Millennium II – Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

Some beers are made for moments. This one was made for years.

Millennium Part 2 is a rich and decadent 13% Imperial Stout, brewed to celebrate brew number 1000 and aged in a selection of whisky barrels from our friends at Old Kempton Distillery. Resting in ex-bourbon, rum, and port casks has transformed an already formidable stout into something deeper, darker, and more complex.

Pouring near black with a caramel-coloured head, Millennium opens with layers of raisin, caramel, dark chocolate, and rich barrel character. The aroma hints at what’s to come: a luxurious combination of dark malts, crystal malt sweetness, oak, and warming spirit notes.

The palate is unapologetically bold. Waves of dark chocolate, treacle, caramelised malt, dried fruit, and spirit-soaked oak are supported by a solid malt backbone and a firm bitterness that balances the beer’s immense richness. The influence of the bourbon, rum, and port barrels weaves through every sip, adding depth, warmth, and complexity.

Full-bodied and velvety with moderate carbonation, Millennium finishes long and lingering, leaving behind notes of sweet treacle, dark chocolate, oak, and, as you’d expect from a beer of this stature, plenty of booze.

Designed to be savoured rather than rushed, this is a beer for slow evenings, good company, and special occasions.