Any Guesses? Warped Wing Preps For This Year’s Esther’s Li’l Secret

Written By: The Gnarly Gnome

It’s one of the best-kept secrets in Dayton beer every year, and Warped Wing definitely knows how to build excitement about the release of their annual Ester’s Li’l Secret. There’s something fun about not only a beer release, but one that involves a secret recipe that is revealed at a special event – which, if you’re putting two and two together, is exactly what the brewery does with this one!

About The Collaboration

If you haven’t heard of this release, hang with me for a second, and I’ll fill you in. This yearly collaboration is released in two versions by Warped Wing. They do a standard version in four packs of cans, alongside a barrel-aged bottled version of it, too. Since it’s a collaboration with Esther Price the beer each year has a bit of a “candy-inspired theme”.

Oh… and they’re usually delicious.

To roll with the whole ‘secret’ vibe, they keep the beer’s flavor a big secret every year, unveiling it in a big release event before unleashing the beer upon their fans.

To give you an idea of what this year’s release MIGHT be, here’s a look at the past versions of the collaboration:

• 2014 – Caramel Scotch Ale (this was a draft only release)
• 2015 – Milk Chocolate Brown Ale
• 2016 – Chocolate Peanut Brittle Porter
• 2017 – Winter White Ale with Chocolate and Vanilla Cream
• 2018 – Chocolate Cherry Cordial Stout
• 2019 – Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt Scotch Ale
• 2020 – Double Fudge Cream Stout
• 2021 – Chocolate Almond Bark Brown Ale
• 2022 – Caramel Pecan Scotch Ale With Boston Stoker Highlander Grogg Coffee
• 2023 – Coconut Cream Milk Stout
• 2024 – Sweetheart Peppermint Porter

Why I Am Excited This Year

I mean, I’m always pretty excited about it, but this year I have even higher hopes for this release. This year also marks the 100th anniversary of Esther Price candy, a Dayton-based candy maker that I KNOW you’re famliar with if you’re from this area.

The company (Esther Price) was founded with an emphasis on premium ingredients and craftsmanship. Esther would try every single batch of candy to make sure that it met her standards. For ME, I love using a collaboration like this to remind myself of this side of the industry that is far too easily forgotten.

The Release Event

If all of this sounds like a ton of fun for you (it should… because it is), then you might want to go ahead and update your calendar, asap! The release event is taking place on November 6th at Warped Wing’s Dayton taproom. The reveal of this year’s beer is taking place at 4 pm, and there will be live music, food, and drink specials to celebrate what the brewery likes to think of as the official kick-off to the holiday season.

The beer will also be making its way to the Springboro, Mason, and Huber Heights taprooms at some point in the future, too. The release event, though… It’s a spectacle.

If you want to know more about this release or anything Warped Wing is up to, make sure you’re following them on social media (Facebook, Instagram) or visiting the website!