Seasonal Return
Cool weather favorite Creature Comforts Koko Buni returns
Creature Comforts Koko Buni, the brewery’s coveted milk porter, returns to cans again in November 2021.
One of the first seasonals by the Athens, Georgia based brewery, Creature Comforts Koko Buni is a milk porter, aged on toasted coconut and cocoa nibs Condor Chocolates and coffee from nearby 1000 Faces. This late fall season has been overwhelmingly popular since its debut a few years ago. We’ve seen fistfights over Koko cans at retailers.
In 2018, production expanded after the brewery brought their new production facility online, so finally there was a little more “Buni” to go around.
“We decided not to be traditional with the beer and add some ingredients that play well with the already roasty and chocolatey flavors of darker beers.” -Co-Founder and Head Brewer David Stein.
Coffee lovers will find a home here. Koko Buni starts heavy on the 1000 Faces coffee, and turns chocolatey mid-sip, finishing with a wisp of coconut. The beer is wonderfully creamy and decadent, stopping short of being sweet or heavy.
Creature Comforts Koko Buni is a seasonal draft and 12-ounce can offering, available at the brewery and across the brewery’s distribution footprint again in November 2021.
Style: Milk Porter (w/ Cocoa Nibs, Coffee, Toasted Coconut, Lactose.)
Availability: Draft, 12oz Cans
Distribution: Athens & Atlanta, Georgia (Very Limited)
Latest Return: November 2021
6.8% ABV
Koko means coconut in Papiamento, a common language in parts of the Carribean, while Buni means coffee in Swahili, a common language in southeastern Africa.
Image: Beer Street Journal
Creature Comforts Table Beer returns ahead of Thanksgiving
Creature Comforts Table Beer, formerly known as Epicurious, returns this month.
This release started with chefs, not brewers back in 2016. The Creature Comforts team sat down with Ryan Smith of Atlanta’s Staplehouse and Peter Dale, Executive Chef and Owner of Athens’ The National with the goal of creating a beer to pair with a wide variety of food.
Table Beer, a foodie’s beer, doesn’t fit any style guidelines according to the brewery. The beer is described as “earthy, floral, and soft citrus hop character that is balanced by complex yeast flavors and subtle bitterness on the finish.”
Rather than looking at industry trends for what to brew next, we brewed a beer that best complements drinking with food and friends.
The label artwork for this culinary-inspired can is thanks to the talent of Athens local Bryn Rouse, whose illustrations can be found on her Instagram feed.
Creature Comforts Table Beer returns in 12-ounce cans across the brewery’s entire footprint starting November 13th. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this beer benefits The Giving Kitchen.
Style: Belgian-Style Session Beer
Hops: Sterling, Saphir, Lemondrop. Dry Hop: Cascade and Comet.
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Limited.
Debut: October 2016
Latest Return: November 2021
4.2% ABV
PIC: Beer Street Journal
Guinness Gingerbread Stout returns to shelves
Guinness Gingerbread Stout
Bring a sweater. Monday Night Cardigans of the Galaxy returns
Monday Night Cardigans of the Galaxy imperial IPA makes an October return.
This 9.5% alcohol by volume IPA delivers big on hops: Columbus, Mandarina Bavaria, Simcoe, Citra, Ekuanot, Mosaic, Comet, and Galaxy to be exact. The “secret sauce” according to the brewery is the extra-dry finish and the “big citrusy melony nose”.
16-ounce cans and draft of Monday Night Cardigans of the Galaxy will be available across the brewery’s distribution footprint again this month.
Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Columbus, Mandarina Bavaria, Simcoe, Citra, Ekuanot, Mosaic, Comet, Galaxy
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: 9/27/18
Latest Return: October 2021
9.5% ABV, 95 IBUs
For the hardcore Tropicalia fans: Creature Comforts Imperial Trop Haze returns
A spin on one of Georgia’s most popular India pale ales returns this month – Creature Comforts Imperial Trop Haze.
Tropicalia, Creature Comfort’s year-round IPA has truly made a name for itself in the southeast. Building on that popularity, the Athens, Georgia-based brewery has released a few variants – including Tropicalisma, and Double Dry Hop Trop into a small-batch “Trop” inspired family. Imperial Trop Haze is truly the icing on a very hoppy cake for Creature fans.
Trop Haze is built on the same hop base as Tropicalia, with Citra, Centennial, and Galaxy hops – but way hazier, and a much bolder 8% alcohol by volume.
Creature Comforts Imperial Trop Haze is available in 16-ounce cans and draft, starting October 12th.
Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Citra, Centennial, Galaxy
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft. Limited Release.
Debut: 10/12/18
Latest Return: 10/12/21
8% ABV
PIC: Beer Street Journal
When life gives you Southern Tier Pumking Whiskey, you make pumpkin bombs
Now it’s a spirit unto itself, Southern Tier Pumking Whiskey is here to make your 2020 even weirder.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – Southern Tier Pumking is easily one of the most unique (and highly debated) pumpkin beer across craft beer since debuting in 2007. If the flavors of pumpkin beers were represented by dots on a map, Pumking is the outlier. That dot in the corner away from the other dots. Why? It may be the most pumpkin pie flavored beer out there. The beer is loved by some, hated by others. One thing is certain – it’s unforgettable.
Pumking Whiskey is the highest proof whiskey in Southern Tier Distilling’s arsenal. It’s a whiskey that’s apparently as memorable in flavor as the beer itself, going as far as to say the whiskey is “pumpkin pie in a shot glass.” They weren’t kidding.
Pumking Ale has an undeniable smell of pumpkin pie when you open a bottle. The whiskey is no different. Pull the cork and you’re immediately hit with aromas of pie, buttercream, and graham cracker, mixed with a little alcoholic heat. The whiskey is smooth and a touch sweet, tasting more fresh and real than the chemical fakeness that’s waiting for you a cup of Seattle’s infamous PSL. Never has there ever been a spirit more deserving of the title “fall in a shot glass” than Pumking Whiskey.
Naturally, a “pumpkin bomb” was in order. So we did it. Worth it. That’s how you take fall by the horns. (Leaves.)
Southern Tier Pumking Whiskey is available for a limited time at the distillery in Lakewood, New York as well as Southern Tier Spirit’s footprint starting in September. After the year we’ve all had, don’t act like this is beneath you now.
Image: Beer Street Journal
NoDa Roaring Riot, a lager for Carolina Panthers kicks off August
NoDa Roaring Riot cans return to kick off (pun intended) August. Brewed for the faithful beer drinking fans and hardcore tailgaters of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.
The brewery is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and as you can probably imagine are big Panthers fans. NoDa Roaring Riot is dedicated to the passionate fan base. The beer once was a pale ale brewed with rye malt, and now has shifted to something more crushable – a lager.
NoDa Roaring Riot will be available in 16-ounce cans again Friday, July 28th.
Style: Lager
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: 11/11/16
Latest Return: August 2021
4.5% ABV, 18 IBUS
