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:
If there’s a beer lover in your Valentine’s Day plans this year, you need to check out what Arkansas Brews Cruise and Prestonrose Farm & Brewing Company have planned. Prestonrose is celebrating its first birthday this coming weekend, and Arkansas Brews Cruise wants to take you there for the party. The fun starts Saturday at noon in Central Arkansas, where the tour will hit Lost Forty Brewing and Diamond Bear before loading up and hauling to Paris, Arkansas and the Prestonrose facility. You’ll get plenty of beer samples, as well as some barbecue and a tour of the farm and brewhouse. Plus, if you buy your tickets today, you’ll get $10 off ticket price. Then on Sunday, Arkansas Brews Cruise is hitting Flyway, Stone’s Throw and Rebel Kettle for a series of chocolate, cheese and beer pairings for you and your valentine. Both tours are great ways to explore Arkansas’ beer scene and fun Valentine’s excursions to share with your loved one. Seating is very limited, so make sure to get your tickets today.
Lost Forty Brewing is closing early today at 2:30 p.m. for a staff appreciation party, so don’t head over for a Freshcut Monday release today. However, you definitely should come back Tuesday for the brewery’s special Valentine’s Day gift package. It includes a four-pack of Barrel-Aged Love Honey Bock (which is spectacular, by the way), a pint of Loblolly Honey Bock Pecan Ice Cream, a Love Honey canvas tote, a Loblolly ice cream scoop, some stickers and a coupon for a future Loblolly visit. The whole package is $28.99, which is a nice deal for a one-stop Valentine’s gift. The gift package will be on sale through Valentine’s Day at Lost Forty.
Rebel Kettle has a doubleheader coming up for 4:30 Thursday, starting with the debut of the latest edition of the C-Street IPA series. Block #3 is an IPA with a bigger malt foundation than the previous two versions, which allowed Rebel Kettle to include more late hop and dry hop additions. This is one that IPA lovers will definitely want to check out. Also at 4:30 Thursday is the release of After Hours Smoked Porter. After Hours is Rebel Kettle’s winter seasonal that is brewed with three base malts and five specialty malts for a slightly smoky, chocolate-flavored brew. This event will be great for introducing a newcomer to the craft beer scene, so make sure to bring a friend.
If you’ve missed any of Stone’s Throw’s special beers over the past several months (and it would be hard not to), you’ll want to head to 107 Liquor in Sherwood on Thursday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. 107 Liquor is holding a rare beer tasting of older Stone’s Throw brews that it has cellared away for a special occasion. So far, 107 Liquor hasn’t posted which beers will be out for tasting, so it might be a surprise when you arrive. Also this week, Stone’s Throw’s #NewBrewFriday is the debut of its Biere de Gras as well as the return of the Wallonia Dubbel.
Vino’s Brewpub head brewer Brandon Mize reports his cherry brandy stout is now on tap (and quite tasty, I hear). Mize is still settling in to his new role, filling orders for malt and hops to prepare for future brews. He hopes to have some new batches rolling out before the end of February.
And Buffalo Brewing Company at The Water Buffalo is accelerating its production to keep up with demand. Owner Nolen Buffalo says he is getting some 100-gallon batches ready and setting up distribution this week. Also, the brewers from Blood Eagle Brewing Company are busy in the brewhouse this week, meaning you should see some more Blood Eagle beer on tap at The Water Buffalo in the coming weeks.
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
