There’s nothing like a good beer dinner, and on Wednesday Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom is putting on what looks like a great one. Raduno has partnered with Stone’s Throw Brewing and Buffalo Brewing Company for a five-course beer dinner prepared by chef Matthew Lowman. You may recall Lowman was sous chef at South on Main and worked a stint at Loblolly Creamery before taking a job in Northwest Arkansas. The menu for this one looks incredible (Beef ribs? Veal meatballs? Nutella galette?). What’s more, the first course will feature a collaboration brew between Stone’s Throw and Buffalo called Stone Buffalo Session IPA. For the quality of the menu, the $64 price tag seems more than fair. Tickets are still on sale, so act quickly. By the way, Stone’s Throw’s #NewBrewFriday release is its popular seasonal Dark Helmet Mylo Coffee Schwarzbier. This one is a low-ABV brew with plenty of malty notes accentuated by Mylo’s excellent roasted coffee. #NewBrewFriday kicks off in the taproom at 4 p.m.
Lost Forty Brewing is once again releasing its Snake Party IPA, but this time the brewing company is taking things a bit literally. Today for Freshcut Monday, Snake Party will go on tap, and ambassadors from the Little Rock Zoo will be on hand with live snakes for the event. That’s right, any ophidiophobes be warned, but for the rest of us it should be an awesome experience getting to see and touch these unique creatures. What’s more, Lost Forty is donating $1 from every Snake Party pint and four-pack sold to the Little Rock Zoo’s Conservation Fund. Snake Party’s big flavor and 10-percent ABV profile will be available in pints, four-packs, growlers and crowlers to go. Oh, and those seeking Lost Forty’s Forest Queen Milk Stout can find it now at grocery stores, gas stations and liquor stores around town.
Diamond Bear Brewing Company has its winter seasonal coming out this Friday. Diamond Bear Oatmeal Stout features a pretty robust nose for a stout, along with plenty of rich chocolate notes and only the slightest hint of hops in the profile. At 5.6 percent ABV, you can feel pretty good having two of these to warm you up during cold weather. Diamond Bear hasn’t said yet whether it is releasing Oatmeal Stout in cans or bottles. While you’re there, make sure to get a pour of Diamond Bear’s Cubby Series last Friday. The brewery released its Barrel-Aged Presidential IPA, a flavor combination certain to be one you won’t find very often. There is some left, but I can’t imagine it lasting very long.
With its new warehouse operational, Blue Canoe Brewing Company is now able to expand its brew lineup, including some new small batch series. Its latest one is Shut Your Pumpkin Pie Hole, a 7.3-percent ABV spiced pumpkin ale. Head brewer Patrick Cowan says this five-gallon batch has loads of pumpkin spice notes that will make customers think of Thanksgiving. Also, Blue Canoe’s warehouse makes it ideal for hosting food trucks, which can pull up inside the facility and plug in instead of using a generator. This coming weekend will see Cypress Knee food truck on Friday and Saturday. There will be many more events and new brews coming from Blue Canoe in the coming weeks that we will make sure to tell you about.
Autumn is when we start seeing beers go darker, and that includes farmhouse-style brews. That’s what you will find for 4:30 Thursday at Rebel Kettle, when the brewery releases Harvest Season Fall Saison. No, it’s not a black saison, but you will notice it has a far richer color than most in its class. Rebel Kettle brought down the ABV this year from 6.9 to 6 percent, but it’s still made with the brewery’s own spiced yeast strain. Check it out Thursday, and also make sure you grab a glass of Wake ‘n’ Flake Coconut Cream Stout if you haven’t already.
Arkansas’ favorite beer farm keeps making outstanding brews. This week, Prestonrose Farm and Brewing Company has a new one called Flying Dragon IPA on tap. The beer gets its name from locally grown bitter oranges that went into the brew along with lemon drop hops. You can pair it with a number of new food menu options that are available in the bistro, most of which are made with ingredients grown on site. It’s been said many times before, but Prestonrose is just a unique gem that we are very fortunate to have relatively close to Little Rock.
Do you have some beer news you would like to share with us? Email steve@rockcityeats.com.