(Press Release)
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.—Starting after nightfall and retiring at sunrise, shadow brewers are typically quiet and true professionals who labor though off hours bringing great beer to life. It can be a lonely task, with only a few compatriots, a well-chosen playlist, and tomorrow’s beer keeping company. In tribute to these oft-overlooked solitary souls, Ommegang is releasing Shadow Brewer, an imperial stout as dark and deep as a long Cooperstown winter’s night. The latest addition to the Brewmaster’s Obsession Series, Shadow Brewer, like its forebears, is a limited edition delving deep into the art and science of brewing.
“A Russian imperial stout is a beer style I have long wanted to explore” said Ommegang Brewmaster Phil Leinhart. “I’ve been waiting for the right moment and the right inspiration. Once we cracked it, to me it only made sense that Shadow Brewer should honor our midnight brewers. As a veteran of many a nightshift during my early days in brewing, I can tell you this is the perfect beer to enjoy after working in the cold and dark all night.”
A thick tan head tops the jet black brew as aromas of roasted malt, coffee, and chocolate give way to rich dark fruit notes. The taste is malty, roasted, and chocolatey with moderate hop bitterness. The finish is thick with oatmeal creaminess and pleasant lingering roast. Shadow Brewer is brewed with and hopped with Columbus, Styrian Golding, Northern Brewer, and Chinook hops. An American ale yeast is used in both primary and secondary fermentation.
Pair with dark meats such as venison, braised lamb shanks, duck, or beef, funky aged cheeses, or rich desserts. Shadow Brewer will be available in late-February in 750ml specialty screen-printed bottles and draft.
Brewery Ommegang opened in 1997 to craft-brew fine Belgian-style ales. Ommegang brews year-round ales, as well as an extensive and imaginative range of seasonal and specialty ales. The beers have won a national following by connoisseurs of fine beer and are distributed in 45 states and internationally. Ommegang is located on a 136-acre farmstead in Cooperstown, New York and offers free daily tours and inexpensive tastings as well as a 100-seat café, a well-stocked brewery store, and an annual calendar of public events. Ommegang is open every day of the year except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. For more information, contact info@ommegang.com, call 1-800-544-1809, or visit www.ommegang.com. Ommegang is a member of the Duvel family of fine beers. Follow Ommegang on Twitter: @BreweryOmmegang, Facebook.com/Ommegang, and Instagram: @BreweryOmmegang