It’s time to grab your favourite glass, sink into your favourite chair and take some time out for some serious sipping as we launch our showpiece stout.
From our signature milk stout, Tonkoko, to the launch of Imperial Tonkoko in 2017, it’s safe to say we are incredibly proud of this range and the ways we’ve been able to develop it. The 7.5% imperial variation hit the world to much acclaim, quickly winning several awards and even being voted in the ‘top ten best stouts in the world’ by Rate Beer.
Brew York being Brew York, we wanted to see what more we could do, so in 2018 the first Empress Tonkoko was born. We took the already huge malt bill from Imperial Tonkoko and doubled it. We also doubled the amount of coconut, vanilla, cacao and, of course, Tonka.
What a result! From the day of its launch Empress Tonkoko became a fan favourite with its surprisingly easy-drinking 10.6% belying the super rich chocolate notes mixed with the fragrant headiness of the Tonka and vanilla. It has been an absolute belter of a beer from day one.
So good, in fact, that it’s become something of a showpiece for us. We’ve brewed Empress Tonkoko every year since – only once a year – and our attention to detail and meticulous brewing standards are strictly adhered to, every time. Every year we strive to brew the best version we’ve ever made.
With that in mind, it’s time to grab your favourite glass, sink into your favourite chair and take some time out for some serious stout sipping – we are so excited to confirm that this magnificent brew is back for 2023.
We’ll be opening pre-orders online on Monday 30th January and a nationwide launch will take place on Thursday 2nd February 2023. See below for full details on where, when and how you can get your hands on some of these incredible beers.
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As usual, we’ve dialled everything up to 11 with over triple the original levels of coconut, cacao, tonka and vanilla creating a creamy and decadent assault on the senses. We hope you’ll fully indulge yourself on a journey into ‘bounty-full’ heaven when you try it.
That’s not all, either. As part of our 2023 Empress release, we are also presenting three very special, super-limited availability barrel-aged Empress variants.
Brewed and released just once a year, each Barrel Aged Empress Tonkoko release spends at least 12 months in a special selection of barrels.
For this year our team carefully selected oak barrels that have formerly stored three different spirits on a mission to bring you three new and entirely unique flavour infusions.
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BA Plantation Rum Empress Tonkoko
Plantation Rum was selected for its flavours of rich oak as well as warm molasses and rich burnt sugars which add depth to an already deeply decadent beer.
BA Heaven Hill Empress Tonkoko
Heaven Hill Bourbon was selected to add a caramel sweetness, subtle rye spice, and rich oak to add depth to an already deeply decadent beer.
BA Buffalo Trace Empress Tonkoko
Buffalo Trace Bourbon was selected for its molasses and toffee sweetness, luxurious vanilla, and rich oak to add depth to an already deeply decadent beer.
We can’t wait for you to try them, and for this year we’ve put together a special gift box containing one of each of the beers and there’s also a 2023 Empress Tonkoko branded t-shirt up for grabs! Be warned though – everything is available only in limited quantities and when it’s gone, it’s gone.
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HOW CAN YOU GET SOME? – IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Buy the Empress 2023 range online
Pre-orders will open on our web store on Monday 30th January at 6pm. Individual cans, Brew York gift boxes containing the full set of 2023 beers, and limited edition branded Empress Tonkoko 2023 t-shirts will be available.
The Empress beers, gift boxes, and merchandise will ship from Wednesday 1st February 2023.
Get some Empress 2023 at a venue near you
We have partnered with a network of partner venues on a coordinated nationwide launch on Thursday 2nd February 2023.
With huge thanks to all the following for their support:
North:
- Chequers | Beverley
- The Market Tap | Castleford
- Husk Beer Emporium | Harrogate
- Head of Steam | Huddersfield
- Scale and Feather Bar | Hull
- White Hart | Hull
- Head of Steam Park Row | Leeds
- Brew York: New Briggate | Leeds
- Head of Steam Liverpool | Liverpool
- The Crown & Kettle | Manchester
- Townmouse | Newcastle
- Brew York: The Market Tap | Pocklington
- Rita’s Pantry | Redcar
- The Wynd Craft Beers | Redcar
- Scholar’s Bar | Scarborough
- Head of Steam Sheffield | Sheffield
- Tipsy Turtle | Stockton
- Bow-Legged Beagle | Wirral
- Brew York: Beer Hall & Tap Room | York
- Brew York: Handley Tap | York
- Fossgate Tap | York
- The Crooked Tap | York
- The Maltings | York
- Valhalla | York
Wales & Midlands:
- Head of Steam Birmingham | Birmingham
- Head of Steam Cardiff | Cardiff
- Robertos | Halesowen
- Junkyard | Nottingham
- RAD Beer | Shrewsbury
- The Woodman | Stoke
- Dog & Partridge | Stoke
- The Hop Vault | Stourbridge
- The Hop Emporium | Warrington
- Tonic | Worcester
South:
- Beerfly | Bedford
- Hole in the Wall | Brighton
- UnBarred Brewery & Taproom | Brighton
- Thirsty | Cambridge
- Favourite Beers | Cheltenham
- Beer Shop | Hitchin
- Hop Inn | Hornchurch
- Fuggles | Kent
- Craft Metropolis | London
- Delay No More | London
- Indiebeer | London
- The Brewery Tap | Norfolk
- The Nag’s Head | Reading
- DEAD Time | Saffron Walden
- Beer Shop | St Albans
Our Can Club customers taking part in the launch are:
Scotland & North:
- Bottle & Co | Barnsley
- Chester Tap Beer Heroes | Chester
- Wee Beer Shop | Glasgow
- Black Toad | Hoylake
- Raynville Superstore | Leeds
- Oscars | Leeds
- CentrAle | Newcastle
- Bier Huis | Ossett
- Scholar’s Bar | Scarborough
- Lost Robot | Sedgefield
- Beer Central | Sheffield
- Craft and Berry | Sheffield
- Turners Craft Beer | Sheffield
- Hazy Daze | Whitley Bay
- Bow Legged Beagle | Wirral
- Taylors of Acomb | York
- Trembling Madness | York
Wales & Midlands:
- Haul | Birmingham
- Left Field Beers | Birmingham
- Simply Local | Burntwood
- 2-Dudes | Cardiff
- Real Ale Direct Hadnall | Shrewsbury
- The Hop Vault | Stourbridge
South:
- Craft Metropolis | London
- Ghost Whale | London
Please note – not all venues have all versions so please check directly if you’re looking for something specific. Can Club customers may have keg taps pouring as well as cans – again please check with your local venue for specific information.
Taste the Empress 2023 beers with us
We are hosted guided tastings of the Empress Tonkoko 2023 Series with limited spaces available:
Find out more about the York event
Find out more about the Leeds sessions: 7pm | 8pm
We hope you love these beers as much as we do!