“We are excited to be working with such an innovative, up and coming brewery,” says Boulder Beer Brewmaster David Zuckerman. “We have a personal connection and a mutual respect for each other and the art of craft beer.”

Shakenbake is golden colored Rye India Pale Ale brewed with ingredients from both states. Shakenbake features the California-grown hop varietals Ivanhoe, Gargoyle and Chinook. The recipe’s pale malt was grown in Colorado and malted at the artisan Colorado Malting Company located in Alamosa, Colorado. Northwest Amarillos round out the hops, providing a bright, citrusy nose. A variety of other specialty malts and rye impart a golden color, slight spiciness and a dry finish, accentuating the hops.

Shakenbake will be on tap during San Francisco Beer Week: February 8-17, and Sacramento Beer Week: February 23 through March 3. A Simultap will be held in Colorado at The Pub at Boulder Beer on Friday, February 8th.

About Boulder Beer Company

Founded in 1979, Boulder Beer Company has been a pioneer in the craft brewing industry for 33 years. They currently package seven year-round brands, four rotating seasonals, and periodically release very limited-edition, small batch brews throughout the year. Hazed and Infused is currently their top selling brand followed by Mojo IPA. Boulder Beer Company has recently expanded its footprint in California, their coverage now including most of Northern and Central California along with the San Diego market. Follow @BoulderBeer on Twitter!

About Knee Deep Brewing

Located in Lincoln, California, Knee Deep Brewing got their start in late 2010 and has grown rapidly and is quickly acquiring a reputation for outstanding IPA’s and other unique brews.  Their Hoptologist is an award-winning Double IPA and Simtra (3X IPA) was rated 98 out of 100 by Beer Magazine and #2 in the top 30 beers of 2012.  Knee Deep beers are currently distributed in six states and the company is currently planning to expand into a much larger facility later this year.  Once their move is completed, look for Knee Deep to be available throughout the US. Follow @KneeDeepBrewing on Twitter!

The reason I first connected with Dogfish Head (and continue to do so) is because I completely identify with the brand. Like its owners, its employees and its beer, I am off-centered. More often than not, people use adjectives like weird, eccentric, quirky and crazy to describe me. But, like Dogfish Head, I’ve never been one to assimilate to the cultural norm. Dogfish Head’s uncanny ability to understand and embrace the weird and the unusual has made it stand out from any other craft beer brand in the world.

Case and point: Positive Contact — Dogfish Head’s latest super collaboration project.

What is Positive Contact? According to the official press release, “It’s a house party in a box. Start with a carefully crafted hybrid of beer and cider, add a helping of hip-hop dub remixes and serve with an inspired multi-course meal.”

Foodies and beer geeks beware, for this party in a box is not for the faint of heart. Even Esquire has already named it one of the best beers of 2012. And here is why:

The beer

The beer was born one festive night at Eataly New York’s rooftop brewpub Birreria. Hip-hop producer Dan the Automator – the mind behind supergroup Deltron 3030 – and Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione sat at a table full of fresh ingredients and picked out their favorites.

They settled on wood-pressed Fuji apples, roasted farro from Anson Mills in South Carolina, cayenne peppers and fresh cilantro. The result is a sweet-and-sour Belgian-ish brew with cider-like notes, 9% ABV and a warming finish.

The music

While Dogfish did its thing at the brewery, Dan did his in the studio. Taking tracks from the long-awaited followup to Deltron 3030’s cult classic debut, Dan fashioned four dub remixes and pressed them onto 10-inch white vinyl.

The food

What’s a party without food? Dogfish recruited acclaimed chef and TV personality Mario Batali, loud and fast Joe Beef chefs Frederic Morin and David McMillan, Momofuku‘s influential David Chang, super-creative Homebrew Chef Sean Paxton and West Coast luminary James Syhabout. Each contributed a Deltron 3030-inspired recipe that’s printed on the record sleeve.

Positive Contact will be released in a dynamic box set of six 750-ml champagne bottles, with the 10-inch vinyl EP and the recipes. The box set will be sold for $60-$70 throughout Dogfish Head’s distribution network, in accordance with local and state laws.

For more information, check out the following video with Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head:

This is the first time I’ve gotten wind of the beer, which means that I’ve been a really bad Internet beer stalker. I’ve attached the press release below. Not sure what the distribution will be, but I’m really hoping to get my hands on some. Hopefully, it makes its way up to wine country … cause it would fly off the shelf up here.

– PRESS RELEASE –

New Belgium Brewing of Fort Collins, CO and Allagash Brewing of Portland, ME are pleased to announce the release of their collaboration ale, Vrienden (Flemish for friends). Brewed with caramelized endive and hibiscus, Vrienden is inoculated with lacto bacillus and brettanomyces, creating a slightly sour beer with a floral nose and a dry finish.

“We wanted a very simple sour so as not to compete with the hibiscus,” said New Belgium Brewmaster, Peter Bouckaert. “When we ran tests using our La Folie bretta, it was too intense and the hibiscus disappeared. The Allagash microbes bring just the right amount of sour and elevate the hibiscus notes where they belong.”

Allagash founder, Rob Tod, and brewmaster, Jason Perkins collaborated with New Belgium brewmaster, Peter Bouckaert, and Assistant Brewmaster, Grady Hull, at New Belgium’s Mothership facility in Fort Collins last September. They started the day sautéing endive in New Belgium’s employee kitchen to achieve caramelization. When asked what the endive would add to the beer, Bouckaert thought for a moment, shrugged and said simply, “endive.” The team later pitched endive into the mash and hibiscus into the kettle.

Vrienden is the second collaboration beer from New Belgium and Allagash and the first commercially available through New Belgium’s Lips of Faith Series. It is available on draft and in 22-oz. bottles now through February throughout New Belgium’s area of distribution where Lips of Faith beers are usually found.

About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces eight year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases.  In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship.  For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

About Allagash Brewing Company
Allagash Brewing Company started in 1995 in Portland, Maine. Allagash White, a Belgian style wheat beer, was the first beer brewed and the company flagship.  Today Allagash makes six year-round beers, a regular rotation of seven yearly releases and an ever-changing selection of one-off beers.  Allagash have dedicated themselves to brewing creative, distinctive and high quality Belgian-inspired beers. For more information, please go to www.allagash.com.