Highly Alcoholic Local Brews

Drink Big

by Tim Hyland

Victory's Storm King, a hefty stout weighing in at 9.1 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), may be one of the easiest big beers to enjoy. Its flavors—a hint of coffee, a hoppy edge—mask the alcoholic sting. If you're two beers in and aren't feeling a buzz, wait a minute before cracking a third. Trust us.

Based on name alone, Blithering Idiot had to make the list. It's just an added bonus that the 11.1 percent ABV beer deserves to be here. The brewers suggest enjoying the surprisingly sweet "barleywine," which can be aged up to about five years, out of a wine glass or snifter. Just like PBR.

An extremely smooth and dangerously drinkable doublebock, Troegenator (8.2 percent ABV) offers hints of caramel and chocolate. Cool label, too.

Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione's much-lauded series of India Pale Ales offers something for just about any hop lover. The 60 Minute variety (so named because hops are added to the wort for a full hour during brewing) is a perfectly crafted session beer. The 120 Minute is straight-up insanity at 20 percent ABV. And the 90 Minute, a predictably huge, hoppy experience, falls nicely in the middle. Traces of cinnamon help offset all that bitterness.

Somewhat similar to Storm King, Weyerbacher's take on the imperial stout is a tad smoother than Victory's. And less subtly flavorful, too. Take a slug of Old Heathen and you'll likely taste chocolate, coffee and, weighing in at 8.2 percent ABV, alcohol.