Less than a year after it opened, Bubba Brews Spa City Taproom in downtown Hot Springs has closed down. Porter Montgomery, part of the culinary team with Bubba Brews, says the closure was related to a leasing issue at the building on Central Avenue. The Bubba Brews brand, as well as the Bonnerdale and Lake Hamilton locations, are all alive and well. There’s no word on whether the company will continue pursuing the downtown spot, work on opening a different location or just move on. Bubba Brews Spa City Taproom opened in November of last year as part of the downtown Hot Springs renaissance.
Lost Forty Brewing’s Wild Barrels Project is just a couple of months away from celebrating its second anniversary. For today’s Freshcut Monday release, Lost Forty is unveiling the tenth Wild Barrels brew called Izard Brown Ale. There’s a lot going on in this one; the brewery blended Easy Tiger Mexican Lager, Love Honey Bock and Forest Queen Milk Stout, then aged the blend for 19 months on orange peel and Izard Chocolate cacao nibs. As usual, this Wild Barrels release is available in large format bottles to take home or to enjoy at the taproom. Pro tip: the Wild Barrels beers all age very well, so get a couple of bottles to keep on the shelf for a while.
Almost a month before the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure comes this weekend’s beer festival to fight against breast cancer. Fest for the Cure beer and rosé festival is Saturday at Diamond Bear Brewing Company. More than two-dozen local and national breweries will be represented at the event, which goes from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tickets to the Fest for the Cure are $35 each and cover all your beer and rosé. It also includes free food and some live music. For $50, your ticket also gets you into the VIP after-party from 8 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., which includes some special rare beers and a separate food menu created by Diamond Bear. It’s always good to enjoy beer for a good cause, so make plans to attend Fest for the Cure this weekend.
A Rebel Kettle classic is back on tap this week. Wake ‘n’ Flake Coffee and Coconut Cream Stout is the brewery’s 4:30 Thursday release this week. One of my favorite seasonal beers, Wake ‘n’ Flake is a full-bodied ale with notes of roasted coffee, chocolate and toasted coconut. Though it is dark as night, Wake ‘n’ Flake is remarkably smooth and easy on the palette. It will be available by the glass, as well as in growlers to go.
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RIP Damgoode Pies
November 20, 2023
