Speakeasy Ales & Lagers – News for Spring 2011
Speakeasy Ales and Lagers has shared with us a big handful of news items that are sure to excite their fans nationwide. Read on about their new seasonal program, their barrel aging program, collaborations, and community events. Cheers!
We’re launching our new seasonal 22 oz bottle and draft program, kicking off with Betrayal Imperial Red Ale in May and followed by Butchertown Black Ale (a black IPA) in August. A big stout is being planned to follow and will incorporate some love from our friends on Pier 17. We’re working with a graphic designer who will be creating some really cool bottle designs that will be a fun evolution of our current branding.
-We will be initiating a proper barrel aging program this summer, and the first beer that should come out of the program will be Old Godfather Barleywine in early 2012.
-We are going to be partnering up with the innovators of the fresh/local movement, Chez Panisse, to create a locally sourced ale to commemorate their 40th anniversary. While still in “R&D” it will be a twist on the classic California-style pale ale.
-Another fun local partnership: Rickhouse, a local San Francisco bar known for it’s “barrel” aesthetic and amazing cocktail, gave us a rye whiskey barrel they received from Templeton – a distillery producing Prohibition era whiskey recipes – which we willed with a fresh batch of Payback Porter for aging. We’ll be doing a really fun whiskey & beer event with them and debuting the aged beer in the fall.
-While we’re currently producing just about at capacity, in May we will be taking over an adjoining warehouse space that should add about 25% more space to our footprint. We will be adding a barrel aging cellar and proper tasting room, in addition to giving us more room for storage of finished goods. The new space will give us the flexibility to expand our brewing and bottling capacity within the coming years.
-On April 9, we’re brewing a beer along with the SF Brewer’s Guild and City Beer Store to commemorate the hybrid bar/bottle shop’s 5 year anniversary. Owners Craig & Beth Wathen are helping with development of the recipe as well, and will be debuting the beer in May.
-Final Fridays: a new incarnation of our weekly Firkin Fridays featuring live music and local food purveyors will now be a monthly occurrence at the brewery, happening the last friday (duh) of every month. The last two have seen more 600 people show up to enjoy the festivities.
