Shmaltz Brewing Company Helps You Celebrate the Holidays with 3 New Releases

By Adam Rains

Break out the latkes, gelt, Chanukah candles, and He’brew Beer®, it’s time to start prepping for the holidays!

This November, Shmaltz Brewing Company rolls out three limited-edition releases. First up is the debut of Shmaltz’s “Hanukkah, Chanukah: Pass The Beer®,” a Dark Ale brewed with 8 malts, 8 hops, and 8% ABV. Next in line is the Anniversary beer, “Jewbelation 18®” (18 malts, 18 hops, and a highly sessionable 12.4% ABV), which marks the birth of an entirely new take on the Award-Winning Jewbelation® series. Last, but certainly not least, the 5th Annual “He’brew Gift Pack®” hitting stores this Thanksgiving.

Hanukkah, Chanukah: Pass The Beer®

After only 18 years in business, America’s largest, most award-winning and still only Jewish themed Craft Brewery, Shmaltz Brewing Company is proud to debut Hanukkah, Chanukah: Pass The Beer®. 8 is a miraculous number in Jewish life. Its cultural/religious significance runs the gamut with several holidays spanning 8 days (Chanukah, Passover, Sukkot), a bris (circumcision) taking place on the newborn’s 8th day, and Seinfeld running for 8 years (for more deep shtick, see the 4-pack label). As latkes are frying and the battle royale of dreidels are spinning, Shmaltz lends some much needed light to the impending winter darkness with Hanukkah, Chanukah: Pass The Beer® launching nationally in 12 oz bottles in 4-packs starting on November 1, 2014, as well as in the He’brew Gift Pack® 2014.

Jewbelation 18®

Over the last decade, Shmaltz Brewing has boldly elevated each year’s Jewbelation® with increased amounts of malts, hops, and ABV — in 2004, they debuted Miraculous Jewbelation® with 8 malts, 8 hops, 8% ABV and continued through last year’s Jewbelation Reborn® (17 malts, 17 hops, 17% ABV). Jewbelation 18® features a brand spankin’ new craft beer category, Black Session Barleywine.

When asked about this year’s Jewbelation®, Shmaltz founder Jeremy Cowan says, “So many friends have inquired about when will we stop upping the ante with the level of malts, hops, ABV, and my response has been ‘Never… well, um, I mean now!’ Witness our newborn Black Session Barleywine. 18 malts, 18 hops, and now available in a sessionable 12.4% ABV so we can ship to all our states again. Jewbelation is now in session. L’Chaim!”

5th Annual He’brew Gift Pack® 2014

Shmaltz’s 5th Annual He’brew Gift Pack®, a showcase of 8 of He’brew’s most sought after beers, is sure to add cheer this holiday season and will light up any cold winter night. The eight pack of 12 oz. bottles includes the 18th Anniversary Jewbelation 18® Black Session Barleywine, and the brand new Hanukkah, Chanukah: Pass The Beer® Dark Ale (8 malts, 8 hops, 8% ABV). It also includes the rare, barrel-aged sour beer, 2014’s Funky Jewbelation®, the Gold Medal winner Rejewvenator®, plus the unique collaboration beers with Terrapin Brewing (Reunion Ale ’14 – A Beer For Hope®) and Cathedral Square Brewery (St. Lenny’s — The Immaculate Collaboration®). The only Chanukah themed Beer Gift Pack on any shelf this season is rounded off with year-round favorites Death of a Contract Brewer® Black IPA (7 malts, 7 hops, 7% ABV) and World Beer Championship Silver Medal winning Messiah Nut Brown Ale®.

The Gift Pack® features a custom glass, Chanukah candles and a beautifully hand-painted “Build Your Own” Beer Menorah portrait by local Ballston Spa, NY painter Jennifer Maher (www.YourToyPortrait.com; please see the attached portrait below). Transform each of the 8 iconic bottles, plus one Shamash bottle (0 malts, 0 hops, 0% ABV), into your very own beer menorah. Snap a photo and enter your masterpiece in the 5th Annual “Build Your Own Beer Menorah” Facebook competition for a chance to win a chosen prize!