It goes without saying that we’re always excited for new releases and chasing down elusive new creations. And when such occasions occur, we want to make sure all Beerknurds know.
Two such beers hit this last weekend from two of the nation’s favorite breweries: Lagunitas and Ballas Point. Each have each taken one of their most popular beers previously only available in draft form and bottled them for you to find on your local shelves.
Lagunitas High West-ified Imperial Stout
This is the first time Lagunitas has bottled one of its barrel-aged brews. The California brewer used coffee from Petaluma Coffee & Tea and rye whiskey barrels from the High West Distillery in Park City, Utah. This brew, weighing in at 12 percent ABV, is 100 percent barrel-aged with zero un-aged filler. Only 4,500 cases are up for grabs, so you’ll need stroke of luck finding this special brew. Lagunitas’ special, limited-release beers are always spot on, so get thee to your local beer store now!
Ballast Point Grunion Pale Ale
Do you know what’s awesome? When a homebrew works its way up the ranks and commands the attention of brewers and experts alike, culminating in a Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal and a Best of Craft Beer Awards Silver Medal, before becoming available to the public. That’s the (abbreviated) story behind the Ballast Point Grunion Pale Ale. Ballast Point took this beer, which originated “from an employee-only homebrew contest,” and groomed it into an award winner. Now, the California brewer is bottling it and shipping it out to stores across the nation. We’re confident this very sessionable, well-balanced, herbal yet slightly sweet pale ale is going to take off in the warmer months.
Have you had either of these in draft? Have you seen and been able to get your hands on a bottle? Let us know in the comments below.
