I think the best little self-care thing I can do for myself - which in the end, really is not actually doing anything great for my physical health - is to treat myself to a bottle of imperial stout. I’m not a huge sweets person, but love, love, love to indulge in the sweet, chocolate-y, coffee-y flavors of a good heavy stout. Giving myself permission to indulge is a very nice feeling - if I can get myself there. Plus, a bottle of an imperial stout feels fancy. It’s like my version of unwinding with a glass of wine.

Coincidentally, my latest #treatyoself indulgence was in a Russian Imperial Stout aged in wine barrels. Fernson’s Forty Winks was a departure from the rum and whiskey barrel-aged stouts I’m used to. This beer was aged in Napa Valley red wine barrels for 13 months and the result is a beer that doesn’t feel as heavy as its peers.

The word “tannic” popped into my brain and I thought, “yeah, tannic. That sounds right.” Then I googled it to make sure. In wines, it means: containing an abundance of tannins. Basically, it’s that dryness and acidity that you get from red wine. It’s interesting to experience along with the deepness of the stout style. I think it works.

In conclusion, I will always recommend a fancy bottle of imperial stout as a way to unwind, self care, give yourself the night off. Fernson Brewing’s Forty Winks is a great choice. What about you guys? What’s your go-to self-care beer or treat?