I’m a week behind on posting this, since my latest article for The Bulletin was out last Thursday, but my second-to-last print article of the year reviewed this year’s edition of Crux Fermentation Project’s Tough Love Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout. It’s a good one!

Crux Fermentation Project celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, and released an accompanying 10th Anniversary IPA for its Cruxapalooza celebration in June. In November, the brewery released another specialty beer observing its decennial, Tough Love Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout.

Tough Love was first brewed four months after Crux opened, and was released in 2013 after aging in Kentucky bourbon barrels for about six months. I contacted founder and brewmaster Larry Sidor, who retired this year from day-to-day operations, to ask about the beer’s origins.

“The vision from the start was to make Tough Love every year,” Sidor said via email. Part of Crux’s Banished series of barrel-aged brews, Tough Love has returned annually as part of the company’s winter lineup.

I cover some of the development and history from Larry Sidor, and post my thoughts on this year’s brew. It’s a terrific end of the year (or any other time) sipper and one you should find!