Cracking open a bottle that has been cellared always gets a bit nerve wracking -- did it survive its journey? Did it resist the temptations of heat and light?

It’s been over a year since Bull and Bush’s Barrel Aged Old Ale was bottled. We followed all the steps outlined in our article on beer storage, and the wait appears to have cultivated a bit of extra magic in the bottle.

May the fourth be Wit you.

And yes, the fourth of May is Star Wars day. We honor it by nominating Black is the new Wit as a Dark Force (8.2 % ABV) that packs plenty of interesting flavor.

A collaboration by Spike Buckowski of Terrapin and Peter Bouckaert of New Belgium, this wood-aged witbier is made with Midnight Wheat and sassafras in addition to coriander and curaçao. There’s a touch of rye on the malt bill and Sorachi Ace among the hops.

In ancient Athens, Greece Athena was the goddess of reason, wisdom, the arts and all intelligent pursuits. She was the deity to whom some of the greatest thinkers of all time pledged their allegiance.

In modern-day Athens, Georgia Athena has once again inspired a great work of art, the Athena Berliner Weisse by Creature Comforts Brewing Company.

Firmenich, a world leader in flavor and perfume research, named honey as the 2015 flavor of the year. “Honey’s popularity has seen consistent growth over recent years as consumers gravitate towards food and beverage products which are considered artisanal and crafted, or locally sourced,” said a press release.

The last time I wrote the words “ginger spice”, the year was 1997, and the words were capitalized. 

Spiceworld had just dropped, and my Adam’s apple was soon to follow.

Today, I’ve reclaimed that fleeting feeling of profound discovery with Left Hand Brewing’s Great Juju, a ginger-spiced pale ale, and the Imperial next-of-kin to their Good Juju. 

I could go on, but it would suffice to say that this beer is no “Wannabe.”

-Jim Dykstra