Barrel Aged

Collaboration: Jolly Pumpkin & Anchorage

Love it when craft brewers collaborate? Then get behind this. Alaska’s Anchorage Brewing and Jolly Pumpkin (Dexter, MI) have created Calabaza Boreal.

Keeping with Jolly Pumpkin’s tradition of funky beer, this Belgian style beer is aged in oak barrels with grapefruit, Continue Reading →

Posted in Westbrook Brewing Co

Westbrook Siberian Black Magic Panther Hits Shelves

This newest “gotta have it” from Westbrook Brewing in Charleston, SC is Siberian Black Magic Panther.

This imperial stout spent two full years aging in bourbon barrels. If it follows flavor suit alongside the rest of Westbrook’s barrel aged offerings, it’s worth fighting over.

This beer is as hairy as a Siberian…or as a panther. And you better believe it because It gets the black magic from sitting for two years in bourbon barrels. During those years It gathered its rage…a rage this mythical beast of an imperial stout wants to unleash on your taste buds.
Best served at 55 degrees In a tulip or snifter glass. This beer has already been aged for 2 years, don’t cellar It!

Look for Westbrook Siberian Black Magic Panther in 22oz bottles.

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

12% ABV

Note: This may have already hit shelves in SC. GA gets bottles this week. 

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in The Lost Abbey, New Beers

Lost Abbey Releasing New Tequila Aged Seasonal

The Lost Abbey (San Marcos, CA) is releasing a new offering in their barrel-aged portfolio, Agave Maria Ale.

Agave Maria is a strong ale brewed with agave nectar, and then aged in both Anejo and Reposado barrels for 10 months.

Agave Maria has hints of black pepper, sweet sugar, oatmeal, and oak with an earthy, bitter smoked chocolate on the finish. The base beer, a new Agave strong ale, was created specifically to pair with the spiciness of the Tequila, adding a sweet honey-like quality to the beer.

The artwork was created Sean Dominguez, the brewery’s resident artist. Lost Abbey Agave Maria Ale will be packaged in 375ml corked and caged bottles, and distributed across the brewery’s entire distribution network. Agave Maria will be a spring seasonal after this first release.

Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Agave Nectar. Barrel Aged. Tequila)
Availability: 375ml Bottles, Corked & Caged
Arrival: April, 2014

13.5% ABV

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

A Look at Boulevard’s Barrel Aging [VIDEO]

A field trip Boulevard Brewing Co.’s barrel aging facility? You could be so lucky…

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Headlines, Jolly-Pumpkin

Collaboration: Jolly Pumpkin & Anchorage

Love it when craft brewers collaborate? Then get behind this. Alaska’s Anchorage Brewing and Jolly Pumpkin (Dexter, MI) have created Calabaza Boreal.

Keeping with Jolly Pumpkin’s tradition of funky beer, this Belgian style beer is aged in oak barrels with grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and peppercorns. The name is a mash up of the two brewery’s identities – “boreal” or northern region and “calabaza” meaning pumpkin.

When introspection fails, it’s time to look outward for inspiration. Perhaps Northward! One of the people who inspired me this past year is my friend Gabe Fletcher. of Anchorage Brewing Co. We brewed this beer together. I hope it inspires you.

Jolly Pumpkin & Anchorage Calabaza Boreal will be available in 750ml bottles.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Grapefruit, Grapefruit juice, Peppercorns.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Arrival: TBA

7% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Seasonal Return, Shmaltz Brewing

Shmaltz Big Barrel Aged Funky Jewbelation Returns

Straight off the line Shmaltz Brewing’s new facility in Clifton Park, New York is Funky Jewbelation.

Funky Jewbelation is a blend of seven different barrel aged beers. This American strong ale breaks down like this:

Jewbelation 15 (aged 18 months)
Messiah Nut Brown Ale (aged 3 months)
Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A. (aged 12 months)
Reunion (aged 6 months)
Origin (aged 6 months)
Rejewvenator (aged 6 months)
Death of a Contract Brewer (Aged 4 months)

“Funky has been aged in Buffalo Trace Bourbon and Sazarac and Willett Rye whiskey barrels. It’s a monumental blend of our favorite ales that we’ve lovingly nurtured for the past couple years. Since some of the beers were contract brewed and some brewed at our new brewery in Clifton Park, this Funky offering bridges our old life with our new. Funky Jewbelation 2014 glistens a deep ruby color with a big, tart, sour cherry flavor and a malty earth aroma. A lovely puckering is complemented by subtle hints of bourbon, charred wood, molasses and light notes of vanilla.”

Shmaltz Brewing Funky Jewbelation in all of Shmaltz markets in 22oz bottles and limited draft.

Style: American Strong Ale (Barrel Aged. Bourbon. Whiskey.)
Availability: 22oz Bombers, Draft. March-June.

9.4% ABV

pic via @redstoneliquors

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

Wicked Weed Black Angel, aged in bourbon with cherries

Wicked Weed Black Angel was the brewery’s second bottle release, just behind Serenity. This upcoming release is a black sour ale aged in bourbon barrels with cherries. Officially the first “Angel” in a series of Wicked Weed Angel releases.

Ages ago, the nefarious Bacilli the Black resurfaced from darkness and infected the Great Angel of Light with an obsidian parasite. A great darkness took over the Angel as she shed her luminous spirit. No longer fit for the heavens, she was exiled to the Woods of Obscurity. With sustenance from the fruit of the wood, the Angel began to forge virtue from the evil that had infected her. After her long respite, she emerged from the wood with a profound new strength and cast Bacilli the Black back into great darkness. Now, known as the Black Angel, she spends her days between two worlds nourishing all who drink…

Wicked Weed Black Angel is available in 500 milliliter bottles, intermittently throughout the year.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Cherries. Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 500ml Bottles. Intermittent release.

6.6% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Abita Brewing, Headlines

Abita’s Bourbon Street Imperial Stout, In Bourbon

Abita Brewing (Abita Springs, LA) is ties in one of the most famous streets in the world with new Bourbon Street Imperial Stout. No blends here, this stout is 100% barrel aged.

For centuries centuries New Orleans’ famed Bourbon Street has inspired good times and fine libations like our Abita Bourbon Street Imperial Stout. This hand-crafted artisanal brew is aged for months in wooden barrels used to make small batch bourbon whiskey. During barrel aging, the brew absorbs the flavors of the barrels which intensifies the taste and aroma of roasted malt, warm vanilla and smooth bourbon.

Look for Abita Bourbon Street Imperial Stout in 22oz bombers, and draft.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 22oz Bombers, Draft
Arrival: TBA

8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay