Beer Bytes – Brewery Mergers, Pliny the Younger Returns and Big International Collaborations

So much has been happening this week that we’re playing catch-up….again.

Legendary Belgian Brewery To Collaborate With Dogfish Head

One of world’s most awarded brewery, Belgium’s Brouwerij RODENBACH announced this week that it will be brewing a collaboration beer with Milton, Delaware’s Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.

This news marks the first time RODENBACH, a brewery renowned for its oak-aged mixed-fermentation ale dating back to 1821, has agreed to a collaboration brew in its almost 200-year history.

“This is an historic moment for our brewery,” said Rudi Ghequire, Master Brewer of RODENBACH Brewery.  “Not only is the time right for this partnership as sour beer has become more popular than ever before (thanks in large part to Dogfish Head’s SeaQuench Ale), but we found an incredible partner and kindred spirit in Sam Calagione (no surprise there!), and the Dogfish Head brewing team.”

The RODENBACH and Dogfish Head collaboration is still in its early stages. But plans are to brew and blend the beer in the US this year for an early 2020 release that will be available in both the US and Belgium.

15th Annual Pliny the Younger Release is ON!

The annual Pliny the Younger pilgrimage to Russian River has begun and some of you reading this are probably already in line at either their longstanding Santa Rosa location or at their exciting new production facility in Windsor, California.

Maybe the last of what can truly be called an “event beer” this year’s Pliny the Younger, is 10.25 Triple IPA .The beer was brewed in December at both locations and filtered and kegged on February 1^st. It’s never been bottled, sees only uber-limited distribution on the West Coast and rarely makes it way to the East.

But the journey to Russian River is part of its fun. But if you you are one of the many thousands planning to make the Piney pilgrimage between February 1st through the 14th, be sure to tap into the brewery’s website for updates about the release, travel info, and the local hotels offering special discounts to Pliny pilgrims.

Ipswich Ale Brewery and Newburyport Brewing Company

Following a growing national trend of craft brewery mergers that we expect to see more of in 2019, Ipswich Ale Brewery just announced its new alliance with the Newburyport Brewing Company.

The partnership will allow both breweries to maintain separate product portfolios, taproom spaces, and events while utilizing shared resources for production, sales, and marketing.

Newburyport Brewing Company (NBPT) will begin production at the Ipswich Brewing facility on February 4, 2019.