Event Preview | Wiley Roots Vanilla Anonym Release and MORE!

Karen Mills
On September 5, 2019
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There’s been a lot of hype around Wiley Roots Brewing Co.‘s upcoming beer releases. The brewery is releasing not one, but SIX beers tomorrow, September 6, 2019. “It is our belief that beer embodies a sense of place and time, reflecting both where we are at any moment as well as where we have been,” shares the brewing company on their Facebook page, “When we release a new Slush variant, we believe those beers represent the summer months, easy drinking, refreshing, fruit forward, and most important of all – FUN.”

Now that we’re in the transition to cooler evenings and fall in general here in Colorado, Wiley, too, is gearing up for this change. “When our Monstah series returns, it represents a change from warm weather to cool fall nights, with dark robust flavors, warming high alcohol, and seasonal spices. Staple beers like Super 77, Local Beer, and Deep Roots are available year-round, because these are the styles we enjoy no matter what season it is. Each beer we create is a direct representation of where we are in that moment, what inspires us, and where we want to push ourselves creatively.”

So how are they pushing themselves for this release? Great question. With this release, Wiley Roots will be covering the basis of almost everything. They’ll be releasing an Imperial Saison, Sour Honey Ale, Bourbon barrel-aged stout, Milkshake IPA, and Imperial Slushes.

In anticipation of the release, we sat down with Wiley Root’s Kyle Carbaugh to talk about the beers in their lineup.

The Beers that Wiley Roots is Releasing

Vanilla Anonym

Quick Stats: 12% ABV | 26 IBU

Vanilla Anonym is an imperial stout aged for 18 months in Breckenridge Distillery Bourbon barrels with Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans.

Wiley Roots is particularly excited about releasing Vanilla Anonym. The Greeley brewery has been aging the beer for the last 18 months. They chose to use Bourbon barrels in particular because they thought the Bourbon and wood notes that are slowly imparted will complement the beer. And that, it did.

“While we could have been released the beer without adjuncts, we saw a very unique opportunity to compliment these flavors with the addition of vanilla; but not just any vanilla. There was only one kind of vanilla that would fit the bill for this project: Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla. The velvety and mellow flavor is full of rich sweetness and long-lasting dark-creamy notes. By adding Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla to this blend, we hoped that the complementary notes would really showcase the fudge and brownie richness that we picked up in the tasting.”

When drinking the beer, you’re met with Bourbon and Madagascar Vanilla on the nose. The aromatics are followed by the same flavors, along with caramel, oak, and dark chocolate notes. It transitions into bold marshmallow and fudge flavors with a Bourbon finish at the end. Vanilla Anonym has such an incredible and complex flavor profile, it’s one that you don’t want to sleep on.

Nelson Sauvin Funk Yo Couch

Quick Stats: 5.6% ABV | 20 IBU

Mixed culture Brett Saison dry hopped with over 2lbs per barrel of Nelson Sauvin once it was ready, and then aged it for a bit longer. As Funk Yo Couch ages, the flavor and aroma become more refined, nuanced, and complex. This aging process takes up to a year to fully develop. Since they do not barrel age this series, all of the aroma and flavor is derived from the microbes and the hops, which makes this release incredibly special.

Funk Yo Couch is not only Wiley Roots’ multi-award winning series, but also the beer that opened the door for the brewery to dive into mixed culture saisons. It was born from microbes that was then aged in stainless steel vessels. “Each time we release a new variant, we pull aged beer from the solera and then add fresh wort back to the tote,” shares Wiley Roots, “This process ferments the new beer with the existing mixed culture from the very first batch and every batch after. This process introduces levers that we can pull to influence and guide the natural evolution of this mixed culture, but controlling each aspect and the end result is very difficult to do.”

As you’re enjoying Nelson Sauvin Funk Yo Couch, you’re met with a nose of white wine, tropical, and stone fruit notes. The beer is light bodied and easy to drink. It does have some earthy notes to it, and to an extent, some funk. The way that the beer was dry hopped and aged really goes to show how special this beer is. “Nelson Sauvin has an amazing white wine, tropical and stone fruit character that we knew would compliment all of the pineapple, mango, and peach characteristics that Funk Yo Couch is famous for, but we had no idea how the final beer would taste. Unfortunately, Nelson Sauvin is very expensive, so we considered using other hop varietals as well.”

The beer took a total of a year to age and an additional eight weeks of can conditioning, and as the brewery said, “Good things take patience. Great things take time. This is why aged beers are so special.”

Super Miami Vice Slush

Quick Stats: 8% ABV

Super Miami Vice Slush is the first of their imperial slush releases, created from their frozen slush series that combines two taproom-only favorites: Strawberry Daiquiri Slush and Piña Colada Slush. “By combining lemon, lime, strawberry, pineapple. coconut, and prickly pear all in one beer and doubling the alcohol, we were able to recreate our favorite 80’s inspired cocktail in a can.”

Light and refreshing, Wiley Roots’ Super Miami Slush is the perfect tropical drink to have in hand as we’re braving these (hopefully) last hot summer-y days. This particular slush is filled with fruity notes that will have you feeling like you’re laying out on the beach, listening to the waves crashing down. It’s light bodied and not overly carbonated, making it easy to sip on. Like many of Wiley Roots’ beers, Super Miami Vice Slush is an 8% beer that drinks unlike that ABV level.

Super Maui Slush

Quick Stats: 8% ABV

Super Maui Slush is Wiley Roots’ second imperial slush release, born from their tropical luau release earlier this summer. They combined pineapple, orange, and guava (aka POG, which is one of the greatest things ever) all into one beer and doubled the alcohol. They created a “new tropical juice bomb”.

Like Super Miami Vice Slush, each sip of Super Maui Slush will teleport you into the tropics. The pineapple, orange, and guava notes of the beer really shine through. On first thought, one might believe that this is a sweeter beer. The tartness from the citrus and guava balances out this brew and creates that balance that’s perfect to sip on. You can definitely picture yourself on the beach in Maui, enjoying this beer!

Bienenstich Bier

Quick Stats: 9.2% ABV

Bienenstich Bier is an Imperial Sour Honey Ale brewed in collaboration with Superstition Meadery. It’s made with local Colorado honey, almond, milk sugar, and vanilla. “Bienenstich Bier is inspired by Bienenstich Torte, Bee Sting Cake, a traditional German dessert made with three decadent layers of cake, cream, honey, and almonds. Bienenstich Bier uses a modified version of our County Fair Cobbler recipe as the base, so imagine that dripping in honey and almonds.”

Bienenstich Bier is very much honey upfront, followed by almond and vanilla notes. Wiley Roots uses locally-sourced honey, actually from the same bee-keeper that provided the honey for a couple other brews of theirs. Rather than using a more herbal honey, which was a better fit for those beers, Kyle opted for a sweeter, more dessert-like honey for this particular brew. This beer does hold similar characteristics as what a mead would, just with beer-like qualities as well. Although it’s a 9.2% beer, it drinks really easily.

Blackberry & Blueberry Cobbler

Quick Stats: 9.2% ABV

Milkshake Sour IPA with puréed Blackberry and Blueberry with Brown Sugar, Graham Cracker, Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Milk Sugar dry hopped with Citra and Galaxy hops. Tastes just like your favorite berry cobbler.

Kyle shares that this is a nostalgic beer for them to re-release. It’s the original that had gotten them in the cobbler game, just about a year ago now. The main difference between this batch and the original is that this version has brown sugar in it. The Citra and Galaxy hops used in this milkshake IPA plays well with the berry notes in the beer, and provides a delicious hop profile that balances the beer, so it’s not overly sweet.

Vanilla Anonym Online Voucher and On-Site Pick-Up Details

Online Voucher Redemption:

You must be 21+ with valid identification* to redeem your online voucher. The window begins Friday, September 6, 2019 at noon and ends on Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 8pm. Those who have an online voucher can only pick up your allotment during normal tasting room business hours within the 30 day window, and no proxies for pick up will be allowed. Each voucher is only valid for one four pack of Vanilla Anonym. Online vouchers account for 70% of the Vanilla Anonym available.

On-Site Can Release:

You must be 21+ with valid identification* to purchase cans, which will be going for $15 per 12oz single can. The release on-site will begin on Friday, September 6, 2019 at noon and will go on until they’re sold out. The taproom allocation of Vanilla Anonym accounts for the remaining 30% of the beer available.

*Valid Identification

The following are valid forms of identification. They will not accept hole-punched or damaged identification or DMV papers under any circumstances. Note that each ID must have a photo.
1. An operator’s, chauffeur’s, or similar type driver’s license containing a picture and date of birth, issued by any state, within the United States, or any U.S. Territory, or any foreign country including Canada or Mexico
2. An identification card issued by any state for the purpose of proof of age in accordance with C.R.S. 42-2-302 and 42-2-303
3. Military identification card
4. A passport or passport identification card
5. An alien registration card
6. A valid employment authorization document issued by the U.S Department of Homeland Security

Be sure to check out Wiley Roots’ Instagram and Facebook Event Page for up-to-date information about this upcoming release.