Only I Didn't Say Fudge Imperial Cream Stout

Review Date 12/6/2025  By John Staradumsky

  Style: Imperial Stout   Brewery: Transient Artisan Ales   Country: USA   State: Michigan   $ Per OZ: N/A   ABV: 11%

Hooray! It’s my first beer ever from Transient Artisan Ales of Bridgman, Michigan: Only I Didn’t Say Fudge Imperial Cream Stout. I had to wonder about the brewery name, though. Websters defines “transient” as “passing into and out of existence especially in a short period of time” and “relating to or characterized by a tendency to move from place to place”.

Do they plan to not be around very long? Or do they plan to move about frequently? Inquiring minds want to know, but if the quality of Only I Didn’t Say Fudge Imperial Cream Stout is any indication, they won’t be laving us anytime soon. This is a truly wonderful beer with a charming backstory.

What kind of story? Why A Christmas Story, of course! The beer is named for the famous scene where main character Ralphie is helping his dad change a tire. His task is to hold the nuts and bolts in a hubcap for dad, while dad removes the wheel. Only Ralphie spills the nuts and bolts all over the road, and then…..

Ralphie: Oh, fudge!

Ralphie, narrating: “Only I didn't say "fudge." I said the word. The big one. The queen mother of dirty words. The "f, dash, dash, dash" word.

Dad: What did you say? That's what I thought you said. Get in the car. Go on.

Transient Artisan Ales Only I Didn’t Say Fudge Imperial Cream Stout has an alcohol content of 11% by volume and I paid $6.49 for my pint can from Half Time. My can was labeled as "2024 vtg" though I bought it in November of 2025.

Transient Artisan Ales Only I Didn’t Say Fudge Imperial Cream Stout pours to a jet-black color with a very tight cap of creamy tan foam and a nose of luscious chocolate fudge. Taking a sip, the beer is full and rich in body and explodes with notes of freshly sliced fudge. Rich cocoa pops here, smooth milk chocolate, and boozy warming alcohol in the finish.

Definitely a sipping beer, and I enjoyed every sip. Dare I ask for a version with nuts (you know like the ones Ralphie spilled all over the road?) and maybe then a barrel aged version? Oh wait! They do make a barrel aged version, called F---. I will be on the lookout for that, and I would absolutely buy and drink Only I Didn’t Say Fudge again.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??