April showers bring a blossom of new local and national seasonal craft brews

HOUSTON, TX (April 2, 2013) – Another spring season is descending upon us, and with it comes the promise of warmer temperatures, balmy nights and a plethora of icy-cold seasonal craft beers coming soon to the shelves and coolers of your favorite stores. Spring has sprung, so grab your friends and find the closest outdoor patio or backyard barbeque and quench your thirst with some unbelievably satisfying new and refreshing craft offerings.

“This is an exciting time of year as craft brewers everywhere unveil their spring and summer craft brews,” says John L. Nau, III, president and CEO, Silver Eagle Distributors. “We are thrilled to offer Texans the brands and styles of beers they are craving, and I have no doubt both the new and tried-and-true favorites of the season will provide options for every taste preference!”

Currently in stores is the second release of Houston brewer Saint Arnold’s new Icon Series – Icon Blue, a Cascadian Dark Ale (or Black IPA). Beer connoisseurs will enjoy the dark India Pale Ale’s secret blend of black malt with Chinook, Columbus, Centennial and Simcoe hops.

Another Houston favorite, Karbach Brewing Co.announced the release of its Barn Burner Saison in March. Saisons were traditionally brewed by the Belgians for farmhands as sustenance for working in the warm summer months. These ales are generally lighter in body and often brewed with fruit and spices, making it the perfect beer to enjoy on a warm afternoon.

For those looking to drink for a cause, now’s the perfect time to add some pink, specifically Woodchuck’sPink Private Reserve, to your refrigerator. Delicate in body yet full of crisp apple taste, Woodchuck Pink was crafted to honor and create awareness for the Survivorship NOW organization. The brewery also made a monetary donation of $50,000 to further various cancer-related programs within the organization.

For those looking for a bolder flavor profile, Big Sky Brewing Co.’s Brush Tail Farmhouse Saison’s mix of traditional ingredients include Belgian pale malts, the finest German and English hops and a secret French yeast strain. Intentionally unfiltered, this Missoula, Montana crafted Saison offers a bevy of flavors and aromas.

Sun-worshipping ale lovers will be thrilled this season with the release of Sixpoint Brewery’s Apollo. Complete with the unmistakable flavor of Bavarian wheat, the beverage’s clear, golden brilliance will undeniably become the ideal complement to a bright summer’s day by the pool.

Another warm weather option to include in your fridge this season is the new Goose IslandSummertime. Styled as a Kolsch beer, a method originating from Cologne, Germany, this pale golden ale encompasses a light, fruity aroma and is cold-conditioned or lagered after its primary fermentation. Combine this with its use of the finest malts and German hops and the end result is a beer that is both clean and invigorating.

Also new to the market, but available year-round areGoose Island’s Vintage and Classic Collections. Open since 1988, but just recently arriving in Texas, the Chicago-based brewery has become renowned for its diverse selection of distinctive year-round and seasonal craft beers.

Another well-liked craft brewery Texans will get a taste of soon is Southern Tier Brewing Company. Known both for its beer flavors and memorable names, this Lakewood, New York brewer has been in operation since 2002, and has grown to produce around 50,000 barrels of beer annually. Texans will be able to get a taste of the breweries year-round and seasonal favorites such as its Eurotrash Pilz and Hop Sun beginning April 8.

Sometimes, a hot, humid day calls for nothing but lazy swings on the back porch and a frosted glass full ofLazy Magnolia Timber Beast. Joining a line-up of three existing Lazy Magnolia brews that debuted in Texas last spring, this spicy, full-bodied imperial Rye Pale Ale features a balanced flavor that comes from a generous dose of Zythos hops. Timber Beast is also the first in Lazy Magnolia’s Back Porch Series.

Other new-to-the-market year-round seasonals that will be available this spring include Redhook’s Audible Ale and Widmer’s Alchemy Ale. And while both of those ale’s will launch nationwide, beer lovers outside of Houston will have to make the drive down South to have the exclusive experience of enjoying Karbach Brewing Co.’s soon-to-be-released Roshambo and El Hopadillo Negro, both will be available throughout the year in 22-ounce bombers.

As an added bonus to all the new seasonals hitting the market, beer connoisseurs can rest assure that they will also still find spring and summer seasonal favorites such as Saint Arnold’s Summer Pils, Sierra Nevada’s Summerfest, Woodchuck Summer, Rahr Summertime WheatWidmer’s Citra Blonde, Kona’s Wailua Wheat, and Rogue’s Dad’s Little Helper Black IPA returning to a store near you.

Those looking to entertain in style this spring and impress guests with a bit more than an ice-cold bottle of beer should check out the first-of-its-kindDraftmark. A high-end, affordable home draught system that offers beer drinkers a true draught beer experience, Draftmark uses a patented technology to lock in freshness. The beer is naturally carbonated and no additional CO2 is utilized. Current Draftmark brands hitting the market include Budweiser, Shock Top Belgian White, Goose Island’s Honker’s Ale, Michelob AmberBock and Bass Pale Ale.

Whether at a summer picnic, outdoor festival or favorite neighborhood bar, this year’s spring and summer seasonals take on the mission of having an option to quench every taste bud around. And with the Texas heat right around the corner, these beers couldn’t be arriving at a better time!

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About Silver Eagle Distributors
Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P. is the nation’s largest Anheuser-Busch distributor and one of the largest Grupo Modelo distributors in the country. Silver Eagle employs more than 1,200 employees that serve 16 counties in Texas through operations in Houston, San Antonio, Conroe, Cypress and Rosenberg. Silver Eagle also distributes a broad selection of import brands, microbrews and craft beers and several non-alcohol beverages and waters. For more information, visit www.wideworldofbud.comwww.silvereagle.com; orwww.craftbrews.com.