Green Flash Silva Stout & Sleepin’ With Shaggy Release Party

Over two years ago, Green Flash Brewing quietly released a beer called Silva Stout.  They were four packs of their Double Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels.  Shortly after four packs made it out into the wild, the beer enthusiast community deemed this beer a huge hit.  I tried getting my hands on as many as I could and went right for the beer at any event it was being poured at for multiple samples.  The beer is/was that good.  So the big question that many of us to Green Flash has been, “WHEN WILL THE NEXT BATCH OF SILVA BE READY??”  Well, Green Flash announced last month that they would be releasing batch 2 finally, and would be doing so in the form of a ticketed release party on a Monday Night. Alongside with Silva Stout was the debut of the 4 year old brandy barrel aged Barleywine, Sleepin’ with Shaggy.

Before I begin recapping the party, I’d like to tip my cap to Green Flash for going to the ticketed release party method. All too often we read of line cutters, hoarders and opportunists who ruin these kind of releases for the rest of us who get in line when the brewer asks us to, only to be turned away due to madness.  The only challenge for us Full Pint boys was it falling on a Monday evening.  It was a long drive, and not a night you would typically indulge in Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout and Brandy Barrel Aged Barleywine.

Right from the get-go, getting into the event was a breeze. There seemed to be a line of about 50 guys (maybe a gal or two) that quickly fed into the brewery.  They had all hands on deck behind the bar, and as long as you had your “passport” ready, you could begin your journey.  Along with the chance to taste Silva Stout and Sleepin’ With Shaggy, we got to try Green Flash’s 10th Anniversary Flanders Drive, Super Freak and Little Freak.  For those who were only interested in drinking Silva Stout had the opportunity to purchase generously priced glasses of it at the bar.

Silva Stout and Sleepin’ With Shaggy were paired with Venison Sopes (with mole’ negro made with Silva Stout) and Brioche Bread Pudding (with caramel ice cream with Sleepin’ with Shaggy reduction) by Leroy’s Kitchen & Lounge. It was a well thought out pairing, and was mighty helpful in balancing out the strength and decadence of those two beers.

Speaking of which, how were the beers?  In general terms, fantastic.  I never got to try the first batch (of Silva) super fresh like this, so at first, it seemed much different.  There was much more barrel character and roast, versus the 1 year and 2 year old Silva Stout batch one I’ve been sipping on.  Shaggy is a monster, probably the biggest barrel aged barleywine I’ve ever tried. Very woody, very boozy, lots of character and super dangerous.  Compared to all of the barrel aged beers on the market, Green Flash was very reasonable about the pricing, which was $20 + tax for a 4 pack.  The count down for batch 3 begins.