Craftsman in bottles?

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For those of you who thought they would never live to see the day that a Craftsman beer was bottled and put on sale.  Well, it has happened.  Just not in Los Angeles.  St. Vincent, a bar in San Francisco, has collaborated with Mark Jilg to create “Sumac Summer Ale,” Belgian Style Wheat Beer with Sumac and Coriander Matured in Oak.

Here is the full description from the press release, “This was the beer that Craftsman brewer Mark Jilg collaborated on with our in-house Cicerone, Sayre Piotrkowski.  It is a Belgian Style Wheat (not white) Ale, spiced with hand-ground Sumac. The beer’s primary fermentation in steel with a blend of Belgian yeast strains. The beer then spent 9 weeks in a large oak fermenter. The result is not an overtly sour beer.  With “Sumac Summer” The boys set out to make a beer that scratched the same itch as a cold glass of lemonade. The result is fruity, a little sweet, a touch tart and just a bit funky.”

Unfortunately, there was only 15 bbls of this beer were brewed and only a limited amount was put on sale in 375 ml bottles.

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Bottle that Beachwood

Count me as a Beachwood fan. It seems like everything that Julian brews has such a lovely balance without sacrificing huge flavors and now you can grab some Tovarish to go because Beachwood is bottling!

The 1ST BOTTLED BEER:
TOVARISH RUSSIAN IMPERIAL ESPRESSO STOUT

Here is the news straight outta Long Beach, “Well craft beer fans, you asked for it and it’s finally here—Beachwood Brewing’s first bottled brew, Tovarish Russian Imperial Espresso Stout will be released on December 14, 2012 at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach, CA.

For the first time Beachwood Brewing fans will be able to sip this limited edition stout, available in 22oz bottles. “We are so excited to start bottling Beachwood’s beers for customers to take home, enjoy, and share with their friends,” explains Beachwood’s co-owner, Gabriel Gordon. “This is just the first of many more to come.”

Tovarish was carefully crafted by Beachwood Brewing’s brewmaster and co-owner, Julian Shrago. Brewed on Beachwood’s 10-barrel system, Tovarish is a highly coveted beer! Tovarish is a bold Russian imperial stout brewed with a base of British Maris Otter barley, heaping amounts of roasted barley, and specialty malts. It is finished with a touch of blackstrap molasses along with a custom roasted coffee blend by Portola Coffee Lab in Costa Mesa, CA. “Tovarish is a very special brew to the Beachwood family and we’re looking forward to sharing the love,” concludes Shrago.

This remarkably rich and complex beer is not to be missed! Savor the layers of roast, coffee, and dark fruits with every sip!

Tovarish bottles will also be available at various local Los Angeles and CA retailers.”

Count me as happy too!

Tovarish Russian Imperial Espresso Stout
Brewed & bottled by Beachwood Brewing, Long Beach, CA
11.2% ABV
Retail Price: $20/22 oz. bottle
www.beachwoodbbq.com