Piano Keys Returns: Ale Sharpton & Creature Comforts Reunite for a Purpose-Driven Imperial Stout

In February 2026, legendary Atlanta beer journalist and craft beer advocate Ale Sharpton celebrates 30 years in beer. To mark the milestone, Sharpton has brought back one of his most meaningful creations: Piano Keys, a chocolate vanilla imperial stout, reimagined this time with Creature Comforts Brewing Co. in Athens, Georgia.

More than just a collaboration beer, Piano Keys is a project rooted in flavor, culture, and connection — and this new version might be the most intentional yet.

Piano Keys Release Details
Release Date: February 6, 2026
Distribution: Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee

Launch Events:
Friday, February 13 — Creature Comforts Taproom (Athens, GA)
Monday, February 23 — Terminal West (Atlanta, GA)

What Is Piano Keys Stout?

Piano Keys is a 9.6% ABV imperial stout built around chocolate, vanilla, and shared experience. The beer was originally released seven years ago in collaboration with New Belgium Brewing, where Sharpton first introduced the idea of using chocolate and vanilla — “ebony and ivory” — as a metaphor for unity.

Now, Piano Keys returns with Creature Comforts, bringing the beer back to Sharpton’s home state and into the hands of a brewery known for some of the best stouts in the Southeast. “I came up with the idea of creating a beer that brings White people, Black people, and everybody together,” Sharpton explained in a recent interview. “So there’s your chocolate and vanilla, your ebony and ivory.”
(Bean to Barstool, David Nilsen)

Why Creature Comforts Was the Right Partner
Creature Comforts Brewing Co. has built a reputation for expressive, balanced dark beers — making them a natural fit for Piano Keys. “I’m not going to team up with somebody whose brewing skills are ass, or shaky at best. We’re not doing that,” he said.
(Bean to Barstool, David Nilsen) Working alongside Creature Comforts brewer Blake Tyers, Sharpton helped shape a beer that honors the original concept while pushing it forward with new ingredients and deeper storytelling.

Inside the Beer: Ingredients That Matter
This version of Piano Keys was built carefully, with every ingredient chosen for both flavor and meaning.

Ingredient: Cacao Nibs from Condor Chocolates
The beer uses cacao nibs from Condor Chocolates, an Athens-based chocolate maker sourcing cacao from Ecuador. The nibs are roasted locally and added quickly to preserve depth and complexity. Cutting down the time between roasting and brewing helps amplify chocolate character without overwhelming bitterness.

Ingredient: A Global Vanilla Blend
Instead of relying on a single vanilla source, Sharpton and Tyers selected a blend of vanilla beans from:

  • Peru
  • Cook Islands
  • Uganda

Together, they bring floral sweetness, brownie-like richness, and darker, almost leathery notes that give the stout real depth.

Ingredient – Fonio: A Grain with a Story
Piano Keys also includes fonio, a traditional African grain that’s gaining attention in craft brewing. Fonio is drought-resistant, requires minimal agricultural inputs, and adds body and subtle nutty character to the beer. The grain’s inclusion also nods to African agricultural heritage and the influence of brewers like Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery, who has helped introduce fonio to American craft beer.

Why 9.6% ABV Matters
At 9.6% ABV, Piano Keys is bold but intentionally balanced. The number isn’t arbitrary — it’s a direct reference to 1996, the year Ale Sharpton began covering beer. Rather than being a boozy flex, the strength acts as a quiet tribute to longevity, experience, and staying power in an industry that’s constantly changing.

More Than a Beer: 30 Years of Ale Sharpton in Craft Beer
For Sharpton, Piano Keys isn’t about looking back — it’s about staying grateful and staying curious. “This is a story of being grateful to be in the beer industry for so long,” he said. “Just the people and the experience and the journey. I’m thankful for it. And Piano Keys is just one of those things that keeps the fire lit.”
(Bean to Barstool, David Nilsen)

That sentiment carries through the beer itself. Piano Keys isn’t meant to be rushed or overanalyzed — it’s a beer built for conversation, shared pours, and sitting at a table with people who care.

Piano Keys is the kind of beer that reminds you why collaboration still matters in craft beer. It leads with flavor, follows with intention, and leaves room for reflection — all without forgetting that beer should still be fun.

As Ale Sharpton raises a glass to 30 years in beer, Piano Keys stands as proof that the best stories don’t fade — they evolve.

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