Blackstone Black Belle Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
Spencer Longhurst, head brewer for Barrique Brewing & Blending in Nashville, Tennessee
“Once a year, Blackstone teams up with our local Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery to release Black Belle, with a rich bouquet of dark-roast coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and a subtle hint of toffee. The integrated essence of bourbon barrels lingers in the background, with a perfect balance of malt, oak, and time. Complex flavors, luxurious mouthfeel, and the influence of fresh local barrels—it’s old school, no frills, no adjuncts, just barrel-aged imperial stout.”
Phase Three Eunoia Batch 15
James Herrholz, chief creative officer for Corporate Ladder Brewing in Florida and North Carolina
“It’s a master class in blending, built on a rich foundation of imperial stout aged for an average of 20 months in a mix of bourbon barrels. The interplay of Maris Otter malt with carefully selected adjuncts—caramel, Saigon cinnamon, Madagascar vanilla, and Ghana cocoa nibs—enhances the beer’s deep caramelized sweetness, subtle spice, and decadent chocolate notes. The result is an indulgent, velvety-smooth experience that drinks like an ooey-gooey glob of bourbon-soaked caramel and chocolate.”
Half Acre Chocolate Camaro
Jude La Rose, cofounder, Hop Butcher for the World in Chicago
“When I sit in a taproom with a full nonic pint, this quintessential silky-smooth milk stout makes me feel it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be. Liquid chocolate and roast are boosted by cocoa nibs, while a classically refined milk-sugar addition rounds out the body. It’s like making an easy left turn along a curved road.”
Seven Island DoomBringer (in collaboration with Burial)
Greg Ziemian, cofounder & CEO, Browar Stu Mostow in Wroclaw, Poland
“My two favorite things in imperial stouts—vanilla and bourbon—are at their best here. The nose is well balanced with sweet vanilla and bourbon undertones as well as rich maple syrup and hints of dark chocolate. The mouthfeel is very thick and smooth with moderate carbonation, which enhances the creamy texture. Complex yet drinkable for the caliber.”
Perennial Sump
**Sean Buchan, cofounder, Cerebral Brewing in Denver*
“I’m a big coffee nerd, and Sump from Perennial Artisan Ales is one of my favorite imperial stouts. They do such a great job highlighting single-origin coffee varietals in a way that seamlessly blends with the base beer—a trick that can be much harder than it looks. It’s not a style I reach for on a regular basis, but when I do, I know Sump will deliver that decadent hit of caffeine, roast, and chocolate fudge I’m craving.”
