Every years hordes of homebrewers take a long shot to become a sure shot by entering Samuel Adams home brew contest.

Long shot story made short: the competition starts out regionally and escalates through several rounds of tasting where winners are finally picked. The winners then go on to compete against top brews made by Samuel Adams employees. The top three winners are picked and are eventually mass produced for a six pack that hits store shelves in the spring.

I was fortunate enough to get my first taste of one of this year’s winners, the Traditional Bock, through a sample more than a month ago, but even though it was made available in April, I was unable to find the six pack in stores in this area until last week.

This years winners are the before mentioned Traditional Bock made by Alex Drobshoff of California. He is joined by a Double IPA made by another Californian Mike McDole and a Cranberry Wit made by Samuel Adams Employee Carissa Sweigart.

I didn’t get the chance to try the IPA before one of my friends swilled it down, but the other two are definitely beers worth buying.

The bock is dark, sweet and the perfect pairing for deserts or a more hearty meal. The second time I tried it, I decided to eat desert first and I wasn’t disappointed.

From the bottle: “Alex’s brew is a bright copper German inspired bock with a complex, full bodied mouthfeel. Hints of rich plum and cherry aroma paired with its toasty malt flavor make this the perfect beer to linger over on a cool evening.”

I agree.

Most of the time, when fruit meets dark beer, I feel disappointed. But this beer, while fruity, still kept a dark richness.

The Cranberry Wit also held true to form. I’m partial to wit beers, especially in the summer. While the cranberry was more of an afterthought than a stronger taste, this beer is still a great match for hot summer days.

So hit the stores and grab a six pack before they disappear. They are only available for a limited time.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the New Hampshire Liquor Commission is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

They kicked off the anniversary by offering gift cards for every $75 purchase and now, they’ve got a new promotion for Memorial Day.

Shoppers can get select wine and spirits for $19.34 in honor of the first year of sales, 1934.

Items on the list include many Black Box wines, Grey Goose 750 ML bottles, Maker’s Mark 750 ML bottles, Tanqueray Rangpur 750 ML bottles and more.

You’ll have to be quick though. Prices are only good through May 25.