making HEADlines: Southern Swells Brewing

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SOUTHERN SWELLS BREWING HOLDS FIRST BOTTLE RELEASE ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1: "AWKWARD MORNING" NEW ENGLAND STYLE TRIPLE IPA

 Jacksonville Beach, FL:   Just about eight months after opening, Southern Swells Brewing Co. is making waves with its first bottle release. At noon on Sunday, October 1, the Jax Beach brewery will release its "Awkward Morning" New England-Style Triple IPA in bottles and on draft in its tap room. Bombers of the beer will be on sale for $20 each, with a two-bottle limit. The supply is limited, with approximately 200 bottles available.

To accommodate local craft beer enthusiasts accustomed to waiting for bottle releases via "bottle shares," where they bring and share bottles of beer as the clock counts down to the official release time, Southern Swells will open its tap room at 10am to provide early-birds with indoor seating and additional beers on tap until the release at noon. 

Artwork by Southern Swells Brewing Co.

When the brewery opened in January, it served guest beers on its 20 taps. In early April, the brewery introduced eight of its house beers. Since then, the brewery has gained a reputation for its "New England-Style" IPAs, which are generally golden and hazy or thick in appearance, with the hop-forward aroma associated with IPAs, but without the strong characteristic IPA bitterness. 

Corey Adams, co-owner of Southern Swells, explains why he and co-owner/brewer Jay Varney have embraced the New England style: "As brewers, ... it is enjoyable to create these beers that have such citrus forward tastes and pungent noses without the bitterness typically associated with an American IPA." Customers have been on board, too, as the brewery's "Karate in the Garage" New England Style IPA earns continuous favorable reviews on social media. "We have been incredibly fortunate that our beers have been so well received, particularly the ones within this NE IPA style, so needless to say, the plan is to keep brewing them and experimenting with different hops and hop combinations," adds Corey. 

The "Awkward Morning" New England Style Triple IPA is a big beer, coming in at 10 ABV, but with a relatively moderate or lower-end pronounced bitterness of 39 IBU (International Bitterness Units). The brewery describes the beer as having a "potent aroma of citrus, driven by the triple dry hop of Columbus, Simcoe, Mosaic, Galaxy, El Dorado, Eukanot and Amarillo hops. The addition of honey malt offers a sweetness that subdues the higher ABV."  Although the brewery's New England IPAs have been popular, the brewers hadn't yet brewed many high-gravity beers, so they decided to do both in this new release, Corey says.  As for the name "Awkward Morning," the beer "hides the alcohol pretty well," and it's one that "could sneak up on you" and lead to some "awkward mornings." 

Just a reminder, the next day is Monday.

"Revenge on Irma"
(photo by Linda Johnson)

Southern Swells Brewing also recently tapped its "Revenge on Irma" New England Style Pale Ale (5.8 ABV, 29 IBU) in response to rescue efforts for those affected by Hurricane Irma. For every pint sold, the brewery is donating $1 to the First Coast Relief Fund.

Southern Swells Brewing is located at 1312 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach.

Cheers,
Linda Johnson,
Certified Cicerone®