Fremont’s The Rusty Nail breaks into the ranks of barrel-aged dark beer legends with a world class 4.57 score and a spot in the Top 25 Ranked Imperial Stouts in the World on BeerAdvocate. Released each June in limited quantities, hoards of barrelhounds swarm the taproom to swoop up this wax-dipped, bourbon-kissed behemoth.

Aged 15 months in 12-year-old bourbon barrels on brewer’s licorice and cassia cinnamon chips, this 14.5% ABV beast swells on the palate with dark cocoa and spice atop a finely tuned bourbon profile. Rich aromas of caramelized sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla aromas rise from its obsidian pour, accompanied by a hint of charred woodiness courtesy of Smoked Malts.

Upon first sip, you’ll notice each element present themselves in a thick, chewy mouthfeel: dark chocolate, char, leather, bourbon-soaked raisins, vanilla, and a touch of smoke. One more sip and you’ll experience each note weave together into a flavorful tapestry, with a mere whisper of its massive ABV on the finish.

It’s a privilege to taste the fruits of Fremont’s barrel-aged expertise that propelled their national recognition, and the Rusty Nail is one of their crowning achievements. Share one bottle fresh to blow the minds of your Stout-loving compatriots, and add another to your cellar to witness its leagues of decadence deepen over time.

#23 Ranked Imperial Stout in the World on BeerAdvocate; 2018 Vintage
Rated 4.49 on Untappd