Ska Brewing Releases Barrel-Aged Beers Series No. 2, Bumpier & Grindier

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing don’t see nothin’ wrong with a little bit of bump n’ grind. So much in fact, the brewers decided to bump up their delicious, award-winning Steel Toe Milk Stout like, age it it bourbon barrels, and blend it with local cold-brewed coffee to create Bumpier & Grindier Imperial Coffee Cream Stout, available in 500 ml bombers for one day only.

THE BEER

Bumpier & Grindier was aged American Oak Bourbon Barrels from their friends and long time sister company, Peach Street Distillers, then blended it with hand-selected roasts of Desert Sun Roasters' cold-brewed coffee. The result is a Bumpier & Grindier Imperial Coffee Cream Stout; the 2nd installation in Ska’s Barrel-Aged Beers program—following the brewery’s Whiskey Sour released earlier this year.

“We decided to call upon two of our friends for this second installation of our Barrel-Aged Beers series to help make it even more memorable,” explains Ska Brewing Sales & Marketing Director Kristen Muraro. “Our sister company, Peach Street Distillers, hold a very close place with us at Ska Brewing. We’ve also have had a long relationship with our neighbors at Desert Sun Roasters and used their coffee as the key ingredient for our original Bump n’ Grind coffee stout— it only seemed natural to rope them in on this even Bumpier & Grindier iteration.”

THE EVENT

Bumpier & Grindier will be available in 500 mL bottles at Ska’s World Headquarters in Durango, Colorado on Friday, November 16. Guests can reserve their bottles for an exclusive beer and food pairing that will take place from 5 to 7pm featuring unique, limited edition Ska beers and an opportunity to meet the brewers and ask questions. $12.99 reserves your bottle at the table– get yours by emailing kira@skabrewing.com or calling 970-247-5792.

For more information on Ska Brewing and their Barrel-Aged Beer program contact Emily Hutto at coop@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 Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, Rue B. Soho and the Mod Project— beers with varying levels of tartness to complement the blend of local fruits used in producing them. For information (a lot of it), music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Elevation Beer Company Named The Official Brewery of Monarch Mountain

PONCHA SPRINGS, CO— Elevation Beer Company and Monarch Mountain are pleased to announce an ongoing partnership that includes the naming of Elevation as the Official Brewery of Monarch Mountain and vice versa— Monarch Mountain as the Official Ski Area of Elevation Beer Co.

Elevation and Monarch Mountain have collaborated on promotions since the brewery opened in 2012 and this season will be no exception. Monarch will place Elevation’s logo on its trail maps; Elevation will don the Monarch logo on 12 oz. cans of Little Mo’—a porter named after a milk run of the same name at Monarch Mountain— and grant 15% off to Monarch season pass holders in their tasting room.

Elevation will kickoff Monarch Mountain’s opening with Ullrvation on Friday, November 23, at the Elevation tasting room. In folklore, this party is meant to please Ullr (the Norse god of snow, archery, and skiing) with ceremonial burning of skis and tempt the other snow gods (and Murphy’s Law). This celebration will include snow dances, car washing, and earning good snow karma by raising money for the Friends of CAIC. “Monarch is still all natural snow, no snow making guns,” explains Elevation’s Andy Astor. “We are dependent on Mother Nature and the snow gods for good winters, and we really really need one down here this season.”

The celebration will include beer, bonfires, and a shuttle service to Salida from the brewery if you pay honor to the snow gods a little too hard. The party will also host a raffle to benefit the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) and the Friends of CIAC with chances to win a season pass to Monarch Mountain, Elevation Beer Co. skis, GrassStick bamboo ski poles, and more.

“The ski industry and beer industry have some common threads, and are culturally pretty similar (lots of beards and general awesomeness),” explains Astor. “Both industries are seeing increased consolidation, which can affect consumers. Elevation is locally and independently owned and operated, as is Monarch. There is also a nice vibe of authenticity and inclusivity at both Monarch and in our taproom. We are proud to be the official brewery of Monarch Mountain.”

If you’d like more information about Elevation Beer Company and its partnership with Monarch Mountain, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT ELEVATION BEER CO.

Proudly operating in the remote mountain town of Poncha Springs (just 17 miles from Monarch Mountain), Elevation Beer Co. is more than just a beer company— we are a family, a community, and a collective of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Dedicated to creating sustainable, meaningful careers in rural Colorado, we take the preservation of our home as seriously as we do the quality of our beer. Taste our flagship 8 Second Kolsch and a lineup of other usual suspects and seasonals at our tasting room, and in canned 6-packs and specialty bombers across Colorado, Wyoming and soon Utah. Go higher at elevationbeerco.com.

ABOUT MONARCH MOUNTAIN

Perched at the top of the continental divide, Monarch Mountain is a ski area that has something for everyone. Monarch boasts 1,162 vertical feet of diverse, skiable terrain that can accommodate skiers and snowboarders of all levels from beginner to expert. Known for its amazing powder among avid riders, Monarch receives more than 350” of natural snow every year. What Monarch boasts in annual snowfall, it lacks in crowds, so you can find ample stashes even days after a storm. In this day and age where the ski area landscape is dominated by large corporations, Monarch, which has been operating since 1939, remains fiercely independent because they believe that having many independent ski areas is the best way to insure creative innovation, elevate the guest experience, and keep skiing affordable for locals. Find the mountain online at skimonarch.com.

Strange Craft Taps 2018 Batch of Gingerbread Man

DENVER, CO— Strange Craft Beer Co. is gearing up for the holiday season with their annual release of Gingerbread Man, available on draft and in crowlers Wednesday, November 14 at the StrangeWit tasting room.

Concocted with sugar, spice, and hops so nice— Gingerbread Man is an American brown ale packed with all the spices and goodies you’d expect from Grandma's gingerbread cookie recipe. Notes of cinnamon, ginger, cloves and allspice culminate to create the perfect company on a cold winter night.

“Gingerbread Man is one of my favorite seasonal beers,” says owner, Tim Myers.” It signals the beginning of the holiday season— and the American Brown style plays so well with Grandma’s cookie recipe spices that it tastes like you’re biting into a Gingerbread cookie. Now if only I could figure out how to get the frosting to stick.”

Gingerbread man will be available on draft and in crowlers to-go at the StrangeWit tasting room while supplies last. Catch the Gingerbread Man before he runs off 'til next year!

For more information about Gingerbread Man or Strange Craft Beer Co. contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT STRANGE CRAFT BEER CO.

When Strange Craft Beer Co. opened south of Denver’s Mile High Stadium in May 2010, it was the first nanobrewery in the city brewing one barrel of beer at a time. Strange has since become a destination spot for Colorado beer drinkers, and taken home multiple Great American Beer Festival® medals and World Beer Cup® awards. Late in 2017, Strange Craft joined forces with Wit’s End Brewing Company to create Denver’s first co-tasting room. Both brands are brewed on Strange Craft’s now 10BBL brewhouse and served at Strange Craft’s original (now shared) space on Zuni Street. Learn more at strangecraft.com.

Ska Brewing Sour Apple Gose Returns

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing’s Sour Apple Gose returns in cans for a second year. This tart, refreshing beer in Ska’s experimental Mod Project series is now available across their twelve-state distribution footprint while supplies last. 

The scent of sweet apple blossoms complements the soft honey notes and fresh lemon tartness in this sour beer that gets a zesty boost from the addition of Citra hops. Sour Apple Gose is 5.1% ABV and 11 IBU. 

Sour Apple Gose followed Pink Vapor Stew— a sour beer brewed with beets, carrots, ginger and apples— when Ska first rolled out the Mod Project in 2017. The project delivers assorted, seven-barrel-batches of blended and experimental offerings, with varying levels of tartness to complement the blend of local fruits used in producing them. 

“I’m excited to bring back my favorite of this series,” says Ska Brewing Sales & Marketing Director Kristen Muraro. “It’s perfect for holiday toasting.” 

Sour Apple Gose is available in 12 oz. cans and on draft in select locations in Colorado, Arizona, Southern California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Utah. 

For more information about Ska Brewing or its Mod Project for experimental beers, contact Emily Hutto at coop@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 including Modus Hoperandi, Mexican Logger, Euphoria and Pinstripe. For information (a lot of it), music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Karl Strauss Grows Hoppyalis 55 Percent; Hires Industry Veteran To Lead Sales Team; Adds 20,000 Sq. Ft. Of Warehouse Space To Meet Demand

SAN DIEGO, CA— Despite softness in the beer category and the craft beer segment, Karl Strauss Brewing Company has grown off-premise dollar sales by 12.3% in Southern California through the first 3 quarters of 2018. KARL’s growth is being fueled by explosive growth for Aurora Hoppyalis, which is up 55% year to date, and Red Trolley, which is up 5% year to date. KARL’s dollar sales rate of velocity is up 14.4% year to date, meaning more people are pulling KARL beers off of retail store shelves more frequently than they were a year ago.   

To help drive continued sales growth, Karl Strauss recently hired industry veteran Chad Heath to lead the brewery’s Sales team. Heath brings more than 10 years of craft beer sales leadership experience to KARL.  

To meet growing demand, Karl Strauss recently signed a long-term lease for 20,000 square feet of additional warehouse space next to the main brewery on Santa Fe Street in Pacific Beach, San Diego. This space includes a 6,200 square foot cold box and significant dry goods storage to meet growing market demand for Karl Strauss and the brewery partners they distribute on-premise.

To learn more about Karl Strauss, visit www.karlstrauss.com. 

Facts:

Source: IRI, Southern California, Grocery Channel, Year To Date Ending September 30, 2018

About Karl Strauss Brewing Company

Karl Strauss Brewing Company has been proudly independent since 1989, pioneering the craft beer scene with innovative beer releases like Aurora Hoppyalis IPA, Queen of Tarts Dark Sour, and Wreck Alley Imperial Stout. The brewery has won 110 medals since 2009 and was honored with the “Mid-Size Brewing Company of the Year” award at the Great American Beer Festival in 2016. For more information, visit www.karlstrauss.com or call the brewery at (858) 273-2739. Share it. Cheers.

Media Contact

Mark Weslar: mark.weslar@karlstrauss.com

Introducing Elevation Beer Company Imperial Stout in 12 Oz. Cans

PONCHA SPRINGS, CO— Elevation Beer Co. is unveiling Imperial Stout as the latest seasonal release in their lineup of approachable and award-winning beers. Imperial Stout will be available across Elevation’s distribution footprint in six-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft beginning November 9 while supplies last.

Weighing in at 10% ABV, Imperial Stout is a non-barrel-aged version of Oil Man, the brewery’s famed bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout that is available seasonally in 750ml bombers. “We had pulled some single kegs off of a tank for Oil Man in years past and it was a big hit,” explains Elevation Co-Founder and Director of Brewing Operations, Christian Koch. “So we wanted to do it again and put it in a can. Oil Man without the barrel is big, high body, and high ABV.”

Imperial Stout packs generous notes of chocolate accompanied by a characteristic roastiness. The alcohol and malt sweetness are beautifully balanced by the addition of Northern Brewer and Chinook hops making for a slightly hoppier version of the original barrel-aged variant.

For more information about Elevation Beer Co. Imperial Stout in cans, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT ELEVATION BEER CO.

Proudly operating in the remote mountain town of Poncha Springs, Elevation Beer Co. is more than just a beer company— we are a family, a community, and a collective of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Dedicated to creating sustainable, meaningful careers in rural Colorado, we take the preservation of our home as seriously as we do the quality of our beer. Taste our flagship 8 Second Kolsch and a lineup of other usual suspects and seasonals at our tasting room, and in canned 6-packs and specialty bombers across Colorado and Wyoming. Go higher at elevationbeerco.com.

Ska Brewing and Venture Snowboards Kickoff Winter Saturday November 3 at World Headquarters

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing and Silverton’s Venture Snowboards will ring in the winter months with their 14th Annual Season Kickoff Party on Saturday, November 3, at the Ska World Headquarters, 225 Girard St, Durango, CO 81303. Admission is free.

The Snowboard

In an effort to benefit the Friends of the San Juans, Ska and Venture will be giving away prizes from Silverton Mountain, Purgatory Resort, and more; including the chance to win a Ska-branded Venture snowboard featuring graphics from the label of Ska’s new Brut IPA, Moral Panic.

The Music

The Kick Off party will feature music from Durango-based Hip-Hop band, Diabolical Sound Platoon.

The Beer 

Ska Brewing’s seasonal Euphoria Pale Ale will be on draft at the brewery and available in 6-packs to-go. This beer was brewed as a beer for Purgatory Ski Resort before Ska teamed up with their friends at Venture Snowboards located in Silverton, CO to brew the recipe and create a custom snowboard with Ska artwork. Euphoria has big malt backbone, caramel sweetness and just a touch of chocolate, with epic grapefruit hop aroma and flavor.  

For more information about Ska Brewing’s Season Kickoff Party or with any other media inquiries about the brewery, contact Emily Hutto at coop@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 Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, and Rue B. Soho. For information, more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Bonfire Brewing Announces New Head Brewer Zack Kaplan

EAGLE, CO— Bonfire Brewing has a new Head Brewer, Zack Kaplan, who joined the team in September with a breadth of knowledge and brewing experience informed by his many years in the Colorado and San Diego beer communities.

Kaplan most recently worked as head brewer of Odyssey Beerwerks in Arvada, and has previously worked in brewing operations at Denver Beer Company, Upslope, Saint Archer, and Green Flash Brewing. “I'm excited to join Bonfire and continue to build upon the awesome foundation that Andy and Amanda have created,” Kaplan says about Bonfire Brewing’s owners.

“I'm looking forward to contributing my skills as a brewer, and helping to lead the creative development of kick ass beers designed to be enjoyed throughout our beautiful state of Colorado! Eagle is a great community with the best blend of outdoor activities— I’m really looking forward to being a part of it.”

“Amanda and I hit it off with Zack right away over beers at Cannonball Creek this summer,” Jessen recalls. “It’s our first time bringing in a brewer from outside the company. We wanted someone with broad experience that could bring a different element to the team, but also someone who fit in with our outdoor ethos.”

Amanda Jessen adds, “Thriving in the Valley requires a unique combination of passion for the outdoors, and drive in your career. Over the course of several conversations with Zack, we became confident that he had the right mix for success here.”

Kaplan’s first order of business is to keep Bonfire’s production running smoothly, cranking out their flagship beers including the Brush Creek Blonde, Demshitz Brown, Firestarter IPA, Kindler Pale, and WtFO Double IPA. He’s also experimenting with a small batch Pale Ale, and a Kellerweiss in collaboration with Vail Brewing Company. These beers will hit taps in coming weeks.

For more bio information about Kaplan, or with any other media inquiries about Bonfire Brewing, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT BONFIRE BREWING

Craft enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers gather around Bonfire Brewing in Eagle, Colorado, where the beers are driven by quality, curiosity, and community. Founded in 2010, Bonfire continues on their path of sustainable growth with cans of their year-round beers available in liquor stores and restaurants across Colorado. Gather ‘round Bonfire online at bonfirebrewing.com.

Rockyard Brewing’s Curiosity Revives Historical Grodziskie Style in Castle Rock

CASTLE ROCK, CO— Rockyard Brewing is awakening a monster with Grodzilla Iz Coming, a historical Grodziskie style beer.

This monster of a beer, Grodzilla Iz Coming, was brewed solely out of curiosity. A Grodziskie is a historical style, low alcohol beer, brewed with a large amount of oak smoked wheat malt for a full flavor glass. The gentle, yet obvious smoke flavor stems from the 100% German oak-smoked wheat.

Rockyard’s Head Brewer, Greg Fetzer, describes the flavor of this distinct brew the best: “It's not a campfire smoke flavor you'd get from a traditional rauch malt but more of a sausage or bacon smoke flavor. We tell consumers that Grodzilla Iz Coming is similar to lightly smoked Pilsner.”

The Grodzilla Iz Coming is light and crisp enough to cut through the heaviness of the Bubba Burger and Pulled Pork Sandwich on Rockyard’s pub menu, with added complexity from the pork’s underlying smoke flavor. This beer is also used as an ingredient in Rockyard’s barbecue sauce while Grodzilla Iz Coming is available on tap in Rockyard Brewing’s tasting room, while supplies last.

For more information regarding Rockyard Brewing, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT ROCKYARD BREWING

.Rockyard is the longest running brewpub in Douglas County, founded in 1999 by four Colorado-born siblings. Rockyard’s beers have won medals at many prestigious beer competitions including the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, and the Colorado State Fair. Rockyard’s beer can be found in many retail locations and a handful of craft-centric bars and restaurants throughout the state of Colorado. Find the brewery online at www.rockyard.com.

Elevation Beer Co. False Summit Returns for Fall

PONCHA SPRINGS, CO— Elevation Beer Company’s barrel-aged Belgian-style Quad returns this year in 750mL bombers for the season. This Quadrupel Ale aged in Buffalo Trace Bourbon barrels has been one of the brewery’s seasonal, large-format offerings since 2013.

Aromas of dark fruits, vanilla, and bourbon seep off False Summit’s milk chocolate head. As the beer warms, notes of caramel, oak and dark Belgian candi sugar come more prevalent. This barrel-aged Quadruple, like the final stretch of a mountain’s peak, is complex and rewarding— an experience to be shared with good company. This beauty weighs in at 11.1% ABV with 30 IBUs.

False Summit is available in 750 mL bottles throughout Colorado and Wyoming, and on draft in limited volume seasonally while supplies last. The beer is also available on draft and in bombers to-go at Elevation’s tasting room in Poncha Springs.

For more information about or photography of False Summit, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT ELEVATION BEER CO.

Proudly operating in the remote mountain town of Poncha Springs, Elevation Beer Co. is more than just a beer company— we are a family, a community, and a collective of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Dedicated to creating sustainable, meaningful careers in rural Colorado, we take the preservation of our home as seriously as we do the quality of our beer. Taste our flagship 8 Second Kolsch and a lineup of other usual suspects and seasonals at our tasting room, and in canned 6-packs and specialty bombers across Colorado and Wyoming. Go higher at elevationbeerco.com.

Brooklyn Brewery Now Available In Colorado

Brooklyn Lager’s refreshed packaging

BROOKLYN, NY— Brooklyn Brewery, the eleventh largest independent craft brewer and a pioneer of the American craft beer revolution, is proud to announce Colorado as the latest addition to their distribution footprint. Brooklyn Brewery beers will be available across the State of Craft Beer® beginning November 1st.

“We’re excited to bring Brooklyn to the epicenter of the craft beer revolution,” says Brooklyn founder Steve Hindy. “I’ve spent many enjoyable times in Colorado, working with the Brewers Association and pouring beer at GABF®. It will be a pleasure to drink Brooklyn Lager there.”

Brooklyn's flagship Brooklyn Lager, Bel Air Sour, Defender IPA, seasonal releases, the Brooklyn Mix can variety 12 pack, and various draft-only Brooklyn Limited creations from brewmaster Garrett Oliver will join some of the industry's most beloved craft brands on taps and shelves across the state this fall.

Brooklyn is partnering with Elite Brands to distribute on the Front Range, and High Country Beverage in Northern Colorado and the Western Slope. Brooklyn shares a sales and distribution platform with Funkwerks and 21st Amendment, which will open distribution in Colorado before the end of the year.

“I finally get to drink my own beers in Colorado!” adds Dave Duffy, Brooklyn’s Vice President of Sales & Marketing and Colorado resident. “We’re honored to stand with some of the best brewers in the world and continue to build momentum for craft beer.”    

You are invited to join the Brooklyn Brewery team at these Colorado launch events:

Monday, October 29

The Mayor Of Old Town, Fort Collins; 6-9pm

Tuesday, October 30

Falling Rock Tap House, Denver; 5:30-8pm

Wednesday, October 31

Parry’s Pizza, Northglenn; 5-7pm

Romero’s K9 Club & Taphouse Dog Costume Party, Lafayette; 6-9pm

Tap & Handle, Fort Collins; 6-8pm

Thursday, November 1

Applejack Wine & Spirits, Wheat Ridge; 2-4pm

Argonaut Liquor, Denver; 3-6pm

Supermarket Liquor, Fort Collins; 4-6pm

Parry’s Pizza, Highlands Ranch; 5-7pm

Oskar Blues, Longmont; 5-7pm

Euclid Hall, Denver; 7-9pm

Friday, November 2

Bullfrog Liquor, Fort Collins; 4-6pm

Saturday, November 3

Mile High Wine & Spirits, Denver; 3-6pm

Tuesday, November 6

The Laureate Publick House, Loveland; 5-8pm

Wednesday, November 7

Choice City, Fort Collins; 5-7pm

For more information about Brooklyn Brewery in Colorado, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT BROOKLYN BREWERY

The Brooklyn Brewery is a leading global independent craft brewer and a pioneer of the American craft beer revolution. From our home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, we draw inspiration from our local community of innovators and makers to spread the culture and creativity of craft beer to 29 states and 30 countries on 5 continents. Learn more at brooklynbrewery.com.

Karl Strauss Brings Back Collabapalooza For San Diego Beer Week

Collabapalooza 2017

San Diego, CA — Karl Strauss Brewing Company is throwing its second annual indie beer collaboration celebration! The brewery has rallied together 30+ independent local breweries to throw a killer party during San Diego Beer Week, all in celebration of the city’s collaborative brewing community. Collabapalooza was voted “Best Beer Event of 2017” by the readers of The West Coaster craft beer newspaper, and will make its highly anticipated return on November 10th, 2018.

Each participating brewery will pour two beers — a small batch or rare beer of their choice, as well as a beer brewed in collaboration with another independent San Diego brewery. In addition to unlimited samples of these one-off collaborations and rare releases, Collabapalooza will have food from local vendors available for purchase, live screen printed t-shirts, and a ton more to be announced in the coming weeks.

“We were really pumped about the feedback from last year! The event had great energy and the beer list was phenomenal, so we’re looking forward to seeing what our brewing friends have up their sleeves this year. It’s really something to see so many independent brewers join together and collaborate with one another. It’s what our community is all about!” — Paul Segura, Brewmaster of R&D, Karl Strauss Brewing Company.

Karl Strauss has been committed to supporting their local community since they helped kick off San Diego’s craft beer scene in 1989. Collabapalooza is a prime example of this support, as proceeds from the event will benefit both the San Diego Brewers Guild and the North Park Main Street Association.

The festival will take place on Saturday, November 10th from 1pm to 5pm in the parking lot behind the North Park Observatory. General admission tickets to the festival will include a commemorative Collabapalooza taster glass & unlimited 2oz samples starting at 2pm. An exclusive VIP session will be held from 1pm to 2pm offering priority access to the festival and the first tastes of the incredible beer list, along with a Collabapalooza t-shirt.

To learn more about Collabapalooza and purchase tickets to the festival, visit www.karlstrauss.com.

Participating Breweries

Collaborations with Karl Strauss

Pizza Port Brewing Co

Stone Brewing

Burgeon Beer Company

SouthNorte Beer Co

Thr3e Punk Ales Brewing

The Lost Abbey

Bay City Brewing

Pink Boots Society

Nickel Beer Co. & South Park Brewing

Plus the following collaborations amongst San Diego breweries

Abnormal Beer Co with Green Flash Brewing & Alpine Beer Company

AleSmith Brewing Company with Newtopia Cider

Amplified Ale Works with TapRoom

Bagby Beer Company with Benchmark Brewing Company

Bear Roots Brewing Co with Escondido Brewing Co

Benchmark Brewing Company with OB Brewery

Black Plague Brewing Company with Pat Korn of Cellar 3

Booze Brothers Brewing Co with Culver Beer Co

Burgeon Beer Company with Rip Current Brewing Company

Burning Beard Brewing with Nickel Beer Co

Coronado Brewing Company with BNS Brewing Co

Council Brewing Company with Gravity Heights

Duck Foot Brewing Co with Mike Hess Brewing Co

Eppig Brewing with Modern Times Beer

Fall Brewing Company with Barley Forge Brewing Co

Half Door Brewing Co with Benchmark Brewing Company

Mother Earth Brewing Company with Battlemage Brewing

North Park Beer Co with Burgeon Beer Company

Pure Project with Modern Times Beer

Resident Brewing Co with Thunderhawk Alements

Rouleur Brewing Company with Papa Marce’s Cerveceria

San Diego Brewing Company with Thorn Brewing Co

San Diego Brewers Guild featuring Capital of Craft IPA

Second Chance Beer Company with New English Brewing Company

South Park Brewing Company with Wild Barrel Brewing

SouthNorte Beer Co with Cerveceria Insurgente

Thorn Brewing Co with Thr3e Punk Ales Brewing

Thr3e Punk Ales Brewing with Chula Vista Brewery and Groundswell Brewing Company

ABOUT KARL STRAUSS BREWING COMPANY

Karl Strauss Brewing Company has been proudly independent since 1989, pioneering the craft beer scene with innovative beer releases like Aurora Hoppyalis IPA, Queen of Tarts Dark Sour, and Wreck Alley Imperial Stout. The brewery has won 110 medals since 2009 and was honored with the “Mid-Size Brewing Company of the Year” award at the Great American Beer Festival in 2016. For more information, visit www.karlstrauss.com or call the brewery at (858) 273-2739. Share it. Cheers.

Media Contact

Mark Weslar: mark.weslar@karlstrauss.com, 760.707.2426

Lone Tree Brewing Fall/Winter Brewer’s Bundle Is Here, Feat. Vanilla Caramel Amber

photo by Erin Hamrick

LONE TREE, CO— Lone Tree Brewing Company’s fall seasonal Vanilla Caramel Amber is back for the colder months, and now available as the seasonal addition to the Brewer’s Bundle mixed 12-packs. Brewer’s Bundles (which also include Mexican Lager, Red Ale, and Double IPA) were first launched earlier this year.

The following beers are available in Lone Tree’s current Brewer’s Bundles:

Vanilla Caramel Amber - 6% ABV, 30 IBU

Originally developed on John Winter's homebrew system, this beer’s autumnal flavors are created with crystal malt and Madagascar vanilla beans. The caramel notes in Vanilla Caramel Amber come from a large amount of Crystal 60 malt in the grain bill— no other caramel or other sugar is added to this beer. The base beer is a traditional American Amber with a good helping of hops to balance out the sweetness of the vanilla. Vanilla Caramel Amber was first released from Lone Tree in 6-packs in fall of 2017.

Mexican Lager – 5.3% ABV, 27 IBU

A large percentage of flaked corn contributes a slight sweetness balanced with a clean, crisp finish. 2017 Great American Beer Festival® Gold Medal, 2015 Great American Beer Festival Silver Medal.

Red Ale - 6% ABV, 32 IBU

A complex grain bill creates the rich and malty backbone of this traditional style with a light hop finish in this traditional Irish-style Red Ale.

Double IPA – 8% ABV, 80 IBU

Big and bold, this IPA provides a flavor profile of earthy hop bitterness and a strong tangerine/ citrus aroma. Utilizing seven hop additions in the boil from six different hop varieties, followed by four-variety dry-hop makes this a beer for hopheads everywhere.

Brewers Bundle beers are all also available across Colorado in canned 12 oz. 6-packs. For more information about Lone Tree Brewing and their mixed 12-packs contact Emily Hutto at coop@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 and 22-ounce bombers are sold across the state of Colorado, and in select locations in Kansas. Its draft beer is poured at many bars and restaurants in its distribution footprint as well. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Freshly Canned Elevation Beer Co. Señorita Hits Colorado and Wyoming

PONCHA SPRINGS, CO— Elevation Beer Company’s award-winning Horchata Imperial Porter, Señorita, returns for its second year in 12 oz. cans, now available in 6-packs and on draft across the brewery’s distribution footprint as a seasonal release through colder months.

Available just in time for Día de los Muertos and as these cooler autumn months call for big, rich, flavorful beers; this horchata imperial porter delivers aromas of vanilla, cinnamon, and sweet milk to stir up images of the delicious Mexican drink of this beer’s namesake.

Señorita pours an off-white head with a deep dark brown body and is carefully balanced with hop bitterness from the inclusion of Northern Brewer and Chinook Hops. Sweet chocolate malts and hints of cinnamon spice compliment 8.4% ABV and 25 IBU of this Imperial Porter.

When looking at the valley that passes through dramatic mountain ranges, the Ute likely called it ‘poo-paca’ (meaning ‘footpath’), a word that early Spanish explorers likely misheard as ‘Poncha.’ To Elevation, Poncha Springs has become the footpath for our lives – we brew SEÑORITA™ as a tribute to the traditional Spanish drink we love to sip looking out at Poncha Pass, pondering the history of this great place.

Señorita’s medal count includes a 2014 World Beer Cup® bronze award, 2014 Australian International Beer Awards bronze, and a 2014 European Beer Star Awards bronze.

Celebrate Señorita season at Elevation’s Cinco Días Antes del Día de los Muertos celebration at Elevation’s  tasting room on Friday, October 26. There will be a Senorita look-alike contest (prizes for best Senor and Senorita), Sugar Skull Painting, and $1.00 tacos.

For more information on Señorita Horchata Imperial Porter and Elevation Beer Co. contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com

ABOUT ELEVATION BEER CO.

Proudly operating in the remote mountain town of Poncha Springs, Elevation Beer Co. is more than just a beer company— we are a family, a community, and a collective of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Dedicated to creating sustainable, meaningful careers in rural Colorado, we take the preservation of our home as seriously as we do the quality of our beer. Taste our flagship 8 Second Kolsch and a lineup of other usual suspects and seasonals at our tasting room, and in canned 6-packs and specialty bombers across Colorado and Wyoming. Go higher at elevationbeerco.com.

Funkwerks Lands In Northern California with Tapping Events and the Brew Street Festival

FORT COLLINS, CO — Funkwerks’ beers are now available across the entire Golden State with its recent addition of Northern California to its distribution footprint. Funkwerks will be distributed via Bay Area Beverage Company and DBI in Northern California beginning October 1, 2018. 

Draft and 6-pack offerings of Funkwerks select year-round beers— Funkwerks Saison and Raspberry Provincial— are now available in select, craft-centric establishments in in NorCal including San Francisco, East Bay, San Jose, Napa, and Sacramento, along with the brewery’s latest rendition of Winky’s Snack Packs that includes Deceit, White, Raspberry Provincial, and Saison.

Funkwerks is excited to bring its Saison and other Belgian-inspired beers to one of the largest craft beer markets in the United States. “When I was younger my father lived in San Francisco. It’s exciting to be selling beer in the Bay, where I spent a large portion of my formative drinking years,” said Brad Lincoln, President and Co-Founder. 

Funkwerks invites you to join their team at the following launch events: 

October 2nd - The Good Hop from 3pm - 10 pm

October 3rd - Three Sheets Craft Beer Bar at 5pm

October 4th - Taplands Taproom, Bottle Shop & Neighborhood Brewery at 5pm

October 5th - Hop Grenade Taproom and Bottle Shop from 5pm - 9pm 

October 11th - Pangaea Bier Cafe at 5pm

October 13th - Brew Street Festival from 2pm - 8pm 

October 18th - BuzzWorks SF at 5pm 

Earlier this year Funkwerks began distributing in Southern California and most recently the Fort Collins-based brewery began selling its beers in Nevada, bringing its distribution state-count to ten. 

For more information about Funkwerks and their growing distribution footprint, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT FUNKWERKS

Founded in 2009 by brewers Gordon Schuck and Brad Lincoln, Funkwerks is a specialty craft brewery specializing in Saison, Sour, and Belgian-style craft beers made in their small brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado. The 2012 winner of the Small Brewery of the Year Award at the Great American Beer Festival, Funkwerks beers are now available in ten US states. Find the brewery online at funkwerks.com.

Comrade Brewing Company Celebrates with Bronze Medal from 2018 Great American Beer Festival

DENVER, CO— Comrade Brewing, an internationally acclaimed brewery, collected a bronze medal for DEFCON Red Irish-Style Red Ale at the 32nd Great American Beer Festival® (GABF®) earning their third medal at the competition since 2014. The top three winners in the 102 beer-style categories were announced at an awards ceremony held September 22 at the Colorado Convention Center.

The award winning Irish-Style Red Ale underwent a name change in 2015 to REDCON. The beer is brewed with a blend of English crystal and chocolate malt and hopped with East Kent Goldings and presents a llight caramel sweetness, fruity esters and just a hint of chocolate with a light citrus nose. The beer is available year-round on draft and in Crowlers® and growlers to-go.

“We get a lot of recognition for our hoppy ales,” said chairman and founder David Lin. “We’re incredibly proud to bring home another medal for a brew with a lot less hops. There are thousands of exceptional beers in this year’s competition and this win is a testament to the quality, talent and consistency of our brewmaster, Marks Lanham and brewer, Mike Durland."

The 2018 GABF competition winners were selected by an international panel of 293 industry professionals judging from 8,496 entries submitted by 2,404 U.S. breweries along with 101 Pro-Am and 49 collaboration entries.

For more details on the GABF competition, including the 2018 winners list and photos, visit GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com.

For more information about Comrade Brewing and their award winning Irish-Red Ale, DEFCON, email contact@comradebrewing.com.

ABOUT COMRADE BREWING

Launched in 2014 by David Lin and Marks Lanham, Comrade Brewing is often noted as one of Denver and Colorado’s masters of the India Pale Ale style and home of the flagship Superpower IPA. Comrade also brews the World Beer Cup® winning Yellow Fever Chile Beer, the Koffee Kream Extra Coffee Milk Stout, and the REDCON Irish-Style Red Ale year-round as well an array of rotating seasonals and lots of collaboration beers with fellow brewing companies. Comrade’s trophy case now sports silver medals from the 2014 and 2015 Great American Beer Festival®, a 2016 World Beer Cup gold award, and a bronze medal from the 2018 Great American Beer Festival. Find the brewery online at www.comradebrewing.com.

Introducing Rockyard Brewing Gondolier Cherry Kriek in 22oz. Bombers

CASTLE ROCK, CO— Rockyard Brewing brings remnants of a medal-winning beer to life with their newly released Cherry Kriek-style sour ale, The Gondolier, now available in 22 oz. bombers in select locations on the Front Range.

Let The Gondolier bring a balance of sour and sweetness to your palate as it propels you through the familiar tastes of a golden sour base ale aged in cabernet wine barrels with tart red cherries.

Aged for 14 months in the same barrels as Rockyard’s 2017 GABF® Gold Medal winning Plum Creek Sour, The Gondolier is a bright, crisp, easy-drinking sour which finishes slightly sweet and pours with an alluring pinkish hue. The base was brewed with a mix of European pilsner and wheat malts with a touch of rolled oats and raw wheat. After primary fermentation with a saison yeast, it was transferred into cabernet wine barrels and topped off with nearly a pound of cherries per gallon of beer in each barrel.

“Our favorite attribute of the Gondolier is that even after 14 months aging on souring bacteria, it's not a pucker bomb,”says Rockyard Head Brewer Greg Fetzer. “We’d go so far as to say it’s a starter sour.”

The Gondolier label was designed by Denver artist Drew Button of D. Button Ink. It portrays a Venetian gondolier singing music notes resembling cherries. The character was created in reference to a time when Cherry Creek ran through Denver with the infrastructure designed to be navigable by gondola. Rockyard’s Artist, Drew Button put it best: “These boaters have distinct songs they sing as they cruise the canals to announce themselves to other boaters gliding down the narrow waterways. I have feeling this beer will leave you singing!”

The Gondolier is part of Rockyard’s Barrel Aged Series and will be available in 22 oz. bombers at select retail locations on the Front Range while supplies last..

For more information about The Gondolier and or Rockyard Brewing, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT ROCKYARD BREWING

Rockyard is the longest running brewpub in Douglas Count​y, founded in 1999 by four Colorado-born siblings. Rockyard’s beers have won medals at many prestigious beer competitions including the Great American Beer Festival®, World Beer Cup® and the Colorado State Fair. Rockyard’s beer can be found in many retail locations and a handful of craft-centric bars and restaurants throughout Colorado’s Front Range. Find the brewery online at rockyard.com.

An Ode To Winter: Ska Brewing Euphoria Winter Pale Ale Returns Friday

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing’s seasonal Euphoria Pale Ale returns to the brewery’s World Headquarters on Friday, and hits shelves in twelve states next week. Ska is hopeful that winter is coming alongside this beer release.

Euphoria’s big malt backbone meets caramel sweetness and just a touch of chocolate, with epic grapefruit hop aroma and flavor provided by a huge dry hop addition that really make this seasonal beer shine. It all comes together as a warming, yet refreshing pale ale that powder junkies spend all year looking forward to. After the 416 Fire, this year especially. 

Euphoria was first brewed as a beer for Purgatory Ski Resort before Ska teamed up with their friends at Venture Snowboards located in Silverton, CO to brew the recipe and create a custom snowboard with Ska artwork. This tradition now returns for the twelfth year. 

“I’ve always said that hops are warming,” says Ska Brewing Co-Founder and CEO Dave Thibodeau. “As a winter Pale Ale, this beer is just a bit darker than your typical pale. It’s a great backcountry beer.” 

Kickoff the prospect of snowboarding season with Ska Brewing this Friday September 28 at the brewery’s World Headquarters at 5pm. Ska and Venture Snowboards will debut this year’s custom snowboard and host a Euphoria celebration in November— more information will soon be available about this event at skabrewing.com.

Find Euphoria in 6-packs in all twelve of Ska’s distribution states through colder months. Contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com with any more questions about this beer’s backstory or availability. 

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 Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, and Rue B. Soho. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit skabrewing.com.

ABOUT VENTURE SNOWBOARDS

Founded in 1999, Venture is an independent, grassroots snowboard manufacturer based in Silverton, Colorado. Venture crafts high-quality, freeride snowboards and splitboards from scratch using sustainable woods and wind power. Learn more at venturesnowboards.com.

Thirsty Monk Takes Home First GABF Medal In Company History For Denver-Brewed Abby Blonde Ale

DENVER, CO— Thirsty Monk, brewer of Belgian-Rooted Modern Ales and operator of world-recognized craft beer and craft cocktail bars, was awarded a bronze medal for its Denver-brewed flagship Abby Blonde Ale in the Belgian and French-Style Ale category at the largest Great American Beer Festival® yet. This is the brewery’s first GABF award and Abby Blonde’s second medal this year.

Named after the brewery owner’s youngest child, Abby Blonde is a classic Belgian Style made with Franco-Belges Pilsner malt, wheat, and traditional sugar. Weighing in at 7.3% ABV, this slightly hazy, golden brew was fermented with Thirsty Monk’s in-house Belgian yeast strain, offering a plethora of flavors including banana and light clove.

When asked about how she felt about the win, young Abby announced that “It’s really hard to be famous. And Abby Blonde won a medal and Brother Noah didn’t.” Brother Noah is Thirsty Monk’s Belgian Chocolate Stout, named after Abby’s brother Noah. “I’ve got a unique form of sibling rivalry at my home,” says Barry Bialik, Thirsty Monk CEO. “Abby Blonde is one of our best selling beers and has medaled twice in the past year, but Brother Noah has higher Untappd reviews. And both kids know where their beers stand.”

“I am so proud of Brian, Norm, and Chris, our lead brewing team, and the entire Monk staff for their constant representation of our beers to our patrons. We are so honored to be recognized for our Abby Blonde this year,” continues Bialik.

For more information about Thirsty Monk or Abby Blonde, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT THIRSTY MONK

Founded in 2008, Thirsty Monk currently operates three locations in Asheville, North Carolina including Thirsty Monk Downtown, Thirsty Monk Biltmore Park, and Top of the Monk Craft Cocktail Bar; and Thirsty Monk Denver, CO and Thirsty Monk Portland, OR. The brewery family has been the recipient of several beer awards just this year, including a gold medal in the Belgian-Style Table Beer category in the Best of Craft Beer Awards  and gold and silver medals at the US Open Beer Championship. Find the company online at monkpub.com.

Last Minute Liquor Store Luck Leads to Ska GABF Gold

DURANGO, CO— Over the weekend, OG craft lager brewery Ska Brewing was awarded a gold medal for its Oktoberfest in the Vienna-Style Lager category at the 2018 Great American Beer Festival, but not without a little last-minute drama.

Ska listed their newly released Oktoberfest when filling out the original festival entry form, but were caught off-guard when it came time to ship the competition beers and they had none.  “The beer was so popular that we sold through it before we had a chance to hold any back to ship,” said Kristen Muraro, Sales and Marketing Director at Ska. “I had to run to the liquor store to buy one of the last 6-packs in Durango to ship to the competition.”

Ska’s Oktoberfest is crafted with 100 percent German-sourced Munich and Vienna malts that impart nutty, bready, toasty flavors, all balanced by Noble hops.  It finishes clean and crisp. Ska are proud producers of Colorado’s first craft lager in a can, Mexican Logger, and as Muraro notes, the Oktoberfest was a natural addition to Ska’s portfolio; “this classic style really took hold in the Americas when German-speaking immigrants brought their recipes and brewing practices to Mexico in the mid-19th century.”

Ska Oktoberfest is still available while supplies last on tap at the brewery’s World Headquarters in Durango, and will return again for the fall season in 2019.

Contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com for more information about Ska Brewing or their new, award-winning Oktoberfest craft lager.

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 Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, Pink Vapor Stew, and Rue B. Soho. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.