Lexington, Kentucky-based Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co., the only brewery and distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, announces its fourth limited release of Kentucky Maple Barrel Imperial Stout (and releases 300 cases of Town Branch Maple Barrel Stout Finished Bourbon to complement the beer’s release. Both brands available nationwide in limited quantities.
Origin Story: Kentucky Maple Barrel Imperial Stout
In the heart of Kentucky, where tradition runs deep, a bold idea was born – a daring fusion of flavors drawn from a single barrel, capturing the essence of its journey to create something extraordinary. It was here, at the crossroads of rich heritage and fearless innovation, that Kentucky Maple Barrel Imperial Stout came to life.
In 2020, amidst the chaos of a world brought to a halt, Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. received its first 100 empty bourbon barrels, previously aging maple syrup in Michigan, now returning home to Lexington. The team envisioned a barrel-aged beer that wasn’t just another stout, but something bigger, bolder, and more complex. A newly developed imperial stout recipe was chosen to undergo a longer aging process than most of the brewery’s other barrel-aged beers, which typically celebrate the freshness of newly decanted bourbon barrels.
This first batch was crafted with fire and finesse, then aged to perfection in these hand-crafted maple bourbon barrels— a tribute to the passion of Kentucky’s distilleries. Over 18 months, the beer absorbed the deep amber sweetness of maple and the complex warmth of bourbon, resulting in a stout that’s as silky smooth as it is full-bodied. By 2021, the first sip told a story—a tale of craftsmanship from a place unafraid to embrace challenges. This was a stout with deep roots, bold and assertive, forging its own path while remaining authentically Kentucky.
Every year since, when the weather turns, this beer awakens. Kentucky Maple Barrel Imperial Stout didn’t just make a splash—it made a statement when in 2022, it was crowned World’s Best Style Winner at the World Beer Awards, solidifying its place in history alongside the great imperial stouts of the past and those yet to come. It was a defiant nod to what Kentucky is all about: the relentless pursuit of perfection.
The 2024 release is no ordinary stout—it’s Kentucky in a glass: bold, unapologetic, and impossibly rich. Perfectly balanced with bourbon, it embodies the spirit of a region steeped in tradition and fearless innovation. With every brew and every pour, that legacy lives on—a legacy for those who dare to dream bigger, push the boundaries of flavor, and understand that the best things are always worth the wait. Kentucky Maple Barrel Imperial Stout: a drink for those who know that greatness isn’t just brewed—it’s earned.
Brand Highlights:
Kentucky®️ Maple Barrel Imperial Stout (SRP $19.99 / 4pk Cans)
- A bold imperial stout brewed with brown sugar, evoking flavors of roasted malt and cocoa. This brew is aged for 18-months in freshly decanted maple syrup bourbon barrels.
- Malt Types: Carapils, Chocolate, Crystal 80 and 2-Row Pale Ale
- ABV: 12% abv / 24 Proof
- Estimated Availability: 2021 Release = 2,200 cs / 2022 Release = 2,300 cs / 2023 Release = 1,950 cs / 2024 Release = 1,100 cs
- Cellar Regiment:
- Temperature Cellared: 42-degrees Fahrenheit
- Barrel Type: Freshly decanted Kentucky Bourbon Barrels then used to age Maple syrup
- Tasting Notes:
- Appearance: Dark and toffee
- Aroma: Caramel and sweet roasted malt notes
- Palate: Rich and full
- Finish: Sweet, full, maple and molasses
Town Branch Maple Barrel Stout Finished Bourbon (SRP $69.99/750ml)
- A unique expression of Town Branch Bourbon finished in freshly decanted Kentucky®️ Maple Barrel Imperial Stout barrels to add flavors of the beer alongside traditional flavors of bourbon.
- Mash Bill: Town Branch Bourbon (72C / 15R / 13MB), finished in Kentucky®️ Maple Stout Barrels
- ABV: 47% / 94 Proof
- Estimated Availability: 2022 Release = 1,100 cases / 2023 Release = 750 cases / 2024 Release = 300 cases
- Tasting Notes:
- Appearance: Dark hue from double finishing
- Aroma: Hints of roasted malt, cocoa, oak, and maple syrup
- Palate: Roasted malt, cocoa, brown sugar, cherry, and vanilla
- Finish: Oak, caramel, and rich maple syrup