The Goose Island Beer Company is celebrating their 25th Anniversary with the release of Anniversary Ale. I have been enjoying their beers for many years but have been seeking out their more rare offerings such as Juliet and Bourbon County Stout lately. I got excited to try Anniversary Ale after watching the embedded video below.

This great video was made by my Hop Cast buddies Ken Hunnemeder, Brad Chmielewski and Maeve Price.

25th Anniversary Ale is an amped up version of their Honker’s Ale and  it falls into the ESB (extra special bitter) English style.

Color – amber

Aroma – malty, spicy, floral

ABV – 6.4%

Taste – malty, spicy/fruit hop presence

Malt – Maris Otter

Hops – dry hopped with East Kent Goldings

This is a nice enjoyable beer. It is balanced with both a malty, nutty backbone and a spicy/floral hop presence that doesn’t go into the IPA range. Enjoy it with fish & chips or a burger.  It is definitely worth trying. The Wooden Legs Brewing Company will be adding it soon on tap, so I’m looking forward to that version too.

I’ll be traveling into the Chicago area soon and hope to find some of the harder to find Goose Island beers.  Follow along with the blog for future updates!

The Wooden Legs Brewing Company in Brookings, SD is now open! The opening day was Monday May 13.  Tap Handle Club members were treated to a preview Saturday May 11. Welcome to Seth & Brant.  I’m looking forward to their pale ale in about a week.

A Brewery Montage

Odell Brewing announces new variety 12 pack featuring Loose Leaf American Session Ale

Fort Collins, CO. – In May, 2013 Odell Brewing will release its first variety 12 pack, Montage. The new package will feature two brewery flagships, a seasonal offering, and a new brew, Loose Leaf American Session Ale.

Loose Leaf was developed on the brewery’s five barrel pilot system. The Odell brewers wanted to create a beer that was lighter in color, lower in alcohol content, but also flavorful and distinct. The final recipe is crisp and balanced with lower IBU’s and a bright hop aroma. At 4.5% ABV, it’s delicate and refreshingly drinkable with a clean finish.

The brewery plans to issue three different versions of Montage mirroring its seasonal release schedule. Each edition of the variety pack will include brewery favorites 90 Shilling and IPA, the current seasonal offering as well as a new limited release pilot system inspired brew.

“Montage gives our brewers a new avenue to share their innovations,” said Eric Smith, Director of Sales & Marketing for Odell Brewing. “Not only does it include our flagship offerings, but it also gives us the opportunity to share our seasonal brews, and it extends our creative pilot system inspired offerings beyond the brewery walls.”

Odell Brewing will release Montage initially just in Colorado in May. The brewery will continue to launch the package in its other markets beginning in June. The brewery plans to celebrate the release with a special Loose Leaf tapping during the weekend of May 10^th.

Loose Leaf American Session Ale will also be available on draft exclusively at all Colorado Old Chicago locations during the week of May 13^th – 19th as part of a special American Craft Beer Week® – Odell Brewing tap takeover.

by Amanda Johnson-King

Odell Brewing Company

Odell Brewing introduces Celastrina Saison

Tree Shaker Imperial Peach IPA is the latest Cellar Series release from the Odell Brewing Company. It brings back memories of eating Colorado peaches and mid 70s rock. The name must come from The Joker by the Steve Miller Band.  Check out the lyrics below.

“You’re the cutest thing that I ever did see
I really love your peaches
Want to shake your tree
Lovey dovey, lovey dovey, lovey dovey all the time
Ooh wee baby, I sure show you a good time”

I saw this band in Oklahoma City during my vet school days in 1976 during a summer job at Wilson Foods.  Good times!

This beer is brewed with 3000 pounds of Colorado peaches which carries me back to childhood memories of my mother bringing home crates of the delicious peaches for canning and peach pie.  Colorado peaches can still be found each summer in this area if you seek them out (I believe Nyberg’s Hardware in Sioux Falls bring in a shipment).

ABV = 9.7%

The beer pours out hazy gold into a goblet. There is a generous white head and good lacing.  There is a nice tropical fruit aroma with slight peach hints.  The flavor is a mix of citrus and tropical fruit, again with peach hints. This is a nice spin on an imperial IPA recipe.

Thanks to Odell for another good beer and for bringing back some good memories!

Boulevard Brewing Company recently released their new Smokestack Series Coffee Ale.  This ale is a collaboration with The Roasterie using Ethiopian Sidamo coffee.  The malt bill uses pale and caramel malts, rye, honey naked oats and malted wheat.  The hops include Perle and Styrian Golding.

ABV = 9.3%

IBUs = 26

The beer poured out amber/brown into a goblet with a generous pillowy tan head.  The aroma had a prominent coffee scent, but was a mixture of caramel, chocolate and berries too.  The taste was a nice smooth balance of roasted coffee, caramel and a bit of spicy rye.  There was a decent amount of carbonation.

This was a nice sipping beer that was well balanced, and the coffee wasn’t overpowering.  I’m glad I have another.  It was worth searching for in Sioux Falls.  Most adventurous craft beer fan will enjoy it!

Summit Organic Ale

Summit Brewing’s newest Unchained Series beer is Organic Ale.  It is a session IPA which means it has a lower alcohol content (ABV) coupled with the hop character of an IPA.  The ingredients are all organic from the malt to the hops and even the yeast.  The hops are a mixture of Palisade, Cascade and Centennial.  The malt bill includes Pale malt, Munich 10, C-120 and Carafa II. This beer would be great on a warm afternoon after mowing or while grilling.

ABV = 4.5%

IBUs = 60

The beer poured out copper colored into a pint glass. There was a nice floral/citrus hop aroma. The taste is balanced well between the hops and malt (remember we are sampling an IPA, so the hops are definitely there). The beer has a lighter mouthfeel due to the relatively lower malt component.  Organic Ale is a good session beer and several can be enjoyed without overdoing it.  Try it soon because it is a limited release.  Maybe Summit will brew a similar seasonal summer beer resembling Organic Ale soon!  Founders Brewing of Grand Rapid, MI now offers All Day IPA along the same line.

We are recovering from an April snowstorm, but dreaming of those warm spring and summer days where we can relax on the porch with a nice session beer like Organic Ale. Cheers!

South Dakota has a long brewing history that was recently documented by Ken Stewart in the winter South Dakota History journal (Vol. 42, No. 4 Winter 2013).  Prohibition and competition from larger breweries closed early breweries in Central City, Yankton, Sioux Falls and Huron.  You will enjoy Ken’s information if you like history and beer!  You are likely to find the journal at your local library or you can subscribe to the journal.

South Dakota craft brewing is growing again and more people are seeking out good beer.  Home brewing is on the increase too.  The next few years should be interesting for craft beer fans!

Fort Collins, CO. – On April 6, 2013, Odell Brewing will release its latest Cellar Series offering, Tree Shaker Imperial Peach IPA, brewed with 3000 pounds of pureed peaches grown on the Western slope of Colorado.

“Colorado grows some incredible fruit,” said Pilot Brew manager, Brent Cordle. “ We’ve explored beers with local cherries, raspberries, and peaches. Tree Shaker is a great example of how hoppy beers can be enhanced with a subtle fruit character.”

Tree Shaker was certainly a labor of love for Odell brewers. The base IPA recipe was developed and brewed, and around nine days into fermentation, the team added the pureed peaches to the IPA by hand, an all-day process. The end result is a crisp and flavorful Imperial IPA with hints of peach character from both the fruit and hops used.

Tree Shaker is offered in 750 mL, cork and cage finished bottles and will be available throughout the brewery’s ten state distribution region. Odell Brewing will celebrate the release of Tree Shaker on Saturday, April 6^th in the brewery’s Tap Room. Guests can enjoy live music, local food, and samples of the new brew.

Amanda Johnson-King, Odell Brewing

The SDSU Jackrabbit women’s basketball team is in Boulder, CO for the big dance.  They will be playing the Gamecocks of South Carolina.  What should they do after their first victory?  South Dakota fans can enjoy some of the fine Colorado craft beer while waiting for the second round game. Look for Backcountry Pizza and Reuben’s Burger Bistro in Boulder for numerous craft beers on tap.  In Fort Collins be sure nto visit The Mayor of Old Town.

View from the Marriott, Boulder, CO

Boulder is the home of Avery Brewing.  They are a great brewery where fans can get one of the best brewery tours available.  Stop in the taproom afterwards to sample their usual delicious offerings and many unique beers only available in the taproom. Try the Ellie’s Brown Ale and IPA.

Avery Ale to the Chief!

Boulder Beer is also a mandatory visit.  They are the oldest microbrewery in Colorado! Try their Mojo and Hazed & Infused.

Be sure to check out offerings from other breweries during your visit.  Names to watch for include Oskar Blues, New Belgium, Great Divide, Left Hand, Odell & Dry Dock. Stop in Denver at the Falling Rock Taproom for their enormous beer menu.  Colorado is one of the best beer destinations in the US. The annual Great American Beer Festival is based in Denver every fall.

Dale’s Pale Ale from Oskar Blues

Left Hand Milk Stout

Don’t leave Colorado without trying the Wynkoop Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout made with roasted bull testicles! Don’t be put off by the recipe, because reports say it is good!

Enjoy the tournament, drink local and drink responsibly.  Go Jacks! On to the sweet sixteen. Cheers!