Bonfire of the Valkyries arrives on Tuesday, February 26, at NABC's two New Albany locations.

The annual seasonal release of NABC's Bonfire of the Valkyries is Tuesday, February 26, when it will be on tap at Bank Street Brewhouse and the Pizzeria & Public House. As with Solidarity Baltic Porter before it, 22-oz bomber availability for Bonfire in 2013 will be limited to the two NABC locations. A small amount of draft probably will be available for outside accounts.

Bonfire of the Valkyries
Imperial Smoked Black Lager
ABV: 8% … IBU: 10

Color: Dark brown/black.

Flavor: Full bodied, with strong, clean dark lager malt character and ample smokiness.

Compare to: Bonfire is an utterly unique Imperial Smoked Black Lager, but it compares with Smoked Porters from Alaskan, Stone, etc.

NABC Winter Release Party at Flanagan's, December 13.

I've often written in this space that I have great personal admiration for what the O'Sheas have done with their family of pubs in Louisville, including O'Shea's, Flanagan's and Brendan's, and soon to include a fourth ooutpost downtown on Market Street. As such, I'm delighted that we'll be staging a special event with them.

Stay tuned for details, but for now, know that the New Albanian Brewing Company will be on hand at Flanagan's Ale House (934 Baxter Avenue in the Highlands ) for a Winter Release Party on Saturday, December 13, from 2:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

The party will take place in the Red Room (nice touch, guys) at Flanagan's. The main attraction will be the tapping of the only kegs of Naughty Claus and Bonfire of the Valkyries that will appear in Louisville in 2008, but there'll also be other NABC beers on tap as well as live music.

Press release: NABC seasonals queuing for December and January.

Two cherished New Albanian Brewing Company seasonal brews make their appearance each year in December, and a third is released in January. All three are ideal for chilly winter weather.

Timed to help kick off NABC’s month-long, annual Saturnalia Winter Solstice draft extravaganza, Bonfire of the Valkyries and Naughty Claus both will hit the brewpub’s taps on December 12.

Bonfire of the Valkyries (circa 6.5% abv) is a hybrid Schwarzbier (black lager) and Rauchbier (smoked lager). Weyermann malt from Bamberg lends a gentle, not excessive, smokiness. It’s magic fire mood music for Saturnalia.

Brewers Jesse Williams and Jared Williamson look forward to slightly tweaking each year’s Naughty Claus (7.5% abv), a holiday-spiced winter warmer featuring four malts, molasses, dark brown sugar, orange peel, cinnamon sticks and a few Saaz hops out of habit, if nothing else. Caroling is optional.

The bulk of the molasses purchased to make Naughty Claus goes into Old Lightning Rod, NABC’s Colonial-era strong ale, which is released every year on January 17 as homage to Benjamin Franklin.

It is hoped that the 2009 unveiling of Old Lightning Rod will take place at NABC’s second, expanded brew house in downtown New Albany, although it will be available at the original Grant Line Road location, too. Call 812-949-2804 for details, or visit www.newalbanian.com.