Today at 4 p.m., Flyway Brewing releases its fourth and final installment of its cake series brews with the release of Carrot Cake Golden Ale. This is a beer that Flyway has been developing in some fashion for nearly three years. It’s an 8-percent ABV golden ale brewed with shredded carrots, golden raisins, cinnamon and vanilla beans. Flyway calls it the only one in the series that is a true dessert beer. Other cake series brews have included Coffee Cake Stout, Imperial Red Velvet Ale and Fruitcake Old Ale. Also at Flyway, the brewery put on its Cardinal Cider, an apple and black cherry cider that is the latest creation in the employee brew program. That was a small batch, and I haven’t heard if it’s still available this week, so call ahead before you go to try it.
Rebel Kettle Brewing Company is dabbling with the wine side of the beverage world this week for its 4:30 Thursday event. The brewery is releasing two brews aged in wine barrels that will only be available by the glass in the taproom. The first is Currant Krush, a sour ale aged on black currants in a red-wine barrel. The second is Dirty D, an apple and cherry cider also aged in a red-wine barrel. Wine barrels hold just over 50 gallons each, so there won’t be much to go around. Make sure to get there on time Thursday to get a taste. Also this week, Rebel Kettle is again hosting its Beer Yoga class, this time on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. The $10 charge covers the class and your first beer; make sure to bring your own towel and mat.
It’s hard to believe, but Superior Bathhouse Brewery in Hot Springs is turning four years old this week. On Wednesday, the brewery is celebrating by holding a tap takeover of its own facility. All 18 of Superior’s taps will pour Superior beer. The brewery is also cutting the price of its beer baths (a sample pour of all taps) from $40 to $30, so you’ll be able to try everything the brewery has to offer for a pretty reasonable price. Superior is one of Arkansas’ most unique breweries, and its success these first four years is a wonderful achievement worth celebrating.
Speaking of unique breweries, Prestonrose Farm and Brewing Company in Paris is trying out online ordering. It works similar to how Kroger and Walmart online ordering experiments have gone: just place your order online, and come by the brewery at the set time to pick it up. Orders are placed via the Paris Farmers Market online ordering site, which allows farmers and craftsmen to sell their wares every day instead of just on market day.
Lost Forty Brewing today is bringing back its watermelon lager with the Freshcut Monday release of Cave City Watermelon Shandy. This one is a blend of Bare Bones Pilsner with watermelons from Cave City, Ark., as well as lemon and lime juice to keep things crisp and tart. This is a very small batch; no cans, crowlers or growlers will be available. Make sure you get there right at 4 p.m. if you want to try it, because I guarantee it won’t be available for long.
Also, a quick reminder that the Great Arkansas Beer Festival is coming up on Saturday, July 22, at the Statehouse Convention Center. Tickets are $30 now for general admission. VIP tickets are $60 and include early admission and access to some very rare pours you won’t find around the state. Ticket prices go up if you wait to purchase until the day of the event, so make sure you take care of that soon.
Do you have some beer news you would like to share with us? Email me at steve@rockcityeats.com.