So many craft beers, so little time. With so many craft breweries, releasing so many beers, we thought it might help to provide a weekly update on all the new beers that are hitting the streets …..So welcome to this week’s edition of Newbies – your guide to great new craft beer releases!

New Beer from Two Beers (Seattle, WA) – Two Beers Brewing has just announced the fast-approaching release of the first in their new Alta Series, Switchback Russian Imperial Stout on February 2^nd at Two Beers Brewing’s SoDo tasting room, The Woods, beginning at 11 am. Be forewarned. Switchback is a massive Russian Imperial clocking in at 12% ABV. It’s also been barrel-aged for over six months and best consumed with abandon in mind!

Full Sail Goes Nuts! (Hood River, OR) – Full Sail Brewing Company has just announced the release of a new rotating line of classic ales called the Pub Series and the first beer in the series is Full Sail Nut Brown Ale, which they describe as a smooth, malty, easy-drinking dark beer and we’re just fine with that. Nut Brown Ale is available in 6-packs and on draft for 90 days only from January to March, when the next beer in the series will be released.

Sexual Healing at Foothills (Winston-Salem, NC) – Foothills Brewing Co. announced on Friday that their legendary Sexual Chocolate Imperial Stoutwill be released on Saturday, February 2nd at 10am. So you’d better buy your plane tickets right now! This is a big event and even if you’re lucky enough to attend, you’ll be waiting in line with others for a bottle of this coveted newbie. Sexual Chocolate is enormous and weighs in at 10% ABV.

Left Hand Wakes Up Dead! (Longmont, CO) – It only happens once every two years… After hibernating in the Left Hand Brewing Company warehouse for 12 months, the brewery has emptied its cellar and released Barrel-Aged Wake Up Dead for the winter season. Bottle-conditioned for an authentic old-world experience, patience is required for this black full-bodied stout. Wake Up Dead begins with Left Hand’s time-tested Russian Imperial Stout recipe, representing 15 years of brewing experience. But unlike its year-round predecessor, Barrel-Aged Wake Up Dead is transferred to Colorado whiskey barrels to hibernate and age a bit. Barrel-Aged Wake Up Dead is available on draft & in 22oz bottles and will be available in the 24 states where Left Hand is distributed and sold

Bells Gets Smitten! (Kalamazoo, MI) – With a new year comes a new addition to the Bell’s Brewery seasonal spring lineup. In early February, Bell’s Smitten Golden Rye Ale will be released on draft and in six-packs – just in time to help transition into warmer days. Coming in at 6% ABV, Smitten pours gold and drinks rustic and rye. Formerly called Golden Rye Ale, “Smitten” is the first new regular bottle release since Oarsman Ale debuted as a year-round offering in 2010.