Imperial Stout

Westbrook Mexican Cake Hits Shelves Again

Westbrook Brewing (Mt. Pleasant, SC) has a hit on their hands with Mexican Cake – their first anniversary beer first released in May, 2012. The imperial stout is aged with cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, and habanero peppers.

People couldn’t get enough Continue Reading →

Jailhouse Thieves in the Law Ships

Jailhouse Thieves in the Law, a new Russian Imperial Stout, has shipped from the Hampton, Georgia brewery.

To create this new high octane offering, the brewery used a variety of dark roasted malts for complexity without being overly roasty.

It comes Continue Reading →

Posted in Don't Miss This, Seasonal Return, Westbrook Brewing Co

Westbrook Mexican Cake Hits Shelves Again

Westbrook Brewing (Mt. Pleasant, SC) has a hit on their hands with Mexican Cake – their first anniversary beer first released in May, 2012. The imperial stout is aged with cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, and habanero peppers.

People couldn’t get enough of it, so Westbrook brought it back in 2013, alongside some barrel aged offerings.

Here in May, 2015, Westbrook Mexican Cake is in distribution, quietly (or not so quietly) hitting shelves where the brewery distributes. This is your official heads up.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Cocoa Nibs, Vanilla Beans, Cinnamon, Habanero)
Availability: 22oz Bombers, Draft. Limited Release, May each year.

10.5% ABV, 50 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Clown Shoes Brewing, New Releases

Clown Shoes Breakfast Exorcism, Massachusetts Only

Clown Shoes Breakfast Exorcism will be available starting the first week of May. The base beer is Undead Party Crasher (an imperial stout), aged in 16 rye barrels with Barrington Coffee Roasting Company espresso beans.

After barreling, the brewery blended Breakfast Exorcism with 7 gallons of concentrated cold brew coffee.

Clown Shoes Breakfast Exorcism will be available in 22oz bottles in Massachusetts, and on tap at Sunset Grille in Allston.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Espresso Beans. Barrel Aged. Rye Bourbon.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles
Distribution: MA only
Release: Early May, 2015

11% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, New Releases, Saint Arnold Brewing

Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel #9 Releases April 13th

Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel #9 is available starting today. This edition is the brewery’s famous Pumpkinator, aged in bourbon barrels for seven months. The barrels are Woodford Reserve and Willett bourbon barrels.

BB9 pours a dark brown to black color with a tan head. The nose is pumpkin spice up front with oak, bourbon, vanilla and dark fruit in the background. The taste starts with sweet chocolate and pumpkin spice up front and finishes with a bit of alcohol heat and spices. This beer has a medium-full body with a soft mouthfeel.

Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel #9 is available in 12oz bottles, and draft.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Pumpkin, Molasses, Brown Sugar, Spices. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Release: 4/13/15

12.9% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in JailHouse Brewing, New Releases

Jailhouse Thieves in the Law Ships

Jailhouse Thieves in the Law, a new Russian Imperial Stout, has shipped from the Hampton, Georgia brewery.

To create this new high octane offering, the brewery used a variety of dark roasted malts for complexity without being overly roasty.

It comes across with rich decadent chocolate and coffee flavors. Hops are subdued and alcohol presents on the finish.

Jailhouse Thieves in the Law is available in 22oz bottles. Limited to just 6 kegs, and 100 cases for the state of Georgia.

Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft. Limited Release
Distribution: Georgia

11.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Don't Miss This, Three Taverns Brewery

Three Taverns Departed Spirit Coming to Bottles

Three Taverns Departed Spirit will be the brewery’s next bottle release in April. The base beer is Three Taverns Theophan the Recluse Imperial Stout the brewery aged in bourbon barrels.

Departed Spirit recently took first in Atlanta’s Secret Stash Bash in March. Above, oran Van Ginderacther and brewery founder Brian Purcell celebrate the top spot.

Beer Street Journal sampled Three Taverns Departed Spirit this week, and can safely say, we are excited. The beer has a great bourbon to stout balance. The barrels don’t over power the greatness that Theophan the Recluse is.

Expect Three Taverns Departed Spirit in 750ml bottles in late April. The artwork will remember Heavy Bells, their bourbon barrel quad.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 750ml bottles
Release: Late-April, 2015

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Cigar City Brewing, Coming Soon, Headlines

Cigar City Endless Nameless, Hopefully After Nirvana Hidden Track

Going completely out on a limb here. Cigar City Endless Nameless, a future imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels, pays homage to Nirvana.

Let’s dig in. For those of you that don’t know, Endless Nameless is actually the hidden track on Nirvana’s Nevermind album, released in 1991. The last track “Something in the Way” ran a full 10 minutes, 29 seconds, with Endless Nameless appearing at 3:46.

As for the beer, Cigar City Endless Nameless as mentioned earlier, is an imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels.

It could be something else entirely. Just like Ommegang’s new IPA.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Release: TBA

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Seasonal Return, Stone Brewing Co.

Stone Imperial Russian Stout 2015 Hits Shelves

Stone Imperial Russian Stout, the brewery’s quite popular imperial stout, is headed back to shelves. Since this is an odd-year (2015), Stone has released an odd partner in crime – Stone Chai-Spiced Imperial Russian Stout. Both bottles are available as of this week.

Stone Imperial Russian Stout is so thick, rich and, well, sinful, you might worry that you’ll be doomed to the fiery pits just for thinking about a sip. Rest assured, however, that even though this seemingly pernicious brew is indeed as black as sin, we guarantee that no actual sin was committed in making it…you’ll have to add that on your own. This massive and intensely aromatic beer abounds with notes of chocolate, coffee, black currants, anise and roastiness, and its heavy palate is nothing to be trifled with.

Stone Imperial Russian Stout is available in 22oz bottles, seasonally.

Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Hops: Warrior
Malts: Pale Malt, Roasted Barley, Amber Malt, and Black Malt
Distribution: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA and Puerto Rico
International Distribution: Australia; Alberta, Canada; Japan; Singapore; Sweden; and United Kingdom

Availability: 22oz bombers, Draft

10.5% ABV, 65 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay