award-winning brew from the country's largest single-site home brewing competition, the Bluebonnet Brew-Off.

Skroob's Black Lager (4.53% ABV) is a German-style schwarzbier with a name that references Spaceballs, and a well-known line from the film, "May the Schwartz be with you." Featuring hints of chocolate and dark roasted malt, the beer is based off a recipe created by Robert Brown, who competed in the 2017 edition of the Bluebonnet as a member of the Houston-based Foam Rangers Homebrew Club.

In terms of awards, Brown's creation won gold in the Dark European Lager category during last year's competition, while also ranking third for Best of Show. As for Brown himself, he has taken his talents overseas, and is now the head brewer at 7 Bridges Brewing Co. in Viet Nam.

It'll be here in North Texas, though, where Skroob's Black Lager will make its debut, tapping first at the 2018 Bluebonnet. Now in its 32nd year, the event will take place Friday and Saturday, March 23-24, at the Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel. From there, the beer will be distributed in limited quantities, being made available on tap and in six-packs of 12-ounce cans.

North Texas scores six medals at 2018 Best of Craft Beer Awards

Image credit: Best of Craft Beer Awards.

Now in its fifth year, the 2018 Best of Craft Beer Awards competition was held this past weekend in Bend, Oregon. Five North Texas breweries were honored at the event, which resulted in area brewers bringing home a total of six medals.

Beer styles were evaluated against the 2017 Brewers Association Guidelines, the only exceptions being the addition of special categories for Northeast-Style IPAs and Fruited Berliner Weisse beers. Overall, 145 breweries from 35 states won awards this year, with medals handed out in 86 different categories.

This list of North Texas winners is given below, or you can click here for a complete rundown of the 2018 results.


Bitter Sisters Brewing Co.

• Gold for Family Trip Belgian Tripel in the Belgian-Style Tripel or Pale Strong Ale category.

Deep Ellum Brewing Co.

• Gold for Local Legend in the Sweet Stout or Cream Stout category.
• Bronze for Deep Ellum Lager in the Other Lager category.

Nine Band Brewing Co.

• Gold for Hoopsnake Hefeweizen in the German-Style Wheat Beer category.

Rabbit Hole Brewing

• Bronze for Rapture Fusion Brown Ale in the American-Style Brown Ale category.

Shannon Brewing Co.

• Bronze for Bourbon Barrel Irish Red in the Wood- and Barrel-Aged Pale to Amber Beer category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

A darkness is emerging from the Rabbit Hole

Image credit: Rabbit Hole Brewing.

This week, Rabbit Hole Brewing of Justin will release Midnight Snark (10.6% ABV), a beer that should fit the bill if you're feeling a need to embrace the dark side.

Originally appearing on occasion as a brewery-only offering, this will be the first time Midnight Snark as been available commercially. The beer is an export stout that's spent more than four months aging in bourbon barrels sourced from Witherspoon Distillery of Lewisville. However, don't see "Snark" and assume that Midnight Snark is simply a barrel-aged version of Dark Snark, another of Rabbit Hole's seasonal offerings.

According to co-founder Laron Cheek, the recipe behind Midnight Snark is slightly different than that of its sibling brew. For one thing, there's no fruit addition in Midnight Snark, a beer that also features a heftier grain bill, not to mention a change in hops. Rabbit Hole used Phoenix hops for this creation, a variety which should complement the base beer well. That's because chocolate and molasses are among the hop's characteristic flavors.

On that note, Midnight Snark is said to be a smooth, roasty brew that features elements of caramel, coffee, cocoa and vanilla. Naturally, bourbon is player as well, adding what the brewery describes as a "bold spirit finish" to the beer. That, Rabbit Hole says, makes Midnight Snark the sort of brew one seeks to help ward off the approaching autumn chill.

As for when it will hit the streets, launch parties for Midnight Snark are scheduled to occur at various locales on Thursday, October 19 (see list below). It will also be on tap at the brewery beginning Friday, October 20, where you can also pick up bottles to take home. Rabbit Hole will release a total of 660 22-ounce bombers of Midnight Snark, with the first 240 to be sold at the brewery. Remaining bottles will appear at select retail locations in North Texas (and Austin) starting next week.


Look for Midnight Snark at these upcoming events:

Thursday, October 19

• Dallas Craft Co., The Colony - 6 p.m.
• Dallas Craft Co., Keller - 6 p.m.
• Drunken Donkey, Lewisville - 6 p.m.
• State Draft House, Flower Mound - 6 p.m.
• World of Beer, Arlington - 6 p.m.

Friday, October 20

• Rabbit Hole Brewing, Justin - 5 p.m. (bottle and draft release)

Saturday, October 21

• Rabbit Hole Brewing, Justin - 12 p.m. (bottle and draft release)

Tuesday, October 24

• Kool Keg, Arlington - 6 p.m.

Thursday, October 26

• LUCK, Dallas - 6 p.m.

Go beerserk with Rabbit Hole's newest brew

Graphics for Shield Biter recall the rooks of the the Lewis chessmen - a set of game pieces
discovered on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland during the year 1836 (Rabbit Hole Brewing).

Are you ready to go beerserk? If so, then you'll want to reach for the latest offering from Rabbit Hole Brewing of Justin.

Shield Biter is a strong Scotch ale (otherwise known as a wee heavy) that's described as an animalistic 8% ABV brew, with notes of lightly-toasted bread and biscuity malt complimenting ruthlessly rich caramel and dark fruit flavors.

Signature Shield Biter glassware will be available while supplies last at
launch events occurring on Thursday, September 14 (Rabbit Hole Brewing).

According to a pre-release note, the inspiration for the beer is drawn from the Viking Age - a period that dates from the late 8th century to the mid-11th century in Northern European and Scandinavian history.

"Old Norse literature paints the picture of a Berserker, a near mythical warrior, as wild and fierce as an animal. So resilient, their skin was said to be able to resist fire and iron, and so savage, they are traditionally depicted as gnawing on their own shields!"

Look for Shield Biter to be available on tap for a limited time beginning Thursday, September 14. Launch parties are scheduled at a number of establishments on Thursday as well, with festivities set to occur at Dallas Craft Co. Keller, East Side Denton and LUCK.

Rabbit Hole ready to release "The Rabbit"

Image credit:
Rabbit Hole Brewing

This week, fans of Rabbit Hole Brewing will begin a quest to "snare the hare," as the Justin-based brewery releases it's newest creation, El Conejo (4.6% ABC, 25 IBU).

Translating from Spanish to English as "The Rabbit," El Conejo is a pale Mexican-style lager that derives most of its flavor from a recipe designed with a mix of German ingredients. And, while some may wonder about how a taste of Germany makes its way into a Mexican beer, it should be noted the development of Mexico's brewing industry can be tied to an influx of German settlers that arrived in the country during the late 19th century. In other words, many of today's Mexican lagers are borne of either German or Bohemian influence.

As for El Conejo, the beer is fermented for an extended time with a traditional lager yeast. According to a pre-release notice from the brewery, this is said to give the beer a crisp, dry finish, which coupled with the beer's clean flavor profile, makes El Conejo perfect for drinking during hot summer days and nights in Texas.

Look for El Conejo to be available on tap beginning Wednesday, July 26. A release party for the beer has been scheduled as well, with that occurring on Thursday, July 27, at Dallas Craft Co. in Keller.

North Texas breweries land 13 medals at 2017 U.S. Open Beer Championship

Image credit:
U.S. Open Beer Championship

Winners were announced today for the 2017 U.S. Open Beer Championship, with the results showing seven North Texas breweries to be among those earning recognition.

According to a press release, breweries from Vermont to Vietnam sent in more than 6,000 beers representing over 100 different styles for evaluation in this year's competition. Just like in prior years, the event was open to both professional brewers and award-winning homebrewers.

As far as the 2017 performance of North Texas breweries goes, first-time winners at this year's competition include Bankhead Brewing Co. of Rowlett and HopFusion Ale Works of Fort Worth. Their wins are included in the list below, along with other local breweries, each of which has brought home at least one medal from the U.S. Open in the past (a complete list of winners may be found by clicking here).


903 Brewers

• Bronze for Sasquatch in the American Stout category

Bankhead Brewing Co.

• Silver for Highway 1 in the Bohemian Pilsner category.

HopFusion Ale Works

• Silver for Fur Slipper in the Cream Stout category.
• Silver for Feisty Blonde in the Honey Beer category.
• Bronze for Hairpin in the Rye/Roggen Beer category.

Lakewood Brewing Co.

• Silver for All Call in the English Summer Ale category.
• Silver for Sin Mint Temptress in the Experimental Beer category.

Peticolas Brewing Co.

• Silver for Sledgehammer in the American Barley Wine category.
• Silver for Velvet Hammer in the Imperial Red Ale category.
• Bronze for Irish Goodbye in the Irish Red Ale category.

Rabbit Hole Brewing Co.

• Gold for 10/6 in the English Pale Ale category.
• Gold for Off With Your Red in the Imperial Red Ale category.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.

• Gold for The Regulator in the Doppel/Strong Bock category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

Rabbit Hole bottling School of Bock

Image credit: Rabbit Hole Brewing.

For just the second time in the company's three-year history, Rabbit Hole Brewing of Justin will package one of its beers in hand-numbered 22-ounce bottles.

School of Bock (13.5% ABV, 30 IBU) is the product of the brewery's ongoing sponsorship of the annual Brewbonnet Brew-Off Homebrew Competition. Each year, Rabbit Hole selects an award-winning  beer from the event and tags it for a small-batch production run. This year, the spotlight falls on an eisbock created by long-time homebrewer, Brian "Schooly" Schoolcraft.

The beer itself is described as "an intensely rich, malty German lager with a smooth, sweet finish and a significant alcohol punch." It's brewed with a mix of four malt varieties and two types of hops, but it's said that Munich malt character is what dominates both flavor and aroma.

Look for School of Bock to appear on tap and at local retailers after first launching at the 2017 Bluebonnet, happening on March 25. The release will be extremely limited, with kegs being made available to select accounts and roughly 750 bottles to be produced.

Rabbit Hole unleashing JabberBock, January 20

Image courtesy of Rabbit Hole Brewing.

Starting the new year with a new beer, Rabbit Hole Brewing of Justin has announced an upcoming seasonal offering brewed in the style of a German maibock.

The JabberBock, as the beer will be called, brings to mind the fictional Jabberwock character from Lewis Carrol's nonsense poem, Jabberwocky. The work appeared in the novel Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There, a sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Fans of the brewery will no doubt recall that beers like Tweedleyum and Off With Your Red found inspiration in the same book, based on the appearances of the characters Tweedledum and the Red Queen.

As for JabberBock, a press release describes the beer as a "malty maibock that sports a clean and smooth mouthfeel, with a gentle warming and a subtle hop character lurking beneath a bready German malt base." It's designed to be rich and somewhat strong, but not overbearing, being the type of beer best enjoyed during the spring transition from the cold of winter to the warmth of summer.

Look for JabberBock to be available on draft, and only for a limited time, with deliveries beginning on January 20.

JabberBock

Style: Maibock

ABV: 6.9%

IBU: 30

Malts: Pilsner, Munich and Vienna
Hops: Perle, Tettnang

Seven North Texas breweries medal at 2016 U.S. Open Beer Championship

Image credit:
U.S. Open Beer Championship

After judges from England, Canada and the U.S. evaluated nearly 5000 beers entered in over 90 different style categories, the U.S. Open Beer Championship has announced the winners from its 2016 competition.

This U.S. Open Beer Championship is an annual event open to both professional brewers and award-winning homebrewers. This year, seven North Texas breweries were among those honored, bringing home a total of 12 medals. Not only that, Rahr & Sons was named as one of the competition's "Top 10 Breweries of 2016."

A rundown of medals won by local breweries is given below, with a complete list of winners to be found by clicking here.

903 Brewers

• Silver for Sasquatch in the American Stout category

Deep Ellum Brewing Co.

• Silver for Rye Pils in the American Lager/Pilsener category.

Grapevine Craft Brewery

• Gold for Wee Heavy in the Strong Scottish Ale category.
• Silver for NightWatch in the Oatmeal Stout category.

Lakewood Brewing Co.

• Silver for Sin Mint Temptress in the Experimental Beer category.

Peticolas Brewing Co.

• Silver for The Duke in the Barley Wine category.
• Silver for Great Scot! in the Scottish Ale category.

Rabbit Hole Brewing Co.

• Gold for 10/6 in the English Pale Ale category.
• Bronze for Rapture in the American Brown Ale category.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.

• Gold for Summertime Wheat in the German Hefeweizen category.
• Gold for The Regulator in the Doppel/Strong Bock category.
• Silver for Rahr's Blonde in the Münchner Helles/Light category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

Rabbit Hole Pro-Am(ber) to debut at Bluebonnet

Image courtesy of
Rabbit Hole Brewing Co.

If you're a craft beer lover in North Texas and not familiar with the Bluebonnet Brew-Off, you probably should be. Now in its 30th year, the Bluebonnet is the largest single-site homebrew competition in the country. And, while it focuses on the hobbyist, the event brings together both professional and amateur brewers in a celebration of the beer community like no other in our local area.

Part of that community aspect involves collaboration, and it's something that will be on display when Rabbit Hole Brewing Co. introduces its newest beer, a joint effort between the brewery and the 2015 Bluebonnet "Best in Show" winner David Toups.

Bluebonnet XXIX Pro-Am(ber) is based off of Toups' award-winning recipe for an American-style amber ale, and both he and Rabbit Hole are hoping it's a product that proves that these types of beers are flavorful and not boring. Described as having "a candy-like maltiness, with generous citrus and tropical fruit notes," Pro Am(ber) is said to be "bold enough to stand up and scream 'Session Me!' and subtle enough to allow you to do so."

Pro-Am(ber) will make its debut during this year's Bluebonnet as part of the annual Tasting Glass Evaluation Clinic, which happens Friday, March 11 at 8 p.m. After that, it will be available on tap at the brewery and select draft accounts around the Metroplex.

Regarding the event itself, other attractions at the 2016 Bluebonnet Brew-Off include a pub crawl, the People's Choice Competition and a keynote address to be delivered by Vinnie Cirluzo, co-founder of Russian River Brewing Co. Tickets for the event, which goes on March 11-12, range from $30-$40pp and can be purchased at the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-30th-annual-bluebonnet-brew-off-tickets-20302655790

Local brewers among 2016 Best of Craft Beer winners

Six North Texas brewers are among the honorees recently announced for the 2016 Best of Craft Beer Awards.

Billed as "America's newest craft beer contest", the BJCP-sanctioned Best of Craft Beer Awards competition awarded its first medals in 2014, making this the third annual event for the Bend, Oregon-based organization. This year, 65 different styles of beer were evaluated, with gold, silver and bronze medals awarded in each category. Judging was carried out by professional judges and industry leaders, and it should be noted that some medals were not awarded in categories with limited entries.


Winners from North Texas include:

Bitters Sisters Brewery

• Silver for Busy Body Blonde Lager in the Helles or Helles Bock category.
• Bronze for Family Trip in the Belgian Tripel category.

Deep Ellum Brewing

• Silver for Wealth & Taste in the Specialty Wood-Aged category.

Grapevine Craft Brewery

• Bronze for NightWatch in the Oatmeal Stout category.

Nine Band Brewing

• Gold for Blue Lacy in the American Brown Ale category.

Rabbit Hole Brewing

• Gold for 10/6 in the English Pale or English IPA category.

Shannon Brewing

• Gold for Chocolate Stout in the Sweet Stout category.
• Silver for IPA in the English Pale or English IPA category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

Beer Travels: A recap of the 2015 Great American Beer Festival

Photo © Brewers Association.

In case you somehow missed it, the 2015 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) went down once again this past weekend in Denver, Colorado. Now in its 29th year, the event drew upwards of 60,000 attendees with 1552 breweries entering the competition. From those entries, 275 medals were awarded to 242 breweries from across the country. For those that are interested, a full rundown of statistics and links to a complete list of winners can be found at the following website:

https://www.brewersassociation.org/press-releases/2015-gabf-award-winners/

With respect to the locals, North Texas breweries were awarded 6 medals overall. Add that to a list of past honorees, and area brewers have won a running total of 17 GABF medals since 2012 (9 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze). For 2015, the roster of winners includes (ceremony photos © Jason E. Kaplan, each may be clicked to enlarge):

Rahr & Sons Brewing Company: Gold for Oktoberfest
(German-Style Marzen) and The Regulator (Doppelbock).

903 Brewers: Silver for 2014 Sasquatch (Aged Beers).

Panther Island Brewing Company: Silver for Allergeez (Herb/Spice Beers).

Rabbit Hole Brewing Company: Silver for Rapture Fusion Brown Ale (American-Style Brown Ale).

Twin Peaks Brewing Company: Bronze for Barrel Aged Brown Ale (Wood/Barrel-Aged Beers).

Looking over the list, some may be surprised to see a certain chain restaurant make the cut, but it should probably be noted that company brewmaster Thomas Janik brewed for 17 years at Humperdinks before taking the reins at Twin Peaks. In other words, it's not the guy's first rodeo. During his time at 'Dinks, the brewpub won 10 medals at GABF for the execution of various recipes developed both in-house and at the corporate level (Humperdinks partnered with Big Horn Brewing up until 2005).

As for the other medalists, while Rahr & Sons was a repeat winner, Twin Peaks and the other three breweries listed took home hardware for the first time. While this surely won't quiet down the armchair experts who claim that only a handful of breweries make quality beer in North Texas, the fact is that 11 different local breweries have now won medals at either the GABF or the World Beer Cup over the past three years (click the GABF/WBC Honor Roll tab at the top of the page to see a complete historical list). Awards don't mean everything, of course, but to me the results indicate that more than just a few breweries are producing good beer in the region right now. Given that, I fully expect to see more first-time winners from the Metroplex in the years to come.

Additional coverage:

Craft beer is big in Colorado

While we've seen some notable new build-outs (Grapevine, Lakewood) in North Texas, as of now nothing here at home quite compares to new facilities recently opened by three well-known Colorado brewers.

Avery Brewing Company's new $30 million/67,000 square foot space opened in February and is a considerable upgrade compared to the one the company previously called home in a nearby Boulder business park. The new building has a taproom on the ground floor, while the upstairs has a full-service restaurant and a catwalk which allows visitors to peer into various aspects of the production area. It sits in the Gunbarrel section of Boulder County, literally steps away from the relatively diminutive Asher Brewing Company, which is the first all-organic brewery in Colorado.

Internal and external views of Avery's new facility in Boulder, including production
areas and the wall of the taproom (click to enlarge, © Brian Brown/Beer In Big D).

Opening in June, Breckenridge Brewery spent a total of $36 million to develop their new farmhouse brewery in Littleton, just south of Denver. In addition a production and storage space comprising 76,000 square feet, the expansive site also contains the Farm House restaurant. There, they serve a "Colorado Fresh" menu and pour beer from 24 taps. Among them are 16 house selections and another 8 from guest breweries.

Left: Breckenridge Brewery's production and storage buildings.
Right: The tapwall inside the Farm House restaurant.
(click to enlarge, © Brian Brown/Beer In Big D)

At least in terms of the initial phase, Great Divide Brewing Company's new digs in the River North section of Downtown Denver is the smallest of the three large-scale breweries I visited. Then again, the 65,000 square feet in question doesn't include brewing operations. Such things will come later as part of an overall expansion plan expected to cost a total of $38 million. Right now, the building which opened in July is a packaging/warehouse facility with an attached 40-seat taproom called Barrel Bar. It's a short walk to both Crooked Stave at The Source in one direction and a newbie by the name of Mockery Brewing in another.

Checking out a new 'spot'

Among the smaller, lesser-known breweries I visited on this trip was Goldspot Brewing Company. Located to the west of Downtown Denver, the brewery opened earlier this year after being founded by Matt Hughes and brother-in-law Alex Sward. Hughes hails from Lancaster, Texas, where he still has family, and I actually came to know him through social media where he keeps up with the North Texas beer scene. He left the Lone Star State in 2005, eventually going on to work for Wynkoop in Denver before taking on his current project.

Goldspot's taproom is near Regis University in the Berkeley/Regis neighborhood of Denver
(click to enlarge, © Brian Brown/Beer In Big D).

Goldspot's portfolio consists of a mix of styles, including beers of American, German and Belgian influence. Among the highlights are Gus' Breakfast Porter, brewed with cold-pressed coffee and dry-hopped with cocoa nibs, Wolfpack, a fresh hop Belgian pale ale, and La Cienega Grisette, an imperial farmhouse ale. Really, though, there wasn't a bad beer among the nine that were on tap the day I stopped by, with each being an embodiment of the brewery's goal to produce "properly made beer."

Sights and samples: A short sketch of my GABF tasting card

Cleverly named beers found on the festival floor:

• Cherry Busey, a Flanders oud bruin from Sun King Brewing in Indianapolis, Indiana.
• Cone Flakes, an imperial IPA from Firefly Hollow Brewing Company in Bristol, Connecticut.
• Farm to Face, an American wild ale from Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine.
• Quad Damn It!, a Belgian quad from Chicago Brewing Company in Chicago, Illinois.
• Recalcitrant Dockhand, a robust porter (get it?) from Black Star Co-Op in Austin, Texas.

Out-of-state favorites (i.e. beers not distributed to Texas):

• Bacon Bomb, a rauchbier brewed with beechwood and cherrywood smoked malts, chocolate wheat and black pepper from Brenner Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
• Bourbon Barrel Aged Palo Santo Marron, a barrel-aged imperial brown ale from Dogfish Head in Milton, Delaware.
• Bramble Berry Bourbon Barrel, a spontaneously fermented wild brown ale from New Glarus in New Glarus, Wisconsin.
• Morning Wood, an imperial maple bacon coffee porter aged in bourbon barrels from Funky Buddha in Oakland Park, Florida.
• Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, a beer that tastes just like it sounds from Aftershock Brewing Company in Temecula, California.

A North Texas favorite:

• Lakewood Brabo's Reserve - this version of the brewery's 2013 entry in their popular Legendary Series was aged in a Lost Oak Winery Petit Verdot barrel. Simply put, this beer has never tasted better.

Most curiously-concocted beers: Scratch Brewing Company in Ava, Illinois.

This farmhouse brewery produces the Single Tree series, which consists of beers made with various parts of, you guessed it, trees. Ingredients include acorns, bark, branches, leaves and more. One beer, Single Tree: Maple, forgoes water entirely in favor of tree sap.

Most curiously-named brewery (and location) on the festival floor: Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery in Goochland, Virginia.

It sounds made up, but this farm brewery lies alongside Little Lickinghole Creek, a waterway where wildlife have stopped to drink since pre-colonial times. As for where it's located, former Virginia governor Sir William Gooch named Goochland County after himself in 1727. The City of Goochland is the county seat.


And, finally....

Favorite brewery from outside Texas: Fremont Brewing of Seattle, Washington.

Makers of The Lamb (Brett saison aged in Chardonnay barrels), Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star (oatmeal stout), Bourbon Barrel Abominable (winter ale) and Cinnamon Bourbon Barrel Abominable. This family-owned brewery has been around since 2009, but according to my notes I had never sampled Fremont's products previously. Based on the above four beers, though, it's a safe bet the brewery will be a must stop on into the future.

Cheers!

Rabbit Hole releases details on upcoming cans

Following an earlier announcement on social media, Rabbit Hole Brewing Company has released additional details on the upcoming debut of the company's products in cans.

From a press release:

"The demand for locally-brewed craft beer is higher than ever. To help bring unique flavors and one-of-a-kind tastes to beer enthusiasts across the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex and surrounding areas, Rabbit Hole Brewing is excited to offer 12-ounce aluminum cans in select varieties. Beginning October 2015, beer fans can find three of their favorite Rabbit Hole flavors on store shelves in the new packaging."

Varieties and distribution dates are given below with full views of the product packaging (click each image to enlarge).

October 1:

October 5:

October 15:

Rabbit Hole to release new series of wheat beers

Image credit:
Rabbit Hole
Brewing Company

Continuing to draw inspiration from characters and themes created by author Lewis Carroll, the Rabbit Hole Brewing Company of Justin today announced a new line of seasonal brews created in the spirit of Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

Tweedleyum, a strawberry hefeweizen, will be the first in a series of wheat-based beers, all of which will have the tag "Tweedle" as part of the name. The new beer was "designed specifically for spring" and spending time out on the patio. It weighs in with a relatively light ABV of 5.5% and the brewery says it's the kind of beer you'll "look forward to cooling off with...when the Texas heat returns."

The primary ingredient in Tweedleyum is an all-natural strawberry puree from Oregon. According to Chief Sales Sensei, Tait Lifto, "It's a more subtle strawberry flavor, but it's real - it's actual fruit that comes out of the ground, and we want our beers to always have real ingredients. We don't compromise even though it's cheaper to use chemicals and flavorings."

Expected to be released in April, Tweedleyum will be draft only and available through June. Look for it to be on tap at establishments in Austin and North Texas that typically carry Rabbit Hole brews.

Rabbit Hole aims for cleaner Kölsch with new filter

The most recent batch of Mike Modano's 561 was run through
the brewery's new lenticular filter (Tait Lifto).

New equipment installations aren't something I usually write about, what with a shiny new this or a shiny new that seemingly being delivered to a brewery in North Texas virtually every week. Occasionally, though, something will hop into my inbox that catches my eye, and this morning just such an email arrived from the Rabbit Hole Brewing Company.

Rabbit Hole's new gadget filters beer
during transfer from the fermentation
vessel to the brite tank (Tait Lifto).

As for why this particular piece of equipment sparked my interest, ask yourself if you've ever thought Mike Modano's 561 Kölsch-Style beer was a little more bitter than you'd like. I'll admit it, I have, and it's something I noticed the very first time I tried the beer back on its debut night. Rather than being hop-like, my take on the bitterness was that it was more along the lines of a mild astringency. It wasn't anything off-putting, mind you, and as a matter of fact it's not an uncommon characteristic of an authentic Kölsch. Still, I've always kind of wondered what Rabbit Hole's version would be like if it were just a little bit cleaner.

Enter the brewery's new lenticular filter. Not only does it eliminate more bitter by-products by removing yeast that doesn't drop out during lagering, it also improves product clarity and extends a beer's shelf life by getting rid of residual spoilage bacteria.

According to Tait Lifto, Rabbit Hole's Chief Sales Sensei, the latest batch of 561 was the first to utilize the new device and you can see the results in the image at the top of the page. He says the hope is that lessening the bitterness will make the beer "even more popular with everyone than it already is," and he adds that "even if you've tried Modano's 561 in the past, we encourage you to try it again and note the subtle differences as we've continued to add equipment designed to [continuously] improve our overall quality."

Rabbit Hole signs with Sons of John for D/FW distribution

Image credit: Rabbit Hole Brewing Co., Sons of John Distribution

Effective February 1, the Rabbit Hole Brewing Company of Justin, Texas, has joined forces with Sons of John for the distribution of their products in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Sons of John is a Dallas-based company founded by Willie and Jason Lindsay, whose local portfolio includes the likes of Audacity Brew House of Denton and the Bishop Cider Company of Dallas. Adding Rabbit Hole to a list that also includes Adelbert's and Oasis Brewing out of Austin makes Sons of John a great source for craft beer brewed in the Lone Star State.

Rabbit Hole Chief Sales Sensei, Tait Lifto, polled accounts across North Texas to get a sense of which distributors provided the best level of quality and customer service, eventually coming away with the impression that Sons of John had a great reputation for being "passionate about craft beer and bringing it to people." In announcing the partnership, Lifto says the brewery is "super jazzed" about working with them to "get beer out to the passionate drinkers of D/FW."

As for why the brewery decided to make this move, Lifto sounds a chord similar to other craft brewers trying to manage growth: "Signing on with [Sons of John] enables us to ease up on worrying about the physical delivery of beer and focus on production," or as he puts it a little more directly, "brewing beer and getting it to your mouth."