Independence Brewing Co. & Desert Door collaborate for limited edition release

AUSTIN, Texas - Desert Door and Independence Brewing Co. have teamed up for a special collaboration.

Independence incorporated grapefruit juice and zest to make the limited edition Redbud Palmoa brew that was aged in sotol barrels from Desert Door.

The brewery, located at 3913 Todd Ln #607, is celebrating the release by reopening its outdoor patio to the public by reservation from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on June 19, the same day of the bottle release. Desert Door will also be there on Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20 to hand out sotol samples and a recipe card for its Indy x Desert Door Paloma beer cocktail.

The first 100 people who pick up their order between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. will receive the ingredients to make the beer cocktail. Director of Field Marketing with Desert Door, Bobbi Hitchon, demonstrated to FOX 7 Austin how to make it.

Hitchon says teaming up with Independence was a "dream collaboration." She says Desert Door sent the brewery new American oak barrels about a year ago and the brewery was inspired by the distillery's Desert Paloma cocktail.

“Sotol was a new experience for me and after trying Desert Door for the first time, I knew that it was something I wanted to brew with,” said Head Brewer of Independence Brewing Co. Brannon Radicke in a news release. “When it comes to barrel-aged beer, most distilled agave spirits like mezcal and tequila can be challenging to work with because often their strong flavors and aromas can easily overwhelm the beer. What I found so promising about sotol is that it prizes subtlety, showcasing those earthy, botanical, and floral notes."

"I knew from the start that I wanted to use our Redbud Berliner Weisse which I felt would bring out and accentuate those floral notes and add a nice refreshing tartness. And after trying the Sotol Paloma at Desert Door's tasting room, adding a bit of fresh grapefruit to the mix was a no brainer. I'm really proud of how this turned out, probably one of my favorite barrel-aging projects to date,” Radicke adds.

Both Hitchon and Radicke agree that the Redbud Paloma is a great beer for the summer and it also pairs well with salty, oily, and starchy foods, ceviche, salade niçoise, fish tacos, soft cheeses, grapefruit curd tart, fruity sorbets and more.

SIGN UP FOR FOX 7 AUSTIN EMAIL ALERTS

The bottle’s label was designed by designers Lauren Dickens, Drew Lakin, and Keith Davis Young is also signed by Independence Brewing Co. owner, Amy Cartwright.

There are 200, 750 ml bottles available for pre-order and curbside pick-up at Independence Brewing Co. for $15 while supplies last. Orders can be made on the brewery’s website starting June 19 at 2 p.m. 

To get more information about Desert Door, its sotol, and its distillery located at 211 Darden Hill Road in Driftwood you can go to the Desert Door website.