Seattle's Lucky Envelope Brewing releasing Xocolatl Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, Buddha's Hand Citron IPA, and a Czech-style Pilsner with celebrity homebrewer Annie Johnson.
Typical of the Pacific Northwest, Novembers in Seattle are often littered with overcast or gray skies, complimented with occasional sun breaks and yes, copious amounts of rain. Maybe that's why people in the area seek the comforts of darker-hued ales and lagers. Not one to let a darker mood dampen their spirits, Lucky Envelope Brewing has announced their upcoming lineup of beers.
Located in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood, Lucky Envelope begins November not lightly but with a 12% Imperial Stout, aged in whiskey barrels, and complimented with green chilis and cinnamon. We've included their thoughts and a link to the full details on this beer.
This beer is inspired by the ancient Mesoamerican bitter drinking chocolate made from crushed cocoa beans. Our Xocolatl Imperial Stout features the decadent, deep cocoa flavors of our whiskey barrel-aged Imperial Stout infused with green chilis and a touch of cinnamon for a unique intensity
Following their imperial stout, the brewery revisits the use of Buddha's Hand Citron, in, well, Buddha's Hand Citron IPA. Made with this rare, seasonal fruit, this is a unique treat from Lucky Envelope. We've included their thoughts and a link to the full details on this beer.
Available for a limited window in late fall, zest from this uniquely shaped fruit is brewed into this seasonal West Coast ENIAC IPA. Buddha's Hand Citron is used widely in East Asian cuisine and as ornamental decoration in Chinese households during New Year celebrations. The fragrant, juiceless fruit imparts botanical notes and intense flavors reminiscent of fresh cut lemon and crushed lemon candies.
Finally, the brewery is looking forward to their collaboration release with nationally recognized, home brewer and all-around beer expert, Annie Johnson. A muse for Lucky Envelope co-founder Barry Chan, Světlý Ležák 12° was not only inspired by Ms. Johnson's knowledge but also Seattle's unique water table, which is nearly identical to that of Plzeň. Birthplace to Pilsner, Plzeň continues to inspire brewers throughout the world to produce this unique style of pilsner. We've included their thoughts and a link to the full details on this beer.
Světlý Ležák 12° was brewed in reverence to the original pilsner, using traditional floor-malted Bohemian pilsner and hopped with herbaceous Saaz throughout the boil. Seattle water closely mimics the beautifully soft water of Plzeň which produces a rounder mouthfeel than traditional German pilsners. Světlý Ležák directly translates to “light lager” and 12° (degrees plato) indicates the strength of the beer. We are privileged to collaborate on the design and production of this Czech-inspired Pilsner with all-knowing lager expert (and BFF!) Annie Johnson. Her insight and knowledge of everything beer has been instrumental in Co-Founder Barry’s development as a brewer.
Look for Xocolatl Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, released at the taproom, this Friday, November 6th. Following Xocolatl Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, the brewery will simultaneously release their Buddha’s Hand Citron IPA and Světlý Ležák 12º Czech Pilsner, on November 10th.
Lucky Envelope Brewing is at 907 NW 50th St, Seattle, WA 98107. For more information, including hours, events, and current draft menu, visit http://www.luckyenvelopebrewing.com/
About Lucky Envelope Brewing
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Lucky Envelope’s brewing philosophy is centered around “Culturally Inspired Beer” whose recipes draw from modern and historic brewing styles and techniques. In addition, Lucky Envelope also uses both traditional and non-traditional ingredients in our beers which range from traditional IPAs (ENIAC Mosaic IPA), to German-style lagers (Helles Lager), to seasonal favorites like our Two Pepper Pale Ale (Habanero & Shishito peppers) and Peanut Butter Cream Stout.
The name Lucky Envelope comes from the Chinese tradition of the elderly generation giving the younger generation red envelopes filled with paper money. The color red is meant to ward off evil spirits and bring good health, while the money inside is supposed to bring prosperity. The Mandarin word for the envelope “hongbao” translates to red pouch while the Cantonese word for the envelope “laisee” translates to lucky money. Many refer to the envelopes as red envelope, or Lucky Envelope. For Barry and Ray, lucky envelopes bring back good memories whether it was a Chinese New Year celebration, graduating from school, or celebrating a life milestone.
