Founders Day at Hopjacks Filling Station

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Saturday, May 3rd, Hopjacks Filling Station will be hosting Founders Day. A reservation gets you one Beer Flight that includes four 4oz draft pours of some great Founders brews (descriptions courtesy of Founders Brewing):

Curmudgeon (Old Ale) - BeerAdvocate 90 / RateBeer 99

Think classic seafaring ports, local pubs, and weathered old fishermen. This old ale is brewed with molasses and an insane focus on the malt bill, then oak-aged. The result is a strong, rich, malty delight that’s deceptively smooth and drinkable.

Smoked Porter - BeerAdvocate 90 / RateBeer 99

Brewed for the first time when our brewers were experimenting on our new three-barrel pilot system, we decided this one was too good to keep to ourselves. This 8% ABV smoked robust porter is brewed with a combination of beechwood-smoked barley and oak-smoked wheat malt along with a generous helping of chocolate malt. This blend delivers a beautiful balance of chocolate and smoke character that’s flavor-forward without being overwhelming.

KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) - BeerAdvocate 100 / RateBeer 100

What we’ve got here is an imperial stout brewed with a massive amount of coffee and chocolates, then cave-aged in oak bourbon barrels for an entire year to make sure wonderful bourbon undertones come through in the finish. Makes your taste buds squeal with delight.

Rübæus - BeerAdvocate 87 / RateBeer 94

Not another boring summer wheat beer or lemonade shandy—Rübæus is Founders’ way to celebrate the season’s warmest months. Optimizing the flavor of fresh raspberries added at multiple stages during fermentation, this stunning berry red masterpiece is the perfect balance of sweet and tart. No question about it, with a hefty malt bill and 5.7% ABV, this beer is 100% Founders.

Reservations, only 99 available, are $9.75. Two people max per reservation, one flight per person. The event is split into three blocks of time: 1-2:30, 2:30-4, and 4-5:30. To make reservations, call 850.497.6076 (ext 3) or email info(at)hopjacks.com.

Event Summary
Event: Founders Day
Location: Hopjacks Filling Station
When: Saturday, May 3rd
Cost: $9.75
Reservations: Call 850.497.6076 (ext 3) or email info(at)hopjacks.com

Pensacola Bay Brewery Beer Dinner

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On Thursday, April 17th, the Hilton on Pensacola Beach teams up with our own Pensacola Bay Brewery to hold their annual beer dinner. You can't beat this combination of great beer, food, and a beautiful location. Tickets are only $46 plus tax but you can also win tickets for two to the dinner.

Official Event Flyer
Chef Dan Dunn has planned some great courses to pair with these local brews:

Event Summary
Event: Pensacola Bay Brewery Beer Dinner
Location: Hilton Pensacola Beach
When: Thursday, April 17th 6:30
Cost: $46 plus taxes per ticket
Reservations: Call 850-916-2999

FBC Rescue Dog Red Release Party

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NOTE: Fairhope Brewing Company has announced that Bark & Brews has been postponed due to weather concerns. It will now take place on Friday, April 11th. We will update the below posting when we have full details.

Fairhope Brewing Company (FBC) is rolling our their spring seasonal beer this Sunday, April 6th at the Rescue Dog Red Release Party. Rescue Dog Red is an American Imperial Red Ale which FBC describes as having...

massive hop character to match its full-bodied malt bill.

The release party will be raising money for The Haven, a no-kill animal rescue shelter. Donations to The Haven will include $2 per pour (increased from $1 last year) as well as 100% of tips given to the guest "barktenders". Last year more than $1,400 was raised for The Haven. A Mobile Pet Adoption Unit will be at the event from 2-4pm with some furry companions looking for their "Forever Home". Lin Wise will be playing live music on the patio from 3-6pm.

Official Flyer

So take a short trip this Sunday out to FBC and enjoy their seasonal release while helping raise money for a good cause. Who knows, you may even be taking home a new family member.

Event Summary
Event: Rescue Dog Red Release Party
Location: Fairhope Brewing Company, Fairhope, AL
When: Sunday, April 6th 2-7pm

Inaugural Great Firkin Fest

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Budweiser-Busch Distributing and Moe's Original Bar B Que are bringing the inaugural Great Firkin Fest to Mobile, Alabama on April 5th. The fest will feature Eric Lindell and Keller Williams. Money raised will go to benefit the local American Cancer Society.

Each participating brewery will be bringing a firkin of distinctive cask ale to the event. The list of participating breweries is an impressive gathering of Alabama breweries as well as some regional breweries:

Tickets to Firkin Fest only are $22 in advance and $25 the day of the event. Firkin Festival tickets include admission, a sampling glass, brewery brochures and a koozie. Firkins will be tapped at 12:30 pm, live music starts at 1pm, and there will be free crawfish starting at 5pm.

Tickets to both firkin fest and Keller Willams show (starts at 9pm) are $32 in advance and $35 the day of the event.

Event Summary
Event: The Great Firkin Fest
Location: Moe’s Original Bar B Que, Mobile, AL
When: Saturday, April 5th 12pm - 12am
Cost:
Fest Only - $22 advance / $25 day of
Fest & Concert - $32 advance / $35 day of
Tickets: Call (251) 410-7427

The Magnolia Hosts New Belgium Supper Club

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Monday, April 14th, The Magnolia is holding a New Belgium Brewery Supper Club: a five course dinner with beer pairings. The menu for the event looks incredible:

  • Amuse - Paired with Fat Tire Amber Ale
  • Gulf Shrimp, Fennel & Orange Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette - Paired with Snapshot Wheat
  • Pastrami & Stone Ground Mustard Tartine on Rye Toast, Poached Egg - Paired with Shift Lager
  • Sous Vide & Grilled Rosemary Pork Loin over Sweet Potato & Apple Puress, Salt & Pepper Bruised Arugula - Paired with Ranger IPA
  • Caramelized Banana Creme Brûlée - Paired with Trippel Belgian Style Ale

The Magnolia is a recent addition to the Pensacola restaurant scene opened by locals Bill Manning & Kiley Bolster. Offering a cozy setting, delicious 'comfort food with an International twist', as well as a variety of craft beer and wine, we're big fans of The Magnolia.

Tickets are $65 per person and includes meal, beer pairings, and New Belgium pint glass. The Magnolia can accommodate any dietary restrictions for their supper clubs if contacted before the event.

Event Summary
Event: New Belgium Supper Club
Location: The Magnolia
When: Monday, April 14th 5:30 pm
Tickets: $65 - Call 850.912.6196 / Email themagnoliaeph[at]gmail.com

Local Breweries Bring Home 6 medals at Best Florida Beer Championship

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Three local breweries returned from the recent Best Florida Beer Championship in Tampa with medals.

Pensacola Bay Brewery's Blackbeard Stout, a beer we've long been a fan of, took Gold in the Stout category, while also taking Gold in the Fruit Beer category with the Desoto Berliner Weisse Ale Brewed with Rasberries.

Photo Credit: Florida Best Beer

Long time Pensacola favorite Mcguires Irish Pub brought home three medals. McGuires Millennium took gold in the Belgian-Style Pale Strong Ale category, while McGuires Coffee Porter and Devils Soul took bronze medals in the Coffee Beer and American-Style Imperial Stout categories respectively.

Photo Credit: Florida Best Beer

Lastly, Grayton Beer took Silver in the Belgian-Style Witbier category with White Dunes.

Congrats to all three breweries on their success.

Review: Forgotten Coast Belgian Tripel-style Ale by GrassLands Brewery

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Pensacola Beer first covered GrassLands Brewing Company way back in 2012 when we reviewed their Le Roi Rouge Imperial Red. Since then we've gotten the opportunity to try Le Roi Rouge Imperial Red (take 2), Black Rose Immortal Imperial Stout, King Oliver’s Hard Cider, and Big Cypress IPA.

Today we have the chance to review the 2nd test batch of one of GrassLands' eventual seasonals:

Forgotten Coast Belgian Tripel-style Ale

Here's what Owner Gabe Grass is going for:

"A higher gravity, flavorful and medium-bodied traditional Belgian Tripel. Lots of Spice/phenolic aromas & flavors while still maintaining a level of residual sweetness."

This batch was brewed in June 2013 and bottled in July 2013. And here's where we apologize for taking so long to to review Forgotten Coast. Beer can have a short shelf life, and we need to take that into consideration. That's completely on us.

With that said, on to the review!

Forgotten Coast Belgian Tripel-style Ale by GrassLands Brewery

Appearance: Pours a beautiful, golden honey. Light carbonation and slightly cloudy, the head is small and dissipates quickly.
4.0

Smell: Plentiful spice up front with fruit on the back end. Almost as if smelling an apple pie. Makes you want to drink it.
4.0

Taste: Similar to the smell, spicy and balanced, but the fruit takes front stage. Once again we're reminded of apple pie, which isn't a bad thing.
4.0

Mouth Feel: Creamy, nice lingering finish.
4.0

Overall: A wonderfully balanced beer with a nice mixture of fruit and spices. Wish we had another one.
4.0

Final Score: 4.0

Comments: Imagine what the score might have been if we had reviewed it in a timely manner? Sorry again, Gabe.

Owner Gabe Grass has been open and honest every step of the way in following his dream of opening his own brewery. And you can follow along by visiting GrassLand's website, Twitter account, or Facebook page. But make it quick, because GrassLands Brewing Company will be opening in 2014! They've even got an address:

This has been a long, long, lonnnnnnnng time coming – and we couldn’t be more excited! As of Friday evening last week, President Gabe, Vice President Scott and General Manager Saralyn all sat down with building owner Dean Minardi and put pen to paper to make GrassLands the first official tenant at 603 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL 32304!

Fantastic news. We look forward to the day we can sit down with Gabe at GrassLands Brewing Company and enjoy his brews.

Grand Opening of Grayton Beer

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For those familiar with local craft beer scene in Northwest Florida, you know Grayton Beer Company out of Santa Rosa Beach is by no means new to the area. You have been able to find Grayton beers in Pensacola area stores since 2011, and I actually had my first Grayton beer at the 2012 Emerald Coast Beer Festival.

What you may not know though, is that Grayton started implementing major upgrades early last year, the largest being the construction of a new brewery, which took almost 11 months to complete. Shortly after construction was completed, Grayton started receiving delivery of their new state-of-the-art brewing equipment including nine stainless steel fermentation tanks. Each tank holds as much as 22,000 pints of beer each and, together, give Grayton enough capacity to brew the equivalent of 150,000 bottles of beer at a time.

Grayton Beer Company crews worked around the clock to take delivery of nine fermenting tanks at South Walton's first brewery.

Grayton Beer Company new brewery includes nine stainless steel fermentation tanks.

Founder and President of Grayton Beer Company, Jamey Price, in front of new tanks.

Grayton has wasted no time putting this new brewery to work as it has been brewing and packaging non-stop to launch its new five beer lineup: A mix of Grayton originals along with entirely new offerings, all of which received new, locally inspired, packaging designs.

  • Original (Grayton's Flagship beer) - American-style Kölsch

  • 1890's Founder's Ale - Amber Ale

  • White Dunes - Belgian Witbier

  • Pale Ale

  • 30A Beach Blonde Ale

All of these local craft brews from Grayton will be available in bottle and draft in restaurants and bars from Pensacola to Apalachicola.

Anyone interested in helping celebrate Grayton's new brewery and beers, you're invited to attend the Grayton Beer Grand Opening this Saturday, March 8th from 1 to 5 pm. Admission is free.

Grand Opening Official Flyer

Event Summary
Event: Grayton Beer Grand Opening
Location: Grayton Beer Brewery: 217 Serenoa Rd, Santa Rosa Beach
When: Saturday, March 8th 1-5 pm
Cost: Free

Funky Skunk Kickstarter Project

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We originally wrote about Funky Skunk Brewing, a Pensacola Nano-Brewery in planning, back in January of last year. Shortly afterwards, we got the chance to review one of their planned flagship beers, Devil's Tail Amber Ale, which we found to be a great session ale.

Recently, Funky Skunk Brewing has taken significant steps to making the brewery a reality. The official web page has launched and a Kickstarter project was started late last month.

There are only six days left for Funky Skunk to reach its Kickstarter goal of 20K. Find out more about the brewery at their website, including the planned beer lineup, and make sure to check out the various reward levels on Kickstarter. Help Funky Skunk Brewing come to life.

Hopjacks - Downtown Celebrates 6th Anniversary

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Hopjacks Downtown 6 Year Anniversary Official Flyer Though the craft beer scene is thriving in Pensacola, it's easy to forget that wasn't always the case. Hopjacks certainly deserves credit for helping bring attention to craft beer when they first arrived downtown way back in 2008. While they've expanded to other venues in Pensacola, the original Hopjacks is still going strong, serving up great beer along with their famous duck fries.

You can help Hopjacks celebrate their 6th Birthday this Thursday from 7pm - 3am with a 'Super Hero' themed party. Arrive dressed as your favorite Super Hero and you'll enjoy 3 Dolla Holla prices all night long. There's a costume contest, Super Hero cupcakes, and a chance to win Pensacon tickets as well as other awesome prizes.

Be sure to follow Hopjack's Facebook page for additional details and we'll update this post with any new info we receive.

Event Summary
Event: Hopjacks - Downtown 6th Anniversary Party
Location: Hopjacks - Downtown
When: Thursday, February 13th 7pm - 3am
Attire: Super Hero Costume