First up is Hopnaut Double Juicy IPA, releasing October 1. This beer replaces Hop Disciples IPA in the Tank Farm series lineup. The beer features an “otherworldly” amount of hops and bold tropical fruit and citrus notes.

“With the success of our Hazy IPA, our brewers have been experimenting with a lot of hop-heavy hazy and juicy IPAs on the pilot system,” explained Bill Bertsch, Sr. Director of Brewery Operations. “Hopnaut will be a hit with New England-style IPA fans but also those who appreciate a well-balanced, filtered IPA.”

Joining Hopnaut in October will be not one but two NEW Yeti Imperial Stout variants. S’mores Yeti and Mexican Chocolate Yeti will be available in 19.2oz cans and provide a sumptuous sensory experience.

“S’mores was a bit of a no-brainer and a Yeti flavor that would crop up often in our brainstorming sessions,” said Marketing Manager, Matt Sandy. “Mexican Chocolate Yeti has been a draft-only taproom favorite since we released it in small batches two years ago. We decided it warranted a wider though still limited release.”

Great Divide is once again taking part in the Jameson Caskmates Brewery Partner program. As part of their partnership, Great Divide Brewing Co. will be pouring two Jameson barrel-aged beers in the Caskmates Barrel Aged Beer Garden during the Great American Beer Festival. Come try their limited edition brews. Knock Out Ginger, a barrel-aged farmhouse ale with ginger, was a crowd-pleaser last year and will return. This will be the first year for Gra-va, a barrel-aged porter with coffee added.

And, the winter/holiday season wouldn’t be complete without the return of Hibernation Ale (October) and Barrel Aged Yeti Imperial Stout (November). Hibernation Ale is Great Divide’s English-style old ale and the brewery’s longest running release (1995). New for this year, Barrel Aged Yeti will be available in single-serve 16oz cans.

Images available here.

About Great Divide Brewing Company

Founded in 1994, Great Divide Brewing Company is one of the most decorated breweries in America, recognized for brewing some of the globe’s most balanced yet assertive and flavorful beers. These beers have landed an impressive amount of acclaim, earning 18 Great American Beer Festival Medals, five World Beer Cup Awards and 14 spots on Beer Advocate’s “Top Rated Beers: Colorado” (2015). Here at Great Divide, Bold Character isn’t just a catchphrase. It’s the philosophy behind what we brew, how we think and what we believe. For more information visit www.greatdivide.com.  

Matt Sandy

Marketing Manager

Great Divide Brewing Co.

Matt.Sandy@greatdivide.com

Check us out: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

#GreatMindsDrinkAlike

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“Great Divide has long been known for its big, bold beers,” explained Bill Bertsch, Sr. Director of Brewery Operations, “but Lager shows the range of our brewing team. They have created a crisp, clean, refreshing beer that has quickly become a favorite around the brewery.”

From the mountain top to the tailgate, Great Divide Lager is an uncomplicated beer fit for any occasion. Featuring a blend of noble and new world hops along with German malts and a traditional Lager yeast, Great Divide Lager is a crisp, refreshing and easy drinking beer that is meant to be enjoyed repeatedly.

“We’re excited to roll Great Divide Lager out across our entire distribution footprint,” continued Bertsch. “This beer will provide a lighter complement to our already stellar lineup of core, seasonal and Tank Farm beers.”

The can design is simple and harkens back to those easy-drinking lagers generations of beer drinkers have enjoyed over the years. The tagline reads: When Thirst Strikes Great Minds Drink Alike. Great Divide debuted the new Lager at its 25^th Anniversary Party, celebrated June 22^nd.

About Great Divide Brewing Company

Founded in 1994, Great Divide Brewing Company is one of the most decorated breweries in America, recognized for brewing some of the globe’s most balanced yet assertive and flavorful beers. These beers have landed an impressive amount of acclaim, earning 18 Great American Beer Festival Medals, five World Beer Cup Awards and 14 spots on Beer Advocate’s “Top Rated Beers: Colorado” (2015). Here at Great Divide, Bold Character isn’t just a catchphrase. It’s the philosophy behind what we brew, how we think and what we believe. For more information visit www.greatdivide.com.

The post Great Divide Brewing Co. Launches Great Divide Lager appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

New this year will be The Imperial Yeti Cheers, a nationwide toast to the Yeti. Believers across the country are encouraged to raise a glass on Thursday, November 15 at 7pm, local time, in honor of this magical and harmless creature and share the moment on social media with #YetiCheers.

“We’re pretty confident that most people are aware of the Yeti these days,” said Great Divide marketing manager, Matt Sandy, “but, unfortunately, he is often characterized as a loner on the fringes of reality. What people don’t realize is that the Yeti is actually the party starter of the Himalayas. So we came up with a way to capture the convivial spirit of this mythical beast: The Imperial Yeti Cheers.”

National Yeti Awareness Week will get rolling on Monday, November 12 with specialty Yeti tappings at both Great Divide locations. On Tuesday, November 13, both taprooms will host a “keep the glass” night featuring a commemorative Yeti drinking vessel.

Special Yeti tappings will continue throughout the week including never before poured variants such as Chocolate Cherry Yeti, S’Mores Yeti and Maple Pecan Yeti. The Barrel Bar will feature unique, one-off Yeti firkins on Thursday and Friday.

On Friday, November 16th from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. the Barrel Bar will host a National Yeti Day celebration with prizes given away every hour between 3:00pm and 8:00pm, the most coveted prize being a Yeti branded Timbuk2 backpack (sign-up for the drawings begins at 2PM and you must be present to win). The Yeti Cave will return from 5:30-8:30pm. Attendees will have the opportunity to get a picture with the Yeti in his rustic-chic abode and enjoy Yeti floats featuring a Yeti-infused ice cream from Sweet Cow paired with a specialty Yeti firkin. New and limited Yeti merchandise will be available for purchase, and the bar will feature more than 10 different Yeti variants on draft.

Join the movement and become a Yeti believer by visiting www.YetiAwareness.com. While there, enter to win a Yeti Awareness Giveaway Packaged featuring a Yeti Cooler, Outdoor Tech Bluetooth Speaker, Yeti Yoga Mat, Spank the Yeti game, and various Yeti merchandise. Follow Great Divide on Instagram (@greatdividebrew) to have a shot at winning your own Yeti costume!

For promotional pictures or hi-res imagery, check the Yeti Tool Kit.

About​ ​Great​ ​Divide​ ​Brewing​ ​Company

Founded in 1994, Great Divide Brewing Company is one of the most decorated breweries in America, recognized for brewing some of the globe’s most balanced yet assertive and flavorful beers. These beers have landed an impressive amount of acclaim, earning 18 Great American Beer Festival Medals, five World Beer Cup Awards and 14 spots on Beer Advocate’s “Top Rated Beers: Colorado” (2015). Here at Great Divide, Bold Character isn’t just a catchphrase. It’s the philosophy behind what we brew, how we think and what we believe. For more information visit www.greatdivide.com.

The post Great Divide’s Third Annual National Yeti Awareness Week Highlighted by The Imperial Yeti Cheers appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

Hood River, Oregon

Mount Hood casts an imposing shadow over the city of Portland and though that city’s beer pedigree cannot be overstated, hitting the slopes requires at least an hour and a half car trip. Another option much closer to the mountains with its own burgeoning beer scene is Hood River. Home to four breweries with another two located en route from the mountains, Hood River is a great basecamp or stopover on your way back to Portland.

The stalwart of the Hood River brewing community is Full Sail Brewing Company having opened in 1987. Widely distributed, their amber ale has won an astounding 12 World Beer Championships gold medals. The upstart in town is pFriem Family Brewers, makers of flavorful and elegant artisanal ales influenced by Belgian brewers but embodying a Pacific Northwest flair. After carving up Mt. Hood Meadows or Timberline Lodge, belly up to pFriem’s fire pit with a glass of Winter Ale or Belgian Strong Dark. Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom is located just around the corner from Full Sail as is the Logsdon Brewery Barrel House & Tasting Room (the Logsdon Farm Brewery is about 10 miles south of town). The former serves up hop-forward IPAs while at the latter you’ll find delicately crafted saisons, farmhouse ales, sours and fruit beers including the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) medal winner, Cerasus, a West Flanders style red ale with cherries. Solera Brewery in nearby Parksdale is another possible pit stop on your way down the mountain and back into town. On a clear day, the views are unmatched and the huge burrito will sate your hunger after a day on the slopes.

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Waterbury & Stowe, Vermont

Vermont, where the double IPAs flow like water and locally brewed beers such as Heady Topper have gained national cult status. Ranked as one of the top beers in the world, it’s also relatively difficult to acquire outside of its home base in north central Vermont. But when you do find yourself in that neck of the woods, even the bar at the Best Western beside the highway stocks cans of the desirable elixir from The Alchemist, headquartered just up the road.

For food, Prohibition Pig is the go-to for succulent pork products along with selections from their in-house brewery alongside Lawson’s Finest Liquids and Hill Farmstead Brewery. Visit the Craft Beer Cellar where you can sample and purchase small batch beers from the likes of Zero Gravity Craft Brewery, Hermit Thrush Brewery and Frost Beer Works. For a taste of Austria after a day shredding the Front Four at Stowe take a tour of the newly opened 30,000 square foot facility and Bierhall operated by von Trapp Brewing on the grounds of the Trapp Family Lodge (yes, those von Trapps).

Taos, New Mexico

While “snow” and “New Mexico” are far from synonymous, Taos Ski Valley in the state’s northern mountains averages around 300 inches of snow per year. What’s even more inviting is that the actual town of Taos, down valley from the resort, averages only about 30 inches of snow complimented by nearly 300 days of sun. Translation: Welcome to the best of both worlds. Once you’ve picked your way down Kachina Bowl, stop in the new downtown location of Taos Mesa Brewing for tacos and an Old ’96 Sticke Alt. The mothership brewery is located just outside of town and features live music in a truly unique setting. For vegetarian, vegan and gluten free fare paired with the distinctly New Mexican Green Chili Ale, check out Eske’s Brew Pub. The state’s big guns like Marble Brewery, Santa Fe Brewing Company and La Cumbre Brewing can be found on tap at the Taos Ale House.

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Carbondale, Colorado

Nestled serenely in the Roaring Fork Valley far from highway congestion and Colorado’s Front Range riff-raff sits the town of Carbondale. Located between the touristy yet charming city of Glenwood Springs and the ritzy yet eclectic ski haven of Aspen, Carbondale is an ideal destination if you’re looking for an authentic small town Colorado experience.

Before heading out of Glenwood Springs, make a pit stop at Cooper Wine and Spirits to pick up the latest from Casey Brewing & Blending or, better yet, purchase a ticket ahead of time for an intimate tour and tasting of the brewery’s extremely limited mixed-culture oak barrel-aged offerings. Once you’ve settled in, swing by the town’s original brewery, Carbondale Beer Works, for a bourbon bacon grilled cheese paired with a Yo Bro Midnight Porter. After a day on the slopes, Aspen Brewing Company’s taproom in downtown Aspen is the après ski destination for pours of Independence Pass Ale, Cloud 9 Saison or Pyramid Peak Porter. For more memorable accommodations, check out a cozy two-person shepherd’s wagon or a multi-bedroom cabin up the road in Avalanche Ranch that includes a soak in their natural hot springs after a long day on the slopes.

Park City, Utah

Though Utah is still home to many bizarre liquor laws (See: Zion Curtain), it could be argued that the proximity of top notch skiing to quality craft beer is seldom closer than in Park City. The lower mountain runs at Deer Valley, Park City (Resort) and Canyons basically dump you into downtown while Solitude, Brighton, Alta and Snowbird are a mere hour’s drive away. In Park City, you’ll find Wasatch Brewery, the state’s first brewpub and makers of tongue-in-cheek beers like Polygamy Porter and Evolution Amber Ale. The town is also home to Park City Brewery and the soon to open RoHa Brewing who will come out of the gate with cans. For an Old West nightcap, mosey down to the High West Distillery saloon where you can find selections from Utah’s Red Rock Brewing Company and Uinta Brewing alongside High West’s various bourbons, ryes and aged whiskey blends.

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Truckee, California

Lake Tahoe boasts 15 different ski resorts around its shores none more legendary than Squaw Valley, a 1960 Winter Olympics site. Rest your head in Truckee on the north shore of the lake, 20 minutes from Squaw and home to the award-winning FiftyFifty Brewing Company. Ask for the Spring Fever blonde ale or Totality Imperial Stout, both GABF medal-winning beers. Keep an eye out for the Eclipse series, various barrel-aged versions of Totality. After your heart has stopped racing from sending Squaw’s famed Palisades headwall it’s on to Mellow Fellow. A gastropub with 40 taps, the beer selection includes the latest from California heavyweights like

After your heart has stopped racing from sending Squaw’s famed Palisades headwall it’s on to Mellow Fellow. A gastropub with 40 taps, the beer selection includes the latest from California heavyweights like Stone Brewing, The Lost Abbey and Modern Times Beer as well as selections from smaller guys such as Belching Beaver Brewery, Heretic Brewing Company and Coronado Brewing Company.

Frisco, Colorado

Centrally located along Colorado’s main ski corridor, you could spend an entire lifetime exploring the eight resorts within an hour of Frisco. Plus, you’ll avoid the notoriously dreadful I-70 traffic. Dubbed the “Main Street of the Rockies,” the town sits along the scenic expanse of Lake Dillon and is home to the aptly named Backcountry Brewery.

The town of Breckenridge is a quick jaunt south where you can soak in the rustic ambiance of Broken Compass Brewing Company while enjoying local favorites like their Coconut Porter or Ginger Pale Ale. One exit east of Frisco you’ll find the neighboring towns of Silverthorne and Dillon, home to The Bakers’ Brewery, Dillon Dam Brewery and Pug Ryan’s. Just remember, you’re skiing the next day so get some rest.

Victor, Idaho

Want to ski the best the Tetons have to offer but don’t feel like isolating yourself in Grand Targhee or breaking the bank in Jackson Hole? Opt for Victor, Idaho, conveniently located halfway between the two resorts. There you’ll find Grand Teton Brewing, the godfather of Wyoming/Idaho breweries. Founded in 1988 by Charlie and Ernie Otto, the brothers were paramount in lifting restrictions on brewpubs and are also credited with reintroducing the growler to the American drinking public. Just as passionate is Wildlife Brewing, makers of inventive hoppy IPAs like their recently brewed 10th Anniversary Ale and 8 Grain IPA.

You’d be remiss, however, if a stop at Thai Me Up in Jackson was not on the agenda. Besides above average Thai cuisine and Kung Fu movies, you’ll discover the latest from Melvin Brewing among the restaurant’s 20 taps. Time your trip to the Tetons at the right time of year and you might even witness the Gelande Quaffing National Championships, the ultimate in team après ski imbibing.

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Bethel, Maine

New Englanders have been skiing Sunday River since 1959 and the mountain is still Maine’s most visited resort. That’s almost as long as Shipyard Brewing has been in operation so it makes sense that the venerable Portland, Maine, brewery has an outpost on mountain. There you can warm up between runs with a classic export ale or something more seasonal such as the Prelude Special Ale, a rich, nutty winter warmer.

Before heading back to town, check out the après scene at the Foggy Goggle where you can score brews by Banded Horn Brewing Company and Rising Tide Brewing Company. In town, Sunday River Brewing Company pours flagships like Mountain Mamma IPA and Sunday River Alt to help you wash down a lobster roll (this is Maine after all). At Farmer’s Market & Taps the draught list is stocked with sought-after selections like Lunch from Maine Beer Company or The Substance from Bissell Brothers — both juicy New England-style IPAs — ditto at Suds Pub where the bar carries Foundation Brewing Company, Bar Harbor Brewing Company and Sebago Brewing Company.

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