From the Beer Writer: Craft beer options at casinos can be a real crap-shoot. The odds are long on finding legitimate craft options at all, much less something exceptional…unless you’re at Harrah’s Resort Southern California. When revamping the property two years ago, the property installed a bar called Corked, stocking it with more than 20 ales and lagers, many hailing from local brewing companies. Recently, Harrah’s went a step further, striking up a relationship with Mother Earth Brew Co. where the casino provided the Vista brewery with a second-use bourbon barrel. The Mother Earth crew brewed an imperial porter and aged that roasty, chocolaty, 10.5% alcohol-by-volume brew in it for an extended period. Now, that rather spectacular beer is available exclusively at Corked. And while it’s the nature of casino-goers to press their luck, everyone leaves a winner when ordering this luxurious quaff. Not only is it exquisite in its caramely bourbon essence with big notes of coconut, but its eight-dollar price-tag will fetch you a hefty 12-ounce pour. Sip, gamble, sip, watch live music, sip, dine, repeat as needed.
From the Brewer: “A blend of two barrel-aged stouts, it pours an opaque black with a brown head. The aroma is straight out of a local coffee shop with notes of coffee, chocolate and vanilla. The ABV is masked by a thick body, residual sweetness and oak tannins from the barrel. Deep and complex, this stout is one we can all enjoy with tons of depth for long conversation and enjoyment by new and experienced craft beer drinkers.”—Chris Baker, Head Brewer, Mother Earth Brew Co.
From the Bar: “We sent Mother Earth the barrel that aged our Spiked Four Roses OBSK Bourbon early last year, and asked them to make an imperial vanilla bean porter and age it in the barrel. They started it off by making a Russian imperial porter and aging it in the barrel. Over the course of several months, they noticed that the beer was taking on a very noticeable vanilla characteristic just from the barrel itself, so they omitted any direct vanilla additions and just let the barrel do its work. The beer aged for nine-and-a-half months in the barrel. The beer itself has a rich velvety mouthfeel with aromas of bourbon, chocolate and bread dough. The taste is similar with baker’s chocolate, bourbon, caramel, vanilla and a sweet breadiness. And the finish is mildly slick and warm with a bright bourbon kick in the back of the mouth. It definitely has a lot going on and we’ve seen a lot of people who do not typically drink dark beer fall in love with this one.”—Mike Lewis, Bar Manager, Corked