MILWAUKEE, Wis. /CitizenWire/ — In celebration of Labor Day, the last official long weekend of summer, Big Bay Brewing Co. has introduced its Long Weekend India Pale Ale (IPA). The IPA style brew is the first of a series of limited edition beers to be introduced by the Shorewood, Wisconsin-based craft brewer.
"The IPA style is a popular craft beer with a strong hop aroma and flavor that complements the lushness of the late summer season. It's a great beer to savor on those final long afternoons on the lake or warm evenings on the deck," said Jeff Garwood, Big Bay Brewing Co. co-founder and managing partner.
Big Bay Brewing's Long Weekend IPA gives a nod to the original heavily hopped English style ale with a nice spicy and floral hop flavor and aroma, balanced with a good malt back bone. The result is a balanced and enjoyable IPA.
IPAs have a rich history dating back to the 18th Century when British colonists needed to ensure that their beer would stay fresh and unspoiled during their long voyages from England to India. Brewers added extra hops and more fermented malt to their ales to prevent spoilage on the journey and to withstand the warmer climates of India. The new style was embraced and came to be known as India Pale Ale.
The introduction of Long Weekend IPA marks Big Bay Brewing's first limited edition brew. It will be available into the fall at which time the brewer will roll out its next limited edition style – a porter.
"Craft beer drinkers are interested in exploring new flavor profiles, and with our limited edition beers we'll be able to deliver a greater variety of beer styles to meet the unique demands of our craft beer consumers throughout the year," said Garwood.
The original test brew of Long Weekend IPA has been available for sampling at the Big Bay Brewing Co.'s Tasting Room and Retail Center, located at 4517 N. Oakland Ave. in Shorewood, Wis., for several weeks and has received positive feedback from tasting room visitors.
The craft brewer introduced its first two beers – Big Bay Brewing's Boatilla Amber Ale(R) and the award-winning Wavehopper Kolsch Style Ale(R) – late last year and both have been well-received by retailers, restaurants and consumers across Wisconsin. Earlier this month, Big Bay Brewing launched its Oh Buoy! Cherry Cola and Pierjumper Twisting Citrus natural gourmet sodas across Wisconsin.
Developed from unique and exclusive recipes that feature proprietary yeast and the highest quality ingredients, Big Bay Brewing beers offer the distinctiveness of Wisconsin's microbrews with a clean finish. They're brewed slowly and methodically resulting in a well-balanced, robust, drinking experience. The company has an alternating proprietorship with the Milwaukee Brewing Company, which leases space, brewing time and equipment to Big Bay Brewing Co.
Big Bay Brewing's Long Weekend, Boatilla Amber Ale and award-winning Wavehopper Kolsch Style Ale are available at select retailers, bars and restaurants across Wisconsin. They are sold at retail in six-packs of 12-oz. bottles, as well as in draft form in 1/4 barrel slim kegs and 1/2 barrels. Big Bay products are sold by local distributors across Wisconsin, including Beer Capitol Distributing Inc., Frank Beer Distributors Inc., CJW Inc., Lee Beverage of Wisconsin, Kay Beer Distributing and Zastrow the Beer Man.
About Big Bay Brewing Co.:
Based in Shorewood, Wis., Big Bay Brewing Co.(R) produces specialty hand-crafted beers and gourmet sodas. Big Bay is built with the vision that life on the water is a little sweeter, and that sweet life is infused in every Big Bay Brewing Co. beverage. Big Bay Brewing's founders believe that craft brewed beverages and life on the water go hand-in-hand. Life on the water means creating moments that turn into memories to be cherished for a lifetime. And, what better way to enhance those moments than with the right beverage.
For more information, visit www.BigBayBrewing.com .
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