Why bourbon barrels?

Bourbon barrels can only be used once to make the spirit. Bourbon by definition must be aged in new charred oak barrels.

 

For starters, bourbon barrels are single-use barrels, in contrast to other spirits where the barrels tend to be re-used. In addition, bourbon is an American spirit, which may make them easier to obtain/import than rum or cognac barrels.

Finally, I'd suggest their intrinsic qualities work well with beer, imparting notes of vanilla and oak that complement many styles. By contrast, I'd suggest that the peaty nature of some scotches are an acquired taste.

 

This. The effect on taste obviously works or the practice wouldn't be as common as it is but bourbon barrels are by far the most abundant and probably cheapest because of the reason listed above.

 

And actually by law!

 

Because Bourbon is awesome !

 

Also, whiskey barrels are likely easier/ cheaper to obtain here because of their popularity. Whereas brandy barrels are few and far between, with MUCH higher costs.

Just a guess.

 

Bourbon barrells are probably easier to get and bourbon is awesome.

 

Try Oculto and you will understand.

 

My guess would be availability and a new Bourbon revival combined with the terrific mesh with beer in general. As they can only be used once by law there's availability, and a secondary source for Distillers to outsource barrels. The deep char gives the bourbon distinct flavors , and with aged stouts it's where you get the vanilla and such influences.

 

Other whisky producers also buy Bourbon barrels to age their whisky (Scotch, Irish and Canadian).

 

On a somewhat related note, does anyone know what was the first widely available BBA beer?

 

I was going to say that beers aged in these barrels have so much more flavor than ones aged in other types.
So yes: "Bourbon is awesome".

 

Uh, because it tastes good?.....

 

I have wondered this as well. Glad that I know now.

I am not a big bourbon fan but I'm pretty new to the craft beer world (at least being this deep into it) so I have been trying a lot of the BBA stouts around. Have a bottle of Project Pam I'm going to get into tonight, excited for that

 

Have you tasted a BBA... anything?

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I always used to wonder why pilsners are never aged in whiskey barrels. Seems like the "shot and a brew" taste would be popular.

 

It's like love and marriage, they just go together. Beer and bourbon are essentially made from the same raw materials whereas rum/brandy/tequila/wine are made from different materials then beer.

 

Other barrel-aged versions are becoming more popular (different Bomb!s, Monster's Park everything, etc) as brewers look to be different. Economics are the biggest factor, as many have said.

 

As mentioned above to be bourbon it must be made in the U.S. And use new barrels. Thus, distillers sell their barrels to Breweries or Scotland for scotch.