ROCHESTER, Minn. — Forager Brewery is set to release its highly anticipated barrel-aged pastry stout, Little Luxuries, this Friday, February 23, at 11 a.m. The winter release is already familiar to craft beer enthusiasts, as it marks a return of the popular stout to the public for the first time since its last limited offering.
A staple of the brewery’s winter lineup, Little Luxuries is not a new creation but a rare, aged beer that has been carefully crafted over nearly three years. It precedes the annual release of Nillerzzzzz, a vanilla stout credited with helping put Forager Brewery on the map. Both beers share a similar brewing process, fermented in wooden barrels for extended periods to develop a rich, complex flavor.
“We brew a beer recipe that then gets put into barrels, and it ages. The longer it sits, the thicker and richer it becomes,” explained Annie Henderson, owner of Forager Brewery. “We generally age our beers for two to three years before bottling. After that, we add adjuncts like coffee, chocolate, vanilla, or coconut to create a dessert-style beer.”
The patience required to craft such beers is key. With only a limited number of bottles available for each release, the blend of Little Luxuries varies from year to year. This particular release draws from barrels fermented across three different years, resulting in a unique flavor profile. The oldest barrels date back to December 2020, while the youngest was from September 2022.
“This blend brings together different flavors from each year, but they all share a similar palette,” said Jake Ryan, a master seller at Forager Brewery. “They all contribute something special to the final product.”
Fermented with house-toasted coconut, house-roasted Bolivian cocoa nibs, barrel-aged maple syrup, and vanilla bean caviar from Zanzibar, Little Luxuries offers a dessert-like flavor profile with chocolatey undertones. According to Ryan, the beer is a perfect introduction for those new to the world of adjunct stouts, offering a sweetness that makes it approachable with every sip.
“This beer is very versatile and pairs well with dessert,” Ryan said. “I’d recommend it with a plain cheesecake, carrot cake, or even tiramisu.”
The beer boasts a 14.3% ABV and will be sold in 750ml bottles for $55 plus tax. As with past releases, Little Luxuries will be in high demand, with limited quantities available. Forager Brewery typically sees long lines of eager customers, some of whom even camp out overnight to secure their bottles.
“We usually have a line of people waiting when we open,” Henderson said. “It’s not unusual for fans to make a party of it, staying overnight in the parking lot. We only offer one or two bottles per person to ensure more people can enjoy it.”
Forager Brewery’s Little Luxuries is expected to sell out quickly, and those hoping to snag a bottle are encouraged to arrive early this Friday.
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