Cool Springs Wines & Spirits' Specialty Beer Cellar
BEER CELLAR FAST FACTS
Location
In a room directly to the left after you enter the store
What classifies a beer as "high-gravity"?
Beers above 6.2% alcohol
Number of unique beers in our cellar
Over 140 different options
Can I buy singles?
Yes, we encourage that so
you can taste test.
Discounts?
Available when you buy
4- or 6-packs of same beer (some exceptions apply)
CSWS Beer Specialists
Sean Lines
If you’ve been by the store recently, you may have visited our new beer cellar. We’re really excited about it over here at Cool Springs Wines & Spirits. As you walk in the store, just head directly to your left.
It’s currently located where Frank’s Value Cellar used to be. But don’t worry! Frank’s value wines are still located in that general location. The truth is that Frank’s Value Cellar outgrew that location and needed a little more room to spread its wings. The leftover space was perfect for a beer cellar.
Why a beer cellar? For those of you new to the interesting beer laws in Tennessee, it breaks down like this. To sell any beer above 6.2% alcohol, you must have a liquor license. Thus you can’t find many of the best beers available in grocery or regular beer stores. To get the best IPAs, seasonals, stouts, barley wines, meades, porters, Belgians, bocks, etc…you have to go to a bar or a liquor store like Cool Springs Wines & Spirits.
If you’re a beer lover, you must stop by and see our selection. It keeps getting bigger and brighter every day.
FEATURED BEERS
Updated May 10, 2010
Rochefort Trappistes 8 by Brasserie Rochefort in Rochefort, Belgium - Widely known as one of the best beers ever made, the Trappistes 8 is something that every beer lover should experience at least once. Much like its higher alcohol brother, the Trappistes 10, It is one of the most expensive brews available in the United States, but it is also one of the most complex and decadent. The numbers associated with each beer indicate the amount of alcohol present and differs slightly from the reported alcohol by volume (the 8 weighs in at 9.2%) because these values refer to the Belgian alcohol degrees rather than the American system.
Belgian beer making represents the pinnacle of the art mostly because the brewers there have been taking it seriously for a very long time. In many ways, American beer making is still in its infancy, and beers like the Trappistes Rochefort 8 demonstrate how there is still plenty of room to improve and learn from our elders. Malt, hop, fruit, and spice--these are the main flavor components of Belgian-style beer, and rarely do they come together with such harmony as in the Trappistes Rochefort 8. As I sip this beer and try to identify the dominant flavors, I find myself continually revising my description. Caramel is definitely present, but then again, so is chocolate. Citrus fruit is there, but there is also a red fruit component, especially dried fruit, like raisins, and the aroma hints of bananas. Spices like clove and coriander add complexity, while the hop character, though muted, is especially evident on the pleasantly bitter finish. Compared to most 9% a.b.v. and above beers, the alcohol flavor is almost nonexistent, and the texture is silky smooth with fine carbonation and a full body, as one would expect.
The Rochefort Brasserie (brewery) is located inside the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Saint-Remy near the town of Rochefort and has been brewing beer since 1595. The recipe and brewing process are a closely guarded secret, and even the water used for the beer is drawn from a well within the monastery. There are only about 15 monks currently residing there, and they produce only enough beer to support themselves and do not increase production for profit.
The subtleties of this brew may be lost on those new to the high gravity beer scene, but if you think you're ready, stop by and pick one up. You'll be glad you did.
Looking for the Best Selection of High Gravity Beers?
At Cool Springs Wines & Spirits, we always stock over 140 unique bottles of craft beers, all with a minimum alcohol content of 6.3%. For a detailed selection, click here, or link directly to one of these categories: