American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
So Many Stouts and Just One Day….As some of you may know (and frankly we’re concerned if you do), somebody has designated today, November 6, International Stout Day. So we’ve decided to play along with a special, all-Stout edition of Newbies – because if we don’t – who will?
Black Friday Cometh (Chicago, IL) – We were going to wait on this announcement till we got a little closer to Black Friday but since this is International Stout Day(!) we’re running with it now. Goose Island will be debuting their immensely popular Bourbon County Barrel-Aged Stout lineup at special events held throughout the country on Friday, November 28. This year, they’ve expanded their Black Friday events to nine cities, including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fla., Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and San Francisco.
This year’s Black Friday Stout rollout will include:
Bourbon County Stout: It all started here, and so should you. This 14.2% ABV barrel-aged Imperial Stout is as dark and dense as a black hole and one sip has more flavor than an average case of beer. Availablenationally in 4- and 24-packs of 12-ounce bottles.
Bourbon County Coffee Stout: Goose Island’s brewery is located right next to Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea and their roasted coffee beans temper this 13.4% ABV Imperial Stout. Every year, the type of coffee used changes – which of course changes the flavor profile of the beer. The 2014 incarnation features Rwandan coffee. Available in 4- and 24-packs of 12 oz. bottles nationally.
Vanilla Rye Bourbon County Stout: First brewed for the legendary Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beer (FOBAB) in Chicago, craft beer fans enjoyed this Bourbon County variant so much that Goose Island bottled it the next year. This year’s 13.8% ABV version changes things up by aging the stout in rye whiskey barrels instead of bourbon. Additionally, each rye barrel features a two pound mix of Mexican and Madagascar vanilla beans. This limited Vanilla Rye will be available nationwide in 22 oz. bottles.
Proprietor’s Bourbon County Stout: The second annual release of Proprietor’s is aged in Rye Whiskey barrels and features panela sugar, made into syrup with coconut water, Cassia bark, and cocoa nibs. This Chicago-only release was brewed by Gooses Island to thank its loyal and local fans for their years of support.Available only in Chicago in 22 oz. bottles.
Another Black Friday Imperial Stout Release (Ashland, VA) – And this one has nothing to do with Goose Island. Virginia-based Center of the Universe Brewing Company has a special Black Friday release coming out that you want to be ready for. Shut UP Imperial Stout is a 10.2% ABV blended ale that’s been aged in bourbon and port barrels. On November 28, the brewery will open at noon and make this very special limited-edition ale available in 22 oz. bombers – but there’s a 4 bottle limit – so you’d better bring your friends!
Salt of the Earth (Ft. Collins, CO) – New Belgium Brewing and Perennial Artisan Ales have created a collaboration stout that’s an almost perfect pairing of chocolate and beer. This latest addition to New Belgium’s Lips of Faith Series, Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout combines roasted barley and caramel malts to create a stout with a dark pour and tan head atop hints of tobacco and dried fruit. This special-edition fall weather collaborative brew is available now in 22 oz. bottles and on draft – just in time for today’s celebration.
Sweet Stout Shakedown (Charlottesville, VA) – Starr Hill is releasing the latest in their All Access Series as they look towards winter’s holidays. Shakedown Imperial Chocolate Cherry Stout was brewed with the winter holidays in mind, with fresh fruit and dark chocolate added during the beer’s fermentation process.
