If you are a believer that the Mayans were right and the world just might come to an end on December 21, 2012, then why not party it up this year and really go out with a bang? Elysian Brewing is on board and is planning to release 12 beers leading up to the apocalypse; one new beer released on the 21st of each month. They’ve teamed up with Seattle’s Fantagraphics Books, who will be putting together some cool label art for each beer.  The beers will be available on draft and in bottles for a limited time when released.

The first release for the series, NIBIRU Yerba Mate Tripel, will take place this Saturday, January 21, at the Elysian Capitol Hill brewpub from 4pm to 7pm. In addition to tasting the new beer at this event, you can pick up your Apocalypse Beer Survival Guide. If you collect survival stamps at all 2012 Apocalypse events, then you’ll be rewarded at the final End of the World Party on December 20, 2012 (you might want to take the 21st off, just in case).

More about NIBIRU:

First up in January is NIBIRU, named for the mysterious planet X supposedly on a collision course toward Earth. The Elysian / Fantagraphics Nibiru will be a Belgian-style Tripel flavored with an infusion of yerba maté. Combining the tasty esters of Belgian yeast and the compelling tea-like flavors of the South American herb mixture, the beer will weigh in at around 7.6% alcohol by volume. A mixture of German Northern Brewer, Czech Saaz and American Amarillo hops round out the uniqueness of this first beer of the Apocalypse. Oddly enough there’s another apocalyptic-themed Nibiru out there: a super volcano currently burbling most dangerously beneath Yellowstone National Park. It too is scheduled to end life as we know it very very soon.

Details of the next two beers in the series, RAPTURE & FALLOUT:

February 21 will usher in RAPTURE, an ale of opulent proportions flavored with heather tips. Unlike the various Rapture events predicted by pseudoscientists and alarmist evangelicals, the beer will be very real and frankly delicious, combining the floral fragrance and slight bite of high country heather with Northwest Glacier hops in another 7% abv beer. FALLOUT follows in March, right around the time of the vernal equinox. Fallout will be a pale ale made with green cardamom.

Some info on the rest of the series from Elysian:

As Earth’s last year unfolds, other beers will appear as if by dangerous magic. Persimmons, chilies, raisins, blood oranges, rosemary and other herbs will be integrated into ales, lagers and Belgian styles using the finest local and imported ingredients. These limited brews will be available in bottles and draft and at select bars and bottle shops.
We will celebrate as they are released – on the 21st of every month in 2012 – with events at one or the other of Elysian’s three Seattle pubs and at Fantagraphics headquarters in the Georgetown neighborhood. Once they’re gone, these beers will never be brewed again. Then again, come December 21, that will be the least of our worries.

REMEMBER: THE END IS BEER.

Find out more about Fantagraphics here.