Today’s beer is so limited we had to fend off hordes of Stout orcs just to get our hands on some. At least that’s what it felt like pushing my way through the crowd of Dark Beer fiends to get to FiftyFifty’s warehouse.

I jumped out of my car and marched forth, already imagining my hands clasped around a bottle of boozy, malty Knob Creek Rye Barrel-Aged Eclipse Imperial Stout! Then, a cry rang out somewhere in the distance, “Only a few cases left!” All hell broke loose.

FiftyFifty’s brewing team opened a side door, looked at me sternly and said: “Philip, we don’t have much left but we’ll give you a few bottles. Just please stop yelling and thumping your chest.”

I regret nothing. This Stout slumbered most of last year in deeply charred barrels saturated by the Best Rye Whiskey at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Jet black depths swim with roasted malts, coffee and spice. The rye punches across the nose, relaxing nicely on the tongue with touches of vanilla and oak. Be careful though, because the harmony of these flavors masks the 11% ABV.

No wonder Knob Creek Barrel-Aged Eclipse holds a massive 4.31 on Untappd!

This marks the first time FiftyFifty used Knob Creek Rye for their annual Eclipse Barrel-Aged series. They released it in December, but as the Stout orcs are painfully aware, it’s a scarce finding on any store shelf. This is the series that Esquire included as one of “The 10 Best Beers You’ll Never Taste”. It’s also what helped FiftyFifty win GABF Brewery Group of the Year in 2018.

Good thing this award-winning brewery crew likes us though, because I’m worn out from all that orc battling. Snag your bottles now because this one will go fast!

Rated 4.31 on Untappd