My latest article for The Bulletin, which came out last week, profiled All Trails Lead to Bend, a barrel-aged imperial stout collaboration between Crux Fermentation Project and two of Bend’s liquor stores, Trailhead Liquor and Bend South Liquor.

Occasionally, these projects extend beyond breweries into other areas of the industry. Crux Fermentation Project recently released a new barrel-aged beer that was the product of a collaboration with two of Bend’s liquor stores, Trailhead Liquor and Bend South Liquor.

All Trails Lead to Bend is an imperial stout that was aged in barrels for over a year, including ones used to age the brewery’s Tough Love Imperial Stout and whiskey barrels provided by the stores.

Trailhead and Bend South Liquor provided bourbon whiskey barrels that they sourced from Peerless Distilling Co. and Maker’s Mark Distillery for the project. The stores have had the opportunity to work with distilleries to select limited-release private selection spirits as well as to acquire barrels. A collaboration with a brewery such as Crux on a barrel-aged beer is a natural extension of these projects.

It’s a big beer that offers up big chocolate notes and is an excellent dessert sipper; you can read my full review at the article.