Barrel Aged

Olde Hickory Shows Imperial Dominance

Olde Hickory Imperial Dominance unites bourbon and cherries.  While Saison Independence snubs the  “bourbon barrel” establishment”, Imperial Dominance celebrates it. Dominance is part of an emerging series by the North Carolina brewery — A Tale of  Two Barrels.

An Imperial Stout- bold, dark, powerful. Continue Reading →

Barrel Aged Woodchuck Cider Returns [VIDEO]

Apple cider in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels? That’s Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Select. A true connoisseur’s cider, Barrel Select displays a copper hue and carries a 6.9% ABV.  It features the delicate balance of a sweet and crisp apple base, with dry Continue Reading →

Founders Bolt Cutter Hits Shelves

Bolt Cutter, Founders Brewing Company’s 15th Anniversary celebration, is hitting shelves.  Bolt is a barleywine, with some commonalities to their famed  CBS, Curmudgeon’s Better Half, & Kentucky Breakfast Stout.  Dry hopped with cascade hops, partial aged in bourbon barrels, partially Continue Reading →

Posted in Coming Soon, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, New Releases

Hardywood Ages Gingerbread Stout in Bourbon Barrels

Did Hardywood Gingerbread Stout make you giggly? Try not to pass out if you get to taste this. Headed for the Hardywood Barrel Series – Bourbon GBS (Gingerbread Stout) Aged in Virginia Bourbon Barrels. Boom.

Hardywood Gingerbread Stout, described by BeerAdvocate as “freakin’ Christmas in a bottle,” is an imperial milk stout brewed with vanilla beans, cinnamon, fresh Casselmonte Farm baby ginger and Bearer Farms wildflower honey. Gingerbread Stout is then matured in Virginia bourbon barrels, where it adapts an incredibly mellow character with oak, caramel and bourbon undertones, and emerges 12 weeks later as Bourbon GBS. A festive blend of spice character laces this rich, chocolatey stout, which warms the palate and the soul.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Ginger, Honey, Lactose, Barrel Aged, Bourbon)
Availability: 750 ml bottles
Arrival: 12/15/12

10.6% ABV, 55 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines, Lost Abbey, New Releases

Lost Abbey’s Track #12, Heaven & Hell

Rounding out Lost Abbey‘s Ultimate Box Set Releases is Track #12, Heaven & Hell. Track 12 is a non fruited sour ale. It is a blend of three base beers (Avant Garde, a previously unreleased sour brown base and Gift of the Magi). There were two barrels of Avant Garde, one oak barrel of the sour brown and a splash of the Magi in the final blend. The final blend has flavors of sweet and sour with a pronounced musty nose.

Style: American Wild Ale
Availability: 12.7 oz bottles. Brewery release only. Drink on site only.
Arrival: December, 2012

8.69% ABV

Read more: Lost Abbey Ultimate Box Set 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Ass Kisser Ales, New Beers

Ass Kisser Bourbon Barrel Aged Smoked Porter

Ass Kisser Bourbon Barrel Aged Smoked Porter

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Olde Hickory Brewing

Olde Hickory Shows Imperial Dominance

Olde Hickory Brewing Imperial Dominance

Olde Hickory Imperial Dominance unites bourbon and cherries.  While Saison Independence snubs the  “bourbon barrel” establishment”, Imperial Dominance celebrates it. Dominance is part of an emerging series by the North Carolina brewery — A Tale of  Two Barrels.

An Imperial Stout- bold, dark, powerful. Adorned with rich flavors from the bourbon barrel and seductive cherries, the imposing Imperial Dominance believes its position in the heirarchy to be unassailable. But there are rumors of another barrel. Is a revolution on the horizon?

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Cherries, Barrel Aged)

Availability: 750 ml bottles
Arrival: TBA

10% ABV 


by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Olde Hickory Brewing

A Tale Of Two Barrels: Olde Hickory Saison Revolution

Olde Hickory Saison Revolution

Introducing Olde Hickory Saison Revolution. This saison snubs it’s nose at the “bourbon barrel” establishment” giving rise to a new world. Apple brandy barrel aging. (Which, by the way makes damn good beer.) Saison Rev is part of an emerging series by the North Carolina brewery – A Tale of  Two Barrels.

A humble, earthy Saison fights for recognition in a world of imperials. Eschewing the bourbon barrel establishment, Saison Revolution  reaches toward a new future through aging in local apple brandy barrels with ardent cherries. Is it the time for the rise of a new class of barrels? 

Style: Saison (w/ Cherries, Barrel Aged. Apple Brandy)
Availability: 750 ml bottles
Arrival: TBA

8.5% ABV 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Seasonal Return, Woodchuck Cider

Barrel Aged Woodchuck Cider Returns [VIDEO]

Apple cider in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels? That’s Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Select. A true connoisseur’s cider, Barrel Select displays a copper hue and carries a 6.9% ABV.  It features the delicate balance of a sweet and crisp apple base, with dry smoky bourbon notes throughout.  It’s a cider expertly crafted to help battle the bite of winter’s impending chill.

Style: Cider (Barrel Aged)
Availability: 12oz /6 packs. Winter seasonal

6.9% ABV 

Looking for it? Try the Woodchuck Cider Locator

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Founders Brewing, New Releases

Founders Bolt Cutter Hits Shelves

Bolt Cutter, Founders Brewing Company’s 15th Anniversary celebration, is hitting shelves.  Bolt is a barleywine, with some commonalities to their famed  CBS, Curmudgeon’s Better Half, & Kentucky Breakfast Stout.  Dry hopped with cascade hops, partial aged in bourbon barrels, partially aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels. It has been bottle maturing since July, 2012.

Years ago,” says Co-Founder, President & CEO Mike Stevens, “when our brewery was located on Monroe, we were defaulting on our loan. Eventually, the bank called and threatened to chain our doors shut if we didn’t come up with the money that we owed them. We had seven days to come up with half a million dollars.” “So I bought a pair of bolt cutters,” says Co-Founder, Vice President of Brand & Education Dave Engbers. “We were determined to keep our doors open and to keep brewing beer, no matter what it took. Luckily, we never had to use them.” Engbers keeps the bolt cutters in his office as a reminder of how far we’ve come and the journey we’ve taken since brewing our first beer in November 1997.

Style: Barleywine (Partial Bourbon, Maple Bourbon Barrel Aged)
Availability: 750 ml bottles
Arrival: Mid November, 2012

15% ABV 

by Reid Ramsay