Little Rock’s most anticipated annual beer release is here. On Saturday, Lost Forty Brewing sold its first 4-packs of Nighty Night Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout at the entertaining Festival of Darkness. If you missed the party this weekend, you still have a chance to get Nighty Night today. Lost Forty is continuing the release party today for Freshcut Monday, where you can get Nighty Night by the glass or in 4-packs to go. This year’s version features some robust chocolate notes and a dryer finish than previous years. At 10.5 percent ABV, it still isn’t backing down at all. If you can’t make it out today, don’t worry. Lost Forty will be doing some limited distribution this year, so you can expect to see Nighty Night at select liquor stores around town.
It might not get the fanfare of Nighty Night, but Rebel Kettle’s annual RedRumPum release this week is every bit as delicious. For its 4:30 Thursday event, Rebel Kettle will unveil this 11 percent ABV monster. RedRumPum starts as an amber ale that ages for six months in Caribbean rum barrels, developing flavors of toffee, chocolate, pumpkin spice and, of course, rum. Head brewer John Lee tells me he believes this year’s version is the best yet, describing it as big and bold but with a sweet, satisfying finish. This one certainly won’t last very long, so make plans to attend Thursday afternoon.
A Little Rock classic brew that hasn’t been on tap for two years comes back this week at Vino’s Brewpub. Moody Brews Cuban Pull should be ready to go around the weekend. Josiah Moody takes a brown ale recipe and brews it with lactose before aging it on espresso roasted coffee beans. It comes in at 6 percent ABV. This was one of my very favorite brews in town before Moody left for Northwest Arkansas, and I can’t wait to try it again later this week. Check the Moody Brews Facebook page for the exact release date.
If they could keep it on tap for any amount of time, Flyway Brewing’s Low Flock IPA might be the best regular IPA on tap in Central Arkansas. The fourth batch of this hazy New England-style IPA went on tap this weekend, and if previous demand is any indication, you’re going to want to pick some up sooner rather than later. Flyway is also holding some keep-the-glass events around the state this week, including Wednesday night at Flying Saucer and Thursday at Sticky Fingerz. Check Flyway’s Facebook page for a full list of keep-the-glass nights all around Arkansas (including in Northwest Arkansas).
Flyway is also part of a collaboration release this week with Stone’s Throw Brewing. Stone’s Throw is releasing the beer at Fountain Fest on Thursday and then again for its #NewBrewFriday release. Stone’s Throw’s Ian Beard tells me the beer is an amber ale brewed with lactose, sweet potatoes and black walnuts. The name will be decided in a naming competition at the Arkansas Arts Center that ends later today. Whatever it’s called, it sounds like fall in a glass, and it sounds like a beer worth seeking out.
Do you have any beer news you’d like to share with us? Email steveshuler@gmail.com.
RIP Damgoode Pies
November 20, 2023
