The Beast with No Name Imperial Stout Blended with Barleywine Ale Aged in Rum, Rye, and Bourbon Barrels
Clown Shoes Brewery
Queue U2, you know the song I want, 'Where the Beasts Have No Name.' Now that that will be running through your head for the rest of the day, I can tell you that I am here to talk about The Beast with No Name Imperial Stout Blended with Barleywine Ale Aged in Rum, Rye and Bourbon Barrels by Clown Shoes brewing of Massachusetts.
I bought this beer from Craft Shack in February of 2021, and I have been saving it for the right moment ever since. Although we got Clown Shoes beers here in Georgia then, and still do, I never saw this one here, and I was not going to miss out on it. I am sure glad that I didn't.
Think about it, a blend of barleywine and imperial stout that is then aged in rum, rye and bourbon barrels? What's not to like about that? I further aged my can another 5 and a half years; it could have gone longer for sure. I wish I had more to find out.
Clown Shoes The Beast with No Name Imperial Stout Blended with Barleywine Ale Aged in Rum, Rye and Bourbon Barrels has an alcohol content of 10.5% by volume and my can was stamped 11/30/20 on the bottom. You could style this an imperial stout or a barleywine and not be wrong, but I found it had enough more of the imperial stout character that I will lump it in with those.
About Clown Shoes Brewery
We're a beer called Clown Shoes -what more do you need? Founded in 2009, Clown Shoes is the result of a joke, some spite, and a deep passion for craft beer. Naturally, we dislike clowns but find clown shoes hilarious. They remind us of humor in life and to be humble. If you want snooty highbrowed drinks you can look elsewhere-there are plenty out there, and plenty of uncool folks that treat them (and themselves) higher than thou.
We make beer without pretension. We want you to immerse yourself in our beers, art, and connect with us on a different level. Finally we want Clown Shoes to be available as close to you as possible-great beer shouldn't be kept at the source and out of your reach. Our lineup is available in over 35 states and internationally in as many countries as we can get to.
Clown Shoes The Beast with No Name in a Clown Shoes Brewing Glass
Tasting Notes
Clown Shoes The Beast with No Name Imperial Stout Blended with Barleywine Ale Aged in Rum, Rye and Bourbon Barrels pours to a dark mahogany color with a moderate head of creamy tan foam and a nose of intense boozy bourbon and dark fruity raisin and fig. Taking a sip, the beer is full in mouthfeel, thick and luxuriant as it rolls over the tongue. Some dark chocolate roast from the imperial stout pops, followed by rich and malty caramel and brown sugar from the barleywine. There are notes of spice cake, rum raisin fruit cake, sharp rye whisky, boozy bourbon, and a long dry warning boozy finish.
Value & Verdict
I paid $14.99 for my 19.2-ounce can from Craftshack. It was worth every penny, and then some.
Certainly one of the best beers I have had in 2026; perhaps in the past few years. I had a number of fine beers before this one the night I drank The Beast with No Name, but I can assure you that amongst all of them, I saved the Beast for last.
