Enlightened Despot returns for its second year at Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery this Saturday March 7th starting at Noon.

The Enlightened Despot is an amazingly rich, complex and surprisingly drinkable Bourbon Barrel Russian Imperial Stout. Notes of chocolate, vanilla, and delicious Bourbon round out this robust stout. Aged for 8 months in the most premium Kentucky Bourbon Barrels available. The Enlightened Despot is made with 10 specialty grains and contains over 78 IBU of American Hop flavor. This truly is a one of a kind beer.

In the June 2014 edition of Beer Advocate, the Bros rated the Enlightened Despot a 94 saying, “The beer geeks love their Imperial Stouts, and a small handful garner enough hype to draw massive crowds around their release. This one is just as deserving as the next. A sweet malt bomb with roasted grain and alcohol is not all that is going on here; there’s also layers of chocolate and coffee met by alcohol warmth. Something to savor.”

This year LCCB has expanded the Despot line by adding two bottle variants of Hug The Despot (vanilla) and Awaken The Despot (Blanchard’s Dark as Dark coffee).

There will also be special timed tappings of cask conditioned versions of Enlightened Despot:

Noon — Cherry Pie
1pm — Graham Cracker & Honey
2pm — Coffee & Biscotti
3pm — Mixed Berry
4pm — Mint
5pm — Pecan Pie

Including Despot, here are the beers LCCB will have on draft for the event:

Enlightened Despot – Bourbon Barrel Russian Imperial Stout
Virginia Black Bear – Base Beer for Enlightened Despot
Vanilla Virginia Black Bear – Base Beer for Hug the Despot
Redneck Soap Opera – Rum Barrel Spiced Quad
La Calavera Catrina – Tequila Barrel Three Chopt Tripel
Nonesuch – Double IPA
Gentleman Farmer – Estate Series Fresh Hop Ale
Thoroughbred Brown Ale – Estate Series American Brown Ale
Magic Beaver – Hop Forward Belgian Style Pale Ale
Short Pump Saison – Rye Farmhouse Ale
Three Chopt Tripel – Hoppy Belgian Golden Strong Ale
‘Til Sunset Session IPA – Cascade & Centennial Low ABV IPA

Music will be provided by Barrelhouse and Vexine. Enjoy food from these vendors:

Halligan’s Bar & Grill
Fired Up Pizza Truck
KavaKava gourmet
Carytown Burgers & Fries
Great White Buffalo Food Truck

Head over to the Facebook event for more information including how to catch a ride with The Hop RVA and notes on weather and ground conditions.

Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery
4100 Knolls Point Dr
Goochland, VA 23063