Oak Aged IPAs?

Miss rumble. I remember the first time I had white oak jai alai. At first I wasn’t a fun but it grew on me and began to love it. Sadly I never see it in my area.

unfortunately, I don’t know any and can’t be of any help. Hopefully someone has some suggestions that are available in my area as well.

 

very little distro but my buddy's brewery in Napa CA called Mad Fritz ferments a lot of his ales in oak barrels. They have a wonderful, refined palate, and he malts his own grain too.

 

Afterthought does a lot of oak fermented hoppy saison. It’s probably not exactly what you’re looking for, but it might scratch an itch or get you into something new. I know Casey does some similar stuff as well. Or maybe Oxbow BA farmhouse pale ale

 

Cigar City White Oak Jai Alai is one of my favorite beers. The only place I know that sales it is the actually Cigar City brewery. Luckily at a lot of stores they sell the Jai Alia mixed pack which has 3 White Oaks. I haven’t found any beer like it.

 

Bells, founders, and 3 floyds all have had one, I can't speak to current availability as the style is something that clashes on my palate.

 

Three Floyds website says that Blackheart is not currently in production. Usually came out around May.

 

Southern Tier used to have Oak Aged Unearthly, but like many of the Oak Aged IPAs I haven't seen it in a long time. White Oak Jai Alai is probably my favorite, and Cigar City also did Jai Alai on Spanish Cedar.

If you have any local breweries that normally use foeders for things like lagers, it might be a good idea to keep an eye on them in the off chance they decide to put an IPA in one.

 

I'm not a follower of US oak-aging. But I have read Gary's blog BeerEtSeq which has discussed in detail the history of oak aging. British brewers preferentially used Memel oak from northern Europe up until WWI cut supplies. American oak was thought to impart unpleasant flavors. American oak might have been used untreated for Stouts and similar, but pale ales were typically stored in pitched American oak. So essentially, if IPAs are stored in untreated American Oak, this could be thought of as a new (not necessarily bad, but different) kind of beer. Do craft brewers discuss the type of wood and how the interior is treated for their beers aged in wood?

 

I remember this beer. I think I last saw it about 8 or 9 years ago. I liked it a lot but I wasn't very experienced with craft beer at the time. They did a run of the non-aged version of Unearthly in the past couple of years. It struck me as "just another IPA" so maybe it's not as good as I remember. I'd love to give it another shot though.

Locally, Haw River used to do one called Cotton Pickin'. It was actually listed as a farmhouse IPA but was aged in an oak foeder for 6 months. It's not quite the same as the other beers mentioned here but close enough. Sadly that one has also been MIA for many years now.

 

Doesn't Dogfish have one? Burton Baton or something to that effect?

 

I forgot all about Burton Baton. It is still listed on the DFH website but as a "rarity". I have not seen that one in years.

 

Cedar Jai alai is very good too, it’s quite a strong flavor but I really enjoyed it. The Oak I have only seen in the mix pack, it’s really good. Local there is a stout aged on oak spirals. I had a few at 5-6 years and they were creamy vanilla and coconut. Quite good and pretty inexpensive, Shackamaxamum, not sure it’s still around or not. I also just had a Foeder Mild from Forest and Main that had a nice woody finish to it.

Burton Baton is a stellar beer. Not seen it in a bit, not looking either. With age I love Burton. Still have a few from 2012 along with 90 minute.

 

This is what I came to post. I used to really enjoy that one.

 

What are those beers? I’m either having major memory loss or I may not have had opportunity to try these yet. Cheers.

 

Bells had one in their planet series, Mars iirc. Founders had one too but the name slips my mind. It's been a while since I had either and they're probably long gone. I never liked aged ipas so they didn't leave a mark I guess.

 

I miss Ballantine and even the short lived revival of it.

 

Shouldn't you be drinkin'

 

I know it's not an IPA but perhaps Oaked Arrogant bastard will satisfy your hoppy oak cravings.

 

I gave never seen that beer, had the BA version and it was ok but not better than the OG. I will take a look for an oaked version. Thanks

Edit……I did have this in 2015 and though the base was better. Still going to seek this out.

Enjoy

 

You gotta go to the brewery, and set up an appt. If you talk to Nile, say I (Steve from Drava Wines in Lodi) recommended him to you.

 

It is still in the database, but I also haven't seen it in a while. Not that I have been looking for it, but did drink my share. TBH even the OG Arrogant bastard flies under my radar these days

 

"Brewed with 100% Maris Otter malt and a huge amount of East Kent Goldings hops (160 calculated IBUs). Fermented with a Burton yeast then aged in oak barrels with Brettanomyces for a year. Dry hopped with more EKG then bottle conditioned. "
This beer is wonderful! Puts a lot of beers on the west coast ( all these sorry cookie cutter breweries) to shame.

 

ah that's too bad. I can set it up for you too. It's really worth the appt if you can nail it down. I'm probably overdue for a hangout with my college homie too.