ESCANABA, Mich. – Upper Hand Brewery is pleased to announce the upcoming release of 906™ Ale (9.06% ABV). An Imperial Red Ale brewed in celebration of the 906 area code, the beer’s name is a tribute to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where the brewery calls its home.

This huge, hoppy ale features an explosive hop profile with massive aromatics and a moderate body. Deep, ruby red from specialty malts, this beer has big, lingering, juicy hop flavors and bitterness.

906 Ale’s unique hop profile comes from a combination of Equinox and an experimental varietal known only as 291. Fruit punch, lemon-lime, tropical fruit, lychee, and sweet peppers are all fair game for this aromatic pair. Specialty malts provide color and encourage round, juicy hop expression.

“We brewed 906 Ale to pay homage to the people and communities that make the U.P. the unique and beautiful place that it is,” commented Larry Bell, President and Founder of Bell’s Brewery, Inc. (Upper Hand Brewery is a division of Bell’s).

“While the U.P. covers a wide area, the 906 area code is one of many things that connect the people of the peninsula. Upper Hand brews are already widely enjoyed throughout the region and we hope to see this beer embraced as part of this shared culture,” Bell added.

906 Ale will be available in limited quantities on shelves throughout the U.P. beginning in late August, just in time for Labor Day, the U.P. Fall Beer Festival, and of course, 9/06