HOUSTON (May 17, 2012) – As beer lovers across Houston soak-up the remaining days of spring, Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P., the local Anheuser-Busch and craft beer distributor, announces the debut of its summer seasonal line-up, along with new profiles never before seen in Houston.

   Sierra Nevada's Summerfest, Saint Arnold's Summer Pils, and Pyramid Breweries' Curve Ball Blonde Ale are all back for the warmer-weather months and will be offered at various retail accounts through the end of summer. New seasonals hitting the market for the first time include Magic Hat's Elder Betty and Shock Top's Lemon Shandy. New-to-market brands include Sierra Nevada's Hoptimum, Rahr & Sons' The Regulator and MacTarnahan's Spine Tingler. All are limited-release series, and will be arriving in Houston for the first time.

   "We are excited to not only bring back the popular summer seasonals Houstonians look forward to each year, but also offer new varieties that will provide even more taste profiles to quench thirsts during Houston's hot summer months," said John L. Nau, president and CEO of Silver Eagle Distributors. "Our customers are enjoying the rise in craft beer options available locally, and I am confident that these new seasonals will become go-to favorites very quickly."

   Magic Hat's Elder Betty is a "weiss-style" ale with a bready malt flavor balanced by a touch of hops and complimented by the tart berry flavors of elderberry. Shock Top's Lemon Shandy is a unique interpretation of a classic style, a refreshing and smooth wheat beer perfectly complemented by spices and natural lemonade flavor.

   Sierra Nevada's Hoptimum is a 100 IBU whole-cone hurricane of flavor, the biggest whole-cone IPA the brewer has ever produced. Aggressively hopped, dry-hopped and torpedoed, this is Hoptimum's second year on the market, but first year to be available in Houston. It is part one of a two-part high altitude series that will be available for approximately six months before part two of the series, Sierra Nevada's Imperial Stout, hits the market.

   The Regulator by Rahr & Sons is a doppelbock, a brawnier version of the traditional bock that has a large, creamy and persistent head with intense malty flavors. Also new to Houston is MacTarnahan's Spine Tingler, a Belgian-style triple offering an electrifying blend of spicy aromatics, balanced with a lively malt palate.

   New to the market, and luckily available year-round, is Mississippi-based Lazy Magnolia. The first craft brewery to produce in Mississippi, Lazy Magnolia brews are developed using flavors of the south, including pecans, honey and sweet potatoes. Houston is the first market in Texas to offer-up these new craft recipes, which are thought up and created by Mississippi State University (MSU) grad Leslie Henderson, one of the few female brewmasters in the U.S.

   Henderson started the brewery with her husband Mark, both MSU alum's with engineering degrees, in January of 2005. Three of the breweries best-selling craft varieties will be available in Houston: Southern Pecan, Deep South Pale Ale and Jefferson Stout.

   Southern Pecan, a nut brown ale, uses pecans just like grain to provide a nutty characteristic and depth to the flavor profile. Lightly hopped to allow the malty, caramel and nutty flavors to shine through, Southern Pecan won a bronze medal in the 2006 World Beer Cup in the specialty beer category.

   Deep South Pale Ale is a crisp and clean beer, with a perfect balance of hops and malt. Its body and clean finish are ideally suited for all seasons, and the brew is moderately hopped for a great aroma and impressive finish.

   Lazy Magnolia's Jefferson Stout is a sweet potato cream stout, brewed with sweet potatoes and lactose (milk sugar). While the sweet potatoes provide the background to an impressive taste, added flavor notes of roasted chocolate, coffee and caramel round out this popular stout.

   For craft beer fans always on the search for new and unique brews, these warm-weathered seasonals and new-to-the-market brands are sure to answer the call. And if last year's new introductions into the market, including Big Sky Brewery, which has seen tremendous month-over-month growth in Houston, are any indication, these new brews will be in the hearts and refrigerators of Houstonians very soon.