American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
So many beers, So little time…If winter’s got you down, we’ve got news to share about a few big, barrel-aged beer releases that might cheer you up. Plus, we’ll give you the scoop on some interesting new releases from Great Lakes and Lost Abbey that you’ll want to check out.
“Bitter” Be Ready (Bend, OR) – Prepare your taste buds, because Deschutes is unveiling their 4th Pub Reserve Series beer this weekend and they’re calling it “unrivaled.” The Specialist – a reserve bitter aged in Pinot, Sherry, and Bourbon barrels and then blended – will be available in the Deschutes Brewery Bend Public House this Friday, January 23, from 11 a.m. to midnight for purchase in 22 oz. bottles and on draft. It’s also going to be paired with a special culinary menu, so we suggest you mark your calendars.
The Return of Two Barrel-Aged Beauties (San Marcos, CA) – This January, Lost Abbey will be bringing two of its oak-aged beers out of the woodwork – Brandy Barrel-Aged Angel’s Share and Track #10 from the brewery’s Ultimate Box Set (a series of one-off releases featuring special blends). Last released in 2011, Brandy Angel’s Share – an English-style barleywine full of rich vanilla and oak flavors – is aged in brandy barrels for a minimum of twelve months. This year’s version will be a limited, draft-only release.
Track #10 is one of only two beers to be granted a revival from the brewery’s Ultimate Box Set besides Track #8 in 2014. Weighing in at 13.5% ABV, Track #10 is a barrel-aged version of Serpent’s Stout aged on vanilla beans, coffee, and cacao nibs in bourbon barrels. Track #10 will be released in 375 ml cork-and-caged bottles as well as on draft.
A Roaring Fire & A Pint of S’mores (Charlottesville, VA) – The weather might be getting colder, but our friends at Three Notch’d Brewing Company have come up with the perfect antidote. Join them in their taproom at 5:45 p.m. today for their Biggie S’mores Imperial Stout tapping party. Made with 80 boxes of Honey Maid Graham crackers and a special roasted barley that gives the beer a rich and chocolate-y finish, this one might even outdo its delicious food namesake.
Don’t Get Left in the Dark (Cleveland, OH) – Early next week, one of our favorite heavy-hitters returns from Great Lakes Brewing, and you don’t want to get left in the dark. For those of you who missed signing up to attend the 2015 Barrel-Aged Blackout Stout release party this Monday, January 26, you’ll still have a chance to grab some of this coveted brew. Blackout will go on tap at the GLBC brewpub on Tuesday, January 27, and 12 oz. bottles will also be available for sale individually, in 4-packs, or in cases (limit two cases/person/day) at the GLBC gift shop starting at 10:00 a.m.
