Grand Rapids-based Founders Brewing Co. today announced plans to release Lizard of Koz, its 16th installment of the limited-run “Backstage Series” of beers, starting in December.
The Lizard of Koz is a bourbon barrel-aged stout brewed with Michigan blueberries, chocolate and vanilla that Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki first brewed as a birthday present for his sister, Liz.
The beer will be available in 750mL bottles across Founders’ 39-state distribution footprint.
Brewery co-founder and President Dave Engbers said the beer was “the perfect way to cap off 2016.”
Founders’ launched its Backstage Series beers in 2011 as a way to showcase the company’s experimentation. Past releases have included Bolt Cutter, CBS, Curmudgeon’s Better Half, Blushing Monk, Doom and Mango Magnifico.
The announcement for Lizard of Koz follows an award-winning week for Founders at the Great American Beer Fest (GABF) in Denver, where the Grand Rapids-based brewery took home a silver medal in the Imperial Red Ale category for ReDANKulous, which was first released as a Backstage Series beer in 2015.
Founders was among 10 Michigan breweries to win medals at GABF. Other winners included Cedar Springs Brewing Co. (bronze, for Kusterer Original Hefeweißier), Railtown Brewing Co. (bronze, for Good Mooed Milk Stout), Brewery Vivant (bronze, for Angelina), Bell’s Brewery Inc. (silver, for Expedition Stout) and Latitude 42 (bronze, for Bangin the Mash).
