A Tale of Two Bottles

A tale of two bottle formats at two mid-Atlantic breweries ...

Baltimore Maryland's Clipper City Brewing is poised to release a new line of 22-ounce bottles, commonly known as 'bombers'. (I've always preferred the phrase 'dinner bottles' but the former, more bellicose, term has the traction.)

Pending governmental label approval, the brewery expects to release its first run in early summer. The line will feature new styles, but existing beers may be bottled as well. Expected to be among the first run will be a new double IPA, fermented to 10% alcohol by volume (abv) . True to the punny names for its Heavy Seas line of beers, Clipper City has named it Big DIPA. Get it? D-I-P-A: double IPA (India Pale Ale).

[UPDATE: Word on the street is that this new beer may be unveiled —in cask— at Clipper City's celebration of American Craft Beer Week at its Real Ale & BBQ Fest, Saturday, 16 May.]

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Taking a different tack is Richmond, Virginia's Legend Brewing Company.

For much of its 15 year existence, its beers have only been available —other than draft— in 22-ounce bottles.

The brewery has recently purchased the equipment to bottle in 12-ounce bottles, packaged in 6-packs. And it has added new tanks.

It's cheering to see expansion in difficult times.