Bourbon

Marshall Brewing Barleywine debuts in Oklahoma

Marshall Brewing Barleywine, aged in bourbon barrels, has been released.

Earlier this year, the Tulsa, Oklahoma based brewery racked their American barleywine into bourbon barrels, that had previously held their Black Dolphin Stout. The idea behind this was to bring just Continue Reading →

Posted in Avery Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Avery Tangerine Quad joins the Barrels and Botanicals Series

Avery Tangerine Quad is now officially a part of the brewery’s ongoing Botanicals and Barrels Series.

To date, the series features Vanilla Bean Stout and Raspberry Sour. Each release features barrel-aging and fruit or spice. Tangerine Quad combines fresh tangerines and bourbon barrels.

Patiently aged in the finest of Bourbon barrels, this bold Belgian-style Quadrupel layers notes of rich, dark fruit, vanilla, and caramel with a burst  of tangerine peel culminating in the vibrancy of this full-bodied creations.

Avery Tangerine Quad is a draft and 22 ounce bottle release nationally, year-round.

Style: Belgian-style Quadrupel (w/ Tangerine)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft. Year-Round.
Debut: December, 2016

10% ABV

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

Bourbon & blueberry dessert: Founders Lizard of Koz

Founders Lizard of Koz. Read the name, it’s a about to get decadent from here.

Joining the Backstage Series in December, “Lizard” looks to send out 2016 with a bang. The base beer for Founders Lizard of Koz is an imperial stout, brewed with blueberries, chocolate and vanilla. The finishing touch is the bourbon barrel aging.

The name celebrates the birthday of Founders brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki’s little sister Liz. Blueberries, chocolate and vanilla are among her favorite ingredients.

RELATED: Founders Azacca slated for cans

What you’ll taste.

If ever there was a dessert beer, you’ve found it Lizard of Koz. It’s not easy to push the bourbon barrel-aged flavors of a beer to the backseat in a beer, but the chocolate, vanilla, and blueberries have done it. Those three dominate the flavor up front with a lingering vanilla-bourbon boozy flavor lingering in the finish.

Founders Lizard of Koz is a 750 milliliter bottle offering, across the brewery’s 39 states in limited quantities in November, 2016.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Blueberries, Chocolate, Vanilla Beans. Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 750ml Bottles, Draft.
Debut: November,  2016

10.5% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines

Black Friday means Goose Island Bourbon County 2016

It’s officially Black Friday. That means Goose Island Bourbon County 2016 (and its variants) are hitting shelves. The release has become a bit of a Black Friday drunken tradition.

Honestly, Bourbon County has a bit of a storied history. For years now, it has been one of the most sought after barrel aged imperial stouts in America. Then one day over five years ago now, the beer drinking public woke up to the news of Anheuser-Busch purchasing the brewery.

Honestly, we can recall videos of Goose Island fans pouring Bourbon County Brand Stout down the drain after the news. Still weird even today, considering all those drainpours were BCBS that were brewed pre-buyout, and have a suggested cellar life of up to 5 years. Hey, you deal with your emotions how you want to.

Fast-forward to the Black Friday release the following year. The lines were long. Social media was full of delighted drinkers. See – life DOES go on.

In October, Beer Street Journal got to try this year’s release. Let’s cut to the chase. It’s fantastic. A chewy, chocolatey, bottle of bourbon and molasses that will get you tipsy faster than a Dave Matthews jam solo. A year in bourbon barrels does some magical things to this beer.

Something else I’ve noticed when the above picture was posted to Instagram a few weeks ago. Commenters were trying to convince us this beer is infected. Sorry to break the hearts of those wanting Goose Island to be swallowed into the pits of hell. It’s not. From what we can tell, none of the variants are either. (Yes, four of the six editions had some issues last year.)

For 2016, the brewery has tried out a new “flash” pasteurization process that kills of the microbes (and the yeast) that could hurt your coveted bottle of beer. The term “flash” is key. It’s just heated long enough to kill anything bad, and not damage the flavor.

Here is what we aren’t going to do. We aren’t going to sit here and tell you this beer is terrible when it isn’t. We’ve met some brilliant, hardworking brewers at Goose Island. We report the news, and drink the beers. As many as we can get our hands on. You decide what you like or hate, or will drink or won’t, based on ownership, ideals, brewer’s politics, philosophy, artwork, favorite color, tv show, etc.

There you have it. Today people are shooting one another over parking spaces, toilet paper deals, and tvs. Others got in line early for some bourbon barrel imperial stout. There is a night of drinking ahead of those folks, and hangover tomorrow.

That’s perfect fine with us. Keep drinking.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft. Limited Release.
Debut: 11/25/16

14% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Victory Brewing Company, Seasonal Return

Victory Java Cask returns nationally (if it’s legal where you are)

Victory Java Cask will return this year on Black Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016.

Victory Java Cask is a coffee based beer, brewed in collaboration with Philadelphia based bar, restaurant and music venue, Johnny Brendas. The beer was additionally aged in bourbon barrels. A picture the brewery posted to Instagram mentioned the beer has been pulled from said barrels and blended.

Victory Java Cask debuted last year on Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 (aka “Dark Wednesday”). It returns again on Dark Wednesday 2016. This year will also debut Java Cask Rye.

This year however, it will then be available in Victory’s distribution states that allow over 14% ABV beer. Due to its high alcohol by volume, the beer can’t be sold in 4 of the brewery’s distribution states.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Coffee. Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 750ml bottles, Draft
Release: November 23rd, 2016

14.3% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Great Lakes Brewing Company, Headlines

Great Lakes Barrel Aged Christmas Ale releases in November

Great Lakes Barrel Aged Christmas Ale, a barrel-aged edition of the wildly popular seasonal beer, releases again this November.

Great Lakes Barrel Aged Christmas Ale, a winter warmer brewed with honey, cinnamon and ginger, is now aged in bourbon barrels for six months. The result is an even more popular edition of the cult classic, with added vanilla, wood, and smokey flavors.

Hark! A heavenly chorus of spices and honey and a fanfare of oak and vanilla flavors resound with each joyous sip of our bourbon barrel-aged Christmas Ale. Holiday spices and sweet honey are wrapped up with notes of wood and vanilla, adding depth that’ll keep you a-wassailin’ all season long.

Great Lakes Barrel Aged Christmas Ale is a 22 once bottle offering. This is a limited release found exclusively at the GLBC Gift Shop on November 26th, 2016.

Style: Winter Warmer (w/ Honey, Ginger, Cinnamon. Barrel Aged. Bourbon. Vanilla)
Availability: 22oz Bottle.  Limited to 1 case (12 bottles) per person.
Release: November 26th, 2016

7.5% ABV, 25 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Marshall Brewing Company, New Releases

Marshall Brewing Barleywine debuts in Oklahoma

Marshall Brewing Barleywine, aged in bourbon barrels, has been released.

Earlier this year, the Tulsa, Oklahoma based brewery racked their American barleywine into bourbon barrels, that had previously held their Black Dolphin Stout. The idea behind this was to bring just a touch of the bourbon left over in the oak, and far less of the tannic character the barrels can impart.

After letting the American hops mellow for a while, and the barrels imparting a little flavor, the barleywine is ready.

Aroma offers light bourbon, sweet oak, brown sugar and plum. Taste follows aroma with rich malt sweetness.

Marshall Brewing Barleywine is available in 22 ounce, wax dipped bottles.

Style: Barleywine (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Wax capped.

Debut: 11/10/16

9.2% ABV

Image: Marshall Brewing

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Stone Brewing Co., Headlines

Stone Double Bastard Bigger Longer Uncut, all Islay Scotch

Stone Double Bastard Bigger Longer Uncut, a new form of one of the most “arrogant” beers out there.

Double Bastard has been out there for years – an 11% alcohol by volume, in your face, hoppy American strong ale. Now, like a special director’s cut edition of a movie, comes Stone Double Bastard Bigger Longer Uncut. A bastard with extra scenes. An alternate ending. And of course, director’s commentary:

Weakness Is worn on the sleeves. Boldness Is within the heart.This intensified blend of barrel-aged Double Bastard Ale is all heart baby. The weak will find it to be a telltale heart. It knows of your fallibility. It smells your fear. The heart of this beer disdains you, as it disdains all things homogenized, wimpy and uncultured. You do know the truth of yourself, no? If you hesitated to answer that, if even for a split second, that in and of itself is telling. If you aren’t capable of knowing the reality of yourself, this beer can and will take the responsibility of informing you of what you should already know. (And it you’ve lost your way in this text already and no longer are clear about what I am saying, your reading pace has exceeded your comprehension pace. Go back, slow down and start over, bright eyes.) Take a deep breath. Let it out slowly. Evenly. Give yourself some positive affirmations. Breathe deep again. There. Feel better? If you followed those instructions, then set this bottle down and back away immediately, you new age poseur. Fight or flight and I’d recommend the latter for you, tiger. Wet paper bags are more your speed.

Stone Double Bastard Bigger Longer Uncut is aged in 100% Islay Scotch Whisky barrels. Aggressive indeed, and definitely NOT for everyone.

Taste. If you are fan of peaty scotch whisky, then look no future. Not every beer can handle a scotch barrel. It can easily overrun by the barrels. This Bastard is indeed peaty as hell, very much scotch heavy, with a strong flavor undertone of everything that Double Bastard is. Consider this your fireside sipper. Drink it as speak in a fancy accent.

You’ll see this beer falls Stone Brewing’s new Arrogant Brewing moniker. Available in 22 ounce bottles for a limited time.

Style: American Strong Ale (Barrel Aged. Scotch. Bourbon.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: November, 2016

13% ABV

by Reid Ramsay