Pittsburgh - New Beers & Local Breweries

I am kinda interested in that Scotch Ale Pumpkin in all seriousness.

 

It's pretty terrible.

 

Yeah. That's what I heard, so it stopped me from buying a bottle. Especially at the cost, I need to try it before I buy it.Ya know!

 

<serious>Yes</serious>

 

But honestly I hope the post didn't mean they just put it in barrels .....Hopefully it's been in barrels for a little while.

 

Their spirits make great cocktails because of the bright/young flavors - on their own though they are pretty rough. I don't think it is any fault of their own, just the nature of good whiskey needing time and a new business needing capital during that time.

 

Guess it's just a matter of taste. I enjoy their bourbon.

 

Makes sense. I usually am a straight up person so I'll have to wait on then I guess

 

They have been known to not age their barrel aged stuff for very long

 

What's the point?

 

Not sure...maybe just so they can say it's barrel aged...

 

I would be curious to see how much more they are going to charge for the beer if it was only aged for 2 months in a barrel.

 

It's a Biere de Garde so I don't think the purpose is to create a big bourbon bomb. I don't think those flavors would compliment one another all that well.

 

So back to my point, why bother then?

 

I'd imagine they feel differently?

 

Speculation of course, but maybe those barrels were previously inoculated with some sort of bug concoction and they are just hoping to pick up a wee bit of "biere de garde-ness" from them before bottling?

If they are first time use barrels (for beer aging, anyway), then I truly don't think anything will become of a two month aging period...so yeah...pointless.

 

They responded to a question on Facebook asking why only 2 weeks in the barrels with ... "The 15 gallon barrels have so much surface area that they really add the oak character rapidly." ... Umm what? No matter a little barrel or enormous one, the surface area : total volume (if filled) would all be relative. Don't give an answer like you're talking to a 5 year old.

 

That's a homebrewer's answer.

More rapidly than oak chips, spirals, or staves....yes.

 

I like the idea of local breweries using Wigle barrels, but this beer sounds like it's going to be as awful and disappointing as last year's anniversary beer (a barrel aged pumpkin). Pass.