Saint Arnold Brewing has transformed Houston, Texas into a holy site for craft beer.  They’ve won a total of 24 GABF Medals and are fresh off winning Mid-Size Brewery of the Year.  But even the brewery recognizes what really drives their diehard fan base -- each new edition of their ultra-limited Divine Reserve Series.

Today, Saint Arnold is letting us into their private stash with their brand new Reserve No. 18 Imperial Stout with Vanilla.  Brewed only once and never to be made again, Reserve No. 18 boasts a delicious checklist of attributes:

• It’s loaded with a 13.4% ABV!  Whoa.
• They infuse it with two additions of Belgian candi syrup, doubling the amount of toffee and chocolate flavor of a typical Imperial Stout, while boosting the alcohol level in a medium-thick body.
• After letting the beer age three months, they inject it with Madagascar vanilla beans for a touch of sweetness.

An impenetrable abyss of black cocoa and raspberry wine flavors flourish in the aroma.  Hints of powdered sugar and baker’s chocolate take over the tongue, while the assertive 13.4% ABV takes hold of your soul.  You’ll feel its heat as the vanilla smooths the finish into silky wonder.

Boozy to the max and built for cellaring for years to come, No. 18 shows this Texas brewhouse’s penchant for decadence.  We strongly encourage picking up at least two bottles: one to experience its power now, and another to cellar for at least a year.  This will meld the powerful ABV and cocoa-berry flavors into delicious harmony.

* Serve at 60 degrees for maximum flavor output. Cellaring recommended.