Home(town) brews

Central Arkansas’ growing quaffers’ market is now up to six brewpubs, each with its own character, and more are on tap

Lost Forty Brewing offers craft brews and Southern-inspired food at its downtown Little Rock brewery and taproom.
Lost Forty Brewing offers craft brews and Southern-inspired food at its downtown Little Rock brewery and taproom.

It wasn't too long ago that sipping locally brewed suds on a Friday night wasn't so simple -- or popular. Just five years ago, there were only two locally owned brewpubs in Little Rock. Now, the field has expanded to six brewery taprooms and brewpubs in Little Rock and North Little Rock, with a handful more on the way in the next year.

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Marisa Nelson and Alex Handfinger taste and then discuss the samples of various local craft brews at Diamond Bear Brewing Co., a popular destination for craft beer drinkers since opening in 2000.

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Metro area breweries such as Lost Forty Brewing offer growlers of beer to go.

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Brewer and owner Patrick Cowan pours a pint at Blue Canoe Brewing Co. in downtown Little Rock.

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Diamond Bear Brewing Co. moved into an expanded North Little Rock location in 2014.

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A canoeing theme fills Blue Canoe Brewing Co. in downtown Little Rock.

With more options in local beer comes more variety in amenities. Want a place to grab a beer and bring the whole family? Diamond Bear Brewery and Damgoode Pies' River Market brewpub see no shortage of tots taking a seat (though not a bar stool) with parents in tow. And then there's the

excellent outdoor seating at Vino's and Stone's Throw. Need space for a group who are all craving cheese dip? There's a brewery for that (Lost Forty), and another for those who prefer close quarters and small batch brews (Blue Canoe).

But for all their differences, Little Rock's booming breweries have two things in common: Beer and crowds. Stop by any of the local breweries on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon and you're sure to be jockeying for a table or room at the bar. At least the brews are worth the wait. Can't battle the line? All of these local breweries offer growlers of their brews to go, along with some bottled and canned varieties -- yes, even on Sundays.

For those who need help deciding, here's a peek at what each brewery in the metro area has to offer:

Blue Canoe Brewing Co.

425 E. Third St., (501) 492-9378, 5-9 p.m. Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday.

A Little History: This Kickstarter-funded nanobrewery is the product of home brewers Laura Berryhill and Patrick and Ida Cowan. Opened in late 2014, the canoe-themed spot ranks as the smallest brewery in Little Rock.

The Space: Squeeze into the small River Market District storefront and you'll have the choice between a seat at the bar or a handful of tables in front of open windows overlooking Third Street. The canoe theme is everywhere, from paddle decor to life jackets.

Who's Here: Downtown dwellers, weekday happy hour revelers, canoe enthusiasts, Arkansas State University fans in search of the Wolf Trail Ale

The Eats: This tiny brewery currently offers only liquid nutrition. Those in search of something more solid are welcome to bring food in from one of the nearby eateries.

The Main Event: A smaller brew space means oft-rotating beer selections. Recent additions have included the small-batch honeysuckle-infused Pinnacle Mountain Wit and a barrel-aged Honey Hole Maibock. Among its more standard fare are the Razorback RyePA, Wolf Trail Irish red ale, The Whittler milk stout and the 4x4 Pale Ale. If you're headed to the river after your visit, be sure to request a plastic growler and buy some beer to go.

Facebook.com/BlueCanoeBrew

Damgoode Pies Brewpub

500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 105, (501) 664-2239, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

A Little History: Damgoode is new to the local brewing scene, but not to pizza. The local pizza chain took over the former Boscos Brewing Co. location in the River Market District, opening the new brewpub early this year.

The Space: Those who remember Boscos will find the Damgoode brewpub very familiar. Ample seating inside means it's good for groups, while craft beer fans might prefer a seat at the main bar, where you can chat with bartenders and take a peek inside the glass-walled brewing area. But the best seats on a sunny day are out on the patio, which boasts a stunning view of the Arkansas River.

Who's Here: Arkansas River gazers, pizza fanatics, Boscos leftovers, fans of local brewer Josiah Moody

The Eats: Damgoode's pizza is a squarely American version, with a not-too-thick crust and the toppings piled high. Appetizers such as meatballs and cheese bread are here, too, along with a few salads, sandwiches and pasta to round out the menu.

The Main Event: Damgoode's brews come courtesy of Josh Quattlebaum, who worked at the facility when it was Boscos. The brewery churns out a good hefeweizen -- called the El Hefe -- along with a handful of other house brews. Josiah Moody, the man behind Moody Brews, is also brewing out of Damgoode's space. If the Aria's Bier -- a saison with orange and hibiscus -- is on tap, be sure to try one.

Damgoodepies.com

Diamond Bear Brewing Co.

600 N. Broadway in North Little Rock, (501) 708-2739, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, taproom open until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

A Little History: Diamond Bear takes the title of longest-standing production brewery in central Arkansas. The brand, owned by Russ Melton, started producing suds in 2000, well before Arkansas' current craft beer boom.

The Space: The brewery left behind its small downtown Little Rock brewery in 2014 for more expansive digs in North Little Rock. It now features a production facility and taproom complete with an awning-shaded outdoor patio. The taproom, known as Arkansas Ale House, has seating for 75 at tables, or a handful of drinkers at the bar. Televisions near the bar mean you can keep an eye on the game, and a relaxed look with plain wooden tables means you're fine in just a T-shirt and jeans.

Who's Here: Silver-haired craft beer sippers, the pre-baseball crowd, dog-toting patio-sitters, Argenta residents

The Eats: Diamond Bear's great grub list is a bit of a sports bar meets German-beer-garden mashup with wings, fried cheese curds and hearty steak sandwiches sharing space with brats and soft pretzels with spicy mustard. A vegetable sandwich piled with grilled zucchini, caramelized onion, tomato, goat cheese and a salty olive tapenade on sourdough is a nice option for vegetarian beer geeks.

The Main Event: Start with a pint of the Pale Ale, Diamond Bear's longest-running brew. The light, crisp beer has a nice balance between malty sweetness and the bitter taste of hops and is perfect for warm weather patio sipping. Along with the Pale Ale, Diamond Bear produces five other year-round beers: the Southern Blonde, Presidential IPA, Two Term Imperial IPA, Paradise Porter and Dogtown Brown. Local beer geeks praise the brewery's dark, coffee-and-caramel-rich porter as one of the best around. Can't decide? Ask for a flight to try one of each.

Diamondbear.com

Lost Forty Brewing

501 Byrd St., (501) 319-7275, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

A Little History: Lost Forty Brewing arrived in Little Rock in late 2014 via Yellow Rocket Concepts, the restaurant team behind Local Lime, Big Orange and Heights Taco & Tamale Co. With veteran brewer Omar Castrellon at the helm, the brewery has pulled in big crowds.

The Space: The Byrd Street facility serves as brewery, taproom and offices for Yellow Rocket. The taproom itself feels more warehouse than restaurant, with communal seating dominating the center of the one-room dining space. Concrete floors and iron pipe shelving behind the bar add to the industrial feel, as do the large windows overlooking the production area adjacent to the taproom. Two flat-screen televisions are typically tuned to the sporting event du jour, but even on nongame nights Lost Forty can get get crowded quickly.

Who's Here: Foodie bloggers, craft beer freshmen, an occasional napping baby, everyone who works with Yellow Rocket

The Eats: Lost Forty's food menu offers more communal dishes, like a bacon-studded cheese dip served in a small cast iron skillet and a plate of molasses bread made with spent beer grain, served with dill- and honey-flavored butters. Also on the menu are a few heartier entrees such as brisket, and weekend brunch specials.

The Main Event: Mondays mean pilot batch releases at this young brewery, so stop by after work if you want to try something experimental like a lemongrass and Thai lime pilsner or strawberry rhubarb honey bock. On any other day, you'll be able to sample one of the Lost Forty core brews, including the Bare Bones Pilsner, Love Honey Bock, Forest King American Stout and its Pale Ale. The honey bock has been a fan favorite for its uniquely sweet, smooth taste.

Facebook.com/Lost40Beer

Stone's Throw Brewing

402 E. Ninth St., (501) 244-9154, 4-9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 4-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.

A Little History: Stone's Throw is the brick and mortar result of a group of home brewers looking to bring its beers to the masses. The brewery opened in 2013 and has since expanded production and seating at its corner space, which is one of the smaller breweries in town.

The Space: The taproom here is tiny, and seats can go quickly on weekends. In addition to a few tables and a few bar stools inside, the brewery recently added a beer garden complete with wooden picnic tables for alfresco sipping. Back inside, board games and magazines are available if you want to kill time with something other than talking.

Who's Here: Kickballers, neighborhood residents, Cards Against Humanity pros, food truck devotees

The Eats: While the servers behind the bar can supply you with a cheese plate or ice cream from Loblolly Creamery, customers are more likely to be seen noshing on dishes from rotating food trucks -- such as Southern Gourmasian, The Clean Eatery, Waffle Wagon or BlackHound Bar-B-Q -- that are often found parked outside.

The Main Event: As one of the smaller-capacity breweries in town, Stone's Throw tends to rotate beers fairly often, so don't be surprised if the draft list differs from what you may have seen on the website. A few you can count on: the Shamus Stout, an oatmeal stout with plenty of coffee flavor, and the Petit Jean Pear, a lightly sweet cider that is an option for the gluten-free set. On Saturdays at 4 p.m., stop by to try a one-day-only infused beer creation like cream ale with chocolate and mint or a Scotch ale with rosemary.

Stonesthrowbeer.com

Vino's Brewpub

923 W. Seventh St., (501) 375-8466, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday.

A Little History: Vino's is a pioneer in craft beer in Arkansas. The pizza spot started brewing in 1993, making it one of the first in the Natural State and the longest-running brewpub in Little Rock.

The Space: Vino's is a dive of the friendliest sort. It's a little rough around the edges, but full of local art for sale and beer memorabilia. To get to the expansive back patio, you'll have to wind through empty kegs and sacks of grain. Dozens of tables in three separate dining spaces mean plenty of options for big groups. Keep an eye on the brewpub's website, vinosbrewpub.com, for an updated calendar of events, such as concerts and vintage movie screenings shown in the large back room.

Who'sHere: Vintage horror movie buffs, families, weekend day drinkers, fans of a good patio

The Eats: Thin crust, oversize slices are what you'll see hitting most tables, but the restaurant serves up a few sandwiches, calzones and salads as well.

The Main Event: The main lineup of Vino's brews rarely wavers, so it's easy to find a favorite. Try the light 6 Bridges Cream Ale or slightly fruit-forward Firehouse Pale Ale by the pitcher for a group, or snag a pint of its Rainbow Wheat for solo sipping on the patio.

vinosbrewpub.com

Style on 07/07/2015

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