Beers To Cheer: March 2017

Finally! We're back with more Beers To Cheer for March 2017! I know what you're thinking, and you're right... April is almost over already and you're just now doing March?!? Hey, drinking beer is a time consuming. Give me a break over here. Maybe you're just that much closer to April's beer, you think of that?

So you know the drill by now hopefully... three self-professed Arkansas beer nerds pick a couple of beers each (only 1 from Brian this month, he was a homebody) from the state and throw them some love. New beers, established beers... no criteria. Just good Arkansas beers. Let's get to it!

First a quick recap:

January Beers To Cheer
February Beers To Cheer

March Beers To Cheer:

Michael (@fayettebrew)

Moody Brews/Apple Blossom Brewing Company Earl Grey ESB - One of my favorite things about highlighting a few beers each month is the opportunity to revisit longtime favorites, and Earl Grey ESB is just that. This collaboration from Josiah Moody (through his Moody Brews brand) and Apple Blossom Brewing Company was first brewed in late 2014 and was the first collaboration between two Arkansas breweries in the recent era of craft beer. Like the return of Frosty the Snowman, baseball, or daylight savings, seeing Earl Grey ESB on tap brings a fond anticipation for a beer that feels as fresh as it tastes refreshing (the orange zest of the tea is a great finish to the malt-sweet base). One of the best conversation-starter beers in Arkansas, I’m glad I lucked into finding this on tap at Creekside Taproom (Siloam Springs) during March!

Columbus House Brewery Piles of Miles - One of the dominant themes in craft beer in 2016 was the ascension of the New England IPA as an in-demand style (and critical talking point). Customers and brewers in some of the most demanding U.S. beer markets have seen to it that the NE IPAs have a spot in their tanks, taps, and fridges. As a state, Arkansas is usually a little slow to take to trends and local beer is no different. There are, of course, rational reasons for this but it is always nice when there is an exception to this norm. Columbus House’s Piles of Miles (brewed in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Joe Martin Stage Race) is one of a few NE IPA to be brewed in Arkansas in the last month and while it is not the haziest #juicebomb in the land, Piles of Miles gets into gear with a tropical, citrus flavor and condensed mouthfeel. Most importantly, it is an example of a small Arkansas brewery not waiting until a new style feels “safe” before brewing a batch. Cheers to Columbus House not only this brew but also giving it a bit of a spotlight!

Brian (@EBSorensen)

Ozark Beer Co. Double IPA - There’s a lot of excitement swirling around Ozark’s move to its new location at 109 N. Arkansas in Rogers. I stopped by a few days after the doors opened on a soft opening basis and wasn’t disappointed. It's a space full of character. The two levels of drinking space are a phenomenal execution of what a taproom can be. My wife and I both thought it was somewhat similar to Puritan in Fayetteville (our favorite space to steal away to without the kids), but on the whole a much bigger imagination of the concept. Speaking of Puritan, that’s where I had Ozark’s Double IPA back in March. This year’s version was big (but not too big) and bold (but not too bold) with the citrusy punch you would expect from a west coast-inspired version of the style. The beer is over 8% ABV but drinks much closer to 5. The bitterness is held in check with nice round edges. In other words it’s smooth and highly drinkable. I can’t wait to visit Ozark’s new space once the brewhouse is up and running. And I really can’t wait to get my hands on this year’s version of BDCS, which arrives in May.

Scott (@WooPigBrewey)

Superior Bathhouse The Killer Irish Red Ale - If you like redheads, or at least red beers, check out the latest Irish Red Ale batch from one of our great Hot Springs breweries. Easy to drink at 6% abv and 17 IBU, I found this very smooth with plenty of toasty malt character. Pours a pretty dark red and is easy to keep re-drinking. It's just a fairly "normal" style done well. I like that.

Rebel Kettle Pulp - The name of this Sour IPA aged on mangoes is pretty much just perfect. Sitting in the glass waiting on me to attack it, this beer looks so hazy it's almost like a pulpy orange juice. Flavor-wise it delivers with a juicy, fruity, tart glass of deliciousness. Oh it's bitter like I want my IPAs to be, but it all plays so well with the fruity tartness. I noticed reviews on Untappd ranged from "sour AF" to "IPA kick"... so it's a marriage of both worlds I guess. Get your pulp on.

Beers To Cheer: February 2017

 

Here's we go with another month's picks for our "Beers To Cheer" from the Arkansas brewing scene! And we've got a little treat for you this month... not only are Michael, Brian and I telling you what pair of brews we got giddy over this month, but we've also got our first GUEST PICKER, one Mr. Steve Shuler from Rock City Eats *insert applause*.

So check out a whopping 8 total choices from these 4 Arkansas beer lovers for you to get out and discover for yourself! And if you missed last month's edition, by all means check it out right here: Beers To Cheer: January 2017.


Steve Shuler (@Steve_Shuler):

Rebel Kettle Barrel-Aged Wake'n'Flake - Wake ‘n’ Flake is one of the brews that put Rebel Kettle on the map. Before there was the best taproom/patio in Little Rock, John Lee and his companions brewed this excellent coffee and coconut cream stout ale for festivals around the state, quickly earning a reputation for Rebel Kettle as an adventurous and fearless beer maker. February’s barrel-aged version pushes the envelope again in two important ways. First, it’s everything a barrel beer should be; full, robust, but letting the original brew shine through instead of submitting it. Second, it embraces the lower ABV that few barrel-aged brews enjoy. The flavor is as big as a 10-percent brew, but at less than 6 percent ABV, it’s a beer that lets you enjoy the big taste without making you stop drinking sooner than you’d like. This one is off tap now, but you’ll be able to taste it again at the brewery’s one-year anniversary on April 1st. It’s a beer that will be worth the April Fool’s trip all by itself.

Moody Brews Katchiri's Bier 2017 - Even though he’s departed Little Rock for Northwest Arkansas and Bike Rack Brewing Company, it’s safe to say we’re fortunate to have a brewer in our state like Josiah Moody. Very few brewers anywhere (and I mean anywhere) have his knack for creating perfectly balanced brews with both technical and artistic expertise. His latest iteration of Katchiri’s Bier is no exception. Originally envisioned as a nuanced farmhouse saison, Moody has developed it into this gorgeous monster of an ale. Eclipsing 9 percent ABV, this year’s Katchiri’s Bier is still mellow and smooth, with an unmistakably buttery finish. Moody decided to age this one in gin barrels from Rock Town Distillery, and my goodness, what a choice that turned out to be. The leftover floral notes are the perfect accompaniment in Moody’s final Little Rock symphony. This beer is almost gone (Legacy Wine and Spirits still has it for growler fill-up), but the impact Moody made on our beer scene won’t fade anytime soon.

Scott (@WooPigBrewey):

Stone's Throw Biere de Gras - This is one that was requested by the Cajun/Creole restaurants in town for release leading up to Fat Tuesday. It's based on their biere de garde recipe but made to a more "sessionable strength." It has a wonderful toasted aroma and the flavor is a super easy-to-drink sweet malt and toasty caramel with warrior and saaz hops dancing around in the mix. A great beer to drink during Mardi Gras celebrations or paired with crawfish and spicy gumbo dishes. It definitely made my Fat Tuesday a little (a lot?) fatter.

Flyway Lord God Imperial Chocolate Stout -This big 11% imperial chocolate stout was a lot easier to find than the elusive Ivory-Billed Woodpecker for which it's named, but it disappeared (from my glass) pretty quickly. Dangerously drinkable for a huge beer, only slightly boozy, it's a full-bodied chocolate stout aged on a copious amount of fresh roasted Izard Chocolate cacao nibs. Why yes, I'll have a glass of liquefied, chocolate alcohol please.

Brian (@EBSorensen):

Ozark Beer Co. Onyx Coffee Stout - Lost amidst the hype of bigger, bolder beers from Ozark – such as the Rogers brewery’s Double IPA and the forthcoming BDCS 2017 – are smaller, more sessionable beers that have been there since day one. My personal favorite, and one I filled a growler with in mid-February, is Onyx Coffee Stout. The cream stout base is superbly complimented by cold brewed coffee provided by on-the-rise roaster Onyx Coffee Lab. Some coffee beers are nuanced, but this one screams java in every way possible. A velvety backdrop of chocolate and dark fruit is punctuated by roasted coffee notes. I could literally drink this one all day long, starting alongside my bacon and eggs in the morning.

Flyway Bluewing Berry Wheat - Back on February 4th I attended Frost Fest 2017 in Fayetteville, a gloriously freezing beer festival hosted by Fossil Cove Brewing Co. I could name any number of double IPAs, sours, or barrel-aged brews that I sampled on that day, but cutting through the haze and standing out with its pure simplicity was the flagship beer from North Little Rock’s Flyway Brewing Co. – Bluewing Berry Wheat. This easy drinker provided the necessary balance to a boozy, high-consumption day. A crisp body and tart blueberry effervescence scrubbed the tongue. Witbier is a much-maligned style that gets no respect, particularly when laced with fruit. However, Flyway pulls it off in such a way that even the manliest of men can drink Bluewing without fear of embarrassment. It is – quite simply – a well-made beer.

Michael (@fayettebrew):

Apple Blossom Bloodhound English Barleywine - This barleywine from Apple Blossom’s Brian Youngblood was one of the first beers I had in February and it made an impression that has stayed fresh in my mind all month. The English style elements keep Bloodhound strong but malty and smooth - smoother than most American style barleywines - which is appreciable regardless of whether the February weather is frigid or friendly. For a style that does not always get a lot of play in our state, this is a welcomed sight on the Apple Blossom chalk board. [Still on tap at ABBC as of this post.]

Fossil Cove Saturday Series #3: Shiny Green Bullet - Fossil Cove’s Saturday Series brings the staff who typically handle the non-brewing responsibilities of the business into the Brewdizzle (the name for Fossil Cove’s brewing space) to incorporate their style and flavor into the lineup in the form of a small batch release. The third in this series features the New Zealand Green Bullet hop in a way that lends a refreshing lime flavor to an overall easy drinking beer.  Seemingly readymade for the hotter months ahead, Shiny Green Bullet is also an excellent beer for introducing someone to the less bitter and dank side of hops.



Check back next month's for our March picks!

Beers To Cheer: January 2017

When Michael (aka @Fayettebrew on the Twitterer) approached Brian Sorensen and I about a new feature he was wanting to give a go to show Arkansas beers some love, we were both instantly all about it. His idea? All of us pick two Arkansas beers every month that we feel were some of our favorites over that month, be they new releases or already "classic", and say a little bit on what we loved about them. Sounds pretty simple for three Arkansas beer geeks right? Well, maybe it would have been a few years ago, but right now I have to say with all the breweries and all the beers coming out it's pretty damn tough to narrow the list to a six-pack every month. But we'll try. At least we'll hopefully get to spotlight 72 beers this year right?

So here's our first go at it to kick off 2017, and Michael even made a fancy header. What can't this guy do?!?!

Michael (@Fayettebrew):

Airship IPA, Bentonville Brewing Company - This coffee IPA has returned after debuting last winter and balances the coffee and hop bitterness more confidently than it did before. With local coffee roasters dotting the map in northwest Arkansas with a similar frequency to breweries, it is no surprise that there are no less than six local coffee beer/ cider offerings available in the area right now (including another coffee IPA at Fossil Cove). Airship IPA, a collaboration between Airship Coffee and Bentonville Brewing, makes a place for itself by virtue of being a big IPA (7% abv) with fresh coffee snap to it.

Coffee Brown, West Mountain Brewing Company - This easy going brown ale with coffee (once again featuring Airship Coffee) accentuates more of the roasty characteristics of the coffee-beer relationship, making it great for those evenings when the temperature drops with the sun. More than another coffee beer, it is representative of revival West Mountain Brewing Company has had in the last three months since Casey Letellier came on board as the brewer. The taps at this brew pub are, for the first time in a while, loaded with West Mountain beers thanks to Casey’s efforts, including West Mountain staples like the IPA and new additions like Meribel (a Belgian pale) and the Double Wheat IPA.

Brian (@EBSorensen):

Double IPA, West Mountain Brewing Company – As Fayettebrew already pointed out, brewer Casey Letellier is keeping the taps full at West Mountain. I have enjoyed just about every beer I’ve tried from him so far, but the one that really caught my attention in January was the Double IPA. The style can range from syrupy sweet to dry as a bone, with my personal preference being the latter. Letellier’s version trended towards dry (but not too dry) with some of the pine and dank characteristics that many west coast IPA drinkers have come to love.

Chocolate Ghost, Foster's Pint & Plate – One of the overlooked breweries in Northwest Arkansas is Foster’s Pint & Plate in Rogers. Perhaps more known for its food, Foster’s is putting out some interesting beers thanks to brewer Kyle Brummal. One of those interesting beers is Chocolate Ghost. This brown ale weighs in at 6.8% and 27 IBU, and uses ghost pepper to provide some bite. Subtle sweetness and faint hints of coffee greet you on the front end, with a peppery kick on the backside. Not for the weak or timid!

Scott (@WooPigBrewey):

Barrel-Aged Love Honey Bock, Lost Forty Brewing Company - Love Honey Bock is arguably the most popular beer from Arkansas at the moment, but it's actually not even one of my personal favorites from Lost Forty. So I guess that had me not expecting to like this beer as much as I've ended up liking it, truth be told. This sat in charred oak barrels and it seems to have really toned down the sweetness and added a nice, smooth booziness to it with nice hints of oak and vanilla. The nose has a nice eye-opening whiskey aroma, adding up to just an outstanding brew. Look for this around in cans and at the brewery.

Winter Plow, Rebel Kettle Brewing Company - In their nearly one year of serving beer out of their taproom, Rebel Kettle has introduced some crazy styles and cranked up the hops in some already familiar styles, but it's this Winter seasonal farmhouse-style  brewed with sweet orange peel and ginger that really got my attention lately. It's got a nice spicy finish that leaves me wanting another one while coming in at 7.8% alcohol by volume, it's a bit "sneaky" as well, being just so easy to drink. I guess I should say it would be easy to "get plowed" by this. Ha. See what I did there?

And there you go, the first all-Arkansas Beers To Cheer of the year! Let us know what you think and come back next month for another six-pack!