Every February, darkness descends upon the state of Oregon. The source? None other than Fort George Brewery.

This crew is so devoted to Dark Beer, they’ve designated the entire month of February as Stout Month. They’re also responsible for one of the most anticipated annual beer fests in the Pacific Northwest: The Festival of Dark Arts.

For fans in-the-know, the event known as “the world’s darkest beer festival” is also the harbinger of Fort George’s biggest barrel-aged bottle release of the year: Matryoshka Russian Imperial Stout.

For the 2021 release of Matryoshka, Fort George aged their impressive Stout for a whole year in a blend of Buffalo Trace Bourbon and Westward Whiskey barrels. And today, we’re giving you a rare opportunity to snag not one, but THREE variants of this luscious leviathan to taste side-by-side! 

Here’s what awaits you in the darkness:

Matryoshka With Vanilla

Dave Coyne — Fort George’s ‘barrel baron’ — describes the base of this Stout as “reminiscent of melted chocolate and vanilla bean ice cream.” But, in this variant, they’ve added even more vanilla ice cream luxuriance!

Madagascar, Tahitian, Papua New Guinea, and Ugandan vanilla beans all come together over the rich, chocolate mocha-flavored base. Sumptuous swirls of smooth sweetness mingle with a roasty backbone, with flirtatious notes of toasted caramel and whiskey spice woven throughout.

For your tasting flight, we suggest starting with this bottle and soaking up all its vanilla-drenched complexity.

Matryoshka With Vanilla & Cocoa Nibs

Things get a little more interesting with this Matryoshka variant. The brewers imbued an extra layer of chocolatey richness into the beer by adding heaps of cocoa nibs.

With every chewy-thick mouthful, waves of lavish baker’s chocolate melt on the tongue, blending seamlessly with creamy swirls of french vanilla flavor. Let it linger, and oaky notes of toffee bourbon creep in, reminding you that this is in fact a 12.8% ABV barrel-aged Stout, and not actually a 5-star molten lava cake dessert. 

Though, enjoying this chocolatey bottle with a few scoops of vanilla ice cream is a delicious way to wrap up a fancy dinner.

Matryoshka With Vanilla, Cocoa Nibs, & Cinnamon

Last, but certainly not least, is this cinnamon-spiced seductress. Building on the decadence of the previous two variants, the Vanilla, Cocoa Nibs, & Cinnamon version is an affair all its own. 

It pours silky smooth and delectably dense, jetting off aromas of fresh-baked sticky buns as it sits. Take a drink, and a world of cinnamon-dusted chocolate truffle flavor envelops the tastebuds, leaving behind hints of top shelf whiskey, raw anise, and charred oak. And of course, a satisfied smile of sinful enjoyment.

These three bottles are not only incredibly delicious, but they’re also incredibly hard to come by. Outside of Oregon and Washington, it’s nearly impossible to find a bottle of Matryoshka — and we have only 400 bottles of each!

Grab yours before they disappear, and let the darkness take you.

With Tavour, it's easy to beer it forward! Just head over to Tavour.com/gifts to send a gift box or gift card to the craft beer lover in your life. Cheers!

Tavour strictly supports independent beer. Fort George Brewery is certified independent by the Brewers Association