Top Barrel Aging Programs

I think every brewery that has ever put anything into a barrel has been mentioned in this thread.

 

BCS
Weyerbacher Insanity
Schlafly Barrel Aged Imp Stout
Williamsburg Alewerks Bourbon Barrel Porter
Founders KBS

Love the barrel aged darks....hmmmm

 

I was just thinking the same thing.

 

No you werent. You didnt say jackie o's 1st. Im sad panda.

Cheers!

 

I didn't even know every brewery in America had a "program". A lot of breweries listed just toss some beer in to barrels and put them in the corner, I wouldn't call it a program. It'd be funny to see people hail Lagunitas on their barrel aged "program". The barrel room is literally a small little room with handful of barrels in there with a few Lagunitas favorite beers in there, just for fun.

 

Just stumbled across the thread late, that's all. You know I've got nothin' but love for Jackie O's.

All of this.

 

Based on the sheer number and quality of the barrel aged beers available at the Bruery's Barrel Party the other night (wild ales, BBA's, etc - take a look at the thread in the Pacific forum to see what I'm talking about), they're at the top of my list. Lost Abbey is up there as well.

 

BCBS labels say something like "the original bourbon barrel aged stout". I agree that they probably popularized the style, but assume someone else was aging stouts in whiskey barrels, or non-stouts in bourbon barrels prior to the first batch of BCBS in 1992. This is just based on filling in the blanks. I'm not old enough to speak authoritatively on the history

Summary: I basically just completely agreed with what danimalarkey said.

 

Goose Island
The Bruery
Weyerbacher
Firestone Walker
Founders

 

Firestone uses a mix of Bourbon, Brandy, Rye, or American Oak for their beers, and in the 16th Anniversary blend they have even used Tequila barrels. Please don't include them on your list of "1 trick ponies".

 

Will do. I liked 16th anniversary. Did they really use tequila barrels?

 

Cool thread, got some good responses. Mine:

GI
Jolly Pumpkin
Founder's
Firestone Walker
Russian River

 

Well, not a Goose Island fan boy but it seems impossible that they should be left off the list given:

BCS
BCS Coffee
Rare
King Henry

+ many others that people seem to love.

Love or hate that they're owned by AB InBev now, those beers are generally regarded as some of the best of their type.

 

It is funny you list Founders, Firestone and Goose when referencing one trick ponies. All three of those breweries have used multiple types of barrels.

I think barrel aging is more about the execution than it is the variety. You are not going age every beer the same way once it hits the barrels. A brewery who can produce excellent barrel aged produced that span several styles is impressive to me regardless of the variety of barrels they use.

 

Cantillon
3f
Great Divide
Avery
Uinta
CCB
Bruery
Midnight Sun
De Molen
Mikkeller
Struise

 

That's why I said that it's not a bad thing. GI is incredible. Just stating the obvious that they're going to get most of the acclaim which they so deserve. I've had a few of this years BCBS and it is probably in my top 3 beers. Just amazing. I have yet to try any of the variants or King Henry. You could shut me up with a bottle of KH!

 

+1 to whoever has responded with Hill Farmstead.

On a per-square foot basis, their product is incredible. I like to envision the secret cave where Shaun hides his barrels...

 

Deschutes hits it out of the ballpark in this category. Everything they put in a barrel comes out delicious. (of the ones i've tried anyway)

 

Founders - KBS, BB, and maple bourbon anything
Cigar City - Apple Brandy anything
Goose Island - BCBS speaks for itself
Olde Hickory - I trust anything that touches wood or comes from a barrel from this brewery. Best in the state, and with some more time/resources/expansion will be higher on the list.
Russian River - just for their sours

I dont how I feel about that one, honestly, depends on my mood. Most days its pretty damn good. Some days--or bottles--I feel like its unbalanced and bourbon heavy.

 

I would agree with this. As far as founders though, I'm no expert but i think KBS = bourbon barrels, CBS = maple bourbon barrels, Backwoods Bastard = bourbon barrels, Bolt Cutter = some plain bourbon some maple bourbon barrels, Curmudgeon’s Better Half = maple bourbon barrels. Am I missing something or do they really only do bourbon?