Skip to main content

Six new beers from a beloved East Bay brewery

IPAs, sours, Maibocks, and more

Headlands Alcatraz IPA.
Headlands Brewing

Headlands Brewing is giving the people what it wants. The northern California brewery just released a half dozen new beers, ranging in styles from IPAs to sours. It’s an intriguing lineup that may have us rethinking our favorite summer beers.

What’s come through the pipeline? First up, a west coast IPA dubbed Alcatraz. It’s part of the label’s Golden Gate Parks series, carried out in tandem with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Part of the beer’s proceeds support the organization and the beer itself has a nice balance of fruit and pine on the palate and is 6.5% ABV.

Recommended Videos

Next, a Maibock called The GOAT. This big golden German lager is backed by a nice maltiness and floral hops. The limited-release beer comes in at 7.4% ABV. Then there’s the Devil’s Thicket Hazy IPA, a 6.66% ABV beer made as an homage to nearby El Diablo. There’s even a New Zealand pale ale in the mix called Cargo Shorts. It’s made with Kiwi hops and is quite aromatic.

And there’s more. The Solar Sour: Watermelon, made with the fruit and coming in at a refreshing 5.3% ABV. Lastly, the WHOOSH! Hazy IPA, a feathery beer bursting with tropical notes. It comes in at 6.5% ABV. Between the fruit beers, the many IPA styles, and a German style beer oft-overlooked stateside, there’s something for every beer drinker.

Headlands Brewing is based in the East Bay and launched in 2013. The label has three locations spanning Berkeley, Lafayette, and Walnut Creek. The brewery believes that with great beer comes great responsibility and supports and number of like-minded organizations aiming to help the planet.

Keep it right here if you like food and drink. We’ve got fresh features on everything from the state of the craft beer movement to underrated west coast breweries. Knowledge is power.

Mark Stock
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
Myths busted: Why rinsing your beer glass matters more than you think
Beer glass rinsing 101
beer

Myths run riot in the land of drinks and we're on a mission to dispel them. Just ask the chill-able red wine or age-worthy beer. There are rules in beer, cocktail, and wine culture, sure, but there are also misconceptions and unknowns very much worth figuring out.

You know the sayings: Rum is only for tiki drinks, mezcal is just a smoky version of tequila, or you can't make a good non-alcoholic beer. We know these things to be untrue as we've tasted the evidence.

Read more
Move over IPAs — matcha beer is the new summer drink to try
What exactly is Matcha Beer?
Matcha Beer

Summer is here. It’s the season of days spent at the lake, beach, or floating in a river or creek with a beer in your hand. And while we enjoy a classic, crisp pilsner or hoppy IPA on a humid summer day, this year, we’re all about the trending Matcha Beer.

Before I delve into the beer itself, it’s essential to provide some background on matcha. In my years of writing professionally, I’ve spent a lot of time enjoying different types of tea and herbal beverages. When it comes to tea-centric drinks, it’s challenging to beat the appeal of matcha. Not only is matcha flavorful but this green-hued ground powder made from green tea leaves is also known for its antioxidant and healthy properties.

Read more
Peroni drops shaved Italian beer ice for summer sipping
A Mediterranean adult slushee of sorts
Peroni shaved Italian beer ice.

Hot off a new partnership with celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis, Peroni is greeting summer in style. The iconic Italian beer brand is now offering shaved beer ice, available via Goldbelly. And for the DIY types who want to try their hand a making the stuff at home, there's even a recipe.

Peroni Italian Beer Ice comes via a recipe from De Laurentiis. The refreshing drink is 5% ABV and blends a bit of citrus with the signature taste of the Pilsner. It's tough to imagine a better frozen drink for the hottest days of summer.

Read more