This week Michael and I are headed down to Tampa to participate in the (in)famous Hunahpu’s Day at Cigar City Brewing. Hunahpu’s is a world renowned Imperial Stout aged with cacao nibs, ancho and pasilla chiles, cinnamon, and vanilla beans that is only released once a year and only at the brewery. To celebrate this great event, the folks at Cigar City decided to create a beer festival to go along with the release and only invite the best breweries from around the world that bring their best and most unusual offerings. The event is the culmination of Tampa Beer Week and this year we are honored to have been invited to participate!

We’ll be pouring Excommunication, a Flanders Red style ale that’s been barrel fermented then split into separate barrels. In one, Mission Figs were added. In another, Blanton sour cherries were provided to deliver the tartness we have all come to love. In the third barrel, the beer was allowed to mature without fruit. After the re-fermentation, the three versions were carefully blended back together to create Excommunication. Tart dark fruit and cherry notes play off caramel raisin flavors and subtle notes of vanilla and wood from the barrel.

We’ll also be pouring Hopsplosion!!! IPA because, well, because it’s awesome! This most recent batch is our most aromatic Hopsplosion ever, with notes to tangerine and passion fruit hitting your nostrils and pallet with every sip! This is currently on tap at the pub, so come taste it and let us know if we are mistaken.

When we get back, we’ll be bottling the remaining Excommunication and laying it down to bottle condition. Look for a very limited brewery only release in the late Fall of this deliciously tart and complex beer!