Reuben's Brews' latest 10th anniversary release, Dream Team, is about 'getting the band back together' to make something special again.
Like that public park game of pickup baseball, or no pads tackle football, some things never get old. If anything, they endure so long as you have the dedication to support your nostalgic wants.
For Seattle’s Reuben’s Brews, it seems they are reliving 2016, during a time when New England wasn’t just associated with lobster rolls, the Red Sox, or unintelligible speech, it stood for beer. More specifically, the New England-style India Pale Ale. And Oregon breweries Fort George and Great Notion, along with Seattle’s Reuben’s Brews, were supporting this style when others were satisfied with entrenched versions of IPA like Northwest or West Coast. Maybe it was over a few drinks, maybe it was via a chance social media post, who knows? But these three were destined to collaborate. And collaborate, they did.
Combining forces in a synergistic cooperation, Reuben’s Brews, Great Notion, and Fort George shared their creative thoughts and birthed upon the world Three Way IPA. A beer like no other, the name has endured, even if the crew that left their impression in 2017, aren’t collaborating on another edition.
Now five years older, wiser, and maybe with a few more accumulated grey hairs, Reuben’s Brews wants to revisit that 2017 feeling by brewing a beer with the same breweries that made Three Way IPA so special. Well, maybe not the same brewers, but definitely the same ownership. In cooperation with Great Notion’s James Dugan, Fort George’s Chris Nemlowill, and Reuben’s Brews’ Adam Robbings, introducing “Dream Team”
Reflecting on their experiences, Fort George co-founder Chris Nemlowill opined.
This team created a truly innovative beer together in 2017 that helped usher in the Hazy ‘New England IPA’ style here on the West Coast. We all love pushing the boundaries, and this year’s collaboration is an innovative evolution of what we created back in 2017.
Taking what they learned since 2017, Dream Team Hazy IPA amps up the aromatic with tropical and grapefruit citrus, complemented by familiar notes of stone fruit. Balanced by a sturdy malt and oat bill of pilsner malt, malted oats, and flare rice, the brewery’s real heroes are the hops in Cryo Simcoe, Nelson Sauvin, Riwaka, and Citra Incognito. Excitedly sharing his thoughts on this new version of a 2017 classic, Reuben’s Brews’ co-owner, Adam Robbings, states.
With this new collaboration we didn’t just want to recreate the beer we brewed five years ago, so we focused on trying to recapture the magic that made that collaboration a success. … We’ve all learned a lot since then, and we all brought new ideas to the table this time around. It felt like the old days, just having fun, trying new ideas, playfully one-upping each other.
But for Great Nation co-founder and brewer James Dugan, Dream Team represents three breweries, all dedicated to producing a reflection on their dedication to inspiring imbibers with thoughtful, quality, beers. Backing up the duo, James shares this on his experience brewing Dream Team.
It’s a real honor to come together again as part of the ‘Dream Team’. … We’re all good friends on and off the court, and this collaboration reflects that. We just really enjoying playing together.
Releasing in the Pacific Northwest on draft and in 16-ounce four-packs, look for Reuben’s Brews next in their series of 10th Anniversary releases, made available this week.
About Reuben’s Brews
Adam and Grace Robbings opened Reuben’s Brews in 2012, after an award-winning homebrewing career, naming the brewery after their first child, Reuben. At their employee-owned family brewery they brew from the glass backwards: designing each beer with intention, unbound by constraints. They know that making that extra effort is worth it. From their everyday favorite beers to innovative new releases, they help you grow your love of beer. Reuben’s Brews. Beer Unbound.
The Reuben’s Taproom (5010 14th Ave NW in Ballard) is open daily 11am-10pm, featuring an expanded outdoor seating area and To-Go Store. They strictly adhere to all current state and local health precautions to keep their customers and team safe. Customers are invited to order online for contactless pickup at reubensbrews.com/shop or stop by for walk-up purchase. Reuben’s Brews also has two more tasting room locations in Ballard: The Canning Line (800 NW 46th St.) and The Barrel House (1133 51st St.). Visit reubensbrews.com for details, and follow @reubensbrews on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates.
