It's Super Bowl time! Ravens and Forty Niners. Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh. All things point to a great game and now is the time to stock up for your party. Are you serving wings? Think about pairing a nice brown ale to cool your pallet for your guests. How about chili? A good IPA is a terrific complement to a rich meaty chili. Are you pulling for Baltimore? Stock up on some delicious Clipper City Loose Cannon and point those labels out. Pulling for the 49ers...Nectar Ales is a local Northern California favorite. Whatever you choose and whichever team you're pulling for make sure to make it a great day with some great beer.

"Lordy, that's as red as the devil's britches," exclaimed a local rancher, awed by the vibrant canopy ablaze on what is known today as Devil's Britches trail. Highland Brewing Company commemorates the history of the Great Smoky Mountains and Devil's Britches trail with a rich, red IPA. Ashburne Mild malt produces a toasted and biscuity flavor, and Extra Special malt renders an alluring red hue. Apollo hops provide aggressive bitterness(70 IBU), while dry-hopping with Calypso hops yields complex fruity and floral aromas with hints of pear and apple. This devilishly delicious ale is Highland's twist on the great American IPA. 6% ABV (bottle and draft) 

With a taste profile somewhere between a Belgian black ale and IPA, some might say that this porter is confused. However, they prefer to let this robust Belgian's smoky tones and slightly bitter finish speak for itself. Brewed with authentic Trappist yeast, this porter is sure to delight with its unique flavors. 6.5% ABV (draft only)

A few centuries ago, during the cold winter months, farmhands in Europe brewed a "seasonal provision" Farmhouse Ale to be enjoyed once spring rolled around. In the farmlands of Shiner, TX that tradition lives on. Which is why Shiner's tribute to this style uses Golding, Sterling and Meridian hops for a sweet yet lightly spiced flavor. This incredibly refreshing farmhouse ale bears the name of the farm to market road just to the south of where the Shiner Brewery has proudly stood for over a 100 years. (bottle and draft)

If you have fallen for the IPA style, Big Eye will not disappoint. You'll revel in Big Eye's bitter, hoppy flavor thanks to the American Columbus and Centennial hops used to flavor and dry hop our flagship IPA. The IPA style was born back in the 18th century to help beer survive the journey around Cape Hope to India. The brewers thank their hops every day that the English loved their bitters. 7% ABV (bottle and draft)

People simply cannot get enough of Sculpin--a deceptively light bodied, yet very hoppy IPA that is brimming with bright apricot, peach, mango and lemon flavors which are imparted by the skillful use of a variety of hops. 7% ABV (bottle and draft)

There is a reason why their Pale Ale is so popular--it is skillfully crafted in the style of the Kolsch beers of Cologne, Germany. They have chosen German hops for aroma, and rounded out the recipe with a blend of American and German malts. While it is very much like a Pilsner, this Pale Ale is fermented at ale temperatures giving it a subdued fruitiness. These flavors are a perfect complement to the crispness of the wheat and maltiness of the Munich malt. If you like a lighter brew but also like the complexity of craft beers, then this Pale Ale is for you! 4.6% ABV (bottle only)

On a quest to make delicious beers, our brewers have continually sought out new creative ways to accentuate the delightfully aromatic  and flavorful qualities of hops. Hopheads rejoice! Dorado Double IPA takes hops to a new level. Mash hopping, kettle hopping and dry hopping, create an award winning beer that embodies San Diego's reputation for making world class IPAs. 10% ABV (bottle only)

By: Sara Ventiera

 

South Florida Beer Week, which wrapped up yesterday, inspired Smashburger to release a local craft brew and burger pairing menu at all South Florida locations. 

 

Let's be honest: there are few foods that pair better than burgers and beer. The pairing menu was created by Smashburger founder, Tom Ryan and Bobby Gordash of Holy Mackerel. Starting at $8.48, the menu features eight Smashburger sandwiches, including two Smashchicken options.   

 

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By: Ronnie Crocker

 

Lost kegs cost craft brewers money through what the Brewers Association trade group calls an "unintended tax on beer."

 

The BA estimates that each keg that never gets returned to the brewery that owns it - either by mistake or through theft - costs somewhere between 46 cents and $1.37. That totals several millions of dollars.

 

"Assuming 2011 craft beer sales of 11.5 million barrels, that is a total direct capital charge to craft brewers of $5.3 million and $15.8 million annually," the BA notes. "Lost kegs act as an enormous additional and unintended tax on beer, ultimately having a direct impact on job growth and profit reduction for brewers, wholesalers and retailers."

    
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