Voodoo Brewing Vintage Showcase: Barrel-Aged Beer Icons Reviewed

The craft beer landscape has done a complete 180. Newer generations are reaching for different experiences – or skipping alcohol altogether. The NA industry is booming, and we’ve witnessed the heartbreaking closure of countless breweries that once defined the golden era of beer. It really puts things into perspective. Lately, I’ve caught myself reminiscing about those “OG” beers, the barrel-aged classics, and the breweries behind them – hunting down bottles I once missed, trying to capture in a time capsule the moments this new generation might never experience. One brewery that continues to adapt and endure through this industry low point is Voodoo Brewing Company. Since 2005, these guys have been shaping the scene and influencing brewers worldwide, showing no signs of slowing down.

So with that in mind, we thought it would be fun to spotlight some dusty Voodoo favorites from the past decade that made serious noise in craft beer. Master Brewer Curt Rachocki is a true artist – he built one of the world’s top barrel programs at Voodoo. Huge thanks to their team for helping us secure the bottles featured here. This Pennsylvania crew was truly ahead of their time.

Voodoo Brewing isn’t just preserving craft beer history, they’re shaping its future.
Their innovative Hydrogen Hop Water proves that even in an alcohol-free era, creativity and craft can thrive.

True OGs

Since 2005, Voodoo Brewing has been redefining what versatility looks like in craft beer. From their Meadville roots to nationwide expansion, the team’s obsessive attention to detail and fearless experimentation have kept them among the most respected names in the industry. Over the years we’ve covered everything in their portfolio from one of their most coveted barrel-aged beers to a hoppy classic, and even wandered into the realm of hydrogen-infused hop water.

Now we want to turn back the clock again. With countless options of classic beers to choose from, Voodoo pulled 3 beers from the cellar that serve as fantastic examples of their Barrel Room Collection from the last 7 years. We want to give a giant thank you to Voodoo CMO Tom Guzick for providing some incredible pieces of Voodoo history that we are able to share with you all. This is not the first time we’ve worked with Tom, and he has always been so generous and supportive of everything we’ve looked to involve them with. You’re a legend, Guz!

About Зангиеф (Zangief) – 2018

The lore behind this beer dates all the way back to 2016, when Curt Rachocki set out to brew the biggest, baddest stout that Voodoo had ever produced. Fast forward 24 months, Зангиеф was born.

Weighing in at 14.6%, this bold, thick, viscous Russian Imperial Stout spent 19 months in High West whiskey barrels before being bottled in January 2018 and released soon after. This first batch of Zangief is what we have for review, a beer that set the stage not only for subsequent batches, but also as the core base for some of Voodoo’s most sought after blends.

Our Review of Зангиеф (Zangief) – 2018

Bottled 1/19/2018, #1219.

Things kick off with this beer’s pitch black, cascading pour. There’s a nice brown head of foam that settles low and is quick to dissipate. After a few moments it’s completely flat in the glass.

The nose is a great bouquet of baking cocoa, burnt caramel, and vanilla beans. Undertones of whiskey-soaked oak add additional layers of complexity to this no-bullshit non-adjunct expression.

This beer still has so much life – Voodoo BRC beers just age so beautifully. Oak with hints of smoke and astringency. Roasty malt and medium roast coffee. There’s an almost maple-like sweetness that rides along the background and helps to tie everything up as finishing notes of bittering dark fruits hit the backend of the palate and pave the way for this beer’s long finish.

Smooth feel with good carbonation, fantastic length, and an amazingly approachable heat given the nearly 15% ABV.

About 2 Live Gran Cru: Greatest Hits Vol. 5 – 2022

The Greatest Hits series from Voodoo sought to create blends of some of the brewery’s most acclaimed beers – or, Greatest Hits – and then age them in some of the most highly sought after casks.

This series was introduced back in 2013, but after two releases in ‘13 and another in 2014, the series didn’t make a comeback until all the way in 2021 with Volume 4. Volume 5 released the following year, a brewer’s blend of Black Magick, Зангиеф and a new, unreleased stout aged in bourbon and double oak bourbon barrels for 32-35 months.

Our Review of 2 Live Gran Cru: Greatest Hits Vol. 5 – 2022

Volume 5 boasts a deep, dark pour, with dark brown head buildup that climbs to about a quarter inch before slowly dissipating into a barely discernible ring around the body of the beer.

The nose is a great balance of whiskey-drenched raisins, smoked malt, and aged leather. I’d read that the barrel character was a bit abrasive when fresh, but it has mellowed so nicely. With time and temp there’s a nice layering of crispy sheet pan brownies.

The palate brings more of the same – a barrel-aged masterclass. Bourbon comes on full force – burn caramel, smoked vanilla, whiskey-soaked staves, and a touch of astringency. On the backend of the palate is a touch of drying cocoa and nuttiness.

The weight to this is medium-full, balanced expertly by a low but present carbonation. The length is fantastic and the warmth is felt in the pit of your stomach and well into the next sip.

About αphotic – Buffalo Trace, 2022

This series was one that kicked off in late 2019, another beer that was over two years in the making. Put simply, it was the darkest beer that Voodoo had ever created. Named from the Greek ἀ- + φῶς – meaning “without light” – it draws inspiration from the oceanic depths where less than 1% of light can reach.

The 2022 batch was the 7th different variation of αphotic, and the second of two released that year. Like with batch 1, this vintage was also aged in Buffalo Trace barrels, this time in 9-year bourbon casks where the beer rested for over 35 months.

Our Review of αphotic – Buffalo Trace, 2022

Bottled 11/23/2022.

The pour is pitch black. A small level of brown head swirls up momentarily, but is quick to recede back into the body of the beer.

The nose layers dry baking chocolate over barrel predominance – bourbon-soaked oak, smoke, treated leather, and a touch of fruit.

The palate brings much more of the same as what we found on the nose, however with a bit more complexity. Sweeter than expected, with roasty undertones lifting that oaky aggression. Stewed dark fruits make a return, softening the overall rigid complexion of this beer. On the finish to accompany noticeable heat are appropriately sprinkled notes of firewood and smoked bourbon.

The mouthfeel rides a great line between being smooth and still retaining weight. The carbonation level is perfect. At 12.3% ABV this one is hot, but the length is fantastic and there’s a hint of residual astringency that helps to cut the high levels of ethanol warmth.

Enduring Mastery

Nearly two decades into their journey, Voodoo Brewing continues to prove why their barrel program stands among the most respected in craft beer. The three beers we’ve revisited here — Зангиеф, 2 Live Gran Cru: Greatest Hits Vol. 5, and αphotic – each represent a different chapter in the evolution of that program, and together they showcase the unparalleled depth, balance, and vision that define Voodoo’s approach to aging and blending. These aren’t just exceptional beers; they’re living testaments to a philosophy built on patience, precision, and relentless creativity.

Even with longtime Head Brewer Curt Rachocki now in a new role as Emeritus Brewer, his influence remains deeply ingrained in every barrel that leaves Meadville. His decades of work helped cement Voodoo as one of the true pioneers of American barrel-aging – a brewery that shaped styles, inspired peers, and redefined what craft beer could be. Under new leadership, the team continues to carry that legacy forward, producing world-class releases that prove Voodoo is still very much a force to be reckoned with.

The beers featured here are more than just nostalgia pieces – they’re reminders that craftsmanship, when rooted in passion and purpose, can endure any shift in the landscape. In an era where the industry continues to evolve, Voodoo Brewing remains a beacon of consistency, artistry, and timeless innovation. Stay tuned as we’ll have more very old *hint hint* Voodoo beers featured on the site soon!