Ahoy! Our favorite beer-brewing buccaneers to the not-so-distant north have, in a show of un-piratelike civility, released unto the landlubber masses their seasonal schedule for the coming year (yarr?). With three new 200-barrel fermenters on-site, this promises to be a big year for the Heavy Seas crew as they look to produce more of the quality, Jolly Roger-bearing brews for which they are known.
The list includes many of Heavy Seas’ past successes (The Below Decks Barleywine Aged in Cabernet Barrels being one of my personal favorites), as well as the all new Crossbones Oyster Stout which, at 4.7% ABV, is something you can enjoy all day until your timbers are sufficiently shivered.
The list is long and full of promise, with many unique styles and techniques represented from all three of Heavy Seas fleets: Mutiny Fleet, Pyrate Fleet and Clipper Fleet. Check it out below and be sure to keep an eye out (get it?) for these unique seasonal releases.
*Disclaimer: The author takes limited responsibility for any nautical/pirate jokes and/or puns made above as they were not written, but rather wrote themselves.
Editor’s Note: DCBeer.com fully endorses the avast (ye codlivered currs!) selection of pirate puns in this post.
From the Heavy Seas Blog:
With heavy heart, we announce several Mutiny Fleet styles have been temporarily marooned and will not be released in 2012. Included in this list are:
AARSH Red
Big DIPA
Hang Ten
Holy Sheet
Prosit!
Smoke on the Water
Yule Tide
Our annual Letter of Marque homebrew competition is also being retired, although last year’s winning Tripel Wit will be released in May. These changes are being made to increase the availability of Heavy Seas Beer to your favorite pubs, package goods stores and, ultimately, you.
Here’s our 2012 Seasonal Crew Manifest:
MUTINY FLEET – Our biggest and boldest beers, some are vintage dated and designed for aging like fine wine. Very small batch releases in 22oz bottles and limited draft.
Siren Noire Imperial Chocolate Stout 8% ABV – English style imperial stout, fermented and flavored with imported Belgian chocolate nibs. Smooth and easy drinking. January
Plank II: Dopplebock 8.5%ABV – A dopplebock style lager matured with specially treated Eucalyptus and Poplar wood planks. Look for impressions of toffee and chocolate in the aroma and flavor. March
Letter Of Marque – Letter of Marque features the winning recipe from our national homebrew competition. This year’s style will be a Tripel Wit. May
Davy Jones’ Lager – Imperial Cream Ale 7% ABV – Fermented using lager yeast at “ale” temperature then slowly lowered down to “lager”, taking the yeast from the top down to the depths of Davy Jones locker. July
The Great Pumpkin / Great’er Pumpkin – Imperial Pumpkin Ale 8.5% ABV – We add the pumpkin during the mash at precisely the right time to create just the perfect balance of malt, hops, pumpkin and spice. The Great’er Pumpkin is a barrel aged version of the same. September
BELOW DECKS (and BARREL-AGED) – Barleywine 10% ABV – Our award winning English style barleywine. We will concurrently release a series of three; traditional and two that have been aged in wooden bourbon barrels or cabernet barrels. Vintage dated, it will benefit from aging. November
PYRATE FLEET Seasonals – Our signature robust styles.
Black Cannon – Black IPA 7.25% ABV
The style may be an oxymoron, but this ale is an extension of our Loose Cannon style, brewed with dark malt. January-March.
Dubbel Cannon – Belgian Style IPA 7.25% ABV
A variation of our Loose Cannon IPA fermented with Belgian Dubbel yeast. Tangy hops and a spicy aroma. April-June.
Red Sky At Night – Belgian style Saison 7.5 % ABV
A complex yet delicate ale, brewed with a unique Belgian yeast which develops a spicy, fruity flavor. July – September.
Winter Storm Imperial ESB 7.5%ABV
English malts, plus US and English hops, give this beer full malty flavors balanced with hop aromas and a lingering, firm hop bitterness. October – December
CLIPPER FLEET seasonals – featuring award winning, classic beer styles.
Sea Nymph – Summer Ale 4.5%ABV Light in color, crisp and refreshing ale. Formerly Heavy Seas Summer Ale April – July
CrossBones – Oyster Stout 4.7%ABV *NEW*
Dry in style and dark in color from 6 types of malt, balanced with 3 kinds of hops. October – March
