Nov 28, 2012

Karl Toasts to the Holidays with Mouette à Trois Fruitcake Ale

Press Release

San Diego, CA – November 28, 2012– To celebrate the end of a record-breaking year Karl Strauss is releasing its limited edition holiday ale, Mouette à Trois (previously announced here). The spiced fruitcake ale will be featured at the company’s holiday party, Brewfestivus, to mark the end of a benchmark year. 2012 has been an exceptional year for the company; beer sales are up 27% post-brewery expansion, their new brewery restaurant is setting sales records of its own, and the expansion into Northern California has far exceeded projections. “We’ve been nonstop for a long time and after all of the hard work everyone’s put in this year, we’re looking forward to celebrating the holidays with a new beer and a rockin’ party” says Paul Segura, Karl Strauss Brewmaster.

Brewfestivus — a craft beer and ugly sweater party for the rest of us — will take place inside the brewery on Friday December 7, 2012. “So many people told us what a great time they had at last year’s party that we decided to make it an annual event,” says Segura. Tickets for this limited capacity event are $40 and include a commemorative glass, seven winter-warmers, street tacos, specially made Pubcakes, and a takeaway 22oz bottle of the limited release holiday strong ale, Mouette à Trois. Prizes will be awarded for the ugliest holiday sweater so dress to impress.

Mouette à Trois, the third installment in the company’s award-winning 12 Days of Christmas series, will be one of the strong ales featured at Brewfestivus. To create the fruitcake flavors, the base of the beer is a Belgian dubbel with apricot and cherries added during the boil to create a ripe fruitiness. The beer is spiced with a traditional fruitcake blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, orange peel, and clove. Brandied oak chips were added after a warm fermentation to give the beer a toasty, lingering finish. “We really wanted this beer to taste like the best parts of your grandma’s fruitcake. The aroma is rich with orange peel and oak. You get a lot of the Belgian character and clove up front. The cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla round out the beer and leave you with that holiday spirit,” says Segura. The result is a complex fruitcake-like ale that will pair well with rich holiday dishes and desserts.

For more information about Mouette à Trois or to purchase tickets to Brewfestivus, visit www.karlstrauss.com. Share it, cheers.

Mouette à Trois – Holiday Fruitcake Ale
Specs: 8.5% ABV – 35 SRM – 10 IBU

Label Copy:
Mouette à Trois est la meilleure bière que vous avez jamais goûté ou notre nom n’est pas Karl Strauss. Mouette à Trois, meaning Three Seagulls, is the 3rd installment in our less than literal “Twelve Days” series of holiday ales. Brewed with fresh apricots, cherries and a blend of spices, the resulting strong ale is Belgian Dubbel meets fruit cake. Rich layers of candied fruit and warming spices are punctuated by notes of toffee and fresh-baked bread. Aging on brandy-cured French oak adds hints of vanilla that linger through a warming finish. Don’t. Even. Think. About. Regifting.

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