(Tampa, FL) – Lots of news and notes on Cigar City Brewing…

…First off, Warmer Winter Winter Warmer got a label makeover. The beer will still be packaged in 750s but beyond that, there are no updates to report with respect to this beer. 12/23 Update: Now available for sale at the tasting room…

…Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 12th, the official release date for 2011 Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout.

…From this morning’s blog post:

“Tocobaga Ale is back in the tasting room and on it’s way to taps within our distribution area. This 7.2% hoppy, amber ale is quickly becoming a very popular offering where ever it becomes available so try it when you see it! We already have more in the tanks, fermenting away so I am guessing it should be available for a while. In the tasting room we are pouring growlers of it, so if you are close by come and get them filled. For now Tocobaga Ale will be draft only.

The first of our Pilot Series beers, an Imperial Sweet Stout is now on tap in the tasting room. With Marshal Zhukov’s tap drying up for the time being this will make a great replacement! Weighing in at around 12% ABV, Ben’s not messing around as we can see from his first offering! The result is a smooth full bodied stout, sweet but balanced with flavors of roasted malt and a delicate bitterness. Also coming soon will be a Dark Mild and a Table Saison all brewed right here 45 gallons at a time!

Either and Or were packaged this week, these black beauties will be released next week in the tasting room and should be in retail establishments soon after. Starting next Friday, you can purchase 12 oz. bottles of both and for this very special release we will have them on draft for you to try in the tasting room side by side. Which will be your favorite? Only one way to find out! Draft is going to be very limited for this release so be sure to stop by if you can!”

…Meanwhile, The Full Pint reports that the brewery is getting more equipment and has a couple collaborations coming up:

“Mikkel from Mikkeller will be in town December 6th to brew a collaboration beer with them. It will be a Rum-Barrel Aged Sweet Stout brewed with Raisins. They also have a collaboration with St. Somewhere Brewing coming up in the next month which will be a black saison […] brewed with elderberry flowers, locally foraged lemon leaves, Hibiscus, homemade candy sugar and black currants in secondary.