Barrel aged brews, wide variety of hops hit Bay Area taprooms

SAN FRANCISCO — Barrel aged brews are making an appearance along with the always popular IPAs. With a variety of hop flavors along with some vanilla and coffee beans, this brew list is sure to warm you up.

San Francisco

ThirstyBear Organic Brewery — This brewery has three new beers out this week, the first, Costal IPA and it was dedicated to Beers Made by Walking. This brew was made with Coyote mint, Yerba Buena, and Hummingbird Sage hops.

The Second new brew is called Stave Series no 17 and it was aging for seven months in a “Straight Rye Whiskey barrel,” according to their Facebook page.

Lastly, is Tolstoy’s Inkwell and it was described as “a classic strong imperial stout” on their Facebook page. It was made with roasted barley and crystal malt and ending with a classic British hop.

Local Brewing Company — This brewery’s new brew this week is an aged beer. Winter Sweater Imperial Porter has been aging for a year in a Bluxome Street Winery barrel. This sour brew was made with Madagascar vanilla beans and graham crackers and then put into the barrel to age.

Social Kitchen and Brewery — The Smell is the newly tapped brew at this brewery. Made with dry hopped x331, and gives off flavors of guava and tangerine to pair with the mosaic and Citra hops.

North Bay

Fogbelt Brewing Company — This brewery has a new stout called Federation Giant Imperial Irish Coffee Stout. This coffee made brew was aged 50 percent in a whiskey barrel.

South Bay

Peter B’s Brewpub — Orange Desert is the nickname for this brewpub’s new 40 Acre Pale Ale. This brew was made with orange peel and Huell Melon hops. At 5.9 percent alcohol and an IBU of 30 this brew is full of flavor.

East Bay

Faction Brewing — NZ IIPA is one of two new beers at Faction, made with Rakau and Nelson Waimea hops. This brew has a fairly high alcohol content coming in at 8.5 percent.

The next new beer to their menu is called BLITZEN IIIPA made with El Dorado, Au-Summer, and Amarillo hops. This brew has an even higher alcohol content than the previous at 10.5 percent.