Wawa's Coffee Beers Return With a New Holiday-Themed Brew

Two years ago, beloved Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain Wawa announced plans to release their first official beer. Produced in collaboration with the local 2SP Brewing Company, Winter Reserve Coffee Stout caused massive lines upon its release: Beyond the beer's obvious novelty factor, the Philadelphia area has long had an affinity for great craft brews, and Wawa is known for the quality of their branded food and beverage items, so expectations were high.

Apparently, those expectations were met—I personally found the first stout to be spot on—because, for the third year in a row, Wawa has once again announced what's now become an annual release of new seasonal beers.

Last winter's batch included three new beers: Beyond the original coffee stout, 2SP released Reserve Reserve, a barrel-aged imperial coffee stout; Coffee Cake Reserve Stout, brewed in collaboration with Virginia's Hardywood Park Brewery; and Snow Bird Reserve, brewed with Florida's Coppertail Brewing.

But this year, things are one again staying close to home: Wawa and 2SP Brewing will be unleashing three beers, including two brand new concepts which will be available around the southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Eastern Shore Maryland areas.

First, instead of "Winter" Reserve, the 2020 edition is Holiday Reserve Stout—a fitting new moniker since the previous coffee oatmeal stout base has been spiced up with cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and ginger to bring extra holiday cheer. This 6-percent ABV brew will be sold in four-packs of 16-ounce cans for $12.99.

Second, 2019's Reserve Reserve Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout—billed as a 9-percent ABV "English Style Imperial Oatmeal Stout aged in Woodford Reserve barrels for 7 months"—will be returning in 2020. But third, Wawa will also be debuting a new Reserve Reserve Rum Barrel Aged Imperial Coffee Stout, aged for seven months in Jamaican rum barrels. Both will be sold in 500-milliliter bottles at $10.99 a pop, but the latter 9.3-percent ABV rum barrel version will only be available in "highly limited quantities" exclusively at select Wawa stores and from the 2SP brewery.

"It's our third year partnering with our friends and neighbors at 2SP Brewing Company and we couldn't be more excited to provide our hometown with these seasonally-inspired beers," Mike Sherlock, Wawa's chief product marketing officer, stated. "Although we can't celebrate in person, we hope these beers bring our community together and provide enjoyment over the holiday season."

Speaking of not being able to celebrate in person, that won't stop Wawa and 2SP from holding a virtual celebration instead. This Friday, November 20 at 5:15 p.m. ET, the brands will be hosting a live firkin tapping and tasting on the 2SP Brewing Company Facebook page. Just grab your beer in advance and fire up Facebook to join 2SP's Mike Contreras and Head Brewer Bob Barrar, along with Wawa's Michael McLaughlin for an online beer chat.

All three beers will debut on November 20 at just two Pennsylvania Wawa locations—Chadds Ford and Middletown Township. Then, on November 21, they'll also be available at 2SP Brewing Company in Aston before arriving at select distributors across the four-state region beginning on November 23.