So many beers, So little time… What happens when a small brewery with a big rep like Munster, Indiana’s Three Floyds gets together with New Belgium, the third largest craft brewer in the United States? Something like you’ve never tasted happens – that’s what! Plus we’ve the latest releases from Victory and the ridiculously prolific Stone Brewing. Newbies is your essential map to the “best of the best” and the hottest new craft beers rolling out each week.

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

What’s a Grätzer? (Fort Collins, CO) – What happens when a small brewery with a big rep like Munster, Indiana’s Three Floyds gets together with New Belgium, the third largest craft brewer in the United States? Grätzer happens – that’s what.  Part of New Belgium’s Lips of Faith Series, this unique ale recreates a long-buried style from Poland, which primarily uses oak-smoked wheat.  This New Belgium / Three Floyds collaboration pours black and has a subtle, spicy note from Polish Lublin hops. And at 4.5% ABV, Grätzer is totally sessionable and also showcases what we think may be one of the best label designs so far this year.

Anniversary Alert! (Bend, OR) – Our friends at the Deschutes Brewery will be celebrating their 26th year in business this month and are releasing something special to commemorate it with. Deschutes Black Butte XXVI is their latest take on a classic – an 11% ABV double Porter brewed with cranberries, pomegranate molasses, and cocoa nibs all added to a 50 percent bourbon barrel-aged blend of awesomeness. Like all of their Reserve Series beers, they suggest that you drink one upon its July 27th release and stash one away for later, if you’ve the restraint to do that.

Victory’s Moving Parts (Downingtown, PA) – Victory Brewing has just announced their new IPA series Moving Parts. Moving Parts is an ever-evolving IPA line that will always be a work in progress and that’s the hook of the brewery’s series. It all starts with Victory Moving Parts 01 but from then on, Victory’s brewmasters will adjust different ingredients and processes within the same IPA basic recipe to develop an endless array of flavor profiles. Moving Parts 01 is set to hit shelves and taps any day now -so get ready to move.

Lakewood Lands A Big-time Lager (Garland, TX) – We’ve been singing Lakewood Brewing’s praises a lot lately but when we happen upon a brewery as good as they are – we can’t help it. And now, we’ve discovered they’ve an awesome lager that may be one of the best in the country. Lakewood Lager is a 4.6% ABV Vienna-style lager with subtle caramel aroma and a Noble hop bite, and it’s brilliant.

Not Apologizing (Escondido, CA) – June 30th has been set as the final release date for the three-way collaboration between Beachwood BBQ Brewing, Heretic and Stone. Beachwood / Heretic / Stone Unapologetic IPA is a 9% ABV celebration of hoppiness crafted by three masters of the West Coast IPA tradition and it’s finally rolling out at the end of this month on draft and in 22 oz. bombers.