Day three of drinking the big guns takes us to imperial stouts, with literal heavyweights that blew us out of the water and reminded us why we should be drinking these more often.
Remember, we hope you’ll join along at home, take advantage of this signature week to open some of those special beers you’ve been saving, share them with friends, and let us know what you think of them by tagging them with #whalezweek on social media.
3 Floyds Dark Lord (2015)
Munster, Indiana
Thick motor oil consistency, dark sherry notes, a hint of Indian curry on the nose with fusel alcohol singeing nose hairs. Copious barrel notes without the barrel—heaps of coconut and vanilla with a slightly roasty and smoky undertone. Velvety mouthfeel with hefty sheeting on the glass that conveys a remarkable viscosity while the psychedelic head foam shifts colors like a lava lamp. Burnt dark fruit, smoked malt hidden in the dark corners of a musty attic, heavy umami, a Richard Serra sculpture that’s equally mesmerizing and fear-inducing, a beer worth waiting in line for… tastes like heaven. — Steve Koenig & Jamie Bogner
50/50 Brewing Eclipse Elijah Craig 20-Year (2012)
Truckee, California
Given to us by the awesome folks at 50/50 on our recent drive through Truckee, this bottle has been nagging us to open it, and #whalezweek is the perfect time to dive in. The heavy bourbon nose is punctuated by gentle wafts of rich vanilla and coconut over a bed of tobacco. After the Dark Lord, the body is obviously thinner (every beer is thinner relative to Dark Lord), but there’s a sheer creaminess to it. That initial jolt of bourbon heat smooths into a dry cacao nib finish with a lingering bitterness. Roast and smoke is buried deep compared to other Eclipse variants we’ve had, while dark fruit notes of fig and raisin push forward. We’ve enjoyed quite a few bottles of Eclipse variants over the years, and this very well could be the best so far—a great beer, right at its peak. — Jamie Bogner
The Bruery Mocha Wednesday (2015)
Placentia, California
Stick cherry bombs in your ears and light the fuses, boys and girls—this 18.6 percent ABV “balanced” barrel-aged flavor bomb is extra-terrestrial level smooth with massive coffee, vanilla, spice, and roasty notes. The aroma is so good that your mouth and your nose will have to fight it out, but if you can stop huffing it long enough to take a sip, you’ll find the best Black Tuesday variant we’ve ever tasted (although, to be fair, that’s splitting hairs between multiple beers we’d all rate 99–100). Deceptively smooth, remarkably integrated coffee flavor, low heat and perceived alcohol despite the sky-high ABV… Lord a’mighty. It doesn’t get any better than this. — Steve Koenig