Imperial Stout

Coastal Empire Dawn Patrol Coming to Bottles

Coastal Empire Dawn Patrol Imperial Breakfast Stout is slated for bottles. The 2014 Great American Beer Festival bronze medal winner is aged for 4 weeks on coffee, raisins, ancho peppers, serano peppers, cumin, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. The final result is Continue Reading →

Posted in New Releases, Stone Brewing Co.

Stone Chai-Spiced Imperial Russian Stout, For Odd Years Release

Stone Chai-Spiced Imperial Russian Stout is the newest addition to the brewery’s Odd Beers for Odd Years offering, alongside Extra Hoppy Barleywine.

Past Odd Years offerings for Imperial Russian Stout have included Espresso Imperial Russian Stout, and Belgo Anise Imperial Russian Stout.

As you have probably deduced, this edition is inspired by chai tea. To achieve this nuance, Stone has added clove, ginger, black pepper, cardamom, black tea, and cinnamon to the bold imperial stout.

As it stands, the classic version of Stone Imperial Russian Stout is deep, dark, rich, roasty and perhaps even a bit sinful. The ‘Odd Beers for Odd Years’ part of the journey means the coming of each odd-numbered year provides the opportunity to take this traditional beer to new and mysterious places, embarking on an exploratory odyssey enabled by strikingly flavorful elements applied to a lovely onyx canvas. This beer, the latest ‘Odd’ transubstantiation, takes inspiration straight from the spice aisle, incorporating array of ingredients assembled to emulate the flavors of authentic chai tea. Cinnamon, cardamom, clove, ginger, a dash of black pepper and a dose of black tea combine with Stone Imperial Russian Stout’s incumbent flavors to take it deep into exotic, previously unfathomed tenitory. Expect a touch of earthiness in combination with a warm, tantalizing aridness. Asa one-time brew with enduring character, Stone CHAI-SPICED Imperial Russian Stout is crafted to be contemplated fresh or cellared under proper conditions for many years so that it may live on not only in one’s memory, but on his or her taste buds as well.

Stone Chai-Spiced Imperial Russian Stout is available in 22oz bottles, and draft. Typically arriving in March.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Clove, Ginger, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Black Tea, Cinnamon)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft
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 and British Columbia (“Odd” release only), Canada; Japan; Singapore; Sweden; and United Kingdom
Release: Late-March, 2015

11/% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Green Flash Brewing, Headlines, New Releases

Green Flash Silva Stout Kicks of “Cellar 3” Program

Green Flash Silva Stout will kick off a series of corked and caged finish ales from the brewery’s “Cellar 3” barrel aging facility.

Green Flash Silva Stout has made various draft and 12oz bottle appearances in the past. The base beer is the brewery’s Double Stout, aged in bourbon barrels. The brewery has expanded their barrel program over the past few years in order take some smaller offerings national.

Our Double Stout ages in oak bourbon barrels, and artfully emerges as Silva Stout. This midnight black ale features elegant notes of oak, vanilla, dark chocolate, coffee, roasted barley and ripe cherry. Round and delicately balanced in body, each sip envelops the palate with its impressively complex craft composition.

The brewery has expanded their barrel program over the past few years in order take some smaller barreled offerings national. Green Flash Silva Stout makes a tap room debut on Tuesday, March 24th.

Distribution in Green Flash networks in April, 2015.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon Barrels.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles, Corked & Caged.
Release: Late-March, 2015

10.1% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Headlines, Ninkasi Brewing

Space Yeast Makes Ninkasi Ground Control

This past summer, Ninkasi Brewing unveiled the Ninkasi Space Program (NSP). The goal? Send yeast to space and back, and use it in a new beer.

The first mission of NSP took flight with a rocket that was launched by the Civilian Space eXploration Team (CSXT) and Team Hybriddyne from Spaceport America. 16 vials of brewer’s yeast were packed on the first flight. Unfortunately, the payload was lost in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert for 27 days, and the yeast perished.

In October of 2014, six more vials of brewer’s yeast was sent 77.3 miles upward, and back to Earth safely. Neil Armstrong would have been proud.

“After almost two years of research, development, lab time, and two separate rocket launches to garner space yeast, we have finally completed our mission,” says Nikos Ridge, Ninkasi CEO and co-founder. “It was a project born out of passionate people coming together to try something new and we can’t wait to share it with the world.”

The result is Ninkasi Ground Control, an imperial stout brewed with yeast that has touched the stars.

Ninkasi Ground Control is nuanced Oregon hazelnuts, star anise and cocoa nibs. The brewery is “launching” the new offering on April 13, 2015 in 22oz bottles.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Hazelnuts, Star Anise, Cocoa Nibs)
Hops: Apollo, Bravo, Comet (See a theme?)
Malt: 2-Row Pale, Black, Chocolate, Munich, Crystal, Honey, Special Roast, Peated

Availability: 22oz Bottles
Distribution: AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, NV, OR, WA. Canada: Alberta, BC, Vancouver

10% ABV, 80 IBUs

Fun fact: Eugene, Oregon based Neal Williams is the artist behind the Ground Control label, whose works include concert posters for Queens of the Stone Age, Dave Matthew Band, Interpol, and The Head & The Heart. Image via Ninkasi Brewing.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in American Craft Beer Week, Don't Miss This, Modern Times Beer, New Releases

Modern Times Barrel Aged Monster’s Park Tickets on Sale 3/19

Modern Times Bourbon Barrel Aged Monster’s Park tickets go on sale this Thursday. The brewery’s 13% ABV imperial stout has been aged 5+ months in bourbon barrels.

There are three versions of Modern Times Bourbon Barrel Aged Monster’s Park: The “classic” edition, one featuring Black House Blend coffee, and one with toasted coconut & cocoa nibs.

600 bottles of each will be available. Prices range from $24 to 28 a piece.

Modern Times Bourbon Barrel Aged Monster’s Park and variants on March 19th at 10am via Brown Paper Tickets; all bottles must be picked up at the Lomaland Fermentorium tasting room during the two month pick-up window.

A tap room party will be on March 25th. [TICKETS]

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.) Variants have Cocoa Nibs, Coconut, Coffee.
Availability: 22oz Bottles. 600 of each
Release: 3/25/15

13% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Don't Miss This, Peace Tree Brewing

Peace Tree Barrel Aged Imperial Stout Celebrates Five Years

Peace Tree Barrel Aged Imperial Stout is one of two special releases, celebrating the brewery’s five year anniversary.

To commemorate our first five years, we bring you this Imperial Stout, which has been aged in rye whiskey barrels for no less than 15 months. The deep color and malty backbone come from heavy additions of dark-roasted and caramel malts. These chocolate and coffee characteristics are balanced by mild hops and from the complex esters developed through the Belgian-style yeast during fermentation…

Peace Tree Barrel Aged Imperial Stout will be available in 22oz bottles. Those wishing to purchase bottles can reserve bottles online, for in person pickup. $12.00.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles
Release: 3/21/15

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coastal Empire Brewing Co, Coming Soon

Coastal Empire Dawn Patrol Coming to Bottles

Coastal Empire Dawn Patrol Imperial Breakfast Stout is slated for bottles. The 2014 Great American Beer Festival bronze medal winner is aged for 4 weeks on coffee, raisins, ancho peppers, serano peppers, cumin, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. The final result is a beer that resembles a Mexican mole sauce. In total, it takes the brewery more than two months to produce.

Coastal Empire Dawn Patrol Imperial Breakfast Stout will be available in 22oz bottles. The brewery has not yet announced this bottle release.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Cumin, Allspice, Cinnamon, Peppers, Coffee, Raisins)
Availability: 22oz Bottles
Release: TBA

?? ABV 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Don't Miss This, Firestone Walker Brewing

Firestone Walker Parabola 2015 Releases March 21st

Firestone Walker Parabola 2015 makes a seasonal return to the brewery’s lineup on March 21st, 2015.

Parabola is a Russian imperial Stout, aged in bourbon barrels. Firestone Walker laments, this is one of the brewery’s most sought after offerings, and a major component of the brewery’s Anniversary blends.

One of our most aggressive and sought-after offerings. Bold bourbon, tobacco and espresso aromas and a hint of American oak greet the nose. Rich, chewy roasted malts, charred oak and bourbon-like vanilla fill the palate and create a seamless finish. A remarkably complex brew that offers a transcendental drinking experience – enjoy with good company.

Firestone Walker Parabola will be available in 22oz bottles in limited quantities across the brewery’s distribution footprint.

Style: Russian Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles. Limited Release.
Return: 3/21/15

12.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay