Portland, Ore. — Craft Brew Alliance (CBA) (NASDAQ: BREW), an independent craft brewer, today announced that its second Craft Beer Explorer Variety Pack is now available in markets across the U.S. The Craft Beer Explorer Pack, which was introduced earlier this year, features exclusive limited-release beers from Kona Brewing, Redhook Brewery and Widmer Brothers Brewing. The hand-selected, small batch beers are available nationally only in this cross-brand package, offering beer drinkers a unique opportunity to try special release beers from three different craft breweries. The latest version of the package includes Kona Lemongrass Luau Blonde Ale, Redhook Fat Chance Light IPA and Widmer Brothers Double M.A.C. Session IPA.
“Today’s beer drinkers love to explore new styles and flavors, and they’re looking for variety,” said Robert Rentsch, Senior Director of Brand Development. “CBA is home to three of the most popular and original craft breweries in the U.S., which gives us a unique advantage in that we can offer a variety of beers from several distinctive breweries, as opposed to just one. We developed the Craft Beer Explorer package to introduce consumers to some long-time pub favorites and innovative, small-batch beers that they might not be able to get outside of our breweries.”
The Craft Beer Explorer Variety Pack features seasonally relevant specialty beers that are typically on tap at the brewery’s pubs but not yet available in broader distribution. For instance, many of the popular and unique craft beers from Kona Brewing in Hawaii never make it to the mainland. In this way, the Explorer Pack creates a unique opportunity for CBA to introduce new beers outside of their home markets. Every Explorer Pack invites consumers to visit http://craftbeerexplorerpack.
The Craft Beer Explorer Pack:
Kona Brewing Lemongrass Luau Blonde Ale — Lemongrass Luau is a crisp and refreshing blonde ale brewed with wheat malt, a variety of hops, Maui turbinado sugar and fresh Big Island Ginger and Lemongrass. The hops lend layers of earthy complexity that complement the subtle sweetness from the turbinado, which is further balanced by spicy, gingersnap flavors and aromas from the fresh local ginger added throughout the brew. With its modest alcohol content Lemongrass Luau can be considered a session beer, perfect for pau hana (after work beer), sharing pints with friends, and great with almost any meal. (ABV 5.8, IBU 20)
Redhook Fat Chance Light IPA — The ultimate session beer, Fat Chance Light IPA weighs in at only 4% ABV and less than 120 calories. Brewed bold like an IPA, with Cascade, Citra, Simcoe and Centennial hops, but crafted to light beer specifications, Fat Chance Light IPA is perfect for cooling down when it’s heating up. In Redhook’s world, this is what you call a “truly crushable” India Pale Ale. (ABV 4.0, IBU 50)
Widmer Brothers Brewing Double M.A.C. Session IPA — First brewed in 2013 at the Widmer Brothers 10 barrel pilot brewery in Portland, Double M.A.C. is a hop-forward yet easy-drinking session IPA. Until now, the beer has only been available on draught at the Widmer Brothers Pub and at a handful of bars and restaurants in the Portland area. Double M.A.C.’s name comes from the fact that the beer is dry-hopped twice with Mosaic, Amarillo and Cascade hops. (ABV 4.8, IBU 50)
About Craft Brew Alliance
CBA is an independent, publicly traded craft brewing company that was formed through the merger of leading Pacific Northwest craft brewers — Widmer Brothers Brewing and Redhook Ale Brewery — in 2008. With an eye toward preserving and growing one-of-a-kind craft beers and brands, CBA welcomed Kona Brewing Company in 2010, and then launched Omission beer in 2012 and Square Mile Cider Company in 2013.
When Kurt & Rob Widmer founded Widmer Brothers Brewing in 1984, they didn’t confine their brewing exploration to strict style guidelines. To this day, Widmer Brothers continues to create craft beers with a unique and unconventional twist on traditional styles that are award winning and please a wide range of craft beer lovers. Redhook began in a Seattle transmission shop in 1981 and those colorful roots are reflected in the brand’s personality to this day. The eminently drinkable beers consistently win awards and please crowds across the United States. Kona Brewing was founded in 1994 by the father and son team of Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa, who dreamed of crafting fresh, local-island brews with spirit, passion and quality. As the largest craft brewery in Hawaii, Kona personifies the laid-back, passionate lifestyle and environmental respect of the Hawaiian people and culture. Omission beer is the first craft beer brand in the United States focused exclusively on brewing great tasting craft beers with traditional beer ingredients, including malted barley, that are specially crafted to remove gluten. Square Mile Cider was inspired by the fortitude and perseverance of the original Oregon pioneers and reinvigorates this enduringly classic American beverage.