2024 Double Happiness
Lucky Envelope Brewing

downright epic barrel aged imperial stout, it changes from year to year hence the vintage inclusion, but this year its been made with vanilla and get this, szechuan peppercorns, never heard of that in a stout before i dont think, and this was on the must try list when i saw it. i knew it would be weird, but i didnt know how much i would love it, and i guess i also didnt realize lucky envelope was making beer at this level, i need to do a better job of tracking down and drinking their stuff. matte dark brown near black with a short but densely packed off white head from the tap, fine but totally unassuming, moderate viscosity. the nose is beautiful, i get the green vegetal aspect from the peppercorns, a floral thing, a green tea note, definite bitterness and from more than just the roast, light smoke, dry cocoa, sexy vanilla but not forced, and only a little bit of than distinctive szechuan numbing thing, but the tease of that is there and its cool, seems like a well made but unexotic stout otherwise. this is why the flavor is so shocking, the hit of the szechuan is truly amazing, never experienced anything like it in a beer, nowhere near this level, it dances and tingles on the tongue. i thought it would be weird with rich and regal vanilla, but it isnt, its lovely, softened some but also extended, this ends up decadent without being particularly sweet at the end, hard to do. the szechuan defines it, floral and spicy, a citrus note, some sharpness, but the vanilla is orchid forward and fully compatible. nice dark roast in here too, espresso and even a hazelnut wrinkle, some leather, and just a little breadiness from the yeast, which brings this together well and dries it out. this is elite, inventive and brilliantly proportioned, absolutely not to be missed. a dark horse beer of the year candidate for me right now. i would love to try some of the past variants of this too, but i suspect this is the best and most unique to date. holy cow!