It’s a pretty quiet week in Central Arkansas’ beer scene, but there are still a few items to let you know about. Today at 4 p.m., Lost Forty Brewing’s Freshcut Monday release is S’morest Queen, a variation on the brewery’s popular Forest Queen Milk Chocolate Stout. S’morest Queen takes the base chocolate stout recipe and adds cacao nibs from Ouachita Chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows. At 5.3% ABV, this is one of Lost Forty’s more approachable specialty beers. To celebrate, Lost Forty is hosting a “taproom campout” with tabletop s’mores boards. It includes marshmallows, chocolate bars, Reese’s Pieces and cinnamon graham crackers, along with a miniature campfire. Also, Lost Forty is accepting sleeping bag donations (new or gently used) for The Van; bring one and get a $10 Lost Forty gift card. S’morest Queen is available by the glass and in six-packs to go. The first 10 people to buy a six-pack will receive a free S’morest Queen sticker and a chocolate bar from Ouachita Chocolate.
‘Tis the season for big, malty beers, and Stone’s Throw Brewing this week has one to fit the bill. Dos Cabras Doppelbock is an 8% ABV bock that packs full flavor to warm you up. Stone’s Throw has described the flavor profile as “liquid bread” with notes of toast, molasses and sweet grains. It’s big, but the gentle sugars and warm balance make this a beer that most folks will enjoy. Dos Cabras is this week’s #NewBrewFriday at 4 p.m. at Stone’s Throw’s MacPark taproom.
There’s no new release this week for Rebel Kettle Brewing Company, but there is a big event on the horizon. Rebel Kettle is hosting its annual Black Friday Brunch the day after Thanksgiving next week, and I’m told there will be several beer releases on that day. Rebel Kettle is keeping tight-lipped on what those will be, but they do tell me that these will be significant releases. We’ll update you on those releases in this space next week.
And finally, a bittersweet note for myself and other beer writers in Arkansas. John Wells, writer and founder of the John the Beer Snob brand and newsletter, has announced he is retiring his weekly publication. For more than 12 years, Wells has published beer news from Arkansas and beyond every week in a newsletter that goes out to hundreds of subscribers. The newsletter has covered everything from weekly releases and parties in Arkansas to beer tastings around the country and even around the world. He was the first to cover Arkansas’ beer scene on a regular basis, paving the way for writers like myself, Brian Sorenson in Northwest Arkansas and many others. Beyond his writing, he has always been one of my favorite folks to join for a sip and a conversation in person. From all of us at Rock City Eats, congratulations to you, John, on your retirement and thank you for your tireless work in covering beer in Little Rock.
Do you have any beer news to share with us? Email steveshuler@gmail.com.
RIP Damgoode Pies
November 20, 2023
