MINNEAPOLIS — Artisanal Imports is excited to announce that Minnesota’s Fulton Beer is bringing back Specter, a limited release New England-style IPA. Beginning Nov. 1, it will be available in kegs, 4-packs of cans and on draught while supplies last. For the first time, Specter will be available to wholesalers, retailers, and consumers in all regions of the United States. New markets will be sold and serviced by Artisanal Imports’ national sales team.
Specter represents a distinct and deliberate departure from the high-clarification offerings in the Fulton lineup, including the rest of the brewery’s IPAs. The beer’s smooth, creamy mouthfeel and hazy appearance are the byproducts of a number of ingredients and processes, such as the use of nearly 20 percent oats in the mash, a chloride-heavy water chemistry and low flocculating yeast.
Coming in at 35 IBUs, Specter is aggressively hopped with late boil and whirlpool additions that impart a tropical and juicy finish with little perceived lingering bitterness. Fulton also dry-hops Specter twice with Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo, and Nelson Sauvin to add aromas of citrus and stone fruits.
“We are especially excited about Specter as it will be our first beer to be released across the entire Artisanal network, which means it will hit stores and pints across the country ‒ not just our current footprint,” said Corey Shovein, Fulton’s National Sales Director. “This is a delicious beer that resonates with consumers not just because it is a hoppy, juicy, hazy NE-style IPA with packaging that stands out on a crowded cooler shelf. It’s also because Specter tells a deeply personal story for Fulton that many people can relate to. We want everyone to enjoy this beer, read the story and take action if they are able.”
At 7.1 percent ABV, Specter is an easy-drinking beer bursting with flavor – and one with a poignant backstory.
In 2016, Fulton lost one of its family members, Greg Sincheff, to depression. To honor Greg’s memory, the brewery released a NE-style IPA that bore his nickname, “Grog.” One dollar from each pint of Grog sold at the taproom was donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).
In 2017, the beer first known as Grog returned as “Specter.” The word specter is defined as “a visible incorporeal spirit, ghost, phantom or apparition.” The name is intended to continue honoring Greg’s memory and help his spirit remain visible. It is also an opportunity for Fulton to bring awareness to mental health issues and suicide prevention. And thus, this year Fulton will donate $1 for every pint of Specter sold at the taproom to the AFSP.
The artwork on the can is inspired by the “sugar skull” commonly associated with the Day of the Dead, also known as Día de Muertos. The holiday is observed each year on Nov. 1 to honor loved ones who have died. Fulton first used the sugar skull image in its taproom to mark the “Death of the Growler” in September 2016, when the brewery grew too big to continue selling growlers under state law. They brought back the sugar skull for Specter, as the day of Greg’s death coincides with this day of remembrance of the dead.
“It’s very gratifying to me when good work and good beer intersect,” said Lanny Hoff, Artisanal Imports SVP-Brands Manager. “If it was nothing more than a great beer Specter would be a pleasure to sell, but that it brings visibility to a critical issue makes it all that more satisfying. My hat is off to the Fulton crew on this one!”
About Fulton Beer
Fulton Beer was founded by four homebrewers in a Southwest Minneapolis garage in 2009 with the mantra “Ordinary Guys Brewing Extraordinary Beer.” Since then, it has become one of the fastest growing breweries in the Midwest. In 2012, Fulton opened its first taproom in Minneapolis, which offers an ever-changing tap selection as well as house-brewed non-alcoholic soda. It commissioned its second brewery in 2014, a 51,000-square foot facility in Northeast Minneapolis. Fulton is best known for Sweet Child of Vine, a balanced and approachable India Pale Ale; Lonely Blonde, an easy-drinking Blonde Ale; 300, a Mosaic IPA; and an extraordinarily uncomplicated Lager named Standard. Learn more about the brewery at www.fultonbeer.com.
About Artisanal Imports
Artisanal Imports is an importer of specialty beers from England, Germany, Belgium and beyond. Our portfolio of fine ales and lagers is broad and represents a wide range of beer styles, but it is not our mission to collect every small brewery across Europe. We believe in working in full partnership with our breweries and are careful to select beers that are high quality and interesting but that do not overlap one to the next.
The company also represents a growing portfolio of U.S. based breweries and cideries to assist with national sales growth.
For more information on Artisanal Imports, please visit artisanalimports.com, or the company’s social media sites: Facebook and Twitter.