Sharing beer is something I absolutely love doing, and in some cases it can be a helpful thing. Earlier this week, Nick and I shared a new lot of beer, one being Brewdog’s Paradox Jura I brought down. At 15% ABV, this massive Double/Imperial Stout was “aged in Jura Whisky [sic] casks for 9 months.” Usually when we’re having a few beers in a night, one of this caliber is meant to share.
Recently, I grabbed a bottle of the Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti from Great Divide at a local bottle shop one night. Having had other Yeti varieties in the past, I couldn’t pass up the silver foil capped bottle, at reasonable price of $10. I’m expecting all the rich, roasted flavors of the original Yeti with some obvious chocolate and oak imparted into the beer.
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.
Clipper City Brewing Co., makers of the Heavy Seas brand, recently released Plank I, an Olde Style English Ale matured on yellow poplar wood. Commonly known as the tulip tree, the intent was to impart a distinct woodiness to the beer; hence the “Plank” series name. From the beer, I expect an interesting flavor from the wood with a robust, dark Old Ale profile.
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.
