Brewer Vince Mandeville had a favorite Wee Heavy recipe he kept tinkering with that ultimately became our Divine Reserve No. 4 released in 2007. We weren't the only ones that enjoyed it as it won the gold medal at the World Beer Cup in 2008 in the Strong Scotch Ale category. It is still drinking exceptionally well over six years later.
We rebrewed the recipe in December of 2012 and this time put it in bourbon barrels and aged it for nine months. Next week, it will be coming to you as Bishop's Barrel No. 5. Here are Vince's tasting notes on it:
The flavors and aromas of the base beer are true to the Divine Reserve No. 4. It is filled with caramel, toffee, dried figs, cocoa and a slight peatiness. Where it deviates is with the roundness of flavors the bourbon barrel contributes. Vanilla, cinnamon and a touch of rich earthy pipe tobacco mix with an alcohol warmth that adds to the rich creaminess. The great thing about this beer is that the barrel aging adds to the whole without taking away the character of the original.
Please remember, because of the small amount of beer produced from the barrels, Bishop's Barrel releases are only available at your favorite bars and restaurants.
For all the statistics on BB5, please click here.
UPDATE 11/4:
HOUSTON, November 4, 2013 – When World Beer Cup judges awarded Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 4 a gold medal in the Strong Scotch Ale category in 2008, the craft beer community wondered if they would ever be able to try the beer again. The Divine Reserve series features single batch beers that are typically brewed just once and retired, but the recipe for Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 4 is making a special return engagement.
Saint Arnold Brewing Co. (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, brewed a fresh batch of the Wee Heavy Scotch Ale in December 2012, which was then aged for nine months in Old Forester bourbon barrels. The Houston brewery is releasing it today as Saint Arnold Bishop's Barrel No. 5.
Saint Arnold Bishop's Barrel is a series of releases of beers that have been barrel aged. The barrels have been chosen to enhance and complement the characteristics of the underlying beers. In the case of Bishop's Barrel No. 5, the bourbon barrel contributes vanilla, cinnamon and touch of rich earthy pipe tobacco, which mix with an alcohol warmth that adds to the rich creaminess.
"The barrel aging adds to the whole without taking away the character of the original," said Brewer Vince Mandeville.
Each batch of Bishop's Barrel is distinguished by the number on the neck label. Because of the small amount of beer produced from the barrels, it will only be available in pubs and restaurants throughout Texas and Louisiana.
Specifications of Bishop's Barrel No. 5:
Original Gravity: 1.083
Final Gravity: 1.020
Alcohol: 9.0% ABV prior to barreling
12.0% ABV after barreling
Bitterness: 19 IBU
The release of Bishop's Barrel No. 5 isn't the first time a Divine Reserve recipe has been dusted off. Two beers in Saint Arnold's regular lineup – Saint Arnold Pumpkinator and Saint Arnold Endeavour – were originally released as Divine Reserve No. 9 and No. 11 respectively.
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