Back By Popular Demand, Boat Shoes Hazy IPA Returns as Year-Round Beer for Karl Strauss

SAN DIEGO— Karl Strauss Brewing Company is thrilled to announce the long anticipated return of Boat Shoes Hazy IPA. Beginning on January 1st, this fan favorite will join KARL’s core lineup and become the newest year-round offering for the brewery.

Boat Shoes was originally born out of Karl Strauss’ Small Batch program. Head Brewer Sean Albrecht (the talent behind Mosaic Session IPA as well) first tried his hand at this New England-style IPA at KARL’s satellite brewery in 4S Ranch. The initial batch built an immediate cult following and sold out within days. Since then, it has been released several times with much fanfare – including some of the company’s highest engaged posts on Instagram, and more than 1,500 ratings on Untappd so far. Beyond that, Boat Shoes Hazy IPA nearly won a nationwide blind taste test when it received the Bronze Medal in Brewing News’ National IPA Championship. As for the name itself…

“I was back east for CBC [Craft Brewers Conference]. Everyone was wearing boat shoes and the name just stuck. Hazy IPAs are refreshing and easy-drinking, so the name fits nicely with the style of beer. You can’t really be stressed out wearing Boat Shoes.” — Sean Albrecht, Head Brewer, Karl Strauss Brewing Company.

Beginning on January 1st, Boat Shoes Hazy IPA will be pouring on draft at Karl Strauss’ Tasting Room and Brewpubs, as well as select craft beer bars throughout California.  Boat Shoes will also be available throughout the year in limited release quantities of 4-pack 16oz cans. Check out the company’s beer finder tool at www.karlstrauss.com to see where you can buy Karl Strauss beers near you.

To learn more about Boat Shoes Hazy IPA, visit www.karlstrauss.com.

ABOUT BOAT SHOES HAZY IPA

ABV: 7.2%

IBU: 55

Hop Bill: Pacifica, Simcoe, Mosaic, Pekko, and Galaxy

Label Copy:

Boat shoes are much more than footwear – they’re a state of mind. They say to those around you, “Hey. I’m practical, but I’m also stylish. I may or may not actually own a boat. But I definitely care about the finer things in life, like weekend jaunts to the coast, salty ocean breezes, and hazy India Pale Ales.” Boat Shoes Hazy IPA has flavors of citrus and sweet fruit that linger through a juicy finish. This unfiltered brew is intensely hopped and pairs perfectly with your nautical lifestyle, actual boat not required.

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.

Ska Brewing Releases Official Beer of 41st Annual Durango Snowdown

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing has teamed up with Snowdown, Durango’s premier winter celebration, to create a sure-fire cure to your cabin fever. Snowdown Comic Excelsior-Style Amber Lager will be available in the Durango area on draft and in limited 6-packs of 12 oz. cans beginning Friday, January 4. 

The Beer

Snowdown Comic Can was brewed to celebrate and commemorate the 41st Annual Snowdown and coincide with the 2019 theme, A Comic Con Snowdown. An amber lager packed with roasted, malty sweetness— Snowdown Comic Can is expertly balanced with a dry bitterness from just the right touch of noble and citrus hop aromas and weighs in at sessionable 5.3% ABV and 28 IBUs.

Snowdown Comic Excelsior-Style Amber Lager will be released on draft and in cans at Ska’s Durango World Headquarters on Friday, January 4 at 5pm. Guests can buy two cans for $5 at this event, which will also feature special giveaways. Capes are encouraged.

The Celebration

Durango has been hosting a Snowdown celebration each winter for over 40 years. More that 100 events and activities are crammed into a 5-day window (January 30- February 3). Beard growing contests, joke off, hot wing eating contest, beer plunge, outhouse stuffing and a light parade are all on the agenda. The festival spreads across town, with many local businesses hosting celebrations and events.

For more information on Snowdown Comic Can and Ska Brewing 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 (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Thirsty Monk Presents 6th Annual New Year's Eve Keg Drop in Biltmore Park

ASHEVILLE, NC— New York City drops a ball, Atlanta drops a peach, and Miami drops an orange. Asheville drops a keg! Thirsty Monk announces its 6th Annual New Year's Eve Keg Drop Celebration at its Biltmore Park Town Square location.

This year’s Keg Drop has grown to include its new craft cocktail bar, Monk's Flask. Ring in the New Year at Biltmore Park as we welcome 2019, sipping on Thirsty Monk Brewery beers, craft spirits and a special cocktail menu.

The Keg

The Biltmore Park brewery’s two-story golden keg will be lit up and glowing on the patio on New Year’s Eve, descending at midnight as we tap a keg of Must Love Coconut IPA, and toast to 2019! The Keg Drop Celebration is free to attend, with ample parking available.

The Beer

If you’re in the mood for an escape from the typical IPA, and want to be whisked away from winter to a tropical paradise, then Must Love Coconut IPA is for you. Brewed with toasted coconut and a blast of Citra and Centennial hops, this Belgian-style IPA is a totally tropical experience. Flavors of stone fruit, tropical fruit and–you guessed it–coconut, take you straight to your own island oasis, with hints of spice and citrus peeking through the palm trees. This special, fan-favorite release makes an annual appearance on tap, especially for New Year festivities.

WHEN: Monday, December 31, 5pm - Tuesday, January 1, 1am

WHERE: Thirsty Monk South at Biltmore Park Town Square

2 Town Square Blvd #170, Asheville, NC 28803

CONTACT: Emily Hutto, coop@radcraftbeer.com

Bonfire Brewing Releases Rope Drop Hazy IPA in 12 oz. Cans

EAGLE, CO— Excitement grows through the slopes of the Vail Valley as Bonfire Brewing celebrates a season in full swing. Introducing Rope Drop Hazy IPA, a limited release available in six packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft while supplies last. Rope Drop will be released at the Bonfire tasting room on Monday, December 24 at 12:24pm and will gradually become available throughout its distribution footprint beginning Wednesday, December 26.

Rope Drop is Bonfire’s first canned Hazy IPA and contains huge tropical fruit and citrus notes from a combination of Citra, Mosaic, Eldorado and Ekuanot hops. These varietals, in conjunction with late boil additions and double dry hopping, provide an aroma bursting with tropical flavors of papaya, pineapple, mango, orange, and hints of fresh pine.

“Rope Drop is brewed to trigger that feeling you get when you roll up on a slope that is just opened (or just about to open) and you get to make the first giant pillowy turns down it,” explains, co-founder, Andy Jessen. “It's like winning the lottery. This release is also appropriate for the time of year as most ski resorts are getting close to 100% open and dropping all of their in-bounds ropes. Finally, it's dropping the rope on a brand new year!”

Weighing in at 6% ABV and 45 IBU, Rope Drop was fermented with London Ale yeast strain to provide a soft, yet juicy profile. Just like the perfect powder day, this hazy IPA drinks extremely smooth with very little bitterness. Made to be enjoyed with your après crew after an amazing day on the slopes.

For more information about Bonfire Brewing and their latest releases, 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.

Thirsty Monk Launches New Asheville Cocktail and Wine Bar, Monk’s Flask

ASHEVILLE, NC— Thirsty Monk, brewer of Belgian-Rooted Modern Ales and operator of world-recognized craft beer and craft cocktail bars, is excited to open its new space in Biltmore Park on Wednesday, December 19. Monk's Flask will serve as Biltmore Park’s neighborhood cocktail bar, specializing in craft cocktails, wine by the glass and bottle, beer and spirit pairing flights, and a curated food menu.

Monk’s Flask brings together the worlds of beer and spirits, celebrating the synergy between the two. “It is enticing and exciting to have a space to be able to enjoy beers like CocoNorm Coconut Porter with a paired side of Bourbon, to sip side by side, or blend together,” says Barry Bialik, Thirsty Monk CEO

This common ground between spirits, beer, and wine is featured at Monk’s Flask through the aging vessels of their barrel-aged beer program. Wooden barrels will not only adorn Monk’s Flask, but will also be housing Thirsty Monk Brewery’s sour and fruited mixed fermentation beers under the direction of Head Brewer Brian Grace— in tandem with its Denver Woodshed facility.

“As a South Asheville resident, I found good cocktail options, especially in intimate settings, limited. Thirsty Monk fills me up with our comfortable pub setting, and I’m looking forward to Monk’s Flask offering a slightly more intimate space for cocktail and wine sipping. When I look at the wood barrels around Monk’s Flask, I can just dream of what deliciousness our brewers Brian and Chris are going to fill them with,” says Bialik.

Monk’s Flask is located at 2 Town Square Blvd, #160, in the adjacent space to the current Thirsty Monk Biltmore Park. For more information about Monk’s Flask or any of Thirsty Monk’s other locations, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT THIRSTY MONK

Founded in 2008, Thirsty Monk Brewery currently operates a family of brewpubs in Asheville, North Carolina (Thirsty Monk Downtown Thirsty Monk Biltmore Park and now Monk’s Flask), Denver, and Portland, Oregon. Thirsty Monk’s award-winning, modern-rooted Belgian ales are showcased in the company’s expertly-crafted food menus, which include beer style-centric Food Flights and beer-paired burgers. Find the company online at monkpub.com.

Ska Brewing Launches Distribution in Oklahoma

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing beers are now available in Oklahoma via Boardwalk Distribution, Oklahoma’s locally owned and operated independent craft distribution house. This new market brings the brewery’s state distribution count to thirteen.

Cans and drafts of True Blonde Ale, Rue B Soho, Euphoria, Modus Hoperandi, Modus Mandarina, Pink Vapor Stew, and Ska’s latest year-round release Moral Panic hit Oklahoma this week, as did Ska’s Mixed- Up and Hoptions IPA 12-packs. Seasonals like Mexican Logger will be available in Oklahoma as well.

"Boardwalk Distribution is more than excited to team up with Ska Brewing for distribution across the state of Oklahoma,” says Freddy Lamport Vice President of Boardwalk’s Beer Division. “Ska Brewing has been one of those amazing breweries that has always been outside the Okie consumer's hands... well not any more! We believe their brand, mantra and style is in perfect alignment with our core beliefs and are very happy to welcome them to our portfolio.”

Ska’s distribution in the Sooner State is a long time coming for brewery Co-Owner and Oklahoma native Matt Vincent. “The laws in the state allow better opportunities for good, cold beer to be imported into it... Plus my mom is sick of driving to Kansas to buy Ska beer.”

In January, members of the Ska Brewing crew will head to Oklahoma to drink Ska beer at several launch events. More details on these shenanigans will soon be available on Ska’s website and social media channels.

Ska Brewing distributes its award-winning beers in thirteen states— Colorado, Arizona, Southern California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, and now Oklahoma.

For more information about Ska Brewing 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 (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Strange Craft Big Malty Is Back

DENVER, CO— Strange Craft’s winter seasonal Big Malty returns after a two-year hiatus to the StrangeWit co-tasting room today at noon.

Big Malty is an English Strong Ale with 7.5% ABV. Its a smooth, malt-forward beer brewed with seven different malts, including Maris Otter, Caramel, Honey, Aromatic and Biscuit barley varieties. Big Malty is also crafted with local wildflower honey from Colorado’s Clark's Honey Farm that adds unique complexity and a touch of perceived sweetness to this winter warmer.

For more information about Big Malty, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT STRANGE CRAFT BEER COMPANY

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.

Karl Strauss Supports Wildfire Relief Efforts with Two Beer Releases

photo by Dustin Hall, The Brewtography Project

SAN DIEGO, CA— Karl Strauss Brewing Company is supporting those affected by the California wildfires currently devastating the brewery’s home state through two charitable beers set to release Friday, December 21 with the proceeds to benefit relief efforts. KARL will also institute an internal Beer it Forward donation system to match employee donations for aid efforts.

On November 27, Karl Strauss Brewing Co. brewed a 7bbl batch of Resilience IPA to support the Sierra Nevada Camp Fire Relief Fund along with a 7bbl batch of Strauss Relief Brut IPA – an American Brut IPA brewed with a light malt profile along with Cascade, Simcoe, Strata, and Nelson hops to showcase piney aromatics, tropical notes and a clean, super dry finish. Proceeds from Strauss Relief Brut IPA will support the California Fire Foundation, specifically toward those impacted by the LA County fires.

Join KARL on Friday, December 21 at their main brewery and tasting room in Pacific Beach or any of their brewpubs in Southern California to show your support as they tap the two charitable beers. Purchase a pint or offer a donation to help the brewery raise proceeds for both the Sierra Nevada Camp Fire Relief Fund and the California Fire Foundation.

To learn more about the organizations receiving funds and to contribute yourself, visit Sierra Nevada Camp Fire Relief Fund and California Fire Foundation.

Holiday Pre-Sale Tickets Now Available for 2019 Bonfire Block Party in Eagle, CO

The Record Company headlined 2018’s Bonfire Block Party in Eagle, CO, voted Best Summer Festival in Vail by Vail Daily readers two years in a row. Photo by John-Ryan Lockman/Showlove Media

EAGLE, CO— Bonfire Brewing and Optimum Events once again team up for the fifth installment of the Bonfire Block Party, an annual street party slated for May 31 – June 2, 2019 in Downtown Eagle. A special holiday pre-sale starts Friday for all 2019 Block Party tickets including Two-Day General Admission Wristbands, Two-Day Sili Packages, a Two-Day VIP Experience and a Sayonara Sunday closing concert. The Bonfire Block Party is the two year-winner of the Best of Vail’s Best Summer Festival and showcases nationally-renowned bands, along with food vendors and Bonfire Brewing craft beer releases. As in years past, a portion of all proceeds benefit nonprofit partner, The Cycle Effect. The limited holiday sale offers the guaranteed lowest ticket prices for the 2019 event.

New for 2019, the Block Party will feature three stages and an expanded VIP Experience for concertgoers. 2018’s event featured two stages and an inaugural VIP Experience that sold out to rave reviews.  2019’s VIP Experience includes a covered tent with seating, dedicated viewing area, complimentary catered dinner, full bar service, Bonfire craft beer and a 2019 branded glow-in-the-dark SiliPint tumbler. While supplies last, the Block Party holiday pre-sale pricing for two-day VIP tickets is $100 per person, two-day general admission wristbands are $25, two-day GA tickets with a branded 2019 SiliPint (Sili Packages) are $40 and the Sayonara Sunday concert is $35 and includes a complimentary catered breakfast. All prices will increase when Early Bird ticketing begins.  

 An unprecedented 13 bands will play over the two-day event on the Broadway Main Stage, second stage and the Bonfire Side Stage, adjacent to Bonfire Brewing in Eagle. The full music lineup will be released in early 2019. Past musical acts include The Record Company, Galactic, Sam Bush, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Con Brio, Tea Leaf Green, Nicki Bluhm and more.

For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit www.bonfireblockparty.com.

If You Go:

What: 2019 Bonfire Block Party
Where:  Broadway and Second Streets, Eagle
When: Friday, May 31 - Sunday, June 2, 2019
Cost: $25/$35/$40/$100 (special pre-sale holiday pricing)

More: www.bonfireblockparty.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.

Funkwerks Takes Home Bronze from the 2018 Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer

FORT COLLINS, CO— Funkwerks, a specializer of Saison, Sour, and Belgian-style craft beers, was recognized at the 2018 Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer for their Sauvin Reserve— a barrel-aged variant of their single hopped Saison, Nelson Sauvin. The brewery earned third place at the festival’s National Barrel Aged Beer Competition for their Wild Beer Brett (Non-Acidic) category.

The Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious barrel-aged beer festival and competition. More than 200 craft breweries from across the United States showcase their rarest, most innovative wood and barrel-aged brews, competing for top honors in The National Barrel Aged Beer Competition in 11 categories of varying styles.

"We aged our single hopped saison, Nelson Sauvin, in white wine barrels to build upon the bright flavors developed by the New Zealand hop varietal used,” explains Funkwerks’ head brewer and co-founder, Gordon Schuck. Sparkling carbonation along with the addition of muscat grape juice support the crisp and clean white wine characteristics complementing the subtle notes of oak and slight spice with aromas of tart gooseberries and honeydew melon. This delicate, award-winning beer is sure to delight both wine and beer drinkers alike.

Funkwerks released limited edition Sauvin Reserve stemmed glassware on Friday, December 7th. The glasses will be available at the brewery’s taproom in box sets that include two glasses and one 750 ml bottle of Sauvin Reserve while supplies last.

For more information about Funkwerks and their recent win in the National Barrel Aged Beer Competition at the 2018 Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beers, 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 available in ten US states. Find the brewery online at funkwerks.com.

Ska Brewing True Blonde Named 2019 Good Food Awards Finalist

DURANGO, CO— In November, Ska Brewing’s True Blonde, the brewery’s most decorated beer, was named a finalist for the 2019 Good Food Awards. 

2019 marks the ninth year for the Good Food Awards. This platform recognizes to tasty, authentic and responsible food producers in 16 categories: beer, spirits, cider, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, coffee, confections, fish, honey, oils, pantry, pickles, preserves, snacks and elixirs. This year’s competition saw 2035 entries. Ska True Blonde Ale is one of 21 of finalists in the Good Food Awards beer category, and the only brewery in the finalist list from Colorado.

Ska’s True Blonde is one of its oldest and most decorated beer recipes. It’s a crisp, medium-bodied blonde ale that is crafted with honey from Durango’s specialty honey producer, Honeyville. True Blonde has been the recipient of four Great American Beer Festival® medals and two World Beer Cup® awards. It has also been recognized at the Colorado State Fair, the LA County Fair,  the European Beer Star awards, the Australian International Beer Awards, and the L.A. International Beer Competition. 

The 2019 Good Food Awards winners will be announced on Friday, January 11, 2019, at a 1,000 person gala in the historic San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center, followed by two days of celebration including the public Good Food Awards Marketplace

For more information about Ska Brewing’s True Blonde Ale, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com. For more information about the Good Food Awards, contact Katherine Harris at katherine@goodfoodfdn.org.

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 skabrewing.com.

ABOUT GOOD FOOD AWARDS 

The Good Food Awards (GFA) celebrate exceptional American craft food and drink producers who create distinctive, handcrafted, and sustainable products. The GFA brings together thought leaders from every sector of the food industry to choose the most delicious products from all regions of the country in a blind tasting. Products are evaluated by region, allowing the GFA to showcase the rich variety of terroirs of the nation’s food culture, elevating craft producers with the ultimate aim of stimulating local food economies. After the tasting, high-scoring producers are closely vetted for compliance with GFA requirements for sustainable production practices. Winners and runners-up are evaluated by the Good Food Foundation and announced each January at the Awards Ceremony. Learn more at goodfoodfdn.org.

Wit's End Brewing Releases Ugly Sweater; Celebrates 7th Anniversary + 1 Year of StrangeWit Cohabitation

DENVER, CO— Wit’s End Brewing is celebrating seven years in business and one year of cohabitation with the folks at Strange Craft Beer Co. at its Seventh Annual Ugly Sweater Party. It’s time to bust out those heinous holiday sweaters and party with the ghosts of beers past, present, and future. There will be major awards for the ugliest sweater, thirteen Wit’s End beers on tap, and The Little Big Sandwich Truck.

Wit’s End will be celebrating this momentous milestone on Saturday, December 8, 12pm - close. They are pulling out all the stops with the release of their annual Ugly Sweater Belgian Brown Winter Ale. Ugly Sweater is a random mixture of things that appear to be working together in some kind of plan. Loosely based on an English brown ale recipe, we throw in some knick-knacks like roasted pumpkin seeds, palm sugar, and peace on earth. Its rich caramel maltiness is like drinking a Sugar Daddy®, the roasted pumpkin seeds create a creamy nutty texture, and thanks to a Belgian yeast strain, the huge cinnamon and clove notes come through and balance the sweetness.

Additional special tappings to include Ancient Art (a fresh-hopped brut barleywine collaboration with Burns Family Artisan Ales who occupies Wit’s End’s former space), Jean-Claude Van Brett, Kessel Run Imperial Stout, classic recipes including their 2018 GABF® gold medal-winning Belgian-style blonde ale— Jean-Claude Van Blond, and more!

Beers that will be on tap December 8

Ghosts of Beers Past
Wilford, Belgian Oatmeal IPA
Kitchen Sink Porter, American Rye Porter
Ancient Art, Barleywine (cellar vintage)
Kessel Run, Imperial Stout (cellar vintage)
Jean Claude Van Brett, Belgian Blond w/Brettanomyces

Ghosts of Beers Yet To Come
Double Ambition, Double Black Coffee Stout
DDH Scrumtrulescent, Modern IPA
Miami Berliner Vice with Guava

Ghosts of Beers Present
Ugly Sweater, Belgian Winter Ale
Green Man Ale, American IPA
Super FLI.P.A., Black IPA
Lindauer Lager, Urtyp Helles Lager
Jean-Claude Van Blond, Belgian-style Blonde Ale

For more information about Wit’s End’s seventh anniversary and their year of cohabitation with Strange Craft Beer Company, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT WIT’S END BREWING COMPANY

At the dawn of the fourth wave of craft beer, Scott Witsoe launched Wit’s End in 2011 on a one barrel brewhouse. Wit’s End has now earned two Great American Beer Festival® Gold medals and a World Beer Cup® Bronze award. In late 2017, Wit’s End Brewing moved its brewing operations to Strange Craft Beer Company where Tyler Bies is now head brewer of both brewing companies. Wit’s End will remain an artisanal Denver brand that continues to be fueled by dreams and inspired by the limitless potential of craft beer… join Wit’s End on the journey! Witsendbrewing.com.

A Beer For The Times: Ska Brewing Presents Moral Panic Brut IPA

photo by Garrett Allen

DURANGO, CO— Moral Panic, a Brut IPA from Ska Brewing, debuts at the brewery in cans this Friday, November 30 and hits the brewery distribution footprint beginning December 7. This refreshing, dry finishing IPA satisfies brewery Co-Founder and CEO Dave Thibodeau’s urge to name a beer Moral Panic and quenches palates gravitating toward this emerging trend. 

“In sociology, moral panic is the process of arousing social concern over an issue, legitimate or not,” Thibodeau says. “On one hand we may be referring to Mods & Rockers, Satanism or Dungeons & Dragons, or the Haze craze — no matter what comes of the Brut IPA style, we certainly are enjoying drinking it right now.” 

Over its 23 years in business Thibodeau and crew have witnessed its evolution and ultimate subcategorization. “We’re excited about this emerging Brut category because these beers are everything we love about IPA without any lingering bitterness, which makes them super approachable.”

Ska’s Moral Panic is no exception. Galaxy and Citra hops give it a tropical nose, and at only 5.7 percent ABV, this beer is one of the lower ABV Bruts on the market. As the producer of one of the country’s original canned IPAs, Modus Hoperandi, Ska has long been an IPA house committed to crafting many different styles of India Pale Ale that you can always find on tap at the brewery’s Durango World Headquarters. 

Ska’s brewers developed the Brut IPA recipe on their Mod pilot system, and they are excited to elevate it to a larger-scale, packaged brew. This is Ska’s first year-round packaged beer to hit all its markets since the release of Rue B. Soho. It might just be Colorado’s first year-round canned Brut IPA, too.

Find Moral Panic Brut IPA in canned, 12 oz. 6-packs and select draft accounts in all twelve of Ska’s distribution states. Contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com if you’d like more information about the beer, the beer style, or Ska Brewing.

LAUNCH EVENTS

You’re invited to join Ska for Moral Panic’s descent upon humanity at these launch events.

Friday, November 30

Durango: Ska Brewing World Headquarters, 5-7PM

This event will include two for $5 cans of Moral Panic, food pairing options from The Container, and a chance to meet the folks who brewed this beer for you.

Friday, December 7

Denver: Tap XIV Uptown, 4-7PM

Saturday, December 8

Colorado Springs: Tap Traders, 7-9PM

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 Modus Hoperandi (which will celebrate its first decade on the planet in summer of 2019), Modus Mandarina, and Decadent Double IPA. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit skabrewing.com.

Elevation Beer Company Acide Returns in 12 Oz. Cans

PONCHA SPRINGS, CO— The cats at Elevation Beer Co. are stoked to announce the righteous return of Acide, their award-winning kettle sour saison and original variant of the Acide series. Acide is truckin’ for its third year in 6 packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft across Colorado and Wyoming while supplies last.

The French translation of sour, Acide, is the brewery’s trip into the increasingly popular style of kettle soured beers and has since spawned several fruit variants including Peach, Pineapple, and Pomegranate Acide. The use of Lactobacillus in this brew lends an approachable level of puckering sourness, pleasant acidity, and a tart refreshing finish on your tongue.

“This was the first beer we ever kettle soured,” explains co-founder Christian Koch. “We fell in love with the idea of a drinkable, low abv, dry hopped sour. It’s super sessionable and dry hopped exclusively with Amarillo hops which give it a nice orange/citrus flavor that really complements the tartness.”

Acide is 4% ABV with 10 IBU and pours straw colored with brilliant clarity and visuals. Lemony and floral aromas arise from a good dose of Amarillo hops and meld with a subtle graininess making Acide a hit with brewery staff and patrons alike. 

For more information about Elevation Beer Co. and Acide, 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.

Station 26 Announces 2018 Nightfall of Diamonds Variant List

DENVER, CO— Darkness falls on Station 26 Brewing Co. this Black Friday with the annual release of their famed Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout. It's the highly anticipated annual release of the beer formerly known as Dark Star Imperial Stout— now called Nightfall of Diamonds.

Nightfall of Diamonds will be released on draft today at 11am. This year’s variant list includes Chai, S’mores, German Chocolate, Mexican Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice Latte, Manhattan, Strawberry Balsamic, Moghli, and vintages of the base beer from 2016 and 2017. Get more event information on Facebook.

If you’d like more information about Nightfall of Diamonds, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT STATION 26 BREWING CO.

Station 26 Brewing Co. brews craft beers in a 1960 fire station in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood. The brewery was founded in 2013 by Justin Baccary and friends. It’s an ideal first stop for travelers coming from Denver International Airport. Find the brewery online at www.station26brewing.co.

Spice Trade Brewing Releases Limited Run of Red Wine Belgian Dubbel

ARVADA, CO— Spice Trade Brewing Red Wine Belgian Dubbel is now available in 22oz bombers. Aged for twelve months in a red wine barrel, this beer is complex and drinks with notes of tart red fruit and tamarind.

"Our Red Wine Belgian Dubbel is one of three barrel aged releases that goes into bombers every year and is great to pair with holiday meals. It has a mild acidity, tanic backbone and blend of red fruit notes that work well with any food you would drink red wine with,” says Head Brewer Jeff Tyler. “If you're looking to cook at home we have a great recipe for a pan seared ribeye with goat cheese and balsamic reduction on our website. Cheers!" 

Find Red Wine Belgian Dubbel in select liquor stores and the Arvada brewpub while supplies last.

ABOUT SPICE TRADE BREWING

Spice Trade Brewing produces unique beer styles inspired by culinary ingredients and traditions from around the world. Formerly Yak & Yeti Brewpub, Spice Trade is now a stand-alone brewery operating out of Yak & Yeti Restaurant in Arvada Colorado under the direction of Head Brewer Jeff Tyler who joined the company in summer 2016. The brewery hand-crafts a wide variety of beer in small batches on a 7 barrel brewhouse with a focus on high quality, ingredient centered beer. Find Spice Trade online at spicetradebrewing.com.

Where To Shop For Brewery Merch This Season

While the shoppers rage the shopping mall on Black Friday, beer lovers can flock to craft breweries for liquid relief from the crazed holiday, specialty beers, and merch deals galore.

Funkwerks Cyber Sale and Black Friday Giveaway

On Friday, November 23 Funkwerks will be offering free tote bags in their tasting room with each purchase of merch and beers to-go while supplies last.

Funkwerks is also offering 20% off all merchandise on Winky’s Warehouse, the brewery’s online store, beginning Friday, November 23 through Monday, November 25. Winky’s Warehouse offers free shipping on all orders and features something for everyone on your lists including apparel, glassware, gift cards, and new custom bottle openers made locally by a taproom regular in Fort Collins. During this season of giving, Funkwerks will be donating 20% of the profits from their shirts, tanks, and hoodies to local water charities.

25% Off at Strange Craft

Get 25% on all merchandise in the StrangeWit tasting room in Denver on Black Friday. While you’re shopping, snag a pour of the Sweet Potato & Green Chili Ale that made its yearly debut on Wednesday, November 21.

Gift Cards + Free Beer at Thirsty Monk

Purchase a $25 gift card at Thirsty Monk and enjoy a beer on the house. Monk also has an array of merch options for the beer lovers in your life, including $12 growlers that come with growler fill cards!

$2 Beers for Shoppers at Call to Arms Brewing

How often do you get discounted beer when you make a Black Friday purchase? Luckily CTA has you covered. On Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, buy any piece of merchandise from Call to Arms and get a $2 core beer.

A Day of Deals at Maxline Brewing

Skip the holiday rush (or reward yourself for enduring it) and head to Maxline where they will be offering a ton of Black Friday specials throughout the day, including 50% off periodic table of Fort Collins t-shirts, and 15% off merchandise from 1 to 2pm.

Black Friday at Brink Brewing

Brink will also have "gift bags" available up for purchase at its Black Friday celebration if you want to jump start your holiday shopping. Brink Brewing will be opening early, and can promise dark beer goodness that will bring you all the warm and fuzzies and won't require being trampled to death in the doorway of a big box retailer.

DIY Gift Sets from Elevation Beer Co.

Nothing says Happy Holidays like beer, especially if it’s Elevation Oil Man with a bag of the coffee that was aged in its barrel or bottles of Red Wine-aged Apis IV with jars of the local honey used in the beer’s production. Get it all at Elevation Beer Company’s tasting room with a beer in hand. If you’re headed to Monarch Mountain, don’t miss Elevation’s beanies and sunshields. Shop online, too!

Join the 1623 Family

1623 Brewing launches their new online store on Black Friday with two items: long-sleeve tees and trucker hats. More to come in 2019. Shop now.

Karl Strauss Brewing Company

Gear up with KARL for the holidays! Head to the company’s new merch store now until December 14th and use the code KARL50 for free shipping on orders over $50.

Fresh off San Diego Beer Week, Karl Strauss Makes $8.5K Donation to San Diego Brewers Guild

SAN DIEGO, CA —  Karl Strauss Brewing Company is a proud supporter of the San Diego Brewers Guild and their efforts to promote and represent local, independent craft breweries. Karl Strauss has a long history of caring for their community, and in keeping with this tradition, they are making a donation to the Guild fresh off of another successful San Diego Beer Week.

In preparation for Beer Week, KARL served as the host brewery for the annual collaboration beer release from the San Diego Brewers Guild, the Capital of Craft IPA. KARL’s team members helped sell this beer to accounts throughout the region and KARL is donating a portion of their Capital of Craft sales to the Guild.

In addition to Capital of Craft, KARL’s donation to the Guild includes a portion of the proceeds from their second annual Collabapalooza event, hosted Saturday November 10 in North Park. Collabapalooza featured more than 50 local, independent breweries and an epic beer list of one-off collaborations and rare releases.

“Collabapalooza captured the collaborative spirit of the San Diego brewing community. There was a sense of camaraderie everywhere you turned. People learning about beers, sharing stories, reminiscing with old friends and bonding with new ones… it was a really special event and we’re honored to donate a portion of the proceeds to the San Diego Brewers Guild.” – Matt Rattner, Co-Founder & President, Karl Strauss Brewing Company.

In total, Karl Strauss is donating $8,500 to the San Diego Brewers Guild.

To learn more about Karl Strauss and their ongoing support of the San Diego Brewers Guild and various other nonprofits, visit www.karlstrauss.com

To learn more about the San Diego Brewers Guild and ways you can support, visit www.sdbeer.com

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.

Ska Brewing Cru D’Etat Back For Third Year

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing Cru D’Etat is now available at the brewery World Headquarters, and hitting the company’s twelve-state distribution footprint next week. 

A Belgian specialty ale, Cru d’Etat has a sweet, rum-like flavor that weighs in at 11.5% ABV. This tart and complex ale has aged in an old wine foeder for nearly two years, creating flavors of caramel and raisins with a hint of alcohol heat. This concoction will have you going wild in the streets. 

Ska releases Cru D’Etat every two years in rotation with Ska Face Barleywine-style Ale that comes out every other year. Grab one of the 500mL bottles while it lasts. 

Contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com for more information about Ska Brewing’s Cru D’Etat or any of its seasonal, specialty beer releases. 

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 www.skabrewing.com.

Lone Tree Brewing Celebrates 7th Anniversary with Charity Casino Night and Special Beer Releases

LONE TREE, CO— Shuffle up and deal! Lone Tree Brewing Company welcomes you to a day of celebration followed by an evening of high stakes donating with their 7th Anniversary Party and charity casino night on Saturday, December 8. Celebratory tappings of limited anniversary beers will commence at 11am followed by a casino night benefiting the Freedom Service Dogs of America beginning at 4pm.

Lone Tree Brewing will kick off their special anniversary tappings with their Rosé Brut IPA at 11am followed by some extremely limited firkins at 1pm (Mango Habanero Pale Ale), 3pm (Sour Margarita), and 7pm (Old Fashioned), and an anniversary Dopplebock on tap at 5pm. In addition to the special anniversary beers Lone Tree Brewing will have a limited run (only 120 were made) of commemorative stemmed glassware available for purchase featuring the brewery’s logo donned in a gold leaf art deco design.

Food will be available throughout the day from local food truck, Mama Said Eat with a menu of Vegas-style apps including Devil on Horseback (dates stuffed with cream cheese, wrapped in bacon), shrimp and sausage skewers, Monte Carlo Sliders, and more.

The perfect beer for a cold winter night—Lone Tree's Dopplebock is a “very malty German Lager. This beer was lagered for over three months and comes in at 7.7% ABV with 22 IBU with dark copper color, slight sweetness, and a toast flavor in the finish.

A first of the style for Lone Tree, Rose' Brut IPA is crisp, hoppy and beautiful. Brewed with more than 60 lbs. of tropical hops (and an additional 44 lbs. as a dry hop), this beer received 15 lbs. of Malbec grapes straight to the kettle to impart a stunning, pink Rose'-esque hue.

Following the special tappings Lone Tree invites you to their charity casino night. From 4-7pm the brewery will have roulette and blackjack tables available to play for and benefit the Freedom Service Dogs of America. For a $5 or $10 donation, participants will receive chips to play games and to be entered in a raffle of door prizes beginning at 8pm with no necessary attendance to win. All games are to benefit charity, no prizes (other than bragging rights) will be awarded for winners. Fancy clothes are encouraged but not necessary.

For more information about Lone Tree Brewing Company’s Anniversary Party or their 7 years in business, 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.