A number of new beers have come to the area since my last column. Whether you like IPAs, dark stouts and porters or fruited sours, there is sure to be something for you. I’ve even noted where I found the beer. Please keep in mind that some beers might be out of stock due to seasonability and demand. Cheers!

King Julius/Tree House Brewing, 8.2% ABV
This was purchased at the only place you can presently buy this brand – at the brewery at 160 East Hill Road in Monson. I did something I hardly ever do; I waited in line for about an hour for this beer. It was so worth it. This is similar to the flagship beer, Julius. It differs in that it is Julius-er. I have waxed poetically about Julius’s light citrus explosion with hints of tropical fruit. King Julius tastes just like you took an orange straight from the bag and took a bite out of it without peeling it. I picked up a serious orange influence from the hops, along with some mango and other tropical fruits, with a slight hint of pine. I want to use the term “best ever,” but I hesitate, knowing Tree House will outdo itself soon. This beer has only been brewed twice, but hopefully, The King will be a regular in the company’s world-class lineup.

Death By Coconut/Oskar Blues, 6.5% ABV
This offering from Oskar Blues was enjoyed at the Dive Bar, 34 Green St., Worcester. It is an English porter brewed with both dark chocolate and dark caramel malt, and somewhere in there is either coconut or coconut flavor. It poured from a can into a glass a pitch black. No light shined through. The aroma was exclusively coconut. I expected it to have a thick mouthfeel, but it was much thinner and drinkable than I expected. It wasn’t as sweet as I expected, which is not a bad thing at all. Death By Coconut is as advertised: a well-balanced porter with nuances of chocolate and coconut. This is a limited-release winter beer, so get it while you can.

Cranberry Sour/Jack’s Abby Brewing, 7.2% ABV
I picked up a bottle directly from the brewery at 100 Clinton St., Framingham. This is one of the most complex beers I have enjoyed in some time. It poured into the glass a deep red from the cranberry juice used. The head ballooned to a couple inches, rapidly settling into a white ring around the glass. The aroma was simply mesmerizing. Tart lemon, cranberry, wine-like astringency and a hint of funk came through as I noticed the vibrant carbonation. It looks and smells alive! The taste was juicy cranberry, alternating between sweet and sour. The sour aspect was not objectionable at all but more like a freshly squeezed lemon. As it warmed, more of the Granny Smith apple-like sourness came out. The finish was dry with hardly an aftertaste. Before I knew it, the bottle was gone. I’ll be back to grab another.

Victory at Sea Coconut/Ballast Point Brewing, 10% ABV
I ordered this beer at Armsby Abbey, 144 N. Main St., Worcester, instead of dessert. I have written about regular Ballast Point Victory at Sea. It is a well-made imperial porter utilizing coffee and vanilla beans. The brewery took this base beer and added coconut. The aroma was that of sweet chocolate-covered coconut. It tasted as it smelled, with toffee and coffee thrown in for good measure. The mouthfeel was full, yet silky smooth. The aftertaste was exactly like the smell: lingering chocolate-covered coconut. This is a truly decadent experience not to be missed!

Mint Chip Dramans Porter/Berkshire Brewing, 6.3% ABV
I ordered this beer at Brew City, 104 Shrewsbury St., Worcester, from the cask selection. A cask beer is served through a hand pump from a metal cask in the basement. Cask beer is typically lower in carbonation and warmer. This way of serving beer is better suited to certain styles in my opinion. A porter is one of them. I am a fan of Berkshire’s Coffeehouse Porter, but I wasn’t sure what to expect here. In the end, I am glad I tried this. The aroma was that of coffee, chocolate and peppermint. It smelled like someone stuffed a candy cane into a great porter. It tasted like a porter should, with some coffee roastiness, a little caramel and some chocolate, but it had a muted mint finish. It was just enough to make you say, “Was that mint?” As it warmed, the mint became more pronounced but never objectionable. This was a great winter beer that I look forward to having again.

By Kerry Cyganiewicz