The excitement continues with beer collaborations across the country and right here in Pennsylvania. Whether a brewery works with a band to invigorate its fan base, a local bakery to rouse your sweet tooth or a charity that is in desperate need of help, one thing is for certain — new craft beer consumers will be found.

And from a craft beer marketing perspective, that’s genius!

Music to our beers

Of all the collaborations, none seem to be more popular than the brewery-band collaborations. Without a doubt these brews help new craft beer consumers discover the rich aromas and flavors they’ve been missing. Asbury Park Brewery (New Jersey) collaborated with the Las Vegas band, Panic! at the Disco and frontman Brendon Urie to create IP!ATD, a West Coast IPA that made its debut at a Panic! show in Newark, N.J.

Last year Stone Brewing paired up with Metallica to create Enter Night Pilsner, which is still an in-demand beer for collectors. Dogfish Head Brewery paired with the band Flaming Lips to brew Dragons Yum Yum, a tropical pale ale. Last week I noticed how well the fourth release of their beer with the Grateful Dead, named American Beauty Hazy Ripple IPA has been selling. Dancing Gnome (Sharpsburg) has collaborated multiple times with bands since January 2018, starting with an American Play Ale with the band Tiny Moving Parts (TMP). Since then Dancing Gnome has paired with Punchline, Delta Sleep, Nappy Roots and most recently the Pittsburgh alternative punk band Swiss Army.

Bakeries and beer

Platform Beer Co. (Cleveland) collaborated with Prantl’s Bakery last year to create a beer that mimics the taste of their famous burnt almond torte. It was a success, in case you didn’t know! More recently Platform collaborated again with the popular bakery to bring us a stout created with ingredients from Prantl’s chocolate almond torte. The sweet stout was brewed with chocolate, lactose, vanilla and Prantl’s almonds.

Inner Groove Brewing (Verona) and Oakmont Bakery collaborated on a holiday beer brewed with gingerbread cookies. Ginger Bell Rock is a brown ale brewed with the bakery’s gingerbread cookies in addition to cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, toffee and molasses.

Just beer-cause

Eleventh Hour Brewing Co. has brewed a beer named Hero Adam. One dollar from each beer sold will benefit the wildfire rescue of animals in Australia. Everyone can be a hero by indulging in this brew or taking home cans while supplies last.

As we’ll continue to see more of these collaboration brews in 2020, don’t forget

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