Special Delivery

About three to four weeks ago we received an email from Ted Lane, of Lane PR and the individual who typically emails us news on happenings at Redhook Ale Brewery in Portsmouth, sent an email asking for our address. He wanted to send us some of the upcoming special items from Redhook that were going to be launching just in time for summer.

Well, although it was in the back of our minds, while sifting through emails, we found an email from UPS with a tracking number. When we clicked on the link to track the package, we realized it was being sent from Redhook Brewery. Eager to find out what was sent, we had to be patient...that is, until today.

We got our confirmation email that the package from Redhook had in fact been delivered. When brought inside, and opened up, this is what we found...

Holy crap! It's Long Hammer IPA in CANS!! It's always fun to get some beers, especially when they come through the mail. We're pretty pumped to have these on our doorstep when arriving home from work, and will be on the look out for other Redhook beers in cans. According to the West Coast press release, these were launched about a week ago; however, we have not seen them in stores yet. BUT, you can expect to see these popping up all over the place!

Mass Brewers Weekend - BBC Walpole

The British Beer Company has set up what looks to be an incredible weekend of beer beginning next Friday May 11th. It all kicks off at 1pm at the Walpole restaurant with Wachusett Brewing Co, and continues to grow as the day goes on, and of course at noon the next day!

Here is the full press release:

What: Massachusetts Brewers Weekend

Where: Walpole British Beer Company

When: Friday and Saturday May 11-12^th

Who: Fourteen Mass. Based Brewers

Why: Support Your Local Brewer

It’s really easy to support your local brewer – buy their beer!  The British Beer Company will make it even easier on May 11^th and 12^th at their Walpole pub as they celebrate this State’s proud brewing heritage at the first Mass Brewers Weekend.  It’s no secret that the brewing industry in Massachusetts is growing in leaps and bounds. This state has gone from a handful of breweries just a dozen years ago to over sixty currently (if you count brewpubs) – now that’s a reason to celebrate!

Brewery reps will be floating through the BBC in Walpole on both days offering education, samples, glassware and cool free stuff.  The BBC will be offering flights (four five ounce pours) so customers can mix and match and maybe find a new favorite style or brewer. The event will feature a variety of styles from every corner of Massachusetts highlighting the diversity that can be found right here in our own back yard.  

Come on down any time on Friday or Saturday and support your local brewers, fourteen of them to be exact – here’s the schedule:   

Friday

Wachusett (1pm), Sam Adams (4pm), Haverhill (5pm), Wormtown (6pm), Harpoon (7pm), Mayflower (8pm).

Saturday

Cisco (12pm), Blue Hills (5pm), Berkshire (6pm), Backlash Beer (7pm), Clown Shoes Beer (8pm).

Also on tap...Pretty Things, Slumbrew, Jack’s Abby.

Media Contact

Graham Wilson

grahamwilson@britshbeer.com

British Beer Company Walpole

85 Providence Highway

www.britishbeer.com/local/walpole

Cape Ann Brewing Co. Beer Dinner

Our friends at Cape Ann Brewing Co, makers of the Fisherman's line of beers, is hosting what looks to be a great beer dinner this Sunday night May 6th at 6:30pm. The beer dinner is five courses, paired with five hand crafted beers, and is being held at their pub and restaurant in Gloucester, MA. The dinner is $50, plus tax and gratuity per person, and the restaurant will be closed to the general public beginning at 4pm.

As of Tuesday there were still tickets available for this limited space event, so make sure to call the brewery directly at (978) 282-7399 to reserve your spot today!

You can get a look at the menu by clicking the link here.

Tuesday Night Tasting: Cody Brewing Co. - Wheelers Brown

Cody Brewing Co. - Amesbury, MA

Wheelers Brown - American Oatmeal Brown Ale

5.7% ABV, 27 IBU, 22 oz.

Cody Brewing Co. has been doling out beers for quite some time now, and fortunately for everyone, they're becoming more widely available. Two years in a row Sean Cody and his team has participated in the annual "Cure Me I'm Irish" event and beer tasting, and they do not disappoint.

The Wheeler Brown Oatmeal Brown Ale pours a dark amber brown body with hints of deep red tones. The head is fluffy, with a tannish hue to it. The head hangs out for a while before reducing into the beer, but even after a few minutes it's still there and hanging out! The aroma of this beer is semi-sweet, malty, and a bit nutty.

For the flavor, the malt is the first thing that one notices, but then a nutty wave takes the hold! The same sort of balance and body you get from an oatmeal stout is also quite pronounced with the Wheelers Brown. While it has a noticeable cereal backbone, there are no one overpowering aspect of this beer. It's also slightly sweet, smooth, and finishes with a great short aftertaste.

The mouthfeel of the oatmeal brown coats your entire palate, but to our surprise it's not super heavy. It finishes with a great brown sugar-like aftertaste, and begs you to drink some more!

The Wheelers Brown is wicked drinkable, plain and simple. The ABV is moderate at 5.7%, the IBU are relatively low at 27, it's not overly sweet, and is quite pleasant. Naturally where this comes in a 22 oz bomber you're not going to knock down two or three, but you will easily and happily enjoy the entire bottle, sharing or otherwise. We highly recommend this Cody Brewing Co offering to all our readers who are in search of an excellent and well balanced brown ale!

The Return of 'Gansett Summer Ale!

NARRAGANSETT SUMMER ALE HITS THE SHELVES

Award-Winning Craft Session Ale Makes Seasonal Return

May 1, 2012; Providence, RI – Narragansett Beer today officially announces the return of its summer seasonal craft brew. Introduced last year, Summer Ale is the first summer seasonal released by the brand in its more than 120-year history. Wildly popular among beer drinkers, Summer Ale received critical acclaim in its premiere year and was awarded the Silver Medal at the 2011 World Beer Championship. Previously distributed in New England, Southern New York, and Philadelphia, Narragansett’s ongoing expansion into new markets now makes for increased availability of the supremely drinkable craft brew, perfect for the beach, boat or ballgame. Summer Ale is available at leading package stores, bars, and restaurants on draught and in 16 oz. Tallboy cans in New England, Eastern Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Florida.

Narragansett Summer Ale is brewed under the supervision of award-winning Brewmaster Sean Larkin at Trinity Brew House in Providence, RI, Cottrell Brewery in Pawcatuck, CT, and North American Breweries in Rochester, NY. This easy-drinking light session ale features two row pale malt and citra hops, an increasingly popular variety that complement the pale malt perfectly. Golden blonde in color, its pour produces a generous white head and balanced carbonation. The malt flavor is smooth and subtle, balanced out by a crisp hop bitterness that delivers natural notes of grapefruit and passion fruit. Summer Ale is 4.2% Alcohol by Volume and 24 IBUs.

‘Gansett Summer’s introduction last year made it the first Ale to be produced by Narragansett Beer since the 1970s. Known best for its signature Lager, a wide variety of Ales were previously available beginning in the late 1800s. The original Narragansett Brewery devoted an entire four-story building to the “Ale Department.” Staples like the Pale Ale, Select Stock Ale, and Banquet Ale outsold Lager until the 1940s when American tastes changed as a result of thousands of GI’s returning home from Lager-drinking European countries during World War 1 & II, and a wave of Lager-drinking immigrants.

The Summer Ale Tallboy can features iconic imagery of the famous Narragansett Towers. Once part of the Narragansett Pier Casino, the Towers remain a historic landmark, having endured two great fires in 1900 and 1965 and three tremendous hurricanes. The surfer catching waves in the foreground symbolizes the Southern Rhode Island shoreline’s reputation as one of the region’s top summer surfing destinations.

For more information about Narragansett Summer Ale or to find a retailer near you, visit: http://www.narragansettbeer.com/products/summer-ale.

ABOUT NARRAGANSET BEER:
Narragansett Beer….Brewed since 1890, ‘Gansett is a straight-forward, quality beer that has been a New England tradition for generations, producing a classic family of award-winning American lagers & ales. Today, ‘Gansett is produced at top-rated breweries in Providence, RI, Pawcatuck, CT, Rochester, NY, and Latrobe, PA. Narragansett is available for purchase in local restaurants, bars, and liquor stores throughout New England, Eastern Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Florida.

Thirsty for more? Visit: www.narragansettbeer.com.

Redhook Release of American Independence Ale

Redhook Toasts the American Revolution with American Independence Ale

American Style Pale Ale is the Fourth Beer in Brewery Backyard Series

Portsmouth, N.H., May 1, 2011 – 

In the days preceding the American Revolution, colonists were fed up with overtaxed ales imported from England. In response, they raised their middle fingers high to English ales and began brewing their own beer. Based on a historic beer recipe using local ingredients and modern techniques, American Independence Ale was brewed in commemoration of the colonialists’ defiance. The Redhook brewing team drew inspiration for the beer from the nearby Folsom Tavern in Exeter, a tavern, now part of the American Independence Museum, where many New Hampshire patriots would gather for a beer in the days leading up to the American Revolution.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the American Independence Museum and to brew a beer that honors the beer revolutionaries –the true godfathers of the craft beer movement,” said Alex Kopf, Redhook senior brewer. “Redhook’s American Independence Ale was brewed with local ingredients and follows a historic recipe, while offering a modern twist that captures the spirit and entrepreneurialism of the colonists.”

“Beer was a critical ingredient to local 18th century political debates and we’re excited to celebrate the region’s patriots who launched the American Revolution with an American home brew in hand,” said Randall Hammond, president of the Board of Governors of the American Independence Museum. “Redhook was the perfect partner for the American Independence Museum. As an American beer revolutionary, Redhook would have been a true patriot raising his tankard of beer and not only helping to sharpen the edges of an argument, but his bayonet as well.”

American Independence Ale is a crisp, refreshing American Style Pale Ale made using locally grown and malted barley and hops. New England’s Warthog wheat gives the beer body and a dense head that holds the citrus and floral aromas from Simcoe, Zeus and brewery-grown Nugget hops. The medium-bodied pale ale is golden in color and the combination of the hops, wheat and two-row malts gives the beer citrus, pine, floral notes and a dry finish. American Independence Ale has an ABV of 5.2 percent and 38 IBUs.

Raise a Pint:

To taste the first pours of American Independence Ale, join Redhook and American Independence Museum for the Independence Ale Trail at 5:30 PM on Thursday, May 17 in Exeter, N.H. In tribute to the colonialists who paved the way for the American beer industry, the trail will start at the Folsom Tavern at 164 Water St., where beer has not been poured for over 100 years.

About Brewery Backyard Series

Redhook’s brewers are a creative bunch and are always cooking up new ideas for beers outside the standard lineup. While not all make it into production, several times a year the brewers’ favorite beers are brewed and released under Redhook’s Brewery Backyard Series. These limited release brews are only available on draught in our Cataqua Pub and in a handful of bars and beer-centric restaurants in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts. American Independence Ale will be available in these markets beginning in May.

About Redhook

Redhook was born out of the energy and spirit of the early 80s in the heart of Seattle. While the term didn’t exist at the time, Redhook became one of America’s first “craft” breweries. From a modest start in a former transmission shop in the Seattle neighborhood of Ballard, to the current breweries in Woodinville, Wash., and Portsmouth, N.H., Redhook has become one of America’s most recognized craft breweries. While Redhook has “grown up” during the past 30 years, one thing has never changed – Redhook is still brewing great beers like ESB, IPA, Copperhook, Pilsner and seasonal brews. Most importantly, Redhook makes sure to have fun doing it. Redhook's beers are available both on draught and in bottles around the country. For more information, visit http://www.redhook.com/.To pay tribute to the American revolutionaries who started the home brewing tradition in the United States, Redhook and the American Independence Museum have joined forces to brew American Independence Ale, a true American style pale ale and Redhook’s fourth Brewery Backyard Series release.

5 Napkin Burger & Longtrail Beer Dinner

This past Tuesday, Sarah and I paid a visit to one of the newer burger joints in Boston - 5 Napkin Burger. Not only were we in need of sustenance, but 5 Napkin Burger happened to be pairing up with Longtrail Brewing Company for their fourth installment of their Bourbon and Beer dinners!

We arrived about 30 minutes early for the dinner, but that was perfect as we took a seat at the bar and ordered a pre-dinner drink. This also allowed us to take a peek at their every day menu, and get a glimpse of the inside of the restaurant.

What's really cool about 5 Napkin Burger is not only do they have six draft lines (with 1-2 rotating taps), but they have over 60 different bottles of beer for you to chose. In addition to that, their menu looks quite nice! They have aps for $6.96-$9.75, 10 different burgers from $13.95-$16.95, in addition to salads and other entrees. On top of that, they have Slider Happy Hour from 4-7, and 9-close every day!

After perusing the standard menu, we let the hostess stand that we were there for the Longtrail dinner, and they led us into a nice reception type area. We were promptly brought a Wolaver's IPA, and met Dave Hunter - the Boston area rep for Longtrail Brewing Co. We also met Sammi, the rep for Wolaver's Fine Organic Ales and Otter Creek Brewing, as well as Kate the Boston area rep for Burke Distributing. It was actually a great start to the evening, as we introduced ourselves and immediately dove into the awesomeness of New England beer, and more specifically our affection for the Green Mountain State!

We actually chatted about our several visits to the Woodstock area, not to mention the Longtrail Brewery in Bridgewater Corners, VT - which we MUST add is ALWAYS worth the visit. Their food is excellent, their beer is always fresh and tasty, and you can just relax and enjoy the company of the other visitors. More importantly though, we talked in great detail about how the brewery, as well as the majority of the area, was affected by Hurricane Irene. Woodstock, VT has special meaning to Sarah and I. We typically go there once a year, on our dating anniversary, but we upped the specialness of the town when we went there on our honeymoon.

There were spicy salmon wontons, turkey meatballs, pork taquitos, and tempura fried veggies passed around before the dinner got underway, and after about 20 minutes getting to know people and snacking on the passed aps, we took our seats.

The first course was a Mac & Cheese, with a creamy beer & gruyere fondue and crisp bacon, which paired really nicely with the Otter Creek Copper Ale.

The main course required a choice - for Adam, the Beantown Burger, which featured a thick patty topped with smoked gouda, Boston baked beans and relish. For Sarah, the Veggie Burger which featured 5N sauce, and bread and butter pickles. Both burgers were also complemented by french fries and some of the best sweet potato fries we've had! Both burgers paired very, very nicely with the Longtrail Double Bag fresh off the tap.

Our final course was a mini cheesecake, topped with whipped cream and strawberries. This was probably the best paired course, as it was served with a fresh pint of Wolaver's Wildflower Wheat. The beer is subtle, soft, and smooth, and makes for a great and enjoyable beer - especially during the warmer weather months. 

All in all, the beer dinner was a great time! All the guests had a lot of fun, and left feeling full and satisfied. The brewery reps were incredibly friendly, well spoken, and definitely brought some great beers to the event. 5 Napkin Burger did a fantastic job pairing these beers with the course, and incorporating them into the dishes. They were also great hosts for this incredible event. 

If the Longtrail dinner was as successful as their previous three beer dinners, you can expect to see more happening in the near future! We will make sure to let you know when they are announced!