OK, so, back in 2016 I bought some Red Brick Hype Whale Imperial Stout Aged on Bourbon Barrel Oak Chips. The beer had just been released for the first time and I bought a four pack at Total Wine. I sent a few bottles to friends and kept a few for myself, but I never drank any somehow. Then in late January of 2018 I was rummaging through my beer fridge and found a bottle. I couldn’t remember if I had tried it before, so I popped it and drank it. Why not?

On the 4-pack carrier, Red Brick says this about the beer:

Let me ask you one question: do you even whale, bro? These days there’s a lot of hype behind limited release craft beers. We here at Red Brick would love to throw our hat in the ring, but exclusivity isn’t really our thing. That’s why we brewed enough of this Bourbon aged Imperial Stout to go around. This beer features big notes of dark chocolate and espresso beans with a distinct Bourbon oak character, which is achieved by aging the beer for an extended period on chipped Bourbon barrels prior to bottling. So go ahead, grab your favorite glass and enjoy this whale of a stout.

No mention of malts used but they do provide the hops:

Hop Variety: Apollo, Magnum, Willamette

Red Brick Hype Whale Imperial Stout Aged on Bourbon Barrel Oak Chips has an alcohol content of 10% by volume with 67 IBUs. It is part of Red Brick’s Brick mason specialty series. Yes

The price was a little high for me at $12.99 a 4-pack in bottles. The beer is released each February, and I need to get some more. Target has it now for $11.39 for four 16-ounce cans.

Red Brick Hype Whale Imperial Stout Aged on Bourbon Barrel Oak Chips pours to a jet-black color with a minimal head of creamy white foam and a complex nose of roasted malts and boozy bourbon. Taking a sip, the beer has a thick viscous mouthfeel with dark chocolate, roasted barley, licorice, and bourbon permeating. I love the woody oak leaving splinters in my tongue. Finishes boozy, warm with alcohol, with an almost harsh roasty bitterness.

Red Brick Hype Whale Imperial Stout Aged on Bourbon Barrel Oak Chips is aging better than I am. Would I buy it again? I’m headed off to Target now to grab a four-pack.

 And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled, canned

(D)=Draft



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