My personal choice for best brew of 2017 was Flyway’s Lord God Imperial Chocolate Stout, so needless to say I was thrilled to find out the brew team stashed two kegs away last year and is releasing it this week. Owner Jess McMullen said the 2017 Lord God has aged very nicely and will be tapped on Wednesday. It’s a beer of unending complexity and richness, and I can’t wait to see what the extra year did to it. With only two kegs available, you’re going to want to be there ASAP to get this one. Flyway is releasing it ahead of its 2018 version, which will hit taps on Valentine’s Day.
Speaking of best beers, Lost Forty has taken some of its most beloved brews and put them in barrels for a month of barrel-aged releases. The party kicks off today at 4 p.m. with a double release. First, it’s the outstanding Double Love Honey doppelbock aged in a Four Roses bourbon barrel. The original Double Love Honey is an early contender for best beer of 2018, so it will be exciting to see what barrel-aging has done to it. Also today is the Izard Chocolate Bourbon-Barrel Aged Forest Queen. Lost Forty’s traditional milk stout was rested on cacao nibs from Izard Chocolate and aged in Four Roses barrels. By the way, if you make it to all four barrel-aged events this month, Lost Forty will give you a free Teku glass at the end of the month. I mean, if you need the extra motivation.
It’s a double release of IPAs at Rebel Kettle for its 4:30 Thursday event. The first one is called Cody Scott’s Citraholic Double IPA, and it takes Rebel Kettle’s popular Alphaholic and throws in a large amount of Citra hops for a citrus profile that packs a hoppy punch. For its second release, Rebel Kettle is doing a DDH Easy Roller IPA. Easy Roller is already pretty hoppy, but the brewers decided to double the dry hops for a more intense tropical hop profile. Hopheads are going to want to put Thursday on their calendars.
Also hopping on for a double release this week is Stone’s Throw Brewing. For its #NewBrewFriday, the brewery is releasing its traditional Cajun brew Biere de Gras, an enjoyable ale brewed to enjoy during the run-up to Mardi Gras. Last year, this one made its way to popular New Orleans-style restaurants around town like The Faded Rose and Maddie’s Place, so be sure to look for it. Also on Friday, Stone’s Throw is tapping its Anton Baltic Porter, which features dark, roasted malt notes and a pretty decent ABV (7.5%). This one is ideal for cold weather days. #NewBrewFriday kicks off at 4 p.m.
Blue Canoe Brewing Company previewed its new Coconut Cream Stout at FrostFest in Fayetteville last weekend and is putting it on tap in Little Rock starting Friday. It’s a 5 percent ABV brew that is easy to drink and should be a popular pick while it’s on. Also, Blue Canoe this week is debuting its Craft Beer and Canvas event, which is a beer take on the popular “drink wine and paint with friends” idea that’s proved successful around town. Blue Canoe is working with a local art instructor for the evening. Craft Beer and Canvas will be held at the warehouse location; keep your eyes on Blue Canoe’s Facebook page for pricing and scheduling details.
Do you have some beer news you’d like to share with us? Email steve@rockcityeats.com.
RIP Damgoode Pies
November 20, 2023
