Going with the flow

In case you haven’t been keeping track, the floodgates have opened for new local beer releases this week.

After a fairly dry spell over the past few weeks, at least seven new offerings have arrived at area breweries since Tuesday, with two being tapped this afternoon.

River City is issuing a new version of its occasional, sessionable Afternoon IPA (4.9 percent alcohol by volume, 65 International Bitterness Units), now hopped with Amarillo, Equinox and Centennial for aromas and flavors of citrus and tropical fruits, pine and earthy green pepper.

And in Cheney, increasingly busy New Boundary Brewing is releasing a Red Rover Ale (5.5, 19), a malt-forward Irish red with strong toffee notes. That follows a seasonal Orange Creamsicle Blonde last weekend and year-round Horizon IPA the week before (both still on tap).

Among this week’s previous new releases:

– Twelve String’s Harmonic Hefeweizen (5.1, 14) is a straightforward interpretation of the classic unfiltered German style, with orange, citrusy notes from the Cascade hops and Bavarian yeast, the latter of which also adds subtle banana and clove notes. It’s served with a slice of lemon on request.

A darker dunkelweizen version will follow in a couple of weeks, and later a Bavarian IPA made with the same yeast (you may remember both of those from last summer).

– The golden-hued, fruity Double IPA (9.5, 95) at Perry Street is deceptively smooth for its strength, with a hoppy punch from Citra, Equinox, Centennial and Cascade. Also keep an eye out for the imminent return of the delicate Biere de Garde.

– Newly opened Bennidito’s Brewpub has followed its initial Deviant IPA with what will be its standard Tin Roof IPA (6, 72). The caramel malt body has been lightened a bit to bring out the pronounced hop character, while a combination of Summit, Columbus, Zythos and Willamette delivering some vegetal, herbal character along with citrus, pine and spice.

Look for an Irish stout there next week, with single-hop El Dorado and Zythos pales also on the way.

– Slate Creek in Coeur d’Alene is getting in the summer spirit with a Camp Chair Summer Ale session IPA (4.9, 42), as well as the return of the light Belgian-style Single Track.

You’ll also find a new Cherry Kolsch at Big Barn on Green Bluff,  joining the Strawberry Blonde and Raspberry Wit (a Blackberry Porter is on the way), all brewed with farm-fresh fruit; an Apricot Session IPA at MickDuff’s in Sandpoint; and the return of the big, limited Devil Dog imperial IPA at nearby Laughing Dog.      

And Waddell’s is coming out with its summer seasonal Killer Kolsch next week, with a release party on Wednesday at JJ’s.