Oak Aged

Red Brick Hype Whale coming in February

Red Brick Hype Whale arrives in February. Who needs a hype train when you have a rapping whale, right? (Insert Free Willy comments here.)

Red Brick Hype Whale is an imperial stout, aged on bourbon soaked oak. Instead of making an exclusive Continue Reading →

Jester King Cerveza de Tempranillo, Blend 2

Jester King Cerveza de Tempranillo Blend #2, goes on sale Saturday December 26th. The last time this beer was released was in February of 2014.

Jester King Cerveza de Tempranillo is a barrel-aged farmhouse ale, re-fermented with Texas-grown Tempranillo grapes. Blend Continue Reading →

Boulevard Snow & Tell released in seasonal lineup

Boulevard Snow & Tell, an oak-aged Scotch Ale has joined the brewery’s Fall/Winter lineup in November, 2015.

This new beer joins the brewery’s core seasonal program, that was preceded by another new seasonal offering – Boulevard Funky Pumpkin.

Malt forward, oak-aged scotch ale is now Continue Reading →

Lambic Meets Framboise. Odell Friek Returns

Odell Brewing’s Friek, the brewery’s well-loved lambic, returns at the end of October.

Odell Friek gets its name from the sum of its parts – part Kriek, part Framboise. Friek is brewed with Colorado cherries, raspberries, and aged in oak barrels until deemed ready.

Odell Continue Reading →

Posted in Coming Soon, Don't Miss This, Red Brick Brewing

Red Brick Hype Whale coming in February

Red Brick Hype Whale arrives in February. Who needs a hype train when you have a rapping whale, right? (Insert Free Willy comments here.)

Red Brick Hype Whale is an imperial stout, aged on bourbon soaked oak. Instead of making an exclusive release, Red Brick brewed an ample amount of this new stout, giving you a chance to sip it all winter long. Solid chance to get off that hype train. (and get on a whale.)

This beer features big notes of dark chocolate and espresso beans with a distinct Bourbon oak character, which is achieved by aging the beer for
an extended period on chipped Bourbon barrels prior to bottling. So go ahead, grab your favorite glass and enjoy this whale of a stout.

Red Brick Hype Whale is will be available in February, 2016 in 12 ounce bottles and draft.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Oak Chips. Bourbon.)
Hops: Apollo, Magnum, Willamette
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Release: February, 2016

10% ABV

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

Cigar City Sardo Numspa, Inspired By Devil’s Food Cake [Released]

Cigar City Sardo Numspa, inspired by devil’s food cake.

The Tampa, Florida based brewery attempts to create a decadent dessert beer offering by brewing an imperial stout with hazelnuts, cacao nibs, and vanilla.

Inspired by Devil’s Food Cake, we brewed this high gravity stout with real roasted hazelnuts, two different varietals of cacao nibs, Indonesian vanilla, and rested it on cypress wood. Named in honor of the best devil from the 80’s, the deal, sweet, Sardo Numpsie.

Sardo Numpspa was Charles Dance’s character in the Eddie Murphy movie, The Golden Child. Game of Thrones fans will know Charles Dance as Tywin Lanister.

Cigar City Sardo Numspa is 22 ounce offering. On sale in the brewery’s tap room as on December 23rd.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Hazelnuts, Cacao Nibs, Vanilla Beans. Aged on Cypress)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Release: 12/23/15

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, Jester King Brewery, New Releases

Jester King Cerveza de Tempranillo, Blend 2

Jester King Cerveza de Tempranillo Blend #2, goes on sale Saturday December 26th. The last time this beer was released was in February of 2014.

Jester King Cerveza de Tempranillo is a barrel-aged farmhouse ale, re-fermented with Texas-grown Tempranillo grapes. Blend #2 is slightly lower in alcohol by volume (7.2% vs. 9.4%), and was refermented in stainless steel, rather than oak like Blend #1.

 We’re happy about the fact that the grapes in blend 2 came from Texas, as opposed to California. Not that the California grapes aren’t good, but we prefer to embrace the characteristics we get from Texas microflora and soil, so as to make beer with a sense of place.

All in all, Jester King Cerveza de Tempranillo was fermented in both steel tanks and oak, racked to oak for maturation, refermented with grapes in steel, then bottle conditioned.  Total yield, 3,000, 500ml bottles.

Style: American Wild Ales (w/ Grapes. Oak Aged)
Availability: 500ml bottles
Release: 12/26/15

7.2% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, Pabst Blue Ribbon

Ballantine Burton Ale emerges from brewing history

Pabst Brewing Company is launching Ballantine Burton Ale in time for the holiday season. This particular beer… has quite a history.

P. Ballantine & Sons Brewing in Newark, New Jersey brewed the original Burton Ale, that was never sold commercially. The barleywine style ale was aged from 10-20 years in American oak before it was ever bottled. Even then, it was given away as gifts to brewery VIPs. President Harry Truman is even said to have had been given a bottle.

The surviving Ballantine Burton Ale bottles have been traded or sold for sizable sums. Interestingly, tastings over the years have shown the beer to hold up quite well thanks to a high alcohol by volume, and strong hop bill.

The revival edition of Ballantine Burton Ale is brewed “sweet and strong” with a “robust” hop character, similar to the original. It has been aged in American oak barrels for months prior to bottling.

Ballantine Burton Ale will be available in major northeast markets in November and December in 12 ounce bottles and draft.

Style: Barleywine (Oak Aged)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Nov-Dec
Distribution: MA, ME, PA, DE, RI, VT, CT, MD

Release: November, 2015

11.3% ABV, 75 IBUs

P. Ballantine and Sons Brewing was founded in 1840. They were acquired by Falstaff Brewing in 1972. In 1985, Pabst Brewing Company purchased the brand. 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Boulevard Brewing, Coming Soon

Boulevard Snow & Tell released in seasonal lineup

Boulevard Snow & Tell, an oak-aged Scotch Ale has joined the brewery’s Fall/Winter lineup in November, 2015.

This new beer joins the brewery’s core seasonal program, that was preceded by another new seasonal offering – Boulevard Funky Pumpkin.

Malt forward, oak-aged scotch ale is now on shelves alongside tried and true seasonal, Nutcracker Ale.

Style: Scotch Ales, (Oak-Aged)
Availability: 12oz bottles. November-December.

6.3% ABV

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

Wild Heaven Ode to Mercy Special Winter Ale bottled for the first time

Wild Heaven Ode To Mercy Special Winter Ale has become a seasonal Atlanta favorite over the past few years. A wintery spin on the brewery’s year-round brown ale always signals cold weather is coming.

Wild Heaven Ode to Mercy Special Winter Ale is being bottled for the first time today, in 22 ounce format. Brewmaster Eric Johnson took Wild Heaven Ode To Mercy, and added bourbon soaked oak chips.  he result is a winter beer with oak, vanilla, coffee, with a semi sweet finish.

You’ll find Special Winter Ale in 22 ounce bottles and draft. (Within the week of this update)

Style: American Brown Ale (w/ Bourbon Soaked Oak Chips)

Availability: Draft. 22oz Bottles (New)
Return & Bottle Launch: Early November, 2015

8.2% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, Odell Brewing, Seasonal Return

Lambic Meets Framboise. Odell Friek Returns

Odell Brewing’s Friek, the brewery’s well-loved lambic, returns at the end of October.

Odell Friek gets its name from the sum of its parts – part Kriek, part Framboise. Friek is brewed with Colorado cherries, raspberries, and aged in oak barrels until deemed ready.

Odell Friek is available in 750ml bottles across the brewery’s 11 state distribution network.

The brewery is hosting Friek-y Friday party at the tap room on October 30th. Best costume prizes, free Odell Friek samples, music, and more.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Raspberries, Cherries. Oak Aged)
Availability: 750ml bottles, Corked & Caged
Return: October, 2015

6.9% ABV

by Reid Ramsay