Asheville Brewing Releasing Love Ninja

This year’s Love Ninja is brewed with lactose, giving it a silky smoothness. Then fresh vanilla beans, cacao powder from local chocolatier French Broad Chocolate Lounge, and pureed strawberries are added to the beer. The result is a rich Milk Porter with an explosive, but not-too-sweet, berry chocolate flavor and aroma. It’s liquid Neopolitan-style ice cream–for adults only.

“The aroma is fantastic,” says Scott Stuhr, lead cellar man at Asheville Brewing Company. “This beer smells like strawberry-chocolate cake. The aroma will knock your head off.”

However, unlike other Ninjas of love you may meet at the bar, you’ll actually want these numbers–5.2 percent ABV, 26 IBUs, and 25 SRM. The alcohol by volume gives this version of Ninja a stealthy kick, but not so hard that it affects your Ninja performance. What could be a better Valentine’s Day gift for the beer lovers in your life?

Love Ninja is the second release in Asheville Brewing’s series of Ninja-inspired specialty brews. The Ninjabread Man Porter was released in early November and will be available through the holidays, although it’s disappearing fast. Catch 22-ouncers and growlers of Ninjabread Man while you can! Luckily, Asheville Brewing’s flagship Ninja Porter is available year-round, in newly-designed 12-ounce cans and on draft.

The 22-ounce bottles of Love Ninja will be for sale at all Asheville Brewing Company locations and at Asheville bottle shops, as well as at some regional grocery and convenience stores. Look for this special brew on draft at Asheville watering holes, bars and restaurants, and, of course, at all Asheville Brewing Company locations.