Hop on Board with Grasslands' Crowdfunding Campaign!

I have been writing about Grasslands Brewing Company for almost two years now! I've written over a dozen beer reviews, featured many of their pilot batches that will soon be flowing from the taproom, and now is the time to help Grasslands Brewing Co. open their doors (officially)!

Grasslands launched their crowdfunding campaign a few weeks ago with a goal of raising $30,000. The campaign currently has received over 100 backers (I am proud to be one of them) who have pledged a combined amount of more than $15,000! That's some great work, but it's not enough. That's where YOU come in!

Before I lay out my top reasons why you should hop on board with Grasslands' crowdfunding campaign, you must check out the video below!



Here are my top reasons for pledging today...

Reason #5: Rewards!
Who doesn't like to get rewards? The power of incentives is real, people. Remember those shiny gold stickers other people got for doing their homework? Well, here's your opportunity to finally get a reward for doing something right! When you pledge to Grasslands Brewing Co, you're not only helping them get their start, but you'll also receive unique rewards, which can include stickers, t-shirts, exclusive bottles, and even your very own tailgate party! Rewards start for pledges of just $10, and they get bigger and better the more you give. Check out all the rewards by clicking here!

Reason #4: Grasslands is good for the Earth!
Grasslands Brewing Company's slogan is "Earth First Ales." Grasslands is committed to using 100% natural malts, hops and adjuncts.  Additionally, Grasslands will use organic ingredients and recycled materials whenever and however possible. They're conscious of the environment and animal welfare and will utilize environment-friendly and sustainability/conservation-focused business and operation practices in all facets of the brewery. Now, doesn't that give you a whole-lotta warm and fuzzies?

Reason #3: How can you say no to these faces?

I mean look at this lovely couple! They easily win the cutest-couple-to-own-a-brewery award! And the rest of the crew isn't too shabby either!
In seriousness, you're looking at two people who are going all-in to make this company a success. By getting in on the crowdfunding campaign, you're not just giving to a company without a face, you're contributing to the ultimate goals and aspirations that Gabe and Saralynn have set out to accomplish through Grasslands Brewing Company. Think of it this way: If you help them be able to brew good beer, you'll get to drink good beer! It's simple logic.

Reason #2: Grasslands Keeps on Giving!
Hundreds of people have been tasting Grasslands' brews over the past 2 years thanks to the Grasshoppers Review Club! From day one, Grasslands has proven to be a company that puts the patrons and fans first. By joining their crowndfunding campaign, you have a chance to give to a company that's been giving to us. And by doing so, they'll be sure to give some more and send rewards (see reason #5).

Reason #1:You can become an Exclusive Member!
While there are several rewards that are pretty awesome, my favorite is the membership opportunity. For a pledge of just $250, you will be a part of the inaugural Grasshoppers Membership Club. This includes the following during the year of 2015:

• Access to five limited/special release batches (including the Black Rose Immortal Imperial Stout)
• 10% off any draft purchases (16 oz or less) in the Grasslands taproom
• GrassHoppers Membership Club workshirt
• First right of refusal for 

Don't live in Tallahassee? No problem! One important component of the membership is that you may assign one "Trustee" to your account. This person will be able to pick up your special release bottles in the event you are out-of-town. This is a great option for folks like me who love Grasslands but do not live in Tallahassee!

Well there ya have it. There are plenty of other reasons to support this campaign, but these are my top 5! What are you waiting for? Get involved, pledge, and be a part of the foundational start of Grasslands Brewing Company!

Grasslands' Big Cypress Brett IPA

This is a recurring monthly series in which I taste and share my thoughts on a different beer from Grasslands Brewing Co. as they progress on their journey to open their doors to thirsty craft beer lovers THIS SUMMER!  Grasslands is an up-and-coming brewery out of Tallahassee, Fl. that centers their philosophy on making quality "earth first ales." I will taste pilot batches and share my thoughts with the BeerApostle community. You can read past posts about Grasslands beer in the archive section of this blog.

Brewery: Grasslands Brewing Co.
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Style: Brett IPA
ABV: 7.5%
Beer Apostle's Grade: B+

It's hard to believe this is my twelfth review of a Grasslands brew, and the third time I am reviewing a Big Cypress iteration! It's been an absolute blast covering Gabe Grass' journey as he gets set to officially open the doors of Grasslands Brewing Co. Over the last year, I have been fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of Gabe's experimental and innovative batches. I am not sure why he's entrusted a schmuck like me with such a high honor, but am thankful nonetheless!

This Big Cypress Brett IPA is something I have really been looking forward to. Having tried batches #1 and #4 of the base recipe, I am curious to see how the Brett yeast affects this beer. To see my reviews of Big Cypress IPA without the Brett, click here and here.

You might be wondering, "What is Brett?" Brett is short for Brettanomyces, which  is a form of yeast that traditionally imparts a level of “funkiness” or ”sour” tones to its beers. While this is often the case, there are various strands of Brett yeasts that give floral and tropical impressions. The latter is the form of Brett yeast that's used in this Big Cypress IPA.

Let's get to it, shall we?

Appearance: This Brett IPA pours an unfiltered, hazy copper hue. There is minimal head that quickly dissipates.

Aroma: Earthy hops come to the front of the nose. I pick up a citrus undertone--lemon and orange zest.

Taste: This is an in-your-face tropical IPA! I get a lot of citrus and tropical fruits, mainly grapefruit, mango, and lemons. There is a mild spiciness that comes towards the back of the palate; this is
possibly given off by the Brett. The finish includes a subtle sweetness capped off with the aforementioned spice.

Mouthfeel: Big Cypress Brett IPA is a medium bodied beer. Without a ton of malt sweetness, this beer feels lighter than it is.

Overall: With this being the first 100% Brett IPA that I have tried, I really didn't know what to expect. I also had no point of reference for comparison. And I must admit that prior to the first sip, I fully expected to get some funky notes from the Brett. I definitely fell into the "Brett trap." While there are no elements of "funk" in this beer, it is a bold-flavored IPA. There's really nothing subtle about  Big Cypress Brett IPA. The tropical fruit flavors, citrus bitterness, and spicy finish makes this an IPA that leaves an impression.

I appreciate the willingness to innovate here. As I take a look back at the past 12 beers I've reviewed from Grasslands, I can confidently say they've proven that when they open in just a few months, their beer will be anything but status-quo.Grasslands will push the envelope on various styles and will be cutting-edge in the product they deliver to beer fans. It's going to be fun to watch (and taste).

Interested in becoming a Grasshopper?

If you're interested in getting your hands on any of Grasslands' brews before 2014, register for their Grasshoppers Club which is your ticket in to getting exclusive releases from the brewery before they open. As a Grasshopper, you'll be eligible to enter the monthly lottery drawings to sample beer and provide critical feedback that may contribute to the final product. You can also check out Grasslands on Twitter and Facebook for more information.


Thanks for reading the Beer Apostle and for supporting craft beer! Join in on the discussion by following me on Twitter and Facebook! Cheers!

Grasslands Black Rose Immortal Imperial Stout

This is a recurring monthly series in which I taste and share my thoughts on a different beer from Grasslands Brewing Co. as they progress on their journey to open their doors to thirsty craft beer lovers (2014).  Grasslands is an up-and-coming brewery out of Tallahassee, Fl. that centers their philosophy on making quality "earth first ales." I will taste pilot batches and share my thoughts with the BeerApostle community. You can read past posts about Grasslands beer in the archive section of this blog.

Brewery: Grasslands Brewing Co.
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 10%

The old adage goes, "Good things come to those who wait." I had to remind myself of this several times during the last four months, a time in which a bottle, no, the last remaining bottle, of Black Rose Immortal Imperial Stout sat in my cooler.

For those of you who have been following my blog for some time now, you know that I am a part of Grasslands' Grasshopper Review Club, their way of providing consumers with opportunities to sample various brews from Grasslands. And, in return, Grasslands receives valuable feedback from future paying customers. It's a genius plan that is a win-win for everyone involved.

I received this bottle in November of 2013 and set it aside for a "rainy day." As time passed, I watched as other Grasshoppers opened their bottles and checked in on Untappd. And then one day, I received a message from owner, Gabe Grass, saying, "Brian, you now have the last remaining unopened bottle of Black Rose Immortal."

The "rainy day" has come, and it's time to cash this check.

Some of you may be thinking that I already reviewed this beer. You would be half correct. I reviewed Black Rose Standard Imperial Stout last April. Feel free to check out that review here before you continue reading. Today, I am reviewing Black Rose Immortal Imperial Stout, which is aged in bourbon, vanilla, oak, and cinnamon. I'm pretty sure that's all of the essential vitamins and nutrients needed, when constructing a tasty stout.

Appearance: Black Rose Immortal pours a deep black in color and includes a mocha colored head with mild lacing. The carbonation is visible in the glass and helps to give off some pleasant aromatics.

Aroma: Strong, mouth-watering aromas hit the nose before I'm even done pouring. I can detect strong notes of bourbon, chocolate, and Cinnamon. The smells are reminiscent of a holiday cocktail one might order in the winter. There's almost a mulled bourbon aroma that is just incredible.

Taste: The flavors follow the nose, except I can also taste vanilla and and subtle oak notes on the back of the palate. The bourbon is smooth from front to back, providing deep flavor but not a lot of heat. There's not the boozy kick you sometimes get with bourbon-aged stouts.

Mouthfeel: The carbonation brings a lightness to the stout that I think could be toned down a bit. I would say this beer is certainly lighter than expected and doesn't quite feel like an imperial stout to me.

Overall: The bourbon, vanilla, and spices provide a really nice backdrop to the dark malts and roasted characteristics. The cinnamon is dominant on the palate, and could probably use a little more time aging to help bring a better balance between the spices and other flavors. I love the bourbon and oak flavors that compliment the spices to create a rich and flavorful beer.

Having tasted the Standard version of this last year, I have an even greater appreciation for what Immortal is. It's always nice to have a point of comparison when tasting an aged version of any beer.

Grasslands' flexed their muscles with Black Rose Immortal. I appreciate their willingness to experiment with flavors in their beers. Aside from the mouthfeel, I believe this beer can go toe-to-toe with some of the more well-known imperial stouts! If they decide to keep the body as is, Black Rose Immortal is probably closer to a winter warmer or dark ale in style.

More than anything, Black Rose Immortal is testament to what we can all expect from Grasslands when they (officially) open their taps to the public this year--flavorful beer that is bold, fun, and enjoyable.

Cheers to Gabe Grass for creating another winner! Tallahassee, look out for 2014. It's going to be a good year for beer fans.

Interested in becoming a Grasshopper?

If you're interested in getting your hands on any of Grasslands' brews before 2014, register for their Grasshoppers Club which is your ticket in to getting exclusive releases from the brewery before they open. As a Grasshopper, you'll be eligible to enter the monthly lottery drawings to sample beer and provide critical feedback that may contribute to the final product. You can also check out Grasslands on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

The New Beer Apostle Logo

I am excited to share the new and official logo for this site! The logo was designed by Stephen Nichols of Tallahassee Craft Beer. I asked Stephen to help me capture the essence of the Beer Apostle, and this logo does exactly that.

I also want to thank all those who voted to help me decide which logo you preferred. The votes came in at nearly 70% in favor of the logo you see here. So, YOU literally had a hand in this decision. And I couldn't be happier with this logo!

Feel free to contact Stephen for design work by clicking on any of the links above, or you can find him on Twitter: @TallyCraftBeer

Interested in learning more about how Beer Apostle came to be? Want to learn about how you can contribute to this site? You'll find everything you're looking for below. Just keep reading...

Interested in contributing to the Beer Apostle Site? Want to write a guest review?

I am always open to having guest contributions to the site. I am not the only person with a message, thus I am not the only Beer Apostle!

If you're interested in writing a review of a beer, event, or bar (or any other topic relating to beer), you can contact me by Email, Twitter, or Facebook.

Have beer you want me to review? 

If you enjoy this site and have a brew you'd like me to review, you can contact me for the address and information. As a beer enthusiast, I am always excited to expand my horizons and try new beers. This absolutely includes homebrews, too!

If you're a bar or restaurant owner, or are planning an event that you'd like me to feature, please email me for more details on how we can work together.

So, Beer Apostle. Is that like, beer and Christianity, or something?

The etymology of Apostle is a Middle English word meaning "one who is sent on a mission." The word has several religious contexts, and in this case, I am deliberately identifying with the Christian context of the word.

I am a Christian. I am also a person who enjoys tasting, sharing, and reviewing craft beer. I don't find that to be a bad blend. In fact, I find them to be quite compatible.

Beer has a rich history with Christianity--it was invented by Monks--and later enjoyed by amazing Christian leaders (CS Lewis and Pope John Paul are just two that come to mind).

Beer brings people together in unique ways. It's a common bond among people with vast differences. Craft beer has given me the opportunity to share my story, my experiences, my passions with people with whom I otherwise might never have met.

This site is not religious by any means, and I don't mean it to be. However, just as I cannot separate who I am from my Christian beliefs, I also cannot separate this blog from its Christian author. Thus, the Beer Apostle is nothing more than a beer blog, written by a Christian, who believes these things--beer and Christianity--can coexist.

Want to read more about the history of beer and Christianity? Check out these cool links!

• Cults, Christians, and Lagers--Where Did the Idea that Alcohol was a Sin Come From?
• The Story of God and Guinness
• Christians Drink Beer Too

Grasslands Funky Rye Saison

This is a recurring monthly series in which I taste and share my thoughts on a different beer from Grasslands Brewing Co. as they progress on their journey to open their doors to thirsty craft beer lovers (2014).  Grasslands is an up-and-coming brewery out of Tallahassee, Fl. that centers their philosophy on making quality "earth first ales." I will taste pilot batches and share my thoughts with the BeerApostle community. You can read past posts about Grasslands beer in the archive section of this blog. 

Brewery:  Grasslands Brewery
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Style: Funky Rye Saison
ABV: 6%

My last review highlighted Grasslands' Rye Saison. Today, I am essentially tasting the same beer with the addition of a Brett (Brettanomyces) yeast that often, but not always, produces a sour (or "funky") flavor profile.

Now that I have had multiple variations of Grasslands' saison, I am excited to get this review started to see what the Brett has done to this beer!

Appearance: Pretty much identical to the Rye Saison: light golden hue with subtle copper highlights. Looks clean and well-filtered. Carbonation is visible in the glass. The head retention is much better in this version than the Rye Saison. Not sure if that's correlated to the yeast or not.

Aroma: Sweet, sour, and tart. This nose is much different than the original Rye Saison. I can definitely pick up some of the funky smells that the Brett has produced. The spices that I picked up in the first saison are still present, but take more of a back seat to the tropical tartness that I am getting from the Brett.

Taste: Mild is the first word that comes to mind. Everything is extremely well balanced. I thought this was going to be a funk-first beer, judging by the nose, but that's not the case at all. The palate is first met with a clean spritz of carbonation that's followed by  fruit-sweetness and semi-sour tart flavors. The finish is biscuity and crisp.

Mouthfeel: This is a light-bodied beer. Lots of carbonation help make this an incredibly refreshing drink. I am tempted to say that I would like the body to be a tad-bit-heavier, but then again, this is a nice break from all of the heavy-hitting-winter-warmers and stouts.

Overall: Funky Rye Saison is a sessionable beer that adds just a touch of flair to the traditional saison style. The fruit flavors were unexpected and add nice depth to the tart and sour notes of the Brett yeast. This is an experimental beer that has gone right for Gabe and Grasslands.

As always, I need to give a HUGE thanks to Gabe for sharing his beers with me as he progresses on his journey to open up Grasslands Brewing Company's doors in 2014. I am humbled and honored to get to share his beers with the beer community through this online platform!


Cheers!

Interested in becoming a Grasshopper?
If you're interested in getting your hands on any of Grasslands' brews before 2014, register for their Grasshoppers Club which is your ticket in to getting exclusive releases from the brewery before they open. As a Grasshopper, you'll be eligible to enter the monthly lottery drawings to sample beer and provide critical feedback that may contribute to the final product. You can also check out Grasslands on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

Grasslands Rye Saison

This is a recurring monthly series in which I taste and share my thoughts on a different beer from Grasslands Brewing Co. as they progress on their journey to open their doors to thirsty craft beer lovers (2014).  Grasslands is an up-and-coming brewery out of Tallahassee, Fl. that centers their philosophy on making quality "earth first ales." I will taste pilot batches and share my thoughts with the BeerApostle community. You can read past posts about Grasslands beer in the archive section of this blog. 

Brewery:  Grasslands Brewery
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Style: Rye Saison
ABV: 6%

Each of my next two beer reviews will feature Grasslands' beer. Today, I am trying their Rye Saison, and up next will be Grasslands' Funky Rye Saison.  Let's dig in! :)

Appearance: Light golden in color with visible carbonation racing to the top of the glass. The head quickly forms and fades after pouring.

Aroma: I smell a lot of spices that are typically found in a saison, such as cloves, yeast, and other indiscreet herbal and citrus tones.

Taste: The spices take a front seat with this one: it's like a spiced up pilsner that would be perfect for warm weather. I really enjoy the semi-dry finish that is also accompanied by mild tartness (possibly from the citrus--lemon zest, perhaps?). Unfortunately, I am unable to detect any rye, which makes me wonder if Gabe might have sent me the wrong bottle. I believe what I have here is a traditional saison and not the rye saison that he intended to send. Regardless, I am still enjoying this quite a lot and have no complaints!

Overall: This is a lighter beer that has a crisp and clean effect on the palate. I really enjoyed how the spices that were so prominent on the front of the palate dissipate before the finish. This leaves almost no aftertaste on the tongue, which, in my opinion, is a good thing when it comes to saisons.

I was fortunate enough to have Grasslands' Rye Saison on tap at Gabe's house, and I was blown away with how much flavor and spices the rye contributed to this beer. For this reason, this particular bottle did not perform as I had expected, but my hunch is that what I have in front of me is not the Rye Saison. It might simply be a traditional saison that Gabe accidentally sent in lieu of the Rye variety. I will be sure to follow up with him to solve this mystery.

Or maybe my taste buds are just on Christmas break right now...

As always, I am grateful to Gabe Grass for sharing his brews with a chump like me. If you would like to get your hands on Grasslands' creations, simply become a Grasshopper (see below)!

Up Next:
Stay tuned for my next review which will cover Grasslands' Funky Rye Saison. Who doesn't love some funk in their beer? Get excited, because it's sure to be a good one!

Cheers!

Interested in becoming a Grasshopper?
If you're interested in getting your hands on any of Grasslands' brews before 2014, register for their Grasshoppers Club which is your ticket in to getting exclusive releases from the brewery before they open. As a Grasshopper, you'll be eligible to enter the monthly lottery drawings to sample beer and provide critical feedback that may contribute to the final product. You can also check out Grasslands on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

A Tallahassee Collaboration: Fermentation Lounge and Grasslands Brewing Co.

If you're in or around the Tallahassee area, this is a must-attend event! On Wednesday, November 13, Tallahassee's first craft brewpub, Fermentation Lounge, will be releasing a collaboration brew with Grasslands Brewing Co. 

The collaboration brew is called Rye Saison, a Belgian ale brewed with generous portions of rye. Here's what both breweries had to say about the collaboration:

The rye saison is GrassLands’ take on a traditional Belgian style ale, brewed with rye and oats, making for a silky mouthfeel with fruit and herbal spice flavors. Twenty gallons will be served.  Fermentation Lounge will provide its twist to the recipe with an additional 10 gallons of rye saison with the addition of lemon zest and white peppercorn to complement the beer's flavor.

Grasslands isn't expected to officially open their doors until 2014, but that hasn't stopped founder, Gabe Grass, from brewing his concoctions and getting his beer in the hands of thirsty locals (see The Grasshopper Review Club for more info). I've been fortunate enough to review several of Grasslands' beers and can honestly say I have thoroughly enjoyed every one.

Fermentation Lounge, on the other hand, has been serving Tallahassee's beer nerds for some time now. 'The Ferm,' as it's commonly referred to by locals, is a small-batch brewpub located in one of the city's historic neighborhoods. Their small batches allows them to create single-barrel recipes that are innovative, unique, and delicious.

If you would like more information about this event or about GrassLands Brewing Company, please contact Gabe Grass at 850-566-0741 or by email: gabe@grasslandsbrewery.com.

Cheers!

Grasslands Big Cypress IPA (Batch #1)

This is a recurring monthly series in which I taste and share my thoughts on a different beer from Grasslands Brewing Co. as they progress on their journey to open their doors to thirsty craft beer lovers (2014).  Grasslands is an up-and-coming brewery out of Tallahassee, Fl. that centers their philosophy on making quality "earth first ales." I will taste pilot batches and share my thoughts with the BeerApostle community. You can read past posts about Grasslands beer in thearchive section of this blog. 

Brewery:  Grasslands Brewery
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Style: IPA
ABV: 7.5%

This is the first of two reviews I will be posting for Grasslands' Big Cypress IPA. This is Batch #1. According to Owner Gabe Grass, the intent with Big Cypress IPA is to brew a "unique and compelling IPA"  using East and West Coast influences to create a "smack-you-in-the-face IPA."  What an exciting and fun way to describe this beer and it only increased my excitement for trying it!

Grasslands has experimented with a couple variations of the recipe and were gracious enough to send me Batches #1 and #4. Tomorrow, I will be posting my review of #4 and will synthesize my notes from both tastings to give an overall recommendation on which of the two I prefer and why. This is an exciting two-part review, so check back tomorrow to see how Batch #4 compares and which comes out on top!

Now, let's check out Big Cypress IPA Batch #1 and see how it is!

Appearance: Cloudy tangerine color with a fairly serious head that sticks around, creating a nice lacing down the glass. The carbonation is visible and mobile at the base of the head (as seen in the picture below).

Aroma: Fresh hops and pine. There's also a nice sweetness that I can smell, but I can't exactly pinpoint what it might be. Malt and caramel? Either way, this is one of the best-smelling IPAs I have had. Very floral and fresh.

Taste: This IPA starts off with a sweet malt base and quickly moves on the palate towards a piney finish that bursts with hops, pine, and citrus notes. The presence of sugars right away brings a well-balanced flavor that moves nicely from malt to hops. Despite the piney finish, this beer isn't bitter at all. In fact, it's quite clean and leaves a pleasant, but minimal, aftertaste. This is a crisp IPA that has a palate-cleansing effect.

Mouthfeel: The body is on the lighter side, mostly due to how much carbonation there is. The IPA cuts across the tongue easily, rendering a clean, crisp, and zesty product.

Overall: This is a great brew! The taste was great, and as I mentioned earlier, the aroma was wonderful and added to the drinking experience.. The hops were so aromatic and pleasing that they brought a really nice contrast to the malt sweetness that first hits the palate. This is a well-constructed beer. Gabe Grass has done it again!

Don't forget to check my post tomorrow to read about Grassland's Batch #4 for this Big Cypress IPA.  

Interested in becoming a Grasshopper?

If you're interested in getting your hands on any of Grasslands' brews before they open, register for their Grasshoppers Club which is your ticket in to getting exclusive releases from the brewery before they open. As a Grasshopper, you'll be eligible to enter the monthly lottery drawings to sample beer and provide critical feedback that may contribute to the final product. You can also check out Grasslands on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

Cheers!