Best Barrel Program, State by State

I wouldn't say Heavy Seas wins hands down for MD. Yes, the Uncharted Waters series has been very good and I do seek those beers out, but I think Evolution has a better barrel aging program. I would say that Fall Migration is on the same level as Stillwarer's wine barrel aged beers. The first batch of Nouveau Rouge was amazing. Natural Selection was the only beer that Evolution put in barrels that didn't turn out great. The edge that Heavy seas has is price, usually $5-8 cheaper, and it's easier to find.

 

personally, I would say DuClaw is the better BA program in MD (the rest of their brews are crap though)

 

I still find crooked stave to be hit or miss. One day I really enjoy a batch, a month later its a mineral bomb. As a homebrewer I like working with brett, but it is unpredictable. Chad has come a long way with his beers and yeast strains, but for the money there is just way too much of a chance for me to buy his beers.

 

I take it you're not a reserve member? All of those have been on point imo. I've never had a bad Vielle or St. Bretta either. Raspberry Dark Origins blew my mind.

 

I didn't care for that beer specifically, but agree that Clown Shoes does make some some great barreled beers.

 

THANK YOU!!!! The FUN series has been really good.

Also St Arnold, just wish it was a little easier to get. Their barrel program is young but developing well IMO.

 

Real Ale has a barrel program???

 

Wow, that really surprises me. I had the Woodford BA Wake N Bake back in October and thought the bourbon overpowered the beer. I wonder if the one you had was a different batch. I saw it was a Wake N Bake Vs Yeti but didn't make it down, it looked cool though.

 

Yup, Mysterium Verum series. I think tap only, but Scots Gone Wild, Empire, The Kraken are a few off the top of my head.

http://realalebrewing.com/beers/mysterium

 

Very well put. I think MD is getting much better with local BA beers. Heavy Seas has the cheapest and most available BA options. DuClaw probably has the most recognizable BA beers with stuff like Retribution. Evolution is really coming into their own especially with their first sour. Glad to see them not just use bourbon barrels. However, I'm most excited to see Burley Oak's emergence since their history is that of a cooperage and they are very into barrels. Stillwater is in there too, but his options are much harder to get your hands on.

However, MD's sour program is almost non-existent (to my knowledge) outside of Evolution's Nouveau Rouge and Burley Oak's rare sours for local events (but that might change soon).

 

MA = Cambridge Brewing Company

 

Totally agree with you here. Red Brick does an excellent job at many of their barrel aged beers. And that Wild Heaven Ode to Mercy Winter is delicious.

To expand on Terrapin's one offs, I live a few miles from Terrapin and would say that they have a pretty good barrel program when they choose to utilize. They regularly have a few casks of Moo Hoo that've been bourbon barrel aged with fresh crushed cherries or some other fruit that is generally fantastic. Even counting that, I still think Red Brick makes better barrel aged beers.

 

The term "barrel program" is so fucking punchable

Ironically, it's made dicky dorks of so many beer lovers.

 

Maybe somebody else pointed it out too but Boulevard is in Missouri

 

Just had a summer st bretta and veille a month ago that were both mineral bombs. There's a lot of hullabaloo over dicetyl issues in this years persica as well. Like I said, some of his beers are great, but others have changed so much in such a short time that I cant fathom spending the scratch on them any more.

 

In MO:
#1 is Perennial/Side Project: no question about, nobody else comes close

Otherwise, Boulevard has done some nice stuff. Also 4 Hands and 2nd Shift have been bringing the heat recently.

 

New Glarus hardly has a barrel aged program. As is referenced later in this thread, Central Waters is miles ahead of anyone else in Wisconsin.

 

Tap only is bullshit. Bottle that goodness!!!!

 

For Massachusetts the winner hands down goes to CBC.

Jacks Abby takes second place for their bourbon barrel releases and growing sour/wine barrels. Nightshift, Mystic and Clown Shoes are notable mentions, in that order.

 

I just saw a video for Beard envy last week and need that in my life. All of the beers from the brick mason series have been awesome. I too have been on a barleywine kick lately. Ever since I tasted BCBW .