Tequila-barrel aged beers?

I thought Tequila Barrel Noir by Almanac was solid. Seemed like a beer you either love or hate...I loved it. Came out last year in November so hopefully it will hit the shelves again next month.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24940/146673/

 

The reason you don't see too many tequila barrel aged beers is that tequila makers reuse their tequila barrels over and over until they pretty much fall apart. Meanwhile whiskey and bourbon makers only use their barrels once then discard them, hence why there are a lot of bourbon/whiskey barrels available to brewers.

I've had a few tequila aged beers, but either they are too hot or you can't taste the tequila at all.

 

I think you've just gotten lucky; I can confirm that the last bottle I drank was absolutely infected. There may be batch-to-batch variation (as I think it has been released at least twice).

 

Maybe, but it sounds that you only drank one bottle. I have opened multiple bottles from the original batch. All were good. Sometimes how you cellar and whether it is really in a cellar/temperature controlled environment makes a difference.

 

I had this Minerva Imperial Tequila Ale. Minerva is a "big" craft brewery in Mexico, big in production and distribution but no so much in quality. Yet I was a little bit excited to try this since being in Mexico this should at least be a good Tequila ale.

Well it was not, fairly disappointing since the tequila taste was barely noticeable in the aftertaste.

By the way, is there a big difference between "Matured" and "Aged"? This beer says Matured on the label.

 

Granted. I had two bottles, both cellared at 53F. The first was consumed almost immediately, and showed no signs of infection, but the second was not so lucky.

 

Can't believe no one's mentioned Firestone Walker PNC! Best tequila BA beer I've ever had. Many tequila beers are too heavy on the tequila, but this one was so wel integrated into the overall flavor.

 

I feel you. The new batch is out now and I tried some at a bottle share this week. It's fine and you can drink it fresh.

 

Yek. Let beer be beer.

 

Anybody for Oculto?

Anybody?

Nobody.

 

Not Tequila barrel, but Bog Iron made a Mezcal barrel aged Braggot. Mind blowing.

 

Jester King Encendia aged in Mezcal barrels.

 

I used to hate tequila. It was the one drink in college that made me want to fight. I threw it back up a few times after many long nights. I really really hated the stuff...especially Pepe Lopez de Oro. Then I grew up and spent some money on some real anejo tequila. It was Don Julio 1942 in the tall bottle. It was terrific! Sipping stuff like scotch. Then had some Herradura Seleccion Suprema anejo. Even better. My opinion of tequila changed instantly! No longer was it just the drink to shoot in some ridiculous club from a bartender with fake tits and white hair. It had become of age in my mind. In my opinion lighter beers and sours would do great in tequila barrels. I have a bottle of Sucre tequila barrel aged in my cellar and can't wait to pop the top!

 

Here you go....
The Bruery Roble Blanco

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/140019/

Its a sour/type tequilla barrel aged beer. Made to taste like a margarita. I thought it was sort of terrible...

 

I really liked the La Calavera Catrina by Lickinghole Creek and will pick up more if it comes back. http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/32855/146754/

 

Had Ok-Sí and teguila BA stout from funky buddha and I have to say tequila barrels are not for me. So much tequila taste gets passed into the beer and I really don't care for the taste very much. I guess if I was a tequila sipper like I am bourbon/scotch drinker I would like it... But if tequila taste is your thing then it's right up your alley... Me I've sworn off tequila BA beers like I sworn off tequila that one night while I was in college... Why do BA tequila beer after that night? Because I'm an advocate damit and I'll take one for the love of the beer!!??!?

 

OK-Si wasn't bad...

 

Saw odyssey in tequila barrels at Allagash a year plus ago. Did not get a taste.

Done right these could be good beers. Occulto was bad but not really what I would think of as a beer


Enjoy

 

I've had tequila barrel-aged beers from breweries I really like, such as Firestone Walker (PNC) and The Bruery (Roble Blanco and Tequila Sucre). I did not think any of them were very good.

Full disclosure: I don't like tequila. Even in beer. Perhaps especially in beer.

 

Like tequila, have a bottle of Anejo that I brought back from Guadalajara that is my go to when smoking cigars, but I do not like beer aged in Tequila barrels. <personal_opinion>The two just don't taste good together </personal_opinion>