Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout is Reuben’s Brews’ answer to the bourbon-aged imperial stout category that has become a fixture on big beer shelves every winter. Reuben’s Brews has brewed a version of this beer since 2013, and it has become one of the Seattle brewery’s signature big-format releases, aged for as long as 18 months in bourbon barrels that previously held whiskey for 8 to 12 years. It comes from the same brewery that took World’s Best Porter (American Style) at the 2022 World Beer Awards with its Robust Porter and World’s Best IPA (American Style) the same year with Crikey! – among the most internationally decorated small breweries in the Pacific Northwest.
Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout at a glance
| Style | Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout |
| ABV | Varies by vintage, roughly 11.9% to 14% depending on batch |
| IBU | Around 40 (vintage-dependent) |
| Brewery | Reuben’s Brews, Seattle, Washington |
| Barrel treatment | Aged up to 18 months in 8 to 12-year-old bourbon barrels |
| Base beer | Oat-forward imperial stout with British specialty malts |
| Related award | Reuben’s Brews won World’s Best Porter, American Style, at the 2022 World Beer Awards with its Robust Porter |
| Availability | Confirmed on Saucey (Seattle delivery area), $22.74 per 22oz bottle |
How it tastes, by the numbers
The base beer is an oat-forward imperial stout built on British specialty malts, then aged up to 18 months in bourbon barrels. ABV varies by vintage – Untappd lists 11.9% for one batch, while at least one recent release has been reported at 14% with 40 IBU – so treat any single number as approximate until you check the specific bottle in front of you.
The full review
Reuben’s Brews describes Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout as delivering ‘warming aromas of cocoa, milk chocolate and bourbon’ with ‘a silky mouthfeel, with vanilla and rich milk chocolate’ on the mid-palate, trailing off into ‘background notes of smoke, licorice and coffee’ and finishing with a touch of cherry liquor. It reads as a classic, dessert-leaning bourbon barrel stout rather than a drier, more roasty take on the style.
Drinker notes on Untappd echo the brewery’s own description closely: chocolate, dark fruit, vanilla and oak dominate, with a mouthfeel most reviewers call full and smooth, plus a boozy warmth on the finish that confirms this is built to be sipped rather than gulped.
Because Reuben’s Brews releases this beer in limited, barrel-dependent batches, exact flavor intensity – particularly the bourbon and oak character – can shift from vintage to vintage depending on how long a given barrel run sat and which barrels were used. That variability is part of the appeal for repeat buyers who track different releases, but it also means no two bottles are guaranteed to taste identical.
Warming aromas of cocoa, milk chocolate and bourbon… silky mouthfeel, with vanilla and rich milk chocolate mid palate… background notes of smoke, licorice and coffee, with cherry liquor at the finish.
- Comes from a brewery with a genuine World Beer Awards track record – Reuben’s Brews won World’s Best Porter (American Style) in 2022 and World’s Best IPA (American Style) in the same year with a different beer
- Long barrel-aging (up to 18 months in bourbon barrels that previously held 8 to 12-year-old whiskey) gives real oak and vanilla depth rather than a light barrel-adjacent flavor
- Rich, dessert-like profile – cocoa, milk chocolate, vanilla and dark fruit – that holds up well against other big imperial stouts in the category
- In stock and deliverable through Saucey in the Seattle area, unlike almost every actual World Beer Awards Stout & Porter category winner we checked
- This is not the literal award-winning beer – Reuben’s Brews’ 2022 World’s Best Porter win was for its Robust Porter, a different, non-barrel-aged release. Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout is a related, brand-level match, not the exact trophy beer
- ABV varies noticeably by vintage (we saw figures from 11.9% up to 14% depending on the release), and the Saucey listing does not specify which batch is currently shipping, so treat any single number as an estimate
- At this strength and price point it is a sipper, not a session beer – a 22oz bottle is meant to be shared or savored slowly
- Saucey stock is regional; we confirmed it for Seattle, WA delivery only
Who it is for
This is a beer for imperial stout and bourbon barrel-aged beer fans who want something rich and dessert-forward – chocolate, vanilla, dark fruit – rather than a drier, more roast-forward stout. It also appeals to anyone tracking Reuben’s Brews specifically, given the brewery’s World Beer Awards pedigree with its Porter and IPA lines.
Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout FAQs
What is Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout?
It is Reuben’s Brews’ bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout, brewed since 2013 and aged up to 18 months in bourbon barrels that previously held whiskey for 8 to 12 years. ABV varies by vintage, roughly 11.9% to 14% depending on the release.
Is this the beer that won World’s Best Porter at the World Beer Awards?
No. Reuben’s Brews won World’s Best Porter (American Style) at the 2022 World Beer Awards with its Robust Porter, a separate, non-barrel-aged release. Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout is a related beer from the same award-winning brewery, not the exact trophy-winning product.
Is Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout available on Saucey?
Yes, as of our check it is stocked on Saucey for delivery to the Seattle, WA area, priced at $22.74 for a 22oz bottle. Stock will vary by delivery zone and by vintage, since Saucey’s inventory is store-specific.
What does it taste like?
Per Reuben’s Brews’ own tasting notes, expect cocoa, milk chocolate and bourbon aromas, a silky mouthfeel with vanilla and rich milk chocolate through the middle, background smoke, licorice and coffee, and a cherry liquor finish.
Where to buy Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout
Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout is a limited, barrel-dependent Reuben’s Brews release, most reliably found at the brewery’s Ballard taproom and through Washington-area wholesale distribution. For delivery, we confirmed it in stock on Saucey in the Seattle, WA delivery zone at $22.74 per 22oz bottle.
The verdict
Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout is a rich, chocolate-and-vanilla-forward barrel-aged stout from a brewery with real World Beer Awards credentials, even though this specific release is not the exact beer that won Reuben’s Brews its 2022 World’s Best Porter title. If you want a genuine barrel-aged sipper from an internationally judged Seattle brewery, and you can actually get it delivered, this is a reasonable way in – just go in expecting some batch-to-batch variation rather than a fixed recipe.
FAQs
Who makes Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout?
Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout is brewed by Reuben’s Brews (independently owned).
What kind of beer is Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout?
Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout is a Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, at Varies by vintage, roughly 11.9% to 14% depending on batch ABV.
How much alcohol is in Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout?
Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout has an ABV of Varies by vintage, roughly 11.9% to 14% depending on batch.
Is Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout gluten free?
No. Like most traditional beers, Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout is brewed from barley and/or wheat, both of which contain gluten.
How can I make Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout taste better?
Serve it at the right temperature and in the right glass (see below), or use it as the base for a beer cocktail. Our beer cocktails guide has recipes worth trying.
Where is Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout made?
Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout is brewed by Reuben’s Brews in Seattle, Washington.
How do I open Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout without a bottle opener?
A lighter, a sturdy key, a spoon, or the edge of a table all work in a pinch. See our full guide on opening a beer without a bottle opener for 8 methods that actually work.
What glass should I use for Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout?
A standard pint or tulip glass works well for a Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout like Reuben’s Brews Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout. See our beer glassware guide for style-by-style recommendations.
