New Beer Friday, American Oak Barrel Edition (February 15)

By Steve Siciliano

We have exciting news for our beer and winemaking customers.

We have been able to secure a small quantity of new, unused 5-gallon American oak barrels that we are retailing for $199.00 each. These barrels have a medium char (Level 3) and are approximately 16 inches high and 12 inches wide. Each barrel comes with a silicone bung.

Our source is indicating that this will probably be a one-shot deal. Please note that supplies are limited and barrels will be available on first-come, first-serve basis. We are expecting the barrels to arrive this weekend. Please call for additional details.

New and Returning Beer

• Siren/Cigar City Collab Barrel Aged Caribbean Chocolate Cake, $10.89/12oz - "First available at Copenhagen Beer Celebration 2016 (Yellow session) at 8.4%. Bourbon Barrel Aged Tropical Stout with Cacao Nibs & Cypress Wood. The barrel aged version has been ageing in a selection of bourbon barrels, picking up delicious vanilla, whiskey and wood character" (source).
• Siren Barrel Aged Shattered Dream, $8.79/12oz - "Shattered Dream is the imperial version of our favourite breakfast stout - Broken Dream. Even more unctuous than the original, we’ve amped up the flavours to deliver sweet biscuit, dark chocolate and deep roasted coffee notes. This rare release has been aged in a selection of bourbon barrels which accentuates the delicate vanilla and offers distinct whiskey tones with a drying oak finish" (source).
• Siren Old Fashioned, $7.69/12oz - "We’re big fans of the classic old fashioned a 19th Century cocktail traditionally made by muddling sugar with butters then adding whiskey and a twist of citrus. This is our take with barley wine as the base as the base beer and the classic orange zest to serve. It’s been in barrels for 12 months picking up a well rounded bourbon profile with some vanilla and caramel sweetness" (source).
• Batch Gentle Jack Jones, $2.79/12oz - "Gentle Jack Jones Brown Ale from Batch Brewing Company in Detroit, Michigan is a 5.8% ABV Brown Ale" (source).
• Batch Vault of Heaven, $3.69/12oz - "A New England IPA with a vivid, fresh hop aroma & flavor of citrus, pine needles, apricot, mango & grapefruit pith. Hazy, full-bodied and a smooth mouthfeel with a soft, inviting finish that lacks a hop bitter harshness" (source).
• Bell's Official, $1.99/12oz - "Two of our favorite ingredients come together in the brewhouse; pungent American hops and delicious wheat malt. This Hazy IPA is double dry-hopped (a combination of Mosaic, Citra, Azacca, Amarillo and El Dorado hops) resulting in complex peach, stone fruit and tropical notes with a dry finish and balanced bitterness. A refined beer for those who love hops and for those who prefer wheat beers. Go ahead and make it Official" (source).
• New Holland Dragon's Milk White, $2.59/12oz - "A full flavored White Stout with strong notes of vanilla, cocoa, coffee roast, and oak from its time in bourbon barrels, drinkers can expect a smooth, velvety mouthfeel that compliments the flavor profile" (source).
• Revolution Northwest Hero, $2.39/12oz - "A burly Cascadian hulk featuring hops from the Pacific Northwest, this uncompromsing IPA cuts balanced grapefruit and pine bitterness with floral and spice notes" (source).
• Revolution Spirit of Revolt, $2.99/12oz - "Spirit of Revolt is brewed with specialty malts from woman-lead Weyermann Malting, with an addition of oat malt, giving it a smooth, round body. A unique dry-hop blend of Michigan grown Cascade, Cashmere, and Slovenian Styrian Fox hops add notes of citrus, pineapple, and melon features. Both Revolution’s Tap Room and Brewpub locations are donating 100% of the beer’s sales to Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC) for Spirit of Revolt’s entire duration on tap" (source).
• Odd Side Diggity Dank Amarillo, $2.39/12oz - No commercial description.
• Odd Side Ocular Pat-Down, $2.39/12oz - "Vanilla Coffee Porter." (source).
• Perrin Blonde Porter, $2.09/12oz - "A new take on a classic style creating a light blonde-colored, full flavored beer" (source).
• Shorts FLOAD, $2.59/12oz - "FLOAD is a Dark American Sour Ale brewed with raspberries. Very dark in color with a red hue and mauve head, this beer smells of fresh fruit, sour raspberries, and a hint of chocolate. Leading with an intense raspberry tartness, FLOAD is complemented with a light chocolate malty backbone. The finish is dry with lingering sourness" (source).

Video of the Week | Inside the Cooperage

In light of the limited supply of barrels we are receiving,

here's a fascinating look at how such barrels are made.

Cheers!