Farking Wheaton W00tstout

Selections from the early breweries that paved the way for the current craft-beer craze are now readily available in bars and grocery stores. Though distribution and production have grown, many breweries honor their small-batch origins with special limited-release beers, using the opportunity to experiment, collaborate and surprise the brewers and their fans. Stone Brewing Co.'s Farking Wheaton W00tstout is a prime example—a bold imperial stout that's like bourbon wrapped in velvety beer. Made with wheat, rye and pecans, W00tstout is partially aged in bourbon barrels and boasts a formidable 13 percent ABV. This is the third iteration of W00tstout—an oddball three-way collaboration between Stone co-founder Greg Koch, Star Trek: The Next Generation star Wil Wheaton and Fark.com creator Drew Curtis—and this year's release contains some of the 2014 version that was aged over the last year in bourbon barrels. The result is a deep, dark pour with tastes of chocolate, bourbon and a nutty sweetness that would make it a great choice for a long, slow sip or an ice cream beer float.