5 New Craft Beers You Need To Chase Down

American Craft Beer|October 6th, 2016|

Fall has arrived (as it does every year) and we’ve all the right beers for the season. We’ve also some interesting new offerings from Flying Dog and Shipyard Brewing that you’ll want to get your sweaty little hands on.

Chasing Freshness (Bend, OR / Roanoke, VA) – One of our favorite Fresh Hop IPAs is out there now and Deschutes brews it. Bright, juicy and aggressively hop-forward Deschutes Chasin’ Freshies is a 7.4% ABV Fresh Hop Pale Ale that’s brewed with fresh Centennial and Bravo hops this year. This one’s shipped in late September and since freshness is key here – you know what to do.

Shipyard Campaigns For Seasonal Correctness (Portland, ME) – Shipyard Brewing launched its most popular seasonal with a new against-the-grain effort to end seasonal creep. Shipyard founder Fred Forsley is vowing to risk pre-season sales (roughly 25% of their annual numbers) to help right an industry wrong and ACB stands with him on this. Unlike many pumpkin ales that were actually brewed in late July, Shipyard Pumpkinhead is a FRESH 4.5% pleaser that’s brewed in the season and for the season. Forsley’s brave actions to counter seasonal creep are laudable, so back him next time you’re shopping for a true “seasonal.”

A Pavement Pastoral (Seattle, WA) – Elysian looks towards Belgium with one of their latest offerings…kind of a different path for them. Fueled on German Northern Brewer and Czech Saaz hops that temper the five different malts and cumin, Elysian Saison Elysee is a 6.4% ABV Belgian-inspired Ale that finishes nice and spicy.

Tequila Timed (San Marcos, CA) – The Lost Abbey Brewery has been experimenting again with their barrel-aging program and they recently released something we’ll definitely be chasing down. Inspired by Southern California’s love for Margaritas The Lost Abbey Madonna and Child is a Tequila Barrel Aged Sour with lime and salt added. Sounds awesome!

Bee Good (Frederick, MD) – Flying Dog has just shipped a new Brewhouse Rarities Series release brewed to raise awareness of the bee colony collapse crisis that’s threatening all aspects of our ecosystem. Brewhouse Rarities Bee Beer is a 7% ABV “call to action” that’s brewed with buckwheat honey and local bee pollen.