Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Rogue Ales & Spirits announces the release of Hazelutely Choctabulous

Courtesy of Rogue Ales & Spirits
NEWPORT, Ore. (Dec. 19, 2016) — Rogue Ales & Spirits announces the release of Hazelutely Choctabulous, a fan-favorite fusion of two of its beloved beers, Chocolate Stout and Hazelnut Brown Nectar.

“For over a decade, our hardest-core fans and loyal pub patrons have been drinking this blend, which they say tastes like a nutty chocolate candy bar,” said Rogue President Brett Joyce. “We’re thrilled to share this secret menu item with the world.”

Dark and decadent, with a rich nutty flavor up front followed by a chocolate truffle finish, Hazelutely Choctabulous will be available in 22-ounce serigraphed bottles and on draft starting in January 2017. Find Hazelutely Choctabulous near you using Rogue’s own Beer Finder tool. Watch Brewmaster John Maier craft Rogue chocolate candy in a bottle. For more information about the Revolution, visit rogue.com


About Rogue Ales & Spirits
Rogue Ales & Spirits is an agri-fermenter founded in Oregon in 1988 as one of America’s first microbreweries. Rogue has won more than 1,800 awards for taste, quality and packaging and is available in all 50 states as well as 54 countries. Since 2008, Rogue has remained committed to saving the terroir of Oregon hops, barley, rye, wheat, honey, jalapeƱos, and pumpkins one acre at a time by growing its own.

Left Hand Brewing Announces 2017 Beer Line-Up

Courtesy of Left Hand Brewing Co
Introducing NEW Saison Line, Well Played, Braveheart Nitro and More
LONGMONT, CO • December 20, 2016 –  New year, new beer! Left Hand Brewing’s 2017 line-up introduces a variety of seasonals and limited releases including a new saison line, small-batch can releases, and new additions to the Nitro and Big Mo 22oz series.
New to 2017, Left Hand will introduces Les Quatre Saisons – The Four Seasons, a seasonal series in 16oz., 4pk cans featuring native Colorado ingredients like; wildflower honey, chokecherries, juniper berries and regional grains. The first quarterly release, Saison au Miel, with wildflower honey will be available in March.
With the advent of Left Hand’s canning line, the brewery will offer exclusively seasonal cans including the popular summer favorite - Good Juju pale ale with fresh juiced ginger, and new brands Well Played red IPA with experimental hops and Study Abroad Belgian single. Moreover, Left Hand will offer several of its year-round brands including Sawtooth, Polestar (with a fresh new look), and IPAs Extrovert and Introvert in can packaging, as well as new arrival Travelin’ Light, a Kolsch available in early Spring.
Famous for their Nitro Series, Left Hand will introduce Braveheart Nitro, a Scottish Ale seasonal in partnership with the Wallace family clan, available May through July. Braveheart Nitro will be joined by Hard Wired Nitro coffee porter, Bittersweet Nitro imperial milk stout, and Wake Up Dead Nitro - all returning as seasonal and limited releases in 2017. The brewery’s Big Mo 22oz series, higher gravity big beers, will also feature new limited releases including A Blessing & A Curse Double IPA, Season of Insanity Strong Dark Ale, and the return of St. Vrain Tripel.
Left Hand will begin the new year with early spring releases Hard Wired Nitro, Well Played red IPA, and Bittersweet Nitro. View Left Hand’s full 2017 beer release calendar and follow social media for new beer announcements
Courtesy of Left Hand Brewing Co
About Left Hand Brewing Company
Employee Owned, Righteously Independent.  Celebrating twenty-three years of brewing a well-balanced portfolio of craft beers, Left Hand Brewing Company is located at 1265 Boston Avenue in Longmont, Colorado. Left Hand is one of the most honored and recognized breweries in the state, with over 28 Great American Beer Festival medals, 11 World Beer Cup awards, and 9 European Beer Star awards. Famous for their Nitro series, Left Hand Brewing established America’s original Nitro bottle with their popular Milk Stout Nitro. Left Hand’s collection of perennial and seasonal beers are available in 39 states & DC. Distribution:  AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WY

2016 USA Hop Harvest At A Five Year High With 87.1 Million Pounds Of Hops

Courtesy of Hop Growers of America
U.S. hop growers increase acreage for sixth straight year, production for four

MOXEE, WA – December 19, 2016 – As craft continues to demand more aroma hops, acreage and production alike increased yet again this year, while average yields per acre continue to decline largely due to new acreage and lower yielding varieties growing in share. Still, the 2016 hop harvest saw an increase of 8.3 million more pounds, 87.1 million total, of U.S. hops set for brew kettles around the globe.

According to the USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) report released December 16, production increased 11% in 2016, rising in all three major producing states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Earlier this year, the USDA estimated a 16% increase (91.8 million total rather than 8.3), yet that was calculating only a 3 pound drop in pounds per acre on production despite an estimate of the new acreage being approximately 70% lower yielding popular aromas. Ultimately, 2016 saw a 94 pound drop in production on pounds per acre.

“While some varieties – most notably bittering hop CTZ – didn’t fare as well due to mildew and climatic pressure, brewers are putting in orders for hops that have exciting aromas, but simply do not yield as much per acre,” said Blake Crosby, Vice President of Hop Growers of America and President of Crosby Hop Farm, LLC. “As an industry we are happy to plant these, but more acres are required to deliver the same amount, pound for pound.”

As for meeting the growing demand for breweries, USA Hops is optimistic with the majority of the acreage increase going to high-demand aromas and the USDA NASS stock reports continuing to rise (meaning hops carried over from the previous harvest). Thanks to a long shelf life, hops harvested in 2015 are still great options for brewers.

“As the changing landscape of the hop and brewing industries adjust together, both are working simultaneously to ensure they are communicating effectively through contracts,” said Ann George, Executive Director of Hop Growers of America. “Our growers are working hard to meet what can feel like an insatiable demand.”

“Time will tell when we get later in the year if enough was contracted and planted,” said Crosby. “The line between under and oversupply is a fine one, and it’s not good for anyone – growers and brewers – if it is crossed. People can tend to forget this is an agricultural product that only comes once a year, and a specialty one at that, which requires much planning and preparation. Overall, as an industry we feel good about 2016, but we’ve already moved on and are working on 2017.”


Hop Growers of America (HGA) promotes American grown hops to brewers and industry both domestically and internationally. HGA facilitates conversations between growers, merchants, and brewers, providing statistical reports to the industry and education on the quality, variety, and tradition of U.S. grown hops. For more information, visit: www.usahops.org/

HGA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or familial status.