Old Ales

21st Amendment & Ninkasi Collaborate

21st Amendment Brewing and Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene, Oregon) have been working on a new “yet to be named” collaboration.  I got to sit down with 21st’s Shaun O’Sullivan over beers and a slew of charcuterie plates and get to know 21A Continue Reading →

Heavy Seas Plank I Arrives

The first edition of Heavy Seas Brewing’s “Plank” series has arrived.  The brewery planned on releasing this beer during American Craft Beer Week 2011 (and may have) but arrival was a little later than expected.

Plank I is an Continue Reading →

The Bruery Cuir

The Bruery (Placienta, CA) currently celebrates their 3rd year of brewing. Much like a wedding anniversary, The Bruery has been releasing anniversary beers named for the traditional gift for the year. Year 1: Papier. Year 2: Coton. Year 3: Cuir. Continue Reading →

Southern Tier’s Old Man Winter

My only wish is that the temperatures would meet me half way here.  I want to drink fall & winter beers. In the cold where they belong.  Southern Tier Brewing (Lakewood, NY)  just brought “Old Man Winter” to join “Oat” Continue Reading →

SEASONAL RETURN: Great Divide Hibernation

Returning for the fall/winter is Great Divide’s Hibernation.  2010 marks the 15th anniversary of  this beer.  Hibernation is brewed the first week of July, and cellared at the brewery until October.  It’s sold only for 6 weeks.  It’s malty, warming Continue Reading →

NEW RELEASE: Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog

.You’ve probably seen Smuttynose Brewing’s brown ale – “Old Brown Dog.”  This release expands on the brown dog a beloved member of the brewery.   Smuttynose gives you some info:

Beer Rundown (Known Ingredients)
Style: Old Ale
Hops: Liberty, Crystal
Malts: Pilsner Malt, Pale Ale Malt, Crystal 60L, Brown Malt, Special B

Taste Expecations: Dark malts, molasses and brown sugar.  Some alcohol warming in finish.  A good fall/winter brew.  There are some notes of age, typical of an Old Ale.

Availability: 22oz Bombers. Draft. Small Batch seasonal brew.

Cellar? Yes.  Old Ales can be cellared, and benefit from extended cellaring.  Smuttynose mentions the ale will mellow and age gracefully.

10% ABV

Posted in 21st Amendment Brewing, Ninkasi Brewing

21st Amendment & Ninkasi Collaborate

21st Amendment Brewing and Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene, Oregon) have been working on a new “yet to be named” collaboration.  I got to sit down with 21st’s Shaun O’Sullivan over beers and a slew of charcuterie plates and get to know 21A a bit better.

This collaboration is born out of friendship.   Shaun O’Sullivan and Ninkasi’s Jamie Floyd used to work together at Steelhead Brewing Company in San Francisco.  Each one has gone on to found very successful brewing company’s, but the respect for each others work is very evident.

The forthcoming brew is an old ale – but as Shaun O’Sullivan puts it – “there’s nothing old about it.”  Each of the duo have brewed a version of the base old ale recipe before.  Shaun took bronze with it as Fort Pointe Olde Ale at GABF in 1997.  What’s not so old about it? Brand new hop styles and speciality ingredients of course. The Shaun and Jamie used Falconer Flight hops, a young blend of some of the best aromatic hops in the U.S. made by Hopunion to honor legendary homebrewer Glen Hay Falconer.  California dates give the old ale added flavor and complexity.

The ale will be canned as a part of 21A’s Insurrection Series with Monk’s Blood & Hop Crisis.  It has a World War II theme, echoing “The Big 3 Alliance” –  Russia, England & the U.S. banding together to defeat nazi Germany.  This new alliance in a can teams up Ninkasi, 21A and you, the drinker to fight the “bigger” element. [Think large beer.]  The cans will look like 1940’s newspapers.  Expect this beer by year’s end.

Style: Old Ale brewed with Cali dates
Availability: 4pks cans, Draft. Distributed through 21A’s network

8.7% ABV

Recent correction: Shaun O’Sullivan won a bronze for “Fort” Point Olde Ale

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Heavy Seas, New Releases

Heavy Seas Plank I Arrives

The first edition of Heavy Seas Brewing’s “Plank” series has arrived.  The brewery planned on releasing this beer during American Craft Beer Week 2011 (and may have) but arrival was a little later than expected.

Plank I is an English style Old Ale that makes use of Heavy Seas new wood treatments.  The English Ale is introduced to yellow poplar wood during second fermentation. The yellow poplar has been heat treated, which changes the flavor and chemical makeup.  The flavor variations give the wood some “astringency” as the brewery describes, liken to what hops do for flavor.  It’s essentially a roasting technique, which can be applied to literally hundreds of thousands of tree species.  Each time changing the flavor & nuance.

Label:

PLANK is a series of beers showcasing unique wood aging treatments to add flavor and nuance. Our first offering — PLANK I — features an Olde Style English Ale matured with specially treated Poplar wood planks.  Look for a subtle, “roasty” wood character that perfectly complements this extrAARGHdinary ale!

Style: Old Ale

Taste Expectations: Caramel, Vanilla, wood.  Slight hint of smoke, bit of chocolate.

Availability: 22oz bombers, rare draft.  $7-8 retail.  Currently 1-time brew.

8% ABV

 

 

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, The Bruery

The Bruery Cuir

The Bruery (Placienta, CA) currently celebrates their 3rd year of brewing. Much like a wedding anniversary, The Bruery has been releasing anniversary beers named for the traditional gift for the year. Year 1: Papier. Year 2: Coton. Year 3: Cuir. (French for Leather.) Description to Reserve Society Members:

Cuir is our third anniversary ale. It is the same recipe as Papier and Coton, created using the Solera method. Layered with complex flavors of dark fruit, vanilla, oak, and burnt sugar, we blended a portion of both Papier and Coton that had been aging in oak barrels with this new batch of the same beer, adding an additional layer of complexity that will grow over time as we continue to age and blend with each anniversary, creating an older average age to the ale.

Arrival: May, 2011.  Limited 3. $20/750ml bottle.

In addition, there is also a 100% Barrel aged Cuir offering coming in May also specifically for Reserve Society Members:

This is our special version of Cuir, just for the Reserve Society. While the general release is 25% barrel aged and 75% fermented with oak, this beer is 100% out of the oak barrel leaving it stronger in flavor, alcohol and complexity.

Arrival: May, 2011.  4 Bottle limit. $30/750ml bottle

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, North Coast Brewing

North Coast Old Stock Cellar Reserve 2009

I have a soft spot for barrel aged beers.  I was all giggly when I got my hands on North Coast Brewing’s (Fort Bragg, CA) 11th Anniversary release of  Old Rasputin XI.  Old Stock Cellar Reserve is NC’s popular and award winning old ale “Old Stock” that has spent 18 months in bourbon barrels.  Get a glass ready.

In an exercise of humanitarian charity and to demonstrate just how very much we care about our friends, North Coast brewmaster, Mark Ruedrich, has just now released an exceptional batch of 2009 Old Stock Ale that has been aged for 18 months in oak Bourbon barrels.
In this latest example of the cunning of his hand, Brewmaster Ruedrich has set new standards for the brewers’ art. To say that it’s amazing would be an understatement. Look for Old Stock Cellar Reserve in the special decorated bottle, as they say, wherever fine beers are sold. There’s not much, and it will go fast, so be vigilant.

Style: Old Ale (barrel aged)
Taste Expectations: Brown sugar, caramel, vanilla, oak, booze, dark fruits.
Availability: Limited small batch 16.9ml bottles. Corked/Caged.

14% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Southern Tier Brewing

Southern Tier’s Old Man Winter

My only wish is that the temperatures would meet me half way here.  I want to drink fall & winter beers. In the cold where they belong.  Southern Tier Brewing (Lakewood, NY)  just brought “Old Man Winter” to join “Oat” in their seasonally lineup to help bring in the coming winter.  This strong ale will warm you up! Well, when you need to be warmed up.  Eventually.

Commercial Description:
With the onset of winter, the brewer’s mind turns to providing warmth. For our winter seasonal, we offer a rich and complex amalgam of hops and barley that will put the feeling back in your toes and lift your spirits above the snow. OMW throws a deep and inviting hue with a thickness that clings to the glass and the warmth of an open flame. Because of its high alcohol content, Old Man is a heady brew that encourages sipping and pondering its essential richness. Drink it fresh now, or cellar a few bottles to see how this old man becomes wiser with age.

Beer Rundown:
Style: Old Ale
Ingredients: Unpublished – 3 different hops, 2 malts

Taste Expectations: Caramel, toffee, molasses.  Hops are floral, with some citrus.  Herbal.

Availability: 12oz/6pks.  Draft.  Fall/Winter seasonal.

Cellar: Yes.  Old ales are by nature “old” and cellared already. Under the right conditions this beer will mature well.

7.2% ABV


by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Great Divide, Seasonal Return

SEASONAL RETURN: Great Divide Hibernation

Returning for the fall/winter is Great Divide’s Hibernation.  2010 marks the 15th anniversary of  this beer.  Hibernation is brewed the first week of July, and cellared at the brewery until October.  It’s sold only for 6 weeks.  It’s malty, warming and assertive.

Commerical Description:
Hibernation has been our celebrated winter tradition since 1995. This robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character.

Style: Old Ale

Taste Expectations: Sweet darks malts. Molasses & toffee.  Small hints of dark fruits.  Touch of caramel, & alcohol.

Availability: 12oz/6 pks. Draft.  Seasonal sold 6 weeks starting in Oct.

8.1% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Smuttynose Brewing

NEW RELEASE: Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog

.You’ve probably seen Smuttynose Brewing’s brown ale – “Old Brown Dog.”  This release expands on the brown dog a beloved member of the brewery.   Smuttynose gives you some info:

Old Ale (also known as “Stock” Ale), is a full-bodied beer with high levels of dextrins. In times past, this beer was typically laid up to mature, hence the name. The color varies from rich, dark amber to a very dark brown. This style features fruity, vinuous & deep, malty flavors, giving it an almost port-like qualities. Sight acidity is not uncommon. Olive, iconic mascot & spirit guide of our brewery, first appeared on our Old Brown Dog label in 1994 & returned, thirteen years later, to pose for our Really Old Brown Dog, a luscious, malt-rich, full bodied “old ale” featuring deep notes of complex fruit. Much like our beloved Olive, this beer will mellow & age gracefully.

Beer Rundown (Known Ingredients)
Style: Old Ale
Hops: Liberty, Crystal
Malts: Pilsner Malt, Pale Ale Malt, Crystal 60L, Brown Malt, Special B

Taste Expecations: Dark malts, molasses and brown sugar.  Some alcohol warming in finish.  A good fall/winter brew.  There are some notes of age, typical of an Old Ale.

Availability: 22oz Bombers. Draft. Small Batch seasonal brew.

Cellar? Yes.  Old Ales can be cellared, and benefit from extended cellaring.  Smuttynose mentions the ale will mellow and age gracefully.

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay