What’s Brewing Bergseth Bros.
Weekly Online Newsletter Vol.15
One of my favorite memories as a youngster was having breakfast with my father. Most often it was something quick and easy. I would eat as fast as I could before I rushing outside for the school bus waiting at the end of the driveway. Quite often, we ate sliced grapefruit with a little sugar sprinkled on top. When I tried the new Rebel Grapefruit IPA for the first time, I was whisked back to the memory of eating grapefruit with my father.
This IPA does a great job of balancing the hop character with the citrusy acidity of the grapefruit with a backbone of subtle malt character – Heck, I may even have one for breakfast!
TASTING NOTES
Brewed with real grapefruit for an added punch of citrusy goodness that amplifies the tropical fruit and citrus notes from the hops. A hint of juiciness rounds out the bitterness and brings a refreshing finish to this bold, bright, thirst-quenching IPA.
6.3% ABV, 52 IBUs, 8 SRM
BREWING NOTES
- The combination of grapefruit juice and peel delivers the distinct bright juicy tartness of the fruit that enhances the citrusy and “juicy” flavors from the Mosaic and Citra hops.
- We use Star Ruby and Star Rio red grapefruit grown in Southern California. The peel is added in the kettle to impart a tart, sharp character while the juice is added right before filtration for a big, grapefruit juiciness that rounds out the touch of bitterness from the peel and hops.
- Mosaic hops known for their great tropical fruit, citrus, & berry notes, are relatively new to the scene released in ‘12 but we first began experimenting
Available now on Draught – Package coming in January
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What’s Brewing Bergseth Bros.
Weekly Online Newsletter Vol.14
We are excited to announce two new products at Bergseth Bros., Coney Island Hard Ginger Ale and Not Your Father’s Ginger Ale. Both of these products are exceptionally made but distinctively different. Coney Island Hard Ginger Ale is a smooth, clean, sweeter tasting product. Not Your Father’s Ginger Ale is a fuller, dryer-style with definite hints of ginger. I can see many people drinking these products at their family gatherings this holiday season – Don’t forget you can always substitute your favorite “ginger ale” recipes with the hard version for the adults!
Coney Island Hard Ginger Ale
A Bright and crisp traditional Hard Ginger Ale with balanced sweetness and a clean finish.
ABV 5.8%
Not Your Father’s Ginger Ale
Tasting Notes: A masterfully-balanced ginger and citrus body, with hints of black currant lending complementary floral and fruity spice notes.
ABV 5.9%
I’ve included a brief history on Ginger Ale from the Ginger Ale Authority:
The History of Ginger Ale
Ginger Ale has a long history, spanning over three centuries and two continents. While it is impossible to nail down the exact date of its creation, ginger ale history likely started out as a homemade concoction in England and Ireland around the 1840s. More like a ‘ginger-ade’ than a soda; these beverages resembled homemade tonics and could likely be described as sugar water with a kick of ginger root. Make no mistake; these were not your mainstream Coca-Cola-style sodas.
Naturally, the beverage made its way across the Atlantic to the eastern coast of the United States and ginger sodas were popping up in New York City by 1850. By the 1860s, Ginger Ale was beginning to develop into what we now call the ‘Golden’ style. Golden ginger ale had a very sweet and bubbly texture, with a strong ginger punch. Vernors claims to be one of these first brands. The story goes that Pharmacist James Vernor left an experimental barrel in his barn in 1862, just before joining the Union Army in the Civil War. Upon his return in 1866 he tasted the barrel-aged flavor and, ta-da, “Golden” Ginger Ale was born! http://gingeraleauthority.com/
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Cheers!
What’s Brewing Bergseth Bros.
Weekly Online Newsletter Vol.13
‘Tis the season for some winter warmers – beers released around Christmas time for sipping over the cold months ahead.
A few of these beers might satisfy your Christmas cookie cravings; they have hints of oatmeal and nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger, others are toasty and dark with a bit of smokiness. However, most are simply well-made ales with rich malty flavors and enough alcohol to warm you up. There are quite a few winners here – I hate to remind you (and myself), but winter is just beginning, and a few of these beers might help us make it through the long winter ahead.
Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale: Not too long ago, we asked fans to suggest ingredients for a new limited winter release that would best fit the season. After lots of great suggestions and tastings with fans, Gingerbread Spiced Ale came out on top. With tastes of ginger, cinnamon, and molasses, it’s clear why they chose this wintery brew.
5.9% ABV, 16 IBUs
Samuel Adams Winter Lager: German brewers may have been on to something centuries ago when they created bold, rich bock beers for the winter. For our beer, we brewed a dark wheat bock subtly spiced with fresh ground cinnamon, ginger & orange peel for a deep, smooth flavor and malty finish that will warm you on a cold winter’s night.
5.6% ABV, 22 IBUs, 25 SRM
Samuel Adams White Christmas: As crisp as the first snowfall of the year, this unfiltered white ale is blended with holiday spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange peel. The familiar citrus and wheat characters of the ale are complemented by the warmth of the spices for a festive brew that’s perfect for the season.
5.8% ABV, 8 IBUs, 6 SRM
Samuel Adams Merry Maker: This rich dark gingerbread stout entices with the aromas of the holidays. The flavor of gingerbread comes alive, beginning with the smooth sweetness and heartiness of dark roasted malts and a touch of wheat. But it’s the intensity and spices of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, & ginger that add a wicked kick for a jolly playful brew full of merry mischief
9.0% ABV, 25 IBUs, 75 SRM
Summit Winter Ale: One taste and it’s easy to see why the Brits call this style Winter Warmer. Nutty, roasted malt flavor with hints of coffee, caramel, cocoa and a dash of hop spice.
6.5% ABV, 40 IBUs, 54 SRM
Fargo Brewing Company Roustabout Oatmeal Milk Stout (winter seasonal): This Oatmeal Milk Stout pours a beautiful, creamy black with a thick tan head that lasts in the glass. The aroma is filled with and milk chocolate character. The body is smooth and rich, with very low bitterness and a subtle sweetness from milk sugar. The flavor is dominated by chocolate and coffee notes, the beer finishes smooth, sweet, and satisfying.
6.3% ABV, 22 IBUs
Lagunitas Brown Shugga’: Our winter seasonal that falls into the realm of “Dangerously Slammable”, this brew is especially irresponsible. Brown Shugga…How come you taste so good?
9.9% ABV, IBU 51
Schell Snowstorm 2015 Wallonian-Style Brown Ale: The Snowstorm of 2015 draws inspiration from the artisanal and experimental traditions of the Wallonian brewers to create a malt focused brown ale with hints of nut, biscuit and stone fruit
6.2% ABV
Schell Chimney Sweep Schwarzbier: Schell’s Chimney Sweep is dark and mysterious, with an intriguing wisp of smoke. A chimney sweep has long been considered a source of good luck. Schell’s Chimney Sweep draws inspiration from these lucky individuals and the rich dark lagers of Upper Franconia in Germany. A black lager with a roasty maltiness, sturdy hop bitterness and an underlying subtle smokiness.
5.2% ABV, 31 IBUs, SRM 48
Empyrean Winter Axis FestivÀle: Hoppy Holidays return in the 2015 version of FestivÀle! An English-style IPA, it’s smooth with flavors of biscuit upfront paired with a balanced hop bite in the finish.
6.8% ABV, 62 IBUs
Please check with your sales person on availability and pricing (please note some products are not available in certain markets)
CHEERS!
What’s Brewing Bergseth Bros.
Online Weekly Newsletter Vol. 12
We’re very excited to announce the release of Lagunitas Brown Shugga’ Sweet Release 4/6pks…
Brown Shugga, a seasonal brew from Lagunitas, was created in 1997 as the result of an attempt to rescue a failed batch of Olde GnarlyWine Ale by adding “boatloads of brown sugar”—or so the story goes, anyway. It was a hit and they’ve made it every year since with only one exception (the moving year). Lagunitas, then in the process of building a new brew house, realized that they didn’t have the facilities to brew both their regular beers and Brown Shugga (which requires more time to make than the others). In its place they released an excellent IPA that they named Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Ale, with an apology for not brewing Brown Shugga printed on every bottle: Lagunitas Sucks was so popular it’s now a year-round beer.
Brown Shugga – it’s less sweet than you’d expect, smooth and biscuity-tasting with a subtle brown sugar flavor and piney hops that kick in with a bitterness that intensifies for two or three seconds before starting to fade. When the beer is cold the hop bitterness is the dominant flavor, but it mellows out as it warms up, letting the malts come through more.
Watch the Virtual Tasting from Lagunitas: Press Play Button
According to the bottle: “We believe this Special Ale is Something Unique. Feeding Brown Cane Sugar to otherwise Cultured Brewery Yeast is a’kin to feeding Raw Shark to your Gerbil. It is unlikely to ever occur in nature without Human Intervention. And it looks weird besides. But it has happened and now it’s too Late.”
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CHEERS!
What’s Brewing Bergseth Bros.
Weekly Online Newsletter Vol. 11
FINNEGANS, the first ever beer company to donate 100 percent of its profits, added a brand new beer to its roster last summer , Dead Irish Poet now comes to life every October – January.
The Dead Irish Poet extra stout was crafted, brewed and packaged thanks to the incredible support of 260 backers in a Kickstarter campaign held last summer. FINNEGANS worked closely with Damian McConn, head brewer of Summit Brewing Company to create the new brew. The extra stout has a rich body and bold flavor, with hints of dark chocolate, espresso and cherries. Inspired by the history of McConn’s homeland, the extra stout is a throwback to pre-World War I beer from Southern Ireland.
Holding true to its name, the Dead Irish Poet has higher alcohol content of 7 percent and a smooth yet brooding, dark taste. The stout pays homage to great Irish writers like James Joyce, William Butler Yeats and Oscar Wilde.
The Dead Irish Poet is available on tap and a part of the Saintly Sampler Pack: a 12-pack containing 6 Dead Irish Poets, 3 Irish Ambers and 3 Blonde Ales. Perfect for holiday parties and autumn bonfires, there’s something for everyone in the Saintly Sampler Pack.
“The flavor profile on this beer is out of this world,” says Jacquie Berglund, the rambunctious FINNEGANS CEO. “I am not a stout drinker, but I love this beer. It’s a stout that any beer drinker will love, especially at this time of year. And it’s only available for a limited time so beer drinkers and FINNEGANS supporters have got to get their hands on it before it’s gone.”
It’s a great time of year to meet the Dead Irish Poet and drink your favorite of the FINNEGANS beers. November 1 through December 31 FINNEGANS loyal distribution partners match all sales profit donations in the company’s annual Drink Like You Care campaign.
FINNEGANS has donated over half a million dollars over the past 14 years and continues to find innovative and inspiring ways to give back. For more information on the Dead Irish Poet and FINNEGANS visit www.finnegans.org.
Available in the Saintly Sampler 12 Pack and Limited draught 1/6bbl & 1/2bbl
Please check with your sales person on availability and pricing (please note some products are not available in certain markets)
CHEERS!