Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer

These are a Strong Ale aged in either a wooden barrel or in contact with wood.

Strong Ale - A catch-all style category for beers from 7 percent alcohol by volume and above. Some may even be as high as 20 percent ABV. As a result, color, aroma, and flavor characteristics will greatly vary; some have similarities to Barleywines and Old Ales.

Wood and Barrel Aged Strong Beers are aged with the intention of developing unique attributes imparted by the wood and/or by liquids that had previously been stored in contact with the wood.
Wood aging does not necessarily impart wood flavors, but does result in distinctive sensory outcomes. Used sherry, rum, whiskey, tequila, port, wine and other barrels are often used, imparting complexity and uniqueness to a beer. A balance of aroma, flavor and mouthfeel results from the marriage of new beer with attributes imparted by the wood or barrel.

We age our Mighty Ale (Strong Ale 8%) in Jim Beam Barrels and add local NH Maple Syrup. Call it Bourbon Oaked Mighty.

-Color -Varies with underlying style – lighter than Stout or Darker ale

-Clarity: Varies with underlying style

-Perceived Malt Aroma & Flavor: Varies with underlying style – usually higher Malt character, sweeter less hoppy

-Hop Aroma and Flavor and Bitterness Varies with underlying style

-Body: Varies with underlying style

-ABV: > 6.3%

-Glassware: Belgian Style glass / Snifter


Examples (courtesy of Beer Advocate)
(https://www.beeradvocate.com)

Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale - Barrel-Aged | Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Brewed by:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Ken Grossman – need you on Podcast!)
California, United States
sierranevada.com

Style: American Barleywine

Alcohol by volume (ABV): 12.20%

Bigfoot is a beast of a beer, brimming with bold flavors of bittersweet malt and heaps of aggressive whole-cone Pacific Northwest hops. First introduced in the winter of 1983, Bigfoot is a cult-classic beer brewed in the barleywine style, meaning a strong, robust, bruiser of a beer with the refined intensity of a wine. Bigfoot is prized by beer collectors for its supreme cellarability. Under the proper conditions, it can age like a fine wine, developing new flavors and character as it matures in the bottle. Each new release or “expedition” is vintage dated. Collect your own and see the flavors develop and progress.


Arrogant Bastard Ale - Bourbon Barrel-Aged | Arrogant Consortia (Stone Brewing)

Brewed by:
Arrogant Consortia
California, United States
arrogantconsortia.com

Style: American Strong Ale (Mitch Steele – need you on Podcast!)


Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.10%

I awake from a slumber that’s been anything but peaceful. I feel stronger yet somehow more nimble and refined. I have been born anew and, in the process, anointed with vibrant, inspiring, previously unexperienced character, all while maintaining everything I am and have always been—bold, bullish, unadulterated, and yes, Arrogant. Are you Worthy of quaffing a beverage of this intensity, irreverence and quality craftsmanship? Not likely, but for those who “get it,” I know my time in this bourbon barrel has not been wasted. Cheers to you, enlightened imbiber. On second thought, cheers to me!

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Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NH

Michael Potorti
Founder/Brewer
Host of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcast
michael@craftbeerstorm.com
michael@bearairishbrew.com

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