Why Barrel Beer When You Can Just Add The Bourbon Yourself???

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by archiebunkerjr, Jun 8, 2013.

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  1. archiebunkerjr

    archiebunkerjr Pundit (910) Oct 25, 2010 Michigan
    Trader

    Hi folks. I wanted to introduce myself to this forum and pose the question that I stated in the subject area. My name is Scott and I live between Grand Rapids and Lansing Michigan. I'm blessed to have ready access to some outstanding craft brewers near me. Lansing is pretty barren right now but Hopcat will be opening in downtown Lansing in the fall and I'm pretty excited about that.

    But on to the subject of this thread. Why not just add your own bourbon to your beer? I just added a shot of Four Roses Single Barrel bourbon to my Founder's Breakfast Stout. I'm really enjoying it. I don't pretend to have a sophisticated palate but I can't tell much difference between my beer right now and some of the Founder's KBS I have had in the past.

    I'm curious to hear other's thoughts on the subject. Thanks.
     
    #1 archiebunkerjr, Jun 8, 2013
  2. shutyourface

    shutyourface Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2010 Washington

    Oak in the barrel adds quite a bit of flavor.
     
    #2 shutyourface, Jun 8, 2013
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  3. lunarbrew

    lunarbrew Initiate (0) Mar 11, 2013 Wisconsin

    Not simply the oak, but the aging process adds and changes the flavor drastically in barrels. For that matter, the general aging process in any fermentation vessel allows the yeast to "clean" off flavors of the beer and develop the flavors we love in bourbon beers: toffee, vanilla, oak, chocolate, etc... Think of it like marinading a steak.
     
    #3 lunarbrew, Jun 8, 2013
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  4. Gtreid

    Gtreid Initiate (0) Mar 27, 2008 Florida

    This.

    And this.
     
    #4 Gtreid, Jun 8, 2013
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  5. mcrago

    mcrago Pundit (839) Oct 6, 2012 Indiana

    I don't do shortcuts.
     
    #5 mcrago, Jun 8, 2013
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  6. Smakawhat

    Smakawhat Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,191) Mar 18, 2008 Maryland
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    You can, but both drinks are full of nuances on their own that deserve there own platform..

    plus (imo)

    It's not anywhere close to the real thing...
     
    #6 Smakawhat, Jun 8, 2013
  7. teal

    teal Zealot (589) May 3, 2012 Wisconsin


    Except conjunctions.... :wink:
     
    #7 teal, Jun 8, 2013
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  8. mcrago

    mcrago Pundit (839) Oct 6, 2012 Indiana

    Same amount of keystrokes. That has got to count for something.
     
    #8 mcrago, Jun 8, 2013
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  9. Mandark

    Mandark Zealot (587) Apr 8, 2008 Illinois

    + 1 for humility and +1 for spelling "palate" correctly :stuck_out_tongue:

    I added some Whistlepig to a Founders RIS once and while it wasn't bad it certainly didn't taste anything like what I'd imagine a version of that beer barrel aged by Founders would have tasted like.

    I think shutyourface and lunarbrew covered this idea pretty well.
     
    #9 Mandark, Jun 9, 2013
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  10. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Grand Pooh-Bah (3,113) Jan 24, 2011 England
    Pooh-Bah

    The same reason they put whisky in barrels rather than just adding sherry, port or whatever. You get the subtle colours and flavours, rather than just a general whisky taste and heat.
     
    #10 CwrwAmByth, Jun 9, 2013
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  11. randjuke

    randjuke Zealot (608) Feb 13, 2010 Iowa
    Trader

    I've toyed with idea of keeping a bottle of bourbon with some oak cubes in it to pour into stouts. My gut feeling is it won't work since you won't get the integration of flavors aging brings.
     
    #11 randjuke, Jun 9, 2013
  12. CAbeerCAbeerCA

    CAbeerCAbeerCA Initiate (0) Mar 3, 2011 Maryland

    5 vs 6, if you include space bar. :wink:
     
    #12 CAbeerCAbeerCA, Jun 9, 2013
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  13. geocool

    geocool Savant (1,233) Jun 21, 2006 Massachusetts

    I'd say you grew up well after the Schoolhouse Rock years and that's why you don't know the difference between a contraction and a conjunction.
     
    #13 geocool, Jun 9, 2013
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  14. teal

    teal Zealot (589) May 3, 2012 Wisconsin

    Or I spent my formative years reading literature and not much in the way of grammar books.
     
    #14 teal, Jun 9, 2013
  15. UT-Alex

    UT-Alex Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2012 Texas

    If there wasn't a difference I'm sure breweries would just add the liquor themselves. Having a barrel room isn't cheap.
     
    #15 UT-Alex, Jun 9, 2013
  16. elfcounsul

    elfcounsul Devotee (363) Nov 6, 2008 Kentucky


    I've had Conjunctivitis. Does that count?
     
    #16 elfcounsul, Jun 9, 2013
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  17. elfcounsul

    elfcounsul Devotee (363) Nov 6, 2008 Kentucky


    Burn the oak a bit, to get some of the charcoal flavor.
     
    #17 elfcounsul, Jun 9, 2013
  18. iguenard

    iguenard Zealot (594) Jan 30, 2006 Canada (QC)
    Trader

    Like it says on the walls of Cantillon... "Time does not respect that which is made without it".
     
    #18 iguenard, Jun 9, 2013
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  19. barleywinefiend

    barleywinefiend Initiate (0) Nov 22, 2007 Washington

    Try pouring some red wine next...
     
    #19 barleywinefiend, Jun 9, 2013
  20. Jacob007

    Jacob007 Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2012 New Hampshire
    Trader

    If it was that easy, brewers would just pour in some black velvet and charge a premium.
     
    #20 Jacob007, Jun 9, 2013
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