Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/09/01): Baird-Country Boy Collaboration Beer Japan Debut

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Baird-Country Boy Collaboration Beer Japan Debut

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Do you remember the Country Boy Blog — Nate and DH’s fun, humorous and informative account of their exploration into the Japan craft beer scene? The very first time I met them at our Fishmarket Taproom in an interview for the blog, I could see the twinkle in their eyes and the passion in their hearts. These ‘what you see is what you get’ good old boys bled beer. During their time in Japan they became stalwart fans of Baird Beer and close personal friends of the Baird Brewing family.

Well, back at home in Lexington, Kentucky the Country Boys have brought their burning love of beer to a new and higher level. They opened Country Boy Brewing in 2011 and have achieved such success right out of the gate with their delicious, down-to-earth, no-bullshit style of brewing that it almost makes their old mentor a little jealous. Pride, though, trumps jealousy in the sip of a Country Boy pint. The Country Boys are doing things right and you can taste it in their beer.

It was a tremendous honor for us thus to be invited to participate in a collaboration beer at the Country Boy brewery in Lexington this past spring. Lead brewer Chris made the trip for Baird and spent a raucous weekend with Nate, DH and the boys brewing up Angry Amos Collaboration Ale.

*Angry Amos Collaboration Ale (7.5%):

In the words of Nate, Angry Amos is “an amped up collision of [Baird] Angry Boy and [Country Boy] Amos Moses.” Floor-malted Maris Otter anchors the grist bill which also features Munich, Crystal, Aromatic, Chocolate and Wheat malt. The hop bill too borrows from both beers, featuring Columbus, Chinook, Cascade, Galaxy, Appollo and Millenium in the kettle, and a massive dosing of German Tettnanger as dry hops in the conditioning tank. Before dry hopping, though, Angry Amos took a unique 2-month Kentucky detour through Maker’s Mark bourbon barrels. Country Boy brewer Nate says of the finished Angry Amos: “Between the malt depth, the massive load of hops, and the barrel aging, it’s an extremely complex ale that changes as you drink it.”

Let’s get busy drinking it! Fortunately, our friends at Nagano Trading joined this collaboration as the import agent arranging shipment to Japan of a pallet of Angry Amos and a pallet of a few other Country Boy year-round brews. These beers are:

*Amos Moses (6.0%): An American Brown Ale that is the love child between a brown ale and robust porter.

*Lazy Rye Pale Ale (6.0%): A crisp, hoppy American Pale Ale with a spicy, dry finish imparted by additions of malted rye.

*Knotty Pine IIPA (9.6%): A Chinook hop bomb!

*Baird-Country Boy Tap Takeover Event at Antenna America (Thursday-Friday, September 5-6):
All of the above Country Boy beers, including the Angry Amos Collaboration Ale as well as Baird Angry Boy Brown Ale, will be featured at Nagano Trading’s Yokohama beer outlet Antenna America in a two-day tap takeover event. Doors open and beers begin pouring at 3:00 pm sharp Thursday, September 5. On Friday, September 6 at 7:00 pm I will be in attendance for a ‘meet the brewer’ session in which I will talk about the beers, the collaboration and anything else beer that folks want to hear about. Mark you calendar and please plan to join all of us at Baird, Country Boy and Nagano Trading for a good ol’ down home beer blast.

Angry Amos Collaboration Ale will make its debut at all Baird Taproom pubs on Saturday, September 7. The other Country Boy beers will be available exclusively at the Nakameguro, Bashamichi and Numazu Fishmarket Taprooms, also beginning Saturday, September 7.

Attention Japan craft beer retailers: Ten 20-liter kegs of the Angry Amos Collaboration Ale are available for purchase direct from Nagano Trading. Nagano Trading will begin accepting orders on Monday, September 2 for shipment beginning Saturday, September 7. Please direct all inquiries and orders to Nagano Trading (contact person — Taketo Murakoshi; email address — order@naganotrading.com; Tel. 045-315-5458).

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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