Full Sail Brewing Releases Brewmaster Reserves

Full Sail Brewing Releases Brewmaster Reserves Slipknot Imperial IPA and Top Sail Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter

Hood River, Or – Full Sail Brewing is proud to announce the special release of Top Sail Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter as part of their vintage barrel aged series and Slipknot Imperial IPA, as part of their Brewmaster Reserve series. “Brewers are kinda like mad scientists, always tinkering away with some new recipe in our lab.

Back in 1998, we decided to let our own mad scientist brewer, John Harris, unleash his brewing chops on the public. The result – our ever rotating selection of Brewmaster Reserve Beers. From Barleywines to super-hopped bitters, John springs his latest invention on devoted beer lovers roughly ever 10 weeks,” said Full Sail’s Founder and CEO, Irene Firmat.

The brewery recently released the first of the Brewmaster Reserve line-up for 2008, Slipknot Imperial IPA. This annual favorite will be available January to mid March. “As the name implies, every aspect of this American style IPA is amplified – from the up-front hop aroma and bitterness to the big malt body,” said Full Sail’s Brewmaster, John Harris. (ABV: 7.8% IBUs: 80)

The brewery will follow up with the release of Top Sail Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter in early February. According to Harris, “After Top Sail Porter’s initial release in February 2007, a portion of the batch was aged for about 10 months in Bourbon casks from Kentucky, this aging presents hints of chocolate, figs, and oak to this amplified robust porter.” Deep black in color, Top Sail Bourbon Aged Imperial Porter has a roasty malt flavor and a rich malt sweetness that’s smooth & drinkable. “Dedicated to the art of wood and barrel aging, we brew in small batches with patience and care. That’s why Top Sail Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter is available in very limited quantities, so get some while you can. It cellars well, so store a few bottles in a dark, cool place and be patient – you will be rewarded for your effort and restraint,” added Harris. To help the beer aficionados that have the self-discipline to cellar this beer, Full Sail marks the bottle label with the Reserve year. ABV 9.85%, IBU 65.

At a special event to celebrate “Three years of Bourbon Beers, the brewery will be pouring their three latest wood-aged beers including bourbon-barrel-aged 2004 Imperial Porter, barrel-aged 2006 Black Gold Imperial Stout and this year’s edition of barrel-aged Top Sail Imperial Porter. The special tapping will take place at 5 p.m., Thursday, February 7th, at the Full Sail Tasting Room and Pub in Hood River, and at Full Sail’s Riverplace Brewery in Portland, Oregon. For more information call John Harris at 503-222-5343 or the Full Sail Tasting Room and Pub at 541-386-2247.

Barrel aging beer has become part of Full Sail’s brewing tradition. The brewery first started barrel aging in 1998 with small batches of Old Boardhead Barleywine and Imperial Porter. At first they were only available in their pub. The first wide spread release was in 2004 when they released a bourbon aged Imperial Porter. Every year since, Full Sail Brewmasters brew an Imperial style dark ale and fill roughly sixty oak bourbon barrel casks, then age them in their cellar for about a year. The last release – Black Gold Imperial Stout 2006 – was awarded a silver medal in the Wood-aged category at the 2006 GABF and a gold medal at the BREW NZ awards in 2007.

Full Sail’s Brewmaster Reserve beers are available in 22oz bottles and on draught in specialty beer stores and pubs throughout the Pacific Northwest and at Full Sail’s Tasting Room and Pub. For a full list of Full Sail’s Brewmaster Reserve line visit http://www.fullsailbrewing.com/brewmastersreserve.cfm

The independent and employee-owned Full Sail brewery is perched on a bluff in Hood River, Oregon, overlooking the most epic wind and kite surfing spot in the world. At this very moment 47 specialists in the liquid refreshment arts are crafting barley and hops into your next beer. The Full Sail crew has been fermenting godlike nectar since 1987. Their award winning brews are now available in nineteen states. The Full Sail Tasting Room and Pub is open seven days a week. Swing by for a pint, grab a bite, tour the brewery, or just soak up the view. www.fullsailbrewing.com