It looks like Anthrax finally got the time to sit down to expand their lifelong dream of having their own brand of beer. Sometime last year, a few members grabbed a few brews at New York City’s West Village bar Daddy-O and ended up talking to owner Phil Casacelli on wanting to have their own brand of beer. Casacelli took this casual conversation to another level and made a phone call to one of his favorite breweries, upstate New York’s Butternuts Beer & Ale Brewery. Casacelli spoke to the brewery owner Chuck Williamson, who happens to be a metalhead and a huge fan of Anthrax. The plan finally moved in full motion with the band’s own of beer known as Wardance. It will be available exclusively in New York State in stores, bars, restaurants and all places craft beer starting March 27, and are currently working on a plan to expand to additional states across the country.
Scott Ian said the following:
“I’ve wanted to do our own beer for a long time, it was just finding the right guy to make that a reality. I am a fan of Butternuts, especially their Porkslap Pale Ale, and when I found out that Chuck was interested in doing a beer with us I immediately said yes.”
Chuck Benante explained:
“Finding the right taste that all of us loved was really important, but it was also important that the beer not leave people feeling heavy or filled up afterwards. The other thing I love about our beer is that it goes really well with a burger. It’s the one beer to have when you’re having a ‘Wardance.'”
The decision was made for Wardance to be a pale ale with an added blend of malts and hops to enhance a unique flavor. Unbeknownst to them, fans have already tasted the beer back in September during the band’s performance at Brooklyn’s Saint Vitus. There was a keg available, and the band, brewers and marketing guy David “Rev” Ciancio comiled feedback directly from the fans. Since then, a few tweaks weremade to the recipe. Now, Wardance Pale Ale will be available in New York State in 12 oz. cans with 5.5% abv. The beer is brewed using a blend of both New York State and North American two-row malt barley and special malts for color and flavor. The hops are sourced through both New York State and West Coast growers and a percent of the hops are added in a boil kettle and a percent post fermentation to create its delicious bold flavor. It’s a beer that will set Wardance apart from other beers and that makes us really thirsty.
