Spring into new beers

The Swing Session Saison from Victory can found at most Whole Foods Markets along the East Coast.

As the snow starts to finally melt away and spring mercifully draws closer, a new round of beers is poised to rise right along with the temperature.

Victory’s Swing Session Saison is made from both German and American hops and features both peppercorns and lemon zest to prime taste buds for warmer temperatures. The beer, with a spicy aroma and citrus snap, pays tribute to its traditional Belgian Saison roots. Pair it with soft pretzels, Thai mussels and different salsas.Swing has an ABV of 4.5 percent and will be available through April. A six-pack of Swing has a retail price of $9.99 and can be found at many gourmet grocery stores along the East Coast.

Golden Hour is available at several locations in NYC. For a list go to http://grimmales.com/our-beers/find/

The St. Gambrinus Beer Shoppe in Brooklyn is featuring Grimm Artisanal Ales’ newest beer, Golden Hour: Spelt Saison, which also follows the tradition of the Belgian saison. Its brewers,Joe and Lauren Carter Grimm, arehusband and wife brewing partners who live in the Gowanus area of Brooklyn.Golden Hour, which has a 6.3 percent ABV, combines spiciness with a subtle nutty flavor. Bottles are $11.49 each.

The Samuel Adams Double Bock, another seasonal beer, is a two-row pale malt blend and Caramel 60 malt that gives the deep mahogany beer a nice sweetness. The beer’s German hops add a balancing note of citrus. Double Bock would pair with savory meats like duck or lamb and would complement hearty desserts like cheesecake. One of the brewery’s first “big beers,” Double Bock has an ABV of 9.5 percent. Double Bock will be released in a 220z bottle retails for $6.99, and see a limited draft release.

The Brooklyn Brew Shop has the homebrew bag of Coffee and Donut Stout for $15.

A perfect brunch beer, the Coffee and Donut Stout at 508 Gastrobrewery is made with crushed coffee beans, coconut flakes and brown sugar for a rich and creamy brew. The Brooklyn Brew Shop offers a home-brewing bag of the Coffee and Donut Stout for $15, but it will also be on tap at 508.

Plus: new ciders

According to the Symphony IRI National Consumer Panel, 84 percent of beer drinkers also drink cider. Thankfully, two of the leaders in hard cider have also stepped up with new drinks for the season.

Woodchuck’s Hopped Apple Cider will now be a year-round offering.

Woodchuck is introducing a Hopped Apple cider that is blended with cascade hops to provide crisp citrus and pine flavors that pair well with the apple. Hopped Apple, which has five percent ABV, will now be a year-round on draft offering.

Magners Irish Cider is introducing a new Pear Cider. This new draft offering is made in Clonmel, Ireland. Magners’ Pear Cider, with a 4.5 percent ABV, is available in a 12-ounce bottle and 19.2-ounce pint bottle.