Author: Will Ziebell, The Crafty Pint
Original Article published on 2nd September 2024
Over many years, Hawkers seem to have made it their mission to release just about every kind of imperial stout under the sun. White stouts? Check. Bourbon? Check. Aquavit? Very much check.
As winter ends for 2024, they've taken something old and something new in Silver Lining, a mixed-culture imperial stout that spent its time ageing away in rum barrels. Naturally, this means you'll quite quickly discover some funk in the big beer, with that blend of yeast and bugs bringing quite sustained fruit notes. Those include a heavy touch of cherry, ripe pear, and a more minty side, while the rum barrels seem to have added a rich layer of brown sugar that blends succinctly with the lasting but paired back acidity. Of course, at Silver Lining's heart is still 11.4 percent booze and plenty of roasted malts, so there's no shortage of dark chocolate and roasted notes and spiritous qualities.
