Top Barrel Aging Programs

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by hoptualBrew, Nov 29, 2012.

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  1. hoptualBrew

    hoptualBrew Initiate (0) May 29, 2011 Florida

    I'd like to get an idea of whom everyone thinks has the best barrel-aging programs (non-wild ale) in the states. If you can list your top (5) breweries and evidence the beers that showcase their skill, that would be awesome. I am just recently, come the cold weather, really enjoying big barrel aged beers & have noticed some that stick out. Here's mine thusfar:

    (1) Founders - Backwoods Bastard is simply a masterpiece. I, sadly have not had KBS or CBS yet.
    (2) Firestone Walker - Have had Abacus that blew me away & sitting on a bottle of Parabola now.
    (3) Weyerbacher - Insanity & Heresy are knockouts imo, will be buying as many 4packs as possible next season.
    (4) Cigar City - Have had their Bourbon BA Big Sound recently & their Palm Ridge Reserve Hunahpu last Hunahpu day that were stunning. Some previously infected batches do tend to leave some doubt going forward, although less chance with the more experience.
    (5) The Bruery - Recently had their White Oak, which was killer stuff. Needing to splurge and buy Fruet & trade for Black Tuesday to discover more of their work.

    Interested to see everyone's picks. I'd like to compile the data (if enough replies) for a potential writing piece. Thanks & cheers!
     
    #1 hoptualBrew, Nov 29, 2012
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  2. maximum12

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

    Just about perfect list.

    One can quibble about the order (& I'm happy to see another Weyerbacher Advocate!), but that's exactly the 5 breweries that I'd have put up.
     
    #2 maximum12, Nov 29, 2012
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  3. imfrommichigan

    imfrommichigan Initiate (0) Jul 12, 2012 Utah

    Here come the Goose Island fan boys! not that that's a bad thing
     
    #3 imfrommichigan, Nov 29, 2012
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  4. BreakingBad

    BreakingBad Initiate (0) Sep 17, 2012

    GI have become masters under Laffler, but now that he's gone I have no more incentive to support them.
     
    #4 BreakingBad, Nov 29, 2012
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  5. minnesotaryan

    minnesotaryan Initiate (0) Dec 27, 2010 Minnesota

    GI - no brainer.
    Founders - duh
    deschutes - really enjoy their barreled stuff
    central waters
    Steel Toe - more of an up and comer, but they will be a force to be reckoned with.
     
    #5 minnesotaryan, Nov 29, 2012
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  6. Penguin3200

    Penguin3200 Initiate (0) Dec 28, 2008 Minnesota

    The Bruery
    Founders
    Goose Island
    Firestone
    FiftyFifty
     
    #6 Penguin3200, Nov 29, 2012
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  7. trevorjk

    trevorjk Initiate (0) Aug 28, 2009 Netherlands

    +1 to Central Waters
     
    #7 trevorjk, Nov 29, 2012
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  8. minnesotaryan

    minnesotaryan Initiate (0) Dec 27, 2010 Minnesota

    also the bruery, and jolly pumpkin.
     
    #8 minnesotaryan, Nov 29, 2012
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  9. TheBeerologist

    TheBeerologist Initiate (0) Nov 20, 2011 Rhode Island

    Russian river sours
    Founders
    FW

    Small scale I'd go with Jackie O's though there are many others I have yet to try
     
    #9 TheBeerologist, Nov 29, 2012
  10. Zaphog

    Zaphog Grand Pooh-Bah (4,676) Sep 23, 2011 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Bell's is #1- BBA Batch 9,000, BBA Cherry Stout, Black Note...BBA Kalamazoo Stout and BBA Best Brown are solid too.

    2 through 5 could be many different breweries for me: Founders, CCB, GI, Dark Horse, Kuhnhenn, The Bruery, FW, Midnight Sun, etc.
     
    #10 Zaphog, Nov 29, 2012
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  11. Bay01

    Bay01 Initiate (0) Nov 19, 2008 Illinois

    Goose Island, who has more 100's under their belt than Laffler?
     
    #11 Bay01, Nov 29, 2012
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  12. BB1313

    BB1313 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,290) Jul 16, 2009 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'll throw an honorable mention to Hoppin' Frog between BA BORIS, BORIS Royale, Naked Evil, and BA Outta Kilter... BA Frog's Hollow and BA Frosted Frog are unique as well..
     
    #12 BB1313, Nov 29, 2012
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  13. BlastBeats

    BlastBeats Initiate (0) Mar 24, 2011 Illinois

    Goose Island pioneered the barrel-aged imperial stout.. They get my vote
     
    #13 BlastBeats, Nov 29, 2012
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  14. strangebrew321

    strangebrew321 Pundit (810) Feb 18, 2009 Indiana
    Trader

    Goose Island
    Bruery
    Founders
    FFF's
    Cigar City (I hope, receiving a big box of BA CCB tomorrow:grinning:)
     
    #14 strangebrew321, Nov 29, 2012
  15. Brandywine

    Brandywine Initiate (0) Aug 20, 2012 Washington

    Firestone Walker for: Parabola, Sucaba, Bravo Brown, Velvet Merkin, Helldorado, DDBA, 14, 15 and 16.
     
    #15 Brandywine, Nov 29, 2012
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  16. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    Bell's does barrels as good as anyone, the will never get the credit they deserve here because they do not distribute.

    The Liverys barrel program is outstanding.

    Firestone Walker has never let me down.

    Jolly Pumpkin does their own thing and does it well.
     
    #16 kzoobrew, Nov 29, 2012
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  17. raynmoon

    raynmoon Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2011 Colorado

    Lost Abbey and Russian River need to be in there somewherezzz.
     
    #17 raynmoon, Nov 29, 2012
  18. maximep

    maximep Initiate (0) Oct 23, 2009 New York

    no mention of Cantillon, 3 Fonteinen or Hill Farmstead???

    ¡C'MON SON!
     
    #18 maximep, Nov 29, 2012
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  19. Dope

    Dope Pooh-Bah (2,925) Oct 5, 2010 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Founders
    GI
    FiftyFifty
    Bruery
    FW

    Dope
     
    #19 Dope, Nov 29, 2012
  20. krl2112

    krl2112 Pooh-Bah (1,876) Nov 10, 2012 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Founders
    FFF
    CCB
    Alesmith
    50/50
    GI
     
    #20 krl2112, Nov 29, 2012
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