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With 2017 now upon us, craft breweries are positioning themselves in an increasingly competitive environment with new plans and new additions to their portfolio…And here is what some American craft breweries have planned for this year…
Green Flash Brewing
Green Flash is excited about 2017 and they have good reason to be. With their new brewery now up-and-running in Norfolk, Virginia, the nation’s 41st largest craft brewer is now bi-coastal in reach and influence.
And having acquired and assumed production of Alpine Beer at the end of 2014 the company, which is still headquartered in San Diego, looks to extend its imprints in 2017 – and with brewing capability now on both sides of the Mississippi, they’re healthily positioned.
Green Flash cult fav Palate Wrecker Imperial IPA will make a much anticipated return to the market place in 6-packs and on draft for a very limited time in February.
The brewery will also be debuting GBF Blonde Ale this quarter and it’s a bit of a departure for them both in taste and in branding. Brewed to further round out their portfolio, this 4.8% floral and slightly fruity refresher is seen as a crushable option to a roster flush with hop-forward West Coast-style offerings.
The Green Flash 2017 Lineup now includes…
West Coast IPA, Soul Style IPA, Tangerine Soul Style IPA, Passion Fruit Kicker Wheat Ale, Cosmic Ristretto Baltic Porter with Espresso, Dia de los Serranos Double Stout with Serrano Chiles, Imperial IPA, Le Freak Belgian Style Imperial IPA, Jibe Session IPA and Sea to Sea Zwickel Lager.
The 2017 Green Flash Cellar 3 lineup of rare and barrel-aged beers will also be returning and planned to include a dozen one-offs, which will be available nationally on a limited-release basis.
Deschutes Brewing
With the opening of their new Roanoke, Virginia brewery last Deschutes also now has impressive East/West reach and scale and they’re shaking up this year’s offerings as well with a number of new beers making their debut.
New beers this year include…
- Pacific Wonderland Lager – The brewery’s first widely distributed lager (and part of their Mainline Series), this sessionable hop-forward year-round was brewed with citrusy Tettnang Mandarina hops.
- Swivelhead Red – Part of their popular Bond Street Series, this 6.5% India Red Ale is pumped with herbal hop aroma and tethered to smooth caramel backbone. (March- August)
- Passionfruit IPA – Another Bond Street Series release, but unfortunately this one a “draft only,” this fruity and tropical easy-drinker boasts is defined by a distinctive quartet of hops: Cascade, Azacca, Galaxy and Vic’s Secret. (May-August)
- Cultivateur – This Reserve Series spring release, is a blend of old and new saisons that’s been aged in oak with Brettanomyces. (March)
In order to make room for all this year’s new beers, the brewery will be unfortunately be discontinuing its 22-ounce bottle offerings of Hop Henge Experimental IPA, Down N Dirty IPA, and Big Rig Pub Ale. Deschutes River Ale is also saying goodbye.
(Header lineup banner credit: The Usual Suspects)
