The Original 40 Brewing Company (San Diego, California) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Bottle Release of Rafiki’s Ritual Barrel-aged Imperial Stout and Cocoa & Vanilla Rafiki’s Ritual on May 7, 2022.

Crafted to be the epitome of decadence, Rafiki’s Ritual (12% ABV) is an Imperial Stout – “brewed at over 40 plato before the yeast started their work converting half of the sugar to alcohol” – that was aged in Bourbon barrels for over 30 months. To take it one step further, a portion of this tasty treat was set aside to be hit with “a large amount of three types of cocoa and Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans” to create Cocoa & Vanilla Rafiki’s Ritual. This treatment creates “aromas of bourbon and chocolate . . . alongside notes of sweet caramel and shortbread cookie” as notes of “creme brulee, toasted marshmallow, brown sugar and coffee lead into a clean bourbon chapter that refreshingly cleanses the palate. Just when you think the ritual is complete, the sweet notes return with touches of roast and bourbon cask.”

Rafiki’s Ritual and Cocoa & Vanilla Rafiki’s Ritual will release at The Original 40 Brewing Company (3117 University Avenue San Diego, CA, 92104) on May 7th starting at 11 a.m. Both of these Limited Release brews are brewery exclusive releases and will not see distribution. Prost!

Vital Information for Rafiki’s Ritual from The Original 40 Brewing Company

Release – Limited; May 7, 2022
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 12%
Treatment – Aged for 30 months in Bourbon Barrels
Added Ingredients (Cocoa & Vanilla Rafiki’s Ritual only) – Three types of cocoa & Madagascar vanilla bourbon vanilla beans
Fun Fact – “This imperial stout bottle release will be award-winning Head Brewer, Cosimo Sorrentino’s last creation with The Original 40 team. Sorrentino departs the North Park-based brewery for a new journey in Texas on May 7th. In honor of his departure, Rafiki’s Ritual will be released on May 7th and each bottle will have Sorrentino’s signature on it.”
Availability – 500ml bottles
Distribution – None. Brewery only