We’re going to see some weather this weekend in Western Washington. The North Sound and South Sound will see the worst of the rain, with 1 to 3 inches of rain expected north and 1 to 4 inches expected south of Tacoma. Rivers will quickly rise as relentless heavy rain pounds the area through Friday afternoon and early evening. Wind will also be a factor for the Puget Sound area on Friday afternoon, with potential gusts in the 35 to 50 mph range. Snow levels will quickly plummet early Saturday morning, so anything that falls Saturday and Sunday will be snow over the Cascade passes. Temperatures will continue to drop through the week. There’s talk of snow Sunday and Monday in the lowlands. Sounds like it’s a good time to drop a to-go flight of bourbon barrel aged imperial stouts. Stop by our craft beer lodge today and grab Peaks and Pints Pilot Program: Bourbon Barrel Stout Flight.
Peaks and Pints Pilot Program: Bourbon Barrel Stout Flight
Backwoods The Stumbler
12.5% ABV, 15 IBU
Up in the Columbia River Gorge, Backwoods Brewing Company has just released their whiskey barrel-aged stout, “The Stumbler,” a Russian imperial stout aged in Westward Whiskey barrels for 18 months, the longest barrel aging for Backwoods. Not to be confused with their Imperial Honey IPA, the Bumbler, The Stumbler sports four different malts, including roasted barley and chocolate malt, for notes of vanilla, charred oak, and chocolate.
Fremont Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star (2022)
14.1% ABV, 50 IBU
Fremont Brewing’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star is a blend of 24-, 18-, 12-, and 8-month Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dark Star in 7- to 12-year-old Kentucky bourbon barrels. The roasted and chocolate malts complement the smooth oats to bring you an imperial stout wrapped in the gentle embrace of bourbon barrel-aged warmth. A touch of sweetness dances in balance with the hops to finish with a wave. Fun fact: This stout grabbed Platinum at the 2022 World Beer Championships for “Best Barrel Aged Imperial Stout.”
Fremont Coconut Cacao Barrel Aged Dark Star (2022)
13.5% ABV
Fremont Coconut Cacao Barrel Aged Dark Star is a blend of 24-, 18-, 12-, and 8-month Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dark Star in 7- to 12-year-old Kentucky bourbon barrels. Then Fremont adds all the coconut and Theo Chocolate cacao nibs. Think dark, mocha chocolate truffle filled with a rich and creamy coconut filling with a splash of bourbon on top. Like its base, it finishes a touch sweet, but never cloying.
Reuben’s BBIS 2022
14% ABV
Reuben’s Brews’ Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout, or BBIS, has been years in the making. It’s brewed using the same oat-forward and British specialty malt recipe that they followed with the original release in 2013. Over the years Reuben’s has adjusted and enhanced it, introducing new techniques to produce a bigger, richer, and silkier beer. Most of the barrels in this year’s blend have spent about 18 months aging in 8- to 12-year-old bourbon barrels, with the addition of some younger BBIS to contribute to the complexity of this bold imperial stout.
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