Beer | Mashing In

Stone Brewing’s Exalted IPA Makes Seasonal Debut

Posted on February 26, 2018March 12, 2018 by mashingin

Stone Brewing (Escondido, California) has announced that it is officially launching its Hop Worship Seasonal IPA Series with the release of Stone Exalted IPA.

In an act of continued devotion to the divinity of hops, Stone Brewing has established the Hop Worship Series as a lineup of seasonally released India Pale Ales that challenges “Stone’s zealous brewers . . . to take their passion for hops to the next level.” Emerging as the first offering from this new series, Stone Exalted IPA (7% ABV, 55 IBUs) has been bestowed with the “divine qualities of Loral and Citra hops [to give] this beer beautiful aromas of fresh citrus, elegant floral notes and mild grain and wheat characteristics.” These ambrosial aromas carry over into the flavor with notes of lemon and lime that are “accented by Thai basil and a big floral component, resulting in a beer that is crisp with lingering citrus flavors and bitterness.”

“Our brewing team really knows a thing or two about their hops. Stone Exalted IPA is an exemplary display of their ability to create entirely new flavor profiles with the careful execution of hop blending. I certainly find myself on higher ground thanks to their incredible work.”

– Greg Koch, Stone Brewing Executive Chairman & co-founder

Stone Exalted IPA is officially available now and has plans to hang around through May. You can expect to find this new Seasonal offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, Virginia and throughout the rest of Stone Brewing’s nationwide distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Stone Exalted IPA from Stone Brewing

Release – Hop Worship Seasonal IPA Series, February – May 2018
Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 7%
IBUs – 55
Featured Hops – Citra & Loral
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://find.stonebrewing.com/

Jester King Brewery Keeps it Local with Release of Part & Parcel – Batch 2

Posted on February 23, 2018 by mashingin

Jester King Brewery (Austin, Texas) has officially announced that it will begin the limited release of Part & Parcel – Batch 2 on Friday, February 23.

Developed to become “the first commercial beer in modern history to be brewed with 100% Texas grown and malted barley”, the Part & Parcel project would not have been possible without Brandon Ade of Blacklands Malt and his “mission to revitalize barley growing in Texas” by convincing Texas farmers to convert their crops over to barley. Despite countless struggles and setbacks, Ade ultimately achieved his goal in 2016 when “enough barley was grown and malted to make the first all-Texas barley beer.” That barley – 100% Brown Field 20 Malt grown in Brownfield, Texas to be exact – was employed in the 2017 release of Part & Parcel – Batch 1, and now Jester King is ready to treat craft beer fans to a reformulated Batch 2.

Originally brewed on November 11th and 12th, 2017 and packaged on January 9th and 10th, 2018; Part & Parcel – Batch 2 was created with a recipe featuring “40% Brown Field 5 Texas Munich (5 SRM), 40% Brown Field 20 Texas Munich (20 SRM), and 20% of a new amber specialty malt from Blacklands called Amber Wave (10 SRM).” The newly developed Amber Wave Malt supplies this Farmhouse Ale with “an interesting graham cracker character and candy sweetness which is meant to mellow out the dry heavy toast and dark melanoidins from the Brown Field malts.” The finished Part & Parcel – Batch 2 weighs in at 4.4% ABV and 53 IBUs.

“The grain has a huge toasty/roasty character, contributing tons of color and a nice tan foam. We’re very excited to be able to brew with Texas grown and malted barley!”

– Sean Spiller, Brewer at Jester King Brewery

Part & Parcel – Batch 2 will debut in Jester King’s Tasting Room on February 23, and the brewery does “anticipate distribution of this beer.” If this Limited Release offering enters full distribution, you can expect to find it available in 750ml bottles at select craft beer establishments located in Florida, Texas and throughout the rest of Jester King’s distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Part & Parcel – Batch 2 from Jester King Brewery

Release – Limited, debuts February 23, 2018
Style – Farmhouse Ale
ABV – 4.4%
IBUs – 53
Malts – Brown Field 5 Texas Munich, Brown Field 20 Texas Munich & Amber Wave
Availability – 750ml bottles

TBBW 2018 Event: Double Barrel-aged Scorched Earth Release at Brew Bus Brewing

Posted on February 23, 2018March 5, 2018 by mashingin

Brew Bus Brewing (Tampa, Florida) has officially announced that it will be unloading both barrels on Tampa Bay Beer Week with the limited release of Double Barrel-aged Scorched Earth Russian Imperial Stout on Monday, March 5.

It is well known that you have to go big during Tampa Bay Beer Week, and the overachievers at Brew Bus are doing just that by releasing 16 oz. cans of a double barrel-aged treatment of their 12.5% ABV Scorched Earth. Rocking a base of “roasted malt flavors with caramel and dark fruity undertones”, this Imperial Stout has been “aged in rye whiskey and rum barrels and then, in true communist fashion, blended together to create an army of esters and aromas unparalleled in weaker beers.” Although this bad boy may be “big and bold”, the nuanced Double Barrel-aged Scorched Earth “boasts an arsenal of flavor that won’t leave your palette smoldering in ruins.”

Double Barrel-aged Scorched Earth Russian Imperial Stout will officially release at The Brew Bus Terminal & Brewery at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 5. This Limited Release will be sold in 2-packs of 16 oz. cans for $20 (no limits have been set at this time). As an added bonus, the Brew Bus brewing team “will be bartending this event and will be on hand to chat and answer questions” about Double Barrel-aged Scorched Earth and the brewery in general. If you find yourself in the Seminole Heights area on Monday afternoon, be sure to swing by the brewery, get your hands on some Double Barrel-aged Scorched Earth, and raise a glass with the folks at Brew Bus in celebration of Tampa Bay Beer Week. Prost!

Vital Information for Double Barrel-aged Scorched Earth Russian Imperial Stout from Brew Bus Brewing

Release – Taproom Release; 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday, March 5
Style – Russian Imperial Stout
ABV – 12.5%
Treatment – Portions of Russian Imperial Stout aged separately in Rye Whiskey and Rum barrels, and then blended
Availability – 16 oz. cans
Event Location – Brew Bus Terminal & Brewery | 4101 N Florida Ave | Tampa, Florida

Heavy Seas Beer to Kick Off 2018 Partner Ships Series with Right Proper Brewing Company

Posted on February 22, 2018February 23, 2018 by mashingin

Heavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) has announced that it will officially release Cafe au Lait Stout, a Partner Ships Series offering brewed in collaboration with Right Proper Brewing Company (Washington, DC), in late March/early April.

Not too long ago, the folks at Heavy Seas Beer and a crew from Right Proper Brewing got together for a Beltway Brew Day to create Cafe au Lait Stout as the first release in the 2018 Partner Ships Series, a lineup of limited releases from Heavy Seas that “features beers produced in collaboration with other regionally and nationally recognized brewers in the spirit of friendship, creativity, and adventure.” Meant to buck the current trend of “thick, chewy, cloying and overly boozy stouts”, Cafe au Lait is listed as a “Vanilla Malted Oat Stout” that has been brewed with “velvety malted oats, milk sugar (lactose), locally roasted coffee from Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company, and a touch of vanilla bean.” Weighing in at just 5% ABV, Cafe au Lait is “a true anti-imperial stout” that still possesses a “sumptuous, earthy, mysterious, and decadent” experience.

Partner Ships Cafe au Lait Stout will officially release somewhere between late March and early April, and – like all Partner Ships releases in 2018 – will be available exclusively on draft. You can expect to find this Limited Release brew pouring at select craft beer-focused bars, restaurants and growler stations located in Alabama, Florida and throughout the rest of Heavy Seas Beer’s distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Partner Ships Cafe au Lait Stout from Heavy Seas Beer & Right Proper Brewing Company

Release – Limited/Partner Ships Series, late March/early April
Style – Milk Stout
ABV – 5%
IBUs – 30
Malts – 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Malted Oats, Dark Crystal, Extra Dark Crystal & Roasted Barley
Hops – UK Target
Added Ingredients – Milk sugar, vanilla beans & locally roasted coffee from Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company
Availability – Draft only
Beer Finder – http://hsbeer.com/beerfinder

unnamed (93) — The collaboration team from Heavy Seas and Right Proper Brewing. Photo Credit – Heavy Seas Beer

Alabama Brewers Guild Continues Capital Series with Limited Release of Duffie’s Tavern Strong Ale

Posted on February 22, 2018 by mashingin

The Alabama Brewers Guild has officially announced that it will soon hit the Alabama craft beer community with the fourth release in its Capital Series, Duffie’s Tavern Strong Ale.

The Capital Series is a line of annually released collaboration beers brewed by members of the Alabama Brewers Guild “to bring attention to Alabama’s 200th year of statehood, and to promote local historical and preservation organizations.” Each year’s release is specifically designed to honor and celebrate one of Alabama’s five historic capitals. Previous limited releases in the Capital Series include 2015’s “St. Stephens Stout, paying homage to the territorial capital of Alabama”; 2016’s Badlun Brothers Imperial Porter, named for the men that established Alabama’s first brewery in Huntsville “during the year it served as the temporary capital and Alabama was admitted as the 22nd state”; and 2017’s Mulberry Road Belgian-style Dubbel, brewed to recognize Cahawba as the first permanent capital of the State of Alabama from 1820-1826 and “inspired by the stately mulberry trees lining the streets of the scenic town of Old Cahawba.”

Duffie’s Tavern Strong Ale is the 2018 installment in the Capital Series and has been brewed to recognize Tuscaloosa, which served as Alabama’s capital from 1826 to 1846. The beer’s name – chosen after a meeting with the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society – is a nod to the Old Tavern (a.k.a. Duffie’s Tavern), “a historic stagecoach inn and political headquarters during Tuscaloosa’s capital days” and presently a museum located near the city’s Capitol Park.

As far as the actual beer goes, Duffie’s Tavern is a take on “old English ales of the mid-nineteenth century.” Deep red-orange in color, this “bold and warm” Strong Ale boasts “hints of toffee and dried fruits on the nose, . . . a classic earthy hop presence throughout, . . . [a] rich malt sweetness and a semi-dry, lingering crisp and bitter finish.”

Duffie’s Tavern Strong Ale was created with the assistance of the following sponsors “who provided services, products, and expertise to help [the Alabama Brewers Guild] develop a great beer with authentic flavors”: White Labs, Country Malt Group, Dalton Box, Resource Label Group, Hopsteiner, and Iron Heart Canning Co.

12 oz. cans of Duffie’s Tavern Strong Ale will be hitting shelves any day now and “a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this beer will benefit the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society.” You can expect to find this Limited Release at select craft beer establishments located throughout the state of Alabama. Prost!

Tasting Notes: Front Row Golden Ale from Starr Hill Brewery

Posted on February 21, 2018February 21, 2018 by mashingin

This installment of Tasting Notes provides us with a little mid-week beverage break supplied by Starr Hill Brewery (Crozet, Virginia) and its newly released Front Row Golden Ale.

Debuting this month as Starr Hill’s newest Year-Round offering, Front Row is a light and refreshing Golden Ale that finds “the perfect balance of hop bitterness and a honey-like malt body.” Coming in at a sessionable 4.9% ABV and 20 IBUs, this accessible ale promises to keep you in the front row when “savoring life’s moments in-person and sharing the experience with others.” Front Row Golden Ale is available now in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Virginia, and throughout the rest of Starr Hill’s distribution area.

Now that all that background information is out of the way, I do believe it is time to grab a few glasses, find a bottle opener and get into some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Front Row Golden Ale from Starr Hill Brewery

Appearance: Front Row fills the glass with a honey-hued golden colored brew that is topped with a perfect finger of bright white head. The beer is pristine in clarity and displays countless single file lines of carbonation streaming the length of the pour to feed the top cap. As dutiful as that carbonation presence is, the head does dissipate down to a chunky ring that leaves behind sticky sheets of lace whenever the glass is jostled.

Aroma: A clean Pilsner presence greets the nose first with honey-filled, biscuity tones. The malt character picks up some light caramel notes before the hops stealthily balance things out with a lovely floral presence that is laced with a tinge of citrus.

Taste: Pils malt takes the lead again by laying down a firm base that is biscuity and lightly bready. A light layer of caramel and a dollop of honey then work their way in to round off the malt profile. The hops easily glide in to restrain that sweetness with a balancing presence of ruby red grapefruit and floral tones.

Mouthfeel: Although it is light in body with a moderate carbonation level, this beer still establishes itself with a little weight and texture (no doubt thanks to the added oats). The balance is on point, never tipping one way or the other toward sweet or hoppy. This level of balance keeps the experience super refreshing and easy drinking. The ABV is light and it never really efforts to make its presence known. Overall, this beer cleans up nicely and quickly, but there is just a wisp of honey left behind in the aftertaste from time to time.

Final Thoughts: All in all, Front Row achieves exactly what it set out to do: be an accessible, easy-drinking brew that can go anywhere and pair well with any moment. Although it is accessible and balanced, the Cascade hops have just enough presence to give the beer a likable personality and add dimension to that light malt foundation supported by biscuity, caramel and honey notes. It is non-distracting while still remaining memorable . . . it is coy. It is an experience that just works in a seemingly effortless manner, and the aptly named Front Row is here to join you front and center whenever you are out enjoying all that means most in life. Prost!

TBBW 2018 Event: Angry Chair Brewing Announces Beer Week Bottle Releases

Posted on February 20, 2018March 8, 2018 by mashingin

Angry Chair Brewing (Tampa, Florida) has officially announced that it will hit Tampa Bay Beer Week 2018 with four days of bottle releases spanning from Monday, March 5 to Thursday, March 8.

The crew at Angry Chair Brewing is breaking out the big guns for Tampa Bay Beer Week and they will come in the form of four extremely limited, barrel-aged bottle releases: Barrel-Aged Fionn, Barrel-Aged Rocky Road, Double Barrel Popinski and Barrel-Aged Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake Stout. Each of these beers will have its own dedicated bottle release, and with that – like all Angry Chair happenings – comes with a lot to go over. Let’s break it all down so that you are armed with all the information necessary to secure these brews.

Date, Time & Beer

Monday, March 5 at Noon: Barrel-Aged Fionn, an Imperial Hazelnut & Coffee Porter aged in Bourbon Barrels (10% ABV). $30 per bottle
UPDATE – Monday will also see the release of CLN LVN (a.k.a. Clean Living) – An Imperial Sweet Stout with Pistachio & Vaniila Beans brewed in collaboration with Late Start Brewing (10% ABV). $22 per bottle **UPDATE**
Tuesday, March 6 at ~~Noon~~ (UPDATE 03.06.18 – Due to an early forming line that has disrupted daily activity in the neighborhood, Angry Chair moved this release up to just after 9 a.m. There WILL NOT be a release at Noon. The release has already taken place.) : Barrel-Aged Rocky Road, an Imperial Sweet Stout with Cacao Nibs, Marshmallow & Walnuts aged in Bourbon Barrels (10% ABV). $35 per bottle
Wednesday, March 7 at 9 a.m.**: Double Barrel Popinski, a Russian Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels & then Maple Rum Barrels (10% ABV). $35 per bottle
Thursday, March 8 at 9 a.m.** (**UPDATE 03.08.18 – Yet again, due to an early forming line, the release was moved up so that the brewery could clear the crowd out of the neighborhood before it further impacted daily activity. There WILL NOT be a release at 9 a.m. The release has already taken place): Barrel Aged Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake Stout, an Imperial Sweet Stout with Cacao Nibs, Coconut & Vanilla Beans aged in Bourbon Barrels (11% ABV). $35 per bottle

**UPDATE 03.06.18** Due to a massive line that formed incredibly early for Tuesday’s release, Angry Chair has moved the Wednesday and Thursday releases to 9 a.m. out of respect for their neighbors. **UPDATE 03.06.18**

Useful Info for ALL Releases

All of the bottle releases above will be held at Angry Chair Brewing | 6401 N Florida Ave | Tampa, Florida
The bottle releases will be for BOTTLE SALES ONLY
Bottle limits will be set day of & will be determined by how many people are in line
Please bring CASH. This expedites the process & keeps the line moving
If the brewery hits capacity, Angry Chair will have no choice but to adjust accordingly. They will potentially have to move to the “one in, one out” scenario.
Angry Chair will open for normal hours after the Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday releases. The beer released that day will be put on tap when they open. This does not apply to the Thursday release because the brewery will be hosting a private event later that day
Please be respectful of Angry Chair’s neighbors, staff & customers
DO NOT litter while in line
DO NOT block walkways or driveways while in line

Parking Info

Parking at Angry Chair is limited & the brewery asks that you respect the parking situation
DO NOT park on Fern
DO NOT park at Trip’s Diner
DO NOT park in the plaza that houses Rooster & the Till and Urban Bungalow
There is some street parking available throughout the neighborhoods (other than on Fern), but please be respectful of the people that live there by not blocking their driveways, mailboxes, sidewalks, etc.

If any more details surface before these releases, we will do our best to update you here with that information just as soon as we have it. You can also follow Angry Chair’s Facebook page for up-to-date information.

Fair Warning: A massive crowd always seems to find its way to a bottle release at Angry Chair, and Tampa Bay Beer Week will most likely just add to that crowd’s numbers and increase the likelihood that these beers will sell out quickly. With that in mind, if there is a beer or several beers on the list above that you are interested in, just make sure that you are on time, patient, respectful and have a good time. Good luck out there, guys and gals. Prost!

Highland Brewing Unveils Refreshed Look

Posted on February 19, 2018February 19, 2018 by mashingin

Highland Brewing (Asheville, North Carolina) announced today that it has officially launched a complete rebrand that includes a new logo, new-look packaging for all beers, an updated website, and a soon-to-be fully updated taproom aesthetic.

After spending the last few years refreshing their beer portfolio so that it is more aligned with the tastes of today’s craft beer drinker, the folks at Highland Brewing began to realize that the brewery’s look and imagery no longer matched their updated brews and vibe. After much deliberation and extensive research and development work with the Austin, Texas firm Helms Workshop, the tough decision was made to rebrand and move on from the bagpipe-toting Scotsman who has served as the company’s iconic logo since 1994.

All “marketing, labeling, point of sale, packaging and merchandise” will still wear the Highland Brewing name, but these items will now sport a logo that consists a highly-stylized “H” set within a pioneer’s compass that is surrounded by “the clear messaging that Highland remains Asheville’s first craft beer.” The Blue Ridge Mountains are now artfully depicted on all packaging, and the “Highland” name will continue to honor the area’s Scots-Irish heritage and the brewery’s setting “on high land – in the mountains and on a hilltop.”

“Highland Brewing has been a pioneer in beer since my father founded the company in 1994,” said Leah Wong Ashburn, President of Highland Brewing. “Over two decades, we led with beer, and in recent years, we developed our beer portfolio significantly with fresh new styles and our innovative spirit is firing. The result of the changes was that our beer and our brand were sharing different messages. I love that we are now aligning the message.

What that means is we focused on the four things we know to be true about ourselves: authenticity, sense of place, consistently excellent beer and an inventive spirit.”

Fully committed to this rebrand, Highland Brewing will be closing its doors on February 19 so that it can update its taproom to match the rebrand. After a four-day renovation, the taproom will officially reopen on February 23 with a launch celebration that will show off the new branding/packaging and “feature new small batch beers, including Highland’s very first Brett brew, as well as throw-back favorites including Little Hump, Razor Wit, and Vintage 20th Anniversary Scotch Ale. The event will also boast live music, new merchandise available for purchase, and popular food trucks. The launch celebration is free and open to the public.

For those of you that do not live within driving distance of Highland Brewing, the rebrand will reach you any day now as the new-look 12 oz. bottles, 12 oz. cans and tap handles hit craft beer establishments located within the brewery’s distribution footprint. Just be sure to keep these changes in mind the next time you are out looking for your favorite Highland brew. Prost!

Catawba Brewing to Re-Release Evening Joe Coffee Blonde Ale

Posted on February 19, 2018 by mashingin

Catawba Brewing Co. (Morganton, North Carolina) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Evening Joe Coffee Blonde Ale on Friday, March 23.

After winning the People’s Choice Award for Catawba Brewing’s 2017 Passport Program, Passport Beer #16: Coffee Blonde will return in March under the name Evening Joe. To create this fan-favorite Limited Release, the brewers at Catawba blend a light and crisp Cream Ale with cold-brewed Arabica coffee and natural vanilla flavor. This lovely combination results in a “liquid paradox [that looks] like your evening pint but drinks like your morning cup.” Evening Joe clocks in at 5.7% ABV and 25 IBUs.

Evening Joe is scheduled to officially release on March 23 and will hang around through April. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, North Carolina and throughout the rest of Catawba Brewing Co.’s five state distribution footprint. Prost!

Vital Information for Evening Joe Coffee Blonde Ale from Catawba Brewing Co.

Release – Limited; March 23, 2017
Style – Blonde Ale
ABV – 5.7%
IBUs – 25
Malts – 2-Row Pale & Vienna
Hops – Magnum & Cascade
Added Ingredients – Arabica coffee, natural vanilla flavor & lactose sugar
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Distribution – North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia
Beer Finder – http://catawbabrewing.com/beer-finder

Tasting Notes: Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout (2018) from Rogue Ales

Posted on February 16, 2018 by mashingin

After barreling through another awesome week of beer news, we close it out in proper fashion by jotting down some Tasting Notes on Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout (2018) from Rogue Ales (Newport, Oregon).

Just last week, we hit you with the news that Rogue Ales had officially begun the limited release of its Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout (2018). If you happened to miss that post, Rolling Thunder can basically be summed up as a massive Imperial Stout “brewed with ingredients grown at Rogue Farms, and then ocean aged for nine months in barrels made by hand at Rogue’s Rolling Thunder Barrel Works.” The house-made Dead Guy Whiskey that once filled those barrels lends notes of whiskey and vanilla to complement the base beer’s dark roasted malts while raspberries – the special ingredient for 2018 – provide a unique thread of lightly tart sweetness.

Rolling Thunder is available now for a limited time in 16.9 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located throughout Rogue’s nationwide distribution footprint.

That should just about catch everyone up on this release, so let’s keep this thing rollin’ and get into some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout (2018) from Rogue Ales

Appearance: From a bottle hand-numbered as Barrel #4 of 17 & Bottle #249 of 413, Rolling Thunder pours an inky black in color and has just over a finger of creamy, chocolate milk colored foam resting on top. The beer is completely opaque and remains so when held directly against a light source. Head retention is good, but the foam does eventually fall to a thin but lasting top cap. The beer itself does leave a yellow-tinged slick on the glass after each sip, but some spots of lace are just stubborn enough to grab hold sporadically throughout the experience.

Aroma: The aromatics begin with a defined sherry presence that is loaded with nutty and sweet dark fruit character. This elegant note gracefully transitions into a subtle raspberry tone that is quickly overtaken by a closing barrage of roasted malts, bittersweet chocolate, vanilla and oak.

Taste: The barrel grabs your attention first here with a big ol’ pop of vanilla and oaky whiskey. This shifts into those sweet sherry notes of dark fruit (fig mostly) and molasses. The raspberries are slightly jammy and pull double duty by bringing both complementary sweetness and a contrasting dose of tartness. Those bright raspberries refresh the palate just as the beer stoutly settles in with satisfying, decadent notes of caramel, brown sugar, roasted grains, dark chocolate, and fudge studded with pecans.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with a moderate carbonation level, this enormous Imperial Stout has a chewy, viscous feel to it. The beer takes its time on the palate, allowing the flavors to linger and fully develop at their own pace. Sitting at 14.4%, the ABV certainly has a presence that establishes a building warmth in the throat and belly. The aftertaste is all vanilla, chocolate and booze-soaked oak.

Final Thoughts: From the first sip, it is quite evident that Rogue built this year’s Rolling Thunder to come out swingin’ and clear a place for itself among the highest echelon of barrel-aged Imperial Stouts. It achieves this with an artful composition that sandwiches that raspberry addition between oaky whiskey notes and the base stout’s chocolaty, roasty goodness. Simply put, this Imperial Stout is pretty much a whiskey-infused raspberry truffle . . . and it is heavenly.

Over the last 30 years, Rogue has amassed a long list of beers that have become standards in the industry, and we confidently predict that this year’s version will add Rolling Thunder to that list. Yeah . . . it is that good, and you need to get your hands on a bottle or pour of Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout (2018) before this Limited Release dries up. Make it happen. Prost!