Houston’s Saint Arnold Brewing just recently released the latest in the brewery’s Bishop’s Barrel Series and, once again, it sounds like a beer tailor- made for beer connoisseurs.
This latest in the Bishop’s Barrel lineup is No. 14 and this time around, the good guys and gals at Saint Arnold have brewed up a dark beer; a Russian Imperial Stout with coffee and whiskey character. The new Bishop’s Barrel will be distributed to taverns and restaurants throughout Texas and Louisiana.
Many do not realize this, but Russian Imperial Stout actually originated in England, not in Russia. It all began when Peter the Great visited London in 1698. The Russian Czar loved the stouts brewed and served in England at the time but he quickly discovered that the beer couldn’t survive the long journey back to Russia without going bad. The British, ever hospitable and always ready to spread the cheer of great beer far and wide, decided to tweak the recipe of a standard stout. They added more hops, boosted the alcohol, and Russian Imperial Stout was born.
Saint Arnold beer fans love the brewery’s specialty beers and most all are familiar with the Divine Reserve series. If you count yourself among the Saint Arnold Divine Reserve fanatics, you will be happy to know that Bishop’s Barrel No. 14 starts with the recipe for the award- winning Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 5, then ages the brew in Woodford Reserve Bourbon Barrels. Once the aging is complete, Saint Arnold adds espresso beans to add even more depth of flavor and smooth out the rough edges. Saint Arnold brewer Aaron Inkrott says this newest Bishop’s Barrel is less boozy in taste and better balanced.
“We were going for something different from the typical Russian Imperial Stout, which can be dominated by intense alcohol heat,” said Inkrott. “By adding espresso beans from our friends at Java Pura, we were able to effectively bring the beer into balance so the flavors work in harmony.”
Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel No. 14, like the others in the series, is available in very limited quantities. It will be sold in 12 ounce bottles and on draft, but only in pubs and restaurants. You cannot purchase Bishop’s Barrel in stores so it does present a greater challenge to track it down, but if it’s anything like the other Bishop’s Barrel beers, the effort to find it will be worth it. Bishop’s Barrel No. 14 won’t be around for long, so visit a restaurant or tavern near you and indulge in this latest Saint Arnold Brewing barrel- aged masterpiece.
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