A surprise package arrived yesterday from Hopworks Urban Brewery: two cans each of Ace of Clubs Imperial IPA and Stoner Fruit Apricot Sour, the newest seasonals out for this year. Here are details from the company’s press release for these new 2021 brews:

“Imagine you’re stranded on a tropical island, sipping on a big Northwest IIPA when a mango and a coconut fall upon your head! Then, you’re flooded in a sea of apricots! That’s our new Ace of Clubs IIPA and Stoner Fruit Apricot Sour calling,” said Matt Speckenbach, Head Brewer at Hopworks. “I’m super excited for our new Ace Series this year and the new sours we’ve been brewing. Every other month in 2021, we’re releasing Imperial IPAs and sours with malts and hops paired perfectly with each season. I hope everyone enjoys these beers as much as we have!”

A bold Imperial IPA built for the winter months, Ace of Clubs is the fourth installment in Hopworks’ Ace Series. With classic, dank Northwest hops and a grapefruit aroma, this Imperial IPA’s big malt body plays perfectly with notes of coconut and passionfruit. Ace of Clubs has an ABV of 9.1% and IBU of 100.

Stoner Fruit Apricot Sour is a deliciously bright sour with a light, tart malt body. Brewed with apricots and Zappa hops, this sour ale comes in at 5.6% ABV and 4 IBU.

Ace of Clubs is brewed with Chinook, Columbus, Cryo Centennial, Cryo Sabro, and Moutere hops; I’m always excited to see Sabro and Moutere is one I hadn’t heard of—it’s relatively new, from New Zealand, with big grapefruit and passionfruit character. The Zappa hops in Stoner Fruit which, like Sabro, are a neomexicanus-derived variety, apparently full of passionfruit, tropical fruit, and Fruity Pebbles notes.