Intuition Ale Works is announcing a total recall of our 2015 Underdark barrel-aged stout. We have found through testing that the 2015 batch contains lactobacillus that is causing unwanted sour flavors to develop in the beer.

Lactobacillus is commonly used to deliberately sour beers like lambics, Flanders reds and other Belgian styles, and our staff has enjoyed tasting the way this year’s Underdark has developed. We traced it back to one of the older bourbon barrels that we used for the 2015 batch of Underdark.

However, we realize that a sour stout was not the intended style of this year’s Underdark, and it is not what you purchased. We are therefore offering a full refund to anyone who chooses to return their unopened 2015 bottles.

The unopened bottles of 2015 Underdark should be returned to the Intuition Ale Works tap room at 720 King Street. We will issue a $15 cash refund per bottle, or $25 Intuition gift card per bottle that can be used towards purchases in our tap room.

Please bring the Underdark bottles to the tap room in person during opening hours (Tues - Fri 3-11pm; Sat 1-11pm). It is illegal for us to accept shipments of beer and the beer could potentially explode during transit through the postal service. No refunds will be issued for opened bottles of Underdark.

In the meantime, please store bottles of 2015 Underdark in a cool place before returning them. We are concerned that the beer will continue to ferment in the bottle which will cause excessive pressure and the bottles could potentially explode, especially if they are stored in a warm environment. Avoid transporting bottles of 2015 Underdark in your car if it will be left unattended in the heat for an extended period of time. To be extra cautious we recommend storing and transporting bottles in a box.

We have found there to be significant bottle-to-bottle variation in lactobacillus content and your bottle(s) of 2015 Underdark may not have developed sour flavors, especially if they have been stored in a cool environment. Please note, however, that the beer may sour as it ages.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you. We have recently hired a Quality Assurance manager to avoid repeat incidents in the future and for us to make the best beer possible going forward.

We understand that many of you traveled to Jacksonville specifically for the release of this year’s Underdark vintage so there is no time limit for returning bottles and receiving a full refund or gift card. We deeply appreciate the trust you put in Intuition Ale Works and we thank you for your support.

Ben Davis

Founder, Intuition Ale Works