PETALUMA, CA —101 North Brewing Company recently contributed their first two additions to the surging canned beer phenomena, both in 16-ounce six-packs. Heroine India Pale Ale, their popular flagship beer, and newcomer Indigo Pale Ale, brewed with Blue Agave Nectar, are now both readily available throughout Northern California and the Bay Area.
“I’ve always been a big fan of cans for no other reason than flavor longevity” says Co-Founder and Brew Master Joel J. Johnson. “It’s taken a minute, but the craft beer consumer is becoming pretty savvy to that fact now too.”
Known for their strong commitment to complex yet balanced ales, 101 North has also built a reputation for capitalizing on local artists to capture their avant-garde brand imagery. The 360 degree canvas that 16-ounce cans provide certainly allows them to highlight this element.
“As former musicians, we’ve always kind of thought of our beer labels as album covers, and we’re very proud of our labels, so we’re stoked that the cans allow us to get the artwork out front even more. It definitely has us thinking about what else we can come up with, and for me as the brewer that’s pretty exciting as well” said Johnson.
Heroine IPA has nearly reached cult status locally, and in Sonoma County that isn’t easy with local IPA giants Russian River, Lagunitas, and Bear Republic (where Johnson was Head Brewer for eight years) to contend with. That hasn’t stopped them from winning a few Best IPA Awards at regional events, and most recently a Best Can Presentation Award for their striking Heroine artwork at the annual Can Fest during SF Beer Week. An amber-colored, NorCal- fashioned old-school IPA, Heroine’s assertive crystal malt backbone is accented by a floral, piney hop-profile thanks to an abundance of Cascade, CTZ, Chinook, and Centennial hops.
With a lot of breweries going Fruity IPA crazy these days, 101 North went a different route and unveiled Indigo Pale Ale, an American Pale Ale made with Blue Agave Nectar. Bittered with a single experimental-hop, catalog-named ADHA 484, the hop-profile is best described as citrusy and woodsy, with the highly-fermentable agave used to intensify the caramel flavors and hoppy aroma.
Both Heroine IPA (7.2% ABV, 61 IBU) and Indigo Blue Agave Pale Ale (6% ABV, 49 IBU) can be found at their Tap Room and fine craft beer retailers, just in time for summer adventures.
About 101 North Brewing Company
Founded in 2012, 101 North is an independent, friends and family owned and operated hand-crafted Brewery and Tap Room located in Petaluma, California. The company is led by Brew Master Joel J. Johnson and his 20 + years of brewing experience, and have created a strong momentum among craft beer enthusiasts through their exceptional brews, unique packaging, business ethics, and commitment to sustainability. For more information on 101 North Brewing Company, please visit 101northbeer.com or the company’s social media sites: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or visit their Tap Room in Sonoma County.