Widmer Brothers Releases Old Embalmer 2012 & Okto Festival Ale

Barleywine Ale Is Third Release in Alchemy Project Series of Craft Beers Brewed for Cellaring

PORTLAND, OR. – Widmer Brothers Brewing has released Old Embalmer ’12, a barleywine style ale, the third offering in the brewery’s Alchemy Project. The Alchemy Project is a series of three bold, vintage-dated beers that can be enjoyed immediately or cellared to improve with age. Widmer Brothers will release limited quantities of each Alchemy Project beer every year.

Like all Alchemy Project beers, Widmer Brothers will brew Old Embalmer each year; however for this beer, the brewery will feature a different hop varietal in each vintage. Old Embalmer ‘12 features Bravo hops, a varietal is from Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The Bravo hop was chosen for its fruit forward flavors that will balance the beer’s strong malt bill.

“Old Embalmer Barleywine Ale is great upon release, but – true to its name – we found that it will also cellar exceptionally well,” said brewer Doug Rehberg. “This year’s beer was brewed with copious amounts of malts, and features Bravo hops, which provide earthy, fruity and floral qualities for a brilliant balance and velvety finish. We are excited to be bottling and labeling it as part of our Alchemy Project series and hope other beer lovers enjoy it too.”

Widmer Brothers first brewed Old Embalmer in 1999. At that time, Widmer Brothers’ brewer Doug Rehberg, who was interested in crafting a unique iteration of the style for the brewery, spearheaded the project to create Old Embalmer. Throughout the years, the brewery has offered the Old Embalmer barleywine at its Gasthaus pub in Portland, Ore. and discovered its age-worthy potential.

Old Embalmer ’12 will be available in 22-ounce bottles and 1/6 barrels beginning July 30.

About Old Embalmer ’12

Tasting Notes

· Big, malty character

· Notes of toffee, vanilla and sweet caramel

· Robust body

· Pleasant floral and herbal Bravo hop quality

Ingredients

· Malts: 2 Row Pale, Caramel 60L

· Hops: Alchemy for bittering, Bravo for aroma

Profile

· Original Gravity: 21.5 P

· Apparent Extract: 4 P

· IBU: 75

· ABV: 10.2%

· Color: 23 SRM

WIDMER BROTHERS RESURRECTS OKTO FESTIVAL ALE

Popular seasonal ale returns just in time to wind down summer, gear up for autumn and Oktoberfest celebrations

PORTLAND, OR. – With summertime winding down, Widmer Brothers Brewing is bringing back its salute to Bavaria’s Oktoberfest. OKTO Festival Ale, available now through October, is an ideal brew to enjoy as the lingering hot days of summer give way to a slight autumn chill creeping into the air.

“We’ve been brewing OKTO Festival Ale for 26 years, and there is a reason that it’s a seasonal favorite: it’s the perfect beer for the transition from summer to fall,” said Rob Widmer, co-founder of Widmer Brothers Brewing, “Inspired by the festivities and brews of Bavaria’s Oktoberfest, OKTO is an easy-drinking, full-bodied beer with distinctive flavors and a crisp, clean finish.”

OKTO Festival Ale has a sweet, malty flavor, and Alchemy and Willamette hops add mild bitterness. The brew’s subtle, floral and spicy hop tones are complemented by a mild fruity ester character, and the beer finishes crisp and clean on the palate. Considered one of the brewery’s favorite seasonal ales, OKTO Festival Ale is brewed for a short time each year and is available in limited quantities on draught and in six-packs at select retailers.

About OKTO Festival Ale

Ingredients and Profile:

• Malts: Pale, Carapils, Crystal 77-L, Caramunich II

• Hops: Alchemy, Willamette

• Original Gravity: 13.5

• Apparent Gravity: 3.75

• IBU: 28

• ABV: 5.3%

• Color: 25 SRM