Big Shanty Graham Cracker Stout
 

Review Date 3/13/2015 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Imperial Stout   Brewery: Burnt Hickory   Country: USA   State: Georgia   $ Per OZ: $.19 (B), $.33 (D)  

ABV: 9%

Burnt Hickory is now in bottles folks! In the past, I’ve only seen beers from this Kennesaw, Georgia brewer on tap at Taco Mac, Freight Kitchen and Johnny McCracken’s, all local to me (relatively speaking). I visit Taco Mac most frequently, and must confess that their beers were not as frequent a visitor there as I am. Recently, though, the brewery underwent an expansion and their beers are becoming more available.

Not just in bottles, either. While Burnt Hickory beer in bottles can be found at Total Wine and Sherlock’s just to name a few Georgia retailers, it’s been around in growler shops for a while, but now I’m seeing it more frequently there, too. Hence the growler of Burnt Hickory Big Shanty Graham Cracker Stout I picked up at Stout’s Growlers today.

You heard that right, folks. Graham Cracker Stout. I’ve lectured you in the past on my pet peeve about beers that have an ingredient featured in the name that doesn’t really translate into the palate. You know, like a hot pepper in an IPA that in the end isn’t really spicy, for example. Trust me when I say you won’t have that problem here: you can really taste the graham crackers in Burnt Hickory Big Shanty Graham Cracker Stout.

The brewery tells us a little bit about the beer and name on their website:

Named of the original name of the city of Kennesaw (our home town), Big Shanty is not a little beer by any means. Made with real graham cracker crumbs and honey, its sweetness is only challenged by its strong roast and hop bitterness. A world class stout with an extreme amount of local flavor.

Burnt Hickory Big Shanty Graham Cracker Stout is described on the label as “Oatmeal stout brewed with graham cracker flour and cinnamon.” It has an alcohol content of 9% by volume and I paid $10.50 for a 32-ounce growler at Stout’s Growlers here in Canton. Bomber bottles are sold at Stout’s for $7.99 as well; they will run you $9.99 at Total Wine.

Burnt Hickory Big Shanty Graham Cracker Stout pours to a jet black color with a light creamy tan head formation and an absolutely lovely nose of roasted malts, cinnamon hot ball candy and graham crackers. Taking a sip, the beer is a bit roasty chocolaty up front but the graham crackers really come through and quickly, too. Combined with the chocolate and smooth oatmeal graininess it’s almost S’More like. But wait, there’s more. A toasty sweet richness from the honey comes through as well, all balanced out by a perfectly balancing roastiness and alcohol warmth.

This beer was delicious folks, and you know I’ll be a return buyer for sure. I’ll be sure to pick up a few bottles for friends, too. Do yourself a favor and, if you haven’t already, give Burnt Hickory Big Shanty Graham Cracker Stout a try. And tell them the Bruguru sent you….

Update 11/28/2016: Big Shanty is now also available in 4-packs of 12-ounce bottles. Same delicious toasted chocolate and graham cracker flavor but now in more convenient single servings and at a nicer price of $8.99 a 4-pack. 

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??