Topic Archives: American Strong Ales

Posted in Boulevard Brewing, Headlines

Boulevard Collaboration No. 6 Barrel Aged Blend with Firestone Walker

Boulevard Collaboration No. 6 Barrel Aged Blend

Boulevard Collaboration No. 6 Barrel Aged Blend brings California based brewery, Firestone Walker into the mix for this latest series addition. This 750 mililiter release is a blend of two Boulevard and two Firestone Walker beers.

At 45% of the blend, Boulevard’s Bourbon Barrel Quad makes up the largest portion of the beer, followed by Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee at an additional 35%. The last 20% consists of Boulevard Imperial Stout X – Tart Cherry (whiskey barrel-aged), and Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin at 10% each.

Boulevard Collaboration No. 6 Barrel Aged Blend is a limited release on draft and 750ml bottles.

Style: American Strong Ale
Availability: 750ml Bottles, Draft. Limited release.
Release: November, 2016 

12.5%

Posted in Lexington Brewing and Distilling, New Releases

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale cans: “Hand sized barrels”

Kentucky Barrel Ale cans

Lexington Brewing & Distilling’s Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, the the brewery’s signature beer in a lineup of barrel-aged beer, is now available in cans.

Subtitled “The beer of Bourbon Country” Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale was launched in 2006. The strong ale base is aged at least six weeks in freshly emptied bourbon barrels. The brewery knows what they are doing with bourbon, as they also own their own distillery.

It wasn’t long before the popularity of Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale spawned various spinoff releases, like Pumpkin Barrel Ale (on shelves for the 2016 season now).

What you’ll taste. Honestly, we’ve always considered Barrel Ale to be America’s edition of a popular import – Innis & Gunn Original. In a way they similar. The beer is heavy on bourbon and vanilla, but still light on the palate. This beer needed to be in cans a long time ago.

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale cans are now shipping in 12 ounce cans/ 6 packs across the brewery’s distribution network.

Style: American Strong Ale (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. 12oz Cans (Soon)
Debut (Cans): Late October/November, 2016

8.2% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal 

Posted in Firestone Walker Brewing, Coming Soon, Headlines

Firestone Walker XX Anniversary blends 5 beers, 250 barrels

Firestone Walker XX

Firestone Walker XX, the brewery’s coveted anniversary release, debuts in November, 2016.

The anniversary series started in 2005. Firestone Walker’s brewmaster Matt Brynildson already making a special beer for the brewery’s 10th anniversary, aka X, when a barrel broker named Tom Griffin tracked down Brynildson. You know how the rest turned out.

Now, 10 years later, the Firestone Walker Anniversary Series has become an more than just a beer, but a session of friends creating a one of kind celebration blend.

The brewery’s home of Paso Robles, California known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel producers, so Bryndilson invites dozens of local winemakers to help blend the final release. The 2016 blend is thanks to 17 winemakers, blending 5 different component beers that have been aging in over 250 oak barrels.

“There is just so much going on in this beer. It’s big and complex, with all of these different facets from our barrel-aged program that are so seamlessly integrated. We wanted to produce something really special for our 20th anniversary, and I think we did it.” – Brynildson

The final blend: 

Parabola – Russian imperial Stout, aged in new oak & bourbon barrels. 40% of Blend
Stickee Monkee – Belgian-style Quadrupel, aged in new oak & bourbon barrels. 20% of Blend
Velvet Merkin – Oatmeal Stout, aged in bourbon barrels. 17.5% of Blend
Bravo – Brown Ale aged in bourbon. 12.5% of Blend
Helldorado – Blonde barleywine aged in bourbon. 10% of blend

Firestone Walker XX Anniversary will be available in 22 ounce bottles across the brewery’s entire distribution network in November, 2016.

Style: American Strong Ale (Oak Aged. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles. Limited.
Debut: November, 2016

Ed note: The team for the final blend included these wineries

Scott Hawley – Torrin (Winning Blend)
Sherman Thacher and Daniel Callan – Thacher Winery
Matt Trevisan – Linne Calodo
Connor McMahon and Kyle Jury  – Booker
Terry and Natalie Hoage –TH Estate Wines
Russell From and Philip Muzzy – Herman Story
Molly Lonborg and Kevin Sass– Halter Ranch
Brock Waterman – Brochelle Vineyards
Justin Smith – Saxum Vineyards
Mark Adams – Ledge Vineyards
Neil Collins and Chelsea Franchi – Tablas Creek Vineyard

Posted in The Lost Abbey, Don't Miss This, Seasonal Return

Lost Abbey My Black Parade returns nationally

Lost Abbey My Black Parade

Lost Abbey My Black Parade, a Mexican chocolate laden strong ale, is back in the brewery’s lineup.

Lost Abbey My Black Parade is a strong ale, brewed with cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, cinnamon, cardamon, smoked chilies and of course bourbon oak. The label tells the story of unrequited love remembers on Dia De Los Muertos, where people make a pilgrimage to an unmarked grave. Hoping their true love shows up.

Pouring darker than a moonless night, My Black Parade begins with a deep bouquet of rich chocolate and layered hints of cinnamon and oak. Huge flavors of cocoa on the palate with notes of vanilla, bourbon, and tobacco, finishing with crisp bite from the smoked chili’s and cardamom.

Lost Abbey My Black Parade is a 375 milliliter bottel release in 2016. Distribution starts in mid-October, 2016.

Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Cocoa Nibs, Vanilla Beans, Chilies, Cardamom, Cinnamon. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 375ml Bottles

Latest Return: Mid-October, 2016

12.5% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal

Posted in Green Flash Brewing, Coming Soon, Don't Miss This

Green Flash Ochre Frumento, the brewery’s booziest ever

Green Flash Ochre Frumento

Green Flash Ochre Frumento will join the brewery’s Barrelmaster Reserve Series on September 17th. Incidentally, the strongest beer the brewery’s has ever released.

The base of Green Flash Ochre Frumento is a barleywine, that has aged a total of 6 years in both bourbon and brandy barrels. The final alcohol by volume is a whopping 17.5%, which is officially the strongest beer the San Diego based brewery has ever released.

 It pours a deep brown and presents an aroma that is sharp and spirit-barrel forward. Prominent flavors of toffee and caramel envelop the palate, and supporting notes of ripened stone fruits with nutty complexity unfold through the finish.

The first release in the series sold out in hours – Lustrous Frumento with Coffee.

There are only 600 bottles of Green Flash Ochre Frumento available. Find it at the brewery’s Cellar 3 Facility on Saturday, September 17th.

Style: American Strong Ales (Barrel Aged. Bourbon. Brandy.)
Availability: 750m Bottles. Limited

Debut: 9/14/16

17.5% ABV

Posted in Stone Brewing Co., Don't Miss This, New Releases

Stone Bastard’s Midnight Brunch, with coffee, bourbon & maple syrup

Stone Bastard's Midnight Brunch

Stone Bastard’s Midnight Brunch has hit shelves, probably one of the more “arrogant” bastard concoctions yet.

The base beer is Double Bastard, the Escondido, California based brewery’s American strong ale. The big bastard is infused with coffee (AKA Depth Charged Double Bastard) and aged in both bourbon barrels and maple syrup barrels. The result – is a beer all over the map in flavor. (There is a strong undertone of Double Bastard, and it finishes with a mix of bourbon and maple flavors.)

If you haven’t noticed, Stone Brewing split the bastard series off into their own business entity – Arrogant Bastard Brewing. We all know, it’s still Stone at the wheel.

Stone Bastard’s Midnight Brunch is a 16.9 ounce bottle offering, retailing around $20 dollars each.

Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Coffee, Maple Syrup. Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 16.9oz Bottles
Release: June, 2016

12.7% ABV

Posted in Wicked Weed Brewing Co, Don't Miss This

Bourbon fans, meet Wicked Weed Old Fashioned

Wicked Weed Old Fashioned is hits distribution in limited quantities this week. A beer built for the fans of the cocktail.

Bourbon is the start in an Old Fashioned, muddled with sugar and bitters (and oranges and cherries). Wicked Weed Old Fashioned is a Kentucky bourbon barrel aged beer, brewed with oranges and cherries. (Redundant, yes. But you get the idea.)

From the first time we tasted it, we knew this needed to be made in our production facility.

Wicked Weed Old Fashioned is now available at the brewery in Asheville, North Carolina. Limited distribution starts this week.

Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Oranges, Cherries. Barrel-Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12.7oz Bottles
Debut: Late June, 2016

10% ABV

Image: Wicked Weed