Barrel Aged

Odell To Deconstruct Again

This is beer from Odell Brewing Co (Fort Collins, CO) isn’t easy to explain to those who don’t want to read a book on it.  Deconstruction is essentially a blend of beers, comprised of other beers painstakingly created to accent Continue Reading →

Mammoth Releases Barrel Aged Blondibock Friday

Mammoth Brewing (Mammoth Lakes, CA) is spending today transferring this blonde beauty to the brite tank (finishing tank). Tomorrow she’ll find bottles, and Friday on sale to Mammoth fans. Blondibock was first brewed as Bluesapalooza  Blonde Bock last summer. Since Continue Reading →

Nebraska’s Sexy Betty

Remember Nebraska’s Black Betty?  She has a relative. Or at least a hot friend. Sexy Betty combines the barrel aged hotness of Black Betty, blended with 5o year old cognac barrel aged imperial stout. The blend does indeed sound sexy. Continue Reading →

Founders To Celebrate 15 Years With Bolt Cutter

Founders Brewing was founded 15 years ago by Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers. The duo both had non-beer, business, and undoubtedly boring jobs.  Beer was their calling.  After nearly going bankrupt making some “unremarkable” beers, they decided to make beer for Continue Reading →

Posted in Coming Soon, Odell Brewing

Odell To Deconstruct Again

This is beer from Odell Brewing Co (Fort Collins, CO) isn’t easy to explain to those who don’t want to read a book on it.  Deconstruction is essentially a blend of beers, comprised of other beers painstakingly created to accent a certain flavor or nuance.  Different pilot batches are blended into the final recipe above to achieve the final beer. Each of the constituents contributing to the sum of the whole beer.  It’s almost mathematical.

The 2010 edition contained beer aged in bourbon, wine, oak, and non barrel aged beer. This edition touts 42% wine barrel aging, and 58% ale.

Flavor? Odell says: A beer which starts sweet, filling the mouth with fruit-like esters and a mild spiciness, changing to a tart and lingering flavor, reminiscent of apples and grapefruit living amidst and earthy, citrusy hop aroma.  

Style: American Wild Ale (Barrel Aged)
Availability: 750 ml bottles, corked & caged
Arrival: September, 2012

10.5% ABV 

note: The above is tentative.  Subject to change at whim of the brewer, the beer, or the barrel.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Weyerbacher

Weyerbacher Sour Black Drops This Friday

Sour Black, Weyerbacher’s follow up to Rapture, arrives Friday.  The beer is a black ale aged in pinot noir barrels, the same barrels used to age Rapture. The black ale base for this beer has never been released in any other form by Weyerbacher.

Flavor Expectations per Weyerbacher:  Brettanomyces lambicus was added to the barrels adding a nice acidity.  It’s fruity and tart with just enough roasted character; a truly delightful dark ale.

Style: Black Ale  (Barrel Aged)

Availability: 750 ml bottles, Corked & caged. 350 cases produced
Arrival: 6/29/12, 4:30 pm.  Brewery only. No distribution.

5% ABV (estimated)

Read More: Weyerbacher

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Mammoth Brewing Company

Mammoth Releases Barrel Aged Blondibock Friday

Mammoth Brewing (Mammoth Lakes, CA) is spending today transferring this blonde beauty to the brite tank (finishing tank). Tomorrow she’ll find bottles, and Friday on sale to Mammoth fans. Blondibock was first brewed as Bluesapalooza  Blonde Bock last summer. Since the beer was so well received, Karl Anderson and brewing team decided to brew it again.

Back in March, the crew set to work on round two.  After two weeks of fermentation, Blondibock was transferred to Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for three months.  That’s where a lot this bock beer gets its flavor and color.

Style: Maibock (Barrel Aged)
Availability: 22oz bombers
Arrival: 6/29/12

7.5% abv, 50 IBU 

 

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Nebraska Brewing

Nebraska’s Sexy Betty

Remember Nebraska’s Black Betty?  She has a relative. Or at least a hot friend. Sexy Betty combines the barrel aged hotness of Black Betty, blended with 5o year old cognac barrel aged imperial stout. The blend does indeed sound sexy. She joins Nebraska’s Inception Series.

A sweet nose greets the adventurous in this marriage of our Black Betty Russian Imperial Stout and 50 year old French Cognac barrels.  An elegantly pleasant surprise wakes the palate which migrates from a hint of Cognac into the wonderfully lingering roasted malt character.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged)
Availability:  750 ml bottles
Arrival: TBA

10% ABV 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Jester King Brewery, Mikkeller

Jester King & Mikkeller’s Whiskey Barrel Rodeo

Introducing a barrel aged edition of Jester King/Mikkeller’s Weasel Rodeo. Why weasel? The original beer was based off of Mikkeller’s Beer Geek Brunch, brewed with Kopi Luwak coffee. Weasel Barrel Rodeo is an oatmeal stout, brewed with chipotle peppers, Kopi Luwak coffee, then aged in whiskey barrels.

Inside the hops and staves of oaken whiskey barrels, magical things can sometimes happen. Even ancient enemies like weasels and rodeo clowns can overcome their conflicts and learn to work together as one. Feral monkeys are a different story, though.  It turns out that even in barrels, they’re really not much fun at all.  

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ coffee, chipotle peppers, Barrel Aged)
Hops:  Millenium, Saaz, Cascade, Columbus
Malts:  Mans Otter, dark crystal malt, brown malt, chocolate malt, smoked malt

Availability: 750 ml bottles
Arrival: August, 2012

10.1% ABV

Read More: Mikkeller, Jester King, Collaborations

Jester King thinks this beer could be the most expensive sold in Texas… or another, it means that the whiskey barrel aged version, which we’re calling “Whiskey Rodeo” is now going to be the most ludicrously expensive beer ever sold in the State of Texas, and this initial batch of non whiskey barrel aged Whiskey Rodeo will be a little less so. Seriously, if you’re thinking of buying a bottle of Whiskey Rodeo, start saving now. Kopi Luwak costs over $200/lb (as compared with Legendee which costs a mere $35/lb). 

 

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Swamp Head Brewery

Swamp Head Ages 10-10-10 in Pappy Van Winkle

Swamp Head calls 10-10-10 Imperial IPA“fertilizer for the hop lover’s soul.” So named for 10 hop additions, 10% ABV, 110 IBUs. The brewery took the hop bomb and has been aging it in Pappy Van Winkle barrels.

This Barrel Aged version of 10-10-10 naturally takes this explosive beer to a whole new level of excess. The barrels have held some of Kentucky’s finest bourbon for twenty years. Aging the 10-10-10 in these barrels imparts notes of bourbon, oak and vanilla to compliment the rich malt character and profusion of hop flavors.

Style: Imperial IPA (Barrel Aged)

Availability: 750ml bottles
Arrival: Late Summer, 2012

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Founders Brewing

Founders To Celebrate 15 Years With Bolt Cutter

Founders Bolt Cutter Barleywine

Founders Brewing was founded 15 years ago by Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers. The duo both had non-beer, business, and undoubtedly boring jobs.  Beer was their calling.  After nearly going bankrupt making some “unremarkable” beers, they decided to make beer for themselves. Basically, what they want to drink – not everyone else.

They’ve come a long way in 15 years! In 2012, a few of their beers are ranked among the best on planet earth.  RateBeer.com ranks Founders #2 in the world. Not bad right?  In true beer fashion, the brewery is planning a special anniversary release.  That’s Bolt Cutter pictured above. I don’t know about you, but I’m going to go ahead and assume the name is an allusion to “cutting the chain” on ordinary beer.  It’s a big one too – 15%.  That’s puts some limitations on what states Founders can ship it to.  (I’m looking at you Georgia.)

Style: Barleywine
Availability: 750ml bottles
Arrival: TBA

15% ABV

by Reid Ramsay