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 March 15, 2010
Yakima Twilight American Strong Ale by Victory Brewing Co. in Downingtown, PA - This is yet another well made and unique beer from Victory. It's an American Strong Ale, but it's not far from being a Double India Pale Ale because it's loaded with hops, most notably Yakima Valley, Washington hops which are bright and brassy. If Black IPA were a style, this would be it--this brew is fairly dark and roasty for such a hoppy, bitter beer. In many ways, it's like a Pale Ale mixed with perhaps a Belgian Dubbel. The malt is dark and caramel-like punctuated by some complex smoky and earthy flavors and a spicy, fruity character reminiscent of grapefruit and oranges that complement the piny, herbal hops. The 8.7% alcohol gives it a nice warming edge but is well balanced by the complex flavors. This is a great buy for anyone that wants to try a beer that's not quite like anything else on the market.
Thomas Hardy's Ale (Barley Wine) by O'Hanlons in Exeter, England - It's safe to say that this is one of my favorite British beers and it may just be the best beer made there. This is also one of the best examples of a beer made for cellaring. The brewer says that it is designed to improve for at least 26 years, much like a fine wine. I can say from firsthand experience that aging beer really is worth it, and there are a few beers that I don't care to drink unless they do have at least a few years on them. So, if you drink this young, it's going to be pretty potent, and the flavors won't have nearly the same complexity, but it's still a great beer either way. This brew is very full bodied and packed with sweet fruit and malt flavors. The caramel/toffee malt backbone is complemented by wine and sherry flavors reminiscent of both stone fruits and dark, dried fruits like raisins and plums. The 11.3% alcohol is apparent, but that's what makes it such a good cellaring candidate, and the sweet-hot alcohol bite will fade away and blend more with the fruit and malt flavors with age. If you have the patience to let this one sit in your closet for a few years, you'll be rewarded with one of the most complex, unique and flavorful beers in the world.
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: