Beer Alert: Imperial Brown Ales And Winter Seasonals

(Courtesy Firestone Walker)

Thanksgiving is nearing and American craft brewers are addressing the changing season with more exciting offerings you’re gonna want have around.

The Secret’s Out (Venice, CA) – The Propagator, Firestone Walker’s experimental small-batch brewing facility in SoCal has crafted a new Single Hop limited release that’s exclusively available in the latest “Crafted Thru Hops” IPA mixed pack.

Brewed only with Vic Secret hops, a lesser-known hop variety that’s grown in both the Victoria and Tasmania regions of Australia, Firestone Propagator Series Vic Secret Single Hop IPA is a 6.2% ABV West Coast-Style India Pale Ale with a big yet balanced character that’s subtly informed by this unique hop.

“We’ve gotten to know Vic Secret well at the production level, having incorporated it early on into our Luponic Distortion revolving IPA series,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. It’s less of a tropical fruit bomb compared to a hop like Galaxy. It has more of a Sauvignon Blanc quality, with flavors of lemon and pineapple, as well as soft stone fruits.”

(Courtesy Tröegs Independent Brewing)

Director’s Cut (Hershey, PA) – Tröegs Mad Elf Ale is a holiday tradition on the East Coast but the brewery has also released an uber-limited variation that takes the beloved cherry-fueled Belgian-Style Dark Ale in a tarter direction.

Adding Balaton cherries and the tartness that comes with them to a mix that already includes Bing, Lambert, Van and Royal varieties, Tröegs Mad Elf Grand Cru is a deep burgundy 11% ABV winter limited release that was born to be shared.

, Beer Alert: Imperial Brown Ales And Winter Seasonals “Northeast Meets Middle East By Way of Kentucky.” (Kansas City, MO) – That’s how Boulevard Brewing newest limited release, a sensory experience of decadent baklava without the sticky fingers. Aged in Bourbon barrels with pecans and maple for 8-12 months, Boulevard Sugarwood Baklava is a MASSIVE 14.2% ABV Imperial Brown Ale with big maple and bourbon aromatics and a rich combination of pecan, whiskey, and sweet honey malt flavors.