Oak Aged

Angry Orchard Knotty Pear debuts in new series

Angry Orchard Knotty Pear is joining the new “Orchard’s Edge” cider series.

Angry Orchard Knotty Pear is a blend of domestic culinary pears, including Bartlett, Doyenne de Comice, Bosc, and D’Anjou, plus U.S. grown apples.

The cider leads with ripe apple, baked Continue Reading →

Posted in The Lost Abbey, Coming Soon, Don't Miss This

Lost Abbey Veritas 017 tickets on sale March 24th

Tickets to purchase Lost Abbey Veritas 017 will be available online on March 24th, 2016, at 12 noon (PST).

Lost Abbey Veritas 017 follows in the line of American wild/sour beers. This iteration is aged in oak with tart blackberries.

Tart Blackberry, strong notes of oak and tannins with a strong presence of Brett leads to a very refreshing jam-like finish.

The brewery is removing proxies from this online sale. (That’s when you buy the beer, and designate a person to pick up.) For Veritas 017, the purchaser has to be the one picking up the bottle(s). Those not picking up the beer during the designated time frame of April 16th and 17th, or attempting to use a proxy, will surrender their bottles back to Lost Abbey.

Lost Abbey Veritas 017 is limited to 4 per person, $41 dollars per bottle.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (w/ Blackberries. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Presale: 3/24/16
Release: 4/16. 4/17

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Rodenbach Brewery, Headlines

Rodenbach Alexander returning after 16 years

Rodenbach Alexander will be available to U.S. market in April, 2016.

Alexander is a blend: 2/3 is two-year foeder matured beer, and 1/3 young ale, with macerated sour cherries. The last time this sour was available in the states was in 2000.

“We were inspired to brew RODENBACH Alexander over two years ago, due in large part to the popular requests among beer connoisseurs, bar owners and beer lovers throughout the United States“

Alexander is a part of a special 2016 draft and bottle sour program. The brewery alludes to more releases coming to this series later this year. Look for 750 milliliter bottles and draft starting in April.

Style: Flanders Red Ale (w/ Cherries. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles, Draft.
Return: April, 2016

5.6% ABV

The bottle features Alexander, one of the four Rodenbach brothers (Pedro, Alexander, Ferdinand and Constantijn) who founded the brewery in 1821.

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

Heavy Seas Plank IV, the 4th in the series

Heavy Seas Plank IV is the fourth offering to join the brewery’s unique “Plank Project” Series.

Heavy Seas started the Plank Project back in 2011. The project’s concept is to push the boundaries of what wood will do to the base beer’s flavor. The wood’s flavor has been altered/manipulated with heat for a more unique flavor transfer.

To create Heavy Seas Plank IV, the brewery aged a Belgian-style strong ale on four different wood styles that have been kilned, almost to the point of charring, including Poplar, Cherry, Jamaican allspice, Cuban cedar.

A deep garnet hued brew with rich caramel malt flavors dominate the nose and pallet. Fruity esters of plum, raisin, and dates abound,” says Christopher Leonard, Heavy Seas Brewmaster and Operations Manager.  

Heavy Seas Plank IV is available in 22 ounce bottles in March and April in all 18 states the brewery currently distributes.

Style: Belgian-style Strong Ale (w/ Candi Sugar, Cane Sugar, Wood Aged)
Hops: Perle, Hallertau Mittlefrue
Malts: 2-row, Munich, Caramel Munich 60, Caramel Munich 80, Caramel Munich 120, Chocolate

Availability: 22oz Bottles
Release: March, 2016

11.25% ABV, 22 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Angry Orchard Ciders, New Releases

Angry Orchard The Old Fashioned debuts year-round

Angry Orchard The Old Fashioned has joined the cidery’s new Orchard’s Edge Series. A new series dedicated to creating an more complex cider flavor.

Angry Orchard The Old Fashioned is aged on charred oak bourbon barrel staves, with dried tart cherries and California grown navel orange peel. Apple varieties include Gala and Fuji.

The cider has a delicate citrus aroma with hints of vanilla and bourbon flavor from the wood aging process. The Old Fashioned has lasting tannins and a full, round mouthfeel.

Angry Orchard The Old Fashioned joins Knotty Pear in kicking off this new series. Each cider in the series is aged on oak, and will have not only apples in the recipe, but pears, and oranges. Additionally, each cider is aged on oak.

Style: Cider (w/ Tart Cherries. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Year-Round
Release: March, 2016

6.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Angry Orchard Ciders, Don't Miss This

Angry Orchard Knotty Pear debuts in new series

Angry Orchard Knotty Pear is joining the new “Orchard’s Edge” cider series.

Angry Orchard Knotty Pear is a blend of domestic culinary pears, including Bartlett, Doyenne de Comice, Bosc, and D’Anjou, plus U.S. grown apples.

The cider leads with ripe apple, baked pear aromas and spicy, herbal hints from the cardamom. The pears also give the cider a subtle spiced essence along with notes of citrus and mint. Aged on American oak, this cider has a pleasant, dry finish.

The Orchard’s Edge Series will feature more complex ciders, aimed at the advancing  tastebuds of fans of the category. Each of the ciders are aged in American oak, and will include non-apple fruits like oranges and pears. 

Angry Orchard Knotty Pear is a year-round release.

Style: Cider (Oak Aged)
Availability: 12oz Bottles. Year-round.
Debut: February, 2016

6.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Dogfish Head

Dogfish Head Oak Aged Noble Rot (Tasting Notes)

Dogfish Head Oak Aged Noble Rot is a January surprise release by the Milton, Delaware brewery.

First released in 2012, Dogfish Head’s Noble Rot is a wine/beer hybrid. How? Unfermented grape juice, aka “must” from viognier grapes, that have been infected with a helpful fungus called botrytis. Thus, where the name “Noble Rot” comes in. The fungus reduces the water content of the grapes, making them sweeter. Next, the brewery adds pinot gris must, that has been intensified by the a process called dropping fruit (where larges bunches of grapes are clipped to amplify the grapes left behind).

The brewery uses a Belgian strain of yeast to ferment both editions of Noble Rot.

Dogfish Head Oak-Aged Noble Rot has been resting on oak for a full year. Available in 750ml bottles. Shipping immediately.

Beer Street Journal tasting notes: Much of the original flavor of Noble Rot shines through in the oaked edition. Notably, the oak is very prevalent. Honestly, this beer is dominated by notes of the grapes, and oak. Very unique. A great supplement to those that love the original wine/beer hybrid.

Style: Fruit Beer (w/ Grapes. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 750ml bottles
Release: Mid-January, 2016

9% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Natty Greene's, New Beers

Natty Greene’s American Sour 2015

Natty Greene’s American Sour 2015

by Reid Ramsay