In the dark beneath Lervig's brewery in Stavanger, rows of used barrels sit waiting. Some once held bourbon, others rum - but these ones smelled of Finnish rye whisky, and for twenty months they've been passing that on to one of the Rackhouse series' most ambitious brews.
Expert description of Lervig Off The Rack Finnish Rye Whisky By Rackhouse
This beer is the second release in Lervig's Rackhouse series under the name Finnish Rye Whisky - a continuation of the brewery's new favourite among barrel-aged stouts. The base beer is a classic Imperial Stout, which after fermentation was moved onto barrels that previously held Finnish rye whisky. There it rested for a full twenty months, while the rye whisky's spiced character slowly worked its way into the beer.
The result is a deep, complex stout with a clear stamp of rich cacao and mild tobacco, carried by a firm but well-balanced spirit character from the barrels. This is not a beer in a hurry - twenty months is a long time, even in a barrel, and it shows in the finished result.
Off The Rack Finnish Rye Whisky 2024 is a limited release from Rackhouse - Lervig's own barrel-ageing programme, dedicated to exploring what wood does to beer rather than simply brewing it. The series spans stouts, quadrupels and barley wines, all of which have spent time on carefully chosen barrels.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
Dark cacao and a hint of tobacco greet you first, backed by a warm, spiced note of rye from the barrels.
Taste
Full-bodied and malt-forward with clear cacao, roasted malt and a touch of the rye whisky's spiced sweetness. The spirit character is present but never dominant.
Finish
Long and warm, with a dry finish where the rye spice lingers longest.
Specifications
Name: Lervig Off The Rack Finnish Rye Whisky 2024 By Rackhouse Imperial Stout
Brewery: Lervig
Country/Region: Stavanger, Norway
Beer Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 14.7%
Size: 37.5 CL
Malt: Barley, Oats
Ingredients: Water, barley, oats, hops, yeast
Allergens: Contains gluten
Shelf life: 5 years from bottling date
Serving suggestion: Serve in a snifter glass at 8-10°C
Flavour Profile
Malty · Roasted · Spiced · Creamy · Tobacco-smoked
Did you know?
This is actually chapter two of the story. The first release in the series, called Finnish Rye Whiskey, spent only twelve months on the rye whisky barrels and landed at a hefty 16.7% ABV. This edition has spent eight months longer in the wood, but comes in a touch lower in strength.
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