Imperial Stout

Peek: Firestone Walker Parabola 2012

Ok, so not the most thrilling post in the world – but it’s never too early to start drooling over a Firestone Walker Parabola.  Parabola is an imperial stout, aged in bourbon barrels for 12 months.

Parabola has been a major Continue Reading →

Three Floyds Baller Hits Distribution?

Three Floyds Anniversary brew- Baller Stout (a collab featuring 3 Floyds, Surly, Mikkeller, and Struise: a blend of Dark Lord, Darkness, Beer Geek Brunch, and Black Albert) Is rumored to hit distribution. (Even if it’s just a little bit.)  Now this is a rumor, and not 100% verified. But Continue Reading →

Olde Hickory Releases Event Horizon 2011

Olde Hickory Brewing (Hickory, NC) just released the 2011 edition of Event Horizon.  The beer is an imperial stout, aged in bourbon barrels, brewed with honey.  (Above is last years label)

The Event Horizon Imperial Stout is an incredibly rich and Continue Reading →

Mikkeller George

Mikkeller George (Foreman? Wait, there’s hair.)  Brewed at Nogne-O. Imported by Shelton Brothers.  This beer has been out in Europe for  a while now.  Below is a look at the bottle art from the last release abroad.

Style: Imperial Stout
Availability: 8.5oz Continue Reading →

Victory Dark Intrigue Heads For Distro

The 2nd and final edition of Victory Brewing’s barrel aged offering- Dark Intrigue took less than 4 hours to sell out.  Couldn’t make it to Downingtown for Dark Wednesday?  It will be hitting distribution this week.  What’s all the hoopla? Continue Reading →

Posted in Coming Soon, Firestone Walker Brewing

Peek: Firestone Walker Parabola 2012

Firestone Walker Parabola 3Ok, so not the most thrilling post in the world – but it’s never too early to start drooling over a Firestone Walker Parabola.  Parabola is an imperial stout, aged in bourbon barrels for 12 months.

Parabola has been a major component of past anniversary blends and is one of our most aggressive offerings. This beer features bold bourbon and tobacco aromas and a rich dark chocolate, charred oak flavor. Parabola is best enjoyed in moderation and is a perfect beer to pair with those chocolate dessert favs.

Style: Russian Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged)
Hops: Bittering–Zeus; Late Kettle–Hallertau
Malts: risp Maris Otter Pale, Munich, Cara-hell, Carafa, Dark & Light Crystal, Chocolate, Oats, Roasted Barley
Availability: 22oz bombers, Draft
Area: CA, NV, OR, WA, AZ, CO, MO, Chicago, MA, NJ, NY, VA, PA, DC, MD

Next Release: April, 2012

12.5% ABV 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in 3 Floyds Brewing, Beer News, Rumors

Three Floyds Baller Hits Distribution?

Three Floyds Baller StoutThree Floyds Anniversary brew- Baller Stout (a collab featuring 3 Floyds, Surly, Mikkeller, and Struise: a blend of Dark Lord, Darkness, Beer Geek Brunch, and Black Albert) Is rumored to hit distribution. (Even if it’s just a little bit.)  Now this is a rumor, and not 100% verified. But those with access might now want to miss out.

PittsburghKid66 mentioned this on BA:

I will cut to the chase. If you were pissed at Three Floyds about the way they handled their release party, be prepared to be down right outraged.

Apparently, Three Floyds is distributing the remainder of their xv beer. Now the amount, who knows. However, I just went to a local store that usually doesnt get any limited beer at all. They not only have xv on sale, but they also have amon amarth which was until now brewery only.

I have been told that other liquor stores have it also, but this has not been confirmed by me. However, it may explain how the manager of a local liquor store chain was able to obtain such a large quantity to trade on this site. I should add this is only conjecture on my part and not an accusation.

In any case, for those of you who paid $25 a ticket for the right to purchase this beer and then stand in line another 4 or so hours, I imagine this news will be highly upsetting.

If anyone else has any news in regard to this, please post. On the other side of the ledger, this store is charging more than you are currently able to purchase xv on ebay so not all bad.

pic via ChicagoBeerGeeks

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Olde Hickory Brewing, Seasonal Return

Olde Hickory Releases Event Horizon 2011

Olde Hickory Brewing (Hickory, NC) just released the 2011 edition of Event Horizon.  The beer is an imperial stout, aged in bourbon barrels, brewed with honey.  (Above is last years label)

The Event Horizon Imperial Stout is an incredibly rich and luxurious beer brewed with ten malts, local honey, and four American hop varietals before and extended aging in oak bourbon barrels. The result is a beer with many layers of complexity. As the name implies, with one sip you will be unable to turn back.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged)
Taste Expectations: Roasty malts, mixed with vanilla, oak & brown sugar. (2010 edition)
Availability: 22oz bombers, Waxed capped. Yearly release.

8.5% ABV 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Brooklyn Brewing

Brooklyn Black Ops. It Doesn’t Exist. But If It Did, It Has Shipped

Brooklyn Black Ops, a bourbon barrel aged imperial stout has just left the brewery.  The very limited, and hardly talked about beer’s recipe is apparently only known by 2 people.  (Like Coca-Cola.)  Each years recipe & flavor is just a little different.  What you do need to know — it’s a Russian imperial stout aged in bourbon oak barrels.  Bottled flat, and bottle conditioned with champagne yeast.

Brooklyn Black Ops does not exist. However, if it did exist, it would be a robust stout concocted by the Brooklyn brewing team under cover of secrecy and hidden from everyone else at the brewery. Supposedly “Black ops” was aged for four months in bourbon barrels, bottled flat, and re-fermented with Champagne yeast, creating big chocolate and coffee flavors with a rich underpinning of vanilla-like oat notes. They say there are only 1,000 cases. We have no idea what they’re talking about.”

Style: Russian Imperial Stout (Barrel aged)
Availability: 750ml bottles, corked & caged. 1,000 cases total production.

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Mikkeller

Mikkeller George

Mikkeller George (Foreman? Wait, there’s hair.)  Brewed at Nogne-O. Imported by Shelton Brothers.  This beer has been out in Europe for  a while now.  Below is a look at the bottle art from the last release abroad.

Style: Imperial Stout
Availability: 8.5oz bottles
Arrival: TBA

11.11% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Victory Brewing Company

Victory Dark Intrigue Heads For Distro

The 2nd and final edition of Victory Brewing’s barrel aged offering- Dark Intrigue took less than 4 hours to sell out.  Couldn’t make it to Downingtown for Dark Wednesday?  It will be hitting distribution this week.  What’s all the hoopla?  Victory took Storm King and aged it in Heaven Hill and Jim Beam barrels over the summer.  It already sounds delicious right? Well, due to time/capacity/contraints, this is the last time the brewery is making Dark Intrigue.

Dark Intrigue will be distributed in PA and NJ as well as 18 other states. Call your local retailer to see if they are getting some.

It’s a good thing too.  Those who got the beer had to wake up pretty early in the morning.  Like 4 am.  Some pics from the day via Downingtown Dish:

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Portsmouth Brewing

Kate The Great To Be Released In Smaller Bottles

Portsmouth Brewing has selected a day for their Kate The Great release.  Coming March 5, 2012, know as Casimir Pulaski Day. (A Revolutionary War officer.)   New this year are smaller 300ml “stenie bottles” pictured below.  They are brewing it today as you read this…

Per the brewery:

This year’s Kate release will take place on Monday, March 5, 2012 ( Casimir Pulaski Day) and scratch tickets will again be used to raise money for local non-profits and to determine bottle allocations.  We’re particularly excited to have more bottles available this year, as we’ll be using a new, smaller bottle shape called the Steinie bottle (see below).

Early Details For Kate The Great Day:

– We plan to open our doors at 11:00AM and will serve Kate till the taps run dry.
– The same volume of Kate will be brewed as in years past. (Sorry, folks, that’s all we can do!)
– Scratch tickets will again be used to distribute bottled Kate.
– This year’s Kate will be put into smaller bottles (330ml/11.2oz) to increase availability.
by Reid Ramsay