Yes, you read that correctly.  It’s Fat Friday!

Our firkin Friday, July 31st is Fatso – Good People Brewing Company’s Russian Imperial Stout.  This will be the first HIGH GRAVITY CASK EVER “sold” IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA!  Thanks to Free the Hops which succeeded in increasing the allowable ABV of beer in Alabama from 6% to 13.9%.

According to Jason Malone – owner and brewmaster – “Fatso is dark & roasty stout with flavors of coffee, chocolate, hops, vanilla, alcohol, and dark/dried fruit with a roasty/dry finish.”

Fat Friday’s version is cask-conditioned which allows yeast to naturally carbonate the beer.  This results in a softer carbonation that allows more of the intricacies of the beer to shine through.  Jason says,

“with that in mind, I wanted to go bigger on all the flavors already present in this robust beer. It was dry-hopped with Liberty hops.  I added a hefty amount of Gahna Cocoa Nibs (these things smell absolutely incredible) provided by my friends at Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Company (the only chocolate company in the South making chocolate from beans to bars).  To round out the flavors, I added golden raisins, thompson raisins, and a small vanilla bean.”

This version should clock in at around 8.4% ABV.  Because of the high ABV, Fatso will only be available in half Imperial pints.

For you youngsters out there, no that’s not Jason saying “Hey Hey Hey!”  I’m not even sure I can use that image, but it’s Fat Albert.  Jason has a beard.  He’s phat, but he ain’t fat.

Cheers!