Pollyanna Bourbon Barrel Aged Hideaway 2Pk

Pollyanna Bourbon Barrel Aged Hideaway 2Pk is a 13% ABV imperial milk stout from Pollyanna Brewing Company in Lemont, Illinois, sold as a two-pack. Aged in Breckenridge Rye Bourbon barrels and loaded with cocoa nibs, maple, vanilla bean, and single-origin Papua New Guinea Arcedium coffee, this release carries a strong 4.3 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 1,200 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.0%  |  Origin: Lemont, Illinois  |  Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Milk Stout  |  Brewery: Pollyanna Brewing Company  |  IBU: 35  |  SRM: 55

Production & Heritage

Pollyanna Brewing Company operates out of Lemont, Illinois, and has earned multiple medals at the Festival of Barrel-Aged Beers (FOBAB), including a 2022 Silver Medal and a 2019 Silver Medal for other barrel-aged releases. Hideaway begins as a rich imperial milk stout base, then spends time resting in Breckenridge Rye Bourbon barrels, which impart rye spice and oak character alongside the expected bourbon warmth. The adjunct program layers in cocoa nibs, pure maple, vanilla bean, and Arcedium Coffee sourced specifically from Papua New Guinea — a single-origin component that gives the beer a distinctive, high-quality coffee backbone rarely seen in the style.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Coffee dominates the nose immediately, followed by waves of maple sweetness, rich cocoa, and caramel. Underneath, vanilla and a light bourbon presence round out the aromatics with subtle oak and rye grain warmth.

Taste: Coffee leads the entry, meeting semi-sweet chocolate and rye whiskey-inflected bourbon character at mid-palate. Cacao builds steadily with warmth, while maple and vanilla weave through the sweeter registers. The lactose base keeps everything cohesive, leaning toward a dessert-forward profile without becoming cloying, and the 13% ABV is remarkably well-hidden.

Finish: Full-bodied, thick, and chewy with a caramel undercurrent that carries through to a surprisingly clean close. Lingering coffee and chocolate notes remain long after the sip, with faint bourbon oak trailing at the edges.

How to Drink Hideaway

Pour this stout into a snifter or tulip glass at cellar temperature — around 50–55°F — to let the layered adjuncts open up fully. This is a sipping beer built for slow enjoyment, not a candidate for cocktails. Warming slightly in the glass over the course of a session will unlock additional maple and vanilla complexity. Pairing it alongside a dessert course rather than mixing it is the ideal approach.

Best For

• Sharing with a fellow barrel-aged stout enthusiast on a cold evening
• Dessert-course pairing at an intimate dinner
• Gifting to a craft beer collector who values limited adjunct stouts
• Side-by-side tastings comparing bourbon barrel-aged imperial stouts

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hideaway taste like? Hideaway delivers bold coffee and semi-sweet chocolate up front, backed by bourbon warmth, maple sweetness, and vanilla — all riding on a thick, creamy imperial milk stout body that finishes cleaner than expected for its 13% ABV.

How does Hideaway compare to Pollyanna Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Fun Size? Both share a bourbon barrel-aged imperial milk stout base, but Hideaway leans into coffee, maple, and cocoa, while Imperial Fun Size features peanut, sea salt, cocoa nib, and vanilla for a more candy-bar-like profile. Hideaway tends toward a darker, roastier character, while Fun Size plays in nuttier, saltier territory.

Is Hideaway good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is designed as a slow sipper, and the full, chewy body with hidden ABV makes it ideal for drinking on its own without any additions or mixing.

Where is Hideaway made? Hideaway is brewed by Pollyanna Brewing Company in Lemont, Illinois, a suburb southwest of Chicago, and aged in Breckenridge Rye Bourbon barrels sourced from Breckenridge Distillery in Colorado.

What foods pair well with Hideaway? Dark chocolate truffles amplify the cocoa nib character. Maple-glazed bacon echoes the beer's maple sweetness. A slice of rich flourless chocolate cake mirrors the dense mouthfeel. Aged Gouda provides a salty-sweet contrast, and coffee-rubbed smoked brisket connects with the Papua New Guinea coffee notes.

What sizes does Hideaway come in? This release is packaged as a two-pack, the standard format for Pollyanna's barrel-aged limited releases.

Is Hideaway worth the price? Hideaway positions as a premium limited-release barrel-aged stout with high-quality single-origin coffee and name-brand bourbon barrels, placing it in line with other top-tier adjunct imperial stouts from respected Midwest breweries — strong value for the category.

Why Hideaway?

What separates Hideaway from the crowded barrel-aged stout field is the specificity of its ingredients. The use of Breckenridge Rye Bourbon barrels adds a spicy rye dimension that standard bourbon barrels cannot replicate, and the Papua New Guinea Arcedium coffee provides a traceable, single-origin roast character that gives the beer genuine depth. Pollyanna's track record at FOBAB — with multiple medals across barrel-aged categories — signals a brewery that understands barrel management and adjunct integration at a high level. With a 4.3 Untappd rating from over 1,200 reviewers and consistently praised drinkability despite its 13% ABV, Hideaway stands as one of the more accomplished adjunct stouts coming out of the Illinois craft scene.