Oak Aged

Posted in Brooklyn Brewing, Rare Opportunity

BROOKLYN BLACK OPS!!! IT’S BACK!

Black OpsI really don’t know where to begin on this one.   Better yet, here is a quote from the back of the bottle –

“Brooklyn Black Ops does not exist. However, if it did exist, it would be a robust stout concocted by the Brooklyn brewing team under cover of secrecy and hidden from everyone else at the brewery. Supposedly “Black ops” was aged for four months in bourbon barrels, bottled flat, and re-fermented with Champagne yeast, creating big chocolate and coffee flavors with a rich underpinning of vanilla-like oat notes. They say there are only 1,000 cases. We have no idea what they’re talking about.”

Basically, I’m talking about a rare beer put out by Brooklyn Brewery in New York.  This Russian Imperial Stout was aged in Woodford Reserve barrels this year.  (The barrels Black Ops is aged in changes.) Woodford Reserve barrels are the same kind of barrels that Sweetwater used to age their Ron W. Burgundy (Flashback Click Here.)  Black ops is a Black Chocolate Stout Aged in Woodford Barrels.  It’s distinctive, and for those stout fans out there, don’t miss this.

One thing to note – these bottles are limited, and are 24.99 a piece.   Hop City only has a few left. (Strike that.  Before I could finish writing this, they are all gone.) Checking to see who else will be receiving them.. More to come.

12/17 – 3:30 PM – Toco Giant on North Druid has a case.

12/18 – 11 AM – Both Tower Locations to receive.  Date TBA

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Red Brick

Red Brick’s 15th Anniversary Ale has arrived!

Red Brick 15thThis is a big week for Red Brick Ales (Atlanta, Ga.)  Not only are they debuting their 15th Anniversary Ale, but its release heralds a new era of bottling by the brewery.

The 15th Anniversary ale is Red Brick’s signature Brown Ale.  The Brown Ale boasts a list of ingredients, including 7 malts (Victory, Bonnalander, Caramel  40/60/120, 2 Row Barley, Wheat Malt).  Hops include Zeus and Fuggle.  When possible I include the ingredients in these brews.  Hopefully knowing the hop/malt combinations help you get a better understanding of how they affect the brews.

Next stop for this brown ale was a Pappy Van Winkle bourbon barrel.   That was 13 months ago.  Yes, it’s been sitting on bourbon wood for 13 months.   When a beer is aged on wood, especially bourbon, whiskey, or wine, it’s a relationship of trades.   First and foremost, the beer gains flavor.   The wood in the barrel was used to flavor the bourbon initially.  During the process, the bourbon passes flavors to the wood and vice versa.   The same is true in the instance of the 15th Anniversary Ale.  The brown ale has picked up bourbon flavors from the wood and even passed a few flavors back.

The result of this aging?  Deliciousness.  The vanilla flavors the brown ale picked up after aging are nearly addictive.  15th Anniversary has appeared on a couple of taps as a sneak preview and it lasted for literally minutes.

15th Anniversary ale is also the debut of Red Brick’s 22 oz bottles.   It will be the first of many, as I’m told.  Brewer Dave McClure has a few upcoming brews he will be putting in the bomber bottles.   Another thing to note about 15th is that it is very limited.  200 cases of the 22 oz bottles.    Estimated retail, around $9.00.

While this hasn’t been officially tested- Red Brick estimates 15th Anniversary is somewhere between 9 – 10% ABV

UPDATE 12/16 – Hop City Received 22 oz bottles today.  Total Wine @ Perimeter, Tower ATL


by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Casks, Rare Opportunity, SweetWater Brewing

RARE BEER ALERT – Sweetwater French Oaked Double IPA

Action alert. Today, June 23rd at 12pm- Brickstore Pub is tapping another rare keg in conjunction with their 12th Anniversary. It’s Sweetwater’s French Oaked Double IPA.

First of all, in the past Sweetwater has not made many Double IPA’s. (Recently one was released as a part of the “Dank Tank” series – Double Medlin IPA.)

Anyway – today’s keg is a little different. This double IPA was aged in French Oak previously used to age first run Bordeaux. There is some significance to this. To simplify, oak casks are simply wood lined barrels used for aging – whether it be wine, whiskey, beer etc. The oak casks allow a tiny bit of air into the product, while allowing the woody aromas to enter into your (in this case) beer.

So todays keg sat in a woody cask that aged a first run bordeaux. ( Some wines age in what is called a 200% process – first round 1 oak cask, second round another.) In the case of this double IPA, the bordeaux took up some of the woody oak aroma, and in turn transfered some of its wine flavor to the wood. Once the double IPA is added, it takes up some of the woody, wine favor into its body as it ages.

The result? Should be a hoppy, oaky flavor. French oak is typically not as strong as American oak. It provides a different favor in the aging process. Again this keg is tapping at noon today, and will go fast I’m sure. I will add a photo soon. Off to try!

Check twitter for live images of the tapping…

by Reid Ramsay