Craig Wensell, CEO-head brewer at Wilmington Brew Works, followed the news coming out of Ukraine. When reports were published in late February that Pravda Brewery in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, had suspended brewing operations and shifted to manufacturing Molotov Cocktails, he was impressed..
“These are guys that know their craft, but see the writing on the wall and are doing everything they can to help,” Wensell stated in a press release. The Molotov Cocktails were being sent to the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces, but nothing in the news stories gave Wensell any indication of how he could help. He reached out to the brewers at Pravda, translation ‘Truth’, offering assistance – even if he could place orders for merchandise that would never be filled.
“I didn’t expect to hear back, but was hoping they would see the message of support,” said Wensell, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. Pravda received so many offers of support, they recently posted five of their beer recipes online, for brewers worldwide.
Yuri Zastavny of Pravda Brewery shared a Facebook post announcing the collaboration, “As Lviv prepares for war, brewing is seen as an act of hope. It will take several weeks for the beer to be ready, but we hope that when it’s finished, we will be drinking this beer in a country that has won the war.”
Wilmington Brew Works committed to brewing one of the ‘Victory Beer Series’, promising at least $1,000 in contributions back to Pravda and Ukrainian Forces. “We had the perfect opening in our brew schedule and are excited to produce our version of their Ukrainian Imperial Stout.”
The Delaware brewery expects to brew the beer early next week and have it available for sale in 16-ounce cans and on draught by the first week of April.
Wensell says, “In the end, we’d love nothing more than for us, and every brewery around the world participating, to sell out on day one. Let’s show the Brewers at Pravda, and the Ukrainian people, that we have their back.”
Dogfish’s new whiskey
Dogfish Head Distilling Co. announced the launch of its latest, limited-edition whiskey.
Alternate Takes Volume 3: Whiskey Finished in Apple Brandy & Apple Cider Barrels is distilled from 100% pale malt and finished for more than three years in freshly-emptied Dogfish Head American oak apple brandy barrels and French oak apple cider barrels from Angry Orchard.
Available at Dogfish Head’s coastal Delaware properties, Alternate Takes Volume 3: Whiskey Finished in Apple Brandy & Apple Cider Barrels will be distributed in beverage stores in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Washington, DC and Virginia in late February. New York stores will see the hiskey, as well as aother Dogfish Head Distilling Co. spirits later this spring.
“Alternate Takes Volume 3 has truly been a labor-of-love for our distilling team. It’s been in the works for more than three years,” said Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head co-founder. “That makes my anticipation for this product launch even greater, and I can’t wait to share this delicious dram with folks everywhere, especially with you spirits-lovers in New York. It will be awesome to finally be able to send our full portfolio of house-made spirits to our neighbors up north and I’m excited to hear their thoughts on our distillery’s offerings.”
According to a release, Alternate TAkes is “boasts delicious aromas of warming cinnamon and wildflower honey paired with notes of fresh green apples, roasted chestnut and buttery, dry oaked chardonnay. The third release out of Dogfish Head’s Alternate Takes Series, a lineup of premium, experimental whiskeys, it draws inspiration from analog-aged musicians, who were known for recording various unique takes and trialing alternate sounds until a great record emerged.”
More information on Dogfish Head Distilling Co., its Alternate Takes Series is available here.
Homebrew winner brewed
A homebrew winner became a new offering at Thompson Island Brewing Company.
The beer is the creation of homebrewer Jack Price of Milford, winner of Thompson Island’s second Annual Homebrew Contest. The restaurant is part of SoDel Concepts.
Price worked with the brewpub’s brewmaster, Jimmy Valm, to produce Groundskeeper Porter, a coffee porter.
The name was inspired by Price, who roasted his own coffee for his contest entry. For the larger batch, coffee beans from Swell Joe Coffee in Lewes were used.
“We fell in love with Jack’s porter with the first sip,” said Valm, who judged the contest along with Jimmy Kroon, president of Delmarva United Homebrewers in Sussex County, and Matt Patton, a certified cicerone. Patton oversees SoDel Concepts’ beer program. “It was a pleasure brewing the beer in our facility,” Valm said. “We know our guests will love it as well.”
