Big Storm Brewing Company, Florida’s fastest growing craft brewery, announced the official release of Category 5, a Belgian Quintupel, the fifth offering in its Belgian-style Hurricane Series.

The preceding beers in the Big Storm’s Hurricane Series were released in conjunction with the Atlantic Hurricane Season, each named for the different storm levels defined by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, based on a hurricane's sustained wind speed. As hurricanes grow stronger with each category, so does the ABV in the Big Storm Hurricane series.

• BELGIAN SINGLE – CATEGORY 1 ABV 6.0 / IBU 15
• BELGIAN DUBBEL – CATEGORY 2 ABV 6.6 / IBU 18
• BELGIAN TRIPEL – CATEGORY 3 ABV 9.2 / IBU 38
• BELGIAN QUADRUPEL - CATEGORY 4 ABV 10.6 / IBU 25

Big Storm’s newest release is a Belgian Quintupel called Category 5, and is being released to celebrate the end of storm season in Florida. The strength of this beer is true to its namesake and will boast an ABV of 11.1 percent. Because of high gravity nature of this beer, Big Storm will only sell it in their local taprooms and in 5oz pours.

It took Big Storm brewers four separate mashes to get just eight barrels of wort for this massive beer! After an initial fermentation with their Belgian yeast strain they added a classic champagne yeast and moved the beer into French and Hungarian white oak Chardonnay barrels. The Category 5 went through a slower secondary and aging for the next four months with delicious results.

The beer pours a stunning golden-copper with a thin head that quickly dissipates due to the higher alcohol content. Aroma and flavors of honey, vanilla, oak, and liqueur with hints of banana and clove. Belgian fans will enjoy a sweet and smooth, mouth-coating presence with a touch of alcohol in the finish.

“After our Belgian Single was awarded a Silver Medal at this year’s Best Florida Beer Competition, we knew we were on to something, and decided to expand our Belgian offerings,” stated Mike Bishop, Founder of Big Storm. “We never expected the Hurricane Series to be as popular as they have been.”

So popular, that Big Storm created special flight paddles to serve all 5 Belgian selections in a circular shape to mimic a satellite view of a hurricane.

Category 5 will be available on Nov. 1 in both of Big Storm’s Taprooms (Pinellas – 12707 49th St. N. in Clearwater, and Pasco – 2330 Success Drive in Odessa). A 5oz pour will cost you $7.95, and the entire Hurricane Series Flight will be $19.95.