Heavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of 25, a double barrel-aged 25th Anniversary beer, on Friday, December 4.

Crafted to commemorate a quarter-century of brewing at Clipper City/Heavy Seas, 25 is an English-inspired Strong Ale that was first aged in Bourbon barrels for five months and then transferred to “freshly dumped (local Sagamore) rye whiskey barrels” for an additional three months of aging. Weighing in at a massive 15.5% ABV, 25 is a “complex, undeniably balanced beast that starts with aromas of vanilla, toffee, and marshmallow, morphing into fusel alcohol, licorice and tobacco” while “flavors of dark fruits, brown sugar, and just a hint of spice, lead to cocoa powder, and (of course) whiskey.”

“Much has changed in the MD beer industry since my Dad and I put in the original MD brew pub legislation in 1987. What a ride! 30 years of brewing, first with Sisson’s for 5 years, and now 25 years at Clipper City/Heavy Seas!  I never foresaw a career in business (I was supposed to be an actor), much less in brewing! It has been a blast. I am so grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way. Thanks to everyone – from my partners, my associates, the employees, our wholesalers, and my family. 25 years doesn’t happen without you!”
– Hugh Sisson, Heavy Seas Founder

25 will see at Curbside Release at the Heavy Seas Taproom on December 4 and the brewery will host a Virtual Anniversary Party later that evening at 5 p.m. EST on its Facebook page. Available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans, 25 will also hit select craft beer-focused stores located within the brewery’s distribution area in early December 2020. Prost!

Vital Information for 25 from Heavy Seas Beer

Release – Limited; December 4, 2020
Style – English-style Strong Ale
ABV – 15.5%
Treatment – Aged in Bourbon barrels for 5 months & then Rye Whiskey barrels for 3 months
Fun Fact – “The 25 label artwork was a collaboration design created by local Baltimore artists, Chris Gipple, of Nightshift Creative, and Owen Murphy, of One Drop Design Studio. Owen Murphy created the Heavy Seas Taproom exclusive beer labels for 2019, and passed the baton to Chris in 2020.”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans