craft beer | O'Looney's Wine & Liquor

The Best Ways to Drink Local This Summer

June 21, 2016

by Spencer English

The Arkansas beverage scene is growing by leaps and bounds. Surely you’ve noticed it- Downtown Little Rock, Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs, or all over Northwest Arkansas. Local breweries, distilleries, and even wineries have been popping up all over. It seems like there’s a new opportunity to “drink local” every week. Specifically, with all of these new beers and breweries popping up, here’s a list of some of my favorite local flavors to help pull you into the local craft beverage loop.

Superior Bathhouse Brewery

One of my personal favorites. Housed in a converted bathhouse on Central Avenue in Hot Springs, this brewpub makes some of the most creative and delicious beers I’ve tasted from any Arkansas brewery large or small. The atmosphere is fun, and they have over 20 beers on tap (most of which are brewed in-house with a few well-chosen craft beers on rotating taps). With so many great options it can be tough to decide on just one, luckily they offer a “Beer Bath” sampler which consists of a 4oz pour of all 20+ beers on tap. You should probably invite a friend if you plan on taking one down.

Flyway Brewing

A newcomer to the developing Arkansas craft beer scene, Flyway Brewing in Argenta in North Little Rock is gaining a well-deserved reputation for well-made classic examples of American-style craft beer using the highest quality ingredients. In my experience, the beers from Flyway are extremely well balanced and have a wonderful malt character. While I have yet to try some of their more experimental creations, such as the “Cake Series,” I loved their newest brew, the Bluewing Blueberry Ale. It’s absolutely delicious with notes fresh blueberries and cereal grains. Look for it in bottles and on tap around Little Rock.

Lost Forty

If you haven’t tried a Lost Forty beer yet you should probably come out of your cave. These guys are brewing and canning solid beers in a wide range of styles that are available in most stores and restaurants in Little Rock, and they’re constantly experimenting with new flavors. I love heading down to the Lost Forty Brewery to try some of their “Fresh Cuts” and see what amazing things are available on their food menu. If you haven’t been to their downtown brewery, it’s a “must.”

Stone's Throw

From the outside, it’s easy to wonder how such a tiny building can house a brewery that produces so many excellent beers. Stone’s Throw has established itself as a neighborhood craft brewer and growler hotspot for the past few years and has been on many people’s radar as part of the brewery tour circuit. If you haven’t checked out Stone’s Throw you really should. Spend an hour or so there and you’ll feel like part of the family. You can often find a food truck parked outside if you get hungry and the friendly staff will certainly make an impression. In my experience, the small taproom is usually pretty full with regulars so they must be doing something right!

Rock Town Distillery

Little Rock’s first commercial liquor distillery is a great take if you are interested in seeing what kind of great local products Little Rock has to offer. I have toured the distillery and let me tell you they are more than just vodka and whiskey. They offer a wide range of spirits including several types of bourbon, gin, vodka, flavored moonshine, and their newest addition the Rock Town coffee liqueur which is absolutely delicious.

Smithworks Vodka

Coming out of Fort Smith, Arkansas is a relatively new player in the Arkansas beverage scene. Smithworks is owned by country singer Blake Shelton. He has put his name behind this quality product and we think it isn’t just hype. Using regionally sourced corn from neighboring states and pure Arkansas water Smithworks has crafted a vodka that can easily compete with national brands and would drink well on its own as well as provide a base for your favorite cocktail.

Core

This Brewery out of Springdale, Arkansas is just beginning to establish itself as one of the “core” Arkansas brands. With a lineup of approachable and innovative beers these guys a really making a name for themselves all throughout the state. My personal favorite brew is the Core ESB which balances full bodied malts with a crisp hoppy finish for a delicious beer. Alternatively, the Arkansas Red is a must have tailgate staple. If you don’t have Arkansas Red inside your cooler on game day you have to wonder if you’re doing all you can to support your team.

Ozark Beer Company

Established in 2013 OBC has only recently made it down to the Little Rock market and we are extremely glad that it did. The three beers we have gotten so far have been exceptional. The Ozark Pale Ale is a great go-to beer that suits almost any situation but my personal favorite- the Belgian Style Golden Strong ale is really something special. It’s just a tasty beverage and I hope that its popularity opens the door for more brewers to experiment with Belgian-style ales that I personally love so much. As a bonus, OBC is available in cans so…… river beer win.

Diamond Bear

Started in 2000 Diamond Bear has expanded to become the largest volume beer producer in Arkansas. Don’t let their size fool you, Diamond Bear is still making high-quality beer with great flavor and traditional brewing practices. Try their award-winning Pale Ale or their Strawberry Blonde made with real local strawberries.

Welcome to Arkansas: Bell’s Brewery

April 18, 2016

I’m so glad that I can finally write the words that I never expected to be true: Bell’s Brewery is coming to Arkansas!

For those “in the know,” the upcoming release of Bell’s Brewery is cause for much excitement. My mouth has been watering ever since I first heard the news, and I can’t wait for the first delicious sip of Bell’s “Two Hearted Ale.” For those of you that aren’t yet familiar, let’s get caught up!

Larry Bell started brewing beer commercially in Kalamazoo, MI in 1985 making Bell’s the oldest craft-brewer east of Boulder, CO. What started in Larry’s basement with a 15 gallon soup pot quickly grew to 500 barrels per year by 1989 and in 1990 Bell’s began distribution outside the state of Michigan. Over the past 25 years, Bell’s has continued to grow and expand to become one of the top 10 American craft beer brands by volume, producing over 310,000 barrels in 2014.

Bell’s has set itself apart with a focus on sustainability. The brewery and related facilities employ state of the art technologies in order to recycle waste heat, water, and brewing by-products. Their vision of sustainability means that each process involved with brewing the beer is thoughtfully laid out to maximize efficiency and to cut waste and emissions. Bell’s also owns and operates an 80-acre sustainable farm in Shepard, MI where they grow barley for use in the brewery.

Stylistically, Bell’s’ offerings are diverse; ranging from light and fresh wheat ales to dark and heavy imperial stouts and everything in between. My personal favorite is the Two Hearted Ale, a hoppy but well balanced American IPA. This beer is hoppy and complex with a tasty malt backbone but it still manages to finish extremely clean and refreshing. It beer drinks great year-round but I consider this a “must-have” addition to any summer cooler.

So… why should you care? Well quite simply because being able to buy Bell’s in Arkansas is a big deal. Folks on the east coast and in Michigan have been enjoying Bell’s for so long that it has become fairly common place for dedicated beer enthusiasts to travel across state lines just to procure a case of the magical elixir. Luckily, thanks to Bell’s recent expansions, we are soon to be able to purchase these fantastic beers locally.

How can you get your hands on some Bell’s? Click right here to reserve your case at a special presale price! Beer will be available in store after April 25th!

Spencer English’s Top Craft Beer Picks

April 7, 2016

As a part of O’Looney’s current craft beer sale, we asked the director of our beer program, Spencer English, to rank his five favorite beers from the sale.

Delirium Tremens

The name derives from a condition of severe alcohol withdrawal which causes the affected to shake uncontrollably unless they maintain an inebriated state. I’m not certain if the brewers intended this beer to be the cause of or the cure for the problem, probably a bit of both. At 8.5% abv this Belgian strong blonde ale could certainly do the trick. Widely considered by beer connoisseurs as one of the all-around best beers in the world, Delirium Tremens has been instrumental in exposing the global beer market to the wonders of Belgian-style beer since 1988. The beer itself is a beautiful example of the style, pouring a light golden blonde with a crystalline white head. Flavors of banana, clove, and pepper are layered with apple and pear and a cake or pastry yeast character that rounds out the whole experience.

Delirium Red

From the eccentric Brouwerij Huyghe in Melle Belgium that brought the world Delirium Tremens, comes a new offering that is this brewery’s unique take on the Belgian fruit beer style. Delirium Red is a well made Belgian blonde ale brewed with cherries. The flavor falls somewhere between sweet and tart with notes of sour cherries, almond, banana, and cake. If you are a fan of Belgian ales or lambics/fruit beers, this offering might be a happy medium for you!

St Bernardus Abt 12

St. Bernardus Abt 12 has a long pedigree leading back to the early 1900’s and probably even before that. Originally brewed by Trappist monks at The St. Sixtus monastery in Westvleteren Belgium, the recipe and the unique Sixtus yeast strain was brought to Watou after WWII when the monks were looking to turn over commercial production of their beer to another facility. This beer is a Belgian abby-style quadruple ale which means you can expect a stronger darker beer with all the fruity, spicy characteristics of Belgian yeast. The beer pours a dark caramel brown with a creamy white head, notes of prunes, grapes, and an herbal hop character blend beautifully with the traditional banana and spice from the yeast. A classic abby ale for the Belgian beer lover!

Prairie Ale

Prairie Artisan Ales from Tulsa, Ok. is pushing the envelope of American craft brewing. Their line of beers runs the gamut from dark imperial stouts aged in whiskey barrels to lights farmhouse ales and sours. The Prairie Ale is their take on a classic Saison style of farmhouse ale. Traditionally Saisons are brewed in open fermenters allowing them to take on the wild yeast in the air as the wind picks it up from the fields and deposits it in the brewery. These wild yeasts or Brettanomyces (brett for short) give seaisons their characteristic “funk.” In the case of the Prairie Ale the Brettanomyces are cultivated and added to the beer in a controlled environment but the resulting beer is very close to its traditionally made cousins. The beer pours clear coppery-orange with a foamy white head and fat lacing. Aromas include orange peel, lemon zest, pepper, and hay. The flavor will be slightly sour with citrus and vegetal overtones.

Evil Twin Mosaic Single Hop India Pale American Wheat Lager

The long name of this beer tries somewhat successfully to describe this unique beer from Evil Twin Brewing. Using only mosaic hops to flavor wheat lager gives a bit of tropical and juicy citrus fruit to this grain forward lager. Pours golden yellow with a thick white head. Aromas of wheat grains as well as citrus and herbal notes. First and foremost, the tastes will be of sweet grains and wheat with some brights tropical and citrus character from the hops. Ideal for the beer drinker who wants complexity but finds many IPAs too hop dominant and lacking all else, this beer is all about balance.