Barrel Aged

Firestone Walker XVII: The 2014 Blend

Firestone Walker Brewing Company’s Anniversary Ale is wildly popular among beer fans. If you ask me, it’s because the brewery pays extremely close attention to the blending process.

Firestone Walker XVIII is a barrel aged blend of nine different beers, blended by Continue Reading →

Stone Unleashes the Bastards in New Box Set

Today, Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, CA) unleashes a special box set to retailers.

The Arrogant Bastard Box Set features four different Bastards, starting with the original Arrogant Bastard that got it all started. In addition, you can build up to the worlds Continue Reading →

Just Shipped: Wicked Weed Briars & Brett

Wicked Weed Brewing (Asheville, NC) just shipped a new offering in the Terra Locale series – Briars & Brett.

The beer is a gin barrel aged farmhouse ale, with blackberries.

Style: Farmhouse/Wild Ale (w/ Blackberries. Barrel Aged. Gin.)
Availability: 500 ml bottles
Distribution: NC Continue Reading →

New Artwork: Olde Hickory The Event Horizon

In late fall/early winter, Olde Hickory Brewery (Hickory, NC) releases a formidable barrel aged imperial stout,  The Event Horizon.

This year, the label art gets a sleek overhaul.

The Event Horizon is the point of no return. Once you have entered the Continue Reading →

Posted in Coming Soon, Firestone Walker Brewing, Headlines

Firestone Walker XVII: The 2014 Blend

Firestone Walker Brewing Company’s Anniversary Ale is wildly popular among beer fans. If you ask me, it’s because the brewery pays extremely close attention to the blending process.

Firestone Walker XVIII is a barrel aged blend of nine different beers, blended by not only the brewery, but 14 winemakers. The group is paired off, each making their own blends from the component beers. The choice blends are presented to the group to be blind tasted. Most votes becomes Firestone Walker Anniversary Ale.

The final blend (what you’re waiting to see) includes two collaboration beers Firestone Walker created with Three Floyds (Ol’ Leghorn) and Flying Dog (Hydra Cuvée).

Firestone Walker XVII is: 

  • Parabola  – Russian Imperial Oatmeal Stout, aged in Bourbon Barrels. 38% of Final Blend
  • Helldorado – Blonde Barleywine, Aged in bourbon and brandy Barrels. 16% of Final Blend
  • Bravo – Imperial Brown Ale, aged in bourbon & brandy barrels. 16% of Final Blend
  • Stickee Monkee  – Quadrupel, aged in bourbon & Whiskey Barrels. 14% of Final Blend
  • Velvet Merkin – Oatmeal stout, aged in bourbon barrels. 5% of Final Blend
  • Hydra Cuvée – Hoppy Dark Ale, collaboration with Flying Dog, aged bourbon barrels. 4% of Final Blend.
  • Wookey Jack – Black Rye IPA. 3% of Final Blend
  • Ol’ Leghorn – Blonde Barleywine aged in American Oak Barrels. 3 Floyds collaboration. 2% of Final Blend
  • Double Jack – Imperial IPA. 2% of Final Blend

Firestone Walker is a blend of 227 barrels, and 9 different beers. XVII will be available in 227 barrels, and will be available in 22oz bombers.

Style: American Strong Ale (Barrel Aged. Bourbon, Whiskey, Brandy.)
Availability: 22oz Bombers. Limited Distribution.
Arrival: November, 2014

13% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines, Stone Brewing Co.

Stone Unleashes the Bastards in New Box Set

Today, Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, CA) unleashes a special box set to retailers.

The Arrogant Bastard Box Set features four different Bastards, starting with the original Arrogant Bastard that got it all started. In addition, you can build up to the worlds worst hangover by drinking Double Bastard, Lukcy Basartd Ale (a blend of Arrogant, Double, and Oaked Arrogant), and a new addition – Bourbon Barrel Aged Arrogant Bastard Ale.

The Barrel-Aged Arrogant Bastard (the one you’re geeking out over right now), is aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels. Only available in the Arrogant Bastard Box for a limited time.

Style: American Strong Ale, American Strong Ale (Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 22oz Bombers. Box Set release
Arrival: 10/27/14

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Wicked Weed Brewing Co

Just Shipped: Wicked Weed Briars & Brett

Wicked Weed Brewing (Asheville, NC) just shipped a new offering in the Terra Locale series – Briars & Brett.

The beer is a gin barrel aged farmhouse ale, with blackberries.

Style: Farmhouse/Wild Ale (w/ Blackberries. Barrel Aged. Gin.)
Availability: 500 ml bottles
Distribution: NC only

?? ABV

Image via Wicked Weed Brewing

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada Barrel Aged Maple Stout Released

Become acquainted with the drool-worthy small batch beer from Sierra Nevada – Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Stout.

Maple Stout is a big (big like, 13.4% ABV) imperial stout, aged in bourbon barrels with dark roasted coffee. What more do you need to know here?

…It has the notes of dark chocolate and toasted malts typical of a stout combined with an earthy sweetness and hint of maple balanced against toasted coconut aromas from the barrel aging. The beer finishes with a roasty touch from a combination of dark malts and coffee beans.

Sierra Nevada Barrel-Aged Maple Stout will be available in 750ml bottles. Don’t go checking your shelves for it. Barrel-Aged Maple Stout is only available in the Chico, California Gift Shop, Torpedo Room in Berkeley, and the Mills River Gift Shop in North Carolina (around 10/27).

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Coffee Beans. Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 750ml bottles, corked & caged.
Release: Mid-October, 2014

13.4% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Heavy Seas, Seasonal Return

Heavy Seas Announces 2014 “Yule Tide”

Heavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, MD) will bring back Yule Tide in November, 2014. A few years ago it was a Belgian-style tripel, part of the Mutiny Fleet. After a year off, Yule Tide returned in the new Uncharted Waters Series, with the style to change each release.

2014 Yule Tide is German-style weizen dopplebock, aged 8 weeks in Jamaican Rum barrels.

Heavy seasons greetings! As a special thank you to our beer drinking public and supporters of our Uncharted Waters, we offer this malty Weizen Dopplebock aged in Jamaican rum barrels, MON! Yule Tide is sure to make you comfortable on a cold winters evening. You could pair this with your mothers fruitcake but everyone would laugh at you.

Heavy Seas Yule Tide 2013 was a red ale aged in Jamaican rum barrels with ginger. Yule Tide ships to all 18 states Heavy Seas distributes to.

Style: Weizenbock (Barrel Aged. Rum.)
Hops: Styrian Aurora, Tettnanger
Malts: 2 Row, Wheat, Dark Munich, CaraWheat, Dark Crystal, Extra Dark Crystal, Chocolate

Availability: 22oz Bombers, Draft. Nov-Jan.

9% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, New Releases, Three Taverns Brewery

Three Taverns Bourbon Barrel Heavy Bells Debuts Next Week

Three Taverns Craft Brewery (Decatur, GA) will debut a new barrel aged offering next week, Heavy Bells.

The base beer is Quasimodo (the original bell ringer), aged in eight year old bourbon barrels. There has already been some sneak peeks on tap at the brewery.

The general public will have a chance at this brew in the VIP section of the 2014 Decatur Beer Festival. Bottles and limited draft arrive next week.

Style: Quadrupel (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 750ml bottles, Draft.
Arrival: 10/20/14

11.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Olde Hickory Brewing

New Artwork: Olde Hickory The Event Horizon

In late fall/early winter, Olde Hickory Brewery (Hickory, NC) releases a formidable barrel aged imperial stout,  The Event Horizon.

This year, the label art gets a sleek overhaul.

The Event Horizon is the point of no return. Once you have entered the realm of this supermassive imperial stout you are there for good. The cosmically heavy body sucks you in. It’s unfathomably deep and black, tasting of rich coffee and chocolate. The faint twinkle of honey is the last sensation you experience before the taste of bourbon washes over you with notes of cracked nuts and vanilla bean. Prepare to have your tongue spagettified.

Olde Hickory The Event Horizon is available in 22oz bombers.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Honey. Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 22oz Bombers. Wax capped.
Arrival: Late Fall/Winter, 2014

8.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay