Baba Yaga's Cranberry Berliner (Lindsay Bukowinski / Hartford Courant)

Now that the weather’s cooled off a bit, let’s feature some higher ABV beers this week.

The standout beer this week has to be a New England IPA brewed with watermelon Sour Patch kids, but you won’t want to miss what else we found. You’ve got a delicious dessert stout with chocolate, maple and coffee, a layered Belgian quad in malbec barrels, a blended IPA festive ale, and a classic double IPA to whet your whistle.

See a beer or brewery that’s missing this week? Have a personal favorite you want to shout out? Reach out at bcallahan@courant.com and let us know!

Looking to get your dessert stout fix? Hopmeadow’s got a double chocolate coffee maple stout with loads of aroma and flavor. Just make sure you’re sharing it with a friend!

“Double Chocolate Coffee Maple Stout, a special rendition of our Into the Further Imperial Stout. Brewed with roasted Organic Cacao, Vermont dark strong Maple Syrup and Giv Coffee from Canton. An explosion of coffee & dark chocolate push the threshold of aroma & flavor with a caramelized sweetness that lingers, providing a harmonious balance. This is an exceptional beer is to say the least. Pour some shots to go with your breakfast, pairs perfectly with French toast, pancakes or waffles with a side of smoky bacon or sausage.”

Owner Bryan Hickey pours a Saison 64 from a tap at the Hopmeadow Brewing Company in Avon, June 4, 2022. Photo by Cloe Poisson/Special to the Courant (Cloe Poisson / Special to the Courant)

There’s no surprises with this heavy brew. If you’re a fan of Belgian quads, this barrel-aged beer is a don’t miss from Labyrinth.

“The muscles from Brussels of Belgian beers with a bready backbone and notes of dark fruits. Finishes dry but with a slight sweetness. Aged in former Malbec barrels accentuating the dark fruit character while adding toasted oak notes and tannins associated with red wine.”

How do you put a twist on a New England IPA? Why not through in some watermelon, pink grapefruit, and watermelon Sour Patch Kids candy? You read that right!

“This hot weather has made us go a little crazy. Our staff was like hey why not do a watermelon patch candy inspired beer. Bet! We took an IPA and added a bunch of Huell Melon hops along with some crowd favorites, dump in some watermelon and pink grapefruit, threw in some watermelon patch candies for good measure and boom, an instant summer go to IPA. Just enough fruit flavors and aromas to remind you of the candies with some lingering watermelon, grapefruit and hop bitterness to round it all out. Try it before it’s gone!”

A view of the bar at Labyrinth Brewing Co. (Lindsay Bukowinski / Hartford Courant)

If you’re looking for a classic Double IPA, swing by NewSylum this weekend. Their El Dorado dry-hopped Beautiful Consequences will pair up well with a wood-fired pizza fresh from the oven!

Who says you can’t be a bit festive in the summer months? Willibrew’s got an IPA blend aged in wine barrels for readers looking to try something new.

“Blend of 2017,’18, & ‘21 Festive 2xIPAs aged in a Pinot Noir Wine barrel. Dominant flavors of wine and wood enhance this Double IPA.”