Welcome to Growlers: your weekly roundup of news, events and specials from Little Rock’s breweries and taprooms. Little Rock’s beer scene is growing and improving at a rapid pace, and we’re dedicated to keeping you up to speed on all of it. Here’s what’s happening this week:
Growlers is all about good beer, but when it’s for a good cause, it’s even better. That’s the case this coming weekend as the Great Arkansas Beer Festival hosts The Great Midtown Benefit on Saturday from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. The benefit will take place in front of Midtown Billiards, with part of Main Street blocked off. Admission is $20 and gets you beer from Lost Forty, Rebel Kettle, Flyway, Ozark Brewing, Diamond Bear and much more. Proceeds from the event go to assist Midtown Billiards employees while their regular job is temporarily closed. Tickets are available for purchase at the gate.
Lost Forty’s Love Honey Bock is one of the top-selling beers in Arkansas, and today is your chance to taste it in a new way. For its Freshcut Monday, Lost Forty is putting this lager on a nitro tap. Nitrogen will be infused directly into the brew for a creamier, less bitter taste. This special brew will only be available in the taproom. Also today, Lost Forty Brewing welcomes director Jeff Nichols back to Little Rock for a special playing of his new movie “Loving” four days before it is released in theaters. The showing is at Ron Robinson Theater, with doors opening at 5:45 p.m. Tickets are $35, and all proceeds go to benefit the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. Beer and wine are included in the ticket price.
Stone’s Throw’s #NewBrewFriday event has an old favorite returning in the form of the RoggenDunkelDoppelbock brew, in standard and barrel-aged forms. The barrel-aged version was conditioned in wheat whiskey barrels from Rock Town Distillery. Also, if you don’t have dinner plans for tomorrow night, check out November’s #5Beers5Bites dinner with Stone’s Throw and The Southern Gourmasian. The monthly dinner is always a hit. This month’s entrees include potato gnocchi, crab beignets, and a spicy ginger beef dish.
Last year, Blue Canoe Brewing Company found itself with some leftover pumpkin ale. So they decided to stow it away in a Nicaraguan rum barrel for nine months, and just brought it out this past weekend. It’s called River Rum Pum, and you’ll only find it at the taproom, so make sure to stop by when they open Wednesday. You won’t have to wait that long for lunch, however. That’s because, starting today, Blue Canoe’s Taco Beer Burrito is now open for lunch seven days a week. You can also get dinner at the restaurant Wednesday through Sunday.
Buffalo Brewing at The Water Buffalo is becoming a good brewery in its own right, but its best service to Central Arkansas’ beer scene is bringing brews from around the state to Little Rock. There are always very reasonably priced growler fill-ups available of beers you can’t find anywhere else in the city. This week’s lineup includes Moody Brews Cuban Pull Imperiale, Bubba Brews Cherry Sandbar Pilsner and Superior Bathhouse Majestic Brown. Keep your eyes on their Facebook page for more additions this week, including one from Fayetteville’s Apple Blossom Brewing Company.
Speaking of Bubba Brews, be on the look out for its new Winter Hammer this week if you’re in Hot Springs. This is a bracing brew, weighing in at 9.6 percent ABV with plenty of spice and Belgian notes. Also, Bubba Brews is hosting the Arkansas Brewer’s Guild tap takeover this coming Saturday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Several beers from around the state will be poured, including a few hard-to-find draughts from Northwest Arkansas.
Rebel Kettle has its popular Rob Gnarly tart saison back on tap this week. Also, for 4:30 Thursday, the taproom is releasing its Easy Roller IPA. Easy Roller is only 6.3 percent ABV and is billed as an “easy drinker” with plenty of pine and citrus notes.
Do you have some beer news you would like to share with us? Email me at steve@rockcityeats.com.
RIP Damgoode Pies
November 20, 2023
