Massacre at 2122

The portrait

February 14, 1929, Chicago. Seven men were shot dead by the Al Capone gang in a garage at 2122 North Clark Street. We prefer to commemorate this date with Caribbean rum and Swiss strawberries.

This gunpowder-scented Porter is born from our Capone Malt, from which we take 220 liters and slip them into a barrel of Marie-Galante rum. Two months of aging, the time it takes for the aromas to meet and negotiate their respective territories.

On the nose, the Capone legacy is evident: dark chocolate, roasted coffee, and toast. The rum barrel adds its signature smokiness, woody notes that almost evoke the smell of gunpowder for sleuths. On the palate, the powerful 6.4% body is softened by a Swiss strawberry purée. This fruity sweetness tempers the malty brutality, like a ceasefire signed between gangsters and confectioners.

A massacre? Rather, an unexpected reconciliation between the dark world of the Roaring Twenties and Swiss delicacy.

The story

Some celebrate Valentine's Day with chocolates. Others prefer historical shootings as an excuse to create pop-up beers.

The St. Valentine's Day Massacre has always fascinated us. Not for its violence, but for what it represents: a moment when history shifts, when everything accelerates. Our Massacre at 2122 captures this dramatic intensity, but tames it with ingredients that speak of sweetness.

Starting with our Capone Malt, this Porter already steeped in the mafia universe, was logical. Sending it in a barrel of island rum was audacious. Adding Swiss strawberries was our signature: transforming brutality into complexity, violence into nuance.

This ephemeral creation proves that we can draw from the dark pages of history to create something luminous. A brewing paradox that reflects us.

Food and beer pairings

This strawberry barrel-aged Porter is particularly versatile, navigating between sweet and savory registers with disconcerting ease.

Braised meats find in her a partner of choice. Beef with spices, confit lamb or game in sauce: aging in rum barrels echoes the caramelized notes of slow cooking, while strawberries bring that hint of acidity that awakens the taste buds.

When it comes to cheese, opt for aged blue-veined cheeses. A characterful Roquefort or a Bleu d'Auvergne: their tangy notes create a fascinating dialogue with the fruity sweetness, while the wood tannins provide structure.

Chocolate desserts are his favorite. Dark chocolate fondant, red fruit tart, or even a simple 70% cocoa square: Porter reveals its roasted notes, rum brings warmth, and strawberries bring everything together in a delicious harmony.

For the more adventurous, try pairing it with pan-fried foie gras with fruit. The richness of the foie gras, the sweetness of the strawberries in the beer, and the woody notes reminiscent of an old cognac: a taste triangle of rare sophistication.

The final word

Massacre at 2122 belongs to our most creative archives, a testament to a time when we dared to mix bloody history with candied strawberries. This ephemeral Porter reminds us that innovation sometimes arises from the most unexpected contrasts.

Although it no longer flows through our vats, its legacy lives on in our approach to barrel aging and our love of taste paradoxes. It remains proof that with talent and audacity, any tragedy can be transformed into a brewing masterpiece.

Cheers! 🍻

The recipe