Weekend Beer: New India Pale Ales And Nitro Stouts

(Courtesy Lawson’s Finest Liquids)

Fall is ON and winter not that far away and American craft brewers are addressing the changing season with an intriguing roster of new beers you’re gonna want to chase down.

Shake It Up (Waitsfield, VT) – Lawson’s Finest Liquids just introduced a seasonal stout that fans of Guinness like us, are going to want to chase down, that began as a popular draft-only offering and is finally available in 16oz cans. Unbelievably creamy, yet uber-approachable Lawson’s Finest Nitro Stout is a 5.4% ABV Irish-style Dry Stout that’s been a taproom fav for years.

To package Nitro Stout, Lawson’s Finest doses the beer with liquid nitrogen directly into the can rather than using a widget. Because it’s less soluble in liquid than typical CO2, nitro doesn’t dissolve in the same way, but incorporates into the beer for an extremely creamy mouthfeel and stunning cascade of tiny bubbles when poured.

And because the brewery didn’t go with a nitro-widget, Lawson’s encourages beer fans to shake the can gently before turning it upside down in a vigorous pour that will activate a Guinness-like torrent of nitro bubbles.

(Courtesy Sierra Nevada Brewing)

Happy Danksgiving (Chico, CA) – Sierra Nevada Brewing has a new addition to its Limited Hazy Series that we can’t wait to get our hands on. Fueled on a smart menu of sticky, resinous Mosaic, Amarillo, Chinook, and CTZ hops Sierra Nevada Dank Little Thing is a floral 7.5% ABV Hazy IPA with big tropical and resinous notes.

“This series of limited-edition Hazy IPAs is designed for the craft beer drinker that is always on the lookout for something fresh and new with a distinctive flavor profile,” says Kyle Ingram, Brand Director at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

The first beer in the series, Juicy Little Thing, was released in January followed in late Spring by the second edition, Tropical Little Thing. Notably, Juicy Little Thing proved to be so popular that the brewery has now re-released it as a year-round offering.

Autumnal (Seattle, WA) – One of the Pacific Northwest’s most acclaimed brewers, Pike Brewing is celebrating fall with something special that captures the essence of the season. Pike Layer Up is an 8.5% ABV is a modern West Coast Style IPA with both fruity and dank flavors and candied citrus notes. Rich and robust, this Double India Pale Ale is all about those bright summer days that quickly give way to warming ABV punch needed for the chillier nights.