Over here in the Iron Horse Brewery trailer department, we spend a ridiculous amount of time behind our computers, looking at charts, analyzing graphs, reading the reddit.com/r/beer forum, making these calendars, or just visiting this site. This time of year is particularly cumbersome because of all the “planning” and “best-guessing” that is happening for the next year, specifically as it relates to making independent beer for the masses. It’s equally bad ass and perplexing. I mean, how do you plan for November 2018, when November 2017 hasn’t even finished yet? I suppose we have to look at things like “data” and “market trends” and “Andy’s Ale Tales: A blog about great beer”. Are you tired of my implied air quotes yet? I am. Okay, moving on, to why you might be here.
This post is about the incredible beer lineup we are producing for 2018 and roughly when you can expect them to hit your glands, err, I mean hands.
You can skip all this nonsense and just look at this calendar here, or keep reading because your doctor appointment is running late anyhow and you’re waiting for the ad to finish playing on that “free” game you just downloaded.
Iron Horse Brewery – Year Round Beers
IRISH DEATH 7.8% ABV YEAR ROUND
I know. Weird, right? It will continue to lead the pack. You’ll probably notice an increase in 16oz cans, if we do our job right. Also, be on the lookout for special packaging around St. Patrick’s Day. It’s going to be AWESOME.
Available in Draught 22’s 6-Pack 12oz Cans 16oz Cans
LIFE BEHIND BARS 5.0% ABV YEAR ROUND
What is this beer that most of you probably haven’t heard of? It’s our version of a kolsch. A crisp and casual, entry-to-craft-but-full-of-flavor, kind of beer.
Tell all your annoying family members who insist on drinking big beer’s yellow water, we have an indie option for them.
Available in Draught 22’s 6-Pack 12oz Cans
HAND CANNON IPA 6.8% ABV YEAR ROUND
Mosaic, Azacca, and Calypso – Hops galore fill this explosive IPA. Tropical and Citrusy are words we have seen used to describe IPA’s so we thought we’d try that too. It turns out this a damn good tasting IPA which should, ideally, outlast the trend of adjunct IPA craziness that is out there. We’d never stoop so low.
Available in Draught 22’s 6-Pack 12oz Cans
SEND IT PALE ALE 5.0% ABV YEAR ROUND – APRIL
A double dry hopped pale ale made with Citra and Comet, this beer, we fully admit, was partially inspired by this guy and this guy. If you have been lucky enough to get some early batches of this bad boy, you’ll likely agree, making this a year-round beer is probably the smartest move we’ve made besides renaming Brass Ass Brown to Malt Bomb, then killing off Malt Bomb entirely. That’ll get some of you upset I bet.
Available (starting in April) in Draught 6-Pack 12oz Cans
509 STYLE
5.0% ABV YEAR ROUND
our classic beer, mostly brewed for locals only, survives another year.
Available in Draught crowlers
LIGHT RAIL ALE 5.0% ABV YEAR ROUND
this beer keeps on keepin’ on. consume 1,000 bbls worth so it will last.
Available in Draught crowlers
So, you may have noticed something missing.
You might be asking yourself:Self, where the hell is Beer Wolf? Why the EFF is Finger Gun not on this list?
Those are valid questions. The short answer is: IPA is probably the most volatile beer category of all independently made beer and is subject to rapidly changing market conditions which takes something that was completely relevant yesterday and makes it utterly useless today. In order to mitigate certain risks associated with putting out an IPA that was slightly past its market prime, we felt compelled to tackle these changes head on, which, unfortunately, will leave fans of those of the brands, including me – cause I loved the s%# out of both of these beers, agitated by this decision, and questioning Iron Horse Brewery’s business acumen. The long answer is: despite being delicious, they didn’t sell as well in the market. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there.
2018 Iron Horse Brewery Seasonal Beer Offerings
Okay, we stooped. We have a new limited run seasonal IPA track, called the extended family series, you know, people you see a few times a year, have a good time with, but don’t tell your deepest darkest secrets to. That’s what this series is about. We probably could have been more overt and called it “super trendy fad ipa series”, but that’s not as fun. You’ll also notice that we have moved to a trimester release program, which means, each beer gets to stick around for another month. Double Rainbow fans unite!
DOUBLE RAINBOW 7.0% ABV JAN, FEB, MAR, APR
Some people know the backstory, others don’t. This blog might be a perfect time to explain it, but instead, why don’t you tell me what it means? We know for sure it’s a red ipa or it’s a hoppy red ale, or probably both.
Available in Draught 22’s 6-Pack 12oz Cans
GRAMPS HAZY IPA5.8% ABV JAN, FEB, MAR, APR
This beer is as clear as a cataract on your grand dad’s 85-year-old eyes, but despite it being more cloudy than his memory during a new england storm this beer makes you just feel damned good whenever you are around it. it has a delicious tropical & stone fruit like taste and aroma. you’ll dig it.
Available in Draught 22’s
HIGH FIVE HEFE 6.0% ABV MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG
Question: What happens when you take your number 2 brand, and make it only available for 4 months out of the year?
Answer: We don’t know, but it will be fun to find out. Don’t worry, though, this honey, ginger wheat American style hefeweizen will be available year-round in draught, because we XOXO you and also, it would be kind of stupid to not keep making this year-round.
Available in Draught 22’s 6-Pack 12oz Cans
CRAZY AUNT IPAX.X% ABV MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG
Yeah, we know. She wears a sweater in 90 degree weather, and talks to her parakeet about watching the goldfish; the problem is she’s so sweet and makes a hell of a peach cobbler, you can’t help but love her. This fruity ipa pays homage to all the crazy aunts out there, who alway seem to smell like rose water, for some weird reason.
Available in Draught 22’s
MOCHA DEATH 7.0% ABV SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC
We probably buried the lead on this one. The piece of information, I’m going to guess, that you most care about is the fact that we will be dropping Mocha Death into 12oz 6 Pack Cans and it will be available for 4 months. Kaboom! This irish death + coffee + cocao concoction seems to be your favorite seasonal beer we make, so we thought we’d listen to your request and make it happen.
Available in Draught 22’s 6-Pack 12oz Cans
IN-LAW IMPERIAL IPAX.X% ABV SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC
Holidays. That time of year when you get test your meddle and interface with your – favorite. humans. of. all. time. – the in-laws. This beer is made especially for them and you. Why? Who cares it’s a high abv, delicious imperial ipa, so you can all just tolerate each other for the next few days.
Available in Draught 22’s
GO% D#&^ IT IRON HORSE!
We’re going to assume that’s real outrage because you noticed two winter seasonals aren’t on this list.
Cozy Sweater and Cozy-er. Didn’t they make the cut? Or did they? Didn’t they? Did they?
Man, that’s obnoxious.
So, I have a deep, deep, deep feeling these two brands will surface in 2018. So don’t worry, about a thing, cause every little thing, is gonna be alright.
We’d love to hear from you regarding this lineup. Is there a beer style you wish more indie beer producers would make? Are you sick of IPAs? Can’t get enough of them? Send me your feedback at jared@ironhorsebrewery.com.
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Thrill
You Queens dam well better be brewing more Cozy-er Sweater in 2018! Please, I love that beer….ya Queens.