It was a near death experience that caused Wyndridge Farm head brewer Steve Groff to grab life by the barrels — Bourbon barrels that is.

One day he was riding a bike, wind rushing through his hair, not a care in the world... then suddenly he was struck by a car! The rest was a blur, until he woke up in the hospital and realized life is precious — he should to do what he loves. He should open a brewery!

Inspired, he started Wyndridge Farm Brewing as a celebration of life, and a great celebration calls for amazing beer. The first thing Groff reached for after his accident was a rich dark brew. He stuck with his passion when creating today’s 13.9% ABV Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout.

What’s even more extraordinary is that craft fans love it just as much as him. This Bourbon-soaked beer scores a 4.22 on Untappd. And fans on BeerAdvocate are saying its sweet toffee and spiked dark roast coffee notes could hold their own in a blind taste test — even against heavy hitters like KBS, Dragon’s Milk, and BCBS.

Discovering an under-the-radar BBA Imperial Stout worthy of comparison to some of the most lauded beers in the style is cause for celebration. Life is short, and small batch gems like this will be gone tomorrow.

Rated 4.22 on Untappd