Hollows & Fentimans of Hexham, England, United Kingdom has announced that its popular alcoholic ginger beer will now be available in the U.S. Full details from Artisanal Imports, its exclusive importer, are below.

North America – Artisanal Imports is excited to announce that Fentimans Botanically Brewed Drinks of Hexham, United Kingdom has brought its alcoholic beverage Hollows and Fentimans Ginger Beer back to the United States and is now available for purchase through Artisanal Imports.

Fentimans has been botanically brewing premium-quality adult beverages using the finest ingredients since 1905. All of its beverages, including soft drinks, mixers, tonics and standalone alcoholic beverages, are vegan-friendly, gluten-free with no preservatives and are made with the knowledge and expertise passed on from generation to generation in the Fentimans family. Fentimans’ premium products can be found in over 80 countries worldwide, a testament to the high level of quality its customers have come to appreciate and expect.

Baxter Brewing Co. in Lewiston, Maine has announced new beer delivery and monthly subscription offers. Full details from the brewery are below.

To make their beer even more accessible to fans across Maine, the Baxter team has added a delivery route from Augusta to York, Tuesdays through Fridays, in addition to their no-contact curbside pick up. The Lewiston brewery, which started in 2010, has also announced new monthly subscription beer packages. Fans can sign up for the Distinctly Baxter Subscription Box online and choose from a variety of packaged brews, including exclusive releases, year-round favorites, kegs, and crowlers. The Baxter team hopes these new measures will allow them to share their passion for craft brews and adventure with beer lovers everywhere, despite physical distancing. 

We spoke with Pontoon Brewing Owner Sean O'Keefe and Brewmaster Chris Baratz about Barrel Aged Brownie Batter Batch Blend #1.

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe? 
I (Sean) came up with the recipe and name for the beer. My love for rich and thick pastry stouts paved the way for this beer. Chris then took this recipe and fine-tuned it into the beer it is today. Both of us worked together closely in the barrel selection, blending ratios and all variant flavors as well. 

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)? 
The body, balance and the lack of adjuncts to make the flavor profile of brownie batter. The barrel then rounds out the edges with some micro-oxidation to create a very balanced and refined final product with good oak tannins and the spirit characteristics. Blending has become the essential part of this project. 

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from? 
It comes from the fact that it straight-up tastes like brownie batter. We get asked all the time what brownie batter, chocolate, or adjuncts we use in the beer and it’s awesome to say that it’s all the work from the malt, water, hops, yeast and barrel/spirit character.

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?” 
Maybe our “dessert” island beer! It’s definitely a sipper so it might work well for a desert island! 

We spoke with Monday Night Brewmaster Peter Kiley about Situational Ethics - Apple Brandy.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
The barrel! The apple brandy just jumps out of the glass and fills the room with a beautiful aroma!

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
The name Situational Ethics comes from the idea that you become who you hang out with. Since the base beer is the only constant in this experiment, situational ethics really adapts itself to the barrel that it ages in and the adjuncts that we allow it to interact with. 

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”
I would hope not... unless the end is near.

BC: What's a good food pairing for this beer?
Pretty much anything, as long as you get to take a nap afterwards. 

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Sometimes, you don’t feel like going to your local bottle shop, liquor store or watering hole to buy alcohol. When that is the case, the only respite is knowing that your favorite booze is only a click or tap away. This list of popular alcohol delivery services will have you swilling your favorite beverage faster than you can say “lupulin.”

There are myriad alcohol delivery websites and mobile apps, but many of them have limited coverage nationwide. Almost all of these sites are affected by often arcane local alcohol shipping laws, so be sure to check the shipping information section for each of these delivery platforms.

Without further ado, let’s delve into our list of popular alcohol delivery services in the USA.

1. Tavour

While many of the platforms on this list feature a vast swath of alcoholic beverage styles, Tavour sticks to what it does best: Craft Beer. And since we are The Beer Connoisseur, it is only fitting that we list Tavour as number one on this list as they do a terrific job of offering highly rated and hard-to-get craft beer via their mobile app.

CBD Living in Corona, California has announced the release of four flavors of CBD-infused sparkling water. Full details from the company are below.

CORONA, Calif.— US-based CBD brand CBD Living has announced the global launch of their brand-new product, CBD Living Sparkling Water. Each can of CBD Living Sparkling Water contains 25mg nano-CBD sourced from organic US-grown hemp and is available in four mouthwatering flavors: Orange Grapefruit, Peach Honey, Strawberry Lavender and Apple Ginger. Each flavor is also vegan, gluten-free and certified Kosher, and contains absolutely zero THC.

“When people hear the name CBD Living, they tend to think of CBD Living Water, as that was our very first product released back in 2014,” says CBD Living COO Sean McDonald. “With CBD Living Sparkling Water, we’re returning to our roots in the beverage industry. True to our pioneering company mission, we’re excited to introduce four unique flavors of CBD sparkling water that you won’t find anywhere else.”

CBD Living Sparkling Water is available in stores and online and is sold in single cans, cases of 12, cases of 24 and a 4-can variety sample pack.

CBD Living products are sold nationwide in over 5,000 stores. Click here to find a retail location near you. All products are also sold online, with free shipping to all US states on orders over $75.

For more information on CBD Living, please visit cbdliving.com.

Wellness beverage brand Aprch in Portland, Oregon has announced the release of CBD Sparkling Water. Full details are below.

PORTLAND, Ore.— Aprch is a new wellness beverage company inspired by adventure, integrity, health and the environment. Aprch blends pure sparkling water with good for you elements including broad spectrum hemp extract (CBD), key amino acid L-Theanine, and nutrient-rich vitamins to nourish the mind, body and soul. Available now in single-serve and four packs across the Pacific Northwest, Aprch CBD Sparkling Water is available in over 500 retailers and nationwide online at https://drinkaprch.com/.

Manufactured in Aprch’s private production facility in Portland, Oregon, the CBD-infused beverage is intended to be easily incorporated into daily routines as a ritual. Aprch mixes the characteristics of enhanced water, sports drinks, and sparkling water to create a dedicated wellness drink for people with active lifestyles, who want the benefits of vitamins, CBD, and recovery without THC, caffeine, sugar, calories or sodium.

Crook & Marker in Hamilton, New Jersey has announced a line of spiked tea and spiked lemonade. Full details are below.

HAMILTON, N.J. — Crook & Marker, the first fully USDA Organic alcohol beverage portfolio from the founder of Bai Brands, today announced the launch of a new line of Spiked Teas and Spiked Lemonades made with organic supergrain alcohol and zero sugar to deliver today’s consumers impossibly delicious taste without the regret of consuming excessive calories, artificial ingredients and loads of sugar.

Crook & Marker® Spiked Teas and Spiked Lemonades are available nationwide and come in two different variety packs with four all natural fruit flavors: Lemon Tea, Peach Tea, Raspberry Tea and Sweet Tea; and Classic Lemonade, Raspberry Lemonade, Blueberry Lemonade and Watermelon Lemonade.

“The hard tea and lemonade categories were long overdue for a makeover because of the current offerings’ reliance on sugar, calories and artificial ingredients to deliver flavor. With Crook & Marker Spiked Teas and Spiked Lemonades, we’re giving today’s consumers the bold, refreshing flavor and variety they want, with USDA organic ingredients they can feel good about,” said Ben Weiss, founder of Crook & Marker.

Virginia Distillery Co. in Lovingston, Virginia has announced the first release in its Courage & Conviction Series. Full details are below.

LOVINGSTON, Va. – “Always have the courage of your convictions,” was a phrase often repeated by Virginia Distillery Company’s late founder Dr. George G. Moore to reinforce the importance of believing in yourself and your ideas.

Dr. Moore’s vision and credo becomes a reality with the launch of the distillery’s first American Single Malt in the “Courage & Conviction” product line this month. As an ode to the company’s founder, the first batch of the flagship offering of Courage & Conviction is dedicated to Dr. George G. Moore.

Courage & Conviction whiskies are distilled on-site using 100% North American malted barley and mountain spring-fed water. The just-released flagship whisky is matured in old world sherry casks, traditional bourbon barrels and re-coopered cuvée wine casks which adds intensity and complexity to the spirit. Additional releases will feature individual bottles of each casks, slated for later this year.

Aged a minimum of three years, the American Single Malt line is produced at the distillery’s 100-acre property in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Nelson County, Virginia. The state’s pronounced temperature swings between winter and summer accelerate the maturation of the Courage & Conviction series.