Imperial Stout

Prairie Christmas Bomb! Hits Shelves

Prairie Artisan Ales Christmas Bomb! has hit shelves. Based loosely on the Bomb! Imperial Stout, this festive version is brewed with spices reminiscent of the season.

The regular edition of Bomb! is an imperial stout aged on espresso beans, chocolate, vanilla Continue Reading →

Coronado Stupid Stout 2014 Ships

Coronado Brewing Company (Coronado, CA) has released Stupid Stout this week. The beer is a part of the Southern California brewer’s Crown Series.

Coronado Stupid Stout got started as an English stout in 2008, only to return as a “west coast Continue Reading →

Posted in New Releases, Prairie Artisanal Ales

Prairie Christmas Bomb! Hits Shelves

Prairie Artisan Ales Christmas Bomb! has hit shelves. Based loosely on the Bomb! Imperial Stout, this festive version is brewed with spices reminiscent of the season.

The regular edition of Bomb! is an imperial stout aged on espresso beans, chocolate, vanilla beans, and ancho chile peppers, finishing at bold 13% The brewery has not disclosed the extra seasonal spices in Christmas Bomb!

Prairie Christmas Bomb! is available in 12oz bottles.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Coffee, Chocolate, Vanilla Beans, Chilies, Spices)
Availability: 12oz bottles
Distribution: OK, TX, AR, GA, & Shelton Brothers territories

Arrival: Mid to Late November, 2014

13% ABV

Check out the Home Alone references on the label…

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, New Releases, Stone Brewing Co., Videos

Stone Launches Master of Disguise “Golden Stout” [VIDEO]

Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, CA) has released the latest Stochascity Project offering, Master of Disguise Golden Imperial Stout.

Yes, this was once an April Fool’s joke back in 2010 with Brewdog. That got Stone thinking about what gives an imperial stout the roasty, bold flavors while still keeping the beer a lighter, golden color. Could it be possible? The answer lies: coffee, cocoa, flaked oats, and pale malts.

“To achieve the qualities of a stout, we relied on our prior experience brewing with coffee to pull flavors from the beans without affecting the hue of the beer,” explains Steele. “As the beer warms and opens up, the chocolate adds another level of complexity and helps build the traditional flavors typically associated with dark beers. It’s been really fun to see a prank with questionable viability become a reality.”

Stone Stochascity Master of Disguise turned out roasty and bold, yet golden. Take it from Mitch above, and give it a try.

Style: Imperial Stout (ish) (w/ Cocoa, Coffee)
Hops: Liberty and Nugget
Malts: Carapils, English Amber, Pale
Availability: 22oz bombers, Draft

Distribution: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, 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 and WA

Release: 11/17/14

9.7% ABV, 55 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Hangar 24, Headlines

Hangar 24 Barrel Roll Pugachev Mocha Hits in December

Hangar 24 Barrel Roll Pugachev Mocha drops on December 6th, 2014.  This years release sounds like what beer geek dreams are made off. The brewery took a Russian Imperial stout, and aged in it a 25 year bourbon barrel with coffee, cocoa nibs. To smooth it all out, Hangar 24 added lactose too. Yeah, I’m drooling too.

Pugachev Mocha is a truly indulgent creation that brings together ingredients from some of our favorite local craftsmen. It began as a single barrel of our Pugachev’s Cobra, specially aged in a 25 year bourbon barrel for 14 months. Into this barrel went single-origin cacao nibs from Parliament Chocolate, and locally roasted coffee beans from Augie’s Coffee, both located here in Redlands. A head of lactose sugar tops Mocha off, adding body and sweetness for final layer of decadence.

There are less than 70 memberships left in the Barrel Roll program that guarantees you beers like this. Hangar 24 Pugachev Mocha will be available in limited 22oz bombers.

Style: Imperial Milk Stout (w/ Coffee, Cocoa NIbs. Lactose. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 22oz Bombers. Limited Release.
Arrival: 12/6/14

14.8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coronado Brewing Company, Seasonal Return

Coronado Stupid Stout 2014 Ships

Coronado Brewing Company (Coronado, CA) has released Stupid Stout this week. The beer is a part of the Southern California brewer’s Crown Series.

Coronado Stupid Stout got started as an English stout in 2008, only to return as a “west coast recipe” in 2011.

The deep, dark, vicious brew stands up to other imperial stouts as well as the test of time, delivering, defined, robust, chocolaty, notes with hint of hop freshness. As this beer ages, those big flavors mellow, leaving behind a smooth, balanced sipper. It’s the perfect beer to warm up with as winter cold sets in, or as part of a vertical tasting session many years from now.

Coronado Stupid Stout will be available in 22oz bottles and draft in 13 states.

Style: Imperial Stout
Hops: Nugget
Malts: 2-row, ESB, Chocolate, Roasted Barley, C-120, Black Malt Hops: Nugget

Availability: 22oz Bombers, Draft. Nov – Jan
Distribution: CA, CT, FL, HI, MA, MI, NC, NV, OH, PA, SC, VA, WA. (Also Brazil, South Korea, Sweden, Japan, New Zealand.)

9% ABV, 42 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Seasonal Return, Sprecher Brewing

Sprecher Barrel Aged Czar & Commando Return in New Package

Sprecher Brewing Company (Glendale, WI) will release Commando and Czar again this month. Both offerings have been aging in bourbon barrels for two years.

Sprecher Czar is a Russian imperial stout, 12% ABV. Commando is a scotch ale, also 12% ABV.

For the 2014 release, the brewery has changed the package for both offerings to 12oz bottles/ 4 packs. Expect bottles in the brewery’s gift shop immediately after packaging and distribution in mid-November.

Sprecher Czar
Style: Russian Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 12oz Bottles
Return: November, 2014

12% ABV

Sprecher Commando
Style: Scotch Ale (Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 12oz Bottles
Return: November, 2014

12% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Clown Shoes Brewing, Coming Soon, Don't Miss This

Clown Shoes Gargoyle Love Song for Illinois Only

Clown Shoes Brewing (Ipswich, MA) has a newbie just for the state of Illinois, Gargoyle Love Song.

Gargoyles gone wild. Those bastards were meant to protect the city. Instead, they started to tear Chicago apart. Fortunately crash are in town to hear some music and visit the museums fired up his jet packs and flew up to sing them a love song.

Clown Shoes Gargoyle Love Song will be available in 22oz bottles.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Cognac)
Availability: 22oz Bombers. Illinois Only.
Arrival: November, 2014

14% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, New Releases, Starr Hill Brewing Company

Starr Hill Shakedown Imperial Chocolate Cherry Stout on Halloween

The sixth and final offering in Starr Hill’s (Charlottesville, VA) All Access Series is Shakedown Chocolate Cherry Stout. The beer features chocolate and cherries added during fermentation.

“Shakedown Chocolate Cherry Stout was a fun project. Experimenting with natural ingredients is an essential part of Starr Hill’s DNA. With Shakedown, the use of cherry puree and cocoa powder made the brewing process a real challenge,” said Robbie O’Cain, Starr Hill’s Manager of Brewery Operations.

Starr Hill Shakedown Imperial Chocolate Cherry Stout will debut on Halloween in the brewery’s taproom. Distribution to follow shortly after.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Chocolate, Cherries)
Availability: 22oz Bombers, Draft. Late Fall seasonal.
Distribution: VA, DE, GA, MD, NJ, NC, PA, TN, Washington D.C.

Arrival: 10/31/14

8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay