Tap Time Radio January 30th, 2019

Check out last night's edition of Tap Time on 103.7 The Buzz with Andrew Blann from Fossil Cove calling in with all the deets on this coming weekend's Frost Fest in Fayetteville plus the guys from Toppling Goliath, who are just beginning Arkansas distribution.

 

Tap Time Radio January 24th, 2018

Had a good time on Tap Time last night with Andrew from Fayetteville's Fossil Cove Brewing Co. starting us off with talk about their annual winter beer festival, Frost Fest, plus Ian and Theron from Little Rock's Stones Throw Brewing joined us in the studio for the rest of the hour to talk about what's going with their upcoming Big Red Ball Homebrew Contest and more! 

Check it out below...

 

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!

Eating and Drinking Sustainably at the Homegrown Music Festival

This certified training video is your guide to zero-waste eating and drinking at Homegrown, Arkansas' first sustainable music festival, July 21st - 23rd, 2016 at Byrd's Adventure Center in Ozark, AR.

Each ticket holder will receive a bag upon entry to help with the mission of being a zero-waste festival.

Brought to you by Fossil Cove Brewing Co. & Ozark Beer Co.

"Please rewind all tapes and be good to one another."

 

http://homegrownfestival-ar.com/

 

Getting Hyped: How Arkansas Brewers Are Using Events to Meet Growing Expectations

Here's another fantastic post by guest blogger Fayettebrew on the outstanding beer scene up in Northwest Arkansas!

Getting Hyped: How Arkansas Brewers Are Using Events to Meet Growing Expectations

The start of the year has seen an unprecedented level of activity from northwest Arkansas breweries. Whereas in previous winters it felt like the community would shift into a lower gear after the new year in terms of events (perhaps waiting on the return of patio weather and the festival season) there has been no less than eight significant local beer events since the start of February. Given how relatively fallow this time of year has been in the past, it has been encouraging to see these events draw interest. A select few have even garnered some broader exposure.

This exposure comes at a favorable time for the Arkansas beer and it’s sibling-esque local beer communities as local beer has become steadfastly ingrained in the ethos of “eat/drink/shop local” within each community. There is a growing expectation to be able to find local beer on tap at a local restaurant and festivals of all type regularly incorporate local brewers as sponsors or vendors. With this increasing community presence does comes an increased set of expectations. Beer fans in Arkansas are coming to not only expect access to local beer but also a high level of quality and variety that matches the national craft beer spectrum. This elevated set of expectations extends from the beers to the beer events in our communities as well.

A lot of time is spent considering how Arkansas beer compares to regional neighbors and national standard-bearers but it is also worth considering how Arkansas breweries are managing the elevated expectations for limited releases, special events, and openings. No longer will the novelty of local beer satisfy the expectations for a memorable event. Great beer events now need to begin to live up to the hype the event generates. This is an inevitable positive of living in a growing beer community. Events should be getting better because interest has grown. Breweries should be more than comfortable with their identity. They should be confident in engaging the public in how they celebrate their beer.

For the time being, Arkansas may very well be at a place where a local brewery will get by simply meeting expectations. There is still a benefit of doubt that exists that grants at least two or three chances to each brewery. Where Arkansas breweries can begin to distinguish themselves from each other is hosting events that generate hype - even on a local level - and then capitalize on that hype by leveraging it into increased long-term attention on their products. When a brewery leverages “hype” it emphasizes the story they want to tell through an interactive, status-worthy experience for its customers. To put it one way: if people are still posting about the event on their favorite social media network well after it is over, the event is leveraging its hype.

With this in mind, here are four observations from attending these events on how Arkansas breweries have recently leveraged the hype around an event to best fulfill customer expectations and share their story. (Note: The events referenced likely succeed because they fit most, if not all, of these observations. When an event is specified it is because they presented an unique and clear example.)

Embrace Each Type of Customer

Events that create a memorable, status-worthy experience find a way to embrace all customers - whether they are new or returning customers. This can be a tricky balance to establish but if a craft beer fan thinks a certain event would be a good fit for a new-to-craft friend, then it is probably striking that balance. Even with the growing number of craft-only customers, the majority of Arkansans are unfamiliar, new, or just partial to craft beer. And the way craft beer is perceived within our state goes a long way toward how it is perceived outside of the state.

When a brewery thinks about how to engage all potential customers, it is taking a beneficial first step toward leveraging any hype it generates. Recently, the Nutty Runner 5k hosted by Columbus HouseBrewery capitalized on this opportunity. In addition to the standard 5k race - a distance achievable to new runners and still worthwhile to some year-round runners - the Nutty Runner 5k featured a division where participants drank one 12 ounce pour of Columbus House’s Nutty Runner Brown Ale after each mile of the race. Hosted on Active.com and partnered with a local Fleet Feet store, this event drew a crowd of experienced and novice runners alike in an adventurous, well organized event. As Columbus House Brewery continues to leverage both the craft beer and active lifestyle communities in Fayetteville, it should have more opportunities to grow its still young community presence.

 

Be Communal With Your Layout, Not Generic

It is easy to set up some jockey boxes in a covered area and have something resembling a craft beer event. At their worst, these events feel like a cattle run where beer fans merge from line to line almost implicitly following the person in front of them in hopes of procuring a fresh beer. While the line may lead to conversations among those in attendance, these are mostly happenstance depending on your familiarity with each other or mutual anticipation for a beer being poured. An alternative to this standardized assembly line of a beer experience is to create a layout that emphasizes a communal setting around the dispersal of tasty brews. Whether at a bar, a cookout, or a bottle share, most of our experiences sharing and talking about craft beer do not take place in a line. A beer festival or event should be no different. When a brewery can create an event setting that does not feel like it came fresh out of the “beer event” starter set, it stands to leverage the experience into something more memorable beyond the new style experienced or whale finally captured.

The layout to Frost Fest, the winter beer festival hosted by Fossil Cove, intentionally disrupted the beer festival standard and wound up providing a centerpiece for the event. Once you entered Frost Fest you were not met with an array of tents pouring beer. Rather, a large tent outfitted with space heaters and the live music stage welcomed you. The tent was outlined with sponsors on one edge and some participating breweries on the other. Beyond the main tent were the aisles of breweries standard to most beer festivals. During the second half of the fest, as the sun set and air cooled, the crowd was increasingly soaking in their experiences under the tent; face-to-face in conversation and celebration rather than in a line, facing the back of someone’s head. Fossil Cove was hardly revolutionary with the Frost Fest layout but by going beyond what could be expected from similar festivals in the community, they set a standard they can routinely provide their fans events in their taproom or at future editions of Frost Fest.

The Value of Early Information

A customer’s expectations for an event rarely suffer from knowing: the essence of a rivalry; the genre of music a band plays; or the particular strengths of a restaurant. Similarly, customers and fans of a brewery can only benefit from being introduced to what to anticipate from an event. This is accomplished by the brewery providing information early and often. When a brewery can get details out so customers can begin to envision the experience they will have, the brewery creates a chance to capitalize on expectations. If changes are necessary prior to the event taking place, it is best to revise any information as early as possible and confirm the change. The early availability of event information, and frequent updates, outlines the space the customer experience will take place in.

In anticipation of demand for the 2016 release of its Bourbon Barrel Double Cream Stout (BDCS), Ozark Beer Company intentionally crafted its promotion of release events to inform the local and at-large beer communities. In addressing its “neighbors” and the “beer travelers”, Ozark created avenues to experience the release of BDCS that were at once familiar to both groups yet tailored to the ethos Ozark Beer wants to achieve through its work. When demand for case purchases exceeded initially anticipated levels, Ozark made the difficult decision of further restricting purchase limits. In announcing the change, customers were notified over two weeks in advance of the release (and one day after ticket sales to the private event) with an offer for a refund with additional compensation. Most importantly, Ozark Beer Company owned the decision by emphasizing the importance to them to provide the opportunity to enjoy BDCS to as many neighbors and beer travelers as possible. Rather than simply turning the quickest profit possible, Ozark leveraged the growing national hype for BDCS to bring to life “hard work, honest beer”.

 

Build Expectations Through A Narrative

If event information outlines the customer experience, then an event narrative builds expectations and fills in the features that distinguish the event. The narrative can be simple or grand as long as it is 1) consistent and 2) contributes to the anticipation for the event. An event’s narrative is a lot like a beer’s can or bottle: it builds expectations by providing a template for the experience. A beer’s can/bottle provides a template through the visual and descriptive components of its label. An event’s narrative provides a template through the visual and descriptive components of its promotion. One of the most viable assets local breweries have to promote events and build expectations are the social media platforms that already connect them with their local community.

While routine posts and updates regarding fresh releases and small events are an essential part of business, this is really the new minimum when it comes to beer and social media. If the local beer message only focuses on new beers, off-premise tastings, and tap takeovers then the message is always going to compete with regional and national breweries doing the very same thing - especially in a younger market like Arkansas. When local breweries share about the intricacies of their process, the inspiration for their beer, and the intentions behind their events, they build expectations they can capitalize on when customers visit. In a market like Arkansas it is important for local brewers to capitalize on the opportunity for in-person access in a way that out-of-state regional and national competitors cannot. When it comes to special events, this starts with the narrative the brewery tells potential guests.

Telling these narratives takes reiteration with a bit of variation. It takes planning. Simply repeating the ‘what’, ‘where’ and ‘when’ ad nauseum will not cut it because there are multiple events doing the same thing, across the state, each week. Each of the events mentioned had narratives that emphasized something more than the beer that would be filling people’s glasses.

●      When Fossil Cove announced Frost Fest, they did more than just talk about the unique time of year for the event. They emphasized the role brewers and brewery representatives would have serving their beers and interacting with attendees (rather than having event volunteers doing the pouring).This was a part of the initial announcements about the event, the local media attention the event garnered, and their social media marketing efforts on facebook, where they provided daily introductions to the breweries that would be in attendance. Promoting this aspect was a part of distinguishing Frost Fest from other events as well as building expectations for those who were attending.

●     Before Ozark Beer Company’s inviting words to its “beer travelers”, they started the BDCS narrative with an look at what made the beer so special to them and their neighbors. That narrative was shared across multiple platforms. These videos, stories, and posts provided an understated emphasis on the interactions and atmosphere Ozark aimed to achieve through the BDCS release events.

●     Organizing a race like the Nutty Runner 5k for the first time, Columbus House Brewery kept the plan simple and openly shared how the experience would likely be a first for everyone involved. A participant cap was established from the beginning along with the rest of the race details to keep things practical. This also allows the Columbus House to scale up future versions of the race. By inviting participants to join on a new adventure with them, Columbus House created a loose, excited, and informed template for experiencing the Nutty Runner 5k.

While increased social media use and attention from local media will give breweries a chance to inform and guide expectations, the final proof as to whether the event lived up to the hype will come from the in-person experience. Breweries that define their events in advance, and give them a narrative, craft expectations they can meet. These expectations lead to a positive sense of anticipation about how things will operate which, in turn, frees both the staff and guests to get the most out of the sense community the event creates. And when that specific event’s narrative is consistent with the other stories the brewery shares, it inevitably creates a stronger relationship with the communities it is a part of.

These are by no means the only way a brewery can create and leverage hype through an event. They are just a few observations on how some of the growing breweries in the northwest Arkansas community are attempting to turn growing expectations into hype for the beer and culture they want to create. In the end, no event may be perfect in its planning or execution but when the intentionality and effort behind an event shows, it sure does make it worth the hype.

 

Looking Back and Looking Ahead with Northwest Arkansas’ Breweries

Here's another great blog post on the outstanding beer scene in northwest Arkansas, courtesy of guest blogger Fayettebrew (Twitter: @Fayettebrew):

A new year for beer is well underway as Arkansas continues to write the early chapters of its story as a craft beer community. Those chapters are telling a story of emergence as growth has taken place quickly within our state when it comes to locally-produced beer. Due to factors such as population and dry counties, Arkansas’ growth is generally developing in the form of two distinct craft beer producing communities: one centered around Little Rock covering central Arkansas and one which originated in Fayetteville and expanded to Springdale, Rogers, and then Bentonville.

As characters in the story of Arkansas beer, these two communities are like siblings - related but not necessarily identical. Central Arkansas is the older sibling thanks to a pair of veteran breweries in Little Rock and it has seen a recent infusion of newer breweries. Northwest Arkansas is younger but wasted little time establishing its presence once it got going - especially the growing contingent of breweries now distributing both kegs and cans/ bottles. If you have not visited Northwest Arkansas' breweries in awhile, 2015 brought exciting developments for established breweries and intriguing debuts from newer ones. With a month of the new year in the book, let us look back at a significant theme from the past year and make a prediction at what may be in store for the rest of 2016 for each of Northwest Arkansas’ current breweries.

(One quick note before beginning: Brian Sorenson of the Fayetteville Flyer and James Spencer of Basic Brewing deserve recognition for the work they do year-round telling the story of craft beer in Northwest Arkansas. Brian’s articles and James’ podcast interviews have created a wonderful record of everything from the origins of our breweries to the growth and development they are currently experiencing.)

Apple Blossom Brewing Company

2015: Collaboration Station - If it seemed to you like Apple Blossom was releasing a collaboration beer every month last year, then you were right on. Their stated goal was to do just that as they worked on collaborations with a variety of partners including other Arkansas brewers (West Mountain Brewing, Bike Rack Brewing), a member of the Fayetteville Lovers of Pure Suds (F.L.O.P.S.) home brew club, and international home brewing podcast host James Spencer.

2016: Crafting the Agenda - Apple Blossom’s collaborations have helped demonstrate an active network among the brewers in the state, something which will go a long way in improving the Arkansas Brewers Guild’s chances of impacting the laws and procedures which affect the place of craft beer in our state. Additoinally, Apple Blossom’s co-owner Evan McDonald serves as the secretary for the guild. With a rotation of appealing beers and an eye towards progress look for Apple Blossom to take the lead on industry events which support the specific goals of Arkansas Brewers Guild.

Bentonville Brewing Company

2015: Dynamic Debut - Bentonville Brewing Company wasted little time catching up with the craft beer scene in NWA after opening in early June. Between appealing serving options, such as a nitro tap and and an earlier syrup pairing for their wit beer, as well as flavorful renditions of familiar styles - their Airship IPA is a coffee IPA while Roundabout Stout is a chocolate milk stout - Bentonville Brewing has drawn some deserved attention.

2016: Bentonville and Beyond - The attention Bentonville Brewing is gaining is not limited to their taproom as the brewery is already managing over 50 draft accounts in the Northwest Arkansas region. With this distribution already in place and hopefully able to increase over the course of Bentonville Brewing's first full calendar year in production, look for a greater visibility and presence within the state from this recent addition to the community.

Bike Rack Brewing Co.

2015:  No More Training Wheels - When it comes to seeing how a brewery finds its form once it has a full calendar year to work with, it is hard not to be encouraged by how Bike Rack jumped into participating in craft beer community in 2015. Noticeably active in Arkansas Brewers Guild events across the state throughout the second half of the year, Bike Rack also made customary appearances at familiar events such as St. Patrick’s on the Hill and Foam Fest Fayetteville, all the while enticing new fans with an expanding lineup of beers.

2016: Friendly Neighborhood Brewery - After getting the Bike Rack name and beers introduced to throughout the sibling markets of Arkansas, Bike Rack looks to be setting its focus in its hometown of Bentonville by inviting locals to take part in the craft beer community through taproom events. Already a strong practitioner of advanced promotion (their “Sooo...Trivia?” posts for their weekly trivia night capture a welcoming vibe that pairs well with the cozy taproom), these events and special beer releases should go a long way toward helping make Downtown Bentonville and The Hub a casual nightlife spot in NWA.

Black Apple Crossing

2015: Cider 101 - The process of opening Arkansas’ first cidery placed the Black Apple Crossing team in a similar position to the Arkansas breweries who were the first to open in their respective communities. Educating curious drinkers on the qualities of both semi-dry and semi-sweet cider with inviting versions of both, Black Apple laid pathways to further explore cider with varieties and seasonal batches incorporating spices, adjunct ingredients and different apples. The Hop Full (a cider featuring hops, which are not a standard part of cider production as they are in brewing) was a great way to showcase how hops can serve as a bridge for flavors toward a dry finish rather than just an amplifier of piney or citrusy flavors in a beer.

2016: High Tide for the Cider Wave - In recent years cider has seen huge gains in sales as producers applied lessons learned from the rise of craft beer as well as a momentum from the overall beverage industry toward more artisanal, flavorful beverages. In this new high tide for cider, Black Apple Crossing has established a buoy for Arkansans to navigate their appreciation of the beverage. In the year ahead it appears Black Apple will take a more assertive approach to make this navigation easier: the Springdale-based company has added draft distribution Fayetteville and one would assume other local markets will follow. With Arkansas cider now a part of the “drink local” mantra, it will be fun to see how Black Apple Crossing helps shape the Arkansas community.

Columbus House Brewery

2015: Hitting the Ground Running - Almost as soon as they opened this past April, Columbus House began ingratiating itself to more active local beer fans through regular running groups and yoga sessions - with beer discounts for participants! Coordinated activities such as these built on the theme of the brewery (their IPA and brown ales are named Weekend Warrior and Nutty Runner, respectively) and took advantage of their location next to the Scull Creek Trail in Fayetteville. By capitalizing on their location and bringing their brand to life, Columbus House made a fast and friendly introduction to the beer community.

2016: Increasing the Pace - Columbus House saw some steady growth through the end of the year with a regular rotation of seasonal beers and the start of draft distribution. Going hand in hand with that growth, the Columbus House crew shows no sign of tapering off when it comes to hosting events. To start, their Nutty Runner 5k in March may wind up being the most creative local beer event of the year as the race features a division where runners will finish a 12 oz. pour of the Nutty Runner Nut Brown Ale at the end of each mile! From there it will be interesting to see what other ways Columbus House comes up with to pair their refreshing beer with active events.

Core Brewing Company

2015: Coming to a Town Near You - Perhaps no other brewery in Arkansas was as ambitious as Springdale’s Core Brewing in 2015. Core opened three more of their Public Houses last year (Harber, Fort Smith, Fayetteville) to bring their total number of pubs to five. With at least three more pubs planned to open in the first half of 2016, including a pub in the Argenta District of Little Rock and one in XNA Regional Airport, Core Brewing is paying heed to the real estate credo of location, location, location to earn its place as the most visible brewery in Arkansas.

2016: Arkansas’ Craft Ambassador - Combine its out-of-state distribution and its growing number of pubs, Core Brewing is set to be the state’s ambassador brewery. When the Little Rock pub opens this year Core will become the only Arkansas brewery with both distribution and a physical location in both of the sibling beer communities in our state! With the ability to welcome new craft beer fans; intrigue current fans with barrel aged and firkin projects; as well as introduce Arkansas beer to customers outside of the state, it is hard to deny Core’s role in progressing the place of Arkansas beer in the region.

Fossil Cove Brewing Co.

2015: Enter the Can - Fossil Cove becoming the third Northwest Arkansas brewery (fifth overall in the state) to package their beers in cans is not as noteworthy as the decisiveness and style with which they did so. Just before the Fourth of July this Fayetteville brewery dropped in on the canned beer wave by releasing two of their most well-known beers in cans (Paleo Ale and La Brea Brown) and later adding both their primary fall (The Blizzle) and winter (Coffee IPA) seasonals to their canned lineup. On top of all that, Fossil Cove also added a crowler system and took the extra step to a print custom label with the same distinctive artwork. Whereas most breweries have used their can designs to further develop the visual elements of their brand, Fossil Cove came in and made the cans bring to life their already established bright visual style. Thanks to a keen approach to maintaining a unity of design within an array of labels, there will be no mistaking a Fossil Cove can or crowler the next time you come across one.

2016: No Place Like (Future) Home - Another development for Fossil Cove last year was the purchase of a larger piece of real estate just down the road from the current location. As planning continues for the future home of the brewery and taproom, look for momentum to build for Fossil Cove through grander events and beer releases. First up: Frost Fest on February 6th. This is the first winter beer festival in Arkansas as well as the first interstate brewery event (breweries from Missouri and Oklahoma will be in attendance) hosted by an Arkansas brewery.

New Province Brewing Co.

2015: Whetting the Appetite - Northwest Arkansas’ soon-to-be newest brewery will hopefully open sometime in the first half of 2016. In the meantime, New Province has done a great job of keeping fans up to date on social media regarding the arduous process of building a brewery literally from the ground up with construction updates and a preview of what they can look forward to if they join their “Citizenship” membership program.

2016: Planting a Flag in the Ground: At the stage in the process where they are waiting for approval from the Arkansas Beverage Control before they can fully open up for business, look for New Province to start with a lineup of their Civilian Pale Ale, Philosopher IPA, Migrant Belgian Dubbel, and Yeoman Porter on tap once they get the all clear. These beers and a brand new facility will be a big part of how New Province makes their mark in 2016.

Ozark Beer Company

2015: Expanding the Lineup - In the year they turned two, Ozark Beer Company seemed intent on expanding its lineup by offering a wider range of beers through their tap room and through its expanding in-state distribution. Serving beers that featured unique brewing processes (use of fresh and wet hops; barrel fermenting) as well as distinct styles (a berliner weisse, a West Coast-style Double IPA, and a smoked porter all debuted this year) Ozark offered local beer fans a tantalizing array of new beers. And such a review would be remiss if it did not make special mention of Ozark’s efforts in the realm of barrel aged beers where rousing beers Boll Weevil, Hayduke, and Bourbon Barrel Aged Double Cream Stout (BDCS) made their debut. Already recognized for their flavorful and articulate beers, Ozark unleashed a memorable creative streak last year..

2016: Great Expectations - In an impressively short amount of time, Ozark’s passionate following has lead to a strong regional reputation with a healthy splash of national recognition (the brewery participated in Oskar Blue’s Burning Can festival this summer and was recognized by Paste Magazine for their Double IPA). Every expectation is that their reputation will continue to grow over the course of this year and it will be of note to see how the Ozark Beer Company team meets not only the increased demand but also the increased expectation for their beers. If there was no grander Arkansas beer in 2015 than Ozark’s BDCS then there likely has not been a more anticipated and hyped release of an Arkansas beer than BDCS 2016.

Saddlebock Brewery

2015: The Fermentation Destination - It would be a tall order to find a brewery which accentuated its on-premise experience more in the course of the last year than Saddlebock. A new patio was completed that further capitalizes on the views of the White River valley while organized bonfires, private brewing parties, hop harvests, and sponsored off-road races brought groups to this picturesque location. All of that was done on top of the addition of creative and experimental beers such as Winter Daze (vanilla oak bourbon porter) and Blazing Saddles (Sriracha ale). More than a brewery stop, Saddlebock is becoming a craft beer experience.

2016: Eat, Drink, Sleep Saddlebock - The focus on creating a one-of-a-kind experience at the brewery will continue to guide Saddlebock’s efforts outside of the brewhouse. After expanding the tasting room in 2014 and adding a cottage available for rent to guests in 2015, the goal for the year ahead looks to be to add a cafe to the plentiful amount of space Saddlebock calls home. From recent social media posts by the brewery, the menu is beginning to take shape for the White River Cafe. Sooner rather than later, local and visiting beer fans will be able to have an all-encompassing visit on the Saddlebock farm!

West Mountain Brewing Co.

2015: In the Groove - A one-year anniversary of a different kind took place on the Fayetteville square as Ryan Pickop completed his first year as West Mountain’s brewer after starting in September 2014. The year produced flavorful, classically-styled beers which West Mountain has become known for - demonstrating that the beers are in good hands with Pickop. (It was particularly nice to see the West Mountain IPA and Brown Ale consistently on tap.) Home to a unique brewhouse and layout, it is enticing to see the brewery also becoming home to a brewer beginning to explore his own unique preferences for styles and flavors.

2016: Starting a Story - A distinct element of West Mountain is that its larger story can also be told through the three different brewers who have crafted the beers pouring from the tap. The thread of each brewer’s story is interwoven into the larger fabric of the West Mountain story with a quality that adds character and detail. Ryan Pickop’s thread is becoming a more distinctive part of that story and it will be worth seeing how he builds on the traditional styles the brewery is known for by accentuating new and engaging flavors through beers such as the Rye Pale Ale he produced in the fall and the coffee stout brewed in partnership witth next door neighbor Jammin Java Coffee Cafe.

Arkansas’ story of emergence as a craft beer state certainly shares many of the hallmarks of states which experienced similar growth in the past or are currently writing similar chapters to the ones we are participating in currently. While it is hard to resist comparing local beers to beers brewed by craft breweries now serving as elder statesmen or current darlings, it is important to keep in mind that contributing to the growth of local beer within our own state helps advance the place craft beer holds in our country. The advancement of craft beer - or beer in general - may have started without Arkansas but, as part of the “long tail” of breweries in the country, the future of beer in the United States will only be better served by a strong community of Arkansas breweries and supporters.