Beer of the week: Murder of Crows, Skookum Brewery

Murder of Crows

Skookum Brewery, Arlington

Style: Imperial Stout aged on Seasonal Oak

Stats: 9 percent ABV

Available: 12-ounce bottles in four packs

My thoughts: I was first introduced to a variation of this beer when I had a glass of Breakfast of Crows at Skookum last year. Breakfast of Crows is an oatmeal maple version of the brewery’s famous imperial stout. It was rich with hints of cocoa and bourbon and boasted a punch at 10-plus ABV. Its papa is a beauty as well. Murder of Crows is roasty and complex with a deep oak flavor.

Skookum recently started bottling the beer — its only other bottled beer is the Mammoth Jack Double IPA — and it’s nice to be able to have a bottle experience not far off from the beer on tap. I recently poured myself a glass, let it warm up a bit and enjoyed it while watching victory speeches by Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. It was a solid extreme choice on a night of extremes.

Note: The labels are designed by Arlington’s Fresh Bread Design and are awesome. The black labels and carriers are offset by lettering and accents in the brewery’s iconic orange.

From the brewery: A big, roasty, American Stout, brewed with a plethora of specialty malts and finished on old crow whiskey oak cubes. Bitter chocolate, oak, dark fruit and a subtle smoky char.

­— Aaron Swaney