This week ended with a collaboration brew with our Russian friends from AF Brew. We also spent some time planning all of our events for the GBG Beer Week. We’ve got some exciting news coming out soon, so we hope you’re going to be in town the 17th to the 25th of March?
One more Russian collaboration
Our final collaboration brews of 2016 was in Russia, so we thought why not start the new year where we left of and brew another collaboration with a Russian brewery? This time our friends from Anti Factory Brew was in town. It was a great day. They brought some Black Russian Salt with them, so we decided to brew a Gose. That’s unfortunately the only information I can share on the collaboration, but so far it looks and tastes great. Let’s see what a few weeks in the fermentation tanks does to it.
Axel Hagman is one of our brewers, and while we were sitting in the kitchen sharing a few beers with the Russians, he tried his hand at designing. We just think it’s going to take a hell of a long time to hand draw all 10 000 cans for this collaboration 😉
At the end of long brew days, we always end of in the kitchen, sharing some beers. The visiting brewery usually brings with them some of their beers, while we dig into our fridges and share some of ours.
AF Brew also added their names to our kitchen wall. There’s some great names up there from all the brewers and breweries that have visited our Kungssten Brewery, and we’re sure there’ll be plenty more.
More beer heading to Sweden’s Systembolaget
One of the first questions we always get on our social channels in Sweden, is when a new beer will be released at the state monopoly Systembolaget. Never, used to be our answer, but not anymore.
Our new strategy is to release two new beers at Systembolaget, to enable our Swedish customers to get hold of it easier. All of our beer will be in the stores closest to the brewery, and available to order to your closest store. This can be done either from in-store, or via systembolaget.se
Pop Corn Hop Porn IPA
The first new beer to be released in 2017 will be our IPA Pop Corn Hop Porn. Pop Corn has been with us nearly since the start. It is number 62 in our 184 beer portfolio, so has gone through some design iterations, as well as an improved recipe.
You can expect an aromatic Hop taste with a clear bitterness, hints of Grapefruit, Papaya, Honey, Citrus and Pine Needles.
Sales start on the 1st of February. You can have a look at the beer on Systembolaget’s website.
In this last week, we spent some more time packaging a fresh batch, just in time for the sales start next week. We’re looking forward to hearing your feedback, once you get your hands on this beer.
Sabotage, our collaboration with O|O Brewing
Our own Black IPA with Cascade and Columbus Hops, has been with us since the start. It is number 7 of 184, and is a beer that has remained in a bottle, while a lot of our standard beers have gone into cans. The Cascade and Columbus Hops present fresh pine and citrus characteristics, combined with the coffee and liquorice tones from our blend of roasted malts. For us, it’s all the things a Black IPA should be.
So when Olle from O|O Brewing came around to brew with us, we didn’t hesitate to brew another Black IPA. It is a very misunderstood style of beer, but once you’ve tried it, you’ll understand why those who drink it often love it. It’s everything you get from a normal IPA, as well as the roasted notes from a dark stout or Porter. The best of both worlds.
Sabotage Black IPA is the second beer to go to Systembolaget in 2017. It has a balanced taste with a distinct bitterness, hints of Passion Fruit, Orange Peel, Cocoa, Coffee and Mixed Spices. You can order yours from Systembolaget from the 1st of February.
We’re really keen to hear back from you if you managed to get your hands on both to try them side by side.
Our full collection at Systembolaget in Sweden
During 2017 we’re aiming to have between 8-10 beers in our assortment at Systembolaget. March sees the launch of two more beers, but more on that later. Some beers will fall away from the collection as Raspberry Wheat did, and some new ones will join. We hope you enjoy the selection, that you now can order to your closest store.
Another new beer launches at our Tap Room – 3rd of February
Our Tap Room is open this year on all uneven weekends. That’s a very Swedish thing to talk about even and uneven weeks, but this is where we live so that’s what we use.
On Friday the 3rd we will launch a new beer called Spoiler Alert. It’s what we would call a Modern Pale Ale. It’s 4,5% so perfect for a weekday. If you’re keen to be one of the first to try it, then join us at the Tap Room Friday 3 Feb 17-21h00 or Saturday 4 Feb 14-19h00.
You can always follow our Facebook page to stay up to date with events at the Tap Room.
Surprise on the way
While we were sharing some beers with the Russians, we also tried one of our latest creations. The labels have been ordered, even though the beer has already been packaged. It was really great. We do one of these beers per year, is all I’m going to say about that. We’re going to release it in a month or so, or keep it for a few months more. That’s about as much tips I’m going to give away. You’re welcome to guess what it is 🙂
And finally
Personally, as the Brand manager and Designer, I really enjoy seeing what is happening with can design today. I’m lucky in the sense that we do so many new beers, so i get to design a new can label every week. There’s reasons we miss the label order every now and again. You can’t rush art 😉
That’s it from us for this week. Next week we’ve got the Tap Room open so there’ll be some updates from that, and we’ll be publishing all of our Festival dates for 2017.
Keep Well
Finding our beers in Sweden
Systembolaget
Have a look at our Systembolaget page, where you’ll find a map that features the stores that have our beers on their shelves. If you live in other parts of Sweden, then you can follow this link to order the beers directly from Systembolaget.se to your closest store or your front door 🙂
Folköl (Low ABV Beers)
Visit our Folköl page if you’d like to find out which Stores & Supermarkets, such as ICA & Hemköp stock our low ABV or “folköl” across Sweden. When our Tap Room is open every second weekend, you can also come past to buy them directly from us. We always have a 4-pack or 6-pack available.
Getting hold of our beers Internationally
At the moment we export our beer to 13 countries. Of course Europe is close, but our first shipment has just arrived in New Zealand. Some countries have exclusivity contract, whilst others do not.
If you’d like to distribute our beer in your country, then please get in touch, and we can send you a price list, and discuss samples, etc.
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