Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

A very cherry Christmas

Rick Bonino

No-Li Brewhouse is offering a limited pre-release of its latest bottled barrel-aged beer just in time for some late gift shopping.

Fifteen cases of Van Lambert Sour Cherry Ale will be available for purchase at the pub starting Saturday at 11 a.m., at $14.99 per 22-ounce bottle (which happens to fit nicely into the standard stocking); there’s a four-bottle limit per person. The remaining 185 cases (50 designated for Eastern Washington) won’t roll out until Jan. 6.

It’s the second barrel-aged beer that No-Li has put in waxed-dipped, signed and numbered bottles, following Blackfill Imperial Stout (whiskey-barrel Wrecking Ball) in August.

Van Lambert began with the Sour Cherry (10.1 percent alcohol by volume) that was brewed for September’s Inland NW Craft Beer Festival, using cherries from Green Bluff – both Van and Lambert varieties (hence the name) – along with Mosaic and El Dorado hops, and soured in the kettle with lactobacillus. 

That was aged in Townshend Cellar sangiovese, merlot and cabernet barrels, then blended to produce the finished beer.

For everyday drinking, No-Li recently released a lightly tart (but not soured) Mosh Pit, made with cherry and cranberry purees, in 12-ounce bottles and draft.

Sweet seasonal stouts: While you’re in the No-Li neighborhood Saturday, head to nearby Budge Brothers for the release of the annual Thirteenth Reindeer Egg Nog Stout, brewed with milk sugar and holiday spices. The party from 4 to 9 p.m. will include giveaways, beer specials and an ugly sweater contest.

Trickster's in Coeur d’Alene is releasing its Naughty Nick – a “chocolate chip cookie” oatmeal stout with cocoa powder, vanilla, cinnamon and brown sugar – Saturday at 2 p.m., with pint and growler discounts. Don’t dally if you intend to get some; last year’s batch sold out in three days, though there’s twice as much this time around.   

And Downdraft in Post Falls on Saturday is tapping a 5-gallon batch of an experimental spiced Gingerbread Stout (pints only), served with a complimentary cookie while supplies last.