Seasonal Return

Posted in Monday Night Brewing, Seasonal Return

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

Posted in Creature Comforts, Headlines, Seasonal Return

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

Posted in Southern Tier Brewing, Seasonal Return

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

Posted in NoDa Brewing, Seasonal Return

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

Posted in Bell's Brewing, Seasonal Return

Bell’s Oktoberfest returns; continuing a tasty streak

Bell’s Oktoberfest finally returned to bottles after a 5-year hiatus in 2016. Thank the brewery’s (then) much-needed brewhouse expansion for that malty glass of festbier fans had been missing. Now in 2021 it seems Oktoberfest is staying a seasonal. 

In the past, this edition of the fall lager is one of the first to sell out. While you are splashing around in the pool in the heat, this beer has been lagering for at least six weeks, just waiting for fall.

With herbal hop aromas, this balanced amber lager focuses on lightly toasted malt that lends body without too much sweetness. Perfect for a week-long wedding celebration in Germany or the start of the Michigan autumn.

Bell’s Oktoberfest is now available in 12-ounce bottles, in both 6 & 12 packs and draft.

Style: Oktoberfest
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Seasonal.
Latest Return: August 2021

5.5% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal

Posted in Highland Brewing, Seasonal Return

One of the best returns: Highland Clawhammer Oktoberfest

The first time we had Highland Clawhammer Oktoberfest was back in 2010. Even then, it skyrocketed to what we considered one of the best festbiers in brewed in America. 

11 years later, neither this beer, or our opinion have changed. (Besides the label.) 

Summer is flying by, as it always seems after Independence Day. You’re not out of July before oktoberfests start popping up – mainly because of the lead time to produce a lager like this. 

Maybe after all years, it’s worth saying. This beer is as timeless as it is delicious. It’s toasty, light colored, rich, full-bodied, crisp and clean. German inspired, but American brewed. Yet another reason to love fall. 

For the 11th time we announce this beer hitting shelves again. If you haven’t, perhaps it’s time to grab a stein and go for it.

Style: Oktoberfest/Marzen
Hops: Hallertau Mittlefrue & German Spalt Select
Malts: 2-Row, Munich, Vienna, Caramel, Pilsner

Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Seasonal Release.

5% ABV 25 IBU’s

PIC: Beer Street Journal

Posted in Bell's Brewing, Don't Miss This, Seasonal Return

Bell’s Double Two Hearted Ale makes summer return

Bell’s Double Two Hearted Ale makes another return to shelves in July 2021.

For years, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale overtook Russian River Pliny the Elder as #1 India Pale Ale in America, according to Zymurgy Magazine, published by the American Homebrewer’s Association. Elder had the spot for seven years straight. Two Hearted Ale has both “classic” and “epic” statuses in our book.

In the past, you might have been lucky to come across Bell’s Double Two Hearted Ale on draft. It’s a hoppier and definitely boozier edition of its famous predecessor, to the tune of 11% alcohol by volume. If you’re a fan of Two Hearted Ale, this bigger edition really delivers. 

Expect 12-ounce bottles and draft of Double Two Hearted Ale to starting hitting shelves within the week. 

Style: Imperial IPA
Availability: 12oz Bottles (New), Draft.
Debut (Bottles): July 2019
Latest Return: July 2021

11% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal