It has been a good month for beer lovers in Arkansas. With the introduction of the Smokestack Series from Boulevard Brewing Co. and the release of many octoberfests, beer lovers have had plenty of new things to try. If you went to Little Rocktoberfest on September 20, you would have also gotten a sneak peak at a few newbies to the Arkansas market:

New Belgium’s Giddy Up!: An appropriate name for a beer that has the equivalent of half a cup of coffee for each 12 oz serving. This copper-colored ale is brewed with lemon peel and infused with espresso. There are aromas of caramel, toffee, and (of course) espresso on the nose. The toasty flavor of the coffee evens out the bitterness of the hops, which makes this a very smooth, drinkable, dark beer. Perfect for the cold months ahead. It will be out soon, but will only be sold in the Folly Packs.

Diamond Bear Porter: This one won’t be bottled until November but will be worth the wait. It is a classic porter with aromas of toasted and chocolate malts. A deep dark pour with a thick creamy head with a slightly hoppy finish.

Diamond Bear Rocktoberfest: Like all octoberfest beers, this one will only be made in limited quantities. The only way to get this beer home is to special order it (by the case only) at Springhill on September 26. On this day the good folks at Diamond Bear will be doing an in-store tasting from 3pm-6pm. Be sure to check it out.

By Jessica Kokinos-Havel