Breakside Salted Caramel Stout Beer to be Released in Bottles

Portland and Milwaukie, Oregon’s Breakside Brewery fresh off celebrating 100 beers in 2013 is excited to announce just the 2nd release in their new seasonal bottle releases with the uber popular Salted Caramel Stout.

Salted Caramel Stout Bottle Release Party
Thursday Jan. 30th 5-8pm
Belmont Station
4500 SE Stark
Portland, OR

Join the Breakside Brewery team to celebrate its release on Thursday June 30th at Belmont Station in Portland, OR. Wanderlust IPA and Oude Noir will join Salted Caramel Stout on tap for the event and brewers will be pouring free samples from all of Breakside’s current bottled beers.

About Salted Caramel Stout:
A collaboration with Salt & Straw Ice Cream, Salted Caramel Stout has been one of our most popular draft seasonal brews now for the first time available in bottles. A rich stout base mixes with sea salt and specially­ made salted. this beer is rich and balanced with a luscious caramel flavor in the mid palate, a hint of salt in the finish, and a smooth roastiness.

Beer Specs:
6.7% ABV 28 IBU
malts: Two Row, Chocolate, Roasted Barley, CaraMunich, Flaked Barley
hops: Newport
special ingredients: salted caramel; sea salt

available 2/1/2014­ – 4/1/2014 on draft and in 22 oz bottles in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, British Columbia and Japan.

---

Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Saison de Wench Latest Seasonal Beer from Bison Brewing

After turning his ever-popular Honey Basil Ale into a year-round offering, Bison Brewing’s brewmaster, Daniel Del Grande, was challenged to replace it with an equally interesting seasonal brew. Del Grande turned to his Director of Awesomeness, Ashley Routson (aka “The Beer Wench”) for inspiration. Together, they created Saison de Wench––a farmhouse ale brewed with botanicals.

“It might sound like a modern-day concept, but people have been brewing with flowers and herbs for thousands of years,” explains Routson. “Hops are actually the more contemporary flavoring agent.”

“Herbs, like basil and lemongrass, have been a major part of Bison’s brewing history since we started in 1989,” boasts Del Grande. “I welcomed the opportunity to continue this tradition with Saison de Wench.”

Using Bison’s gold medal award-winning farmhouse ale recipe as the base, Saison de Wench features a botanical blend of organic roses, organic hibiscus and organic lemongrass—each strategically added in various stages throughout the brewing process, including the mash.

“We put all of the hibiscus in the mash in order to extract as much flavor and color as possible. The lemongrass and roses were added in the whirlpool to capture otherwise volatile aromas,” notes Del Grande. “The result is pink-hued, refreshingly tart and slightly fruity ale with a bright floral nose and spicy, dry finish.”

Saison de Wench will make its grand debut the 2nd week of February on draft and in stylishly sleek, yet gender-neutral pink 4-packs. “As with all my beers, the packaging showcases the main ingredients––which, in this particular case, are pink,” explains Del Grande. “It’s not meant to attract or alienate either gender.”

“No one else has put a beer into pink carriers,” says Routson. “From a marketing perspective it’s quite original and, dare I say, brilliant.”

Saison de Wench will officially release during San Francisco Beer Week. Official release party is TBD.

---

Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Breckenridge Brewery Release New Spring Seasonal Named Ophelia

Breckenridge Brewery will ring in 2014 with a new spring seasonal, Ophelia. Like its namesake from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, this beer is sweet and innocent. The unique hoppy wheat beer weighs in at 5% ABV (alcohol by volume) and offers a refreshing crispness with tropical fruit whispers. It’s worth noting, however, that unlike Shakespeare’s character, Ophelia, there’s no tragic ending with this beer. Quite the opposite, the beer’s light and hoppy finish leaves you wanting another.

“Craft beer is all about diversity, of course” explains Todd Usry, Breckenridge Brewery’s Brewmaster and Director of Brewing Operations. “Strong, complex, flavorful beers have made the craft industry what it is today, but there’s a growing desire for interesting and sophisticated, equally flavorful, session beers. That’s what we want to present with Ophelia – an approachable new beer, accessible by many.”

Ophelia hits the palate with a slightly aggressive hoppiness that’s balanced with light, fruit flavors. Subtle hints of mango, papaya, and guava round out the aroma of Mosaic and Palisade hops. Malted white wheat lends the fullness people expect in a craft beer, even a lighter one. Ophelia joins Avalanche, Vanilla Porter, Agave Wheat, Oatmeal Stout and SummerBright in Breckenridge Brewery’s line of session beers at 5% ABV or less.

The brewery’s complete portfolio runs the gamut from strong, hoppy beers like 471 Double IPA and strong, malty beers like Christmas Ale and Autumn Ale down to its session beers. Its small batch, barrel aged, and nitro programs bring additional variety to its offerings.

Ophelia will hit the market in 6-packs and kegs in early January everywhere Breckenridge Brewery beer is sold, and it will be available as the brewery’s spring seasonal through April.

About Breckenridge Brewery:

Breckenridge Brewery was founded in 1990 in Breckenridge, Colorado. In the past two decades Breckenridge Brewery has grown from a small 3,000-barrels-a-year brewpub to one of the most successful craft beer and restaurant companies in the nation. It now handcrafts more than 52,000 barrels of fresh beer annually and owns and operates five brewpubs and ale houses in the state of Colorado. For more information visit BreckBrew.com.

---

Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Horseheads Brewing Signs Distribution Deal with NYC-area Sarene Craft Beer Distributors

Sarene Craft Beer Distributors LLC today announced that it signed a distribution agreement with Horseheads Brewing Inc. for the Hudson Valley, New York City, and Long Island.

Based in Horseheads, New York, Horseheads Brewing has received numerous awards and accolades for their beers since opening their doors in 2007. Under the extensive experience of head brewer and owner, Ed Simchisen, Horseheads has received the award for best brewery in New York at TAP New York in 2010. More recently, their porter has ranked in the top three for “Best Craft Beer” in New York State for 2012 and 2013.

“We believe Horseheads may have even better offerings than the porter,” said Matt Schulman, Co-founder of Sarene. “We can’t wait to bring an incredible year-round portfolio, including one of the best pumpkin beers and best chili beers in the world to our book. We’re confident that going forward, Ed will continue to brew exceptional beer that keeps his customer base excited for each and every batch.”

Horseheads will be launching with Sarene in January with all package from the year-round collection as well as seasonal and specialty beers. Draft will be intermittently available upon request and consistently available later in 2014.

---

Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.