The Icon series are beers that we will release for about three months at a time. Each will be different from other beers that we brew. Some will be iconic of a beer style (which was the original concept), but some may demonstrate more creative interpretations or melding of beer styles. Most of the Icon releases will be from recipes conceived and refined by our brewers. Occasionally a recipe inspired by a winning entry from the Big Batch Brew Bash will be released in this series. Icon releases will probably be in the 4% to 8% ABV range. Stronger special releases will be reserved for the Divine Reserve series.
Icon Series:
Amarillo Hefe
| Style: | Amarillo Hefeweizen |
| Packaging Color: | Green |
| Date Released: | May 1, 2013 |
| Original Gravity: | 1.051 |
| Final Gravity: | 1.0105 |
| Alcohol: | 5.4% ABV |
Brewer Sam Wright's Description:
The recipe for Amarillo Hefe came from a beer I developed for my sister and brother in law's wedding. They wanted a hefeweizen for their reception, and I decided to put my own twist on it. Since some people like to put lemon or orange slices in hefes, I figured I could replace that with the bright citrus flavor and aroma of Amarillo hops. The base beer starts as a fairly traditional Hefe. As fermentation starts to putter out, a healthy dose of Amarillos are dry hopped to complement the banana and clove flavors of the yeast. The balance gives an impression of added spice flavor, but no spice was added. Just malt, hops, yeast, and water. Enjoy!
Cascadian Dark Ale
| Style: | Cascadian Dark Ale (Black IPA) |
| Packaging Color: | Blue |
| Date Released: | March 6, 2013 |
| Original Gravity: | 1.070 |
| Final Gravity: | 1.017 |
| Alcohol: | 7% ABV |
Description:
The key to a Black IPA is to artfully balance the aggressive hop flavor and bitter with the roast of the black malt to create a wonderful marriage of the two competing tastes. Icon Blue starts with a big hop nose up front, the result of Centennial and Simcoe additions at end of boil and dry hopping. There is also a roast malt character that starts with the nose and goes all the way through the end. At the finish, the Chinook and Columbus hops kick in to create a lasting bitter. We fermented this beer with our Saint Arnold ale yeast, which contributes an additional complexity. This beer is best served at 45°F to 55°F.
This beer was inspired by Pete Garza’s winning entry in the 2012 Big Batch Brew Bash.
Belgian-Style Pale Ale
| Style: | Belgian Pale Ale |
| Packaging Color: | Red |
| Date Released: | December 10, 2012 |
| Original Gravity: | 1.0575 |
| Final Gravity: | 1.013 |
| Alcohol: | 6% ABV |
Brewer Sam Wright's Description:
I was going for an approachable Belgian beer that people could drink more than one of. I wanted to use a simple malt bill with British crystal malts to provide a nice sweetness that doesn't get muddled with the yeast character and the hops. To add an American element, Chinook hops were used for bittering, which adds a piney flavor. Saaz hops were added for aroma that blends well with the yeast. I selected a yeast that adds Belgian yeast character without going overboard with phenols. I wanted to make a beer that used ingredients from disparate brewing traditions that worked well together.