GSN Brews News: September 28th 2021 Edition

Oregon’s Rogue Ales & Spirits is introducing Jam Sesh, a new blonde session ale. The 5.5% abv offering is rolling out in six-packs of 12-ounce cans and on draft, and will be available from September through December. To celebrate the launch of Jam Sesh, Rogue’s in-house band has released its first single on Spotify and Apple Music.

Escondido, California-based Stone Brewing’s distribution unit Stone Distributing Co. has added four new partners to its portfolio. The first is Bomani Cold Buzz, a 5.7% abv cold brew coffee brand that comes in regular coffee and vanilla flavors. It’s also partnered with Inglewood, California-based Crowns & Hops Brewing Co., taking full distribution rights following a temporary relationship that began last year. Third is Tarantula Hill Brewing Co., whose lead and master brewer are both Stone alumni and which is now expanding distribution. Finally, Stone will distribute Villager Spirits’ line of canned cocktails, which include Tequila Paloma, Vodka Mule, Mai Tai, and multiple flavors of Margarita. Other Stone Distributing partners include Societe Brewing, Jiant Hard Kombucha, and Spindrift Spiked.

Lisco Spirits has announced the launch of its new Tequila and seltzer RTD, set to hit shelves in New York and New Jersey in October. The new cocktails come in four flavors—Fresh Pineapple, Luscious Lime, Sweet Mango and Juicy Watermelon—all at 5% abv and with 100 calories per 12-ounce can. All are made from Blanco Tequila, fruit juice, and seltzer, without any added sugar.

Sierra Nevada Brewing has debuted Atomic Torpedo, billed as a juicy West Coast Double IPA. The 8.2% abv brew includes Cascade, Centennial, Mosaic, and Magnum hops and fuses West and East Coast IPA styles. It’s available exclusively in Sierra Nevada’s Hoppy Sampler Pack, which also includes Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Torpedo Extra IPA, and Dankful IPA. 

Comstock Park, Michigan’s Perrin Brewing Company has launched Beer City Rye IPA, a new collaboration with local baker Beer City Bread Co. The 8% abv ale is brewed with American hops and has toasted rye bread from Beer City added directly to the mash. Beer City Rye IPA is currently available at the Perrin Pub with statewide distribution coming soon for kegs and 6-packs of 12-ounce cans.

Texas-based Spoetzl Brewery has launched Shiner 1909, a new beer celebrating the brewery’s 112-year history. The 4.5% abv lager is brewed with 2-row barley, Noble hops, the brewery’s own yeast strain, and water from the same well the brewery has drawn on for a century. The beer is now available nationwide in 6- and 12-packs of 12-ounce bottles for around $9 and $15, respectively. Shiner 1909 joins the brewery’s popular Bock, alongside other releases like Ruby Redbird and Wicked Juicy IPA.

Yuengling is relaunching its Hershey’s Chocolate Porter in bottles and on draft late this month. Rolling out in 22 states, the 4.7% abv brew combines Yuengling’s dark brewed porter recipe with Hershey’s chocolate.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Brews News: December 15th 2020 Edition

Frederick, Maryland-based Flying Dog Brewery and Gaithersburg, Maryland-based Waredaca Brewing Co. are releasing a collaboration called Watch Me Neigh Neigh Spiced Red Ale. Brewed in celebration of Waredaca’s fifth anniversary, the name is a reference to the equestrian history of Waredaca’s farm. It was brewed with cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, and orange peels to capture the holiday season. The release is available now, for sale at Waredaca’s tasting room.

Baltimore, Maryland-based DuClaw Brewing Company is releasing Hoppy Together, a sour ale, as the first in its quarterly release series for 2021. It was made with Mosaic, Azacca, and Simcoe hops as well as lactose. It is at 7.1% abv and will be released in 6-packs of 12-ounce cans beginning in January. Founded in 1996, DuClaw distributes to 19 states and Washington, D.C.

San Clemente, California’s Left Coast Brewing is releasing the fifth edition of its annual South County IPA. The beer is a collaboration between Left Coast and nearby Artifex Brewing and Pizza Port Brewing. It is a limited-edition West Coast-style IPA brewed with Simcoe, Cascade, Centennial, Mosaic, Nelson, and Amarillo hops with forward notes of blueberry and gooseberry. It is available in 4-packs and on tap at Left Coast’s locations in San Clemente and Irvine and on tap in select restaurants in the area.

Elk Rapids, Michigan-based Short’s Brewing has added its Lil’ Huma session IPA to its year-round lineup. Named in comparison to Short’s Huma Lupa Licious IPA, it debuted last summer in the brewery’s Refreshin’ Session variety pack at 4.5% abv and 95 calories. It will be the brewery’s first low-abv year-round offering. Lil’ Huma is currently available on draft and in 12-ounce cans, with 12-packs in market and 6-packs shipping now. It will replace Juicy Brut in the Short’s flagship line up.

Traverse City, Michigan-based North Peak Brewing Company is relaunching Berserker Imperial Stout after a multi-year hiatus. The 10.1% abv behemoth returns with a tweaked recipe and a Bourbon barrel aged variant. Its flavor profile includes cocoa, dark fruit, currants, and cinnamon. Berserker is available now in 6-packs of 12-ounce cans for a limited time throughout Michigan. Bourbon Barrel Berserker will be available on tap at select locations this winter. North Peak Brewing is part of Northern United Brewing Company and distributes throughout the state, with limited distribution elsewhere.

Boston, Massachusetts’ Harpoon Brewery and Vermont’s WhistlePig have teamed up to create the Bock Hog, a new barrel-finished beer. The lager comes in at 9% abv, and is finished in the Spanish oak and South American Teakwood barrels used to mature WhistlePig’s the Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic. The limited release is now available in individual 22-ounce bottles and on draft at Harpoon’s breweries in Boston and Vermont.

Newport, Oregon’s Rogue Ales & Spirits announced its first release of 2021. January 1 will be the debut of Colossal Claude, a new year-round Imperial IPA featuring a sea monster on the can. Brewed with Cascade, Chinook, Citra, and Strata hops, it’s at 8.2% abv and will join Batsquatch Hazy IPA in the brewer’s monster-themed lineup. It will be available nationwide in 6-packs of 12-ounce cans, 19.2-ounce cans, and on draft. Colossal Claude and Batsquatch will face off in Rogue’s Monsters of IPA campaign this spring, with more details forthcoming next year.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: November 24th 2020 Edition

Stoli Group USA has introduced the latest releases for Kentucky Owl: Rye Batch No. 4 and Bourbon Batch No. 10. The brand’s latest rye release, called “The Last Rye” is a blend of 10- to 13-year-old whiskey bottled at 56.4% abv. Kentucky Owl Bourbon Batch No. 10 is a 60.1% abv non-age-stated blend of whiskies that, according to the company, marries some of its oldest and oakiest whiskies with younger, fruitier spirits. Both are now available across the U.S. at a suggested price of $300 a 750-ml.

Louisville, Kentucky’s Barrell Craft Spirits has announced the Private Release Bourbon Series, a new line of limited editions. The releases are blended from four Bourbons—sourced from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana—of varying ages combined to make 49 different recipes. Each offering is bottled at cask strength and will retail for around $110 a 750-ml. Only 150-180 bottles will be available for each batch and a list of retailers is available on Barrell’s website.

Newport, Oregon’s Rogue Ales & Spirits has launched the Single Barrel Project, a new collection of one-off whiskey releases. The series will consist of four releases per year and will be exclusive to retailers in Oregon. The first release is a 6-year-old single malt finished in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels from North by Northwest Wines in Washington State and bottled at 48% abv. The second release, coming in January 2021, is an 8-year-old Oregon rye whiskey finished in a second-use Zinfandel barrel. The third release is an Oregon single malt finished in cherry wood and will be released in March 2021.

Appleton Estate, part of the Campari America portfolio, has announced a new collection of rare pot still rums, set to launch in early 2021. The Hearts Collection consists of three vintage-dated rums, aged between 21 and 26 years. This collection marks the first time that Appleton will release a series of rums entirely composed of pot still spirits. The three vintage releases—1994, 1995, and 1999—will be available in extremely limited quantities; only 3,000 bottles of each will be distributed worldwide.

Diageo has released the 2020 Distillers Edition Collection of Scotch whiskies to retailers across the U.S. The six releases cover a wide range of Scotch styles and vintages, bringing new whiskies from Oban (2006, 43% abv, $95), Talisker (2010, 45.8%, $85), Lagavulin (2005, 43% abv, $110), Cragganmore (2008, 40%, $85), Dalwhinnie (2005, 43%, $90), and Glenkinchie (2008, 43% abv, $85) to market. The Cragganmore bottling underwent a second maturation in Port casks, while the other five entries saw a second maturation in Sherry casks.

Oregon-based Westward Whiskey is launching a new permanent line extension, Westward Oregon Pinot Noir Cask ($90), into national distribution, after a limited rollout in its home state. Pinot Noir Cask joins the original Westward American Single Malt ($70) and Stout Cask Finish ($90) offerings in the core range. Along with the new whiskey, Westward has unveiled a new bottle design and logo that pays homage to its Northwest provenance. Diageo’s Distill Ventures took a minority stake in Westward in 2018.

Tennessee whiskey brand George Dickel, part of the Diageo portfolio, has introduced a new single barrel expression. The new whiskey is aged at least 15 years in new American oak casks, ranges in abv from 40%-52.3%, and will be available to purchase via the barrel or the bottle ($60 a 750-ml.). George Dickel Single Barrel is currently available in California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas, with more markets to come in January.

San Diego, California-based Cutwater Spirits, owned by Anheuser-Busch, has added a new Añejo Tequila to its spirits lineup. The Tequila is distilled at Tequila Orendain (NOM 1110) and, following distillation, matured for over a year in Cutwater’s whiskey barrels. Cutwater Añejo Tequila is bottled at 40% abv and packaged in a bottle made entirely from recycled glass. The spirit is now available at select retailers for around $50 a 750-ml.

Wilderton, a new non-alcoholic botanical spirit alternative, has launched in the U.S. with two zero calorie, gluten free offerings. Wilderton Earthen is made with peppercorns, pine-smoked tea, and patchouli, among other botanicals; and the brand’s Lustre is made with lavender, bergamot, rose, and lemongrass, among others. Wilderton retails for $33 a 750-ml. and is currently available on the brand’s website, with product available on Amazon and in other retail locations soon.

Minnesota-based Tattersall Distilling has introduced two bottled-in-bond Bourbons: High-Rye Bourbon and Wheated Bourbon. According to the company, these are the first bottled-in-bond spirits made in Minnesota since before Prohibition. Both Bourbons are made from local grains and have been aged in Minnesota white oak barrels between four and five years, with suggested retail pricing at $50 a 750-ml. Tattersall’s new entries will be distributed to select Minnesota retailers.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: October 20th 2020 Edition

Newport, Oregon-based Rogue Ales & Spirits is launching an addition to its line of canned cocktails. Rogue Ginger Lemon Whiskey Mule is the first in the series to use whiskey as its base spirit, joining three vodka-based offerings and a Gin Fizz. It’s at 7.5% abv and contains a blend of Rogue Spirits whiskey aged between 4 and 6 years along with ginger, lemon, simple syrup, and sparkling water. It is available nationwide now, retailing in 4-packs of 12-ounce cans.

Cincoro Tequila, the brand founded by Michael Jordan and other NBA owners, has released a limited number of 1.75-liter bottles of its Añejo Tequila. Each bottle is individually numbered and will be available for purchase on Cincoro’s website. Interested consumers can register now for a chance to buy. The 1.75-liter bottles will be available in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Nashville, Dallas, and Houston.

Palm Bay International is launching Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey. Retailing at $65 a 750-ml., the newcomer is triple-distilled from a blend of malted Irish barley, unmalted Irish barley and Irish barra oats. It was aged five years in first use ex-Kentucky Bourbon and ex-Oloroso Sherry casks and was bottled at 43% abv. Rolling out nationwide, it joins Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin in the Drumshanbo range.

Herradura Tequila, part of the Brown-Forman portfolio, is introducing a new permanent extension to its range. Herradura Legend is an Añejo Tequila matured for 14 months in heavily charred, new American White Oak barrels. Herradura makes its own barrels and deeply grooves them to expose the Tequila to more layers of toasted oak. Legend will initially be available in select markets, including New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Oregon, California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina retailing at $125.

Boston, Massachusetts-based Latitude Beverage has added a new Bourbon to its Wheel Horse Whiskey brand, following the launch of Wheel Horse rye earlier this year. The 50.5% abv whiskey is aged between two and four years from a mash of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley. The whiskey was distilled at the Owensboro Distilling Company in Kentucky and is now available in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Tennessee for around $28 a 750-ml.

Bacardi is debuting three new offerings from its Exceptional Cask series of single malt Scotch whiskies: Aberfeldy 18 Years Old ($120, 43% abv), Aberfeldy 20 Years Old ($200, 43% abv), and Craigellachie 24 Years Old ($300, 52.2% abv), all of which are rolling out this month. Each expression in the Exceptional Cask series is hand-selected by malt master Stephanie Macleod.

Sweet Amber Distilling Co. has announced a new cask strength program for the Blackened American whiskey line. The whiskey, called Batch 106, is a blend of Bourbon and rye that’s bottled at 55.35% abv. According to the company, the whiskies in the blend are an average of eight years old. Like the wider Blackened release, Batch 106 is finished by playing music through the spirit, in this case Metallica’s S&M2 collaboration with the San Francisco Symphony. Blackened Batch 106 is available for around $55 in Kroger Supermarkets in Kentucky and in Tampa, Florida at Luekens Wine & Spirits.

Constellation Brands has extended Svedka with a new range of canned Vodka Soda cocktails. The new offerings, made with real fruit juice and natural flavors, are at 8% abv and come in Strawberry Lemonade, Black Cherry Lime, and Mango Pineapple flavors. They’re rolling out now, retailing at $13 a 4-pack of 12-ounce cans, and $3 an individual can.

Beam Suntory has launched Suntory World Whisky Ao, its first global blend of whiskies, to 16 travel retail markets. The 43% abv blend is assembled from Beam Suntory’s Scottish, Canadian, American, and Japanese distillers by fifth generation Suntory chief blender, Shinji Fukuyo. This marks the first international launch for Ao, which was previously released in April 2019 as an exclusive for the Japanese market. Suntory World Whisky Ao retails for around $71 a bottle.

Lucas Bols USA has launched a new, non-alcoholic version of its Damrak gin, called Damrak Virgin 0.0. The spirit alternative is made with citrus peels, lavender, and coriander seeds, among other botanicals, and aims to mimic the flavor of Bols’ alcoholic Damrak gin. It’s now available nationwide in retail channels as well as online via the brand’s website and Amazon.

Frankfort, Kentucky’s Pinhook has announced its 2020 Vertical series whiskies. The new releases are Bourbon War 5 Year, bottled at 52% abv, and Tiz Rye Time 4 Year, bottled at 48.5%. Both whiskies are sourced from MGP. Pinhook will release new editions each year until the Vertical series gets to 12-year-old whiskies. The whiskies retail for $50 and $45, respectively, and are now available in 25 states and through Breeze, the company’s text message-based e-commerce channel that allows fans to text a photo or description of one of Pinhook’s whiskies to a personal shopper who then sources the spirit.

Louisville, Kentucky’s Barrell Craft Spirits has introduced a new addition to its BCS (Barrel Craft Spirits) line, a 15-year-old Bourbon. The whiskey is blended from straight Bourbons distilled in Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee, and bottled at 52.45% abv. Barrel’s BCS Bourbon is rolling out now in limited quantities—only 12,000 bottles will be released—and will retail for around $250 in select stores across the company’s 45-market distribution footprint. In addition to this new release, the BCS line also includes another whiskey and a rum.

Compass Box has announced the Peat Monster Arcana, the latest whisky celebrating the company’s 20th anniversary. The 46% abv whisky is made from a base of cask strength Peat Monster that aged for an additional two years before blending with malt whiskies from the Talisker, Miltonduff, and Ardbeg distilleries. The Peat Monster Arcana is rolling out this month in limited quantities across the U.S.; only 3,900 bottles will be available for a suggested price of $95 a 750-ml. This is the third celebratory whisky the company has released for its 20th anniversary, following Hedonism Felicitas and Rogues’ Banquet.

Elenita, a new brand of sparkling mezcal cocktails, is debuting across California. The 5% abv range includes Cucumber Lime Basil and Pineapple Jalapeno offerings and retails at $36 an eight-pack of 12-ounce cans on the company’s website. In addition to online, Elenita is available at select Total Wine and BevMo outlets among other on- and off-premise locations. The brand’s mezcal base is made from 100%-Espadin agave and distilled in Oaxaca.

Brooklyn, New York-based Widow Jane has announced the next batch of Decadence, the company’s maple syrup cask-finished whiskey. The 45.5% abv Bourbon starts as Widow Jane’s standard 10-year-old whiskey before finishing in casks used to age Crown Maple Syrup. This iteration of Decadence is rolling out now in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, and Texas, and will retail for around $80. Each batch of Widow Jane’ Decadence comes in at around 3,300 bottles of whiskey.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Brews News: September 22nd 2020 Edition

Washington, D.C.-based Atlas Brew Works has released Sunny Honey Saison. The new brew was made using honey harvested from Minnesota-based Bare Honey’s solar farms; these farms are unique in that they use pollinator-friendly plants as ground cover around the solar panels in an effort to support the bee population. Nonprofit Fresh Energy provided the honey. Sunny Honey Saison is available in 750-ml. bottles at Atlas Brew taprooms across D.C.

Richmond, Virginia-based Hardywood Park Craft Brewery has partnered with convenience chain Sheetz on a watermelon wheat ale. Officially called Project Watt-Ahh-Melon Ring, it is available for a limited time exclusively at select Sheetz stores in Virginia and North Carolina. Its name derives from the fact that it was brewed using Sheetz watermelon gummy rings. It’s at 5.3% abv and retails for $8 a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans. Hardywood Park was founded in 2011 and distributes throughout Virginia, Washington, D.C., and the Raleigh Triangle area of North Carolina.

Newport, Oregon-based Rogue Ales & Spirits is launching Pineapple Party Punch, a hazy Imperial IPA. Brewed with pineapple and toasted coconut in addition to a citrus-forward hop selection, it is at 8.4% abv and will be released next month on draft and in 4-packs of 16-ounce cans. Founded in 1988, Rogue distributes to all 50 states.

Salt Lake City, Utah-based Wasatch Brewery is releasing Great Deceiver Imperial Pilsner. Named for Satan himself, the new brew is at 7% abv and brewed with German Noble Hops to impart floral notes onto a bready malt backing flavor. Great Deceiver launches this month across Wasatch’s 20-state distribution footprint in 6-packs of 12-ounce cans. Founded in 1986, Wasatch is part of the Canarchy Collective of breweries.

Paso Robles, California-based Firestone Walker Brewing Company is reintroducing its Double Jack Double IPA. Originally launched in 2009 and discontinued in 2016, Double Jack is returning due to popular demand after a brief revival in a variety pack last year. The release is triple dry-hopped after four initial hop additions. At 9.5% abv, Double Jack is now available as a limited 6-pack of 12-ounce cans in all Firestone Walker markets.

Portland, Oregon-based Cascade Brewing is debuting new formats for two of its sour ales. Both Pistil Whipped (7.7% abv) and Sang Rouge (7.1% abv) are now available in 12-ounce cans for the first time. Pistil Whipped was originally brewed for the company’s Sour Flower Fest and features late infusions of saffron and chamomile. Sang Rouge was brewed from 2010 to 2015 and is a blend of sour red ales aged in red wine barrels. The new cans are available in singles or and 4-packs at Cascade Brewing’s Barrel House and Lodge locations in Oregon, and in limited distribution.

Rehoboth, Delaware-based Dogfish Head is launching Re-Gen-Ale in partnership with Indigo Agriculture. Releasing just in time for Climate Week, the brew was produced through the Indigo Carbon program, which provides growers with financial incentives to use techniques that store carbon in their soil. Dogfish Head will also purchase more than the amount of carbon credits needed to offset the production of Re-Gen-Ale. The release is available beginning this weekend on draft and in 4-packs of 16-ounce cans, retailing for $17, at Dogfish Head’s Rehoboth location.

Pacific City, Oregon-based Pelican Brewing Co. is launching a new year-round addition to its lineup. Cape Crasher IPA is a Pacific Northwest-style IPA at 6.8% abv inspired by Oregon’s rugged coastline and Shore Pine forests. It’s available now in 12-ounce bottles, 6-packs of 12-ounce cans, and on draft at Pelican’s brewpubs and other locations in Oregon. Founded in 1996, Pelican brews 40,000 barrels of beer annually and distributes to six states.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: August 11th 2020 Edition

Newport, Oregon-based Rogue Ales & Spirits has partnered with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto on Morimoto single malt whiskey. The new, limited edition whiskey is made from a base of Morimoto Imperial Pilsner and Morimoto Black Obi Ale, both of which are previous collaborations between Rogue and Morimoto. The two beers were distilled and then barreled in American oak casks, where they spent over two years resting in Rogue’s Ocean Aging Room by the Pacific Coast. Finally, they were finished for 1.5 years in Oregon oak barrels that previously held Rogue’s Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout. The 85 proof whiskey is available at Morimoto restaurants, Rogue pubs, and retailers across the U.S.

Disaronno International has announced The Busker, a new Irish whiskey brand, featuring four releases. The line of whiskey was distilled by County Carlow’s Royal Oak Distillery and covers all four major styles of Irish whiskey: the Busker will launch with a blended whiskey, a single grain, a single malt, and a single pot still whiskey. The Busker blend will retail for around $25 and the other expressions for around $30. In January 2019, Disaronno parent company Illva Saronno took full ownership of the Royal Oak Distillery, following the dissolution of the company’s partnership with Walsh Whiskey.

Two Brooklyn, New York-based bar professionals have teamed up with New York Distilling company to bring a new line of canned cocktails to New York and New Jersey. Social Hour, created by Julie Reiner and Tom Macy of the borough’s Clover Club, launches with three varieties: Gin and Tonic (11.5% abv, made with Perry’s Tot gin), Whiskey Mule (10.5% abv, made with Ragtime rye), and Pacific Spritz (8%, Finger Lakes-sourced rosé, grapefruit, passionfruit, sparkling water). The releases are now available in 4-packs of 250-ml. cans for $20.

Texas-based Still Austin Whiskey Co. has launched their inaugural straight Bourbon whiskey throughout the Lone Star State. The 49.2% abv whiskey is made from a mashbill of 70% corn, 25% rye, and 5% wildfire malted barley. The whiskey is aged for at least two years and is produced from Texas-grown grains malted, mashed, and distilled at the company’s grain-to-glass distillery in Austin. Still Austin Straight Bourbon whiskey is now available for around $45 a 750-ml. Still Austin also offers a limited release Bourbon and a gin distilled from Texas-grown rye.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily