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The craft beer "Ah-Hah Moment". Most of us who are reading this newsletter have had one. The moment that someone handed you a beer that you never had and suddenly you brain and your taste buds said "Wow, this is outstanding. Why haven't I ever had something that tasted like this before? Let's have some more!" And then it begins. Suddenly, you have this desire to have that experience again and again. You may go back to the same beer or the same bar seeking that particular synchronicity of neurons and endorphins. It could have been the combination of the malts or the hops or the way the yeast interacted with all of the above. It could have been the freshness of that particular beer or even the scent or color of that particular beer but suddenly you are on a quest to find it again.
Can you ever have that experience with that exact beer? Or do you need to seek out a new beer with a whole set of other combinations that will somehow create that same or similar Ah-hah moment? Everyone seems to be seeking out the newest and greatest beer to somehow fill that need. Alcohol can be addictive...we know that. But it isn't often if ever we find an "alcoholic" that is "addicted" to craft beer. I find most of the craft beer drinkers I know to be very responsible in their consumption and drinking habits. On the other hand, this need for the hottest, most highly rated, most talked about beer can be an obsession for some. You all know a few...the traders, the bloggers, the beer raters, the complete beer "geeks". If you are reading this, I have nothing against you....in fact...thank you. I probably wouldn't have a job in the beer industry without you! But it certainly is an interesting addiction you have....and I definitely have a little of it myself! Maybe just a little less than some of you...but maybe more. Hell...I made a career out of it.
When was your Ah Hah Moment? (Click Here to Share Yours!)
I am pretty sure mine was at a bar in Houston, Texas when I first had Anchor Liberty.... which I believe is the first true American IPA. I had always liked good beer...opting for German or Danish Imported Lagers over the classic American light watery lagers since before I was even legal. But when I first had that American style IPA....woah! Hold on a second...what is this?
And the next level for me was turning on everyone I knew. It is so much fun when you get that one person who "only drinks...insert light lager here" and you get them to try XYZ beer and then watch the expression change on their face. And they look at the beer and take another sip as if the first one didn't make sense....and then you have them for life.
So find that person and introduce them to craft beer. You may not get them right away. It may take a beer you didn't expect. I don't recommend trying Sour or Imperial IPA....but rather something super fresh and delicious. Something that isn't too over the top but will stretch their taste buds and their conception of what beer is. And then you will get to experience your next addiction: Turning Someone on to Craft Beer.
Adam Fine
Director of Hoperations
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UPCOMING EVENTS
(for more info click on the event title)
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NEW AND RETURNING PRODUCTS
VISIT OUR BEERFINDER TO FIND THESE PRODUCTS
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For Stone Go To IPA, we are embracing our hop obsession in a new way, funneling an abundance of lupulin-borne bitterness into a "session" IPA delivering all the fruity, piney character of a much bigger IPA. To accomplish this, we employed "hop bursting," a new technique wherein an irrational amount of hops is added during the final phase of the brewing process to coax out extreme flavors and aromas while also imparting a burst of desirably pleasant bitterness. The result is an Alpha-acid-rich beer that fans can enjoy more of without missing out on the assertive hop character you, like us, crave. 4.5% ABV
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Ommegang Game of Thrones: Fire and Blood
Fire and Blood has a deep, dark red hue with a persistent, creamy off-white head. Aromas of ripe fruit, raisins, malt and slight spice, followed by a slightly floral and spicy hop character. A fruity, sweetish malt taste gives way to faint drying provided by the hops and rye. Underlying flavors of raisin and prune from the ancho chilies give way to a balanced malty and spicy finish. To celebrate the rebirth of dragons, three different labels were created by the Game of Thrones visual effects specialists, each depicting one of Daenerys' feared dragons. Randomly distributed amongst the cases, each case will contain all three bottles. 6.8% ABV
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Uinta 21st Birthday Suit Sour Farmhouse Ale
In celebration of their 21st anniversary in brewing, Uinta Brewing Company will be celebrating with a Sour Farmhouse Ale. This is the third release of Uinta's Birthday Suit, a brand developed to rotate in style and to be released annually in commemoration of another year brewing. While the Birthday Suit brand was not developed to be a 'sour brand', the tradition, thus far, has carried on. This year's rendition of Birthday Suit is an unfiltered sour farmhouse ale that showcases a mix of underlying spice, zest and moderate tartness. Crisp and refreshing, Birthday Suit lets it all hang out with a citrusy sourness that is worth celebrating. 6.3% ABV
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Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout
What we've got here is an imperial stout brewed with a massive amount of coffee and chocolates, then cave-aged in oak bourbon barrels for an entire year to make sure wonderful bourbon undertones come through in the finish. Makes your taste buds squeal with delight. 11.2% ABV
Available Soon!
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Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale
Think classic seafaring ports, local pubs, and weathered old fishermen. This old ale is brewed with molasses and an insane focus on the malt bill, then oak-aged. The result is a strong, rich, malty delight that's deceptively smooth and drinkable. 9.8% ABV
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Ommegang Three Philosophers Cellared Set
Three Philosophers is a unique blend of a Belgian-style dark ale and Liefmans Kriek, an authentic cherry ale from Belgium. Cherry chestnut in color, it's opaque but not cloudy with full carbonation topped by a smooth, tan head. Flavors and aromas of roasted malt, molasses and brown sugar, dark fruits, brandied raisins and chocolate, notable sweetness with low hop bitterness. The mid-palate shows a soft malt center which gives way to a dry, warm, wine-like finish. 9.7% ABV (Set of 3 - Featuring a bottle from 2011, 2012 and 2013)
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He'brew Funky Jewbelation
A blend of 7 ales, aged in 35% bourbon barrels and 65% rye whiskey barrels. For 2014 Blend - Jewbelation 15, Messiah, Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A., Reunion, Origin, Rejewvenator, & Death of a Contract Brewer. 9.4% ABV
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Dream Machine, an India Pale Lager, is a melding of varied visions of an India Pale Ale and an Amber Lager. Once poured, its light copper color delights the eyes and a citrusy hop aroma flows through the nose. Upon first sip, a smooth hop bitterness reveals itself - fresh, bold and slightly spicy - before subtle hints of mild maltiness appear. A big hop bite and a crisp, clean lager finish combine for a beautifully balanced beer. 5.7% ABV
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Left Hand Wake Up Dead NITRO
Imperial Stout Nitro. Super smooth trifecta of cocoa, dried fruit and licorice notes. Good Morning. You've woken up dead. You're in ruins. But don't be discouraged. Here's a black ale to brighten your day. Wake Up Dead lurks in our cellars for over 4 months before being unleashed. Hints of raisins, black licorice, coffee and dark chocolate are followed by earthy, herbal hop notes. Any apprehensions about the rest of your day are quickly forgotten, for whatever the mind expects, it finds. 10.2% ABV
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Lazy Magnolia Lazy Saison
Lazy Saison is a cultivated, refreshing Belgian ale, complex in style with a mix of fruity aroma, earthy body, and a hint of spiciness. As the seasons change, so do our taste buds. Lazy Saison offers a revitalizing concoction for our rugged fans working in these intense southern heats. 8.9% ABV
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Lazy Magnolia Southern Gentleman
Southern Gentlemen is Lazy Magnolia's award winning Southern Pecan, the original brown ale brewed with roasted pecans, which has been aged in oak bourbon barrels and then cold filtered. The brewers at Lazy Magnolia have combined the two most southern flavors, pecans and bourbon! This batch is quite special. It is the first bourbon barrel aged beer ever to be produced in the State of Mississippi, and supply is limited. The flavor of the bourbon warms the palate, and the toasted oak barrel enhances the natural vanilla flavors in the beer. 7% ABV
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Other returning favorites:
Look out for returning hits such as: Coronado Frogs Breath IPA, Dogfish Head Aprihop, Magic Hat Pistil, Magic Hat Spring Fever Variety Pack, Left Hand Good Juju, Highland Little Hump, Shipyard Summer Ale.
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*Check with your Brown sales representative for availability or products not available in certain areas
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CBS Announces The First Official 'Star Trek' Beer
By: Graeme McMillan
You may never be able to pilot a Bird of Prey, but later this year, you'll be able to live the Klingon lifestyle in one way: by drinking the same beer as the fictional aliens.
Klingons are fond of proclaiming Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam ("Today is a good day to die," for those of you who don't speak the language). But as any Star Trek aficionado knows, when they're not fighting to the death or vocally announcing debts of honor, they're all about the partying. With the upcoming release of Klingon Warnog -- the first officially licensed Star Trek beer -- you can be, too.
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This Zombie Inspired Beer is Made With Actual Brains
By: Ashley Khawsy
Every Sunday night loyal fans of AMC's The Walking Dead can usually be found drowning their sorrows in booze whilst sobbing over the loss of yet another beloved character. Of course, it was just a matter of time before someone decided to pay homage to the popular show but Dock Street Brewing Co. may have just taken this zombie trend to the next level.
The brainchild of by Head Brewer Justin Low and Brewery Representative Sasha Certo-Ware, the aptly named "Dock Street Walker" beer is an American Pale Stout that is brewed with...wait for it...real brains.
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Beer in Boulder: Test your brew IQ - blindfolded
 By: Tom Wilmes
Gerry Leary runs his hand over the front of an antique pickup truck parked in front of Twisted Pine Brewing Co. He traces the shape of the hood as it curves distinctively into the front side panel, then casually names the make - a Ford - and the model year.
Blind since birth, Leary worked as an auto mechanic for nearly four decades before becoming a Master Coffee Roaster and opening The Unseen Bean in Boulder. He works by smell, touch, sound, taste and by experience, and he says he's constantly logging these sense memories as frames of reference to better make sense of his world.
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Featured Beer
Cocktail
Endless Spring
With Uinta celebrating their 21st (finally legal!) Birthday this spring, celebrate with them by having a refreshing beer cocktail fit for the occasion.
- Uinta 21st Birthday Suit
Sour Farmhouse Ale
- 1 oz Elderflower liqueur
- Champagne/Sparkling Wine
-Fine grated lime zest for garnish
In a goblet glass, fill 3/4 of the way with chilled beer. Add elderflower liqueur. Fill with champagne and stir. Garnish with lime zest. Enjoy!
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Featured Recipe
New York Beer Crumb Cake Muffins
By The Beeroness
Ingredients
For the Cake:
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 large egg
½ cup pale ale (or wheat beer)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3 tbs vegetable oil
For the topping:
1 ¼ cups flour
½ cup packed light-brown sugar
½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
Powdered sugar for dusting
Directions
Preheat oven to 325
Line a 12 cup muffin tin with muffin papers.
Stir together 1 ¼ cups flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, beer, vanilla and vegetable oil. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, batter will be thick.
Add batter to muffin tins, about ½ way full.
Combine the remaining 1 ¼ cups flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Drizzle with melted butter, stir together until crumbs form.
Add the crumbs onto the top of the muffin batter until cups are slightly mounded.
Bake at 325 for 32-36 minutes or until the top crumbs have just started to turn golden brown. Allow to cool to room temperature, chill until ready to serve. Dust with confectioners sugar prior to serving.
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