New craft beer choices coming to Fayetteville in 2014

Northwest Arkansas continues to see new choices when it comes to craft beer.

St. Paul Minnesota-based Summit Brewing Company began appearing on Arkansas taps last month. Summit is initially providing the state its Extra Pale Ale, Sàga IPA, Oatmeal Stout, and Horizon Red IPA. You can find them in Fayetteville at Brewski’s, Sideways, Mojo’s, Buster Belly’s, Mellow Mushroom, and Farrell’s. Bottles will be on your favorite retailer’s shelves in March according to the brewery’s local distributing partner, Arkansas Craft Distributors.

Breakfast Stout

Expect to see Bayou Teche Brewing in our market within the next month. Located in Arnaudville, La., the brewery is known for designing beers that pair with traditional Cajun dishes. Bayou Teche’s core lineup includes LA-31 Bière Pâle, what the brewery calls a Louisiana pale ale; LA-31 Boucanèe, a smoked wheat ale; LA-31 Bière Noire, a black ale; and LA-31 Passionnè, a passion fruit wheat ale.

Oklahoma City’s COOP Ale Works will arrive later this summer. Founded in 2006 with its first beer sold in 2009, COOP has quickly become many Oklahomans favorite local brewery. Year-round beers include an IPA, amber, blonde, porter, and wheat – with several barrel-aged beers offered on a rotating basis.

Rumor has it Founders Brewing Company is scouting the state to see if it should offer its beer here as well. The Grand Rapids, Michigan brewery is revered for its Breakfast Stout – which received a perfect score on beer review website Beer Advocate. Centennial IPA is another Founder’s brew receiving high praise from the craft beer community. Getting Founders on Arkansas shelves would be a big win for local drinkers so keep your fingers crossed for some good news soon.

Boulevard Brewing Company is no stranger to the area, but is turning heads in Northwest Arkansas with the release of one of its most coveted beers. A member of Boulevard’s Smokestack Series, Chocolate Ale comes in at 9.1% ABV and masterfully blends dark chocolate and malt flavors with gentle hop bitterness. You can find it at Dickson Street Liquor, The Bottle, Liquor World, Liquor Mart, and Crossover Liquor. Supplies are extremely limited, with some retailers imposing a one bottle limit.

Brian Sorensen
Brian is an admitted beer geek, occasional home brewer, and member of the Fayetteville Lovers of Pure Suds (FLOPS). You can follow him on Twitter at @EBSorensen.