Texas Ale Project promoting 70s theme for TAP Fest 2022

Image credit: Texas Ale Project.

Be ready to don your best vintage threads, as disco dancing may be on the bill when Texas Ale Project celebrates its seventh anniversary with a 70s-themed event in Dallas on Saturday, April 23.

TAP Fest 2022 will feature live music, food from Southern Gentleman's Table, and over 25 beers on tap - some of which will be new limited-edition beers.

In addition, attendees are encouraged to wear bell-bottoms, mini-skirts and platform shoes in order to compete for a prize package (TAP t-shirt, custom TAP glass, and one free beer) to be awarded for the top 70s costume.

“We are blessed to be thriving and now growing beyond the DFW Metroplex, into the Houston, Austin, and San Antonio markets," says Kat Thompson, co-founder of Texas Ale Project. "We have so much to celebrate and be thankful for.”

Admission prices for TAP Fest 2022 range from $20-$45 per person, with a VIP option offering buyers early access, priority parking, a take-home 6-pack, and a designated private VIP area.

Click here for more information, or to purchase tickets.

Rahr & Sons reveals 15th Anniversary details

Image credit: Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. (click image to enlarge).

Set to reach a milestone few brewing operations in North Texas have achieved, Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. of Fort Worth has announced preliminary information related to the company's upcoming 15th Anniversary.

Two consecutive days of festivities will mark the occasion, with events scheduled for Friday and Saturday, November 15-16.

• Friday, November 15 from 7-10 p.m. -- VIP Preview Night featuring an opportunity to rub elbows with Rahr & Sons' owners, employees and staff while getting exclusive first access to rare Rahr brews. Admission includes food and entertainment ($45pp, click here to purchase one of only 100 tickets available online).

• Saturday, November 16 from 12-4 p.m. -- 15th Anniversary Party featuring live music, three food trucks and over 30 beers on tap ($35pp for early entry at 12 p.m., or $25pp for general admission at 1 p.m., click here to purchase tickets).

In addition, Rahr & Sons is teasing a very special announcement, the details of which will be revealed at both celebrations.

Prost!

August brings Peanut Butter Temptress, latest Lion's Share from Lakewood

Images courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Co.

Not one, but two new releases are on the way from Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland, just as it prepares to host its Seventh Anniversary Party on Saturday, August 10.

The first of these is the latest batch of Peanut Butter Temptress, a beer that made its Seduction Series debut in 2018. Set to be on shelves as soon as this week, Peanut Butter Temptress will be sold on tap and in four-packs of 12-ounce bottles.

"When we started getting angry calls from fans last year, we knew we had a hit on our hands," says Wim Bens, president and founder of Lakewood. "We actually had someone call the brewery and say ‘I heard you guys had a hard time making that beer. FIGURE IT OUT!' Well, this year we made about 50% more and used a literal TON of peanuts to make enough."

As for the second beer, Lion's Share VII is the company's anniversary ale. The 2019 edition is a grisette, an easy-drinking style of beer originating in the Hainaut region of Belgium.

"When we brew our annual Lion's Share beer, we make sure to make it very special," explains Bens. "This year we brewed an imperial grisette and aged it in Sauvignon Blanc barrels. We then blended it with a fresh batch, fermented in stainless. We also adjusted our brewing process to make a beer that draws inspiration from the hazy IPA craze. The result is a beautiful combination of old and new world beer styles.”

Lion's Share VII will also be available on draft, but Lakewood has a surprise in store for consumers looking to pick up the product at retail.

"The other unique thing about Lion's Share VII is the packaging," says Bens. "Traditionally Lion’s Share beers have come in a collectible, boxed 22-ounce bottle. This year we wanted to change it up and make a ‘share-pack’. There will be two 12-ounce bottles in a collectible box, so you and a friend can share…or not.”

Beer by way of Beetle and Bus: German autos adorn Franconia's 10th anniversary packaging

Case boxes in the form of a classic Volkswagen Pickup will include six packs of all

four of Franconia's anniversary brews (all images courtesy of Franconia Brewing Co.).

Following an announcement earlier this month revealing plans for its yearlong 10th anniversary celebration, Franconia Brewing Co. of McKinney has released images of package designs the company has created for its line of anniversary brews.

Individual six packs of four distinct styles will be shipped on a quarterly basis, according to the schedule outlined below. That doesn't mean you'll have to wait to try all four beers, however, since the full range will be brewed all year long and sold in special mixed cases (see the lead image above) at select locations around North Texas.

Regarding the package designs, Franconia founder Dennis Wehrmann decided to go with imagery inspired by a classic German automobile brand as a way to balance the fact that recipes for three of the four anniversary beers have origins outside of his homeland.

"We chose to do something out of the ordinary with our 10th anniversary beers, only one of which is based on a traditional German style," says Wehrmann. "We're a German brewery, though, so we thought we needed to add a German element to all the beers to recognize our heritage. And, what better way to do that than to design the packaging around a German icon like Volkswagen."

Images of label and six-pack carrier designs are provided below, as are tasting notes taken from pre-release samples. As for availability, look for anniversary mixed cases and six-packs of Hazy Dhaze to begin arriving at retailers towards the end of March.

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Spring

Hazy Dhaze (New England IPA, 6.8% ABV): Franconia's foray into the realm of New England IPAs is brewed with wheat and oats to promote the style's characteristic cloudiness, while a mix of Denali, Calypso and Lemondrop hops is used to create the beer's "juicy" element.

Six-pack carrier design: Volkswagen Bus.

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Summer

Fun in the Sun (Belgian Blonde, 8.1% ABV): Easy drinking and sneaky strong, a traditional Abbey ale yeast infuses Fun in the Sun with a complex mix of funk, fruit and spice.

Six-pack carrier design: Volkswagen Thing.

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Fall

Full Steam Ahead (California Common, 5.1% ABV): Franconia's entry into the steam beer category hits the nail on the head in terms of style, with its grainy malt backbone and pronounced hop presence.

Six-pack carrier design: Volkswagen Karmann Ghia.

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Winter

Chicken Dance (Bordeaux-Aged Wheat Bock, 8.2% ABV): The brewery's original winter seasonal, Winter Wheat, is aged on Bordeaux to give the beer a woody, vinous character, with hints of dark fruit and toasted malt rounding out the flavor profile.

Six-pack carrier design: Volkswagen Beetle.

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Special beers and a taproom to come for Franconia's 10th Anniversary

Image courtesy of Franconia Brewing Co.

On Monday February 26, 2018, Franconia Brewing Co. became only the second North Texas-based production brewery since Prohibition to be in business for 10 years. To celebrate this milestone, the brewery has plans for not only for a series of anniversary beers, but also for a rather significant addition to its facility in McKinney.

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The back-story (from a press release):

"Since opening its doors in February 2008, Franconia Brewing Co. has been dedicated to providing world class German-style beer to drinkers in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area using only the best ingredients. Franconia is more than just a local brewery, it is the essence of true Bavarian brewing. By combining local accessibility to North Texas with our German heritage, Franconia is able to provide the fine people of North Texas with a taste of some of the most genuine and freshest Bavarian beer available. Ten years later, Franconia is still one of the few breweries known for its quality and consistency.

Founder Dennis Wehrmann and others at Franconia champion the 'Green movement,' adopting many practices to help improve the environmental concerns in North Texas, such as recycling their mash into local cattle feed, operating in a state-of-the-art energy efficient building, and using solar panels for their power needs - thus making themselves stand apart from most other breweries.

It is that 'better beer,' along with a commitment to sustainability and community involvement, that has helped keep Franconia growing steadily in the increasingly competitive marketplace of the Texas craft beer industry over the last 10 years.

'The overwhelming support the community has continuously shown has been crucial to the brewery's success,' claims Wehrmann, who also attributes his success to the steady flow of attendees to the brewery tours he has held every Saturday since Franconia's inception."

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As for how the brewery intends to commemorate its run, a year-long "10 Year Anniversary Celebration" will highlight the close relationship between brewery and community in several ways. First and perhaps foremost, the City of McKinney has approved the building of a "Bier Garden/Tap Room" on the premises right next to the current brewery. Expected to be completed this year, the existence of the taproom means Franconia will be open for business beyond its regular Saturday tours.

On top of that, consumers can look forward to the following four anniversary brews:

Hazy Dhaze - New England IPA.
Fun in the Sun - Belgian Blonde.
Full Steam Ahead - Steam Beer/California Common.
Chicken Dance - Bordeaux Aged Wheat Bock.

These beers will be released individually on a quarterly basis throughout the year, and also as part of a special anniversary case package (containing all four anniversary brews), to be made available at select locations throughout the year.

More information on the anniversary beers (artwork, tasting notes) and plans for the taproom will be unveiled in the coming weeks. Stay in the know by following Franconia on Facebook.

Lakewood Lion's Share V now available in North Texas

Image courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Co.

Lion's Share V, the fifth installment of Lakewood Brewing Co.'s annual anniversary beer, is now on sale throughout North Texas.

As has been the case with prior anniversary offerings, Lion's Share V is a unique beer with a recipe that differs from its predecessors. The 2017 edition of Lion's Share is billed as a full-bodied, Scottish-style brew that features a subtle peat smoke aroma, along with notes of sweet caramel, candied-fruit and honeycomb.

“This year’s release is a special one,” says Wim Bens, founder & president of Lakewood. “We wanted to honor year five with a beer that we’ve been talking about making for over three years now. As fans of all things malt and fermentation, a few of us around here are also big fans of whisky, especially Scotch whisky.”

In creating Lion's Share V, the brewery has taken the elements of a Scotch barrel and added that unique, smoky touch to this beer. Knowing that Scotch can be a bit overwhelming, Lakewood chose to age Lion’s Share V using a combination of barrels. Some of the barrels once housed bourbon, while others were used to age 26 year-old Speyside single malt Scotch.

“By blending the two together, we were able to create a harmonious marriage of flavors that work nicely together,” explains Bens. “It’s a great beer to enjoy now, or let mellow at cellar temps for months to come.”

Look for Lion's Share V on draft and in 22-ounce bottles. The beer is currently only available in the North Texas market.

Ice Bock leads list of new bottles coming from Franconia

All images courtesy of Franconia Brewing Co.

We're just over a month into the new year, but if you know anything about the history of Franconia Brewing Co., you know that's when the wheels start turning in the mind of owner Dennis Wehrmann. That's because it's anniversary time for Franconia, which means it's time to talk about what's new and coming soon at the McKinney-based brewery.

Of course, over the past few years, Franconia's anniversary has become more or less synonymous with the annual release of some form of eisbock. This year will be no different, though there will be more to go around thanks to Wehrmann's decision to package this year's batch of Tripel Dunkel Ice Bock in bottles. It's a move, he says, that makes sense considering the beer's bold flavor and heightened strength (with an ABV of 17%) should compare favorably to specialty releases already on the market.

"This beer stands up to what some of the other breweries are doing out there," says Wehrmann, "so we thought it would be good for a limited release."

The label for Franconia Ice Bock tells the story of how this style of beer originated in Germany.
It's a tale that in some way mirrors how Franconia created its first version in 2014 (click to enlarge).

A total of 1680 12-ounce bottles will be produced, all of which will be relegated to single bottle sales. That's not a truckload of beer by any means, but it's certainly a lot more than has been available in the past. Fans of the brewery may recall that only 16 gallons of Ice Bock were produced when it debuted in 2014. That amount, which yielded from a starter batch consisting of only two 13.2 gallon kegs, is roughly a tenth of what was produced this time around. Naturally, Franconia's eisbock process has evolved, otherwise a wide release probably wouldn't have been possible.

"It was a challenge to get this done in volume," explains Wehrmann. "We had to change the way we make the beer quite a bit, but I'm pretty happy with the result."

RoughRiders Red Ale will be sold exclusively in Collin County for a limited time, while Franconia Lager will be
bottled year-round and available across the brewery's full distribution footprint (click each image to enlarge).

In related news, two other Franconia beers are also slated to get the bottle treatment for the first time, with both to be sold in six-packs. RoughRiders Red Ale, which debuted as a draft-only offering at Dr. Pepper Ballpark in May of 2015, will be released exclusively to accounts in Collin County for a limited time. Not limited, however, will be bottles of Franconia Lager. That beer, whether purchased in bottles or on draft, will maintain its status as a year-round standard.

As for when these products will arrive on local retail shelves, Ice Bock and RoughRiders Red Ale will be packaged and shipped once label approval is obtained from the TABC (expected by the end of February). Franconia Lager, on the other hand, will be bottled in the coming days. Initial allotments of that beer will be heading to Costco as early as next week, with deliveries to other retailers to follow thereafter.

Beyond that, be sure to follow the brewery's social media channels (Facebook, Twitter) for details on festivities related to Franconia's ninth anniversary. A celebration at the brewery is scheduled on Saturday, March 25, where Wehrmann is once again planning to serve multiple varieties of eisbock in honor of occasion.

Shiner Cold-Brew Coffee Ale amounts to more than a hill of beans

Cold-Brew Coffee Ale is good to the last drop (© Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

For this, the latest edition of what the little brewery sent me in a little white box, Shiner packed up a bottle of its latest Birthday Beer (number 108 for those keeping track) and a bottle of Chameleon Cold-Brew Organic Black Coffee. Wrapped in a burlap sack, the two brews arrived nestled in a pile of Chameleon coffee beans, the key ingredient in the brewery's new Cold-Brew Coffee Ale.

The beer, of course, is a collaborative effort born out of the idea that coffee and beer have known to play well together. It's a product that couples the Spoetzl Brewery with Chameleon Cold-Brew, an Austin-based company credited with being the country's original bottler of cold-brew coffee.

In this case, the coffee consists of 100% organic, Fair Trade beans. And, it is said, that coffee crafted with the cold-brew process is especially suited for making a coffee ale. That's because the method produces deep coffee flavors without the bitter and astringent qualities sometimes found in a hot cup of joe. A perfect fit, it seems, for a beer coming from a brewery known for its rather mild, more drinkable dossier.

So, how did it turn out?

Well, the brewery describes Cold-Brew Coffee Ale as "malty, with a slightly sweet coffee aroma and a silky, smooth taste." That's pretty close to my impression of the beer as well, though I'd probably expound a bit on the roasty element. The roast isn't intense, mind you, but it has some depth and it meshes well with the grain bill, which results in a consistent, balanced mix of coffee and roasted malt that sustains from start to finish.

As for how it drinks, give credit where credit is due, since Cold-Brew Coffee Ale is nothing if not smooth, with no perceptible bitterness or astringency in the aftertaste.

The real question, though, is whether or not the beer is...how does that one coffee company say it...good to the last drop? Based that whole start to finish thing I said before, I'd have to say yes. Cold-Brew Coffee Ale is a flavorful, easy-drinking beer that's defined by its primary ingredient. As long you don't mind that the beer wasn't sourced from a barrel and the beans weren't shot out from a civet (i.e. it's just a good, basic coffee ale), then I think it's certainly worth trying.

Look for Cold-Brew Coffee Ale on tap, in 24-ounce bombers and in 12-ounce bottles and cans.


Cold-Brew Coffee Ale
Style: Coffee Ale
Malt: Roasted specialty malt
Hops: Mt. Hood
Other: Arabica coffee, cold-brew coffee.
ABV: 5.0%

Zwölfjahre translates to 12 years at Rahr & Sons

Image courtesy of Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. of Ft. Worth has released details on its upcoming 12th anniversary celebration, as well as the beer it has crafted to commemorate the occasion.

Regarding the beer, Zwölfjahre is an American-style wheat wine that was fermented with a blend of American and German yeast strains. The beer, whose name means 12 years in German, was then aged for 12 weeks in cabernet wine barrels with cherries. It's described by the brewery as having a flavor profile featuring "a significant amount of wheat with hints of citrus hops."

Label graphic that will appear on 22-ounce bottles of Zwölfjahre (Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.

Zwölfjahre will debut during a special 12th anniversary event happening at the brewery on Saturday, November 5 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. A selection of over 60 beers will be on tap over the course of the day, with the lineup including other rarities like Bourbon Barrel Aged Regulator and a 2014 vintage of Midnight Cab.

Tickets for the anniversary party are on sale now at rahrandsons-brewing-company.ticketleap.com, with prices set at $20 for regular admission and $55 for VIP. Those choosing the VIP option will gain early entry to the festivities, a food voucher, t-shirt and access to additional specialty beers.

After the event, look for Zwölfjahre to be available on tap and in 22-ounce bottles throughout the Metroplex.

Lakewood releasing Lion's Share IV on August 8

Images courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Co.

Following its debut at the brewery's fourth anniversary party last weekend, Lakewood Brewing Co. will unleash Lion's Share IV on the public beginning Monday, August 8.

Lion's Share IV (12.4% ABV) is a Belgian-style quadrupel that's been aged in freshly-emptied brandy barrels. It's brewed with caramel and roasted malts, along with Belgian candi sugar, to give the finished product notes of dried cherries, figs, raisins and toffee, which intermingle with a subtle warmth that emerges in the finish.

Lion's Share IV is the first anniversary brew that
Lakewood has released in bottles.

"Since our start in 2012, we knew we wanted to celebrate our fourth anniversary with a Belgian quad," said founder and president Wim Bens. "We went BIG for this year's vintage, crafting one of the highest ABV beers we've ever made. I'm excited to share it and look forward as we say 'Schol' to the next four years.

Past editions of Lion's Share were available on draft only, but Lion's Share IV is being released both on draft and in individually boxed 22-ounce bottles. Look for it at select craft beer retailers next week.

Rahr & Sons to release 11th anniversary beer

Images courtesy of Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.

This October, Rahr & Sons Brewing Company of Fort Worth will celebrate its 11th anniversary with a series of events at the brewery and a special commemorative beer.

Rahr & Sons' 11th anniversary beer will be a Russian imperial stout brewed with toasted coconut. A description of the beer, as it appears on product packaging, promises that the "huge roasted, chocolate and caramelized malt flavors will knock you off your feet as hints of toasted coconut dance on your palate."

(click to enlarge)

According to a press release, the beer will debut on tap during 11th anniversary events going on October 23-24 at the brewery. After that, it will be available both on draft and at retail accounts in 22-ounce bottles.

As for the festivities, details are as follows:

Friday, October 23 (7-10 p.m.): VIP beer tasting featuring live music, food trucks and more than 40 different brews. Tickets are $25 and limited to 500, with attendees receiving a commemorative pint glass.

Saturday, October 24 (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.): Extended tasting featuring live music, food trucks and additional rarities including an oak barrel of 2011 Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer and a firkin of Angry Goat aged on chocolate covered banana chips. Tickets are $25 for VIP (500 total, with early access from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.) and $10 for general admission (1000 total, entry at 1 p.m.), with attendees receiving a commemorative pint glass.

Tickets for both events go on sale Tuesday, September 15 at the following link:

rahrandsons-brewing-company.ticketleap.com

More on Lakewood's latest Lion's Share

Image credit: Lakewood Brewing Company.

Ahead of its third anniversary, Lakewood Brewing Company has revealed additional details on Lion's Share III, the beer the brewery has crafted especially for the occasion.

Providing some background on the release, founder Wim Bens explains, "Every year we have an employee competition to choose the new batch of Lion's Share. It's an employee-wide open call to create a unique recipe, which is voted on by employees. The beer that wins is what we brew."

According to a press release, this year's recipe is described as "a well-rounded Old Ale that has been aged for months in premium Napa Valley red wine barrels." The beer's foundation is made up of 100% Maris Otter, an English 'winter' variety of malted barley that adds distinctive bready and nutty flavors that are ideal for this type of beer. On top of that, a combination of UK hop varieties, including Target, Challenger and East Kent Goldings adds a floral, slightly fruity aroma and bitterness that compliments the malt backbone nicely.

"We want Lion's Share to be a unique or under-represented beer style," added Bens. "We like to age Lion's Share in barrels and we've used bourbon and white wine barrels in the past. This year we picked red wine and the results are amazing."

As for the forthcoming celebration, Bens says, "This is a very special year for us at Lakewood. Every success we've had so far come with its own set of challenges, which makes this year even more special for the entire team. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate our hard work than with the folks of DFW who enjoy our beer and have made it possible to do what we do."

On that note, if you're not already aware, Lakewood will mark its third year in the brewing business with back-to-back events this weekend. The first is an exclusive, ticket-only event that will occur at the brewery's Taproom on Saturday, to be followed by an event open to the public at Goodfriend on Sunday. For full details on each, click the links below:


Day One:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lakewood-brewing-co-3rd-anniversary-day-one-tickets-17731705007

Day Two:

http://lakewoodbrewing.com/event/3rd-anniversary-celebration-day-two/

Birthday Beer: Shiner's surprising chocolate stout

Image credit: McGarrah Jessee and
The Gambrinus Company.

I guess Forrest Gump was right when he said "Life is like a box of chocolates," since one look at Shiner's latest offering will have you thinking, "you never know what you're gonna get."

The quote is appropriate because earlier this week I received what was, in effect, a box of chocolates from the Spoetzl Brewery and their brand manager McGarrah Jessee. It was a gift of sorts, to help celebrate the brewery's 106th birthday. Of course, one might have expected to look inside and find a traditional German lager, but much to my surprise the contents revealed Shiner's new chocolate stout. Needless to say, based on past history, it wasn't what I thought I was gonna get.

Birthday Beer, a.k.a. Shiner 106, is a limited-edition creation brewed in small batches with chocolate malt and real cocoa. It's the first stout produced by Shiner, coming a little less than three years after the brewery crafted its first ale in Wild Hare Pale Ale, and a further departure from their traditional line of lagers. As for the number designation, in addition to referring to the number of years Spoetzl has been in business, it's a continuation of a series of annual releases that began with Shiner 96.

Samples of Birthday Beer arrived in a gift box, appropriately wrapped in paper with a birthday party motif. An accompanying card, depicted in the image above, described the beer as having "a distinctly chocolate aroma and taste." You'll find no argument here, as a rich cocoa powder character is evident immediately upon opening. This persists throughout the drinking experience, as does an underlying sweetness which is balanced by a hint of chocolate bitterness in the finish. The beer has reasonable body, along with some chalkiness and a fair bit of carbonation, and while I wouldn't call it "stout" in terms of strength or feel, there's a good amount of flavor for a brew that fits right in with Shiner's easy-drinking style.

The card goes on to suggest that Birthday Beer will return again next year, presumably keeping the same name but with the contents being yet another surprise that's "something completely different." If you're a fan of the "little brewery," I suppose that gives you something to look forward to. For now, though, this year's edition will be available in twelve-ounce bottles and cans. Seek it out wherever Shiner products are sold.


Birthday Beer - Shiner 106
Style: Chocolate Stout
ABV: 5.0%
IBU: 18
Malts: 6-Row, Chocolate
Hops: Nugget
Other: Cocoa

Cobra preps for first anniversary, signs with Favorite Brands

All images the property of Cobra Brewing Company.

Less than two weeks ahead of their first anniversary, the Cobra Brewing Company of Lewisville has signed with Favorite Brands DFW for distribution of their products throughout North Texas.

Brewery co-founder Neil MacCuish said the decision to enter into the agreement simply stems from a desire to gain more exposure outside of Cobra's home city and "to take the business to the next level." As for Favorite Brands take on the partnership, Social Media/Event Coordinator Samantha LaMantia forwarded the following statement: "We are thrilled to welcome Cobra Brewing Company into the Favorite Brands family! Their evolving beer list is an exciting addition to our portfolio. As this is our first brewery within the DFW Metroplex, we regard the addition as a significant progression for our company. We cannot wait to share a glass of Cobra beer with DFW...and the rest of Texas."

Cobra is replacing their rustic, wooden tap handles with a more distinctive design.

Favorite Brands' initial deliveries will be to draft accounts, with kegs of Hoppy Dazed IPA, Best Mistake Stout and Dawn of the Dank expected to roll out before the end of the year. Part of the plan includes the introduction of a new tap handle intended to replace the rustic, wooden design currently being used by the brewery. Shown in the image above, the new handle will stand nearly a foot tall. This, along with its distinctive look, should allow it to stand out and make it easier to identify Cobra brews on tap in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

Dawn of the Dank, incidentally, will be released with a slightly new formulation designed to increase the ABV of the Imperial IPA from 8.5 to 10.5%. That beer, along with Best Mistake Stout and the seasonal Angry Leprechaun, will also find its way into 22-ounce bombers targeted to arrive at retail in the February to March time frame. Other beers will follow based on demand and production needs.

Preliminary bottle label designs for Cobra bombers.

Leading up to all of this, Cobra will upgrade their brew kettle and add more fermenters to boost supply. The upgrades will double the brewery's current capacity and enable them to brew 10-barrel batches. This, MacCuish notes, was a necessary move if for no other reason than the fact that they've already sold the beer currently in production.

Cobra will hold an anniversary celebration at the brewery on Saturday, December 20 at 1 p.m. At least eleven beers will be on tap, including a Hazelnut Coffee Porter and rum barrel-aged editions of Hoppy Dazed IPA and Nitemare Before Xmas (these last two beers will be VIP only). MacCuish is also working to install a new nitro tap in time for the festivities, something that'll be used to dispense either Best Mistake Stout or Cobra's Old Town Pale Ale. The main attraction, though, will likely be an anniversary brew called The Kitchen Sink. This Imperial stout boasts an ABV of between 13-14%, and is brewed with vanilla beans and cocoa nibs soaked in bourbon from the neighboring Witherspoon Distillery.

Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance via Eventbrite. A VIP option gets you early entry, exclusive access to barrel-aged beers and special glassware. There will be vendors on site, including Union Growler and Junior's Lone Star Sauce, along with live music from The Whiskey Prophets and The Rhythm & Beards. Check the brewery's Facebook page for updates and additional details.

Armadillo shows us the 'Money'

Image credit: Armadillo Ale Works

If you've had a chance to try Brunch Money, the latest release from Armadillo Ale Works being billed as an imperial golden stout, you might be asking a question that's on the minds of many. How can a stout be gold?

The "art and science of brewing" has a lot to do with it, according to co-founders Bobby Mullins and Yianni Arestis. At least, that's how they responded to a follower who posed that very question after plans for the beer were revealed in early March. Still, any artist has to have a palette, and in this case it took the form of a "crazy recipe" consisting of no fewer than thirteen ingredients.

To get the taste of a stout, golden or otherwise, you have to consider that these types of beers typically employ dark specialty malts to achieve flavor profiles rich in roasted grain and dark chocolate. Naturally, similar flavors can also be obtained in beer by using varying amounts of coffee and cacao nibs, but like the aforementioned malt varieties, these items don't exactly fall into the lighter side of the color spectrum. Here's where that art and science thing kicks in. Getting the desired flavors minus the color involves a cold-brew process where cracked coffee beans and cacao nibs are steeped in the beer for a set period of time. How long you choose to "dry-hop" the beer in this manner becomes a trade-off between how much flavor you wish to impart versus how much color gets infused in the beer.

Of course, brewing a stout isn't just about flavor. Beers in this style category are also generally full-bodied and of greater strength. A closer look at Brunch Money's recipe reveals how Mullins, Armadillo's Chief Brewing Officer, went about obtaining these remaining characteristics of the style.

Like Quakertown Stout, one of Armadillo's two year-round offerings, Brunch Money contains maple syrup. Its presence contributes additional fermentable sugars to the wort, which provides extra food for the yeast. After conversion, this translates to a higher alcohol concentration in the beer. As for body and mouthfeel, getting the beer to drink like a stout involves the addition of flaked barley and oats in the grain bill. Flaked barley leaves behind proteins which provide some of a stout's trademark heft, while also helping to sustain head retention. Oats, on the other hand, are used in a variety of dark beers to lend creaminess or a silky texture.

So, does it work? Has Armadillo legitimately created a golden "stout"? While Brunch Money isn't exactly golden (it's more of a ruddy amber), it's certainly paler than an ordinary stout, and it hits on fundamental flavors in being coffee-forward with a noticeable dark chocolate element. Beyond that, further additives give off notes of caramel, vanilla, Coffee-mate, honey and maple syrup. In terms of mouthfeel, the beer has a medium-full body, and finishes smooth with what you might call a teasing bitterness.

Were I to drink it blind, I'd probably classify Brunch Money as a flavored coffee stout. It's a good, well-executed beer that Arestis described best when he said it "sounds overwhelming and intense, but is surprisingly balanced and nuanced." It's in that statement where I think this beer stands out. Think about how some breweries struggle to make a good beer with even one specialty ingredient (that is, anything other than water, malt, hops and yeast). Counting coffee beans, cacao nibs, lactose sugar, maple syrup and vanilla...Brunch Money is a good beer with five.

Look for Brunch Money on tap for a limited time only. A bottle release is being considered, but a decision on that has yet to be finalized.

Bridgeport produces first volume of new Trilogy

Image credit:  Bridgeport Brewing Company

Considering the day-to-day challenge of keeping up with all that's new in craft beer, it's easy to forget about those breweries that have been around since...well, before some of you were born.  It's generally accepted that the start of the revolution we're all enjoying actually happened almost forty years ago. Granted, there aren't a lot of breweries still in existence from those early days, but those that are have unquestionably stood the test of time.

Image credit:
Bridgeport Brewing Company

One such brewery is Portland's Bridgeport Brewing Company, makers of Hop Czar, Stumptown Tart and Old Knucklehead. They're also Oregon's oldest, and in 2014 they'll be celebrating their thirtieth year in the business with a line of anniversary brews called Trilogy.

First out of the kettle is Trilogy 1, a Crystal Dry-Hopped Pale Ale paying homage to the role hops have played in defining the craft beer culture of the Pacific Northwest. If that description has images of hop cones dancing in your head, understand that this beer focuses more on the flavor and aroma contributions of that ingredient than it does on bitterness. There's some nice complexity with notes of fresh citrus, resiny pine, florals and dried grass, but you shouldn't drink this beer expecting your tongue to curl up and go hide in a corner somewhere after every sip.

Naturally, this lends itself to a more balanced brew, with Munich and rye malts contributing a bready and spicy element to the backbone of the beer. Trilogy 1 is still hop-forward, as advertised, but it accomplishes that characterization by way of a smooth, clean pale ale that is nothing if not sessionable with an ABV of only 5.2%.

Future beers in the Trilogy series will include an IPA brewed in collaboration with Phil Sexton, a past company brewmaster who created Bridgeport's flagship beer of the same style, and a yet to-be-determined creation that "looks to the future of craft brewing."  The introduction of Trilogy 3 later this year will coincide with the re-release of the first two beers, with fans of the brewery being asked to vote on their favorite. The winner will return as a year-long offering in 2015.

Look for Trilogy 1 in 6-packs of 12-ounce bottles at a better beer store near you.

* Samples provided courtesy of R/West and the Bridgeport Brewing Company.

Peticolas to celebrate 2 years with 10 beers

Image credit: Peticolas Brewing Company

Last year, the Peticolas Brewing Company celebrated their first anniversary by throwing a wedding the likes of which no one had ever seen before. This year, it's going to be all about the beer. Ten beers to be exact, including every beer the brewery has produced during its first two years in existence. It all happens on December 28, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the brewery.

From a press release:

"Peticolas released nine beers over the past two years and releases their 10^th at the brewery’s two year anniversary. Details on the anniversary beer are forthcoming, but it will be available at the brewery only. In addition to pouring every beer they’ve ever brewed, Peticolas will also offer attendees beer from no less than four casks, as well as two aged beers. Special glassware commemorating the '2 Years 10 Beers' anniversary will be provided. Commemorative T-shirts will be available for purchase."

Limited tickets for the anniversary event go on sale via Eventbrite on December 9. Jumpbilly Trio will provide music for the celebration.

Since brewing its first beer in 2011, Peticolas has already won several major awards including a Gold Medal at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival and being named Dallas’ Best Brewery by both D Magazine and the Dallas Observer. Reflecting on the last two years, Michael Peticolas, owner and founder of Peticolas Brewing Company, said 'It’s all about superior beer for us so it makes sense to build our anniversary around the beers we’ve brewed in our first two years.' Looking to the future, the brewery plans on doubling its production in 2014."

'Share' in Lakewood's brewing bounty

Image credit:  Lakewood Brewing Company

In one of Aesop's Fables a lion goes hunting with a fox, a jackal and a wolf.  Working together, the animals down their prey, only to have the lion take all the bounty for himself.  Afterwards, the fox asks the all-important question: shouldn't those who share the labor also share the spoil?

It's a message that has particular meaning in relation to the Lakewood Brewing Company's first anniversary brew.  In coming up with the name, those at Lakewood recognized that they owe much of their success to all who have supported them as they've worked to build the brand and make the brewery a reality.  To honor that, they offer their fans the Lion's Share.

Described as a Belgian-style Double IPA, Lion's Share gets its foundation from an amped up version of the brewery staple Hop Trapp.  Initially fermented with that beer's regular yeast strain, Brettanomyces was added later in the process and the beer allowed to age for eight months in the same Bulleit Bourbon barrels used to create Bourbon Barrel Temptress. Perhaps not surprisingly, first sips of the resulting brew inspire a simple-sounding description along the lines of a bourbon barrel Brett beer.  However, the depth of this brew goes well beyond that.  With secondary nuances of caramel, dark sugars, subtle fruits, wood tones and more, Lion's Share is probably one of the most complex offerings to come out of a North Texas brewery to date.

It also might be one of the most limited.  You'll notice that the full name, Lion's Share I, contains a Roman numeral designation.  This will change, along with the beer's style, each year Lakewood celebrates a new anniversary. In other words, it's a one-off that will last only as long as the brewery maintains stock.  Though, I'd imagine a few kegs will be held back for special occasions.

Where to get your 'Share':Thursday, September 19: Special tapping at Londoner Frisco

*Originally published on Examiner.com