Top Barrel Aging Programs

You are correct in terms of bottled beers, several one offs that have made the rounds what used other barrels. Brandy, Rye and whiskey (non-bourbon) have been used.

 

Founders, Firestone Walker, GI is all that I've had for BA stuff. Love all three of those breweries.

 

Fact. It's great that Jackie O's is so creative with the barrels and what is put in them, but if what comes out is infected half the time, well.....

 

In 1992 Sam Adams was aging Triple Bock in Jack Daniels barrels...several hundred of them. This would have dwarfed Goose Island Clyborn 2-4 Jim Beam barrels. They weren't making batches they were putting their Imp Stout into Beam Barrels for 100 days and then asking $10 for 12oz. Bourbon County Stout was awarded the final honorable mention ever given by the GABF in 1995. It was not as far as I can find not at the 1992, 1993 or 1994 GABF. I may be wrong on this point and welcome being corrected. So, though they are reluctant to take credit for it, Sam Adams technically was the first. GI can claim the Bourbon Barrel Stout thing though. GI inspiration though came from the hombrew club BOSS(brewers of South Suburbia) where they brewed and filled a Beam barrel with Imperial Stout and the barrel acted as a fermenter and aging vessel. Thats where Greg Hall(pee in a pint glass guy) hatched BCBS.

 

heavy seas gets the value award

 

Good point, maybe it's the only barrel aged sours that are available year-round? Or perhaps there are others I can't think of off the top of my head... The fact that Allagash can do this is pretty impressive as well...

 

All this talk has me excited to crack one of these BA B.O.R.I.S. I have in the fridge. Haven't tried one yet.

 

Jolly Pumpkin, all sour, all barrel.

 

my last trip was all infection free. Funky Southpaw and both Dark Robustics on draft. the sour cherry one was insane good.

 

I got my dates from this chart:


Now there is a pretty lively thread where this chart's validity is questioned (in particular with respect to the mention of Pappy: http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/2007-bourbon-county-stout-lets-clear-the-air.24851/). Honestly, this chart looks legit to me -- but that doesn't mean the '1992 - DQ'd at the GABF' is a typo (at the last Belgian Fest, I think they were still listing Gillian by its previous name).

 

Thanks for your take on it. Sounds like there's no real objection to their claim of BCBS being the original BBA stout. Originating from the South Chi burbs myself, gotta say it's awesome to hear folks from there inspired this juggernaut. Like all creative works, I figured it wasn't instantiated out of thin air, but never heard what the inspiration was.

 

It feels like just about every brewery has been mentioned except for Anchorage Brewing, but I think Gabe's doing mind-blowing things with wine barrels. Exceptionally creative, thoughtful and elegant use of barrel character, especially for a new brewery.

 

If we are actually counting Cantillon or 3F:

Cantillon
Drie
Goose
CCB
Hill Farmstead

 

Here are two that weren't mentioned.
Arbor/Corner does some solid sours.
Stopped at Witches Hat last night, they have 4 barrels in their tiny tasting room.

Wait, here is another I just remembered. Grizzly Peak has a barrel they age and funkify beers in. It has been there since Ron Jeffries was the brewer.

 

Firestone is #1, no question. Perennial also has a great program for an up and coming brewery.

 

Schlafly is doing great things in barrels.

Also, New Holland Dragon's Milk is a year round barrel beer, and very well done I say.

And I vote for Weyerbacher too, Blasphemy is in my top five of all time beers. Awesome.

 

I will throw my 2 cents in. While there are plenty of breweries out there that have great barrel programs, the ones that I have had the pleasure to experience most/all of their offerings, while seeing consistent quality, and good variety :

- Hair of the Dog *(Really surprised HOTD was not getting more love. Matt & Adam from the Wood are two of the most complex yet balanced beers I have ever experienced)*

- Cantillon (Nobody does a fruit lambic like Cantillon does)

- Russian River (Some of the finest american made sours ever. There are a few places that are getting closer to beating them for me though)

- Goose Island (King Henry absolutely blew me away. Never had a bad bottle of Bourbon County. Really have enjoyed Bramble & the new Cherry Rye. Plus Rare)

- Jolly Pumpkin (One of the few places I can always count on to have something on the shelf I would buy)

** There are several others I would list, but these are the standouts for me right now ** Founders would be the next one on the list since each one I try is just as good as the last one

 

Avery and Hill Farmstead are the two standouts for me this year. Uncle jacobs just flat out dominated every other BA stout I have tried, ever. Even parabola seemes meek and mild in comparison. I recently had a fellow BA send me a package from HF including two of their BA offerings. Holy shit those guys are doing amazing things out there in VT. Planning on visiting that part of the country next summer, probably going to spend more cash on beer than plane tickets...