Thirteen years after a Facebook post started it all, my favorite amber beer is returning to the tap at Moody Brews in Little Rock’s Pettaway neighborhood. And this time, there’s live jazz.
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
I like beer. More specifically, I like good local beer. And when that beer happens to have the Arkansas Outside name on it, well, that’s even better.
Tonight, Friday, Oct. 30, Arkansas Outside Amber returns to the taps at Moody Brews in Little Rock’s Pettaway neighborhood during the brewery’s free Friday Night Jazz. From 6 to 9 p.m., we’ll have live music, good food, great company and a beer with a history that goes back to 2013.
If you’ve been following Arkansas Outside for a while, you might remember how this whole thing started. If not, pull up a chair. It’s a pretty good story.
It All Started With a Facebook Post
Back in August 2013, during one of those Arkansas summers when the only reasonable outdoor activity seemed to be floating in water with a cold beer in hand, I had an idea.
I posted a simple question on the Arkansas Outside Facebook page: “Wouldn’t it be great if there was such a thing as Arkansas Outside Amber?”
I didn’t really expect anything to come of it. But sometimes the best things happen when you least expect them.
My friend Liz Philpot, who was with Keep Arkansas Beautiful at the time, saw the post and decided to do something about it. Without telling me, she contacted a friend of hers named Josiah Moody, who was brewing beer at Vino’s Pizza and Pub in Little Rock.
Josiah was interested. In fact, he was excited about making his first amber beer and thought he could have it ready for the October beer festivals.
Suddenly, my random Facebook thought was becoming an actual beer.
As the release approached, Josiah asked about a label. I reached out to Arkansas Outside contributor and talented artist Aly Signorelli, who created a beautiful hand-drawn design that captured the spirit of Arkansas Outside. She even hid little outdoor-related images among the leaves.
The beer made its public debut at Little Rocktoberfest in October 2013 at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
I remember arriving at the festival, finding the Vino’s booth and refusing to sample anything else until I’d tasted Arkansas Outside Amber.
Josiah filled my glass, and I finally got my first taste.
It was worth the wait.
Josiah described the beer this way:
“The initial few sips suggest a smooth, floral hoppiness, followed by a caramel, malt taste balancing out the hops. A perfect follow up to any outdoor activity in The Natural State.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
The beer was inspired by our Arkansas Outside motto: “If you’re not dirty and sweaty, you’re not playing hard enough.”
We eventually celebrated with a party at Vino’s, inviting Arkansas Outside readers, writers and friends to enjoy the new brew. It was one of those evenings that reminded me why I started Arkansas Outside in the first place. It’s all about the community.
A Beer That Followed Its Brewer
Over the next several years, Arkansas Outside Amber went on a bit of an adventure of its own.
Josiah left Vino’s and took the recipe with him to Damgoode Pies in Little Rock’s River Market. Not long afterward, I noticed a beer on the menu called Arkansas Amber.
I ordered one and immediately recognized the taste.
I messaged Josiah to tell him how much it reminded me of Arkansas Outside Amber.
His response? “It should.”
That’s Josiah. A man of few words who lets his beer do most of the talking.
Later, Josiah moved to Bike Rack Brewing in Bentonville, where he introduced a beer called Epic Trail Amber. Once again, I recognized that familiar flavor. Over time, it changed a little, possibly because of the larger production batches, but the connection was unmistakable.
My favorite amber had traveled across the state, changing names along the way, but never completely disappearing.
Bringing Arkansas Outside Amber Home
A few years ago, I learned that Josiah was planning to open his own brewery in Little Rock’s Pettaway neighborhood.
Naturally, I was excited. Not just because Little Rock was getting another local brewery, but because I knew exactly what I wanted to ask him.
I gave him some time to get things moving before finally sending the question.
“Will the AO Amber make a comeback?”
“Sure.”
Again, a man of few words.
After dealing with construction, permits and all the other challenges that come with opening a brewery, Josiah and his wife, Katchiri, opened Moody Brews in 2024.
On June 6 of that year, we celebrated the official return of Arkansas Outside Amber with a release party at the new brewery.
It was good to have the beer back in Little Rock, brewed by the same person who created it more than a decade earlier.
And now, in October 2026, we’re doing it again.
Friday Night Jazz and Arkansas Outside Amber
If you haven’t experienced Friday Night Jazz at Moody Brews, this would be an excellent time to give it a try.
The brewery has turned Friday evenings into something of a neighborhood block party at Pettaway Square. It’s casual, welcoming and free.
This Friday, Dave Williams on saxophone and Trey Williams on bass will join jazz guitarist Steve Huddleston for an evening of live music.
As the night progresses, other talented jazz musicians often wander in with their instruments and join the fun. By the final hour, the music can turn into a full-blown jam session.
It’s a great atmosphere for enjoying a beer, visiting with friends and winding down after a busy week.
Moody Brews will also have its regular menu of sandwiches, flatbreads and salads, along with its award-winning small-batch beers, ciders, sodas and cocktails.
And, of course, Arkansas Outside Amber will be back on tap.
Here’s to the Arkansas Outdoor Community
When I started Arkansas Outside in 2011, my goal was to share the stories of the people, places and events that make outdoor recreation in Arkansas special.
Over the years, I’ve met countless people through mountain biking, trail running, hiking, paddling, climbing and just about every other outdoor pursuit you can imagine.
Some of those friendships have been made on trails, some at races and events, and more than a few over a cold beer afterward.
Arkansas Outside Amber has always represented that side of our outdoor community to me.
What began as a silly thought on a hot August afternoon became a beer that followed its brewer from Little Rock to Bentonville and eventually back home. Along the way, it brought together friends, artists, brewers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Thirteen years later, I’m still grateful to Liz Philpot for making that first connection, Aly Signorelli for creating the original artwork, and especially Josiah Moody for taking a random idea and turning it into something I can actually drink.
I hope you’ll join us Friday evening at Moody Brews. Come enjoy some jazz, visit with old friends, make a few new ones and raise a glass to the Arkansas outdoor community. If you can’t make it tonight, AO Amber will be on tap until the current batch runs out. Visit soon.
After all, there’s nothing quite like a good local beer after a day of playing outside.
And you don’t even have to get dirty and sweaty to enjoy this one.
Event Details: Arkansas Outside Amber Release and Friday Night Jazz
Date: Friday, Oct. 30, 2026
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
Location: Moody Brews, 414 E. 21st St., Little Rock, Arkansas
Music: Dave Williams, Trey Williams and Steve Huddleston, with additional jazz musicians expected to join
Admission: Free
Food and drinks: Arkansas Outside Amber, other craft beers, cider, cocktails, sodas, sandwiches, flatbreads and salads
More information: Moody Brews
See you Friday. I’ll be the one drinking the amber. I’ll also be handing out Arkansas Outside stickers.
This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens, thank you for supporting our work!