Imperial Stout

Posted in New Realm Brewing, Coming Soon

New Realm Rye Barrel Aged Doomsday Hound Russian Imperial Stout coming this weekend

New Realm Rye Barrel Aged Doomsday Hound Russian Imperial Stout is the 4th barrel-aged release by the Atlanta-based brewery.

The base beer is a Russian imperial stout, aged for 8 months in Sazerac Rye Whiskey barrels. Per New Realm, Doomsday Hound is “a beast with a roasted coffee and cocoa malt character”. The Sazerac barrel-aging adds rye spiciness with hints of vanilla and coconut.

New Realm Rye Barrel Aged Doomsday Hound Russian Imperial Stout is available in 16-ounce cans at the brewery on January 26th. Limited to just 12 cases.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Rye Whiskey.)
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft. 12 Cases Produced.
Debut: 1/26/19

11.9% ABV

Image: New Realm Brewing

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Oskar Blues Brewing, Cigar City Brewing, Don't Miss This

Oskar Blues & Cigar City debut ‘Bamburana’, a double barrel-aged imperial stout

Oskar Blues and Cigar City, both part of the CANarchy collective, are debuting a barrel-aged imperial stout nationally this month.

This collaboration is a big one, perfect for a winter release. The two breweries created an imperial stout, aged in both whiskey barrels and brandy barrels, with figs and dates. After blending into the finishing tanks, Bamburana was then aged again on Amburana wood spirals. Amburna is a tropical tree native to Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru.

“We were pleasantly surprised with the vanilla and gingerbread spice nuances this South American wood contributed into the finished beer and look forward to putting this delicious beer in front of folks,” said Wayne Wambles of Cigar City Brewing

Oskar Blues Cigar City Bamburana is a national release in 12-ounce cans and draft starting in mid-January, 2019.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Figs. Dates. Barrel Aged. Whiskey. Brandy.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Limited Release.

Debut: Mid-January 2019

12.2% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in EPIC Brewing Company, Don't Miss This

Epic Quadruple Barrel Baptist is big, bold, and blew us away

In the world of imperial stouts filled with various dessert-like additions, Epic Quadruple Barrel Big Bad Baptist stands alone. This big bottle of ridiculous is how you make a decadent pastry stout.

Big Bad Baptist was supposed to be released under another name – Jack Mormon Imperial Stout, back in 2011. Epic Brewing made a barrel-aged imperial stout brewed with Jack Mormon roasters coffee. Unfortunately, the state of Utah rejected the “Mormon” name, even though it was a homage to their coffee roaster.

Brewery co-founder Dave Cole is a California Baptist and decided to integrate his real-life “Big Bad Baptist” roots into the name.

In that first year, Big Bad Baptist scored a 100 on RateBeer.com, and still maintains that high mark today.

Since the launch, variants of this coveted imperial stout have been released, including a Double Barrel, Triple Barrel, and Big Bad Baptista Imperial Stout. Each one takes a creative step forward. Now there’s Epic Quadruple Barrel Baptist and it really is the best Baptist we’ve ever had.

The brewers at Epic racked their imperial stout to both whiskey and rum barrels. Meanwhile, the team barrel-aged their own coffee beans, coconuts, and almonds. Basically, the only thing that’s not barrel-aged is the cocoa nibs. You might read all that and think, there’s just too much going on here.

You’re not wrong. There are some imperial stouts out there that are packed with chocolate, vanilla, strawberries, lactose, even cookies, and cereal. Some taste great. Some of these coveted imperial stouts are just muddled in flavor. That’s how Epic got this beer right. Scroll up and read everything the brewery put in the beer. Now read the next paragraph.

Every flavor is present in every sip. Your first taste starts with this rich, chocolaty imperial stout which gives way to a balance of subtle almond, coffee, and coconuts that finishes with a mix of vanilla oak and toasted rum sugar. That’s what blew us away. All these flavors are very much there in a beautiful balance, from start to finish. To us, that’s the crossroad of imagination and brewing talent. Epic didn’t just throw all the buzz-worthy additions to a barrel-aged imperial stout and expect a line outside. This is a symphony of barrel blending, and we were some morose tipsy folks when the bottle ran dry.

Epic Quadruple Barrel Big Bad Baptist is available in 22-ounce bottles – an extremely limited release hitting distribution now.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Chocolate. Barrel Aged Coffee. Barrel Aged Coconut. Barrel Aged Almonds. Barrel Aged. Whiskey. Rum.)

Hops: Nugget, Chinook, Cascade.
Malts: Muntons Maris Otter Malt, Briess 2-Row Brewers Malt, Crystal Muntons, Weyermann Light Munich Malt I, 2-Row Chocolate Malt 2-Row Black Malt, Roasted Barley.

Availability: 22oz Bottles. Extremely Limited Release.
Debut: Late Oct/Nov 2018

12% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Old Bust Head Brewing, Seasonal Return

Old Bust Head Barrel Aged Gold Cup Imperial Stout is one of the brewery’s best

Old Bust Head Barrel Aged Gold Cup Imperial Stout returns to the brewery on October 13th, one of only a handful of times this beer has been bottled.

On a recent trip to Virginia, we discovered Old Bust Brewing, tucked away from the countryside of Vint Hill, Virginia. You’d think a brewery that seems off the beaten path would boast a standard lineup of IPAs and pale ales on tap. This is where we found Barrel Aged Gold Cup and its badass lineup of variants.

The base Russian imperial stout is fantastic. Boozy, roasty, velvety with a touch of chocolate and espresso. Barrel Aged Gold Cup is a barrel-aged dream. Bittersweet chocolate and strong coffee flavors melt perfectly against the oaky vanilla bourbon barrels.

The brewery regulars are already clued into this beer’s reputation. The last release sold out in a matter of hours.

Old Bust Head Barrel Aged Gold Cup will be available in bottles once again on Saturday, October 13th in 16.9-ounce bottles. Start making some friends in Virginia.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Hops: Cascade, Hallertau MF
Malts: 2 Row, Caramel 80, Carapils, Roasted Barley, Chocolate, 2 Row Black

Availability: 16.9oz Bottles
Latest Return: 10/13/18

10% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Great Divide, Seasonal Return

Himalayan inspired Great Divide Chai Yeti makes another fall appearance

Great Divide Chai Yeti a new variation on the brewery’s widely popular imperial stout is returning for another fall. 

“Yeti” is synonymous in the beer world with a big, highly rated imperial stout. Variants include Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti, Espresso Yeti, Oak Aged Yeti, and Oatmeal Yeti. Last fall, the brewery released Velvet Yeti, a nitrogen infused edition. Now, Yeti is spending some time with a few exotic spices.

Great Divide Chai Yeti is brewed with a plethora of chai spices, including cinnamon, green cardamom, black pepper, ginger, nutmeg, and vanilla. The brewery states this beer is a nod to Yeti’s home region of the Himalayas.

Our beloved Yeti is going back to its roots with this Himalayan-inspired variation. Traditional Chai spices of cinnamon, green cardamom, black pepper, ginger, nutmeg, and vanilla blend seemlessly with Yeti’s rich, roasted malt backbone for a spicy beast fit to tackle Everest.

Great Divide Chai Yeti is a 22-ounce bottle and draft release, available now through December 2018.

Style: Imperial Stout (Cinnamon. Green Cardamom. Black Pepper. Ginger. Nutmeg. Vanilla.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft
Debut: October 2017
Latest Return: Late September 2018

9.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Atlanta Brewing Company, Coming Soon

Nearly in a year in barrels, Atlanta Brewing Hype Whale Reserve debuts

Atlanta Brewing Hype Whale Reserve will be available at the brewery on September 22nd.

This release started in 2017 with Hype Whale, Atlanta Brewing’s imperial stout, being added to Buffalo Trace barrels. It’s been resting patiently until now.

22-ounce bottles of Atlanta Brewing Hype Whale will be available at the brewery on September 22nd at 12 noon.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 22oz Bottles
Debut: 9/22/18

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Holland Brewing

New Holland debuts a “Banana Coconut” edition of famed Dragon’s Milk

New Holland Banana Coconut Dragon’s Milk will join the “Reserve” lineup of Dragon’s Milk inspired releases. 

The Holland, Michigan based brewery’s Dragon’s Milk is easily one of the most iconic barrel-aged imperial stouts in America. Dating as far back as 2014, the brewery started releasing variants to this stout under the “Reserve” moniker. The series has gotten more and more interesting ever since.

READ MORE: DRAGON’S MILK RESERVE SERIES

This fall, a new limited release rises from the wood – New Holland Banana Coconut Dragon’s Milk. As the name suggests, the brewery aged the imperial stout on bananas, plantains, and coconuts. This fall pastry stout is 11% alcohol by volume.

This release is ridiculous. Phenomenal. Addictive even. The banana balances perfectly with the coconut, which both give way to the chocolatey, oaky vanilla nuances from the wood. This beer is balanced, rich, and nothing short of incredible. If you ask us, drink this beer in abundance. It may win the title as best Reserve Series release yet.

New Holland Banana Coconut Dragon’s Milk is available in 12-ounce bottles and draft as a limited release.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Bananas. Plantains. Coconuts. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Hops: Nugget, Brewer’s Gold
Malts: 2-row, Munich, Caramel, Flaked Barley, Chocolate, Black and Honey

Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Limited Release.
Debut: September 2018

11% ABV, 30 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay