Five beers to know this week featuring zombies, dragons, devils and pumpkin pie

You only get so many chances in life for a fresh start, and buying a new fridge is one of those times. Do pickles get grouped with condiments? Does that jar of sauerkraut I used a power drill to open because it was fucking impossible to twist off go in the main section or on the door? The only thing I knew for sure: Beer bottles go in the large, main middle section, with cans on the smaller shelf above it. This has always been true and shall forever remain true, but these fridge shelves only measure five beers deep. Which means the sixth beer of a six pack starts a new line. Which means the next six-pack will only get four spots, with two going to the next row. And so on and so on until  society descends into a Purge-like madness where we kill each other to make more room for our odd number of beers. To save humanity, should I abandon the original idea and stick all of the beers on the door shelves and move the condiments to the main section? That sounds like even more chaos. Can I become a beer-on-the-fridge-door guy at this age? Luckily, five beers to know fits neatly every time. Remember, if you have any beer news or a larger fridge, send it along to [email protected].

Angel City sides with the devil in Number of the Yeast

An all-time great beer name, Number of The Yeast, returns on tap and in limited edition 16-oz cans on Sept. 28 at Angel City Brewery. Brewed with black malt and fermented at 66.6º F to hit 6.66 percent ABV and 66.6 IBU, Number of the Yeast is a hauntingly dark ale with a devilishly bitter bite. The blackened IPA is housed in creepy, cool cans featuring artwork by local surrealist artist, Parker Winans, from Art Share L.A.

Parker’s unique portraits found their way onto Angel City Brewery’s newest can release with the assistance of Art Share L.A., longtime partner and neighbor of the brewery. Art Share L.A. provides a creative environment for artists to reside, perform, exhibit and develop relationships within the Los Angeles art community. In October, Winans’ art will be on display and available for purchase in Art Share L.A.’s rotating gallery series at Angel City Brewery.

“When I received word that the images I submitted to Angel City Brewery would be used for the Number of the Yeast label, I jumped for joy! The blackened IPA is a perfect match for my art. I am very grateful for this opportunity and to Katie of Art Share LA who connected me with Angel City Brewery,” said Parker Winans.

Lone Tree Brewing’s amazing Imperial Red IPA is almost out

Lone Tree Brewing Co. sent us a warning about the annual outbreak of their award-winning Imperial Red IPA, Hop Zombie. Seek shelter at Lone Tree Brewing Co., Sept. 29, and arm yourselves with bombers of this 2017 GABF Silver Medal-winning brew. Now in its fifth year, this highly anticipated annual release will be available in a limited amount of bombers and on draft, September 29. Following Hop Zombie’s 2017 win at the Great American Beer Festival, the 2018 bombers will sport a brand new label in succession with the brewery’s 2017 rebrand. The new label art, designed by Anthem Branding, features a zombie infested mountain scene with a reimagined “hop zombie” and a coffin shaped barcode. It is the last of Lone Tree’s products to take on the refreshed look and feel.

Bottles of Hop Zombie will be available exclusively at the brewery on Saturday, Sep. 29, beginning at 11 a.m. In past years, Hop Zombie Day has seen a line of customers in advance. The 22-oz bombers cannot be reserved in advance and typically sell out in one day.

Spoetzl collaborates with Texas distiller on Spoetzl Märzen

Spoetzl Brewery, the iconic 109-year-old Texas craft brewery, released a new limited-edition craft brew, Spoetzl Märzen, in collaboration with Balcones Distilling. The two Texas icons, who share a passion for supreme craftsmanship and appreciation for things done well, have come together to introduce a high-quality craft beer matured in ex-Balcones single malt barrels and made in the heart of Texas.

Using imported Munich malt, Spoetzl Märzen is hopped with prized Hallertau and Hersbrucker varietals and krausened twice to round out the lightly toasted, spicy malt flavors. The brew then rests in barrels that formerly housed the award-winning single malt whisky, resulting in a bold, full-bodied brew. The coppery-orange hued, hop-forward brew has notes of caramel and oak from the whisky-imbued barrels, offering a smooth, lingering finish that adds depth and character. With an ABV of 11 percent and 32 IBU, Spoetzl Märzen is a vibrant yet well-balanced lager perfect for any fall occasion.

“For 109 years, Spoetzl Brewery has delivered best-in-class craft beer. We are excited to get back to our roots with the second release of our small batch brewing program. Barrel-aging is wildly popular from beer to coffee, not to mention the original way to make a Märzen-style lager. For this reason, it was great to work with our friends over at Balcones Distilling, the most awarded Texas whisky, as the tannins from whisky-soaked barrels naturally increase the clarity of the beer while also imparting a unique roundness and incredible color to the beer,” said Tom Fiorenzi, director of brewing at Spoetzl Brewery.

Braxton Brewing teams with Graeter’s Ice Cream for Pumpkin Pie Ale

Braxton Brewing Co., a Cincinnati-area brewing company, and Graeter’s Ice Cream, a 148-year-old, family-owned craft ice cream company also based in Cincy, will launch a seasonal Pumpkin Pie Ale in celebration of fall. This Braxton Brewing Co. flavor will bring beer drinkers an adult-friendly beverage that rings in the fall season with rich, warm notes of pumpkin reminiscent of Graeter’s classic seasonal Pumpkin Ice Cream. The brew will be available in area Kroger stores, as well as restaurants and bars, beginning Sept. 17. Meanwhile, a special tapping party will offer the Pumpkin Pie Ale on tap at Braxton Brewing’s Covington Taproom Friday, Sept. 14, highlighted by unique events for taproom guests that Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

New Holland gets banana-coconutty with an old favorite

Seventeen years after introducing its legendary Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout to fans around the country, New Holland Brewing Co., based in Holland, Mich., is introducing a dramatic new look for their flagship recipe. To celebrate the rebrand, the company is also releasing a never-before tasted brew: Dragon’s Milk Reserve — Banana Coconut.

Recognized for creativity and artistry, New Holland’s Dragon’s Milk stout exemplifies the brewery’s commitment to craftmanship. The stout boasts flavorful, rich, robust characteristics that lend themselves to unique seasonal flavor combinations. The updated packaging, retail elements and branded merchandise will shift to a premium all-black base, allowing the hallmark dragon emblem to serve as the visual focus in place of the brewery’s own logo. Gradient dragon scales provide a nod to the stout’s name while mimicking the way foam dissipates in the glass when poured.