The second annual Reunion: A Beer for Hope unveiled at the Celebrator Beer News’ 20th anniversary party Sunday.
A year ago, Alan Shaprio, president of SBS-Imports, suggested brewing the beer after he and brewing pioneer Pete Slosberg learned that Virginia MacLean had been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Shapiro and MacLean joined Sloberg at Pete’s Wicked in 1989 and helped him turn the company into what was briefly the second largest craft brewery in the country. All then went on to other businesses.
MacLean lost her battle with Multiple Myeloma last June.
The organic red rye has once again been brewed at Bison brewing.
100% of the profits generated by SBS-Imports will benefit the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research. Donations to IMBCR also may be made at www.reunionbeer.com.
“To date almost $100,000 has been raised by the Reunion team’s creative approach,” said Dr. James R. Berenson, CEO and President, Medical and Scientific Director at IBMCR.
– Firestone Walker Brewing has released Union Jack, the first India pale ale under its own brand name.
“Union Jack is an American-style India pale ale that represents a flavorful twist on our British brewing heritage, as well as our singular focus on pale ales,” proprietor David Walker said for a company press release. “It also echoes some of the intensity exhibited by our recent limited-edition beers.”
Firestone Walker recently intensified its focus on pale ales under the banner of “Passion for The Pale.†Union Jack is the third pale ale of the group, joining DBA (British-style pale ale) and Pale 31 (American-style pale ale). Meanwhile, Firestone Lager is being discontinued to make room for Union Jack and to keep the Firestone Walker portfolio focused on pale ales.
Union Jack is 7.5% abv and 70 IBU. Firestone Walker also brews the award winning Humboldt IPA Nectar, 5.3% abv and fermented with a different yeast.
– Samuel Adams newest beer looks a little like a seasonal, given that March is right around the corner, but Irish Red Ale (the release) could just as well have been Dunkelweizen.
Irish Red beat out Dunkelweizen in the company’s third annual Beer Lover’s Choice contest, with voting conducted at more than 1,000 tastings during August and September.
The Irish Red styles is said to have originated in 1710 in the Irish town of Kilkenny. The beer is brewed with traditonal two-row Harrington and Metcalfe malts and a solid does of Caramel, and the beer is balanced toward those malts. It is hopped with East Kent Goldings that add an earthy note and some lingering spiciness.
– Deschutes Green Lakes Organic Ale has begun to arrive on grocers’ shelves in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. Green Lakes, 5.2% abv and 45 IBU, is Deschutes first organic beer.
“Green Lakes is a classic amber ale,” said brewer Paul Arney. “We used caramel and Munich malts for a nice color and six different varieties of hops.†The reddish colored brew has a nicely balanced taste with a distinctive but restrained hop profile that includes Salmon-Safe certified Sterling hops.