Ozark Beer Choices: What The Characters Drink

Ozark Beer Company, located in Rogers, Arkansas, offers a wide range of beers to cater to different tastes. From American Pale Ale and International Pale Lager to Imperial Stout and Belgian Specialty Ale, there's something for everyone. Their beers are known for their excellent quality and affordable prices, making them accessible to all. Ozark Beer has become one of the largest breweries in Arkansas, with a reputation that extends beyond the Ozarks. Their taproom provides a community space, enhancing the drinking experience and fostering a sense of togetherness.

Ozark Beer Co. in Rogers, AR

Their path led them to Chicago, where Bray pursued grad school and the Teach for America program while Coates honed his brewing expertise at the American Brewers Guild's intensive residential program in Vermont. After working at Goose Island alongside a talented crew of fellow brewers, Coates and Bray took a leap of faith, quitting their jobs to travel across the Northwest and South America.

It was during this journey that they envisioned creating a brewery that embodied the intimacy and community they experienced in taprooms. They chose Arkansas as their base, despite the state's unique drinking culture, with 34 of its 75 counties remaining dry. They settled in Fayetteville, facing challenges in securing funding and finding a rental property due to landlords' concerns about on-site alcohol production.

Ozark Beer Co. finally opened its doors in 2013, starting in an old warehouse in Rogers. The taproom quickly became a community hub, welcoming farmers, construction workers, and VPs from nearby Walmart. The brewery's success lies in its commitment to affordability and excellence, with core beers priced at $4 a pint and a range that includes the highly-regarded American Pale Ale, Lager, and Bourbon Barrel Aged Double Cream Stout.

Bray and Coates' dedication to their team and the local community sets them apart. They believe in transparency and empowering their employees, sharing financial insights and valuing diverse skill sets. Their journey hasn't been without challenges, especially during the pandemic, but their resilience and focus on long-term sustainability position them for continued success as one of Arkansas's largest breweries.

Ozark Beer Co.'s coffee stout

Ozark Beer Co. is a local brewery in Rogers, Arkansas, that was founded in 2013 by Andy Coates and Lacie Bray. The company is known for its excellent beers, including the Onyx Coffee Stout, a collaboration with Arkansas-based Onyx Coffee Labs. This coffee stout is described as having notes of coffee, dark chocolate, and caramel, with a roasty finish. It pairs well with ribs, barbecue, cured meats, chocolate cake, vanilla, and dried fruit.

The brewery's coffee stout has received positive reviews from customers, who praise its rich coffee flavor and smooth taste. The coffee used in the stout is sourced locally from Onyx Coffee Labs, enhancing the freshness and quality of the beer. Ozark Beer Co. prides itself on producing highly drinkable and reasonably priced beers, making their brews accessible to a wide range of customers. Their taproom provides a community space, welcoming people from all walks of life, from farmers and construction workers to VPs from Walmart.

In addition to their coffee stout, Ozark Beer Co. offers a range of other beers, including an American-style IPA, a German-style lager, and a Bourbon Barrel Aged Double Cream Stout. They also have a rotating selection of small-batch beers and unique barrel-aged beers in "The Ozark Cellar." The company's commitment to affordable, high-quality beers has earned them a reputation that extends beyond the Ozarks region.

Ozark Beer Co.'s taproom is located in a 136-year-old building that originally served as a flour mill. The space has high ceilings and longleaf pine flooring, creating a unique and intimate atmosphere. The brewery is typically open from 1 pm to 8 pm, Sunday through Saturday, providing a relaxing environment for locals and visitors alike to enjoy a pint and socialize.

Ozark Beer Co.'s seasonal brews

Ozark Beer Co. offers a delightful range of seasonal brews, including farmhouse ales and bourbon barrel-aged varieties. Here is a closer look at some of their unique offerings:

Seasonal Brews

• Farmhouse Ales: Ozark Beer Co. showcases its expertise in crafting farmhouse ales, with a variety of seasonal options available throughout the year. These ales are often dry-hopped, adding a unique twist to the traditional style.
• Bourbon Barrel-Aged Varieties: For those who enjoy a hint of oak and bourbon in their beer, Ozark Beer Co. offers several bourbon barrel-aged brews. These beers are aged in bourbon barrels, imparting a smooth, oaky flavour that is perfect for the cooler months.
• Belgian-Style Beers: Ozark Beer Co. also explores Belgian beer styles, including Belgian Quadrupel and Belgian Strong Golden Ale. These beers offer a taste of Belgium's rich brewing traditions with their distinct flavours and aromas.
• IPAs and Pale Ales: The brewery showcases a range of IPAs and pale ales, often with creative hop combinations. For instance, their Amarillo by Morning features the infamously bright and lovely Amarillo hop, known for its tropical and floral notes.
• Stouts and Porters: Ozark Beer Co. offers a variety of stouts and porters, including imperial and milk stout varieties. Their Onyx Coffee Stout, a collaboration with local coffee roaster Onyx Coffee Lab, is a highlight, with rich coffee flavours and aromas.
• Lagers: Ozark Beer Co. also crafts easy-drinking lagers, including their Mexican Lager, which is light and smooth, perfect with a lime. Their local lager, sold only in Arkansas, is another popular choice, bringing neighbours together.

So, whether you're a fan of fruity IPAs, smooth stouts, or traditional farmhouse ales, Ozark Beer Co. has a seasonal brew to tantalise your taste buds.

Ozark Beer Co.'s year-round styles

Ozark Beer Co. has five styles made year-round, alongside a variety of seasonal brews, including farmhouse ales and bourbon barrel-aged varieties. Here is a detailed description of their year-round styles:

Ozark 40 Miles from Denver

A Colorado-style IPA paying homage to the magic times spent in the Rockies. With a sturdy 6.3% ABV, this light-bodied IPA is hopped with a five-hop blend, including American Centennial hops, known for their classic piney, fruity, and citrusy aromas. This beer is a fresh toast to the mountains, capturing the essence of Colorado in a glass.

Ozark Amarillo By Morning

A bright and lovely American Pale Ale with a tropical and floral nose, hopped with Amarillo hops, named after the Spanish word for "yellow." This crisp spring ale has a moderate 5.2% ABV and imparts a burst of freshness with each sip.

Ozark American Pale Ale

A classic American Pale Ale with a moderate 4.0% ABV. This easy-drinking beer is perfect for any occasion, offering a well-balanced blend of flavours.

Ozark Another Round English Bitter

A Best Bitter with a sessionable 3.5% ABV, making it a perfect choice for those who want to enjoy a few rounds with friends. It strikes a delicate balance between malt and hop flavours, resulting in a smooth and satisfying beer.

Ozark Stout

A perfect year-round stout, this full-bodied beer offers notes of dark chocolate, coffee, and caramel with a roasty finish. With its rich flavours and accessible nature, it pairs exceptionally well with ribs, barbecue, cured meats, and chocolate cake.

Ozark Beer Co.'s founding

Ozark Beer Co. was founded in November 2013 by husband-and-wife team Andy Coates and Lacie Bray. The pair met as outdoor enthusiasts doing seasonal work in Colorado and later moved to Denver, where Coates landed a job on the bottling line at Great Divide. After a stint in Chicago, where Coates studied at the American Brewers Guild, the couple took a year off, touring breweries in the Northwest and South America. It was during this trip that they decided to start their own brewery.

After considering several locations in Northwest Arkansas, they settled on an aging warehouse in Rogers, Arkansas, which they rented in 2013. They chose the location almost by accident, but Bray, a native of Rogers, felt it was meant to be. "Rogers is blue-collar," she said. "We have farmers coming in overalls to drink our beer, and we have construction workers coming in, and they're sitting alongside VPs from Walmart. That is just the magic of our spot."

Bray and Coates wanted to create a brewery that was rooted in the local community and reflected a "hard work, honest beer" ethos. They kept costs low, with Coates often milling grain and dumping it into the mash tuns himself. They also made a point of keeping their beers affordable, with core beers selling for $4 a pint in the taproom.

The approach paid off, and Ozark Beer Co. quickly gained a reputation for its excellent, highly drinkable, and reasonably priced beers. It is now one of the three largest breweries in Arkansas by volume, and its reputation is growing beyond the Ozarks region.

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