If you’re a barrel-aged beer fan (and let’s be honest, we pretty much all are), you will want to be at Lost Forty Brewing for today’s Freshcut Monday release. The taproom is releasing its Forest King Imperial Stout aged in cabernet and bourbon barrels at 4 p.m. today. If you keep up with Lost Forty at all, you know that this is very similar to the brewery’s recipe for its acclaimed Nighty Night, which is released every fall. This limited release is 10 percent ABV and only available on tap. And I mean limited; there are only 50 pours of this one available. Get there early if you want a taste. Lost Forty is also holding its annual Papas and Pints Fathers Day brunch event on Sunday from 9 a.m. until closing time. In addition to some new brunch items that will be announced this week, Lost Forty has put together three Fathers Day gift packs to surprise dad on his day.
The skies have opened and the heavens are rejoicing in Paris, Ark., home of Prestonrose Farm and Brewing Company. Brewer Liz Preston tells me Prestonrose is undergoing a massive expansion from its current single-barrel operation to a 15 BBL system. Last week, Prestonrose received a delivery of shipping containers that will be repurposed for the expansion. Prestonrose will stay open during construction; Preston says there shouldn’t be any disruption for customers. Prestonrose is currently firming up its plans for the expansion, so the final product could be a year or more away. As we reported last week, Prestonrose is also working to set up an AirBNB at the farm so fans can stay the night on site. If you pay attention to any of our beer coverage, you know we are absolutely crazy for Prestonrose beer, and the fact that this expansion means more Prestonrose on tap in Little Rock has made for a happier day at the Rock City Eats HQ.
Stone’s Throw Brewing is opening a second location, albeit on a temporary basis. The brewery is setting up a pop-up taproom Saturday in the former Unity Martial Arts building in Stifft Station. Owner Ian Beard tells me this is all part of Pop-up in the Rock, a month-long event to celebrate small businesses in the Little Rock area. Stone’s Throw will operate in Stifft Station Saturday and Sunday from noon until 9 p.m., and then next Thursday and Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. Stone’s Throw’s pop-up taproom goes until July 7; folks in Capitol View and Stifft Station would do well to take advantage. But if the 9th St. taproom is your thing, Stone’s Throw is tapping its popular Decimal Hoppy Wheat for its #NewBrewFriday event at 4 p.m. Decimal Hoppy Wheat features a special blend of 10 hop varieties that changes with every batch, meaning each release has its own unique profile.
Rebel Kettle Brewing Company is closed today for an undisclosed reason. The brewery and taproom will return to normal business hours tomorrow. Then for its 4:30 Thursday event, Rebel Kettle is releasing its Squarepants Pineapple Gose at the taproom. Squarepants was the product of a 2017 experiment where brewers split a batch of kettle sour four ways and prepared each fourth differently. Squarepants was the favorite, featuring more than 300 pounds of pineapple puree. The result is a tart but light beer that should be extra refreshing on a hot Arkansas day.
Blue Canoe Brewing Company wants you to show your support for UCA. On Friday, anybody who comes in wearing UCA gear or apparel will be able to buy a pint of Bear Trail Belgian Blonde Ale for $3. That deal is good at the taproom or at the warehouse. Then on Fathers Day, Blue Canoe has teamed up with Baggo for an officially sanctioned tournament at the warehouse. Teams can buy in for $50, and first place gets $1,000 and some great merchandise from Blue Canoe. Get your Baggo team together and sign up at Blue Canoe this week.
No new beers from Flyway Brewing this week, but the taproom has begun serving a regular Saturday brunch service. Saturday brunch starts at 10 a.m. and will feature a new menu every weekend. Flyway is also doing a special Fathers Day brunch this Sunday, with items like breakfast poutine, corned beef and potato cake hash stack, and a pork chop and waffle, just to name a few items.
If there’s anything as good as beer, it’s great beer can art. I’m up in Northwest Arkansas this week and got a chance to check out the release of Beyond Petite Saison from Bike Rack Brewing Company this week (see the header photo). The saison is excellent; it’s brewed with dandelion for a subtle, bitter background to the bright palate of the ale yeast. At only 4.6 percent ABV, it’s also a great summer crusher. And then there’s the can art, which was inspired by San Francisco-based artist Anna Valdez. The can’s beautiful use of borderless color and negative space is one of the most striking art labels I’ve ever seen. Valdez has some of her work on display at Crystal Bridges in the Georgia O’Keefe exhibit, which you absolutely need to check out if you’re in Northwest Arkansas anytime soon. Beyond Petite Saison is available in six-packs, but only at Bike Rack in Bentonville, so get a friend to grab one for you if you can’t make it up.
Do you have any beer news you’d like to share with us? Email steve@rockcityeats.com.
RIP Damgoode Pies
November 20, 2023
