Beer of the Week: Four Roses Barrel-aged No Hope for Rescue

From the Beer Writer: A decade is a long time to do just about anything, much less the strenuous work it takes to maintain a business in our modern-day world amid shifting consumer trends and an ever-changing economic climate. I’m a believer that if a company is able to make it 10 years, they should go blow-the-roof-off big in celebrating that feat. Clearly, Rip Current Brewing‘s co-founding Brewmaster, Paul Sangster, feels the same way. A brewery with an affinity for beers (his brewery’s flagship is a double IPA for crying out loud), including those made even stronger through the art of spirit-barrel-aging, Rip Current will tap several oak-rested monsters as part of its three days of anniversary festivities this Friday through Sunday. Among them will be this week’s featured beer, Four Roses Barrel-aged No Hope for Rescue Double Imperial Stout. Equipped with a name that leaves no question as to what one is drinking and an off-the-charts alcohol-by-volume (ABV) of 18.25%, it is the epitome of decadence and should be approached with caution, but for all its brawn, it also exhibits an impressive amount of grace. A nose of bourbon-infused chocolate-ganache-dipped cherries precedes a velvety smooth, roasty stout with a surprising dried-blueberry intensity that gives way to a boozy backend bite and an aftertaste reminiscent of Raisinets. This satin-wrapped sledgehammer makes for one heck of a way to commemorate 10 years of award-winning beer.

From the Brewer: “As part of our 10th anniversary celebration, we are releasing three new barrel-aged beers on draft…and to-go in crowlers! Of them, the beer with the highest ABV (alcohol-by-volume) and the largest following is our Four Roses Barrel-aged No Hope for Rescue (NHfR) double imperial stout. The name reflects the desire of our customers from back in 2015 to create a ‘double’ version of our Great American Beer Festival award-winning imperial stout, Rescue Buoy. We scaled up the recipe and released the first batch of NHfR to much acclaim, so we thought why not take it to the next level by barrel aging it? The 2023 release features a couple of the best barrels of the batch brewed way back in 2019. This batch was touched in some way by many of the great brewers we have had over the years, so this beer is a tribute to all of their hard work. Over the ensuing three-and-a-half years in the barrel, NHfR’s flavors have melded and the alcohol compounds have matured, leaving a smooth, complex elixir with notes of chocolate, molasses, bourbon, dark fruits like prune, raisin and fig, roasted coffee and hints of vanilla oak tannins. Despite its monstrous 18.25% ABV, the years of maturing have rendered it dangerously easy-drinking. We will be offering to-go crowlers for patrons to enjoy this beer at home, so please sample it responsibly then take some home for later.”—Paul Sangster, Co-founder & Brewmaster, Rip Current Brewing