Ecliptic Brewing and Bell’s Brewery of Comstock, Michigan, have partnered to create a Juicy IPA. This is the fourth Cosmic Collaboration release in Ecliptic’s “5 Years/5 Beers” series, which celebrates the company’s fifth anniversary. Says Ecliptic Brewing Owner and Brewmaster, John Harris, “I reached out to Bell’s Founder, Larry Bell, to see if he’d help me commemorate this big anniversary. I’ve always loved Bell’s beers, and it is such an honor to work together.”
The recipe features two row, pale and Munich malts, along with Oregon Strata hops and two hop varieties from New Zealand- Galaxy and Taiheke- but it’s the beer making process that really brings out the unique flavor. Harris, Bell, and Bell’s Director of Operations, John Mallet, added ice to the whirlpool to lower the temperature, which helps reduce bitterness and bring out the hops’ flavors. This results in a big, bright and juicy IPA.
Says Mallet, “John Harris is one of the well-recognized, innovative originators of craft brewing. He is a true pioneer. The chance to collaborate with him technically on a pushy, hop-driven beer would be fun for any brewer. Compound that with a 30+ year friendship between peers, and it becomes a positively giddy experience. Cheers to Beers!”.
A Cosmic Beer Dinner with Harris and Mallet for the release of the Juicy IPA is planned at Ecliptic’s Restaurant on August 8 at 6pm. Attendees will enjoy three courses, plus shared appetizers, from Ecliptic Brewing Chef Michael Molitor, along with six beer pairings from each of the breweries and signed bottles of the collaboration to take home. Tickets will soon be available to purchase for $60. The Juicy IPA will also be released in both draft and 500ml bottles throughout Ecliptic Brewing’s distribution network.
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