Secret Stash Bash at Taco Mac! That’s where I was headed. Secret Stash Bash is an event run by Taco Mac with 20 plus brewers offering a number of special beers, most of them very rare indeed. $40 will get you into one of the two sessions; $70 will get you into both. The latter is “VIP” status and also entitles you to special beers downstairs in the Georgia Chapter Room as well as food at no extra charge and a swag bag. The 2018 session was 4 days before my birthday, and my daughter hooked me up with VIP status, and came along herself to try some beers.

Important public safety note: get yourself there and home by Lyft, Uber, cab, bus, or designated driver. The latter is what we did as my son dropped us off and picked us up. Most of the beers were over 10% by volume, and even with samples of just a few ounces they tend to catch up with you.

The 2018 Secret Stash Bash was held at the Prado Taco Mac (140 taps!) and was split into two areas, one out on the patio and one inside, plus the Chapter Room downstairs. Most of the beers were dark beers and imperial stouts. For the most part, I just enjoyed my beers and checked them in on Untappd but only took notes on a few. I just wanted to enjoy my beers and not get tied down remarking upon them. I did take notes on a few however, including Southbound Scotch Barrel Aged Eclipse Stout.

Attendees get to vote for their favorite beer, and the winner was a Double India Pale Ale from Kennesaw’s Dry County Brewing, Double County IPA. That was a delightful beer indeed, but clearly you can only fairly judge beers against each other by style. I enjoyed the Double County to be sure, but in today’s IPA heavy environment it is not surprising that Double County won the popularity contest.

The first beer I tried was the Eclipse Stout, a beer I had never heard of before and for which scare information exists. Hey, I told you these were rare beers.  For most of the night it was my favorite, until I tried Sweetwater Coco Hill towards the end of the festival.

The Secret stash flyer says:

Imperial Stout aged in Scotch barrels; tasting notes are Scotch Whiskey, oak, honey, floral, and a touch of peat.

I actually went back for a second sample to take notes:

Repeating the Southbound Scotch Barrel Aged Eclipse Stout. Best beer so far! Dark roasty with whiskey in the nose, smooth with burnt charcoal and roasted malts in the palate, big and boozy whiskey notes, warm alcohol finish. Stunning!

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

(D)=Draft

 

 

 

 



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