STRATFORD, Conn. — When Two Roads opened in late 2012, they knew they wanted to honor Stratford, Connecticut’s legendary hero and aviation pioneer, Igor Sikorsky.
Sikorsky not only revolutionized aviation by inventing the helicopter, he also designed dozens of innovative fixed wing airplanes. Each year, to celebrate his amazing legacy, Two Roads creates a very special commemorative beer named “Igor’s Dream”—a Russian Imperial Stout which is an appropriate style given Igor Sikorsky’s Russian heritage.
And like Igor himself, who took the road less traveled when he fled the Russian Revolution and arrived in America in 1919, Two Roads takes the “Road Less Traveled” when making this beer. The recipe starts as a classic Russian Imperial Stout but veers off the beaten path by using a healthy dose of malted rye and by then aging it in rye whiskey barrels until ready.
January 27th will mark the sixth annual brewery-only release of Igor’s Dream in 750ml cork and cage bottles. The doors will open at 10 am and bottle sales will be from noon until 2 pm. 900 bottles of 2018 Igor’s Dream will be sold at $20 per bottle with a three bottle per customer limit.
This year, two new “copilots” will be joining the flight formation: 2018 Igor’s Dream aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels with Cocoa Husks and 2018 Igor’s Dream aged in Cherry Bitters Barrels. The cocoa husks add a subtle chocolate flavor to the beer while cherry bitters yield a rich blend of oak and cherry mingled with the full bodied stout. Only 250 bottles of each of these varietals are available for sale at $25 per bottle. Also available will be a limited quantity of 2014, 2015 and 2017 Igor’s Dream vintages at $25 per bottle. Varietals and vintages have a one bottle max per style available to consumers.
Igor Day isn’t just about the beer though; it’s about celebrating Stratford’s role in aviation history. Ten percent of our tap room sales will be donated to the Sikorsky Archives and to the Connecticut Air & Space Museum. Members of the Sikorsky family will be on hand to autograph bottles and share aviation lore with customers. Master Brewer Phil Markowski will also be signing bottles as will Ryan Pancoast, the accomplished artist who painted the Igor’s Dream label art.
Draft of all three 2018 Igor’s Dream versions as well as select vintages of Igor’s Dream will be on tap in the brewery tasting room while supplies last. Two food trucks will be parked outside as well.
ABOUT TWO ROADS BREWING
Two Roads opened its doors in December 2012 having earlier acquired and renovated a 100-year-old vacant, brick factory building in Stratford, CT. Its name and philosophy are inspired by the Robert Frost poem “The Road Not Taken”—a philosophy brought to life in the beers they create using the highest quality brewing and packaging equipment. The Two Roads Brewery Tasting Room is open every day; for more information go to www.tworoadsbrewing.com.