We love a good series. Nope, we’re not talking about the St. Louis Cardinals, although we love them too. We’re talking beer – or anything alcohol-related, for that matter. In this case, we’ll consider Schlafly to be 1-0 for the Year Round Special Release IPA Series that it launched this week to celebrate hops from different hemispheres.
Folks who love seasonal beer can now have a romping good drinking time all year long, since each of the three beers in the series is released in a different season. The first is Tasmanian IPA or “TIPA,” which features the Tasmanian hop, Galaxy. The golden beer plays to the hop’s sweet citrus notes that lie somewhere between orange, tangerine and clementine, explained James “Otto” Ottolini, head of brewing operations at Schlafly. This higher-alcohol brew – it clocks in at 7.2-percent ABV – will be available through January. Schlafly’s oh-so-bitter American IPA, flavored with a trio of American hops, will hit the market in February, followed by Export IPA, which showcases English hops, in June.
Beginning Monday, TIPA will be available on draft and in a 12-ounce bottle 6-pack at area stores, bars and restaurants. If you want to be the first in line, grab a barstool at Schlafly Bottleworks tonight, where the TIPA is already running like water, and the Cards will be broadcast on all five TVs.
This article appears in October 2012.