2022 TRIBUTE BEERS
SORRY FOLKS, WE’VE SOLD OUT OF THIS YEAR’S RELEASE OF ZAPPA BEERS
St. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast Stout
Imperial Dessert Stout with Fresh Roasted Coffee & Maple Syrup | 12.8%
TASTING NOTES
👀 HOW’S IT LOOK?
Pours with a pure onyx body, the quickly receding head is the color of espresso crema, fading into a lacing of tight, deep tan bubbles.
👃 WHAT AM I SMELLING?
Roasted coffee and roasted malt without any burnt notes, then chocolate and hints of cherry.
👅 HMMM, THAT TASTES LIKE…
There’s alot going on here. Roasty malts and coffee with maple syrup balancing each other. There are notes of both milk chocolate and dark chocolate winding their way through and making themselves comfortable alongside dates and brown sugar. All of that wraps up with a surprisingly dry fresh coffee character.
😋 THERE’S A PARTY IN MY MOUTH!
Full bodied, yet problematically easy to drink. The body is super smooth without being heavy and sticky. The carbonation gently lifts it off the tongue. When licking your lips, you’re rewarded with lingering sugars. And after it all there is a gentle alcohol warmth.
🍻 TL;DR
Complex. There is a new character to experience and enjoy with each sip. This will make a great holiday breakfast beverage! I might have an Irish coffee replacement here.
-Matt Akin, Head Brewer
LABEL TEXT
Yes indeed, here we are with our latest Zappa collaboration, St. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast Stout, a decadent dessert stout inspired by another unique track we love. This part of your complete breakfast includes fresh roasted cold brew coffee, while classic maple syrup makes her entrance like a queen. Backing up these bold flavors are some highly nuanced brew techniques. Chocolate malt marries these rich flavors together, while oats create a smooth and voluminous mouthfeel that is totally chenille on the tongue. Overall, this deep complexity is the perfect pairing to Zappa’s timeless talents. Cheers!
Want a deeper dive into the backstory? Check out this post on our blog!
LABEL DESIGN
Why Does It Hurt When IPA?
Zappa Hopped & Grapefruity India Pale Ale | 7.0%
TASTING NOTES
👀 HOW’S IT LOOK?
Pours a slightly hazy gold with a rocky head that fades to a layer of tight bubbles.
👃 WHAT AM I SMELLING?
Hops! Citrus – ruby red grapefruit, lemon zest, grassy notes, with a hint of berry hiding in the back. As it warms the grapefruit really pushes to the forefront, but it brings a friend along for the ride in the form of Earl Grey tea notes riding shotgun.
👅 HMMM, THAT TASTES LIKE…
Grapefruit juiciness and pine trees at the first sip. Fresh, pithy bitterness as if from lemons and limes. Just a hint of malt sweetness holding up the wall of hops your taste buds have stacked against them. Bright tropical fruit notes slide through on the backend featuring notes of papaya and pineapple from the Zappa hops.
😋 THERE’S A PARTY IN MY MOUTH!
Creamy medium-light body with moderately high carbonation combine to lead into a dry finish. The aftertaste of citrus pith leaves me wanting to dive into the next sip.
🍻 TL;DR
Grapefruit, lemon zest, and tropical fruit notes in a highly drinkable IPA package.
-Matt Akin, Head Brewer
LABEL TEXT
Two years ago we got to check off a bucket list item, brewing a Frank Zappa tribute beer in collaboration with his son Ahmet. With never-before-seen photos from the Zappa Trust archives on the can, Zappa Hops used in the recipe and hints of grapefruit aroma – it was an instant hit. Well, it’s time to bring it back! Zappa hops are a wild improvisational jam of a hop from New Mexico named after The Grand Wazoo himself! This hop, like the man, has a hugely eclectic style with published flavor notes ranging from passion fruit, mint, spicy, savory, fruity cereal, and uh… purple. (Try the beer, you’ll get it). Just like Frank, this hop is one of a kind and awesome. We also know Frank loved grapefruit, so we added Simcoe hops with a smidge of Cascade to boost that sweet citrus flavor with a zany bitterness – appropriate flavors for pairing with St. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast in your buddy Joe’s Garage.
Want a deeper dive into the backstory? Check out this post on our blog!
LABEL DESIGN
