This week’s beer news includes stories that will restore your faith in humanity and get you really excited to drink more craft beer. An awesome guy named Josh is hosting a raffle for every Bourbon County Stout release from 2005-2013, Stone Cold Steve Austin might be making beer soon, and New Holland Brewing announced four new Dragon’s Milk releases. These are just a few of the stories you need to hear about in this edition of the Weekly Growler Fill.

Win Every Bottle of Bourbon County releases from 2005-2013

After a fire struck the Jackie O’s pub earlier this year, faithful patron Josh Stevens decided he needed to do something to help out. In response, he organized a raffle where the prize is a bottle of every Bourbon County Stout released from 2005-2013. Is he crazy? Maybe, but so far he has raised $6,000 so his plan seems to be working out well. If he hits his new goal of $10,000, he told us that he would pull a second winning ticket for a box with the five BCS releases of 2014. In addition, another generous member of the community, JR Clark, has offered to donate one of his hand forged bottled openers to the raffle as well. Josh hopes to collect raffle money until Dec. 26 and then have a Jackie O’s employee pick the winning name by the end of the year. If this sounds like your kind of raffle, tickets can be purchased for $25 per entry or five tickets for $100 via PayPal ([email protected]). All donations will benefit the employee fire relief fund.

Founders Brewing Becomes Partners with Mahou San Miguel

Photo Credit: Founders Brewing Company

To help the brewery expand, Founders Brewing has sold 30% of the company to Mahou, Spain’s oldest brewer. Rest assured, nothing about Founders will be changing anytime soon. They will still be producing great beer out of Grand Rapids, Michigan and current distribution will remain the same. With this partnership, they hope to grow the Founders network internationally. Since Mahou is based out of Spain, we have a feeling that you’ll be able to drink All Day IPA and Breakfast Stout in Europe sometime in the near future.

Collaboration Fest 2015: Bigger and Better

Collaboration Fest is returning to Denver for the second year in a row. This awesome festival brings together tons of breweries to create special ‘collab’ beers just for this event. Last year, Oskar Blues and Shamrock brewing brought us the decadent Death by Coconut that literally tasted like a Samoa Girl Scout Cookie. I drank it at the festival and then I was the happiest girl in the world (Samoas are my favorite). You don’t want to miss drinking tasty, special release beers like Death by Coconut, so head here to buy a ticket ASAP. The festival will take place on Saturday, March 21 from 3-7 pm at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

New Holland Plans Four Dragon’s Milk Releases in 2015

New Holland Brewing Company has announced that they will released four different variations of Dragon’s Milk in the upcoming year. I know our founder, Tristan, has to be pumped about this. I literally heard him squeal in excitement when he saw the New Holland booth at GABF. The new brews to be released include Dragon’s Milk Reserve with Toasted Chilies, Dragon’s Milk Reserve with Raspberries, Dragon’s Milk Reserve with Coffee & Chocolate, and Dragon’s Milk Reserve Triple Mashed Bourbon Barrel Stout. I’ve seen the raspberry variation on the shelves already so if you’re hoping to get your hands on a bottle, you better hop to it!

You Could Be Drinking Beer by Stone Cold Steve Austin Very Soon…

This is my goofiest post of the week and it’s not even 100% sure yet. Recently, Stone Cold Steve Austin (my childhood hero) did an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine in which he hinted at an upcoming project that may include him producing his own beer. Here’s what he said:

“I can’t really announce anything yet but we’re working on the paperwork right now.

I’m also working on another lifestyle-orientated thing that I’m excited about too, but since you brought the beer up, I’m anticipating getting everything finalized so I can get in the tasting room, come up with the formula and create the beer.

It’s almost a done deal.”

Can we start guessing what the names of his brew will be? Do you think he will make ‘cans of whoop-ass’ for us all to enjoy? I hope so.