Rogue Brewmaster John Maier has brewed 21 different beers for the 21 years of the Oregon Brewers Fest.  For this years festival John crafted a batch of Olde Ale, called 21 Ale, scheduled to only be brewed this single time.  Brewed with 14 different ingredients, 21 Ale utilizes hops and barley grown by the Rogue Brewery.  The beer clocks in at a very drinkable 8% ABV.

21 Ale will only be on draft at 21 different locations throughout the United States, including only one spot in the Chicago area.  However, 21 Ale will be available in the Chicago area exclusively at Binny’s, in 25.4oz black ceramic bottles.  Look for the liquid to arrive at most Binny’s by next week, but in very limited quantities.  It shouldn’t be very hard to guess how many cases of 21 Ale there are to go around.  To see if Rogue’s newest offering will be available at your local Binny’s, email kyle@binnys.com.

When it comes to breweries fall seasonal lineups, Oktoberfest and pumpkin beers reign supreme.  There are some breweries that shy away from these two traditional styles of beers, instead crafting styles not always associated with fall.  We would like to highlight a few of the beers that fit this bill.

ESB

Goose Island and Southern Tier both make a beer called Harvest Ale, both being excellent choices for someone looking for something a bit hoppier than a traditional Oktoberfest beer.  While both of these brews share some noticeable characteristics with Oktoberfest beers, such as their copper color and toasty malts, both are quite a bit more bitter than anything with and Oktoberfest label on it.

Brown Ale

In favor of Tumbler Brown Ale, Sierra Nevada nixed their Anniversary IPA, which had been their fall seasonal for the past 3 years.  Probably not a bad idea considering Sierra Nevadas winter seasonal is Celebration Ale, one of the most celebrated IPAs around.  Tumbler possesses the classic nutty, toasty, and caramel traits associated with a brown ale, but perhaps has a little more of a hop presence than many of the brown ales out there.

Blonde Ale

New Belgiums Hoptober Golden Ale could arguably be the brewerys most coveted seasonal. This creamy, medium bodied ale debuted as New Belgiums fall seasonal last year.  Hoptober is pleasantly bitter, clocking in at 40 IBUs, and also quite drinkable for a 6% ABV beer.

Pale Ale

The commemorative Humming Ale joined Anchor Brewing Companys seasonal lineup this year.  The first new seasonal beer in 5 years for Anchor is loaded with citrus hops, while still retaining a satisfying balance.  We could not help thinking that Humming Ale is exactly what a pale ale is supposed to taste like; it seems if Anchor has yet again set a benchmark for a style.

Other breweries also make obscure seasonal beers, but we wanted to highlight the above ones not only because of their deliciousness, but because they are widely available.  You shouldnt have a problem finding each of the listed beers at the majority of our stores.  Do you have a favorite fall seasonal that is not an Oktoberfest or pumpkin beer?

Guinness Black Lager is coming to Binnys! 

Building on 250 years of brewing tradition, the brewers of Guinness are introducing a new lager, and they say its like nothing youve ever tasted. The brewers tout the traditional lager brewing methods used to craft Guinness Black Lager, resulting in a refreshing, easy-drinking taste that youd expect from this style of beer.  But the the new brew still has the real flavor and character of Guinness in addition to its lager attributes. The brewers think that Guinness Black Lager is best of both worlds an easy-drinking lager with the character of Guinness.  Look for this exciting new offering at your local Binny’s the week of September 1st.

A sea of Oktoberfest beers are flooding Binnys. 

One misconception regarding Oktoberfest beers is that they are actually around in the month of October. While some are still left over during the month they are named for, several of the more popular ones will be long gone come October. The Germans start celebrating Oktoberfest in mid September, and the world’s largest fair always ends on the first Sunday in October.

Oktoberfest brews are usually rich and malty with an ABV around 5-6%.  Different breweries versions are generally very similar, most following an age old German recipe. Malt characteristics include roasted, toasted, burnt, and caramel. Regarded as light and refreshing, Oktoberfest brews are ideal session beers.  Below is a list of available Oktoberfest beers available at Binny’s.

Domestic

Sam Adams Octoberfest

Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest

Victory Festbier

Flying Dog Dogtoberfest

Left Hand Oktoberfest

Three Floyd’s Munsterfest

Shiner Oktoberfest

Great Divide Hoss

Lakefront Oktoberfest

Great Lakes Oktoberfest

Bell’s Octoberfest

Berghoff Oktoberfest

German

Weihenstephaner Festbier

Beck’s Oktoberfest

Ayinger Oktoberfest

Spaten Oktoberfestbier

Paulaner Oktoberfest

Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest

Warsteiner Oktoberfest

Also keep an eye out for pumpkin beers; Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale and Lakefront Pumpkin Lager have already been spotted on our shelves, and many others are on the way.  Other trendy fall seasonals are also rolling in, such as New Belgium Hoptober Golden Ale and the newly released Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing.  What will you be sipping on this fall?

It has been five years since the pioneers of the craft beer movement introduced Anchor Bock as the third seasonal beer in their lineup. The wait is over, as Anchor Brewing Company sent Humming Ale our way this week.  The fourth beer in Anchor’s seasonal lineup will be an annual fall offering, scheduled to be available from August through November.  Humming Ale is brewed to pay homage to the founding of the company 113 years ago, and the opening of Anchor’s new brew house 30 years ago.

Like the year round offering Liberty Ale from Anchor, Humming Ale is a pale ale.  The two brews share some striking similarities, although Humming Ale is loaded with citrus hops, while Liberty Ale is dominated by piney hops.  We could not help thinking that Humming Ale is exactly what a pale ale is supposed to taste like; it seems if Anchor has yet again set a benchmark for a style.

Don’t miss your chance to try this authentic ale from one of the innovators of craft beer– Anchor Brewing Company.  Humming Ale is delicious, straightforward, and extremely fresh right now.  What is your favorite Anchor brew?

Chico, CA (08/06/2010)”Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. announced a partnership with the Trappist-Cistercian Abbey of New Clairvaux to create the only authentic Trappist-style Abbey ales in America.

For nearly 1000 years, monks have been brewing ales behind monastery walls. Their closely guarded traditions and techniques produced styles of beer unlike anything else in the world. These unique Trappist-style Abbey ales are known for their uncompromising quality and compelling flavor. In 2011, Sierra Nevada and the Trappist-Cistercian Abbey of New Clairvaux are working to bring this centuries-old tradition to America with Ovilathe nations only authentic Trappist-style Abbey Ale.

This series of three Belgian -style Abbey ales is made in accordance with the centuries-old tradition of the monks. Each beer will be only be available for a limited time and will rotate through the seasons. The first beer in the series, scheduled for release in March, will be a Belgian-style Dubbel brewed with authentic Trappist yeast. The second beer in the series, scheduled for release in July, will be a Saison, the traditional Belgian-style farmhouse ale made in honor of the Monks dedication to labor in the fields surrounding their abbey. The third will be released in time for the holidays. It will be a Trappist-style Quadrupel rich with dark fruit flavors and the unique wine-like characters of these strong Abbey ales.

Proceeds from this project will benefit the monks of the Abbey of New Clairvaux in their efforts to rebuild an architectural marvela 12th century, early-gothic Cistercian chapter houseon their grounds in Vina, California a few miles north of Sierra Nevadas home in Chico.  The medieval chapterhouseSanta Maria de Ovilawas begun in 1190, near the village of Trillo, Spain. Cistercian monks lived, prayed, and worked there for nearly 800 years. In 1931, California newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst purchased the abbey and shipped it to Northern California. Hearsts plans were never realized, and the stones fell into disrepair. In 1994, the Trappist-Cistercian monks of the Abbey of New Clairvaux, gained possession of the ruins, and began the painstaking stone-by-stone reconstruction of the historic abbey.

Located in Vina, California, the Abbey of New Clairvaux is a Cistercian Abbey of Strict Observance (Trappist). The abbey was founded in 1955 on 590 acres of Leland Stanfords famed Vina Ranch. The monks follow the Rule of St. BenedictOra est Labora (Prayer and Work) and spend their days in prayer, meditation, and tending to the labor of the working farm located at the abbey.

Founded in 1980, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is one of Americas first microbreweries and remains highly regarded for using only whole-cone hops and ingredients of the finest quality. Sierra Nevada has set the standard for artisan brewers worldwide as a winner of numerous awards for their line of beers and ales including the flagship Pale Ale, Torpedo, Porter, Stout, Kellerweis, four seasonal beers, Estate Ale, Harvest Ale series and a host of draft-only specialties.”

New Holland has added a member to its High Gravity Series.  Beerhive Tripel is the eighth installment in the series, and believe it or not, the second tripel in the series.  Beerhive is different from Black Tulip (the other tripel and a long standing member of the series)  in that it is brewed using some exotic ingredients.  Unlike the more traditional Black Tulip, Beerhive is concocted with the addition of locally harvested spring wildflower- honey.

Beerhive is a medium brown color, a few shades darker than a traditional tripel. There is just enough honey to be a defining characteristic, but not enough to overpower the palate or bring the beer outside of the style guidelines.  Beerhive has pleasant sweet malt characteristics, as well as hints of ginger.  Beware:  This beer goes down very easy for being in excess of 9% ABV.

Beerhive isn’t the first instance in which craft breweries have used honey as an ingredient in beer.  In fact there has been various beers like Bell’s Hopslam that have utilized honey in the creation of world class beers.  But perhaps Beerhive is the first tripel to apply honey as an element of the brew, and that makes it unique.  What is your favorite beer that has harnessed honey as an ingredient?