(Newport, OR) – Rogue Ales & Spirits, the country’s only brewery-distillery-cooperage, announces the release of 2017 Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout. Brewed with ingredients grown at Rogue Farms and ocean aged in Dead Guy Whiskey-soaked handmade Oregon Oak barrels coopered at Rogue’s Rolling Thunder Barrel Works, Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout is the culmination of a long journey from bark to bottle. In 2015 Rogue acquired vintage, WWII-era, coopering equipment and subsequently established Rolling Thunder Barrel Works to take on the ancient artform of barrel making. Using Oregon Oak, Rogue’s cooper Nate Linquist assembles, raises, toasts, chars, hoops, cauterizes, sands and brands one barrel a day, all by hand.
Rogue’s Rolling Thunder Barrel Works Master Cooper, Nate Linquist, poses with Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout
“At first it was a creative challenge,” said General Manager Dharma Tamm, “to see how we could incorporate our brewery, distillery, cooperage and farm into one beer. However, our brewers, distillers, coopers, farmers – and even graphic designers turned it into a quest to create a world class beer that exemplifies the Rogue spirit of challenging the norm and pushing creative boundaries.”
Rogue Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout inside a hand-charred Rolling Thunder Barrel
Black with a creamy head, Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout features deep sherry notes accentuated by hints of coconut, cherries, dark fruit and vanilla held up against a dark roasted malt backbone with earthy hops. At 14%, this year’s Rolling Thunder is bigger and bolder than the inaugural 2016 release. Limited quantities of Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout will be available on draft and in 1-liter swing-top bottles at Rogue public houses starting July 21, then at select retailers nationwide on August 1. For more information visit Rogue.com.
Rogue Ales & Spirits is an agri-fermenter founded in Oregon in 1988 as one of America’s first microbreweries. Rogue has won more than 1,800 awards for taste, quality and packaging and is available in all 50 states as well as 54 countries. Since 2008, Rogue has remained committed to saving the terroir of Oregon hops, barley, rye, wheat, honey, jalapeños, and pumpkins one acre at a time by growing its own.