News from Founders Brewing | New Beer!
Howdy Snobs,
Now that we actually get Founders beer in our fair state [insert applause here] press releases from Founders carry A LOT more weight. I have to admit, seeing Founders on the shelves here does bring a smile to my face. That smile will be a LOT bigger later this fall when I see Breakfast Stout and their Imperial Stout….that said, they are adding an Imperial Black IPA to their lineup. We haven’t had it but if it follows everything else these guys do, it’ll be great. Check out the release below for all the details Cheers!
FOUNDERS BREWING CO. TO INTRODUCE FIRST NEW STANDARD LINEUP ADDITION SINCE ALL DAY IPA
“Dark Penance” Imperial Black IPA Will Be Founders’ Newest Specialty Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 1, 2014 – Founders Brewing Co. announced today that it will introduce Dark Penance, an Imperial Black IPA, as a specialty release this October 2014 with availability through the end of the year. Dark Penance will be available throughout Founders’ distribution footprint both on draft and in 12 oz. bottles with a suggested retail price of $11.99 per 4-pack.
Dark Penance is the newest addition to the brewery’s lineup of world class IPAs, which includes Centennial IPA, Red’s Rye IPA, Double Trouble, Devil Dancer and All Day IPA, a session IPA.
“We don’t just add beers to our lineup to have something new on the shelves,” said Dave Engbers, co-founder and vice president of brand and education at Founders Brewing Co. “Our Backstage Series is for experimentation and keeping things fresh, and we still only put those out a few times a year. Dark Penance, on the other hand, went through many recipe iterations before we were willing to put it up there with the other beers that we release again and again, year after year.”
The recipe for Dark Penance took about a year to develop, time that was mostly spent perfecting the beer’s balance and hop profile. It’s the first new beer to be added to Founders’ lineup since All Day IPA, which was released in spring 2012 following three years of development.
Dark Penance starts with a heavy malt foundation of Crystal malt for sweetness and just enough MidnightWheat to push the color to black. The bitterness is huge (100 IBUs huge), but balanced by malt sweetness and alcohol burn. The hop flavors and aromas range from citrus to floral to pine—most everything that hops can be—thanks to a delicious blend of hand-selected Chinook and Centennial hops. The Imperial Black IPA is 8.9% ABV.
“Black IPAs are becoming more common, but Imperial Black IPAs aren’t, and imperializing things is what we do,” said Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki. “Plus, we thought this beer would fit in well with our specialty lineup alongside Imperial Stout, Curmudgeon Old Ale and Double Trouble.”
Dark Penance will be available as the follow up to Double Trouble in Founders’ specialty calendar, from roughly October to December, dependent on distributor shipments. It will be released in the brewery’s taproom on draft and in bottles as of October 2014.
About Founders Brewing Co.
Established in 1997 by two craft beer enthusiasts—Dave Engbers and Mike Stevens—with day jobs and a dream, Founders Brewing Co. brews complex, in-your-face ales, with huge aromatics and tons of flavor. Founders ranks among the top 30 largest craft breweries in the U.S. and is one of the fastest growing. The brewery has received numerous awards from the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival and RateBeer and BeerAdvocate users often rate its beers among the best in the world. Located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, Founders is a proud member of the Michigan Brewers Guild and the Brewers Association. For more information, visit foundersbrewing.com.
