New Brew News – January 22, 2018

Our Thoughts: For a brewery that's about to turn only three years old, Kansas City's Torn Label has made quite a name for themselves. They've created beers that appeal to the whole spectrum of beer enthusiasts, whether they be novices or seasoned veterans. Their portfolio of brews includes everything from a stout and a Belgian quad to a New England style IPA and a gruit.  They are definitely one of the breweries on our list of "must visits" every time we're in KC. So, with their third anniversary looming at the end of the month, Torn Label has decided to bring out the big guns. They've taken Shake Hands With Danger, their imperial brown ale with toasted coconut and aged it in whiskey barrels. Big, bold, and complex, this should make the lucky Kansas City beer enthusiasts very happy. Follow Torn Label on social media for release information.

Our Thoughts: We're going to let Public House themselves introduce to you Level 2 Fall Risk, a new imperial IPA. From the label: "In 2016, Jason Stacy, brewer and brother of co-founder Josh Stacy, overcame a dire medical emergency that required surgery and a long rehabilitation. He defiantly attempted a walk in the hospital before he was ready to go solo. After he took a fall, caregivers labeled him a "fall risk" and he had to wear a special bracelet. Thankfully, he's recovered and back in the brewhouse. Together, we created this India Pale Ale to celebrate. CHEERS!" The fact that a good beer comes out of a potential tragedy makes this even better. Make sure you check this out.

Our Thoughts: Drawing inspiration from English style brown ales and porters, American brewers have embraced the brown ale and made it their own, usually making it hoppier and higher in alcohol than it's cousin from across the pond. Having already brewed a classic British brown ale with their Bottlehouse Brown, O'Fallon is releasing their new Brian's American Brown Ale, which will likely be fuller bodied and more aggressively hopped, using all American ingredients. While it is a fairly ubiquitous style, it will be nice to have another sessionable, flavorful option on shelves to choose from.

Our Thoughts: When it comes to beer styles, Earthbound is definitely not bound by guidelines or rule books. They brew everything from historical styles like gruit to the contemporary and ever popular double IPA, with a Chicken N' Waffles Blonde Ale thrown in for good measure. They have a knack for brewing creative beers that work on so many levels. Heck, we're still in awe of their Red Hot Riplet Gose from last year's St. Louis Brewer's Heritage Fest! So, when we saw they will be releasing Lu's Brew, an IPA brewed with  sweet potatoes, coriander and orange peel, we knew we had to spread the word, as this sounds like an unlikely hero. Look for this on draft soon.