Seasonal Return

Jester King Bière de Blanc du Bois returns Friday

Jester King Bière de Blanc du Bois — the brewery’s farmhouse beer brewed with Texas grown Blanc du Bois grapes, returns seasonally on January 6th.

This creation first debuted in 2014, the brainchild of Adrienne Ballou, Jester King’s barrel program lead. To create Jester Continue Reading →

Posted in Seasonal Return, Jester King Brewery

Jester King Bière de Blanc du Bois returns Friday

Jester King Bière de Blanc du Bois — the brewery’s farmhouse beer brewed with Texas grown Blanc du Bois grapes, returns seasonally on January 6th.

This creation first debuted in 2014, the brainchild of Adrienne Ballou, Jester King’s barrel program lead. To create Jester King Bière de Blanc du Bois, Ballou simulated orange wine fermentation techniques. During this process, the grape skins, seeds, and stems are left in the wine during primary fermentation. (As opposed to separating the skins prior to fermenting.)

Jester King Bière de Blanc du Bois is fermented and matured in oak barrels with wild yeast and souring bacteria. After fermentation, it was refermented with the Blanc du Bois grapes.

Batch 2 of Jester King Bière de Blanc du Bois will be available at the brewery starting January 6th, 2017.

Style: American Wild Ales (w/ Grapes. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 500ml bottles. 1,800 available. $20
Return: 1/6/17

6.7% ABV

Pics via Jester King

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Nantahala Brewing Company, Seasonal Return

Once a year Nantahala Brewing Judaculla returns

Nantahala Brewing Judaculla, a barrel-aged Russian imperial stout, is available once again.

This once a year beer got its start in 2011. Nantahala Brewing Head Brewer Greg Geiger and Owner Joe Rowland created that combined the boldness of a big imperial stout, the vanilla notes of whiskey, and a local flavor that set it apart. The duo identified sorghum, which is produced in the Western North Carolina mountains, to add to the beer. Sorghum (used in root beer) adds molasses notes to Judaculla.

The imperial stout is brewed with sorghum, and then transferred to Jack Daniels barrels for four months. Finally, Judaculla is blend again with fresh, hoppy roasty stout.

“Judaculla took on a life of its own. It’s a complex beer that represents a style we love and offers a blend of flavors that are unique to the culture and history of our area.” – Co-owner Joe Rowland

Nantahala Brewing Judaculla is available in 22 ounce bottles in the taproom and limited distribution.

Style: Russian Imperial Stout (w/ Sorghum. Barrel Aged. Whiskey.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles. Limited.

Latest Return: 12/20/16

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines, Seasonal Return, SweetWater Brewing

SweetWater Pulled Porter (tastes like bacon) returns in cans

SweetWater Pulled Porter is returning the Atlanta, Georgia brewery’s lineup this week. The beer debuted a year ago as a part of the “Dank Tank” Series.

Pulled Porter unites SweetWater and Atlanta food icon Fox Brothers BBQ into one neat little pint. Sure, you could order some German smoked malt and brew up a rauchbier. That’s the easy way. The brewery is based in The South, land of barbecue. SweetWater’s head brewer Nick Nock took some of Pulled’s base grain to Fox Brothers and had them smoke the malt the same way they smoke their highly sought after pork and brisket. (See images below.)

While smoke beers might not be your style, Pulled Porter might just change your mind. The smokey flavor is very savory; reminiscent to flavors of cooked bacon, and less like a hot house fire. The remaining unsmoked malt gives this beer a touch of chocolate. Basically, a backyard BBQ beer that doesn’t get your hands sticky.

Not only is Pulled Porter back in action once starting this week, it is available in 16 ounce cans for the first time.

On the farm way too long, ol’ McDanko began showing some worrisome tendencies. Following a solid session in the hot box smoking malt, he was overcome by a methane cloud emoted from the herd. Ya heard? Reaching for the hops, he goofed and grabbed porky by the e-i-e-i-oh and plopped her in the brew kettle slow and low —that is the tempo. Knock knock —who’s them? It’s McDanko’s inbred neighbor, Geri Reynolds, swinging by delivering his deliverance with some fat back hem and some fat back them. Stepping out past some Foxy brothers picking a banjo on the porch to sample his wares, McDanko, doubled over the chopping block and squealed like a pig – wieii wieii — proclaiming this to be the most bodacious bacon beer brewed this side of the Chattoog-a!

Important to note, meant was not used during the brewing process. However, some of the malt was smoked in commercial smokers which IS home to  meat for hours every day.

SweetWater Pulled Porter can be found on tap and 16 ounce cans. Expect cans on shelves across the brewery’s lineup sometime in December.

Style: Smoked Porter
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft.
Latest Return: December, 2016

7.7% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Seasonal Return, Don't Miss This, Highland Brewing

Highland Cold Mountain Winter Ale. 20 years, still a favorite

Highland Cold Mountain Winter Ale is back in action for its 20th year. The beer is officially the longest running seasonal in the brewery’s Asheville, North Carolina home.

Stylistically, the brewery calls Cold Mountain a winter warmer. Honestly, this beer is really unique and in our minds really doesn’t fit that style. Imagine a caramel colored, malt forward ale that isn’t roasty, bitter, or rely on a boozy finish for flavor. Highland really doesn’t disclose the spices in Cold Mountain, but we are placing our bets on hazelnut and vanilla. Perhaps even a light touch of cranberry. Not knowing really makes every pint of this more fun.

We are all in agreement here at Beer Street Journal that Highland Cold Mountain Winter Ale is one of our absolute favorite seasonals every year. Two full decades later, can it be called iconic? We hope so.

To celebrate the double decade mark in 2016, the brewery released an Imperial Cold Mountain edition at the brewery only. A beer we hope to get our hands one one day.

Highland Cold Mountain Winter Ale is available in liter and 22 ounce bottles, as well as draft, seasonally.

Style: Winter Warmer (w/ Spices)
Hops: Cascade, Mount Hood
Malts: 2 Row, Brewers, Pilsen, Chocolate, Wheat, Caramel 40/60

Availability: 22oz Bottles, Liter Bottles, Draft.
Latest Return: Winter, 2016

5.2% ABV, 28 IBUs

PIC: Beer Street Journal

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Seasonal Return, Heavy Seas

Big on fruit. Heavy Seas TropiCannon now year-round

Heavy Seas TropiCannon has returned to the brewery’s lineup once again. This time, year-round.

Loosely based on the brewery’s Loose Cannon IPA, Heavy Seas TropiCannon is hoppy, with a blast of tropical and citrus fruits. The brewing team introduces dried grapefruit, oranges and lemons during the brewing process, and mango, blood oranges and grapefruit post-fermentation. While Loose Cannon is heavy on the piney hop flavor, Heavy Seas boosts the citrus flavor by swapping Centennial and Palisade hops for Amarillo.

“TropiCannon was a pleasant surprise for us in 2016. It was originally planned as a limited release product, but so many people kept asking for it that we decided we needed to make it available on a year-round basis. At least for now. This is part of what makes the beer industry so fun!” – Hugh Sisson, brewery founder.

Heavy Seas TropiCannon is available in 12 ounce bottles and draft. A release party is planned at the brewery in Baltimore, Maryland on December 16th.

Style: IPA (w/ Mango, Lemons, Blood Orange, Grapefruit.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Year-round
Latest Return: December, 2016

7.25% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Lost Abbey, Seasonal Return

Lost Abbey Santo Ron Diego is back in rum filled action

Lost Abbey Santo Ron Diego is returning to the brewery’s lineup once again in December, with a few changes in tow.

The beer was a big hit when it was released in 2015, and Tomme Arthur and brewery crew knew it had to be brewed again. Lost Abbey Santo Ron Diego (2016) features a new twist – cherries, vanilla beans, and cacao nibs. It spent a full 14 months in rum barrels.

“We were really happy with last year’s version but we wanted to add a bit more complexity to help bring the rum notes out with this year’s batch.” – Tomme Arthur, co-founder, The Lost Abbey

In order to have more of Santo to go around, the Lost Abbey is making this release draft only. The big 13.5% rum barreled monster hits distribution in December. Happy hunting.

Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Vanilla Beans, Cherries, Cacao Nibs. Barrel Aged. Rum.)
Availability: Draft Only (2016 Release)
Latest Return: December, 2016

12.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Seasonal Return, Upland Beer

Upland Brewing Teddy Bear Kisses returns this winter

Upland Brewing Teddy Bear Kisses, a Russian Imperial Stout aged on fair trade cacao nibs, returns this winter. Clocking in at 10%, this high ABV winter seasonal is oak aged on cocoa nibs for four weeks, giving it a slightly sweet and bold chocolate flavor with dark caramel and vanilla notes.

“Teddy Bear Kisses is aged for four weeks on cacao nibs to provide an intense chocolate flavor and aroma, like sipping on cup of hot cocoa. A roasty bitterness balanced by moderate sweetness provides incredible drinkability for this style.” -Matt Wisely, Innovation Lead

This seasonal release, Teddy Bear Kisses, hits shelves starting this week in 4-packs and draft within Upland Brewing distribution.

Style: Russian Imperial Stout (Oak Aged. Chocolate.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles. Draft.
Release: December 2016

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay