Updating a story posted a while ago, Smuttynose now has their Big Beer Subscriptions available to customers.  A subscription consists of one case of each edition, for a total of nine cases of 12 22oz bottles.  The cost is $485, which works out to roughly $4.50 per bottle.  Not bad.  Subscribers do have to come to the brewery to pick up their beer, as shipping beer was a legal hassle the brewery didn't want to deal with.  Throughout the year, just before the release of each Big Beer, Smuttynose will have a Subscriber's Social Hour at the brewery as well.  That makes it even a better deal.  For more info, check out Smuttynose's website.

The first of the Big Brews will be Gravitation Quad, which is due to begin shipping at the end of January.  Gravitation is inspired by familiar abbey-style singles, doubles, and triples.  It is a huge, deep red ale brewed with traditional Belgian yeast to  chieve flavor, complexity, and character.  It will be bottle conditioned, so that should make it a beer that is a good candidate for cellars out there. 

Ska Brewing out of Durango, Colorado is set to release their first IPA to be packaged and distributed.  Previously, only their Decadent Imperial IPA was available to purchase in stores.  Modus Hoperandi is set to be released in both 12 oz cans and bottles, as well as on draft this February.  This will be only the 2nd Ska brew to be canned, joining their Special E.S.B.  This will be a year round brew.  The recipe is still being tweaked a bit, but the first full sized batch should be brewed in the next couple days. 

It's a bigger IPA, weighing in between 6.7-7.0% alcohol by volume and 70 IBUs.  Citrus flavors and aroma will be prevalent.  This beer should be available in all markets that currently receive Ska brews.  Also, Kansas and Texas should also get it in the next couple months, as Ska is set to roll out in those states. 

The top picture is what the bottle will look like and the can's picture is to the right.  Good to see another beer going into the super portable cans.

Peter Egelston updated everyone with the latest Kate the Great news in the most recent newsletter.  Here's a rundown of what's happening.

Kate the Great Russian Imperial Stout will be released February 9th, 2009 at precisely 1:14pm.  Approximately 10 barrels of this were brewed, and it will be split evenly between bottles and draft.  That means there will be about 900 22oz bottles available for purchase.  There will be a two bottle per person limit.  People will be issued numbers in the order they arrive.  That number holds your place in line, so once you have a number, you are free to roam around until the release at 1:14pm.  Kate the Great will also go on tap for purchase at that time.  There will be no growler fills.  Last year, people were already lining up at 8am, so get there early if you want to be one of the first 450 or so people that gets 2 bottles.

Portsmouth will also be having a contest where people can win up to a full case of Kate the Great.  In order to win, you must write an original beer related poem, essay or short story.  There will be Seven First Prizes, which are single bottles of Kate the Great, that will be awarded to winners in the categories of; Poems (sonnet, haiku, limerick, ballad, or free verse), Essays (between 500 and 2000 words), and Short Fiction (between 500 and 2000 words).  A Grand Prize of a case of Kate the Great will be selected among the win from among the first prize winners.  "Entries will be read by a panel of local literary luminaries adn barflies and will be judged for originality, adherance to form, and how much the panel likes them."  All entries must be received by February 2nd via email, regular mail or in person at the brewery.  Winners will be announced at the Kate the Great release and posted at the brewery and posted on the website.  Winners must pick up their prizes by the end of February.  Good luck to any that enter!

Label approval has come through for the 2009 design of the Bell's Oberon mini kegs.  It's always nice to be able to grab one of these for a party during the summer and get "draft" beer without having to buy a full keg.  Oberon is usually released right around when Major League Baseball starts off, so look for it then.  It might take the mini kegs a little longer to make their way around, but they will be there.  As I love how they pick different artwork each year for the mini's, I though I would attach a few of the older versions here so you could see the mini kegs year to year.  Heck, I have even seen plenty of these sell empty on Ebay, so there have to be some people collecting them out there.

Lots of information out of The Bruery recently that we need to pass along.  They had a new label approval come through and Patrick posted a rundown of the upcoming releases.  Let's get to the news.

The Bruery's spring seasonal, Saison De Lente, just received label approval from the TTB.  From The Bruery's site; "Our Spring Saison is light blonde in color with a fresh hoppiness and a wild and rustic Brettanomyces character.  Lighter in color and alcohol than our Saison Rue, yet equally complex in its own way.  Perfect for warm weather and spring celebrations."  I got a bit more from Patrick Rue in an email where he said, " It'll be fermented with brett bruxellensis and our house yeast strain for primary fermentation, so it'll be funky but shouldn't have much sourness.  We're using Saaz and Styrian Goldings for flavor / aroma hops.  Orval is one of my inspirations for this beer."  This beer sits at 6.5% abv and 35 IBUs.  I gotta say, it sounds tasty. 

Saison De Lente is set to be released in Mid-February.  The plan is to bottle 845 cases worth as well as have some kegs available.  It will definitely make it's way to California, Oregon, Colorado (Western slope), New York, and Pennsylvania (mostly the Philadelphia metro area).  They are still looking to set up agreements with some distributors in other areas, and if those agreements are made in time, you could also see this in Arizone, elsewhere in Colorado, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Besides the news about Saison De Lente, Patrick also blogged about the upcoming release schedule.  Here's what's on tap...

Seasonals -

• Saison De Lente - Mid February
• Trade Winds Tripel - Late April
• Autumn Maple - Late August
• Two Turtle Doves - Late October

Special Releases (small releases only available at The Bruery) -

• Cuvee Jeune - A young blended sour beer, to be released in the spring or summer when it's ready.
• Papier - 1st Anniversary beer with a tentative release of May 9th.  Brewery only release in 2009.  No info on what it is, but it's a hefty 16% alcohol by volume.
• White Oak - Early summer.  Barrel aged wheatwine weighing in at 12% abv.

Special Draft Releases -

• Hottenroth Berliner Weisse - January, to be available in SoCal only.  A bit of a different recipe, should be a bit more tart and a bit less grainy than last year.
• Humulus Ambre - Will be around the same time as Hottenroth.  This will be a hoppy, Belgian influenced beer at about 6% abv and loads of American hops. 

Cask Releases (not a lot planned yet, but here's some) -

• Humulus Gold - First Friday in January (sounds like my news is too late for this one).  Loaded with extra hops.
• Orchard Mole Poblano - Black Orchard aged with roasted cocoa nibs, roasted poblano peppers, and cinnamon. 

There were also teasers about a couple other beers coming up that don't have any real timeframes yet.  There is an Imperial Stout weighing in at a big 18% aging in bourbon and rye whiskey barrels.  There is also the Flemish Red that is brewed with about 30% Zinfandel grapes and blonde strong ale base.  There will be Melange #3 for some festivals and at the brewery, a blend of White Oak, Imperial Stout and Papier.  It's really amazing all the beer that this young brewery is pushing out and I can't wait to try each and every one.