“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® and the award-winning Wavehopper Kolsch Style Ale® – 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 Company:
Based in Shorewood, Wis., Big Bay Brewing Co.® 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 .

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bigbaybrewing .

- Image Caption: Big Bay Brewing Co. rolls out Long Weekend IPA, its first limited edition beer.

News Source: Big Bay Brewing Company :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

Pierjumper Twisting Citrus is a refreshing citrus blend and Oh Buoy! Cherry Cola is a hand-crafted cola with a cherry finish and a hint of spice. Both sodas feature old-fashioned quality with contemporary, natural flavors and are sweetened with real sugar rather than high fructose corn syrup.

According to Jeff Garwood, Big Bay Brewing Co. co-founder and managing partner, the company has introduced its gourmet sodas in response to the growing interest in premium carbonated beverages made with innovative flavors, high-quality ingredients and natural sweeteners. In fact, the artisanal soda trend has gained enough momentum that Beverage World began covering up-and-coming developments in the category last year, adding it to its “Hit” list.

“It’s been exciting to see the innovation and growth that’s been happening with craft sodas and we’re pleased to deliver two soda flavors made with the same passion and attention to detail as our craft beers,” said Garwood. “We see the growth of gourmet sodas running parallel to that of craft beer, and believe our products will appeal to those who appreciate hand-crafted quality whether it’s in a beer or a non-alcoholic beverage.”

With the hottest days of summer upon us, those looking for a natural thirst-quencher will enjoy Big Bay Pierjumper Twisting Citrus. Like “sunlight captured in a bottle,” the refreshing all-natural citrus beverage is the perfect choice any time of day – such as those precious last summer afternoons on the lake, or while enjoying an ocean sunset after a day at the beach.

The hand-crafted quality flavors of Oh Buoy! Cherry Cola may remind the soda drinker of days-gone-by at an old-time beachfront soda fountain, and one might feel the urge to sip it through a red and white striped straw. But make no mistake, with a cherry finish and a hint of spice, this is an all-natural contemporary take on cherry sodas. It can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere a soda drinker is looking for sparkling refreshment in a bottle whether sitting along the banks of a favorite river, lake or stream; or in the backyard watching the kids play in the sprinkler.

The Big Bay sodas have been available for sampling at the Big Bay tasting room for several weeks and the company has received positive consumer feedback. During product sampling, consumers have come up with some interesting thoughts on mixing the Big Bay gourmet sodas with the company’s craft beers.

Throughout the soda development process the company founders believed the Pierjumper Twisting Citrus soda would partner well with the brand’s award-winning Wavehopper Kolsch Style Ale® to create a version of the German Radler-type drink – a lighter alcoholic beverage typically made by mixing equal parts of beer with a citrus soda or carbonated lemonade. (The proportions of the two ingredients can be altered according to taste.) Consumer feedback reinforces it as a refreshing choice for a long, hot summer afternoon or any time a beer drinker might be looking for a lighter option.

Another interesting mixing idea from Big Bay Brewing consumers has been to partner Oh Buoy! Cherry Cola with Big Bay Boatilla Amber Ale®.

“We’ve been pleasantly surprised at the innovative ideas our consumers have brought to us for mixing our gourmet sodas and craft beers; and we see them as a way to provide even greater variety to beer drinkers looking for a lighter alternative or a different flavor profile,” added Garwood.

Big Bay Brewing Co. gourmet sodas are currently available in four-packs of 12-ounce bottles at select retailers across the state, as well as at the Big Bay Tasting Room and Brewery Store, located at 4517 N. Oakland Avenue in Shorewood, Wis. They will also be available individually at select restaurants, coffee shops and cafes. The suggested retail price will be $3.99 to $4.19 for a four-pack. Big Bay sodas are developed in agreement with Black Bear Bottling Group, LLC of Oak Creek, Wis., and are sold by local distributors across Wisconsin, including CJW Inc., Lee Beverage of Wisconsin, Kay Distributing, Webb & Gerritsen Inc. and Zastrow the Beer Man.

About Big Bay Brewing Co.:
Based in Shorewood, Wis., Big Bay Brewing Co. 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 beverage. Big Bay’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 . Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bigbaybrewing .

- Image Caption: Pierjumper Twisting Citrus and Oh Buoy! Cherry Cola from Big Bay Brewing Co.

News Source: Big Bay Brewing Company :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

Craft beers, generally higher quality brews made in small batches, have seen growth of more than nine percent so far this year despite a struggling economy (Brewers Association). Big Bay’s founders wanted to produce beers that feature the unique flavor profiles and independent spirit of craft beers while maintaining an accessible taste.

“It’s been our vision to create high quality, hand-crafted beers for those who want full-bodied flavor with just the right balance of hops. We’re pleased with the results and we look forward to introducing Big Bay products to beer drinkers across Wisconsin,” said Jeff Garwood, Big Bay Brewing Co. co-founder and managing director.

Life on the Water is a Little Sweeter:
An important element of Big Bay Brewing is the brand’s ties to the water. Its founders believe that a high quality hand-crafted beverage should evoke the same good feelings and memories that one might associate with a relaxing afternoon at the lake; sitting on the banks of a river; or enjoying an evening around an oceanfront campfire with friends. Inspired by their own special memories of family vacations, summer weekends and long afternoons near lakes and oceans, the founders have infused their passion for the water throughout the brand. Water-themed imagery and graphics are used on the labels, packaging, promotional materials and branded merchandise.

The recipes for Big Bay beers were developed by Garwood and his co-founder with technical support from brewer Jim Lueders. While the beer is being commercially produced now, the founders have been “brewing” the idea for the specialty ales for years. They called on their years of experience working with major breweries and their personal likes and dislikes to help them select just the right styles and ingredients, including a proprietary yeast.

“Big Bay beverages were specifically created to invoke the good feelings one may experience while watching the waves roll in, but they are intended to be enjoyed anyplace – in the comfort of your home or at your favorite watering hole – and anytime of the year,” added Garwood.

To produce the beer, the company has entered into an alternating partnership with the Milwaukee Brewing Company who will brew the custom beers under the guidance of Big Bay, and according to Big Bay’s proprietary recipes.

“After a full year of courting a small group of reputable brewers, we chose to work with Milwaukee Brewing Company because of its strong reputation for brewing high-quality beer, as well as its strong set of Midwest values that mirror our own,” said Garwood.

While Big Bay products will be brewed at the Milwaukee Brewing site, the company will operate a company store and sampling center at 4517 N. Oakland Ave. in Shorewood, Wis. The center, scheduled to open in February, will offer consumers an opportunity to sample Big Bay products and purchase merchandise in a relaxed setting. Its proximity to the water in Shorewood – just a few short blocks from Lake Michigan – further adds to the Big Bay experience. The company will employ approximately a half dozen employees in sales positions.

Big Bay beers are developed from unique and custom recipes that are steeped in the brewing traditions and simple ingredients of years gone by. Featuring proprietary yeast and the highest quality ingredients, Big Bay beers offer the distinctiveness of Wisconsin’s microbrews with a clean finish. Big Bay beers are brewed slowly and methodically, letting nature do what it does best. The result is a well-balanced, robust, drinking experience.

Wave Hopper Kolsch Style Ale: Wave Hopper Kolsch puts a Wisconsin stamp on a German style ale to create a highly drinkable beer that’s perfect for a sunny afternoon. Its subtle but assertive hop and malty aromas stay on the tongue briefly and finish clean. A lighter-bodied ale, with a refreshing nature, the Kolsch showcases a hint of creaminess thanks to the addition of a small amount of wheat countered with just the right amount of hoppy zing from our Perle and Hersbrucker hops. The result is a wonderfully aromatic ale with pilsner malt and subtle hop character.

Boatilla Amber Ale: Its distinctive deep auburn amber hue comes from the special blend of Pale 2 Row and Cara Munich malt. And while this Amber is well-balanced and laid back, it has a bolder maltiness and a more assertive hopping than the Kolsch. Liken it to the perfect cliff jump – daring on the take-off and smooth on entry. It’s not too heavy, but brewed with boat-loads of flavor making it the beer of choice for an evening with friends and family.

Big Bay beers will be available at select retailers, bars and restaurants across Wisconsin. The beers will be sold at retail in 12-oz. bottles at a suggested retail price of $8.49 for a six-pack. The company also plans to launch a line of hand-crafted premium sodas which are currently in development.

Big Bay products will be sold by local distributors across the state, including Beer Capitol Distributing Inc., Frank Beer Distributors Inc., CJW Inc., Lee Beverage of Wisconsin and Kay Beer Distributing.

About Big Bay Brewing Company:
Based in Shorewood, Wis., Big Bay Brewing Co. produces specialty hand-crafted beers. 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 beverage. Big Bay’s founders believe that craft brewed beverages and life on the water go hand in hand. Life on the water means creating and savoring memories and moments that are cherished for a lifetime. And, what better way to enhance those memories and moments than with the right beverage. For more information, visit www.BigBayBrewing.com . Follow us on Facebook, and on Twitter at twitter.com/bigbaybrewing .

News Source: Big Bay Brewing Company :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

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