Beer lovers don’t necessarily need a special occasion to try a new beer, but sometimes a celebration just presents itself. Case in point: 4 Hands Brewing Co. celebrates its third anniversary tomorrow, Jan. 16 with a party kicking off at noon and rolling all night long. 4 Hands will feature several draft selections of its limited-release beers, including Volume No. 1, Volume No. 2, Ill Repute, Beyond the Bricks, Madagascar and the very last keg of Blackberry Chocolate Milk Stout.
And that new beer? Presenting 4 Hands’ newest addition to its bottle and draft lineup, The Woodsman. This brew is a 50-50 blend of Imperial oatmeal stout in stainless steel and Imperial milk stout aged in bourbon barrels. The result is a jet-black pour with a mocha head that lends itself to a moderate mouth feel. While there is plenty of chocolate going on, there are also some subtle fruity esters akin to dried cherries and raisins that really make this beer pop. While dessert is the obvious pairing, try this one with a juicy burger with goat cheese and caramelized onions.
Bottles and draft will see limited distribution across the metro area, but if you want a guaranteed taste, head to 4 Hands Friday to celebrate three years in the St. Louis craft beer scene – and purchase up to three bottles of The Woodsman to keep the party going at home, too.
Eric Hildebrandt is the moderator and ambassador with STL Hops. Follow him on Twitter at @EricSTL6.
This article appears in January 2015.