As part of an awesome beer line-up this past New Years Eve, Nick opened his bottle of FiftyFifty Eclipse Elijah Craig 18 Year Imperial Stout. At 9.5% ABV just like the rest of the series, this variation has been aged in – you guessed it – Elijah Craig 18 Year old barrels. We’ve just reviewed the Four Roses variation, so lets see how this stood up in comparison.
Well, here it is, the famous Rare Bourbon County Stout from Goose Island in Chicago, IL. And yes, this was brewed before A-B InBev took over. It’s easily regarded as one of the best Imperial Stouts to ever be made. If you were lucky enough to find a bottle last year when they were released, it set you back a whopping $45+ USD, depending upon the store. I brought my bottle down to Delaware this past weekend to share with my friend Matt, as this is one beer we’ve both been dying to try.
For me there are a few elements that when added to an Imperial Stout make it a must buy; chocolate, coffee, and a whiskey element. When all three of these show up in one beer, buying it is a no-brainer. The Big Bad Baptist Imperial Stout from Epic Brewing, part of their Exponential Series, is enhanced with cocoa nibs, coffee and then aged in whiskey barrels. It certainly hits all the elements, now it’s time to see how it stacks up.
If you would have told me a few years ago when I first started drinking craft beer that I’d come to love barrel aged Imperial Stouts, I wouldn’t believe it. Now, whenever a brewery releases anything of the sort, I need to have it. Voodoo Brewery out of Meadville, PA releases their Black Magick, once every two years or so. Aged for 6 to 12 months in 13.5 year old bourbon barrels, the 2011 version I’m having comes in at 15.50% ABV.
I had the opportunity to visit the Dogfish Head brewpub in Rehoboth Beach, DE this past weekend. I noticed a unique offering on the draft list that was a brewpub exclusive, Black & Red, an Imperial Stout. Interestingly enough, when I ordered it the waitress made a specific point to tell me that it was very minty. Considering it was a brewpub-only, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to try it.
