Black Note Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout

Label approval just dropped for one of the most coveted beers around, Bell's Black Note Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout (11.5%). My guess is that this will likely only be available at their general store with a 2 bottle limit per customer, as was the case with other 750ml bottles.

From the Bell's website...

One of the most sought-after stouts in Bell's history, Black Note Stout blend the complex aromatics of Expedition Stout with the velvety smooth texture of Double Cream Stout and ages the combination in freshly retired oak bourbon barrels for months. The resulting harmony of flavors captures the finest features of all three components: malty notes of dark chocolate, espresso & dried fruits, all buoyed by the warmth and fragrance of the bourbon barrel. Aimed squarely at the stout and bourbon aficionados, Black Note makes a grand statement about the art of the dark.

Massive Labels Update

As is wont to happen, there was quite a dry spell for new, local, and interesting labels and then suddenly - BOOM! - there have been loads recently. Lots of stuff to look forward to. Sit tight for this massive update.

All labels are for 12oz bottles unless otherwise noted.

Founders Curmudgeon's Better Half - 11.9% Old Ale brewed with molasses and aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels. 750ml bottle. You may already know the deal with this one, but it's rumored to be what was previously known as "Kaiser Curmudgeon" and is likely the next release in the Backstage Series expected to arrive after the first of the year.

Half Acre Big Hugs - 9.5% Imperial Stout. 22oz bottle. A once a year limited release. May be a very small amount end up on Chicagoland shelves, but if you happen to live, or be in, Chicago on December 18th, you might want to stop by their brewery and snag some.

Founders All Day - 4.7% India Pale Ale. Keg collar. Mainly had to post this for Andy because of all the great things he's told me about it, specifically that it's a sessionable, incredibly flavorful IPA. Founders has said this might begin to be bottled sometime in 2012.

Sun King Wee Muckle - 9% Scotch Ale. 16oz can. Winning gold at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival in the Scotch Ale category, Sun King has decided to package this brew into their trademark tallboy cans.

Short's Pontius Road Pilsner - 4.7% Czech Pilsner. Previously only available at the Short's pub in Bellaire, MI, Pontius Road is now making its way to bottles.

Bell's Harvest Ale - 750ml bottle. Seems to be a fresh hop/wet hop/harvest style IPA of unknown ABV, at least to this blogger. Probably, and unfortunately, will be a Kalamazoo release only, but as you can tell from the previous sentence, I couldn't find much about it. Sure would like to get my hands on a bottle though.

Brewery Vivant Kludde - 9.5% Belgian Style Dark Ale. 16oz can. From the makers of what is likely America's first canned Belgian IPA, Triomphe, comes Kludde, a canned Belgian Style Dark Ale.

Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale - 4.4% Wheat. 12oz can. It's 312... IN A CAN! (You may now return to your regular hating of GI, AB/InBev, United, etc.)

New Albanian Bonfire of the Valkyries - 6% Smoked Black Lager. 22oz bottle. I'll confess to not knowing much about New Albanian or ever having any of their beers, but damn, they do have some really kick-ass labels. This is an update to an existing brand.

New Albanian Solidarity - 8.5% Baltic Porter. 22oz bottle. Again, update to an existing New Albanian brand.

Arcadia Ales Sky High Rye - 6% Rye Pale Ale. 12oz can. Sky High Rye is the second canned brew from the Battle Creek, MI brewery after Whitsun debuted earlier this year.

Three Floyds Live A Rich Life - 8.7% Belgian Style Double India Pale Ale. 22oz bottle. Similar to the Founders Curmudgeon's Better Half name change, it appears this is actually Shark Pants - which I might interject probably has the coolest label that I don't think actually appeared on a bottle - re-branded. The rumor mill was grinding out theories that FFF might have had to change the label due to issues with the original's artist.

Avery Trogdor the Burninator - 7.6% Smoked Doppelbock. Keg collar. Why would I put a simple keg collar from a brewery in Boulder, CO that we'll probably not see around these parts? First, Avery puts out some quality products and you can usually find some in Michigan. (They pulled out of Indiana earlier this year.) Second, because they named this beer after one of the Internet's earlier and greater cartoons/memes. Apparently they brewed this as a one-off in the past and are now bringing it back for a second round. Never heard of Trogdor? Do yourself a favor and waste the rest of your day watching Strong Bad.

Labels: All Greenbush Edition. Also: Bottles Soon?

The picture you see to the right was posted to Greenbush Brewing Co.'s Facebook page yesterday. What you're seeing there appears to be a pallet chock full of empty bottles. Might they be ready to bottle their tasty brews? Surely it means they're at least getting closer.

You could say that their recent rash of label submissions and subsequent approvals might be another indicator. Could we soon be finding familiars such as Closure and Distorter or newcomers like Mammoth and Delusion in bottles?

Count 'em: 8 new label approvals in the last few weeks. These for their mostly winter style beers are just as "Go Big or Go Home" as before. Are they as awesome as their predecessors? I definitely think so. See for yourself below. I've included the label copy for each as some of those are just as interesting as the art.

Pain - 11.2% Imperial Milk Stout.

Label copy: "You know what they say don't you? You don't? Do we have to explain everything? There is something definitely to gain from this PAIN, with our select combination of grans, black malt, roasted barley, Belgian Munich and milk sugar. Work though this smooth stout and you'll appreciate the euphemism."

Isole - 9.7% Belgian Style Dubbel Ale.

Label copy: "Feeling a bit lonely? You won't be when you crack open a bottle of our Belgian Style Dubbel Ale. Carmel notes, a depth of sweetness and a touch of effervescence that's great for yourself or with others."

Apathy - 6.7% Oatmeal Stout.

Label copy: "Oh, I don't know. It's just that, well, it seems that maybe... What was I saying? Beat those ho-hum doldrums with a tall taste of Apathy. It's enough to snap you out of whatever state you're in.

Mammoth - 8.3% Weizenbock.

Label copy: "This one rises up from the depths of winter to breathe new life into the old beast (that's you, bub). Mammoth is what the name implies and if you don't know what that means, try a glass or two."

Ursus - 8.9% Old Winter Ale.

Label copy: "All you keep thinking to yourself is... will this snow EVER stop? When is it going to get warm again? Before cabin fever sets in, grab a bottle or two of Ursus, our warm winter ale and get a grip, man!"

Delusion - 11.7% Imperial Cream Stout (Aged in rye whiskey barrels from Journeyman Distillery of Three Oaks, MI.).

Label copy: "Don't be mistaken with common misconceptions pertaining to certain characteristics  of other forms of refreshment. Our Imperial Cream Stout aged in rye whiskey barrels may have you pondering the randomness of the universe."

Jadis - 6.1% Winter White Ale.

Label copy: "The cold sets in and hangs for months it seems. Everything slows down. Time warps... and you're covered with a wash of white. Thought I meant winter, didn't you? Jadis will take you away from winter, even if temporarily."

Mr. Hyde - 7.8% Sumatran Coffee Milk Stout, a collaboration with the Fullerton location of Chicago's Small Bar.

Label copy: "Honestly, we don't know WHAT'S become of you. Did you shave your goatee? Is that a new perfume you're wearing? Maybe it's time for a taste of Mr. Hyde."

The Week (Or So) In Labels

Several new labels in this update - A couple from old favorites and a handful from local newcomers...

Bell's Quinannan Falls - 6.4% pale lager - The former draft-only release was being sold at the Bell's General Store in 750ml bottles, but with this label approval it appears it will also be available... somewhere... in 12oz bottles as well.

Goose Island Bramble Rye Bourbon County Stout - 13% bourbon stout. As reported here earlier, Bramble Rye is coming and here's the 22oz label.

Greenbush Momento Mori - 6.1% Oktoberfest. The Sawyer, MI brewery is back again just in time for the fall season with this 12oz packaged ale.

Four Horsemen Brewing Company - This batch of labels are for FHBC's first 12oz bottled releases. If you've visited their tasting room, they may look familiar. (My apologies on the size and quality. Just working with what's available.) 4.8% Pale Ale, 5.2% Irish Lager, 4.2% Irish Red Ale, 4.2% Blonde Ale, and lastly Evil Genius', for whom FHBC is contract brewing, Good 'n Evil Golden Ale (4.5%).

The Week (Or Two) In Labels

Aaaaand... We're back with more labels! Quite a few from local/regional breweries, so let's dive right in, shall we?

Jolly Pumpkin La Roja Grand Reserve - ??% ABV, oak aged amber ale. Jolly Pumpkin is located in Dexter, MI, just west of Ann Arbor. *Shakes fist angrily at the nearby Wolverines*

Surly Darkness - ~10% Russian Imperial Stout - For the fifth year in a row, Brooklyn Center, MN based Surly brought the creepy for this highly sought-after pint-sized bottle.

Greenbush 1825 - 9.3% Belgian-style golden ale. Label darlings Greenbush strike again with 1825. I'm hoping the "little something special" is just love.

New Holland Charkoota Rye - ~8% smoked rye dopplebock. Not a new beer, but I believe a new label for this bomber that follows New Holland's High Gravity Series stock.

Bell's Eccentric Ale 2010 - 10-12% strong ale. From the label copy: "Malt beverage brewed with maple syrup with spices added." and "Brewed under the discerning eye of Larry." Hmm, sounds interesting.

Southern Tier Eurotrash Pilz - 5% pilsner lager. With a name like that, we have our random "WTF?" label winner of the week out of New York - You keep it classy, Southern Tier!

The Week In Labels

I can't decide what labels struck the biggest chord with me the last week or so. Greenbush Brewing Company's, posted here earlier in the week, certainly deserve a nod. Great artwork there from an exciting up and coming brewery. (Update: I was just informed that the Greenbush label artwork was done by Ken at Manifesto 1 in Wakarusa, IN. Thanks to Greenbush themselves for the info.) Earlier today, this also appeared:

Greenbush Anger - 7.6% Black IPA. I haven't seen an official approval for this label yet, but Greenbush's Facebook page is reporting it as such. More fantastic artwork.

And then there's...

Bell's This one goes to 11 Ale - Exact details unknown, but it appears this 12oz bottle is the successor to Bell's Batch 10,000. From the label itself: "When you get to batch 10,000, where can you go? You go one louder. The deep amber color of this Imperial Red Ale is complimented with a robust, sweet, toasted malt character that finds balance with a bolder, pronounced hop flavor. In other words, it pushes over the cliff to 11."

At first I thought it looked kitschy, but upon further review I kinda like it.

Goose Island Bramble Rye Bourbon County Stout - Details again unknown, but this keg label does tell us that it's stout aged in rye whiskey barrels with raspberries and blackberries. I think we can all breath easy when it comes to the Bourbon County brand as one that Goose is not going to let AB touch.

Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Porter - Lots of info on the back of this 750ml label, but no ABV? The maple/bacon thing has been done to varying degrees of success, but Rogue's, based in Newport, OR, has several things going for it: Bacon + maple + giant guy on the label who looks like he just snatched a pig and is going to drop it in his beer mug = Sold.

Greenbush Brewing Co. Labels Approved (Sawyer, MI)

If you haven't had a chance to stop by Greenbush Brewing Co. in Sawyer, MI., do yourself a favor and give them a try. I met up with Scott, owner/brewer a couple weeks ago (details to come), tried some beer and had a really great time. He mentioned that we should be seeing his beer getting distributed outside of tiny Sawyer, however I'm not at liberty to discuss any further details at this time. Needless to say, this is an extremely promising brewery, and will be a welcomed addition on shelves, once it happens.

One step closer to seeing their beer on shelves is the label approval process, which has been completed and is ready to go. Below is what I've seen so far, two of which I was able to enjoy on tap (RedBud & Closure). Closure is particularly interesting, because they brew it with different hops each time.

These people definitely don't brew normal beer, something I fully embrace.

tracktor (Cream Ale, 6.1%)

 

RedBud (Wheat Ale, 6.1%)

Dunegras (IPA, 6.7%)

Distorter (stout-ish porter with a touch of porter-ish stout, 7.2%)

Closure (Pale Ale, 5.9%)

Labels!

Labels for new beers, or new labels for existing beers, are approved every day. With craft beer in its current boom state, new label approvals can reach into the hundreds each week. I plan to make this a feature likely focusing on local breweries, beers we're looking forward to, or those labels that are simply interesting in and of themselves.

Fresh on the heels of the label for the highly anticipated Zombie Dust, Three Floyds has also been busy with a number of other labels.

Three Floyds Jinx Proof - 5.10% ABV Dortmunder. While previously only available at the brewpub in 22oz bottles and with a different label, this approval was for 12oz bottles. At the time of writing this, it was unclear if it would now be distributed outside of the brewpub as well.

Brewdog & Three Floyds collaboration Bitch Please - 11.5% ABV Barleywine. As this has existed overseas for a while now, it appears this approval is finally for a stateside release in 350ml bottles (11.16oz).

Mikkeller & Three Floyds collaboration Boogoop - 10.4% ABV Buckwheat Wine. This 22oz bottled brew is the fourth in a line of collaborations between these two breweries, the others being Hvedegoop, Ruggoop and Oatgoop.

Sun King Oktoberfest - 5.8% Oktoberfest. While not a new beer in the Sun King repertoire, I believe this is a new 16oz can from them.

New Albanian Jaxon - 11% ABV Barleywine. Look for this offering in 22oz bombers from the New Albany, IN brewery. Alternately, just look for my dog on the label! (Note: Not actually my dog on the label.)

Clown Shoes Muffin Top - 10% ABV Belgian-style Tripel India Pale Ale. This is for the 22oz version. The 12oz was approved a couple of weeks ago if I understand correctly. Clown Shoes, based out of Ipswich, MA, generally supplies their own jokes and this is no exception.

Also, a special mention here to South Bend's own Four Horsemen Brewing Company who just had a truckload of various sized keg labels approved, as did Evil Genius for whom FHBC is contract brewing.