We love a good barrel-aged brew here at Craft Beers Delivered. Okay, we love a LOT of different types of beer, but barrel-aged beers hold a special place in our hearts. For a lot of us, we share a first or second love with whiskey or other spirits so we’ve developed a special bond with how oak, port, or bourbon barrels can affect the flavour profile. Whiskey drinkers, for example, are used to looking for those wonderful additional vanilla, caramel, stewed fruits or other sweeter/drier flavours a long ageing process can add to the spirit. But when a beer does it? It can take an already incredible beer to the next level and beyond. Brewers like DOT Brew, Otterbank, Founders’ KBS series, and Wicklow Wolf’s annual Pointy Shoes releases have been leading the charge, bringing a whole array of new flavours into our favourite brews! 


And so, this Barrel-Aged Beer Day, we want to shine the spotlight on some of the more unusual styles, the ones with more complex flavours and ones take that bit longer to produce, and also some big releases you might want to check out and enjoy. Cheers!




1. Rascals The Big Smoke Imperial Stout 


A beer that certainly lives up to its name! This rich and smoky imperial stout opens with a kick of smoke and bacon (think Tayto Smokey Bacon crisps) with subtle hints of chocolate and vanilla in the background underlined by a gently warming bourbon taste. This exceptional imperial stout was brewed in collaboration with The Dubliner Liberties Distillery and aged in their bourbon barrels for over half a year.  The term ‘Big Smoke’ refers back to the Industrial Revolution and big cities such as Dublin.


ABV: 12% | €7.00


 


2. Founders KBS Espresso Bourbon-Barrel Aged Stout


Our go-to caffeine fix when we want a beer with a bit of an espresso buzz! This bourbon barrel-aged stout has been brewed with a massive amount of coffee and chocolate and then aged in bourbon barrels until perfection. Opens with a silky smooth yet snappy coffee hit, followed by notes of vanilla, cocoa, and charred oak from the cask.


ABV: 12% | €8.40




3. Lineman Phases Barrel Aged Stout 


Another exciting release we just had to highlight incase you missed it! This barrel aged stout is named after the phases of the moon to reflect the 10 months this export stout spent ageing in ex-bourbon barrels. This extra time spent maturing results in an incredibly smooth stout with rich notes of dark chocolate, vanilla, and oak. 


ABV: 7.8% | *On Sale for €4.70



 


4. Whiplash Barrel Aged Fatal Deviation


What happens when you take a big aul Imperial Stout and crank it up to 11? Well, it just so happens Whiplash have the answer! To make this big aul brew, Whiplash have taken their Fatal Deviation Imperial Stout and aged it in bourbon barrels for an entire year. The result? A beast of a barrel-aged Imperial Stout with a dry, bitter finish.


ABV: 11% | €15.00


 

5. Dot Brew 4 Year Old Wild Raspberry


And now on to something a bit different and to step away from stouts for a moment. If you're looking for a funky and fruity crisp ale then you simply HAVE to try this one! DOT Brew have aged a crisp ale in bourbon barrels for 4 years and then transferred it to stainless for a further 2 months of maturation on 200g per litre of raspberries, blended back with 20% 4 month old fresh barrel aged pale. Bright and funky, it's bound to put a spring in your step! 


ABV: 7.2% | €14.00



 

6. Lough Gill Ocean Aged Imperial Pastry Stout 


Coming in at number six on our list we have another big one to shine the spotlight on. This stunning collaboration between Lough Gill and Kelsey Grammer (yes, Frasier himself!) of Faith American Brewing Company is a very special Irish whiskey barrel aged Imperial Milk Stout aged in Irish whiskey barrels and dropped just off the coast of Sligo, in the Atlantic Ocean for nearly a year. This is one to gather friends around to share with and truly savour. 


ABV: 12% | €19.00



 

7. Wicklow Wolf Locavore Spring 2022 Farmhouse Ale 


Another interesting one to highlight this Beer and Barrels Day! The Locavore series by Wicklow Wolf are always exciting experiments and this one was quite the hit when it launched if we do say so ourselves! This release is a barrel aged farmhouse ale that was aged in Chianti Red Wine barrels and slowly conditioned with wild yeasts for 36 months. A tasty, experimental beer that doesn’t have to be enjoyed only in the springtime! 


ABV: 11.9% | €5.50


We hope you enjoyed our list! Let us know what you’ll be drinking this Barrel-Aged Beer Day (we love to see a good beer shot!) If you can’t find the perfect beer, then be sure to browse our range of barrel-aged beers and between here on Craft Beers Delivered! Lastly, make sure to follow us on our Instagram, Facebook & Twitter to see what we’re getting up to such as our new in, sales, recommended brews, and competitions!


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