When Hidden Springs Ale Works created a recipe collab contest for their Riot Society members, they didn’t expect just how knowledgeable their fans would be. The winner, James Chipman, impressed the crew with how even the smallest details supported his Ben & Jerry’s-inspired concept.    

The team began with a rich, lactose-laced Imperial Sweet Stout aged in bourbon barrels, then conditioned it with house-toasted Philippine cacao nibs to amplify the malts’ fudgy decadence. Indian vanilla beans added their woody caramel nuances and whisper of smokiness. Marshmallows and toasted coconut boosted the thick body and gave the brew a tropical twist.