Years ago when I was visiting all the breweries in Indiana, I stopped in at Cedar Creek on a Friday evening and was impressed with their beer. On this trip, I met assistant brewer Brandon Fry who gave me a bottle of the 2019 Darkest Achievement! It would be enjoyed later on our beer podcast, A Gateway To Lesser Things, and this began my love affair with one of the best Russian Imperial Stouts made in the state. The author looks forward to December annually and feels this release is comparable to Dark Lord Day on a smaller level! They’ve worked hard to make these releases special each year, and I want to get the word out about this brewery, and this beer!
The author has a six year vertical of the base beer! Until 2020 the ABV was a whopping 20%!
I have been able to visit Cedar Creek for the last four releases of Darkest Achievement, and I’ve enjoyed every trip I’ve made there! Originally the beer was released on December 21,the Winter Solstice, and shortest day of the year, but recently the event has been held on the closest Saturday! So on December 16th of last year, I sat down with Brandon to talk a little bit about this beer!
Brandon has always been interested in bourbon barrel aged stouts, and particularly liked the Black Note from Bells. While he loves brewing, he says the Darkest Achievement is “the most challenging and difficult beer he produces!” It was first brewed in 2017 with the first bottling occurring in 2018. Until 2020 the ABV on Darkest Achievement clocked in at a hefty 20%.! It is now about 14 1/2% and still very robust. Cedar Creek is a small brewery and this beer is 100% hand packaged, and hand filled. Brandon personally fills every bottle, and this is a three day process!
It is a very good Russian Imperial Stout, and I’ve enjoyed drinking many bottles of this beer! It ages very well and I have bottles going back to 2018 in my collection. It goes with special occasions, and just last month I had one with a good friend. I also enjoy the variants made each year which have included Hazelnut, Vanilla Bean, Peanut Butter, Coconut, Neapolitan, Marshmallow, and a Barleywine! This year saw the testing of a coffee version called Wake Me Up!
So if you haven’t been to Cedar Creek, it’s definitely worth the trip! They also have a distillery and winery if beer is not your thing! I like most of the beer they make, and my visits year-round have allowed me to try a variety of beer. I enjoy every minute I spend at Cedar Creek, but it’s only February and I can’t wait for December to get here for the next Dark Achievement!
So Much Beer So Little Time 