Four String Brewing is collaborating with Vermont’s Long Trail Brewing for an Earth Day India Pale Lager
Long Trail, which launched in Ohio less than a year ago, met the Four String folks last year, and both parties decided to collaborate for a cause with a beer that blends each brewery’s unique style.
“They have a really strong ale tradition in that market, and while we do make a lot of ales, lagers are really important to us,” said Larry Horwitz, Brewmaster for Four String. “Dan [Cochran, owner of Four String] and I have been looking for an excuse for two decades to make pilsner for a living, and fortunately we get to do that now. When we sat down to talk about what beer we might brew together, Dave [Hartmann] from Long Trail said ‘I want to honor both of our traditions, so let’s make an India Pale Lager.'”
The IPL will clock in at 6.5% ABV and 50 IBUs with a malt bill that is 10% munich malt and 90% continental pilsner malt, hopped with piney and citrusy American hops citra and chinook.
“The malt bill looks like something that would come out of our brewery, and the hops look like something that would come out of Long Trail, with a little nod to Old World Tradition,” said Horwitz.
Four String mashed in on the beer this morning at their Hague Avenue production facility. The beer will be named Global India Pale Lager and will be released around, and in honor of, Earth Day.
“Sustainability is important to both of our brands, so this was a good opportunity for us to talk about supporting Earth Day and sustainability efforts within the brewing industry,” said Horwitz. “We want to raise awareness for new and emerging breweries in the market to say ‘Hey, you’ve got to be good actors in your community, and this is important.’ We’re manufacturers and we have a burden to bear, especially in relation to water and recycling.”
Global India Pale Lager will be available throughout Ohio in mid-April, with a small supply heading to Philadelphia for the Craft Brewers Conference.
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full disclosure: Superior Beverage Group (distributor for Four String and Long Trail) is a client