8 Wichita Breweries To Visit For Seasonal Beers

Press release from Visit Wichita:

Posted: Dec. 07, 2020

The Wichita brewery scene features an always-fresh lineup of stellar selections. Our local brewers are rolling out inventive – and tasty – seasonal offerings in addition to the mainstays that regulars have come to expect. Here’s a flight of holiday beers to try this season at Wichita’s breweries.

Hopping Gnome Brewing Company

Hopping Gnome is featuring three holiday beers throughout the month of December, as well as their monthly Test Batch Tuesday event. All of their seasonal brews, excluding the test batch, are available in the taproom or to-go.

On Dec. 15, Frank’s Oatmeal Cookie Stout will be available. This oatmeal stout is named after the owners’ dog Frank. He’s easy-going, which is what you want in both a dog and dark beer. Brewed with two row barley, flaked oatmeal, caramel malts, midnight wheat and peanut butter oatmeal cookie flavors, it's easy to love – just like Frank. The next day on Dec. 16, the brewery’s award-winning Sepia Amber, Cinnagnome, will make its return. It’s brewed with cinnamon and aged in rum barrels for six months.

December’s test batch, a special limited-edition flavor, will be Peach Vanilla Winter Wheat. It’s the brewery’s favorite Winter Wheat seasonal with peach and vanilla added. You can get it to-go in 32-ounce crowlers, for one day only – Dec. 22. Online ordering starts at noon and quantities are limited.

Bocce Barleywine will be tapping on Dec 23rd as a part of Festivus. In leui of a big event, this year the brewery will be tapping this limited release beer and offering it in 12-ounce cans to-go. This 2018 American Barleywine is brewed with six different grains for a smooth caramel taste and is hopped with Northern Brewer and Centennial, and aged in bourbon barrels.

Holiday shopping tip: Gnome beer and Gnome swag can be purchased online.

River City Brewing Co.

River City Brewing has many seasonal beers on tap, and they are releasing them throughout the month of December. Follow along on their Facebook page as they showcase a flavor each day leading up to Christmas.

In lieu of their annal Grinch event, the brewery is also offering “Grinch” bottles all month. RCBC’s The Grinch is a Barley Wine they have featured at their annual event for years. They have 2015-2019 vintages available and you can order right from their website and pick up your order curbside. Just give them a call when you arrive, and they’ll bring them right to your car!

Wichita Brewing Co & Pizzeria

Wichita Brewing Co. (east and west) not only serves up wood-fire pizzas and more, but they also have a multitude of seasonal beers coming out in December. In addition to their winter seasonal release Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat, which is on tap now and available throughout December, they have several other seasonal flavors coming soon.

Their Apple Cider Sour is a sour ale made with apple cider from Stephan Orchards. Jamaican Me Crazy Imperial Coffee Stout is brewed with coffee beans purchased from The Spice Merchant. Chocolate Raspberry Imperial Coffee Stout is made with chocolate raspberry coffee beans purchased from The Spice Merchant. Plus, they’ll be releasing Catherine the III Russian Imperial Stout again, and have added coco nibs to this popular brew this year.

Central Standard Brewing

If winter has you thinking of warming up by a fire, then you’ll want to pick up one of the brews at Central Standard Brewing and settle in and enjoy the flavors of the season. Try their Primitive Contact, a Wild Ale made with pumpkin and squash. CSB says it’s not your average pumpkin ale and no "pumpkin spice" was used - only raw pumpkin and squash.

Get these delicious flavors in-house or in 4-packs of beer to go through their website.

Holiday shopping tip: Beer and merchandise can be purchased online.

Third Place Brewing

The crew at Third Place infused their Berliner Weisse with cranberries for a tasty seasonal brew. Their Black Lager and Harvest Hazy Rye IPA are also seasonal favorites.

Nortons Brewing Co.

Nortons is ready for the holiday season with five seasonal brews that will be available in December. Already on tap is Sho’Nuff, an American Brown Ale, and Heathen Tendencies, a pumpkin cheesecake Imperial Gose.

Later in December, Micro-Doser will make its debut. It’s a Lemon Meringue Pie Imperial Gose made with graham cracker, Meyer lemons, milk, sugar and Tahitian vanilla bean.

On Christmas Eve, the tradition will continue and they will celebrate their annual release of Gryla and The Yule Cat. Gryla is a Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate Bomb Imperial Stout. Yule Cat is a Norwegian Raw Ale brewed with spruce tips and blueberries.

Holiday shopping tip: Get beer and gift cards online.

PourHouse by Walnut River Brewing Company

Warm up this winter with Walnut River Brewing Company’s seasonal flavors. If you’re looking for a dark brew, roasted with smooth coffee, the Coffee Porter is calling your name. Other flavors that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit include the Maple Pecan, Oktoberfest and Jens Zen.

Maple Pecan is brewed with molasses, cinnamon and natural maple pecan extracts for a malty, slightly sweet finish. Those looking for more of a dry finish but also malty and sweet, try the Oktoberfest. If sour, bright and tart are your preference, then Jens Zen – brewed with apricot and cherry flavors – should be on your must-try list.

Augustino Brewing Company

Augustino has 12 beers on tap, including their year-round beers and several special offerings. Look for Udder Darkness Imperial Black Ale, brewed with chocolate, cinnamon, caramel and milk sugar. It’s a rich and warm dark ale perfect for cold winter evenings. Plus, this delicious winter brew is available in 16-ounce cans you can pick and take with you on the go.

Andy's Winter Spiced HolidALE was created by the brewery’s newest assistant and award-winning brewer in his own right, Andy McHenry. His first solo beer is a deep brown ale is brewed with ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, all spice … and everything nice.

One of the brewery’s long-time fans lost his father, who was also an Augustino supporter, suddenly earlier this year. The brewery brewed a special American lager in his honor, "The Hammer" Legacy Lager. Ten percent of proceeds from this beer are donated to The American Heart Association in his memory.

Holiday shopping tip: You can also purchase gift cards online.

This press release was produced by Visit Wichita. The views expressed here are the author’s own.