Barleywines

NEW RELEASE: Medocino Barleywine

Mendocino Brewing Company hails from Mendocino County, California. Medocino is one of the older craft brewers in the U.S. as they has been brewing since the early 1980’s.   New for 2010, the brewery is adding an “Imperial Series” to Continue Reading →

NEW LAUNCH: Mad River Brewing!

It seems like California brewers are taking Georgia by storm.   21st Amendment just arrived from San Francisco, and now Mad River Brewing from Blue Lake, California.

Mad River Brewing started the same way that a lot of craft breweries begin Continue Reading →

COMING SOON: Sierra 30 Vol #3

Celebrating Sierra Nevada’s 30 years of craft brewing, the brewery out of Chico, California is releasing 4 beers to commemorate this milestone.  Thus far we have seen “Fritz & Ken’s Ale” – an imperial stout, and most recently Charlie, Fred Continue Reading →

CASK ALERT: Sweetwater DP

We are days away from Brickstore Pub’s “Unlucky” 13th Anniversary on Saturday. For13 days prior to the big anniversary, Brickstore Pub will have a special tapping each day.

In a matter of minutes, Sweetwater’s DP (Donkey Punch) Barleywine aged in a Continue Reading →

NEW RELEASE: Cabernet Aged Below Decks

Another edition of the Mutiny Fleet by Heavy Seas (Baltimore, MD) that has arrived alongside Bourbon Barrel Aged Below Decks Barleywine, is Cabernet Barrel Aged Below Decks.

Below Decks is an English style barleywine released once a year by the brewery. Continue Reading →

Weyerbacher Insanity Returns

Weyerbacher can do some magical things with oak barrels.  A couple of weeks ago, Heresy (Old Heathen Stout aged in Kentucky bourbon) came back to the shelves.  Joining Heresy is Insanity.

Insanity is a barleywine, namely Weyerbacher’s Blithering Idiot aged in Continue Reading →

Posted in Mendocino Brewing, New Launches

NEW RELEASE: Medocino Barleywine

Mendocino Brewing Company hails from Mendocino County, California. Medocino is one of the older craft brewers in the U.S. as they has been brewing since the early 1980’s.   New for 2010, the brewery is adding an “Imperial Series” to their lineup.  The Imperial Series will include 3 titles to start : an IPA, a stout, and this release – “Imperial  Barleywine.”

American barleywines are probably first and foremost described as alcoholic.  I don’t know one under 9% to start.   American barleywines differ from their English couterpart, and are almost always complex.  Barleywine’s can have everything from a hoppy aroma and flavor, to a palate full of alcohol, fruits and sweet malts.   Mendocino has made another barleywine recently called Talon Barleywine.  Similarities in these 2 brews I’m sure exist and would be worth doing a taste investigation.

Mendocino’s Imperial Barleywine Description –

“This Imperial Barley Wine Style Ale has a rich amber color with a full, robust body. This Barley Wine style Ale has a traditional warming malt flavor with a delightful hop finish. While exceptionally drinkable now, it will continue to improve with age — taking on subtle flavors of dark fruit, sherry and anise. Hop flavors and aromas will become more rounded and luscious caramel malt notes will become more intense. Brewed with an astonishing starting gravity of 24 Plato and finishing at 11% ABV, this Imperial Barley Wine Ale is not for the faint of heart, though it will reward the adventurous drinker with an unparalleled taste experience.”

Taste Expectations – Toffee, & dark fruits.  Some fruit & sweet caramel/dark malts mixed with some alcohol.

Availability – 12oz/4 pks.  Seasonally brewed in Mendocino’s “Imperial Series.”

11% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Mad River Brewing, New Launches

NEW LAUNCH: Mad River Brewing!

It seems like California brewers are taking Georgia by storm.   21st Amendment just arrived from San Francisco, and now Mad River Brewing from Blue Lake, California.

Mad River Brewing started the same way that a lot of craft breweries begin – with a dream.  Granted you hear that a good bit these days but it takes someone actually making that dream a reality that brings us new beers.  Brew master Bob Smith took that dream and ran with it.  It was 1977 when Bob joined the “Humbrewers Guild” a home brewing group in California.  Trips to a home brew shop in Chico, California found Bob Smith crossing paths with owner Ken Grossman who later founded Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.  After seeing Ken’s success, Bob was determined to follow suit.

Knowing Ken Grossman proved to be most important in founding Mad River.   By 1989, Sierra Nevada had outgrown it’s current facility and equipment.  Construction had already commenced on Sierra’s new location, so Ken Grossman sold equipment to Bob Smith.  Mad River was born.  By December 1990 the first kegs of  Steelhead Pale ale were shipping.

A quick rundown of the offerings by Mad River:

Steelhead Extra Pale – Pale Ale, 5.6% ABV.  Spicy & floral. Light bitter.

Steelhead Double IPA – DIPA, 8.6% ABV.  Citrus hop flavor.  Dry hopped with Amarillo.

Steelhead Porter – 6.5% ABV.  Complex malt flavor with smoky malt in finish.  Light dryness.

Steelhead Extra Stout – 6.5% ABV.  Lots of roasted malts.  light American hop character.

John Barleycorn Barleywine – 9.5% ABV.  Nutty caramel malts.  Hints of plum, black currant, and maple.

Double Dread Imperial Red – Red Ale, 8.6% ABV.  Big malt foundation on the clear red ale.  Alcohol subtle for an imperial.

Serious Madness Black Ale – 8.6% ABV.  Black brew with silky smooth body & mouthfeel.  Complex malt character.

Mad Belgian Golden Ale – Belgian Pale, 6.5% ABV.  Crisp, dry & effervescent.  Belgian yeast blends well with honey favor.

Estimated Arrival Date: July 8, 2010.  Launch titles to be finalized during launch week.   Mad River is distributed by Savannah Distribution.

WELCOME TO GEORGIA MAD RIVER BREWING!

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Sierra Nevada

COMING SOON: Sierra 30 Vol #3

Celebrating Sierra Nevada’s 30 years of craft brewing, the brewery out of Chico, California is releasing 4 beers to commemorate this milestone.  Thus far we have seen “Fritz & Ken’s Ale” – an imperial stout, and most recently Charlie, Fred & Ken’s bock – a helles lager.  Volume 3 in these brewer collaborations is set to arrive in mid July – “Jack & Ken’s Ale” a barleywine.

Description –

“Jack McAuliffe is the original microbrewer.  McAuliffe’s tine New Albion Brewery in Sonoma, California inspired countless brewers to start small scale breweries of their own.  Jack agreed to guest brew the very special ale with us in honor of our 30th Anniversary.  This American barleywine is a not to the big ales of New Albion served at their legendary summer solstice parties.  It is robust and complex – brewed with 100% American Cascade hops.”

Availability – 750 ML Corked & Caged bottles.  Draft.  One time 30th Anniversary brew.  Expected Mid-July 2010.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Casks, SweetWater Brewing

CASK ALERT: Sweetwater DP

We are days away from Brickstore Pub’s “Unlucky” 13th Anniversary on Saturday. For13 days prior to the big anniversary, Brickstore Pub will have a special tapping each day.

In a matter of minutes, Sweetwater’s DP (Donkey Punch) Barleywine aged in a J.W. Lee’s lagvulin pin cask.   Basically, BSP had a leftover J.W. Lee’s cask.  It was taken to Sweetwater, where it was filled with Donkey Punch.  Then it was aged for a year in house at the pub.

This beer taps at 5 pm Today (6/14)

Brick Store Pub
125 East Court Square
Decatur, GA 30030-2521
Twitter: @BrickstorePub

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Heavy Seas, New Releases

NEW RELEASE: Cabernet Aged Below Decks

Another edition of the Mutiny Fleet by Heavy Seas (Baltimore, MD) that has arrived alongside Bourbon Barrel Aged Below Decks Barleywine, is Cabernet Barrel Aged Below Decks.

Below Decks is an English style barleywine released once a year by the brewery.  Heavy Seas took the Below Decks and aged it in two different barrels.  You saw there earlier post about bourbon oak barrels.  This version of course is aged in cabernet oak.  This is the first release of this wine barrel aged barleywine.

Taste Expectations — Wine grape, Oak, fruit, caramel, and vanilla.  Some sweet flavors are expressed in the taste.  Some tannin style flavor from the wine is also expressed.

Availability — 22oz Bombers, and draft offerings.  Small batch, seasonally.  This is the inaugural release.

10% ABV

5/28 — Both editions in stock at Hop City.

5/28 – Both in stock at Green’s

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Heavy Seas, New Releases

NEW RELEASE: Heavy Seas Bourbon Below Decks

Part of the Mutiny Fleet by Heavy Seas (Baltimore, MD) comes Bourbon Barrel Aged Below Decks Barleywine.

Below Decks is an English style barleywine released once a year by the brewery.  Let me tell you it ages beautifully.  The barrel aged version is the seasonal Below Decks aged in bourbon oak barrels.  This too I’m sure will age wonderfully.  This is the first release of  this bourbon barleywine.

Taste Expectations – Oak, caramel, and vanilla.  Some sweet flavors in this beer.  The alcohol is high as it is a barleywine, but in no way overwhelms..

Availability – 22oz Bombers, and draft offerings.  Small batch, seasonally.  This is the inaugural release.

10% ABV

5/26 – In Stock at Green’s

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Seasonal Return, Weyerbacher

Weyerbacher Insanity Returns

Weyerbacher can do some magical things with oak barrels.  A couple of weeks ago, Heresy (Old Heathen Stout aged in Kentucky bourbon) came back to the shelves.  Joining Heresy is Insanity.

Insanity is a barleywine, namely Weyerbacher’s Blithering Idiot aged in oak bourbon.  Blithering Idiot is full of caramel malts, subtle alcohol (for being 11%), slightly sweet, slightly fruity.  After the oak aging, Insanity carries those elements from the barleywine plus vanilla, bourbon, and oak.  I’ve become a huge fan of oak aged beers.

11.1% ABV

Serve in a tulip glass, or snifter, around 50 degrees F.  Suitable for cellaring.

Availability – 12oz 4 pks, and Draft.  Seasonal.

by Reid Ramsay