Gin Barrel

The Commons Brewery Clarabelle, aged with peaches

The Commons Brewery Clarabelle will be available in bottles on March 12th, 2016.

This beer started off as Maybelle, the brewery’s barrel-aged farmhouse ale. Why stop there, right? Clarabelle is Maybelle, that has been fermented with Brettanomyces with Oregon peaches.

Clarabelle started Continue Reading →

Saint Arnold’s Bishop’s Barrel #11 Released

Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel #11 is now available. The base beer, Endeavour, Saint Arnold’s double IPA, has been aging for four months in Smooth Ambler gin barrels. The brewery calls it “Gindeavour”.

Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel #11 started its journey in Continue Reading →

Just Shipped: Wicked Weed Briars & Brett

Wicked Weed Brewing (Asheville, NC) just shipped a new offering in the Terra Locale series – Briars & Brett.

The beer is a gin barrel aged farmhouse ale, with blackberries.

Style: Farmhouse/Wild Ale (w/ Blackberries. Barrel Aged. Gin.)
Availability: 500 ml bottles
Distribution: NC Continue Reading →

Posted in Allagash Brewing, Headlines

Allagash Fluxus 2016 debuts, with gin & ginger

Allagash Fluxus 2016 is ready for the public. The beer’s style changes annually, a commemoration of Allagash selling their first beer in 1995.

This year’s recipe is saison brewed with a plethora of Allagash base malt, including barley, rye, and wheat. After a heathy dosing of Noble hops, and ginger root, the beer was then partially aged in gin barrels. The barrels previously held Barr Hill Tom Cat Gin, made by Caledonia Spirits in Hardwick, Vermont.

The result is a highly aromatic saison with overtones of ginger and botanicals, a hint of vanilla in the flavor, and a vibrant finish.

Allagash Fluxus 2016 is a part of the brewery’s Tribute Series, with the likes of Hugh Malone, Victor and Victoria.

Style: Saison (w/ Ginger. Partial Barrel Aging. Gin.)
Hops: Northern Brewer, Tettnang, Perle
Malts: Allagash 2-row Malted Barley Blend, Malted Rye, Malted Wheat

Availability: 750ml Bottles, Draft. One-Off.
Debut: July, 2016

8.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Madtree Brewing Co., Coming Soon, Don't Miss This

Spotlight: Madtree Joon (aged in unique barrels)

Madtree Joon is available once again. A barrel-aged spin on the kolsch style.

Not a lot of barrel-aged kolsch beers exist, making Madtree Joon pretty unique. The the base beer features Pacifica and Cascade hops, aged in Watershed Bourbon Barrel Gin Barrels.

Did that barrel seem weird to you? Columbus, Ohio’s Watershed Distillery selected bourbon barrels to age their Four Peel Gin. Madtree snagged those used barrels for Joon.

This is our second beer we’ve had from the the brewery’s Funk Series. (See Sherry Cherry Raspberry.) Joon is a very unique sour/wild beer, thanks to the combination of ginger, juniper berries, and those fun barrels. The base beer was a kolsch, which really is a ghost of it’s former self. It’s a whole new party now. The beer picked up not only the gin flavors, but a touch of the bourbon too – honestly, never thought that was possible.

Joon, with its unmistakable citrus and pine characteristics, is the solution for those longing to be amidst the evergreens. Aged in Watershed Bourbon Barrel Gin barrels with juniper berries and ginger, this refreshingly tart beer takes a break from the traditional bourbon barrel beers, lifting it to another level. As the days grow long and your spirit yearns for adventure, take the time to drink in your surroundings.

Madtree Joon available starting this June (redundancy noted), in 16.9 ounce bottles. Part of Madtree’s Funk Series.

Style: Kolsch (Barrel Aged. Gin.)
Hops: Pacifica, Cascade
Malts: 2 Row, Red Wheat, Vienna, Flaked Barley

Availability: 16.9oz Bottles
Return: June, 2016

4.7% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Cigar City Brewing, Don't Miss This

Cigar City Hapax Legomenon, one of the brewery’s most unique

Cigar City Hapax Legomenon is a future release by the Tampa, Florida brewery. The brewery already has a repertoire of unique beers, but this upcoming release is pushes the boundaries a bit.

Cigar City Hapax Legomenon begans as a Belgian-style tripel ale aged in gin barrels. After some barrel time, the brewery blended in some grapefruit sour ale. The result? A one of a kind addition to the brewery’s lineup.

Hapax Legomenon refers to a word or from that occurs only once in a document. And often, it is a word that you will only find one time in an author’s entire oeuvre. For example, Shakespeare used the word “satyr” exactly once in all of his writings. This beer began as a Belgian-style tripel aged in gin barrels. After some time in barrels, we blended in some American Grapefruit Sour Ale. When it’s all said  and done, we think we can safely say that this will be the only occurrence of a gin barrel-aged Belgian-style triple blend with an American grapefruit sour ale to be found in our oeuvre.

Cigar City Hapax Legomenon will be a 750 milliliter bottle release. The brewery tells Beer Street Journal they aren’t sure how much will be released at this time.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (w/ Grapefruit. Barrel Aged. Gin.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Release: TBA

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in The Commons Brewery, New Releases

The Commons Brewery Clarabelle, aged with peaches

The Commons Brewery Clarabelle will be available in bottles on March 12th, 2016.

This beer started off as Maybelle, the brewery’s barrel-aged farmhouse ale. Why stop there, right? Clarabelle is Maybelle, that has been fermented with Brettanomyces with Oregon peaches.

Clarabelle started off as Maybelle, our barrel aged farmhouse ale. It was then aged in gin barrels from Ransom Spirits before finishing in a stainless steel tank with a blend of Brettanomyces and 500 pounds of Oregon grown peaches from Baird Family Orchards.

The Commons Brewery Clarabelle will be available in 11.2 ounce bottles for a limited time.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Peaches, Barrel-Aged. Gin.)
Availability: 11.2oz Bottles
Release: 3/12/16

7.3% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Saint Arnold Brewing

Saint Arnold’s Bishop’s Barrel #11 Released

Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel #11 is now available. The base beer, Endeavour, Saint Arnold’s double IPA, has been aging for four months in Smooth Ambler gin barrels. The brewery calls it “Gindeavour”.

Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel #11 started its journey in April when it hit the gin barrels. When the barrels were pulled the hops were a little too muted, so it was blended at a ration of 20% fresh imperial IPA.

It pours a beautiful copper color with an off white head. The nose is a spicy mix of hops, wood, juniper and a hint of bourbon. There is a bitter up front that is balanced with a nice malt backbone throughout. Piney, resiny hops balance with the juniper/gin character. There is a warming alcohol note in there too. The finish is focused with the hop bitter, malt and gin character all giving a pleasant linger.

Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel #11 is available in 12oz bottles, and draft in very limited quantities.

Style: Imperial IPA (Barrel Aged. Gin)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Release: 9/21/15

10.1% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, The Commons Brewery

The Commons Brewery Crème de Pêche Releases 12/27

Portland, OR – The Commons Brewery releases Crème de Pêche, a cream ale aged in gin barrels with fresh peaches and Brettanomyces today.

Crème de Pêche was brewed in December, 2013 and added to gin barrels in January, 2014. Commons added peaches directly to the barrel to give the final beer a bright, juicy flavor.

Flaked corn provides a creamy body that compliments the dryness and floral characteristics from Brettanomyces Bruxellensis. Crème de Pêche can be consumed now to enjoy the fresh peach qualities or cellared to further develop its Brettanomyces profile.

The Commons Brewery Crème de Pêche is a part of the brewery’s Beetje Series. Available starting December 27th in  750ml capped bottles for $15 per bottle.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Peaches. Barrel Aged. Gin.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Arrival: 12/27/14

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Wicked Weed Brewing Co

Just Shipped: Wicked Weed Briars & Brett

Wicked Weed Brewing (Asheville, NC) just shipped a new offering in the Terra Locale series – Briars & Brett.

The beer is a gin barrel aged farmhouse ale, with blackberries.

Style: Farmhouse/Wild Ale (w/ Blackberries. Barrel Aged. Gin.)
Availability: 500 ml bottles
Distribution: NC only

?? ABV

Image via Wicked Weed Brewing

by Reid Ramsay