Lervig Fable By Rackhouse Imperial Stout Beer 37,5 cl 13,1%

Beneath the brewery in Stavanger, some barrels stand longer than others. Fable is one of them, left to rest year after year while port and bourbon slowly write themselves into the beer. This is not one to rush through.

The Expert's Description of Lervig Fable By Rackhouse

Fable is part of Lervig's Rackhouse series, where the Norwegian brewery from Stavanger pursues its passion for barrel-ageing to the fullest. The base is a powerful Imperial Stout, which has then spent three full years in darkness, first in Port wine barrels from Portugal, then in Bourbon barrels from Kentucky. The two barrel types meet and merge in the beer, and the result is a deep, complex stout carrying traces of both worlds, the Port's sweet, wine-like depth and the Bourbon's warm, smoky sweetness.

Rackhouse is Lervig's dedicated line for barrel-aged beers, where time and wood weigh just as heavily as malt and hops in the finished result. Fable ranks among the more ambitious releases in the series, a beer that demands patience to brew and rewards that same patience in the drinker.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Dark chocolate and stewed fruit greet you first, with a sweet, almost syrupy scent of Port. Beneath that lies the vanilla from the Bourbon barrels, soft and round, alongside a hint of oak.

Taste

Full-bodied and dessert-like, with dark chocolate up front followed by stewed fruit and a warm, Port-like sweetness. The Bourbon lends the beer body and a lightly smoked caramel note that ties it all together.

Finish

Long and soft, with a lingering finish of vanilla, dark chocolate and a last trace of red wine-like fruit sweetness that stays for a good while.

Specifications

Name: Fable By Rackhouse
Brewery: Lervig
Country/Region: Stavanger, Norway
Beer Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 13,1%
Size: 37,5 CL
Best Before Date: 01.03.2031
Serving Suggestion: Serve at 10-12 degrees in a snifter or Port glass, ideally to round off a meal

Flavour Profile

Malty · Roasted · Fruity · Sweet · Spiced · Creamy

Did You Know?

Three years in barrel is unusually long even for the Rackhouse series, where most releases typically age between six and eighteen months. That extended ageing time is part of what makes Fable one of the series' rarer releases.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Lervig Fable By Rackhouse

What does Lervig Fable By Rackhouse taste like?

It tastes of dark chocolate, stewed fruit and a warm Port-like sweetness, spiced with vanilla and a hint of Bourbon from the barrel-ageing. It's a full-bodied, dessert-like stout that sits heavy and comfortable on the tongue.

Is Lervig Fable By Rackhouse worth the money?

Yes, if you're into barrel-aged stouts. Three years of ageing across two different barrel types is unusually long even for a Rackhouse release, giving it a depth you rarely find in regular specialty beer. This is an occasion beer, not everyday drinking.

How rare is this beer?

Fable belongs to Lervig's more exclusive Rackhouse releases, brewed in limited quantities. Once a batch sells out, it doesn't necessarily return in the same form.

What temperature should Lervig Fable be served at?

Around 10-12 degrees is ideal. Too cold and the aromas close up, too warm and the alcohol becomes too dominant.

What glass suits this stout best?

A snifter or Port glass works well, since the narrow opening gathers the aromas of chocolate, vanilla and Port. A stout or porter beer glass also does the job nicely.

What food pairs well with Lervig Fable?

Dark chocolate, blue cheese or a simple vanilla ice cream are all natural companions. The beer is powerful enough to match even the sweetest desserts.

How long does Lervig Fable keep?

This bottle carries a stated best before date of 01.03.2031. Powerful barrel-aged stouts like this one often develop positively with further ageing, as long as they're stored cool and dark.

Where does Lervig come from?

Lervig is an independent brewery from Stavanger, Norway, founded in 2003. The brewery is particularly known for its powerful, barrel-aged stouts under the Rackhouse line.

What is Lervig's Rackhouse series?

Rackhouse is Lervig's dedicated programme for barrel-aged beers, where the brewery experiments with different barrel types and ageing times to draw out the best character the wood has to offer.

Is Lervig Fable a good gift idea?

Yes, it's a natural pick for the whisky or stout enthusiast who loves something a little out of the ordinary. The long barrel-ageing and the two barrel types make it a proper conversation beer.