This December, we’re ringing in the holidays with a beechwood-smoked doppelbock aged on American oak.

We started this recipe with the malty yet dry balance of a classic German doppelbock, stretched just past the limits of tradition at 9% ABV. The grist is laden with pale and Munich-style malts, and layered with a gentle helping of beechwood-smoked malt. We then gave it a long, slow fermentation with a clean German lager yeast. During the extended lagering period, we aged this beer on American oak spirals to extract lactones and other flavor elements from the wood.

The resulting beer is a masterpiece that we’ve fallen in love with. It leads with the subtle aroma of smoke and rich bready malts. Given the hearty flavors, it’s surprisingly light on the palate: smooth and drinkable. The alcohol makes its presence known in the finish, with a sweetness that blends elegantly with the vanillin from the oak aging.

Solitary Series: December 2024 is the first Solitary Series release available in cans! You can be the first to get a taste and pick up cans to share with your friends at the release party at the brewery on Friday 12/13. The beer will subsequently be available on draft and in cans across the Seattle area.