The craft beer world is ever changing with new bottles and old favorites constantly appearing. Some of our choice breweries have just released new recipes and a famed veteran is returning next month. Here’s the scoop on the latest in the craft beer world.
For all of you craft beer lovers, it’s that time of year again. Time to book your flights, get a hotel room and wait in line for eight hours outside of Russian River Brewing Co. Yes, you guessed it: Pliny the Younger is back. The famous beer (#2 in the world) will be on tap from February 7-20 at the California brewery for a very limited, very special release. And 2014 is bringing a few new rules for the Pliny the Younger crowds: no drinking in line (lame), no cutting the line and absolutely no blocking the neighbor’s driveway. Sounds insane but Pliny the Younger is worth it. If you make the trek, cheers to you. That’s dedication.
There’s a first time for everything, even for a brewery that’s been around for years. Founders Brewing Co. announced earlier this week that they’re releasing a Smoked Porter as part of their Backstage Series this February. The beer, brewed with a combo of beech wood-smoked barley and chocolate malt, has been talked about for a decade and is just now making its way into the Founders repertoire. Limited bottles of Founders Smoked Porter will be available in Michigan but you can find it on tap anywhere that Founders is served. It only took ten years, but here’s to Smoked Porter.
As most New Englanders are bundling up in the freezing polar vortex weather, Boston based Samuel Adams is already thinking about spring. The beer, fittingly dubbed Cold Snap, is meant to ease the transition from dark heavy winter beers to the light crisp ales of summer. Blended with ten different fruits, flowers and spices, Cold Snap is a Belgian style white ale. The brew is already on sale and will stay on shelves until March. Slow down Sam, it’s only January.
Upright Brewing, a Portland, OR favorite, is starting 2014 with some seriously unique brews. The first in their new lineup will be a new version of their classic barrel-aged Billy the Mountain that measures in at 9.1% ABV. Second is Fatali Four, a blend of Upright’s wheat beer that’s been matured in wine and gin barrels and then spiced up with the addition of chili peppers. Lastly, the brewery will be bottling a new Coffee Stout that has been matured in wine casks and then blended with coffee. Looks like we need to take a trip to Portland.