(Lawrence, KS) – American Craft Beer Week celebrates the independent spirit, craftsmanship, and community fostered by the American craft brewer. In that spirit the brewers of Free State Beer, Blind Tiger, and 23rd Street offer up the Full Kimono, an Imperial Red Ale released this Friday, May 11th.

Head Brewers Geoff Deman (Free State), John Dean (Blind Tiger), and Bryan “Bucky” Buckingham (23rd Street) designed the recipe together and collaboratively brewed the three batches of Full Kimono at each other’s breweries in three successive days.

At over 10% ABV (alcohol by volume) and hopped to the hilt with more hops than any of the three breweries have previously employed in a single batch, the Full Kimono is something special indeed. Full of hop flavor but balanced by a full malt backbone, the Full Kimono lays bare the “magic” of the brewer’s art for all to enjoy.

“American craft brewers are artisans, that rather than working in paint, photography…they’re working in beer.” –Tim Meyers.

Strange Brewing Folks are encouraged to travel to the individual breweries and enjoy the subtle differences between each stellar brew, sharing in the community that the three breweries enliven. American Craft Beer Week aims at promoting the quality beer that craft brewers share with an ever growing community of beer enthusiasts. 1,521 events posted to the official ACBW calendar with events in ALL 50 states in 2011. Check for events around the country and locally at CraftBeer.com.