Barrel Aged

NEW RELEASE: Left Hand Wake Up Dead

The newest barrel aged offering from Left Hand Brewing (Longmont, CO) and its a doozy.  “Wake Up Dead” follows on the heels of the sophomore release in the Fade To Black series – “Smoke Baltic Porter”.  It’s brandy barrel aged, Continue Reading →

NEW RELEASE: Widmer Brrrbon

I loves me some barrel aged beers.  This new release by  Widmer Brothers Brewing (Portland, OR) is the 3rd release in their “Brothers’ Reserve” series.  Brrrbon joins Cherry Oak Doppelbock, and Prickly Pear Braggot.  If you are a fan of Continue Reading →

PRESS RELEASE: Left Hand Wake Up Dead

Left Hand Brewing (Longmont, CO) sent out a press release yesterday about their upcoming beer “Wake Up Dead”.  It’s a barrel aged Russian imperial stout.  I cut the info about Fade To Black out, as this is a post about Continue Reading →

Shmaltz Vertical Jewbelation Arrives!

Shmaltz Brewing (San Francisco/NYC)  just released Jewbelation 14 in celebration of their 14 years of craft brewing.  Just to recap – it’s a big barleywine – 14 hops, 14 malts. The Jewbelation series started in Shmaltz’s 8th year of brewing Continue Reading →

NEW RELEASE: BrewDog Smokehead

Joining BrewDog’s (Glasgow, Scotland) Paradox imperial stout series is Smokehead.  Paradox is series of oak aged explorations, where the base stout is aged in different Scottish whiskey cask.  This stouts are bold, and complex.   They aren’t for the faint Continue Reading →

Founders Backwoods Bastard

The Backwoods Bastard is back.  This fall seasonal from Founders Brewing (Grand Rapids, MI) is a must have for bold tastebuds.  Take a big scotch ale and throw it in a bourbon oak barrels you get a rare treat comes Continue Reading →

Posted in Left Hand Brewing, New Releases

NEW RELEASE: Left Hand Wake Up Dead

The newest barrel aged offering from Left Hand Brewing (Longmont, CO) and its a doozy.  “Wake Up Dead” follows on the heels of the sophomore release in the Fade To Black series – “Smoke Baltic Porter”.  It’s brandy barrel aged, for a fruity complexity to compliment the oak and dark roasty flavors.

From Left Hand:
Wake Up Dead hibernates in our cellars for 12 months in Heaven Hill Brandy Barrels before being blended to woody perfection. Hints of raisins, cherry, licorice and toffee, followed by earthy, herbal hop notes rise up, joining you in your fight for the hope of a better life.  Barrel Aged Wake Up Dead is brewed every 2 years, so it will re-appear in 2012 in oak barrels yet to be disclosed. It is very limited, as we only brewed 100 barrels.

Style: Russian Imperial Stout (barrel aged)

Taste Expectations: Dark fruits.  Cherry mixed w/ oak.  Raisins. Bit of chocolate.  Touch of coffee.

Availability: 22oz Bombers. Brewed every 2 years

10.2% ABV

Looking for this? In stock Green’s.  Old Crabapple Bottle Shop, Hop City, Thursday. Have it?  Let me know.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Widmer Brothers Brewing

NEW RELEASE: Widmer Brrrbon

I loves me some barrel aged beers.  This new release by  Widmer Brothers Brewing (Portland, OR) is the 3rd release in their “Brothers’ Reserve” series.  Brrrbon joins Cherry Oak Doppelbock, and Prickly Pear Braggot.  If you are a fan of bourbon barrel aged beers, don’t pass this one up.  It sat 4 months in Kentucky bourbon barrels.  Great for sipping by a fire, tree or menorah.  If it means drinking beer, find all three.

Commercial Description:
The third release in the Brothers’ Reserve series is Barrel-Aged Brrrbon. Following the successful release of our previous products in this line, Cherry Oak Doppelbock and Prickly Pear Braggot, we wanted to again surprise beer drinkers with a twist on our existing Brrr Seasonal Ale. For this release, we’ve taken our winter seasonal Brrr and aged it in Kentucky bourbon barrels. At 9.4% ABV, Barrel-Aged Brrrbon is an attention-grabbing beer for the enthusiastic craft beer lover. Look for it on draught and in uniquely packaged 22oz. bottles.

Beer Rundown
Style: Winter Warmer (barrel aged)
Hops: Alchemy for bittering, Simcoe & Cascade for aroma
Malts: 2-Row Pale, Carapils, Caramel 10-L, Caramel 80 L, Dark Chocolate

Taste Expectations: Earthy flavors mix with vanilla bourbon & oak.  It’s a sipper, but one you can’t put own.

Availability: 22oz bombers. Boxed.  Some draft.  One time limited release. Around $10 retail.

9.4% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Left Hand Brewing

PRESS RELEASE: Left Hand Wake Up Dead

Left Hand Brewing (Longmont, CO) sent out a press release yesterday about their upcoming beer “Wake Up Dead”.  It’s a barrel aged Russian imperial stout.  I cut the info about Fade To Black out, as this is a post about wake up dead!  Check out the info :

Left Hand Fade(s) to Black & then Wake(s) Up Dead
Longmont Brewery releases beers to fight SADness (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

(Longmont, CO) – Yet creeping into your bedroom & slipping into bed to hide from your own darkness won’t lessen the pain, as the shortest day of the year is quickly approaching. The night is long, but the morning does arrive. You’ve woken up dead. You’re in ruins. On the brink of catastrophe. But don’t be discouraged. You are ripe for a revolution! But like the Bolshevik Revolution of the early 1900’s, Wake Up Dead, our 10.2% ABV barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout doesn’t happen overnight. Patience is required. Wake Up Dead hibernates in our cellars for 12 months in Heaven Hill Brandy Barrels before being blended to woody perfection. Hints of raisins, cherry, licorice and toffee, followed by earthy, herbal hop notes rise up, joining you in your fight for the hope of a better life.

More about Barrel Aged Wake Up Dead

Part of our Big Mo Series of limited edition beers, Barrel Aged Wake Up Dead is brewed every 2 years, so it will re-appear in 2012 in oak barrels yet to be disclosed. It is very limited, as we only brewed 100 barrels. Non-barrel aged Wake Up Dead in 22oz bombers will be on shelves starting in 2011.Available in 22oz bombers and kegs, and distributed throughout Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan (western only), Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Washington, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Left Hand Brewing

COMING SOON: Left Hand Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

Left Hand Brewing (Longmont, CO) posted this to their facebook page… a teaser of a barrel aged offering coming soon.   Investigating a bit further –

From Left Hand:
We be a-rackin’ the Imperial Stout into Heaven Hill Brandy barrels early in 2010, and will blend it with un-aged Imperial Stout to woody perfection. At 22 degree plato and 10.2% ABV, it’s the perfect warmer for those cold winter nights. Enjoy the complex flavors revealing hints of raisin, black licorice, coffee, dark chocolate, and, of course, a hint of brandy.

Availability: 22oz Bombers.  Draft. Limited Release.

Arrival: Late November 2010

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Shmaltz Brewing

Shmaltz Vertical Jewbelation Arrives!

Shmaltz Brewing (San Francisco/NYC)  just released Jewbelation 14 in celebration of their 14 years of craft brewing.  Just to recap – it’s a big barleywine – 14 hops, 14 malts. The Jewbelation series started in Shmaltz’s 8th year of brewing – with 8 hops, 8 malts, and of course 8% ABV.    To celebrate not only the past releases in the series, but also Chanukah,  the brewery will be releasing a vertical gift pack.

The vertical pack will feature years 8-14 in 12 oz bottles.   There is an 8th bottle included in the gift pack, one I’m especially excited to try.  The 8th bottle will contain a blend of all seven years, aged in 6 year Sazerac 6-year rye whiskey barrels.  According to the brewery, the aging was between 4-6 months in the barrels, done this year.   It will be featured separately on special draft appearances.

If this gift pack didn’t seem fun enough, included in the box is special glass, candles, and instructions on how to make your own beer menorah!  You can submit your beer menorah pics to the brewery.  Best one wins a prize.

Availability: Very limited 8 packs are available.  Grab it now!

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Brewdog, New Releases

NEW RELEASE: BrewDog Smokehead

Joining BrewDog’s (Glasgow, Scotland) Paradox imperial stout series is Smokehead.  Paradox is series of oak aged explorations, where the base stout is aged in different Scottish whiskey cask.  This stouts are bold, and complex.   They aren’t for the faint of heart, or weak of palate.

Base Beer Rundown:
Style: Imperial Stout (barrel)
Hops: Galena, Bramling Cross
Malts: Marris Otter, Dark Crystal, Caramalt, Chocolate Malt, Roast Barley

Paradox Variations:

Islay – Paradox aged Islay Whiskey cask.  Distilled on Islay Island.  Peated malt is used, where peat (decayed vegetation from a peat swamp) is burned to smoke the malt.
Speyside – Paradox in casks from Speyside area of Scotland.  Also uses smoke malts.
Smokehead – Just re-released. Has been retired for a while. Even smokier.  Ian Macleod Distiller’s Single Islay malt Whisky – Smokehead casks.

Availability: Each edition is available in 12 oz singles. Retail $10

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Founders Brewing, Seasonal Return

Founders Backwoods Bastard

The Backwoods Bastard is back.  This fall seasonal from Founders Brewing (Grand Rapids, MI) is a must have for bold tastebuds.  Take a big scotch ale and throw it in a bourbon oak barrels you get a rare treat comes around once a year.  Love barrel aged beer?  Don’t miss this.

Commercial Description:
Expect lovely, warm smells of single malt scotch, oaky bourbon barrels, smoke, sweet caramel and roasted malts, a bit of earthy spice, and a scintilla of dark fruit. It’s a kick-back sipper made to excite the palate.

Style: Scotch Ale

Taste Expectations: Vanilla from the bourbon.  Touch of oak. Malts are sweet, & caramel, some bread.  Also a bit of dark fruits, chocolate, & a warming alcohol finish.

Availability: 12oz/4 pks.  Rare Draft.  Late fall seasonal.

10.2% ABV

Arrival: Within the week

by Reid Ramsay