[1/21 Update: From the official Brouwer’s blog post today: “This Friday, January 22nd, the second edition of the Brouwer’s Imagination Series brewed by Lost Abbey, will finally be released. […] We will be selling bottles at both Brouwer’s Cafe and Bottleworks. Bottles will be $19.99 at Bottleworks with a 3 bottle limit and $24.00 at Brouwer’s Cafe (bottles of course must be enjoyed on premise). […] Bottle only at first, but we’ll be tapping some kegs soon enough.”]

(San Marcos, CA) – Seattle-area beer folks are in for a surprise this holiday season. Tomme Arthur confirmed today that The Lost Abbey is expected to release the sequel in Brouwer’s Imagination Series by the end of the year. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Arthur says that labels should be done in less than two weeks. The beer will then be bottled and shipped out shortly thereafter.

The label lays out an interesting blend:

34% ale brewed with honey, raisins and rosemary and aged in bourbon barrels
33% ale aged in bourbon barrels
33% ale with raisins and aged in wine barrels

[ed. note: forgot to ask about base beers used- I have my guesses but best not to speculate so I will try to get that as well]

The beer was blended this past summer “on the sweltering day known to most as Stone Sour Fest.” Only about 50 cases have been produced, “maybe a bit more considering there’s a smattering of 5 gallon kegs.” Tasting notes? “There is some sourness and acidity in the finished beer. Volcanic CO2 content as well. Quite drying.” 9.5% ABV.

The Lost Abbey brewed the first edition, a Belgian-style Saison that won a World Cup bronze medal, last fall. The beer made an appearance at Sour Fest in May but didn’t hit bottles until late July.

The Series is brewed exclusively for Brouwer’s/Bottleworks in the Seattle area.

On a side note, the brewery earned not one but two places in Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s top 25 beers of 2009 (pdf link). Cuvee de Tomme took home the 8th spot and Duck Duck Gooze came in 13th.