Anthrax Launches 'Wardance,' Its Own Craft Beer

Anthrax 'Wardance Pale Ale'

ANTHRAX have announced its own craft beer, WARDANCE with upstate NEW YORK BUTTERNUTS BEER & ALE BREWERY and its owner CHUCK WILLIAMSON, a metalhead and longtime fan of the band. WARDANCE will be available in stores, bars and restaurants where craft beer is sold in NEW YORK STATE, beginning MARCH 27th. Plans are in the works to expand the distribution to other states around the country.

Commented ANTHRAX's SCOTT IAN: "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."

Added the band's CHARLIE BENANTE: "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.'"  

Working closely with WILLIAMSON and his partner on the project, marketing guru DAVID "REV" CIANCIO, another longtime ANTHRAX fan, the band's IAN, BENANTE, and FRANK BELLO wanted a distinct flavor for WARDANCE, one that would fit not only their own personal preferences, but that their fans would enjoy as well.  

Said IAN: "I spoke to CHUCK and we talked about what we like/don't like and what I would want from our beer. It was simple, a beer that would be very drinkable yet still have flavor." 

They decided on a pale ale style with a special blend of malts and hops to give it a unique flavor, and a "first batch" was brewed. WILLIAMSON and REV did a tasting with the band on their tour bus parked outside the ST. VITUS club the night ANTHRAX headlined a benefit show there last SEPTEMBER for GILDA'S CLUB NYC.  In addition and unbenownst to the band's fans, a keg of that "first batch" was poured at the show with feedback from the fans. WILLIAMSON did a little more tinkering in the beer lab with the ale's recipe, one more tasting which received a unanimous thumbs up from the band, and WARDANCE PALE ALE, available in 12 oz. cans, was inaugurated.  

ANTHRAX will hit the road beginning MARCH 29th, co-headlining a 27-date NORTH AMERICAN tour -- KILLTHRAX -- with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA as main support.  Dates and more info are here.

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