Guinness is Bringing us Two New Bourbon Barrel Aged Stouts For the Holiday Season

Guinness Barrel Aged Stouts. Courtesy Photo.

Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Maryland is bringing us two bourbon barrel aged stouts just in time for winter weather.

On November 5th, International Stout Day, Guinness announced the arrival of Guinness Imperial Gingerbread Spiced Stout and Guinness Imperial Stout, both aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels. 

“Barrels have been a part of Guinness brewing history for centuries, so we’re excited to continue expanding on that tradition by becoming a center for the barrel-aging experience in the U.S.,” said Sean Brennan, Senior Brewer at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore. “It truly gives us the chance to create, experiment and discover. We brewed Imperial Gingerbread Spiced Stout to evoke the warm, rich flavors of holiday spices, while we knew Imperial Stout needed to be showcased on its own after it was originally brewed as part of the Stock Ale blend last year.”

Guinness Imperial Gingerbread Spiced Stout clocks in at 11% ABV, and was brewed with allspice, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, then aged in bourbon barrels. The brewery recommends you pair the stout with “roasted pork with fig, vanilla panna cotta, or crème brûlée.”

Guinness Imperial Stout was developed specifically with barrel-aging in mind, says the brewery. They describe “a velvety mouthfeel, notes of chocolate, bourbon — not to mention hints of coconut and vanilla — and an oak finish,” bottled at 10.3% ABV. Guinness tell us to pair with steak, rib roast with rosemary and garlic or chocolate desserts.

Guinness Imperial Gingerbread Spiced Stout and Guinness Imperial Stout are hitting shelves across the U.S. in 4 packs of 11.2oz bottles for a limited time at a suggested retail price of $19.99.

Caroline Paulus
Caroline Paulus is the Senior Editor for The Bourbon Review. She lives and writes in Lexington, Kentucky. Follow her on Instagram @misswhiskeyhistorian to keep up with her latest in bourbon news - and a few old finds, too.