Barrel Aged

Posted in New Holland Brewing, Don't Miss This

The 17% beast, New Holland Dragon’s Milk Reserve Triple Mashed

New Holland Dragon’s Milk Reserve Triple Mashed, by far the strongest Dragon’s Milk the Michigan brewery’s arsenal, is out of the barrel this month.

Hot water through one bed of grain just isn’t enough for this creature. New Holland performs three separate mashes (all of equal volume and composition) in order to achieve a high starting gravity. Very little lautering (process where the mash is separated into the clear liquid wort and residual grain) is done so as not to dilute the wort too much. After all you need all that fermentable sugar. During fermentation, New Holland adds a little extra sugar in order to hit 17% alcohol by volume. That’s a full 6% higher than the regular year-round Dragon’s Milk. Yeah, it’s big.

The fermented beer was then aged in New Holland Spirits whiskey barrels.

Intense malt character is paired with compelling whiskey character and the toasted notes of American white oak. Robust, yet balanced, an experience all its own.

New Holland Dragon’s Milk Reserve Triple Mashed is available in 12 ounce bottles and draft for limited time starting this week.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Limited Release.
Lastest Return: Early January, 2017

17% ABV

Due to the high ABV of this beer, it is not legal to sell in every state in New Holland’s distribution.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Ska Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Pale ale & bourbon barrels meet in Ska Brewing Dementia

Ska Brewing Dementia officially released ahead of this holiday season. Take Euphoria, the Durango, Colorado based brewery’s winter pale ale, and add it to bourbon barrels. Out comes Dementia, a new toasty winter seasonal.

Those familiar with Euphoria are already familiar with a large portion of this beer. You’ll notice this beer is not as fresh and crisp as the year-rounder, thanks to the extra time it has spent in oak. The bourbon very much makes up that small transgression. Dementia is great beer to pair/ offset the richness of the pounds of holiday foods you are trying to finish off.

“Peach aromas, caramel sweetness and a touch of chocolate and toast provide a boozy and earthy essence. It is the perfect winter warmer.” -Thomas Larsen, Headbrewer.

Ska Brewing Dementia is available for a limited time in 22oz bottles within Ska Brewing’s largest markets; Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California and Illinois.

Style: Pale Ale (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California and Illinois. Limited release.
Release: November, 2016 

6.2% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Three Taverns Brewery, Coming Soon

Three Taverns Third Age, aged in sherry kicks off the new year

Three Taverns Third Age, a barrel-aged old ale, will debut in January.

The strong ale has been aging in PX Sherry barrels, resulting in a very “intense” flavor experience according to the brewery.

…rich with the aroma and flavor of dark fruit, caramel and the intense complexities of sherry and oak.

Earlier this month, Helm’s Deep, another strong barrel-aged beer was released on a special tour at the brewery.

Three Taverns Third Age made a preview appearance at Atlanta’s Strong Beer Fest. 750 milliliter bottles will be available on a ticket tour at the brewery on January 14th, 2017.

Style: Old Ale (Barrel Aged. Sherry.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Debut: 1/14/17

11% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, The Unknown Brewing Co.

Unknown Brewing Twas the Night, literally just before Christmas

Unknown Brewing Twas the Night, releases almost literally the night before Christmas, has hit shelves.

This beer is flying under the radar a bit, sneaking onto shelves the week of Christmas. The dark sour ale was brewed during Christmas of 2015, and has spend a majority of 2016 aging in oak barrels. Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you have to sip stouts by the fire.

Unknown Brewing Twas the Night is available in limited quantities the week of December 20th.

Style: American Sour/Wild Ale (Barrel Aged)
Availability: 500ml Bottles
Debut: Christmas, 2016

6.8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Nantahala Brewing Company, Seasonal Return

Once a year Nantahala Brewing Judaculla returns

Nantahala Brewing Judaculla, a barrel-aged Russian imperial stout, is available once again.

This once a year beer got its start in 2011. Nantahala Brewing Head Brewer Greg Geiger and Owner Joe Rowland created that combined the boldness of a big imperial stout, the vanilla notes of whiskey, and a local flavor that set it apart. The duo identified sorghum, which is produced in the Western North Carolina mountains, to add to the beer. Sorghum (used in root beer) adds molasses notes to Judaculla.

The imperial stout is brewed with sorghum, and then transferred to Jack Daniels barrels for four months. Finally, Judaculla is blend again with fresh, hoppy roasty stout.

“Judaculla took on a life of its own. It’s a complex beer that represents a style we love and offers a blend of flavors that are unique to the culture and history of our area.” – Co-owner Joe Rowland

Nantahala Brewing Judaculla is available in 22 ounce bottles in the taproom and limited distribution.

Style: Russian Imperial Stout (w/ Sorghum. Barrel Aged. Whiskey.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles. Limited.

Latest Return: 12/20/16

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Wicked Weed Brewing Co, Coming Soon

Wicked Weed Barrel Aged Milk & Cookies release cancelled

Wicked Weed Barrel Aged Milk & Cookies will not debut this year. The brewery has deemed the final blend isn’t up to the brewery’s standards. Sometimes barrels just don’t cooperate. The brewery has this to say:

It is with heavy hearts that we must say goodbye to 2016’s Barrel-Aged Milk and Cookies. After blending, BA Milk and Cookies just didn’t end up being the beer we hoped it would be. As such, we have decided to not release this years’ batch into distribution.

Original article below. 

Last December, the Asheville, North Carolina based brewery released Milk & Cookies, an imperial milk stout brewed with cinnamon, vanilla, and golden raisins. A comfort beer, if you will. As you can imagine, that beer sold out pretty fast.

Wicked Weed Barrel Aged Milk & Cookies Imperial Milk Stout takes last year’s fireside beer a bit further, by barrel-aging this dessert beer in bourbon barrels. All you lack in a fire, and many leather-bound books.

Crafting the ultimate comfort beer was a winter challenge we happily embraced. Our Milk & Cookies Stout is a cold weather classic, and this version cranks up the comfort through barrel aging. We entrusted our Imperial Milk Stout with golden raisins, cinnamon, and vanilla into the warming embrace of Kentucky Bourbon Barrels to carry us home for the holidays. Relax. Drink Up. You’re home.

Wicked Weed Barrel Aged Milk & Cookies Imperial Milk Stout is a 12.7 ounce bottle offering.

Style: Imperial Milk Stout (w/ Cinnamon, Vanilla, Golden Raisins, Lactose. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12.7oz bottles
Release: Mid-December, 2016

9.5% ABV

Image: Wicked Weed Brewing

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Sun King Brewing, Beer News

Sun King Velvet Fog (barrel-aged quad) returns December 15th

Sun King Velvet Fog, the brewery’s award winning barrel-aged beer, returns on December 15th.

In 2012, Sun King Velvet Fog won gold at the World Beer Cup. The base beer is a Belgian-style quardrupel, aged in bourbon barrels.

…complex character of dark fruit and the brightness of fresh cherry over warming notes brought on by bourbon barrel aging.  

Sun King Velvet Fog will be available on December 15th in 16 ounce screw-top cans, $12 each.

Style: Belgian-style Quadrupel (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 16oz Cans
Latest Return: 12/15/16

10.4% ABV, 24 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay