Barrel Aged

Victory Red Thunder Arrives November 21

Victory Brewing Company is prepping their first ever wine barrel aged release Red Thunder. The brewery took Baltic Thunder and has been aging it in red wine barrels from Wente Vineyards.

“While enjoying our first batch of Baltic Thunder Continue Reading →

Posted in Coming Soon, Victory Brewing Company

Victory Old Horizontal In Bourbon?

Victory Brewing Company (Downingtown, PA) had to put “Old Ho” aka Old Horizontal on hold due to capacity issues. The last time that barleywine has seen the light of day was nearly 2 years ago. The above indicates plans by Victory to release a bourbon barrel aged version of Old Horizontal.

Dark Intrigue (Storm King in bourbon) was released last year, and found instant success. More barrel aged offerings were being planned. Fingers crossed for more Old Horizontal in the near future. (It won’t be in 2012.)

Style: Barleywine (Barrel Aged)
Availability: 750 ml bottles
Arrival: December, 2012

 10.5% ABV

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Lost Abbey, Videos

A Video Look Inside Lost Abbey Track #9

A look inside Lost Abbey’s Track #9.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Mikkeller

More Grand Marnier For Mikkeller. This Time, It’s Alive

Mikkeller Its Alive Grand Marnier

Mikkeller’s It’s Alive has been spending some time in Grand Marnier barrels. ”Grand Ma” is an orange-flavored brandy lmade from a blend of cognac, bitter orange, and sugar. It’s Alive is a Belgian strong ale homage to the Trappist beer Orval.

Style: Belgian Strong Ale (Barrel Aged, Grand Marnier)
Availability: 12.7 oz bottles
Arrival: TBA

8% ABV

 

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Smuttynose Brewing

Smuttynose Zinneke, a Bourbon Barrel Belgian

A Smuttynose Big Beer: Zinneke, a Belgian style stout aged in bourbon barrels.

Named in honor of the doggy denizens of Brussels, this hybrid beer is a mix of what we love best in a big, roast stout, but fermented with a Belgian yeast, which brings out a beautiful, fruity nose. We set aside a portion of the batch to age in bourbon barrels to allow the stout’s chocolate and caramel flavors to marry with the wood’s natural vanilla and toastiness. The final blend pairs well with both savory dishes and favorite desserts.

Style: Stout (Barrel Aged)
Availability: 22oz bombers
Arrival: TBA

?? ABV 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Goose Island Brewing, Seasonal Return

One of America’s Top Beers, Goose Island Bourbon County Releases

Goose Island has released Bourbon County Stout this week. The beer is one of the most sought after barrel aged beers in America. To prep for this release, I’m told that Goose Island brewed 5x more of BCS than previous years. Now that various Anheuser-Busch plants are brewing beers like Honker’s and 312 Urban Wheat, the Fulton Street location in Chicago can work on cranking out BCS, Madame Rose, and the Vintage Series like Matilda and Sofie.

Bourbon County Stout is aged 9 months (minimum) in Heaven Hill barrels, and caps out around 14-15% ABV.  You can cellar it up to 5 years.

Who will get it? Broken down by round of shipping:

(Round 1) WI, IN, MI, VA, OH
(Round 2) RI, DE, PA, NJ, MD, ME, VT, NY, NH, CT
(Round 3) KA, MN, IA, MO, ND, NE, SD
(Round 4) KY, TN, NV, CA, AZ, CO, ID, MT, WA, OR

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged)
Availability: 12oz bottles, Draft

14% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Lost Abbey

Lost Abbey + Guns n’ Roses = Track #9

A new month, and another Lost Abbey Ultimate Box Set Release. September’s release pays tribute to the Guns n’ Roses cover of Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door. Each of these rare releases in a blend of even more rare Lost Abbey beers. For Track #9, the brewery took some Cuvee de Tomme that wasn’t ready in time for the 2011 release and added currants, plus extra brettanomyces yeast. (The funky stuff.)

Left to nature’s devices, the currants married into the raisin and cherry already present in the beer and created a full-bodied fruit intensity we hadn’t quite expected. Liking what we tasted, we decided to bump the melange with an addition of Brettanomyces for a little extra oomph. The results are a unique blend that delivers a great combination of plummy fruits, round malts and just enough funk to remind you Brett’s in the house and doing her thing.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Currants, Barrel Aged)
Availability: 12.7 oz bottles. Brewery release only. To be consumed on premise only.
Arrival: September 15, 2012

9.7% ABV 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Victory Brewing Company

Victory Red Thunder Arrives November 21

Victory Brewing Company is prepping their first ever wine barrel aged release Red Thunder. The brewery took Baltic Thunder and has been aging it in red wine barrels from Wente Vineyards.

“While enjoying our first batch of Baltic Thunder in 2007, Ron and I immediately sensed that the deep complexities of this nuanced brew left almost no room for improvement,” said Victory Brewing Company President and Co-Brewmaster Bill Covaleski. “But as our experience with Baltic Thunder grew, we became intrigued with barrel-aging it, and red wine barrels proved to deliver the perfect level of flavor enhancement.”

Flavor?

…The burnished cocoa creaminess of the Baltic-style porter is accented by the tannic dryness of the wood to produce a rich, fruity final product.

Red Thunder arrives on November 21, 2012. Only available in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts and Ohio

Style: Baltic Porter (Aged in Red Wine)
Availability: 750 ml bottles, Corked & Caged

8.5% ABV

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by Reid Ramsay