Great Divide is temporarily pulling out of Nebraska

In reading the latest newsletter from Beertopia, thanks for improving the format Beertopia, I noticed, at the bottom, that Great Divide is pulling out of Nebraska while they work on expansion.  I sincerly hope that this is only a temporary pull out.  They offer a solid lineup of craft beer and some stellar beers as well.  I would encourage you to contact them politely and express your desire to get them back when they are ready.  Having as broad a selection as possible is beneficial to us all.  With that said I give you the new beer list for Beertopia and possibly for several other establishments in the state.

From the Beertopia side of things….

We again have received so many beers this week…needless to say, it has been hectic here at the store!!!

• Sierra Nevada Celebration has made its annual return!! This is a fresh hopped beer that holds a special place in our hearts! We have had this very nice IPA throughout our journey here at the store. Hoppy, aromatic and just all around a fantastic beer.
• Odell’s Isolation Ale has made its entrance as well. This pours with a  nice healthy head. Sweetness and a nice hop character resides. Nice example of a 6% winter warmer.
• He’Brew (Schmaltz Brewing) has released a most unique beer item this year. They re-created all of their Jewbwlation series beers and stocked them all into one package. Years 8-14 are represented in 12oz bottles. Alongside these beers is a single bottle of ALL the beers that have been blended and then aged in Sarazac Rye whiskey barrels. Then to top it all off, they added an empty capped bottle to act as a Shamash…. Chanukah candles and a nice tasting glass are also included. This is truly a cool package. These are limited so don’t hesitate!
• Woodchuck Winter also fell off the truck. This is a hard cider that was aged in French and American oak. Nicely balanced sweet to woody character, this may be the best of their seasonals.
• Tommy Knocker Cocoa Porter is here. This cocoa porter has notes of honey, cacao bean and caramel. At 5.7% abv, this is an easy drinker.
• Tommy Knocker has also released a new beer. It is called Hop Strike. It is a blacke, rye IPA and is wonderful.  This was interesting at first sip. Smelling of an IPA but looking of a German Schwarz beer. Dark brown of color and then POW! Citrusy American hops that hang to the back of the tongue very nicely. What, is there a hint of chocolate, wait, no it must be the rye. No, I thinks its both!! Excellent beer. Very well made.
• New Belgium’s 2 Below has arrived. This falls into the ESB category. Toasted malts along side a nice hop kick make this an easy drinker. But beware, the 6.6% ABV might sneak up and reveal itself a few beers in.
• Boulevard has released 2 beers this week.First off is another traditional seasonal, Nut Cracker.  This is a prototypical winter warmer. Hoppy, spicy and malty. Again the 6.6% ABV is hidden nicely and could ground you if not respected. Very well made beer from a very well handled brewery!
• Second is their 21^st Anniversary beer. They have stuck to what they know best and that is a very quality beer! Hops dominate this beer but not extremely so. Citrusy, piney and maybe a caramel sweetness for the nose. This may smell like a hop bomb but it does not fatigue the palate as the aromas may imply. Quality brewery=Quality Beer!!
• Avery Old Jubilation makes it return. Sweet maltiness, caramel, hazelnut and toffee are in que here. This is a great beer! Avery doesn’t mess around with this one as it rolls in at 8%ABV!
• Sam Adams Winter Lager is here as well. This beer falls into a very small category of Wheat Bock. Not Weizenbock as this is an ale.....
  Winter Lager screams winter. Very muted background of cinnamon and ginger. (Nothing overpowering on the spice note.) Burnt caramel and maybe a touch roast. Nicely bready and excellent body make this a great seasonal!!
• Breckenridge Christmas Ale takes its turn as well. Like a few previous beers, this has a hop character that dominates. Darker in color at the pour with a bit more burntness from the darker grains. Another quality beer form one of Americas older craft breweries…
• Lastly, we have received a beer for the Stella Artois lovers out there. A cork and caged 750ml bottle of said beer! At $4.99 a bottle these won’t last long and are a great way to get those BMC drinkers off their duffs and drinking craft beers. (Bud, Miller, Coors…BMC) 

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