Number 5 in Schell’s Stag Series is being brewed today. They refer to it as a Czech-Style Dark Lager. Look for it in April. details from Schell’s below:

Background
The Czechs are famous for the golden lagers of Pilsen and Budweis, but also have a history of dark versions. While some have a dark red hue, and are typically identified as “garnet”, there are also versions that are closer to black with a rich, spicy flavor. The most famous in that vein is the house beer at U Fleku, the 15th-century brewpub in Prague, and oldest brewpub in the world.

Info/Flavor Profile
Stag Series #5 is modeled after the famous dark lagers of Bohemia. Our version features dark bread and caramel flavors that are accentuated by a decoction mash, and balanced by the spicy Saaz hops.

Ingredients:
Malts: Floor malted Bohemian Pilsner, Light Munich, Caramunich, Carabohemian, Carapils
Bittering Hops: Saaz
Aroma Hops: Saaz

Stats
• Original Gravity: 14.0 Plato
• 5.7% Alcohol By Volume
• 30 International Bitterness Units
• 50 SRM
• Serve in a becker pint or glass

Yes, two new beers from Summit Brewing Company in St. Paul… and that doesn’t even include Unchained No. 9! First up, look for Summit Summer Ale, said to be a Kolsch-inspired beer, but not a remake of the Kolsh that was the first in the Unchained series. Expect that beer in April.

ABV. and IBU not ready yet. Art & other details to come.

• A balanced, highly drinkable session beer for casual and serious beer lovers alike
• Clean, mellow bitterness balanced by slightly bready, toasted malt qualities
• An inspired summer ale with elegant fruit and ?oral aroma
• Released in late April

Next up, look for Summit Saga IPA in the latter part of May. Saga is a West-coast style IPA said to be inspired by Summit’s 25th Anniversary beer. It’ll be a year-round offering available in six & twelve packs. This confirms what some of you have probably been hearing since the Silver Anniversary’s release. Hops? Yup. It’ll feature Rakau hops from New Zeland along with Citra, Centennial and Amarillo. Rakau is new to me, though it’s said to fall in the same ballpark as Amarillo & Summit hops.

Once again, no ABV or IBUs yet.

• Pronounced hop ?avor and aromas of Kiwi, Passionfruit, Apricot and Gooseberry
• Clean, assertive bitterness with balancing Pale malt characteristics
• Named after the Norse Goddess of poetry, who was the God Odin’s drinking companion. Also, it was quite a saga to pick a name!

A little change of pace from the Finnegans crew. The group is set to launch a new beer, Finnegans Blonde Ale in March as a summer seasonal. Summit brewer Damian McConn devised the recipe with a little guidance from Finnegans CEO, Jacquie Berglund.

Specs:

FINNEGANS Blonde Ale is a limited release and is available in 6-packs, 1/6 barrels and 1/2 barrels.

FINNEGANS Blonde Ale is available in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota.

TASTE: Light-Bodied ale, slight floral/fruity aroma, crisp clean finish

INGREDIENTS: Made from 4 pure ingredients: water, yeast, hops and malted barley

ALCOHOL: 4.6% by Volume

BITTERNESS: 22