Behind the Scenes at Rocky Mountain Barrel Company

Innovation and experimentation is the name of the craft beer game. The best craft breweries are always looking for ways to make great beers that showcase incredible flavors and unique characteristics. One of the more popular ways to experiment has been with barrel-aged beers. But have you ever wondered where all those barrels come from? We did, so we recently paid a visit to Rocky Mountain Barrel Company, where Sales Manager & Chief Barrel Slinger, Noah Steingraeber, told us all about the barrel business and how they help breweries to create great barrel-aged beer.  Read More

Creature Comforts | See The Stars Maple Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout

ABV: 10.9%

Creature Comforts Brewing Co. experienced a milestone this month that was marked with a handful of firsts for the brewery. They bottled their first barrel aged stout, which was released at their first bottle release event that turned out to be their largest event since opening. The entire event was calculated with as much attention to the details as possible. The beer, See the Stars, was more than a year in the making. The patience, initiative and discipline to make all this happen shines through the brew it became. Read More

Russian River Brewing Company | Consecration

ABV 10%

Russian River Brewing Company is not only regarded as one of the best breweries in California, but also in the country. The other day I had the great pleasure of visiting their brew pub and the first thing I noticed was the phenomenal selection of beers to choose from. They have everything from sessions to pilsners to stouts to porters and their famous IPA’s and wilds/sours. The demand for all the Russian River Brewing Company beers is high due to their philosophy that it is easier to make better beer than it is to make more beer! I have not had a beer aged in wine-barrels I have enjoyed as much as Consecration. Read More

The Hourglass Brewery | Schizandra

The Hourglass Brewery (Longwood, FL) debuted their limited bottle selection May 16 with the brewery’s first bottle release of Schizandra. This is the first beer bottled by Sky Conley and Brett Mason’s brewery. Hourglass Brewery has been open and operating at capacity since they started in 2012. This year marks another milestone for Conley, Mason and the rest of the brewery family with this and many other changes at the brewery.  Read More

Bell’s Brewing Co. | Saturn – The Bringer of Old Age

Bell’s Brewing Co.

Saturn – The Bringer of Old Age

Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine

ABV: 11.5%

Deep, rich, robust, and smooth. These are all flavors that make up Bell’s fifth … Read More

Wynkoop Brewing Company | Barrel Aged Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout

Who’s got the biggest… cans of them all? In walks Wynkoop’s Barrel Aged Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout in 19.2oz cans. Sure their can itself may not be the” largest” format craft can, but its “contents” may just be the most coveted this side of the Vanilla Rye-filled Mississippi.

Smooth, creamy mouthfeel with notes of wood and vanilla and… wait, what am I drinking? What is a Rocky Mountain Oyster? Hold on, what? Calf fries, swinging steaks, prairie oysters, cowboy caviar, criadillas in Mexico, Montana tendergroins, dusted nuts, bull fries or swinging beef? You’re kidding, right?!

ABV: 7.8%
IBU: 30-70
SRM: 30-40
BPB (balls per barrel): 3

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Powder Keg Brewing Company | Niwot, CO

101 2nd Avenue,  Niwot CO 80544

Estimated Open Date: Early July, 2014

Brewing System: 4 ½ Barrel Brewhouse

Food: Rincon Argentino out of Boulder for Argentinian empanadas as well … Read More

Staying Warm with a Barrel-Aged Ultimate 6er

Unlike our friends in Denver, the rest of the nation has been getting cold. Really cold. So cold that there are swirling cyclones of polar bears flying across the country biting our faces off as soon as we walk outside. Well my friends, lets not get polar vortexed and instead stay inside and have a beer. But not just a beer, six beers, and not just beers, but barrel aged high ABV warming goodness. Let’s face it, when you want to be warm you need a drink that’s not only alcoholic, but one that has been aged in alcoholic vessels. So let’s not fool around anymore and get this barrel aged ultimate 6er started. Read More

Thirsty Dog Wulver

F.G. = 5.5°P, O.G. = 25°P

IBU’s = 22, 12% alc./vol.

Bourbon Barrel-Aged (BBA) Wulver along with BBA Siberian Night were first released in bottles to Akron, Ohio and neighboring … Read More

Stone Brewing Southern Charred

Stone Brewing Company- Southern Charred

IBU: 95

ABV: 12.5%

Stone Brewing Southern Charred reminds me of my childhood for a number of peculiar reasons. First, it should be noted that I originally hail from the great state of Kentucky. As a result, I’ve developed a natural affinity toward all beers Bourbon-barreled, and Southern Charred just so happens to fall into that category.

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Roundtable Discussion: Go-To Beer Styles

This weeks discussion revolves around the go-to beer styles of the writers here at PD. The question was posed as follows: When you walk into a new brewery or bar, what are the types or styles of beer that you will usually gravitate towards? Here are the responses to this weeks Roundtable Discussion. Read More

Thirsty Dog Bourbon Barrel-Aged Siberian Night

F.G = 5.5°P, O.G. = 22°P

IBU’s = 58, 10.9% alc./vol.

Thirsty Dog Brewing Company out of Akron, Ohio recently released two barrel-aged beers that have previously been draft only, these beers being Thirsty Dog Bourbon Barrel-Aged Wulver and Thirsty Dog Bourbon Barrel-Aged Siberian Night. Of course, I had to review my favorite style first. Bring on the Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout!
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Deschutes & Hair of the Dog – Conflux #1

ABV 11.6%

The craft beer industry is a collaborative world. When the great minds of two breweries come together, the results are often twice as good. The barrel aged project between Hair of the Dog and Deschutes that results in Conflux #1 is an excellent example of this collaborative style.  Read More

Boulder Beer – Rum Barrel Porter

ABV: 6%

Boulder Beer Company’s Rum Barrel Porter is another addition to their unique taproom-only offerings. I suspect this is not only a limited release but a nano batch as their regular lineup does not include a Porter. Oftentimes the more creative libations can only be found in a brewery’s taproom, so visit your local taproom often.

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Elevation Beer Co. – Signal De Botrange

ABV: 7.5%

IBU: 26

Distribution: Colorado

I’m a sucker for anything barrel-aged and I’m an even bigger sucker for trying beers from young breweries. There is nothing more fun than discovering a brewery in their fledgling stages and tasting their beers as they grow and improve. Its like following the way an artist, musician or author develops their style throughout their career. With both boxes checked, picking up Signal De Botrange on the shelf of my local liquor store was as natural for me as breathing. Read More

Left Hand – Wake Up Dead

Wake Up Dead Russian Imperial Stout – Left Hand Brewing, Longmont, CO

ABV: 10.2%

IBUs: 50

With it starting to get cooler (relatively) and breweries starting to release the bigger, … Read More