Widmer Brothers
Brewing has released Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout ’12, the second
offering in the brewery’s recently launched Alchemy Project, a series of
three bold, vintage-dated craft beers that can be enjoyed immediately, but
are brewed to improve with age.
Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout was first brewed by Widmer Brothers Brewing
in 2008 for the Portland Holiday Ale Festival. In the summer of 2011, Widmer
Brothers brewers discovered a barrel of the initial batch, which was known
as Babushka’s Secret, in the brewery’s cellar. After tasting the beer and
realizing how well the beer aged with time, the brewing team decided to brew
the beer again as part of the Alchemy Project. Beginning this year,
Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout will be released once a year as part of the
project.
“This is our unique interpretation of the Russian Imperial Stout style, with the
addition of red raspberries during the fermentation process,” said Ben Dobler,
brewer at Widmer Brothers Brewing. “The use of Midnight Wheat gives this beer an
extra layer of complexity, and the antioxidant-rich red raspberries give this
beer storage-ability and age-ability.”
Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout ’12 will be available in 22-oz bottles and 1/6
barrels beginning April 9.
About Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout ’12
Tasting Notes
· Slight fruit tartness
· Smooth mouthfeel
· Chocolate and roasty aromas
· Hop complexity to balance malt character
Ingredients
· Malts: Pale, Roast Barley, Caramel 60L, Midnight Wheat, Chocolate Malt
· Hops: Alchemy for bittering, Willamette and Cascade for aroma
· Red raspberries
Profile
· Original Gravity: 21.5 P
· Apparent Extract: 5 P
· IBU: 70
· ABV: 9.3%
· Color: 90 SRM
About the Alchemy Project
In late 2011, Widmer Brothers Brewing launched the Alchemy Project, a new series
of high-end, bold, vintage-dated beers that are brewed for cellaring. Like fine
wine, Alchemy Project beers can be enjoyed immediately, but the process of
cellaring and aging these beers contributes to enhanced flavor profiles and
complexities as the beers evolve with time. This series showcases that
evolution.
The series was launched with the release of Barrel Aged Brrrbon ’11 last year, a
follow-up to Barrel Aged Brrrbon ’10, which was initially released as part of
the Widmer Brothers Brothers’ Reserve Series. The Alchemy Project will include
three specialty limited-release craft beers each year. Each will be released in
limited quantities and the same three beers will be released every year.
Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout is the second release in this series. The third
beer, which will be released this summer, is yet to be announced.
About Widmer Brothers Brewing
What started as a dream for two ordinary brothers who just loved beer has now
become a reality for two ordinary brothers who still just love beer. Kurt and
Rob Widmer helped lead the Pacific Northwest craft beer movement in 1984 when,
in their 20s, they dreamed of brewing unique interpretations of traditional beer
styles. In 1986, Widmer Brothers Brewing introduced the first American-style
Hefeweizen; today, the unfiltered cloudy beer is the company’s signature brew
and one of the best-selling wheat beers in the country. Based in Portland, Ore.,
the brewery currently brews a variety of beers including Drifter Pale Ale,
Nelson Imperial IPA, Rotator IPA Series, Drop Top Amber Ale and Pitch Black IPA.
For more information about Widmer Brothers Brewing, visit www.widmerbrothers.com.
