Great beer release news coming from Breckenridge Brewery:
The annual event is here! The release of Summer Cab Ride. Only available at the Brewery's Tasting Room (471 Kalamath St., Denver, Colorado) 11:00 AM Saturday (8/11/2012) morning 'til it's gone. $14.99 a 750ml bottle. Only 200 bottles available.
http://www.breckbrew.com/brews/summer-cab-ride
To speak a bit more on our barrel-aging program, here is John Jordan...
Our barrel-aging program unofficially started about 5 years ago when we received a few random whiskey barrels. We filled them with several different beer styles we wanted to drink with our co-workers & friends, aged them until we couldn't wait any longer, and tapped in! Low & behold, our barrel program was launched. Fast forward to summer of 2012: our full-time collaboration with Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey Distillery - the Well Built ESB - is in production year round, and our Summer Cab Ride is ready for release.
Let's talk a little bit about barrel-aging. What's the difference between aging beer in wine barrels vs. whiskey barrels? Aside from the obvious, the taste of the liquids that once graced these barrels, the barrels themselves also play a significant role in the flavor of the finished beer. Char is the level of toasting or scorching the barrels receive, by temporarily setting the cask on fire, to impart the desired flavor outcome. Stranahan's whiskeys are stored in Char Level #3 barrels. The level of char dictates the flavors imparted into the whiskey from the barrel, and in turn the flavor of our beer. A Level three char is a heavy char, also known as Alligator. With these aggressive flavors and the presence of whiskey, we thought it the perfect compliment to our ESB.
Winemakers use a lightly toasted barrel for mellower flavors. The Summer Cab Ride is aged in Cabernet barrels, adding a slight hint of wine with oak undertones. The SummerBright Ale, combined with these flavors, makes for a perfectly complex session beer.
Our barrel-aging program has risen to very sophisticated levels. We age the beer for at least eight weeks, then we start the tasting. When it tastes good, we send it to you to enjoy!
Stay tuned for next time: Firkens!
John Jordan, Quality Assurance/Brewer
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