📖 Dive Deep into the Dark Side: The Full Story
We didn’t just release some stouts… we released FIVE chapters of barrel-aged perfection from Werk Force Brewing Co.! Below is the full breakdown of the ingredients, aging process, and flavor profiles for every single variant.
Come grab your haul! Beer Bazaar (107 Center Street, Grayslake, IL 60030) is open, and these limited releases are available now!
Werk Force Barrel Aged Sleepy Bear Series
Werk Force Brewing Co. is a celebrated brewery from Plainfield, IL, known for their exceptional barrel program.
- Barrel Aged Sleepy Bear (The OG!)
- The Base: Quintessential Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, aged for a full 24 months.
- The Barrel: Exceptional Blanton’s bourbon barrels.
- The Flavor: A testament to purity. There are no adjuncts—only Sleepy Bear, the barrel, and time, resulting in a deep, complex, vanilla-forward character.
- Barrel Aged Death By Chocolate Cake Sleepy Bear
- The Base: Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, blended from 21-month-aged Sleepy Bear.
- The Barrel: Buffalo Trace Mash #1 and Mash #2 barrels.
- The Adjuncts: An intense blend of Cacao Nibs sourced from five distinct regions and rich Madagascar Vanilla.
- The Flavor: The ultimate chocolate bomb—a heater of a stout with rich, freshly roasted cocoa intensity.
- Barrel Aged 4 Year Cuvée Sleepy Bear
- The Blend: A truly special, one-of-a-kind Vintage Blend meticulously combining Sleepy Bear aged for 4, 3, 2, and 1 years.
- The Barrel: Carefully selected blend of various premium bourbon and rye whisky barrels.
- The Flavor: Majestic and complex, with unbelievable notes of dark chocolate, rich tobacco, toasted oak, and smooth vanillin.
- Barrel Aged Peanut Butter Honey Sleepy Bear
- The Base: Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. A blend aged for 14 months in Willett barrels and 21 months in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels.
- The Adjuncts: Locally sourced wildflower honey, freshly roasted peanuts, cacao nibs, and Madagascar vanilla.
- The Flavor: Nothing calls a bear out of hibernation like this creamy, sweet, and savory treat—the classic pairing of peanut butter and honey.
- Barrel Aged Chocolate Salted Caramel Sleepy Bear
- The Base: Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, aged for 21 months.
- The Barrel: A blend of Buffalo Trace Mash #1 and Mash #2 barrels.
- The Adjuncts: Infused with Caramel, Sea Salt, Cacao Nibs, and Vanilla.
- The Flavor: Pure, unapologetic decadence, featuring a rich profile with a light salinity from the sea salt, perfectly balanced by freshly roasted Ghanan Cacao Nibs.
