Billy Goat Hop Farm Wins Cascade Cup For Second Consecutive Year

MONTROSE, CO— In January, Billy Goat Hop Farm was named the first place winner of Hop Quality Group’s 2024 Cascade Cup for the second consecutive year. They are the first farm to ever win the award in back-to-back years. 

The Cascade Cup is the ultimate challenge for the best Cascade hops in the country. It’s an annual competition for growers all over the United States to showcase their best Cascade crop that is judged by an expert panel of brewing professionals in the Hop Quality Group who blindly pick a winner based on appearance, aroma, and hop analysis. Cascade was chosen because it is the most widely grown variety and not proprietary, allowing most farmers nationwide to participate.  

Last year, Billy Goat Hop Farm entered the Cascade Cup for the first time and won first place, making the farm the first outside of Washington and Oregon to ever win this prestigious award. 

“We are surprised, appreciative, and very grateful to win the Cascade Cup again. What an honor and an amazing industry to be a part of,” say Co-Founders Chris DellaBianca and Audrey Gehlhausen. “We share this victory with all of our fellow craft hop farmers across the country. I guess it’s time to start using craft hops in craft beer,” Gehlhausen adds with a smile. 

More than 50 breweries across the country have utilized this crop of Billy Goat’s award-winning Cascade hops, with their largest purchasers being Steel Bender Brewyard in Albuquerque, Wren House Brewing in Phoenix, and Tree House Brewing in Massachusetts. Although Billy Goat has already sold out of Cascade for this season, all of their varieties— including Chinook, Comet, Columbus, and Magnum, to name a few — are grown and processed with the same hands-on care, and now available for purchase. 

At 32 acres, Billy Goat Hop Farm is able to stay more hands-on in every aspect of farming and processing than the typical 500+ acre farm. Their smaller size also allows them to catch pests and disease early, dramatically decreasing the need for chemical inputs. Using multiple soil health practices, Billy Goat takes pride in creating a vital living ecosystem sustaining its plants, animals, and humans— while also conserving water. 

Learn more about Billy Goat Hop Farm and their craft hops at billygoathopfarm.com. Breweries interested in purchasing hops can contact billygoathopfarm@gmail.com and media inquiring about the farm and their recent Cascade Cup win can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT BILLY GOAT HOP FARM

Billy Goat Hop Farm is the largest hop farm in the Southwest, providing superior quality fresh, whole cone, and pelletized hops directly to craft brewers. Starting in 2017, they've grown to 32 acres that produce 9 varieties of craft hops. In 2022, they began sourcing different varieties of whole cone hops from other quality growers, and then processing themselves in order to offer more varieties to their brewers. 

Owners and farmers Chris and Audrey pride themselves on creating genuine farmer-brewer relations and bringing true craft into their process. Combining traditional hands-on practices and state-of-the-art technology, they use less water and chemicals which transcends into a healthier ecosystem, soil, and hop plants. Brewers enjoy the bright aroma and subtly unique aroma profile imparted from Colorado's terroir, and the passion poured into every step of the process. 

Know your farmer, Love your beer. 

Ely Cartwright To Release One Take Sessions

NATIONAL– The first of three volumes, titled Was It You, on Ely Cartwright’s new album One Take Sessions will be available across music platforms on Friday, February 9. 

One Take Sessions is an album in three volumes: Vol. 1: Was It You, Vol. 2: My Little Heart, and Vol. 3: Never Tame. Each volume represents an era of writing and an era of the heart. From the heartbreaking breakup songs in Was It You, through the growing love and longing found in My Little Heart, and closing with a nostalgic wistfulness in Never Tame, Durango, Colorado-based singer-songwriter Ely Cartwright uses One Take Sessions as an opportunity to share story and song in a raw, real, and stripped-back format. It captures that feeling of an intimate, in-the-moment performance as if they’re being performed right there in the room: One guitar. One voice. One take.

Below is a release calendar for each volume of One Take Sessions, available everywhere*. 

(*More specifically: Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Instagram/Facebook, TikTok & other ByteDance stores, YouTube Music, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer, Tidal, iHeartRadio, Claro Música, Saavn, Boomplay, Anghami, KKBox, NetEase, Tencent, Qobuz, Joox, Kuack Media, Yandex Music (beta), Adaptr, Flo, MediaNet)

Contact Emily Hutto hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media requests, and booking@elycartwright.com for booking inquiries.

Friday, February 9: Vol. 1: Was It You release

When it comes to shared human experiences, heartbreak is one of the most fundamental. In Was It You, the first volume of Ely Cartwright’s One Take Sessions, Cartwright explores the landscape of the broken heart. Using down to earth imagery from daily life, these songs get inside some of the darkest moments felt through the loss of love, and yet, there remains a tenor of hopefulness in the melodies and lyrics. Was It You is a collection of songs rooted in the belief that beauty can carry us through whatever life throws our way.

Friday, March 8: My Little Heart single release

Friday, March 22: Vol. 2: My Little Heart release

Love and longing, the push and pull of desire, and falling in and fighting for love  are the themes of My Little Heart, volume two of Ely Cartwright’s One Take Sessions. Many artists have fallen prey to “losing their edge” when moving from heartbreak songs to love songs, but Cartwright manages to hold together both the levity and the vulnerability of falling in love. My Little Heart approaches love as the wild animal that it is, beautiful and alluring, but don’t approach too quickly or risk scaring it off. In this volume, Cartwright explores the discovery of love and the hope that it might actually go the distance.

Friday, April 19: Never Tame single release

Friday, May 3: Vol. 3: Never Tame release

Never Tame, the third volume of Ely Cartwright’s One Take Sessions, is an exploration of time. Containing songs written as far back as fifteen years prior to recording, Cartwright is looking back to some of his favorite songs as well as those that have connected with his audiences most consistently over the years, none of which have been previously released. The title track and single from this volume, ‘Never Tame,’ depicts the heart of Ely’s wild and loving rescue dog, an inquiry into the delicate balance between freedom and boundaries. Staying content and awake in the present while striving for growth is the creative tension depicted in this third volume of Cartwright’s One Take Sessions.

ABOUT ELY CARTWRIGHT

From his midwestern roots to his home in the Southwest, Ely Cartwright explores the beauty and loss of everyday life in the pursuit of connection. Described as falling “somewhere between indie-folk and the singer-songwriter sounds of 1970s Laurel Canyon,” Cartwright has spent the last twenty years honing his craft as a songwriter and storyteller. His current project, One Take Sessions, explores those sounds and stories with a raw and real approach, capturing intimate performances of songs he’s written throughout his journey as an artist.

Lone Tree Brewing To Open Second Location In Parker, CO

John Winter (left), Jerry Siote, Andrew Barnett (right) at current Barnett & Son Brewing Co.

LONE TREE, CO— Lone Tree Brewing is ecstatic to announce its second location in neighboring city Parker, Colorado— slated to open in March.

After years of searching for the brewery’s next location, Lone Tree Brewing will open another taproom in the former Barnett & Son Brewing Co. location at 18425 Pony Express Drive in Parker, Colorado. Barnett & Son Owner Andrew Barnett, a long time friend of Lone Tree Brewing, will soon retire; Transforming this location into Lone Tree Brewing 2.0 was the perfect fit. 

“The acquisition of Barnett's brewing assets and tap room will allow Lone Tree to research and develop new and innovative recipes that will be served at both locations for the immediate future,” says Jerry Siote, Lone Tree Brewing Co-Owner and Director of Brewhouse Operations. “The flexibility and versatility of brewing on a smaller system in Parker can provide much-needed customer feedback for scaling up newer recipes and further experimentation.” 

The Lone Tree Brewing team will take over operations at the end of February 2024, and target a public grand opening for March 1, 2024. More details about the opening will be announced in coming weeks.

Media inquiring about Lone Tree Brewing’s new location can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING COMPANY

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery in Lone Tree, Colorado that opened near Park Meadows Mall in 2011. The neighborhood-focused, family-friendly brewery and tasting room regularly hosts community events that gather around a stylistically diverse lineup of flagship, seasonal, and limited release beers. Lone Tree’s cans are sold across the state of Colorado, and in select locations in Kansas. Its draft beer is poured at many bars and restaurants across its distribution footprint as well. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Florida SMaSH Beer Festival Returns For 8th Year, Feat. Riverbend Malt & Yakima Quality Hops

LONGWOOD, FL— The eighth annual Florida SMaSH Beer Festival is the official kick off event for 2024 Orlando Beer Week. Thirty breweries will serve single malt, single hop beers made with malt from Riverbend Malt and hops from Yakima Quality Hops on Saturday, February 17th at Reiter Park.

The 2024 beers on tap at Florida SMaSH were made with Riverbend Avalon Pilsner malt. “With subtle notes of melon, honeysuckle and a mouthfeel reminiscent of coconut water, Avalon Pilsner can excel in a wide range of styles from American Lager to Belgian Farmhouse ales,” says Riverbend Malt House Co-Founder Brent Manning. “Avalon barley is a new variety bred to support the needs of brewers and distillers. We’re beyond excited to sample what will undoubtedly be a full-color spectrum of expressions of Avalon from so many different brewhouses at Florida SMaSH.”

Last year, the Florida SMaSH Beer Festival raised $16.027.74 for A Spoon Full of Hope. These funds support Second Harvest’s no-cost 16-week Culinary Training program, which provides qualified, economically challenged adults with the culinary and life skills training to pursue a sustainable career in the food industry. ‘This donation was over 42% higher than our previous highest donation. We were thrilled, to say the least,” says Eric Garbarczyk of Hourglass Brewing Co. “We aim to top our donation to A Spoonful of Hope again in 2024!”

Florida SMaSH  is presented by the Brewers Establishing Altruistic Regional Development (B.E.A.R.D.) nonprofit organization, Hourglass Brewing, and the City of Longwood. This festival was created to celebrate the creativity and camaraderie of breweries in the Sunshine State. Each year, a people’s choice beer wins the coveted, ever-evolving Florida SMaSH Festival Champions Lamp; and the Judge's Choice competition awards first, second, and third place medals. 

Tickets to the festival are available via Eventbrite, and festival details can be found at www.flsmash.com.

ABOUT B.E.A.R.D.

Brewers Establishing Altruistic Regional Development (B.E.A.R.D.) is a non-profit organization created by brewing industry professionals with a mission to serve their communities. Over 7 years, B.E.A.R.D. has successfully donated more than $60,000 to local charitable organizations such as A Spoon Full of Hope.

ABOUT HOURGLASS BREWING

Hourglass Brewing is now serving their 11th year, producing Seminole County’s first small batch craft beer. With two locations in the Orlando area and no less than 30 beers on tap they continually push for innovation while holding on to nostalgia, with a thirst for good times. Visit Hourglass online at hourglassbrewing.com.

Contact Bill Murphy at bill@hourglassbrewing.com with media inquiries about Hourglass Brewing.

ABOUT RIVERBEND MALT HOUSE

Riverbend Malt House is on a quest to connect Southeastern family owned farms and fermenters. Co-Founders Brent Manning and Brian Simpson launched Riverbend, the first craft malt house east of the Mississippi River, in Asheville, North Carolina in 2010. Buoyed by a 70,000 square foot production facility and state of the art equipment, Riverbend Malt House helps breweries and distilleries large, small, and in-between stand out with flavor, locality, and community in an increasingly competitive landscape— all the while challenging the status quo of corporate, big-agriculture malt. Learn more at riverbendmalt.com.

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Riverbend Malt House.

ABOUT YAKIMA QUALITY HOPS

YQH is a family-owned business focused on quality and service. Founded in 2013, Yakima Quality Hops provides the highest quality hops to breweries throughout the United States and abroad. Based in Yakima, WA, we work directly with growers, allowing us to offer the best pricing and quality control. We work with breweries of all sizes and in all stages of growth. Whether you’ve been brewing for decades or are just getting started, let’s connect so we can get to know your hops needs. Learn more at yakhops.com.

Mortal Becomes First Kombucha In 16oz Aluminum Bottles

NATIONAL— Mortal now fights death with aluminum. The beverage innovator is the first in the world to package its kombucha brand in aluminum bottles.

Mortal’s same great, better-for-you kombucha flavors are now way better for the planet— available in infinitely recyclable, resealable, and lighter aluminum bottles. 

Since 2017 Mortal has offered its array of kombucha flavors in glass bottles. Now, the beverage innovator is proud to add this groundbreaking packaging for the kombucha category: 16oz Aluminum Bottles. This new revolution in kombucha packaging is made possible by Mortal’s partnership with SPROUTS Market. “Sprouts has a commitment to innovation and sustainability and we are so thankful they were with us to bring it to market,” says Mortal Founder Becca Schepps. 

Mortal is now the first kombucha brand in the world to package in aluminum bottles. Beyond the reduction on Mortal’s carbon footprint, this new packaging format has the benefit of resealability— unlike many other kombucha brands that have switched to aluminum in cans. That means more kombucha-sipping opportunities at concerts, on hikes or the slopes, in the mountains, on beaches and golf courses, in backpacks and just about everywhere else you can think of. 

“Using premium ingredients and top-notch manufacturing, we’ve ensured the same great taste from our glass product in aluminum Earth-friendly packaging,” adds Schepps. Four mainstay flavors (Basillion Strawberries, Black Sage, Black Magic, and Marg Simpson) of Mortal Kombucha are now available in 16oz aluminum bottles at all SPROUTS markets nationwide, with more retailers to come in 2024. Also available in its aluminum bottle is the Mortal’s new SPROUTS exclusive Peaches Be Crazy, a Peach Bellini kombucha. Since launch it’s been time and time again described as the best kombucha flavor ever. 

To inquire about carrying Mortal and its 16oz Aluminum Bottle at your retailer send inquiries to hello@drinkmortal.com.

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Mortal. 

ABOUT MORTAL 

Founded by Becca Schepps and Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Mortal makes beverages that fight death. Mortal is currently available across all 50 states, in retailers such as WholeFoods, Sprouts, Central Market, King Soopers, Foodtown, Mother’s, Lassens, Weis and Natural Grocers. Mortal Kombucha is a big, agro, juiced up, supersized, scoby slashing, fruit-fist of fury that wants to hook you up with some bada** bro-biotics. 

Learn more about Mortal at drinkmortal.com, or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and X at @drinkmortal.

Living The Dream Brewing To Relocate To Sterling Ranch and Highlands Ranch Locations

LITTLETON— After nine years in its current location, Living The Dream Brewing is moving into two new locations in the area that will accommodate their expanding customer base and staff and build capacity for the Littleton craft brewery’s increasing beer production. The move will be complete by January 2024.

The Living The Dream Brewing brewery and taproom will be relocated to 9150 Commerce Center Cir #300 in Highlands Ranch in mid-January, shortly after Living The Dream begins taproom operations at its second location in The Sterling Center in Sterling Ranch at 8155 Piney River Ave, Littleton, CO 80125.

“Littleton and Highlands Ranch are home base for us, and it was critical for us that we stay in the area,” says Living The Dream Founder Jason Bell. “We’ve been searching for a new space for a while now, looking for more seating, parking, and overall accessibility. We want to make our customers more comfortable and create opportunities for our growing staff.”

Living The Dream’s new Highlands Ranch location is more accessible to foot traffic, with more indoor seating and brewing capacity than the brewery currently occupies.

Guests can sign up for the brewery newsletter for the most up-to-date information on its migration to Highlands Ranch and Sterling Ranch.

Media can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com for more information about Living The Dream Brewing Co.

ABOUT LIVING THE DREAM BREWING 

Living the Dream Brewing is a craft brewery established in 2014 in Littleton, our home base for adventure in Colorado. Built on a foundation of brewing beer using only the finest ingredients, Living the Dream celebrates the people, places, and activities of the Centennial State. Live the life you have imagined. Visit Living The Dream online at livingthedreambrewing.com.

Living The Dream Brewing Comes To Sterling Ranch

LITTLETON, CO— Living The Dream Brewing is excited to announce that beginning on December 29 it will become the brewery at The Sterling Center in Littleton’s Sterling Ranch neighborhood. 

This taproom is located at 8155 Piney River Avenue in The Sterling Center, home to a variety of businesses that serve the Sterling Ranch community.

Founder Jason Bell has been on the lookout for a second taproom that can accommodate his growing customer base and team; not to mention the brewery currently has many regulars from Sterling Ranch. He and the Living The Dream team are looking forward to offering new events and specials at The Sterling Center. “It’s going to be a season of big change and festivities for us,” he says. “Stay tuned.” 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Living The Dream Brewing. 

ABOUT LIVING THE DREAM BREWING 

Living the Dream Brewing is a craft brewery established in 2014 in Littleton, our home base for adventure in Colorado. Built on a foundation of brewing beer using only the finest ingredients, Living the Dream celebrates the people, places, and activities of the Centennial State. Live the life you have imagined. Visit Living The Dream online at livingthedreambrewing.com.

Bruz Beers Takes Gold in European Beer Star Competition

INTERNATIONAL— Bruz Beers, Colorado’s premier Belgian-style brewery, has just won a Gold Award at the European Beer Star competition in Germany. The European Beer Star is the largest beer competition in Europe and a major worldwide competition, with entries from 47 countries.

Bruz Beers won gold in the Wood & Barrel-Aged Sour Beer category for its Oak Marionette on Peaches– a Belgian-style Flanders Red-Brown ale aged on a copious quantity of Palisade peaches grown in Colorado.

According to Bruz Beers Co-Founder Ryan Evans, “This is a huge honor for us. The European Beer Star is Europe’s premier beer competition. For a small, boutique brewery in Denver to take gold here is something we could only dream about a few years ago.” 

Oak Marionette on Peaches is the brainchild of Head Brewer Dave Olson. “We have made a lot of fruit beers before, but what made Oak Marionette special is the base beer– a Flanders ale aged in one of our oak fouders (large, vertical oak fermenters). For this special beer, we insisted on using Colorado’s famous Palisade peaches, which we brought in fresh and added to the fermenter with minimal processing. The sour ale and the flavorful Colorado peaches are a match made in heaven!”

Started in 2004, the 20th Anniversary European Beer Star competition honors the world's best beers. Breweries and judges from 47 countries worldwide come together each year to hold this world championship of beer. While not the world’s largest competition, many beer professionals consider the European Beer Star to be the best and most prestigious. For 2023, there were 2,356 entries from 550 breweries– two-thirds of them from outside Germany, the competition’s home country. Only the top three beers in each category win the coveted awards, which are judged by 150 international beer experts.

For more information about Bruz Beers and their latest accolade, contact Charlie Gottenkieny at charlie@bruzbeers.com or 469-964-0319.

ABOUT BRUZ BEERS

The acclaimed Bruz Beers was named one of the 13 Best Craft Breweries in America by Hop Culture, has won countless awards and medals, and is dedicated to brewing traditional Belgian-style beers and innovative Belgian-inspired brews. It offers a wide range of Belgian-style seasonal and limited releases on tap at its two Denver area locations or for takeaway in crowlers, bottles and cans. Visit Bruz online at bruzbeers.com.

MaltCon2024 Registration Open and Speakers Announced; Dr. Patrick Hayes and Dr. Xiang Yin To Keynote

Photo courtesy University of California, Davis

NATIONAL— Early bird registration is now open for MaltCon2024, the largest international gathering of malt professionals that will take place on February 23-24, 2024. 

The Craft Maltsters Guild is pleased to announce that Dr. Patrick Hayes of the Barley Project at Oregon State University (OSU) and Dr. Xiang Yin of Boortmalt/Prairie Malt will keynote the conference. Hayes, who just transitioned to Professor Emeritus of Barley Breeding and Genetics after working at OSU since 1986, was integral in the establishment of the OSU Research Malthouse and the development of the Thunder and Lightning, and now Lontra barley varieties, among many other milestones. Yin, whose experience in the industry includes working as the Global Director of Brewing Raw Materials Global Technical Director with Prairie Malt/Cargill Malt, is a past president of American Society of Brewing Chemists (ASBC), and is a fellow of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. Early in his career, he taught malting and brewing at China's Jiangnan University. Yin will share sustainable malting practices and technologies to reduce environmental impact while producing high-quality craft malt. 

Hayes and Yin will be joined by more than 20 other speakers who are slated to present their expertise across all segments of the grain supply chain— from seeding and breeding to malting, brewing, and distilling. The full schedule will be announced on maltcon.online over the coming weeks. 

MaltCon2024 will kick off with a Welcome Reception at The Rake at Admiral Maltings. Guests at this event can take a tour of the malthouse, sample thirteen collaborative beers made with craft malt from all over the country for the occasion, and enjoy a meal with friends. Multiple ticket types for this event include dinner, transportation to and from the event from Davis. Purchase tickets at maltcon.online.

Craft Maltsters Guild member, non-member and student pricing for both in-person and virtual conference participation is available on maltcon.online. All are encouraged to register early. Again this year, the Guild is offering a Malt Conference scholarship program to provide equitable access to education and opportunities in the craft malt industry. Applications for the in-person scholarship are due December 5, 2023, and applications for the virtual scholarship are due January 15, 2024. Learn more and apply at craftmalting.com. 

Entities interested in sponsoring the conference can contact Alice Blayne-Allard at director@craftmalting.com. 

Media interested in participating in MaltCon2024 can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT THE CRAFT MALTSTERS GUILD

Formed in 2013 by eight craft malthouses, the Craft Maltsters Guild’s mission is to promote and sustain the tradition of craft malting in North America, provide services and resources to the Association’s members, and uphold the highest quality and safety standards for Craft Maltsters. Learn more about the Craft Maltsters Guild at www.craftmalting.com.

Lone Tree Brewing Cans Winter Seasonal Brownie Stout

LONE TREE, CO— Lone Tree Brewing released its new winter seasonal pastry Stout in cans this week. Brownie Stout is now available in canned 12oz. 6-packs in Colorado and Kansas. 

Inspired by a favorite brownie recipe and the nostalgia of licking batter from the bowl, Brownie Stout has just the right amount of chocolate flavor. It’s a sweet Milk Stout made with lactose for a creamy mouthfeel and supreme drinkability. At 6.2% ABV, it’s approachable but warming— a drinkable dessert that’s perfect for the oncoming cold months. 

“The concept of Brownie Stout is an easy-drinking yet decadent beer to provide warm vibes during cold weather,” says Lone Tree Sales & Marketing Director Dennis Stack. “Our brewers nailed it, and the can looks great too.” 

The brewing team at Lone Tree crafted several batches of Brownie Stout to dial in its complex flavors. The final product is now on tap at the brewery, and available in kegs and cans across Lone Tree’s distribution footprint in Colorado and Kansas. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com about Lone Tree Brewing and its seasonal beer offerings. 

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING COMPANY

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery in Lone Tree, Colorado that opened near Park Meadows Mall in 2011. The neighborhood-focused, family-friendly brewery and tasting room regularly hosts community events that gather around a stylistically diverse lineup of flagship, seasonal, and limited release beers. Lone Tree’s cans are sold across the state of Colorado, and in select locations in Kansas. Its draft beer is poured at many bars and restaurants across its distribution footprint as well. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Murphy & Rude Malting Co. Launches Online Craft Malt Sales

NATIONAL— Craft malt for homebrewers is now available for online order and direct shipping through Charlottesville, Virginia-based Murphy & Rude Malting Co. 

The new GrainStore on Murphy & Rude’s website (murphyrudemalting.com/shop) offers 30 different malted grains that until now have only been available for sale in bulk to brewers and distillers. The online portfolio includes several base barley malt styles, a spectrum of roasted malts, chit malt, wheat malt, rolled oats, corn, and spelt. All are available to order online with direct shipping by the pound or in 5lb, 10lb, and 25lb prepackaged amounts. Murphy & Rude malt can be delivered to all 50 United States.

“Homebrewers have been the early advocates of the craft malt industry; and yet due to supply chain and volume constraints, local, fresh malt is often inaccessible to them,” says Murphy & Rude Malting Co. Founder Jeff Bloem. “Online malt sales will allow us to bridge that gap and send our full portfolio of malts directly to their doorsteps.” 

Commercial breweries and distilleries can still purchase Murphy & Rude malt wholesale by contacting orders@murphyrudemalting.com or 434.922.0036. 

Media inquiring about Virginia’s only craft maltster can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT MURPHY & RUDE MALTING CO. 

At Murphy & Rude Malting, our name captures our attitude. With malt production processes rooted in traditional methods (our ol' dog Murphy) and then combined with innovation and adventurous creativity (Rudy, or Rude...the puppy), we create radical malts for differentiating products. Our focus is this: obsess over the attributes of flavor-, color-, and aroma-influencing specialty malts and then produce them from a variety of small grains grown both in and around Virginia. By applying a wide range of germination, kilning, crystallization, and drum roasting applications, we deliver malt with personality. 

Murphy & Rude Malting is a hand-in-glove supplier of fresher, more flavorful ingredients closer to home. With batch flexibility that comes with 320-ton annual capacity, our small scale positions us as the perfect partner in the creative process that fuels innovation in craft beer and spirits. As a specialty malthouse, Murphy & Rude is committed to providing a diversity of specialty grains to craft breweries and distilleries as traceably and thoughtfully as possible. Find us online at murphyrudemalting.com.

Living The Dream Brewing 2023 Gingerbread Powder Run Release and Friendsgiving Celebration Is November 18

LITTLETON, CO— The release of the Living The Dream Brewing winter seasonal Gingerbread Powder Run is slated for Saturday, November 18 during the brewery’s Friendsgiving celebration.

Gingerbread Powder Run, a variant of Living The Dream’s award-winning flagship Cream Ale, is crafted with gingerbread and other spices from Colorado local Savory Spice Shop to strike a balance between spicy and sweet. Get this beer on tap and in 6-packs to-go at Friendsgiving. Gingerbread Powder Run cans and kegs will also be available across Colorado through Colorado Craft Distributors, all while supplies last.

Donate to Living The Dream’s food drive for Move For Hunger that begins on November 18 and runs through Black Friday, November 24. Move For Hunger seeks non-perishable items such as pasta and sauce, broth, baby food, nut butters, beans, cereal, and cooking oils. Find a complete checklist of desired items here. 

Also during the Friendsgiving celebration, catch the Colorado Pet Pantry popup from 2 to 4pm to learn more about their mission to keep animals out of shelters and with their families. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com for more information about Living The Dream Brewing. 

ABOUT LIVING THE DREAM BREWING CO.

Living the Dream Brewing is a craft brewery established in 2014 in Littleton, our home base for adventure in Colorado. Built on a foundation of brewing beer using only the finest ingredients, Living the Dream celebrates the people, places, and activities of the Centennial State. Live the life you have imagined. Visit Living The Dream online at livingthedreambrewing.com.

Ska Brewing Peppermint Bark Stout Is Back

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing is ready for the holidays with the return of Peppermint Bark Stout, a Milk Stout crafted with peppermint bark from Durango local Animas Chocolate Company™. This seasonal Stout will be available at the brewery World Headquarters for Fresh Beer Friday on November 3— this year in Ska’s canned 16oz. 4-packs.

Fun fact about Peppermint Bark: it was invented by Williams Sonoma in 1998. The Animas Chocolate Company version of this popular holiday treat was the inspiration for Ska’s latest Stout experiment, brewed with actual peppermint bark (white chocolate, dark chocolate, and candy canes) in the mash. The beer’s sweetness is balanced with cocoa nibs, a hint of mint, and lactose that makes for a creamy, smooth finish. 

After this beer made headlines and heads turn in 2022, Ska is excited to bring it back for the second year. Peppermint Bark Stout will be available exclusively in Colorado in extremely limited quantities while supplies last. Find it at Durango’s Local First Book Launch Party on November 9 and at the Ska Brewing- Venture Snowboards Season Kickoff Party on November 10, both at the brewery World Headquarters. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com for more information about Ska Brewing and the Peppermint Bark Stout. 

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award-winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include True Blonde, Modus Hoperandi and Rue B. Soho. For information, music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Lone Tree Brewing Debuts Blueberry Blonde

LONE TREE, CO— Blueberry Blonde joins Lone Tree Brewing Company’s canned beer lineup this week to be distributed in Colorado and Kansas. This new beer is also available on tap at the brewery.

From peaches to strawberries and a variety of other fresh additions, Lone Tree’s brewing team loves to experiment with fruit. After experimenting with draft-only test batches of this new brew, these fruit beer aficionados are proud to share Blueberry Blonde in cans with beer drinkers across their distribution footprint. At 5.2% ABV, this ultra-refreshing thirst-quencher has the aroma of freshly picked blueberries and a subtle sweetness on the finish.

“We are excited to share the latest evolution of our beers with consumers, and Blueberry Blonde is another great example of elevating a traditional style with a subtle addition of fruit to create a fun, easy-drinking beer,” says Lone Tree Sales & Marketing Director Dennis Stack.

Blueberry Blonde is now available on draft and in kegs, as well as canned 12oz. 6-packs. The beer joins Lone Tree’s year-round beer lineup that also includes the award-winning Peach Pale and Mexican Lager, as well as Red Ale, IPA, and Double IPA. 

Media inquiring about Lone Tree Brewing Company can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING COMPANY

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery in Lone Tree, Colorado that opened near Park Meadows Mall in 2011. The neighborhood-focused, family-friendly brewery and tasting room regularly hosts community events that gather around a stylistically diverse lineup of flagship, seasonal, and limited release beers. Lone Tree’s cans are sold across the state of Colorado, and in select locations in Kansas. Its draft beer is poured at many bars and restaurants across its distribution footprint as well. Find the brewery online atlonetreebrewingco.com.

Ragged Oak Debuts New Album With Concert at Colorado Sound Studios

DENVER, CO– Ragged Oak is celebrating their debut album, Letters to God, Man & Myself, with a live performance at Westminster’s Colorado Sound Studios on November 3 from 6 to 9pm. 

Letters to God, Man & Myself features stylings and contributions from a number of talented musicians and tells a cohesive story about the human condition. Come celebrate the occasion with the group as they discuss the making of their album, and perform the record in its entirety in a high-production live concert.   

Ragged Oak's debut album, Letters to God, Man, & Myself is an indie rock/ shoegaze concept album that explores the journey of a character moving from isolation, through heartbreak, and self-actualization within the common theme that everything fades and decays, and that this cycle is a beautiful thing when recognized as a necessary part of life. Sonically, this is an ambient rock album that flows together as one piece. Songs consist of wide soundscapes, big electric guitars, ethereal keys, folky acoustics, and powerful drums.

Limited tickets for this intimate show are on sale now on the Ragged Oak website and Facebook Page. The standard ticket is $20 and grants you admission, while the VIP ticket is $30 and includes admission, two drink tickets for beers from Living The Dream Brewing, and a signed Ragged Oak poster. 

Contact Josh Mendrala at management@raggedoak.com with media inquiries about Ragged Oak.  

ABOUT RAGGED OAK

Indie Rock From Durango, Colorado

Ragged Oak is the musical project of multi-instrumentalist Joshua Mendrala. His music consists of ambient guitar, broad dynamics, cinematic moments, and poetic lyrics. Under the Ragged Oak name, Mendrala also creates videos, album and guitar pedal discussions, and live performances. For more information visit raggedoak.com. 

Lone Tree Brewing Hop Zombie Returns October 28

LONE TREE, CO– Get ready to raise the dead and your taste buds as Lone Tree Brewing celebrates 11 years of the legendary Hop Zombie Imperial Red IPA. The beer will creep into the tasting room for one day only on Saturday, October 28. 

This year, Hop Zombie Imperial Red IPA is bigger and bolder than ever before. With a devilishly delicious blend of hops, this brew boasts a 9% ABV and a formidable 90 IBUs. Individual 12oz. cans, 6-packs, and cases of this limited edition IPA will be available for purchase.

Each year a line forms out the brewery door on Hop Zombie Day, and this year the brewery will reward the first ten people in line with a free limited edition Hop Zombie glass. For the rest of the undead souls in line, speciality glassware is available for purchase while supplies last. Guests can also look forward to this zombie apocalypse with themed decorations, eats from Rustic Nomads, and custom 2023 Hop Zombie t-shirts.  

Hop Zombie has made phantom appearances on an annual basis since 2012. It was the silver medal winner at the 2017 Great American Beer Festival®, and it is undoubtedly the most anticipated beer release of the year at Lone Tree Brewing. Don’t blink and miss it! 

Media interested in learning more about Hop Zombie Imperial Red IPA can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING COMPANY

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery in Lone Tree, Colorado that opened near Park Meadows Mall in 2011. The neighborhood-focused, family-friendly brewery and tasting room regularly hosts community events that gather around a stylistically diverse lineup of flagship, seasonal, and limited release beers. Lone Tree’s cans are sold across the state of Colorado, and in select locations in Kansas. Its draft beer is poured at many bars and restaurants across its distribution footprint as well. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Dark Sky Brewing Installs Dottie, A Drive-In Theater Truck

FLAGSTAFF, AZ— Over the weekend, Dark Sky Brewing debuted their new drive-in theater in a remodeled 1959 box truck, affectionately named Dottie. 

Dottie’s story begins with a ‘For Sale’ sign in a field full of sunflowers. The team at Dark Sky knew they had to have this original 1959 C-600 box truck, and spent the past few weeks installing a 15-foot screen and six taps to transform her into a theater parked in their beer garden. 

The truck now sports a hot pink glitter vinyl bench seat, which evoked visions of Dorothy’s glittery heels in the Wizard of Oz and eventually led to her name, Dottie. She’s wrapped with a design that nods to a 1950’s diner. 

Dark Sky Brewing guests will be able to enjoy movies while enjoying fresh beers flowing from Dottie’s taps. They can also book Dottie for special events, and find her pouring around town. Follow @dsb_beergarden for upcoming movie dates and more information. 

Media inquiring about Dottie and Dark Sky Brewing can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT DARK SKY BREWING

Established in 2014 by Larami and Ryan Sandlin, Dark Sky Brewing has become a downtown Flagstaff institution that builds community through craft beer, food, and philanthropy. Named in honor of its home, in the world's first International Dark Sky Place, Dark Sky Brewing is crafting a beer selection that is as unique and beautiful as every star, meteor, and comet they can see from their backyard. The microbrewery size allows the freedom to brew everything from traditional recipes to experimentally fun brews with exotic ingredients. Committed to making that home a better place by giving back, the Dark Sky Community nonprofit organization was founded out of the brewery to serve as a launching base for other nonprofits to raise more funds and awareness. Learn more about the beers, food, and philanthropy at darkskybrewing.com.

Crisp, Cold Pale By Ska Brewing Hits Shelves Year-Round

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing combined the best of all the beer worlds in their latest release, Cold Pale. This incredibly crushable Pale Ale is crisp and refreshing, and now available year-round. 

“Pale Ale is my litmus test when I go to a brewery,” says Ska Brewing Co-Founder and CEO Dave Thibodeau, “so when we went to create a mainstay Pale Ale at Ska, especially because we don’t already have this style available all year, we did a lot of research and development to get the hop profile exactly where we wanted it to be. A lot of people appreciate hops but don’t want a super bitter beer, and they also don’t want a 6 to 8% IPA all the time. At Ska we like to have more than one beer in a sitting, so it seemed natural to make something more drinkable.” 

The result is Cold Pale— subtle enough for people who prefer lagers over hoppy beers, and unique in hop profile to satiate those who do. 

This new style category of Cold IPA and Pale Ale is brewed with lager yeast strains at cold temperatures. They’re crisp like lagers with much less ester-y aroma that’s produced by ale yeast. Cold Pale is the result of years of experimentation with hopping schedules— from kettle to early fermentation to dry hopping. Ska’s brewing team added Tettnang and Columbus hops as early fermentation additions that through biotransformation yield melon and grape flavors and aromas that these spicy, citrus-y hops wouldn’t typically produce with ale yeast. It’s then dry hopped with classic C hops (Cascade, Chinook, and Centennial) that layer on pine and fresh citrus notes. It’s a crispy, easy drinker that weighs in at 5.5 percent ABV. 

Cold Pale joins Ska’s canned beer lineup this fall alongside Ska’s new Mexican-style Cold IPA, another lager yeast fermented ale recipe made with the same Mexico City-sourced yeast strain as Mexican Logger as well as agave and flaked blue maize. 

Cold Pale is available in canned 6-packs across Ska’s national distribution footprint, and on tap now at the brewery World Headquarters in Durango, Colorado. This beer will also be added to a revamped winter mix pack that also includes Euphoria Pale Ale, Modus Hoperandi, and Ska Lager. 

Media inquiring about Ska’s biotransformation research, Cold Pale and IPA experimentation, and any other Ska beers that pique their interest can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award-winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include True Blonde, Modus Hoperandi and Rue B. Soho. For information, music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Ska Brewing Releases 2023 Euphoria Pale Ale For Fresh Beer Friday

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing’s beloved cold month seasonal Euphoria Pale Ale will return to the brewery World Headquarters on tap and in canned 6-packs on Friday, October 6.

An annual tradition in the Southwest for seventeen years now, Euphoria is a collaboration with Venture Snowboards in Silverton. Now it’s the Ska signal for fall arriving in Durango. 

Euphoria has a big malt backbone with plenty of caramel sweetness and just a touch of toast; but it’s the epic grapefruit hop aroma and flavor, provided by a huge dry hop addition at the end of fermentation, that really make this seasonal beer shine. It all comes together as a warming, yet refreshing 6% ABV Pale Ale that Durango spends all year looking forward to.

Euphoria Pale Ale will get the spotlight at Ska on Friday, October 6 at 5pm for Fresh Beer Friday. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Ska Brewing. 

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award-winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include True Blonde, Modus Hoperandi and Rue B. Soho. For information, music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Craft Maltsters Guild Accepting 2024 Malt Cup Submissions Through October 13

NATIONAL— The Craft Maltsters Guild invites malthouses from across the globe to participate in the only malt competition in the world, this year with an expanded six categories. .

The 2024 Malt Cup presented by the Craft Maltsters Guild is taking submissions from September 24th to October 13th. This year the Malt Cup has expanded to six categories including Pilsen, Pale Malt, Light Munich, Vienna, Wheat Malt, and Caramel Malt. The sixth annual Malt Cup takes place at the University of California Davis Conference Center in Northern California. 

Any Craft Maltsters Guild Member Malthouse, Allied Trade, or International Malthouse Member in good standing may enter. The cost per entry for Craft Maltsters Guild Members and International Malthouse Members is $150, or $300 for Allied Trade. Each participant is limited to one entry per category, with unlimited total entries. Each submission must contain three pounds of malt. Enter your malt at https://beerawardsplatform.com. 

The Malt Cup is the only competition of its kind and gives maltsters the opportunity to obtain valuable analytical and sensory feedback on their malts. Participants not only have a chance to win accolades but will also receive—

• A full report of Certificates of Analyses (COAs) for entries in each category participated in. Entries are blind coded so maltsters can ID the data for their own malt, while getting a comparison to the malts across the full entry field. Malt COAs are provided by the competition's official partner, Montana State University’s Barley, Malt, & Brewing Quality Lab. The COA data is valued at over $100 alone, while the ability to review the data from the full competition field is priceless. Note: All entries remain anonymous. 

• Sensory feedback report (for malts passing the scrutiny of the analytical round). Entries which advance are sent around the country to judge panels made up of industry professionals, including maltsters, brewers, distillers, researchers, journalists, and Cicerones. The Malt Cup is proud to partner with the Beer Judge Certification Program to source high quality judges for the competition. A comprehensive sensory report is generated for each malt and provided back to participants.·

• Sensory and COA feedback (for malts advancing to the Best of Show judging). Entries which advance to the final round will receive additional feedback including evaluations of the malt COAs, raw malt, and wort.·

• Winning malts (Gold, Silver, Bronze), in each category will receive a beautiful handmade medal. The competition has partnered with Aaron Maki of Old Hand Design to provide these handcrafted awards.·

• Best of Show trophy. Of the Gold winning malts, the single highest scoring entry will take home the traveling Malt Cup. Each year this trophy represents bragging rights for the top malt and malthouse.

Entry guidelines, malt style categories, judging criteria, and methodology can be accessed through the BAP website, where you can also sign up to be a judge or steward at the conference.

Media inquiring about the Malt Cup or the Craft Maltsters Guild can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT THE CRAFT MALTSTERS GUILD

Formed in 2013 by eight craft malthouses, the Craft Maltsters Guild’s mission is to promote and sustain the tradition of craft malting in North America, provide services and resources to the Association’s members, and uphold the highest quality and safety standards for Craft Maltsters. Learn more about the Craft Maltsters Guild at www.craftmalting.com.