Boston maker Samuel Adams has teamed up with Berkshire Mountain Distillers to create beer infused spirits. The two entities will create two different spirits/whiskeys, using Sam Adams Boston Lager, and Samuel Adams Cinder Bock. Both spirit offerings will be triple distilled, then wood barrel aged.
The two brews differ greatly in taste profile and will each be distilled — a process using heat to separate liquids according to their volatility — three times to allow for the creation of two very unique spirits.
Samuel Adams Boston Lagerwill age for two years in vintage wooden bourbon barrels. Samuel Adams Cinder Bock, a smoky rauchbier will age for two years in oak barrels. Some used to aged Utopias, Sam Adam’s biggest beer.
“One of the best things about being a brewer is that the learning never ends. It’s been fun to share my knowledge of brewing with Chris throughout this process, and he has certainly taught me more than a thing or two about distilling,” says Samuel Adams founder and brewer Jim Koch. “There are many parallels between making spirits and brewing beer. Marrying the two not only makes sense, but will also produce a drink that beer- and spirits-lovers alike can enjoy.”
It takes 12,000 gallons of beer to make just 500 gallons of whiskey. The used barrels will leave the distillery bound for Boston for a “yet to be named” barrel aged beer that Samuel Adams will produce in the future. The whiskey will be distributed by Berkshire Mountain.
Estimated Release: 2015
