Upper Hand Brewery in Escanaba announced it'll be rolling out two new beers this year, only a year after the brewery opened with its first three offerings, which it only distributes above the Mackinac Bridge.
The first beer is UPX, a strong pale ale that's like a hoppier version of Upper Hand's existing UPA, with the emphasis on the hop flavor. Upper Hand describes it as "similar to an India Pale Ale in aroma and flavor, but with lower bitterness."
Then, there's the Yooper Ale, brewed with U.P.-grown hops and oats, and adapted from a Bell's recipe, but with a more northern spin. Designed as a session beer, it's a "light, bright, toasted oat ale," according to Upper Hand.
They join the brewery's UPA, Upper Hand Lager and Escanaba Black Beer, which can be found both on grocery stores and retailers' shelves, and on tap or in the bottle at U.P. bars and restaurants.
"We have had tremendous success with our three core brands since we launched last fall and those will continue to be our focus," says Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell's Brewery, of which Upper Hand Brewery is a division. "But we will always experiment and look for ways to expand our portfolio in order to bring our fans new and unique beers that will only be available here in the U.P."
The new beers should be available this spring in bars and restaurants across the U.P.--for now, UPX and Yooper Ale are just available on draft.
Writer: Kim Eggleston
Source: Upper Hand Brewery
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