Redhook Ale Brewery is staged to release Big Ballard Imperial IPA next month. The beer will be available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft. To pay homage to Redhook’s noble past, the beer sports a familiar face on the label. Ya sure, ya betcha! He’s back!

Not long ago I shared a pint with Kim Brusco, Brewing Operations Manager at Redhook. He told me about the impending release of Big Ballard and the reintroduction of the Ballard Bitter branding that is so familiar to us old school craft beer lovers. Kim also told me about some other interesting stuff happening out in Woodinville. I will be posting a story about that stuff in the near future. Cool, creative things brewing out at Redhook? That makes me happy!

We’ll have more information about the official release day and the official release party soon.

The specs: 8.6% ABV, 73 IBU, 19.5 Deg. Plato.

Kim assures me that those numbers are “laboratory numbers” and not just an approximation. He says the 73 IBUs will surprise you. As we understand it, this is a seasonal, limited release. Will Big Ballard become part of the regular lineup? Stranger things have happened.

Update – since posting this story we have learned that Redhook does indeed plan to have the official release party somewhere in Ballard. We will let you know as soon as more details are available.