Barrel Aged

First Look: Surly Darkness 2014

The artwork for Surly Darkness changes every year. In keeping with the theme, each offering is dark, just like the much sought after beer.

The 2014 artwork is a creation of Erica Williams. The beer, that’s Surly’s Russian imperial stout, and Continue Reading →

Posted in Heavy Seas, Seasonal Return

Bourbon & Pumpkin: Heavy Seas Great’ER Pumpkin 2014

Heavy Seas (Baltimore, MD) Great’ER Pumpkin returns to shelves in a few weeks, to all 18 states to which the brewery currently ships.

A few years ago (more than 4 maybe?) Hugh Sisson gave us a taste of his bourbon barrel aged pumpkin beer he was trying to perfect. Instantly we knew it was the start of a great seasonal release. From the Mutiny Fleet, to the new Uncharted Waters Series, Great’ER Pumpkin has gained popularity with each release.

Heavy Seas Great’ER Pumpkin will be available starting in September, through October. Or… however fast it sells out. 22oz bombers, and draft.

Style: Pumpkin Beer (Barrel Aged, Bourbon)
Availability: 22oz bombers, Draft. Firkins
Arrival: September, 2014

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Boulevard Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases, Seasonal Return, Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada & Boulevard Terra Incognita Returns

Three years ago, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Boulevard Brewing Company created Terra Incognita, a special offering for SAVOR, a a Brewers Association beer and food event. The beer was so much fun to make, the two breweries released it again in 2013, this time with Brettanomyces yeast. 

The 2014 edition does not include wild yeast, but let us assure you after trying it right after bottling, it’s better than you can imagine. This year is a 55% blend of wine barrel ale, 32% bourbon barrel aged ale, and 13% fresh ale. The base beer is a hoppy, imperial brown ale.

“The base beer is a roasty, hopped-up brown ale that evolves in such interesting ways when it spends time in wine and whiskey barrels,” said Sierra Nevada Head Brewer Steve Dresler. “We hosted Boulevard at our Chico brewery and together tasted various blending ratios until we had a final beer that captivated us. We imagine craft beer drinkers will be similarly impressed.”

Sierra Nevada/Boulevard Brewing Terra Incognita will be available in 750 ml bottles for a limited time.

Style: American Strong Ale (Barrel Aged. Bourbon. Wine Barrel Aged)
Availability: 750ml Bottles. Limited Release.

9.8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Cigar City Brewing

Cigar City’s “Tropical” Rum Barrel Aged Stout [Updated]

More Cigar City Brewing (Tampa, FL) barrel aged beer to find, and love. This time, rum barrels.

Cigar City Da un Beso a la Botella is a new “tropical-style” export stout, aged in Wicked Dolphin Artisan Rum barrels.

Cigar City Da un Beso a la Botella (translates to kiss the bottle”) will be available in 750ml bottles.

Style: Export Stout (Barrel Aged. Rum)
Availability: 750ml bottles
Arrival: TBA

 ?? ABV

Update: Removed mention of Spanish cedar in the mention. 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Clown Shoes Brewing, Coming Soon

Clown Shoes Holds an “Exorcism at Sunset”

Clown Shoes Beer (Ipswich, MA) is teaming up with Sunset Grill & Bar in Boston for a boozy special release

Clown Shoes Exorcism at Sunset is the brewery’s 11% imperial stout Undead Party Crasher, aged 100% in bourbon barrels. 22oz bottles, home state release only.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 22oz Bombers. MA only.

11%+ ABV

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

Goose Island Vanilla Rye Bourbon County This Year

Goose Island Brewing (Chicago, IL ) preparing for the 2014 round of Bourbon County offerings. This year will see the re-release of one offering (or, at least a bit of a rendition of) a highly touted Bourbon County edition, Bourbon County Vanilla Rye.

It was 2010 when Goose Island released Bourbon County Vanilla. While that edition featured the base imperial stout, aged in Heaven Hill barrels with vanilla beans, this coming edition features the use of rye whiskey barrels. Two pounds of Mexican vanilla beans are in each barrel, sourced from four different distilleries.

The full Bourbon County line will include:

Barleywine

Bourbon County Brand Stout

Proprietor’s Reserve

Coffee 

Typically, the brewery releases these offerings on Black Friday. To save you some time, that’s November 28th, 2014

More to follow closer to release date…

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Headlines, Surly Brewing

First Look: Surly Darkness 2014

The artwork for Surly Darkness changes every year. In keeping with the theme, each offering is dark, just like the much sought after beer.

The 2014 artwork is a creation of Erica Williams. The beer, that’s Surly’s Russian imperial stout, and in oak barrels. Wicked good indeed.

The legendary Harpy tortured unwary travelers by stealing their precious food and drink This year’s cruel creature defends her cauldron of Darkness with razor claws and a dead stare of malevolence. Don’t mess with her Darkness. She’s hoarding this massively opaque barrel aged Stout screaming with notes of chocolate. coffee. dried tart cherries, vanilla. rye whisky and raisins. The thick holy of this Russian Imperial Stout finishes sweet, with a piney resinous hop character. Dare if you will to open the bottle and steal from the imagination of our 2014 Darkness artist, Erica Williams.

Surly Darkness 2014 will be released in 22oz bombers at a brewery event on October 25th.

Style: Russian Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged)
Hops: Columbus, Amarillo, Simcoe
Malts: Pale Ale, Golden Promise, Crystal, Dark Crystal, Oats, Black, Chocolate, Roast

Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft
Arrival: 10/25/14

9.8% ABV

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

Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel #7 Hits

Saint Arnold Brewing Co. (Houston, TX) Bishop’s Barrel No. 7 arrives today. This 7th release in the series is an imperial stout that spent 11 months in bourbon barrels.

It was more than a year ago that Bishop Barrel 7 was brewed. In June of 2013, Saint Arnold transferred it to Woodford Reserve barrels where waited patiently.

But first there is Bishop’s Barrel No. 7, a bourbon barrel Imperial Stout that pours a deep black with rich notes of bourbon and chocolate.  The grain bill for Bishop’s Barrel No. 7 is slightly different than for Bishop’s Barrel No. 1 and Bishop’s Barrel No. 3 (also both bourbon barrel Imperial Stouts) resulting in a slightly sweeter, rounder character to the beer.

Saint Arnold Bishop Barrel 7 is very limited, and only available in Texas and Louisiana.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. TX & LA

11% ABV, 49 IBUs

Previous Saint Arnold Bishop Barrel Releases: 

#6 – Pumpkinator, aged in Rum Barrels
#5 – Wee Heavy in Bourbon Barrels
#4 – Weizenbock in Bourbon, with Cocoa Nibs
#3 – Imperial Stout in Bourbon
#2 – Old Ale in Chardonnay with Cherries
#1 – Imperial Stout in bourbon barrels

 

by Reid Ramsay