For Day 5 of the Growler Fills 12 Days of Christmas Cheer we’re keeping it local with an awesome sipping beer from Missoula’s Kettlehouse Brewing Co. I stopped in at the Myrtle Street location while running errands to try a couple of new ones on tap.  Sadly, I was a day late for Kettlehouse’s Nutt-Cracker Winter Ale which was all gone.  I guess I need to get out more.

Fortunately the Road Rash Imperial Red Ale is still pouring and is quite a brew to behold.  Aged 4 months in bourbon barrels, this huge 13% abv beer is not for the faint at heart. Or tastebuds. It pours a very dark reddish brown color with an off white head. There are pronounced aromas of bourbon. Initial flavors of strong alcohol and bourbon transition to strong bourbon and a candy sweet malt finish.  I got slight hints of hop bitterness somewhere in the background popping up from time to time, but this one is malt and bourbon all the way. It is a rich, potent, powerful sipping beer ($4.50/snifter and $18/growler).

For those looking for something more mellow, Joe Bong Coffee Porter is back on nitro. I also got a small sip of a new dopplebock due out as soon as the yeast settles a bit more. From the taste I got, it looks to be another winner from Kettlehouse.