New Brew Releases
April, 1998Redhook Gives Captain Billiard a Facelift
Redhook Ale Brewery announced its first makeover of the New Year in December with a re-packaging of its Ballard Bitter I.P.A. as Redhook I.P.A. According to brewery spokesperson Pamela Hinckley, Redhook make the move because the company "needed a new identity for all those markets across the country that don't know what or where Ballard is." Most Northwesterners know, of course, that Ballard is the Seattle neighborhood where Redhook brewed its first beer in 1982. However, to demonstrate that it is keeping its tie to the region, Redhook is keeping a scaled-down version of the Ballard Bitter moniker on the label as an "a.k.a.", complete with the cartoonish image of Captain Ballard and the "Ya Sure Ya Betcha" slogan (however, as every true Scandinavian knows, the correct phrase is really "Ya Sure YOU Betcha.") This is the second major change for the Ballard Bitter brand, which made the transition from bitter to I.P.A. in July of 1995. Redhook brands are now available in 48 states.
Pyramid Scotch Ale
Scheduled to be released in February, Pyramid's second annual Scotch Ale is a wee bit lighter in body and flavor than the memorable 1997 version, which had 7.2% alcohol by volume. The mahogany-colored brew nevertheless weighs in at a respectable 6.0% a.b.v., with an O.G. of 1.066. The malts are two-row Pale, light and dark Carastan, Munich, Carapils, Roasted Barley and a touch of peated "whisky" malt, as in last year's recipe. It is mildly hopped with Perle. Pyramid Scotch Ale will be available on draught and in bottle until May.
Thomas Kemper Maibock
A Northwest classic, the Thomas Kemper Mai-bock ( pronounced my-bock, German for May Bock) will return again this Spring as a seasonal offering from Pyramid Ales/Thomas Kemper Lagers. A golden, malty and distinctly hoppy lager, it has an O.G. of 1.068. with 6.5% a.b.v. Malts are Two-row Pale, Munich, caramel 40, and Black. Hops for this brew are Northwest Nugget, Mt. Hood, and Liberty.
Wild Irish Rogue
Rogue Ale's famous Shakespeare Stout is donning a new costume for St. Patrick's Day as Wild Irish Rogue. Originally created by brewer John Maier in 1989, Shakespeare Stout has been Rogue's all-time medal winner, including a platinum medal in the 1994 World beer Championships . It is one of only ten ales to be invited to International Stout Week, held this February in Dublin and Cork, Ireland. With nearly half a pound of grain per 22 ounce bottle, Shakespeare Stout a.k.a. Wild Irish Rogue is made with nine ingredients, including over one-third specialty grains. The O.G. is 15 Plato (1.060), and the beer is massively hopped with Cascades (69 IBUs). Wild Irish Rogue will be available in 22 ounce bottles and on draught throughout the Northwest beginning in February.
Hale's Ales Now in Bottles
After 15 years of producing draught-only beers, Mike Hale has finally given in - sort of. Hale's will release its first-ever bottlings of Pale Ale, Amber Ale, and Moss Bay Extra in March. "We needed a presence on the supermarket shelf that we just couldn't get any other way, " says Barbara Dollarhide, Hale's marketing manager. Even though sales of Hale's new non-returnable Party Pigs has quadrupled recently, the brewery announced its decision to bottle in December. "Our brewers spent six months with test batches before we were satisfied there would be no compromise in quality," Dollarhide says. Hale's Ales will all be bottle-conditioned and unpasteurized for maximum flavor. Look for them this Spring at major Northwest beer retail outlets.
Hale's Irish Ale
Hale's Irish Ale, first introduced as a Spring seasonal beer in 1986, makes its return on February 16. A "session ale" in the Irish tradition, flavorful but relatively low in alcohol, the beer is brewed with two-row Pale, Chocolate, and Crystal malts and hopped with Cascade and Yakima Cluster.
Full Sail Equinox Special Bitter
The Full Sail Brewing Company of Hood River, OR is releasing its well-hopped Equinox E.S.B. for the third straight year as its Winter to Spring seasonal beer, available in kegs and bottles through April. This year's brew, made with imported Crystal malts, is balanced by the addition of English Target hops for bitterness and Saaz hops for aroma (55 IBU's, 5.6% alcohol by volume) - truly a hop-head's delight.
