Bigfoot Sighted in 2012!

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot is likely the most iconic Barlywine in America, or the World?  He is a beast of a beer, brimming with flavor from the massive amounts of roasted malt and spicy hops; brewed in the Barleywine style with a rich, bittersweet body and whole-cone Pacific Northwest hops.

This morning Bigfoot has been sighted in a handful of better beer outlets around Central Florida.  He will only make his annual appearance for a very limited time.  It is told that Bigfoot ages with grace, but we ask that you please not be “that guy” that hordes the Bigfoot and doesn’t share the experience with others.  Bigfoot is simply too magnificent an animal to be caged to only one location!

More Innovation Brewed at Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. seems deep in a state of renaissance the past few years and it has been really amazing to experience as a beer lover.  Sierra Nevada, a brewery that pioneered the American Craft beer movement 31 years ago, is again in exploration and inspiration manner of brewing and building.  It seems one marvelous all new beer after another has been emerging from the Chico, California brewery for the past 4 years.  If I can recount the timeline correctly; Sierra Nevada Harvest series, then Torpedo IPA, Keller Weise, Glissade, Hoptimum, the 30^th Anniversary series, Tumbler, Ovila Dubbel, Beer Camp 12pk, and now Ovila Saison and batch #2 Life & Limb… yeah, I would declare the brewers at Sierra Nevada are in concentrated inspiration mode!

We at J.J. Taylor have presently released the Ovila Saison, the second installment in the Abbey trilogy and Batch #2 Life & Limb, the Dogfish Head Brewery collaboration brew.  They are both limited offerings, and will only be found at supporting Sierra Nevada accounts.

 The Ovila series of Belgian inspired ales is a rich collaboration between Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and the monks at the Abbey of New Clairvaux.  The newest release, Ovila Abbey Saison is 7% abv and brings the centuries-old monastery brewing tradition to America.

Ovila Abbey Saison is complex and contemplative-but also refreshingly dry and drinkable.  With earthy and spicy aromas, this rustic Saison has note of green grass and a faint citrus tang.  The body is light and layered with fruit and spice accents and a dry, peppery finish.  A portion of the proceeds from this ale go toward the restoration of the historic Santa Maria de Oliva chapter house on the grounds of the Abbey of New Clairvaux.  This medieval building stood for nearly eight centuries in Spain.  William Randolph Hearst purchased the monastery in 1931 and planned to use the stones for a castle even grander than his famous San Simeon.  Although Hearst’s plan crumbled, these historic stones will rise again in a California Cistercian abbey.

 

 

 

Life & Limb is a limited release collaborative brew from two of the most bold and innovative brewers / brewery proprietors to have ever occupied America’s Craft brewing community, Ken Grossman, owner of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Sam Calagione, owner of Dogfish Head Brewery.

Life & Limb is a 10% ABV strong beer that defies style characteristics-brewed with pure maple syrup from the Calagione family farm in Massachusetts and estate barley grown on the Grossman “farm” at the brewery in Chico.  The beer is alive with yeast-a blend of both breweries’ house strains-bottle conditioned for added complexity and shelf life, and naturally carbonated with birch syrup fresh from Alaska; it is the first beer we know of ever to use birch syrup in the brew.  If stored under good conditions, this rich, full-bodied beer should age well for years. Life & Limb is available in limited 750ml bottles and limited draft.

HOPTOMIC Bitter Beer & Food Festival 2011

By now, many of you have probably seen or heard something about HOPTOMIC 2011…or maybe you haven’t?

J.J. Taylor FL has been looking to create a refined, signature event.  An event that helps our Craft beer community, one with pure focus that will offer those in attendance a tasting experience unlike any other!

So, we created…

HOPTOMIC Bitter Beer & Food Festival 2011

Typically, one does not use the word bitter as a class descriptor. However, this is in fact what hops add into beer.  The bitterness and the grassy, citrus, piney, spicy, tropical, woody, peppery aroma’s one might find in a beer. If “hoppy” beers are what pleasure your palate, then HOPTOMIC 2011 will be your bliss! Bottles, Cans, Draft or Firkin… Pilsner, Amber, Pale Ale, IPA, American Strong Ale or Barleywine; all will be offered.  Showcasing the most excellent and creative usage of hops over 35 IBU’s!  Swing on by our website for a detailed list of featured beers being offered.

HOPTOMIC 2011 Sponsors…and boy do we have some great ones.   Our first action was to find one key sponsor that radiates “hoppyness”, and who better than the original hole-leaf hop brewer Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Up next, was to search out local artisan restaurants, Specialty Grocers and Craft Beer Bars to offer small tasting-sized portions of cuisine that pair well with hoppy beers.  The following sponsors will be generously offering some of their tastiest dishes:  Datz Deli / Mellow Mushroom / Peg’s Cantina / Dunedin Brewery  / Doormet / Square 1 Burgers / The Dubliner Irish Pub / Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe / The Independent / Mr. Dunderbak’s / TAPS / Whole Foods Market / Rollin’ Oats Market / Lush Confections

Being that this is an event to evoke the senses, live music will be on hand to accompany the HOPTOMIC excitement.  The Brass Tap / Pour House / Southern Brewing & Wine Making / World of Beer and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits will also be in attendance to offer you even more information about the hoppy brews being poured.

Our mission for HOPTOMIC 2011 was to couple the boldly aromatic and bitter Craft beers with our finest local restaurants and retailers for the cause of education, exploration, philanthropy and basic entertainment.   HOPTOMIC 2011 will also help to benefit one of Tampa’s most treasured assets; the STRAZ Center for the Performing Arts.  All net proceeds will be donated to this cause.

HOPTOMIC 2011 will detonate on Saturday, June 18^th at the Tampa Straz Center for the Performing Arts, from 200p – 600p.

Tickets are $58.50 and can be purchased over the phone by calling 813-229-STAR, online or at the Straz Center box office. 

Also, please feel free to visit any one of our amazing sponsors to receive your $10 off coupon!