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:
With the busy days of Thanksgiving week, it’s possible you missed our feature on the fantastic Prestonrose Farm and Brewing Company in Paris, Arkansas. Prestonrose is unique in that many ingredients for the beer are grown right outside on the farm. And this week, Prestonrose has announced its first ever flagship beer in its Heritage Pale Ale. This is a beer that Liz Preston has brewed before, but now it will be a permanent option on the menu. Right now, Prestonrose only sells growlers, no pints or other options for drinking at the brewery. While you really should go pay them a visit in Paris, you can find Prestonrose beer at The Water Buffalo from time to time. Just keep an eye on their Facebook page for the beer lineup there.
Speaking of hard-to-find beers at The Water Buffalo, the brewery and growler fill-up station in Midtown will soon have Leap of Faith’s Righteous Indignation on tap. Leap of Faith’s Joe Mains brewed a batch of his Belgian abbey ale at The Water Buffalo last week, and it should be going on tap in the next week or two. Leap of Faith has also partnered with Stone’s Throw Brewing for a new collaboration called Thunder Thighs. This is an imperial golden stout with plenty of notes of chocolate and coffee, and at 8.5 percent ABV will be a bracing brew for colder weather. Thunder Thighs will go on tap at Flyway Brewing later this week.
Flyway itself doesn’t have any new brews coming out this week, though you still need to go try the brewery’s excellent Thrasher black lager and Coffee Cake stout beers while they’re still on. Brewer and co-owner Jess McMullen tells me Flyway has brewed its winter seasonal Old Decoy, an old ale that beings aging on toasted oak this week.
Rebel Kettle is bringing back an old favorite for 4:30 Thursday this week. The brewery will have its Berry Legal American wheat ale back on tap. Berry Legal is aged on blueberries and dry-hopped with Mosaic hops for a fruity and spice-filled beer. Also, in a preview of next week, Rebel Kettle’s John Lee tells me he’ll be releasing the brewery’s newest imperial IPA called Headbanger’s Ball. Earlier this year, Rebel Kettle put out an imperial IPA called Half-Century Headbanger, and Headbanger’s Ball looks to be a continuation of that brew.
If you’re in the Hot Springs area this week, be sure to stop by Bubba Brews for the excellent Winter Hammer ale. At 9.6 percent ABV, you’ll only need one, but the wonderful balance of spices, hops and alcohol content will warm you up quickly. Just be sure to sip instead of gulp.
Fans of Moody Brews will want to head to Vino’s starting today for Josiah Moody’s latest. It’s a Belgian IPA fermented with two strains of Belgian abbey yeast. Moody then turned it up with Columbus, Amarillo and Hallertau Blanc hops for a high IBU beer that comes in at a reasonable 6.8 percent ABV. Growlers are available for this one.
When Blue Canoe Brewing Company opens up on Wednesday, it will be selling the final tastes of River King, a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout. This will be the last time River King is available until late next year, so be sure to check it out.
For its Freshcut Monday, Lost 40 is releasing what it’s calling its easiest beer it has ever created. It’s called The Lost Ale, and at 4.7 percent ABV and only 17 IBU, this one certainly won’t fight you very hard going down. Also this week, Lost Forty will hold its Holiday Hangout at the Brewhouse event, which is a collaboration with The White Water Tavern. Holiday Hangout is White Water’s biggest concert event of the year, and each year a select number of musicians at the event perform an off-site acoustic concert. This year, that set will be played at Lost Forty, starting at 2:30 on Saturday. Doors open at 2 p.m.
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
