Bring Back The Funk! Samuel Adams Kosmic Mother Funk Grand Cru Released For A Limited Time

BOSTON, Sept. 1, 2015 – The brewers at Sam Adams announced today that they will be taking their special limited-release Belgian style ale, Kosmic Mother Funk (KMF) Grand Cru, on a second annual Tasting Tour across the country. This batch of KMF Grand Cru will be poured at a limited number of bars and restaurants in 20 cities, with the final stop on the tour determined by drinkers who will vote for their city online.

The Kosmic Mother Funk recipe was inspired by the Belgians, known for their unique beer styles and brewing techniques including blending, aging and conditioning beers that deliver wild and flavorful results. The Samuel Adams brewers began by taking a Belgian ale and aging it in Hungarian oak tuns where it evolved and took on a life and character of its own over time.  Aged for up to a year, the long contact with the wood allows air to slowly seep into the beer during secondary fermentation, smoothing out any harsh flavors. Wild yeast and bacteria including Brettanomyces and Lactobacillus also interact with the beer, imparting unique spicy, fruity and bright tart flavors. This distinctive beer was then blended at varying levels into a series of Belgian brews, the manifestation of which became the Samuel Adams Barrel Room Collection.

Originally a French term used to describe wine vintages, when used in the context of beer, ‘Grand Cru’ has come to denote a brew that is the ‘best of the best.’ When crafting Kosmic Mother Funk Grand Cru, the brewers at Samuel Adams aimed to create a unique beer unlike anything they had barrel-aged before. At 6.5% ABV, KMF Grand Cru is a wild, funky and complex ale aged for just over a year, with a depth of flavors ranging from earthy and spicy to floral and sweet.

"Craft beer drinkers are adventurous and opening their palates to new and interesting flavors," said Samuel Adams Brewer and Founder Jim Koch. "Kosmic Mother Funk Grand Cru isn’t for everyone, but those who enjoy it appreciate the depth and complexity that make it one of the most unique beers we’ve ever crafted, only to be described as a kosmic collection of flavors."

To kick off the 2015 KMF Grand Cru Tasting Tour, Jim Koch will tap the first keg during a special event at the Boston Brewery onSeptember 2^nd where a very limited number of bottles will be available for sale. Tickets for the event at the brewery can be purchased at https://kmfbostonlaunch2015.eventbrite.com.

Kosmic Mother Funk Grand Cru 20-City Tasting Tour – #KMFtour
Following the official release of KMF Grand Cru at the Boston Brewery on September 2^nd, the KMF Grand Cru Tasting Tour will visit 20 cities from September through December. The brew will be available on draft only in a limited number of bars and restaurants throughout each city, and the final tour stop will be voted on by craft beer lovers across the country. In 2014, Kansas City had the most votes and was the "Drinker’s Choice" final stop of the tour.

For 2015, the KMF Grand Cru Tasting Tour will visit: