South Australian brewery, Pirate Life, has launched a second collaboration with St Agnes Distillery – a barrel aged Imperial Stout.
A project that took two years in the making, the Imperial Stout was officially launched at a sold out Christmas in July party, hosted at Pirate Life Port Adelaide.
Pirate Life co-founder, Jack Cameron, said that the company was stoked to collaborate with an iconic South Australian brand, and Australia's oldest continually run craft distillery.
“We couldn’t be happier with how the product has turned out. We pride ourselves on good quality beer and what the team has been able to deliver here is unreal,” said Cameron.
The beer has spent eight months ageing in ex-brandy barrels from St Agnes with the resultant beverage offering a complex flavour with notes of roasted nuts, chocolate, and subtle spice.
Co-Managing Director at St. Agnes Distillery, Richard Angove, said that each barrel has been used to age the company’s brandy over many years, and captures the essence of the distillery.
“The St Agnes Distillery is 99 years old this year. E. We were excited to send our historic barrels to Pirate Life for use in the maturation of the ‘St Agnes Distillery x Pirate Life Stout’,” said Angove.
“We feel it was a catalyst for Pirate Life to raise the bar on stout aromatics and flavour, crafting an iconic South Australian beer that mixes heritage and tradition with innovation and style.”
The companies first project together was released in December 2022, and combined their specialty drinks – a Sidecar Sour Ale that brought together beer and brandy. This collaboration represents the quality and popularity of that approach.
Pirate Life Brewer, Jake Haysman, said that the brandy casks added layers of complexity to the company’s stout, rewarding the drinker with a truly unique experience.
“This has been a fantastic opportunity to work with likeminded people and explore new flavours and techniques.”
The Pirate Life x St Agnes Distillery Brandy Barrel Aged Imperial Stout is available online at shop.piratelife.com.au for RRP $48 for a four pack, or $160 for a 15 can case. It will also be available at Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival, Pirate Life Brewing Port Adelaide and select retailers.
