Cherries

Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quad: New Size

Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quad, aka “BBQ” has been a part of the brewery’s Smokestack Series for years. The Kansas City based brewery ages a quadrupel in bourbon barrels with cherries for the release.

Starting in September, this popular Smokestack member is switching over Continue Reading →

Dessert: New Belgium Cherry Almond Ale

New Belgium Cherry Almond Ale is a future bottle potential by the Colorado/North Carolina based brewery.

Quite obviously, cherry and almonds highlight the future beer, with a touch of chocolate for good measure. The base beer is not mentioned.

With a Continue Reading →

Posted in Lost Abbey, Seasonal Return

Lost Abbey Santo Ron Diego is back in rum filled action

Lost Abbey Santo Ron Diego is returning to the brewery’s lineup once again in December, with a few changes in tow.

The beer was a big hit when it was released in 2015, and Tomme Arthur and brewery crew knew it had to be brewed again. Lost Abbey Santo Ron Diego (2016) features a new twist – cherries, vanilla beans, and cacao nibs. It spent a full 14 months in rum barrels.

“We were really happy with last year’s version but we wanted to add a bit more complexity to help bring the rum notes out with this year’s batch.” – Tomme Arthur, co-founder, The Lost Abbey

In order to have more of Santo to go around, the Lost Abbey is making this release draft only. The big 13.5% rum barreled monster hits distribution in December. Happy hunting.

Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Vanilla Beans, Cherries, Cacao Nibs. Barrel Aged. Rum.)
Availability: Draft Only (2016 Release)
Latest Return: December, 2016

12.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Wild Heaven Craft Beers, Seasonal Return

Tequila aged Wild Heaven Height of Civilization returns

Wild Heaven Height of Civilization, the brewery’s barrel aged Civilization Barleywine returns to the wild this week.

In 2014, the brewery purchased Dulce Vida Organic Tequila barrels ahead of this release. Wild Heaven Height of Civilization spent four months aging in the barrels prior to bottling.

The base beer, Wild Heaven Civilization Barleywine, brewed with dried Prussian lemons, Iranian hibiscus, tart cherries, cranberries, and cocoa nibs that have been re-hydrated in Four Roses bourbon.

The beer has been so well received, Wild Heaven got a hold of more Dulce Vida tequila barrels to bring this complex beer back once again.

Wild Heaven Height of Civilization is available in 750ml bottles for a limited time.

Style: Barleywine (w/ Lemons, Hibiscus, Cherries, Cranberries, Cocoa Nibs. Barrel Aged. Tequila.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles. Limited Release.
Latest Return: November, 2016

12+% ABV

Below, the beer enters the barrel. Pic: Wild Heaven  

Wild Heaven Height of Civilization

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

One of the most labor intensive beers out there has to be Rogue Rolling Thunder

Rogue Rolling Thunder, is a barrel aged imperial stout. Think that’s not very unique in the beer industry these days? When it comes to this beer, think again.

For the barrel-aged beers you’ve had in the past, the process looks like this – buy wet bourbon whiskey barrels, brew a big imperial stout. Place in barrels. Wait. Bottle.

For Rogue to do the same thing… they just wouldn’t be Rogue. This is the “Rogue” way to release a barrel-aged imperial stout. Grow your own hops and malts in nearby Independence and Hood River, Oregon. Mash in on a new brew at your brewhouse in Newport, Oregon. Take some of that beer mash and distill in into white whiskey. Cooper your own barrels. Char those barrels. Age your whiskey those barrels. Take the whiskey out, and put your homegrown, imperial stout in those barrels. Age, and bottle.

Absolute insanity. Also, a way to take “craft” to the next level.

Rogue Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout is a culmination of their own farmers, brewers, coopers, distillers, and by-hand swing top packaging team. Brewed with eight different grains, Rogue Liberty and Freedom hops, plus brown sugar, dark cherries, vanilla and chocolate. Then aged for six months in Dead Guy Whiskey barrels.

Rolling Thunder is on shelves now, but limited. A big, luscious beer with dessert-like qualities, full of chocolate, vanilla and of course, whiskey flavors. Rogue wasn’t stingy on the size either. Drink this beer with friends. Keep in mind the homegrown ingredients and talents spanning hundreds of miles across Oregon it took to make this beer.

Rogue Rolling Thunder is available in 1 liter swing top bottles, in limited quantities starting July 15th. and if you are lucky, still waiting for you on a shelf near you.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Brown Sugar, Dark Cherries, Vanilla Beans, Chocolate. Barrel Aged. Whiskey.)
Availability: 1 Liter Swing-Top Bottles
Debut: 7/15/16

11.8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Carolina Bauernhaus Ales, New Releases

Carolina Bauernhaus 18 Mile Red Cherry debuts this week

Carolina Bauernhaus 18 Mile Red Cherry bottles arrive in the brewery’s taproom on October 14th.

The base beer for Carolina Bauernhaus 18 Mile Red Cherry is a Belgian-style red ale, brewed with North Carolina grown Wrens Abruzzi rye malt, and fermented in regional wine barrels.

Brewery co-founder David Thornton also founded SouthYeast Labs, born out of a Science of Beer course at Clemson University. The acidity of this new release is thanks SouthYeast isolated Lactobacillus, found in locally grown opuntia fruit. Additionally, the mix of wild yeast comes from Clemson University’s Musser Experimental Fruit Research Farm.

The base beer was aged for four months in barrels before being introduced to tart cherries and aged for another three months.

The resulting rustic refined ale has a bright acidity and is filled with tart cherry and dark fruit notes rounded out by vinous barrel character.

Carolina Bauernhaus 18 Mile Red Cherry is a 750 milliliter bottle release, at the taproom in Anderson, South Carolina.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (w/ Tart Cherries. Wine Barrel Aged.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Debut: 10/14/16

7.2% ABV 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Terrapin Beer Company, Coming Soon, Headlines

Terrapin Tart Cherry Wake-n-Bake to join Special Reserve Series

Terrapin Tart Cherry Wake-n-Bake, a new entry in the brewery’s Special Reserve Series.

The base beer is an oatmeal imperial stout, brewed with a special coffee blend from Athen’s, Georgia roaster Jittery Joes. (The coffee blend is actually available for purchase as well.)  The brewery has spiked the stout with Montmorency cherry juice.

When life gives us cherries, we make “Tart Cherry W-n-B.” Brewed with real Montmorency cherry juice from the USA, and freshly roasted “Wake and Bake” coffee from Jittery Joe’s, this version of our classic Coffee Oatmeal Stout takes on an impeccable fruit forward dimension.

Other editions of Wake-n-Bake include Cinnamon Roll’d, that has been released a few times in the past, as well as French Toast W-n-B.  This year, the brewery will can the base Wake-n-Bake for the first time.

Terrapin Tart Cherry Wake-n-Bake will be a 22 ounce bottle and draft release in December, 2016.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Coffee. Cherries.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft. Limited Release.
Debut: December, 2016

9.4% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Boulevard Brewing, New Releases

Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quad: New Size

Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quad, aka “BBQ” has been a part of the brewery’s Smokestack Series for years. The Kansas City based brewery ages a quadrupel in bourbon barrels with cherries for the release.

Starting in September, this popular Smokestack member is switching over to 12 ounce bottles, and becoming a year-round release.

Based loosely on the Smokestack Series’ The Sixth Glass, this abbey-style quadrupel is separated into a number of oak bourbon barrels where it ages for varying lengths of time, some for up to three years. Cherries are added to make up for the “angel’s share” of beer lost during barrel aging. Selected barrels are then blended for optimum flavor. The resulting beer retains only very subtle cherry characteristics, with toffee and vanilla notes coming to the fore.

The brewery has instituted this new format change for one of the brewery’s most loved beers. You’ll find “BBQ” in 12 ounce bottles, a part of a 4-pack, year-round going forward.

Style: Quadrupel (w/ Cherries. Brown Sugar, Candi Sugar.  Barrel Aged)
Hops: Magnum, Styrian Golding
Malts: Pale Malt, Cara 300, Munich, Malted Wheat

Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. 
Debut: September, 2016

11% ABV, 19 IBUs

Image: Boulevard Brewing

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Belgium, Headlines

Dessert: New Belgium Cherry Almond Ale

New Belgium Cherry Almond Ale is a future bottle potential by the Colorado/North Carolina based brewery.

Quite obviously, cherry and almonds highlight the future beer, with a touch of chocolate for good measure. The base beer is not mentioned.

With a vibrant splash of cherry, and gentle chocolate aromas, our Cherry Almond Ale delicately balances malty sweetness, with a refreshingly bitter finish.

New Belgium Cherry Almond Ale is slated to be a 12 ounce bottle and draft release. The brewery has not yet announced this offering.

Style:           (w/ Cherries, Almonds)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: TBA

5.8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay