Ales for ALS is back in Little Rock for 2018. For the fifth straight year, brewers from all over Central Arkansas got together to work with the same unique hop blend that went to cities around the country. This year, Rebel Kettle, Flyway, Buffalo Brewing, Damgoode Brews and Diamond Bear came together at Stone’s Throw Brewing for the event. The resulting brew is a hoppy wheat that was partially kettle soured to complement the fruity hop blend. The ale will eventually be on tap at all six breweries; this week, we know it’s at Flyway and Stone’s Throw, and it will be released at Rebel Kettle for the brewery’s 4:30 Thursday event. You really should go get a pint; $1 from every glass sold goes to support research for a cure for ALS.
Little Rock’s best sour series returns today for Freshcut Monday at Lost Forty Brewing. The brewery is releasing Wild Barrels Project No. 9, which is affectionately named “The Fly Trap.” No. 9 is a triple blend of 2017 Barrel-Aged Day Drinker, Pineapple Day Drinker, and The Hunter Oktoberfest. The blend was refermented with apricots, vanilla beans, mango and peaches and allowed to age for 12 months. Lost Forty says the year gave this sour plenty of tropical fruit notes with some sweetness from the vanilla. As with every Wild Barrels release, this one is only available by the bottle in the taproom, though you can purchase the beer to enjoy at the brewery or to take home for later. Also, we’re still more than a week away from the Easy Tiger Mexican-style Lager party, but if you’re looking to pick up some cans early, they are available right now at Lost Forty.
Less than three months after it arrived in Little Rock, Bike Rack Brewing Company is pulling out of the market. Head brewer Josiah Moody tells me that the company is expecting a big increase in sales in Northwest Arkansas in the coming months, and is pulling back from other regions to make sure they can adequately service their customers. Moody says Bike Rack expects this to be a temporary situation, and that he hopes to be back in Little Rock in due time. Bike Rack Brewing Company hired Moody away from Vino’s in Little Rock a year and a half ago. The company had released its flagship golden ale, amber and IPA in Little Rock, along with its summer seasonal Czech pilsner, before pulling back.
And in other debuts around town, Stone’s Throw Brewing is releasing a unique take on one of its most popular brews. This week’s #NewBrewFriday release is a Vanilla and Coconut Infused Vienna Lager. You can try it when the taproom opens at 4 p.m. this Friday. Also, Flyway’s popular Honeybird Blonde Ale comes back on tap this afternoon. Honeybird has proven immensely popular, and the Flyway brew team had to make a second batch just to keep up with demand. And Blue Canoe Brewing Company is keeping the summer going this week with a small batch release of Blueberry Lemon Gose. There’s only one keg of this, so get to the taproom starting at 4 p.m. Friday to give it a try.
Do you have some beer news you’d like to share with us? Email steveshuler@gmail.com.
RIP Damgoode Pies
November 20, 2023
