Aging beer in retired bourbon barrels isn’t anything new. In fact, within the confines of this site you’ll find plenty of reviews for a variety of such beers including stouts, porters, IPAs and barleywines. This, however, will be my first Old Ale that’s matured in any sort of barrel.

And aged it has been. Karl Strauss set aside this Old Ale for 12 full months, letting the beer pull from the retired barrels all of the bourbony goodness it could. The beer has a bourbon character that I would describe as moderate, yet delicate. You would think that after a year in barrels the beer would be more bourbon-forward in terms of it’s flavor, but it’s actually quite approachable — hell, my wife (who isn’t a bourbon fan) kept stealing sips from my glass.

I’ve had the opportunity to sample many of this brewery’s beers over the past couple of years as they have experimented with barrel aging. The progression and craftsmanship that has evolved with regard to these specialty brews is impressive. Each release of this fashion just keeps getting better and better.

Appearance

The beer pours copper in color with a quickly dropping light tan head.

Aroma

There’s a strong vanilla/oak presence up front with a decent amount of caramel, a touch of raison and a glorious bourbon character. Unlike many of the barrel aged beers I’ve had, this one doesn’t reek of bourbon/booze or overwhelm the senses. That’s impressive considering this beer weighs in at 12.2% ABV.

Taste

Oh man, this thing is smooth. This unblended beer starts off with solid vanilla and bourbon notes that transition slowly over caramel malt and dark fruits. It doesn’t taste boozy and is deceptively drinkable though the higher ABV does leave a bit of a glowing warmth in the chest. The bourbon is definitely present, but it’s on a level that is delicate and refined. There’s a touch of hop bitterness late in the finish. As smooth and approachable as this beer is, it is still a big beer that doesn’t mess around. It’s definitely a sipper.

Overall

Drinking a beer like this, it’s easy to see why I’ve praised this brewery in just about every review of their products that I’ve done. This 23rd Anniversary release is well balanced, smooth, full flavored and a treat to enjoy. I’m still amazed at the refined bourbon character that the beer carries. The brewery has done a great job not letting the barrel overtake the Old Ale in terms of it’s flavor. This still tastes like a beer — just one that spent a good length of time in barrels that fully complimented it’s natural character. Well done, Karl Strauss!

Rating: 4/5

This is a review of a promotional sample received from the brewery.

To say that I was pleasantly surprised to find this bottle of Odell Brewing’s Friek awaiting my arrival home a couple of days ago would be an understatement. Let’s just say I frieked out. You see what I did there? Cause the beer is called Friek… frieked out…No?

Anyway…

Friek is hybrid amalgamation inspired by Framboise (Lambic fermented with raspberries) and Kriek (Lambic fermented with sour cherries) varieties of beer. The brewery starts out with a blend of “multiple” Kriek ales that are fermented with wild yeasts and tart cherries before being moved to oak barrels for a little maturing. Right before the final blending, fresh local raspberries are added. The result is a beer that captures both aspects of the different Lambics — the sweet and the tart — in a beer that is lively and packed full of flavor.

Appearance

Friek pours a peachy rosé in color with a faintly pink, effervescent head that bubbles excitedly for a moment before disappearing. Through the unfiltered beer, single column of continuous carbonation rises to the surface.

Aroma

For the most part, the sour notes, cherries and wild funk dominate the nose, as hints of raspberries, wood and a subtle sweetness come and go. For a lambic, it’s got a fairly balanced nose.

Taste

Oh man, I can see why this beer won gold at this year’s Great American Beer Festival® (Wood and Barrel Aged Sour Beer category). It’s got everything at just the right levels. The sour tartness provided by the cherries, wild yeasts, lactobacillus and pediococcus carry the weight of the flavors as oaky and fruity raspberry notes join in on the fun. The mouthfeel is crisp and active, adding a touch of sharpness on the palate that accentuates the beer’s tart nature. The lingering finish is a mix of sweet and sour elements hangs around for a nice while. At 6.5% ABV, there’s no alcohol presence in the flavors.

Overall

I thoroughly enjoyed this beer. It’s not as tart as some lambics, but still packs a solid sour character. The moderate levels of tartness and the wood come together nicely in this well balanced and tasty beer. It’s not a brew that I would describe as easy drinking, as it’s sour tartness may not be for those just getting into craft beer. I’d love to see how this one fairs with a little time in the cellar.

Rating: 4.5/5

This is a review of a promotional sample received from the brewery.

Any one who spends five minutes on this site will undoubtedly run into a post where I proclaim my love for all things stout with a fanatical devotion. So any time I get the opportunity to sample a beer of that style, my insides are just waiting to burst out with excitement. It was all I could do to contain myself when this sample of Bourbon Barrel Stout arrived from Odell Brewing Company a couple of weeks ago.

I wanted to tear into the bottle the moment it arrived, but I decided to hold off a few days and crack it open a few days later to commemorate the first International Stout Day on November 3rd. The bottle taunted me for several days, but I my resolve remained strong until I finally allowed myself to open it up. It was worth the torture.

Odell Brewing takes a solid Imperial Stout and ages it for four months in Kentucky bourbon barrels (which brand, I’m not aware of) before shipping it out. The end result of that time is a big beer with hints of bourbon, wood, vanilla, coffee and chocolate — everything you want in a beer of this nature.

Appearance

The beer pours a near-black, dark brown with a large, dense mocha head.

Aroma

It certainly smells the part as healthy doses of woody scents, bourbon, dark chocolate and a hint of roasted coffee fill the nose.

Taste

Now this is a tasty brew. The level of bourbon is just right, sitting at a moderate level that isn’t distracting to the palate nor so faint that you struggle to pick it up. It mingles nicely with hints of oak and vanilla while the dark chocolate and roast coffee come forward toward the back end of each swallow. The beer is smooth on the tongue with a full mouthfeel and is deceptively drinkable considering it’s 11.5% ABV.

Overall

I usually don’t have to look to hard to find something in any stout to like, but Odell Brewing’s latest Bourbon Barrel Stout release makes it so I don’t even have to look all that hard. The brew isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty darn close with all of the tasty elements that I personally love in a big beer like this.

Rating: 4.5/5

This is a review of a promotional sample received from the brewery.

“We tweaked the process this year, to meet and maintain our highest quality standard,” said Brent Cordle, brewer and barrel aging manager for Odell Brewing. “We selected Woodford Reserve barrels for the 2011 batch, and the freshly emptied barrels were immediately shipped to us cold which preserved the integrity of the barrel and the beautiful bourbon flavor.”

Bourbon Barrel Stout has notes of sweet milk chocolate, smooth vanilla and roasted coffee beans. Upon barrel aging, traces of oak and caramel come forward. The bourbon barrels have a remarkable effect on the beer. In turn, the beer has a remarkable effect on the senses.

Odell Brewing will mark the return with a celebration on September 24th in the brewery’s tap room. Guests can enjoy samples of the beer, local food truck fare as well as live music by the Buzz Brothers band from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Bourbon Barrel Stout will be available in 750ml bottles throughout the brewery’s ten state distributor network.

Weyerbacher’s Blithering Idiot is a hell of a barleywine. In fact, it’s one of my wife’s favorites to steal from me enjoy during the year’s colder months. It ages wonderfully and, in my opinion could only be improved by doing something like, you know, barrel aging it.

That’s exactly what the Pennsylvania brewery has done with Insanity (a beer I’ve only just found recently). They’ve taken a very tasty 11.10% ABV barleywine and aged it in retired bourbon barrels. Luckily for me, the wife doesn’t like bourbon so the other bottle should be safe for some time.

The additional barrel aging doesn’t so much as redefine the barleywine so much as it augments the already existing character while adding a little something extra. Having tried this beer fresh (2011 bottling), I can see it improving that much more with some time in the basement.

Appearance

Insanity pours a brilliant copper with a quickly descending tan head.

Aroma

Wow. Dark fruits, hops, sweet malts, a touch of vanilla, oak and booze all combine for a nose that entices and teases. It’s not overly bourbon-y smelling which makes for a fairly balanced nose.

Taste

There’s the bourbon. The taste of this beer reflects the nose almost to a tee. A full, slightly viscous mouthfeel carries notes of raisin, oak and leafy hops around the tongue as waves of bourbon come and go as they please. This is a richly complex beer with hints of caramel and vanilla to accompany a trailing warmth that glows in the chest with each sip. Served at 55°, the beer only got better as it warmed to room temperature.

Overall

Again, wow. I’m not entirely sure how long the Blithering Idiot is aged in the barrels, but I can’t imagine the beer coming out any better than this. Weyerbacher already had a tasty barleywine on their hands, but have completely hit a home run with this bourbon barrel aged version. I can’t wait to see how the last bottle ages.

Rating: 4.5/5

At any rate, I’m pretty sure anyone who witnessed my exit from the store with these two bottles in hand more than likely saw me skipping to my car like a gleeful little school girl. Yes, I was that excited.

Parabola is a beer that has been around for a few years, but has mostly been utilized in anniversary and one-off blends. Last year was the first time, I believe, that Firestone Walker released it on its own and to great acclaim. I missed out on the brewery’s initial run, but was lucky enough to grab a couple of bottles from the second batch of this 13% ABV Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout. So far, it has blown my expectations out of the water.

Come to daddy.

Appearance

With a quickly fading dark mocha head, Parabola sits beautifully in a snifter. It’s dark brown color outlines by a glowing mahogany edge.

Aroma

This beer smells heavenly. It’s balanced nose is comprised of roast coffee, wisps of smooth bourbon, dark chocolate, a hint of vanilla, a light woodiness and a welcoming touch of booze.

Taste

In a word: wow! Super smooth bourbon notes hang around for a good long while from the first moment the it touches the tongue to the lingering, lightly hopped finish. Sweet chocolate, a light cigar character, roast espresso beans and a warming bit of alcohol all come together in all the right proportions before fading slowly to a dry finish that has hints of wood, pepper and hop bitterness. For a 13% ABV product, I’m surprised at how smooth and drinkable this beer it #151; there’s no lingering burn from the alcohol.

Overall

This is, hands down, one of the best and smoothest barrel aged stouts I’ve ever enjoyed, and I’ve done my best to drink my fair share. I’m thrilled to have finally had the opportunity to try Parabola, but also a bit bummed as I’m now down to only the single bottle.

Rating: 4.75/5

This bottle of Barrel Aged Brrrbon is, hands down, the best Widmer Brothers beer I’ve ever had. I’ve never had the regular Brrr Seasonal that the brewery releases, so I’m unable to compare it to this bourbon barrel aged version, not that I think it would matter in this case anyways.

Barrel Aged Brrrbon has a fairly prominent bourbon and oaky character that many beers of this style tend to lack. I’m not entirely sure how long the Brrr Seasonal was aged in the barrels, but it comes out tasting pretty damned good to me. I love the spicy hops that intermingle with the barrel influence throughout this 9.4% ABV sipper.

Appearance

Deep amber in color, Barrel Aged Brrrbon sits nicely in a snifter with a thin white head.

Aroma

Mmmm… smells darn good. A fairly strong malt sweetness mingles with hints of bourbon, wood, vanilla and light, piny hops.

Taste

I’m surprised by the amount of hops that come forward almost immediately. Spicy and piny in nature the hops character blends nicely with the vanilla and bourbon components as the beer transitions to a warming, lingering finish. The bourbon isn’t overly accentuated on the palate, but is at just the right level for my liking — present and influential without dominating the other elements of the beer.

Overall

I’m a big fan of bourbon and therefor a big fan of a tasty brew that’s been aged in spent barrels for a good while. This Widmer Brothers beer may not be the best of the bunch that I’ve enjoyed, but it’s a damn strong entry into the field from a brewery whose best known (in my mind) for a Hefeweizen — although I could certainly go for some Drifter Pale Ale right about now. At any rate, it’s a tasty brew, that I wish I had picked up more of for a little time in the basement.

Rating:4/5

Sours may not ever replace the stout as my favorite style of beer, but it’s a genre that I have been more and more interested in over the past year or so. I find their tartness and complete opposite-of-stout character intriguing and, to a degree, infectiously refreshing.

New Holland’s 13th Anniversary blend of select barrel aged sours was just what I needed the other week. It was fairly warm outside considering the time of year and I was in the mood for something different yet refreshing. That’s when I remembered a treat sitting in the basement. This particular bottle was purchased a couple of months ago, so I haven’t had possession of it all that long. I also, unfortunately, don’t have notes on a fresh bottle to compare against this 2010 vintage.

Appearance

Blue Sunday poured a clear reddish brown in color with an almost effervescent head that rose quickly and noisily before relaxing to a patchy film.

Aroma

There’s a load of lemony tartness on the nose with a touch of wood and a hint of berries. There’s no real “wild” character to it and only the lightest bit of funkiness.

Taste

Wow. The tartness in this beer hits quickly and immediately with a sharpness that fades smoothly to a comfortable, lemony bite. The oak is in there as well, adding a light woody character and a welcome hint of vanilla that complimented the tartness and light berry flavors that come into play. There’s a light malt sweetness that helps tame the tartness a little toward the back end. Again, it’s not as funky as I would have expected (or hoped). There is a light barnyard character that adds to the tartness, but it’s at a pretty low level or I just wasn’t able to pick it up all that much.

Overall

I really enjoyed this beer. The tartness in this beer is mean and does take some time to adjust to, but once you’re comfortable with it, the rest of the flavors (oak, berry, vanilla) all start to come out a bit more. It’s one of those beers for established fans of sours and not your average, casual craft beer drinker — the sharp tart nature of the beer is not for the faint of heart.

Rating:3.75/5

This one landed on the front steps right as we sat down to dinner and if I didn’t have this freelance design work to take care of tonight, there would have been bits of wax stuck between my teeth as I did whatever was necessary to open this bottle.

Karl Strauss’ 22nd Anniversary beer is a blend of imperial stouts. The first 25% was aged for three months in American oak bourbon barrels with the addition of Madagascar vanilla beans thrown in. The other 75% is fresh Russian Imperial Stout. Man, if that doesn’t sound good, I don’t know what does. I can’t wait to get into this bottle over the weekend!

A Baltic Porter aged in Port wine barrels? Sign me up!

Parrot in a Palm Tree is the latest little creation from Karl Strauss Brewing Company — one of the more inventive group of brewers I’ve had the opportunity to work with. This brew is a blend of a Baltic Porter that has been aged for several months in tawny port barrels which has then been mixed with a fresh batch of the same recipe. I’m not sure of the percentage of each portion of the blend, but the port influence on the beer is subtle and refined, enhancing the porter’s already fruity characteristics instead of dominating it.

As the brewery has done with several of their more recent experiments in brewing they have managed to create a well balanced beer that is quite easy to drink and full flavored. The company’s 21st Anniversary Ale is probably my favorite of the two wine barrel-aged beers I’ve enjoyed from them, but Parrot in a Palm Tree is still a damn tasty combination of flavors.

Karl Strauss Parrot in a Palm Tree

Appearance

As noted in the photo above, Parrot in a Palm Tree pours with a pretty darn large head that was tan in color. The beer was a dark brown that revealed a garnet hue when held up to the light.

Aroma

The nose on the brew was pretty subtle with hints of roasted coffee, chocolate, raisin and plum mingling together. There’s also a touch of pepper and a little woodiness in the mix.

Taste

The flavors within this brew started out a bit too subtle, but as the beer warmed in the glass, more and more characteristics began to reveal themselves — no single component becoming too dominating. Roasted coffee, chocolates, raisin, plum, a little oak and a touch of warming alcohol (8.5% ABV) in the finish all come together in this well balanced brew. It’s a little thin on the mouthfeel (I’d like to see it a touch fuller), but that shouldn’t affect your overall enjoyment.

Overall

Parrot in a Palm Tree is a smooth drinking porter that has that little something extra added with the port barrel aging. I’m curious to know how the beer tasted prior to the blending with the non-barrel influenced portion. At any rate, it’s a unique take on the Baltic Porter that fans of the style should check out.

Rating: 3.5/5