Hargreaves Hill Birthday Russian Imperial Stout 440ml

Hargreaves Hill have long looked after lovers of imperial stouts, with their R.I.S. releases dating back something like a decade-and-a-half. Now, with 2025 seeing the Yarra Valley brewers mark 21 years of beers, they’ve decided to serve up something a little extra too.

That “something extra” arrives in the form of their Birthday Barrel Blend, playfully featuring a candle design in place of the “I” in R.I.S. This exceptional release layers bourbon barrel-aged vintages spanning 2021 through 2024, pouring noticeably darker and delivering an entirely new dimension of richness. The glass reveals complex notes of aged Pedro Ximénez sherry, maple syrup, and decadent chocolate fudge, backed by a prominent, spirit-forward character that unfurls as the liquid warms. With an added kick of boozy spice and a deeply comforting inner warmth, it is a stout tailor-made for celebration—though you’ll have to act fast, as quantities are strictly limited.