Interesting news… Brau Brothers barrel-aged, a bigger, smokier version of Bancreagie for about 8 months and soured it with lacto. Those of you have been to the taproom in Marshall may have already tried it, but in case you don’t make it to Marshall, Brau Brothers will be bottling this beer any time now.
Are they really on Batch 15? It really doesn’t seem all that long ago that the folks at Summit announced the first beer in the Unchained Series. In any case, here it is, the next one in full dazzling RGB tones. This round, brewer Nate Siats (Abbey Ale, Imperial Pumpkin Porter) gets a third crack at the series with the series’ first lager, Fest Bier. Summit says this beer will be feature Czech Pils malt & two varieties of Munich as well as Sladek and Saphir hops. Hop Union alludes to the notion that Czech Sladek hops are the bastard child of Northern Brewer and Saaz hops (my words, not theirs) and that these aroma hops feature a “Fruity flavor profile including hints of peach, grapefruit and passion fruit” (their words, not mine). Saphir? Think Hallertauer. Kinda’-sorta’. Fest will be 5.5% abv springtime fest bier that should arrive in March after cold-conditioning for 8 weeks.
Summit recently announced in this blog post that it is expanding hours for the Summit Beer Hall & Taproom in 2014. (The Beer Hall had been open only on Friday 3-8pm.) Beginning this Friday and Saturday (Jan 3 & 4), the Beer Hall will be staying open a bit later on Fridays and will be open to the beer-loving public on Saturdays, 4-9pm on both Friday and Saturdays. This kick-off weekend features food truck Cajun 2 Geaux on Friday evening with an oak firkin of Winter Ale conditioned on star anise; Saturday evening you’ll find Tiki Tim’s food truck and a firkin of Oatmeal Stout with vanilla beans. Look for more events and specialty releases on Friday and Saturday thoughout 2014.
If you haven’t done so yet, do yourself a favor and try some beers from Bent Brewstillery this weekend. They’ll be at Dennis Brothers Liquors on Friday from 5-8pm and The Cellars in Roseville on Saturday from 1-5pm with Dark Fatha and Nordic Blonde with swag, 22 oz. bombers and of course samples.
Newly crowned “Kind of a Big Deal” Winter Seasonal winner (and a beer I got to try in the homebrew stage at The Four Firkins) Fulton Worthy Adversary arrives just in time to warm up the insides this Saturday. If you’re not familiar, Worthy Adversary is a Russian Imperial stout that nearly falls into the 10% abv category. The Fulton taproom opens at noon and you’ll be able to grab growlers ($18/fill) or taste this beer on tap ($5/12 oz pour).
On Monday, Worthy Adversary kegs will be flowing into bars and restaurants and 750mL bottles will start to hit liquor store shelves. Enjoy!