New Arrivals For Friday 12.14.07

As I mentioned in the previous post, the Laughing Dog beer didn't arrive, so there isn't much in the way of "new" beer to mention today, but we did see a few popular seasonals return to our shelves.

Lagunitas - Brown Shugga: This stuff was supposed to come out in early November, but due to distribution issues beyond our control it was delayed until today. Given the number of requests and questions we've had about it I really don't expect it to be here for long.

Midnight Sun - CoHoHo Imperial IPA: When the loveable hopheads at Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse requested a winter version of alehouse favorite Sockeye Red IPA, our brewers instinctively spawned CoHoHo Imperial IPA. CoHoHo begins with generous measures of pale two-row and specialty malts along with spirit-boosters like maple syrup, brown sugar and honey. Hefty doses of Cascade, Centennial and Simcoe hops beautifully balance that outrageous malt bill and heighten the festive character of this exuberant beer. Whatever the celebration, make merry with CoHoHo Imperial IPA.

Midnight Sun - Arctic Devil Barleywine: Aptly named after the ferocious wolverine of the north, Arctic Devil is an English-style (meaning malt-inclined) barley wine. Though the recipe and process for Arctic Devil have evolved over the years, it is typically brewed in January then aged in oak barrels for several months before the entire batch is blended, bottled and released on the Friday after Thanksgiving. In its youth, Arctic Devil gnarls and snarls its way across the palate. Containing this beast of a beer for long periods in oak barrels--some having previously aged port, wine or whiskey--tames the unleashed malt and fierce hop flavors, melding and mellowing this powerful liquid into an incredible elixir worthy of a brewer's table. Each annual batch of Arctic Devil Barley Wine represents the brewers' resolve to create an intriguing and sought-after barley wine by precisely brewing to well-designed specifications, carefully selecting the type and combination of barrels to use for aging, and meticulously checking the beer as it ages. Distinct nuance and complexity are contributed by the wood's previous tenants, resulting in unique flavor profiles in each batch that continue to change over time. We invite you to savor Arctic Devil Barley Wine upon its release then cellar some for future enjoyment.

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One more quick note: Many of the local seasonals (Jubel, Wassail, etc) are either gone for the year, or will run out soon. Those giant stacks you see at all the grocery stores around town are likley to be the last of it, so it would behoove you to stock up now if you need to. At this point we're out of Jubelale and Wassail; the Fish Tale Winterfish, Sierra Nevada Celebration, and Anchor "Our Special Ale" will probably run out before the new year. In other words, grab them now before it's too late.

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