Center Of The Universe Shut Up! Imperial Stout Coming 11/28

Ashland, Virginia, October 28th: Shut Up! Is a barrel aged imperial stout whose flavor profile has been developing for the better part of a decade. Before the flavor profile is discussed, it’s important that you know its roots.

The year was 2006 on a hot day at the distillery in Versailles, Kentucky – the oldest distillery in the state. The head distiller was transferring some freshly distilled bourbon into oak barrels to rest for the next 7 years. On another steamy summer day in 2013, the bourbon was removed from the barrels and packaged. As previously arranged, the barrels were purchased and picked up by a new purveyor of alcohol, a winery.

This winery, located in Delaplane, VA, was intrigued by the flavors of this celebrated bourbon and decided to age their chambourcin port-style wine inside the very vessel this bourbon called home for the last 7 years. The port was made of the of the chambourcin grape and then littered with fresh cocoa nibs in order to impart a dark chocolate decadence. Both the port and the nibs are added to the barrel to meld with the sweet Bourbon that once resided there.

In May of 2014, the wine maker dipped his wine thief into the barrels to discover that his creation was now complete. This is when the barrels’ journey takes an interesting turn. Phil and Chris Ray, who were lucky enough to call just at the right moment, head up to the winery to retrieve just the rare barrels they were looking for their imperial stout.

That same day, back at the Center of the Universe, head brewer Mike Killelea took the final measurements from Brite Tank 1 and realized that it was time to prepare the imperial stout for its journey into the “wonder” barrels. Upon arrival at the brewery, Chris and Phil were giddy with excitement from their journey and couldn’t wait to introduce the base beer to it’s new home. Over the next few hours, barrel-by-barrel, the stout was moved in. Once completed, it was time to sit, wait, and imagine what the first sip of this brew would entail, and mean, for the universe.

Fast forward to August 5th, 2014. The beer has enjoyed about 4 months of rest inside its barrel home. The essence of premium bourbon and port-style wine is successfully infused and blended with the flavor of the imperial stout. The brewery team gathers around the first barrel. The bung is removed and the room is filled with a floral ecstasy of dark chocolate, raspberry, and toffee. Mike dips the wine thief into the barrel and pulls out a midnight black sample of Shut Up. The clouds break and a beam of light shines in from the heavens into the brew room. (Ok, that didn’t really happen, but it should have.) The team takes a sip. Everyone shuts up. It’s perfect.

Shut up finished at 10.2%, but you wouldn’t know it with its smooth finish. Dark chocolate, raspberry, cocoa, and espresso engulf the pallet. The hops are present at 65IBU’s, but blend perfectly with the surrounding flavors.

The official release date for Shut Up! Is Black Friday (November 28^th). The brewery will be open at 12:00pm for you to pick up that special gift for that hard to buy for beer lover. Shut Up is packaged in 750ml bottles, the only bottle strong enough to contain it. There will be only 1 keg on draft for the 28th so you can enjoy a glass after a hard day of shopping or sleeping in. 

*There is a 4 bottle limit.  No growler fills.

For those who can’t wait to get their lips on a glass of Shut Up!, Center of the Universe will be doing several sneak peeks around town: