Barrel Aged

Posted in Great Divide, Headlines, New Releases

Great Divide 22nd Anniversary, a sour ale debuts

Great Divide 22nd Anniversary is hitting shelves, marking the Denver, Colorado based brewery’s birthday

The brewery chose a dark American wild/sour ale to mark this milestone. Aged in red wine barrels, the beer boasts flavors of black cherry jam, and oak.

An expert blend of bold character, this Dark American Sour is a perfect culmination of 22 years of craft and ingenuity. Aged in red wine barrels, this robust offering is as sophisticated as it is sour. Notes of black cherry jam and tobacco are countered by a welcome tartness and tannic oak finish that lasts long after each sip, making 22nd Anniversary a beer you won’t soon forget.

Brian Dunn founded Great Divide in 1994. In 2014, the brewery announced the acquisition of 5 acres of land close to the original site, and broke ground in 2014. By 2015, the site was live and allowed the brewery to start canning.

Great Divide 22nd Anniversary is now available in 750 milliliter bottles and draft for a limited time.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (Wine Barrel Aged)
Availability: 750ml Bottles, Draft. Limited Release.
Debut: June, 2016

8.7% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Stone Brewing Co., Don't Miss This, New Releases

Stone Bastard’s Midnight Brunch, with coffee, bourbon & maple syrup

Stone Bastard’s Midnight Brunch has hit shelves, probably one of the more “arrogant” bastard concoctions yet.

The base beer is Double Bastard, the Escondido, California based brewery’s American strong ale. The big bastard is infused with coffee (AKA Depth Charged Double Bastard) and aged in both bourbon barrels and maple syrup barrels. The result – is a beer all over the map in flavor. (There is a strong undertone of Double Bastard, and it finishes with a mix of bourbon and maple flavors.)

If you haven’t noticed, Stone Brewing split the bastard series off into their own business entity – Arrogant Bastard Brewing. We all know, it’s still Stone at the wheel.

Stone Bastard’s Midnight Brunch is a 16.9 ounce bottle offering, retailing around $20 dollars each.

Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Coffee, Maple Syrup. Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 16.9oz Bottles
Release: June, 2016

12.7% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Holland Brewing, Headlines

New Holland Dragon’s Milk Reserve Raspberry Lemon, for summer

New Holland Dragon’s Milk Reserve Raspberry Lemon is a new spin on the brewery’s year-round barrel-aged stout.

If you are a bourbon barrel stout fan, you better at least know this base beer. One of the best known beers in New Holland’s lineup is Dragon’s Milk, an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels from their own distillery.

A little while back, the brewery started releasing some fun variants on the barreled favorite. This summer is New Holland Dragon’s Milk Reserve Raspberry Lemon. How do you make a strong dark beer a little more summery? Michigan raspberries and lemon zest of course.

“Our brewers surprised us with this one and we were amazed how well the flavors and aromas came together to work with Dragon’s Milk. The raspberries bring a depth to Dragon’s Milk that we love and the lemon zest kicks up the fruit aromas and provides a unique, bright, and exciting experience. Our brewers nailed it.” – Brett VanderKamp, President

New Holland Dragon’s Milk Reserve Raspberry Lemon debuts on June 25th at the brewery, and across the brewery’s markets in July.

Expect a new variant in October.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Raspberries, Lemons. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Seasonal.
Release: June, 2016

11% ABV

New Holland Dragon’s Milk debuted in 2001. Today, the beer ages and resides in more than 3,500 oak barrels at the brewery. 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Wicked Weed Brewing Co, Don't Miss This

Bourbon fans, meet Wicked Weed Old Fashioned

Wicked Weed Old Fashioned is hits distribution in limited quantities this week. A beer built for the fans of the cocktail.

Bourbon is the start in an Old Fashioned, muddled with sugar and bitters (and oranges and cherries). Wicked Weed Old Fashioned is a Kentucky bourbon barrel aged beer, brewed with oranges and cherries. (Redundant, yes. But you get the idea.)

From the first time we tasted it, we knew this needed to be made in our production facility.

Wicked Weed Old Fashioned is now available at the brewery in Asheville, North Carolina. Limited distribution starts this week.

Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Oranges, Cherries. Barrel-Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12.7oz Bottles
Debut: Late June, 2016

10% ABV

Image: Wicked Weed

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Crooked Stave, Don't Miss This

Crooked Stave Totem, a musical collab with The Motet

Crooked Stave Totem Wild Ale debuts this summer, a collaboration with musical group The Motet.

The Motet hails from Boulder, Colorado – a six-piece group whose sound incorporates elements of funk, jazz, folk, and world music. (You can thank iTunes for the assist on that description.)

As for Crooked Stave Totem, the wild ale is a specialty blend of wild ales from the brewery’s sacred barrel cellar. Plus berries. Wild ales a crazy good with berries.

Totem is inspired by the oak barrels we hold scared at our brewery. Stacked to the ceiling, they elevate the natural wild beers we brew. This limited edition bottling will only be available through Summer, 2016 in celebration of The Motet’s new Totem and their headlining show at Red Rocks on July 22nd.

Crooked Stave Totem will be available in 12.7 ounce bottles throughout the summer.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Berries. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 12.7oz Bottles
Debut: June, 2016

5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Avery Brewing, Don't Miss This

Avery Certatio Equestris, modeled after a mint julep

Avery Certatio Equestris joins the brewery’s Barrel Aged Series on June 19th. Think of a popular bourbon drink when you wonder what this beer tastes like.

Avery Certatio Equestris is modeled after the ubiquitous mint julep. The base sour ale was aged in bourbon barrels with spearmint leaves (the key ingredient in the julep, after bourbon). You can probably imagine the result from here.

A mint julep is not the product of a formula — it is ceremony, and must be performed by a gentleman possessing a true sense of artistic, a deep reverence for the ingredients, and a proper appreciation of the occasion. It is a rite that must not be entrusted to a novice, a statistician, nor a Yankee.” – Henry Clay

Dang it! We were in there till the Yankee caveat.Pucker up, Buttercup!

Avery Certatio Equestris is a 12 ounce bottle release. Certatio Equestris translates to “horserace. (He

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Spearmint. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles. Limited.

Distribution: CA, CO, DC, GA, IL, IA, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, NC, NE, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TX, VA,  WA.
Debut: 6/19/16

8.9% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Lakefront Brewing, New Beers

Lakefront Brandy Barrel-Aged Pumpkin Imperial Ale

Lakefront Brandy Barrel-Aged Pumpkin Imperial Ale

by Reid Ramsay