Lactose

Hi-Wire Gingerbread 10W-40 Imperial Stout

Hi-Wire Gingerbread 10W-40 drops today, the latest in a creative line of imperial stouts from the Asheville, North Carolina brewery. 

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Ginger. Cinnamon. Vanilla. Lactose.) 
Availability: 16oz Cans. 
Debut: 11/12/21

8% ABV

Posted in Don't Miss This, Founders Brewing, New Releases

Founders KBS Iced Latte goes golden instead of stout

Founders KBS Iced Latte expands the Michigan-based brewery’s ongoing KBS series this July.

Founders KBS Iced Latte is a cold coffee departure from the the traditional Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS), has joined the Barrel-Aged Series in summer 2025.

Crafted with coffee, cocoa nibs, milk sugar, and vanilla extract, this variant delivers a creamy, café-inspired experience with prominent coffee and vanilla flavors, complemented by oak and a silky latte-like sweetness from bourbon barrel aging. Expect a rich coffee aroma with hints of vanilla and toasted malt, paired with a smooth, medium-bodied mouthfeel. A refreshing yet indulgent twist for KBS fans, especially dropping a beer so big during the current “Heat Dome” that most of America is dealing with currently.

MORE: FOUNDERS KBS SERIES

Get ready to chill with KBS Iced Latte, a barrel-aged imperial golden ale that’s as smooth as your favorite café creation. Crafted with a blend of coffee and vanilla for a creamy, utterly indulgent experience. Aged to perfection in bourbon barrels, every sip consists of oak notes and a silky latte-like sweetness that’s impossible to resist.

Founders KBS Iced Latte is available in 12-ounce bottles and draft for a limited time.

Style: Imperial Golden Ale (w/ Coffee. Cocoa Nibs. Lactose. Vanilla. Barrel-Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Limited Release.
Debut: Summer 2025

11% ABV

Complete List of KBS Variants

Going back from the beginning, a list of all the variants to up until summer 2025.

  1. KBS (Original) – Release: 2011
  2. KBS Espresso – Release: 2019
  3. KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge – Release: 2020
  4. KBS Nitro – Release: 2020 (Draft-only)
  5. KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa – Release: 2021
  6. KBS Hazelnut – Release: 2021
  7. KBS Chocolate Cherry – Release: 2022
  8. KBS Blueberry – Release: 2023
  9. KBS Spicy Chocolate – Release: 2023
  10. KBS Chocolate Espresso – Release: 2024
  11. KBS Double Oaked – Release: 2024
  12. KBS Hazelnut Fudge – Release: 2024
  13. KBS Iced Latte – Release: 2025
by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Hi Wire Brewing, Seasonal Return

Mardi Gras Stout: Hi-Wire King Cake 10W-40 Imperial Stout

Hi-Wire King Cake 10W-40, a Mardi Gras-themed imperial stout returns as February winds down. 

2022 seems to be flying by already. It’s Mardi Gras, Lent starts on Wednesday, and you can almost see summer from here. While Hi-Wire Brewing’s 10W-40 Imperial Stout evolves constantly throughout the year, a few favorites to make seasonal appearances – namely the King Cake 10W-40 Imperial Stout.

Stating the obvious, the imperial stout mimics the famous New Orleans King Cake – basically, a coffee cake blended with a cinnamon roll, covered in Mardi Gras colors. The stout is specifically brewed with lactose, vanilla beans, cinnamon, coffee, and chocolate. 

MORE: HI-WIRE 10W-40 IMPERIAL STOUT SERIES

Hi-Wire King Cake 10W-40 Imperial Stout is available for a limited time in 16-ounce cans and draft. 

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Coffee. Chocolate. Vanilla Beans. Cinnamon. Lactose.)
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft. Limited Seasonal Release. 

Latest Return: Late February 2022

8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Hi Wire Brewing, New Releases

Hi-Wire Gingerbread 10W-40 Imperial Stout

Hi-Wire Gingerbread 10W-40 drops today, the latest in a creative line of imperial stouts from the Asheville, North Carolina brewery. 

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Ginger. Cinnamon. Vanilla. Lactose.) 
Availability: 16oz Cans. 
Debut: 11/12/21

8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Creature Comforts, 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 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Orpheus Brewing

Orpheus releases Do or Die Oatmeal Cream Stout year-round

Orpheus Brewing Do or Die Oatmeal Cream Stout debuts at the Atlanta-based brewery this week. 

Coming down from the brewery’s “Year 7” anniversary that featured nearly a dozen imperial stouts, is an Orpheus beer a little smoother and far less boozy. The brewing team was inspired by a simple English milk stout, heavy on oats, chocolate, and wheat malts. “We love making stouts and wanted to brew one you can have pints of, instead of tasters,” per the brewery. 

The oatmeal cream stout (thanks to a dosing of lactose milk sugar) has chocolate and coffee aromas and finishes with hints of caramel and toffee. 

UPCOMING EVENT: BURNING MOUTH 2021 at ORPHEUS BREWING

Orpheus Brewing Do or Die Oatmeal Cream Stout is available starting this week in 12-ounce cans and draft year-round, everywhere the brewery distributes. 

Style: Oatmeal Stout (w/ Lactose)
Hops: Columbus
Malts: 2-Row Malt, Simpsons Golden Naked Oats, Crisp Pale Chocolate Malt, Simpsons Crystal Extra Dark, Crisp Crystal Extra Dark 120, Simpsons Black Malt, Crisp Torrified Wheat, Flaked Oats

Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Year-Round
Debut: 10/6/21

6.1% ABV

Image: Orpheus Brewing

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Left Hand Brewing, New Beers

Left Hand Mole Milk Stout

Left Hand Mole Milk Stout

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Creature Comforts, Seasonal Return

Creature Comforts Galactic Space Circus makes a June appearance

Creature Comforts Galactic Space Circus has returned tot he brewery’s lineup to kick of June.

This India pale ale is brewed with the ever so high demand Galaxy hop – one the stars of their year-round Tropicalia – plus lactose milk sugar. This spacey IPA was first released back in 2017.

The flavor is bold with pineapple, mango, a touch of floral notes, and an orange Fanta finish.

Creature Comforts Galactic Space Circus is available  16-ounce cans at both the brewery and limited distribution in early June 2021.

Style: IPA (w/ Lactose)
Hops: Galaxy

Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft. Limited Distribution.
Latest Release: June 2021

6.8% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal

 

by Reid Ramsay