Happy Brew Year! Ring in 2011 with a Hometown Beer

Looking for a seasonal hometown brew to impress the guests at your New Year's Eve get-together? We asked the folks at Flossmoor Station for a few beers guaranteed to bring 2010 to a tasty end.

Brian Shimkus, the brewer at the popular brewpub and restaurant, suggested some beers that are ideal for satisfying a wide variety of picky drinkers, and they go perfectly with buffet-style party foods.

• If dark beer is your thing, Shimkus suggests you go with Pullman Brown, a porter brewed with molasses. Though porters are on the heavier side, this beer's sweet, chocolaty overtones make it ideal for drinkers who aren't as versed in weightier brews. Shimkus suggests saving the Pullman Brown until after dinner—its sweetness makes it an ideal match for desserts, especially anything with chocolate.
• If you're looking for a medium beer, go for the Rail Hopper IPA. The brew has a citrus-infused flavor that strikes a perfect balance and isn't too bitter. This is an ideal beer for sharp cheeses, so make sure your plate of bleu cheese and Vermont cheddar is well stocked. The citrus also makes this a perfect drink for accentuating spicy foods. If you're serving food with some kick, this is the beer for you.
• Need something for the drinker who prefers lighter fare? Gandy Dancer is a dry honey rye ale brewed with orange-blossom honey and a honey malt. It's sweet without being overly fruity, and while light, Dancer is a great winter beer that goes perfectly with hearty dishes, like stew.

On Dec. 29, the brew pub will tap its new India Pale Lager just in time for New Year's parties.

Now through early next year, the brewpub and restaurant will offer a changing assortment of beers aged in barrels originally used to produce bourbon. These beers have a stronger and unique taste thanks to the flavors and aromas left inside old bourbon barrels, said manager Sandy Nelson.

If you're looking to replace the midnight champagne toast with beer, these bourbon-barrel beers provide a unique, special occasion taste. Shimkus recommends you raise glasses filled with Grandma Sleighride, a Belgian Spice Red, for your first toast of the year.

Beer adventurers can purchase a Keggy (that's 28 pints) for $70. A half-barrel (that's 124 pints) will cost $170. The ever-popular 64-ounce growlers and 22-ounce bomber bottles of personal favorites will be available for carry-out, too.

Nelson said other good selections for winter beers include the darker, heavier beers, such as the always available Iron Horse Stout, and the bottled Killer Kowalski Baltic Porter, a malty, full-bodied beer with chocolate aromas.

"A coffee stout is also a very nice winter drink," Nelson said.

Flossmoor Station's menu is available on its website, as is a list of beers served. To stay up-to-date on what beers are available and other changes in the brews, read Flossmoor Station's brewer's blog.