Barrel Aged

Deschutes The Abyss: November 14th

The next release of Deschutes The Abyss looms. The highly touted imperial stout arrives again in the brewery’s pubs on November 14th. Shortly after, on the 18th, The Abyss hits distribution throughout Deschutes 23 state footprint.

Deep, dark Imperial Stout, The Continue Reading →

Heavy Seas Bottles 2013 Yule Tide

Heavy Seas (Baltimore, MD) is busy today bottling 2013 Yule Tide. The beer was a Belgian-style tripel in the past before taking a year off.  (I hear it has relatives in Spain.)

In a Beer Street Journal interview with Hugh Sisson earlier this Continue Reading →

Posted in Clown Shoes Brewing, Coming Soon, Don't Miss This

Clown Shoes Readies Their 4th Anniversary Brew

Clown Shoes Brewing (Ipswich, MA) will be bringing you a barrel aged barley wine to celebrate their fourth year of craft brewing.

You might not be among the 1011 billionaires on the planet, but the brewery wants you to drink like one. This English-style barley wine (more maltier, sweeter then American barley wines) is aged in European cognac barrels, so grab a snifter and feel fancy.

Billionaire will be offered in 22oz bottles.

Style: Barleywine (Barrel Aged, Cognac)
Availability: 22oz bombers
Arrival: December, 2013

12% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Deschutes Brewing, Headlines, Seasonal Return

Deschutes The Abyss: November 14th

The next release of Deschutes The Abyss looms. The highly touted imperial stout arrives again in the brewery’s pubs on November 14th. Shortly after, on the 18th, The Abyss hits distribution throughout Deschutes 23 state footprint.

Deep, dark Imperial Stout, The Abyss has almost immeasurable depth and complexity. Hints of molasses, licorice and other alluring flavors make it something not just to quaff, but contemplate.

The Abyss is animperial stout is filled with dark malts, brewers’ licorice and black strap molasses and is then “dry hopped” with vanilla beans and cherry bark. It is finished in bourbon, Oregon oak and pinot noir barrels

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Molasses, Licorice. Barrel Aged)
Availability: 22oz bombers, Draft. Limited.
Arrival: November 14, 2013

11% ABV

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, Heavy Seas, New Releases

Heavy Seas Bottles 2013 Yule Tide

Heavy Seas (Baltimore, MD) is busy today bottling 2013 Yule Tide. The beer was a Belgian-style tripel in the past before taking a year off.  (I hear it has relatives in Spain.)

In a Beer Street Journal interview with Hugh Sisson earlier this year, he mentioned that Yule Tide will return in the Uncharted Waters Series this year,  with the style changing annually.

This year’s edition is an imperial red ale, brewed with ginger, and aged in Jamaican rum barrels. What’s not to love about this?

Look for this final Uncharted Waters release of this year to hit shelves mid-month.

Style: Imperial Red Ale (w/ Ginger, Barrel Aged. Rum)
Availability: 22oz bombers, Draft
Arrival: November, 2013

9% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines, New Releases, Stone Brewing Co.

Barrel Aged Stone Double Bastard, AKA “Southern Charred” Released

Stone Brewing Co’s Double Bastard is will make waves again in barrel aged form. Double Bastard, the brewery’s strong ale, spent 10 months in heavy charred Kentucky bourbon and American oak barrels. After that, it was transferred to second use bourbon barrels for another 13 months. That’s 23 months in total.

Southern Charred joins Stone’s coveted Quingenti Series, and Crime & Punishment on a national distribution scale.

The dark amber ale was brewed with a huge malt bill and a belligerent amount of hops making it a heavy, bitter beast of a beer.

Southern Charred, along with Crime & Punishment and the annual release of Double Bastard are now shipping. See where below.

Style: American Strong Ale (Barrel Aged, Bourbon)
Availability: 500ml bottles. Draft. Very limited

Distribution: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS,  KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, and WA

Arrival: Ships 11/4/13

11.2% ABV

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Saint Arnold Brewing

Saint Arnold’s Bishop’s Barrel #5 Released

Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel No. 5 officially hits bars and restaurants starting today. It has been years since this recipe has hit glasses. You’ve had Bishop Barrel No. 5 before, it was once released as Divine Reserve No. 4.

Bishop Barrel No. 5 is a wee heavy scotch ale brewed in December 2012. It has spent the past nine months aging Old Forester bourbon barrels.

Saint Arnold describes the flavor: “The bourbon barrel contributes vanilla, cinnamon and touch of rich earthy pipe tobacco, which mix with an alcohol warmth that adds to the rich creaminess. “

Style: Scotch Ale (Barrel Aged)
Availability: 12oz bottles, Draft. Limited

12% ABV, 19 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Duclaw Brewing, New Releases

Duclaw Unleashes Pumpkin Retribution on Halloween

Duclaw Brewing (Maryland) is ready to release a Halloween edition of their sought after barrel aged beer, Retribution. Pumpkin Retribution drops on October 31st.

The base is the 11.5% ABV imperial stout aged in bourbon. It has been sitting in oak barrels flavored with pumpkin spice for six months.

Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stout with rich aromas of espresso and dark chocolate, and smooth roasted malt flavor, aged for 6 months in charred oak bourbon barrels with pumpkin spice to add the natural vanilla and caramelized sugar flavors of the wood, and the cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger essence of the spice to the beer.

On tap at Duclaw’s various locations on October 31st.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Pumpkin. Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: Draft only. October 31st

11.5% ABV

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Cigar City Brewing, Coming Soon, Headlines

Cigar City Hunahpu a Step Further: Aged in Two Barrels

Cigar City’s Hunahpu Imperial Stout is a perennial favorite, and a bit of a legend. Hunahpu, a strong imperial stout, is brewed with cocoa nibs, ancho and pasilla chilies, cinnamon, and Madagascar vanilla beans. The next release of it is in March, 2014.

Even more rare, are barrel aged editions of this brew. Now for the first time a “double barrel” edition will surface. Hunahpu was/is aged in both rum and brandy barrels (each a separate version of the barrel aged Hunahpu series) and blended together.

The result is sure to be rare (released in lottery or the brewery’s El Catador Club) and definitely mega trade bait. The brewery will announce details closer to release.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Cinnamon, Vanilla beans, Chili Peppers, Cacao Nibs. Barrel Aged. Rum, Brandy)

Availability: 750 ml bottles
Arrival: TBA. Brewery only

11% ABV 

by Reid Ramsay