There is very little Apple Brandy made in the U.S., so barrels are notoriously hard to find. That means when you get ahold of one of the few Stouts in existence that’s been aged in them, you humblebrag about it — the feeling of pride is so strong, you kind of have to.

It’s a shame Apple Brandy Barrel-Aging is so rare because the barrels impart warm, spiced-apple notes unlike any other liquor.

So when today’s 4.30 UT-rated Eclipse 2017 Apple Brandy Barrel-Aged Stout from FiftyFifty arrived, we asked ourselves: How did the brewery manage to cellar such a sought-after beer for two full years while thirsty fans banged on their doors pleading for more?

The answer is that FiftyFifty never bends the knee to any cause other than making excellent beer. So there's no way they’d release this bad boy until the brewers knew the flavor was at its peak.

High standards are a way of life at FiftyFifty. Their decadently fudgy Eclipse Stout was named one of BeerAdvocate Mag’s Top Beers In The World!

Esquire even talked about how friggin’ impossible Eclipse Stouts are to track down, featuring them in their list of “Top 10 Beers You’ll Never Taste” — and that was before the brewery cellared this small stash for two additional years.

But FiftyFifty is never satisfied. So they continue to take our palates on new tasting escapades with their ever-changing rare barrel program — and with today’s special beer.

The brewery switches up their barrels each year, exploring the hidden flavors derived from the rarest, most unique barrels they can find. And Eclipse 2017 Apple Brandy offers you a fleeting chance to taste a unique, boozy, baked apple pie with a chocolate crust — chances are high it won’t ever be made again.

Rated 4.30 on Untappd!

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