In 2020, we used the downtime from the lockdowns to experiment with various wood aging techniques as an extra dimension to add character to our beer.  The first beer to come out of that program was Stingo, a strong ale aged on Spanish cedar and bald cypress.  Now we're back for round 2 with an imperial stout built to showcase the unique character of Amburana.

Amburana cearensis is a tree that is native to South America and especially Brazil.  It's a member of the legume family--so related to beans and peanuts--and while useful for its timber, amburana is mostly known for its unique aroma.  The heady cinnamon and nutmeg aroma is instantly identifiable, and sets it apart from the other woods we experimented with.  The amburana family is listed as endangered due to loss of habitat, but demand for the unique wood in the spirits world--especially for Brazil's native spirit, cachaça--has sparked interest in farming which has buoyed the amburana population and allowed us to get our hands on some.

We built this recipe as the perfect beer to pair with amburana.  We start off with a big, bold imperial stout, using some of our favorite roasted malts which you might recognize from Xylocopa.  Unlike Xylocopa however, we introduced a crystal malt to add a subtle caramel note in the background.  We also mashed low and slow to boost the fermentability of the wort, to make sure we keep a moderate body and not fall into the trap of overly sweet, syrupy stout.  After fermentation, we conditioned the beer on a combination of heavy toast American oak and lightly toasted amburana.

The result is something akin to a mocha-cinnamon milkshake. The amburana is obvious on the nose with a touch of vanillin from the oak. As it hits your tastebuds, they light up with the chocolatey roasted malts and the light but creamy mouthfeel. The cinnamon/nutmeg quickly resurfaces, with the vanilla/caramel peaking in just behind. Then the impression of sweetness dries up with a roasty, coffee-like finish. The initial impulse to compare this to Mexican hot chocolate would be fitting, if not for the fact that this beer uses no chocolate or spices—it’s straight beer after all—so the mouthfeel is much more delicate and finely integrated than your typical pastry stout.

Like all Solitary Series beer, we’re only brewing this beer once, so get it while you can! It is available draft-only at the taproom and across our distribution footprint while the kegs last. Solitary Society members get their first 12 oz pour at the taproom included with their membership as well as a growler or crowler fill to take home.