Brewery – Braxton
Beer – Dark Charge
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 10-16%
IBUs – 42

For the earliest folks living around Covington, Kentucky, the Ohio River was a crucial artery. Goods and services were made available via flatboat, connecting families and communities to the larger world. That’s how this region got its coal, for example — the rich, dark diamonds that lit the lights, warmed the homes, and fired the power that built this city. We brew that spirit into this strong, dark Imperial Stout, aging it in barrels that give a lasting depth to the finish. From right here in the garage, on West 7th Street, we brew a stout bold enough to light a city.

This is a big beer… in a lot of different ways.  It was the mark of what Braxton was going to be all about when it was first released in their very first winter of 2015.  This beer didn’t apologize for a big alcohol bite, massive barrel flavors, and a whole lineup of variants bottled up for us to enjoy.

This beer is so big that the brewery throws a massive party every year for it’s release.  People line up at the door to get their alottment hours ahead of schedule, making the release day even bigger than it would be otherwise.

Dark Charge is a celebration for the art of Barrel aging, a salute to time and the mastery of not just the brewing process, but that other factor that is so hard to quantify.  Every single year this beer takes on more personality, and grows in what it means for the city, and for Braxton.

My Thoughts On Braxton Dark Charge

The base beer for Dark Charge is big.  It pours a dark brown color with a thick, heavy tan head on top.

The aroma is dominated by woody notes.  There is a chocolate and slight coffee aroma that swirls in the air above your glass.

Flavors are packed full of chocolate, slight fruit and a warming bourbon character.  This beer is roasty, thick, full, and heavy – fitting the bill perfectly for a cold weather beer, warming you from the inside out.  The beer ages well, and I recommend stashing some away for those special occasions.

Starting with the 2020 release of this one, Braxton now uses a blend of different years and different barrels to craft the base version of what the beer will be. It creates a beer that is deep, well thought out, and a real testament to what the style can (and should) be.

The Variants

Here’s where things can get a little nuts – every single year when Dark Charge is released, it’s accompanied by a series of variant bottles too. Some return each year, others only show up once. But they’re all usually amazing, and bring the collectors out en force.

2015 Dark Charge Variants

  • Regular, Non Barrel Aged Dark Charge
  • Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Charge
  • BBA Dark Charge with Vanilla
  • BBA Dark Charge with Coffee

2016 Dark Charge Variants

  • Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Charge
  • BBA Dark Charge with Madagascar Vanilla Beans
  • BBA Dark Charge with Starter Coffee
  • BBA Dark Charge with Toasted Coconut
  • BBA Dark Charge with Ancho Chiles, Cinnamon, Cocoa Nibs and Vanilla
  • 23 Year Old Maple Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Charge

2017 Dark Charge Variants

  • Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Charge
  • BBA Tiramisu Dark Charge
  • BBA Cherry & Vanilla Dark Charge (fresh dumped bourbon barrels that aged pure vanilla extract)
  • BBA S’Mores Dark Charge
  • BBA Mole Dark Charge
  • BBA And Pinot Barrel Aged Dark Charge With Grape Must
  • 2 Year Aged 23 Year Old Maple Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Charge

2018 Dark Charge Variants

  • Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Charge
  • Rye Barrel Aged Mandarin Dark Charge
  • Mole BBA Dark Charge
  • Coffee And Vanilla BBA Dark Charge
  • Pineapple Poblano Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Charge
  • 1 Year Aged – 3 Year Vertical Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Charge
  • 2 Year Aged – 3 Year Vertical Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Charge
  • 3 Year Aged – 3 Year Vertical Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Charge

2019 Dark Charge Variants

  • Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dark Charge
  • Maple Breakfast BBA Dark Charge
  • Mole BBA Dark Charge
  • Luxardo BBA Dark Charge
  • Bourbon Ex Cognac Barrel-Aged Dark Charge
  • Cakebox – German Chocolate Cake Barrel-Aged Dark Charge
  • Cakebox – White Chocolate Raspberry Barrel-Aged Dark Charge
  • Cakebox – Bananas Foster Barrel-Aged Dark Charge

2020 Dark Charge Variants

  • Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dark Charge
  • Double Molé Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dark Charge
  • Double Barrel Peach Brandy Dark Charge
  • Affogato Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dark Charge
  • Opera Cream Dark Charge w/Papa’s Candies
  • The Breakfast Box – Maple Breakfast Imperial Stout
  • The Breakfast Box – Blueberry Muffin Imperial Stout
  • The Breakfast Box – Cinnamon Roll Imperial Stout

2021 Dark Charge Variants

  • Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dark Charge
  • Barrel-Aged Chocolate Hazelnut Coffee
  • Coconut Cream Puff
  • Double Barrel-Aged Orange Curacao
  • Graeter’s Brown Butter Bourbon Pecan
  • Distillers Select Box – Barrell Craft: Rum Cask Imperial Stout
  • Distillers Select Box – New Riff Bottled In Bond Imperial Stout
  • Distillers Select Box – Castle and Key Restoration Rye Imperial Stout

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