Welcome to the first of what I hope will be an informative weekly post about some of the more noteworthy just announced, upcoming beer releases. I am proud to join the extremely passionate team of fine beverage champions here at Mutineer – vive la quality drink, revolution!

Abita Beer – “Save Our Shore”

We have all been shocked and saddened by the truly catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, in the shadow of this ongoing disaster is Abita Beer of Abita Springs, Louisiana who on Friday, July 16 released the first bottles of Abita SOS, a charitable Pilsner. Initially for sale in New Orleans, cases will then make their way across the county. Seventy-five cents from the sale of every bottle is going to a fund established by Abita to assist with the environmental impact and to help individuals fighting to survive in the wake of the widespread economic devastation. Continue Reading »

Colorado is host to many great craft breweries, and the Great Divide is one of them. Located in Denver, the Great Divide is just a short and free bus ride from the Colorado Convention Center, where the Great American Beer Festival has been held for the last nine years. The Great Divide has eight year-round brews and fourteen seasonal.

This Friday, August 14th, the brewery is releasing the last two seasonal beers of 2009. Hoss, a Marzen style lager with the addition of rye in the recipe, and Tripel, a classic Belgian style strong ale. The release party is from 7 P.M. to 9 P.M., and for just fifteen dollars it’s snacks and all the Hoss and Tripel you can drink…better check that bus schedule. For more information goto GreatDivide.com.

Beer: Saison
Brewery: Great Divide Brewing Co.
Style: Saison Farmhouse Ale
Suggested Glassware: Beer Chalice

Originally brewed in Belgium by the farmers of the Wallonia Valley for there own drinking pleasure, saison style ales have found their way to the shores of America and have seen a huge growth over the past few years. Entries in 2006 at the Great American Beer Festival showed saison style ales had a 76% increase. This style of beer is slightly tart and refreshing — just what the farmers from Wallonia were looking for during a hard days work. Saison is the French word for ‘season’ and the beer is named such because it was brewed during the cooler months and consumed during the summer months by those working in the fields. Continue Reading »