Last Sunday, 1/13/13, Trisha and I were lucky enough to attend the New Holland Brewing Blue Sunday 2013 release party. Every year New Holland throws a giant party open to the public to celebrate not only the release of the tasty cellar series brew, but also to give thanks to the change that “said yes to Sunday.” Blue Sunday was named after the “blue laws” that made it illegal to serve beer on Sundays in Ottawa County.

The schedule of events included a brewmaster tour, live music, a special Blue Sunday toast, a private library tasting of vintage New Holland beers, and a cocktail demo. The events ran all day, and the pub was already full of thirsty guests when we arrived mid afternoon.

There were some notable new releases on tap that we of course decided to sample:

  • Grain of Salt – a collaboration brew with the Salt of the Earth, using Michigan wheat and hops.
  • Grain of Salt Reserve – barrel aged version of above
  • MI Nightmare – Dark malt, roast flavor notes meet sour flavors
  • Saison Study #1 – Traditional Belgian style brew with tones of fruit and black pepper
  • Social Potion – a weizenbock collaboration with Terrapin Beer Co. out of Atlanta using Michigan wheat, black currants and pink peppercorns
  • No Bacon, No Rye – an English strong ale collaboration with Sheffields in Chicago
  • Blue Sunday 13 – the bell of the ball, a barrel-aged sour anniversary libation

We also participated in the private vintage library tasting where we were able to do a vertical tasting of Dragon’s Milk ranging from 2005-2010, minus the 07. It was shocking to taste the difference between each year, knowing that the ingredients stayed the same with each batch. The 05 vintage was quite sour, and not that similar to the current year’s production. My favorite was the 2009, as it was deliciously smooth, but still had that distinct Dragon’s Milk flavor.

There were a few vintages of Blue Sunday we were able to sample, the 2010-2012, plus this year’s 2013 we had out of the tap. They all were great, but I have to say the newer the vintage, the more I liked it. I’ll be searching for Blue Sunday 2013 as soon as it hits the shelves!

Trisha was excited to see a notably different presentation in the Pilgram’s Dole from 2005 to 2009, and was even more excited to be able to taste what was inside. This was one of her favorite beers of 2012, and her favorite part of the library tasting.

We had a great time at the release party, and will be eagerly awaiting the release of these special vintage beers to the public in a month or so. Thanks to everyone at New Holland Brewing Co. for putting on a great event and brewing some amazing Michigan craft beers!