Fremont Dark Star Double Barrel (2025) Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Oatmeal Stout

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

Dark Star Double Barrel 2025 pours obsidian-black with a mocha crown, releasing a deep aroma of bourbon, charred oak, and dark chocolate. The double-barrel treatment, blending stout aged 8, 12, 18, and 24 months in well-seasoned Kentucky bourbon barrels, amplifies layers of vanilla, brown sugar, and molasses across a silky oatmeal backbone. Roasted malt and bittersweet cocoa anchor the palate, while caramel, toasted coconut hints, and whiskey warmth carry through a long, contemplative finish. Oak tannins lend structure to a decadent, slow-sipping imperial stout built for cellaring or savoring fireside.

Food Pairing

Pair with a flourless dark chocolate torte or bourbon-pecan brownie to mirror the beer’s cocoa, vanilla, and barrel-driven sweetness. Alternatively, serve alongside a wedge of aged blue cheese with fig jam and toasted walnuts, where the salty pungency contrasts beautifully with the stout’s roasted malt depth and lingering whiskey warmth.

About Fremont Brewing

Fremont Brewing was established in 2009 by Sara Nelson and Matt Lincecum in Seattle, Washington, with its production facility located in the West Woodland area of Ballard and a celebrated beer garden in the Fremont neighborhood that gives the brewery its name. What began as a modest operation with just a few tables has grown into the third largest craft brewery in Washington state, producing small-batch artisan beers that emphasize quality and craftsmanship. The brewery has distinguished itself as Washington’s largest producer of barrel-aged beer, a specialty that led to the 2017 opening of the Black Heron Project, a dedicated space for showcasing their farmhouse and barrel-aged offerings. To meet growing demand, Fremont expanded its brewing operations with a larger Ballard facility capable of producing up to 250,000 barrels annually, positioning it among the top craft breweries in the United States. The brewery’s beers are distributed across seven western states, including Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Alaska, Idaho, and Montana, reflecting its reputation as a leading voice in the Pacific Northwest craft beer scene.