One of the most unexpected collaborations may prove to be one of the most fun as McMenamin’s and Great Notion Brewing swap recipes for two new beer releases. Portland’s purveyors of fruited sours, hazy IPA and pastry inspired dessert beers have adapted McMenamin’s classic fruit beer Ruby Ale with their own interpretation. McMenamin’s has in turn taken a crack at Great Notion’s flagship Ripe IPA. Each brewery has added their own twists to make the beers stand-out creations.

Cold as Ripe Cold Double IPA

McMenamins Breweries, Hotels, Theaters, etc. have gotten aold of the recipe for one of the earliest versions of the now mainstream New England-style Ripe IPA from Great Notion Brewing. This was one of Great Notion’s first beers, and has remained a fan favorite. Instead of just trying to match it’s thick pulpy juice appearance and standard setting tropical hop profile, McMenamin’s has tasked their Edgefield brewery with turning it into both a trending Cold IPA and a Double IIPA. Rather than the 6+ % ABV that Ripe normally clocks in at, the Cold as Ripe IPA is coming in at 8% ABV.

Ruby Jammin

Great Notion Brewing is more than familiar with sweet and tart fruit beers, so working with one of the earlier and longest running fruit beers on the market makes sense. Jammin’ with Ruby is a take on McMenamin’s raspberry infused wheat beer Ruby Ale, a beer that has been around for 30+ years. Great Notion has mashed it up as a riff on their extremely fruit pureed up “Jammie Pants” series and added vanilla and lime on top of the berry to put it more into the thicc sweet-tart realm of fruited sours.

Cans of Great Notion’s Jammin’ with Ruby are now available through Great Notion. Beginning on Friday, January 28th both beers will be available at many McMenamin’s locations detailed below. And for a limited time, both Cold as Ripe Cold Double IPA and Jammin’ with Ruby are on tap at McMenamins’ 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop as of now.

Cans ($5 each): Both the McMenamins and Great Notion versions will be available at select McMenamins locations.

McMenamins Cold as Ripe cans will be available at 9 locations: Edgefield, 23rd Ave Bottle shop, Cornelius Pass Roadhouse, Kennedy School, Cedar Hills Pub, Old St Francis School, Grand Lodge, Gearhart Hotel and Wilsonville Pub.

Great Notion’s Jammin with Ruby will be available at 5 McMenamins locations: Edgefield, Kennedy School, 23rd Ave Bottle Shop, Gearhart Hotel and Old St. Francis School. PLUS, it will be available directly from Great Notion Brewery.

On Tap- Every McMenamins (OR and Wash) will have a keg of both brews by 1/28. Get it while it lasts!