So many beers, So little time…Newbies is your essential map to the “best of the best” and the hottest new craft beers rolling out each week. From Sierra Nevada’s special 4-Way IPA Variety Pack to the latest releases from Stone and Deschutes – we’ve got all kinds of new releases you’re going to want to chase down.

So welcome to another edition of Newbies -Your ultimate guide to great new craft beers!

Our Main Squeeze (Bend, OR) – Deschutes Brewery will soon be releasing a favorite of ours and we’re pretty damned excited about it. Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA tastes like freshly juiced hops with just enough malt to provide a perfect balance of flavors and aromas. Citra and Mosaic hops give the beer its tangerine and citrus-like tones and help create a “fresh hop” flavor without actually using fresh hops. Look for “our main squeeze” to be hitting retail beginning March 3. 

Stevens Point Goes Whole Hog (Stevens Point, WI) – Stevens Point Brewery is returning an award-winning seasonal just in time for spring. A part of their Whole Hog Limited Edition Brewmaster’s Series, Whole Hog Russian Imperial Stout is a massive 8.6% ABV Imperial brewed with crystal malt and Cascade hops.

A New “Go To” Beer (Escondido, CA) – Stone Brewing has officially entered the Session IPA arena with an imminent new release. Go To IPA is a 4.5% ABV beauty fueled on Hopburst-ing: A technique wherein an irrational amount of hops are added during the final phase of brewing to coax out intense flavors and aromas without imparting harsh bitterness. Look for “Go To” to “Be At” retail beginning in March.

The New Old Guard (Escondido, CA) – More good news from the Stone compound – the 2014 Old Guardian Barley Wine will soon be making its return on February 24. In a world of big barleywines, this one’s a monster. And as we always recommend – when drinking a beer as enormous as the 11.6% ABV Old Guardian – be safe and always drink with a partner!

More Upheaval at Widmer (Portland, OR) – Widmer Brothers Brewing has just released a new Northwest Style IPA brewed with six hop varieties and more hops per barrel than any other Widmer Brothers beer. Considered by the brewery to be “the best IPA they’ve ever brewed,” the 7% ABV Upheaval IPA, will replace Widmer’s’ Rotator IPA Series as their newest year-round IPA offering.

Hop Heavy (Chico, CA) – Sierra Nevada is shipping out their first 4-Way IPA Variety 12-pack next week that will feature one flagship and three newbies. In addition to their popular year-round Torpedo Extra IPA, this variety pack will showcase three new whole-cone offerings.Snow Wit White IPA is brewed with seven varieties of experimental dwarf hops and uses authentic Belgian yeast. Nooner Session IPA is exactly that – light in body, but with big taste and aroma. Blindfold Black IPA is an evolution of one of their Beer Camp recipes – dark roasted malt with a bright hop backlash.