“If you need an inside sweater this winter season, it fits quite well.” – Lauren Limbach, New Belgium Brewing
I clearly remember the very first time I heard about the idea of brewery collaboration, or collabeeration as we so cleverly called it back then. It was in 2008 when the world looked a lot different than it does today. One thing that hasn’t changed over the years, breweries enjoy collaborating on beer projects. Today’s example involves Fremont Brewing and New Belgium Brewing. Online pre-orders this Thursday (see below).
Action-Reaction is a nitro barrel-aged sour stout that will soon hit the streets. Think of it as B-Bomb meets La Folie. Yes, this will be a sought-after prize, highly coveted by the most seriously afflicted beer geeks. Tenacious, resolute big-game beer hunters have picked up the scent and already have this one in their sights.
That doesn’t mean you cannot get it. Fremont Brewing is doing its best to make sure that everyone has the same shot. To secure your share of Action-Reaction Barrel-Aged Sour Stout, carefully read and follow the instructions below. But first, let’s talk about the beer itself.
Fremont Brewing describes the beer like this: “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this case, the force of Fremont’s barrel-aged B-Bomb dominates your senses with aromas of coconut, caramel and molasses until it’s met with the blast of La Folie’s time-intensified tart, juicy cherry, apple and plum notes to send you on a trajectory you’ve never experienced. ABV: 10% IBU:13”
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How Did This Happen?
Exactly how does a world-renowned brewery from Fort Collins, Colorado end up in a collaborative relationship with Seattle’s Fremont Brewing? Although Fremont’s reputation has deservedly grown in both reach and magnitude over the years, New Belgium is, well, it’s New Belgium.
According to New Belgium Brewing’s Lauren Limbach, “Action-Reaction’s roots began, like many beer collaborations, with a friendship forged while pouring next to super dude Joe Kirpes from Fremont Brewing at Treefort Music & Beer Festival in Boise in 2019. Bottles were exchanged. I am a stout FREAK, and they are the stout masters!”
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It is a name you should know. Lauren Limbach (previously known as Lauren Salazar) is a serious superstar in the beer world. Her official title at New Belgium is Wood Cellar Director, but that only scratched the surface of what she’s contributed to the direction and success of the company. For over two decades she has proven herself a wood-aging expert, a master blender, a sensory phenom, and an all-around rock star. I cannot emphasize her importance in the beer industry enough.
My point is, when Lauren Limbach refers to your brewery as “the stout masters,” I am certain it makes some really important, talented people at Fremont Brewing blush.
Lauren continues the story, “After meeting up later with Fremont’s Matt Lincecum and others, we dreamed up our own fun collaboration: an imperial sour stout.”
“We started with Fremont’s B-Bomb, a bourbon barrel-aged imperial winter ale. This was it! The aromas completely engulf you in toffee, chocolate, vanilla, bourbon and barrel char. Add to that our Oscar dark sour lager, and boom: A beer that starts intensely sweet and thick, warm and boozy with a perfect balance of sourness and does not let up.”
She concludes by saying, “It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you need an inside sweater this winter season, it fits quite well.”
Thar She Blows!
Here are the instructions that Fremont Brewing posted on social media.
- The online bottle release pre-order will be on Thursday, Jan. 28th starting at 12PM PST. We will have a very limited number of 750ml bottles.
- Bottle pick-ups will start Saturday, Jan. 30th, all bottles must be picked up by Sunday, Feb. 21st at our Urban Beer Garden Mercantile during normal business hours and the name on the ID of the person picking up must match the name on the order. That means no proxies folks!
- 12PM – 750ml (1 per household)
- Any orders placed that exceed bottle limits will be canceled and refunded.
- Links will go live from FremontBrewing.com/nbbxfremont at the times above. Items put in your cart are not securely yours until you fully complete checkout.
For more news about recent beer releases, visit the Washington Beer Blog’s New Beer Releases page.
