Retail Beer Releases (Week of 9/27)

In addition to the two great seasonals in my last post, several other craft beers have been released this week in Denver.  The biggest name of the bunch is the 2008 version of Alaskan Brewing's Smoked Porter.  It's obviously been out for awhile, but liquor stores in the area must have just gotten another shipment.  If you haven't had this beer before, do yourself a favor and go get it now.  It's the porter that started the smoked beer trend in America way back in 1988, and if you were at GABF last week you know just how popular smoked beers are now.  Even with so many other options on the market now, Alaskan's is still the smokiest and tastiest I've had and well worth tracking down.

From Alaskan Brewing:

The dark, robust body and pronounced smoky flavor of this limited edition beer make it an adventuresome taste experience. Alaskan Smoked Porter is produced in limited "vintages" each year and unlike most beers, may be aged in the bottle much like fine wine.

Also be on the lookout for these new releases:

• Alaskan Baltic Porter (Rate Beer)
• Grand Teton Lost Continent (Rate Beer)
• Deschutes Hop Trip (Rate Beer)
• Four+ Brewing Punk'n (Beer Advocate)
• New Belgium Hoptober (Rate Beer)