Abita barrel aging?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Rago, Apr 3, 2015.

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  1. Rago

    Rago Devotee (357) Nov 20, 2014 Georgia

    Hello, All.

    My local bottle shop posted on their Facebook:

    "From Abita Beer, we'll be pouring Growler & Crowler fills of a special cask-conditioned Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout, aged in Bourbon barrels!"​

    Abita's website details that they occasionally offer cask beer, however I can't find any info on BA or Abita's website about a barrel aged Macchiato Espresso Milk stout. Anyone heard of this?

    Thanks.
     
    #1 Rago, Apr 3, 2015
  2. deadonhisfeet

    deadonhisfeet Pooh-Bah (2,481) Apr 23, 2011 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    It might be a brewpub exclusive or "one-off". It's not at all unusual for brewers to bring a small keg of a rare experimental brew to a special event. Sometimes these beers can be superb, but very few people ever get to try them because so little is made and none of it is put into bottles.
     
    #2 deadonhisfeet, Apr 3, 2015
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  3. Rago

    Rago Devotee (357) Nov 20, 2014 Georgia

    I thought that might be the case.

    I had no idea.

    That sounds awesome. Thanks again for the info!
     
    #3 Rago, Apr 3, 2015
  4. maximum12

    maximum12 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,686) Jan 21, 2008 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm about 99% sure I saw this in a bottle on the shelf in MN yesterday, & I only remember it because I don't recall every seeing an Abita BA brew before. So if my memory isn't betraying me, it's definitely packaged & out in the wild.
     
    #4 maximum12, Apr 3, 2015
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  5. JM23

    JM23 Initiate (0) Mar 13, 2014 Ohio

    #5 JM23, Apr 3, 2015
  6. Rago

    Rago Devotee (357) Nov 20, 2014 Georgia

    Hey maximum12,

    Thanks for taking the time reply. I'll keep an eye out for it from now on.

    Also detailed on my local shop's aforementioned post, is that Abita's TN sales rep Michael Fondren will be there, so if I don't find it before then, I'll definitely ask him.

    Thanks again.
     
    #6 Rago, Apr 3, 2015
  7. leopoldmf

    leopoldmf Initiate (143) Apr 3, 2015 Mississippi

    We had a cask of this at Saltine in Jackson, MS a couple months ago. It was one of my favorites that Abita has brought in, certainly worth trying! Michael Fondren is a great rep too, take the time to chat with him.
     
    #7 leopoldmf, Apr 3, 2015
  8. sdeese21

    sdeese21 Initiate (0) Jan 29, 2015 Louisiana

    Indeed. The macchiato espresso milkstout is a one-off and has been hitting some local restaurants and bars. It is not currently being bottled but, as Abita continues to expand, it wouldn't surprise me if they eventually bottle this as I thought it was a great beer!
     
    #8 sdeese21, Apr 3, 2015
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  9. Rago

    Rago Devotee (357) Nov 20, 2014 Georgia

    Hey sdeese21,

    Thanks for taking the time to respond. I think you mean the bourbon barrel aged Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout, because the normal Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout has been bottled for a while as evidenced by it's BA profile, YouTube video reviews, etc.

    That's where my confusion came from. First of all I couldn't find any info about an existing bourbon barrel aged beer, and then after that my local shop will be serving that bourbon barrel aged beer on cask (in a firkin, and that's a whole new level of confusion for this beer newb :-) ).

    Confusing and exciting at the same time, I can't wait to just get there and try it!
     
    #9 Rago, Apr 3, 2015
  10. sdeese21

    sdeese21 Initiate (0) Jan 29, 2015 Louisiana

    You're correct as to what I meant! Also, if you're a fan of Abita, keep an eye out for some sours they'll be releasing very shortly.
     
    #10 sdeese21, Apr 3, 2015
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  11. Rago

    Rago Devotee (357) Nov 20, 2014 Georgia

    sdeese21,

    I'm jealous that you have restaurants serving barrel aged beer!

    That's another thing about this upcoming event at my local shop. As far as I know, the town that I live in is NOT a huge beer area, so I'm surprised that we're getting this cask brought to us.

    I'll let you guys know how it is after I try it!
     
    #11 Rago, Apr 3, 2015
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  12. Mshea805

    Mshea805 Initiate (0) Apr 12, 2014 California

    They had a firkin of this at Taproom in Lafayette, LA a couple of weeks ago and I think the whole foods bar there got it too. It was really good, the bar tenders told me Abita did a BA Baltic Porter awhile back that was awesome as well.
     
    #12 Mshea805, Apr 3, 2015
  13. deadonhisfeet

    deadonhisfeet Pooh-Bah (2,481) Apr 23, 2011 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    My local bottle shop has beer tastings every Friday. The Friday of Derby Weekend is always an all-bourbon-barrel-aged lineup. Last year, Abita provided a small keg of some barrel-aged stout or porter (wish I could remember the name of it). That stuff was awesome. It tasted like butterscotch candy. :grinning:
     
    #13 deadonhisfeet, Apr 3, 2015
  14. Beer-Revelry

    Beer-Revelry Initiate (0) Jan 10, 2015 Texas

    #14 Beer-Revelry, Apr 3, 2015
  15. donspublic

    donspublic Grand Pooh-Bah (3,552) Aug 4, 2014 Texas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    yes I have referred to the Abita Bourbon Street Imperial Stout as a gateway Bourbon Barrel beer. I gave this away as Christmas gifts to several friends. I was actually in the local World Market and saw where they had several lying around. Think I am going to go back and get them
     
    #15 donspublic, Apr 3, 2015
  16. EgadBananas

    EgadBananas Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2009 Louisiana

    Hi, The beer you're referencing is a special cask of our Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout that was aged in oak Bourbon barrels. This is not an extension of the Bourbon Street series, and it is not bottled. We only filled a small handful of casks, so it's worth checking out!

    Cheers!

    Evan
    Brewer at Abita Brewing Co.
     
    #16 EgadBananas, Apr 5, 2015
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  17. EgadBananas

    EgadBananas Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2009 Louisiana

    I'm curious were you're getting your information? If we indeed begin a sour program, it will be in no way "very shortly". Our Brewmaster is pretty adamant about eliminating cross contamination, so the only chance of a sour program relies on making a facility that segregates from the clean beer. Being that the expansion construction is still a ways from completion, we are far from having a facility made, let alone producing beer.
     
    #17 EgadBananas, Apr 6, 2015
  18. sdeese21

    sdeese21 Initiate (0) Jan 29, 2015 Louisiana

    @EgadBananas Wrong brewery, my apologies. One should never drink and post!
     
    #18 sdeese21, Apr 6, 2015
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  19. JamesStreet

    JamesStreet Pooh-Bah (2,049) May 9, 2013 Louisiana
    Pooh-Bah

    @sdeese21, I think you are referring to NOLA brewing for the Sours.
     
    #19 JamesStreet, Apr 6, 2015
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  20. Rago

    Rago Devotee (357) Nov 20, 2014 Georgia

    Thanks for replying, Evan.

    A tight beer budget makes it difficult to try as many beers as one would like, so I've yet to try a single Abita beer.

    By taking the time to answer my question you have earned my business. I'll buy a growler (32oz) of this beer, and maybe one or two other Abita beers while I'm at the shop.

    Anyone interested in this event can read my post about it here.

    Thanks again Evan.
     
    #20 Rago, Apr 7, 2015
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