Rich coffee notes explode from the glass, melding with a sweet thread of figs and dates to balance the booze, before it finishes with undertones of toffee and honey.
The intrigue: One sip does it all. It's 22.7% ABV.
State of play: River North Brewery's 13th Anniversary Imperial Stout is a stunner — in part because it's likely the booziest beer on the market in Colorado — but mostly because of its complexity.
The beer is a blend of stouts aged up to three years in local spirit barrels that previously held bourbon, rye whiskey, maple syrup whiskey, honey, straight whiskey and single malt whiskey.
What they're saying: "We're not just chasing ABV, it's about the concentration of flavors," says River North owner Matt Hess. "It's like an artisanal cocktail — that's the level of flavor and intensity we're going for."
Plus, he adds, "9% [ABV] is not exciting anymore."
Stop by: The brewery, with locations in RiNo and on Washington Street in North Denver, is releasing the beer at noon tomorrow to celebrate its anniversary.
This 12-ounce bottle is a special treat at $35 and won't last long.
