Now it's the Porter Beer Bar's turn!
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| This is my Instagram post announcing this and the love I have received. |
Come through the world-famous Porter Beer Bar tonight starting at 6 p.m. for the first pour of my Piano Keys Dark Chocolate and Vanilla Imperial Stout collaboration with New Belgium! The first pouring last Thursday was at the Brick Store and that was an absolute blast as you can see here! Two sixtels tapped out in only one day and received some truly appreciated praise from everyone! And like I said, there are more venues pouring this joint that me and New Belgium are purposely spacing out to make sure everyone has an opportunity to try it throughout ATL. Well the next one is going to be at a spot I have a long history with, The Porter Beer Bar in Little Five Points, tonight, Thursday, starting at 6 p.m. This was the first bar where I filmed an episode of Cruisin' For A Brewsin' here more than eight years ago. The remaining locations' dates will be announced soon, and they include Ormsby’s, Argosy, Midway, Hop City at Krog Street Market, the Chapter Room, Local Republic, and Trappeze in Athens. If there are more spots, I will update them accordingly. It is super limited and it won’t be bottled just yet, but know there is a barrel-aged version dropping as well; I’m having that at the Fresh Fest in Pittsburgh this August.
Oh! And here are answers to some popular questions that I get asked a lot:
1) Is it going to be bottled? Unfortunately, not this round, but I have a great feeling we will have to make this happen in the future. If you know me, then be assured that the bottle will be dope as hell! I have a concept already to rock.
2) Is the event have a cover charge, do I have to RSVP, or is it free to attend? The latter! No charge. Just come through, show love, get a glass, and chill out! I will be there!
3) Is this year-round or limited? Limited right now, but I pray there will be another batch down the line.
Sound good? Last, below is the original statement I made regarding the collaboration and the official press release. Thanks again for your support.
Peace!
Your brother,
Ale
My statement:
“Off the bat, I want to say how much an honor it was for a craft beer pioneer like New Belgium to reach out to me. I have had the upmost respect for them, their staff, policies, how they treat employees, charitable causes, and of course, beer selections for more than two decades. When we first discussed the subject of how to further diversify the craft beer community and those who actually brew it, I thought making a beer with New Belgium to lubricate palates for productive dialogue on the matter would be a great start. Second, I wanted to brew a beer style that New Belgium has not done often, if ever; imperial stouts are also well-received across the board due to their ability to produce dessert-like flavors; who can say no to dark chocolate and vanilla? Of course, there are subtle implications with that duo to address the overall cause. Last, I’m a huge music fan and the piano is my favorite instrument; ebony and ivory keys closed the deal. I will admit, waiting to try the finished product once we all brewed it in Fort Collins has truly been a stretched-out tease. Well the wait is finally over, and it’s only beginning regarding what New Belgium and I have in store to make the craft beer industry that much more inclusive.”
The official press release:
Piano Keys Chocolate Vanilla Imperial Stout features cocoa nibs from Atlanta-based Xocolatl
Tapping event planned for Feb. 12 at The Brick Store Pub
(FORT COLLINS) What happens when an award-winning beer journalist meets up with a bunch of New Belgium beer experts to talk diversity in craft beer? They brew a beer, of course.
Piano Keys Chocolate Vanilla Imperial Stout is a collaboration between New Belgium and Dennis Malcolm Byron, aka Ale Sharpton, a popular craft beer ambassador, journalist and blogger who calls Atlanta home. Ale was invited to New Belgium’s Fort Collins brewery last November when the 100% employee-owned brewery hosted a group of beer influencers and experts to talk about racial diversity and inclusion in craft beer.
“When we first discussed the subject of how to further diversify the craft beer community and those who actually brew it, I thought making a beer with New Belgium to lubricate palates for productive dialogue on the matter would be a great start,” said Ale. “Second, I wanted to brew a beer style that New Belgium has not done too often. Imperial stouts are well received across the board due to their ability to produce dessert-like flavors; who can say no to dark chocolate and vanilla? Of course, there are subtle implications with that duo to address the overall cause.”
Piano Keys’ blend of seven malts create an imperial stout with a dark pour and rich brown head atop. Ugandan Vanilla Beans and Nicaraguan cocoa nibs from Atlanta-based Xocolatl Small Batch Chocolate inspire rich aromas and impart an initial sweetness.
This single-batch, 10% ABV beer from New Belgium’s pilot brewery will soon be available on draft for a limited time at select locations in Atlanta. Piano Keys will debut in Atlanta on Feb. 12 at the Brick Store Pub, with Ale and New Belgium representatives conducting a Q&A session beginning at 7 p.m. New Belgium will tap this beer on Valentine’s Day at the Fort Collins, CO, brewery Liquid Center soon, followed by a release at the brewery’s Asheville location.
Piano Keys
ABV: 10%
Visual: Deep black with rich brown foam and lacing.
Aroma: Strong chocolate initially before giving way to overtones of coffee and roasted malt with hints of vanilla, smoke, herbs and red berries.
Flavor: Moderately sweet throughout with a slightly bitter middle building to a subtle bitter finish.
Mouthfeel/Body: Full bodied, creamy and coating.
For more information about New Belgium or any of its beers, visit www.newbelgium.com. And for a special treat, check out Ale’s Piano Keys-inspired music playlist on Spotify here.
About New Belgium Brewing
New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, is recognized as one of Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work, one of the Wall Street Journal’s Best Small Businesses and tops Bicycling Magazine’s Best Companies for Cyclists. The 100% employee-owned brewery is a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business as designated by the League of American Bicyclists, one of World Blu’s most democratic U.S. businesses, and a Certified B Corp. In addition to Fat Tire Amber Ale, New Belgium brews fourteen year-round beers: Citradelic Tangerine IPA, Fat Tire Belgian White, The Hemperor HPA, Voodoo Ranger IPA, Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA, Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA, Sour Saison, Honey Orange Tripel, Dayblazer Easygoing Ale, 1554 Enlightened Dark Ale, Bohemian Pilsner, Abbey Belgian Style Ale, Trippel and a gluten-reduced beer, Glutiny Pale Ale. To learn more, visit New Belgium.com and follow the brewery on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. w if you’re interested!
