Black Friday has become one of the most anticipated days on the beer calendar, with a slew of interesting – and often barrel-aged, boozy or both – brews on tap.

Believe it or not, with September not even yet finished, we received our first Black Friday beers update. That's opened the gates and now more news is arriving almost daily.

Here’s what area breweries are doing on Black Friday, Nov. 28, this year. Remember to check back as we will continue to update this guide as information is released by local brewers.

Click the brewery name for a link to its website with address, phone and other information.

Amorphic Beer

"This year Amorphic will continue our tradition of making a Bourbon Barrel aged Imperial Stout, with a twist of course, as well as pushing the limits with a beer likely to be unique amongst Black Friday releases in the area," says brewer Ron Hockersmith. "Pre orders will open a couple weeks before Black Friday, available for pickup starting at 9 a.m. on Black Friday when our taproom opens.

"We will be open until 8 p.m. on Black Friday with both beers – and at least 10 more – on draft, plus both available for purchase to go if they didn't sell out in the pre order phase.

"We haven't raised prices since we opened and intend to keep our Black Friday releases at the lowest price available in the Milwaukee area, because that's what craft beer needs to be doing right now."

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• Maple Syrup Barrel Major Particles (15 percent ABV) –Each year we take our imperial stout base called Major Particles and incorporate it into a new type of barrel or process/ingredient, and let it sit for at least a year. This year we got our hands on some bourbon barrels that went to an artisan maple syrup farm, and then came to us. To boost the body, we boiled for over six hours, concentrating the wort so much that eventually the yeast gave up and died, leaving significant residual sweetness to go with the maple, bourbon, and oak notes. It's a sipper that tastes like maple snickers if that's a thing. Available in two-packs of 16-ounce cans for $16, which will continue to be the best black Friday deal in Milwaukee. This will also be available in a mixed four pack with two of the special release cans each for $30.
• Barrel Aged Wimps (Weakly Interacting Minor Particles) (9.0 percent) – For our other Black Friday release, we try and do something others aren't doing and give you something unique. This year, we took our Czech dark lager and created an imperial version suitable for barrel aging. Then we put that in bourbon barrels that became blackberry wine barrels. The flavors coming out of the barrel right now are intense bourbon and dark fruit, with clear blackberry notes, but you can still tell it's a Czech Tmavé! If this beer were available in the Czech Republic, after getting plenty of "WTF?" comments, it would be called a Cerný Lezák Speciál 21° (Special Black Lager). Na zdraví!"

Black Husky

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According to co-owner Toni Eichinger, Black Husky will release its special beer on the day before Thanksgiving, "as is our tradition.

"We always call the beer Ahead of the Pack. This year the beer style will be a Belgian IPA, 15 percent ABV. The flavor profile is moderate body, somewhat sweet, some phenols from the Belgian yeast and a moderate hop profile."

The beer will be available on tap and in 16-ounce four-packs.

Brewfinity

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Owner/brewmaster Chad Ostram says that Brewfinity Brewing will tap a new limited release Imperial Stout only in the two taprooms (Oconomowoc and Pewaukee). It will also be available in 16-ounce cans for $7 each.

"We will be having a drum show by 'Q' at our Pewaukee taproom at 7 p.m.," Ostram says. "On Wednesday we will have Trivia at our Oconomowoc Taproom hosted by “Q” (yes, the drummer) starting at 7 p.m. and we will have music by Pete Llamas in Pewaukee starting at 6 p.m."

Broken Bat

Founder Tim Pauly says the Walker's Point brewery is, "once again releasing "*762* – The King" on Black Friday. It's our bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout and clocks in at 10.4 percent ABV."

The beer is named for the Sept. 5, 2007 home run at Coors Field in Denver that made Barry Bonds the MLB home run king. Note the asterisk in the name.

Central Waters Milwaukee

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"We'll be releasing two brand new beers that were both brewed at our Milwaukee brewery," says Central Waters' Jordan Steffen. 

Maximum Opacity Triple Black IPA will be in 16-ounce four packs for $18, with no limits. 

According to Steffen, it's "generously hopped with Columbus, Simcoe, Idaho 7, Citra and Chinook. This triple black IPA defies expectations with its jet black appearance and notes of resinous citrus and tropical fruit.

Ice Wine Barrel English Barleywine style ale aged in ice wine barrels will be $20 for 12-ounce two-packs, again with no limit.

""This English barleywine style ale was aged for 33 months in Cabernet Franc ice wine barrels, melding deep malt sweetness with notes of dark red fruit leather, honey, toffee and oak," according to Steffen.

The beers will be available exclusively at the Milwaukee brewery on Black Friday at 9 a.m.

Component

Component Brewing in Bay View will have two beers this Black Friday, according to Brad Vietrogoski.

"Barrel Aged Hazelnut Mocha Swirled Stout" (13.5 percent), aged in Ledgerock Distillery bourbon barrels for 12 months and conditioned on chocolate, vanilla, coffee and hazelnuts; available on draft and in bottles to go (limited quantity).

"Supreme Haze The Lord!" double hazy IPA (8.5 percent), back for the first time since Black Friday 2023; available on draft and in cans to go.

"We will also be putting the last 1/6 bbl of last year's 'Turtle Sundae' swirled stout on the lines as a draft-only special when we open up for Black Friday, and it's on 'til it's gone," Vietrogoski says.

Component will open at 11 a.m. and have the Hot Box MKE pizza truck set up outside the patio from noon until 5 p.m.

Dead Bird

"We've got a line-up of collabs dropping for Black Friday this year along with our Black Briday classic Beanut Putter, a 10 percent ABV rich, chocolate peanut butter imperial stout," says owner and brewer Nick Kocis.

Here are the details from Nick:

• Collab with Torzala Brewing: Classic English Barleywine, ~9.5% ABV, marris otter malt from British maltster Paul some molasses and East Kent Goldings and Fuggle (hops).
• North Pillar Brewing: A Belgian witbier winter warmer hybrid. ~6 percent Belgian Ardiennes yeast, some classic warming spices on this lighter take on a warmer.
• Titletown Brewing: A wild shandy featuring our gingerbier, hibiscus, blended with a version of their light honey ale. Should be around 4.5 percent. We're making the gingerbier and sending it up for them to blend with the beer so we each brewed a part of this beer in a true collab.

Dead Bird will be open noon-6 on Black Friday and all four beers will be available in cans in limited quantities.  

Eagle Park

Co-founder and Brand Manager Jake Schinker says that Eagle Park will have a number of releases for Black Friday and shared these details.

 Four barrel-aged beers:

• Stave: Blend 4 – The Stave series takes hand selected barrels of varying age, base recipe, and barrel origin to create a one-of-a-kind beer, free of any additional flavor components besides what has been created by the base beer, time, and the barrels. 14 percent ABV.
• Fuzz Lord 2025: Each year while tasting through barrels of our Naughty Water barleywine, we set aside any barrels that are strikingly fruity for a special project! After spending over a year in bourbon barrels, we then take that beer and age it in peach brandy barrels to create something completely new! ABV TBD.
• Stir It Up 2025: Bourbon barrel aged imperial stout finished with single-origin Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. These coffee beans are as rare as they are delicious, exhibiting a bright and vibrant yet smooth acidity, a clean taste with virtually no bitterness, and a bold yet sparkling aroma with a profusion of floral notes and sweet herbal and nutty overtones. ABV TBD.
• Fly By Night 2025: An Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels, then further matured with over a pound per barrel of Columbian vanilla beans which impart a distinctly creamy, rich and floral vanilla flavor.The result is a smooth, bold stout layered with rich vanilla and bourbon notes—a luxurious sipper for the cold months ahead. ABV TBD.

Other releases:

• DDH Bowie: Krush: New England-style hazy IPA with Galaxy and Citra hops and double dry hopped with Krush hops. 8% ABV
• Bananas Foster Soft Serve Seltzer: Hard seltzer with vanilla soft serve, banana, rum flavoring, brown sugar, cinnamon and walnut. 5% ABV.
• Slush: Dragonfruit, Mango Orange: An over-fruited sour ale with heaping amounts of dragonfruit, mango and orange purée. 

The Explorium

Once again, The Explorium probably has the largest number of releases on Black Friday, a fact acknowledged by Brewery Operations Manager Nick Scheeler. 

“We tried to trim it down but then realized we have so much worth sharing the list ballooned up again,” he says of the eighth annual mega-release. “So there's eight beers we will be releasing on Black Friday. There are five partner pick MCS versions scheduled to be available on Black Friday and a special Barrel-aged Brandy Old Fashioned pastry stout.” 

Milwaukee County Stout, barrel-aged Imperial Stout at 12 percent ABV. 

•     1792 Bourbon - Gold
•     Chattanooga Whiskey Co - Silver
•     Double Oak Bourbon - Bronze
•     Four Roses - Red
•     Buffalo Trace Mash #1 - Green

“All five versions will be available in 12-ounce sleek cans starting Black Friday morning,” says Scheeler. “Our special Proprietor's Blend will be available at Greendale, and possibly other locations as yield allows.”

Plus, there’s...

• War Drum Barrel-Aged Braggot (12.4 percent), available in 12-ounce sleek cans and on draft.

“This truly ancient style of amber-colored ale is brewed with a high percentage of honey. It was aged for a year on rye whiskey barrels to create a complex but mellow treat,” says Scheeler. 

And from the foeders, available in 12-ounce sleek cans and on draft:

• Dread Empress Flanders Red Ale (6.8 percent) 
• Dread Empress Kriek Flanders Red Ale with Montmorency Cherries (6.8 percent).

Is that all?

Faklandia

According to brewer Nate Fakler Faklandia’s Mantaycore Imperial Stout – which debuted in 2021 and has been back each year since – returns this year with hazelnut, cinnamon, and coconut, while The Progenitor Imperial stout has honey, molasses and agave.  

Both are 15 percent ABV and available on tap and in 16-ounce cans starting at 9 a.m. Taps will be $9 for a 10-ounce snifter.

Fakler teases that there may also be a blackberry variant of The Progenitor coming, too.

The Fermentorium

Kristopher Volkman reports that his Cedarburg brewery has a bunch of new releases and more over the Thanksgiving weekend, beginning on Wednesday.

There will be exclusive RSD releases from noon until 4 on Black Friday Record Store Day, when the taproom is open noon-10. Plus, there will be a big drop of fresh used records in the racks. For every $20 you spend on records, you'll get a free drink token for a half-pour of beer.

On Small Business Saturday, buy a $50 gift card and get  a $10 bonus certificate, up to five bonus certificates per customer. 

All weekend long enjoy a 20 percent off mixed case sale (excluding Sweater Weather and its variants).

On to the beers (on draft and in 16-ounce cans to go):

Sweater Weather imperial milk stout with Mexican vanilla, layered with rich chocolate. (Taproom only)

Black Forest Cake Sweater Weather imperial milk stout with tart cherries, cocoa and Mexican vanilla. (Taproom only)

Samoa Cookie Sweater Weather imperial milk stout with toasted coconut, caramel and Mexican vanilla. (Taproom and at retail stores)

Underwater Panther triple IPA with Wisconsin honey and Citra hops. (Taproom and at retail stores)

The taproom will be open noon-10 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, except Thanksgiving Day, when it's closed. Open Sunday noon-6.

Foxtown

The Mequon brewery's Kyle Smith says there will be three special releases this Black Friday...

The Waiting double barrel-aged imperial stout (16 percent ABV) – "If you share our love of rye stouts you'll sure appreciate the extra time and seasons taken to double barrel this beer. Aged one year in Heaven Hill bourbon barrel and an additional year in a fresh whisky barrel from LaCrosse Distiling Co., this viscous beer will fill your taste buds with deep, dark, sweet malts, together with a heavy barrel flavor and notes of Rye spice. The thickest, heaviest and highest ABV barrel aged stout we have ever released."

See What Tomorrow Brings barrel-aged English barleywine (13 percent) – "Brewed with generous amounts of Maris Otter malt, this English Barley Wine sat dormant for three years in a single 15-year George Dickel Whisky oak cask. After aging we dosed its malty goodness with a healthy amount of fresh Madagascar vanilla. Hitting first with upfront malty light sweetness and backed with ample amounts of Tennessee whisky flavor, the beer finishes with a nice vanilla kick."

With A Twist Belgian golden strong ale aged in a gin barrel (13.2 percent) – "Aged in a single Great Lakes Distilling gin barrel, this beer started life as a Belgian golden strong ale. After aging two years, the Belgian yeast tones have mellowed perfectly to blend beautifully with the botanical gin previously stored in the barrel. The soft reddish hue from wood tannins gives this beer its unique stand out color."

All three will be on tap and in 16.9-ounce bottles to go. There will be samples and sales in Foxtown's amazing beer caves on Black Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pours will be $9 and bottles are priced at $15.

Gathering Place / Sahale

"Our 2025 Black Friday beers are inspired by a legendary delicacy in the brewing world: Briess malted milk balls," says founder Joe Yeado. "Briess is our malt supplier from Chilton, Wisconsin and they surprise us with their tasty little treats from time to time.

"We thought, why not share those flavors with you in liquid form?"

Malt Ball Stout (9.8 percent ABV) – Creamy imperial stout made with Briess malted milk powder and cocoa powder for a rich, indulgent stout.

Mocha Malt Ball Stout (9.8 percent) – Adds coffee from Valentine Coffee Roasters for a java boost.

The beers will be available on draft and in 16-ounce cans which are $10 or $18 for a bundle of two. Available at Tosa and Riverwest Gathering Place taprooms and Sahale's Grafton taproom.

Riverwest will be open 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Tosa from noon until 10 and Sahale from 3 until 10.

Indeed

Indeed Brewing has a new limited-batch Honey Apple Imperial Cream Ale called C.R.E.A.M. (9 percent ABV) this Black Friday in wax-dipped 750ml bottles. It's a combo of sweet honey, crisp apple, and a warm, complex spice finish.

Pre-orders are discounted and come with a free stemmed Indeed pilsner glass.

Indeed will also tap its seasonal Cranberry Spruce Kölsch at 2 p.m. on Black Friday. Taproom opens at 10 a.m. and there will be discounts on merch and, from 7 to 9 p.m., 50 percent off all to-go THC drinks.

Inventors

Trevor Thurston up at Inventors Brewpub in Port Washington says they've got a few things brewing for Black Friday.

"First off, we'll have our Jul Winter Warmer," he says, "a nice traditional warmer with an ABV of 6.5 percent. We'll (also) bring back our Raspberry Porter, Amaretto Brown, a Pumpkin Pie Porter for the occasion.

"Plus, we'll have a vintage keg of our Sikorsky Russian Imperial Stout on just for that day only. We're (also) going to put on some other vintage kegs like: Bucky Fuller's Barleywine, 50 Quad Buck Quadruple, and 500! Braggot!"

Lakefront

Lakefront will open the Black Friday Burrito and coffee food truck at 6 a.m. and open its taproom two hours later when it will start selling four varieties of its Black Friday beer on tap and to-go in 19.2-ounce cans and placed in boxes (no limit).

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The beers are:

2025 Black Friday Imperial Stout Aged in Great Lakes Distillery’s Still & Oak Black Friday Straight Whiskey Barrels. $20 each.

2025 Black Friday Triple Black IPA Dry-Hopped with Cascade, Citra, Centennial, and Chinook Hops. $15 each.

2025 Black Friday Wheatwine Ale Aged in Brandy Barrels. $20 each.

2025 Black Friday Imperial Coffee & Cacao Nib Stout Aged in Great Lakes Distillery’s Still & Oak Black Friday Straight Whiskey Barrels. $25 each.

Purchase at least four Black Friday cans and get a souvenir Black Friday pint glass.

For the third year in a row, Lakefront will, at the same time, host the Warm Hearts Community Coat Drive benefiting students of George Washington Carver Elementary. Guests who donate a laundered, gently used coat suitable for youth ages 3-14 will receive one bottle/can of a retro Black Friday. Guests may donate additional coats with a maximum of two bottles/cans per donor over 21. Gloves, hats and other winter gear will gladly be accepted, as well. All week long, taproom guests can also round up their bill to donate to the MPS school.

Layman

Sarah Warran, co-owner of West Allis' Layman Brewing, says they've just confirmed their holiday seasonal for the year and it's You'll Shoot Your Rye Out 5.3 percent ABV rye lager. 

Warran says it's, "a little bit Oktoberfest, a little bit fruitcake spice. This hazy, full-bodied lager is the turducken of beers: perfect for that confusing time between holidays."

The beer will be available on tap and for pre-Thanksgiving growler fills the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which is the only day Layman Brewing will be open that week.

"To go with the release, we'll also have a build-your-own Mac & Cheese limited menu available that night only," Warran says. 

Lion's Tail

Lion's Tail in Tosa (and Neenah) gets a jump on Black Friday by releasing its barrel-aged beers two weeks earlier as part of its 10th anniversary celebration, but, promises Marketing & Business Operations Manager Nate Sharpless, "we still have something new releasing on Black Friday, along with some other deals."

"Puffer Vest” cold IPA (7 percent ABV) is brewed McKenzie, Centennial, and Chinook hops and will be available on draft and in 16-ounce four-packs to-go at both locations, which open at 11 a.m.

"Along with the release of this beer, we will be selling a limited run of Lion’s Tail Branded Puffer Vest Can Coozies," says Sharpless.

As for Black Friday deals, there will be 10 percent off gift cards, buy a four-pack, get 15 percent off merch, by two four-packs, receive 50 percent off merch (not valid on Tin Tackers or Vest Can Coozies).

Low Daily

Burlington's Low Daily will bring back its Double Just bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout. This year's variant, says brewer Tim Sullivan, "will get the S'mores treatment," with cocoa nibs, vanilla, graham crackers.

The brew will be available in 16-ounce cans for beer club members on Wednesday, Nov. 26 and to the public in cans and on tap Black Friday, when the taproom is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m.  

New Barons

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"For the first time we are doing the same release, back to back years," says CEO and Head Brewer John Degroote, "our BA Doppelbock Crispy Cabin Vibes.

"What happens when a member-owner has a maple syrup connection in the Northwoods and you're a lager brewery preparing for Black Friday? A maple bourbon and rye barrel aged Doppelbock, that's what.

"Lumberjack Maple Syrup in Armstrong Creek, Wisconsin provided us a few gallons of that northern maple goodness to make this lager an extra special release, a medium bodied Doppelbock brewed with tons of Caramunich and Caravienne malts to create bold caramel and toffee flavors that stay crisp and clean. Maple Syrup was added in two parts.

"Once in the boil to enhance perceived dryness and drinkability for a 10 percent ABV lager. Then again, post fermentation, in the form of a bourbon barrel that had previously aged maple syrup. Beer was refermented on residual maple syrup in the barrel then aged and blended in a mix of bourbon and rye barrels."

New Barons opens at 9 a.m. on Black Friday with the special beer on draft and in to-go bottles. Pre-order goes live on Nov. 13 on the website. Only 240 bottles available.

Ope!

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Owner Kyle Ciske says West Allis’ Ope Brewing will have two 11.4 percent ABV barrel-ageds for Black Friday release this year, both available in 16-ounce cans and “a small amount of draft” as supplies last.

There is a BA Full Send Barleywine 2025 aged in a blend of Apple Brandy and Maple Whiskey Barrels, and BA Full Send Barleywine 2025 aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels.

Ope Brewing opens at 9 a.m. on Black Friday and will have both beers available for $15 per can. Four-packs will be $50 and you can mix and match any way you want. No limits. Keep an eye on our socials for pre-order arrangements.  

Perspective

West Allis' Perspective Brewing will release its 2025 batch of Lactarius mushroom imperial stout on tap and in 16-ounce cans to go. There will be a package deal that includes a limited edition branded piece of glassware (50 available) that is $25 for a two-pack of cans and the glass. Without the glass the two-packs are $15.

Perspective will also open 2026 membership sales and current and new members can sign up through Dec. 31 and get perks like special member glassware, $1 off taps every day, 10 percent off to-go beer and merch. 50 percent off drinks, and a $10 gift card during/for attending each quarterly member party. Sign up on Nov. 28 or 29 and you'll be entered into a raffle to name and help brew a beer in 2026.  

Raised Grain

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Lots of goodies coming from Waukesha's Raised Grain Brewing Co. this holiday season..

• Anniversary Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout Variety 4-pack, featuring a can from Anniversary years 7, 8, 9 and 10. Four expressions, each unique, all connected. Extremely limited. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
• Doc’s Old-Fashioned Brandy Barrel-Aged Imperial Red Ale – Aged in brandy barrels and then doctored with spices, orange peel and cherries. A take on a Brandy Old Fashioned.
• Doc’s Old-Fashioned Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Red Ale – The same imperial red ale but a bourbon Old Fashioned aged in bourbon barrels with more notes of vanilla and oak.
• Santa’s Sack Christmas Ale – Brewed with four spices – nutmeg, cinnamon, fresh ginger, and star anise – this Christmas ale is well-balanced and pairs extremely well with desserts.

St. Francis

Head Brewer Tyler Killips says that St. Francis will make a Cascadian Dark Ale (Black IPA) for Black Friday. The beer will only be available at the brewery and in growlers to-go. The "Drysider" will have a 5.7% ABV, and features both Cascade and Simcoe hops. If you like notes of grapefruit, pine, milk chocolate and coffee in your brew, this may be your winner.

Third Space

 Third Space will be open from noon until 10 p.m. on Black Friday, pouring these special releases:

Barrel-aged egg nog stout brewed with nutmeg and vanilla bean and aged in bourbon barrels. $24.99 in 12-ounce four-pack cans.

Kara’s Holiday Punch fruited sour brewed with cranberry, cherry, cinnamon and clove, in honor of Kara, Third Space's event manager. $14.99 in 12-ounce four-pack cans.

No presales, both available beginning at noon on Black Friday. First-come, first-served. 

There will also be a Christmas toy drive collection, Tots on the Street Food Truck from 2 until 6 p.m. and live music from the Tavern Pedalers from 3 to 5.

3 Sheeps

Sheboygan's 3 Sheeps has two versions of its annual The Wolf that will be available on tap and in 12-ounce single cans ($10 each) beginning at 11 a.m. on Black Friday. They will be available via distribution, too. 3 Sheeps taproom will host a Winter Market all weekend.

Here are the deets on the beer, with descriptions provided by the brewery:

• The Wolf aged in 18-Year Elijah Craig Bourbon Barrel – For this variant, we aged The Wolf in barrels that once held one of the most revered bourbons in the world. The result is a complex blend of flavors — deep caramel, oak, and bourbon warmth interwoven with The Wolf’s signature roasted malt and chocolate character. It’s a showcase of barrel craftsmanship and a perfect expression of our love for this beer.
• The Wolf with Cocoa Nibs, Coconut, and Vanilla – This version takes the rich, chocolatey character of The Wolf and layers in even more decadence. Cocoa nibs enhance the dark chocolate notes already present, while vanilla adds a smooth, creamy sweetness. The addition of coconut ties everything together, creating a lush, dessert-like experience that’s both balanced and indulgent.

The brewery's 12-brew Advent Calendar will also go on sale at the brewery on Black Friday for $65. The calendar, which has four barrel-ageds, four core beers and four limited releases, is limited to just 100.

Torzala

Co-founder and Director of Operations Tricia Torzala says that the Bay View brewery will have a number of special beers available this Black Friday and shared these descriptions...

Chocolate Illusion Belgian Chocolate Quad (8.4 percent) is a new release inspired by Milwaukee native Gene Wilder – Strength and flavors of a Belgian Quad, blended with the profile of a Chocolate Stout. Sometimes life feels like an illusion, trying to constantly separate fact from fiction. The fun of this recipe was creating that deception. Are all the flavors coming from the malt only? It’s up to you to decide. What can you expect to taste? Caramel, burnt sugar, raisin, plum, prune, roasted malt, toast, marshmallow, coffee, and of course …. chocolate. 

Re-Release: Squash Blossom  – Inspired by the “Mother of American Modernism” Georgia O’Keeffe, this special release harvest ale was brewed with roasted pumpkins from our local farm friends at Schuett Farms and is a true work of art.

Torzala will also have a couple collabs...

The Four Loves ~ Affection – Cold IPA and Soul Brew’s BLM Kombucha (2.1 percent) – After numerous rounds of mixing Soul Brew’s Kombuchas with our brews, our first love was a blend of SB’s Black Lives Matter and TBCo’s Rare Optics. The selected IPA is clean and loaded with grapefruit forward hops with the Kombucha creating the overall depth and balance with flavors with blackberry, lemon, and mango.

Brew City’s HEYDAY Classic English Barleywine (8.9 percent) – Doing a collaboration with the talented crew at Dead Bird has been high on our list and we were very excited when this collab got lined up! More details to come!

Torzala will be open for Mug Club members on Wednesday, Nov. 26, from 4 to 6 p.m. for a special limited release of a barrel-aged cream ale, aged for a year and a half in a rum barrel from their friends downstairs at Twisted Path.

The taproom will be open to the public that evening from 6 to 9 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving. Open 9 a.m.-10 p.m. on Black Friday, noon-10 on Small Business Saturday and 1-6 p.m. Sunday.  

Urban Harvest

As always, Steve Pribek's Urban Harvest Brewing in Walker's Point has an astonishing cornucopia of brews for hopheads on Black Friday. I'm just going to let him tell you...

"UHBC will be celebrating Black Friday for our ninth year with two taproom releases and sale of seven of our Special Release beers not normally available outside of the taproom. The two taproom releases will also be available for purchase in 16-ounce cans for a special Black Friday-only price of $10. Those two will be a brand new, yet-to-be-named Barleywine and the 2025 version of our Belgian Tripel called Serensified Sufficiencies. 

"The seven Special Release beers are:

• 2023 Imperial Chocolate Whiskey Stout
• 2024 Whiskey Porter
• 2022 Big Ring Bourbon Red
• 2023 Brown Mumbler – Bourbon Brown Ale
• 2024 Two Naught Naught – Chocolate Bourbon Espresso Amber
• 2023 WhiScotchsin – Whiskey Scotch Ale
• 2022 Deux Stappen – Belgian Dark Strong

"They will be available for pre-order starting at noon Wednesday, Nov. 26. Each of these are limited quantities with only 60 cans of each for sale. If you purchase one of each of the seven, we'll include a can of one of the two taproom releases for free.

"Our taproom opens at 11 a.m. on Friday with both taproom releases flowing from the taps. Pre-orders can be picked up throughout the weekend. An added bonus is the reveal of our taproom winter wonderland with over 1,000 glass icicles and snowflakes!"

Water Street Brewery

Brewer George Bluvas has info on three barrel-ageds to share:

4-Wood Red Wine (Pinot Noir) Barrel-Aged Belgian Quad (12.1 percent): "This started life as a Dark Belgian Quad, moved into Pinot Noir barrels over a year ago.  The red wine and the French Oak push even more complexity into an already complex beer. Dark fruit and wood notes, surround strong toffee maltiness, funky esters from the Trappist yeast used and warmth from the strong alcohol content. Pre-release at Chicago's festival of Wood and Barrel aged beer festival, then on tap at all Water Street and The Brewery locations on Black Friday."

Slow House Red – Red Wine (Sangiovese) Barrel-Aged Italian Grape Ale (6.8 percent): "This stared life as an Italian Grape Ale, an emerging beer style that blend wine ingredients with brewing technique. This is not blended but fermented together 60 percent barley and 40 percent dark Primitivo grapes brewed and then pitched with a sweet red wine yeast.  Over a year ago it was transferred into Sangiovese oak barrels, which really brought out the wine character in the finished product. Sweet light malt undertones and red wine character, sparkled with carbonation bringing out hints of oak."

This one will get a pre-release at Chicago's festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer festival, then will hit the taps at all Water Street and The Brewery locations on Black Friday.

Half Ton of Wood Rye Whiskey (Central Standard) Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (13.5 percent): "This started life as our regular winter release Half Ton Imperial Stout, 1,000 pounds of grain, a half of a ton, is used in its production. We added an enzyme to break residual sugars down, drying out the beer and moving it into previous use rye barrels from Central Standard distillery.  The resulting beer is still heavy on the dark coffee and chocolate flavors from the stout, now enhanced with vanilla and char from the rye barrels as well as some black pepper like spiciness."

This one will be released, Bluvas says, in "late 2025 or early 2026, as our other two barrel aged beer go off tap." The other two beers go on tap at all WSB locations at 11 a.m. on Black Friday and at The Brewery when it opens at 4 p.m.

Pours will be $5 for five ounces and $10 for 13 ounces. All are extremely limited and draft-only.

Wizard Works

Owner and brewer Chris Ragaisis says that Wizard Workd will re-release it Swiss Mystic Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout on Black Friday.

The beer, with cocoa nibs, vanilla, cinnamon and chiles, was first released three years ago. It will be on nitro.