Barrel Aged

Almanac Farm to Barrel Blueberry Released

Almanac Farmer’s Reserve Blueberry is now available. The newest Farm to Barrel Series release features blueberries sour ale, aged in wine barrels.

We selected the very best hand-picked blueberries grown in the hills of Butte County, California, and added them to a sour golden Continue Reading →

Fonta Flora Vestige Wither Wild Ale, February 7th

Fonta Flora Brewery (Morganton, NC) will release Vestige Wither American Wild Ale alongside Vestige Bloom on February 7th.

Vestige Wither is aged in red wine barrels with fennel bulb, and 100% Brettanomyces fermented. Wither has been conditioning for seven months.

500ml bottles of Fonta Continue Reading →

Posted in Coming Soon, Firestone Walker Brewing

Firestone Walker Lil Opal Returns To Barrelworks Soon

Firestone Walker Lil Opal will be next up for re-release this year. The brewery releases Feral One again on Valentines Day 2015, with Lil Opal to follow shortly after. The barrel saison is aged in Viognier barrels.

Lil Opal was originally created nine years ago when master blender, then quality control manager, Jim “Sour Jim” Crooks peeled away from his regular brewery duties and began aging wild yeast (a.k.a. sour) beers in Viognier barrels acquired from local wineries. This illicit brett’d saison and Barrelworks progenitor returns in early 2015 with its second limited bottling. Maturation in barrels refines Lil’ Opal’s spicy and fruity yeast notes, and refreshes the palate with a soft, light acidity.

Firestone Walker will announce Lil Opal return date soon.

Style: Saison (Barrel Aged. Wine Barrels.)
Availability: 12.7oz Bottles, Corked & Caged.
2015 Return: TBA

5.9% ABV

Read more: Firestone Walker Barrelworks Series

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

Firestone Walker Feral One, Batch Two on Valentine’s Day

Firestone Walker Feral One, Batch Two releases on February 14th, 2015, in honor of the Barrelworks second anniversary.

Feral One, Batch Two is a 43% blend of Agrestic (American wild ale red), 43% Vintage Solae Wild Wheat Ale, and 14% Lil’ Opal (barrel aged saison).

 Feral One is an annual blend of our best efforts, from hand-selected well-aged barrels, chosen by the Masterblender and Barrelmeister. An earthy funky nose gives way to complex ester notes of dried apricots, strawberry, guava and slight orange zest. Toasted mature oak, lavender, vanilla and cinnamon lurk in the background.  A mouth-watering acidity and soft tannins are punctuated by a firm carbonation.

Firestone Walker Feral One, Batch Two will be available at a special Valentine’s Day/Anniversary party. Tickets start at $104 dollars via Eventbrite Tickets

Style: American Wild Ale
Availability: 375ml bottles, Draft. Extremely limited
Release: 2/14/15

6.7% ABV

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

Deschutes The Specialist, Barrel Aged Pub Exclusive

Deschutes Brewery (Bend & Portland, OR) is releasing a special edition of their Batchelor Bitter. As a reward for the Deschute Pub loyal, Veronica Vega, Assistant Brewmaster and brewing team upped the recipe a bit, and then aged it in sherry, pinot and bourbon barrels. Think of it as an extra, extra special bitter.

Deschutes The Specialist is a Pub Reserve release, only available in 22 oz bottles at Deschutes’ locations.

Style: E.S.B. (Barrel Aged. Sherry, Bourbon, Wine Barrel Aged)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft. Limited Release.
Release: February, 2015

10% ABV, 44 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Clown Shoes Brewing, Coming Soon, Headlines

Clown Shoes Crasher In The Rye Releases This Month

Clown Shoes Crasher In The Rye joins the brewery’s lineup this month.

The base beer for Crasher is an oatmeal milk stout, aged in both bourbon and rye whiskey barrels.

Ahhh, what better smell is there than chupacabras, defeated, burning in a field of rye? Ummm, perhaps the complex aromatics of Crasher in the Rye? Texas oak smoked malt, from Blacklards Malt Company, as well as a touch of rye malt, complement the roasted bittersweet care of the brew. Aged 100% in Rye and Bourbon barrels.

Clown Shoes Crasher In The Rye will be available in 22oz bottles.

Style: Imperial Milk Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon. Rye Whiskey.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles
Release: February, 2015

11.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Almanac Beer Co., New Releases

Almanac Farm to Barrel Blueberry Released

Almanac Farmer’s Reserve Blueberry is now available. The newest Farm to Barrel Series release features blueberries sour ale, aged in wine barrels.

We selected the very best hand-picked blueberries grown in the hills of Butte County, California, and added them to a sour golden ale aged in wine barrels. The resulting beer is infused with a delicate blueberry essence, a reminder of far off summer days.

Almanac Farmer’s Reserve Blueberry is available in 375ml bottles, and draft.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (Barrel Aged. Wine Aged.)
Availability: 375ml Bottles, Draft. Limited.
Release: Late January, 2015

7% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Red Brick Brewing

Red Brick Imperial Stout (in Bourbon), February 7th

Red Brick Brewing (Atlanta, GA) is taking a hint from the lovers of 20th Anniversary Imperial Stout, when it comes to their February Imperial Stout release.

The 20th Anniversary release (imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels) was one of the brewery’s fastest selling, and most desired barrel aged beers to date. This February, the brewery will launch another rendition of the stout offering.

The Red Brick brewing team recreated the base imperial stout, and has been aging half of it in oak bourbon barrels.

 It features big notes of dark chocolate and espresso beans with a mild oak character.

Look for Red Brick Imperial Stout to hit shelves after the February, 2015. Part of the brewery’s Brick Mason Series.

Style: Imperial Stout (50% Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12oz bottles, Draft. Limited release.
Release: February 7th, 2015

10.% ABV, 60 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Fonta Flora Brewery

Fonta Flora Vestige Wither Wild Ale, February 7th

Fonta Flora Brewery (Morganton, NC) will release Vestige Wither American Wild Ale alongside Vestige Bloom on February 7th.

Vestige Wither is aged in red wine barrels with fennel bulb, and 100% Brettanomyces fermented. Wither has been conditioning for seven months.

500ml bottles of Fonta Flora Vestige Wither releases on February 7th, 2015.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Fennel Bulb. Barrel Aged. Wine Barrels.)
Availability: 500ml Bottles
Release: 2/7/15

5.8% ABV

Note: There is a subtle label misprint. The brewery confirms this is red-wine aged. 

by Reid Ramsay