Jack’s Abby (2020)

How often is Kiwi Rising available?

 

Historically that has been a fall release, but I’m not sure about the last couple of years.

 

I think their 2020 calendar had it slated for an August release but it seems some of the beer releases have gone off plan because of covid. They released kiwi a couple months ago but I dont know how widespread the distribution was for that. It may see another release this year. I'm sure they'll chime in.

 

The real fear is drinking Copper Legend this fall without football, tbh.

 

Our release calendar went out the window when covid started and we ended up releasing Kiwi Rising last month. It is unlikely to be released again this year. That being said we are working on a new 'rising' double ipl that will be released around August.

 

Our Beer Garden also just got approval to open starting tomorrow. If you are interested in coming you can place a reservation at: https://jacksabby.com/visit/

 

Where is info on the 2% initiative? Scrolled through Instagram and their website but no luck...

 

https://jacksabby.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BeerGardenMenu6.18.20.pdf

First beer listed here (pilsner)

Then I found this on untappd:

“As brewers, we often find ourselves in need of low-alcohol options that fit different situations, but don’t skimp on flavor. This new initiative is our experiment in making full flavored recreations of our favorite styles with little to no alcohol.

This is one of our favorite beer styles so it was a natural fit for our first beer in this initiative. We worked on a 100% mashing procedure that enhances the beer's body and malt character, while balancing it with the bright flavors of noble hops. Enjoy!“

 

According to their IG story it looks like Jabby Brau is on its way back.

 

Wow, WAY BACK. I think that was either their second or third beer ever (don’t quote me on that though).

 

According to Untappd I last had it in August of 2014. Can’t say my taste memory goes back that far so I’ll definitely be picking some up. They already updated the info on Untappd as well. I’m going to dig a little for the original description. All I remember is that it was labeled as a “Session Lager.”

 

Jabby Brau was my first Jack’s Abby beer. Loved that beer and the old school label. Never really understood why they stopped making it.

 

I recall it being sort of a Helles-style Kellerbier.

Basically an unfiltered version of House Lager, only dialed back a bit on ABV. I want to say House Lager effectively replaced Jabby Brau.

Which lines up with you last having it in August of 2014, because Jack created it based on a fall trip to Germany in 2014, and House Lager debuted in January 2015.

https://jacksabby.com/blog/2015/08/house-lager/

 

You are right.

Also, RIP Kirkland Tap.

 

Just went through our archives of brew sheets. We brewed it for the first time on 10/03/2011, batch #24.

 

Like your 24th batch ever? Or 24th beer released (can't imagine it's this).

Your first beer was Red Tape, hence the name...second was Hoponius?

I believe they closed well before COVID, could be wrong though.

 

Correct, 24th batch ever. Order of beers was:

Red Tape
Saxon Sons Pilsner
Smoke & Dagger
Hoponius Union
Copper Legend
Wet Hop Lager
Kiwi Rising
Jabby Brau

 

Holy nostalgia! I remember drinking all of those but I would have sworn Kiwi came along later then that. Maybe I missed the first batch though I recall I was paying close attention...

If you don't mind sharing, what batch number was the first Framinghammer? I remember arriving early to get some of the first barrel aged versions at the old brewery.

 

That’s awesome, thanks for sharing!

Back then you had to basically kill a guy to get Kiwi Rising...

 

The first batch of Kiwi Rising was a fluke. When we were opening we tried for months to buy citra and could never find any and New Zealand hops were not popular yet and a supplier offered a few of them to us as a possible citra substitute. Then the week before we opened we lucked into some citra and had no idea what to do with the New Zealand hops. So the first batch was a bit of a pipe cleaner.

It is also the first beer we ever bottled, essentially with a homebrew setup(if I remember correctly it was a blichmann beer gun). It was such a terrible setup that Jack ended up hurting his back from being hunch over and lead to the name My Bock Hurts Like Helles. I just looked up our facebook post from time and it looks like the bottles only made it to 4 locations: Julio's, Redstone, CBC and a local Framingham store and it was probably only ~10 cases to each.